Hearing Chang'e put it that way, Su Qing rubbed her chin and thought for a moment. She realized that Guanyin Bodhisattva had indeed been coming to see her much less frequently.
And every time she went to find the Bodhisattva, she was often not at home...
Even when she asked Morning Glory, the girl usually didn't know where her master was. She only knew that her master had gone out, but as for what she was doing or where she had gone, it was all a mystery.
Guanyin's supervision of Morning Glory had even slackened significantly...
Many times, if Su Qing wanted to take Morning Glory away, she could simply do so.
"It's true I've rarely seen her. It seems they really are quite busy over there!" Su Qing rubbed her chin and remarked.
Chang'e took a sip of wine and gave a chuckle. "Yes, they're busy beyond belief. They even called away Moonlight Bodhisattva from my Moon Palace. Hmph, really..."
Although the relationship between Chang'e and Moonlight Bodhisattva was average, they were still considered friends...
Now that Moonlight Bodhisattva was gone, her Moon Palace felt even more empty and desolate, so she was naturally a bit dissatisfied.
Su Qing gave a light laugh and said, "I just wonder what the Buddha Kingdom's method for surviving the tribulation actually is, and to what extent they've prepared."
"I don't know. The methods prepared by us and the Buddha Kingdom are different, and we haven't disclosed them to each other. We just agreed that everyone handles their own affairs, though we can ask for help in times of need—provided the other side has the time to spare..." Chang'e shrugged and continued, "As for how far they've prepared, judging by how busy they are, they've likely reached a critical stage!"
Su Qing nodded upon hearing this and didn't press further. After all, there was no point in asking more...
She couldn't help the Buddha Kingdom with anything.
And even if she had the ability to help, it wasn't certain she would step in.
After all, she still had plenty of her own business to finish; where would she find the time to worry about so many other things?
Su Qing let out a faint sigh, took a sip of wine, and said, "Forget it. Whether they're busy or not doesn't affect me much anyway! Besides, Sister Chang'e, you'd better be careful! If you really get drunk, you won't be able to finish your work!"
Upon hearing Su Qing's reminder, Chang'e curled her lip in dissatisfaction. "Mind your own business! I know my limits, so don't you worry."
Su Qing only smiled. If Chang'e actually knew her limits, that would be a miracle.
However, Su Qing didn't plan to say too much.
Chang'e was stubborn.
If she kept nagging, Chang'e might actually get drunk just out of spite.
If that happened, those official duties of hers would likely never be submitted by the deadline!
"Stop smiling, stop smiling. Just drink with me. I have to go back to work in a bit!" Chang'e said helplessly.
Su Qing nodded and continued to accompany Chang'e in drinking.
Time passed quickly.
Before long, the wine Su Qing brought was finished.
With the wine gone, Chang'e naturally prepared to head back to work.
Chang'e sighed and said, "It's so annoying! If only I didn't have to work! Being the Mistress of the Moon Palace is truly exhausting."
"Who told you to dump everything on Yuer? Now that Yuer can't finish it all, isn't it only natural that you have to help? In the end, you've only brought this on yourself," Su Qing said with a shrug.
Hearing this, Chang'e crossed her arms and said huffily, "Hmph, what do you care? At least I was happy before! Fine, let's not talk about it; I should get back to work. I really don't want to! How about you come and help me? In return, I can grant you some rare requests. I wouldn't even mind doing some things unsuitable for children!"
Both Chang'e and Su Qing knew exactly what those 'unsuitable' things referred to...
It was clear that in order to avoid work, Chang'e was directly resorting to seducing Su Qing.
Unfortunately, seduction didn't mean much to Su Qing.
Others might be swayed by Chang'e's charms, but Su Qing truly wouldn't.
Because she knew Chang'e all too well...
Su Qing crossed her arms and looked at Chang'e with a beaming smile. "No. Do your own work. Who told you not to help out more on normal days? I'm not going to do it for you!"
"Eh? How can you be like this? Is this Sovereign really so lacking in attraction?" Chang'e asked, looking at Su Qing with dissatisfaction.
Su Qing shook her head and said, "Sister Chang'e is naturally very attractive, but... I just know you too well! Besides, you have to do your own work! As for you, Sister Chang'e... don't I have opportunities with you anytime? Why should I work for it?"
Su Qing's words left Chang'e speechless for a moment.
Though she wanted to retort, she found she couldn't.
Because Su Qing's point actually made quite a bit of sense, leaving her with no way to argue.
So, she stuck her tongue out at Su Qing.
Then, she turned around and went back to work.
This time, she truly wasn't drunk and truly had no way to deal with Su Qing.
But she hadn't really expected Su Qing to help her in the first place.
Su Qing's answer was exactly what she had anticipated.
She just wanted to tease her and give it a try.
Since the attempt failed, there was nothing more to say.
Back to work it was!
Seeing Chang'e leave, Su Qing also stood up to tidy the things away.
This time they had simply been drinking, without even eating much else...
The two had chatted while drinking, and time had slipped away.
After Su Qing finished tidying up, she saw that it was still quite early. After thinking for a moment, she went straight to find Gongsun Zhixue.
Gongsun Zhixue had been cultivating lately...
Therefore, Su Qing hadn't been able to see her during this period.
She would check on her today; if she had finished her seclusion, they could chat about recent events.
Arriving beneath the osmanthus tree, Su Qing looked at the tree and gave a familiar greeting.
Before long, the osmanthus tree manifested a human form.
Guihua still wore that look of impatience.
However, perhaps due to habit, that impatience held more of a sense of helplessness.
"You're here again?"
"Of course I'm here. After all, she's my junior, a child I've watched grow up. Naturally, I have to come see her whenever I'm free," Su Qing replied with a smile. "What's the matter? Is it that I'm not allowed to come?"
