The Disclosure

"What's with that expression?"

Laojun felt quite depressed when he saw Lao Mu's expression and heard her tone.

Why did it feel like learning from him was such a disgrace!

What was so bad about being carefree and unrestrained like him?

"It's nothing... I just feel that if I learned from you, I would leave a foul reputation for ten thousand years," Lao Mu replied flatly. "After all, some people's character is about as good as their sportsmanship in chess."

"You can insult my character, but you are not allowed to insult my chess etiquette!"

Although Laojun was being mocked, he wasn't angry at all. These old friends had been bickering for more than a day or two; how could he be annoyed by such a small matter?

Hearing Laojun's shameless response, Lao Mu rolled her eyes and placed another chess piece.

Then, she heard Laojun chuckle from across the board.

"However... I really didn't expect it. You're just like that old fellow, leaving your treasures to the disciple by your side..."

"I thought you hadn't prepared a Tuoshen treasure for yourself because you were truly tired of living!"

"So you have this side to you as well. Tsk, tsk. Why didn't you tell me straight before?"

"What, did you think it was something to be ashamed of?"

Lao Mu didn't get angry at his words; she simply shook her head and said, "I just felt there was nothing to say. It's not exactly something worth trumpeting about."

"Hahaha, fine, fine. It's not something worth trumpeting about," Laojun said, smiling as he stroked his beard.

Lao Mu looked at Laojun, gave a soft chuckle, and continued, "Besides... I also hope that after that girl Suzhen passes her Great Heavenly Tribulation, she can spend more time with Xiao Qing."

Laojun was momentarily stunned by Lao Mu's words, then shook his head helplessly.

"That girl is special..." Laojun said out of the blue. "After the Great Heavenly Tribulation, she will be even more special."

Lao Mu gave a bitter smile, placed another piece, and asked just as abruptly, "Do you really intend to share the same fate as the Heavenly Palace?"

Laojun smiled but did not offer a reply.

The two of them enjoyed their conversation, chatting until midnight before finally ending their game.

The next day.

As the sun rose, Lao Mu arrived at the bamboo courtyard deep within the mountains of Li Shan.

In the courtyard, the White Snake was sitting cross-legged in meditation, a drop of dew hanging from the tip of her nose.

Perhaps sensing someone's arrival, the White Snake slowly opened her eyes and looked at the visitor. She rose and performed a formal bow.

"Greetings, Master."

Lao Mu waved her hand and said, "I've come today... because there are some things I need to tell you. It's also to resolve... your greatest doubt of late."

Bai Suzhen was momentarily stunned...

————————

On the Changbai Mountains.

After a night of mental preparation, Leng Xiang finally came here.

Leng Xiang was used to following her master's every command, so she rarely took the initiative to seek her out for anything.

She had been brave enough before only because of a sudden accumulation and explosion of emotion.

Furthermore, after that moment of bravery, she had chickened out again...

Of course, Su Qing played an indispensable role in this.

After all, Leng Xiang never expected that Su Qing would act in a way completely different from what she had imagined...

Nor did she expect that she was far less brave than Su Qing.

Currently, Leng Xiang stood by Su Qing's bed, waiting for her to wake up so she could say everything she wanted to say in one breath.

Before long, Su Qing woke up.

She was startled to see Leng Xiang standing before her.

"Leng Xiang... why are you here?" Su Qing sat up and rubbed her temples.

To be honest, she hadn't slept well last night.

She rarely dreamed, but last night she had dreamed of many strange things...

The dream was a bit hard to describe.

It felt as if something was collapsing.

Bit by bit, it turned into fine powder and drifted toward the sky...

However, a dream was just a dream. Although strange, it wasn't enough to make her worry too much.

After all... dreams were inherently bizarre. It wasn't strange for all sorts of nonsense to be jumbled together.

So, upon waking, Su Qing didn't care about much except feeling like she hadn't slept enough.

Instead, she was more concerned about Leng Xiang being right in front of her.

Faced with Su Qing's inquiry, Leng Xiang remained silent for two seconds before saying, "Yesterday... I heard Master say that you are going to marry Ao Ying?"

Su Qing was momentarily stunned, then let out a yawn and said, "That's right!"

