Su Qing listened to the Earth God's report.
Her head was already beginning to throb...
To be honest, she hadn't expected there to be so many matters to report, but she had underestimated the Earth God's meticulousness regarding the various affairs of Huaguoshan.
This report was truly... exhaustive.
It was so detailed that it gave Su Qing a headache.
Su Qing rubbed her brow. After listening to the report for nearly ten hours, she finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Alright, alright... that’s enough," Su Qing said helplessly. "Next time, don't report in such excruciating detail. I know you've put your heart into managing Huaguoshan's affairs, so just give me a general overview."
"In response to the Sovereign... this already was the general overview."
"..."
Su Qing was speechless. She waved her hand dismissively.
"Then we'll stop here..." Su Qing really didn't want to hear any more and motioned for the Earth God to close his mouth.
The Earth God was naturally skilled at reading the room. Seeing that Su Qing was indeed growing impatient, he nodded and said:
"Since the Sovereign has heard enough, I shall stop. When there is time in the future, I will compile the remaining matters into a ledger, summarize them, and send them to you."
Su Qing nodded. As long as this fellow didn't continue chanting in her ear like a sutra, it was fine...
She had been listening for a whole day and truly couldn't take any more.
She rubbed her temples, feeling mentally exhausted.
Just listening had worn her out.
However, she also understood that a city where demons and humans coexisted was not easy to maintain.
"It has been hard on you," Su Qing said. Although she was annoyed by how much time the report took, she was very satisfied with his work ethic.
"It is only my duty... Since the Sovereign trusts me, I must naturally do my best to manage Huaguoshan," the Earth God said hurriedly.
Su Qing nodded and said no more.
In terms of compensation, she had never treated him poorly, so she felt no psychological burden.
Su Qing had no intention of continuing to chat with the Earth God, so she found an excuse to send him away.
After all, if he stayed, he would likely start rambling again.
It was better to let him get back to work!
After sending the Earth God off, Su Qing stood up and stretched, turning her gaze toward the distant city.
The city was still bustling, seemingly still celebrating the return of the Handsome Monkey King...
"It seems that even though Wukong was gone for five hundred years, those monkeys still remember their King," Su Qing chuckled, thinking to herself. "I wonder how Yudie and Yue'er are doing... but seeing as they haven't come to see me for so long, they must be having a great time!"
At that thought, Su Qing couldn't help but yawn.
To be honest, listening to the Earth God's report was both mentally draining and boring enough to make one drowsy.
If she hadn't felt bad about interrupting him and truly had nothing else to do, she wouldn't have listened for five whole watches.
"Well, I'll wait a bit longer. If those guys don't come to see me soon, I'll have to go catch them myself," Su Qing thought, chuckling to herself.
Su Qing waited by the cliff for a while longer, reminiscing about the past...
Before long, Wukong arrived.
Upon seeing Su Qing, Wukong first greeted her, then looked around as if searching for someone.
Seeing this, Su Qing felt a bit puzzled. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Hehe, I was looking for where that Earth God went," Wukong scratched his head with a grin.
Hearing this, Su Qing gave Wukong a deep look.
How could she not guess what Wukong meant?
Wasn't he just saying that he hadn't forgotten his Big Sister, but had simply seen her talking to the Earth God and didn't want to disturb her?
However, Su Qing was somewhat surprised.
This fellow Wukong actually seemed afraid of being scolded by her.
Shaking her head, Su Qing laughed. "That Earth God is my proxy, the manager of Huaguoshan in my absence. He just came to report on his work. It's finished now, so he left."
Hearing this, Wukong naturally knew his Big Sister didn't mind and had no intention of scolding him.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hehe, since Big Sister is free, why not come join the banquet?" Wukong grinned. "The monkeys and the humans have prepared a grand feast for my return. I've already called niece Yudie and the monkey girl; we're just waiting for you."
Su Qing looked at Wukong, thought for a moment, and then nodded. "Since you've put it that way, I naturally cannot refuse."
"Big Sister, follow me!" Wukong beamed when she agreed.
He hurriedly led Su Qing toward the small city at the foot of Huaguoshan.
Inside the city, the taverns were flourishing.
They were packed with both humans and demons.
Looking at the environment, Su Qing's eyebrows twitched slightly. To be honest, this situation gave her a genuine feeling of being back in the mortal world.
The only things that reminded her this was still Huaguoshan were the monkeys jumping about and the strangely shaped demons.
Su Qing shook her head with a smile and stopped overthinking. She picked up a cup of monkey wine and took a small sip.
Mmm, it was indeed good wine.
The banquet was exceptionally lively.
Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.
However, Su Qing still didn't participate in the activities. She just sat to the side, watching the celebrating monkeys and crowds while savoring the delicious monkey wine.
"Mother, do you still dislike crowds?" Yudie suddenly popped up behind her at some point, looking at Su Qing with a smile.
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "It's not that I dislike the noise; it's just that I can't join in the fun."
"Why? Isn't it fun to play together?"
Looking at Yudie's innocent gaze, Su Qing hooked her finger and tapped the girl's nose. "You'll understand when you're older... if you like the excitement, go play!"
Yudie tilted her head, not quite understanding, but she said, "I'll just stay with Mother~ I've played enough."
Su Qing chuckled and continued watching the festivities.
The banquet soon ended.
Wukong, unable to hold his liquor, had already passed out drunk...
The silly monkey clearly hadn't used his cultivation to resist the alcohol; he had just drank straight. It would be strange if he weren't drunk.
Su Qing didn't bother with the unconscious Wukong. Instead, she stood by the tavern window, looking out at the brightly lit town.
"I wonder... what this special little city will eventually grow into," Su Qing thought. "When the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth arrives, will my town disappear first, or will this city?"
