"Mother-in-law, what are you saying? How come I don’t understand a word?" Qiu Ling furrowed his brows and tried to wriggle out of her grip. He definitely hadn’t tried to kill Jing He! This was the last thing he’d ever think of! And his mother-in-law should know!

Bai Fen held onto him even tighter. "You still dare to talk back! Do you really want to claim you don’t know what you’ve done?"

"I really don’t know! But I’ll apologize!" He grabbed her wrist and looked at her pleadingly. If he had angered her, then he definitely had to make amends.

Bai Fen relented under his pitiful gaze. She also didn’t want to punish her son-in-law. Although he had made a grave mistake, he had done everything because he loved her son so much and couldn’t see him suffer. As a mother, could she wish for a better lover for her son? Furthermore, Qiu Ling’s eyes told her that he hadn’t known what his behavior would entail. Well, he wasn’t a god so she should have thought of that possibility. She had thought Jing He would tell him but with how closed off her son was, it wasn’t a wonder he might have kept quiet. Especially since he knew how Qiu Ling was. He might have anticipated that he would make trouble if he knew what this trial was about.

Bai Fen let go of him and even went as far as to pat his head when she saw his disgruntled look. This was partly their fault for not making sure that he knew beforehand. It was a pity somebody had had to die but she couldn’t blame everything on him. There had been many things at play. "You really did wrong."

"Mn." Qiu Ling didn’t argue. Whatever his mother-in-law said had to be true. Had his father-in-law tried to get him to apologize he wouldn’t give in no matter what! But it was alright if it was her.

"Qiu Ling." Bai Fen gripped his hands and sighed. "Since you’re going to marry my son in the future —"

"We’ll see about that!" the Heavenly Emperor injected but he was ignored by both his wife and future son-in-law.

"— you should learn more about the gods. I thought Jing He had already told you enough but it seems there are still some things that need to be considered."

Qiu Ling’s head drooped. He didn’t know what exactly it was but it seemed he had once again done something wrong because he didn’t know enough. Well, it wasn’t much of a surprise. After he and Jing He had become a couple, he had tried to learn about the gods but only if it concerned Jing He himself or them as a couple. Other than that, he hadn’t paid enough attention to these things.

Bai Fen sighed. Just look at his face! The answer was so obvious. Why had nobody thought of him when they searched for the culprit? Well, it was too late now. She could only try to explain so that Qiu Ling would hold back from now on, allowing Jing He to finish his trial without further trouble. "These trials. They are very important to us gods. Heaven’s law dictates that we pass them."

Qiu Ling blinked. "Huh? I thought his father had forced Jing He to descend?"

The Heavenly Emperor clenched his fists. "What are you talking about? I would never force my son to anything!"

Bai Fen shook her head. "It has nothing to do with that. Rather it’s the way we gods fulfill the law of balance. That is why the trials can’t be ignored. Each of us has to descend someday and pass these trials. Now, if someone went and tried to help in the mortal life we started, we might not pass any trial. You can certainly imagine what would happen if a god returned without having passed the trial issued by Heaven."

Qiu Ling gulped. "Death?"

Bai Fen nodded. "Yes. It’s commendable that you are trying to stand by Jing He’s side even in his mortal life. But with the way you’re doing it, you endanger his life here in the Nine Heavens. So please, let him attempt the trial from now on and don’t interfere. If he manages to pass all of them in one go, he won’t have to descend anymore. He’ll stay with you for the rest of his life."

Qiu Ling looked at his mother-in-law and even went so far as to look at the Heavenly Emperor for confirmation.

Rong Su nodded. He didn’t like this future son-in-law of his … Well, no, in fact, he didn’t mind him that much. It was just that he felt that no man was good enough for his precious son. He wanted a trueborn god with excellent manners, handsome looks and the greatest powers ever seen in their race. Only if such a man appeared before him, would he be satisfied and think about allowing him to wed his son! Yes, he’d at least think about it. And he’d rigorously test that bastard if he dared to have dirty thoughts about his son!

Qiu Ling gulped and nodded. He couldn’t believe he had endangered Jing He’s life. All of this was his fault! He frowned. No, in all honesty, this was Heaven’s fault! What was with this dumb law of balance? The gods were immortal and had strong magic but so what? Why did they have to be subjected to such suffering? This was unfair!

Since Qiu Ling had nodded and thus more or less promised not to interfere again with Jing He’s trial, the Heavenly Emperor turned toward the other culprits behind this incident. Everything might have started with Qiu Ling’s intervention but the final problem had surfaced because of Shun Tao, Hong Bao, and Yin Lin Lin. He wouldn’t let them get away just like that.