Hmph, It's a Small Matter

Chang'e watched Su Qing leave and sat on the bed, letting out a soft sigh.

"I'm sorry, I really can't tell you those things... If even I can't bear the fact that they can't return to reality, how could you? You're far more sentimental than I am!" Chang'e knew Su Qing's nature; she knew that beneath her rational exterior, she hid a deeply emotional soul.

If Su Qing knew that the seniors within the Jianmu Tree could no longer return to the mortal world...

It would definitely be harder for her to accept than it was for Chang'e.

Therefore, it was better for her to process this matter alone.

She wouldn't tell Su Qing.

Chang'e exhaled a breath of turbid qi and muttered to herself, "I'm... I'm really doing this for your own good!"

Thinking of this, Chang'e rubbed the space between her brows.

"Still, if I'd known, I wouldn't have drunk so much. Drowning my sorrows in wine isn't a real solution... This headache after getting drunk is truly miserable."

The wine she drank was refined immortal wine, far beyond anything a common mortal brew could compare to.

Consequently, her head was beginning to throb.

She sighed and lay back down on the bed.

She didn't want to get up.

So, she simply closed her eyes to continue sleeping.

Besides, once she was asleep, she could stop thinking about all those messy affairs and have fewer worries.

On the other side, Su Qing had no idea what Chang'e was thinking.

After leaving Chang'e's quarters, she went to find Yuer.

Yuer wasn't working in the Moon Palace Library today.

It seemed she had just finished processing everything from the previous period...

So she was able to take a short break lately.

However, this meant Su Qing didn't know where to look for her.

After a moment's thought, Su Qing decided to ask around.

She searched for a bit and soon found another little Jade Rabbit.

She asked the little one about Yuer's whereabouts.

Sure enough, this rabbit knew where Yuer was.

She hopped along, leading Su Qing to Yuer's side.

At that moment, Yuer was sitting in the garden, admiring the blossoms in full bloom.

In her hand, she held a radish cake, which she was nibbling on.

These were Yuer's favorite snacks, and the ones she ate the most.

Su Qing approached Yuer and sat down naturally.

She knew Yuer was aware of her arrival...

The reason she didn't get up to acknowledge her was simply because she didn't feel like it, or perhaps she was just pretending not to see her.

"It's a rare bit of free time. Why aren't you out playing elsewhere? Why stay in this small corner?" Su Tingtong asked with a smile.

Yuer curled her lip and said, "What interesting places are there to play in the Moon Palace? Other places aren't as fun as this garden. At least here, there are other Jade Rabbits to keep me company... But what about you? Instead of playing with your master, why have you come to find me? Did Master... get drunk again?"

Hearing this, Su Qing smiled and said, "Not quite. She's already woken up. I came to find you simply because I wanted to chat. After all, since I've come to the Moon Palace, I can't just look after Chang'e; I have to see my other good friends too!"

Listening to Su Qing's words, Yuer was momentarily speechless.

"Then you really are spreading the love to everyone, aren't you?"

Su Qing maintained her smile, not at all feeling like Yuer was mocking her.

She nodded with a grin and said, "Of course I have to spread the attention around! When it comes to friends, I can't favor one while neglecting the others."

"I wasn't complimenting you!" Yuer curled her lip, feeling even more exasperated.

Seeing this, Su Qing laughed heartily, not minding in the least.

Instead, she began chatting with Yuer about other matters.

Yuer allowed herself to be led by the nose in conversation for a while.

Then, Yuer suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, do you know what's been going on with Master lately? I always feel like she has something on her mind, but no matter how I ask, she won't tell me. You have a great relationship with her; did you manage to get any answers?"

It turned out that Su Qing wasn't the only one who had noticed the change in Chang'e's mood; Yuer had noticed it too.

But just like Su Qing, even Yuer hadn't been able to fully uncover the reason for the shift in Chang'e's temperament, and Chang'e hadn't told Yuer anything either.

Hearing the question, Su Qing could only shake her head.

"I actually wanted to ask you the same thing! I thought she might have told you, but I didn't expect that even you wouldn't know the reason. It looks like she really doesn't want to tell anyone!"

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and said, "But forget it. Since she's unwilling to tell anyone, it means she truly intends to keep this matter buried in her heart, not just that she's unwilling to tell me. In that case, there's no need for us to keep prying... If she wants to hide it, let her. Continuing to investigate would only make things unpleasant."

Hearing this, Yuer was slightly stunned.

After a moment of silence, she nodded helplessly.

Su Qing's words indeed made sense.

If Chang'e really hadn't told anyone...

It meant she intended to keep it to herself forever.

Even if they asked again, it would be meaningless.

Therefore, there was indeed no need to say anything more.

"Sigh, I really didn't expect that even you wouldn't know the reason. Fine, since Master doesn't want to say, then let her be!" Yuer sighed and replied.

Su Qing nodded and said, "Yeah, we can only let her be. What else can we do? Clearly, there's nothing left for us to do!"

There was only so much she could do.

She had tried her best.

But if Chang'e wouldn't speak, what choice was there?

Seeing this, Yuer hugged a rabbit, her face full of melancholy. "Still, I hope Master's mood recovers soon. A melancholic Master really makes me uncomfortable. It feels like she's become a different person..."

Hearing this, Su Qing chuckled. Who didn't feel that way?

She also hoped Chang'e would return to normal soon!

"Let's hope so!" Su Qing gave a helpless smile and said, "After all, she's far too strange like this."

Su Qing shook her head and then shifted the topic to other things.

This was to prevent everyone from becoming preoccupied with the matter.

Yuer clearly understood this as well.

So, after Su Qing changed the subject, Yuer followed along and chatted about other topics.

However, they didn't chat for long before Yuer made an excuse to leave.

