Big Sister Xiao Qing, How Did You Become a Buddha?

After learning their current names, Su Qing nodded. The names were simple, but they didn't sound bad. At the same time, it saved her a bit of trouble; after all, she hated coming up with names more than anything else.

“Those are very nice names,” Su Qing said with a smile and a nod.

Upon hearing this, Yan'er gave a graceful smile and said, “I thought Master would find the names I chose too casual, like the names of common maidservants.”

“As long as you like them yourself, there’s no problem at all,” Su Qing shook her head and said earnestly. Aside from the names given by one’s parents, as long as you liked your name, that was all that mattered. Why should there be so many rules?

Seeing this, Yan'er smiled even more happily. She walked to Su Qing’s side, pecked her on the cheek, and said, “Then it’s settled! It’s time for Master to go. Come back and play with us when you have time~ I’ll be looking forward to your next visit!”

Su Qing looked at her, then nodded and said, “Goodbye.”

On the side, Ying'er also spoke up belatedly, “Goodbye…”

Su Qing gave her a small smile, and then she willed her consciousness to sink.

In the blink of an eye, Su Qing had left the world of consciousness.

She slowly woke up, feeling a weight on her stomach as if several heavy stones had been placed there. Even without looking, she had a good idea of what was going on. It was likely those lazy Little Sparrows sleeping on her belly again! Those little fellows loved doing that, completely disregarding their current weight.

Su Qing, dissatisfied, grabbed one of the sparrows from her stomach and tossed it away. She wasn't worried about hurting them; these little guys were quite skilled in the Art of Lightness, and besides, they had already woken up the moment she grabbed them.

Once Su Qing had tossed all the burdens off her body, she felt much lighter. She stretched her limbs, feeling much more awake. This conversation with the spirit of the Bodhi Tree had yielded many gains… For the coming period, she was destined to be quite busy.

“How annoying… I want to manage the Changbai Mountains well, I want to go out and collect Incense Power, and I want to accompany those around me. What should I do?” Su Qing rubbed her head, feeling a bit helpless. “But really… I’m being a bit too greedy.”

Wanting to have everything could indeed be called greed. However… there had to be a way. After all, even the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth had a way to be overcome, so surely this small matter was no different?

Su Qing stroked her chin, suddenly remembering the twin spirits of the Bodhi Tree. “Perhaps I can find a cloning technique?” she thought to herself. “True, I haven’t learned any clone-type methods yet! But it can’t be like Wukong’s; that kind wouldn’t achieve the effect I want for myself.”

Of course, Su Qing couldn't learn Wukong’s technique anyway. His was no ordinary spell, but a personal divine ability. Divine abilities were different from spells; most of them could not be learned by others, much like Erlang’s Third Eye. Even though Su Qing had the potential to open a Third Eye, she still hadn't managed to do so.

“But who should I go to for a cloning technique?” Su Qing leaned back in her lounge chair, looking at the nearby Ginkgo tree while lost in thought. “Forget it, I’ll just ask my seniors. If nothing else, I have plenty of seniors. Someone must be skilled in clone techniques, right?”

Once she figured that out, Su Qing felt much more relaxed. She wasn't in a hurry to leave; she still had things to do personally. Only after finishing those would it be time to seek out a cloning technique.

As for what those things were? Well, wasn't it because she had left promises all over the place, and now she had some to fulfill? Next, she needed to spend some time with the Queen of the Women's Kingdom, and then go play with the Jade Rabbit for a day. In a sense, she was quite busy.

“Well, I’m not busy today.” Su Qing stood up and stretched. Turning around, she asked, “Little ones, are Leng Xiang and the others back?”

The little fellows who had been tossed away earlier flew back to Su Qing’s side, grumbling a few complaints. Then they answered honestly, “Leng Xiang and the others are back! Big Green Snake, you slept for so long that Big Sister Leng Xiang was too embarrassed to wake you!”

