Chapter 164 - Maybe I’ll Reconsider

Jing Yi took a deep breath. It really wasn't Qiu Ling's fault this time, he couldn't argue that. It was his own indecisiveness that had led to this outcome.

"Senior martial brother Qiu —"

"Just call me Qiu Ling."

Jing Yi nodded. If he didn't, that guy would probably never listen to him. "Qiu Ling, listen: This got a little out of hand. I … I also don't know why I've done that but you should know that I didn't reconsider anything. I still don't want to marry you."

Qiu Ling blinked. Huh? What was his beloved saying?

Jing Yi saw that he was lost. He closed his eyes and sighed. Damn. He really had done it now. Qiu Ling had already been so persistent before when he had rejected him in a straightforward manner. Now that he had shown weakness in front of his relentless pursuing wouldn't he double his efforts?

Qiu Ling observed Jing Yi's expression. Mn, those closed eyes … He bent down and kissed the corner. Jing Yi's eyes flew open. That guy! What did he think he was doing?! "Qiu Ling …"

"Mn …" Qiu Ling only gave a murmur as an assent and continued to rain some kisses on Jing Yi's cheek. Forget about his beloved saying he hadn't reconsidered. He was probably just embarrassed. Mn, it was understandable. After rejecting him like that he just felt bad about giving right in. Now, he needed to be slowly persuaded. No problem there! Hadn't he done just that for ten years in the nine heavens? He already had lots of experience with it!

"I love you", he whispered into Jing Yi's ears but he didn't give him time to react. Instead, he cupped his cheeks and kissed him again. Jing He would never just admit to it. Not for now anyway. He needed time. And Qiu Ling was more than willing to give it if that meant being able to hold him in his arms again in this lifetime.

Jing Yi lay there in a daze. How had they gotten back to kissing again? This guy … he really couldn't do anything about him. And actually … If he ignored the strange feeling he had gotten at the beginning, then it didn't feel bad to be with him. In fact, he really liked it. It gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling he had never felt before.

Was this … love?

Jing Yi peered into Qiu Ling's face. His senior martial brother had closed his eyes but even without seeing his gaze he could tell how earnest Qiu Ling was in his pursuit. He might have proposed to him on the spot but he was obviously serious.

He even got that drunk because I rejected him … It's as if I … actually broke his heart yesterday. And now he's so happy because he thought I had reconsidered.

He slowly extended his hand and slid his fingers into Qiu Ling's black hair. Qiu Ling lifted his head and opened his eyes, a happy smile contained in his gaze. Jing Yi smiled back at him. Maybe … he shouldn't reject him outright.

"Qiu Ling."

"Mn?"

"Wait a moment."

Considering how his beloved had just looked at him, Qiu Ling indeed stopped. He didn't get up, though, and just propped himself up on his elbows, looking at Jing Yi's face.

"I …" Jing Yi licked his lips. He really didn't know how to say this.

"What is it, my love?" Qiu Ling took his hand and interlaced their fingers.

Jing Yi looked at that hand that was so gentle towards him. "I don't know how to say this but … maybe … Give me a bit of time to think this through, alright?"

"Mn." Qiu Ling nodded and started to wait.

Jing Yi, too, waited. When he noticed that Qiu Ling still didn't want to get up, he frowned. "Didn't you just agree?"

"Sure! So, have you thought it through?" Whatever 'it' was. Qiu Ling didn't really understand what his beloved meant, after all, he was still under the misconception that Jing Yi had already reconsidered.

Jing Yi sighed. "Qiu Ling, how long do you intend to stay like this? Look at what time it is."

Qiu Ling gazed at the window blankly. The sun had already risen but one clearly couldn't call the time late. "Isn't it still early? We can still stay in bed for one or two hours. Ah, my love, these morning hours are precious. We shouldn't waste them!"

"Indeed. So, please get up now."

Qiu Ling turned a deaf ear once again.

