Old Mother's Hall

In a flash, it had already been nearly a month since Su Qing left Flower-Fruit Mountain.

For the past month, Su Qing had been traveling around as initially planned, not getting too involved in anything.

Along her journey, Su Qing witnessed both the prosperity and the many hardships of the human world.

Although she had only been out for less than a month, Su Qing felt as if a very long time had passed.

After visiting many places and seeing many things, her initial strong interest had mostly worn off.

“Where should I go next?”

Su Qing sat in a small boat, her feet immersed in the water, gently swaying and stirring the lake, her thoughts scattered.

To be honest, Su Qing didn't have a good plan for her next destination.

Her trip this time didn't have a detailed plan; it was more of a casual wander… she would just ride her Somersault Cloud wherever she thought of going.

So now she was a bit at a loss as to where to go next.

“Should I just return to Flower-Fruit Mountain?”

“But if I go back so soon… wouldn't it truly just be a tourist trip?”

Su Qing thought, shaking her head involuntarily.

Thinking back carefully, her original reason for traveling seemed to be simply that she was restless after too much quiet.

Other reasons were merely additions she made as things gradually piled up later.

“It's just… after the Dragon Palace incident, that monkey's troublemaking peak period begins. Not only can I not be a catalyst, but I also need to avoid it more.”

“Otherwise, with that monkey's temperament, I'm afraid he'll bring a lot of trouble to me too.”

Su Qing sat on the boat, deep in thought for a long time…

For a moment, she couldn't make up her mind.

Initially, Su Qing's plan was to move directly out of Flower-Fruit Mountain… this way, she could completely avoid trouble and also minimize her own impact.

After all, even if things developed naturally, Wukong would most likely still cause a ruckus in the Heavenly Palace.

But… if she left Flower-Fruit Mountain, she wouldn't be able to clearly understand the progress of events, making it easy to miss the crucial moments where she should intervene.

“Sigh, this butterfly of mine… can I really not extricate myself completely? Is there a better solution?” Su Qing thought, shaking her head slightly, feeling quite a headache.

“My original wish was just to be a mountain god? Now I'm thinking about making the people around me immortal!”

“Never mind, when I return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, I'll just avoid that monkey as much as possible.”

“This should also reduce some impact… but I still need to warn that stinky monkey not to casually report my name.”

“The Old Dragon King incident this time also taught me a lesson.”

Su Qing sighed softly, looking at her reflection on the lake, and murmured to herself, “Indeed, there's no way to completely stay out of everything…”

She could only try her best to reduce her presence and minimize her influence.

“But before returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain… I'll go to one more place.”

Su Qing shook her head and patted her face, letting her jumbled thoughts gradually calm down.

Sometimes… thinking too much can indeed make one confused.

The place she still planned to visit was Li Shan Lao Mu's residence.

After all, she had once promised Bai Suzhen to visit her often.

How many years had passed now? She had hardly ever visited her! She wondered if Bai Suzhen had any complaints about her.

Thinking this, Su Qing slowly stood up and said to Leng Xiang:

“Leng Xiang, let's go to the next place.”

Upon hearing this, Leng Xiang stopped rowing and returned to Su Qing's side.

She asked, “Master… where are we going next?”

“Qinling Mountains, Li Shan Mount Li,” Su Qing said faintly.

“Are we going to see Senior Old Mother?” Leng Xiang was startled, then asked, “Master, are you not planning to continue sightseeing?”

Su Qing merely shook her head and said, “I've seen enough, and I've wandered enough. After this trip to Li Shan Mount Li, we'll return to Flower-Fruit Mountain.”

“But Master, you've only been out for less than a month?”

“I've wandered long enough! With Gongsun Zhixue's personality, she's probably been feeling like a year has passed in this month, right? If I go back late… that girl will probably stomp her feet.”

Su Qing didn't intend to convey any of her negative emotions to Leng Xiang, so she just casually made an excuse.

Leng Xiang heard this and said nothing more, just nodded.

Then she returned to Su Qing's hair ornament.

“Little ones, stop looking, it's time to go.” Su Qing called out to the Little Sparrows, gathering them around her.

Seeing them fly back, Su Qing then formed a hand seal, recited an incantation, and left on her Somersault Cloud.

The Somersault Cloud's speed remained the same, and in just a moment.

Su Qing had already arrived at the Qinling Mountains, Li Shan Mount Li.

“I wonder if Old Mother anticipated my arrival today?”

Su Qing thought to herself, then landed in the bamboo forest behind Old Mother's Hall.

As soon as she landed, the doubt she had in her heart was already answered.

It seemed… her visit this time was also within Old Mother's expectations.

Old Mother's Daoist child was sitting there, waiting for her!

“It really is you! Long time no see, Big Green Snake! Oh, perhaps calling you Big Green Sister would be better? I often hear Suzhen mention you like that!”

The Daoist child had probably been waiting here for a long time. After opening her eyes and seeing Su Qing, she said joyfully.

“Suzhen often mentions me?” Su Qing smiled slightly upon hearing this and asked, “How does she mention me?”

“What else could it be, but complaining that you don't visit her often?” The Daoist child chuckled and said, “But now that you're here today, Suzhen will surely be very happy. Sigh, I can finally hear her mention you a few less times!”

Su Qing smiled helplessly; she was indeed to blame for this.

“Then I'll trouble you to take me to see her and Old Mother.”

“Oh, oh! I almost forgot the main business. Come in with me! Old Mother has been waiting for you for a while too!”

The Daoist child flicked the whisk in her hand, smiling sweetly, and said:

“By the way, besides Old Mother, there's also another senior in Old Mother's Hall this time. You must pay extra attention; that senior is very rigid, so be sure to be cautious in your words and actions when in front of that senior!”

Su Qing was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and for a moment, she was curious, asking, “Can you tell me who that senior is?”

The Daoist child pondered for a moment and said, “I don't know if I can say. If you're curious, you can ask Old Mother directly when you see her.”

Su Qing nodded slightly, then followed the Daoist child into the Daoist academy.

In front of the side hall door, the Daoist child said, just like last time, “Your sword and those four Tuanzi should stay outside!”

Su Qing naturally knew the rules, nodded slightly, and left them outside.

Then she walked to the door, gently pushed it open, and entered…

Inside, the scenery was as she remembered, but there was no white snake coiled there.

She only saw Li Shan Lao Mu playing chess with an old man dressed as a woodcutter.