Su Qing’s lips twitched. Although she wanted to say she hadn't been sleeping, she decided not to explain further. “Then where are they?”

“Big Sister Leng Xiang went to pick vegetables.”

“What about Ao Ying?”

“Hmm? Big Sister Leng Xiang is hitting Yuer.”

“……”

Su Qing stroked her chin. What mistake had that brat made today to get beaten again? Su Qing didn't think more of it, heading instead to Ao Yiyi’s room.

Ao Yiyi’s room, which had once been empty, was now quite well-furnished, and there was even a small Buddhist shrine so the girl could pray whenever she liked. Even though she hadn't shaved her head, she was still a Buddhist disciple! Just like that girl Chaoyan, she was always very particular about these things.

After a brief look, Su Qing didn't linger and went to find Ao Ying and Leng Xiang. Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was night.

However… Su Qing still couldn't get a good rest that night. Because a certain insatiable white dragon had crawled into her blankets again… After a whole night of commotion, how could she rest well? It was a good thing Su Qing was an immortal. Otherwise, who could withstand that? Even two girls wouldn't be able to take it! Especially in the latter half of the night… when Leng Xiang ran over as well.

Communicating knowledge and studying the Dao with two people at once—it would be strange not to be tired. Consequently, Su Qing’s spirit the next day was even worse than before. But she was an immortal after all; while she wasn't in top form, it wasn't too bad. A little rest would return her to normal.

After breakfast, Su Qing yawned and said, “I plan to leave for a few days.”

Hearing that Su Qing was leaving, Leng Xiang immediately became alert. “Master… where are you going?”

Su Qing smiled and told them about her plan to visit the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. “It was a promise, after all, so it’s not good to break it,” Su Qing said.

“I see… How about… Master leaves tomorrow instead?”

“I think so too. Big Green Sister, it’s better to leave tomorrow.”

Su Qing: “……”

Well, it looked like she would have to work a bit harder today. Su Qing’s coded talk was not understood by the nearby Jingyue. For one, she lacked experience in that area, and for another, her knowledge of such things was vague and limited. How could she possibly understand what they were talking about?

The only thing she knew was that Su Qing was going to accompany the Queen of the Women's Kingdom. Of course, she didn't plan on going along. Being a third wheel wasn't fun. She was just thinking about when she might have a chance to express her feelings to Su Qing.

After Su Qing had a brief chat with Ao Ying and Leng Xiang, the matter was settled. The rest would have to wait until that night.

Another day passed in a flash. After discussing the Dao through the night, Su Qing felt slightly fatigued. The morning sunlight brought a touch of warmth, dispelling the exhaustion of the night's philosophical debate. Su Qing stretched comfortably and then went to wash up.

As for Ao Ying and Leng Xiang, they weren't any more relaxed than Su Qing and likely needed to rest a bit longer. Su Qing prepared breakfast and then called the others to eat. After breakfast, she was ready to set out.

This time, Su Qing didn't plan to bring anyone else to the Women's Kingdom; she intended to go alone. The reason for not bringing others went without saying. After all, she was going to see the Queen.

After a simple farewell, Su Qing mounted her Somersault Cloud and headed toward the Women's Kingdom. The speed of the Somersault Cloud was naturally incredible. In an instant, Su Qing had crossed the Mother-Child River and arrived above the capital of the Women's Kingdom.

Standing on the cloud, Su Qing looked down at the capital. The city was as bustling and vibrant as ever, filled with the sights and sounds of countless women. Su Qing withdrew her gaze and looked toward the palace.

The palace of Xiliang was relatively quiet. There were no loud crowds, only the occasional palace maid walking along the paths, tending to flowers, or perhaps meeting another woman in secret. Well, the scenery of the Women's Kingdom was exactly as she remembered. Here, the love of 'grinding mirrors,' as it was called, was a common occurrence.

She yawned to wake herself up a bit, then lowered her cloud and landed in the study of the Queen of Xiliang.

