Laojun stroked his beard upon hearing this and said with a chuckle:
“His Majesty originally did not intend to concern himself with you, but someone spoke up and mentioned you, so His Majesty had to do something.”
“Therefore, under my suggestion, His Majesty decided to recruit you.”
“Didn't you say this house couldn't compare to the Heavenly Palace? Then follow me to the Heavenly Palace to stay for a while.”
Su Qing was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
She hadn't expected that the resolution for her would also be recruitment.
However, Su Qing also understood that this was likely the best possible outcome.
She couldn't help but wonder what position the Jade Emperor had arranged for her... as long as she wasn't sent to tend horses like a certain monkey.
Thinking it over, Su Qing asked: “I have no objection to going to the Heavenly Palace, but I wonder where His Majesty has assigned me? What is the position?”
Laojun took a sip of tea and said:
“Rest assured, it’s naturally impossible to assign you to any troublesome position...”
“Recently, some positions in the Moon Palace have become vacant, so I asked for a leisurely post there on your behalf.”
“The rank isn't high, but it isn't low either.”
“You shall stay in the Moon Palace for ten or twenty years, treating it as a way to lie low and avoid the heat.”
As Laojun spoke, he couldn't help but take another sip of tea with a smile, saying:
“In the coming time, there will inevitably be some chaos. If you continue to stay here, you will unavoidably be drawn into trouble.”
“So it's better to go play in the Moon Palace for a few years.”
“Besides, I heard you are acquainted with that Moon Rabbit... going to the Moon Palace will allow you to settle in more quickly.”
Hearing this, Su Qing nodded slightly.
Though she wasn't sure if the trouble Laojun mentioned was the same trouble she was thinking of, a trip to the Moon Palace was not a bad thing.
As for that Moon Rabbit, they had only met once, and she had even left the rabbit quite frustrated.
However, she obviously couldn't tell the senior that directly.
“By the way, I heard that one day in heaven is a year on earth. Is the Moon Palace the same?”
As they chatted, Su Qing suddenly remembered this particular setting and couldn't help but inquire.
If she stayed in the Moon Palace for one day and a year passed on earth...
Wouldn't staying in heaven for a few years mean centuries would pass below?
Laojun couldn't help but chuckle at her words.
Though he didn't know why the child cared about this point, he still said:
“The Moon Palace is different from the Heavenly Palace; she still needs to come out every day to illuminate the night, so naturally, it is not a case of one day in heaven being a year on earth.”
Su Qing breathed a slight sigh of relief. This way, she wouldn't accidentally miss many years all at once.
“Thank you for clarifying, Senior,” Su Qing said.
“No matter, no matter.” Laojun smiled and said, “So, what are your plans? Are you willing to go with me to the Heavenly Palace to report for duty?”
Su Qing naturally nodded and said: “I would be honored to accept.”
Hearing this, Laojun laughed heartily and said:
“Good, good, good! However, I must remind you, little one, that although the Moon Palace does not have as many rules as the Heavenly Palace, there are still many immortals and gods within. You must be polite when you see them.”
“I understand,” Su Qing replied, knowing this much was common sense.
“Mm, with those words from you, I can rest easy.”
Laojun smiled:
“If there is anything you don't understand about living or cultivating in the Moon Palace in the future, you can come to the Heavenly Palace to find me or the Old Mother, or you can go directly to the Lunar Deity or Heng'e.”
“The Lunar Deity and Heng'e both have excellent temperaments, and they have heard of your existence and are quite interested in you.”
“If you ask them, they will not be stingy with their guidance.”
When Su Qing heard the names Lunar Deity and Heng'e, she didn't immediately recall which two immortals they were.
After thinking back carefully, she remembered that Heng'e was indeed Chang'e.
And the Lunar Deity was the traditional moon goddess in Daoist mythology, also known as the Taiyin Niangniang.
Thinking about it, there were quite a few deities on the moon... many with famous names.
However, now was not the time to dwell on that.
Su Qing simply nodded and thanked Laojun.
Then, remembering another question, she couldn't help but ask:
“By the way, Senior, I have one more question. For this trip to the Moon Palace, can I bring my family... or rather, can I bring this courtyard with me?”
Although Su Qing was going to the Moon Palace, she couldn't just leave everyone here...
Especially Gongsun Zhixue and the Bodhi tree; they absolutely could not be left here for long.
A short term of a few days or a month was fine, but if it were longer, she worried something might go wrong.