Watching the prosperity, Su Qing couldn't help but worry about the future.
However... after thinking for a long time, she chuckled and said to herself:
"Why think of such sad things now? The Great Tribulation is still a long way off... both towns bear my mark. Since I am a variable, perhaps places with my mark will undergo some special change."
"I hope that after the Great Tribulation, both these places can continue to exist!"
Su Qing didn't know what would happen after the Great Tribulation, but she still hoped these two places would survive.
After all, she had poured a lot of heart and soul into them.
Shaking her head slightly, Su Qing turned away and thought:
"Speaking of which... the matter of Incense Power must be put on the agenda. Both Old Mother of Mount Li and the Buddha mentioned this to me... It seems Incense Power will have some special use when the Great Tribulation arrives? Regardless, since both seniors mentioned it, I absolutely cannot forget it."
"I'll find an opportunity later to spread the incense further afield."
Her thoughts drifted as time flew by.
Before she knew it, the stars had faded, and a sliver of morning light broke through the darkness.
The sun rose as usual.
Su Qing hadn't rested much that night; she had just drank a little and then wandered around other parts of Huaguoshan.
Now, she was by the sea, feeling the ocean breeze.
"It's light out. Time to go get Yudie and head back," Su Qing thought, stretching.
However, while Su Qing would tell Yudie to return with her, she wouldn't force Jingyue to go back.
After all, Yudie's home was still Huaguoshan...
If she wanted to stay here, Su Qing naturally couldn't force her to leave.
Finding Yudie wasn't difficult; the girl had a connection with Su Qing, so tracking her was easy.
Sure enough, in a short while, Su Qing caught Yudie buying tanghulu on the street.
The girl loved sweets, especially tanghulu.
Su Qing didn't get it—was tanghulu really that good? Why did this girl love it so much?
"Eat less tanghulu, or you'll get a toothache," Su Qing tapped the girl's head, then fished out a few copper coins to buy a stick for herself.
Yudie wasn't afraid at all when Su Qing caught her, but hearing the scolding, she pouted and said:
"Mother! I'm a sword spirit, how could I get a toothache? Besides, didn't you buy one too?"
Su Qing laughed. "I'm just curious to see what makes this tanghulu so delicious."
Yudie puffed out her cheeks but didn't argue.
After all... there was nothing more pointless than arguing with a parent about who was right.
Anyway, her tanghulu wasn't taken away, so it was fine...
Thinking this, Yudie bit off a candied haw. The sweet and sour flavor spread through her mouth, instantly making her much happier and pushing Su Qing's lecture to the back of her mind.
Seeing her like this, Su Qing simply smiled and said, "We'll find Jingyue in a bit... and prepare to head back to the Changbai Mountains."
Yudie nodded obediently, not thinking much of it.
If her mother was going back, she would naturally follow.
But after Su Qing spoke, she seemed to remember something and added, "However, before we go back, we have to visit the Dragon Palace to see Ao Ying's mother."
"To see Grandma?"
Although Yudie wasn't Ao Ying's biological daughter, she was Su Qing's daughter, and since Ao Ying was Su Qing's wife, she naturally had to call the Dragon Mother 'Grandma'.
"Yes!" Su Qing said with a smile. "It's been a long time, and I miss her. Do you want to go?"
"Of course I'm going," Yudie nodded quickly. "I miss Grandma too... especially her fish soup."
Su Qing: "..."
The focus of what this girl missed was clearly the fish soup, not the Dragon Mother.
But that was indeed typical for Yudie.
Su Qing just shook her head with a smile, patted the little glutton's head, and said, "Don't always think about eating, or you'll get fat."
"Mother! I won't get fat!" Yudie protested.
Well, typical threats used to scare girls clearly didn't work on Yudie.
She was a sword spirit, after all.
Su Qing sighed helplessly; it was truly a headache.
Chatting and laughing with Yudie, Su Qing soon found Liu Jingyue and told her about returning to the Changbai Mountains and visiting the Dragon Palace.
Upon hearing Su Qing was leaving, Jingyue was silent for a few seconds. After a moment, she said:
"Since Sister is going back... I'll go back with you! Five hundred years have passed, and Huaguoshan is no longer the same... I can't even find my grandfather's tombstone anymore. Staying here truly has no meaning..."
Su Qing understood Liu Jingyue's feelings.
Was five hundred years a long time?
Yes. Very long.
Five hundred years was enough for several short-lived dynasties to rise and fall.
How could it not be long?
"If you want to come with me, then come. Since Huaguoshan has changed so much, come live with me in the Changbai Mountains. My life is long; I can keep you company for a very long time," Su Qing said gently.
Su Qing wasn't good at comforting people, but these words came from the heart.
Although there were people on the Changbai Mountains, it was a massive mountain, and with only a few people, it was still a bit lonely.
Now that Liu Jingyue wanted to come, Su Qing was naturally very welcoming.
Hearing Su Qing's words, Liu Jingyue also broke into a smile.
To be honest, although she had looked forward to returning to Huaguoshan...
Now that she was actually back, her heart felt exceptionally heavy.
It was as if a dark cloud hung over her soul.
Through five hundred years of wind and rain, Huaguoshan had changed immensely... everything familiar was gone. To her, this so-called hometown no longer felt like home.
Her home was the Huaguoshan in her memories, not the Huaguoshan of today.
Liu Jingyue was a girl, after all, not as thick-skinned as Wukong. No matter how much Huaguoshan changed, to him, it was still his Huaguoshan.
She was much more sensitive...
The changes in Huaguoshan were too many—so many that she could no longer recognize the place where she once lived.
Fortunately, Su Qing was there...
Her words chased away the dark cloud in Liu Jingyue's heart.
"Thank you, Big Green Sister..."
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