Qiu Ling gritted his teeth. Unfortunately, Xin Lan was right. He couldn't deny that. "Then do you have a better plan?"
Xin Lan snorted. "As long as you don't know anything about that fallen god, it's futile to try to find something out in the Nine Heavens. And searching for him in the demon realm is just as impossible. He's a fallen god. If he doesn't want to be found, he won't be found. Or do you think you're better than Tian himself?"
Qiu Ling pursed his lips. He had never met this Tian so how would he know which one of them was better? Anyway, this guy still hadn't answered his question! "So what is your plan?"
"I don't have one. There is nothing you can do besides hoping that that fallen god will show mercy."
Qiu Ling looked at the projection and his lips slowly curved up in a smile. Thankfully, he had thought of a countermeasure before in case this guy was uncooperative. "Are you sure you can't come up with a plan?"
"I said so more than once, didn't I?"
"And you'll stand by that even if I could help you …" He leaned closer to Jinde and his lips curved even further. "Keep that bastard Jin Ling away from the old geezer?"
Xin Lan froze before pressing his lips together. "What are you even talking about? I'm already in the demon realm. That is more than enough protection for His Majesty."
"Are you sure? But I might have an even better way. A way that can ensure that Jin Ling won't even have a chance to see him if he somehow slips through your grasp. How does that sound? Interested?"
Xin Lan's lips opened but he didn't know how to retort. Before Qiu Ling had the chance to gloat, he was rapped on the head.
"Brat! Is that how you treat your elders?"
Qiu Ling looked up wronged. "What are you even saying? I'm helping you!"
"Helping me? As far as I can see you're trying to coerce Xin Lan into doing something dangerous!"
Qiu Ling pouted. "It's not like I told him to go fight against that guy. It's alright as long as he finds out where that guy stays or maybe something that I can use to find out more about him in the Nine Heavens. Something like where he came from or who's part of his family or something like that. Is that really so difficult?"
"Hmph." Jinde looked away and crossed his arms. This brat! If he had a way to keep Jin Ling away from him, then he should offer it up now! Waiting for so long, just what was his purpose? His marriage was suffering because of this kind of selfishness!
Jinde shook his head and sighed before turning back to Xin Lan. "Xin Lan, is there any way for you to get this kind of information without endangering yourself?"
Xin Lan lowered his gaze, not daring to look into his Master's eyes for fear of having him realize just how much his worry made him happy. "If it is just gathering some information … I might be able to do that. I can't promise anything though." He looked up again, his gaze holding Jinde's for a moment.
"Alright. Then try to find something. But if it's too dangerous, then don't force yourself."
Qiu Ling turned toward him. "On whose side are you?"
"My own."
Beside them, Leng Jin Yu sighed. He could probably be happy that this so-called son of his wasn't living with them. Well, he could understand his frustration a little. Seeing Jinde worry about Xin Lan that much … He looked at Jinde and his gaze softened.
He also knew he was stupid, worrying about this but he wasn't a dragon anymore. He couldn't help being afraid of somebody taking the love of his life away. Especially if it was someone Jinde had been so close to for so long. It made him feel that he had to do something. But even in this situation, he had barely been helpful. In fact, the one suggestion he had made had been denied by Xin Lan and in a rigorous manner at that. It had seemingly been directed at Qiu Ling but it had still been his idea in the beginning. Was there really nothing he could do to help?
Jinde glanced over when he felt his husband's gaze. Seeing Leng Jin Yu's pensive and somewhat lost look, his brows furrowed slightly. Just what was he thinking? Not being able to guess it irked him. This was his husband. He should know what was going through his head. He reached out just when Qiu Ling turned around to them.
"The two of you, could you stop flirting already? This is a serious matter!"
Xin Lan cleared his throat. "I'll … go and investigate then." With that, he cut the connection.
Qiu Ling ignored him and frowned at Leng Jin Yu instead. "You're really not taking me seriously."
Leng Jin Yu smiled. "I was trying to come up with something to solve this situation."
"Then what did you think of?"
"That …"
Jinde harrumphed. "Didn't you hear him say he was trying? He didn't finish thinking things through yet! Why are you disturbing him? You should go out and walk a lap around the sect grounds or something. Maybe go see your Master. When you come back we can talk slowly about everything."
"Oh." Qiu Ling got up indeed but didn't leave the house. Instead, he looked at the two of them, his gaze thoughtful. "You know … it's good you found each other again." With that, he tightened his lips and turned away, leaving them alone.
Leng Jin Yu blinked. "What was that just now?"
"Your son giving us his blessing, I guess." He sighed. "It's probably because the Son of Heaven was taken away. Right now he can imagine a little how it was for us to separate back then."
"Mn." Leng Jin Yu didn't respond. Back then … That was a time he didn't know about just like he didn't know about a lot of things. As Jinde's husband … he truly was lacking.