“Family?”
Laojun looked around and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. There isn't a single person in your house...
But he still said:
“Have you ever heard the saying that when one man attains the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to heaven? Since you are going to the Moon Palace to take up a post, you can naturally bring them along. However, there is no need to bring the courtyard. Once you are up there, a residence will naturally be arranged for you.”
Hearing this answer, Su Qing felt relieved, and the last doubt in her heart was settled.
She hurriedly said: “Thank you for your guidance, Senior... This way, I can go to the Moon Palace with peace of mind.”
“Hahaha, this can hardly be called guidance. I am merely telling you things that everyone knows,” Laojun said, shaking his head with a slight smile.
To Su Qing, gratitude was still necessary.
Perhaps in Laojun's eyes, these were all common knowledge, but to Su Qing, they were extremely important.
After finishing their talk about the Moon Palace.
Su Qing chatted with Laojun for a few more moments, until finally, Laojun's gaze fell behind Su Qing, onto the Bodhi tree in the corner.
Looking at the Bodhi tree, he couldn't help but nod and say:
“You've actually raised that Bodhi tree quite well, little one... It seems your master worried for nothing.”
Su Qing was slightly stunned and turned her gaze toward the Bodhi tree.
She wasn't surprised that Laojun knew of the Bodhi tree's existence, only curious why he suddenly brought it up.
“Actually, I don't really know how to raise this tree. I just let it grow on its own. For it to reach this stage is purely due to good luck.”
“It's not bad... Right now, this Bodhi tree looks quite healthy.”
Laojun shook his head slightly and said:
“When it is transplanted to the Moon Palace later, it won't suffer any setbacks due to being unaccustomed to the new environment.”
“However, before transplanting, you must have it pull its roots out from that thing. Otherwise, if you transplant it directly without preparation and damage the roots, it wouldn't be good.”
Laojun had lived for an untold number of years, after all.
The state of the Bodhi tree was something he could understand mostly just by looking at it.
He didn't even need Su Qing to explain.
Seeing Laojun mention the matter of the Bodhi tree's roots, Su Qing followed up by asking:
“What exactly have the roots of this Bodhi tree grown into?”
She had been very curious about this for a long time... she had planned to ask her master when she had the chance.
But since Laojun was here, asking him would have the same effect.
“Do you know what kind of place this Flower-Fruit Mountain is?” Laojun asked in return instead of answering.
Hearing this, Su Qing was slightly stunned and tentatively replied: “The ancestral vein of the Ten Continents, the source dragon of the Three Islands?”
“Don't you already know then? Where do you think this little sapling has plunged her roots?” Laojun said with a chuckle.
Su Qing fell silent for a moment. This Bodhi tree was a bit too ridiculous.
Did it really plunge its roots into the ancestral vein?
“Do not look down upon this sapling your awkward master gave you... This thing is extraordinary.”
Laojun flicked his fly-whisk and said with a smile:
“However, although this little one's roots have plunged into the ancestral vein, she is still just a small tree after all. She cannot absorb too much of the ancestral vein's power, and it is difficult for her to convert the power she does absorb for her own use.”
“So, having her rooted in the ancestral vein to absorb spiritual energy right now doesn't actually bring her much benefit.”
“Wait until she is transplanted to the Moon Palace. When she grows to be about as tall as you, transplant her back to Flower-Fruit Mountain to let her absorb the ancestral vein's spiritual energy.”
“At that time, she will truly be able to digest the spiritual energy absorbed from the ancestral vein... That is when the benefits of the ancestral vein will be greatest for her.”
“Stated like this, you should be able to understand, right?”
Su Qing listened and nodded slightly, but her mind was still a bit dazed.
She had thought Laojun would say something about how the Bodhi tree's roots plunging into the ancestral vein would affect the vein itself.
And then teach her how to discipline this little tree.
But she never expected Laojun would only teach her when it was best for the sapling to absorb the ancestral vein's spiritual energy...
This truly left Su Qing a bit bewildered.
However, Su Qing still wanted to ask. She said: “But letting her absorb the ancestral vein's spiritual energy like this, won't it harm the ancestral vein?”
“Do you think a single small tree could harm the ancestral vein?” Laojun shook his head slightly and laughed heartily. “Although this sapling is precious, it hasn't reached the level where taking a bite of food would make the ancestral vein grow thin.”
“You don't need to worry about this little tree accelerating the arrival of that day... If that were really the case, I wouldn't let you continue planting her here.”
