Bai Zhu was slightly startled by those words and turned to look at Su Qing, wondering if Chen Nianxin’s words had truly struck a chord with Su Qing’s actual thoughts.
If it were truly as Chen Nianxin said... what should she do?
Bai Zhu wasn't quite sure herself.
For one, she had been rescued by Su Qing. To fish her out, Su Qing had even owed the East Sea Dragon King a favor, so she was already deeply indebted to her.
Secondly... even if she were unwilling, she had no way to escape. Su Qing’s strength far surpassed her own. If Su Qing wished, whether to kill her or seize her, it would be as easy as flipping a hand. Therefore, resisting such things was meaningless.
When she thought about it carefully...
It seemed Bai Zhu had no choice in the matter at all.
Everything depended on Su Qing’s intentions.
Thoughts flickered through Bai Zhu’s mind.
Su Qing, however, was not affected by Chen Nianxin’s few words in the slightest.
Having known Chen Nianxin for so many years, how could she not know how to handle her?
She simply gave a faint smile, shook her head, and said, "Don't think you can provoke me or make things awkward for me with that... Your little word games won't affect me! However, you haven't improved at all over the years; if anything, your eloquence has declined significantly. Could it be that staying on the mountain and rarely going out has made your tongue stiff? As for Bai Zhu, she is here to help me handle the official affairs of the Changbai Mountains. She will be living here permanently in the future, so you two must get along well... After all, if you don't and insist on provoking her, you might get beaten! Especially since I haven't forbidden her from using magic, nor have I forbidden her from using it to hit you. And you... currently, you still can't use a single shred of magic, can you?"
Hearing Su Qing's words, the faint smile on Chen Nianxin’s face immediately soured.
It was hard to tell if it was because she had lost the argument or because of what Su Qing had just said.
"Hmph..." Chen Nianxin opened her mouth to speak, but could only let out a huff before turning to leave, not bothering to pay any more attention to this annoying person.
However, she did let out a sigh of relief. At least this shorty wouldn't become another one of Su Qing's wives.
If that were the case, she would have felt somewhat uncomfortable.
She wasn't sure if she’d be uncomfortable because Su Qing would be happy with another wife, or for some other reason...
Seeing Chen Nianxin turn away and return to her room, Su Qing smiled slightly and sat down on the rocking chair in the courtyard.
The courtyard was swept exceptionally clean, without a single fallen leaf in sight.
It just felt a bit cold and lonely... lacking vitality.
It was a far cry from the time when everyone lived in the house together.
Su Qing shook her head and said to Bai Zhu beside her:
"That person has the harshest tongue and loves to find opportunities to mock others, so don't take her words to heart. What Chen Nianxin loves most is seeing others flustered and exasperated, especially me... Unfortunately, I never pay her any mind. So when she says strange things to you or mocks you, just ignore her. The calmer you appear, the more annoyed she will become. After a few exchanges, seeing that you don't react, she will naturally leave you alone and stop bothering you. If you return her malice with kindness and give her some small benefit, it will actually make her feel awkward. She is someone who cares about her pride..."
Having lived with Chen Nianxin for so long, Su Qing might not say she knew her perfectly, but she understood about seventy or eighty percent of her character.
Su Qing knew exactly how to deal with the girl.
By telling Bai Zhu these things, she could help her feel less annoyed and angry.
At the same time, it saved a certain someone from getting beaten constantly.
After all, Chen Nianxin was the type who wasn't afraid of a beating.
As long as she didn't die, she didn't worry much about anything—especially after living on this mountain for so long.
Bai Zhu listened to Su Qing's words, and after a moment of silence, she nodded.
Although Chen Nianxin was clearly a difficult person to get along with, it was also clear that Su Qing didn't actually have any intention of marrying her... This made her feel relieved.
After all, if she were to marry her, she and Su Qing would only have a bond of gratitude but no romantic feelings. Naturally, she would be unwilling. She wasn't the type to offer her body just because she was saved. Secondly... she had originally escaped a marriage only to be rescued; if she ended up married again, it would feel like all her efforts had been in vain, which made her quite reluctant.
Bai Zhu looked at Su Qing and couldn't help but think:
'Phew, I thought Sister saved me because she was lusting after my body... As expected, did I really think too poorly of her?'
