Su Qing smiled helplessly at those words and nodded. "There will always be partings, but it’s not as if we’ll never see each other again. It won’t be long before our next meeting."
She knew that Bai Suzhen wasn’t trying to force her to stay; she simply wanted to express her feelings.
Naturally, Su Qing wouldn't blame her for that, nor would she find her too clingy.
Hearing this, Bai Suzhen nodded, then said with a hint of gloom, "I know that, of course. I’m just still a little reluctant to let you go."
"I’m reluctant too!" Su Qing patted Bai Suzhen’s head and added, "But I have to go back."
Bai Suzhen sighed and pursed her lips. With a touch of helplessness, she said, "I know... but before you leave, Sister Xiao Qing, can you give me a kiss?"
Su Qing naturally had no reason to refuse.
She nodded with a smile and pressed her lips against the other's.
However, they did not linger for long.
After a brief kiss, Su Qing released Bai Suzhen.
Following that, Su Qing said a proper goodbye to Bai Suzhen, just as she always did.
Once the formalities were over, she finally left the bamboo courtyard.
As soon as Su Qing stepped out of the bamboo grove...
The little Daoist boy was already waiting there.
Seeing Su Qing emerge, she skipped over to her side, tilted her body playfully, and looked up at her with a grin. "So? Did you have fun yesterday? I thought you were leaving the same day! I didn't expect you to stay for an extra night."
Facing the little Daoist boy’s inquiry, Su Qing didn't act unnatural, nor did she feel the slightest bit of embarrassment or shyness over what had happened last night.
She simply let her lips curve into a perfect arc and looked at the girl, saying softly, "Xiao Bai asked me to stay for the night, so naturally I couldn't refuse... As for whether I had fun yesterday, of course I did."
Hearing Su Qing’s answer, the little Daoist boy didn't find it surprising. She just nodded cheerfully and said, "Is that so? As long as you’re happy. Since you had a good time, don't forget what you promised me!"
Su Qing felt a bit speechless. She had wondered what else could be on this girl's mind, and it turned out she was just worried Su Qing would forget the snacks she had promised!
This girl's entire brain had probably fallen into a gourmet trap...
Her head was filled with nothing but those snacks.
She was practically the same as Yudie.
Su Qing nodded and said, "Rest assured, I won't forget! However, if you keep nagging me about it, I might 'accidentally' forget, you know~"
Su Qing was truly too lazy to listen to her drone on about it, so she simply used the snacks to threaten the girl.
And such a threat was indeed quite effective.
As soon as Su Qing spoke, the girl immediately caved.
She nodded hurriedly and said, "Mhm, mhm! You’ve already promised me, so why would I keep nagging? Just don't forget!"
Su Qing pursed her lips and nodded.
Seeing this, the little Daoist boy finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Qing then followed up by asking, "You’re waiting here for more than just that, aren't you?"
The little Daoist boy shook her head quickly. "Of course not! I have other business!"
"Then tell me about it," Su Qing asked helplessly with a glance.
"Actually, it’s not my business. Master wants to see you again," the little Daoist boy said with a giggle, scratching her head.
"Alright, I understand. I’ll go right now." Su Qing knew that the girl waiting here must have had another reason.
While it wasn't entirely impossible for her to wait just because she feared Su Qing would break her word, based on her understanding of the girl, she wouldn't wait specifically for that. It was more likely she would have chased after Su Qing as she was leaving to mention it.
After all, doing it that way would make the memory stick better.
"Hehehe~" The little Daoist boy scratched her head and followed Su Qing toward the side hall.
As they were leaving, the little Daoist boy couldn't help but look back toward the courtyard deep in the bamboo grove.
She seemed lost in thought.
However, Su Qing didn't notice the girl's expression; she simply walked quickly toward the side hall.
In a short while, Su Qing arrived.
As she stepped inside, a plume of blue smoke rose and transformed into the form of the Old Mother of Mount Li, appearing before her.
Upon seeing her, Su Qing performed a salute as usual. "Greetings, Senior..."
"How many times have I told you? There’s no need for such formalities!" The Old Mother waved her hand and said, "I called you here because I want to ask a favor of you. I should have told you yesterday, but because our conversation was interrupted by certain matters, I accidentally forgot."
Su Qing was aware of what happened yesterday. Although it wasn't a massive crisis, it was a complication related to that matter, so it was normal for the Old Mother to have been too distracted to remember other things.
Su Qing asked, "If Senior has something to say, please tell me directly. You have helped me so much... as long as it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse."
"It’s about Bai Suzhen." Seeing her sincerity, the Old Mother of Mount Li nodded with satisfaction. She had pampered her for so many years; at least she wasn't raising an ingrate.
Su Qing asked curiously, "About Xiao Bai? If that’s the case, then I have even more reason to help. Please, speak freely, Senior."
Bai Suzhen was her wife, after all. Anything concerning her was something Su Qing felt obligated to assist with.
Li Shan Lao Mu chuckled and said, "Don't worry, it’s not actually a huge matter... It’s just about her leaving Li Shan and going with you."
Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then asked with pleasant surprise, "Senior, you’re willing to let Xiao Bai leave Li Shan with me?"
"I never said she couldn't leave with you! It just wasn't the right time yet," the Old Mother rolled her eyes and said.
"So, has the time come now?" Su Qing pressed.
"It’s almost here..."
"What does 'almost here' mean? Is it still not possible now?"
"At least not for the next few years." The Old Mother of Mount Li nodded.
