Chapter 173 - The Way Of Cultivation (1/2)
Jing Yi fell into deep contemplation after getting his mother's advice. For a while, he just sat there in the preparation room and pondered, then he went over to the counter and leaned next to Qiu Ling. He wanted to say something but didn't know what. In the end, how had Qiu Ling fallen in love with him? He still didn't understand. Could all of this really be fate?
Qiu Ling turned toward him and smiled. ”You've finished already? Did you manage to catch up a bit on the things that happened in the last years?”
Jing Yi shook his head. ”It's so much. How could some hours be enough for that?”
Qiu Ling sidled a little closer. ”You know I was being serious when I said that we could stay some weeks or even some months if that is what you like.”
”But the Grand—”
Suddenly, a hand gently pressed onto his lips. ”Sh! No need to bring that up. Nobody can force you to do anything.”
Jing Yi blushed, then he gripped Qiu Ling wrist and pulled his hand down. ”This isn't about someone forcing me to do anything. I want to become a cultivator. Isn't this journey supposed to help me?”
Qiu Ling nodded. ”What's the problem with that?”
Jing Yi sighed. ”You're a practitioner so you might not understand. But just how you practitioners have to go outside and use your sword skills sometimes to get better we cultivators also need some fortuitous encounters.
”Like what?”
Jing Yi shook his head. ”It's nice of you to ask but what difference would it make to talk about it? You're a practitioner, not a cultivator.”
”Still. Maybe I can help you figure something out if you tell me a bit about cultivation.” He saw Jing Yi's doubtful gaze and pressed his lips together. ”I have lived quite a bit longer than you. Maybe I have encountered something that could be helpful.”
”Alright.” Jing Yi noticed the hurt in Qiu Ling's eyes and for the first time he reached out himself and patted his arm, instantly elevating Qiu Ling's mood. ”I'll tell you what I know. It's not much, though. People with my aptitude aren't taught in the sect, after all.” He sighed again, then he examined the handsome face in front of him. Qiu Ling really was serious about helping him. There was no doubt about that.
In the end, what did he have to lose when he told him? Nothing. In the worst case, he would just have used a lot of the precious time he could have had with his mother to talk with Qiu Ling without getting anywhere. But his mother would probably understand. In fact, he felt like she would welcome it. He didn't understand why but his mother somehow seemed to like Qiu Ling.
”You don't know anything about spirit veins, do you?”, asked Jing Yi instead of a direct explanation.
Qiu Ling shook his head. ”Just tell me slowly. We have a lot of time.” He grabbed Jing Yi's hand and this time Jing Yi just let it be. He didn't feel bad about it anymore so there was no need to reject it. And with a bit of time, he would figure out if marriage was really something they should consider.