Chapter 21 - Frighteningly Large

Chapter 21 - Frighteningly Large.

Su Qing stared at the woodcutter.

She watched to see how he would react.

If he was frightened, then he was likely not the woodcutter she was looking for.

If he wasn't frightened…

Then she had probably found the right person.

I saw the woodcutter hear Su Qing's words, stop his axe, and slowly raise his head to look at Su Qing.

For a moment, the woodcutter didn't move, as if sizing her up, or perhaps as if he had been scared stiff.

Seeing his dazed expression, Su Qing had already begun to think she had found the wrong person again.

But what Su Qing didn't expect was…

After sizing her up, the woodcutter wasn't frightened at all.

Instead, he stroked his beard and replied with a chuckle:

"How to get to the Cave of the Three Stars? Of course, this old man knows."

Hearing this, Su Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

It seemed…

That fate had indeed arrived!

The woodcutter before her was the one Li Shan Lao Mu had pointed her to.

Even if this woodcutter wasn't some immortal!

He was surely a celestial being of some kind.

Or at least someone with deep connections to them!

Otherwise, how could he be so calm upon seeing her?

And even manage a smile?

Moreover, Su Qing felt that for Li Shan Lao Mu to specifically direct her to find a woodcutter…

It couldn't possibly be to find an ordinary one!

Su Qing looked at the old woodcutter, flicked her tongue, and asked:

"Then may I ask the old gentleman to tell me where the Cave of the Three Stars is, and how to get there?"

Su Qing naturally remembered Li Shan Lao Mu's advice.

The Old Mother had told her to be respectful, which also seemed to imply that this woodcutter's status and power were extraordinary.

Hearing her, the woodcutter stroked his beard but didn't answer.

Instead, he asked in return: "Then can you tell me why you want to go to the Cave of the Three Stars?"

Su Qing didn't dare to hide anything and answered honestly: Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"To seek the Dao, to seek long life."

"Protecting the people of a region, cultivating through incense offerings, and receiving their worship can also grant long life, and it's much easier! Why must you still go to the Cave of the Three Stars to seek the Dao?"

"To me, cultivating my own spiritual power is the true path."

Su Qing's thoughts were far more complex than her words.

To the current gods and immortals, they even bordered on sacrilege.

Naturally, Su Qing couldn't say this in front of the woodcutter…

If she did, a debate would be unavoidable.

And debating with an elder was meaningless, win or lose.

"Both are actually true paths… there is no good or bad," the woodcutter shook his head and said with a smile. "However, with your disposition, choosing this path might indeed be the better choice."

Su Qing didn't know what the woodcutter was thinking, nor did she care. She just asked:

"Then can the old gentleman tell me how to get to the Cave of the Three Stars now?"

"Cross that mountain peak, and you'll be at the Cave of the Three Stars," the woodcutter nodded, pointing to the mountain peak to the west.

Su Qing was stunned to hear this.

Just cross that mountain peak?

She remembered the sparrows had flown over that peak…

The sparrows had told her that beyond it was just a barren land, a forest.

There was no so-called Cave of the Three Stars…

However, Su Qing didn't think the woodcutter would lie to her.

Nor did she think the little sparrows had lied to her.

She guessed that it was just that the little sparrows' cultivation level was too low… so they couldn't see it.

Besides, for a place like the Cave of the Slanted Moon and Three Stars,

Wouldn't it be strange for it to be hidden by a formation?

Of course, there might be other reasons.

But Su Qing couldn't think of them.

"Thank you, old gentleman, for telling me!"

Although she had many doubts, Su Qing still expressed her thanks.

The woodcutter just chuckled and nodded, then picked up his axe and resumed the motion of chopping a tree.

"By the way, I haven't yet asked for the old gentleman's name?"

Su Qing couldn't help but ask before leaving.

She was both curious and wanted to remember the benefactor who had guided her. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

The woodcutter, still smiling, replied:

"My surname is Li, my given name is Er, and my courtesy name is Dan. You can just call me Lao Dan, little friend. Alright, you should get going! If you're late, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Hearing the name, Su Qing found it somewhat familiar.

But she didn't immediately recall who it was.

She just nodded blankly and told the woodcutter her name was Su Qing.

After saying a few more words of thanks, she left with the little sparrows chirping incessantly.

The woodcutter watched Su Qing leave, put away his axe with a chuckle, and hopped onto the back of a green ox.

"Let's go! Time to go home."

The green ox mooed twice and carried the woodcutter down the mountain at a leisurely pace.

After bidding farewell to the woodcutter.

Su Qing headed in the direction he had pointed…

Preparing to cross the mountain to find the Cave of the Three Stars.

"Li Er, Li Er, that name… why does it sound more and more familiar the more I think about it?"

Su Qing's reaction was a bit slow. She was already halfway up the mountain.

Before she finally remembered just how extraordinary that name was.

Wasn't Li Er just Laozi?

And wasn't Laozi just Taishang Laojun?

"It can't be… it can't be such a coincidence, can it?"

Su Qing flicked her tongue…

Feeling it was still somewhat incredible.

But on second thought… it seemed everything could be explained.

After all, it was Li Shan Lao Mu who had guided her to find this woodcutter…

"Although the woodcutter's identity is outrageous… it doesn't have much to do with me. I just asked him for directions…"

Su Qing shook her head, flicking her tongue, thinking to herself.

No matter how outrageous the woodcutter's identity was… even if he were the Jade Emperor, it had little to do with her.

He wasn't going to take her as a disciple; he just pointed the way.

She would remember the kindness, and if there was a chance to repay it in the future, she would…

There was no need to worry too much about it.

Just like with that white snake back then…

Su Qing quickly cast her many worries aside. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

She focused on heading towards the Cave of the Three Stars.

Along the way, Su Qing was not bored.

The little ones were chirping in her ear, eager to be praised for their contributions.

Su Qing didn't skimp on her praise, commending the little ones thoroughly.

These little fellows were easy to please.

Just a few words of praise could make them happy for half a day.

Soon, Su Qing and the little sparrows crossed the mountain peak.

And after crossing it.

Su Qing saw a Daoist monastery.

In front of the monastery gate was a couplet.

The first line: Cave of the Slanted Moon and Three Stars

The second line: Mountain of Heart and Mind, Terrace of the Spirit

Seeing this couplet, Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief…

The woodcutter had not lied to her. After crossing this mountain, there was indeed the Cave of the Three Stars.

And the Daoist monastery before her was where Patriarch Bodhi resided.

"There… there really is a Cave of the Three Stars here!"

"Amazing, amazing! This gate is so big!"

"Big Green Snake, Big Green Snake, we're finally here!"

"Great, great! We've finally arrived! Big Green Snake can start cultivating!"

The little sparrows seemed even more excited than Su Qing, flying around her head and chirping nonstop.

Su Qing flicked her tongue, feeling happy as well.

After a moment of thought, Su Qing extended her snake tail and knocked on the door.