Chapter 1348: The White Deer King's Decision

You're crazy, Your Majesty White Deer King—how dangerous is it over there? You and I both know it; we lost so many people just to get here from there, yet you want to go back—aren't you just going to your death?

Your Majesty White Deer King, can't we just go forward? There must be a way ahead; we can't let the fellow cultivators' sacrifices go to waste.

One of the Spirit Sword Sect elders spoke up; he was relatively lucky, having managed a fluke breakthrough and run into an acquaintance, which got him this far, whereas many of his fellow martial brothers nearby have died.

Having come this far, he knows how arduous and dangerous it is; he cannot possibly turn back.

Behind him lies an abyss of tens of thousands of feet; after untold hardships they made it here, with many dead before they barely survived—how could they possibly seek their own death?

The White Deer King's action is nothing but going to his death; they cannot accompany his madness, nor go to die themselves—even if His Majesty White Deer King knows his talent is to avoid misfortune and seek fortune, turning back now would truly be suicide.

Another elder of the Yin Gui Sect spoke: "Your Majesty White Deer King, it's not that we don't trust you, but we all know how dangerous this road is—please don't turn back, alright?"

Yes, Your Majesty White Deer King, you cannot die; we agreed to survive together, then find our footing and establish our own power, so as not to disappoint the sect's expectations—and certainly not to seek our own death.

The third person also spoke up, wanting to persuade the White Deer King to abandon this idea; they had barely survived with great difficulty, and cannot go back to die.

Your Majesty White Deer King, we have been going forward all along; there is a way ahead.

The fourth person also did not want to see the White Deer King go to his death; after traveling together these years, they could be said to be people who could entrust their backs to each other—how could they just watch him go to his death?

Regardless of what their prior relationship was, right now they are comrades in the same trench, and they cannot let the White Deer King go to his death.

The White Deer King was not swayed; he looked at those few people and said, "My mind is made up—will you follow me back?"

I feel the road ahead is a dead end; only by turning back is there a way out there.

Before, we all took the wrong path; fellow cultivators, please trust me once more—let's turn back together, alright?

The crowd fell silent; at this moment it's not that they don't want to trust the White Deer King, but they know how dangerous the road behind is—if they turn back, how many of them could survive?

In the end, the entire force might be wiped out.

This is not what they want; the road ahead can still be traveled, no matter how dangerous, it is not as dangerous as the road behind.

Turning back is basically a dead end.

"Your Majesty White Deer King, I don't want to face those dangers again; this time I might disappoint you." The Spirit Sword Sect elder shook his head, not wanting to turn back, so he said it to their face.

The White Deer King nodded: "Alright, what about you?"

The Yin Gui Sect elder pondered a moment, then said: "I also won't go back; that road buried my martial brothers—I don't want to turn back, nor disappoint their expectations; I cannot let their sacrifices be in vain."

"I want to go forward, I want to survive, I want to become a Strong One, I want to find firm footing in Tianwai, instead of constantly fleeing for my life."

"In the future, the Yin Gui Sect will be proud of me, rather than…"

He knows his responsibility and his mission, so he cannot turn back.

Having come this far, the only way is forward; if not successful, then become benevolent.

If they turn back, all their previous sacrifices and efforts will be for naught.

He cannot do that, even if the White Deer King proposes it, he cannot agree.

"So, Your Majesty White Deer King, I'm sorry, I cannot accompany you back."

With the refusals of the two before, others also refused one after another.

In the end, only the White Deer King alone agreed to go back; this road is destined to be neither simple nor easy.

The White Deer King was not angry; he had long known their choice—no one could possibly turn back, having clearly fought their way here, yet insisting on going back to die—isn't that foolish?

But he had no choice; he could only trust his intuition.

The White Deer King clasped his hands: "Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your trust these past days; we are about to part ways, and we may never meet again—here, I am deeply grateful for your companionship and trust over these years."

"Without you, I might not have gotten this far."

Clasping hands, bowing, the parting of ways is imminent; he cannot persuade them, nor they him.

They can only separate; this is the inevitable result.

"Your Majesty White Deer King, could you… not go back? That road is extremely dangerous; for you alone to return, misfortune outweighs fortune."

"It would be better to follow us forward; you remain our leader, Your Majesty White Deer King."

Another person added: "Yes, Your Majesty White Deer King, don't be desperate—going back is a nine-deaths-one-life chance."

"You cannot gamble with your own life."

"Your Majesty White Deer King, please reconsider."

"Your Majesty White Deer King, you…"

The White Deer King raised his hand, waved it, cutting off their words, and revealed a faint smile.

"Your good intentions, fellow cultivators, I have received them; this is my decision, so here I wish you boundless futures."

He bowed deeply, as thanks for their companionship along the way.

Several people bowed in return, wanting to keep speaking, but in the end they fell silent.

The White Deer King turned, looked toward the road they had come from, took a deep breath, and said: "I'm leaving now, fellow cultivators—take care."

He waved his hand, and the White Deer King went back.

Those left behind stood there dazed, staring at the White Deer King's retreating back, and for a moment all were silent.

They didn't know what to do, nor what to do.

After a long while, one person spoke: "Let's also go forward; the enemies behind could catch up at any time, but with Your Majesty White Deer King distracting them, we can gain more time to escape."

"We must cherish the time the White Deer King bought for us, and not let his sacrifice go to waste."

"Fellow cultivators, move forward."

Several others nodded, but did not move; instead they stared fixedly in that direction, lost in thought.

After a moment, the crowd began their journey; they could not linger, nor indulge in sorrow.

Parting is sorrowful, but they cannot remain sorrowful forever.

"Go."

"Go."

Before departing, they together performed a salute toward the White Deer King's figure.

Turned and left, quickly disappearing into the forest.

On the other side.

Huang Family.

After Chen Qinglian and Qi Haoyang joined the Huang Family, they received the Huang Family's favor, especially the maids around them, who were very beautiful.

They are girls specially selected by the Huang Family, each outstanding, all to let Chen Qinglian and Qi Haoyang leave a bloodline.

The Huang Family's scheming was naturally seen through by Chen Qinglian and them, they just didn't expose it.