On Different Wavelengths

Gongsun Zhixue fell silent for a moment after hearing the Osmanthus Tree's words.

Finally, she nodded and said, "I understand, Master..."

The Osmanthus Tree smiled helplessly, nodded, and said:

"If you truly worry about her and wish to help her, then cultivate diligently. Only then will you have the ability to assist others... Otherwise, you would be more of a burden to her."

Although the Osmanthus Tree's words were very direct, they were also perfectly reasonable.

Gongsun Zhixue was not foolish; she naturally understood the logic.

She sighed, nodded, and said, "I will cultivate diligently, Master."

Seeing Gongsun Zhixue's resolve, the Osmanthus Tree finally felt a bit relieved...

Regardless of her motivation for cultivating, as long as she could cultivate properly and not get too distracted, that would be enough.

The Osmanthus Tree nodded and said, "It's good that you understand... Alright, let's continue with what we were discussing earlier."

Gongsun Zhixue obediently nodded and returned to her original spot.

Meanwhile, Chang'e escorted Su Qing for a short distance.

Su Qing turned to look at Chang'e and said, "Sister Chang'e, I'll head back today~ You don't need to see me off anymore."

Chang'e rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, don't flatter yourself. I'm just going back that way anyway. Since you're leaving, then hurry up and go!"

Su Qing chuckled at Chang'e's words, not caring whether they were true or false.

She nodded and said, "Alright, I'm off! I'll come visit you again, Sister Chang'e... But next time, don't drink so much, or it might get dangerous."

"Heh heh, you're the one who'll be in danger," Chang'e said with a faint smile.

Su Qing nodded and said, "Indeed, I'm the one in danger... After all, I am pure as ice and clean as jade!"

Hearing this, Chang'e couldn't help but roll her eyes. This girl really knew how to press her advantage.

She waved her hand and said, "Alright, stop chattering and go! I still have to see the Lunar Deity! No time to bicker with you anymore."

Seeing Chang'e shooing her away, Su Qing merely chuckled and nodded.

Then, she waved goodbye and said, "Then I'm off for now. I'll come find you again when I have time."

Chang'e said, exasperated, "Alright, alright, I get it! If you're going, go quickly! I'm off to see the Lunar Deity."

Su Qing smiled, then formed a hand seal, summoned a Somersault Cloud, and rode it away from the Moon Palace.

Seeing Su Qing depart, Chang'e's smile faded considerably, and she regained her usual elegant demeanor as the Mistress of Guanghan Palace. Then, she headed towards the Lunar Deity's residence.

The Lunar Deity would be leaving soon, and this was their last time together.

"I used to think that without the Lunar Deity watching over me, I could drink and play as much as I wanted... It felt so free. But now that this day is actually coming, I'm a little scared," Chang'e thought with a helpless smile as she walked, quickening her pace.

After leaving the Moon Palace, Su Qing quickly returned to the Great Emperor Zhenwu's Daoist monastery above the Northern Continent on her Somersault Cloud.

With a thought, Su Qing lowered the cloud and landed in her own palace courtyard.

As the acting guardian here, Su Qing naturally didn't need to use the main entrance every time; whatever was convenient was perfectly fine.

However, as soon as Su Qing landed in the courtyard, she spotted a familiar figure.

It was none other than Liu Xixi.

She seemed to have been waiting there for a long time.

Liu Xixi naturally noticed Su Qing.

She quickly walked over and said, "Yuanjun, you've finally returned."

Su Qing smiled faintly and said, "Yes, I had some matters in Guanghan Palace, so I stayed a bit longer... Have you been waiting for me here the whole time?"

Liu Xixi shook her head and answered truthfully, "No, I only came to find Yuanjun this morning and didn't see you, so I waited here for you."

Su Qing nodded and said,

"I see, so you've been waiting for me."

"It's not a long wait; this is my job after all," Liu Xixi said calmly.