In the study, a young woman dressed in dragon robes was sprawled over her desk, fast asleep. Beside her was a pile of unopened memorials. The woman was sleeping deeply, even leaving a trail of crystal-clear saliva at the corner of her mouth.

Looking at the woman before her, Su Qing felt a bit helpless. She thought she had been hardworking enough these past two days, but she hadn't expected someone else to be even more exhausted. Of course, their types of exhaustion were clearly different. The young woman before her was exhausted by the affairs of state.

Su Qing was in no hurry to wake her. The woman had clearly fallen asleep accidentally while handling official business last night, so Su Qing decided to let her sleep a bit longer.

“Being a King is truly exhausting,” Su Qing thought as she looked at Bai Yuhe. “It’s a good thing I handed over the affairs of Flower-Fruit Mountain and most of the work in the Changbai Mountains to others. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be any more relaxed than this girl.”

Thinking of this, Su Qing was reminded of a certain lazy Palace Mistress. Compared to her, even a lazybones like Su Qing could be considered very dedicated. Su Qing chuckled and picked up a nearby book to read. She didn't care what kind of book it was; it was just something to pass the time.

Time passed quickly. Su Qing had read more than half the book, and about an hour had gone by. During that time, a palace maid entered the study, seemingly intending to wake Bai Yuhe, but Su Qing signaled for her to leave. The maid naturally recognized Su Qing; after all, Su Qing was essentially the other master of the Women's Kingdom. Not recognizing her would be a grave offense. Knowing it was Su Qing, the maid obediently waited outside.

At that moment, the woman sleeping on the desk began to stir. She rubbed her slender wrist and murmured, “Numb… it’s numb… hiss.”

Hearing Bai Yuhe’s murmurs, Su Qing turned her head and said with a smile, “If you sleep hunched over a desk, it’s a wonder your arm isn't numb. Give me your hand, I’ll help you… Also, wipe the drool off your face. Who would have thought our Great Queen would drool in her sleep!”

Upon hearing this, Bai Yuhe instinctively wiped the corner of her mouth and then reached out her hand. Having just woken up, she was clearly a bit dazed and looked somewhat silly. Su Qing didn't mind; she just took her wrist and sent a strand of magic into her body to relieve the numbness. Instantly, Bai Yuhe felt a cool energy flowing through her meridians, and the numbness vanished without a trace.

Thanks to that magic, the dazed Bai Yuhe cleared her head significantly. She belatedly looked at the woman who had appeared before her at some unknown time and then pouted, her dissatisfaction completely unconcealed. She was all too familiar with the woman before her… because this person was the jerk who had stood her up.

Thinking of this, Bai Yuhe looked at Su Qing with some displeasure and said, “You actually deigned to come see me… I thought you had forgotten about me?”

Bai Yuhe was still somewhat unhappy about the last time. Su Qing had clearly reached the Women's Kingdom, yet she hadn't even shown her face, leaving only a few words and some pills before departing. How could she not be angry? For Bai Yuhe, being with her beloved was the most important thing. What else did she need to care about?

Looking at the sulking Bai Yuhe, Su Qing couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

“How could I forget you? I just had other urgent matters at the time, so I could only leave the items for you first. If I had forgotten you, why would I be here to see you now?”

Bai Yuhe gave a soft huff and leaned back in her chair, rubbing her face. Having slept there all night, her face was even stained with ink. “Fine, since you still remembered me, I’ll forgive you this time. If there’s a next time, I’ll lock you in a room and never let you wander off again.”

Su Qing nodded with a smile. This girl’s threat had no effect on her. After all, how could a mortal room possibly hold Su Qing? “Yes, yes~ Next time I definitely won't just leave a message and run off,” Su Qing promised.

“That’s more like it,” Bai Yuhe huffed softly and said casually, “By the way, when did you get back?”

Although Bai Yuhe was unhappy with Su Qing’s previous behavior, she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. She knew Su Qing was an immortal, and she didn't understand what kind of business immortals had… nor did she want to pry too much. Continuing to dwell on it was pointless.

