While Leng Jin Yu wanted to find out more about the things Jing Yi had seen Grandmaster Zhangsun had gotten the message from the sect master and hurried over to Yu Jin's house. Seeing Jinde upon entering he gave a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad nothing happened to you."
Jinde smiled. "It's alright. He didn't see me. I just … would like to stay here for a while longer." He picked up the painting Yuchi Bing Xia had put down on the table when he helped him sit down.
At this place, he would probably feel a bit better. Even though he still had to wait for Chun Yin to come back he might be able to see him a bit sooner if he did so in this house. After all, wouldn't he come back home first?
Yuchi Bing Xia cleared his throat. "Well, the person has been found. I guess I'm not needed here anymore so I'll take my leave now." He nodded at Grandmaster Zhangsun and then at Jinde before leaving the house, his heart thumping madly.
Ah, he wasn't made for this! How could anyone expect a single man to face such a beauty?! Not that he would dare to think about making a move on him. Appreciating his beauty was really the only thing he could do. A human — even if he became immortal — still shouldn't think about going after a god.
"Thankfully Yu Jin isn't one to be swayed by beauty. When he gets back I'll announce him as my successor and then bring him over to meet that person. Yes, I'll do that." Yuchi Bing Xia nodded and hurried back to his palace. He really couldn't wait to leave that house behind. As long as that person was there he couldn't relax at all. Ah, beauty really was a weapon.
In Yu Jin's house, Zhangsun Xun Yi sat down opposite Jinde. "I'm sorry. Nobody should have entered the dimension. It was supposed to be your safe place."
Jinde shook his head and gently stroked the painting in front of him, his gaze gentle. "There is nothing you could have done. Jin Ling … he isn't someone that can be held back that easily. If he wants to do something, he will do it."
Zhangsun Xun Yi slightly frowned. "So you also know him. That makes it even worse."
"Your disciple told you about him already?"
"Not really. But it was obvious he knew about him. There seems to be some history between them."
Jinde smiled wryly. "You could probably say it like that."
"It seems that there is something more to this."
"Mn. It's … complicated. Jin Ling …" He sighed. "It's my fault. All of this is my fault."
Zhangsun Xun Yi shook his head. "I know this isn't something that concerns me. I shouldn't meddle. But I definitely won't believe that you are to blame for whatever happened."
Jinde lowered his head and looked at the painting in his hands again. "Blame … No, there isn't anyone to blame. Or if there is, then … that person would long be dead. Maybe not even him …" He shook his head and sighed before putting the painting down.
Zhangsun Xun Yi involuntarily took a look. His brows raised. That person … looked a lot like his disciple. Although … "May I?" He reached out but didn't dare touch the scroll.
Jinde nodded. "Don't mind me."
"This person is …?" He took the painting and scrutinized the face.
There were about eight parts similar to Qiu Ling. Those expressive eyes with their proud look, the straight nose and that pair of thin lips … There wasn't any difference in those.
What varied a bit was the way their eyebrows were shaped and the position of their cheekbones. This man seemed a little rougher around the edges in contrast to his disciple who had a face that seemed quite smooth and pleasant. Maybe it was because of that but the man in the painting seemed quite arrogant. His look might even be a bit condescending as if no one could meet his eyes.
"Qiu Ling's father." Jinde's gaze flickered.
Knowing that he had finally found Chun Yin it didn't feel as bad anymore but it still hurt to talk about him. After all, they still hadn't met each other again and who knew how it would end in this life? He would wait, naturally, but there was no guarantee he would get a happy end in the arms of the man he loved.
"Qiu Ling's father?" Zhangsun Xun Yi looked up and examined Jinde's expression.
"The man I loved. The reason why Jin Ling hates Qiu Ling so much."
"I'm afraid I can't follow."
Jinde sighed. "Chun Yin." He looked at the painting but his gaze grew distant. He obviously wasn't in that house anymore, waiting for the person he loved, but had instead returned to those days in his memories when he had still been at his side.
"I spent my brightest days with him but he was also the one who brought about my darkest time. In a sense, he was one of the main reasons Jin Ling became part of my life." Jinde smiled. "Speaking about him … You could probably say Jin Ling was the brightest hours I spent in that darkness. Unfortunately, fate seems to like playing jokes on me."
His smile disappeared and a hurt Zhangsun Xun Yi had never before seen in his face showed for just a moment before Jinde managed to control his expression again. The Grandmaster didn't know what to say or even think. Even when Jinde had talked about how he had lost the person he loved most and how he had had to leave his home he had never looked like this. Not this … regretful.
"Jin Ling …" Jinde shook his head. "He somehow fell in love with me but … us dragons are only able to give away our heart once and mine … mine was already with Chun Yin. Naturally, he started hating him. After Chun Yin's death, he probably transferred that hate onto Qiu Ling." He couldn't help but laugh when he said that, earning him a bewildered look from Zhangsun Xun Yi. "It's actually really funny. They hate each other so much but … they're actually very, very similar. If they knew, I really wonder how they would react."