Su Qing's expression grew slightly more serious upon hearing this.
If the Westward Journey was a small matter to these few... then what would the next big matter be?
It was likely something even more important than that Journey to the West, wasn't it?
Ru Lai and Randeng looked at each other, weighing their words.
Finally, Ru Lai spoke:
"If I am not mistaken, the Old Mother of Mount Li has already spoken to you regarding the lifespan of heaven and earth, hasn't she? She must have also told you more or less about the preparations of the Heavenly Court and certain events that are bound to happen."
Su Qing was slightly surprised to hear this...
She had thought... that only she, the Old Mother of Mount Li, and Taishang Laojun knew about this.
She hadn't expected the Bodhisattvas of the West to know as well.
Of course, what Su Qing found even more unexpected was that they knew it was the Old Mother of Mount Li who had told her these things...
However, if she thought about it carefully, the reason they had given the invitation to the Old Mother and asked her to pass it on... was clearly because they had anticipated that she would tell Su Qing those things.
"I wonder if it's truly as I thought, or if it's just a coincidence."
Su Qing couldn't help but wonder in her heart.
As Su Qing was thinking, she heard Maitreya say with a chuckle:
"Hahaha, little friend, you needn't be too surprised..."
"In fact, most people at the level of Heavenly Venerate or Great Heavenly Venerate are aware of this matter, so it isn't really a secret."
"Presumably, the Old Mother of Mount Li told you not to speak of it to others? Don't overthink it; she only meant for you not to tell other Earthly Immortals or ordinary Heavenly Immortals."
Su Qing fell silent for a moment, then nodded helplessly.
They already knew everything... what else could she do but nod?
"But I do not know what seniors need my help with? In this matter, even the Old Mother, the Laojun, and the three of you are powerless. How can I, a mere ordinary demon, be of any help?"
Su Qing gave a helpless smile and couldn't help but ask.
Randeng looked at Su Qing, shook his head slightly, and said with a serious expression:
"Where we need your help, little friend, is not in changing those things that are bound to happen. Decay is unavoidable... whether it is the Buddhist Sect or the Heavenly Court, no one can stop it."
"Moreover, the preparations made by the Heavenly Court are correct..."
"We, the Buddhas of the West, naturally cannot ignore the big picture for the sake of temporary interests."
Hearing this, Su Qing nodded slightly, but felt that Randeng's answer didn't quite address her question. She asked:
"...I ask that senior please speak plainly about what the matter is. I am dull-witted and truly cannot guess it."
Su Qing didn't bother thinking anymore and simply asked directly.
Great seniors loved to talk in circles; if she followed them around those circles, heaven knows when she would finally understand.
Maitreya laughed heartily, patted his belly, and said:
"Hahaha, alright, alright. This matter should not be difficult for you, little friend..."
"We only hope that in the future, you can help preserve some Buddhist scriptures to prevent them from being lost or forgotten, and at the same time, we hope you can help look after a person."
Upon hearing this, Su Qing roughly understood what Maitreya and the others meant.
She said: "Regarding the scriptures... I can only promise to do my best. As for looking after a person... that shouldn't be a difficult task. I am just a bit curious... who is that person, and why did you seniors choose me for this?"
Although Su Qing could indeed do these things, and they weren't particularly difficult...
She was still curious... why her specifically?
Maitreya smiled and said:
"Entrusting these matters to you is naturally because you are worthy of trust, and also because it is most secure for you to do it."
"As for the other reason, it is naturally because of your master. Your master is proficient in the three paths of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, and has a significant connection with the Buddhist Sect."
"Therefore, he recommended you to us. As for the remaining reasons... we shall not speak of them, lest they cause you further worry."
Su Qing: "..."
Su Qing was momentarily speechless. If they didn't want to say, then so be it...
Saying it wouldn't truly cause her any worry, but knowing nothing was the real worry!
However, Su Qing didn't bother to ask further; the result would be the same even if she did...
In any case, she had more or less figured out the main reasons.
As she was thinking, Maitreya continued:
"As for the one we wish to entrust to your care, it is actually a disciple of Ru Lai... more precisely, the reincarnation of that disciple."
Hearing this, Su Qing stroked her chin, unsure which of Ru Lai's disciples Maitreya was referring to.
However, she could first rule out Jin Chanzi, as he still had the major task of reincarnating to seek the scriptures, so he clearly wasn't the one she needed to look after.
