Guanyin Bodhisattva

Su Qing saw that Yudie didn't quite seem to understand...

Su Qing smiled faintly and said calmly, "You'll know when the time comes. Explaining it now would be a bit of a hassle..."

Yudie was somewhat confused upon hearing this, but she still nodded obediently.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, dawn arrived.

After daybreak, Luo Zijuan, who had rarely enjoyed such a good night's sleep, was slightly surprised.

She curiously pulled out the talisman from under her pillow and muttered to herself, "Could it really have worked? Was that person truly a master?"

As the person beside him stirred, Chen Anshan also quickly woke up...

He rubbed his head, feeling as though he had seen something incredible last night.

He recalled the events carefully...

That shocking scene quickly came back to his mind.

Though it felt like a dream now that he thought back on it, he was certain that he had truly seen it.

And that sword had truly existed.

Thinking of this...

He reached for the talisman under the pillow.

Luo Zijuan, seeing him like this, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Husband... that neighbor."

At her words, Chen Anshan snapped out of it. He took the talisman from his wife's hand and said, "This thing... it really works."

"I... I know. I slept very well last night too. I never imagined that neighbor... actually had such real ability," Luo Zijuan nodded.

Upon hearing this, Chen Anshan realized that only he had witnessed the scene last night... his wife didn't know that the talisman had slain a demon.

Seeing this, Chen Anshan did not hide it from his wife...

He told Luo Zijuan everything that had happened.

After learning what Chen Anshan had seen, Luo Zijuan couldn't help but gasp.

"We were truly cursed by a demon?"

"Undoubtedly... This time, we truly owe our lives to Miss Su next door. If not for her help, you and I might really have ended up just as she said—not living past this year," Chen Anshan said, taking a deep breath as he looked at the talisman in his hand.

"Indeed... we must thank Miss Su properly. It's quite shameful, really; I actually thought she was a fraud. Today, I will go with you to offer our thanks."

Luo Zijuan was also a daughter of a prestigious family, naturally well-educated and reasonable.

Knowing she had misjudged Su Qing yesterday, she intended to go to her door today to apologize and offer her thanks at the same time.

Even though Su Qing might not know of her previous thoughts, she felt uneasy in her heart...

Besides, the woman had saved her life!

"Good!"

Chen Anshan nodded, also feeling that they should go and thank her properly. He said:

"I'll go prepare some gifts!"

The couple quickly reached a consensus...

They both got up and began to prepare.

Although she lived right across the street, since it was a formal visit to offer thanks, they had to be official about it.

In Su Qing's courtyard.

The maids were sweeping the grounds, while Su Qing was tending to her bonsai.

Life in the mortal world was quite leisurely. When Su Qing was bored, she would naturally find things to do.

Bonsai was one of those things...

Though her skill still had a long way to go.

Beside her, Yudie looked bored, focused only on snacking on the treats on the table...

"Mother, you said they would come looking for you today... when exactly will they arrive?" Yudie asked.

"I imagine it should be soon. Don't be so impatient! Now that we're in the mortal world, why are you more restless than you were back at the Qinling Mountains?"

"Because it's usually so dull in the mortal world! Before, when I was bored, I could at least tease Ying'er. Now I don't even have the chance to tease her."

"You girl," Su Qing said helplessly. "Wait! As a cultivator, if you don't have good patience, how will you succeed?"

"But I'm a sword spirit, I don't cultivate," Yudie pouted.

"But there's no such thing as a sword spirit this gluttonous either."

"Hehehe..." Yudie giggled, not denying it.

While the two were chatting, a maid ran over out of breath, telling Su Qing that the neighbor from yesterday had come again.

Su Qing smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "See? They're here already."

Yudie was slightly stunned to hear this. She had just complained to her mother about it, and they arrived right then. It was quite a coincidence.

Su Qing smiled and reached out to rub Yudie's head, then went to see the guests.

"What brings Scholar Chen here?" Su Qing asked with a smile after seeing Chen Anshan. "Did the talisman I gave you yesterday prove useful? This... must be your wife?"

