A Qing tucked her hair behind her ear and didn't answer Zhao Zhao's question directly. Instead, she leaned closer to Zhao Zhao and sniffed carefully.
Zhao Zhao was quite confused by this and shrank back a little.
She thought this ghu-lady named A Qing was rather strange.
A Qing was a bit stunned when she didn't smell the fragrance on Zhao Zhao. After a while, she seemed to realize something. Frowning, she asked Zhao Zhao, "What's your relationship with that Lord? He actually gave you his protective dragon scale."
At first, Zhao Zhao didn't know who the Lord A Qing was talking about. But once the dragon scale was mentioned, she knew.
But... what was her relationship with Su Yuan...
Zhao Zhao shook her head like a rattle and answered honestly, "I don't know."
"..." A Qing was a bit speechless. She raised her eyebrows and said nothing.
She speculated in her mind whether that guy from the Monster Administration Bureau had taken a fancy to this innocent girl and was trying to abduct her while she knew nothing.
Not only did he give her the dragon scale, but he also tied the red string of love to her.
Tsk, no wonder the older the monster, the more playful they are. They really have a lot of tricks.
At this moment, far away in another room, Su Yuan sneezed.
Zhao Zhao still remembered what A Qing had said before. So, she asked nervously and hesitantly, "You haven't told me yet. How did you know I'm a monster?"
Zhao Zhao thought she hadn't revealed anything in front of A Qing.
A Qing smiled, stroked Zhao Zhao's soft little face, and suddenly became much more amiable, like an elder sister.
"Actually, it's nothing. I'm just more familiar with little monsters like you."
This was like not answering at all.
Zhao Zhao was very dissatisfied. She thought A Qing was just perfunctory. She stared at A Qing angrily, trying to put some pressure on her with her eyes.
However, although she had the idea of looking fierce, she lacked the appearance to match. In others' eyes, she just looked cute, as if she were acting coquettishly.
A Qing couldn't help laughing and pinched Zhao Zhao's little face again.
Zhao Zhao pulled A Qing's hand away and said seriously, "Don't lie to me."
Seeing that she had really made Zhao Zhao angry, A Qing shrugged helplessly and said, "Okay, okay. I'll tell you."
"I've seen you, or rather... something very similar to you. Do you know that you have a very peculiar fragrance on you? It's exactly the same as that thing I saw. That's how I guessed you're a monster."
Zhao Zhao was shocked after hearing this. She took two steps back silently, raised her arm and sniffed. She couldn't smell anything at all.
She wanted to say that A Qing must have smelled wrong, but then she suddenly remembered that Su Yuan had also asked her a similar question.
Could it be that there really was a fragrance on her?
A Qing saw the puzzled look on Zhao Zhao's face. A hint of meaning flashed in her eyes. Then she kindly comforted Zhao Zhao, "Don't worry. I won't tell others."
Zhao Zhao immediately became happy.
"However," A Qing changed the subject, paying no attention to the little leaves on top of Zhao Zhao's head that were trembling nervously.
She made a request, "I'll keep your secret. You have to promise me one thing."
"What is it?" Zhao Zhao carefully protected the little leaves on her head. Anyway, A Qing already knew she was a monster. It wouldn't hurt to let the little leaves breathe.
"Give me a few drops of your blood."
"Huh?" Zhao Zhao didn't quite understand what A Qing wanted her blood for. But compared to exposing her identity as a monster, she thought giving blood was a better deal. So, she simply cut her finger generously and gave some blood to A Qing.
A Qing looked at Zhao Zhao's blood with a burning look in her eyes. After carefully putting away the blood, she held Zhao Zhao's hand and thanked her sincerely, "Thank you."
Zhao Zhao was a polite and good child. She said politely, "You're welcome."
A Qing got what she wanted but didn't intend to leave. She still sat on the chair and stared at Zhao Zhao.
Zhao Zhao felt uncomfortable being stared at. She asked softly, "Is there anything else?"
She wanted to say that if there was nothing else, could Sister A Qing please leave? She was a bit sleepy. But she thought this was A Qing's house, and it wouldn't be good to say so. So, she just held back a yawn.
A Qing looked at her deeply and sighed inexplicably. She said to her, "You must never tell others your identity. Do you understand?"
Zhao Zhao nodded. She knew that.
A Qing seemed very worried. Her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.
Zhao Zhao was simple and naive. Seeing that A Qing still didn't leave, she thought A Qing wanted to chat with her for a while. So, she forced herself to stay awake and asked something she was interested in:
"Sister A Qing, what kind of tree is the Amo Divine Tree you mentioned? I've never heard of it."
A Qing didn't expect her to ask this. She was a bit stunned. Then she answered her, "It's normal that you haven't heard of it. It's a man - made tree. All trees that can bring the dead back to life due to special opportunities are called Amo Divine Trees."
Zhao Zhao blinked her eyes and asked, "Then what are the special opportunities?"
But this time, A Qing was unwilling to say more.
A Qing stretched and walked slowly to the door. Turning around, she said to Zhao Zhao, "It's getting late. Go to sleep quickly. Tomorrow... is a very important day."
A Qing's reminder made Zhao Zhao remember. She had many curious things, and there was one right now. "Sister A Qing, Su Yuan said he would take you back to the Monster Administration Bureau. What will happen to you?"
A Qing smiled indifferently, "It won't be anything. I haven't killed anyone. At most, I'll receive some punishment, serve a few years in prison for reform, and then I can come out happily to find the kids."
Seeing her so relaxed, Zhao Zhao also smiled.
It was good that nothing would happen. She didn't want anything bad to happen to Sister A Qing. She thought A Qing was a good monster.
A Qing patted Zhao Zhao's shoulder and turned to leave.
Zhao Zhao stood in the moonlight at the door and watched as A Qing had only walked a few steps when a little girl rushed over and hugged her leg, acting coquettishly.
It was the little granddaughter of the village head.
A Qing lovingly picked up the little girl and left. From time to time, Zhao Zhao could still hear their happy laughter.
This happy laughter also infected Zhao Zhao. Suddenly, she wasn't sleepy at all. She ran to the small yard and sat down with great interest.
She thought that Sister A Qing really liked those little girls.
The warm interaction of others made Zhao Zhao miss Wutong Mountain.
She lay on the stone table and felt like crying.
At that time, Master had been in a hurry. She hadn't had a proper farewell with her senior brothers and sisters. She didn't know if they missed her...
Master had cut off her connection with Wutong Mountain. It was so hard for her to even say a word to them.
Thinking like this, she finally fell asleep on the table.
Ten minutes later, Su Yuan suddenly appeared behind Zhao Zhao.
Looking at the sleeping figure of the little girl, Su Yuan even unconsciously lightened his breathing. He bent down to pick up Zhao Zhao and carried her back to the room.
Zhao Zhao woke up as soon as she was picked up. She was still sleepy. Opening her eyes and seeing it was Su Yuan, she softly called out, "Su Yuan."
"Yeah." Seeing that she was awake, Su Yuan wanted to put her down and let her walk by herself.
But Zhao Zhao was really bold. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Su Yuan's neck, and even instructed him, "Hold me tighter. Don't drop me."
Then she tilted her head and closed her eyes.
"..." Su Yuan was stunned on the spot. The corner of his eye twitched. He resignedly tightened his hold on her and carried her towards the room.