Jing Yi frowned. "Qiu Ling, if you want me to reconsider my rejection, then you'll get up. Right. Now."

Qiu Ling sat up at once, smoothed out his robes, pushed back his hair and put on a brilliant smile. "Oh, so you were thinking about us. If that's the case …" He helped Jing Yi up and even went so far as to tidy up his robe for him. He really was on his best behavior right now.

Jing Yi sighed. Why couldn't he always be so reasonable? Then maybe … No, actually, had Qiu Ling not been how he was then he never would have thought about reconsidering.

"So … My love, is there anything I can do for you?"

Jing Yi shook his head and used the opportunity to stand up. "It's alright."

"Are you sure? Maybe there is something you want me to do for you or anything you want to have? Ah! I know! You're still a mortal. You'll need to eat, right?" He leaped to his feet and ran out before Jing Yi had time to say anything.

Jing Yi could only shake his head and sigh. The sect didn't lack in food for the mortals in the outer sect. There was no need to trouble his senior martial brother with that but, well, it was already too late. He could only wait until Qiu Ling came back.

Jing Yi started to wash up and put on a clean robe but his thoughts couldn't help but remain with Qiu Ling. Why was this guy so easily excitable? Though, it was nice seeing him so earnest about this. He was obviously trying to impress him. "Mn, it would be nice if I could talk about all this with mother …" Though, at the same time, he dreaded going back to the capital. After all, he hadn't managed to cultivate even after five years. He was afraid his mother might be disappointed in him.

No, he had to find out what to do on his own.

"Eh?" Just when Jing Yi had resolved himself to do so, the door had opened again. Qiu Ling had already returned and, upon hearing Jing Yi's mumbling, his face actually lit up. "Did I just hear you say that you wanted to see mother-in-law?" He put the spirit fruits in his hands down and hurried over.

Jing Yi tensed. What mother-in-law?! This guy was seriously getting ahead of himself! "I was thinking about my mother."

"Mn! How about I'll take you there?" Qiu Ling's eyes gleamed. This was just perfect! His mother-in-law liked him and she had promised him to help if her son liked him back. And his beloved was obviously reciprocating his feelings, he was just too shy to admit it. If he talked it over with his mother, he would definitely accept him wholeheartedly!

After all, hadn't exactly the same thing happened back then? Jing He had also been afraid at first but after having a good talk with the Heavenly empress, he slowly eased up in Qiu Ling's presence.

Jing Yi looked at Qiu Ling in a daze. "You … want to take me to the capital?"

"Yes!" Qiu Ling nodded eagerly. "Ah, you'd best pack your things right now! I'll take you there immediately!"

Jing Yi opened his mouth but didn't find anything to say. Why was Qiu Ling this thrilled at the prospect of meeting his mother?

Qiu Ling gripped his hands. "My love, there is no need to wait! Actually, while we're at it, why don't we travel a little longer? Didn't you want to experience adventures? We can go and do that together right now!"

Jing Yi's expression eased and he smiled a little. So this was what was up. Qiu Ling wasn't this excited because he would meet his mother, instead, he was excited because they would spend a lot of time together when they traveled.

"There is one problem, though: We can't just leave the sect grounds without reason." There were rules in the Yun Zou sect, after all.

"Tch." Qiu Ling furrowed his brow. "What without reason? We're going to temper ourselves in the outside world! Come, I'll take you to see my Master. He'll definitely allow it and who would dare refute him?" He grabbed Jing Yi's waist and pulled him out of the door, just barely remembering to pick up the fruits and stuffing them into Jing Yi's hands. He couldn't let his beloved go hungry, after all!

"Qiu Ling!" Jing Yi wanted to protest but they had already arrived at the building's doorstep. Qiu Ling, faced with the prospect of getting his mother-in-law's help and spending lots of time with his beloved while traveling outside, didn't hesitate and just took to the air, flying over to his master's palace. He couldn't waste even one minute!