When Jing He returned to his palace, he greeted Huang Lan and Mu Kun as usual and then stepped inside. Rounding the screen behind the door, he found the palace to be empty. Jing He blinked his eyes and looked around but nothing could be seen of Qiu Ling.

Had he … left?

Jing He was at a loss. He had hurried so Qiu Ling wouldn’t have to wait too long but now that he was back, his lover was nowhere to be seen. It felt odd, to put it lightly. He hesitated for a moment but then just sighed and walked over to the door to the garden. Surely, Qiu Ling hadn’t left just like that. Most likely, something had come up in the dragon realm and he had been forced to return at once. Since he wasn’t there, he couldn’t tell him. It was to be expected. Of course, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t disappointed that Qiu Ling wouldn’t be able to see him off.

Stepping outside, Jing He intended to go and water his plants one last time before he left. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, his hand was grabbed though. Turning around, he found Qiu Ling leaning against the wall, as well as two dragons looking elsewhere next to him.

Jing He looked at the three people in a daze and then turned to look at Qiu Ling in confusion. He had seen other people of the dragon race before and, in fact, he recognized these two as Qiu Ling’s advisers whom he had seen from the distance before. He wasn’t sure what they were doing here though.

Qiu Ling smiled brightly and stepped closer but didn’t dare to pull Jing He into his arms in front of Yi Zan and Qiang Wei. His beloved had thin skin so it wasn’t good to overstep boundaries when someone else was around. Rather than that, he felt the need to explain. “You will be gone for a while. I am afraid the demons might try to use the opportunity to cause trouble so I asked these guys over to keep an eye on the situation.” He turned to the side slightly and motioned at them one after the other. “These are two of my advisers, Yi Zan and Qiang Wei. You’ll have to do more with them in the future so it’s good to get acquainted now.”

Jing He nodded and hastily greeted the two of them. At the same time, his cheeks flushed slightly. Having to do more with them, was that not because he would marry Qiu Ling sometime after his return? Then after that, they should live in the dragon realm, and interacting with Qiu Ling’s advisers would be the norm.

Yi Zan and Qiang Wei were naturally aware of who they had in front of them and inclined their heads. To them and, well, pretty much everyone in the dragon realm, the title ‘Son of Heaven’ always had the unspoken addition ‘future spouse of the dragon king’. Protecting him and helping him with whatever he needed was a given. It also helped that this person was calm and collected, definitely much easier to deal with than their own crazy king.

Qiu Ling made the introductions but didn’t have the patience to linger. Instead, he pulled Jing He’s hand. “Did you want to go to the garden?”

Jing He had originally thought of that but shook his head. “I was looking for you. I … shouldn’t wait much longer.” The time at which to descend had some leeway even if his mortal fate had been prepared specifically by the Palace of Fate. Still, it shouldn’t differ by too much and the time to leave was approaching.

Qiu Ling somewhat understood and even where he didn’t, he simply followed Jing He’s lead. Thus, the two of them went back inside and sat on the bed, Qiu Ling taking his lover’s hands into his. As he did, he thought of the long separation ahead, and his expression couldn’t help but turn downcast.

Jing He naturally noticed and his heart ached. “It is but one mortal lifetime. I’ll be back soon enough.” He knew this was a shallow appeasement. If it was he who had to wait for Qiu Ling’s return for that long, he also would not know how to deal with it. But other than these words, he had nothing else.

Qiu Ling was aware that Jing He’s hands were bound just like this. “Mn. I know that.” He sighed and raised Jing He’s hands, brushing his knuckles with his lips. “You said you have to go so … I won’t hold you back. Just concentrate on doing your trial down there and don’t think about anything else.”

Jing He lowered his head with a smile. Even now, Qiu Ling was still thinking on his behalf. Of course, he was happy to hear that. Although … “I won’t remember my life here when I wake up in the mortal realm. It’ll be a new life. So …” He felt a little awkward but just for once, he wanted to be willful. Anyway, he couldn’t deny that he was afraid of what might happen in the next two or three months and he just wanted a little reassurance. “Just wait for me, yes? When I come back we’ll get married immediately.”

Qiu Ling nodded, happy to promise what he had intended to do anyway. “I’ll guard you for the time of the trial.”

Jing He looked up, blushing once again when he received such a promise. It seemed too much to ask of him but Qiu Ling was always like this. Hopefully, his trial wouldn’t take too long. “I …” He looked at his hands that were still being held in Qiu Ling’s. He wanted to reciprocate the love he received and at least tell him that he loved him but it still felt too direct to do so suddenly.

Qiu Ling didn’t know what he wanted to say but he had the patience to try and coax it out of him. He didn’t want Jing He to leave for the mortal world with any worries. Even if he wouldn’t remember, he should still be at ease. “What is it, my love?” He brushed Jing He’s hair behind his ear, smiling with satisfaction. Ah, how much he loved touching him like this …

Hearing Qiu Ling’s soft tone, Jing He finally couldn’t resist saying something to express his feelings. “I’ll miss you.” He hesitated for a moment but he also did not want to leave without letting Qiu Ling know. In the end, he shoved his doubts aside, leaned forward, and kissed his lover’s cheek. Feeling embarrassed, Jing He turned aside, grabbed the vial waiting beside his bed, and drank the potion inside. His eyelids fluttered, his expression turned blank, and his body fell.

Qiu Ling caught him and gently laid him on the bed, rearranging his sleeves and hair until it looked as Jing He had simply laid down to sleep for a while. With a wry smile, Qiu Ling sighed as he looked at his lover’s face. “Jing He, how could you do that to me? Kissing me and then just descending to the human world …” But no matter what he thought, the potion had already taken effect.

The memories of his life as a trueborn god were covered bit by bit and the soul detached from his body, floating on the spot for but a moment and finally floating out of the window to descend to the mortal world.

Qiu Ling watched, cupped Jing He’s cheeks, and kissed his brow, his lips lingering on his skin. “Don’t miss me too much. We’ll see each other again very, very soon.” With a smile, he got to his feet and turned to the door. “Qiang Wei, Yi Zan.”

The two dragons he had introduced to Jing He earlier stepped into the room and bowed. “Your Majesty.”

Qiu Ling had explained what was going to happen earlier but it bore repeating. “Guard his immortal body until he returns from his trial. Nobody is allowed to approach him. If any of the demons appear …” Qiu Ling narrowed his eyes, his meaning evident.

The two dragons nodded and stood beside Jing He’s bed but shared a doubtful look. They had indeed been told earlier and only felt strange when they heard their king mention that he would guard His Highness’s body during this time. They really didn’t know what to make of that.

Qiu Ling paid them no heed. He straightened his clothes, thinking of all the beautiful memories he and Jing He could make during the trial and especially of how Jing He would feel when he woke up and remembered all of those things. “Hehe.” Qiu Ling chuckled and tugged at his sleeves one more time.

He closed his eyes, lost in his imagination until he was brought back to earth by a sound from behind.

Qiang Wei coughed to attract his attention. “Your Majesty?”

“Mn?” Qiu Ling opened his eyes and looked back, his gaze immediately falling on Jing He’s body. He stared at him for a moment before he finally turned around again and strode out of the palace, following Jing He’s immortal soul to the mortal world to accompany him through his trial.