"Yes, this is my wife, Luo Zijuan."

Chen Anshan nodded immediately and said:

"My wife and I have come specifically for that matter. We came specially to thank you. That talisman you gave me yesterday truly saved the lives of us both. I dread to think what the outcome would have been without it."

"By the way, please accept these items; they are a small token of our gratitude."

Yudie, hearing this from the side, twitched her lips slightly...

Well, it seemed no one knew that the one who killed the demon yesterday was her.

However, this also made her breathe a sigh of relief.

Su Qing shook her head upon hearing this and said, "I have already received my payment; these things are unnecessary."

"This..." Chen Anshan hadn't considered what to do if Su Qing didn't accept them... for a moment, he was stuck.

Su Qing smiled faintly and said, "Helping one's neighbors is only right. It wouldn't be good to accept gifts for it. By the way, would you like some tea? Yudie, help brew a few cups of tea."

Yudie nodded obediently and went to brew the tea.

Seeing this, Chen Anshan could only nod helplessly.

However, after his wife saw Yudie, she couldn't help but praise, "Is this your daughter?"

Su Qing replied, "Yes, her name is Su Yudie."

"What a lovely girl," Luo Zijuan couldn't help but remark. "She's as delicate as a porcelain doll. And so well-behaved too."

Su Qing smiled faintly and said, "Don't let her well-behaved appearance fool you; she has her rowdy moments too."

The two of them chatted simply about the matter...

Su Qing found that she actually got along quite well with Luo Zijuan.

Or rather, Luo Zijuan was very good at conversation and could easily sense the other person's thoughts, following their lead, which made the conversation flow easily.

However, as they talked, the conversation eventually turned back to yesterday's events.

It was only then that Su Qing realized the woman had also come to apologize...

Su Qing naturally didn't mind.

As for the matter of payment, Su Qing also clearly told them that she only wanted their future child to recognize her as a godmother.

"Is... is that so? If my child can have you as a godmother in the future, it would be a blessing," Luo Zijuan said. She didn't quite understand the reason behind Su Qing's requested payment.

Perhaps this is how cultivators think, she thought.

As for agreeing to let her child recognize her as a godmother...

She felt that there were actually many benefits.

After all, Su Qing was a cultivator with real ability.

If anything were to happen in the future... her child would have someone to rely on.

It was always right to maintain a good relationship with this person.

The two families chatted for a long time, from Chang'an gossip to household matters... Though they had only known each other for two days, they felt incredibly familiar.

Even the waiting servants were quite surprised.

However, after chatting for a long while...

Chen Anshan had to leave. After all, it was impossible to chat forever; they still had many official matters to attend to.

He still had to prepare for the upcoming Palace Examination!

After Chen Anshan and his wife left, Su Qing sat and took a sip of tea.

She was quite satisfied with the current situation.

After all, most of her objectives had already been achieved.

Some had even been exceeded.

The rest were all matters that required time to complete...

So waiting was enough.

"Things will be much easier from now on..." Su Qing set down her teacup, turned, and left the living room to continue tending to her gardening.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, another two months had gone by.

Chen Anshan had completed the Palace Examination, taken the top spot, and successfully gained a promotion and title.

Though his current rank wasn't exceptionally high... for a mortal, it was quite a significant amount of power.

Of course, this didn't have much to do with Su Qing.

What she was waiting for was simply for their child to be born.

During these days, Su Qing's relationship with Luo Zijuan had also become quite good.

The two of them truly got along...

So they often gathered to chat and occasionally went out into Chang'an City together to buy a few things.

Life was quite peaceful.

One day.

Su Qing was playing with her bonsai again...

Looking at her increasingly skilled handiwork, she was very satisfied.

"Miss... there is a monk at the door who says she wants to see you." Su Qing was admiring her work intently when a maid's voice suddenly came from behind her.

Hearing this, Su Qing was slightly startled and asked curiously:

"A monk? What kind of monk?"

"Um, she said she's a monk, but she doesn't really look like one to me. She's a lay practitioner with her hair. It's a woman," the maid said after thinking for a moment.

