Who's Next?

The two of them had returned.

Seeing the lunch already prepared and Su Qing waiting, they were both slightly surprised.

However, despite their surprise, their reactions weren't as intense as Red Boy's, Chen Nianxin's, or Su Ying'er's.

After all, they were adults, and their composure was quite good.

"When did you get back?" Ao Ying couldn't help but ask.

Su Qing replied, "A little while ago! I came back this morning... and just made some food while I was at it, hoping to give you two a little surprise. After all, you've been busy with the Changbai Mountains' affairs, which is quite tiring."

Ao Ying was a little surprised to hear this. "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful!"

Su Qing pouted, helplessly saying, "I can be thoughtful in many ways! But lunch was just a bonus; I brought you two some other gifts this time."

"Oh? What is it?" Ao Ying asked with some curiosity. "Please don't tell me you brought back a few more 'sisters' for me."

The "sisters" Ao Ying referred to were naturally not real sisters; she meant that Su Qing had charmed more young women outside.

Su Qing, of course, understood her meaning and said, exasperated, "Do I look like the kind of person who would do something like that?"

Ao Ying pretended to ponder for a moment, then nodded seriously.

Seeing Ao Ying nod, Su Qing couldn't help but smile, thinking to herself, "See? You don't think so either, do you?"

But just as she was about to say this, Ao Ying preempted her.

"You don't look like that kind of person... because you are that kind of person."

Su Qing: "..."

Su Qing's mouth twitched involuntarily.

So, she was playing a roundabout game with her. She had been happy for nothing.

She said helplessly, "You only know me. If there really were any, I definitely wouldn't hide them from you."

"So, are there any?"

"No!" Su Qing spread her hands. "What I brought back this time are genuine gifts!"

Seeing this, Ao Ying finally relented. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Since you've already made lunch, let's eat quickly! It won't taste good if it gets cold. As for your gifts, we can talk about them after lunch."

Su Qing felt a little helpless; this girl Ao Ying was becoming increasingly cunning.

However, she didn't refuse Ao Ying's suggestion. After all, it had been a while since they returned, and if they waited any longer, the food really would get cold.

"Yay, time to eat!" Su Ying'er, hearing that it was time to eat, happily pulled Ao Ying to her seat.

This girl was also a foodie, after all, she had an older sister who was just as much of a foodie...

She had grown up under Yudie's influence since childhood.

How could she not love delicious food?

She just wasn't as outrageous as Yudie.

Ao Ying was pulled to her seat by Su Ying'er.

Su Qing patted Leng Xiang's back and said, "Let's go! Take your seats first."

Leng Xiang nodded upon hearing this and also took her seat with Su Qing.

Leng Xiang was as quiet as ever.

However, upon learning that Su Qing hadn't brought back any more 'sisters,' she visibly relaxed.

Yes, Leng Xiang also cared about these things.

This was normal, not strange.

The reason she didn't ask was simply because she didn't know how to ask, nor was she good at asking such questions. That's why Ao Ying always spoke up.

Precisely because of this, after taking her seat, Leng Xiang cast a grateful glance at Ao Ying.

And Ao Ying, noticing Leng Xiang's gaze, returned a smile.

The relationship between Ao Ying and Leng Xiang had indeed been a bit strained when they first met.

But now, after so much time, they had long become good friends.

After all, they had worked together for a long time and were allies on the same front. They had reached a consensus on many matters, so their relationship naturally couldn't be bad.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Ao Ying clapped her hands and announced that they could start eating.

Upon hearing that it was time to eat, Su Ying'er was the most excited and started first.

Su Qing, meanwhile, chatted with Ao Ying and the others about various other things.

Su Qing spoke about some matters concerning the Northern Continent and some things she had recently experienced.

Although she couldn't tell them everything, there was still plenty to talk about by picking and choosing.

Lunch passed quickly.

After the meal, Su Qing took out the gifts she intended to give them.

Two Marriage Locks.

