Ji Qing and Ji Min sat there watching the blue skies and the patch of beautifully formed clouds slowly fleeting across the sky.
They both sat there, side by side, as they enjoyed the view of the pretty avian beasts that flew past them.
"Thank you." Ji Min suddenly said out of the blue.
"Un." Ji Qing responded as she shifted her bangs to the back of her ears to reveal her sickly face which seemed to exponent her sheer beauty at the moment.
---
"But why did you do it?" He asked afterward.
"Um, I-i don't know, but I obviously couldn't leave you there to die, you know. You still have much to experience and do in life, and there are lots of people who depend on you and still want you to live on for them."
She replied as her face began to redden slightly; a sight that didn't escape Ji Min's notice one bit, but instead of hiding it behind her usually competitive nature, she left it there in the open for Ji Min to see.
"Thanks; it's good to know you really care. I'll be keeping this band till the time comes when we can truly pursue these feelings we're having." Ji Min replied as Ji Qing's face reddened a little more and her eyes moistened.
She didn't know what to say or how to respond to Ji Min's obvious confession, thus, she simply moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
She heaved a huge sigh of relief and shut her eyes to savor the moment. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel something for Ji Min, but her pride had previously gotten in the way.
Ji Min previously felt nothing other than a familial love for her previously, but he's no idiot that would be oblivious to the symbolism of the band she left behind back then.
Then her actions back when he was in the face of trouble were what pushed those feelings a little deeper, but he also needed time to confirm how he truly felt about her and not just jump into a reckless decision based on one situation.
Thus, he simply allowed her to enjoy the moment and even made some effort to caress her silky blue hair whilst she savored the moment they might not get to have in a long time.
Oblivious to the duo, Ji Tang and Ji Wang who were about to go hunting for answers were looking at them both from afar and whilst they didn't eavesdrop on their conversation, the scene in front of them was more than enough to give them the confirmation they were looking for.
"Finally." Ji wang said with half of his body protruding from the shadows of a nearby tree.
"I told you my grandson isn't a blockhead who is only concerned about cultivation." Ji Tang said with a soft smile.
"To tell the truth, Min'er has been through a lot in this early life of his, and I was never sure how he was handling his mother's death and the trauma of having so many near-death experiences, but I'm happy he can still open up his heart to someone." He added with teary eyes.
"But are you still going to allow him to go through such training? Wouldn't that be a little too harsh on him?" Ji Wang added with a painful sigh.
"I didn't take you for someone to wear his emotions on his sleeves." Ji Tang jabbed as he gazed at the most dangerous expert he had ever known.
"Moreover, I can already tell that having him with us would only be holding him back. Not even our empire can satiate his potential, thus, he has to learn that the world out there isn't as rosy as everyone thinks it is.
He's going to go through so many challenging times during his adventures and I need to be as cynical and pragmatic as possible, otherwise, he might lose his life out there." Ji Tang added with a sigh of his own.
"Is that why you want Qing'er to tag along with him?" Ji Wang asked, looking at Ji Tang with a meaningful gaze.
"I don't know how much control he has over his emotions or how strong he mentally is, and since we won't be able to venture out with him every time, it is better he has someone beside him who he can lean on and enjoy moments of peace within tribulating times." Ji Tang answered whilst Ji Wang nodded.
"Alright, then I guess we had better trained both of them as hard as possible, so they have enough to at least handle themselves out there." Ji Wang added as Ji Tang nodded.
"But first, we need to completely secure these parts of the forest and find that expert. did you bring the things I asked you to?"
Ji Wang nodded at Ji Tang's inquiry before revealing a ring that he wore on his index finger.
"Good, let's get going then."
Ji Tang said as he took a last glance at the little duo enjoying themselves, he revealed a slight doting smile and then turned to the deeper part of the forest.
The moment he gazed at the deeper part of the forest, his smile disappeared and was replaced by a serious expression; then with a zapping sound, he left a spark of lightning behind as he vanished from sight whilst Ji wang simply sunk into the tree shadow and left as well.
Back at the mountain peak, Ji Min kept caressing Ji Qing's head whilst she was hugging his free arm, heaving several blissful sighs at certain intervals.
"Can you keep a secret?" Ji Min suddenly asked.
"Don't worry I haven't told grandpa anything yet, and I don't plan to. But in case it happens, what would you have me say to him?" Ji Qing said softly.
"Alright, let's do it this way..."
Then Ji Min began to tell her what to say based on the story Sensei, who had noticed Ji Tang's absence, narrated to him.
After about ten solid minutes of formulating lies, Ji Qing had no choice but to raise her head and look Ji Min in the eye as she asked.
"How can you cook up such a good lie in so little time." She asked.
"Trust me, I learn from the best." Ji Min answered with a slight chuckle when he heard Sensei's choking cough echo in his mind.
That seemingly harmless smile, on the other hand, smote Ji Qing and she couldn't help but take a few moments to appreciate his sheer handsomeness.
'It's good that we already have something going; he'll really have no shortage of suitors in the future.' She thought to herself with a sigh but said something else instead.
"Un. I can keep the rest between us." Ji Qing said before returning her head back to his shoulder to enjoy his petting pat and caressing.