Jing Yi kept quiet for a while, imagining how he'd someday get to see the real place. While he did so … his gaze grew complicated. He had promised Qiu Ling that he would let his other self take over after he had more time but if he was honest, then he didn't want to do that. Anyway, he at least wanted to spend his life with Qiu Ling. Being allowed to see the dragon realm shouldn't be too much, right? But for that, he would first need to ascend. And if he wanted to do that, then he needed to get stronger. He had already seen before what would happen if he wasn't. He could never bring Qiu Ling into such a situation ever again.
Thinking of that, Jing Yi looked at Qiu Ling and determination entered his eyes. He took Qiu Ling's hands and gave him a smile. "Qiu Ling, I thought about it. What happened before was my fault."
Qiu Ling blinked his eyes. "Your fault? It couldn't be." He paused and furrowed his brows. "Actually, what are you talking about?"
Jing Yi laughed and then leaned forward, kissing his lover's brow. "You'd just say it's not my fault regardless of what it is, won't you?"
"Nothing could ever be your fault."
Jing Yi squeezed his hands and nodded. In Qiu Ling's eyes, that was probably the truth. "Well, let's say it's not entirely my fault. But when that Elder Gongxi wanted me to fight, it wouldn't have been a problem if I was strong enough to just do so But I'm not. I don't know how to fly, I don't know how to use a sword, and I can barely use my spiritual energy. Whether it's being a cultivator or a practitioner, I'm a letdown. So … Would you teach me?"
Qiu Ling pulled him into his arms and kissed his cheek. "Didn't I promise to teach you how to fly before? Naturally, that still stands."
"That too. But I meant would you mind to teach me not only how to fly but also the rest?" Jing Yi reached up and wrapped his arms around Qiu Ling's neck. "I don't want to be useless baggage. I want to stand at your side and at least be able to hold anyone off until you're able to deal with them. So I need to be able to get away if something happens or defend myself. These kinds of things. I don't expect to ever be as good as you but I just don't want to be a burden."
Qiu Ling looked at him, his gaze complicated. His beloved learning how to use a weapon … This wasn't that easy to accept. Jing He had always kept away from anything that had to do with the war. As the Son of Heaven, he was precious. Qiu Ling didn't know too much but as far as the rumors went, the Heavenly Emperor wouldn't be able to have another child so Jing He was truly the only heir of the Nine Heavens. Naturally, the gods wouldn't want him close to any weapons. And with Jing He's personality, it wasn't a wonder that he had obliged.
Even if he was asked to, Qiu Ling wouldn't be able to imagine Jing He holding a sword. It just … didn't fit him. With everything else, he might believe that it was just because it was what was expected of him but he honestly believed that Jing He wasn't one to get involved in any conflict. He wouldn't want to fight. He would want to try and find another way to deal with things.
So being asked to teach Jing Yi made him feel strange. After all, Jing He would also remember these things. Letting him more or less experience what it would be to hold a weapon and maybe even attack somebody in the future … He didn't know if he wanted that.
But then again, this was currently Jing Yi's life. And he was right that there might be situations in the future where he would need this knowledge. What if he was alone and got attacked? What if they got into a situation where he wouldn't be able to keep him safe? What then? He also didn't want anything to happen to Jing Yi.
Jing Yi saw Qiu Ling wavering and he couldn't help but feel downcast. "You don't want to?"
Qiu Ling's grip around his waist tightened and he looked into Jing Yi's eyes, trying to decide what was right. "It's not that I don't want to. I just … I don't know if it's the right thing to do."
Jing Yi nodded but he couldn't help but question just what Qiu Ling's reason to say that was, a spark of jealousy hitting him once again when he thought of how it was most likely because of his other self. He forcibly pushed the thought away. "Well, you don't have to teach me everything at once. I mean we'll have to wait in here for quite a while until we can be sure that the people from the Chun Feng Sect left, isn't that so? In that case, just teach me how to fly first. You promised that already, didn't you? So that shouldn't be a problem."
Qiu Ling nodded. "Of course. Since I said that I'd do it, I will do it."
"Then let's just focus on that first. And when you feel that I'm good enough at it, then you can decide whether or not you want to teach me the rest. It's alright. Before that, we don't even have to talk about it."
Qiu Ling still hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright. You won't be angry because of that, will you?"
Jing Yi shook his head. "No. You will have your reasons. Maybe you'll be able to explain it later on. Until then … Let's just focus on one thing. Anyway, it's something I wanted to learn for a while now. It's good to start with that right?"
Qiu Ling nodded and then motioned over to the door. "So do you want to go right now?"
"If it's not asking too much. I would love to."
Qiu Ling nodded and got up, pulling Jing Yi to his feet as well. "Let's go then. I'm sure you'll pick up on it in no time."
Jing Yi didn't say anything and just squeezed Qiu Ling's hand, following him into the courtyard.