The Marriage Locks looked unremarkable, at least in appearance they were just ordinary concentric locks.

They had neither ornate patterns nor decorations of precious materials.

They simply looked like exquisitely crafted metal concentric locks.

However, for cultivators, especially immortals, they would immediately recognize that these were no ordinary items, but Dharma treasures.

So, when Su Qing took out these two seemingly plain concentric locks...

Ao Ying and Leng Xiang both instantly recognized them as Dharma treasures.

"What are these?" Ao Ying couldn't help but ask. "Is there anything special about these locks?"

"Dharma treasures nurtured by the Marriage Tree, called Marriage Locks... Yuelao gave them to me," Su Qing briefly explained the origin of the items.

Ao Ying continued to ask, "So what do these do? Are they like the red threads?"

As she spoke, Ao Ying's gaze fell on her wrist, where a red thread was tied.

Su Qing spread her hands. "I don't know. That Yuelao fellow likes to be a riddle-speaker. He said I'd know the effect once I used them."

Ao Ying was stunned for a moment, then gave Su Qing a speechless look before nodding. "I see! Well, never mind. Since these are things nurtured by the Marriage Tree, their effects can only be a few things. So I'll accept this. Hmm, I'll find an opportunity to give you a return gift later."

Ao Ying didn't actually care if the item had any special use.

After all, its symbolic meaning far outweighed its actual effect.

Of course, if its effect was truly special, that would be different.

Su Qing smiled at this. "Then I'll look forward to it."

Ao Ying smiled back, saying nothing more.

Then, Su Qing looked at Leng Xiang and said, "Leng Xiang, you take yours too!"

Leng Xiang took the Marriage Lock upon hearing this. "Yes, thank you, Master."

Hearing this, Su Qing reached out and pinched her cheek. "We're family, why are you saying thank you?"

Meanwhile...

Chen Nianxin watched the family's interaction and felt utterly stuffed.

What was all this?

Chen Nianxin was completely speechless at everything she saw.

But she was only speechless; she had no intention of joining in.

Just then,

Red Boy, who had been watching the show for a long time, suddenly jumped out and said, "Sister Su, Sister Su, do I have a gift?"

What Red Boy wanted was naturally a Marriage Lock.

Although she didn't know the exact use of the Marriage Lock, like Ao Ying, she understood that items from the Marriage Tree would only have a few possible effects... and for Red Boy, any of those effects would be very meaningful to her.

That's why she wanted the Marriage Lock.

Of course, even if it had no effect...

The item still held great symbolic meaning.

If Su Qing really gave it to her, it would prove some things.

Su Qing was momentarily stunned upon hearing her words.

Although Su Qing still had a few Marriage Locks, they weren't meant for Red Boy.

After a moment of silence,

Su Qing could only shake her head helplessly. "Sorry, I didn't expect you to come, so I didn't prepare a gift for you. However, if there's anything you want, you can tell me, and I'll help you get it."

Red Boy didn't take it too seriously.

She just thought Su Qing truly didn't know she was coming, which was why she hadn't prepared anything.

So she said, "Okay, okay! Then I want a Marriage Lock!"

Hearing this, Su Qing blinked...

Her mind went blank for a moment, and she asked with a smile, "Girl, do you know what this means?"

Red Boy put her hands on her hips and said, "Hmph, I'm not stupid, how could I not know? And it's precisely because I know that I want it!"

"This..." Su Qing raised an eyebrow, remembering what her mother had told her before, and couldn't help but say, "Girl, do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I do! I know what I'm saying clearest of all!" Red Boy said, still firm and serious. "If I didn't even know what I was saying, I wouldn't say it."

Su Qing was stunned in place for a moment after hearing this, then finally sighed.

Since she had said so much, even if Su Qing was dense, she roughly understood what the other party meant.

She gave a helpless smile. "If that happens, the seniority will be all messed up."

"Let it be messed up! We can just address each other as we always have!" Red Boy said carelessly. "So, so... do I get one? Do I get one?"

