Upon hearing these words from Guanyin Bodhisattva.
For a brief moment, the voice of a certain Old Li echoed in Su Qing's mind.
She was truly being attacked by a dead memory.
However, Su Qing also hurriedly cleared her mind, lest she show any strange emotions.
She cupped her hands respectfully toward Guanyin and then said modestly:
"The Bodhisattva overpraises me… How could a junior like me be considered a talent? I have merely had some good luck to have cultivated to my current state."
Guanyin Bodhisattva heard this and only shook her head slightly, saying:
"Little friend, you are being a bit too modest. If you did not possess sufficient talent, how could you have cultivated to such a realm?"
Seeing this, Su Qing only smiled.
If the senior thinks I truly relied on talent to cultivate to this point, then let it be talent!
In any case, throughout my journey of cultivation, my luck has indeed been quite good and things have gone quite smoothly.
"Since the senior has come here, is there something you wish to instruct me on?"
Su Qing thought for a moment and asked directly.
She knew that a Bodhisattva never visits without a reason. Coming to find her this time, there must certainly be something.
Therefore, she asked directly, to save the Bodhisattva from beating around the bush to find an opportunity to speak.
Guanyin Bodhisattva heard this and could not help but smile slightly, saying:
"Little friend is wise. My coming this time, besides wanting to meet the little friend mentioned by the Buddha, is also at the request of His Majesty, to ask for the little friend's help."
Hearing the words 'His Majesty', Su Qing could not help but be slightly stunned.
After all, since she had come to this Moon Palace, she had received almost no orders from His Majesty, let alone His Majesty asking her for help.
And now, suddenly having a Bodhisattva come to find her, and specifically at this point in time…
Su Qing could not help but be curious about exactly what kind of matter it was.
Whether it was as she had guessed.
After a moment of thought, Su Qing spoke and asked:
"Senior, what help does His Majesty need from me?"
Guanyin heard this and asked knowingly:
"Little friend… are you aware of the demon monkey Sun Wukong from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain?"
Su Qing could not help but raise an eyebrow and nodded, saying:
"This junior naturally knows of him."
Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and then continued:
"That Sun Wukong has committed a monstrous crime and fled to the lower realm. His Majesty sent the Li father and son along with the heavenly soldiers to capture him, but they were no match for that demon monkey."
"The Heavenly King appealed to His Majesty for reinforcements, hoping to send stronger divine generals to help."
"Thus, someone recommended the little friend to His Majesty."
"Therefore, His Majesty sent me to speak with the little friend, hoping that the little friend could step forward to subdue that demon monkey."
As Su Qing listened, she pondered the true thoughts of the Jade Emperor.
While she was thinking, she heard Guanyin Bodhisattva recite a Buddhist Invocation and say:
"However, His Majesty knows that the little friend is that demon monkey's big sister, and also knows that the little friend is a person of deep loyalty and affection."
"And His Majesty is also a reasonable and understanding wise ruler… Therefore, if the little friend is unwilling to step forward, His Majesty will not force the little friend to do so."
"Little friend, what is your opinion?"
The meaning of Guanyin's words was already as clear as could be. How could Su Qing not hear it?
His Majesty had no intention of letting Su Qing step forward to subdue Sun Wukong at all; he only hoped she would give an answer, go through the motions, and satisfy the court officials.
Su Qing understood perfectly, cupped her hands in a salute, and then, following His Majesty's intention, declined the matter.
"I must ask the senior to allow this junior to decline this matter…"
Guanyin heard this, nodded slightly, and no longer spoke further on the subject, only saying:
"Amitabha. Both His Majesty and I understand the little friend's difficult position. Since this matter makes it difficult for the little friend, we indeed cannot force you."
"Thank you, senior," Su Qing said.
Guanyin chuckled and then continued:
"His Majesty's request is finished. But I have one more matter I wish to ask the little friend."
"Senior, please speak." Su Qing could not help but be curious about what else Guanyin had besides His Majesty's business.
"Amitabha. Would the little friend be willing to enter my tutelage and follow me in cultivation?"
Guanyin looked at Su Qing with a calm expression and said:
"I do not ask the little friend to take monastic vows and enter the Buddhist order; you may simply follow me in cultivation."
Seeing that Guanyin wanted to take her as a disciple and did not even require her to take monastic vows, Su Qing felt a momentary surge of interest.
However, it was only a momentary surge, and she quickly calmed down.
In the end, Su Qing naturally chose to decline this seemingly excellent invitation.
The point about not having to take monastic vows did indeed have a certain allure for Su Qing and could indeed reduce the amount of restraint.
However, this did not mean there would be no restraint at all.
No matter how one put it, Guanyin was a person of the Buddhist faith.
By taking her as a master, even without entering the Buddhist order, under constant exposure, it would be inevitable to become a person of the Buddhist faith.
Moreover, Su Qing currently lacked neither resources nor masters.
Although Patriarch Bodhi was often hard to find, there were still Taishang Laojun, Old Mother of Mount Li, and the Lunar Deity who could teach her.
So no matter what, taking Guanyin as a master would not bring any great benefit.
"This junior already has a master, so I ask for the senior's forgiveness for being unable to enter the senior's tutelage." Su Qing thought for a moment and found a reason to decline.
This reason was actually not very good.
After all, there had never been a rule that a person could only have one master.
However, after Guanyin heard this, she did not try to persuade her further.
In fact, Guanyin had already known this would be the result. After all, Su Qing had even declined the Buddha's invitation, let alone her own.
The reason she had asked anyway was merely to give it a try, even if the probability was slim.
"No matter, no matter. Since the little friend is unwilling, I shall not force it. Let it be considered as forming a karmic bond," Guanyin said with a smile.
"Thank you for your understanding, senior." Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded slightly, then recited a Buddhist Invocation and said: "Since the matter is concluded, I should return to report back. Little friend, take care!"
Seeing this, Su Qing did not try to make her stay longer, only saying: "Senior, take care on your way."
Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled, then turned and vanished in an instant. She truly came and went in a hurry.
Seeing Guanyin leave, Su Qing could not help but let out a long breath and muttered to herself: "Do people from the Buddhist order all like to take disciples?"
Su Qing shook her head and did not continue to think about it further. In any case, she had already declined the offer.
"But speaking of which, it seems that this time the Heavenly Court also doesn't particularly want me to interfere in this matter…" Su Qing stroked her chin and thought: "Forget it, I'm happy to have it this way. I never intended to interfere anyway."
Thinking this, Su Qing left the side of the Osmanthus Tree and went to Chang'e's residence in the Guanghan Palace.
Since she was idle anyway, going home would only mean cultivating. It was better to find Chang'e to hang out for a while, which was more relaxing.
However, just as Su Qing entered the palace and saw Chang'e, she heard Chang'e ask:
"Did that fellow Guanyin just visit?"
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