Keeping Score

Su Qing led Leng Xiang by the hand, following behind Yudie as they headed out onto the streets together.

For this outing, the three of them did not cast any invisibility spells...

After all, they were going out to browse the shops today. If they were to do so while invisible, it would be quite a waste of effort.

Instead, the three of them simply performed a transformation incantation, changing their appearances to look like ordinary mortals. This way, they wouldn't be so conspicuous.

As a result, Su Qing and the others could stroll through the streets in peace, without worrying about attracting too many eyes or having their fun spoiled.

Once they reached the streets, Su Qing finally had the chance to slowly take in the city...

The human city where Leng Xiang and Yudie resided was exceptionally prosperous. Although it did not quite reach the level of Chang'an, it wasn't far off...

Especially regarding its delicacies, it was in no way inferior to the capital of the Great Tang.

It even possessed a certain exotic charm...

However, if one truly had to declare a winner... Su Qing found it difficult to decide.

After all, each had its own unique merits.

Of course, Su Qing didn't dwell on such things, and Yudie cared even less...

To Yudie, the location or the type of food didn't matter at all; declaring a winner was meaningless. As long as the food was delicious, that was enough.

Her way of thinking was just that simple...

That afternoon, time passed especially quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the hours had slipped away, and the sun began to slowly sink behind the mountains...

By this time, it was time for Su Qing and the others to return.

This city was quite prosperous, but it enforced a curfew. Only during special festivals would the curfew be briefly lifted so people could enjoy the celebrations.

On ordinary days, there was no entertainment at night...

Today was clearly not a festival.

As soon as the sun began to set, the shops everywhere started packing up.

Therefore, even if Su Qing and the others didn't want to go back, they had to.

Leng Xiang and Yudie had a residence in this city...

It was located outside the city walls, tucked away in a secluded mountain valley.

Few people knew of this place...

Thus, whether they came or went, no one was the wiser.

Su Qing and the others arrived at the courtyard.

It was a very ordinary yet poetic courtyard.

In that small yard, Leng Xiang had planted a peach tree...

The peach tree was already quite tall, looking as if it had been there for decades.

But in reality, Leng Xiang had only been here for a mere month.

Such height was obviously not natural.

Clearly, Leng Xiang had used her own abilities to force its growth.

Furthermore, because of Su Qing's arrival, Leng Xiang had caused the peach tree to burst into full bloom, despite it being the wrong season...

It was strange, yet the peach blossoms on the tree were nonetheless incredibly beautiful.

It was enchanting.

"Leng Xiang, really... This is a bit much," Su Qing said with a light chuckle. "But... thank you. It's wonderful to see such beautiful blossoms. Will this tree bear fruit later?"

Leng Xiang shook her head upon hearing this and said, "How could this tree bear peaches? It only knows how to bloom."

"Is that so? That's a pity then..."

Su Qing looked up at the blossoms, reached out to pluck one, and tucked it into Leng Xiang's hair, saying, "I actually find myself wanting to eat some peaches!"

Hearing this, Leng Xiang's face turned slightly red. She then looked up at the blossoms and said, "I shall let Master eat then..."

Su Qing laughed and said, "Where is your mind going? I truly meant I wanted to eat the fruit! What on earth is filling that head of yours?"

Su Qing's tone was playful as she gently tweaked Leng Xiang's nose. Her smiling face looked like she had just pulled off a successful prank.

Leng Xiang, however, showed no dissatisfaction. She simply said softly, "Then... next time, I will plant some peach trees for Master that can bear fruit..."

Su Qing shook her head and said, "No need to go to such trouble. When the season comes, we can just go down the mountain and buy some from the villagers... Why bother planting them ourselves?"

"I only... want Master to eat food that I have grown with my own heart," Leng Xiang said.

At this, Su Qing smiled and nodded.

"Then have it your way!"

While Su Qing was chatting, Yudie, who had been left to the side, pouted so hard her lip could have held a pitcher. One could see just how dissatisfied the girl was.

