Chapter 23 - You Happen to be the Ninth

Chapter 23 - You Happen to be the Ninth.

Su Qing watched as Patriarch Bodhi remained silent for so long.

She had thought that this time, just like with the Old Mother, it would end in failure.

But unexpectedly, although Bodhi was silent for a long time, he was ultimately willing to accept her as his disciple.

Regardless of his considerations...

For Su Qing, all that mattered was that he accepted her.

"Thank you, Master!"

Su Qing shamelessly called him Master right away.

Although she hadn't formally undergone the discipleship ceremony, it didn't matter! It was only a matter of time.

Patriarch Bodhi chuckled and stroked his beard.

"I will teach you, but how much you can learn and what realm you can cultivate to will depend entirely on your own abilities. Whether you learn well or poorly, do not go out and say that I am your master."

Su Qing naturally understood this principle.

If a student's grades are poor, you can't blame the teacher!

Besides, Patriarch Bodhi was a master who could even teach Sun Wukong.

If she really couldn't learn well, then she truly couldn't blame the Patriarch.

"This disciple understands!"

Bodhi nodded in satisfaction.

If there was one thing he was most satisfied with about Su Qing, it was probably her temperament.

"Mm, not bad."

Patriarch Bodhi stroked his beard and said:

"Since I have accepted you as my disciple, I must naturally give you a Daoist name."

"My school has twelve characters for naming: 'Guang, Da, Zhi, Hui, Zhen, Ru, Xing, Hai, Ying, Wu, Yuan, Jue'. These twelve characters are assigned to name the generations. You are a young disciple of the ninth generation."

"When it comes to your turn, it is exactly the character 'Ying'."

"Do you have a family name?" the Patriarch asked.

Su Qing replied: "My surname is Su."

"Mm, you are a green snake, and your surname is Su. Then let your Daoist name be Su Yingqing!"

Patriarch Bodhi smiled and stroked his beard, seemingly quite pleased with the Daoist name he had chosen for his disciple.

"Su Yingqing?" Su Qing bowed in thanks, "Yingqing thanks you, Master!"

Su Qing didn't really have any requirements for her Daoist name...

A so-called Daoist name was just a name one received after entering a Daoist path.

It was like the names of Buddhist monks, such as Xuan Kong or Xuan Bei. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Whether it sounded good or not wasn't really important.

In any case, she was still called Su Qing.

A Daoist name was a Daoist name, and her original name was her original name; they didn't interfere with each other.

It was just that Su Qing found it amusing that Patriarch Bodhi seemed to be on her level when it came to naming things.

She wondered, if she were a white snake, would she have been given the Daoist name Su Yingbai?

But internal complaints were one thing; she would never say it to her master's face.

Wouldn't that be asking for a beating?

Besides, the name wasn't unpleasant to hear.

Patriarch Bodhi twisted his beard and said with a smile, "Alright, you may go! I will have a disciple arrange your lodging. Tomorrow, there will be a lecture on the Dharma; you should come and listen."

"Then when can I cultivate magical arts?"

Su Qing had originally intended to obediently go back.

But she couldn't help but ask...

"Wait until you've cultivated a human form, then you can practice magical arts!"

"Then when can I cultivate a human form?"

"That is up to you! Just focus on your cultivation," the Patriarch said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Su Qing also nodded.

Since the Patriarch had said so, there was no point in her asking further.

In the days to come, she just had to focus on her cultivation.

Strive to cultivate a human form as soon as possible...

So she could begin practicing magical arts.

Once she cultivated a human form, she could also wander freely in the mortal world.

She wouldn't have to hide from people every time she went out.

As for the point about having no ability to protect herself before achieving a human form...

Su Qing didn't think much of it.

In any case, she was staying here with Patriarch Bodhi now; it was unlikely anyone could harm her.

She just had to focus on her cultivation.

After Su Qing came out from Patriarch Bodhi's place,

her ears were filled with the congratulations of the little sparrows.

"That's great, Big Green Snake has found a master."

"Yeah, yeah! That old man seems so powerful!" Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"Hmph, of course he has to be powerful! Only a powerful old man is fit to teach Big Green Snake!"

"That's right, that's right!"

"By the way, Big Green Snake has a Daoist name! We want one too! We want one too."

"Yes, yes, yes! Big Green Snake, give us names too!"

Su Qing flicked her tongue. Being in a good mood, she agreed.

"When we go back to rest, I'll give you names."

"Yay, yay!" the little sparrows cheered joyfully.

They circled endlessly around Su Qing's head.

Su Qing had just walked out of the main hall when she saw the young Daoist who had led her earlier walking towards her again.

"Senior Brother? Is something the matter?" Su Qing asked, puzzled.

"Master told me to take you to your quarters," the young Daoist said with a helpless tone.

"Ah, thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother."

Su Qing flicked her tongue, feeling that this young Daoist was rather pitiful for always having to run errands.

The Patriarch was really working one person to the bone.

"By the way, I haven't yet asked for Senior Brother's name."

The young Daoist made a Daoist hand seal and said, "Junior Sister can just call me Liu Yingtong. As for my secular name, I won't mention it here."

"Senior Brother's name... is quite nice."

Su Qing nodded.

Although she felt the name sounded like a woman's, she couldn't very well complain about it.

After all, all the Daoist names were given by Patriarch Bodhi...

The two chatted intermittently, and it wasn't long before they had almost arrived.

It was a separate courtyard, and within it stood a ginkgo tree that was a good deal taller than the surrounding wall.

Perhaps because it was already autumn, the ginkgo leaves had all turned yellow and withered.

Without having to think, she knew the ground inside must be covered with leaves.

Liu Yingtong pushed open the courtyard gate and led Su Qing inside, "This will be Junior Sister's residence from now on."

"This doesn't look like a place where everyone lives together?"

Su Qing looked inside; it didn't look like a 'dormitory'.

"Mm, because Junior Sister is a snake and can't live with the other senior brothers and sisters, Master probably arranged this kind of lodging!"

Liu Yingtong touched his face and said:

"But Junior Sister shouldn't be upset. Once you cultivate a human form, you can be with the senior brothers! Besides, although this place is a bit remote, it's not far from the lecture hall!" Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"I don't feel upset. In fact, having a separate courtyard is quite nice. I should say, I actually quite like it here!"

Su Qing flicked her tongue. She had actually thought she would be given a cave!

After all, even if it was a house, she couldn't use the furniture inside anyway.

Besides, having a separate courtyard...

Wasn't this considered preferential treatment? Why should she be upset?

"As long as Junior Sister doesn't mind!" Liu Yingtong nodded.

It seemed he really thought Su Qing would be unhappy about getting a separate courtyard.

Su Qing wasn't quite sure how his mind worked, but she didn't say much.

"Is there anything else Junior Sister needs my help with? If not, I'll be leaving now."

Su Qing shook her head slightly.

"Mm, then Junior Sister should rest well," Liu Yingtong said. "If you need help with anything, you can always come find me or the other senior brothers. I'll be going now."

"Mm, take care, Senior Brother."

Liu Yingtong nodded, turned, and left the courtyard.

He even closed the gate behind him...

But then he seemed to remember something, came back, and opened the gate again.

Su Qing watched this scene, flicked her tongue, and thought this senior brother was quite interesting.

After Liu Yingtong left, Su Qing coiled her body, gazing at the ginkgo tree in the courtyard as her thoughts gradually drifted away.