Having received Tian’s promise, Jing He relaxed slightly. He wasn’t happy imagining his own future but it was alright. The most important part was ensuring Qiu Ling’s happiness since he had almost ruined it with his own hands. He also didn’t want to wait too long. “Since it won’t be Qiu Ling … will this change when it happens?”

Before, Tian had told him that there was still time until the reincarnation of his child was born. But now, one of the parameters had changed: The one to father this child would no longer be Qiu Ling. Maybe this would also affect how long it would take until then.

In a way, he would feel relieved if it happened earlier. He didn’t want to draw this out. Of course, he might fare better if he had more time to prepare for this to happen. It would be hard to bear, after all. Not to mention that there was another issue: His father would likely keep a very close eye on him after he returned so his chances of conceiving someone’s child who hadn’t been chosen by his father … they seemed incredibly low.

A lot of thoughts went through his mind but he didn’t dare to mention most of them. He only looked at Tian with some renewed anxiety in his heart, hoping that the Supreme Sovereign would enlighten him.

Tian didn’t seem as worried as he was. “It isn’t quite yet time. You should leave tomorrow morning and return to the Nine Heavens first. I will find the right candidate and think of how this should be done. You don’t have to worry about those things. I will call upon you when it is time.”

Jing He inclined his head. “Yes.” He didn’t like the idea of this happening with hardly any warning but … it was what it was. He was lucky that Tian had agreed to what he asked for. He shouldn’t make further demands.

“You may leave now.”

Tian didn’t seem to have the patience to deal with him any longer. After those words, he simply turned around and left. Jing He watched him step into the palace and how the door closed behind him. Only then did he himself also heave a sigh of relief.

No matter what, seeing the Supreme Sovereign always made him feel pressured. It was even worse when making a request that so much hinged upon. But thankfully, Tian had agreed. Now, he only needed to follow what he had been told.

He looked up at the sky again, thinking of Qiu Ling. He had already cut off their relationship and soon, even the last connection that may still exist somewhere would be severed. It had to be done though. This was the only way, the best path forward. One day, Qiu Ling might think back and thank him for it or at least he wouldn’t think of him with hatred. That was likely to be the best outcome.

He retracted his gaze and sighed, slowly getting to his feet. “Let’s go, An Xin. We have to return home together.” He petted the soft fur, his brows furrowing slightly. “I … I’ll keep you. That much should be alright.” Actually, he should probably give An Xin back as well. He should give everything back.

For one, Qiu Ling’s gifts had always been given with the expectation that they would one day be a couple. Since he had made his final rejection today, he didn’t deserve any of it. Instead, it would be better to return it.

Two, he would have to marry somebody else and he would have another man’s child to fulfill the deal he had made with Tian. At that time, keeping the things given by the man he loved would be disrespectful to those men as well.

He couldn’t help that he couldn’t love them but he should at least not display that openly. No, when he got married to somebody else in the future, he had to do his best to be a qualified spouse. He would listen to his husband just the way he had listened to his father before and he wouldn’t contradict him whether it was in public or private. What his husband wanted should be done and he should take his perspective and image into consideration with everything he did on his own as well. Everything else would simply be wrong.

Jing He followed the streets of the capital city, slowly making his way to the gates. Even though the city had changed from the days of Xing, the general layout was still the same so he knew where to go until he reached the edge of the city. Afterward, matters would be more difficult.

He knew that the Tian Shan was in the southwestern direction from the capital in the Nine Heavens but he wasn’t sure if this capital in the High Heavens was in the same spot. It should be though, right? Otherwise, Tian should have said something when he told him to go back home.

He reassured himself and finally made his way to the gate. He opened it carefully and was greeted by the wide expanse of nothingness that he already knew from his trip during his trial. It seemed that apart from this city, everything in the High Heavens looked this way. That … might make things difficult.

Jing He looked at the gate behind him. He had never traveled so his ability to tell the directions wasn’t that good. He had never seen any of the landmarks in the Nine Heavens in real life either. He was only familiar with them on a map but telling the distance might not be that easy either. Under these circumstances … could he actually make it home?

Suddenly, he couldn’t help but wonder if he should have asked Tian to send him but then, he didn’t dare to go back and ask that of him either. And, well, it might not be bad to take a little longer. At the very least, he would have some time to himself to calm down further and make his peace with the decision he had had to make. After all, so far, he certainly hadn’t done that yet. Otherwise, his heart wouldn’t continue to squeeze in pain.