“I’ve been here for a while, about an hour? Seeing you sleeping so soundly, I didn't wake you.” Su Qing stroked her face, using magic to clean away the ink from the brush. Although a 'little calico cat' look was cute, she was still the Queen of a nation and needed to maintain some decorum. Besides, ink wasn't that easy to wash off… if her face stayed stained for days, it wouldn't be very cute.

“In other words, you were mean enough to watch me drool while I slept?”

“You’re overthinking it. I wouldn't be that bored! I was just idle and found a book of yours to read.” Su Qing shook her head.

“Ah~ you didn't see those books, did you?”

“Those?”

“It’s good if you didn't.”

“Hmm?” Su Qing was momentarily confused but decided not to dwell on it. She simply said, “Speaking of which, my Queen, do you need to continue handling these memorials? I see you still have a lot to finish.”

Bai Yuhe gave Su Qing a look and said, “If you hadn't come, I would naturally have to continue. But since you’re here, these memorials can wait. After all, accompanying my Empress is far more important.”

“Alright, so because I’m here, you can openly slack off, right?”

“That’s one way to put it…” Bai Yuhe nodded and said, “But regardless, since you’re here, I must take care of you first. I know you’ll be leaving again before long. Naturally, I have to spend as much time with you as possible!”

Su Qing was slightly stunned; she hadn't expected the girl to be so clear-headed about it. She smiled and nodded, saying, “In that case, since you plan to slack off, I’ll join you. Come, let’s go for a stroll in the city! Although I stayed in Xiliang for a while before, I haven't really explored the city properly.”

Bai Yuhe was taken aback. “Go to the city? Then I have to tell the palace staff first, otherwise my mysterious disappearance will cause a huge problem.”

She had no objection to going out to play; in fact, she quite wanted to. Bai Yuhe rarely had the chance to leave the palace. As the Queen, any issue with her would cause trouble for the entire nation. Thus, the palace’s protection of her was very strict. Naturally, this also limited her opportunities to go out. Even a private inspection required a great deal of preparation. It was a massive headache.

So when Su Qing suggested going out together, she was overjoyed. However, she still had to inform the palace. If she vanished unexpectedly, the palace would fall into chaos. As for why she couldn't go out alone but could with Su Qing… it was because everyone in the palace knew that the Queen’s Empress was a very powerful immortal. If an immortal was taking the Queen out to play, what could possibly go wrong?

Su Qing understood the implications and nodded. “Your personal maid is right outside. Just have her pass the word.”

“Mm, that’s a good idea.” Bai Yuhe thought for a moment and agreed. She wanted to get out and play as quickly as possible, so simplifying the process was for the best.

Once she made the decision, Bai Yuhe called out to the door. The maid had been paying attention to the movements in the study, so she entered immediately when called. She knew what Bai Yuhe was going to order, but she still had to listen formally. That was the rule.

Having been Queen for many years, Bai Yuhe gave her instructions concisely. While she might seem like an ordinary young girl in front of Su Qing—a bit mischievous, a bit calculating, and fond of playing pranks—she was very competent in her role as Queen. If she weren't, she certainly wouldn't have lasted this long.

With the orders given, Bai Yuhe could finally leave the palace with Su Qing to explore the city markets. Although she was the ruler of the country, there were many places, even within the capital’s markets, that she had never fully explored. She was quite looking forward to today’s itinerary.

“Now that everything is arranged, let’s go!” Su Qing grabbed Bai Yuhe’s small hand and walked out of the room. She formed a hand seal, and a red cloud rose beneath their feet.

Looking at the red cloud, Bai Yuhe’s eyes filled with surprise, joy, and intense curiosity. “Is this the immortal’s Cloud Soaring Technique?” she murmured.

Su Qing nodded slightly and said, “It is! But if you practice diligently, you’ll be able to learn it sooner or later.”

