novelraw Chapter 721 - 720 - Heart Restored
Chapter 721 - 720 - Heart Restored
After a few days, the kids were gathered together to learn why Lind had not been seen for a while. Once they learned what happened, the reactions were varied.
Hei and Zao both simply told him to keep working hard and that was it. Miles had hugged him and patted his head which made Lind smile.
Sora did not seem to quite grasp it but she knew her father had been in danger so she simply was glad he was ok. Isolde and Syrilla looked scared but he reassured them he was doing better.
Only when Qing confirmed it, did they believe the words. Lind almost wept! Still, his word was no longer trusted anyway by Qing!
Sally was the one that got the most upset. She had actually scolded him at being so bad he caused trouble for mommy!
He took it as he did deserve it.
Lua was red eyed as she had been told but she could not bring herself to fight him. He hugged her tight and said it was fine. It was not something easy to do or face as a cultivator.
There was then a lesson about heart demons as currently the kids had not had to really face them. Frankly, they had been protected by Lind to an extreme in many ways and thus avoided the issue thus far.
In a way, the orphans had had an advantage as it was assumed they had them so their training included dealing with them if they cropped up.
Teela, for instance, had a rather harsh heart demon but only Lind and Qing knew about it aside from her. She had not wanted it shared but it had nearly killed her.
It was one of his memories and Lind realized he had been trying to fight back but the heart demon used his very real fears to keep him from breaking free.
His children being born nearly did it. He was so happy and giddy during that time that he almost broke free entirely but the sneaking bastard simply laid low and clung on to slowly regain strength when the worries piled up.
Lind had wanted to tell Teela, Ruby, and Sa as well but Qing stopped him. The family was one thing but his disciples did not need to know everything. Unless he was planning on adopting them too!
He scratched his cheek but then shook his head. Of the 3, Teela was the closest to possibly being a part of the family but not as an adoption. He kept his observation on that as his foggy memory might be giving him the wrong idea.
"So, am I allowed to get back to work or is that a no go?" Lind had been absent from his office but Gravis could not shoulder it all nor could his wives. He also had to be seen regularly or rumors would start.
Qing stared at him hard and he did not blink or look away. He was actually asking.
"You are better, husband, but I think it wise to lighten the load some more. We need to get you more help to prevent this from happening again." Lind wished for nothing more but there was too much work for everyone already!
Even with all the ministers that had been set up, there were still more things to go around.
"Could I call the students and soldiers for an announcement?" Qing looked at him curiously but she nodded at that. If it was only a speech, there should not be an issue.
He then unsealed his communication bracelet and sent out a message for all to gather at the nearest arena. No exceptions.
Acknowledgement came back but his eyes noted Qing's lit up too and she blushed as she quickly confirmed it was allowed. Clearly, Gravis was in on his condition.
Lind sighed. He had a long road ahead to recover as heart demons had no shortcuts without something like the mirror he once used and he was kind of afraid of using it again.
He did not want to trigger its secret function again. Even if it was highly unlikely, he had no desire to feel like he was walking down a predetermined path.
His oath to avenge Lanbao was unchanged but there were things he had to clear up sooner rather than later.
As they left the cozy room they shared for his sessions he found a lithe young girl waiting outside the door.
Like her mother, Isolde had eyes that seemed to shift colors depending on what angle you looked at her and her stunning beauty was becoming clearer but her hair was shining black on par with Hei's scales.
She was also getting taller every day to his eyes.
"Father, what is going on?" He had only just sent out the request but she was a very studious girl. So any change to the classes would be met with disapproval from her.
"You should come see. I need to clarify something." Lind patted her head but she was not so easily pacified. At least she did not look at her mother for more information and simply followed them.
His dignity was almost restored when he distinctly heard her mumble.
"At least wait till I was done presenting." Had his daughter always been that cold?!
Lind sighed and moved up to a special room above the family arena. It was a podium that had several faceted crystals aligned to scan and display the person standing at a certain spot.
He infused his Qi and blue light flashed over him before he saw a jade screen light up as he saw the other arenas filling up quickly.
He was not visible to them yet but he could see they were almost full.
[Emperor, the arena's are now full or everyone is able to hear you now.] One of the emerald cloaks sent him a relayed message and he nodded as he activated the weaving floating above the stone panel in front of him.
His image was not floating over all their heads. Many began to cheer but Lind saw something sad. There was solidarity but very little signs of scholars or simple cultivators. They were all warriors.
[Greetings to all of you. I have often reviewed all your progress and have been impressed with how far all of you have come. Further, I am happy so many have stayed to help build the foundation of the Sanctuary Empire even more than I could have hoped for.]
All of that was very true. Heart demon or not, the results had far exceeded his goals, but those goals had been shifted too much from his original wish.
The screens showed cheering but he held up his hands as he looked at his bored daughter.
[Recently, I have realized there is a mistake I need to correct. Rather, an oversight of our wish. I want all of you to rise in cultivation and be able to defend yourselves. In that regard, we have unquestioned success, but I have forgotten what I want you to fight for.]
His words were met with some confusion while others shouted some answers about being a great warrior or the best army ever but Lind once more held up his hands.
[As many of you know, I was told I could never become more than a World Realm. The 6 elementals were always viewed as useless. I will not bore you with what you already know but there is something I have not spoken of often. I focused so much on progressing I never considered something until it was thrust upon me. What will I do if I succeed?]
Lind finally felt a sort of peace settle over him as he looked out at the screens and a smile he had not felt in far too long stretched over his face.
[I nearly died and was tasked with finding a way to spread my revelations. A sect was born most of you know but that was not my dream. That was not the answer but what let me polish my cultivation and myself. I wanted to know why.]
Confusion was clear but he kept going.
[Why were 6 elementals so different? Why were demons using different elements? Why are their Fiends? Questions drove me forward, nor martial ability. We need it to survive but it is a tool That is what I forgot in all of these battles. What will you do once we win?]
His question finally seemed to light a fire in quite a few, including his daughter, but he was not done.
[In all the focus on raising you up and guiding you to professions or skills, I forgot a critical aspect. What will we do when we win? I cannot answer that for you. I can only give you the opportunity to work it out and help answer the questions you come up with. We will win one day. I believe that, but we will win to achieve our own goals, not just to win in and of itself. We are fighting to live, not just to fight.]
His voice became impassioned before a tear formed in his right eye.
[We are not looking for a place to die, but forging a place to live. I created the Sanctuary Empire to let us forge that path together but not to bind you to my personal path. Going forward, think about what you want to do. If you need someone to bounce ideas off of, ask friends, teachers, or even me if you get the chance. You are not tools or just soldiers but people that have dreams! Do not lose those dreams!]
Lind then cut the connection. He actually felt much better than he had in a while.
"There is my husband that I love." Lind looked up to see Qing crying while Isolde was looking at him in awe. He felt embarrassed as he had kind of gotten too much into it but the jade screens were full of roaring people who were smiling now.
Whether they took his advice seriously or even really pursued it, he hoped they at least consider it. It would take a bit to really get worked out but he had told the truth. He was a seeker of truth and he had new truth he was after.
What was that being called the Great One? How was he connected to the demons as well? Those 2 questions were burned into his heart but they were only a part of the whole, not the totality of it like before.
He shutdown the whole apparatus and took his wife and child for a late lunch. Isolde wanted to hear more and he told some stories from his old days and his struggle with just tempering his divine cores before his foundation could advance.
Lind had no idea his speech would ripple outward far beyond the borders of the Sanctuary Empire and light a fire in places none ever imagined!