White Snake

Su Qing sat in silence, watching Bai Suzhen sweep the fallen leaves.

She waited there for a long while.

Finally, Bai Suzhen finished her task.

She set the broom aside and slowly walked over to Su Qing's side.

Their eyes met, but neither was in a hurry to speak. They simply stared at each other in a quiet, lingering silence.

After a long moment, Su Qing was the first to break the quiet.

"Suzhen? Is there something on your mind? You seem... a bit different today."

To be honest, Su Qing hadn't quite figured out how to start the conversation.

But the prolonged silence was becoming awkward.

So, she gathered her thoughts and asked about the change she sensed in the other woman.

Bai Suzhen looked at Su Qing, eventually letting out a helpless smile.

"Something on my mind... I suppose there is. But for now, I cannot tell you, Sister."

"I see... If you can't say, then don't worry about it."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing actually felt a small wave of relief. She smiled faintly and said, "I almost thought you didn't miss me at all!"

The two thoughts weren't strictly related, but Su Qing was merely voicing the anxiety that had been gnawing at her.

After all, she wasn't particularly skilled at comforting others.

"How could I not miss you, Sister?"

Bai Suzhen shook her head.

"I don't know many people. Aside from my Master and the little Daoist sister, you are the one who treats me best. You've been gone for decades—how could I not miss you? It's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that you left without a word, which is quite infuriating."

Bai Suzhen thought for a moment and sighed, looking at Su Qing with a touch of dissatisfaction.

"What's more irritating is that you stayed away for so many years! Do you have any idea how much I worried? If Master hadn't told me you were simply away avoiding the Three Calamities, I truly would have feared that something terrible had happened to you."

Seeing Bai Suzhen like this, Su Qing felt even more relieved for some reason. "That was indeed my fault..."

Leaving without saying goodbye...

How should she put it?

In a sense, she had been set up by the Old Mother of Mount Li, hadn't she?

However, saying that now would just sound like an excuse.

She had, in fact, left without a word.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "So, Suzhen, is there any compensation you'd like? Anything at all. Consider it my apology for leaving so abruptly."

Hearing this, Bai Suzhen shook her head slightly. She walked behind Su Qing and slowly wrapped her arms around her.

"I don't want anything. Seeing you safe and sound is enough for me. If you truly wish to make it up to me, then just spend the day with me."

"Just that?" Su Qing asked, tilting her head.

"Of course. I've grown accustomed to a life of few desires; I don't need much," Bai Suzhen said softly with a smile.

Su Qing didn't confirm or deny the statement.

"Then, I shall keep you company today," Su Qing agreed with a nod.

"Mm!"

Seeing Su Qing agree, Bai Suzhen took her hand and led her toward the stream.

"Come, Sister, let's go play in the creek!"

"Alright!" Su Qing nodded, not resisting as she allowed herself to be pulled toward the water.

As for her earlier confusion regarding the change in Bai Suzhen...

Su Qing set those thoughts aside for the moment.

Regardless of what had changed, it was highly unlikely that she would do anything too extreme...

Even if her emotions boiled over.

She wouldn't do anything out of line.

This was a form of trust Su Qing had in her.

As for the influence of a fixed destiny...

Su Qing had already ruled that out.

She could see that Bai Suzhen was still the same Bai Suzhen, not the 'Bai Suzhen' of legend.

That was good enough.

Lost in thought, Su Qing was pulled to the edge of the stream by the White Snake.

"Sister, are you ready?"

Bai Suzhen's voice snapped Su Qing back to reality, causing her to blink in surprise.

Before she could react, she was pulled along as the other woman leaped directly into the creek.

The cool, crystal-clear water soaked their clothes and drenched their long hair, tracing the nearly perfect curves of their figures.

Su Qing wiped her face and said helplessly, "We could have at least taken off our outer robes before jumping in. Now everything is soaked."

Bai Suzhen simply hugged her tightly from behind.

