A Rare Guest

It had to be said that while Ruan Shuxiang was a bit timid, she wasn't overly socially anxious, nor was she a stubborn fool.

Her method wasn't particularly sophisticated, but it was undeniably effective.

Furthermore, with the assistance of her ethereal beauty, no one was inclined to make things difficult for her over a few simple questions.

Thus, in no time at all...

Not only did Ruan Shuxiang learn that Su Qing was still in town, but she also discovered the location of the shop where Chen Mei had been selling her game lately.

Upon receiving this information, Ruan Shuxiang didn't overthink it. She quickly made her way to the shop and waited out front.

When the shop owner inquired about her presence, Ruan Shuxiang spoke the truth.

However, she wasn't so foolish as to tell the owner she was a demon. She simply said she was waiting for someone she needed to find.

In the meantime, she struck up a conversation about Chen Mei.

After Ruan Shuxiang had waited for a short while, Chen Mei arrived as usual, carrying her catch for the day to sell. While Su Qing and Yudie were resting, Chen Mei had been quite busy—partly because she couldn't stand being idle, and partly because she was running a bit low on funds.

When Chen Mei returned, she naturally spotted Ruan Shuxiang.

At first, she was slightly confused, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. But when the other girl greeted her, she realized she hadn't been mistaken.

However, her mind was filled with questions.

Wasn't this girl unable to leave that place? Why had she suddenly appeared here?

Had she been deceived before? No, if she had truly been deceived, why would the girl go through the trouble of tracking her down?

Chen Mei had many doubts, but she kept a straight face.

She simply looked at Ruan Shuxiang and asked, "Why are you here?"

"I came to find you!" Ruan Shuxiang answered quickly. "Where is Big Sister Su?"

"Big Sister Su? She's at the inn... though if she hears you calling her 'Sister' again, she'll probably be annoyed, right?" Chen Mei said as she sold her game to the butcher shop owner.

Hearing this, Ruan Shuxiang hurriedly shook her head. "I—I'm just used to it... I definitely won't call her that next time."

Chen Mei nodded and didn't press the matter further. "Let's talk as we walk."

Ruan Shuxiang didn't refuse and followed her.

On the way, Chen Mei asked bluntly why she had appeared here.

As for Chen Mei, Ruan Shuxiang naturally didn't hold anything back. She told her everything about her encounter with Azure Spirit Sovereign, from beginning to end.

After listening, Chen Mei couldn't help but knit her brows. "Right after we left, you met this Azure Spirit Sovereign? And she just gave you a Transformation Pill? She didn't ask you to do anything in return?"

Ruan Shuxiang thought back for a moment and shook her head. "Azure Spirit Sovereign didn't ask me for anything... she just told me to be myself and do what I wanted to do."

"Senior Azure Spirit Sovereign is truly kind to an unbelievable degree. I've never met such a wonderful senior."

"However, even though Senior didn't ask for any reward, she gave me something so precious. If I don't repay her... it would be quite shameless of me."

"It's just a pity that even if I sold myself right now, I couldn't afford to repay her. I can only wait and find a way to pay her back slowly in the future."

Chen Mei listened to Ruan Shuxiang's rambling, but all she gathered was that this girl had managed to get a Transformation Pill for free.

She had some knowledge of demons and ghosts, so she naturally understood the value of a Transformation Pill. Consequently, she understood even better just how much of a bargain this girl had stumbled upon.

"You... perhaps fortune really does favor the fool," Chen Mei said after a long silence.

Ruan Shuxiang scratched her head and said sheepishly, "I'm not actually that foolish... but I do think my luck is quite good. First, I met Sister—Little Sister Su, and then I met Senior Azure Spirit Sovereign."

Chen Mei glanced at her. It was impressive how she managed to correct herself mid-sentence.

However, Chen Mei didn't feel like saying much more. Instead, she asked, "So, do you plan to find Big Sister Su and take your things back?"

