Chapter 22 - Grandfather?! (1/2)

Jing Yi hurried back to the shrub, he had hid in back when Qiu Ling found him. He sat down and looked around, as if waiting for the old man to appear.

Qiu Ling watched him from behind, sighed and transformed once again. His perfect plan had somehow been thwarted. He had to get it back on track. And … he had to tell Jing Yi, that waiting in the forest like this wouldn't be of help, if he was looking for a person. Who knew if a normal passer-by would still be there after a whole day?

”Oh!” Qiu Ling stopped hiding his presence and like the day before, he bent down and peered into the shrub. ”What's in there today? A little animal?”

Jing Yi turned around, his face lighting up, as soon as he saw Qiu Ling. He didn't stay hidden in the shrub this time, but instead came over and looked up at him.

”What is it, little boy? Did something happen?”

”My mommy said, she was a girl, too!” His gaze was accusing. Qiu Ling felt a stab in his heart. Why did I plan something like that? See how he looks at me now? How will he look at me, when he wakes up in the nine heavens and remembers everything, that happened in the mortal realm? He'll certainly blame me for being heartless!

”Uh … and?” Pretending like he didn't understand was certainly for the best! He had to mislead him and then adjust his tale a bit. There was no turning back now, anyway.

Jing Yi pursed his lips. The old man didn't seem to understand? ”Mommy can't be a mud monster!”

”Of course not!” Qiu Ling pretended to be surprised, he'd even think about that.

”But …” Jing Yi furrowed his brow. ”You said, all girls were mud monsters! Mommy was a girl, too. But mommy can't be a mud monster!”

Qiu Ling blinked innocently. ”Did I say that?”

Jing Yi looked thunderstruck. The old man didn't say that?

”Er … I must have misspoken.” Qiu Ling hung his head. ”I'm really sorry! What I meant was: Every mud monster can transform into a human girl! Of course, not every human girl is a mud monster. Your mommy certainly isn't one!”

Jing Yi perked up. So it was like that! Everything was really just a misunderstanding! The old man didn't lie!

Qiu Ling pressed his lips together. Why did that expression look so familiar? Had he really tricked him successfully already? No need to give any proof? That was really too —

”Then how do I know, which one is a mud monster?”

”Uh … Through … careful observance.” Qiu Ling looked away. ”Why do you ask?”

”Mommy said, if father hadn't played with her, I wouldn't be here. So if I don't play with the girls, will I disappear?”

Qiu Ling looked at him, stunned. How did he arrive at that conclusion? He slowly shook his head. ”No, you won't.” The boy looked at him questioningly, clearly not understanding, why. Qiu Ling frowned. How to explain that? ”It's like this: You are here, because your father married your mother. Whatever you do, won't change that.”

”Then I don't have to play with the girls?”

”You don't. In fact, I would advise you not to do so. You know, they could be mud monsters, after all. And even if they aren't: If you always play with one of them, your mother might just take a liking to her! Then you wouldn't be as important to her.”

Jing Yi imagined his mother liking another child. He scrunched up his face, ready to cry the next moment.

Qiu Ling patted his head. ”Don't worry. Nothing will happen, if you're cautious!”

”Oh.”

”Mn … Maybe you should try finding out, which of the girls is a mud monster. Just to be sure …”

Jing Yi looked at him expectantly. Qiu Ling coughed. He was about to lie to his beloved again. Hopefully, that wouldn't become a habit. Ah, Jing He, I promise, when you grow up, I'll never lie to you again!

”It's really easy! A mud monster has to return to his natural environment now and then. A place, they'd love to go to, would be the river bank or the path near the edge of the forest.”

”So if they go there, they're mud monsters?”

Qiu Ling nodded. ”Yes, indeed. And you'll see: They'll transform back, if they go there! You basically can't be wrong with this method! Just go and have a look.”

Jing Yi nodded eagerly and stood up.

”Ah, one moment!” Qiu Ling gripped his hand and held him back. ”There is another thing. You know, running into the forest all alone again isn't good. Not even mentioning, that your mother would worry about you, what would you have done, if I wasn't here anymore?”