"Who told you to be so distracted, Sister? You promised to spend the day with me, yet within just a few steps, your mind was already wandering elsewhere! So, I had to wake you up! Besides..."

"Besides?" Su Qing asked, startled.

"Besides, I wanted to see you like this—all soaked through!" Bai Suzhen smiled, resting her head on Su Qing's shoulder.

Hearing those words, Su Qing felt as though the familiar Bai Suzhen had returned.

She smiled helplessly. "Is there anything about me you haven't seen?"

"Well! This feels completely different!" Bai Suzhen said with a giggle.

Su Qing replied, "I don't feel any difference. If anything, these wet clothes are just a bit inconvenient."

"If it's inconvenient, shall I help you?"

Hearing this, Su Qing naturally recoiled. "That won't be necessary!"

No matter how thick-skinned one was, there were still moments of modesty.

However, this reaction only made Bai Suzhen laugh harder.

Seeing that smile, Su Qing realized she had likely been teased.

She scooped up a handful of water and splashed it toward Bai Suzhen.

Once someone started, it was hard to stop.

The two of them engaged in a childish water fight for quite some time.

Happiness can be very simple...

Whether for an adult, a child, or even an 'adult' several centuries old, it was all the same.

After playing for a while, both Bai Suzhen and Su Qing grew tired. They sat by the creek, letting the flowing water wash over their feet.

It was exceptionally comfortable and relaxing.

Bai Suzhen looked at the water and said, "By the way, Sister, have you noticed that I'm different from before?"

Su Qing paused, thinking she was referring to their initial meeting. She nodded and said casually, "You are indeed different. You're more mature than you used to be."

"Oh? You actually noticed! I thought I had hidden it well." Bai Suzhen said with a beaming smile, "I am now a great demon of the Earthly Immortal stage. I've finally 'grown up.'"

Su Qing blinked.

Well, it seemed they weren't on the same wavelength at all.

"In that case... does that mean you can leave Li Shan?" Su Qing didn't bother mentioning the misunderstanding and simply followed the conversation.

Bai Suzhen shook her head helplessly. "Not... not yet!"

"Why?"

"Um... I can't tell you yet. Just know that it's Master's intention." Bai Suzhen had wanted to tell Su Qing directly that it was because she had learned of the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth.

But because some things were difficult to explain clearly,

she decided to keep it to herself for now.

Regardless, saying it wouldn't change the course of future events.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "So it's the Old Mother's wish. Then there's nothing to be done. What a pity! Still, you've been at Li Shan for so many years. Don't you want to leave and see the world?"

Bai Suzhen shook her head slightly.

"I do! But it's not time yet. My strength is still insufficient. The Earthly Immortal realm is merely the mark of maturity; it's still a long way from being able to truly walk the world freely. Besides, I am cultivating for a more important goal."

"A more important goal?" Su Qing stroked her chin.

She wasn't truly curious about what the goal was; she simply suspected that Bai Suzhen might have been tricked by the Old Mother.

"Yes! A very important goal. One that makes all this hard work worth it." Bai Suzhen smiled and nodded at Su Qing.

Su Qing caught the implication. "I take it you aren't going to tell me what this goal is?"

"Mm, I can't tell you yet, Sister," Bai Suzhen replied with a smile, swinging her legs and splashing the water.

Seeing this, Su Qing stopped asking. She simply said, "Well, since it's your own choice, I won't say anything more! As long as you don't regret it."

"I certainly won't regret it," Bai Suzhen affirmed.

"That's good then."

Su Qing didn't care if she was being misled by the Old Mother; as long as the girl was willing to work hard at her cultivation, that was enough.

The conversation seemed to end there...

But after a short silence,

Bai Suzhen suddenly spoke up. "Sister... I... I will always stay by your side. No matter what happens."

Bai Suzhen had pondered this for a long time before finally being unable to hold it in.

Su Qing didn't quite understand the gravity of the statement, but she nodded anyway. "Mm, I believe you!"