Guihua looked at her and said flatly, "I'd prefer it if you didn't... but I can't control you anyway."
Hearing this, Su Qing gave a light laugh and said, "Then that's that! So, has the girl come out of seclusion?"
Su Qing was well aware that Guihua had no way to stop her, which was why she came so frequently and why her attitude had become increasingly casual.
Guihua curled her lip and, standing barefoot on the ground, walked up to Su Qing. "She still has some time before she finishes. She likely won't be out for a while, so don't be impatient."
At this, Su Qing shrugged and asked, "Still not out? What exactly is she cultivating? It can't be that she's preparing for a breakthrough, can it? Can she break through normally inside that little grotto-heaven of yours?"
Su Qing felt more or less helpless about the fact that Gongsun Zhixue hadn't come out for so long...
On one hand, she hoped she would cultivate well, but on the other, she lamented that she couldn't see her whenever she wanted.
Guihua said calmly, "She hasn't broken through; she's just learning a rather difficult spell. It relates to future events, so she must master it as soon as possible. Mastering that spell requires a lot of time... To that end, I specifically accelerated the time inside so she can understand how to master it more quickly."
Guihua didn't hide too much from Su Qing, but she didn't tell her everything either, only revealing the unimportant parts.
Su Qing's brows twitched slightly upon hearing this, and she asked with some confusion, "What spell could possibly take so much time to master? Does this spell have some special use?"
This question was within Guihua's expectations. She nodded slightly and said, "A very important spell that will be of great help during the future Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth. That's why I need her to master it during this time... As for exactly what kind of spell it is! Since you have your own method of surviving the tribulation, I won't tell you. In short, you only need to know that this spell is extremely important, and that is enough."
This response left Su Qing somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that this person was being mysteriously secretive.
However, she didn't press further...
Since it was a survival spell, mastering it would indeed be a great help.
Su Qing said flatly, "Fine, I can't be bothered to ask whether you're telling the truth or not. As long as you can guarantee that the child survives the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, that's enough."
Guihua let out a light snort. "She carries my legacy and is my only disciple. I am far more serious about her than you are. I would never let her die in that Great Tribulation. You don't need to worry about that, nor do you need to remind me."
Clearly, the hint of suspicion in Su Qing's words had made Guihua quite angry.
Seeing this, Su Qing smiled slightly and said, "Of course I believe you! And I believe in your kindness toward Gongsun Zhixue. I just thought you might be fooling me."
"I wouldn't do something so boring." Realizing that Su Qing wasn't doubting her care for Gongsun Zhixue, Guihua's expression gradually returned to normal. She said flatly, "At most, I won't tell you things I don't want you to know; I wouldn't go so far as to lie to you."
Su Qing looked at Guihua before her, still wearing a full smile that made it hard to read her emotions.
"Mhm, of course I believe you. But roughly how much longer until she comes out? Do you have an approximate time?" Su Qing changed the subject, acting as if the previous exchange hadn't happened.
This made Guihua a bit displeased, but she didn't lash out. She simply turned toward the osmanthus tree and said, "Probably another year or two. Even with the time accelerated in her space, it will still take a year or two in the outside world. This spell requires a lot of time. You can come less often in the future! After all, to be honest, I really don't like you."
Guihua's feelings toward Su Qing were complicated. To say she hated her wasn't true, but to say she liked her was definitely nonsense.
It could only be said that she neither liked nor hated her; she was just a bit of a nuisance.
Su Qing smiled and nodded. "It's fine. If I can't see Gongsun Zhixue, coming to chat with you is also quite nice. I'm free anyway, so chatting with me shouldn't take up too much of your time, right?"
At these words, Guihua took a deep breath and said with considerable displeasure, "It will! It really will! I'd rather you didn't come to disturb me so much."
Clearly, Guihua truly didn't enjoy idle chatting with Su Qing.
To her, it was a pure waste of time.
But Su Qing didn't care. She just nodded with a beaming smile and said as if to herself, "Alright, then it's settled. Whenever I'm free in the future, I'll come chat with you, and then I'll chat with Gongsun Zhixue once she's out."
Guihua: "..."
This person really has no shame, does she!
"You... you're completely ignoring what I'm saying, aren't you!" Guihua was getting fired up, but unfortunately, she couldn't strike out, so she could only shout in dissatisfaction.
Su Qing chuckled and nodded. "Of course I'm listening. But listening is one thing; how I act is my decision!"
Su Qing had a clear understanding of her own strength and a clear understanding of this osmanthus tree's situation, which was why she dared to be so shameless.
Because the osmanthus tree had no way to deal with her.
Seeing Su Qing say this, the osmanthus tree let out a long breath. What could she say?
She really had no way to handle this shameless person.
"Fine, do as you please." The osmanthus tree turned and vanished.
Seeing this, Su Qing gave a light laugh. For some reason, she actually saw a trace of Gongsun Zhixue's shadow in the osmanthus tree.
Reasonably speaking... after spending so much time with Gongsun Zhixue, had she picked up some of Zhixue's old temper? Or perhaps her temper had always been like this, hidden away until it finally exploded after being annoyed by Su Qing so many times?
Su Qing didn't know...
She just thought it was quite good and quite interesting.
Coming to annoy this person could also add a bit of fun to her plain and dull life.
Su Qing gave a light laugh, then stretched her limbs and turned to leave.
The person was gone.
And she couldn't see Gongsun Zhixue for now.
So there was no point in staying here.
"It's time to go back."
Su Qing said to herself:
"Next... how much longer is there? Thirty years have passed already... Even if I delayed it for three hundred years, a tenth of that time is gone! It's too fast! But I really wonder what will happen next. I'll go back and prepare well. I need to make preparations on Changbai Mountain's side as well."
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