Longevity

Su Tingtong was naturally more than happy to answer Su Qing's question.

In fact, even if Su Qing hadn't asked, she would have spoken up on her own.

After all, she loved her mother most of all.

Su Tingtong stood with her hands on her hips, a smile of innocent joy on her face, as she said, "I was already there when Mother went inside. Since Mother is back, of course I had to come find you!"

Of course, besides this reason, there was another even more important one.

She was a bit disgruntled that even though Su Qing had clearly returned, she had gone to handle other matters first instead of coming to see her dear daughter.

So, she had taken the initiative to find Su Qing herself; after all, Su Qing hadn't left the courtyard.

And it was precisely because of her dissatisfaction that she had decided to startle her mother.

Although she knew she certainly couldn't actually scare her mother, it didn't stop her from using this method to vent her minor frustrations.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing couldn't help but smile as she reached out to rub the girl's head.

The little girl's hair was incredibly smooth and felt wonderful to the touch.

"You little rascal, couldn't you have waited for me just a bit longer?" Su Qing asked with a laugh.

Su Tingtong shook her head and said, "No, I can't! I haven't seen Mother for several days, and I missed you terribly!"

Su Tingtong was truly very clingy, especially toward Su Qing. Thus, Su Qing understood that these words weren't just said to make her happy; the girl was simply expressing her genuine feelings.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and pinched her small cheek, saying, "You, oh you, you really are quite the clingy one!"

"Does Mother not like me being so clingy?"

"Of course not!" Su Qing shook her head. "How could I ever dislike it?"

Hearing this, Su Tingtong breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on her face grew even more radiant.

To the side, Bai Yuhe couldn't help but smile as she watched this scene.

This child... she really was quite endearing.

Unfortunately, this child wasn't particularly close to anyone except Su Qing.

Her relationship with Bai Yuhe was merely average.

Though she was very polite and always wore a smile in front of her, Bai Yuhe had been a queen for many years. Having seen and seen through countless people, she could tell with a single glance.

In truth, Su Tingtong was only being polite to her; she wasn't truly close to her in the way she was with Su Qing.

However, that wasn't a major issue.

After all... at the very least, the child didn't show any dislike.

Moreover, she was like this with almost everyone—except for her biological mother and Su Qing.

In the time that followed, Su Qing spent a while with Su Tingtong and then went to chat with Bai Suzhen about a few things.

After that, she left the domain once more.

She was preparing to seek out pills to extend life.

Now that Bai Yuhe was no longer a mortal queen and had left the mortal world, life-extending pills could naturally be arranged.

After all, if she didn't arrange them quickly, it might soon be too late.

Kunlun Mountain.

Hall of the Queen Mother of the West.

Su Qing paid a visit to the Queen Mother of the West.

Seeing Su Qing's arrival, the Queen Mother of the West was slightly pleasantly surprised and welcomed her with great warmth.

Su Qing and the Queen Mother of the West had a fairly good relationship.

They were old acquaintances, and over the years, whenever she was free, Su Qing would come here to visit, maintain their bond, and chat.

"Is there a reason you've come to see me today? If there's something on your mind, speak up quickly. If not, then we shall just chat as usual." The Queen Mother of the West looked like the type who was quite difficult to get along with, possessing a haughty countenance.

But in reality, that was merely on the surface. Once one became familiar with her, her personality was actually very easy to deal with.

Not just easy, but perhaps a bit too much so.

Su Qing was sometimes curious if all these senior immortals possessed such dual personalities.

"Actually, it's about that matter I mentioned decades ago," Su Qing said with a shrug. "I wish to exchange something with you, senior, for some life-extending pills. They don't need to extend life for very long—at least until the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth begins!"

Su Qing had mentioned this to the Queen Mother of the West long ago, but at the time, Bai Yuhe hadn't left the Women's Kingdom and was still its queen.

Therefore, even if she had obtained the pills then, she wouldn't have been able to give them to Bai Yuhe.

