Memory

Hearing the Old Mother's words, Su Qing paused slightly.

Indeed, that's certainly true. After all, Earthly Immortals often encounter Lightning Tribulations and the like. So how could Heavenly Immortals be spared their own Lightning Tribulations?

It was just that she still felt the Lightning Tribulation was a bit weak. She had a persistent feeling that it wasn't the kind of Lightning Tribulation one should face at this realm. Because such a Lightning Tribulation posed no substantial threat, it couldn't even be called a test. How could it be a breakthrough Lightning Tribulation? It was no different from the ones she usually encountered.

However, despite saying this, Su Qing clearly didn't consider it a bad thing; at most, she found it slightly strange, worrying that unusual occurrences often portended trouble. After all, she was a cultivator. She was bound to be struck by lightning sooner or later. So naturally, she wouldn't wish for her Lightning Tribulation to become something she couldn't resist.

After a moment of thought, Su Qing quickly reined in her scattered thoughts.

After simply organizing her thoughts,

Su Qing asked the Old Mother some questions that concerned her. After all, it was rare for the Old Mother of Mount Li to visit Changbai Mountains, and her timing was so opportune. It would be rather imprudent not to seize this chance.

Thus, Su Qing took this opportunity to ask a good number of questions.

Although the Old Mother of Mount Li was somewhat speechless from Su Qing's barrage of questions, speechless as she was, she still earnestly answered them for Su Qing. After all, Su Qing was, in a way, half a disciple she had personally guided, and also her disciple's beloved. She was completely one of their own, so if something could be said, why not say it?

Just like that, the two conversed back and forth for a long time.

And while the two were conversing, Taishang Laojun, riding his Green Ox in the sky, witnessed this scene and stroked his beard. He chuckled as he looked at Patriarch Bodhi beside him and asked, “How is it? Are you not planning to go?”

“I never intended to appear before her… So what do you mean, ‘not planning to go’?” Patriarch Bodhi replied quite calmly upon hearing this. As if his intention had been this way from the start.

Hearing this, Taishang Laojun chuckled, not bothering to expose his old friend.

Patriarch Bodhi didn't pay him much mind, instead turning to glance at him and asking, “Weren't you planning to take a look?”

“Haven't I already seen it? With that old woman guiding Su Qing, it doesn't matter whether I show up or not. In fact, if I did show up, I'd probably get a word or two from that old woman,” Taishang Laojun said with considerable self-awareness.

Patriarch Bodhi wasn't surprised by this. He chuckled and said, “Then let's go! You're not planning to keep watching here, are you?”

Taishang Laojun shook his head, smiling, “Wasn't I waiting for you? When you leave, I'll naturally go with you.”

Taishang Laojun's words earned a cold laugh from Patriarch Bodhi. When it came to making excuses, Taishang Laojun was absolutely no less skilled than himself, if not more so.

Patriarch Bodhi didn't bother saying anything more and turned to leave. On the way, he didn't forget to say, “Since you have nothing to do, come with me to the West.”

“You're going to find those bald monks?”

“There are some matters I need to ask them for a favor with.”

“If it's related to the Big Green Snake, wouldn't it be better to just go yourself? Why make another trip?” Taishang Laojun understood his friend quite well. At this critical juncture, what he couldn't let go of were nothing more than a few things. So, his motives were exceptionally easy to guess.

Patriarch Bodhi chuckled upon hearing this, not responding much, but instead asked, “Are you coming or not?”

Taishang Laojun shrugged and said, “Go, go, go! Of course I'll go.” Regardless of the reason, he was definitely going on this trip anyway. He might as well treat it as a sightseeing tour.

Before leaving, Patriarch Bodhi glanced at the Bodhi Tree, then at the Old Mother, his mind filled with unknown thoughts.

The two left.

Su Qing didn't know that the two had ever been there. Although she was already a Heavenly Immortal, the distance between her and her master, Patriarch Bodhi, was still immeasurable. The gap between Heavenly Immortal, Heavenly Venerate, and Great Heavenly Venerate was still terrifying. Therefore, as long as the two had intentions to hide, Su Qing would certainly not know they had been there.

As for the Old Mother, as she chatted with Su Qing, a smile inadvertently appeared on her face. Seeing this, Su Qing couldn't help but feel a little curious and asked, “Did Senior Old Mother think of something amusing?”