Bai Yuhe’s eyes flickered slightly… she seemed to feel a bit of regret for her slackness in cultivation lately. Su Qing didn't have the power to read minds, so she didn't know what Bai Yuhe was thinking. She just held Bai Yuhe’s hand and, with a thought, flew up into the sky.

“Big Sister Xiao Qing, can you fly a bit slower? I want to play in the sky for a while.” Bai Yuhe gripped Su Qing’s hand and looked down at the palace below the clouds. Those born on the ground always longed for flight. Now that she could fly, her curiosity was piqued. At this moment, she looked like an ordinary young girl, without a shred of her royal dignity.

Seeing her like this, Su Qing nodded and said, “Of course. Since you’re not afraid of heights, we’ll fly slowly! This way, you can look at your country from the sky.”

Upon hearing this, a bright smile appeared on Bai Yuhe’s face. However, she shook her head and said, “No, Big Sister Xiao Qing. To be more precise, it is our country! Don't forget, you are my Empress. Since you’ve become my Empress, you naturally share the world with me!”

Hearing these words, Su Qing gave her a slightly surprised look, then smiled and nodded. She wasn't particularly interested in the power of Xiliang, but she was happy to hear Bai Yuhe say that. It represented Bai Yuhe’s feelings and her own status in the other’s heart. How could she not be happy?

“So this is what the world looks like from above?” Bai Yuhe gazed at the land where she lived, looking at the well-arranged buildings, a sense of pride welling up in her heart. This was her country, the result of her hard work. Especially seeing the people living and working in peace, she felt incredibly happy.

Su Qing held Bai Yuhe’s hand, watching the girl look here and there like a country girl entering the city for the first time, finding it quite adorable. She smiled and said, “Yuhe, where is your royal dignity?”

“Why care about that in front of you? You’re not my subject,” Bai Yuhe pouted, completely indifferent. “Big Sister Xiao Qing, look over there! That’s Donglin Temple, built with palace funds. Isn't it magnificent? Oh, and there, that’s Qingluan Terrace… and there, and there.”

Standing on the cloud, Bai Yuhe excitedly pointed out the buildings in the city to Su Qing. Some were built on her suggestion, others had long histories… Even though she hadn't visited many of them herself, she spoke passionately about the grandeur of this land.

Watching Bai Yuhe talk so happily, Su Qing also wore a smile. She felt that bringing her up into the sky was definitely the right decision. Not only did it make her happy, but it would also likely motivate this slacker to work harder at her cultivation in the future.

Of course, Su Qing didn't really blame her for slacking. After all, she was the Queen of a nation, and her time for cultivation was limited… unless she completely ignored the fate of her country like those notorious late-term emperors. But that was clearly impossible. Su Qing could see that as a Queen, Bai Yuhe deeply loved her country and Xiliang. This was good and worth being happy about.

Su Qing listened to Bai Yuhe’s excited chatter and was in no hurry to lower the Somersault Cloud, wanting to let her enjoy herself for a while. Bai Yuhe talked for a long time… until her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten breakfast yet.

She rubbed her belly and said, “Big Sister Xiao Qing, I’m hungry. Let’s go to the market! And get something to eat while we’re at it.”

Su Qing wasn't surprised and just smiled and nodded. “Then I’m going to head down.”

“Mm-hmm!” Bai Yuhe had said enough and seen enough. More importantly, she was hungry. Although she hadn't seen enough, Su Qing was by her side; if she wanted to go up again later, she could just ask.

Su Qing lowered the cloud and soon landed in the city. Since the people of this country recognized the Queen’s face, Su Qing used magic to slightly alter her and Bai Yuhe’s appearances before they landed. This was to avoid being recognized, which would prevent them from enjoying their stroll in peace.

Su Qing and Bai Yuhe emerged from a corner and walked onto the main street. Bai Yuhe was looking around, seemingly curious about everything. If she had looked like a country girl on the cloud, her current state wasn't much different. Su Qing could tell that Bai Yuhe truly had very few opportunities to leave the palace and have fun.

