Chapter 354: The Traditional Way of Repaying a Debt No Longer Works

Qingbo Gate, Shuangcha Alley.

Xiao Qing walked briskly, her ponytail swaying, heading toward her current residence; at the gate, she pushed it open and saw layered artificial hills and lush floral scenery, vastly different from the broken walls and empty halls she had once lived in. As she pondered this, she stepped forward into the current estate, observing—when Bai Suzhen's figure suddenly appeared.

"So it's you."

Seeing Bai Suzhen, Xiao Qing greeted her calmly and said, "I've already taken this house. If you want to live here, find another place."

This house had originally been Xiao Qing's; she had taken the Five Ghosts away for two days, and upon returning, found it occupied by the white snake.

Bai Suzhen raised a finger lightly and said coldly, "When I came to this Wang Mansion, it was nothing but broken walls and ruined halls—not fit for human habitation. Everything you see now is the result of my magical cultivation. You're the one who should leave."

Hearing this, Xiao Qing looked at Bai Suzhen, sneered, and said, "The Wang Mansion was never meant for humans." As she spoke, she launched a sudden attack toward the white snake; while admiring the peach blossoms, she had already realized Bai Suzhen's power, and now she channeled her full strength.

Bai Suzhen stood motionless, letting Xiao Qing's magic strike her—sparks flew, yet she remained utterly unharmed.

With this exchange, Xiao Qing knew she faced a formidable opponent; her techniques flowed in rapid succession, reaching Bai Suzhen's side, then suddenly forming a serpent's head to bite down upon her.

"Hmph…"

Bai Suzhen sidestepped the serpent's head, turned her back to Xiao Qing, and said, "So you're one of us." Her face bore a faint smile, but her voice was cold and merciless: "It seems you've been stirring up trouble among humans for a long time. If I don't eliminate you today, the common folk will suffer sooner or later." As she spoke, the Cinnabar Sword appeared in her hand—leaving Xiao Qing stunned.

"Shhh!"

Bai Suzhen advanced with the sword, three moves, two strikes, and sent Xiao Qing sprawling to the ground; the Cinnabar Sword now lay across her chest.

"Don't kill me!"

Xiao Qing begged at once—not only out of fear of death, but because she had only recently come to understand the ache of deep attachment; she did not wish to die, and hurriedly said, "If you spare me, I'll become your maid and serve you."

Three strikes shattered the rebellious soul; I'm family, sister.

"A maid?"

At Bai Suzhen's skeptical tone, Xiao Qing's form shifted, transforming into a beautiful woman in a green robe and long skirt, bowing respectfully to Bai Suzhen and calling her "sister." Only then did Bai Suzhen accept her as a younger sister.

"Sister."

Xiao Qing called out.

Seeing this, Bai Suzhen's accumulated daytime anger gradually faded; she took Xiao Qing's hand and they entered the Wang Mansion, where Bai Suzhen asked more about Xu Xian, and Xiao Qing recounted everything she knew.

"Sister."

Xiao Qing, recalling her conversation with Gu Qing, probed cautiously: "Gu Qing said that if you want to repay a debt of gratitude, you might have to become Xu Xian's concubine."

Concubine?

Hearing this, Bai Suzhen's eyebrows lifted slightly in displeasure: "Why should I become his concubine?"

"I don't know."

Xiao Qing said, "We just guessed."

"I won't marry him."

Bai Suzhen stated plainly.

In these seventeen hundred years, Bai Suzhen had heard many legends: a woman repaying a debt of gratitude meant bearing a man a child and then leaving. She had once held this belief too—but after arriving in Hangzhou, she felt no longer needed to bear Xu Xian a child.

The traditional method no longer works.

Now Bai Suzhen was pondering a new way to repay the debt.

"Then how do you plan to repay him?"

Xiao Qing probed.

Bai Suzhen thought a moment, then said, "I'll ask Gu Qing."

From Gu Qing's mouth, perhaps she could learn what Xu Xian truly wanted.

"Sister…"

Xiao Qing whispered softly, leaning close to Bai Suzhen's ear with a request; Bai Suzhen's gaze flickered with surprise.

Tongren Hall.

Gu Qing watched Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing arrive together, stepped forward to greet them—then paused, astonished, as he noticed Xiao Qing still dressed as a man, affectionately clinging to Bai Suzhen's arm.

"You two are…"

Gu Qing stared at them, as if stammering.

Xiao Qing was quite pleased with Gu Qing's reaction—internally chuckling. Gu Qing's household spirit meddled in others' affairs and even dragged him into entanglements with the Immortal of a Hundred Flowers… this connection was indeed valuable, but the Immortal's peerless beauty had distorted Gu Qing's tastes—and Xiao Qing couldn't stand it.

After last night's accounting with Bai Suzhen, Xiao Qing had conceived this plan… You want to change your orientation? I'll change mine first!

"Brother Gu!"

Xiao Qing spoke solemnly to Gu Qing: "Do you remember the place we mentioned while admiring peach blossoms? What a coincidence—I now live with this Miss Bai. After talking last night, we felt a deep connection… and slept together."

As Xiao Qing spoke, she glanced at Bai Suzhen.

Bai Suzhen covered her mouth with her sleeve, eyes smiling.

They had indeed slept together—but as sisters.

Yet now, seeing Gu Qing's stunned expression, Bai Suzhen felt a quiet satisfaction… Let you use snake lust as an excuse! Now comes your comeuppance!

"Oh…"

Gu Qing sighed quietly, deeply disappointed, and said to Xiao Qing, "I'm glad you found someone who shares your feelings, Master Cen." As he spoke, he stubbornly turned his face away.

Seeing this, Xiao Qing moved to step forward—but Bai Suzhen gently held her back, stopping her from confessing, then seized the moment to ask: "Master Gu, you're Hangzhou's famed physician. Could you diagnose me? How should I repay Xu Xian's debt?"

Gu Qing fell silent a moment, then muttered, "Let go."

The words seemed meant for Bai Suzhen—and also for himself.

"Let go?"

Bai Suzhen nodded slowly, recalling all she had seen: Pei Yaoqin had once harbored feelings for Gu Qing, but once she realized it was impossible, she devoted herself entirely to living with Xu Xian—truly a worthy match. And as for Xu Xian, Pei Yaoqin was precisely what he had long desired.

"I understand."

Bai Suzhen said, "I will make sure they marry."

Gu Qing nodded and said, "Letting others be happy is also letting yourself be free." After speaking, he sat before Tongren Hall and began seeing patients; Xu Xian, nearing his wedding, no longer assisted here—so Gu Qing now managed everything in the clinic.

Xiao Qing watched Gu Qing's forlorn expression and felt a pang of pity—but also delight; she stepped into the pharmacy to help with herb preparation.

"Master Cen."

Gu Qing stopped her: "You should keep Miss Bai company."

Seeing Gu Qing's demeanor, Xiao Qing bit back laughter and asked solemnly, "Can you manage alone?"

"I can manage alone!"

Gu Qing said, face grim.

Originally, Gu Qing had been pondering how to balance the two snakes—but now that they were doing this… let fate take its course…

(End of Chapter)