But Ru Lai had so many disciples; Su Qing didn't know which one's reincarnation they wanted her to care for.
And why did they insist on entrusting that disciple to her...
After some thought, Su Qing simply asked: "Then can senior tell me, is that person male or female?"
"That... I cannot be certain for now. After all, the reincarnation you need to look after will be hundreds of years from now. Whether they are male or female, fat or thin at that time, even I cannot calculate it clearly."
Maitreya answered Su Qing's question with a beaming smile.
Regarding this, Maitreya was naturally not lying.
He was indeed powerful, but in the future, except for those things destined to happen, everything else could not be 100% certain.
Even the frequency of a butterfly flapping its wings could cause the future to change.
After a long while, Su Qing nodded slightly and said: "I will do my best..."
Su Qing acted as she always did, not daring to promise too much, only saying she would do her best.
"Doing your best is enough." Maitreya held his large belly, laughed, and said: "Although we are telling you these things now, there is actually no rush. The person you need to look after will only come to find you hundreds of years from now!"
"I understand."
Su Qing simply nodded and did not ask further.
At this time, Ru Lai spoke: "Asking for your help is not asking you to put in effort for nothing... I have a Five-Colored Lotus Seed here; you may take it."
"This item has many uses... it can be used as a material for refining artifacts, as a medicinal ingredient, or it can be used for Soul-Attaching Flesh-Growing. It all depends on how you use it."
As Ru Lai spoke, a lotus seed shimmering with colorful light appeared in his hand.
With a gentle breath, the lotus seed fell into Su Qing's hand.
Looking at the lotus seed in her hand... Su Qing was momentarily stunned.
Setting aside its other uses, the effect of Soul-Attaching Flesh-Growing alone... was extraordinary.
In a sense, it was equivalent to giving her a second life.
Of course, that was provided her soul wasn't completely destroyed...
However, besides using it for herself, this item could clearly be used for others as well.
The value of this item could well be imagined...
Su Qing took a deep breath, nodded, and said: "Thank you, senior!"
If she had felt a bit of dissatisfaction earlier about being asked for help out of the blue... now she was truly willing.
Ru Lai shook his head and said: "Since we need your help, we naturally cannot mistreat you..."
Although Ru Lai held a high position, he didn't feel that his status alone was enough to make others help him willingly.
If you want the horse to run, how can you not give it grass to eat?
Su Qing smiled slightly and didn't continue the topic, only offering her thanks.
Afterward, Su Qing chatted with the seniors for a short while longer.
However, they didn't discuss any serious matters this time, so after a few simple sentences, the conversation ended.
Su Qing saw Maitreya form a hand seal, and then the entire space began to dissolve.
The outside scenery gradually appeared before her eyes.
Witnessing such methods, Su Qing couldn't help but marvel slightly.
While she was lost in thought, the two Buddhas, Randeng and Ru Lai, had already vanished.
Maitreya suddenly spoke: "Little friend, your master asked me to pass on some words to you."
Su Qing was stunned for half a second upon hearing this, then said respectfully: "Please speak, senior."
She naturally couldn't bring herself to dislike Maitreya...
After all, Maitreya was always smiling, which made people feel good just looking at him, so it was impossible to feel animosity.
Furthermore, Maitreya put on no airs and was quite easy to talk to.
"Your master asked me to tell you to make sure you raise that tree well... by no means let it wither."
Maitreya recited a Buddhist name and said:
"Little friend, remember these words from your master... perhaps that Bodhi Tree is of no great use to you now. But in the future... its use will be greater than you imagine."
Su Qing fell silent for a while after hearing this, then respectfully gave her thanks.
Su Qing guessed that Maitreya had waited until now to tell her this because her master had requested it.
"Eh, what was I going to say just now? Hahaha, forget it, forget it." Maitreya said with a chuckle: "Little friend, I shall take my leave first. If you have any trouble in the future, you can come to Spirit Mountain to find me, and I will do my best to help you."
With that, Maitreya turned around and vanished.
Su Qing watched Maitreya disappear, feeling a bit dazed. By the time she snapped out of it, she had returned to her original location.
Looking at the familiar scenery around her, Su Qing's heart was filled with many thoughts.
"Forget it, I won't think so much about it anymore." Su Qing sighed softly, simply remembering the words Maitreya had told her.
As she was thinking, Leng Xiang returned to Su Qing's side and asked: "Has Master finished talking with the seniors?"