Hearing this, Su Qing was even more helpless. She looked at Ao Ying and Leng Xiang...

Then she sighed and said, "Sorry, I really don't have any left on me. I'll give you one next time! Hmm, I'll give it to you for your coming-of-age ceremony."

Red Boy was a little disappointed. "That's still a long time away! Can't we follow mortal rules? Mortals are considered adults at sixteen."

"That won't do!" Su Qing shook her head. "You're a demon; how can you follow mortal rules? Demons have demon rules, mortals have mortal rules. They don't interfere with each other."

Hearing this, Red Boy was somewhat disappointed.

Seeing this, Su Qing reached out and stroked her head. "However, even though that item isn't here, I can give you this!"

With that, Su Qing handed over a hand-braided red thread bracelet.

Red Boy looked up at the bracelet, finding it somewhat familiar.

Then she glanced at Leng Xiang and Ao Ying, seeing that they also had something similar on their wrists.

Instantly, many thoughts flashed through her mind.

Her previously low spirits instantly improved.

She said, "Can I really have this?"

"Of course!" Su Qing nodded. "Don't you want it?"

"Of course I do!" Red Boy quickly said, then snatched the item from Su Qing's hand. "I won't give it back to you."

Su Qing nodded helplessly. "I wasn't expecting you to give it back."

Su Qing had originally intended to give her a fake one, but she knew a fake wouldn't fool the girl, so she simply gave her a real one.

As for why she chose to give the red thread to Red Boy...

On one hand, it was to let her overthink things, and on the other, it was because Su Qing clearly understood the effect of this red thread... she knew it inside and out, which was why she dared to give it away.

Although this red thread was a product of the Marriage Tree, besides allowing those who wore it to have a connection with her in their next life, it actually didn't have many other special effects.

It couldn't make someone love her to death in this life, nor could it make someone who didn't love her suddenly fall in love.

This item was, in fact, more of a symbolic gesture.

This was also why Su Qing chose to use this item to comfort Red Boy.

After all, the effects and costs were controllable.

As for the Marriage Lock, Su Qing truly didn't know what its effects were. What if it really had the effects mentioned above? So she absolutely couldn't act recklessly.

After Red Boy received the red thread,

She happily made a face at Su Qing...

Then she ran off, seemingly worried that Su Qing would change her mind and try to take it back.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile, shaking her head, and said nothing more.

However, at this moment, Ao Ying's Sound Transmission came into Su Qing's mind, asking why Su Qing had done that.

So, Su Qing conveyed her thoughts.

After hearing Su Qing's thoughts,

Ao Ying rolled her eyes, then quietly walked behind Su Qing and gave her a sharp pinch on the waist.

Then she transmitted, "Hmph, you're really not even sparing your sworn brother's daughter!"

"How could I! I'm just trying to stabilize her emotions for now," Su Qing explained again. "Once her excitement passes, she probably won't think about marrying me or anything like that anymore."

Ao Ying pouted, not believing a word she said, and also didn't think Red Boy was just being impulsive.

As the saying goes, the one involved is confused, the bystander sees clearly.

As a bystander, she knew perfectly well how serious that girl was.

"Honestly, turn my back for a second, and she's already charmed a girl right in front of me," Ao Ying thought, feeling a bit speechless. How did their pleasant chat turn into this?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

So, she snorted coldly, transmitted a message to Leng Xiang to discuss, and after reaching a consensus,

She then transmitted to Su Qing, "You're not going anywhere tonight! Someone needs a good 'education'!"

Su Qing: "..."

Oh dear...

Why did Ao Ying seem to be getting more proactive lately?

Were Dragon women all like this after marriage?

Thinking this, Su Qing nodded helplessly.

Regardless, she should probably let Ao Ying calm down first.

And just as the two were happily chatting via Sound Transmission,

Su Ying'er, who had been watching for a long time, suddenly spoke up, "Mother, Mother, where's mine? Where's mine?"