After saying that, Su Qing suddenly understood something. She continued with a smile, "I think I know what you've come to ask! But don't worry, I haven't forgotten the agreement I made with you all those years ago!"

She smiled and pointed to her head. "My memory is actually quite good."

Su Qing's memory was indeed good. She had always remembered the promise she made to Leng Xiang and had never forgotten it.

So, even if Leng Xiang hadn't specifically come to find her, she would have still fulfilled that agreement.

Hearing Su Qing's answer, Leng Xiang was slightly dazed. She then gave a small smile but didn't say anything more.

After all, the situation was still somewhat awkward.

Su Qing looked at Leng Xiang and smiled faintly. "But it really is rare! I'm curious what has happened over these ten years. The other day you ambushed me, and today you've actually taken the initiative to talk to me about these things. It feels like you've changed a lot!"

Leng Xiang couldn't help but feel embarrassed when Su Qing mentioned the events of the other day.

Even though she was the one who had made the move, she was also the one who had been the most pathetic... it was quite humiliating.

However, Leng Xiang couldn't just remain silent.

She could only say helplessly, "I've always been like this; it's just that Master never noticed."

"Hmph, you're even more stubborn than before. You've truly learned the essence of those Little Sparrows!" Su Qing burst out laughing.

Leng Xiang: "..."

The two of them went back and forth, chatting for a while. This matter was naturally put aside for the time being.

After the meal.

Su Qing stood by the edge of Heaven Lake, staring blankly at the scenery down the mountain.

She wasn't lost in the scenery, but rather lost in thought...

After a long time, she looked at the pendant hanging around her neck and sighed softly. "As expected, Lady Chang'e hasn't completely lost her influence on me."

"In a few more days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll go to the Moon Palace then to play with Lady Chang'e!"

"Oh right, I haven't seen Suzhen in decades either. Tomorrow, when I go to announce the good news to Lao Mu, I'll stop by to see Suzhen as well. I'm sure Lao Mu wouldn't be so unreasonable as to forbid it, right?"

Shaking her head, Su Qing retracted her thoughts and returned to the courtyard.

Since she had nothing to do today... she would practice her alchemy for a bit.

The day passed in the blink of an eye.

The next day.

Early morning.

Just as she had planned yesterday, Su Qing set off on her Somersault Cloud.

Before long, Su Qing arrived at the Old Mother's Hall again.

As a frequent visitor, Su Qing had already 'calculated' that a little daoist boy would be waiting for her in the bamboo grove outside the hall.

Sure enough, just as Su Qing expected, the moment her Somersault Cloud landed, the little daoist boy came trotting over eagerly.

"Big Green Snake! You really did come~" the little daoist boy said with a beaming smile. "Congratulations! You successfully avoided the Fire Tribulation. I've missed you so much! You don't know how much I've thought about you during all these years you haven't been to Li Shan~"

Looking at the familiar little face, Su Qing's lips curled into a smile. "The thing you missed wasn't me, but the snacks I bring you every year, right? Do you think I don't know you?"

"Eh, Big Green Snake, don't go making wild guesses! I really did miss you. The snacks are just something I thought about in passing. You aren't allowed to slander my character without proof~"

Seeing that Su Qing had seen through him, the little daoist boy quickly put his hands on his hips to explain.

Su Qing's mouth twitched. She felt that these words sounded strangely familiar. She said, "You mean you missed the snacks and thought about me in passing, right?"

"Hmph~ How could that be? Impossible!" The little daoist boy shook his head vigorously. "You really are ungrateful; I was very worried about you."

"Yes, yes, yes~ You're the best!" Su Qing couldn't be bothered to continue bickering with the girl.

Seeing this, the little daoist boy gave a mischievous grin. "So, since the Big Green Snake hasn't been here in so long, did you prepare anything delicious for me?"

"I did, of course I did." Su Qing rolled her eyes. See? How quickly she exposed her true intentions.

"What is it? What is it? Let me see!"

Su Qing smiled helplessly and then took several bags of snacks out of her Sleeve Universe. There was Tanghulu, malt candy, and dragon beard candy—all of it was candy.

This girl loved sweets, so Su Qing had simply brought nothing but candy this time.