Ruan Shuxiang nodded, but then immediately shook her head. "No... I don't plan to take them back. I've thought about it, and I'd rather just go with you! If we reach the destination and still haven't found my master's descendants, I'll go look for them on my own."

Chen Mei gave her a surprised look. "Is that so? Well, suit yourself... but as for you following us, I can't make that decision alone. It depends on what Big Sister Su and the others think."

In truth, Chen Mei already knew the outcome. After all, how could she not know Su Qing's personality by now?

After spending so many days together, even a blockhead could see it. That woman was just like her appearance—so gentle it was almost frustrating.

Chen Mei's words didn't make Ruan Shuxiang overthink. She nodded and said, "Mhm, then let's go see Little Sister Su quickly!"

Chen Mei nodded. "We're already on our way."

The two of them weren't slow. Before long, they arrived at the inn.

Inside the inn, Su Qing was playing Go with Yudie. When she heard the knock on the door, she already knew who it was.

"Come in," she said.

Chen Mei entered the room, bringing Ruan Shuxiang with her.

Su Qing displayed an appropriate amount of surprise at Ruan Shuxiang's arrival. Then, after a well-practiced performance, she simply incorporated the girl into their traveling party.

Chen Mei wasn't surprised in the slightest. She had expected this all along.

"By the way, we've been here for a few days now. Yudie has rested enough, so let's get moving. We'll set off tomorrow."

Su Qing stood up with a beaming smile and asked, "What do you think?"

Facing Su Qing's inquiry, Chen Mei naturally had no objections. She smiled and replied, "I'm fine with setting off whenever."

"I—I have no objections either," Ruan Shuxiang added quickly, showing her agreement.

Seeing this, Su Qing said no more. However, there was still some work to be done—such as explaining the things Ruan Shuxiang needed to watch out for. This, of course, was a task for Su Qing and Yudie; Chen Mei didn't need to worry about it.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next morning. Su Qing and her group set off once again.

The addition of a new travel companion didn't affect everyone much. They all accepted it very quickly. After all, with one more person, the journey wouldn't be as lonely.

Meanwhile, on the other side, at the Changbai Mountains.

Su Qing was playing Go with Ao Ying. Their skills were evenly matched, and they were locked in a fierce battle. Nearby, several sparrows were chirping away with unsolicited advice, despite not understanding the game at all. Eventually, Ao Ying got so annoyed that she slapped a Silence Curse on their beaks.

Though she didn't like using this spell often, it didn't mean she didn't know it!

"How is the situation with your clones?" Ao Ying suddenly asked.

Su Qing paused for a moment. "It's going smoothly for the most part. However, the clone in the Northern Continent hasn't collected much Incense Power yet... Sigh, I suppose she'll have to finish her current task before she can start gathering it properly. As for the one in Linzhou City... well, there was a bit of a hiccup, but the Incense Power is still trickling in."

Su Qing didn't hide anything and told Ao Ying everything.

However, Ao Ying was stunned for a moment before saying helplessly, "I was only asking about Ao Yiyi and Yudie... I wasn't asking about the others."

Su Qing was also taken aback and gave an awkward laugh. "Actually, both are doing fine. Yudie has definitely become more cheerful since she went out... as for Ao Yiyi, that girl hasn't changed at all."

"Is that so?"

"Actually... I was thinking, why don't you take Su Ying'er out for a stroll as well?" Su Qing suggested after a moment of thought.

Ao Ying rolled her eyes at her. "You hands-off manager... if I leave, who will handle all the affairs of the Changbai Mountains?"

Su Qing scratched her head. "Couldn't I just do it?"

"You?" Ao Ying sighed. "Better not..."

Su Qing was momentarily speechless. "Why do I feel like you're looking down on me?"

"You've been a hands-off manager for so many years... if all these responsibilities were suddenly dumped on you, could you really handle them?"

"Why couldn't I?" Su Qing smiled, then added, "Don't underestimate the person you share a bed with!"

