My Heart is Pure

Speaking of which...

The Bodhisattva let out a long, weary sigh.

Clearly, she was quite troubled by what the future held.

Seeing this, Su Qing offered some comfort. "Bodhisattva, please put your mind at ease. There are many powerful beings in the Moon Palace... if you find yourself unable to hold on, you can always ask others for help! In a matter of such gravity, everyone has an obligation to assist. As for the fact that the Great Tribulation cannot be spoken of, you can simply hide it and find another excuse to gloss it over."

The Bodhisattva sighed again. "If it truly comes to that, I suppose that is the only way. It is just a pity that I will have to break my precepts once more."

Moonlight Bodhisattva was a very traditional Buddhist monk; she was deeply averse to the act of breaking precepts and lying.

However, when faced with matters of great principle, her choice was clear.

Breaking a precept was just that—breaking a precept. If she allowed a disaster to spread simply for the sake of her own reputation, the loss would far outweigh the gain.

Su Qing looked at Moonlight Bodhisattva, spread her hands, and said, "Actually, you needn't worry too much... it's still early. We still have plenty of time to make preparations!"

"So you say... sigh." Moonlight Bodhisattva sighed yet again.

Left with no choice, Su Qing changed the subject. "How long will it take you to deliver these lost souls, Bodhisattva?"

"The numbers are too great; I fear it will take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, regarding the Full Moon Banquet, I am afraid I truly cannot attend."

"I see. That is unfortunate, then. Since you cannot go, I won't force you. If the situation changes later, please be sure to come! Oh, would you like me to mention this to Guanyin Bodhisattva and have her come help you?"

"There is no need. Guanyin Bodhisattva is also busy suppressing a disturbance elsewhere. Perhaps she has finished by now, but I can handle things here on my own. I won't trouble her," Moonlight Bodhisattva replied, still reluctant to bother her fellow disciple.

Seeing her stance, Su Qing didn't push. She simply nodded and then began chatting with Moonlight Bodhisattva about Chang'e.

When it came to Chang'e, Moonlight Bodhisattva had quite a lot to say, and she spent a good while venting her frustrations about the goddess.

Evidently, Chang'e caused quite a few headaches for Moonlight Bodhisattva on a daily basis...

Otherwise, she wouldn't be complaining about her like this.

As for badmouthing Chang'e...

Su Qing was, naturally, more than happy to participate.

After all, making fun of her was quite entertaining.

Once they finished venting about Chang'e...

Moonlight Bodhisattva had to return to her task of delivering the lost souls.

Su Qing didn't want to disturb her further.

After a brief farewell, she departed.

Leaving Moonlight Bodhisattva's residence, Su Qing returned to Chang'e's side.

Chang'e was currently sleeping soundly...

Her sleeping posture wasn't exactly elegant; in fact, it could be described as quite uninhibited. There was even a bit of sweet nectar—a crystal-clear drop of drool—hanging from the corner of her mouth.

Su Qing looked at Chang'e and sighed helplessly, then took out a handkerchief to wipe it away.

'No matter how many times I see it, I always feel that Chang'e is much cuter when she's asleep,' Su Qing murmured to herself.

Whether Chang'e was awake or in one of her dazed states, she often left Su Qing feeling powerless. Only when she was asleep did Su Qing find her truly adorable.

Just as Su Qing was thinking this...

Her hand, which she hadn't yet pulled back, was suddenly grabbed by Chang'e.

Before she could react in surprise and pull away, Chang'e yanked her down onto the bed.

"Sister Chang'e, are you awake?" Su Qing asked.

Chang'e didn't answer. She simply wrapped her arms around Su Qing, using her like a body pillow.

Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't quite tell what state Chang'e was in. Was she awake, or was she just half-conscious?

Perhaps... a bit of both?

Su Qing tried to struggle a few times, but she found that Chang'e was holding her in a death grip; she couldn't break free at all.

Su Qing thought for a moment, then transformed into her original form as a green snake...

Only then did she manage to slip out of Chang'e's grasp.

Once free, Su Qing transformed back into her human form.

