A Heavy Responsibility

I'm back. So, did you see Jingyue? Su Qing asked with a beaming smile as she landed.

Red Boy nodded and replied, "You were gone for so long, Sister Xiao Qing, of course we've seen Sister Jingyue. We even met that old Earth God! But honestly, that old guy acts just like a mortal official... he doesn't feel like a deity at all."

Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "He actually was a mortal official before he died..."

"So that's why..." Red Boy chuckled, then turned her gaze toward the white-haired child standing beside Su Qing. "By the way, Sister Xiao Qing, why did you come back with a child after being gone for just a short while?"

To Red Boy, what Su Qing had been doing wasn't really important. What mattered more was where this girl came from and whether she would become another enemy—or rather, a love rival.

Even though Su Qing often claimed she wasn't like the rumors said, her daily actions made that hard to believe... Thus, Red Boy couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

Hearing the question, Su Qing replied, "Just a dragon girl I picked up on the road. Her name is Bai Zhu... Bai Zhu, say hello to everyone!"

Since she had brought Bai Zhu here, Su Qing had no intention of hiding her existence. Besides, there was no need; it wasn't some shameful secret.

Bai Zhu performed an elegant bow and said, "Greetings, little sisters."

"You're calling me 'little sister'?"

Red Boy blinked and stared at Bai Zhu for a long time. No matter how she looked at it, Bai Zhu’s tiny frame didn't look like someone of significant age. In Red Boy's eyes, this girl was likely younger than her. How did she have the nerve to call her 'little sister'?

As for Chaoyan, she didn't think there was anything wrong with being called 'little sister.' After all, she wasn't even a hundred years old yet. In fact, she was barely forty. Everyone here was older than her, so the address felt perfectly reasonable.

Su Qing, sensing Red Boy's thoughts, laughed softly. "Don't let her appearance fool you; she's over a thousand years old!"

Su Qing's words were a shock, leaving both Chaoyan and Red Boy stunned.

"Huh?" Red Boy looked at the dragon girl in disbelief. After a long silence, she squeezed out a sentence: "Is this what they call 'trying to act young'?"

Bai Zhu's lip twitched, and her brow furrowed slightly. "I just can't grow any taller! I'm not trying to act young!"

"But can't demons change their form?"

"We of the Dragon Clan transform very early... so whether we grow up afterward depends entirely on our own nature," Bai Zhu huffed. Though annoyed, she still offered an explanation.

Red Boy looked at Bai Zhu and drawled, "Oh~ so that's how it is! Then you're really short."

Bai Zhu: "..."

This person is so infuriating! I really want to hit her. But I probably can't win, so what should I do?

Of course, even if Bai Zhu could win, she wouldn't actually start a fight. Partly for the sake of her own dignity, and partly because of Su Qing. She was Su Qing's subordinate now, and these two were clearly closer to Su Qing. If she started a fight, she might get sent back, so she naturally couldn't actually do anything.

Su Qing watched from the side. She wasn't one to play favorites; she believed in being fair.

She gently patted Red Boy's head. "Don't go poking at people's sore spots..."

Red Boy pouted at Su Qing's words, then gave a light snort and nodded. "Fine, fine, I get it~"

Bai Zhu felt even more depressed after hearing that. Although Su Qing was helping her, it felt like her short stature had just been officially confirmed.

Chaoyan, who had been silent, finally asked, "By the way, Godmother, why did you bring this sister here?"

Chaoyan cared less about bickering with Bai Zhu and more about the meaning behind Su Qing bringing her. Only then could she determine if Bai Zhu was a potential rival. If she wasn't, then being hostile for no reason would just be foolish.

Facing Chaoyan's question, Su Qing rubbed her chin. "Well, the Changbai Mountains happen to be short of a suitable secretary. I plan to take her there to work for my clone! After all, it's a bit much for my clone to handle all the affairs of the Changbai Mountains alone... and it puts a heavy burden on me too."

This was something she had just thought of.

When she first decided to take the girl away and help her cancel the marriage, she hadn't thought that far ahead. It was mostly a feeling of fate and the fact that the girl was indeed very cute.

So, at the time, she hadn't considered what use the girl would be.

But now that Chaoyan had asked, she couldn't just give her original reason. Thus, in a very short time, Su Qing decided that besides being eye candy, the girl could serve another purpose.

After some thought, Su Qing felt that letting her help the clone was a good move.

On one hand, the girl had some schemes and a sharp mind. After learning from the clone for a while, she should be able to familiarize herself with the affairs of the Changbai Mountains quickly.

On the other hand, Su Qing's clone really didn't have anyone capable to use.

The White Deer Spirit needed to manage the town at the foot of the mountain and couldn't help at all. The Spider Spirits were a bit dim-witted; Su Qing didn't think they'd be useful. The Six-Eared Macaque was naturally rebellious; if he didn't cause trouble, that was already a success. As for the Rhino Spirits... they were too ugly. Looking at them was annoying.

So, until now, she had been handling most of the affairs of the Changbai Mountains by herself. Such high-intensity work was taxing even for an immortal. And although it was a clone, the exhaustion still transferred to Su Qing's main body—not physical fatigue, but mental. Controlling a clone with her own mind was inherently draining.

Therefore, sending Bai Zhu to the clone was indeed a good idea.

After hearing Su Qing's explanation, Chaoyan tilted her head slightly. "What's a secretary?"