Hearing this, the Queen Mother of the West chuckled and nodded, saying, "I wondered what it was! It turns out to be such a trivial matter. Extending life is the simplest thing. Take this fruit; extending a life by three or four hundred years won't be a problem. As for an exchange? There's no need for that. Just take it."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing shook her head and said, "Since we agreed on an exchange, I naturally cannot let you suffer a loss, senior! Is there anything you need me to do? Or is there something else you'd like in return?"

"Why speak of such things between us? Besides, it's just a fruit; it's no big deal." The Queen Mother of the West shook her head and said with total indifference, "Moreover, in a few hundred years, these things will be useless anyway. It's better to let you use it now while it still has some value."

The Queen Mother of the West was very open-minded. The Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth would come sooner or later, and these items would eventually lose their original functions.

Since they were destined to become useless, why not let them serve their greatest purpose before that happened?

Therefore, when Su Qing asked for it, she simply gave it away.

There was no reluctance at all.

Of course, if someone completely unrelated had come to ask, it naturally wouldn't have been so easy.

After all, even if something was destined to become useless, it wasn't something to be given away to just anyone; it depended on who was asking.

After hearing this, Su Qing remained silent for a moment before nodding and saying, "Thank you, senior!"

"There's nothing to thank me for. Just remember to come and chat with this old thing more often in the future. Besides, this isn't some elixir of immortality; it's not particularly precious in its own right," the Queen Mother of the West said with a smile, shaking her head.

Su Qing naturally had nothing more to say to that. She nodded with a smile and said, "That is only right. In the future, I will frequently come to chat with you about the affairs of the world."

"That would be for the best," the Queen Mother of the West replied with a satisfied nod.

Afterward, the two of them chatted about other matters just as they had before.

Only after a long time had passed did Su Qing return to the domain in the Northern Continent.

When she arrived back at the domain, the others had just woken up.

Su Qing landed in the courtyard, found Bai Yuhe, and gave her the Vermilion Fruit.

"Take this fruit and eat it! This way, your longevity will be greatly restored. Living for another few hundred years won't be an issue."

Hearing Su Qing's words, Bai Yuhe was stunned. She looked at Su Qing in silence for a long time before finally smiling and saying:

"I understand... but I really didn't expect you to find it so quickly. You said you'd find one as soon as possible, but I didn't think it would be this fast... It's a bit of a surprise."

In truth, Bai Yuhe hadn't been in a rush regarding the matter of extending her life.

After all, she still had several years left.

She could afford to wait.

Even if one couldn't be found, she wouldn't have been unhappy.

After all, mortals were meant to experience life and death.

What was there to be unhappy about?

At most, it would just be a regret—a regret that she couldn't continue to accompany Su Qing.

However, she completely hadn't expected Su Qing's actions to be so swift.

Only yesterday she had said she would go looking, and by early the next morning, the item had already been found.

Su Qing smiled and said, "There are some things I prefer to have settled quickly. So, I was a bit hurried."

"But such a life-extending pill must have come at a great cost, right? Is it worth doing this for me?" Bai Yuhe couldn't help but ask curiously.

"What nonsense are you talking? How could it not be worth it?" Su Qing said with dissatisfaction. "Since you are my partner, I will naturally do everything in my power for you! As for the value of this thing... it actually didn't cost much."

This was the truth. All she had spent was a single night's time.

There wasn't much else to it.

It couldn't even be considered a cost.

Hearing this, Bai Yuhe naturally didn't believe Su Qing's words.

Something that extended life—especially something that extended it by several hundred years—how could it be as common as cabbage?

"You can't fool me," Bai Yuhe said softly. "But thank you for doing so much."

"There's no need to thank me. We're family, aren't we? Alright, hurry up and eat this fruit! After that, I will teach you about cultivation."

Although Bai Yuhe had cultivated before, so much time had passed that she had long since forgotten most of it.

As for her memories as the Cat Immortal from two lifetimes ago...

That was even less worth mentioning.

The Cat Immortal had relied purely on Incense Power and had never truly cultivated systematically.

Naturally, it couldn't serve as an aid to her now.