She stood to the side, looking at Chang'e.

"You're definitely awake, aren't you?" Su Qing said, sounding annoyed.

Chang'e didn't respond.

Su Qing reached out and pinched Chang'e's cheek. "Sister Chang'e, if you keep pretending, don't blame me for getting a little handsy."

Su Qing thought her words carried some weight, but to her surprise, they had no effect at all. Chang'e still didn't 'wake up,' remaining perfectly still as if deep in sleep.

Su Qing felt a bit helpless.

How could someone like Chang'e, who loved to stir up trouble, be afraid of such a threat?

After a moment of thought, Su Qing said, "If you don't get up now, I'm leaving."

At these words, Chang'e didn't move at first. It wasn't until Su Qing actually turned to walk away that she finally sat up, putting on a groggy, half-awake act.

To top it off, she even feigned surprise. "Oh my, Xiao Qing, did you carry me back here?"

Su Qing: "..."

"I knew it. You've been awake for a while," Su Qing said with a pout.

Chang'e let out a light cough, her eyes darting around. "What are you talking about? I just woke up! How could I have been awake earlier? Don't think you can bully me just because I'm a bit foggy after a nap!"

Naturally, Chang'e would never admit she had been awake the whole time.

Su Qing understood this perfectly. She said with a chuckle, "Sister Chang'e, you really are stubborn when it comes to things like this... Do you want me to list all the suspicious things I noticed?"

At this, Chang'e gave a light snort. "I told you, I really didn't wake up until just now. Stop talking about it!"

With those words, Chang'e had basically given herself away.

Su Qing laughed and decided not to pursue it any further.

Instead, she said, "Fine, fine, let's just say you didn't wake up. Now that you are awake, come for a walk with me! We can't just wake up and go right back to drinking, can we?"

There was little point in bickering with Chang'e about whether she had been awake. After all, she was the type to insist on her story until the bitter end. Even when it was blindingly obvious, she would remain stubborn.

In Chang'e's mind, since she had already been stubborn for so long, admitting it now would be far too embarrassing.

Therefore, she would either not be stubborn at all, or she would be stubborn to the end.

Upon hearing this, Chang'e said, "Actually, I don't mind drinking right after waking up! In fact, that sounds like an excellent suggestion."

Seeing Chang'e's reaction, Su Qing was slightly speechless. "Sister Chang'e, you really are a souse..."

"What do you mean, souse? I am a wine immortal! The Wine Immortal of the Moon Palace!" Chang'e argued back.

Su Qing was at a loss for words. "Whatever you are, I don't want to drink right now. So, Sister Chang'e, accompany me for a walk first."

Su Qing certainly wasn't going to let Chang'e start drinking the moment she got out of bed, so she directly told her to go for a stroll.

Seeing Su Qing's firm attitude, Chang'e could only nod helplessly. "Fine! I get it. I'll go with you!"

Su Qing nodded in satisfaction.

The best thing about Chang'e was that she never put on the airs of an elder; she could have fun with anyone. Of course, that was only with those who knew her true nature. To those who didn't, she would always appear as a cold, celestial Palace Mistress.

Chang'e straightened her dress and then followed Su Qing out of the bedroom to wander around the Moon Palace.

However, as they walked, they unknowingly wandered beyond the boundaries of the Moon Palace and into a sea of stars.

This sea of stars was breathtaking—far more beautiful than it appeared from the ground.

Because there were no clouds to obscure the view, the entire starry sky was laid bare before them. The beauty was beyond words.

"This starry sky is beautiful, isn't it?" Chang'e asked, pointing at the expanse before them.

"It truly is beautiful."

"Right? You also think drinking here would be very cool, don't you?"

"I don't. Also, how did you manage to bring this back to drinking? And Sister Chang'e, do you know how to do anything other than drink?"

"That's not true. Come here, I'll show you what else I can do besides drinking!" Chang'e shook her head, looking mysterious.

Su Qing raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "So, what is it?"

"Oh, just come here and you'll see!"

"I have a feeling you're up to no good!"

