Jing Yi pulled at Qiu Ling's sleeve when they were out of sight and earshot. "Qiu Ling, what about the task the Sect Master gave us? Shouldn't we keep an eye on them?"
Qiu Ling also stopped and turned to his beloved, sweeping him up into his arms. "What about it? They'll have their hands full with preparing for the fight tomorrow so they don't lose too badly. They won't have the time to think about sniffing around.
"And anyway, what should we do? Stay with them in that courtyard? Even sleeping there? No way! I'm pretty sure nobody expects us to do that. This isn't even the only sect that has come to visit. The Yun Zou Sect might be able to have some disciples guard them during the day but they'll need to do something else for the night or it would be too obvious. I mean not that these sects wouldn't be able to figure out what we're doing but they still need to keep up the pretenses I guess."
Jing Yi couldn't help but furrow his brows. "Are you sure? This doesn't sound too … logical to me."
Qiu Ling smiled and leaned down, kissing his temple. "That's because you've never had to deal with politics. It's a messy thing. Normally, I'd also not want to get involved with it. But it's actually easier here. It's just that people want to get benefits but they don't want to be too open about it. They don't want others to have any benefits either. That's all there is to it. Just keep that at the back of your head and you'll be able to figure it out. It's … much worse in the immortal realms."
Jing Yi glanced at Qiu Ling's expression that seemed somewhat lost. "Then how is the situation in the immortal realms?"
Qiu Ling sighed. "Old. From a long time ago, there has been bad blood between the gods and the demons as well as between the dragons and the demons. The gods and the dragons do have an alliance that is almost as old but …" He interrupted himself and shook his head. "Honestly, it might be better if you don't know."
Jing Yi reached up and grabbed onto Qiu Ling's robe, nestling into his arms. "It is something that has been a part of you for many years. Of course, I should try to understand. Even if it's hard, I'd still like to try."
Qiu Ling looked at the person in front of him and gave a wry smile. If this was Jing He … He wouldn't need to explain anything. Jing He knew. He knew very well. That was one of the reasons why it had taken them so long to get together.
"The Heavenly Emperor doesn't like me very much. Part of it might be because he doesn't want to give his son to anybody but part of it might also be because he doesn't actually think too favorable of the dragons.
"Our race did originate from the demons. There is no way to explain that away. In the eyes of the gods, that has always made some slightly … uncomfortable when dealing with us. It's not something you can overlook either. The gods look a lot like humans: Dark hair, dark eyes. The dragons though …" He shook his head and sighed again.
"The only thing I can be kind of thankful for to my father was probably that he looked a lot more like them." He reached up and brushed through the black strands of his hair. "Most dragons look much more like the demons. Having colorful hair or eyes is the norm, some even have parts of skin that aren't quite like that of a human or god. If I looked like that, then there would have been no opportunity for me to be with Jing He ever in my life."
Jing Yi tightened his lips at the mention of that person. Well, he should've expected it. Qiu Ling had said that Jing He was the most important person in his life and if what the demon king had said was true and Jing He was really still alive and he was just a reincarnation that somehow managed to live while he was … whatever, then it was no wonder what Qiu Ling would be like this.
The pain in his voice hurt though. It really made him feel that he wasn't that much of a special person to Qiu Ling after all. Well, he shouldn't think about that. The person who had said that had been a demon. They couldn't be trusted, could they? He probably just wanted to make them separate. But then again …
He sighed and reached up, cupping Qiu Ling's cheeks. "I wouldn't mind. I love you just the way you are. I don't care if the dragons were demons once. I don't care about who your mother was either. You're … just you. Just Qiu Ling, the man I love. That's enough."
Qiu Ling nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes, I guess that's true." He leaned down and pulled Jing Yi closer, burying his face in his hair. Yes, Jing Yi didn't have the inhibitions that Jing He had had. He wasn't a god, he wasn't the one bound to inherit the throne to the realm of an entire race. He didn't have to weigh anything more than who he liked. To him, it was enough that the person he liked was himself.
As for himself … Was it enough? With all the doubts in his mind, Qiu Ling wasn't too sure about that.