Upon getting what he wanted, the little daoist boy became even happier.

"By the way, during these decades you weren't at Li Shan, besides me missing you, that big white snake missed you a lot too!" the little daoist boy asked with a smile. "Now that you're here, aren't you going to see her?"

"I'm here, so of course I'm going to see her," Su Qing nodded.

"Do you want me to lead the way? Do you want me to lead the way? Besides leading the way, I can help you with many other things!"

Su Qing rolled her eyes and said, "You've really turned this into a business, haven't you?"

"Hmph, how can you say that? It's just a small transaction." The little daoist boy stood with hands on hips, looking full of confidence.

Just as she finished speaking, a pebble fell from somewhere and struck her right on the head. Her smile instantly jammed, and a bump began to form on her forehead.

One could tell from the force of the pebble just how hard it had been thrown.

She puckered her lips and gave a dissatisfied look toward the Old Mother's Hall. "Fine, fine, let's not talk anymore. Follow me in!"

Su Qing realized the pebble was Lao Mu's handiwork and nodded. "Then let's go."

Su Qing followed the little daoist boy into the side hall. This time, as usual, Leng Xiang stayed behind with the boy.

Su Qing pushed open the door to the side hall.

However, this time, when Su Qing pushed the door open, she nearly fell into a bottomless abyss.

Fortunately, she quickly formed a hand seal and suspended herself in mid-air.

Su Qing looked around in confusion and instinctively called out to Lao Mu.

As soon as the words left her mouth, the scenery before her blurred. Like a drop of ink in water, patches of scenery began to bleed out and spread before her eyes.

She stared blankly at the scene, stunned.

She knew this was likely Lao Mu's handiwork...

After all, this kind of magic was not something an ordinary person could possess. Even if it wasn't a spell but the effect of a magical treasure, it was certainly no ordinary treasure.

Suddenly, Lao Mu's voice came from beside her ear.

"Don't just stand there. Have a seat."

Lao Mu's voice pulled her back to reality. In that moment, she found herself beneath a crooked pine tree.

Lao Mu was sitting by a chessboard under that pine tree, looking at her with a smile.

"Senior Lao Mu... where is this?" Su Qing asked instinctively.

Li Shan Lao Mu smiled and said, "Don't you already have the answer in your heart? This is my Celestial Palace."

"This... this is the Celestial Palace? But... a Celestial Palace should..." Su Qing didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Since it was called a palace, where was the building?

Even if one were to be extremely generous, a Celestial Palace should at least be a place where someone lived, right?

Aside from floating giant rocks and various wild plants, this place didn't look like a residence at all.

"Hahaha. For an immortal like me, does the form of the Celestial Palace really matter? As long as I am comfortable living here, that is enough."

Lao Mu said with a chuckle, "Besides, if I get tired of the Celestial Palace, can't I just go stay at the Daoist Academy?"

Su Qing's mouth twitched, and for a moment, she was unable to argue.

Even after Lao Mu's explanation, she still felt the place was very strange, but since Lao Mu liked it, she decided not to say anything more.

"Alright, alright, sit down!" Lao Mu said, amused by her expression. "Sit, let's have a slow chat."

Su Qing nodded and obediently sat across from Lao Mu.

"Come, let's play chess! I've been getting annoyed playing with that old man whose sportsmanship is atrocious. Today, the two of us will play a round," Lao Mu said calmly.

"I understand," Su Qing nodded, then asked, "Senior Lao Mu... didn't you always see me in the side hall before? Why today... did you bring me to a place like this?"

"Hahaha, I just felt like it suddenly," Lao Mu said with a faint smile. "Besides, some things are easier to say here."

Su Qing didn't understand. "What... does Senior wish to say to me?"

"Eh, don't just stand there. Let's play first. We can talk while we play," Lao Mu said, seemingly in no hurry. "How much longer do you think it will be... before the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth arrives?"

Su Qing was stunned. She never expected that the very first question would be of such high difficulty.

How much longer until the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth arrived?

How was she supposed to know the answer to a question like that?

She wanted to ask Senior Lao Mu that herself!

"But why is Senior asking me this? Is there some deep meaning behind it?" Su Qing placed a piece on the board, her mind racing with thoughts.