To Su Qing, Jin Xin's threats weren't the least bit intimidating.
After all, the things that woman was capable of doing were limited to a mere handful of tricks; Su Qing had never seen her do anything else. Since the outcome was entirely predictable, what was there to fear?
Besides, when it came to those specific matters, Su Qing was actually far more skilled than her. If Jin Xin actually came looking for her and they ended up in a contest of wits and will... it was hard to say who would be the one getting nervous and afraid.
Su Qing was far more formidable in that arena, possessing significantly more experience. She wasn't someone who was just all talk; her practical experience was too extensive to even count.
Seeing Su Qing's completely unfazed expression—and the fact that she was even wearing a faint smile—Jin Xin couldn't help but pout. Although this was the result she had expected, it still made her feel a bit dejected. Su Qing really wasn't giving her any face at all!
However, this was actually for the best. At the very least, Su Qing wasn't rejecting her 'threats' anymore. Even if success wasn't guaranteed, the situation was much better than before. At least now there was a glimmer of hope, unlike in the past when there was none at all.
"Alright, we're heading out to shop now. Is there anything you want? I can pick it up for you while we're at it," Su Qing said. Although she was making Jin Xin stay behind to watch the house, she didn't intend to be cruel; helping her bring back a few items was no trouble at all.
Jin Xin shook her head slightly and said indifferently, "Nothing in particular. Just get whatever!"
She had always been easygoing about such things, so she truly didn't have anything specific in mind. If she were to go out and browse herself, she might occasionally spot something she liked, but sitting here trying to think of something was impossible.
Su Qing nodded. "In that case, I'll just see what looks good and bring it back for you."
Since Jin Xin couldn't name anything, Su Qing would have to think about what she might need and keep an eye out during the shopping trip.
Jin Xin naturally had no objection. "Alright! I'll leave it to your judgment, Sister Su... Oh, right, if you see any interesting storybooks, you could bring some back for me. Of course, Sister Su, you know exactly what kind of 'interesting' books I mean."
Su Qing's mouth twitched slightly. Without a word, she turned and left.
She really didn't want to bring back any more of those 'interesting' storybooks for this woman. Every time Jin Xin read them, she would try to learn all sorts of bizarre 'techniques' from them. Not only were they completely ineffective, but they always ended up making everyone feel incredibly awkward. Therefore, Su Qing preferred to keep her away from such things whenever possible. After all, it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Watching Su Qing leave without hesitation, Jin Xin wasn't surprised at all. This was exactly what she had expected. Having lived together for so many years, how could she not know Su Qing's personality or whether she would actually bring back such things? The only reason she had asked was to tease Su Qing.
Although she rarely did such things normally, it didn't mean she was incapable of it.
As Su Qing disappeared from sight, Jin Xin let out a smile. She then found a place to sit, quietly contemplating the future while waiting for Su Qing's return.
The two young girls were naturally unaware of their departure. They were currently in their rooms, processing the events of the day. Even now, they hadn't fully digested everything; they were still in a state of complete bewilderment.
One couldn't blame them for their poor adaptability; the leap in their circumstances was simply too vast. Originally, their fate was either to become maidservants, toiling for others their entire lives without any reward, or to become child brides—essentially another form of servitude. In short, no matter how they looked at it, their future held no light.
And now, everything had changed in an instant. Their status had jumped from lowly servants to disciples of an immortal family who might one day become immortals themselves. The path ahead had suddenly become bright and dazzling—perhaps even too dazzling.
No matter how strong their mental fortitude was, it was difficult to accept such a massive shift all at once. Furthermore, they were just children; how much psychological resilience could they really have?
Being able to remain even somewhat calm right now was already an extraordinary feat.
As time slowly passed, the two eventually began to recover from their initial shock and accepted the change in their identities. This shift wasn't a bad one; it was a change for the better. Therefore, even though it was massive and shocking, it wasn't impossible to accept. On the contrary, once they accepted it, they only felt joy and excitement.
They had been the lowest of the low, and now, not only had they become 'people' like everyone else, but once they learned magic in the future, they would even stand above others.
Once they realized this, their confusion vanished, replaced entirely by excitement.
After a while longer, the excitement began to fade, replaced by worry about whether they could actually master magic. They feared that if they failed, they would lose this improved life. This anxiety made them resolve in their hearts to work as hard as possible to master the spells and do everything right. When a bright future was laid out before them, failing to grasp it would lead to the ultimate regret.
By evening, Su Qing returned to the courtyard after a long round of shopping. Returning with her and Ao Yiyi were Coal Ball and Hu Lin'er. The county town wasn't that large, so the two groups had eventually run into each other while wandering around. After meeting up, they finished their shopping together and returned as a group.
Upon returning, Su Qing first found Jin Xin and handed her several legitimate books she had purchased. "Read some normal books. You might not necessarily like them, but they're definitely better for you than those other things."
Jin Xin raised an eyebrow. "Mhm, thank you, Sister! However, I won't be reading these. I don't have much interest in this kind of literature."
