The Simple Wooden Hairpin

Muzha was momentarily speechless.

Nevertheless, he filled Su Qing in on recent events and the changes in the Dragon Girl.

Muzha didn't say much, but Su Qing could piece together the general situation. It turned out that after she had 'borrowed' the Dragon Girl last time, their conversation had left a deep impression. Since returning, the Dragon Girl had been constantly mentioning Su Qing to Guanyin Bodhisattva, leading the senior to believe Su Qing was actually trying to spirit her disciple away.

However, this was truly a complete misunderstanding.

Su Qing had never harbored any intentions of abducting Guanyin Bodhisattva's disciple.

As for why the Dragon Girl kept bringing her up, Su Qing wasn't entirely sure herself. She suspected it was likely due to the guidance she had provided, combined with the girl's own growing doubts about certain matters.

Who could say for certain?

Regardless, Su Qing was positive she had never intentionally tried to lead the Dragon Girl astray. Of course, she also suspected Guanyin Bodhisattva was partly to blame. The Bodhisattva likely spoke in circles and riddles, only serving to deepen the confusion in the Dragon Girl's heart.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and shook her head.

As they talked, Su Qing and Muzha entered the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove.

At that moment, Guanyin Bodhisattva was sitting before a vanity, combing her hair. As a Bodhisattva who practiced as a layperson with her hair kept long, there was nothing strange about her grooming herself. However, doing so at this hour felt a bit early to Su Qing, as the sun was still high over the South Sea.

Seeing Su Qing arrive, Guanyin Bodhisattva set down her bamboo comb and spoke. "You've arrived. I have been waiting for you for some time."

Clearly, Guanyin Bodhisattva had known she was coming. Su Qing wasn't surprised by this, but it confirmed something else for her.

Guanyin Bodhisattva was indeed the nun Bai Yuhe had described.

Even though she was certain, she still had to ask. It wouldn't do to harbor a false accusation.

Su Qing bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Guanyin. My apologies for disturbing you at this hour."

"It is no matter. Tell me directly, what is your purpose for seeking me out?" Guanyin Bodhisattva replied with a faint smile.

Since she was being so direct, Su Qing didn't beat around the bush.

She smiled and asked, "I've come to ask if it was you, Senior, who told the Queen of the Women's Kingdom that I would be coming, and that I was the person she was looking for?"

Su Qing had considered being more specific, but decided a simple approach was better. If it really was her, she would understand.

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and nodded. "It was I who told her those things."

Upon hearing the answer, Su Qing felt no surprise; it was exactly as she had anticipated. She let out a soft sigh.

"So it was you after all, Senior. I am curious, though—why did you tell her?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva asked playfully, "What? Do you think I am meddling in affairs that don't concern me?"

"Not at all. I was simply curious," Su Qing said, shaking her head.

However, seeing Guanyin's response, Su Qing didn't hold much hope for a straight answer. She felt the Senior was about to start speaking in riddles again.

To her surprise, Guanyin Bodhisattva didn't dodge the question this time. She chuckled and said, "I happened upon her by chance. Originally, I intended for her to be one of the tribulations on the journey to the west. But seeing as she was an old friend of yours, I simply shared those details with her to make your reunion easier."

"If you must have a reason, consider it a surprise from an old soul like me to a member of the younger generation."

"Though, it seems this surprise was more of a shock to you."

Su Qing couldn't help but smile helplessly at Guanyin's words. This so-called 'surprise' was indeed a shock, though it was a welcome one in many ways.

However, Su Qing didn't take Guanyin's explanation at face value. She was someone who often misled others herself, so she was naturally on guard against being played. Furthermore, Su Qing believed that without intervention, Bai Yuhe likely wouldn't have retained her memories of her past life. To be reincarnated, one had to drink Meng Po Soup and cross the Bridge of Helplessness. Trying to bypass the soup was nearly impossible without someone pulling strings.

If it were that easy, would the officials of the Underworld be so incompetent?

Thus, Su Qing suspected Guanyin Bodhisattva wasn't telling the whole truth. However, she knew it would be unwise to press the issue. She simply looked at the Senior with a smile.

"Senior's surprise was indeed quite a shock. Nevertheless, I appreciate the sentiment. This junior thanks you!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva chuckled and shook her head. "There is no need for thanks; it was a trivial matter for me. Now, is there anything else?"

"No," Su Qing replied.

She had only come for this one answer. Now that she had it and had formed her own theories, there was no need to linger. As for the matter regarding the Dragon Girl, Su Qing felt it best not to bring it up. She had a feeling that if she did, Guanyin Bodhisattva would talk her ear off until she had a headache.

Su Qing rose and said, "Then this junior shall take her leave."

"Don't be in such a hurry to go," Guanyin Bodhisattva said with a smile. "I have something for you."

Before Su Qing could decline, Guanyin picked up a wooden hairpin from the vanity and handed it to her.

She spoke without hesitation. "This is nothing extraordinary, but I wore it daily while chanting sutras, so it has gained a fair amount of spirituality. Take it and give it to the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. Have her wear it."

