"Really? Really?"
Su Qing saw her in a daze.
She knew the girl was probably still a bit bewildered!
She couldn't help but smile, reaching out to pat her shoulder.
She said with certainty:
"Yes, now you don't have to go back, nor do you have to marry any demon king."
"Some things... if you don't try, you'll never know if you can succeed."
Su Qing's words... were actually her own insight.
Back then, if she had thought that seeking a master would fail and hadn't left the dilapidated temple...
She wouldn't have achieved what she has today.
Hearing Su Qing's words...
Ao Ying breathed a sigh of relief, tears involuntarily tracing her cheeks.
She had originally thought the final outcome would be her returning to the Dragon Palace, accepting the arrangements of fate...
But she hadn't expected Su Qing to actually change everything in the end.
Although she still didn't quite understand the reason, nor was she clear why the East Sea Dragon King would let her stay with Su Qing.
But at least Su Qing's words... she understood.
"Thank you... Sister Xiao Qing," Ao Ying said.
Su Qing smiled slightly and said, "It's a small matter! The situation ended so simply... I feel like I didn't even do much!"
Ao Ying shook her head slightly, feeling that without Su Qing, nothing would have changed.
She was about to say something more... but suddenly remembered some of her father's words from earlier.
She couldn't help but ask, "By the way... Sister Xiao Qing, did my father marry me off to you?"
Su Qing blinked upon hearing this.
She thought for a moment, nodded slightly, and said:
"If we take his words literally... it seems so."
"But his real intention was just to find an excuse to leave you here, right?"
"It's both to save face for himself and to avoid making things more troublesome."
Ao Ying listened, then lowered her head and pondered for a long time.
She recalled her father's words...
After a long while, she said, "I feel... my father was serious."
Su Qing smiled helplessly, half-jokingly saying:
"What? You're really willing to marry me? But, taking a girl as a wife actually sounds quite interesting!"
"Sister Xiao Qing is my savior, and she also helped me get rid of the Mudfish Demon and escape from my father... If Sister Xiao Qing doesn't mind, Ying is naturally willing."
Ao Ying thought for a moment, then answered very seriously.
Ao Ying had always wanted to repay Su Qing, but now she was no longer a Dragon Palace princess, nor could she take any treasures from the Dragon Palace.
Naturally, there was nothing she could use to repay Su Qing.
If Xiao Qing didn't mind... she was naturally willing to offer herself in return!
She had to marry someone eventually... why not marry her benefactor, and a beautiful one at that?
No matter how you look at it! Su Qing was much better than that Mudfish Demon!
Su Qing was slightly stunned by Ao Ying's answer, then laughed:
"Alright, alright, let's not joke for now. I don't need your repayment!"
"Although this time seemed grand, nothing major actually happened."
"As for offering yourself in return! Just say it as a joke."
"How could your father be serious?"
She felt... that old Dragon King definitely couldn't be serious, he was just finding a way to save face.
Su Qing stretched, instinctively pinched Ao Ying's cheek, and said:
"Alright, alright, let's go back! It's a happy occasion that you don't have to return to the Dragon Palace or marry that Mudfish Demon! Let's celebrate today."
Su Qing turned to Leng Xiang and said:
"Leng Xiang, why don't we make a big meal tonight? I want some meat dishes!"
Leng Xiang saw Su Qing looking at her, nodded slightly, and slowly said:
"Hmm... Master, do you want to try dragon meat? I'm a bit displeased with that old Dragon King... I feel he has a scheme, and I want to go chop him down."
"Uh... it's better not to do such things. Besides, Leng Xiang, you can't beat him, can you?"
Su Qing was also startled upon hearing this.
She said with a hint of helplessness:
"Even if that old Dragon King has a scheme... he's already returned to the Dragon Palace, and we can't do anything to him now."
"As for what happens next, we'll just deal with it as it comes!"
Although she understood Leng Xiang's concern, the old Dragon King was, after all, an Earthly Immortal expert.
And with so many guards around him, Leng Xiang going there would likely be a one-way trip.
Even if Leng Xiang could really kill him...
That old Dragon King was also an official of the Heavenly Court; casually killing him would definitely cause a lot of trouble.
From any perspective, it wasn't a good thing.
Moreover, Su Qing didn't like fighting and killing...
Now that the old Dragon King had given way, even if there was a scheme, it would be a matter for later.
Besides, the other party might not actually have a scheme.
Leng Xiang looked at Su Qing, then glanced at the startled Ao Ying, and pouted.
Suppressing some unpleasantness in her heart, she took a deep breath and said:
"Sorry, Master, Leng Xiang was reckless! I'll prepare dinner."
Su Qing saw Leng Xiang calm down and nodded slightly.
She instinctively rubbed her head and said:
"Don't be too impulsive about anything! Just take a long-term view."
Leng Xiang nodded slightly upon hearing this... and seemed thoughtful.
Ao Ying, on the other hand, breathed a sigh of relief... she was really afraid Leng Xiang would rush off to chop down her father.
She wasn't worried about her father having an accident, but rather about Leng Xiang having one...
But now that Leng Xiang had been stopped by Su Qing, she naturally felt relieved.
However, Ao Ying always felt... that Leng Xiang had given her a very displeased look just now.
After pondering for a long time, Ao Ying thought... this was probably Leng Xiang's way of hating the house and its crow!
She hated her father, so naturally, she hated her too.
