Su Qing's thought process was quite simple.
Since this was a Bodhi tree seed, asking the Bodhi tree would surely yield answers.
Of course, that depended on whether the tree was willing to cooperate and answer her.
Otherwise, it would be all for naught.
After bathing,
Su Qing changed into a simple azure dress and walked over to the Bodhi tree.
She watched its leaves sway in the breeze and asked bluntly, "That seed in my Niwan Palace—is that your doing?"
Facing Su Qing's straightforward query, the tree did not answer immediately, but instead countered with a question:
"Why do you believe it was my doing?"
When that thought entered her mind, Su Qing briefly explained her reasoning and the appearance of the seed.
Upon hearing this, the Bodhi tree explained, "It is... yet it is not."
Naturally, Su Qing was far from satisfied with such a cryptic answer.
She pressed further, "What is that supposed to mean?"
The Bodhi tree remained silent for a moment before a trace of consciousness returned an answer: "That seed is indeed 'me', but the one who planted 'me' inside your 'Niwan Palace' was not me."
Su Qing was somewhat dazed by this explanation.
She felt the tree had said a lot, yet also said nothing at all.
"Then who was it that planted it in there?"
"You yourself did..." the Bodhi tree replied instantly.
"How could it be me? If I planted it myself, how could I have no memory of it?"
"That is a question for you to answer. How would I know?" faced with her skepticism, the Bodhi tree replied coolly.
Su Qing's mouth twitched. She truly had no recollection of such an event.
After all, if she had truly been the one to plant it, how could she only have noticed its existence now?
However, seeing that the tree had no intention of telling the full truth,
Su Qing didn't bother to force it.
It would be useless; she wasn't about to actually chop the tree down.
Rubbing her chin, she asked, "Fine, keep your secrets! Then tell me this: what use is that seed?"
"Escape," the Bodhi tree replied instantly.
Su Qing's eyebrows shot up. "Escape?"
"Yes," the tree repeated. "Escape."
Su Qing rolled her eyes. Is this an explanation or are we going in circles? Did I stutter?
She continued to press, "What do you mean by 'escape'? How is it done? And what am I escaping from?"
Facing her rapid-fire questions, the Bodhi tree went quiet for a long moment and simply gave up trying to explain.
It said, "When I have grown tall and the time comes when you must use it, you will naturally understand."
"Wait, wait, don't give me the 'Riddle-Master' act. Stop keeping me in suspense... can't you just tell me? My lips are sealed; I won't tell a soul!" Su Qing's eye twitched uncontrollably.
Truly a tree gifted by her Master; it had the same annoying habit of speaking in riddles.
After another long silence, the Bodhi tree replied firmly, "No."
"Really? Not at all?"
"Truly, I cannot."
Well then.
That simple, flat denial...
Left Su Qing speechless.
Her attempts at questioning were blocked completely.
Su Qing decided not to push any further.
She knew that if she continued...
The Bodhi tree wouldn't reveal a single useful piece of information anyway.
The most likely outcome was that the tree would just play dead and pretend not to hear her.
It wouldn't be the first time the tree had done such a thing.
Su Qing sighed softly and looked at the tree with a touch of helplessness.
"Fine then. At least I haven't come away entirely empty-handed."
She looked away and shook her head, thinking to herself:
"But what does this 'escape' actually refer to? Since it's about escaping, it must be some sort of life-saving measure, right? Not that I'm lacking in those... is it a bit redundant?"
"Ah, forget it. Regardless of its use, it's bound to be better than nothing."
"Perhaps only once the Bodhi tree has fully matured will the true purpose of the seed become clear."
As she mused,
Yudie's voice suddenly drifted over from nearby.
"Mommy? What are you dazing about?" Yudie was leaning against the table, watching Su Qing with a serious expression. "Aren't you going to tie your hair up? It'll get all messy once the wind starts blowing."
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing..." Su Qing had no intention of explaining too much to Yudie.
Since she barely understood it herself, trying to explain it would be an absolute nightmare.
Yudie smiled at her and said, "Let me do your hair!"
Su Qing patted her head and answered casually, "Alright! Do as you like."
Receiving Su Qing's permission, Yudie grinned like a delighted child and rushed off to fetch the comb and hairpin.
Once she had everything ready, she began happily styling Su Qing's hair.
In the middle of it, Yudie suddenly asked, "Mommy, since you've already survived the Lightning Tribulation, will you be going back to the Changbai Mountains soon? Should I... notify Auntie Ao Ying and Big Sis?"
"Hmm?" Su Qing wanted to turn her head, but she held still since Yudie was working on her hair.
After a moment's thought, she said, "Go ahead. Though it is a bit strange—Leng Xiang and Ao Ying haven't come down once in the last decade or so to keep me company."
It was a point that did puzzle her.
In her memory, neither of them were the type to leave her alone for that long.
Hearing this, Yudie fell silent for a short while before saying, "Perhaps... Mommy and Auntie Ao Ying are angry?"
"Angry? How so?"
"After all, it was you who wouldn't let Mommy and Auntie come down the mountain with you."
"Ah... that," Su Qing's mouth twitched. "I thought everything would be simpler back then."
"They probably just didn't want to worry you."
"I see. I hadn't really thought of that," Su Qing murmured to herself. "In that case... trouble yourself to go and tell them for me."
"Tell them what?"
"You silly girl. Tell them I'm coming back, obviously."
Yudie hummed an 'oh' and said, "Got it, Mommy. I'll go first thing tomorrow morning."
"I appreciate it," Su Qing said with a smile.
"Heehee, then Mommy~"
"What is it you want now?"
"Heehee~" Yudie let out a silly giggle and leaned in to whisper her desire in Su Qing's ear.
Su Qing gave a helpless laugh and nodded.
It wasn't a big deal anyway.
Soon, her hair was tied up.
The rest of her day passed in its usual peaceful manner.
The following day,
Yudie transformed into a short sword and flew toward the Changbai Mountains.
She was to bring word to Leng Xiang and Ao Ying that Su Qing would be returning to the mountain in a few days.
Watching Yudie leave, Su Qing felt a sudden realization and muttered to herself:
"I forgot—I can cast spells again now. I could have gone myself. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Better to focus on how to make it up to Ao Ying and Leng Xiang instead."
Rate on N.U.
