“Why is that?” Ao Ying was slightly taken aback, thinking Su Qing was simply being stubborn. “Why is it that I can use this trick, but others cannot? If a deity hid inside their own statue, would you really be able to find them?”
Su Qing nodded. “Of course I would. You were able to deceive me because you already carry my aura, and in terms of divine rank, you are my subordinate deity. By hiding in my statue and using the incense power within it as a shroud, you are naturally difficult to detect. So, you can do it, but others cannot. If they were to hide in their own statues, it would be even more impossible... After all, if I’ve already fought my way into their temple, would I really overlook their statue?”
Ao Ying opened her mouth to speak, then simply smiled. “I suppose I was overthinking things. Since you’ve already considered this, Sister, I can rest easy.”
Su Qing chuckled and pulled Ao Ying down from the altar. “Still, thank you for being so thoughtful. Also, you’ve worked hard during this time. I can clearly feel that the incense power has increased significantly; you must have put in a lot of effort.”
Ao Ying did not deny it. She nodded and said, “I wouldn’t say it was too much effort. My first stop was a place where people already believed in you. All I did was use your existing prestige to bolster their faith. To put it simply, I was just tending to land where the seeds had already sprouted, rather than planting new ones. However, if you wish to praise me, I won't refuse.”
Hearing this, Su Qing couldn't help but laugh. “Very well, I’ll praise you properly in a moment. For now, come and rest with me. I’ve been busy with so many things these past few days; I’m exhausted.”
Ao Ying didn't refuse, and she followed Su Qing out of the temple.
It was already evening, so there was little point in wandering outside. After all, the city enforced a curfew. A night without a night market was quite dull; it was better to head back to their lodgings and get a good night's sleep.
Since the two of them had made their decision, Su Ying didn't dare to complain, despite having her own opinions. She obediently followed them back.
That night, they called it 'resting,' but they still kept themselves busy with other matters. As for what those matters were, they were simply the things they usually did—except this time, they did them in their half-dragon and half-snake forms. After all, they had grown a bit tired of their human forms.
However, despite playing all night, they weren't lacking in energy. They were immortals, after all; one night of activity wouldn't cause any problems.
The next day, Su Qing and Ao Ying didn't attend to any serious business. They simply took Su Ying for a stroll around the county town, taking in the sights and sounds of the mortal world. This allowed Su Qing to spend time with both Ao Ying and Su Ying, while also giving Ao Ying—who had been busy for so long—a chance to truly relax and play.
Su Qing knew that Ao Ying likely hadn't rested at all during this period. As the head of the household, Ao Ying naturally felt she had to do more.
And so, the family of three spent the entire day in leisure. Ao Ying was very happy throughout the day, her face constantly bright with smiles. It was rare to see her so relaxed. Although Ao Ying often claimed she wouldn't get used to being too idle, she was clearly quite joyful when being idle with Su Qing. Su Qing felt that it wasn't that Ao Ying disliked playing, but rather that she disliked playing alone—or perhaps, playing without purpose.
Regardless of the reason, Ao Ying enjoyed herself immensely. The day passed quickly, and evening arrived in the blink of an eye. After a delicious dinner at a restaurant, the day came to an end.
That night, the two of them had a proper sleep. The following morning, Su Qing departed to find Leng Xiang.
Leng Xiang and Ao Ying weren't particularly far apart, so it only took a short while before Su Qing arrived in the skies above the county town where Leng Xiang was located.
Su Qing looked down at the town. It was a place that had experienced an earthquake. Although it had been restored to its former state, the traces of the disaster were still visible. Clearly, the people had not forgotten the tragedy. Of course, that was also because not much time had passed.
Su Qing shook her head slightly, then lowered her cloud and landed inside a temple. This was her own temple, so she naturally had to conceal her form. If she appeared before mortals without any disguise, it would undoubtedly cause a commotion. Seeing the deity they worshipped appear right in front of them would be a shock to anyone. Thus, after entering the temple, Su Qing performed an incantation to make herself invisible to mortals, allowing her to move about freely.
Finding Leng Xiang was relatively simple. Leng Xiang didn't enjoy complicated schemes like Ao Ying did; though she was prone to jealousy, she was actually quite straightforward. One could say she was simple-minded, and they wouldn't be wrong. In short, Leng Xiang was a very simple person.
Su Qing searched the temple for a moment and soon found Leng Xiang and Yu Die beneath the divine statue. Leng Xiang was currently sitting at the foot of the statue, her fingers flying as she performed divinations and hand seals, seemingly casting various spells. She was incredibly busy.
Su Qing watched Leng Xiang, not rushing to disturb her. Instead, she decided to see how long it would take for Leng Xiang to notice her arrival. However, it was clear that the focused Leng Xiang hadn't noticed Su Qing at all. Instead, it was Yu Die—who was alternating between working and slacking off—who quickly spotted Su Qing. Upon noticing her, Yu Die immediately poked her mother to tell her that Su Qing had arrived.
Prompted by Yu Die, Leng Xiang looked up and saw Su Qing. She froze for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Master?!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?!”
Leng Xiang was clearly shocked. “I’m sorry, I was so busy with the petitions that I didn’t notice you had arrived. If I had known, I certainly wouldn't have ignored you.”
Leng Xiang seemed quite self-reproachful, feeling that this was her failure. Seeing this, Su Qing quickly shook her head. “Don't go blaming yourself for everything the moment we meet. It’s not your fault; I simply didn't reveal myself. Besides, you were so busy it’s only natural you didn't notice. You were working so diligently; what reason would I have to blame you?”