Bai Zhu let out a long breath and said to Su Qing, "I understand... By the way, Sister said I should work with your clone, but where is your clone? Why haven't I seen her?"
Since arriving, Bai Zhu had only seen Chen Nianxin, so she was very curious about what Su Qing's clone was like.
As soon as Bai Zhu finished speaking, she suddenly heard Su Qing's voice from behind her.
"I am right here. How can you say you haven't seen me?"
Bai Zhu heard this and quickly turned around, only to see another Su Qing standing there.
At that moment, she understood.
The Su Qing behind her was the clone.
"She looks exactly like Sister?" Bai Zhu asked, stunned.
At this time, the clone chuckled and reverted to her original appearance, saying, "How could we be identical? The clone is a second body I refined myself. Wouldn't it be boring if it were exactly the same? This is what the clone actually looks like... I was just transforming earlier to tease you."
Both of Su Qing's clones were sculpted to be exceptionally beautiful, each with its own charm... making it hard to look away.
And the most beautiful among them was naturally the clone left on this mountain.
After all, this was the clone Su Qing had spent days and nights meticulously sculpting... naturally, it was more beautiful.
Currently, Su Qing’s clone was wearing a danqing-colored dress, her phoenix eyes smiling as she looked at Bai Zhu.
Seeing the look of shock on Bai Zhu’s face, Su Qing’s clone explained with a smile, "No need to be surprised. Just think of this as a manifestation..."
"Bai Zhu understands." Bai Zhu nodded, still feeling a sense of wonder in her heart.
She discovered that the strength of this clone was also incredibly formidable.
Fortunately, while this clone was still limitlessly strong, it was clearly a bit weaker than Su Qing’s original body.
Beside them, Su Qing also said with a smile, "The Changbai Mountains are very quiet. Now that there's an extra person, it will be a bit more lively... You must study well in the future. As long as you do your job well, I naturally won't be stingy with rewards."
Su Qing made her words very clear.
Bai Zhu was no fool and naturally understood.
Seeing Bai Zhu nod obediently, Su Qing gave a light laugh and said, "That's about it. You can chat with my clone about the rest. I should be going now; I have other places to visit!"
Hearing this, Bai Zhu naturally didn't dare to ask her to stay. She could only bow to Su Qing and say, "Have a safe journey, Sister..."
Su Qing chuckled, her hands already forming a seal as she said, "Safe, but definitely not slow!"
The Somersault Cloud was incredibly fast; how could it be slow?
Bai Zhu was taken aback, then gave a cheeky smile and waved to Su Qing.
In the blink of an eye, Su Qing had already flown far away on the Somersault Cloud.
Within moments, she had vanished without a trace.
"Don't worry about the main body's affairs... follow me to the Daoist temple on the mountain! I'll teach you some basic things first," Su Qing's clone said calmly, looking at Bai Zhu.
Bai Zhu heard this, looked up at her, and saw that her gaze was indeed as gentle as Su Qing's, so she nodded and said, "Bai Zhu will definitely study hard."
"With those words, I am much more at ease..." Su Qing smiled and said, "We'll learn some basics today. Tomorrow, I'll take you down the mountain to have a look."
"Down the mountain?"
"There is a town where the inhabitants are all demons under my command... Although they don't live among humans, they are all pure and kind-hearted," Su Qing explained after a moment of thought.
"Sister... why are you so obsessed with this? It was the same at Flower-Fruit Mountain, and it's the same here?"
"Hmm? Perhaps for the sake of a cherished dream?"
"A cherished dream?"
"Yes."
"..."
Bai Zhu knew Su Qing had no intention of explaining further.
So she obediently shut her mouth and stopped asking questions.
She just looked at the path leading down the mountain, her thoughts gradually drifting away...
Mount Li.
Inside the Old Mother's Hall.
The Daoist boy carefully put away the pine cakes Su Qing had given her and said with a smile, "By the way, Big Green Snake, the Old Mother wants you to go over... Although she didn't divine your arrival this time, she happens to be home today and has some things she wants to chat with you about."
Although the Daoist boy had been by Su Qing's side, the Old Mother's methods were inscrutable. It wasn't strange for her to notify the boy so silently.
Su Qing, however, felt a bit of confusion.
Why had she suddenly returned today?
But despite her confusion, since the Old Mother wanted to see her, Su Qing naturally had no reason to refuse.
