[A week has passed since I last saw you in person. My heart is in pain at the thought that you are up there all alone.]

Jing He stared at this line in a daze, not comprehending what was going on. Was he still caught in a dream? While his father had indeed tried to keep them apart and managed to do so for a full three weeks, they had seen each other just the night before. Why would Qiu Ling write that it had been a week since then? And what did he mean by ‘up there’?

Jing He’s brows furrowed further but then, his expression turned subtle. In the immortal realms, there was really only one place that could be referred to as ‘up there’ and that was the High Heavens. He had no idea why he should suddenly appear there but … he had seen Tian yesterday, hadn’t he? While that had clearly been in his palace and he was now here as well, could it be that there was a chance that he had been in the High Heavens somehow and Qiu Ling had seen him there? Of course, that could only be if he had somehow missed an entire week because he could remember no such thing.

Even though he felt that he had grasped onto something, Jing He still felt incredibly confused. It did not help that Qiu Ling did not add any explanation and instead went on to mention An Xin and how he had brought the little mythical beast to him to keep him company.

Looking at those words, Jing He’s doubts grew. Why would he be alone? Because of his father’s interference? But even though he refused to let him see Qiu Ling and had also taken steps so others wouldn’t make a secret meeting possible, it wasn’t like he couldn’t still see his mother and uncle. And clearly, he was in his own palace so naturally, An Xin would be there!

Jing He read further in a complicated mood, stumbling over one inexplicable sentence after the other: [I have wondered whether you have awoken from your slumber yet], [Do you feel alone? Do you feel any pain after what happened?], [I have moved into your father’s palace after you’ve disappeared.], [It is a pity that right now, I can’t be with you.], [I’d fly to your side right away but Tian explained to me that that would do you more harm than good.] …

One doubtful point after the other fell into his eyes and yet, Qiu Ling dwelt on none of these. When he finally read [I suppose I owe you many explanations], Jing He’s eyes lit up, hoping that now, his fiance would finally explain what exactly had happened but what followed was even more inexplicable. Somehow, what Qiu Ling explained to him there was his own life story.

When he reached the end of the letter, Jing He lowered it, still in a daze. Under ordinary circumstances, he would be thrilled to receive such a letter and find out more about his lover’s past. Qiu Ling had told him bits and pieces but after this letter and also after everything he had found out during his trial, it was clear that those anecdotes had been carefully chosen episodes of his life. Mostly, they were the ones that were easy to stomach for a god and showed him in a good light. Now, with Qiu Ling knowing that he was aware of other things as well, it seemed that he was ready to open up more.

This … would truly be a blessing from Heaven but … what was going on?

Jing He looked at the beginning of the letter again, now even more confused than before. It seemed like he had suddenly disappeared and then reappeared in the High Heavens where Qiu Ling not only found him but also talked to Tian, finding out that they had to stay apart for some reason. To make sure that he didn’t think too much and thought that his lover had abandoned him, he brought over An Xin from the Nine Heavens. Only after a week had passed did Qiu Ling return to deliver this letter and shed light on his past.

All these things had happened while he was asleep so he remembered none of them or maybe it would be closer to the truth that he hadn’t actually experienced them in the first place so there was nothing to remember at all. Why that was the case though and why he was in a place that clearly looked like his own palace but apparently wasn’t … there was not the slightest clue. Something had to have happened though and it should have been bad or Qiu Ling wouldn’t have worried about whether he felt pain.

Jing He stared at the envelope in his hands in a daze, wishing that Qiu Ling was here to simply tell him. Even if Qiu Ling wasn’t, it would be good if Tian came back. Surely, he would know more since he had obviously had a hand in this.

Speaking of the supreme sovereign, Jing He hastily got to his feet. Right, because of the letter, he had almost forgotten but Tian was set to return today. He had meant to get ready early so he wouldn’t find him in an improper state but the letter had kept him from doing so. Now, morning had dawned and he should better hurry or he would indeed offend the supreme sovereign later on.

Jing He hurried to get a set of robes, feeling odd that even the smallest detail was the same as in his actual palace. Was this really not the Nine Heavens? But no matter what, he couldn’t let Tian wait, whether that was in the Nine or the High Heavens. So even though he had his doubts, he still rushed to wash up and get dressed.

As soon as his robes were in place, he went to sit at his dressing table, carefully combing his hair. He didn’t want to seem ostentatious so he picked up a simple ribbon to tie his hair back. Having done so, he summoned a water mirror to make sure everything was in place. When he did … he froze.

Between his brows, obvious thanks to the ink-black color, rested a small crescent. But its small size could not belie that this was the mark of a fallen god.