She bid farewell to Li Shan Lao Mu Old Mother of Mount Li.
After exiting the side hall.
Su Qing also casually bid farewell to the young girl.
Then she formed a spell, recited a true word incantation, and lightly leaped.
She then soared on the Somersault Cloud back to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
The Somersault Cloud's speed was as usual; in a short while, she was already above Flower-Fruit Mountain.
She glanced around; the monkey troop of Flower-Fruit Mountain was as usual, doing whatever they pleased.
She didn't see Sun Wukong anywhere; perhaps that fellow was still running around the world, making friends with demons.
Su Qing couldn't be bothered to care, so she just lowered her cloud and landed in her own courtyard.
The courtyard was still the same; nothing had particularly changed.
Not even much dust had accumulated…
It was evident that someone had cleaned the courtyard while she was away.
She just didn't know if the one who cleaned the courtyard was Ao Ying or Gongsun Zhixue.
As soon as Su Qing returned, Gongsun Zhixue's figure already appeared on the ginkgo tree.
She sat on the tree, her small feet crossed, her small hands clasped, trying her best to put on an arrogant and disdainful look, and said:
“You're back so soon? I thought you'd be gone for a long time!”
“What's wrong? You don't wish for me to return? I remember someone didn't even dare to say goodbye when I left, right?”
Su Qing looked at Gongsun Zhixue, knowing what this little fellow was thinking.
She couldn't help but smile, tilting her head, deliberately provoking Gongsun Zhixue.
Sure enough, this easily understood little fellow fell for it, and even her reply was as Su Qing expected.
“That's just because I didn't want to see you again, hmph… Who would miss you leaving! When you're gone, no one bullies me!” Gongsun Zhixue was clearly hit where it hurt, saying eagerly.
“Oh? Is that so? Then I'll leave again in a few days! I'll take the courtyard with me then, and just leave you here! It's perfect since you don't want to come along, and you don't want to see me anyway.”
Hearing this, Su Qing smiled sweetly, finding Gongsun Zhixue's little expression quite amusing, and couldn't help but provoke her again.
“You… hmph!” Gongsun Zhixue pouted, saying awkwardly: “Can't I just be wrong? Who told you to look like you were going to be gone for a long time?”
Su Qing chuckled and said, “I never said how long I'd be gone!”
Gongsun Zhixue was silent for a moment, then snorted and turned, disappearing.
Su Qing smiled as she looked at the ginkgo tree, shaking her head slightly.
This fellow was truly too easy to read, so much so that she always couldn't help but want to tease her.
“Am I really being too naughty like this?”
Su Qing couldn't help but smile, then had Leng Xiang go tidy up the room.
Her gaze, meanwhile, fell upon the Bodhi tree, which had grown another section.
As soon as she returned, Su Qing had already noticed the changes in the Bodhi tree.
It was just that she had first thought of teasing Gongsun Zhixue.
“So, what exactly are the growth conditions for this Bodhi tree? Why did it grow taller after I went out this time?”
“Last time it grew was when I underwent tribulation, and this time it was when I traveled.”
“The connection between these can be said to be non-existent…”
“Tsk, there's absolutely no way for me to find the pattern of this thing's growth from my end.”
Su Qing helplessly shook her head slightly.
The reasons for the two growths were completely unrelated; no matter how she thought about it, it was hard to know the pattern.
Could it be that the Bodhi tree's growth wasn't due to her, but because of other things?
Su Qing thought, reaching out to touch the Bodhi tree, wanting to see if this thing had given her any messages.
After all, she and this Bodhi tree had always had a faint connection…
Perhaps, this way, there could be some clues?
After a long while, Su Qing shook her head slightly.
She didn't learn the reason for the Bodhi tree's growth this time through this connection…
However, through this connection, she did learn about something else, something rather unusual.
That was the Bodhi tree's root system… it seemed to have rooted into something strange.
“Alas, it's a pity my knowledge is somewhat insufficient; I can't figure out what this thing has rooted into. But, it shouldn't be anything bad…”
Su Qing shook her head slightly, thinking to herself.
Although she wasn't sure what exactly was going on, through her connection with the Bodhi tree,
she was able to clearly understand that this thing would not bring it harm, but rather some benefits.
So Su Qing simply stopped thinking about these matters; knowing it wasn't a bad thing was enough.
Su Qing no longer concerned herself with the Bodhi tree, but turned and sat on the stone stool, looking at the invitation card Li Shan Lao Mu Old Mother of Mount Li had left for her.
Unfolding the silk, Su Qing briefly read through the contents of the invitation.
The content was quite formal, but it still didn't mention who had invited her.
It only said that they would gather at the Ullambana Gathering at the foot of Spirit Mountain on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month next year, during the Ullambana Festival.
“This invitation… Old Mother said an old immortal monk from the West asked her to give it to me… There shouldn't be many people Old Mother calls an 'old immortal', right? At the very least, they're on the same level as Old Mother.”
Su Qing couldn't help but gasp, and at the same time, her heart grew more confused:
“But… who could that Bodhisattva be? No, no matter which Bodhisattva, I should never have met them! Why invite me this time?”
Su Qing thought and thought, but truly couldn't figure out the reason.
She didn't know them… Why would they invite her?
“However… isn't the Ullambana Festival the Ghost Festival? Why invite me on this day? It couldn't possibly be just because it's a festival, so they used it as an invitation reason, could it?”
Su Qing shook her head slightly, no longer thinking deeply.
If she thought any further, she'd start speculating about conspiracy theories.
Moreover, Old Mother had clearly said… there was no danger in this…
“Alas, why did I forget to ask Old Mother directly who invited me at the time? Old Mother surely knows, right?”
Su Qing thought helplessly, sighing slightly.
She felt that Old Mother not telling her who the other party was definitely had the intention of teasing her.
Although they hadn't spent much time together, she could tell that Old Mother was by no means a traditional matriarch, but rather a playful parent…
“Alright, those who play tricks will eventually be tricked.”
Su Qing couldn't help but smile, put away the invitation, and thought:
“Anyway, I'll just go to that Ullambana Gathering then and see. A year isn't that long anyway… It'll be here before I know it! And before that, I shouldn't worry too much!”
“Perfect, I've also never been to Spirit Mountain! After all, Spirit Mountain is a Buddhist Holy Land and the destination of the Scripture Pilgrimage; even if it's not for the invitation, a pure sightseeing trip would be quite good.”
Su Qing was quite open-minded in her thoughts and soon stopped worrying about these matters.
After all, worrying at this moment was meaningless; instead, it would be like Gongsun Zhixue, playing right into the trickster's hands.
So, instead of worrying, it was better to take some time to relax.
Just like that, Su Qing's life returned to normal.
In a flash, another three months passed.
Rate on N.U.