Thinking this, Su Qing took her hand and said, “Come, let’s get some breakfast first! That noodle shop has a lot of people, so the food must be good. Let’s eat there.”

Before Bai Yuhe could react, she was already being pulled toward the noodle shop by Su Qing. She looked at Su Qing, blinked, and couldn't help but smile. Indeed, choosing to come out and play with her was the right choice.

“Big Sister Xiao Qing, slow down~”

“If we’re slow, there won't be any seats left.” Su Qing smiled faintly and led her on a light jog to the shop. They found a place to sit and ordered two bowls of wontons.

“Big Sister Xiao Qing, you talk about me, but you don't have any immortal dignity yourself, do you?” After sitting down, Bai Yuhe looked at Su Qing, who had blended perfectly into the environment.

Su Qing nodded. “Since we’re here to play and have taken on mortal forms, we can't act all ‘I am extraordinary,’ can we? Only by blending in can you find more joy.”

Bai Yuhe looked thoughtful upon hearing this. Su Qing continued, “So just do whatever makes you happy. Besides… no one will recognize us. Little Yuhe, just relax and have fun with me.”

Bai Yuhe nodded seriously and asked, “Then where are we going next? Just shopping?”

“We’ll shop, of course, but we’ll also visit the places you pointed out earlier. You might have seen them before, but visiting them again as an ordinary person will surely bring a different perspective, don't you think?” Su Qing said earnestly after a moment’s thought.

“I didn't realize my Empress was so eloquent!” Bai Yuhe said with a smile.

“I am an immortal, after all,” Su Qing said casually. “By the way, have you ever eaten wontons?”

“Don't underestimate me! I’ve eaten many things. But it’s true I’ve never eaten wontons from a roadside shop like this.” Bai Yuhe said curiously, “I wonder if they’ll taste good.”

“Don't worry! Since there are so many people here, the taste won't be bad,” Su Qing said with experience. “Delicacies have their own merits, but roadside stalls have their own deliciousness too.”

“Fine~ you’ve lived longer, so you’re right.”

Su Qing lightly tapped her on the head and said, “You brat, that doesn't sound like a compliment.”

Bai Yuhe stuck her tongue out at Su Qing, looking completely unrepentant. Not long after they spoke, the wontons were ready. The waiter brought the bowls and kindly reminded them, “The wontons are hot, ladies! Eat slowly, there’s no rush.”

Su Qing thanked him for the kind reminder and placed the money on the table. Looking at the steaming wontons and smelling their aroma, Bai Yuhe was a bit impatient. She blew on a wonton and, thinking it was cool enough, popped it into her mouth. Naturally, she was burned and had to spit it out, looking rather disheveled.

“It really is hot…” Bai Yuhe said a bit gloomily. “But then again, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten steaming hot food.”

The palace had everything… but most of the time, it was hard to get a hot meal. Security was very strict, and to prevent the Queen from being poisoned, almost every dish had to be tested by someone else before being served to her. By then, most of the food was already cold. So she rarely got to eat a steaming hot meal.

Su Qing could relate to her words. After all, when she stayed in the palace, her daily life was mostly shared with Bai Yuhe. “But when you were with me, with just a wave of your hand, the cold food would become steaming hot again,” Bai Yuhe said with a smile. “Thinking back, when you were in the palace, my life was indeed very different! Even the food was hot. It was truly happy~”

Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. “Your happiness is certainly simple. Besides, the spell to heat food is very basic… if you want to learn it, I can teach you.”

“No rush~ when you’re around, I prefer the food you heat for me.”

“Why?”

“I just do! If I had to say, maybe it’s because it contains your love for me?”

“You’re such a strange girl. I’d really like to see how that little brain of yours is wired.”

“Hee hee.” Bai Yuhe gave Su Qing a shameless grin, trying to act cute to get away with it as usual. Without her identity as Queen, Bai Yuhe was just an ordinary girl… perhaps even more simple and adorable than most. It was as if she had completely turned out the soft side she usually hid beneath her royal exterior and laid it out before Su Qing.

