Chapter 168 - Take Your Time (1/2)

Jing Yi sat down in the preparation room, his gaze never leaving the familiar figure of his mother. Five years, even though not much had changed in that time it was still too long. He didn't even know where to start to catch up.

Madam Zhong smiled and patted his head. ”It's alright. You're back for now. How long can you stay?”

Jing Yi looked over at Qiu Ling with a little worry. He wanted to stay for as long as he could but he also knew that that wasn't possible. The Grandmaster had indicated that they should return after a year and by then, he'd have to have attained the root stage. There was no time to spare. Maybe it had been too much to even come here.

Qiu Ling smiled. Of course, he didn't care at all for what his Master had said. Root stage or whatever, those were all labels the mortals had invented. What did it have to do with them? He was a dragon and Jing He was a god. It didn't matter much. When Jing He woke up in his real body all of this would just be like a dream. He could take his time cultivating. After all, wouldn't he still be faster that way than if he just used up his mortal lifetime?

Furthermore … if Jing Yi ascended and then woke up, he wouldn't have to see him die. That was actually his main reason. He just didn't want to experience the day where Jing He died in his arms. Not even if it was just a mortal reincarnation of his. He just wouldn't be able to take it. So … Wasn't it better if he ascended and finished his trial in such a way?

Qiu Ling didn't believe that Jing Yi would be unable to ascend. He'd just need a bit of time to get it right. And since he would help his beloved with figuring everything out, it certainly wouldn't be long before Jing Yi ascended. What were some weeks when they could have an eternity after that?

”We can stay for some weeks or even some months if you like.”

Jing Yi looked at him. Those words held a special temptation to him. He wanted to become a cultivator but he also loved his mother very much. Wouldn't it be nice to stay at the capital for so long? He could imagine it: How he would help his mother out by greeting the guests and carrying their orders over. They could eat together and talk over their meals just like how they had done when he was little.

His gaze dimmed when he thought of the consequences, though. ”The Grandmaster said —”

”Oh? Did he say something?” Qiu Ling put his elbow on the table and propped his head on his hand.

Jing Yi sighed and shook his head. There was no use in talking with him. ”I guess we'll stay for a week at most.”

A week should be alright … It's not like I could magically start cultivating now that I've left the sect. Quite the contrary. It will become even harder to find out anything in regards to cultivation. I can only hope that I stumble about the solution somewhere but that place will certainly not be the capital.

So … As much as he wanted to, he couldn't stay for too long.

Madam Zhong nodded. ”That's already quite long. Come, wait a bit, I'll get you two some snacks.” She stood up, hurried over to the kitchen and put some of the snacks her son had always liked onto a plate. She couldn't help but sigh when she looked at those snacks.