Ao Ying shook her head, no longer pondering these matters.
Instead, she thought about her father's words at the time...
Whether she should really offer herself to Su Qing as repayment.
Ao Ying and Leng Xiang each had their own thoughts.
Only Su Qing, at the eye of the storm, was completely unaware...
She was just happy that this big matter had been resolved.
Su Qing stretched, thinking she was in a good mood to go back, tease the sparrows, and have a drink, so she returned to the Water Curtain Cave first.
Leng Xiang did not follow Su Qing to the Water Curtain Cave; she used the excuse of preparing dinner ingredients to go hunting deep in Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Su Qing wasn't worried that Leng Xiang would rush to the East Sea Dragon Palace to chop down the Dragon King.
After all, Leng Xiang was very obedient.
She trusted Leng Xiang greatly.
Seeing Su Qing return, Ao Ying originally intended to follow.
But suddenly, she heard a familiar telepathic message...
So she made an excuse and stayed by the sea.
After Su Qing and Leng Xiang left one after another.
An old man slowly walked ashore.
The old man was dressed ordinarily, yet strangely.
Everything else was normal, but on his back, he carried a large turtle shell.
It looked quite bizarre, with an inexplicable disharmony.
"Grandpa Prime Minister!"
Ao Ying couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing the old turtle.
The person who came was naturally the Turtle Prime Minister...
The Turtle Prime Minister held considerable prestige in the Dragon Palace.
He was kind and smooth, and everyone liked him.
Coupled with his good relationships with the princes and princesses...
He had also watched many princes and princesses grow up.
Everyone called the Turtle Prime Minister 'Grandpa Prime Minister' or 'Grandpa Turtle'.
Ao Ying was no exception.
The old turtle saw Ao Ying, bowed respectfully, and said, "This old subject greets Your Royal Highness."
"Grandpa Prime Minister, I am no longer a Dragon Palace princess, you can just call me by my name," Ao Ying shook her head and said.
In Ao Ying's view, she had long ceased to be a Dragon Palace princess.
She didn't deserve that title.
The Turtle Prime Minister shook his head and said, "No, you are still the Dragon Palace's Royal Highness!"
Ao Ying no longer argued, merely smiled helplessly, and asked:
"Grandpa Prime Minister, you came to find me, it can't just be to say these things, right?"
The Turtle Prime Minister nodded and said:
"His Majesty asked me to inform Your Highness that the Black Flood Dragon who injured you that day has now transformed into a dragon, and he will also attend the next Peaches of Immortality Banquet. His Majesty hopes Your Highness will not continue to resent him because of this."
"......" Ao Ying was speechless for a moment.
If she hadn't understood what the Turtle Prime Minister was saying... she might have actually believed that the Black Flood Dragon could attend the Peaches of Immortality Banquet.
"I haven't resented my father?" Ao Ying shook her head slightly and said, "But is father really willing to kill his own general?"
"General Black Flood Dragon was too straightforward; His Majesty's words spoken in anger, he truly carried out with lethal force. With such a character, he cannot achieve great things. It is better to let him fulfill his last value..."
The Turtle Prime Minister shook his head and said:
"Furthermore, His Majesty also said... you are still a Dragon Palace princess! Even if you stay on Flower-Fruit Mountain, you are still a Dragon Palace princess. If you ever want to return, then return! The Dragon Palace is still your home!"
Hearing this, Ao Ying showed a bitter smile for a moment.
"Father really said that."
The Turtle Prime Minister nodded, stood silently to the side, but did not speak.
Ao Ying sighed deeply, then nodded and said, "I understand..."
"It's good that Your Highness understands."
The Turtle Prime Minister respectfully said:
"Also, if Your Highness truly likes that immortal, when the wedding day comes, do not forget to inform the Dragon Palace! After all, it is a princess getting married, and the dowry must not be shabby."
Ao Ying was stunned again at this moment...
After a long silence, Ao Ying finally nodded and said:
"Mm... I'll tell everyone then."
"Since Your Highness is aware... this old subject will take his leave first."
The Turtle Prime Minister bowed and said.
Ao Ying said, "Grandpa Prime Minister... take care."
The Turtle Prime Minister quickly disappeared into the sea...
And Ao Ying... stood by the sea, looking at the flying seagulls, feeling a bit lost in thought.
"Never mind... I'll go back and find Sister Xiao Qing."
Ao Ying still couldn't figure out her father's intentions.
Finally, she decided if she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it.
Even if he really wanted her to marry Su Qing, she didn't care.
After all, she herself had such thoughts...
Although... she didn't know if Su Qing would be willing to take her...
Ao Ying soon arrived outside the Water Curtain Cave.
Seeing Su Qing chatting with a few sparrows, she lowered her cloud and flew over.
Su Qing was currently telling the Feijius about what had happened earlier...
Seeing Ao Ying approach, she called out, "Come and try this wine! This is plum blossom wine brewed by Leng Xiang; although it can't compare to the Dragon Palace's fine wines, it's definitely not far off."
Ao Ying nodded slightly upon hearing this, and took the wine cup.
Then she chatted with Su Qing and the little Feijius.
The little Feijius were curious about everything... and extremely curious about the previous events, asking many questions.
As they chatted, Su Qing suddenly thought of an interesting point.
She asked, "Ao Ying, speaking of which... was your father's statement true?"
"Which statement?"
"That... your dragon women can also reproduce when women combine!"
Ao Ying: "......"
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