Jinde furrowed his brows. He didn’t like things to be this uncertain. Also … “Did Tian ask for anything in return for that information?” He hadn’t forgotten what Xin Lan had said earlier. With those words still at the back of his mind, he felt a bit uncomfortable hearing Tian’s name now.

Qiu Ling shook his head. “Nothing. He even gave me additional information but said nothing about repaying him for that.” He rubbed his cheek, wondering if he was being too naive here or if he was just really lucky. “Honestly, it doesn’t seem like he expects anything of me in return. He didn’t the last time either.

“Maybe … he just especially hates Xin Lan?” Come to think of it, Tian had kind of praised him earlier for being polite after he slipped up and blurted out what he thought. And that praise had contained a dig at Xin Lan so … it should be safe to say that the supreme ruler was actually somebody who held grudges and he sure had one against Xin Lan.

Jinde pursed his lips. He certainly didn’t want to badmouth a person he had never met and who had — even if it was on behalf of another person — helped him before but all of this just seemed too good to be true. Still, this wasn’t the most important right now. “Maybe you’re right. Anyway, you said he told you more. Was it about Jing He?”

Qiu Ling inclined his head. “It seems he can be saved even though he is a fallen god. I mean … he can return to how he was.”

At this, both Jinde’s and Leng Jin Yu’s brows shot up and they exchanged a glance. Was something like this possible?

Qiu Ling clicked his tongue. “I know how it sounds. If it was anybody else telling me this, I wouldn’t believe it either but we’re talking about the supreme sovereign here. If somebody knows, it should be him.”

Jinde nodded but he still felt that it was somewhat unbelievable. “Makes you wonder why there are still fallen gods then. I mean, just look at Xiang Yu: He has lived in the immortal realms for so long and he seems like he really wants to connect with others. Is it not possible for him? Do you need to be fast?”

Qiu Ling shook his head. “Not from what he told me.” He hurriedly recounted the gist of what Tian told him, leaving out the part about Tian’s own life. “I don’t know why Xiang Yu hasn’t done this since it’s possible but even if it’s possible, it shouldn’t be that easy.

“Just look at Jing He: It’s already impossible as long as I stay with him. Such rigid requirements, if you’re not sure about them, how would you be able to do it? I had Tian to tell me but I doubt Xiang Yu ever asked him about this. Since that is the case, he might have missed past opportunities. Let’s just ask him when he gets back. I also think he’d like being a trueborn god again.” Although it was admittedly a bit convenient to have a fallen god around but … he also wouldn’t keep something like this from him. This was a great opportunity for Xiang Yu as well so they should tell him as soon as possible.

Jinde nodded, wondering when exactly Xiang Yu would come back while Leng Jin Yu pondered another problem.

“What about the Heavenly Couple? Have you contacted them already?”

Qiu Ling shook his head. “Not yet. I … I am unsure what to say. His mother is one thing but his father doesn’t like me much. It really doesn’t help anyone to get him all riled up.”

Leng Jin Yu nodded. “Just telling the Heavenly Empress isn’t good though. He is still the child they share.”

“That’s what I figured as well. The two of you wouldn’t have an idea?”

Leng Jin Yu and Jinde once again looked at each other. This matter definitely had to be told and it needed to be communicated as soon as possible. Of course, it was obvious that Qiu Ling wouldn’t leave Jing He’s side before he absolutely had to and his worry about the Heavenly Emperor’s reaction wasn’t without reason.

Leng Jin Yu finally gave a pensive hum. “I suppose with the Heavenly Empress there, he would be somewhat calmer. Maybe also invite the God of War?”

Jinde nodded. “Yes, I agree. But that alone won’t be enough. We should go over in person. That way, we can slowly discuss with them how to go about this. After all, telling them is one thing, but we can’t leave it at that.

“With Jing He found, should the search continue? But if it isn’t continued, what should the Nine Heavens announce to their own people? What should we tell the demons since they offered their support? There are many more questions like that and we will have to come to an agreement regarding all of them.

“Since it seems like Jing He will return as a trueborn god in the future, we have to find a path forward together that won’t damage his reputation and allow him to live a normal life at that time. At the same time, we don’t know how much time will pass so we can’t treat this lightly either. It might be years until he is able to reappear in front of people again. Unless we dress him up the way we recently did with Xiang Yu, this would have to wait until he has managed to solve his issue.”

Leng Jin Yu looked at his husband, smiling faintly. It was moments like this when he realized once again why Jinde had become king of the dragon race back then. He was able to see through the core of the issue so fast and find a way forward. Even if it wasn’t a solution yet, it was a step in the right direction. So, come to think of it, with both Jinde and Qiu Ling working on this … could anything go wrong?