One Step at a Time

Qiu Ling looked at him deeply. "Is this really what you want?"

Jing Yi leaned down until their foreheads touched and gave a sigh. "What I really want … I'm afraid there's no way to get that. But if I can't have it, then this is the next best thing I hope for. So can you agree to that?"

Qiu Ling hugged him in response and gave a hum. "If it'll truly make you happy, then I will do my best to comply." Although it would be hard to keep his thoughts from wandering to Jing He even once. Well, he could only try. With some time, he might be able to fulfill this wish of Jing Yi's.

"Then let's do that. It will make me happy."

Qiu Ling pulled back slightly and gave him a smile. "Then what do we start with?"

Jing Yi smiled back and pondered. "Well, while I don't think it's necessary to become a great alchemist, I'd still like to dabble in it for a while. So I guess it would be nice if I could take a look at the manual again and spend some time refining things. Maybe I'd be able to get to the next level with that."

Qiu Ling nodded. "It's a good idea. If I remember correctly, the sect has that rule where the younger disciples will be helped out at given times, right?"

Jing Yi tried to think back and then nodded slowly. "I think so, yes. Do you think we should take a look at that?"

"It's been a really long time since you refined anything so that might be a good idea. At the very least, they can help you jog your memory. And compared to back then, your cultivation level has also risen considerably. That might bring you some advantages that you could make use of."

Jing Yi nodded. "You're right. Then should we go there?"

Qiu Ling nodded but didn't get up. "Is that all you want to do?"

Jing Yi shook his head. "Of course not. But I think that it's also important to take one step at a time. Right now, we're waiting for that person from the Nine Heavens to come down here or contact you again. Until then, I feel like it would just be a good idea to make use of the time. After you see him, Hong Ai will lend you that sword and you'll have to go to the dragon realm for a while, won't you? That might take a bit. And I guess I won't be able to accompany you?"

Qiu Ling looked at him in a daze. "You … intend to stay here?"

Jing Yi nodded. "Yes. Or do you want to say that I could come with you?"

Qiu Ling was at a loss of what to do. "Actually, there's no rule that says you can't. It's not the Nine Heavens but the dragon realm. Whatever I say goes there, I guess. So if you wanted to be there, then you naturally can."

"And do you want that?"

Qiu Ling pondered and finally nodded. "If that is what you want, then I also want it." Anyway, to him, it didn't make much of a difference. He could rush to the dragon realm and figure out what he needed to know in a few minutes. Then, he could return just as fast. In that amount of time, Jing Yi probably wouldn't even have time to miss him. But … it would also be nice to be together. They had been very close for the past few years and it was only this recent argument that had made things so awkward between them. If he didn't take him along, wouldn't things turn for the worse? He definitely didn't want that. In that case, was it even a question?

Jing Yi gave a smile when he saw Qiu Ling's expression. "You don't have to feel forced, you know?"

"That's not it. I was just thinking that it would be nice if I could take you with me. It's just that we probably won't spend much time there. We are just bringing the sword over and then asking those people to cut themselves a bit to see how they react to it. Then, we can take back the ones who show some kind of immunity against it.

"I don't know just how many people Xiang Yong will be able to find but there shouldn't be too many. After all, even though those demon hunters might be a little famous in the human realm, the people we're talking about are half-dragons. They won't have any problem at all to deal with some humans."

Jing Yi nodded slowly. Right. There still was a difference between a human — even if it was a human cultivator — and a being that had been born immortal. "Well, if it's like that, then I guess I'll just stay here in the hut and continue to read a bit of the manual. Or maybe at that time, there will be one of those lessons I can go and listen to. I won't even miss you then."

Qiu Ling laughed when he heard him say that and he couldn't help but pull him closer again, giving him a kiss on the lips. "I'm devastated that there would ever be a time when you wouldn't miss me."

Jing Yi also laughed and grabbed his shoulders. "Alright, alright. Enough now. Didn't you say we should go and check whether I'd be able to talk with some senior martial brother or Elder about this? In that case, we should go or nobody will be there to answer my questions anymore."

Qiu Ling sighed, feeling that it was a pity to disturb the great atmosphere but he still got up and followed Jing Yi out of the house. Anyway, the mood had gotten better because they pulled up some nice memories and talked about them openly. Most likely, going to experience some new things would also help them. They just … needed some time together where they wouldn't dwell on the unpleasant matters. So this was actually quite good.