"By the way, Sister..."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you ask me what compensation I wanted earlier?"

"Oh?" Su Qing was surprised and nodded. "I did! Have you thought of something?"

Even though Bai Suzhen had initially declined, since she was bringing it up now, Su Qing was willing to listen.

If it was within her power, she wouldn't refuse.

Bai Suzhen nodded, looking at Su Qing with a beaming smile.

She stared at Su Qing until the latter began to feel a bit self-conscious.

Suddenly.

Like a snake that had been lying in ambush, Bai Suzhen lunged at Su Qing.

Faced with the sudden pounce, Su Qing instinctively leaned back, and Bai Suzhen took the opportunity to pin her to the ground.

Bai Suzhen bit down on Su Qing firmly, her actions laced with a few extra little movements.

Compared to Leng Xiang and Ao Ying, Bai Suzhen was clearly more 'demonic' and much bolder...

When the others took the initiative, they were merely testing the waters and would often feel embarrassed afterward.

But she was entirely different...

Not only was she not holding back, but she was also actively seeking more.

This sudden intensity left Su Qing a bit at a loss.

Fortunately, she wasn't as thin-skinned as Leng Xiang or Ao Ying and quickly adjusted.

After a long while, Su Qing pushed the girl off her and complained, "You're really heavy~ Also, can you stop coiling around me?"

When Su Qing said 'coiling,' she meant it literally.

In her excitement, the girl had been unable to stop herself from manifesting her snake tail, which was now wrapped tightly around Su Qing's legs, making it impossible for Su Qing to push her away immediately.

"How am I heavy? You're joking, Sister." The White Snake smiled as she retracted her tail, turning it back into legs.

Su Qing rolled her eyes. This girl clearly had no self-awareness regarding the weight of her true form.

However, she didn't feel like arguing about weight.

Girls always cared about such things.

Even those silly Little Sparrows were sensitive about it,

let alone Bai Suzhen.

"You... you're getting bolder and bolder, aren't you?" Su Qing said with a frown.

Bai Suzhen didn't seem to care at all. She swung her legs, her fair feet splashing in the stream, looking perfectly happy.

She leaned in close to Su Qing and said,

"If I'm not bold with you, Sister, you'll just keep me hanging forever! Besides, you were clearly the one being more excessive, alright? You made me quite embarrassed."

Su Qing rolled her eyes. "Wasn't that because of you?"

The White Snake stuck out her tongue and made a face.

Then, she stepped onto the bank with her bare feet.

Pressing against Su Qing from behind, she repeated her earlier words.

"Sister... I will always stay by your side."

Su Qing nodded slightly. "I know."

Bai Suzhen smiled. She knew her sister hadn't truly understood what she meant; she only said she knew because she didn't want her to be sad.

She didn't have many friends. In her long life, she only had her Sister, her Master, and the little Daoist sister.

These three were the most important people to her.

And the ones she loved most.

It was just that her love for each of them was different.

"By the way, Sister... would you be willing to marry me in the future? Didn't you say it yourself? As long as there is true love, it is possible!" Bai Suzhen said with a smile.

Su Qing was momentarily stunned.

She couldn't help but find it funny. Had these girls made a pact? Why were they all bringing this up lately?

Su Qing nodded and said, "Of course... I would!"

Su Qing didn't intend to refuse anymore.

After all, this girl had already demonstrated her feelings through her actions.

Bai Suzhen smiled. "That's good! Now I can focus on my cultivation with peace of mind."

"Pfft, what does that have to do with cultivation?"

"Well, knowing your thoughts allows me to set my mind at ease and focus entirely on my training without worrying about other things," Bai Suzhen said seriously. "After all, I have a very grand goal!"

"Too bad you don't plan on telling me what that grand goal is."

The White Snake flicked her tongue and turned away with a smile. "Oh my, it's getting late. I'll go prepare dinner for you, Sister!"