Jing Yi sighed. "You know, back when you proposed to me for the first time at the Gathering of Practitioners, I didn't know how to react. I only felt … vaguely afraid and something seemed to tell me that I shouldn't do this. So I rejected you. And I continued to do so until it became obvious you wouldn't stop trying.
"The more time we spent with each other, the less I had that feeling of dread. Instead, I felt better and better with you and I think it wouldn't be wrong to say that I came to love you when we were out traveling. And my feelings for you grew.
"Since you already know everything, there is no need to pretend anymore. I love you, Qiu Ling, I really do. But I found out that there is somebody else and that promise … can't be forgotten that easily. I've loved him too. And I feel that I owe him to search for him and at least make sure what has happened before.
"I'm sorry. Even though I love you and you love me, we can't be together."
He leaned forward and his lips gently pressed onto Qiu Ling's. Unfortunately, this kind of kiss wasn't meant to show his love. At least not only that. It was just as much used to apologize for his decision and to express his regret.
Qiu Ling grabbed onto his shoulders and pulled him closer, deepening their kiss. He wouldn't just let him go. Ten years of wooing Jing He, twenty years of waiting for his wishes to be fulfilled with Jing Yi … How could he give up now? He wrapped him in his arms, hoping that it might be enough to change Jing Yi's mind if he just showed him how close they actually were.
Jing Yi let him do as he liked. If he could do anything to make this more bearable for Qiu Ling, he would do it. All of this was his fault, after all. Qiu Ling shouldn't have to suffer because of that.
Qiu Ling kissed him. Feeling him neither reciprocate nor resist, he leaned back though. "You're not just going to let me do whatever I want, are you?"
Jing Yi smiled. "If it'll help you to let go."
Qiu Ling shook his head. "You just said you love me. How could I ever let go? Jing Yi. Jing He. I also love you. So why shouldn't we be together?"
"Maybe fate is like that."
Qiu Ling closed his eyes and sighed. Was this his fault? Had he been too hasty with saying the truth? They had already gotten closer but now the thing he had worried about had happened and Jing Yi didn't believe him anymore. Whatever he said it wouldn't change a thing. Right now, Jing Yi didn't trust him on this issue.
He could only accept how things were for now, let him calm down and then start another attempt. Or maybe … there was something he could do?
Qiu Ling tilted his head. Jing Yi already remembered. He knew who he had been and, most likely, he also knew about the trial. If that was the case, then there was no reason to keep secrets or not show him the truth. No, since Jing Yi already knew he could prove to him that he wasn't lying.
Qiu Ling's lips hooked up in a charming smile and he got up from the ground, reaching out to Jing Yi. "Alright. Let's see about that."
"Ah?" Jing Yi didn't understand what he was talking about but he still put his hand into Qiu Ling's and let him pull him to his feet. Well, even if Qiu Ling wouldn't be able to accept it, he still trusted him. He certainly wouldn't do anything that hurt him.
Qiu Ling pulled him up against his chest. "Jing'er, I'll prove to you just what is fated. You think there is some man called Tian in the Nine Heavens or the demon realm waiting for you? Then I will take you there. As soon as we've healed your soul, I'll bring you to the Nine Heavens. You can see for yourself whether there is anything leading to that Tian or if I'm right and everything you'll find will be my traces. Do you dare to take that gamble?"
Jing Yi took a shaky breath. Qiu Ling was so sure. Maybe … Just maybe this was indeed true. He didn't dare to hope yet though. After all, it could also be that Qiu Ling was just trying to convince him to give up on Tian with this display of assuredness. Maybe taking this gamble and finding out once and forever wouldn't be that bad.
He nodded. "Alright. Then let's do that. Where do we go to heal my soul?"
"Back to the Yun Zou Sect."
"The Yun Zou Sect?" Jing Yi blinked. He had thought Qiu Ling would bring him to the dragon realm or some other place in the immortal realms where he knew a lot of people and things like healing a soul were probably common. He certainly wouldn't have expected them to return to the Yun Zou Sect.
Qiu Ling nodded though. "There is someone in the Yun Zou Sect that should know a lot about this."
After all, the old geezer had been injured with the soul-devouring dagger and still survived somehow. Didn't this mean that he had a special way to heal a soul? Qiu Ling couldn't even begin to imagine how he might have gone about it but that made him even surer that asking Jinde would be for the best. Even if the way the old geezer had used back then wasn't suitable for Jing Yi now, he had to have researched that pair of daggers. If he could repair the damage caused by the soul-devouring dagger, then healing the damage done while using the soul-engraving dagger should be an easy feat for him.
Without another word, Qiu Ling picked Jing Yi up and soared into the sky to return to the Yun Zou Sect.