Su Qing was both surprised and not surprised by the answer. She simply shrugged helplessly. "Well, if you ever find yourself interested, give them a good read."
Su Qing didn't plan to force her. After putting the books down, she took out several other items she had bought for her. Su Qing had just picked things that caught her eye, not knowing if Jin Xin would like them, so she simply handed them all over in a heap. Among so many items, there were bound to be a few she liked or found useful.
Looking at the pile of items in her arms, Jin Xin felt a bit helpless. She didn't know what to say. If she said Su Qing cared about her, she had brought back a bunch of things that were truly meaningless; if she said Su Qing didn't care, she had brought back a massive pile of gifts, even if most of them were useless to her.
In the end, Jin Xin didn't say much. She simply put the things away and gave Su Qing a smiling thank you.
"No need to thank me. You were watching the house; you shouldn't be treated poorly," Su Qing replied, unaware of Jin Xin's exact thoughts.
Jin Xin's lips curled slightly, but she said nothing more.
After giving Jin Xin her things, Su Qing didn't idle. She immediately joined Ao Yiyi and the others to continue decorating their new home. Since they would be living here for quite some time, they naturally wanted to make it to their liking.
However, Su Qing didn't help for long. After a while, she went to the kitchen to start cooking, leaving the rest of the decorating to Ao Yiyi and the others.
Soon, by the time Su Qing had finished preparing dinner, the decoration of the new home was also complete. Looking at the now-familiar 'new home,' Su Qing nodded in satisfaction. She then brought the dishes to the dining table.
At the table, everyone chatted casually, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant. In no time at all, the meal Su Qing had prepared was nearly wiped clean.
At that moment, Jin Xin suddenly spoke up. "By the way, Sister Su, don't forget what you promised me today."
Su Qing froze for a moment. What had she promised her today? She had no memory of it. Not only was Su Qing confused, but even Ao Yiyi, who was holding her bowl, looked puzzled. She had been with Su Qing for most of the day; she had a general idea of everything Su Qing had said and done. Consequently, she had no idea what Su Qing could have promised Jin Xin.
She turned to look at Su Qing and, seeing her equally bewildered expression, became even more confused.
Seeing this, Jin Xin didn't explain further. She simply looked at Su Qing with a beaming smile and said, "It's okay. It doesn't matter if you forgot, Sister. As long as I remember, it's fine."
This made Su Qing even more baffled. She raised an eyebrow. "So, what exactly is it?"
Jin Xin gave a mysterious smile. "You'll find out when the time comes."
Su Qing frowned. Although she was still confused, she had a vague inkling. When it came to Jin Xin, it was usually only one of a few things. After thinking for a moment, she stopped worrying about it. She just needed to be slightly prepared and deal with it whenever the woman made her move.
Dinner ended, and the two new girls took over the task of washing the dishes. With them handling the chores, Su Qing and the others were able to enjoy some leisure time.
Su Qing sat in the courtyard, looking up at the bright moon and contemplating the future. Building temples and collecting incense power—these things would not stop. Although she had slowed down considerably, it didn't mean she was giving up on the collection of incense power. Therefore, she still needed to plan her next steps carefully.
She sat there thinking for a long time. Gradually, the night grew deep. Su Qing felt it was about time and went back to her room to rest.
As soon as Su Qing pushed open the door, she saw a woman wearing only a dudou waiting for her on the bed. The woman looked at Su Qing with a smile and said, "Don't forget what we agreed on, Sister!"
Su Qing crossed her arms and looked at her. "I knew this was your goal... But do you really dare to sleep with me? Aren't you afraid things will get too heated?"
Jin Xin pouted and said, "So what? It's been so many years; I have to make some progress, don't I? Now, no matter what you do to me, it's impossible for me to run away. Whether you're forceful or gentle, I won't retreat like I did in the past."
Jin Xin was actually quite frustrated. She clearly made full preparations every time, but unfortunately, Su Qing was simply too skilled. Every time, Su Qing would make her feel overwhelmed until she couldn't help but flee. Although she had managed to endure a few times, for some reason, Su Qing would always stop on purpose. Those moments... were even more agonizing than running away herself.
Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "You really never give up! Fine, have it your way. But I'm telling you now, I'm very tired today and don't feel like messing with you."
Hearing this, Jin Xin said nonchalantly, "That's fine. I can be the one to bully you, Sister!"
Su Qing chuckled and shook her head. She knew this woman didn't have the courage. Although she usually acted like a dominant 'attacker,' she was actually a submissive in disguise. She had no idea how to handle someone else; she would only end up whimpering. She wasn't a threat at all.
Su Qing knew her all too well. This woman's defensive power was weak, and her offensive power was even more pathetic. It was the complete opposite of her martial prowess.
Therefore, Su Qing wasn't worried in the least. Seeing Su Qing so unconcerned, Jin Xin immediately felt indignant. Although she knew her own weaknesses, she felt her words should at least carry some weight of threat. Why did Su Qing look like she didn't care at all?
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