Qiu Ling was overjoyed as well when he finally held his beloved in his arms again. "My love!" he cooed while his fingers slipped into Jing Yi’s hair, entangling with the inky-black strands. He closed his eyes, reveling in the beautiful sensation, and gave a satisfied sigh. Ah, finally! He had his beloved back! He hugged him closer, grabbed his chin, and bent down for a kiss.

After having come to realize his own feelings, Jing Yi didn’t try to push Qiu Ling away anymore. Their lips met and they sunk into the feeling of being with each other again. Jing Yi even circled Qiu Ling’s neck with his arms, his hands trembling slightly.

He had managed to find him. He had managed to find him and Qiu Ling was even alright. It seemed he had worried too much before. They would certainly be able to make their way out of here.

In fact, don’t mention being alright. Qiu Ling was walking on clouds right now! Even though Jing Yi had started to open up to him on his journey, he had never before shown such an enthusiastic response. Mn, he had to make use of this opportunity!

Qiu Ling snaked an arm around Jing Yi’s waist and pulled him closer, deepening their kiss. He gave a happy hum and considered if it would be too much to get married immediately. Anyway, his beloved seemed to finally be on board with the idea so he shouldn’t waste a single moment!

Actually, after the initial joy of seeing him again, Jing Yi had wanted to pull back but feeling Qiu Ling’s eagerness he didn’t have the heart to do so. He stayed in his arms but gently leaned back and cupped Qiu Ling’s cheeks. "I’ve missed you." He sounded a little breathless and his eyes were overflowing with affection. Yes, he had missed this man. He wouldn’t have thought it possible before but he really did. Now being reunited with him … There were no words to describe that feeling.

"I’ve missed you too." Qiu Ling wanted to continue but Jing Yi put his fingers against his lips.

"Wait."

Qiu Ling tilted his head and smiled. "What for? You wouldn’t have decided to give yourself to me right now, would you?" His eyes lit up and he looked at Jing Yi expectantly. Unfortunately for him, he only got a wry smile in response.

Jing Yi didn’t know what to say. Was this really the time for such jokes? Even though they had found each other, they were still trapped in Qiu Ling’s inner self after all. Or could it be … "Qiu Ling …"

"Mn?"

"You do know where we are, don’t you?" Jing Yi looked at him with a worried gaze. Maybe Qiu Ling had been imprisoned here without knowing what had happened? He took his hand and wanted to say some comforting words but Qiu Ling had already seized his hand and was beaming at him once again.

"My love, as long as you’re with me, it doesn’t matter where I am. I’m already content having you at my side."

Jing Yi was even more worried when he heard that but he wasn’t sure if he had a chance to get through to Qiu Ling just how important this matter was. Qiu Ling didn’t seem to be worried at all!

He bit his lower lip, trying to think of an idea. Finally, his eyes slightly widened. There was one thing … He wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but it was the only one he could think of on such short notice. He might as well give it a try.

He looked back up at Qiu Ling and gave him the sweetest smile he could muster despite the sinking feeling in his stomach. "I know already. But didn’t you want to marry me? You can’t do so here."

Qiu Ling opened his mouth and closed it again without saying anything. There was too much information in that short statement of his beloved. He needed a moment to digest everything. "You … really want to marry me?" He couldn’t really believe it. His beloved had been so against it at the beginning and now he told him he wanted to marry him? Just like that? He had thought he’d have to repeat using the 69 stratagems he had tried on Jing He back in the Nine Heavens. Could it really be this simple? No, no, there had to be a catch there somewhere.

Jing Yi couldn’t help laughing out loud. Why was Qiu Ling this surprised? Hadn’t he wanted this all along? He reached up and gently caressed his cheek. "It couldn’t be that you suddenly don’t want to marry me anymore?"

"Of course not! Of course, I want!" Qiu Ling hastily pressed Jing Yi’s hand against his chest. "Jing He, my love, you’re the most important person to me, my other half, the light illuminating my darkness. Naturally, I want to marry you! Ah, I’d marry you right this instant if I could. In fact, why don’t we swear our oaths now?"

"Huh?"

"Yes, yes. Don’t you go—" Qiu Ling suddenly started coughing. Damn, he had wanted to ask if the gods didn’t have to swear some oaths for their marriage. But how would Jing He’s mortal reincarnation know? "I mean, don’t people normally do that?"

"Uh … yes." Jing Yi nodded. "But, Qiu Ling, have a look at where we are. How could we marry here? This isn’t even real. It’s your inner self. When we marry, then my mother should be there and sister Nie Huang and your Master and our friends. And —"

"Alright, alright." Qiu Ling waved. "I understand. You don’t want to marry me now."

Jing Yi sighed. "Isn’t it just a matter of marrying now or a bit later? What’s the rush? Do you feel like I’d run away?"

Qiu Ling pursed his lips. Actually, he was a little afraid of that. After all, he hadn’t been able to marry Jing He before he descended to the mortal world for his trial. Wasn’t that kind of like running away? What if this time he went somewhere else again?

Jing Yi didn’t need to get an answer. The look in Qiu Ling’s eyes was more than enough to understand. "You … Seriously, what are you afraid of? Even when I said no I still followed you here in the end, didn’t I?"

Qiu Ling hesitantly nodded. That was true indeed.

"So, you don’t have to be afraid. I won’t leave you." He caressed his cheek again and hugged him once more, his heart throbbing painfully. Maybe it was no wonder that Qiu Ling was afraid. After losing his family like that, he probably couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t be left alone. But he didn’t have to worry. He would show him that he didn’t need to be afraid. He’d stay with him forever from now on.

Jing Yi closed his eyes and nestled up against Qiu Ling’s chest for a while. Somehow, Qiu Ling actually didn’t seem nervous. His heart wasn’t beating any faster than usual and he was unhurriedly stroking his back. In fact, when Jing Yi cracked his eyes open and peered into his face he seemed quite content.

Was that the kind of attitude you should show when you were trapped in your own inner self? It seemed that he still hadn’t understood completely. He would have to be more direct. "Let’s go back together, alright?"

"Mn." Qiu Ling nodded eagerly, not minding the earlier talk about Jing Yi leaving him in the least. He had him at his side now and that was all that he cared about. Even if Jing He ran away … Didn’t he just have to run after him? Wherever his beloved went he would just follow him. Even if it was to the end of the world.