Jing Yi, of course, didn't want to let the matter go like this. After all, how would they leave here if Qiu Ling didn't confront his inner demon? "Qiu Ling? Tell me who she is, alright? What happened to her? I'm sure —"
"Oh! Listen to this!" Qiu Ling flipped him around in his arm so that Jing Yi's back was pressed against his chest. He had to face away from the woman and look down the stream like this, so he would hopefully forget about her soon.
Qiu Ling encircled his waist and bent his head until his lips were next to Jing Yi's ear. "A flash of blue like water in front of a man dying of thirst, a sound like wind chimes making my heart beat faster, inky-black silk begging me closer to sample, that bothersome word now the sweetest promise."
Jing Yi shuddered at the feeling of Qiu Ling's warm breath against his skin. His mind went blank and he had problems following what Qiu Ling was saying. Why were his legs suddenly so weak? He felt like he needed Qiu Ling's arms to stay upright.
Qiu Ling waited with bated breath after he finished his poem but he didn't get an answer. Mystified, he craned his neck and looked into his beloved's face. As soon as he saw the blush that had crept up his cheeks and the dazed look in his eyes, a smile broke out on his face.
Ah! His beloved was so touched that he didn't know what to say! Words were actually failing him! How great!
Qiu Ling was especially proud of himself, after all, it wasn't a secret that Jing He was eloquent and composed. Stumping him for words was a task not easily accomplished. And he had done it with his love confession!
"Mn, my love, if you're too touched for words, why don't you kiss me?" Qiu Ling turned him around again, cradled the back of his head and gently pressed his lips against Jing Yi's.
Jing Yi still hadn't really come out of his daze. Being suddenly kissed threw him completely off his guard. He somehow reached out with his hands but he didn't know what to do. Pulling him closer? Pushing him away?
Qiu Ling made the decision for him. He picked him up from the ground without stopping to kiss him. Jing Yi could only cling to his neck. Qiu Ling carried him over to the tree trunk where he had been sitting before and took a seat once again. He didn't let Jing Yi out of his arms, though.
"Qiu Ling …" Jing Yi finally found his voice again but he only got out Qiu Ling's name before his lips were once again taken over. In the end, he just closed his eyes. Whatever. They hadn't seen each other for so long. Why should he make Qiu Ling confront his past immediately? They could certainly take a bit of time for themselves.
He gripped Qiu Ling's shoulders and leaned closer. Qiu Ling still felt like it wasn't enough, though. He reached up and undid the knot in Jing Yi's hair, letting the black strands cascade down. They formed a curtain on both sides of their faces and kept out everything else in his inner self.
They continued to kiss until both of them were breathless, their hearts beating faster than they had ever before.
"Jing He, I love you", Qiu Ling whispered. "You can't even imagine how much I love you."
Jing Yi smiled. "You still can't remember my name?"
"Of course, I can. You're Jing He. My Jing He." His hand found its way up Jing Yi's chest toward his lapel. Right now, he felt like Jing Yi wouldn't reject him. If he used this opportunity, there would be no going back. They could be officially wedded in the eyes of the dragon race and even the heavenly emperor might not say anything after they had already done the deed.
Before he could decide, Jing Yi had already caught his hand. "I love you, too."
Qiu Ling sighed inwardly. He had hesitated a bit too long. Now, he'd have to wait for another opportunity. But, well, it wasn't that bad. His beloved was right: This wasn't a good place to get married. It really wasn't. And his beloved should have the best possible place, the best of everything. Their first time together was supposed to be an unforgettable experience for him. One he would love to think back to.
Qiu Ling smiled and cupped Jing Yi's cheeks, giving him a small peck on his lips. "Alright. Let's get out of here."
Jing Yi raised his brows. Just like that? If it was that easy, shouldn't Qiu Ling have been able to free himself a long time ago? Why had he been in a coma for the last two weeks then? "How do you want to get out?"
Qiu Ling smiled. "You don't have to worry about it. Just let me take care of it."
Jing Yi looked into those eyes that had taken him captive from the moment he first saw him. He felt an inexplicable trust towards him. If Qiu Ling said that he could get them out of here, then he probably could. He nodded and stood up from Qiu Ling's lap.
Qiu Ling followed him and gently turned him around again. "Don't look."
"Mn." Jing Yi nodded and waited.
Qiu Ling went over to the red-haired woman and stared down at her sitting figure. He couldn't talk since Jing Yi was there with him but in the end, maybe there wasn't anything he had to say.
He had killed her because she had seen something she shouldn't have. He was sorry for that and yes, he did feel a bit guilty. After all, this had been a young life. She hadn't deserved dying. Especially not at the hands of the man she had fallen in love with. But … if he was in the same situation again, he would still do it all the same. Because he had to keep this secret. At all costs. And that included her life.
He took his sword out of his spatial ring and peeked at Jing Yi. Good, his beloved was still obediently facing the other direction. Qiu Ling unsheathed his weapon and took one last look at the woman in front of him. Honestly, he didn't even remember her name. Well, maybe he hadn't known it in the first place.
He shook his head to clear it of these random thoughts and brandished his sword. The woman's head fell to the ground with a thump.
"Qiu Ling, what —" Before Jing Yi could turn around and ask his question, a warm hand covered his eyes.
"Don't look."
Qiu Ling silently sheathed his sword and put it back into his spatial ring. Then, he looked up at the sky and waited. He had dealt with her already. Now, the sky should light up and they should be transported out of this dimension.
The seconds trickled by but nothing happened. Qiu Ling frowned. This couldn't be! Why were they still in here?! No, they had to get out! He had already told Jing Yi that he should just trust him with this! How would it look like if he was unable to get them out now?! This was a complete loss of face! And that in front of his beloved!
Qiu Ling hugged Jing Yi to his chest, prepared to burst into tears. This was the worst day of his life!