Su Qing walked to the table, sat down, and chuckled, "You're truly diligent when it comes to work... If I had stayed in the Moon Palace for a few more days, would you have planned to wait here the entire time?"

Liu Xixi shook her head and said, "No, I would come here to wait every day."

Su Qing's mouth twitched. The difference between those two wasn't that big, was it? This girl was truly a bit too serious about her work.

However, Su Qing couldn't really complain...

After all, for her, having such a hardworking assistant official was a fortunate thing.

It saved her a lot of trouble.

Su Qing smiled and said, "Alright! You are indeed very diligent. By the way, since you're waiting here, I presume there's something you need me to handle personally? Tell me about it."

Liu Xixi nodded. She was indeed waiting there because some matters required Su Qing's personal decision. As an assistant official, there were things she couldn't decide on her own, so she had to wait for Su Qing's return.

This was a strength, but also a weakness.

The good thing was her strict adherence to rules.

The bad thing was her excessive adherence to rules, which made her inflexible.

This was also what Great Emperor Zhenwu often complained about her.

"Yes, most of the matters requiring Yuanjun's personal attention are routine affairs. Besides that, there's one thing Yuanjun asked me to pay special attention to," Liu Xixi pondered for a moment, carefully choosing her words, and replied.

Su Qing nodded first, then asked, "Something I asked you to pay special attention to?"

That some routine matters required Su Qing's attention wasn't entirely unexpected, as Su Qing was quite aware of Liu Xixi's personality.

However, the latter part of her sentence made Su Qing somewhat concerned.

Something she asked her to pay special attention to?

Wasn't that to monitor for disasters in the Northern Continent?

Could it be that some natural or demonic calamity had occurred in the Northern Continent?

Facing Su Qing's inquiry, Liu Xixi naturally explained immediately: "Yes, Yuanjun asked me to pay more attention to whether any disasters occurred in the Mortal World, didn't you? After Yuanjun left yesterday, I found in an official document that a great drought has occurred in the eastern part of the Northern Continent... It has lasted for over three months."

Su Qing was startled.

She hadn't expected that after being out for just one day, something serious would actually happen.

But at the same time, she was puzzled and asked, "How is it that we only found out after three months?"

"This... is my dereliction of duty," Liu Xixi said after a moment of silence.

Su Qing waved her hand and said, "That's not your fault... Don't say that. The dereliction of duty should be attributed to the local immortals managing that area."

Liu Xixi was silent for a moment... then nodded slightly.

Su Qing continued, "However, regardless of whose fault it is this time, since the news has reached us, we must take action."

Su Qing didn't care much about whose fault it was this time.

She was more concerned with saving the common people first and then spreading her Incense Power.

She had been in the Northern Continent for so long without any Incense Power income, so now that such an opportunity presented itself, she naturally couldn't let it slip by.

Thus, she had to act quickly.

Hearing this, Liu Xixi nodded and said, "I understand, Yuanjun. I will go give the orders now!"

"No need, I'll go personally," Su Qing said calmly.

Liu Xixi was startled, saying with some confusion, "Yuanjun doesn't need to go personally; you can leave it to your subordinates."

"As the guardian, one should naturally go in person," Su Qing shook her head and said.

"But..."

"No buts, it's settled."

Su Qing said decisively:

"For the next few days, I'll trouble you to manage the affairs of this monastery. All matters here will be entrusted to you. After I have the disaster under control, I will return to resolve the matters that require my personal attention."

She was here to collect Incense Power, so such matters naturally required her personal involvement.

After all, her personal intervention would allow for better control and make it easier for the common people to believe in her and bring her Incense Power.

Moreover, Su Qing had waited for so long; now that she finally had an opportunity to act, Su Qing naturally couldn't let it go.

However, Liu Xixi didn't seem to have thought of this. After hearing Su Qing's words, she only felt that Su Qing was truly a kind immortal who cared for the world.

