As for Jing Yi, at this point, he had already arrived back at the palace with the others. Yi Zan kept in the background, not wanting to make them nervous while the others sat down.

Lan Ling was still reeling from the information that he had gotten and was trying to picture Jing Yi with Qiu Ling. Contrary to Duan Ming, he hadn’t noticed in the slightest that there seemed to be something romantic going on and was completely caught off guard.

On the other hand, Xian Li was mostly embarrassed. If he could, he really would’ve liked to just forget about this matter. But Lan Ling’s expression really wasn’t helping with that. Finally, he turned to Duan Ming, hoping that he could get some sense of normalcy back into this. “What should we do now? I don’t think we should leave brother Zhong alone with this.”

Even though they had only just met, he was somebody that valued relationships a lot. In the Tian Yu Sect, it had been normal to help others even if that might come at your own expense. That was the reason why the sect had managed to become one of the premier sects just like the Jian Yi Sect.

If you guided the disciples to be helpful to each other and see their martial brothers and sisters not as competition but as friends that would work together to reach a goal, then you could reach greater heights. Competitors … those could come from other sects. In the same sect, one should always work together.

Xian Li still followed that belief even now that he was an ascended deity. The people of the idle gods’ courtyard were what his martial brothers and sisters had been before. Even if it was somebody who had just joined, he still regarded them as somebody he would help out when he got the chance. And Jing Yi’s situation … he felt that it was one where he should definitely try his best to help.

Jing Yi hadn’t really done anything wrong. From what he said, he hadn’t known that there was already another partner. So the one who had actually done something immoral had been the dragon king. He had been fully aware but not only cheated on his chosen partner but even lied to Jing Yi about not having any previous commitments. Jing Yi couldn’t be faulted for that.

Duan Ming was of the same opinion but he didn’t think that there was much that they could do. “Right now, I would suggest that we wait. Nobody has come to look for brother Zhong yet. I would assume that if the dragon king contacted Jiang Li like that, there might currently be a situation ongoing. Maybe he will be able to solve the matter. After that …” He turned to look as Jing Yi, his expression a little apologetic. “To be honest, I don’t think you should stay in the Nine Heavens’ capital city. Going to the dragon realm might be awkward for you as well though considering that the dragon king is there.”

Jing Yi smiled wryly, feeling that this was actually quite true. While he definitely wouldn’t mind spending more time with Qiu Ling, this current situation reminded him of the fact that everybody knew that Qiu Ling was engaged to Jing He. So if he went to the dragon realm with the others and then moved in with Qiu Ling there, there would be a lot of finger-pointing going on.

He still wasn’t sure if he would be able to take that. If Jing He had been dead and it looked like Qiu Ling moved on, then that would be one thing. But with how the dragons were monogamous and Jing He was already recognized as Qiu Ling’s one true partner, he would never be able to live up to people’s expectations.

Come to think of it … “Say, his actual partner …” It pained him a little to say it this way but he didn’t want to give anything away.

Duan Ming’s gaze became a little closed off at that.

Lan Ling immediately leaned over the table though, his eyes glimmering. “Oh, you wouldn’t be able to imagine it! He’s the Son of Heaven, the crown prince of the Nine Heavens, the son of the Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Empress. He’s … well, you can’t really put it in words. I’ve seen him once in my life and I’ll never forget it.

“I’m pretty sure that there are a lot of people among the trueborn gods and even the ascended deities that really hate the dragon king by now because he somehow managed to snatch him away. If they find out that he actually cheated on him, I’m not sure if the alliance between our races will be able to hold on.”

Duan Ming and Xian Li gave Lan Ling a look, feeling that he was really going too far. While this wasn’t really a secret in the Nine Heavens, it definitely wouldn’t help Jing Yi in his current situation.

Jing Yi smiled wryly. To be honest, he really wasn’t surprised to hear something like this. In any case, he knew how much Qiu Ling loved Jing He. So what had he expected? “That great, huh?”

Lan Ling nodded fervently. “That great! Or even greater to be honest. I’ve heard talk that among the heavenly guards in his uncle’s palace, most of them have a crush on him. He’s like the dream lover of the Nine Heavens. So honestly, not to talk badly about you but I really don’t understand what the dragon king sees in you.”

This time, Xian Li actually reached over and covered Lan Ling’s mouth. “Don’t listen to him! Actually, the impression that everyone has of the Son of Heaven is mostly due to his looks from my understanding. Nobody really knows him at all. He’s a bit of a recluse. In fact, previously, you could still see him sometimes at the festivals but I think he hasn’t appeared in several years now. So I’m sure that even if your looks can’t rival his, you’re bound to have the better personality.”

Jing Yi smiled wryly. “Thanks for trying to cheer me up. But I think I can take the truth.” In any case, it really didn’t help. Especially since he for one knew that Jing He hadn’t appeared not because he was antisocial — even though he actually was — but in this case, he wasn’t shirking his responsibilities. He was just still on his trial and in a form that couldn’t compare with his actual one. Ah, this whole matter was a mess.

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