The wontons at the shop were delicious. Bai Yuhe finished hers in no time. Having finished her own bowl, she set her sights on Su Qing’s food… and while Su Qing wasn't looking, she ‘stole’ some. Su Qing saw it all; she could have stopped her, but there was no need. She only said, “If you eat too much now, you won't be able to eat the delicious things we find later on the road.”

Hearing this, Bai Yuhe gave a confident smile. “Don't worry, other food goes into a different stomach.”

“Are you a cow? Having different stomachs.” Su Qing poked her head helplessly but didn't stop her from continuing to steal from her bowl. Before long, Bai Yuhe had finished her own and most of Su Qing’s wontons. Her little belly had even grown a bit rounder. She said with a smile, “It’s all Big Sister Xiao Qing’s fault, my belly is big now~ This is yours.”

“My wontons, you mean?” Su Qing poked her little belly, then said, “Let’s go! I remember that Donglin Temple you mentioned is this way. Let’s play our way there!”

“I’ll do whatever you say.” Bai Yuhe nodded with a smile, completely unbothered by Su Qing’s teasing.

The two paid the bill and left the shop, slowly walking toward Donglin Temple. The market was full of stalls selling all sorts of strange and wonderful things… there were even some oddly dressed foreign merchants selling exotic items, including dancers. However, Bai Yuhe wasn't very interested in those. She only cared about the delicacies along the way. In just two streets, she was already carrying several oil-paper bags filled with treats she couldn't eat yet.

“See? I told you, if you eat too much, you won't be able to eat the treats later,” Su Qing said with a giggle, looking at the worried Bai Yuhe, who wanted to eat but was too full.

Hearing Su Qing’s mockery, Bai Yuhe gave her a grumpy look and said, “It’s fine, I can just take them back and eat them! Blehh~” After she finished, she didn't forget to make a face at Su Qing. Su Qing just laughed, not minding at all.

“Ah, Donglin Temple is just ahead.” Bai Yuhe turned her head and could already see the Buddhist pagoda in the distance.

“We got here before I knew it! By the way, are there monks in Donglin Temple?”

“What are you thinking, Big Sister Xiao Qing? This is the Women's Kingdom; how could there be monks? They’re all nuns.”

“I see, that makes sense.” Su Qing nodded slightly. “Come on! Let’s go offer some incense. By the way, is the vegetarian food in the temple good?”

“Agh, stop talking about it! No tempting me.” Bai Yuhe puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Knowing she was already full, Su Qing still brought up the vegetarian food. The food at Donglin Temple was famous… although Bai Yuhe hadn't eaten it herself, she had heard the palace maids mention it. They said it was the best temple food in Xiliang. She had wanted to try it for a long time, but she never had the time or opportunity. Today she finally had the chance, but she was too full to eat. She could only miss out with regret.

Seeing Bai Yuhe’s expression, Su Qing laughed even harder. She pulled Bai Yuhe into Donglin Temple. The temple was magnificent, especially the several pagodas that towered into the clouds, their tops glowing with auspicious light. It was clearly a blessed Buddhist site. Inside, there were female devotees everywhere, nuns sweeping away dust and litter, others counseling worshippers, and even a master nun giving a sermon on a high platform. It was a scene of peace and strong Buddhist atmosphere.

“No wonder the incense here is so prosperous…” Su Qing couldn't help but praise. Then, she and Bai Yuhe crossed the square and entered the main hall.

Inside the hall stood dozens of Buddhist statues—the Buddha, Maitreya, the Heavenly Kings, and Guanyin Bodhisattva—all arranged according to their status. Bai Yuhe held her incense, intending to offer it casually. But just as she was about to do so, she suddenly noticed that one of the statues looked exceptionally familiar. She looked at the statue, then turned to look at Su Qing.

After a long silence, she said, “Big Sister Xiao Qing, how did you become a Buddha?”