"When have I ever been up to no good? I've always been very good to you!"

"Haven't you always been up to no good?"

"Is that really what you think of me? How heartbreaking," Chang'e said with a pout. "Anyway, just come here!"

Su Qing looked at Chang'e, and after a moment of silence, she finally nodded and leaned her face closer.

But just as she leaned in, Chang'e suddenly pecked her on the cheek.

Su Qing was stunned and immediately took a step back.

"What's wrong? You're a woman with four wives, yet you're acting shy now? That doesn't sound like you!" Chang'e said with a laugh.

Su Qing pursed her lips. "I... I'm not shy. It's just that you caught me by surprise."

Indeed, her embarrassment was secondary; she was mostly caught off guard by Chang'e's sudden move.

Although it wasn't the first time Chang'e had kissed her, it was the first time she had done so while fully awake. The previous times had happened when she was dazed or drunk, which could be explained away as drunken antics or spite.

But this time, there was no room for such excuses.

Seeing her reaction, Chang'e laughed. "Surprised? It's not the first time, so what's there to be surprised about? How about it, want another taste?"

Su Qing remained silent for a moment before shaking her head. "No! If I have another taste, I feel like something terrible will happen."

"In your eyes, is that a 'terrible' thing? I thought you always loved it!" Chang'e said with a smile, her face slightly flushed.

That flush was particularly striking and incredibly alluring—it was practically a crime.

Su Qing let out a long breath. "It's not that... it just feels a bit strange when it's with you, Sister Chang'e!"

"Hehehe, what are you thinking? Do you really think I'd actually do it with you?" Chang'e laughed, stepped up to Su Qing, and tilted her chin up. "Don't think of me as someone so reckless! Besides, if I really intended to, Xiao Qing, what do you think the chances are that you could escape?"

Su Qing looked into those flirtatious peach-blossom eyes and felt as if she were about to fall into them. Her heart raced, beating much faster than usual.

She said, "If... if you really intended to, Sister Chang'e, I wouldn't run!"

If Chang'e was going to go on the offensive, Su Qing couldn't show weakness. Once she showed weakness, the consequences would surely be dire!

Chang'e laughed. "Is that so? How interesting!"

"But... you don't actually plan on doing anything, do you?" Su Qing asked, taking a deep breath to calm herself as much as possible.

Chang'e pursed her lips and let go of Su Qing. "For now, I don't have any such plans... after all, I don't want to do those things in a place like this!"

No matter how thick-skinned Chang'e was, she hadn't reached that level yet.

They were outside the Moon Palace, under the river of stars.

Su Qing smiled. "Sister Chang'e, you nearly scared me to death! I almost thought... I was about to lose my innocence!"

Hearing such an utterly shameless remark, Chang'e couldn't help but laugh. "When it comes to being shameless, you really take the cake. What innocence do you have left? You're a woman who has already married four wives."

Su Qing felt a bit awkward and scratched her head with a smile. "My heart is pure!"

"..."

Chang'e was speechless.

'My heart is pure'—what a load of shameless nonsense.

How had she never noticed this girl was so shameless before? No, wait, she had noticed it long ago. It was just that Su Qing usually didn't make it so obvious.

She sighed. "We've seen enough stars. Let's head back! If someone notices I'm not in the Moon Palace, they'll probably come to lecture me again."

Su Qing smiled, acting as if nothing had happened.

She nodded. "It is indeed time to go back! However, I don't plan on drinking with you once we're back! If you get drunk, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."

"Oh? Then we're definitely drinking when we get back," Chang'e said with a light laugh.

Su Qing pouted. "I'm not drinking!"

"It's the same if I drink."

"Then I'll stay far away from you."

"Don't worry, I can find you even when I'm drunk."

"Sister Chang'e, you really are shameless."

"Likewise. You're far more shameless than I am."

"No, no, no, you're definitely the more shameless one!" Su Qing didn't dare compete with Chang'e in a contest of shamelessness; she was simply no match for her.

And so, the two of them bickered all the way back to the Moon Palace.