"Then when will it be possible? And if it’s still not possible now, why are you telling me this now?" Su Qing looked at the Old Mother, her doubts pouring out all at once.
Listening to Su Qing’s barrage of questions, the Old Mother remained exceptionally calm, not at all overwhelmed by the volume of inquiries.
"As for when she can go back with you, it will likely be after you return to the Changbai Mountains," the Old Mother said with a smile. "As for why I’m telling you now, it’s naturally so you can be mentally prepared and aware of the situation. Besides, I’m telling you now because there is one thing you must do before she leaves this place... If not, her departure will have to be delayed even further."
Su Qing blinked, looking at the Old Mother in confusion.
"Senior, please stop talking in circles and just tell me. Otherwise, you’re making me anxious."
Seniors always loved to be cryptic, and it was starting to make her impatient. If it were anything else, it wouldn't matter, but this concerned her and Bai Suzhen, so it was inevitable she would feel a bit rushed.
Seeing Su Qing’s impatient look, the Old Mother of Mount Li looked at her with interest, as if she had discovered something new.
After a long pause, the Old Mother finally spoke.
"It’s a very simple thing... Before Bai Suzhen leaves this place, you and she need to have a child."
"Huh?" Su Qing was stunned by these words. Her brain couldn't process it for a moment, and she asked subconsciously, "Senior, are you in such a hurry to see your disciple's child?"
The Old Mother was also momentarily taken aback by Su Qing’s remark. Once she reacted, she laughed heartily. "There’s nothing wrong with thinking of it that way... However, besides that reason, there is an even more important one. It concerns Bai Suzhen’s future..."
"Concerns her future?" Su Qing’s brow furrowed as she began to think rapidly.
If it were just general matters about Bai Suzhen, Su Qing might not be able to guess much. But if it concerned her future, Su Qing knew a thing or two.
At the very least, she knew the legend of the White Snake...
Perhaps...
What the Senior was talking about was related to that legend?
But Bai Suzhen was already her wife... she should have long since transcended the Fate of the White Snake legend.
The Old Mother of Mount Li watched Su Qing’s furrowed brow, organized her thoughts, and spoke:
"Yes! I calculated that Bai Suzhen has a tribulation in her future... Although this tribulation has become unrecognizable because of you—and might even be difficult to start—Fate is the kind of thing that has a certain probability of occurring if it isn't completely twisted. That is why I found that secret method for you two, so that you and Bai Suzhen could have a child. Once this child is born, her future trajectory will have completely departed from its predestined path. Only then will she have truly transcended Fate."
Listening to the Old Mother’s words, Su Qing remained silent for a moment before saying, "Senior, you mean Xiao Bai is still caught in a certain Fate and needs a catalyst to break through it? But why a child?"
"Mhm... actually, it could be something else, but the price for other methods is far greater or much harder to achieve. There is, of course, a simpler way: she could stay here forever and never leave. That is one of the best ways to solve this. But can you endure that?" The Old Mother looked at Su Qing, speaking calmly. "Therefore, the method I mentioned is one of the easiest... and it happens to align with your own desires! Besides, I really do want to see my disciple's child!"
Hearing this, Su Qing fell silent for another short while...
In that silence, she thought about many things.
"Hoo, I understand..." Su Qing nodded. "Actually, Xiao Bai does have the desire for a child... This wouldn't go against her wishes. However, I am curious—if Xiao Bai escapes that Fate, will that Fate disappear entirely?"
"No... there is a high probability that someone else will take her place." The Old Mother answered Su Qing’s question directly, then added, "However, if we do not survive the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, then this Fate really will disappear. In the end, the only thing that will remain is a legend. A legend born of pure imagination..."
Hearing this explanation, Su Qing finally had a complete grasp of the situation.
She nodded with a smile and said, "Don't worry, Senior. We will definitely survive the Great Tribulation successfully."
"I believe we will as well," the Old Mother said with a smile. "If I didn't believe it, I wouldn't be telling you all this."
Su Qing nodded with relief. "Senior is truly magnanimous."
"Hmph, I just don't want my disciple to suffer any grievances." The Old Mother glanced at Su Qing, then spoke with a warning tone, "Even though you are half a disciple of mine, if Little White suffers any grievances while following you in the future, watch out or I’ll give you a thrashing! I won't go easy on you just because you’re my half-disciple..."
The Old Mother put on a stern face, looking as if she really would give Su Qing a sound beating.
Seeing this, Su Qing nodded with a beaming smile. "Rest assured, Senior. How could I ever let Xiao Bai suffer?"
"Hmph, it better be so." The Old Mother gave a light snort and nodded. "Alright, that’s all I had to say... If you’re going back, then go quickly!"
Having finished what she wanted to say, the Old Mother began to see her guest out.
Su Qing didn't say much in response, only nodding with a smile. "In that case, I shall take my leave. Please take care of yourself, Senior."
"I don't need you to tell me that~ You’re the one who should be careful. The pressure on you is immense, and you have two clones. You must be careful to rest your spirit. Don't collapse one day because you can't hold on anymore; if that happens, the time you’ll need to recover will be long indeed." The Old Mother looked at Su Qing and cautioned her.
Su Qing was slightly taken aback by the Old Mother’s words, then nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, Senior. I know what I’m doing."
"Hmph, you’d better."
After a light snort, the Old Mother said:
"Go on, go on, I’m leaving first! Just look after yourself."
With that, the Old Mother transformed into a plume of blue smoke and vanished.
Su Qing smiled and turned to walk out of the side hall.
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