Considering the situation the Yun Zou Sect was currently in, Jing Yi insisted to first inform the Elder that was in charge of them before they left. Qiu Ling didn't mind at all. That guy was probably not even involved in the matter with the Chun Feng Sect so he wouldn't say anything to hold his beloved back.
Thus the two of them went and said their goodbyes before they eventually left the Yun Zou Sect once again the following morning. Jing Yi made it a point to use his own spiritual energy to fly much to Qiu Ling's dismay. Well, this was still the lesser of two evils so he only grumbled a bit and then let Jing Yi do as he wanted to. Anyway, when they were back in the capital city, there would be other chances to cuddle him.
Soon enough, the city appeared on the horizon and the two of them slowed down.
"It would probably be better to walk inside. Or what do you think?" Jing Yi looked over at Qiu Ling and regretted it as soon as he saw his expression. "Never mind. Let's land a bit away and walk inside. Even though they have some relations with the Yun Zou Sect, it'll still be better." He really didn't want to make any trouble for the sect. And with how Qiu Ling often behaved, he wasn't too sure if they wouldn't cause that trouble just by accident.
Qiu Ling pursed his lips but on second thought, this was also to his advantage. After all, this meant that there wouldn't be much information being spread about them. That way, the Chun Feng Sect would be less likely to discover them. Speaking of which … "Maybe we should also change our clothes to something different. You know, just in case."
Jing Yi looked at Qiu Ling warily. Was this really the person that normally didn't care about any of these things? He couldn't help but feel that it was odd but he didn't say anything about it and just nodded. This was what he had wanted, after all. Maybe Qiu Ling was just being a bit more considerate than usual.
The two of them landed and changed their clothes before walking the rest of the distance to the capital city. Looking around the familiar streets, Jing Yi couldn't help but feel melancholic. "Back then, I only lived here for about a year. I spent most of my time together with Shao Hai and a bit of it also with Xiao Dong toward the end. Now that I've returned while the two of them are at some unknown place … I can't help but feel a bit strange."
Qiu Ling gave a hum and pulled his beloved closer. "Anyway, I'm sure that Nian Hong Fang will be able to find something out by next week. Then, you only need to wait for his good news."
Jing Yi wasn't completely convinced but he still nodded. Anyway, in regard to that, they could only wait for now. There was no other way. He took a deep breath and then smiled, nodding further down the street. "Alright, let's go to the teahouse then. For the time being, there's no need to think about any of that."
Qiu Ling nodded and the two of them went to that familiar place. Upon entering the door, they were once again treated to the sight of the first floor being completely filled with customers.
Jing Yi's smile unwittingly turned brighter. It seemed that the teahouse was doing well. And with it, his mother and his father's family should also be doing well. That was very good.
He glanced at Qiu Ling and then stepped inside with him. He couldn't see his mother but there was another person that he felt to be vaguely familiar standing behind the counter. It was a young woman that looked a little older than him but only by a few years. The more closely looked, the more he felt that she had some resemblance to his uncle and aunt.
He furrowed his brows and then stepped closer to the counter, slightly inclining his head. "Guanyu?" It couldn't be anybody else. With how similar she looked, this could only be his cousin. In fact, it made sense. While he had gone and become a cultivator that had finally stopped aging, his cousin was a normal person. Of course, the past few years would've left traces on her so it was no wonder that she looked older than him now.
Zhong Guanyu looked up in surprise and then stared at Jing Yi in a daze. Considering that he hadn't aged for a few years, he resembled his past self much more than she did. Furthermore, he did look quite a bit like his mother whom she was seeing every day. "Brother Jing Yi?"
Jing Yi nodded and then turned to motion at Qiu Ling. "Yes, Qiu Ling and I came to visit. How are you doing?"
Zhong Guanyu turned to the person next to him and her expression turned subtle. Back then, she had also liked this man but there hadn't been any way for her to marry him since he had been so fixated on her cousin. She had thought that it wouldn't matter anymore since he wouldn't come back so she had married Xiao Li but seeing him again now, she couldn't help but regret a bit. What if she hadn't married already? Maybe she would've had a chance now?
Qiu Ling looked at her and didn't feel that he liked that gaze at all. Thankfully, she wasn't using it to look at his beloved. That would have been much more unforgivable. Anyway, he still didn't like to be looked at like that. "So, where is mother-in-law?"
Guanyu was startled awake by the question. "Mother-in-law?" She turned to look at Jing Yi, unable to believe what she had just heard. Did that mean that the two of them … had already married? So there was no way at all? She couldn't help but be a little disappointed. Well, it didn't matter anyway since she was married herself.
Reminding herself of that fact again, she motioned toward the kitchen. "She's helping with preparing everything. You can go over if you want to. Anyway, I need to get back to work." With that, she grabbed herself an empty tray and then rushed away as if she couldn't be bothered to talk to them even a second longer.