Clearly, she didn't want to continue the conversation either...

Su Qing felt helpless but didn't say anything. She just nodded and let Yuer depart.

After Yuer left, Su Qing sat in the garden and let out a long sigh.

She looked up at the Osmanthus Tree.

"Next, it's time to see my old friends, Gongsun Zhixue and the Osmanthus Tree. Heh, I bet when I see the Osmanthus Tree this time, she'll be annoyed with me again." Su Qing thought and couldn't help but shake her head.

Even though the Osmanthus Tree would be annoyed, she still had to go.

After all, as she said before, she couldn't favor one over the other.

Arriving beneath the Osmanthus Tree, Su Qing hadn't even opened her mouth when Guihua appeared before her.

"You... you really come here every single time you visit the Moon Palace. I'm truly impressed by you." Guihua looked at Su Qing, her helplessness plain on her face. "Forget it, there's no stopping you... Zhixue just finished her cultivation session. I'll go call her out for you."

Guihua had completely given up resisting Su Qing's visits.

There was nothing she could do.

What else could she do? Have Su Qing come every time and waste so much of her time?

She really couldn't stand it.

Anyway, Su Qing and Gongsun Zhixue would only chat for a bit before leaving.

She might as well let them talk.

That way, she would have it easier.

It would save her from an excessive headache.

Though she found Su Qing annoying, she couldn't stop her now.

Su Qing smiled and said, "Hehe, thanks a lot."

Guihua curled her lip, turned, and vanished.

A moment later, she reappeared before Su Qing, bringing Gongsun Zhixue with her.

Upon seeing Su Qing, Gongsun Zhixue's usually expressionless face immediately lit up with a smile.

"You're here?" Gongsun Zhixue said with a smile. "Truly, I've missed you!"

Su Qing nodded and said, "I've missed you as well... How long did you spend in there?"

The space where Gongsun Zhixue stayed was different from Su Qing's. The place where she usually cultivated was a small world created by the Osmanthus Tree, where the flow of time differed from reality.

Thus, while Su Qing visited often, to Gongsun Zhixue, it felt like a long time had passed between visits.

Hearing this, Gongsun Zhixue recalled and said, "About three years? Those three years were incredibly boring. Aside from cultivation, there was only more cultivation..."

Hearing this, Su Qing felt a bit of heartache for her.

"You've worked so hard. That Guihua really is heartless with such a training regimen. Oh, right, she's a tree, so she literally lacks humanity! She doesn't even know to let you rest more." Su Qing didn't hesitate to mock Guihua right to her face.

Of course, mocking aside, she knew deep down what kind of person Guihua was.

Guihua's brows knitted tightly as she suppressed the urge to give Su Qing a beating.

She continued to pretend she didn't exist.

Gongsun Zhixue smiled and shook her head. "Cultivating was my own choice, so I can't blame Master. After all, Master is doing it for my own good, hoping my strength will increase faster so I can better handle future events..."

Hearing this, Su Qing gave a helpless smile and said, "Fine, suit yourself, as long as you don't regret it... However, if you ever do regret it, you can tell me anytime, and I can take you back."

These words brought a broad smile to Gongsun Zhixue's face. "Don't worry. If I really couldn't hold on, Master would surely be the first to panic."

Su Qing looked up at the Osmanthus Tree. Seeing Su Qing's gaze, the tree immediately became displeased and manifested herself. "She's my disciple! I care about her more than you do! So there's no need for you to worry! Also, don't look at me with those eyes."

Although this response was exactly what Su Qing had expected, hearing Guihua say it herself still made Su Qing smile.

"Mm, I know, I know. So don't be so anxious!" Su Qing said with a grin.

Guihua's mouth twitched slightly, and she finally turned and vanished again.

Gongsun Zhixue watched this and looked at Su Qing helplessly. "Sister, you really are something. Why do you always like to tease Master? You clearly know what her personality is like."

"It's precisely because I know that I find it interesting. It's exactly the same as when you were a child!" Su Qing said with a smile.

Hearing this, Gongsun Zhixue gave a helpless smile. "Sister, your descriptions really are..."

However, to be fair, she felt the same way about that aspect.

Su Qing smiled and continued chatting with Gongsun Zhixue about various topics.

For her, chatting with Gongsun Zhixue was a way to relax.

Similarly, it was to let Gongsun Zhixue relax as well.

She knew that long periods of cultivation were not a happy affair.

If one truly didn't rest properly and didn't have someone to help them relax, they would eventually break down.

This was why Su Qing made sure to see Gongsun Zhixue every time she came.

Even if the time wasn't long, as long as she came and helped her relax for a short while, the days that followed wouldn't be so difficult.

You might ask why Guihua didn't chat with Gongsun Zhixue.

Why else?

Because that woman simply wasn't the type who was good at chatting.

If she were good at it, she wouldn't have been provoked into a state of defensiveness by just a few words from Su Qing.

Therefore, she wasn't suited for the task.

Of course, the woman herself lacked that bit of self-awareness.

Time slowly ticked away.

Soon, Guihua poked her head out again.

She urged Su Qing to leave quickly.

Su Qing gave a helpless smile and spread her hands. "It looks like your Master is starting to chase me away... In that case, I should probably head out."

Gongsun Zhixue didn't say much; she only nodded and said, "It's alright. I only hope Sister can come and chat with me again next time."

"Don't worry, I definitely will." Su Qing smiled and stood up. "Then I'll be going. Zhixue, don't work too hard. Proper rest is very necessary."

"Sister, rest assured. I know my own situation best. I want to be able to help Sister, so I won't be so useless as to collapse during cultivation."

Seeing her answer this way, Su Qing nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, then I'm relieved. I'm off~"

With that, Su Qing stood up and left the Osmanthus Tree.