Even for a small matter that could be resolved with a single command, she chose to go in person.

For a moment, Liu Xixi's mind was racing.

"No wonder Yuanjun asked me to pay attention to disasters. She really... perhaps I truly misunderstood Yuanjun back then."

Thinking of this, Liu Xixi couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

She had initially been afraid of Su Qing just because she liked women, even worrying that she would make a move on her!?

Looking back now, such thoughts were truly laughable.

Yuanjun was so kind-hearted and so upright! How could such a good immortal, who cared for the world, casually make a move on girls?

Furthermore, even the Dragon Girl, who was within reach, was still a virgin; how much more so herself?

She must have been truly foolish back then!

She had been completely misled by those baseless rumors, worrying about such trivial matters.

Yuanjun merely liked women; she didn't abduct every woman she saw! Nor did she force anyone to do anything! So why was there a need to be so afraid?

As for the women around Yuanjun...

It was clear they weren't abducted by Yuanjun, nor could they possibly have been forced by Yuanjun.

Instead, they were attracted to Yuanjun! Everyone must be truly in love!

Moreover, upon closer thought, although Yuanjun liked women, there was nothing improper about it.

After all, no one stipulated that women couldn't like women!

Thinking of this.

Liu Xixi couldn't help but feel a sense of remorse.

And when she thought that Yuanjun, despite being subjected to such rumors, didn't show any anger or curse anyone, only a bit of helplessness, her guilt deepened.

Yuanjun was not only kind to the common people but also had an unblemished character.

If she herself had been subjected to such rumors...

She would definitely try every means to find the rumor-monger and give them a severe beating.

No, two beatings.

One wouldn't be enough to vent her anger.

Liu Xixi sighed in her heart, looked at Su Qing, and said, "Yuanjun, rest assured, I will handle everything for you."

Su Qing turned to look at Liu Xixi, meeting her gaze...

But upon meeting her gaze, Su Qing felt a little bewildered.

What kind of look was that?

Why did it feel like Liu Xixi was pitying her?

What was wrong? Was it so pitiful for her to personally handle a disaster?

Su Qing was momentarily confused by Liu Xixi.

However, she didn't say much. Since she had already made her decision, she certainly couldn't change it.

After all, Incense Power was the most important thing.

Everything else was just an added bonus.

"Hmm, then I'll trouble you," Su Qing nodded and said.

"These are all things an assistant official should do," Liu Xixi shook her head and said, "It is you, Yuanjun, who is working hard! In every aspect! But please rest assured, Yuanjun, I will handle everything."

Seeing her determined expression, Su Qing nodded with satisfaction and said, "Alright, alright, I understand, I'll leave it to you."

Su Qing had no idea what Liu Xixi was thinking, nor how complicated her thoughts were.

If she knew, she would definitely be both touched and speechless.

Touched that she would think that way, and that she understood they were just rumors.

Speechless that she thought so much... even a bit too much.

Liu Xixi looked at Su Qing and nodded seriously.

Su Qing, seeing this, decided not to continue chatting and said:

"Then without further ado, tell me the exact location, and I'll depart shortly."

Liu Xixi was startled and said, "Yuanjun, won't you rest for a while first?"

"No rest! After all, there are so many people waiting for me," Su Qing smiled and said.

She had waited so long, of course, she couldn't waste any more time.

Currently, there were no urgent matters that needed immediate attention; most things could be dealt with later without rush.

So, she naturally had to take care of this most important matter first.

And when Liu Xixi heard Su Qing say this...

Her earlier thoughts became even more firm.

At the same time, she couldn't help but ponder how to make up for her past misunderstanding.

However, she didn't say much now, only stating, "I understand, Yuanjun! The people of the Northern Continent are truly fortunate to have an acting guardian like you."

Su Qing's mouth twitched.

Then she shook her head.

They were lucky to meet her? Please, don't say that, I'm embarrassed myself.