The youth had a small waist and slender limbs while still being quite tall, precisely the type that he liked. He also seemed fairly young which was not necessarily a good point but didn't have to be bad either. Anyway, this would definitely be worth a try.
Xin Lan wanted to walk over but a hand shot out and gripped his arm. He turned back, raising his brows at Jinde. "What's the matter?"
"That boy is from spirit beast tribe. I don't think I need to tell you what that means."
Xin Lan glanced over, giving another hum. Asking him, that didn't need to be a hindrance. "I know what you mean. But you don't have to worry. I don't force anybody. I do think I have enough personal charm to make somebody fall for me."
Jinde gave him a pointed look. "I certainly don't doubt that you have that charm. I just doubt that that youth will be able to make a decision just based on that. You also know how the relationship between our races is. I would like it if you would not make things more complicated."
Xin Lan sighed at that. "One day, you tell me that you want me to go out and have some fun, and then you tell me that I should stay away from somebody that I think I might like. Don't you think you're being a little contradictory here? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you are jealous and want to keep me all to yourself."
Jinde smiled. "Believe me, if this wasn't the first time you had seen that boy, I wouldn't even say anything. But I don't think it would be good for you to go and start something just because you can without thinking of what comes after that. He deserves that you take at least a moment to consider that."
Xin Lan sighed again but finally nodded. "Very well. If that's what you want, then that's what I'll do." Anyway, even if his Master didn't expect him to, he would still always put his wishes first. He just felt that it was the right thing to do for the person he loved.
Jinde couldn't help but wonder if he had really done the right thing when he saw Xin Lan's gaze. In a way, it was true: He should not get involved if he would always contradict what Xin Lan was doing. He couldn't on one hand tell him to have his own life and then get involved as soon as he saw something that he didn't like.
But then again, he still felt responsible for his people. And even though the spirit beast tribe wasn't exactly part of the dragon race, they were still very closely related. He wouldn't let one of them suffer just because Xin Lan took a fancy to him.
"I'm sure there are other people that wouldn't bring such complications into a relationship. Maybe you can find somebody like that."
Xin Lan made a vague gesture with his hand, not quite sure what else to say. "If I do, I'll introduce you."
Jinde kept quiet. Honestly, he should probably really keep out of this. Thinking about it like this, he finally tugged at Xin Lan's sleeve, making him turn back around. "I can���t expect you to listen to me. I just want you to understand the situation. If you really like him, then I won't say no. I just want you to spend some time thinking about it and maybe getting to know him. If it's mutual, really mutual, then go for it. I'm the last person who could deny you your happiness."
Xin Lan nodded. "Of course, I know that. Well, now is not the time to worry about that. How are your preparations coming along? I guess it is to save the person over there, isn't it?"
Jinde nodded. "There's still a few other herbs that we need. But people have been sent to get them. I think that we should hear back from them very soon. As soon as that happens, I'll start to refine the potion. We can only hope that everything will be in time. Right now, it really is troublesome that time flows differently in the mortal and immortal realms. Even if they don't need long over there, it might still be too long here. Especially since not all of them are knowledgeable about herbs. They'll have to search for them after reaching the place where they grow. Days might go by here while they do."
Xin Lan furrowed his brows. That was indeed true. Time was running out. "Is there anything else that I can do?"
Jinde shook his head. "I could send you to get those ingredients but it wouldn't accomplish much. Anyway, people are already looking for them. I just hope that they will be fast."
Xin Lan nodded, feeling a certain sense of urgency. He didn't care for that person but he knew that it might weigh on his Master if he wasn't able to heal him despite being here in time. Not being able to do anything … That certainly wouldn't be a good feeling.
He looked at Ma Zhi Wu, silently pondering. "Can we do anything to stall for time?"
Jinde looked over and sighed. "The Yun Zou Sect's Grandelder has already done that. The only other thing we could do would be to provide him with more energy. I'm a bit worried though. He has some demonic beast blood. Who knows how he would react to one of us supplying him with it?"
Xin Lan nodded. That was indeed a valid question. Well, there was a person to ask about that though, wasn't there?
His gaze returned to that youth from the spirit beast tribe and he finally walked over, only stopping directly in front of him. "Let me ask you some questions."
Zheng Yin looked up, and an unprecedented sense of danger assaulted his nerves. If he could, he would run away. Unfortunately, this person was blocking his way out. It seemed he could only succumb to fate.