Su Qing's lips twitched as she said, "Shouldn't that be a nun?"

"They're all the same, aren't they? All monks."

"Never mind. You said she's looking for me? Did you ask her what she wants?"

"I don't know. She only told me to announce her."

Su Qing fell silent for a moment, then nodded. She already had a good idea of the visitor's identity.

"Then please invite her in," Su Qing said.

"Understood, Miss." The maid nodded and turned to invite the 'monk' outside.

Before long...

Su Qing looked at the 'monk' being led in by the maid and smiled faintly. Indeed, it was exactly as she had suspected.

With that, Su Qing dismissed the maid.

She intended to have a private conversation with the monk.

"Senior Guanyin Bodhisattva... what wind blew you here?" Su Qing bowed politely.

"Amitabha. Naturally, it is for the matter of 'seeking the scriptures'," Guanyin Bodhisattva sat down casually.

Su Qing frowned slightly upon hearing this.

While it was as she had suspected, Su Qing didn't know the specific arrangements for her.

"Senior... do you have some instructions?" Su Qing asked, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded slightly and said, "Indeed... however, there isn't much for you to do. I have simply come to inform you."

Su Qing nodded slightly and then said, "Senior, please don't beat around the bush. Just speak plainly."

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled faintly, nodded, and said directly, "Soon, a nunnery will be built outside the city called Baixing Nunnery. In the future, if any misfortune befalls the Chen family, send Chen Anshan's descendant there."

Su Qing's eyebrows shot up. She understood the implications of Guanyin Bodhisattva's words.

First, Guanyin Bodhisattva confirmed that the Chen descendant would be a girl. Second, the Chen family would encounter disaster in the future.

The fact that it was a girl was no problem for Su Qing; in fact, it was better that way, as it would be easier for her to look after her.

After all, she was surrounded by women; having a man constantly around would be somewhat troublesome.

As for the disaster that would befall the Chen family...

Su Qing couldn't quite figure out the reason.

Su Qing asked, "What will happen to the Chen family in the future?"

"Amitabha. Telling you this much is already revealing heaven's secrets. If you can guess it yourself, then so be it," Guanyin Bodhisattva replied with a faint smile.

If she weren't worried about her image, Su Qing would have really wanted to roll her eyes.

These seniors were always the same...

Whenever they didn't want to say something, it was always "heaven's secrets must not be revealed."

Su Qing said helplessly, "In that case... can Senior tell me why she must be sent to the nunnery outside the city?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva seemed to have expected Su Qing to ask this, so she nodded calmly and said, "Because before she sets out, I must teach her the Buddhist Dharma and impart cultivation methods."

"However... if you are willing, I can give the Dharma and cultivation methods to you, and you can teach her yourself!"

"In fact, I would prefer if you handled it."

Su Qing's lips twitched...

She was speechless for a moment.

She couldn't help but ask, "Was this... planned all along?"

"Not exactly. I simply divined certain things and decided on this arrangement."

Su Qing sighed helplessly and said, "I understand. But... whether it's the Dharma or cultivation, it's better if you teach her, Senior. I'll pass... I can teach Daoist arts, but I'm really not suited for Buddhist Dharma."

Though Su Qing also practiced some Buddhist Dharma, it wasn't her primary path. She wasn't an expert...

As for being a teacher, she felt even more unqualified.

Besides, the girl was destined for Buddhism; it would be unnecessary—and perhaps even detrimental—for a Daoist like her to teach.

"Amitabha. Since you put it that way, I understand," Guanyin Bodhisattva said. Seeing that Su Qing didn't intend to personally teach the future 'pilgrim', she didn't push.

This was the task Ru Lai had given her, anyway...

If she couldn't pass it off, she'd just do it herself.

"Very well, that is all I had to say... I shall take my leave now!"

After informing Su Qing of these matters, Guanyin Bodhisattva didn't stay any longer.

With an "Amitabha," she turned and left.

Watching Guanyin Bodhisattva leave, Su Qing sighed and muttered to herself, "Oh well, at least it saves me some trouble. And sending her off to seek the scriptures later will be much more convenient."