“Indeed!” the Old Mother of Mount Li chuckled and said, “But it's nothing major. Let's continue talking about the ‘tribulation’.”

Su Qing didn't understand, but since the Old Mother didn't intend to explain, she didn't bother asking further. Clarifying the doubts in her mind was still the most important thing at the moment.

Just like that, the two continued their discussion. Or rather, one taught, and one learned diligently.

Meanwhile, Cold Fragrance and the others, watching Su Qing inside the barrier, couldn't help but feel a bit bored. Gongsun Zhixue yawned and said, “Senior Old Mother is quite a talker, isn't she? Are all seniors this chatty? They've been talking for so long and still haven't finished... And what exactly are they talking about? Why did they even set up a sound-proof barrier? I'm so bored now, I can only see their mouths moving, but I can't hear anything they're saying...”

Ao Ying, standing nearby, heard these words and smiled faintly, saying: “Senior elders are indeed like this... My mother is also as chatty as the Old Mother. But right now, it's probably the Old Mother teaching Sister some knowledge that outsiders shouldn't know! Otherwise, there would be no need for a sound-proof barrier. If you're bored, why don't you go play with Yudie! Isn't she out fishing again right now?”

Gongsun Zhixue pouted upon hearing this and said, “I'm not that childish!”

Ao Ying smiled, neither confirming nor denying. She no longer paid attention to Gongsun Zhixue, instead turning her head to look at Cold Fragrance, who was intently staring at the barrier, and said: “What are you thinking about? You've been spacing out.”

Cold Fragrance was pulled back to reality by Ao Ying's words and replied, “Just some idle thoughts. After all, I've long grown accustomed to waiting; as long as Master is safe and sound, that's enough.”

“Is that so? I thought you, like me, wanted to punish Sister a little! Going into seclusion so suddenly without a word, it really scared us,” Ao Ying said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, Cold Fragrance's lips curled slightly, but she said nothing more, simply continuing to fix her gaze on Su Qing. Clearly, she actually shared that sentiment.

Time passed, minute by minute. In a blink, it was already very late.

The Old Mother of Mount Li looked at the sky, then took a sip of a famous tea she had produced at some point, saying: “It seems I should be going. It's getting late!”

Hearing this, Su Qing also snapped back to reality and looked up at the sky, exclaiming in surprise, “I can't believe how quickly time has passed.”

“Time is always like this; the less you pay attention, the faster it goes!” the Old Mother of Mount Li said meaningfully. Hearing these words, Su Qing paused slightly, as if something had dawned on her.

The Old Mother of Mount Li then continued, “Alright, I must go. If you still have anything you don't understand, you can always come to my Mount Li and ask me. If I'm not there, just go ask my Daoist boy! Although her words can sometimes be a bit confusing, she is, after all, someone who entered the Heavenly Immortal realm long ago. She should be able to answer most of your questions.”

Su Qing wasn't surprised at all that the Old Mother said the Daoist boy was a Heavenly Immortal. She had long known that the Daoist boy's cultivation was not weak... After all, she was able to confine Cold Fragrance without Su Qing knowing anything about it; such strength certainly could not be underestimated.

“This junior understands.” Su Qing nodded and said, “Then, Senior, have a safe journey.”

“Hmm, you take care too.” The Old Mother nodded slightly, and in the act of turning, vanished.

After the Old Mother left, Su Qing immediately deflated. Maintaining a serious state for an entire afternoon was quite exhausting for Su Qing... especially since she had just undergone a tribulation. Although that Lightning Tribulation didn't seem appropriate for her realm... it was a Lightning Tribulation nonetheless. Undergoing a tribulation was also quite mentally taxing. So, fatigue was inevitable.

However, it wasn't time for her to rest yet. She hadn't forgotten Cold Fragrance and the others, whom she had left waiting. She was ready to face their ‘wrath’.

Su Qing exhaled a breath of stale air and, with a wave of her hand, dispelled the barrier. The moment the barrier was lifted, before Su Qing even had a chance to get up and find Cold Fragrance and the others, Cold Fragrance had already rushed forward and embraced her, catching her completely off guard.

Su Qing patted Cold Fragrance's hand and said softly, “I've kept you waiting.”