Therefore, Su Qing would still have to teach her personally.

Fortunately, Su Qing was very experienced in this regard.

Not only had she taught a genius disciple, but she had also taught a child with mediocre aptitude.

Thus, regardless of whether her talent was good or bad, Su Qing could use pills to pile up her realm.

In truth... Su Qing had never expected her to reach a particularly high realm. All she wanted was for her to have a bit of strength, enough to protect herself when Su Qing wasn't around.

Even though... Su Qing was there most of the time.

Su Qing's words made Bai Yuhe daze for a moment, then she gave a helpless smile and said, "I never thought that at my age, I'd still have to learn how to cultivate."

"Cultivation can begin at any time; there is no set age limit," Su Qing said, shaking her head. "Besides, it's not a boring thing..."

Bai Yuhe smiled and shook her head, saying, "Alright, I understand. I'll give it a try!"

"Mhm, then hurry up and eat it!" Su Qing said to her with a beaming smile.

Clearly, Su Qing was determined to watch her eat it.

Bai Yuhe nodded and didn't refuse, eating it in one go.

After eating it, there was no special feeling...

It was as if she hadn't eaten anything at all.

"I don't feel anything," Bai Yuhe said.

"It's not strange to feel nothing. This kind of change is profound and subtle. Although you have a bit of cultivation, it has been mostly worn away over the years. It's perfectly normal that you can't feel it," Su Qing explained simply.

Hearing this, Bai Yuhe stroked her chin and said, "I thought there would be some impressive special effects after eating it!"

"Are you a bit disappointed?"

"Indeed."

"Then should I whip up some special effects for you?"

"There's no need for that." Bai Yuhe didn't want to do something so awkward, so she quickly shook her head.

Su Qing laughed at this and then said, "Since you've eaten it, I'll go to work now. There's someone waiting for my help! You can walk around anywhere in the domain, but it's best to have the maids lead you so you don't get lost. After all, the domain is quite large."

The domain in the Northern Continent was absurdly large. Over a dozen continuous mountain ranges made up Great Emperor Zhenwu's domain.

It was just that each mountain had a different purpose.

For example, the study where Su Qing usually handled official business wasn't actually on this peak, but on another. To get there, one had to soar on a cloud.

Of course, for an immortal, this wasn't an inconvenience.

No one here was unable to fly.

Except for the newcomer, Bai Yuhe.

Hearing Su Qing's words, Bai Yuhe nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'm not that curious. Staying here is quite nice too."

Su Qing only smiled at this, then said she'd see her later before going to find Liu Xixi.

Having been away for a few days, she figured the poor girl was probably working herself to death!

Arriving at the study, a mountain of official documents was piled in front of Liu Xixi.

She was currently writing furiously.

There was a hint of fatigue on her face.

Clearly, she hadn't rested well these past few days.

While going a few days without rest was no big deal for an immortal, if it involved high-intensity mental exertion for several days straight, even a cultivator of Liu Xixi's realm would feel exhausted.

It was roughly equivalent to how a mortal feels after pulling an all-nighter.

Though she wouldn't collapse from exhaustion, fatigue was unavoidable, and her mental state was much diminished.

Seeing this, Su Qing came up behind Liu Xixi.

She patted her on the shoulder and said, "Take a break! You're my assistant official; if you collapse, I'll be the one suffering."

Su Qing used the same old line, acting as if she were only considering her own future convenience.

But in reality, she was indeed worried about her state.

After all, no matter who it was, if the pressure was too great, they might eventually break.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xixi looked up at Su Qing, then revealed a smile and said, "The Sovereign worries too much. This level of work is nothing to me!"

"This is an order. What is it? Are you refusing to even listen to my orders now?" Since kind words weren't working, she naturally had to use some unconventional tactics.

She didn't believe that even after saying this, Liu Xixi would still be unwilling to listen to her.

Sure enough, after Su Qing spoke those words, Liu Xixi was clearly taken aback. After a moment of silence, she nodded helplessly and said, "I... I understand. Then I shall go take a short rest."