Hearing this, Su Qing was silent for a few seconds and finally felt that Laojun's words made sense.
She replied: “It was my ignorance then, please forgive me.”
“No matter, no matter... You are still young, it's normal not to know these things. Besides, you are so eager to learn, how could I blame you?”
Laojun shook his head with a smile and continued:
“If you want to know some secrets of the Jambudvipa World, you can go look in the Moon Palace Library. There are many ancient texts there, enough for a girl like you to read.”
Su Qing nodded and gave her thanks, marking this matter in her memory.
Su Qing chatted with Laojun for a bit longer, and during the conversation, Gongsun Zhixue was mentioned.
Gongsun Zhixue had been hiding from Laojun, not daring to come out and meet him, but seeing herself mentioned, the little one ran out.
Yet, facing Laojun, this usually prideful little one appeared exceptionally well-behaved.
Laojun seemed to quite like the little girl as well, even giving her a few pointers and leaving a small trinket for her.
Gongsun Zhixue gave her thanks properly...
And then she vanished back into the tree and did not come out again.
“This little one is quite thin-skinned; she really can't be compared to you, Su Qing.” Laojun laughed heartily as Gongsun Zhixue disappeared.
Su Qing: “...”
Senior, when you say I'm thick-skinned, could you at least say it behind my back? Saying it to my face is a bit much, isn't it?
But speechless as she was, Su Qing couldn't really talk back... after all, he was an elder.
Su Qing could only smile helplessly.
Seeing this, Laojun said: “Alright, alright, the time is about right. I should be heading back.”
“Won't you stay a bit longer, Senior?”
“I came here just to notify you to go to the Moon Palace... I've stayed long enough now, it's about time.”
Laojun stroked his beard and said with a smile:
“By the way, I almost forgot one thing. I heard you kidnapped the Dragon King's daughter? Why would a girl like you kidnap someone else's daughter?”
Su Qing blinked and spread her hands, saying:
“This is a bit of an injustice to me, Senior. I didn't kidnap his daughter. If you don't believe me, I can take you to find Ao Ying and see what she says.”
Hearing Su Qing's words, Laojun just smiled and said: “I won't go, I won't go. I won't interfere in the matters between you youngsters... as long as you didn't really kidnap his daughter.”
Laojun naturally knew what kind of character that old Dragon King had, and he knew it was impossible for Su Qing to have actually kidnapped his daughter.
This inquiry was merely to have a way to shut some people's mouths later.
Su Qing said: “It's naturally impossible for me to do such a thing.”
Laojun nodded slightly and said: “Mm, I know you aren't that kind of person. Alright, this time I truly must go!”
Seeing this, Su Qing did not stop him and simply bowed to see him off.
Laojun waved his hand, and the green ox obediently came to his side, letting him sit upon it.
After Laojun mounted the green ox, auspicious clouds rose from beneath the ox's hooves, and it soared into the air, heading toward the Heavenly Palace.
Su Qing watched Laojun depart and finally let out a long breath of turbid air.
After all, talking to an old senior was more or less exhausting...
However, Laojun's visit today had indeed brought her some good news.
Whether it was regarding the post in the Moon Palace or the matters concerning the Bodhi tree, it was all useful information.
Even the little girl Gongsun Zhixue had gained some benefits.
Su Qing turned to look at Gongsun Zhixue, only to see the little one sitting in the tree and giggling.
Su Qing shot her a look and asked: “What are you laughing at?”
“Laughing at how thick-skinned you are!” Gongsun Zhixue said, hugging her arms. “See, I told you it wasn't just me who thought so!”
Su Qing was quite speechless. If this girl hadn't yet achieved human form, she would definitely have grabbed her for a good scolding.
Sometimes, this little one truly asked for it.
Pulling her thoughts back, Su Qing looked at Leng Xiang and said: “Leng Xiang, go pack up! We are going up to the Moon Palace tomorrow!”
Leng Xiang nodded slightly and said: “Master likes looking at the moon. Now that we are going to the Moon Palace, can it be considered a wish fulfilled?”
Su Qing laughed:
“I just like looking at the moon, I didn't necessarily want to go up to it. How can that be considered a wish fulfilled?”
“However, I truly have never been to the moon before. This trip to the Moon Palace will surely be a unique experience.”
Leng Xiang looked at her and smiled slightly, not quite understanding.
But she didn't bother to think deeply on it; as long as her master was happy, it was enough.
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