Not a Good Feeling

Once again, the two of them silently walked through the Yun Zou Sect. Jing Yi looked around the place where he had spent several years of his life, feeling like he was home again. This was the place where he had met Qiu Ling and even though they hadn't actually spent too much time here together, it was still a place that he cherished. After all, if he hadn't come here, he wouldn't have been able to become a cultivator either. And without becoming a cultivator, there was no way for him to be together with Qiu Ling. So in a way, them being able to be a couple was all thanks to the Yun Zou Sect.

Jing Yi was submerged in sweet thoughts but Qiu Ling felt like he was being tortured. Even though Jing Yi wasn't talking, even his silent presence reminded him of Jing He.

How often had they spent time like this together? Quietly walking through Jing He's garden or maybe through the capital city, Jing He not saying a word for several hours if he wasn't prompted. In the beginning, Qiu Ling had often tried to fill the silence, hoping that it would bring them closer together. And when they had finally been close, he had found out that it wasn't necessary to say anything. Just a gesture or a gaze was enough for them to know what the other was thinking. And quietly spending time like this satisfied both of them.

Now, he was once again silently walking with somebody but it was the person that might replace Jing He. Thinking about it like that, his stomach churned and he felt his blood boil. If he could, he would've loved to just destroy something. Just let the frustration that he felt right now out in some way. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. Because if he did, then he'd have to explain to Jing Yi and he couldn't do that.

Qiu Ling stopped walking and turned to Jing Yi. Right now, there was only one thought in his mind. He had to get away. He had to leave at least for a while so he wouldn't have to think about it any longer. "Let me bring you back to the hut. I'll go and try to find out where Leng Jin Yu went. And if I can't, I'll just go and ask my Master. He's also a cultivator so he should know, shouldn't he?"

Jing Yi nodded. "Thank you." He reached up and cupped Qiu Ling's cheeks, tiptoeing and kissing him on the lips. "I'm so happy that you're with me."

Jing Yi gave a bright smile but Qiu Ling only felt as if a knife had been rammed into his heart and twisted. This smile … It was too different from Jing He's. Way too different. And when he looked at it right now, he really missed Jing He's smile.

Still, he couldn't bring himself to show his reaction. He forced himself to smile back at Jing Yi and nodded, leaning forward and hugging Jing Yi, turning his head to the side to hide his expression. "I'm also happy." He didn't manage to say more than that. He could only think of Jing He's face, the way he smiled, the way he looked at him, the way he carefully reached out but didn't really dare to touch him. This way of kissing him … never would have happened with Jing He. That made him feel even more as if he was betraying the person he loved. It wasn't a good feeling.

Qiu Ling stepped back and motioned over in the direction of the house. "Alright, let's go then." He grabbed Jing Yi around the waist and pushed off the ground, flying over. Thinking about it now, just a while before he had been doing exactly the same thing. Flying around, making sure that Jin Ling wouldn't have any opportunity to get close to Jing Yi. At that moment, he hadn't been able to think of anything other than keeping him safe. Maybe not having anything to do was a problem for them. Maybe as long as there was something from outside, he would be able to forget about this.

Qiu Ling brought Jing Yi over to the bamboo house and put him down gently, giving another smile even though it remained strained. "Then … I'll go and look for my Master."

Jing Yi nodded. "Thank you. Again." He wanted to hug him once more but when he reached out, Qiu Ling had already stepped back and pushed off the ground, flying up into the air and finally vanishing in the distance.

Jing Yi slightly furrowed his brows. It seemed all of this had worried Qiu Ling much more than he was willing to say. In that case, he really had to try hard to make sure that he could ascend as soon as possible. He couldn't let Qiu Ling worry any longer. No, this man had done so much for him, it was time for him to repay him. And even if there wasn't much that he could do for him, he could at least make sure that he wouldn't worry him as much anymore.

Jing Yi went into the house and sat down on the bed in the Lotus position, starting to cultivate. Ah, it would be good if he knew which stage of cultivation he had managed to reach in the High Heavens. And how many stages were there anyway? He had never asked about that but right now, he was curious. He could only hope that Qiu Ling's Master would be willing to offer some advice. That way, he might not need as long as he would if he was left to his own devices.