So, Su Qing nodded and said, "I understand... I’ll go to the side hall to see her right away."
"Not the side hall, but the Old Mother's Celestial Abode," the Daoist boy shook her head, raising her hand.
Su Qing tilted her head in confusion. "Even if I go to the Celestial Abode, don't I go through the side hall of the Old Mother's Hall?"
"Hehe, no... That time, she just fished you over directly. This time, she wants you to go through the main gate!"
"Oh? I really didn't know about that."
"Then how should I enter the main gate?"
"Take this incense. Go to the statue of the Old Mother in the center of the plaza and offer it respectfully. That will do it..."
"Is that so? But why didn't she just pull me over directly this time?"
"Hehe, how should I know? I'm not a roundworm in Master's stomach. She always has sudden whims; I have no idea why she made this decision! Maybe she just wanted to let you know about these things? Alright, hurry along! After you finish chatting with Master, you still have to go see that Bai Suzhen girl. Hehe, my junior sister is always talking about you; I'm tired of hearing it..." The Daoist boy turned to get behind Su Qing and pushed her toward the statue of the Old Mother.
Only, the little Daoist boy was a bit too short, and the sight of her pushing was rather comical.
Su Qing laughed and nodded, saying, "I know, stop pushing me... I'll go by myself."
"Then hurry up!" Seeing this, the Daoist boy put her hands on her hips and said with a face full of dissatisfaction, "You really are heavy, Big Green Snake... I can't even budge you."
"Hey, I'm not heavy at all. It's just that your strength is a bit lacking..." Su Qing said, speechless.
Su Qing didn't think she was heavy.
Even in her original form, she was definitely considered slender among snake demons, especially among those of the same realm.
Hearing this, the Daoist boy didn't care about all that. She made a face at Su Qing and then turned to leave.
Likely to go eat her cakes.
Su Qing shook her head helplessly, then walked to the statue of the Old Mother and knocked on the door according to the method the Daoist boy had taught her.
After Su Qing did this...
The statue of the Old Mother became illusory... as if it had become a path leading somewhere.
Su Qing narrowed her eyes, recognizing this as some kind of powerful magic.
Then, without concern, she strode inside boldly.
The Old Mother's Celestial Abode was vast and exceptionally magnificent... to a degree that mortals could hardly imagine.
As soon as Su Qing entered the Celestial Abode, a silver fish swam up to her and said, "Sovereign, please follow me. The Old Mother has been waiting for you for a while..."
Su Qing nodded and followed the silver fish all the way into the hall.
Inside the hall, there was not only Li Shan Lao Mu but also a stern middle-aged Daoist. The Daoist wore a robe, his face was grim, and his eyes revealed a sense of seriousness... he clearly didn't look like an easy person to talk to.
After Su Qing entered, although she didn't know his identity, seeing him sitting as an equal with the Old Mother, she naturally knew his status was around the same level. Thus, she bowed to both of them, giving them sufficient courtesy.
Seeing this, the Old Mother chuckled and said, "No need to mind this old fellow. Just pretend he doesn't exist... we'll have our own chat."
Su Qing blinked her eyes and then said, "He is a senior, after all; it wouldn't be right to ignore him... I just don't know who this senior is..."
Although Su Qing visited the Heavenly Court occasionally and had made many friends, she honestly still didn't recognize many people—especially those truly powerful old fellows who were rarely seen, let alone known.
The Old Mother glanced at the silent middle-aged Daoist sitting in the chair beside her and said with a smile, "Him? Mortals revere him as the Nine Heavens Response Thunder Voice Universal Transformation True Sovereign, or the Great Emperor of Antarctic Longevity... You can just call him Senior Yuqing."
Hearing this, Su Qing was greatly shocked. She bowed to him once more and said, "This junior greets Senior Yuqing..."
The stern middle-aged Daoist waved his hand and said, "You are already at the Heavenly Immortal realm; there is no need for such excessive courtesy..."
Su Qing shook her head and said, "Courtesy must be maintained... especially when facing a senior like you."
The person before her was one of the Six Sovereigns, an existence on the same level as the Jade Emperor. How could she be disrespectful?
Beside them, the Old Mother also said, "Hahaha, don't mind it so much. This little one has always cared most about courtesy... Although she doesn't care if others are courteous to her, she demands much of herself... Don't worry about her; let her be."
Rate on N.U.
