Chapter 142 - Let’s Spend Some Time Together

Xiao Dong examined Jing Yi's expression. It was obvious that His Majesty's beloved didn't quite believe him.

"It has really happened like that."

"Mn." Jing Yi didn't say anything. He really didn't know what to make of this story. It sounded quite pitiful that the king had to stay alone because his senior martial brother died. Maybe he had really been deeply in love. But what was that supposed to tell him?

"I don't even know him." Jing Yi stopped walking and finally said what was bothering him deep down.

Xiao Dong halted. "You don't know him?" It needn't be said that when even Qiu Ling as the king of the dragons didn't understand the gods' trials, then a child like Xiao Dong certainly wouldn't either. He had somehow always been under the impression that Jing Yi as the one he knew as his king's beloved would still know Qiu Ling somehow.

"Mn. I mean: I saw him for the first time yesterday. I don't know much about marriage but as far as I know, my parents knew each other for many years when they married."

Xiao Dong grimaced. "My parents knew each other for thirteen days before they married." His parents were dragons, though. If they liked someone, they liked him. And in a normal situation, they wouldn't wait and just directly admit to it. If the other person liked them, too, well, congratulations! They would just immediately get married.

That had also been the reason why Qiu Ling had proposed to Jing He on the day of their first encounter. Screw the fact that it was the heavenly emperor's birthday banquet! He had seen the person he felt was fated for him. Why shouldn't he propose? If it had been possible, he would have dragged him back to his palace that very night and sealed the deal. Unfortunately, that person's father had been there and had foiled his plan. Well, Jing He wouldn't have agreed anyway considering Qiu Ling had needed a decade to finally woo him to the point of no return. And that had been with the Heavenly Empress' help. One didn't even want to imagine how much longer he would have needed without her.

"Thirteen days?" Jing Yi as someone who knew nothing of the dragon race couldn't understand. How could anyone marry this fast?

"Aren't thirteen days enough? If you love the other, then why not marry as soon as possible? The sooner you marry the more time you'll have with each other. Isn't that good? So, I think you should agree."

"But I don't love him."

In his hiding place, Qiu Ling clutched his chest. "My love! How can you say that in good conscience?"

Xiao Dong was completely shell-shocked, too. This … Why was His Majesty's beloved saying something like that?

"That … Uh. I really don't understand you. What don't you like about him? He's handsome and strong and has a high status. Isn't he awe-inspiring all over? What's not to love about him?"

Jing Yi frowned. "But is that really what makes one fall in love?"

Xiao Dong slid his fingers through his hair. "My mother always said she fell in love with my father's hair."

Jing Yi looked at Xiao Dong's hair. So, being handsome was really enough to fall in love with someone?

Xiao Dong winced. Damn, Jing Yi was still not convinced. He had to do something! "Then, why don't you go and get to know him better? He just said he'd give you seven days time to think it over. That doesn't mean he'll only return after a week, does it?"

Qiu Ling pursed his lips. In fact, he had planned to do just that. After all, that was what had furthered his relationship with Jing He. But in this case, it might really be better to go with the flow. Yes, he should do just that.

Qiu Ling hurried out of his hiding place and around the building and encountered Jing Yi and Xiao Dong at the next crossroad. Totally coincidentally, of course.

His eyes lit up and he hurried forward and grabbed Jing Yi's hands. "Jing He!"

"I'm called Jing Yi."

"Mn." Qiu Ling nodded in assent but it didn't seem like he was paying attention. In fact, he wasn't. After being apart from him for such a long time he just couldn't help himself. He had to look at him a little while longer. Well, Qiu Ling had conveniently forgotten that he had done just that the day before.

"Senior martial brother …"

"Ah, just call me Qiu Ling, my love."

"Senior martial brother Qiu, you —"

"Just Qiu Ling is alright. Really. There is no need to be so formal between us."

Xiao Dong looked at the two of them and silently withdrew. When Jing Yi looked over, he was already alone with Qiu Ling. Well, I might as well follow Xiao Dong's advice and get to know him a bit better. Then, when the seven days are over, I can give him my answer.

"Then, Qiu Ling, did you come over because of something specific?"

Qiu Ling nodded and inched closer. "I missed you. I wanted to see you."

Jing Yi didn't know what to say anymore. How come this man was so sure about this?

Qiu Ling smiled at his confused expression. "What is it, my love? Just tell me!"

"You … You seem really sure about this."

"But of course." He could finally see him again and get close to him again and this time his beloved didn't have such an infuriating father who would try to sabotage him on every step of the way! This was just too perfect!

"But why? I still don't understand."

"You will. I promise someday you'll fall in love with me just as much as I've fallen in love with you. And then you will understand naturally." He lifted his hand and gently stroked Jing Yi's hair back. It wasn't the same satiny feeling Jing He's hair had given him but it was nice all the same.

Actually, though he was vain and put much emphasis on appearances he didn't care about it with Jing He. This was the person he loved. Though he had been attracted by his appearance at first that wasn't the most important thing. The most important thing was still this person, this soul. Even if he hadn't reincarnated into a boy that was pretty for human standards he still would have followed him all the same.

"Jing He, my love, I know I was probably too hasty yesterday. I just couldn't contain myself. If you need more time than these seven days, then you can have them. Just … Just give me a chance, alright? Let me prove my worth to you. I'm sure you'll like me."

"Mn. Alright." Jing Yi tried to take his hands back, though. Who knew what the other person might have touched beforehand?

Qiu Ling held onto them stubbornly. "Seeing as we've met here so coincidentally, why don't we take a stroll? It's such nice weather today. Actually, I don't know much about the sect. I arrived five years ago but my master put me through training the whole time so I never had the opportunity to have a good look around."

Qiu Ling's words managed to divert Jing Yi's attention. "You came here five years ago, too?"

"Ah, did you arrive at the same time, my love?" Qiu Ling feigned ignorance. "This must be fate! Heaven wants us to be connected!"

Jing Yi's lips twitched. "Quite a few people arrived five years ago."

"What a coincidence!" Qiu Ling still smiled brightly.

Jing Yi didn't retort but he had his thoughts about it. Don't look at how he was barely fifteen now. After having been lied to his whole life he had become a lot more vigilant. He wouldn't just trust anything people told him anymore. And in this case, it was pretty obvious that Qiu Ling tried to find some connection between them.

"You do seem quite old to have only arrived five years ago."

Qiu Ling's brows twitched. Had his beloved just called him old? "I'm twenty … seven."

Did he hesitate there just now? Jing Yi blinked. He had heard of cultivators not growing older anymore when they reached a certain level. Maybe Qiu Ling had already managed that?

If that's the case, then he must be really good. The Elders and Masters all look so old already. They should all have taken a longer time than him to attain that level. He had to be a real genius.

Qiu Ling unwittingly smiled when he felt that worshiping gaze on him. Ah, being admired by the person he cared the most about felt really good. "So, what do you say, my love? Let's have a look around?"

Jing Yi nodded. "Alright." He took back his hands and started in the direction Xiao Dong and he had been going in.

Qiu Ling still smiled. He hurried after him and quite naturally took his hand. He had a lot of experience with being shameless when it came to wooing someone. And in contrast to Jing He, this mortal reincarnation of his should be easier to deal with. After all, he didn't have that cumbersome identity of the son of heaven.