"Erm, it's someone like Liu Xixi." Su Qing rubbed her chin, not knowing how to explain it simply, so she just picked a classic example.

Upon hearing Liu Xixi's name, Chaoyan immediately understood. She nodded and said, "I see... then Sister Bai Zhu might have a tiring time ahead~ Also, Godmother, why do you always like to say strange things occasionally?"

Chaoyan knew exactly what Liu Xixi did every day. By using her as an analogy, she understood Bai Zhu's future role. At the same time, her wariness toward Bai Zhu lessened significantly. After all, Bai Zhu wouldn't be staying by Su Qing's side; she was going to the Changbai Mountains to help the clone.

Su Qing gave a charming smile. "I just thought of it suddenly, it's no big deal... don't worry about it."

Su Qing obviously couldn't tell her the truth, so she just made something up.

Chaoyan didn't press further. She had long known that Su Qing had many secrets. Prying into someone else's secrets was quite rude.

With that topic settled, Su Qing clapped her hands. "Alright, don't just stand here like idiots. All of you, go inside! By the way, where is Jingyue? Do you know?"

Chaoyan immediately answered, "Sister Jingyue and the Earth God are both at the yamen!"

"Oh? Good, I'll go chat with Jingyue for a while. You all go inside and play! You're all about the same height, so you should get along... use this time to get to know each other."

Su Qing wouldn't take Bai Zhu along to see Jingyue, so she simply left her there.

At Su Qing's command, Chaoyan and Bai Zhu both nodded. Although Red Boy wanted to go out and play, she also agreed.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Su Qing said no more. She turned and left, heading toward the yamen in the city to find Jingyue.

Upon arriving in the city, Su Qing quickly found the yamen.

The rules in the city were mostly established according to mortal customs, so there was naturally a yamen for judging cases and handling administrative affairs. However, the cases and administration here were different from the mortal world, reflecting a style born from the coexistence of demons and humans.

Su Qing walked into the yamen, ignoring the busy runners rushing about, and went straight to find Jingyue.

Not all the busy runners recognized Su Qing. Some did, but seeing that she had no intention of stopping, they didn't dare disturb her. Working in this yamen, they had more or less learned the mortal art of reading a situation and had picked up a bit of bureaucratic air; they knew when to greet someone and when to stay away.

With no one blocking her path, Su Qing soon saw Jingyue.

At that moment, Jingyue was staring at an official document with a deep frown, seemingly troubled by it. She didn't even notice Su Qing's approach. Instead, it was the old Earth God who first noticed her arrival.

"Greetings, Sovereign," the Earth God said, standing up.

Su Qing gave a soft laugh. "No need for such formalities."

Only after Su Qing spoke did Jingyue look up. "Sister Xiao Qing, you're here? I thought you'd be waiting for me at home! I didn't expect you to come looking for me here!"

Su Qing shook her head. "I had to come see you first."

"So, what were you busy with earlier?"

"I went and picked up a little shorty."

"Are you planning to add another member to your harem?"

"What are you talking about! Am I that kind of person? I just saw she was in trouble and saved her on a whim. Then I gave her a job..."

"Oh? What kind of job?"

"Working for my clone."

"You didn't keep her by your side? Sister Xiao Qing, you've actually grown a bit."

"...In the end, you still think I'm the kind of woman the rumors say I am." Su Qing said speechlessly, "You're really too much, too heartless."

"Stop acting, Sister Xiao Qing... if you're so bored, why don't you help me process some of these documents?" Jingyue put down her papers and said helplessly.

Even though Su Qing had come to play, Jingyue was too busy to get away, so she simply drafted her as labor.

Su Qing pouted. "Fine, fine, I'll help you. But I'm not here often, so I don't know if I can handle them properly..."

"Don't worry, I won't give you the complicated stuff... just some simple things," Jingyue smiled, shaking her head.

Su Qing had no choice but to settle in and help.

Time passed quickly. Before long, they had finished a portion of the work.

After finishing, Su Qing and the others could finally rest for a bit.

Jingyue then asked, "Now that you're here, how many days will you stay? But regardless of how long it is, I'm afraid I won't be able to personally take you around the city. There's just too much official business lately..."

Su Qing rubbed her chin. "Probably about four or five days... as for accompanying us, if you're free, come along; if not, it's fine."

Su Qing was always reasonable and wouldn't throw a fit just to make Jingyue play with her. Jingyue nodded; the answer was as she expected.

Then, Su Qing continued:

"Wukong has finished his journey to the West. He's currently reporting back in Chang'an City. After that, he'll likely return to Spirit Mountain to receive his rewards... once that's over, he should be coming back. When Wukong returns, you two must teach him. Make him learn how to be a good king and how to handle administrative affairs. Especially you, Earth God... you've been here the longest. You're the most suitable person to teach him how to be a good king and how to govern... so, you'll likely have a harder time ahead. However, your status will certainly rise as well."

Beside them, the suddenly mentioned Earth God hurriedly stood up and gave Su Qing a deep bow.

"Is it really okay to entrust such a heavy responsibility to me? I have never held such a grave duty before," the Earth God said quickly.

The Earth God knew Wukong, and he knew how unreasonable Wukong could be. He was already somewhat afraid of him, especially after hearing descriptions from his fellow Earth Gods. He was terrified of Wukong. Therefore, he didn't dare to teach him... after all, who knew if Wukong would tear him into eight pieces?