Tian kept quiet for some time and simply walked down the road next to Jing He so the latter could try and think this through by himself. Finally, he raised his head to the sky. “Since I found out that you could bring Yuan’s reincarnation into this world, I have sporadically paid attention to you. Because of that, I know quite a lot about how your life has gone.”

In fact, ‘sporadically’ was an understatement. As soon as Jing He was born, he had felt the fate surrounding his son’s soul shift. As a result, he had naturally paid close attention. The children of the Heavenly Family had a high mortality rate. In the generations since he placed that curse on them, many had had as many as five or six children before one managed to survive.

Jing He — his first chance at regaining his beloved — was only the second for the current Heavenly Couple and the relationship between those two had almost broken down which made protecting him even more difficult than usual. Naturally, Tian wasn’t willing to risk losing this opportunity that was so hard to come by. Thus, he had actually intervened a few times, ensuring that what might have been fatal only ended in injuries. Even if they had to heal for a few months, that was enough.

Naturally, he had to be careful about this. He could only influence matters in a roundabout way which made things difficult. But if he didn’t, then fate would strike at him and he wasn’t willing to give up. His own life had been precarious enough in the past but he wanted to keep on living. He still had hopes and dreams, after all. Before he could not reunite with Xing, he wasn’t willing to give up. After that … maybe his presence truly wasn’t needed in this world any longer.

He didn’t bother to think about this any longer and instead glanced at Jing He. “I happen to know that you have always admired the relationship between me and Xing. Tell, why is that?”

Jing He’s face turned red. He hadn’t thought of this earlier but, yes, if Tian had paid even the slightest bit of attention, he should know that he was almost obsessed with the story about the two of them. This … was really too embarrassing.

Tian retracted his gaze, not intending to make things awkward. “Don’t think too much. Many people think similarly to you and you are much closer to the two of us compared to them considering your bloodline. So … what is it that you admire?” He knew but he wanted to hear it from Jing He himself. He needed him to admit these things out loud, both to himself and others. Otherwise, they would never make progress.

Jing He lowered his head, unsure what to say. Just like when being asked about Qiu Ling, he had trouble putting into words what simply seemed like a matter of course to him. These two were the perfect couple who could weather all storms together. Why wouldn’t he admire this? But since Tian had asked him directly, he couldn’t just stay silent.

He thought for a moment longer and finally tried to tentatively put it into words. “I suppose … your relationship seems very strong to me. That is admirable. It is a model relationship for anyone looking for love so I think there is a lot to learn from it.”

Tian gave a hum. “Is that what you tell yourself or what you want others to know?”

Jing He raised his head, not sure what he meant. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I … understand.”

Tian stopped in his steps and turned to look at Jing He. He reached out and tilted his head up, his gaze grave. “You say this but it isn’t the true reason.”

Jing He stared back, his expression shocked. This … was not the true reason? But … no, it should be. “I …” He hesitated about what to say. He didn’t agree but it seemed wrong to disagree with the supreme sovereign, even more so when the topic of their conversation was the person himself. In the end, though, he had to say something or they would end up exactly where Tian had said he would: At a point where nobody could help him because he refused to share his thoughts.

Jing He gulped, still hesitant, but he forced himself to speak up. “I believe it is. Your relationship is admirable. To be there for each other no matter what, to bear the issues your spouse faces together with them, to actively accept a life worse than the one you originally led just for him … how is that not admirable?”

Tian continued to stare at him. “Yes, it is but where does that leave you? What is the actual reason you have spent so much time thinking about this? That is what you should figure out. What makes you so interested in such a relationship? It isn’t that the relationship simply exists. It is because, beneath all of this, there is something you desire or maybe something you lack. You want to change that but you feel that you can’t have what you want so you live vicariously through such a story.

“Now, what is it that existed at the very beginning? The thing that originally drew you in? Why is it that you have become interested in this story more than in others you have heard when those couples were not all that much different from us in how they weathered the tests life brought them together? That is the answer you want.”

Jing He stared blankly, his thoughts unable to catch up. Somehow, Tian’s words seemed to ring true. He had heard many stories about love, many of them those of couples who were willing to give up many things for their lovers. He liked all of them but none had impressed them the way Tian’s and Xing’s story had. Why … exactly was that?