Why Is Every Single One of Them Like This?

Yudie, who had been keeping a close eye on Su Qing, saw that faint smile.

She knew immediately—Su Qing likely realized what was going on.

Almost instinctively, she tried to slip away from Su Qing's embrace.

But how could Su Qing possibly give her the chance?

She snatched the hilt of the sword in one firm grip and said, "You've certainly picked up some naughty habits, haven't you, little one?"

Ao Ying, soaring through the air, let out a giggle. She didn't speak up to help, though.

She simply let the two of them have their chat.

Hearing Su Qing's words...

Yudie, looking somewhat frightened, manifested her human form from the short sword and knelt obediently by Su Qing's side.

"I... I just wanted Mother to be a bit more proactive," Yudie said, trying to act cute to breeze past the trouble. "And Sister Ao Ying and I really do miss you, Mother!"

However, acting cute wasn't going to be enough this time.

"Well, aren't you just the most thoughtful little thing? Since you're being so kind, how could I possibly blame you?" Su Qing reached out, grabbed the girl's small face, and began to knead it playfully.

Seeing this, Yudie laughed and said, "I... I knew Mother wouldn't be mad at me!"

"Then why were you running?"

"Just in case!"

"Speaking of which, didn't you always call Ao Ying 'Auntie' before? Why the sudden change to 'Sister'?"

"I... I didn't," Yudie stammered, startled.

If it was just a scolding from her mother, that was one thing. But if Auntie Ao Ying joined in for a tag-team beating...

That would be disastrous.

Seeing her like this, Su Qing couldn't help but smile helplessly. "Fine, fine. I won't blame you this time, but don't try these little tricks again."

In truth, Su Qing never intended to actually do anything to Yudie.

After all, Yudie had been by her side for so long; at most, she would scold her. She could never bring herself to actually hit her.

One only had to look at Gongsun Zhixue to know that.

That girl was so mischievous, yet she had hardly ever been punished to this day!

So, how could Su Qing bear to strike Yudie?

Still, Su Qing felt she needed to reflect on being hoodwinked by such a brat.

It was honestly a bit embarrassing.

Seeing that Su Qing seemed to have let her off the hook, Yudie let out a massive sigh of relief.

She had genuinely thought she was going to be hung up and beaten like the neighbor's kids!

"Then... Mother, I'll go see Mother first. You and Sister Ao Ying can chat!"

Even though she had escaped disaster, Yudie was still worried. She felt it was better to keep her distance for now.

Hearing so many 'Mothers' in one sentence made Su Qing feel a bit overwhelmed. She nodded and waved her hand. "Go on then. And keep an eye on Gongsun Zhixue for me; don't let her run off again."

Yudie nodded quickly, putting on the act of a well-behaved child.

Then, she transformed back into a short sword and fled.

Watching this, Su Qing shook her head, marvelling at how fast the girl could run.

Beneath her, Ao Ying remarked, "That girl is over a hundred years old, yet she still acts like a child. She really won't grow up, will she? Do sword spirits always mature this slowly?"

Su Qing shook her head. "I wouldn't know... but Gongsun Zhixue is hundreds of years old and she's even less mature than Yudie. So, I don't find it that strange."

"That's true... Gongsun Zhixue really does feel like she'll never grow up." Ao Ying couldn't help but agree. "But... maybe that's a good thing? Keeping a childlike heart is quite difficult."

"I just think it's because Gongsun Zhixue is simply a bit of a fool," Su Qing joked. "But you're not wrong."

Ao Ying smiled. "If Zhixue heard you say that, she'd definitely start another argument with you."

"It happens all the time," Su Qing said with a faint, nostalgic smile.

The brief small talk soon came to an end.

Ao Ying fell silent for a moment.

Su Qing wasn't in a hurry to speak either.

The dragon and the snake soon descended into the pavilion beside Heaven Lake.

After Ao Ying briefly cleared the water plants from her body, she spoke softly. "I... I've actually been thinking about something."

Su Qing picked up the thread of the conversation. "What is it?"

"Yudie... she should be considered the daughter of you and Leng Xiang, right? Even though she's a sword spirit... she's always called you both 'Mother,' so she counts as one, doesn't she?" Ao Ying asked hesitantly.

Su Qing paused. Sitting on the bench in the pavilion, she looked at her reflection in the water and gave a slow nod.

Though she hadn't intended to admit it at first, when she thought about it carefully...

It really was the case now.

After all, the girl had been calling her that for a long time.

Even if she was a sword spirit.

Seeing Su Qing nod, Ao Ying sat down beside her. "So... I was wondering, when are we getting married?"

"Hmm?"

"Didn't Sister promise me? That you would marry me!" Ao Ying smiled. "I don't want to pressure you, but I feel like if I don't bring it up, you'll just keep putting it off forever! So, I wanted to ask clearly."

"And, to be honest, I'm a little jealous. I want a child of my own too! You know, dragons are naturally..."

Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then smiled helplessly. "You certainly know me well. But are you serious? While there have been precedents for two women marrying, still..."

"Of course!" Ao Ying smiled and emphasized again, "Of course!"

She leaned back against the bench, stretching her body, and stared at the water alongside Su Qing.

"Is it to repay a debt of gratitude?"

"That's just an excuse."

Ao Ying said with a beaming smile:

"Well, I'm just like a cliché heroine who fell for the protagonist who saved her and changed her life. I don't have any grand ambitions, and I'm too lazy to try and overthrow my father or anything like that. All I want to do is stay close by your side, Sister."

"To me, Sister... you're like a slender thread. As long as I hold on, I won't lose hope in life."

Ao Ying was lost; she had been lost from the very beginning.

But her feelings were genuine...

Just like Leng Xiang's, they were incredibly pure and sincere.

She had fallen for the person who pulled her out of the darkness.

Just as Leng Xiang remembered the first time Su Qing drew her from her scabbard, Ao Ying would forever remember that scene at Flower-Fruit Mountain, when Su Qing stood against the Dragon King and the Mudfish Demon.

"But... if you refuse, I won't be angry. I'll just keep staying by your side, exactly as I am now."

Ao Ying spoke with a smile, finally asking the question she had always wanted to ask:

"Besides... don't you like me even a little bit, Sister?"

Though Ao Ying said it with a smile, Su Qing could still hear the tension in her voice.

Su Qing understood that tension all too well.

Listening to Ao Ying's words, Su Qing eventually offered a small smile. She turned to look at her and then used her actions to show her stance.

After a short while, the two separated.

Ao Ying, who had just been delivering a soulful confession, was now as red as an apple. She was so embarrassed that she dove straight into the water, not even bothering to wait for an answer to any other questions.

Su Qing leaned back against the bench, watching the rippling surface of the water with a smile on her face.

"They're all so bold and assertive usually, so why are they all such cowards when it actually matters?" Su Qing mused, deeply perplexed.

After her laugh, Su Qing looked up at the mist and clouds in the sky.