The Flames of War

Su Ying, naturally, wanted to go out and play as well.

Unfortunately, her mother was quite strict with her. No matter how she tried, she couldn't convince Ao Ying, so she had no choice but to give up.

Although she felt it was a great pity, she was helpless against her mother's refusal...

She could only watch as Yudie set off with Su Qing’s clone.

Su Ying turned to look at Yudie and said, "Hmph! Once you leave, all the delicious food at home will be mine alone!"

Yudie knew she was just being stubborn, so she only looked at her with a beaming smile and didn't bother arguing.

After all, Yudie knew very well that the best way to deal with a stubborn person was to simply not respond to their provocations.

And Yudie’s lack of response indeed made Su Ying quite angry.

She shot an annoyed grimace at Yudie and then walked away.

Su Qing smiled helplessly at the sight...

These two little ones were truly endless.

However, Su Qing wasn't worried about the relationship between Su Ying and Yudie souring...

After all, it wouldn't be long before the two of them made up again.

As for why Su Qing was so certain and clear about this.

It was naturally because such things had happened more than once.

So, she understood perfectly.

Su Qing sat in the courtyard, enjoying the mountain breeze brushing past her... while her mind pondered where to go.

"As expected, it's better to go to the Northern Continent." After thinking for a while, Su Qing decided to visit the Northern Continent.

Because Su Qing rarely went there... spreading her Incense Power there would be an excellent choice.

Once her destination was chosen, Su Qing cleared her mind and took a good rest.

She wouldn't set out today.

Leaving would be a matter for tomorrow.

Collecting Incense Power was indeed important.

But such things were not accomplished overnight.

So there was no need to be in too much of a hurry.

Taking it slow was fine.

A day or two wouldn't make a difference.

Time passed quickly...

In the blink of an eye, it was already the next day.

Throughout the previous day, Su Qing’s clone had already prepared everything that needed to be ready.

And Yudie had long since put on her small travel pack, ready to set off at any moment.

On this day, many people came to see them off.

Of course, they weren't seeing off Su Qing, but Yudie.

After all, the one leaving was Su Qing’s clone, while her true body remained at home, so there was no need to see her off.

"Then we're off!" Yudie turned to look at everyone, waving her hand with a beaming smile as she bid them farewell.

Leng Xiang nodded at the sight and said, "No misbehaving on the road. Also, you must listen to Master."

Yudie curled her lip but nodded nonetheless, saying, "Mother is right by my side, how could I dare to misbehave! Alright, I'm leaving with Mother now!"

After Yudie finished speaking, she made another grimace at Su Ying, prompting Su Ying to make one back in retaliation.

And so, Yudie and Su Qing’s clone departed together.

After seeing the two off, everyone naturally went back to their own business.

Su Ying also went to find the equally small Chen Nianxin to play with...

Although Chen Nianxin always looked reluctant to play with her, now that Yudie was gone and Red Boy and Chao Yan hadn't come over, she could only find Chen Nianxin for company.

As for those Little Sparrows...

They hadn't transformed yet; the things she wanted to play, they couldn't join in on.

By the edge of the Heaven Lake.

Su Qing turned to look at Ao Ying beside her and asked with a smile, "Speaking of which, why didn't you let Su Ying go out for a walk with the clone? She's not that small anymore; it wouldn't hurt for her to see the world, would it?"

Ao Ying was fishing, her gaze seeming to drift far away. She said, "There's no special reason, other than the fact that she can't be too far away from me... she's still too young, and her Dragon Pearl hasn't fully formed yet. If she's too far from me, there might be danger."

"Is that so?" Su Qing didn't doubt her upon hearing this, but was merely slightly surprised. She nodded and said, "I thought you just had a strong desire to control her!"

"Don't you think I'm lying to you?"

"You wouldn't lie to me about something like this!"

"Is that what you think? Well, I'm indeed not lying to you," Ao Ying said. "But the fact that you thought I was just being controlling makes me a bit unhappy."

"I'm probably not the only one who thinks so. Ying'er likely thinks the same," Su Qing laughed and said. "Why don't you find a chance to have a proper talk with Ying'er?"

"..."

"You can't let her keep misunderstanding! Although that girl isn't as rebellious as Red Boy, if she keeps misunderstanding and it happens too many times, she'll inevitably start to resent you."