"Mhm... we've finished talking." Su Qing smiled and said: "I've taken on a few small jobs... but the reward can be considered quite generous."
How could it not be generous? It was equivalent to giving Su Qing a second life.
Leng Xiang gave an elegant smile and nodded, not asking what kind of jobs Su Qing had taken or what reward she had received.
She simply asked with a smile: "Then Master, shall we go back? Or shall we continue to look around this Ullambana Gathering?"
"There's nothing much to see at the Ullambana Gathering. Let's just take a stroll through the streets. We'll treat it as admiring the cultural scenery." Su Qing smiled and said: "And then... let's go home!"
Leng Xiang had no objections, and the two of them left.
As they were leaving the site of the Ullambana Gathering, Su Qing caught a glimpse of a young girl. It wasn't someone she had seen before, yet the girl felt somewhat familiar.
The other party also seemed to recognize her...
Upon seeing her, the girl's expression changed noticeably.
Beside the girl, a middle-aged man dressed in Daoist robes noticed her unusual behavior and asked: "Did you run into an acquaintance?"
"Mhm..."
"Aren't you going over to say hello?"
Hearing this, the girl shook her head and said: "I should go listen to the scriptures first, Master."
The middle-aged Daoist chuckled and shook his head slightly, saying: "Lass, if you miss this opportunity, I'm afraid it will be a long time before you can see that woman again. Don't you regret it."
The girl simply shook her head.
"I won't regret it... Right now, Sister doesn't recognize me. Even if I go, it would only increase the embarrassment. It's better to achieve the Righteous Fruit first, then go back to find her..."
Hearing this, the Daoist only smiled and didn't say anything more.
He knew that this lass probably didn't just want to find that woman.
"It seems that woman is the Su Qing this lass spoke of..." The Daoist recalled the information he had glimpsed earlier and thought to himself: "She truly is one of great providence... I'm afraid this lass will need to put in a lot of effort if she wants to catch up to and surpass that woman."
Thinking this, the Daoist only smiled, not intending to say anything further to his disciple.
He would just let her continue to cultivate diligently.
In any case, his disciple's talent wasn't bad... and her temperament was even better.
They could just take it slow...
The Daoist shook his head and led his disciple toward the Sermon Platform in the depths.
As they walked away, Su Qing also retracted her gaze...
She had no memory of this young girl in her mind, yet there was a hint of familiarity...
"Is it because I've lived too long that my memory is getting muddled?" Su Qing shook her head slightly, no longer dwelling on it.
If there was fate, they would surely meet again.
And if there was no fate... they wouldn't have seen each other today.
Su Qing took a stroll through the streets, experiencing the cultural scenery of another land, and then had no intention of staying any longer.
She found a deserted place, recited a True Word Incantation, and with a leap, she departed on her Somersault Cloud.
After Su Qing left, another guest arrived at the Great Thunder Monastery in Spirit Mountain.
The speed of the Somersault Cloud needs no explanation; in just a short while, she had returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
She had left in the morning, and before it was even evening, she was back in the courtyard.
It seemed that when she told those little fellows this morning she would return tomorrow, she had estimated far too much time.
Su Qing gave a helpless smile and turned to look at the Bodhi Tree in the courtyard.
"This thing... it seems it's not as simple as just becoming a cave dwelling..." Su Qing recalled Maitreya Buddha's words and couldn't help but feel even more curious about how much of an effect this thing would have on her once it fully grew.
As she was thinking, Gongsun Zhixue popped her head out from behind her and said:
"Big Green Sister... there's something I think I should tell you."
"Don't keep me in suspense, just say it." Su Qing wasn't startled by Gongsun Zhixue and simply replied calmly.
Gongsun Zhixue nodded, then pointed at the Bodhi Tree and said:
"This Bodhi Tree... it seems to have a bit of a large appetite. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but lately, I feel like the heaven and earth spiritual energy I can draw from the soil has decreased a bit."
Hearing this, Su Qing was momentarily stunned, then laughed: "It must be your imagination. No matter how big this little tree's appetite is, it couldn't possibly reach that level."
"Is that so?" Gongsun Zhixue nodded thoughtfully.
Su Qing smiled, gave her head a playful pat, and said: "Don't think too much... just cultivate well and develop a human form soon, so that I can bully your physical body."
Gongsun Zhixue: "..."
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