“It's alright, as long as Master is safe and sound! Also, congratulations, Master, on reaching the Heavenly Immortal realm,” Cold Fragrance said with a smile, releasing Su Qing.

Su Qing nodded upon hearing this and replied, “I've only just stepped into the Heavenly Immortal realm; it's nothing particularly impressive...”

Beside them, Ao Ying pouted, grabbed Su Qing's cheek, and said, “Do you know how annoying your words are?”

Su Qing, having her cheek pinched, wasn't angry at all. She said with a smile, “I'm used to it, used to it. I definitely won't say such things next time.” She was accustomed to humility... But sometimes, habitual humility made people think she was showing off.

Hearing Su Qing's words, Ao Ying finally smiled and stopped pinching Su Qing.

“Alright, alright, it's getting late. The food Cold Fragrance made is already cold! I'll go warm it up, and after dinner, we can chat leisurely,” Ao Ying said with a smiling shift in topic.

Su Qing naturally had no objections and nodded directly. Cold Fragrance, for her part, straightforwardly followed Ao Ying into the kitchen.

Gongsun Zhixue had nothing to do, but she didn't come to find Su Qing; she simply sat at the stone table, quietly watching Su Qing. Since Gongsun Zhixue didn't come to her, Su Qing naturally didn't bother with her. Because she was indeed a bit tired. She leaned back in the rocking chair, and with its gentle sway, she unconsciously fell asleep.

Seeing this, Gongsun Zhixue pouted, then took out a blanket and draped it over Su Qing. Although, even if she wasn't covered, Su Qing wouldn't possibly catch a chill.

Soon, Cold Fragrance and the others finished warming the food, and seeing Su Qing asleep, although Su Qing wasn't in a cultivation state, they didn't intend to disturb her rest.

After seeing this, Ao Ying smiled and said, “It looks like our plans will have to be delayed by a day.”

Hearing this, Cold Fragrance said nothing, merely nodding. Then she formed a hand seal and cast a spell, creating a wooden pavilion to shelter Su Qing from wind and rain. Cold Fragrance knew that Su Qing didn't sleep deeply once she fell asleep, so she didn't bother to touch her.

After the two left,

Yudie transformed into a short sword and stayed by Su Qing's side. Unlike Cold Fragrance and Ao Ying, she had a certain spiritual connection with Su Qing. Therefore, she could vaguely sense Su Qing's current mood. She could feel... Su Qing's mood at this moment was tinged with a hint of sadness. It seemed she had dreamt of something unpleasant.

Yudie's feeling... was actually not wrong. Su Qing had indeed dreamt of some unpleasant things... It was her past. After the memories of her past and present lives became clear, many once sorrowful events became vividly apparent. And with this sleep, Su Qing couldn't help but fall into such a dream. However... fortunately, a dream was just a dream.

At the moment dawn broke, Su Qing also woke up. She rubbed her eyes, but only felt them ache, and touched the still-damp tear stains. At this moment, she seemed to understand why some people say that forgetting is a human self-protection mechanism. Indeed. If painful and sorrowful things are not forgotten, they will eventually overwhelm a person. Even someone as mentally strong as Su Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation because of it.

She let out a long sigh and muttered to herself, “For now, it's best not to think about those things... If there's a chance in the future, I'll look for them again.”

She slowly sat up, but felt a slight weight on her body. Looking down, she realized it was Yudie lying on her. There were still some tear stains on her face. Clearly, her own emotions had affected this girl.

Su Qing helplessly rubbed Yudie's head and said, “Time to wake up, silly girl.”

Yudie rubbed her eyes upon hearing this, slowly lifted her head, and said, “Mama, you're awake.”

“Mm... did you dream of anything?”

Yudie shook her head slightly upon hearing this and said, “Just a jumble of fragments, only feeling a bit sad.”

“I see! Don't worry about those things. They're just some past events from my memories!”

“Got it, Mama.” Yudie yawned, speaking as if she were a real person. Then, she reached out and wiped the marks from Su Qing's face, saying, “If Mama knew, she'd probably scold me again.”

Su Qing smiled upon hearing this and said, “That's certainly true.”

Recomposing her mood. Su Qing stretched, got up, and continued with her usual life. In the days that followed, everything was exceptionally calm, with no extraordinary events occurring. In the blink of an eye, more than a hundred years passed in this manner.