"Do not be so quick to refuse. This item will make her cultivation much easier. Besides, it is not a precious treasure, so you may accept it with a clear conscience."

Su Qing was stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected Guanyin Bodhisattva to have calculated that she would be teaching Bai Yuhe how to cultivate. Say what you will about the Senior being a cryptic riddler, her powers of deduction were truly formidable.

Su Qing didn't refuse such a useful gift. After all, it was proper for a junior to accept a gift from an elder.

She took the hairpin from Guanyin's hand and said, "You are most thoughtful, Senior. Thank you. This treasure is exactly what Yuhe needs right now."

In truth, Su Qing could have found a similar item if she searched, but since Guanyin Bodhisattva was offering one, there was no need to waste the effort.

Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded. "As long as you find it useful."

"Then I shall return now!" Su Qing said.

Guanyin had no objections. If anything, she preferred Su Qing didn't stay too long; she still had to worry about this girl having designs on her disciple.

"Very well, you may go."

Su Qing bowed to Guanyin, exited the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove, and mounted her Somersault Cloud to head back toward the Women's Kingdom.

After watching Su Qing depart, Guanyin finished combing her hair. She gave Muzha a few instructions and then rode a cloud toward the Western Heaven.

Su Qing's Somersault Cloud was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, she was back in the Women's Kingdom. Seeing that the lights were still on in Bai Yuhe's room, Su Qing sighed softly and returned to her own quarters. She didn't plan on disturbing her so late at night; the hairpin could wait until morning.

The night passed in an instant. The next morning, the morning dew had frozen into a thin layer of ice. Winter had truly arrived. The morning sun felt warm on the skin, a sensation that became more pronounced as the weather grew colder.

'I wonder when the snow will start to fall,' Su Qing thought as she looked at the clouds. She yawned, chatted with Chaoyan and the others, and ate the breakfast prepared by the Imperial Kitchen before heading off to find Bai Yuhe.

When she reached Bai Yuhe's bedchamber, she found the Queen was not there. Confused, Su Qing performed a quick divination and realized the girl was attending the morning court session.

Su Qing laughed at her own forgetfulness. She had almost forgotten that the girl was a Queen! As a ruler, she had state affairs to handle. She couldn't spend every day in her bedchamber or wandering around playing.

'In that case, her cultivation progress will probably be much slower than I anticipated,' Su Qing thought with a helpless shake of her head. 'I wonder how much easier this hairpin will make things for her. It's hard on her, having to manage a kingdom and cultivate at the same time. I suppose her already limited leisure time will be squeezed even more.'

Su Qing felt a pang of pity for her friend. However, pity wouldn't stop her from being a strict teacher. Her time to personally guide Bai Yuhe was limited, so she had to teach her as much as possible while she could. Bai Yuhe would just have to endure the hardship.

Soon, the morning court ended, and Su Qing finally saw Bai Yuhe. The Queen looked a bit drained, clearly having not rested well the night before.

"And you? What time did you go to sleep last night?" Su Qing asked, sitting beside her and pouring her a cup of tea.

Bai Yuhe let out a yawn. "I forgot... but if you came over and gave me a hug, I bet I'd feel much more energetic!"

Su Qing rolled her eyes. Usually, she was the one teasing others. How had she become the target of teasing? She gave the girl a light flick on the forehead and said, "Here, I brought you something."

Su Qing placed the wooden hairpin in front of Bai Yuhe. The Queen picked up the simple, unadorned item and looked at it with confusion. "Sister, why are you suddenly giving me a hairpin?"

Su Qing knew the girl thought it looked too plain. She had no intention of hiding the truth. "This hairpin will help you cultivate more easily. I got it from Guanyin Bodhisattva, so keep it safe. It's good for your cultivation!"

Bai Yuhe was stunned for a moment, then smiled brightly. "So it has such an effect? Then I'll definitely treasure it! After all, I'm the one who's going to catch up to you, Sister!"

Su Qing ruffled her hair. "Do you want me to put it in for you now?"

Bai Yuhe nodded. "Then I'll trouble you, Sister."

Su Qing took the hairpin and personally pinned it into her hair. Though the hairpin was simple, it looked incredibly beautiful on someone as lovely as her. As the saying goes, clothes make the man, but when a person is truly beautiful, the clothes simply become a backdrop.

"It looks wonderful," Su Qing praised.

"Of course, it's because I'm so beautiful!" Bai Yuhe said shamelessly.

Su Qing couldn't help but pinch her cheek as punishment for her narcissism. After the hairpin was secured, Su Qing didn't rush to teach her. She waited until the Queen had finished most of her official duties before bringing out yesterday's 'textbook' to begin the lesson.

Bai Yuhe: "..."

Well, Bai Yuhe knew her rest time had just gotten even shorter. Fortunately, even though she was busy, being with the person she cared about helped alleviate the boredom and monotony of the process.

And so, time flowed on. Days turned into weeks, and before they knew it, the wedding day Bai Yuhe had set was fast approaching.