"I understand... I'll talk to her properly." Ao Ying nodded, finally deciding to tell her the truth about why she wasn't allowed to go out.

Su Ying was the child of Su Qing and Ao Ying, and also a child conceived through a Dragon Clan secret manual.

And since it was a secret technique, there were bound to be some flaws...

One of the more important points was that a child conceived this way had difficulty condensing their own Dragon Pearl. Before the Dragon Pearl was fully formed, the child could not be too far from their mother—at the very least, they couldn't be away from their biological mother for long periods.

This was why Ao Ying never let Su Ying leave the Changbai Mountains.

Seeing that Ao Ying had come around, Su Qing couldn't help but smile...

Then she pulled Ao Ying into her arms...

Ao Ying couldn't help but glance at Su Qing, and Su Qing stared back at her.

The two were silent, simply gazing at each other... until finally, their lips met.

Meanwhile, in Linzhou City.

Inside Su Qing’s medical clinic.

Su Qing was currently stroking Coal Ball in her arms...

This little one’s enthusiasm for learning spells had waned significantly, and she had become lazy again, liking to sprawl on the counter and sleep whenever she had nothing to do.

And Su Qing always enjoyed holding her and stroking her fur.

After all, a little cat wasn't like a big cat; its fur was exceptionally comfortable.

Compared to those Golden Tabby tigers on the Changbai Mountains, this felt much better to the touch.

However, just as Su Qing was stroking her leisurely.

Li Yichou came rushing into the shop in a panic.

Seeing her flustered state, Su Qing raised an eyebrow and asked, "Weren't you going to take care of your Big Sister Zhou? Why have you come back in such a rush?"

Ao Yiyi, seeing this, also couldn't help but ask, "Yes! What happened?"

Ao Yiyi rarely saw Li Yichou this panicked; normally, she was the calm type, much like Su Qing.

To be this flustered, something truly big must have happened.

"Defeated, they've been defeated..." Li Yichou panted heavily as she spoke.

Clearly, Li Yichou had sprinted all the way back... showing just how urgent it was.

"Ah? Speak slowly, no need to rush. Why don't you catch your breath first?" Su Qing said, seeing her state.

Speaking while gasping for air like that made it sound even more exhausting and confusing.

Hearing this, Li Yichou took a deep breath and then circulated her internal power to calm and adjust her breathing.

She soon caught her breath and said, "Miss, Ningcheng has fallen. The rebels are already heading toward Linzhou City. They'll probably be fighting their way here in a few days."

Su Qing was stunned for half a second upon hearing this, then tilted her head and said:

"The rebels are coming? I didn't expect that it wouldn't be an external threat, but internal strife instead. Oh well, it has nothing to do with me. Anyway, does this mean this place is about to be plunged into the fires of war?"

Li Yichou nodded and said:

"That's the case... I thought that since there had been no movement for several months, the war wouldn't reach Linzhou City, but I didn't expect it to finally arrive. And it's not a foreign army, but domestic rebels."

Li Yichou was also very frustrated...

She had originally just gone out to buy some things for Big Sister Zhou, but she happened to overhear news about the rebels.

And she learned that after the rebels captured Ningcheng, they were heading for Linzhou City.

Su Qing, however, was not overly panicked. She merely nodded calmly and said:

"I see... No need to panic, this is no big deal. Let me perform a divination first..."

"Perform a divination?" Su Qing’s words left Li Yichou a bit dazed.

"Yes, after all, this news hasn't been confirmed yet! Why panic? Let me divine first to see if it's true."

"Wait, Miss, you know how to perform divinations?"

"Me? I know a little bit of everything," Su Qing smiled and said.

"But is divination useful?"

"It only determines truth or falsehood; of course it's useful, and very accurate."

"..."

"Mm, this rumor is true." After calmly finishing a divination, Su Qing nodded and said.

"Ah?"

"What 'ah'?"

"Didn't Miss not even start yet?"

"I divined with a flick of my fingers... so it was very fast. I've already finished."

"..."

Su Qing looked at Li Yichou’s expression of total incomprehension and laughed, saying:

"Alright, I was just joking to make you relax a bit and not be so tense. However, since the news has already reached here, it's likely not false. So, get ready! We'll be leaving in a couple of days. This place is no longer suitable to stay in."