Ao Ying looked at Su Qing and then nodded. "But... if it's just us going out, it would be a bit boring, wouldn't it?"

To this, Su Qing smiled and said, "Don't forget, I still have my clones!"

"I don't want to go out with your clones... Even though I know it's still you inside, it feels awkward."

"Who said I was going to have you go out with a clone?"

Su Qing rolled her eyes and said, "Once the clone in the Northern Continent finishes her current business and settles her relationships, I'll recall her. Then, she can stay here and oversee the affairs of the Changbai Mountains."

Hearing this, Ao Ying finally understood Su Qing's meaning.

"I think I understand now." Ao Ying nodded. "But let's talk about that later."

Su Qing nodded and didn't argue. "Fine... then let's continue our game. By the way, you're about to lose."

Ao Ying curled her lip, not particularly caring. Instead, she looked up and said, "Did you notice? It seems we have a guest."

Hearing this, Su Qing also nodded slightly. "Yes... another guest. And a rare one at that."

While the Changbai Mountains often had visitors, most were Su Qing's acquaintances. As for this senior, he had never visited once.

Su Qing set down her game piece and stood up, looking up at the handsome man slowly descending from the air.

"It has been a long time, little friend Su Qing."

"Senior Zhenwu... why have you suddenly come to my Changbai Mountains? You didn't even give me a heads-up so I could prepare," Su Qing said helplessly as she looked at Great Emperor Zhenwu.

Great Emperor Zhenwu smiled and said, "Coming to find you was actually a spur-of-the-moment decision... so I didn't have time to notify you in advance. Besides, as you know, I'm not one for formalities."

Su Qing spread her hands. To be honest, she didn't know. She had only met Great Emperor Zhenwu once; how could she possibly know much about him?

"Please, have a seat, Senior! I only have some coarse tea here, so you'll have to make do." Su Qing shook her head and waved her hand, putting away the Go board and pieces.

Zhenwu laughed at her words. "The tea you have here could hardly be called 'coarse'... Laojun said you enjoy being self-deprecating, and it seems he was right."

Su Qing shook her head. "I'm not being self-deprecating. It's just that in front of great seniors like you, the things I have here really don't measure up."

"Not at all... besides, we aren't exactly 'great seniors,'" Zhenwu said. "We were just born a few tens of thousands of years earlier than you."

Hearing this, Su Qing's mouth twitched.

Being born tens of thousands of years earlier doesn't count as being a great senior? Su Qing really wanted to complain, but remembering he was an old senior, she held her tongue for the moment. While Laojun seemed to tease Zhenwu often, she wasn't Laojun; she couldn't just do as she pleased.

Ao Ying, on the other hand, couldn't help but find it amusing. She had to suppress her laughter as she left the scene. As for the birds, they had long since vanished.

Su Qing took a deep breath and asked helplessly, "Ahem, Senior... let's talk business. I'm curious, why have you suddenly come to see me? Is there something you need?"

Su Qing didn't want to waste time with small talk; it was better to get straight to the point. If they continued chatting like this, she felt she would be driven to frustration by Great Emperor Zhenwu's words.

Seeing Su Qing ask so directly, Great Emperor Zhenwu chuckled and said, "Actually, it's nothing major... I just hope you'll make a trip to my Northern Continent."

Su Qing was bewildered by this. "What does Senior want me to do in the Northern Continent?"

"Mhm, oversee it for me for a while..." Great Emperor Zhenwu said after a moment of silence.

Great Emperor Zhenwu truly had a knack for dropping bombshells. His reason for seeking out Su Qing was actually to have her guard the North in his stead.

Hearing this, Su Qing was startled. She shook her head without hesitation. "No, no, Senior, please forgive me for refusing. I am only in the Heavenly Immortal Realm; I don't have the strength to oversee the Northern Continent. It's already hard enough for me to look after my Changbai Mountains."