Watching Leng Xiang and Su Qing being so affectionate while ignoring her, she gave a soft huff and thought to herself, 'Hmph, ignore me then. See if I care! Mother and Mama are really something. They've been together forever, yet they still love flaunting their affection like this! And right in front of their own daughter, too.'

Yudie was quite annoyed, so she simply couldn't be bothered to keep watching...

She turned and went back into the house to prepare her own bed.

This small courtyard didn't have only one habitable room; there was also a smaller guest room...

Though it was called a guest room, it was actually the room prepared for her...

She figured that whenever Su Qing visited, she would be relegated to sleeping next door because Mama and Mother would find her an obstacle to their intimacy.

Su Qing noticed Yudie leaving to tidy her bed and let out a snicker, unable to help saying, "We've gone and made the girl angry..."

"Master needn't worry about her. She'll be fine on her own in a little while," Leng Xiang said, gazing at Su Qing.

While Leng Xiang naturally loved her daughter, she loved her Master even more...

After all...

As the saying goes, parents are the true love, while children are just accidents.

Su Qing chuckled and said, "I should probably go check on her. As for you, Leng Xiang, why don't you go heat some water for me? I'd like to take a good soak. Today in the North Sea was quite exhausting!"

Hearing this, Leng Xiang was momentarily stunned, then she nodded seriously and said, "I understand, Master. I will go prepare it for you immediately!"

Leng Xiang was very obedient, especially toward Su Qing. Whatever Su Qing wanted, she would certainly strive to prepare it...

Now that Su Qing said she wanted a bath, how could she not prepare it well?

Seeing this, Su Qing smiled faintly, then leaned in and whispered something into her ear...

Leng Xiang's eyes brightened slightly upon hearing it, and she couldn't help but nod with a smile. "Then I shall prepare a bit more."

Su Qing laughed, nodded, and then turned to go find Yudie.

Yudie was very easy to coax.

With just a few words, Su Qing had her cheered up again.

The girl simply felt that Su Qing was too busy being affectionate with Leng Xiang to pay her any mind... Once Su Qing came to keep her company and chat for a bit, her anger dissipated.

Ultimately, she hadn't been that angry to begin with...

It was more the grievance of being ignored.

"By the way, Mother, how much more Incense Power do we need to collect?" Yudie sat on her bed. The blankets were already spread out, looking very neat and carrying a faint, pleasant floral scent.

Su Qing rubbed her chin and thought for a moment before saying, "The more the better. In the days to come, our most important task will be collecting Incense Power. As for everything else, it doesn't matter much..."

Hearing this, Yudie curled her lip and said, "That's so boring!"

"Collecting Incense Power allows us to visit many places. How could it be boring? Don't you love traveling all over the place?"

"But this isn't traveling; it's work! I'm doing unpaid labor for Mother!"

"How can you call it unpaid? I often take you out for delicious food!"

"Hmph, that little bit of reward isn't enough!"

"Oh? So you think it's too little!"

"Exactly." Yudie nodded without the slightest shame and said, "I want Mother to take me out for good food even more often!"

"Fine, fine, I understand. I will," Su Qing said with a smile. "Alright, the hot water is likely ready. I need to go bathe. Remember to wash up properly later too, do you hear me?"

"Blehh, I'm not that messy!" Yudie stuck out her tongue and said, "I know!"

Su Qing nodded slightly and then turned to leave.

Comforting Yudie was just a minor interlude.

After her bath, she would begin the most important main event of the night.

Inside the bathtub,

Su Qing leaned against the edge, enjoying the soak in the hot water...

At this moment, it felt wonderful.

As she soaked, Su Qing's consciousness gradually drifted away.

Soon, she entered her mental space...

To see the Bodhi Tree sisters.

She had promised them that she would visit every so often to chat about future matters...

Entering the mental space once more,

the Jianmu Tree grafted onto the Bodhi Tree had grown even more lush...

It felt as though it wouldn't be long before the Jianmu Tree's vines reached the very top of the Bodhi Tree.

