Chapter 44: Candied Hawthorn and a Child’s Logic

Song Ming and the other constables, however, declined Yang Qi’s invitation to stay the night, though they reluctantly accepted several food boxes under his persistent hospitality before departing.

“We still need to escort these people back to the county yamen for questioning, so we cannot stay long.”

Master Song, ever magnanimous, seemed only momentarily unsettled by the day’s thrilling and fantastical events. With the rain now cleared and the sky bright, he had regained some of his former martial official’s authority.

Qíngyǔ and her companions could only watch as the same procession that had escorted the idol that morning now departed, escorting criminals.

***

“Might I inquire about Mistress’s condition?”

Only after they had departed did Qíngyǔ finally find an opportunity to ask Yang Qi.

Logically, with the demonic entity vanquished, the illness should have naturally healed, requiring at most some replenishment of vital energy.

“We have the Young Lady to thank.”

Yang Qi spoke with a touch of emotion, noting how he had sought renowned physicians far and wide to no avail for his Mistress’s illness, yet with the demonic presence eradicated today, the malady had inexplicably cured itself.

“It was merely a small effort.”

Qíngyǔ cupped her hands in a respectful salute, then, holding the Little Girl’s hand, bid him farewell.

“Since the pressing matters are resolved, we shall not trouble you further.”

“Having just finished dinner, why not stay a while longer?”

Though he knew it was likely futile, Yang Qi still spoke, attempting his best to persuade them to stay.

“Perhaps another time.”

Qíngyǔ’s haste in bidding farewell stemmed from a desire to seize the opportunity before the evening market dispersed, hoping to try her luck at finding someone selling brown sugar.

While the matters concerning Beitu Jun and the “Words of Admonishment to the World” urgently required her investigation, she couldn’t forget the candied hawthorn skewers she had promised the Little Girl.

“Very well,” Yang Qi said, shaking his head. He cupped his hands and bowed to Qíngyǔ in farewell.

“Young Lady, your kindness to my Yang family is as profound as a mountain. Should you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you are welcome to visit our manor, and my Yang family will naturally offer its full assistance.”

“Should any worldly troubles arise, I certainly won’t hesitate to impose,” Qíngyǔ replied with a smile, speaking in a jesting tone.

“Especially with Little Four’s culinary skills, this humble Daoist and the Little Girl might visit often, so we’ll have to ask for Sir’s continued forbearance.”

Yang Qi listened to Qíngyǔ’s polite words, and though he knew they were merely a courtesy, a wave of cheerfulness still swept through him.

“No trouble at all! This manor always keeps two extra sets of chopsticks and bowls. Young Lady and the Little Girl are always welcome to help yourselves. My Yang Manor would consider it an honor to be graced by your immortal aura.”

‘Your daughter is also cultivating immortality…’

Qíngyǔ inwardly scoffed, then bid him farewell again, thinking to herself that the old fellow truly had a way with words.

“Mama talks in circles.”

The Little Girl, growing restless from the adults’ lengthy exchange of pleasantries, stuck out her tongue, and then, without meaning to, softly mumbled her thoughts aloud, much to Qíngyǔ’s embarrassment.

‘How could this be mere pleasantries? Could the affairs of cultivators ever be called pleasantries?’

‘It was clearly a matter of propriety! Of immortal grace and Daoist demeanor!’

Consequently, along their journey, Qíngyǔ deliberately squeezed the girl’s hand from time to time, leaving her utterly bewildered.

“Why does Mama keep pinching me?”

“It’s nothing.”

Qíngyǔ, of course, couldn’t admit that her earlier embarrassment had left her ‘holding a grudge,’ prompting her to occasionally stir up trouble to vex someone.

Seeing that Qíngyǔ had no intention of answering clearly, the girl pouted indignantly and continued walking with her head down, only then realizing they weren’t on the way home.

“Aren’t we going home?”

“You want candied hawthorn skewers, don’t you? Aren’t we going to buy the ingredients now?”

Seeing that the Little Girl herself had forgotten about the candied hawthorn skewers, Qíngyǔ felt an inexplicable surge of triumph, even more satisfying than when she had publicly displayed her power that morning.

“Candied hawthorn skewers?”

The Little Girl tilted her head, as if genuinely unaware of what her mother was talking about.

“Little silly goose, this morning when we first arrived in town and talked about going to the market, didn’t you say you wanted to eat some?”

“Mama actually remembered!”

The girl finally recalled it, letting out an adorable gasp and tightly hugging her mother’s waist.

“I love Mama the most!”

