You Can’t Have Both of Them

Qiu Ling pouted. "Then what about my cousin-in-law and Nie Huang? Don't tell me they'll have to separate after all."

"Aiya, don't be so hasty. It's not like I'm the only person in the world. Other than the possible pills, I also wrote down the names of a few people who would be able to refine a good one. I mean I could also refine one that's a little worse but from what Jin Yu just said I reckoned you'd like to have the best one."

"That …" Bai Mu leaned forward. "I wouldn't mind if it's not the best. With the spiritual energy in the dragon realm, it shouldn't be a problem for Nie Huang to cultivate quickly. And she only needs to get to the third stage in a short time. That shouldn't be impossible even with a pill that isn't the best."

Jinde raised his brows. "Qiu Ling, don't you think you should let me see the one speaking?"

"Ah? But aren't you in the Yun Zou Sect?"

Xin Lan grabbed his arm and forced it around, giving Jinde the chance to take a look at Bai Mu.

Jinde smiled. "Greetings. You should be Qiu Ling's cousin-in-law. He might have mentioned me. My name is Jinde."

"Ah, your … lover mentioned you before. It's a pleasure to meet you and I'm very grateful that you're willing to take the trouble to try and help Xiao Huang and me even though you're hurt this badly. Sorry for making you spent this much effort."

"It's alright. Aren't you also helping Jin Yu and me?"

"That … Qiu Ling already promised me something in return. I feel bad about asking even more of you now."

"Qiu Ling is my stepson so if you're his cousin-in-law, you're … something like my nephew-in-law?"

Bai Mu raised his brows. This was … Qiu Ling's stepfather? Then his lover … Ah? But wasn't he human? Bai Mu rubbed his forehead and stopped thinking about it. "In that case, is there anything I can do?"

"Not from my side. As I said there might be some people who could refine the pill in my stead. I'd like to ask Xin Lan over to get the list and tell me if they are still alive. Ah, right, it's because … Jin Yu might have told you but I couldn't go out for a long time already. I don't know what happened in the dragon realm these last few thousand years. They might not be there anymore. If they really aren't, then we'll try to think of something else."

"Alright. Thank you for the effort."

"No problem. I'd suggest that Qiu Ling goes to search for the ingredients already. They're mostly the same or at least they're of the same type. And having a bit more can't hurt. Qiu Ling can give everything that's over to the sect if he wants."

Qiu Ling wrested his arm out of Xin Lan's control and smiled at Jinde. "I know. It's alright. I'll find everything. Uh … what do I need to find?"

Jinde sighed and turned to look at Leng Jin Yu. "You tell him. Talking to your son always makes me tired."

"Hmph."

Leng Jin Yu smiled wryly and slid closer to Jinde. "We can give the list to Xin Lan when he comes here. If you want to do anything before that, just gather the same materials you gathered for the Amethyst Lightning Pill. They can all be used for one or two of these pills so they might come in handy."

"What if they don't?"

Jinde sighed and hugged his husband, leaning his head against his shoulder. "Wouldn't you have done merit for the sect of your beloved then?"

Qiu Ling nodded. "But Jing He won't return there, will he? I thought I'd take him back to the Nine Heavens after we get him back. It's much safer there."

Jinde frowned and straightened up. "What do you mean, you want to take him back to the Nine Heavens? Don't you want him to finish his trial?"

"Sure. But can't he do that in the Nine Heavens? He's always being kidnapped or imprisoned somewhere and I can hardly see him. I want to spend time with him again."

Jinde sighed. "Qiu Ling. I don't even know where to begin with educating you. Don't you know what happens if the reincarnation of a trueborn god ascends?"

Qiu Ling pondered. "Uh … They wake up in their real body?"

"No. They don't."

"They don't? But … What about Jing He then?"

"That's precisely it. There's nothing 'about Jing He' then."

Leng Jin Yu nodded. "Zhong Jing Yi is a mortal body formed for the trial that carries the crown prince's soul. If Zhong Jing Yi ascends now, then the soul will stay in that body which means His Highness won't wake up."

"Ah?"

"There is only one soul. You can't have both of them."

"But … but they're the same person! And why won't Jing He wake up? I …" He had already imagined it! His beloved would finally open his eyes and they could get married and have a child or two and —

Jinde snorted. "Well, he will. After the gods kill the mortal reincarnation."

"What do you mean 'kill'? Jing Yi is the Heavenly Emperor's son. Who would dare kill him? And never mind that old man, there's still me! I won't let anyone kill Jing Yi!"

"Then you won't get your real lover back. It's as simple as that. And the worst thing is that an ascended deity is especially strong right after their ascension. Fighting them will result in heavy losses on the side of the gods. But since they can't risk that they get away and never return they have to make sure they are dead."

Qiu Ling looked up at Xin Lan to see if he also thought the same. Unfortunately, that guy nodded. Qiu Ling gulped. So this meant … the things he had believed weren't true at all? Jing Yi ascending sooner wouldn't make Jing He return to his side faster? Instead, he would … Yes, what would happen to Jing He?

Qiu Ling prepared to speak up but finally stopped. Whatever it was, it wouldn't change anything, would it? He couldn't kill Jing Yi. And he couldn't let anyone else kill him either. This was his beloved. The fact that he had been reincarnated as a mortal didn't change that.