After Su Qing left her sleeping quarters.
She familiarized herself with the route and arrived at Lin Jiu's residence.
The gate to her courtyard was open, saving Su Qing the need to knock.
She walked into the courtyard…
Lin Jiu was currently in the courtyard, pretending to sip tea.
From a distance, she truly had the air of an immortal maiden.
Unfortunately…
In Su Qing's eyes, this was nothing but the most ridiculous pretense.
Just like Chang'e's demeanor when she was out and about.
It was merely a superficial effort.
After all, Su Qing and Lin Jiu had known each other for a long time… and Su Qing was quite clear about what kind of person Lin Jiu truly was.
She could be unreliable in many ways, but she would never be this serene and elegant.
Lin Jiu naturally noticed Su Qing's arrival early on.
She looked up at Su Qing and said with a beaming smile, "You're finally here. If you hadn't come any sooner, I would have fallen asleep sitting here."
As Lin Jiu spoke, she yawned, looking utterly exhausted. Yet, even so, she maintained a very elegant posture, truly committed to playing the part of elegance to the end.
Su Qing's lips twitched slightly. "Why are you acting so elegant? Are you sick?"
Lin Jiu snorted lightly upon hearing this, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. "Is there no possibility that this is my true self?"
"No possibility. Don't talk nonsense; you'll scare me." Su Qing quickly shook her head and waved her hands, looking quite flustered.
Seeing Su Qing's reaction, Lin Jiu snorted again. "You really don't trust me at all! Do I not seem like the type of woman who could be like that?"
Su Qing scrutinized Lin Jiu from head to toe, pondered for a long time, then nodded slightly. "To be precise, it's completely impossible! It's not a matter of seeming or not seeming."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jiu felt her fists clench in frustration!
She spread her hands, speechless. "Alright, alright, enough of this. I called you over to pick up the item I crafted for you, not to criticize me!"
Lin Jiu had no intention of continuing to argue with Su Qing…
If they kept going like this, it would be endless, and she wouldn't be able to win against Su Qing anyway.
So, there was no need to continue.
Su Qing also nodded, not intending to prolong the discussion.
She said, "So the item is indeed finished?"
"Of course, I've said it several times… If it wasn't truly finished, why would I call you over?"
"That's true…" Su Qing nodded. "But your efficiency is a bit faster than expected!"
"What do you mean, 'a bit faster than expected'? How long did you think it would take me? I always like to leave some leeway in my work. After all, I don't like to push myself too hard… I always need to leave myself some opportunities to slack off!" Lin Jiu spread her hands. "After all, not everyone is like Liu Xixi! She wants to prove herself, so she pushes herself very hard… I don't need to prove myself! Who dares to question me?"
Su Qing listened to Lin Jiu's rambling for a while. Once she finished, Su Qing said, "Done talking? Then where is the item?"
Lin Jiu was momentarily speechless. 'Don't you have any thoughts to share?'
However, she didn't continue to bicker with Su Qing…
There was no point; she couldn't win against her, after all.
"Here!"
Lin Jiu took out a hairpin and placed it before Su Qing.
The hairpin was made of pure gold, intricately carved with complex and vibrant patterns. On closer inspection, they resembled two phoenixes flying together, with auspicious clouds as embellishments around them, preventing the patterns on the hairpin from appearing monotonous or dull.
Su Qing took the hairpin and examined it carefully… She liked it very much.
Indeed, women understood women best… and Lin Jiu understood her too.
"This is truly excellent! As expected of your craftsmanship," Su Qing praised.
"Hehe, just look at who made it!"
Although Lin Jiu was a little speechless at Su Qing's teasing, she was very pleased with Su Qing's praise…
Her creations were often praised, but praise from a friend always mattered more than praise from others.
Seeing this, Su Qing smiled charmingly. "I only praised you a little, and your tail is already wagging to the sky?"
Lin Jiu pouted. "Whose tail is wagging to the sky? You can't even see my true form's tail!"
