After saying all this, Laojun chatted with Su Qing for a few more moments.
Once everything had been explained clearly.
He handed the official decrees to Su Qing and said:
"After this, you only need to take these documents to the vicinity of the Changbai Mountains. Once you arrive, the documents will guide you."
"I understand. Thank you, Senior," Su Qing nodded and said.
Laojun chuckled, shook his head, and said, "Alright, I've said enough. This old man will be going now! As for you, remember to go to the Changbai Mountains to take up your post soon... don't delay too long."
Su Qing nodded upon hearing this and said, "I understand."
Seeing this, Laojun said no more. He simply mounted his Green Ox, left the courtyard, and returned to the Heavenly Palace to find the other two for a drink.
After Laojun left, Su Qing looked at the official decrees in her hand.
She didn't know until she looked, but once she did, she was startled.
Laojun hadn't given her just one official decree.
Besides the one for the Changbai Mountains, there was another...
And the content of this one surprised her even more than the one for the Changbai Mountains.
She never expected that Laojun would not only persuade His Majesty to let her be the mountain god of the Changbai Mountains but also make her the mountain god of Flower-Fruit Mountain at the same time.
Although a mountain god wasn't considered a very high-ranking deity—feeling somewhat like a minor background character—the actual status of a mountain god depended entirely on which mountain they governed.
Setting aside the Changbai Mountains for a moment... Flower-Fruit Mountain alone was clearly no small mountain.
Moreover, it was such a blessed land.
However, although she was slightly surprised and even a bit startled to find herself the mountain god of two mountains, she quickly accepted the fact...
After all, for her, this was not a bad thing.
"Master, stop looking. If you don't eat soon, the food will get cold!" Leng Xiang said, seeing Su Qing still staring at the official decrees.
Beside her, Gongsun Zhixue also spoke up, "Exactly, exactly! It's just a mountain god position, right? Why care so much? Eating first is the right path."
Hearing this, Su Qing glanced at Gongsun Zhixue, whose mouth was still stained with rice grains, and couldn't help but smile, saying, "Alright, alright~"
Putting away the two official decrees, Su Qing also composed herself and focused on finishing her meal.
However, now that the official decrees were in hand, it was naturally time to leave the Moon Palace, and she also needed to say a proper goodbye to Chang'e.
Thinking of this, Su Qing still felt reluctant.
After all, Chang'e had always been very good to her... and was one of her few good friends.
But it was time to go.
Reason ultimately triumphed over emotion.
The next day.
Su Qing arrived at the Guanghan Palace.
Upon entering the palace, Su Qing saw that Chang'e was already waiting for her, with wine and many snacks laid out on the table. Clearly, Chang'e had long anticipated today's events.
Chang'e sat there, saw Su Qing arrive, smiled slightly, and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time. Come and sit!"
"It seems Sister Chang'e already knows I'm here to say a formal goodbye," Su Qing said with a helpless smile.
"Yes, when I sensed that old fellow Laojun coming yesterday, I knew you'd be leaving around today. So I prepared some food in advance, planning to spend one last day with you before you leave," Chang'e didn't show any sadness.
After all, it was only a temporary parting, not a permanent one.
Her going to the mortal world didn't mean she would never return to the Moon Palace again.
Hearing this, Su Qing wasn't surprised. She just nodded and said, "Since Sister Chang'e already knows I'm leaving, it seems I have nothing left to say."
"If there's nothing to say, then just drink and chat with me!" Chang'e didn't try to make her stay. Over the past few days, she had already fully prepared herself mentally.
Su Qing said nothing and nodded. Then, the two of them drank and chatted as they usually did.
Perhaps because Chang'e talked more than usual today and drank more slowly, she didn't get drunk as quickly as before.
Her face was flushed as she spoke a great deal, her mouth never stopping.
Su Qing simply chatted along with her and never interrupted.
After a long time, Chang'e rested her face in her hands, looked at Su Qing, and said, "Do you... think I'm talking too much today?"
"Well, you are indeed talking a bit more than before, but it's actually fine~" Su Qing thought for a moment and replied with a smile. "However... you are even more beautiful today."
When was Chang'e ever not beautiful?
It was just that her appearance today truly made one feel a strong desire to protect her.
Probably because today's Chang'e lacked some of her usual boldness. Although she still laughed and talked, it felt as though she was holding back quite a bit.
"Heehee, after all, I spent a long time on it."
Who would hate being complimented?
"No wonder you look so good," Su Qing nodded slightly. For a naturally beautiful person, makeup was just the icing on the cake, making them even more stunning.
And now, her slightly tipsy look... added a bit more of a desirable aura.
It made the temptation slightly exceed expectations.
She smiled and said, "What a pity~ After today, you won't be able to see such a beautiful me for a long time. It's truly a pity."
"Yes, it is indeed a pity."
"So, could you come over here for a moment? Forget it, I'll come over."
Was Chang'e drunk? Of course she was, but she was only slightly tipsy. If she wanted to sober up, it wouldn't be difficult; she just enjoyed this feeling.
A feeling where she could use the alcohol as an excuse to do something impulsive.
This was something that those who didn't get drunk, or weren't willing to get drunk, could not experience.
She crossed the low table, sat down beside Su Qing, and then said, "Close your eyes and don't move."
Su Qing was slightly stunned for a moment. In that instant, several possibilities flashed through her mind.
She also knew what would likely happen next...
But she didn't refuse.
She couldn't help it; with Chang'e looking like this, she truly couldn't refuse...
So, she gently closed her eyes and waited quietly for what was to come.
A moment later, Chang'e spoke slowly, saying, "Alright, you can open them now."
Hearing this, Su Qing opened her eyes with a look of confusion.
How should she put it?
She didn't know whether to call it lucky or unlucky, but during the short time her eyes were closed, Su Qing didn't feel the thing she had imagined happening.
She only discovered, upon opening her eyes, that there was an extra pendant on her chest.
The pendant was the size of a thumb, carved with many mysterious and difficult-to-understand inscriptions that seemed to form the shape of an eye.
"I have nothing else to give you, so I had to give you this."
"This is..."
"Just a protective talisman, carved by my own hands," Chang'e said with a proud smile.
"I see... thank you, Sister Chang'e," Su Qing looked at the pendant and nodded slightly.
Hearing this, Chang'e smiled and asked, "Oh dear, it seems my gift didn't quite satisfy you? Were you originally expecting something else? Hehe, were you?"
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