Qíngyǔ felt her cheeks flush at the girl’s words. She coughed lightly, then composed herself and asked, “Well then, Little Girl, what reward will you give your favorite Mama?”

“Hmm…”

This question, however, stumped the girl. She shuffled her feet, pondering deeply, before finally speaking with childlike innocence.

“Then, how about I sleep with Mama tonight?”

Hearing this, Qíngyǔ was somewhat speechless.

‘This child, always trying to get something extra.’

“Don’t we sleep together every night?”

“That’s different!” The Little Girl shook her head emphatically, counting on her fingers as she explained, “That’s Mama sleeping with me. Tonight, I’m sleeping with Mama!”

‘Was there any fundamental difference between the two?’

With a sigh, Qíngyǔ reached out and playfully pinched this little rascal’s rosy, tender cheek until she cried out in surrender before letting go.

“How is that any different?”

“Mama’s bullying me! It just is different!”

The girl mumbled indignantly, feigning a sniffle before continuing.

“When Mama sleeps with me, Mama is the one taking the initiative. When I sleep with Mama, I’m the one taking the initiative.”

‘So now it’s about active and passive roles.’

Qíngyǔ shook her head, deliberately ignoring the clever little imp, and hurried them along, holding her hand.

The little one, naturally disgruntled, saw that her mother was ignoring her. She had no choice but to wake the Immortal Sword, who had only just fallen asleep, and question her as usual.

[It just is different! Don’t you agree!]

The Immortal Sword was still half-asleep, and her owner immediately started asking such obscure questions that anyone else might have thought there was a problem with her cultivation.

[Hold on a moment. What’s different, and what’s right or wrong?]

The girl indignantly repeated everything she had just said to Qíngyǔ.

[Tell me, aren’t I right!]

[Logically speaking, there’s no difference.]

The Immortal Sword, having listened, also felt somewhat speechless.

[It’s not like you’re dividing into gōng shòu, so what difference does it make who holds whom?]

(TL Note: A term from BL/yaoi fiction, referring to the dominant and submissive roles in a relationship.)

[Hmm… then how can it be different?]

[If there’s no difference, how could it possibly become different?]

Listening to this unreasonable nitpicking, the Immortal Sword felt that she should simply return to sleep immediately.

[Aren’t you an Immortal Sword? You can’t even figure out something like this?]

The Immortal Sword, hearing the Little Girl start to question her professionalism again, retorted somewhat indignantly,

[It’s not about gōng shòu, if it can’t be done, it just can’t be done!]

[What’s gōng shòu?]

‘Oh no.’

No sooner had the Immortal Sword blurted out her nonsense than she jolted wide awake upon hearing that question.

[I… I don’t know!]

Realizing she had misspoken, the Immortal Sword quickly retreated deep into the sea of consciousness, hiding herself tightly. No matter how much the Little Girl shouted, she dared not emerge again.

Meanwhile, Qíngyǔ, having purchased the brown sugar, looked at the Little Girl beside her, who was indignantly fiddling with her fingers, and felt a pang of regret about her earlier behavior.

‘Oh dear.’

‘Could I have scared the child?’

Feeling a little uneasy after mulling it over, Qíngyǔ bent down and gently ruffled the girl’s hair, forcing a stiff, placating smile onto her face.

“Little Girl.”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Mama!”

The Little Girl snapped back to attention, but her mother’s smile startled her immensely.

“Mama! You’ve been possessed by a demonic entity!”

“What are you talking about!”

Hearing such strange words from the girl’s mouth, Qíngyǔ’s smile instantly vanished. She curled a finger and “fiercely” flicked her forehead.

“Mama’s back to normal!”

Seeing this, the Little Girl, far from being annoyed, simply rubbed her forehead and then giggled.

“What kind of daydream are you having?”

“Tonight, I’ll be the one to actively hug Mama!”

The innocent Little Girl had pondered for a long time but still hadn’t fully grasped the Immortal Sword’s words, only inferring from the context that the one taking initiative should be considered the “gōng.”

“Alright, alright, tonight the Little Girl will reward me by hugging me to sleep.”

Qíngyǔ felt a touch of helplessness, yet a hint of sweetness stirred within her.

The Little Girl couldn’t offer any other rewards, and in truth, an active hug was already quite wonderful.

At the very least, it was the first “gift” the tiny girl, after genuinely pondering for a long time, wished to give her mother.

Sometimes, Qíngyǔ would wonder what her existence would be like if she hadn’t met the Little Girl after arriving in this world.

But in the end, there was no answer.