Oh. My. Fate?! (BL, Volume #1)

45 Finally, It Was Him!

"Jing'er!" Madam Zhong reacted before Qiu Ling. She leaped to her feet and ran to her son, pulling him into a hug. Tears streamed down her cheeks but she didn't bother to wipe them away. Her son was safe! Nothing had happened to him.

Jing Yi clung to her in return but his eyes didn't leave the bodies. Qiu Ling gritted his teeth. Why couldn't his love have waited a while longer? He could have made those bodies disappear with just a moment more!

Jing Yi's lips quivered as if he'd start crying again any moment now. But in the end, he only bit down on his lower lip and stayed quiet. Qiu Ling sighed. There was nothing he could do. Jing Yi had already seen. That couldn't be changed. So he should concentrate on the things that could be done.

He went over to Mister Zhong and knelt on the ground before him. "Let me take a look at that."

Mister Zhong watched him warily. Qiu Ling didn't say anything else and just waited. He could understand that all this would be a little much for a normal human. It would be stranger if he wasn't affected.

"Ah Lei!" Madam Zhong picked up her son and hurried to her husband. "Don't be like that! The Daoist Master already offered to help. There's no reason to recline. You're not inconveniencing him." She threw him a meaningful glance and Mister Zhong finally let go of his arm.

Qiu Ling ripped the sleeve and looked at the wound. The blade had cut deep into the flesh but thankfully, the bone wasn't injured. It would take a lot of time to heal but it could heal. If he treated it with care, in a few weeks, nothing would remain.

However, all of that was under the requirement that the injury was attended to. Qiu Ling narrowed his eyes. He extended his senses and found a small pond not far from there. "We'll need to rinse the wound first of all. There is a pond not far from here. I'd suggest we go there. Thankfully, those men had horses." He got up and went to one of the animals. It snuffled and pawed at the ground but calmed down when Qiu Ling patted its head. Mn, what luck that all those animals and beasts in the mortal realm were bound to listen to his race. This would make things easier.

Madam Zhong put her son down and helped her husband up and to the horse but they hesitated in front of it.

Qiu Ling lifted his brows. "You do know how to ride a horse, don't you?"

Madam Zhong shook her head. Her husband didn't say anything. He already felt dizzy and what was there to say anyway? They were simple village folk. Even if someone had a horse — like Mister Mao for example — they wouldn't use it for something as extravagant as riding. They would have them draw a cart instead to move some goods for the villagers or bring things to the nearest town to sell.

Qiu Ling didn't understand that. The human world was foreign to him, after all. "Mn. You don't have to actually do anything. Just hold on tight." He helped Mister Zhong up into the saddle and grabbed the reins. His gaze slid to Jing Yi. Was the boy still afraid? Did he fault him for what he had done? Had he even seen him killing those men?

"Little boy ...," Qiu Ling called out and went up to him. He squatted down before him and lowered his head, afraid to look at him. "Do you ... mind what I did?" He took a peek and found Jing Yi blinking his eyes at him. "I killed those men. Do you hate me for that?"

Jing Yi shook his head. "They wanted to hurt mommy. And father."

Qiu Ling coughed. The poor Mister Zhong had gotten injured and was still only mentioned as an afterthought. This child was too biased.

"It's good that you understand. How about riding on a horse too?"

Jing Yi looked at the animals, clearly not thrilled about the idea. Qiu Ling turned around and shot Madam Zhong a glance.

She came over and squatted next to him. This might just be the opportunity she had waited for. "You know, Jing'er, mother did say that animals are dangerous. But back then you were a lot younger and not as tall as you are now. It's not as dangerous anymore. And mommy is with you. Nothing will happen to you."

Jing Yi looked at Qiu Ling again, asking for confirmation. Qiu Ling smiled. Finally! Finally, he was the one he asked for his opinion! "Your mother is right. You don't have to be afraid. You can even ride together with your mother, how about that?"

Jing Yi nodded and extended his arms. Qiu Ling picked him up and sat him on top of the horse, before helping Madam Zhong. He took the reins of the horses and lead them toward the pond. The other animals followed after them as if they were used to traveling with this group already.

Qiu Ling smiled. How nice of these bandits to gift the Zhongs a couple of fine horses as well as all their belongings. Even though they probably couldn't keep the animals, it was still good to sell them. After all, life in the capital would be more expensive than they were used to from their village. The money they could get from selling even one of these horses would last them a long time. And maybe they could even keep one as a means of transportation.

Mn, if they did, he could teach his beloved how to ride when he was a little older. Ah, wouldn't that be romantic? Just imagining how they were sitting on a horse together, Jing He pressed against his body ...

Qiu Ling sighed, earning him worried looks from Mister and Madam Zhong. He coughed and accelerated his steps. Ah, it was better they reached that pond soon.