The Treasury

The fatigue after this day was self-evident.

It was naturally no less taxing than the time of the Three Sacred Mother’s immortal gathering.

She gave a long sigh and muttered to herself, "I should try to participate in things like this less often in the future. It’s truly exhausting."

"Master... you have worked hard."

Leng Xiang said as she sat beside Su Qing, then pulled her head onto her lap and said:

"Since you are tired, you should rest for today. If anyone else comes looking for you, I will turn them away for you."

Seeing how considerate Leng Xiang was, Su Qing nodded and said with a chuckle:

"Then I’ll trouble you... but if there is something truly urgent, remember to wake me."

"Yes, Master,"

Leng Xiang replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing closed her eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The night passed in a flash.

Su Qing rested quite well that night...

By the time she woke up the next day, her energy had basically been restored.

She stretched and looked at Leng Xiang, who was sitting by the bed, and couldn't help but ask, "Did anything happen yesterday?"

Seeing Su Qing awake, Leng Xiang gave a soft smile and said, "The Dragon King and Ao Ying came by, but they left after learning you had already turned in."

"What did they want?"

"They didn't say in detail..." Leng Xiang recalled and shook her head.

Su Qing yawned and nodded, saying, "I'll go find them myself in a bit then."

Leng Xiang didn't speak further, merely standing up silently to prepare the washbasin and toiletries.

Not long after.

Su Qing arrived at the main hall of the Crystal Palace.

She met the Old Dragon King there.

"My worthy son-in-law, you really worked hard yesterday... even I didn't expect you to be so popular, with so many people seeking your acquaintance. By the way, how did you rest last night?"

The Old Dragon King stroked his beard and spoke with a chuckle.

He didn't care at all that he wasn't the center of attention at his own birthday banquet... or rather, this outcome was exactly what he had hoped for.

Because he had gained even more benefits from it.

Looking at the Old Dragon King’s smiling face, Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "I rested quite well... thank you for your concern, Senior. By the way, was there a reason you came looking for me yesterday?"

"It wasn't anything major..." the Old Dragon King said while stroking his beard. "It's just that I previously promised to open the Dragon Palace Treasury to you, so I was looking for you to go there together. But seeing you were resting yesterday, I pushed it to today."

Su Qing was stunned and said, "Didn't we say it would be after the second banquet?"

"Eh, those are two separate things! This is a return gift for your birthday present," the Old Dragon King said with a hearty laugh.

Su Qing squinted in thought for a moment, then nodded, choosing not to refuse the Old Dragon King.

Firstly, she was too lazy to refuse, and secondly, she had worked hard all day yesterday; she might as well accept it as some form of compensation.

"Then I must thank you, Dragon King."

"What is there to thank? It's just a simple exchange of courtesies."

Su Qing shook her head and said, "Speaking of which, Senior Dragon King, when do you plan to hold the second birthday banquet?"

Now that the first banquet was over and the second had yet to begin... she needed to make some plans for the downtime in between.

If the gap was too long, she would need to return to the Changbai Mountains.

After all, she was the Mountain God of the Changbai Mountains, and it wasn't good to be away for too long.

Even if her life as a deity was quite leisurely.

She was basically in a state of having nothing to do.

Hearing this, the Old Dragon King understood Su Qing's concerns and replied with a smile:

"The second banquet is set for next month! During this time, if you wish to return to the Changbai Mountains, I naturally won't stop you. However, I would still prefer you to stay in the Dragon Palace. It would be good for you to chat more with that girl's mother."

"Next month? I see." Su Qing nodded slightly and said, "But staying in the Dragon Palace is out of the question. Someone needs to be at the Changbai Mountains after all."

"I see... that's a pity." The Old Dragon King shook his head helplessly but didn't press further, only saying: "Come, let's go to the Dragon Palace Treasury! Just take whatever catches your eye."

The Dragon Palace Treasury naturally contained many treasures...

But as for truly peerless treasures, there were indeed none.

After all, true peerless treasures couldn't possibly be placed openly in a large warehouse.

They were usually kept separately in a specific location.

Therefore, the Old Dragon King felt no pressure at all letting Su Qing take whatever she wanted from the treasury.

"Alright." Su Qing nodded at his words.

Seeing her nod, the Old Dragon King walked ahead, leading her toward the Dragon Palace Treasury.

Not long after.

The two of them entered the treasury...

The treasury was still the same as before.

Items had been added and removed, but it remained as magnificent as ever.

This wasn't Su Qing's first time here, so she wasn't particularly amazed by the sight.

She just followed the Old Dragon King as they walked around, listening to him boast about the treasures within.

After a full circuit, seeing that Su Qing hadn't spoken up about wanting anything, the Old Dragon King couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

Although there were no peerless treasures here, there were certainly many fine items... even in the outside world, they would be considered rare gems.

Anyone else walking in would have likely been dazzled and filled with greed.

Yet after all this time, Su Qing hadn't even mentioned wanting a single thing.

It truly baffled him.

"Is there nothing you desire? Or... do none of these catch your eye?" The Old Dragon King looked deeply at Su Qing and said, "If you want something better, there are more, of course, but they are in a deeper part... would you like to come and see?"

Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "It's not that they don't catch my eye... it's just that I have no use for any of these."

The Old Dragon King gave Su Qing an unexpected look, slightly surprised.

To be honest, when he brought Su Qing in, he was prepared for a significant loss.

But Su Qing's reaction... it really left him at a loss for words.

Thinking of this, the Old Dragon King chuckled inwardly, thinking: "I really underestimated this girl..."

The Old Dragon King spoke: "If there's nothing here you can use, then keep walking with me. The treasury is quite large; there's bound to be something you'll need."

Su Qing nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for the trouble."

"We are all family, no need for such formalities." The Old Dragon King shook his head, choosing to strengthen their bond.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile, then followed the Old Dragon King for another stretch.

Suddenly...

She spotted something that piqued her interest.

It was a small, fish-gut dagger.

The dagger was covered in rust, looking either incredibly ancient or utterly ordinary.

But this was the Dragon Palace Treasury after all...

Su Qing didn't believe it was truly just a piece of junk.

"Senior Dragon King... what is this dagger?" Su Qing couldn't help but ask.

Hearing this, the Dragon King turned to look at the rusty fish-gut dagger and stroked his beard, seemingly lost in memory.