Lin Jiu was a little uneasy…
She was happy, but if her smugness was noticed, it would be a bit embarrassing and shameful.
People, after all!
Were always awkward and contradictory.
She grumbled, "Alright, alright, you've got the item, so are you going back now?"
Su Qing blinked upon hearing this, looking thoughtful, then chuckled. "Yes! I'll head back for today. Later, I'll treat you to a good meal as thanks!"
Lin Jiu heard this and said, "Hmph hmph hmph~ At least you have some conscience. My hard work wasn't for nothing!"
"I definitely wouldn't let you help in vain!" Su Qing shook her head. "After all, you know my character; I wouldn't do such a thing!"
"Alright, alright, I know, I know… I'm clear about your character." Lin Jiu put her hands on her hips. "If you're going back, then go quickly! Also, after you return, try out this hairpin… and remember to tell me about its effects later!"
Lin Jiu hadn't personally tested the hairpin's effects after crafting it…
Of course, she didn't really need to use it herself.
After all, this item was driven by the material itself…
She didn't need to inscribe any talismans on it…
Even the patterns on it were merely decorative.
They weren't genuine talismans.
Because for this hairpin, superfluous talismans would only detract from its charm, so it was better to simply omit them…
Only the most basic and important functions needed to be retained.
Moreover, while those extra functions could be icing on the cake, they were unnecessary for Su Qing.
Su Qing didn't say much, just nodded…
Then she stood up and stretched, saying, "Alright, I'm leaving then! I'll try it out after I get back."
As Su Qing spoke, under Lin Jiu's gaze, she rode a cloud away from Lin Jiu's residence…
Lin Jiu watched Su Qing leave, then propped her head on her hand and poked the mechanical doll's wooden head. "Little Sister Xiao Qing is really interesting~ I like her so much. What a pity, she already has a wife, and she doesn't feel anything for me… Sigh, what a great pity."
Lin Jiu actually still harbored some ulterior motives!
After all, it was rare to meet such a kindred spirit…
Su Qing was unaware of Lin Jiu's lingering desires. She simply rode her cloud back to her sleeping quarters.
At this moment.
The sleeping quarters were still relatively quiet.
Aside from a few Dragon Girls cleaning, there was Jingyue sitting there, playing chess against herself, seemingly bored.
When the Dragon Girls saw Su Qing return, they first put down their work and greeted Su Qing, then continued with their tasks.
Such etiquette was like behavior etched into their bones…
Su Qing had long since grown accustomed to it.
So she didn't pay them much mind.
She simply walked to Jingyue's opposite side.
She sat down and said, "Playing chess against yourself must be quite dull, wouldn't you say?"
Hearing this, Jingyue looked up at Su Qing, then pouted. "It is indeed dull, but unfortunately, no one is here to play chess with me."
"Didn't I just arrive? I'll play chess with you then!" Su Qing smiled slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "I'm quite good at chess, you know~ Let me see your skills~"
Upon hearing this, Jingyue was a little speechless. "Big Sister Xiao Qing, you seem to be in a very good mood right now, even having leisure to joke with me. What's wrong? Was the item crafted very well this time?"
Su Qing nodded. "Yes! Of course, it was made very well!"
"So, can you tell me what this item is now?" Jingyue looked at Su Qing.
Clearly, Jingyue was still a little displeased that Su Qing hadn't told her earlier, choosing to keep her in suspense.
Su Qing still rested her chin on her hand, smiling. "Here, it's this!"
"A hairpin?" Jingyue looked at the hairpin. "It's a very beautiful hairpin… But what's different about it?"
Seeing her question, Su Qing naturally told her about the hairpin's unique qualities…
After learning about the hairpin's special nature.
Jingyue was also slightly surprised. "I didn't expect this hairpin to have such an origin… I must say, Big Sister Xiao Qing, you're truly amazing to acquire such special materials."