'What happens after it reaches the top? Will it keep growing upward?' Su Qing wondered curiously.

While she was thinking,

Ying'er suddenly jumped down from the tree and landed right in front of Su Qing...

If Su Qing hadn't sensed her early, she might have been startled by the girl.

"Aww, I didn't scare you! What a shame~" Ying'er pouted, speaking with slight dissatisfaction.

"You really do love your pranks..." Su Qing shook her head and asked, "Where is Yan'er? Why hasn't she come out?"

"The spiritual flow of the Jianmu Tree is in disarray. Yan'er is busy regulating it! I was supposed to be helping, but since you came, Sister Su... Yan'er told me to come out and keep you company for a chat!" Ying'er spread her hands, looking helpless.

"I see. Yan'er has been working hard then!" Su Qing looked up and asked, "By the way, why did the spiritual flow of the Jianmu Tree suddenly become disordered?"

"That... I'm not entirely sure either. I only know it has something to do with the black water you went to suppress today. But the focus isn't the water itself... it's definitely something behind the black water." A trace of helplessness appeared on Ying'er's usually cheerful face.

Clearly, Ying'er truly didn't know what was happening this time...

Though the girl was often flighty, she at least wouldn't lie about such matters.

She knew how to distinguish between what was important and what wasn't.

Su Qing rubbed her chin and said, "Related to the black water? That's quite unexpected... I just don't know what exactly is behind it. I only felt that the black water was no ordinary substance, nor was it something without consciousness."

"I wouldn't know about that. After all, I'm always inside your head. Most things you don't know, I don't know either... except for a few things your master told me in advance. Other than that, I'm clueless," Ying'er said, shrugging.

Ying'er actually knew very little...

The reason she occasionally seemed to know more than Su Qing was simply because Su Qing's master would tell her through the 'back door.' Of course, the reason for telling her was so she could use her own mouth to tell Su Qing what to do and what to watch out for.

Ultimately, she was just a messenger...

Naturally, she didn't understand the full picture.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing said, "Forget it. It's fine if you don't know. I'll find an opportunity later to ask the seniors."

Su Qing knew quite a few seniors, and she had good relationships with many of them. If there was something she didn't understand, she could ask them; as long as they knew, they usually wouldn't hold back. Unless, of course, they weren't allowed to say...

Ying'er naturally had no objection to this. She nodded and said, "It would be best if you could find a senior to clear things up... because to be honest, I'm curious too. What on earth is back there that could disrupt the spiritual flow? It's given me a lot of extra work out of nowhere; I've got quite a bit of resentment about it!"

Ying'er was inherently lazy...

Now that she had so much more to do because of the black water, she was naturally quite dissatisfied.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and said, "Alright, once I find out, I'll tell you."

At this, Ying'er's smile returned...

However, she didn't intend to keep chatting with Su Qing. She patted her own cheeks and said, "Alright, aren't you still in the bath? I doubt you can play with me for long. Now that the important stuff is said, you should finish your bath and get to your own business! I need to go back and help Yan'er sort out the Jianmu Tree's spiritual flow. If I don't help, she'll scold me again."

Hearing this, Su Qing glanced at her. She felt that the girl likely knew exactly what she was planning to do next...

However, she didn't say much...

She only nodded slightly and said, "Mm, that's fine. Being in the bath isn't the best time for a long chat anyway. And you have important work to do... In that case, I'll be going! Go tend to your tasks!"

Ying'er stuck her tongue out at Su Qing and said, "Fine, fine, I'm off to work! Blehh~ This time doesn't count as one of your visits to play with me. You have to make it up to me next time!"

"I know~ You certainly are one for keeping score," Su Qing said with a helpless smile.

Ying'er laughed and then turned to leave, no longer bickering with Su Qing.

Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't help but smile helplessly. She rubbed her head, and with a thought, she opened her eyes and withdrew from the mental space.

'I've soaked long enough; time to get out... Once Leng Xiang has finished her bath, it'll be about time to get to the main event,' Su Qing thought with a smile.