Although Su Qing had indeed just used her fingers to calculate the truth of the matter...

She didn't intend to reveal too much.

So, Su Qing simply went along with it and turned it into a joke.

Even though she felt that Li Yichou truly believed she could perform divinations...

"Ah?" Li Yichou was a bit dazed. "Are we just leaving like this?"

"What 'ah'? I told you long ago, once it's no longer suitable for business here, we'll leave."

Su Qing looked at Li Yichou and said, "What, you seem very surprised!"

"Not exactly surprised, just... a bit confused about what to do with this shop."

"We'll just abandon it."

"Just abandon it like that?"

"Mm, the shop is so big, can we take it with us? I'm not a snail; how could I carry my house on my back! We'll just take some medicinal herbs," Su Qing said plainly. "As for the shop, anyway... I'm not short on money. Once we reach another city, I'll just buy another one."

Money was something Su Qing never lacked...

After all, she was an immortal.

If an immortal was short on money, it would be rather embarrassing.

Besides, after being a goddess doctor for so long, the money she had earned from wealthy merchants and nobles everywhere was quite a lot.

It was completely enough for an ordinary person to live for several lifetimes.

Li Yichou was stunned for a long time...

In the end, she only heard 'staggeringly wealthy' from Su Qing’s words.

She thought she already knew Su Qing well, but she realized she might not know her that well after all... at the very least, she had no idea exactly how rich Su Qing was, nor how much money Su Qing had made from treating those patients.

"Then I understand." Li Yichou gave up thinking. She nodded and said, "By the way, should I inform Miss Jin Xin?"

"If we're leaving, we naturally have to call her. Go tell her! Tell her to pack up. Also, Ao Yiyi and Hu Lin'er, you two pack up the medicinal herbs." Su Qing calmly arranged everything, saying, "Qingyu... well, you just help me hold Coal Ball and don't let her cause trouble."

Su Qingyu was still too small; she couldn't help with anything, so Su Qing simply let her watch Coal Ball.

As long as these two little ones didn't cause trouble, that was a huge help.

Su Qingyu looked confused as she took Coal Ball...

To be honest, she was still a bit dazed.

Among the things Su Qing and the others had just said, there were many things she didn't understand...

The only thing she understood was that they could leave Linzhou City and go somewhere else.

Thinking of this.

Su Qingyu didn't feel the slightest bit of panic or reluctance...

Instead, she felt more of a sense of anticipation.

Because in all this time, she had never left Linzhou City!

She was very curious about the world outside Linzhou City.

However, because Su Qingyu couldn't help with much, she could only stay obediently to the side, watching Su Qing and the others busy themselves.

At the same time, she chatted a bit with little Coal Ball.

Of course, rather than chatting with Coal Ball, it was more like the girl was talking to herself.

"Black Mysterious Great General, do you know what the world outside Linzhou City is like?" Su Qingyu held little Coal Ball, speaking to her in a sweet, childish voice.

Upon hearing Su Qingyu’s words, Coal Ball looked up at her, then went back to sleep.

Although she really wanted to answer Su Qingyu...

she didn't want to be caught by the Heavenly Court, so she could only obediently pretend to be an ordinary cat.

And so, everything was prepared in an orderly fashion.

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

Su Qing and the others had finished packing everything that needed to be taken away.

If they wanted to set off, they could do so at any time...

Su Qing walked to the stable and looked at the white horse inside, saying, "You've rested for a few years, and now it's time for you to work again... Honestly, you've grown fat under my care these past few years!"

Su Qing looked at the white horse she had raised to be white and plump, feeling a bit speechless for a moment...

This fellow was lazy and enjoyed good food, and after a few years, it had grown a circle wider than before.

However, to Su Qing’s surprise...

She had thought the white horse would be very dejected upon hearing it had to work again, but she didn't expect the horse to actually be very excited.

Well, it seemed that after several years without going out for a good stretch, the white horse had long since wanted to move around.

This was actually quite good; it saved Su Qing the trouble of having to threaten the horse into working.

Su Qing stood there stroking the horse's head and said, "Rest for today, and we'll set off tomorrow!"

Although setting off today wouldn't have been a problem, because Li Yichou had been tired all day and still needed to pick up her big sister, they had to wait one more day.

After settling things with the horse.

Su Qing went back to rest.