Upon hearing this, Su Qing smiled radiantly. "Actually, it was just good luck! I helped someone with a small favor… and casually reaped a small benefit while doing so."
"Small benefit?" Jingyue's lips twitched slightly. "Alright, Big Sister Xiao Qing, if you say it's a small benefit, then it's a small benefit! So, when do you plan to test the hairpin's effects?"
"Later! How about after we finish this game of chess?" Su Qing pursed her lips.
"Then let's do as Big Sister says!" Jingyue had no objections.
And so.
The two sisters calmly began their game of chess.
Their chess skills were evenly matched…
Both had lived for many years.
Even if their chess talent was poor…
After years of learning, they would still have become quite skilled.
So, this game of chess lasted for quite a while.
However, in the end, Su Qing was one move ahead, narrowly winning against Jingyue…
"Big Sister Xiao Qing is truly amazing…" Jingyue, knowing she had lost, didn't argue and readily admitted that her skills were inferior.
Su Qing shook her head. "You're also very skilled! Alright, the game is finished… Let's go test the item's efficacy!"
The item Su Qing referred to was naturally the hairpin…
And as for how to test its efficacy… Su Qing already had a clear idea in mind.
Upon hearing Su Qing's words, Jingyue also nodded. "Big Sister Xiao Qing, are you planning to take me along?"
"Of course, I'll take you along." Su Qing nodded. "Since you're by my side, and I've told you about this, I certainly can't just leave you out, can I?"
Hearing Su Qing's words, Jingyue stroked her chin, then said, "Alright then! I'll accompany Big Sister."
Su Qing heard this and curved her lips slightly… nodding gently.
"Then let's depart!" Su Qing said with a smile, then extended her hand.
Jingyue, seeing this, was a little puzzled about what Su Qing would do, but she still reached out and took Su Qing's hand.
Then she saw Su Qing form a hand seal with her other hand, summoning the Somersault Cloud…
And upon seeing the Somersault Cloud, Jingyue's eyes immediately widened.
She turned to Su Qing, exclaiming in surprise, "Big Sister Xiao Qing, you're not planning to…"
Before Jingyue could finish her sentence, Su Qing pulled Jingyue onto the Somersault Cloud with her…
Then, with a thought, she commanded the Somersault Cloud to move.
One could only see…
In the night sky, a crimson cloud flashed past, like a red ribbon streaking across the sky, moving at an incredibly terrifying speed.
And on the cloud, Su Qing activated the hairpin's power…
Immediately, the Somersault Cloud's speed increased significantly once more…
For a moment… Jingyue felt as if her heart had stopped.
Jingyue was indeed a cultivator, and she could indeed ride clouds, so she wasn't particularly unused to speed…
But with the Somersault Cloud that Su Qing was riding, she still felt a sense of dread.
For no other reason…
It was simply too fast.
And now, with the hairpin's enhancement, the Somersault Cloud's speed had increased even further.
This scared her even more.
"Big Sister Xiao Qing… aren't you riding the cloud a bit too fast?" Jingyue said, watching the surrounding scenery rush past at a terrifying speed.
Su Qing smiled slightly. "This isn't its limit yet! Do you want to try its limit?"
"Perhaps not?" Jingyue quickly shook her head. "I'm already a bit scared of your speed…"
"You're a cultivator, how can you be scared of this?" Su Qing asked, puzzled.
"I don't know… but it's truly a bit frightening," Jingyue said.
Su Qing pouted and didn't insist, merely slowing down. "Hmm, I don't quite understand… I don't find anything scary about it. Oh, right, we're almost at Flower-Fruit Mountain!"
Seeing Su Qing slow down, Jingyue also breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't know why she felt relieved, but as the speed decreased, the sense of dread in her heart indeed vanished.
However, just as Jingyue breathed a sigh of relief, Su Qing's words made her pause again.
She asked, "Ah? Flower-Fruit Mountain?"
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