Needless to say, Xiao Dong didn't manage to pass on his message to Qiu Ling in time. One day in the immortal realms was a year in the mortal realms. After entering the dragon realm again, one could imagine how fast he would have needed to be to warn his king in time. Thus when Qiu Ling and Jing Yi arrived at the Leyuan region with Yu Jin, Xiao Dong hadn't even managed to get to the capital yet.
The dragon king had no idea of the danger his subject had found out about so Qiu Ling was still all smiles when he saw Grandmaster Zhangsun leading the group of disciples from the Yun Zou Sect. He hurriedly flew over and beamed at him.
"Master! Look, Jing'er and I already accomplished the mission the Sect Master gave us!" So, why don't you admit my beloved into the inner sect right now so that we can marry? I don't care for any secret realms anyway!
Zhangsun Xun Yi tightened his lips. It wasn't hard to guess what his disciple was thinking about. "Qiu Ling, I have to talk to you for a bit." He motioned to the side, effectively stunning Qiu Ling into silence. When his disciple kept mum the Grandmaster turned to Jing Yi. "Jing Yi, I don't know how much Sect Master Yuchi wrote in the message he sent over. Why don't you go and have the other disciples tell you and disciple Yu Jin about the reason we've come here?"
Jing Yi nodded and wanted to wriggle out of Qiu Ling's grasp but his fiance held onto him fast. Jing Yi gave a sigh and looked up at him to remind him but he was met with Qiu Ling's rapidly darkening expression.
"You wouldn't want to renege on your promise again, would you?!" Qiu Ling's voice wasn't lowered at all.
Every single disciple that had come heard loud and clear what he said. What was this about? What kind of promise was there between this Master and disciple? And why would an honorable man like the Grandmaster renege on it?
Zhangsun Xun Yi didn't grow angry. This situation was indeed his fault. Naturally, his disciple was cautious after what had happened the last time. "That's not it."
"You're saying that now! You —"
"Qiu Ling." Jing Yi gently put a hand on Qiu Ling's arm. "It's alright. The Grandmaster just wants to speak to you for a bit. Why don't you go over and hear what this is about? He's your master. Isn't it normal that there are things he would only tell you but can't say in front of me? I'd also like to hear more about this secret realm from the others."
"But —"
"He already said it's not about that." Jing Yi tiptoed and kissed Qiu Ling's cheek.
Qiu Ling pursed his lips. His arms loosened a bit but he wasn't reconciled yet. He didn't want to let go. Not just because of what his so-called Master might want to say but also because he was a bit afraid. They might have left the Hei Dian Sect but that didn't mean that that bastard wouldn't still try to plot against them.
"Qiu Ling?" Jing Yi was growing restless. Even though the sect hadn't sent that many disciples in comparison to the number of people that were part of it overall, there were still fifty pairs of eyes staring at them.
"Ugh. Fine!" Qiu Ling let go but bent down and gave Jing Yi another kiss. Naturally, he didn't just settle for his cheek. "I'll be back at your side in a minute. Be careful."
Jing Yi smiled. "You're thinking too much. We're not even in the Hei Dian Sect anymore. What could happen to me?"
"Ah, you never know …"
Before his fiance could find another opportunity to latch onto him Jing Yi hurriedly slipped away. He wanted to go over to the other disciples but the way they looked at him was strange.
Jing Yi paused and his face flushed red. Well, he couldn't fault them. Qiu Ling was really … He looked around for Yu Jin but that taciturn Senior Martial Brother of his was staring at the air with his brows furrowed as if he was able to see more than him. Maybe he could already perceive that secret realm?
Faced with this obvious difference between them Jing Yi didn't dare to go over to him either. Just like that, he was forced to awkwardly stand alone somewhere in the middle. He really didn't know what to do.
"Junior Martial Brother Zhong." Qiguan Cheng Da used the opportunity to make his way over with a fake smile.
Jing Yi answered with a relieved smile of his own and hurried toward him, meeting him halfway. "Senior Martial Brother Qiguan, I'm glad you're alright. I was worried when the sect sent over Senior Martial Brother Yu to get our report again."
Qiguan Cheng Da frowned slightly. The sect had sent over that Yu Jin? His gaze wandered to the side. Why would they do that? "Oh, is that why Senior Martial Brother Yu arrived together with you?"
"Mn. We had just given our report again when the Sect Master's message arrived stating that the three of us should come over here."
"So it's like that. Well, there was probably some misunderstanding." Qiguan Cheng Da gave a condescending smile. What a joke! Yu Jin had been there when he reported to the Sect Master. What kind of misunderstanding could have happened? It was obvious that they hadn't trusted what he said and so sent Yu Jin over, too.
"I guess so. Well, the most important thing is that you're alright."
"I am. Junior Martial Brother Zhong doesn't have to worry. It's just a pity that Senior Martial Brother Yu had to make a pointless trip."
Jing Yi lowered his head in shame, his cheeks once again flushed red. "Well … Actually, the week after you went back we already managed to find out what had happened to those two disciples."
Qiguan Cheng Da frowned even more before hurriedly smoothing out his expression and putting on a happy smile. "Ah, that's good then. Senior Martial Brother Yu is such an important figure in the sect. I was afraid he would have wasted his time. But if it's like this, then I worried too much."
Jing Yi nodded but he still felt bad. "I'm sorry. It was only a few days but we couldn't tell you much. Who knew everything would have been resolved so fast after you left?" He blushed even more, his heart rate picking up. Heavens, he really didn't want to lie! But what could he say? They had already lied to him back when he came to get their report since they didn't have any evidence. Now it was too late to tell the truth.
Qiguan Cheng Da's eyes narrowed slightly. He was distrustful by nature and coupled with Jing Yi's — in his eyes pretend — bashful look he was even more sure that all of this had been a ploy. After all, what could they have found out in a week? This had obviously just been done to make him look bad! What would the Sect Master think if he brought over one report and a week later his own disciple brought over another one? He would think that he had lied!
This Zhong Jing Yi! He actually dared to make a fool out of him and destroy his opportunities! If it's like this, then don't blame me for being ruthless.