Su Qing felt a bit helpless regarding Leng Xiang’s personality, but she didn't scold her, choosing instead to guide her gently. Hearing Su Qing’s words, Leng Xiang nodded and didn't argue. For her, her Master’s word was law; she would never go against it.
“As long as Master doesn't blame me,” she whispered.
“When have I ever blamed you for something like this?”
“No... never. Not once.”
“Exactly. Since I’ve never blamed you, why worry?” Su Qing tapped her lightly on the head. “Alright, let’s not talk about that. Since I’m here, let’s go out and have some fun for a while! Resting is also a part of the work, you know.”
“I... I understand!” After a moment of thought, Leng Xiang nodded. “Then... when do we depart?”
“Right now, of course!” Su Qing smiled gracefully. “I said we’re going out to play. Putting things aside for a little while won't cause any problems.”
Seeing Su Qing’s insistence, Leng Xiang said no more and simply nodded obediently. Yu Die, seeing this, excitedly raised her hands. “Hooray! Finally, we can go out and play! Since coming here, I’ve done nothing but follow Mother around to work. I haven't had a chance to enjoy myself at all!”
Yu Die had originally thought she would be traveling and playing with Leng Xiang, but she hadn't expected that most of their time would be spent working. There was hardly any time to go out. Yu Die felt she had been tricked!
And worst of all, Leng Xiang was much harder to persuade than Su Qing. If Yu Die pestered Su Qing enough, Su Qing would eventually give in just to stop the annoyance. But Leng Xiang was different. Leng Xiang only cared about the task at hand. Once she decided on a job, no matter what Yu Die said, she wouldn't change her plans. Persuading Leng Xiang was harder than making a stone bloom—at least, that was how it felt to Yu Die.
However, when it came to Su Qing, Leng Xiang was the easiest person to persuade. Because Leng Xiang listened to Su Qing above all else, Su Qing was the only one who could sway her.
Su Qing was a bit speechless at Yu Die’s excitement. It was a good thing that both Leng Xiang and Yu Die were currently in their spiritual forms; no matter how much noise they made, no one would see them. At most, people might think the deity was manifesting. Otherwise, Su Qing would have really wanted to give the girl a rap on the head to make her quiet down.
Su Qing shook her head and couldn't help but say, “You girl, you’re still as flighty as ever! Can’t you learn to be a bit more composed? Don’t make such a fuss over every little thing.”
Facing Su Qing’s 'scolding,' Yu Die wasn't afraid at all. She simply nodded repeatedly with a grin. “I know, I know! Then, Mother, let’s hurry out and look around! I’m about to burst from boredom.”
Yu Die quickly reached out to take Su Qing’s hand, pulling her toward the exit. Su Qing gave a helpless smile, shook her head, and took Leng Xiang’s hand as they went out together.
With Yu Die leading the way and keeping the atmosphere lively, the subsequent stroll was far from dull. Leng Xiang was usually serious and rarely smiled, but when she was by Su Qing’s side, she smiled quite often. As they walked hand-in-hand through the streets, her face was frequently graced with a smile as bright as peach blossoms. It was clear her mood was excellent today.
They had a wonderful time throughout the day. At night, since Leng Xiang and Yu Die had been staying in the temple, Su Qing naturally stayed with them there. However, this also showed how hard Leng Xiang was working to develop faith—she was literally living in the temple. Though her tireless labor seemed a bit foolish, one had to admit she was dedicated enough.
At this moment, the three of them weren't sleeping. Instead, they sat on the roof of the temple, watching the stars and enjoying the simple bliss of being together. The pleasant time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was morning again.
Su Qing prepared to depart. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” she said to Leng Xiang. “If there are any problems, don't just worry about them alone. Contact me... I’ll help you solve them. Your hard work is helping me, so don't be embarrassed to ask for help.”
Leng Xiang lowered her head and whispered, “Don't worry, Master. If I encounter a problem I cannot solve, I will certainly contact you.”
Su Qing nodded with satisfaction. “Good! Then I’ll be heading back.”
“Safe travels, Master,” Leng Xiang said, taking a deep breath without trying to stop her.
Su Qing then turned to Yu Die. “And you, keep an eye on your mother. Don't let her go overboard!”
Yu Die looked up at Su Qing in surprise, then nodded. “Mother... aren't you overestimating me? I’m the one who gets managed by her; how could I possibly manage her?”
“But you can contact me, can't you?” Su Qing said with a playful smile. “Do you understand?”
“Ah~ I see!” Yu Die realized, her face lighting up with surprise and joy. “Then I’ll be contacting Mother very often in the future!”
“Hehe.” Su Qing nodded. “Alright, I’m off.”
Yu Die waved at Su Qing, watching as she disappeared into the distance. Once Su Qing was gone, Yu Die turned to Leng Xiang with a grin. “Mother~ you aren't allowed to act like you did before, okay? You wouldn't want Mother to find out that you haven't been resting, would you?!”
Leng Xiang’s brow twitched slightly, and the look she gave Yu Die was a bit dangerous. 'This brat needs a thrashing,' a rare thought popped into her head.
And so, shortly after Su Qing left, Yu Die received a beating before she could even make her first report... and even after her bottom was smacked, she still didn't quite understand where she had gone wrong.
On the other side, after leaving Leng Xiang, Su Qing didn't go anywhere else. Instead, she returned to her domain. She planned to handle the affairs there before continuing to her next destination. Although her tasks weren't many or difficult, if they piled up too much, they would eventually become a nuisance. It was better to finish them now while the backlog wasn't too large before heading out again.
Rate on N.U.
