Now, it was the season of melting snow, and the green of spring was gradually spreading across the world.
Grass cushioned the soft hoofprints of the jade steed; willows swayed like golden threads, fresh with morning dew. Peach and apricot trees filled the forest, competing in brilliance; vines wound around the paths, brimming with life. On the sun-warmed sandy banks, mandarin ducks slumbered; in the mountain ravines, the fragrance of flowers tamed the butterflies.
In this manner, they traveled along the desolate roads for several more days.
Before they knew it, they had already passed the borders of the Wusizang Kingdom and arrived at a place called Futu Mountain.
Su Qing rode her horse, intending to pass through Futu Mountain. This mountain was not a place she intended to stop at; she was simply passing through.
Because they were heading to the Flowing Sands River, this route was the fastest.
As for Zen Master Wuchao...
Su Qing was not familiar with him, so she had no intention of seeking him out. She only wanted to pass through this area quickly.
However, this mountain was indeed a fine mountain.
To the south were green pines and emerald cypresses; to the north were green willows and red peaches. Mountain birds conversed in the valleys, butterflies danced gracefully, and cranes flew together.
It was indeed a quiet and elegant place. If it were in the past, Su Qing might have wanted to stay here for a while to cultivate in peace.
But unfortunately, this place already had a master...
So, naturally, that was not an option.
Moreover, they had a journey to complete and needed to find a place to stay before dark.
Chaoyan admired the scenery as she walked, finding the view beautiful.
Yudie, on the other hand, was constantly surrounded by butterflies as she walked. It seemed they were exceptionally fond of her. Even when she waved her hands in annoyance to drive them away, she couldn't get rid of the pesky little creatures.
"Sister Yudie, be careful. Don't actually hurt those little things," Chaoyan said, seeing Yudie's attempts to shoo them. "But the butterflies really do like you! Is it because your name is Yudie?"
This was naturally a tease. After all, how could butterflies know what her name was?
Yudie sighed softly and said, "I don't know... but I don't like these little things. They're quite annoying fluttering around me."
Su Qing smiled faintly, rubbed Yudie's head, and said, "It's probably because you carry the scent of winter plums. They probably think you're a walking plum blossom."
Hearing Su Qing's words, Chaoyan leaned in to sniff Yudie and nodded slightly. "Sister Yudie really does have the scent of winter plums. Why didn't I notice it before?"
"You silly girl, if I hadn't said anything, you'd probably just think Yudie smells nice without knowing what kind of fragrance it is, wouldn't you?" Su Qing knew the girl's personality well.
Chaoyan was not someone who particularly liked flowers...
It would be strange if she could distinguish them.
Chaoyan chanted a Buddha's name and said helplessly, "I spend my days eating vegetarian food and chanting sutras. How could I have the mind to admire flowers? It's normal not to know."
Su Qing laughed, not blaming her, and said, "Alright, let's move faster. This place has a master. If the owner doesn't like us, they might drive us away."
Chaoyan was slightly stunned and nodded. "Ah, is that so? Then aren't we essentially trespassing in someone's courtyard?"
"Not exactly... but since we are cultivators, it's best not to disturb them for too long," Su Qing shook her head.
Su Qing did not intend to get too involved with Zen Master Wuchao, so she naturally wanted to move as quickly as possible.
Hearing this, Chaoyan nodded and quickened her pace with them.
The group continued walking.
As they walked, Chaoyan suddenly saw someone sitting under a tree not far away.
That person seemed to notice Chaoyan as well and waved to her with a smile, signaling for her to come over.
Chaoyan was unsure, so she turned to look at Su Qing.
Su Qing had naturally noticed the other's presence, and her brows quirked up slightly.
Well, it seemed...
Even if she didn't go looking for him, this fellow had come looking for them.
However... it seemed he wasn't here for her, but for Chaoyan.
Su Qing naturally knew of Zen Master Wuchao, the elder who gave the Heart Sutra to Tang Sanzang.
Although he only appeared briefly in Journey to the West, he was undoubtedly one of the most mysterious figures on the journey.
As for his strength, Su Qing didn't know...
He might be very strong, or very weak.
Descriptions of Zen Master Wuchao were scarce.
In fact, if Su Qing hadn't deliberately memorized Journey to the West during her 'Reliving the Past Life,' she might have forgotten such a person existed.
However, while his strength was a mystery, it was undeniable that Zen Master Wuchao wasn't a bad person...
Su Qing just didn't want to get too involved.
They were just passing through...
But now... it seemed avoiding involvement was no longer an option.
"Forget it, he's not a bad person anyway... Letting her chat with the old Zen Master is fine. Maybe she can even get some benefits out of it."
Thinking this, Su Qing nodded and said to Chaoyan:
"Since he's calling you, go ahead. That person is Zen Master Wuchao."
Hearing Su Qing's words, Chaoyan nodded and walked quickly toward the Zen Master.
Su Qing and Yudie followed behind her.
Arriving before Zen Master Wuchao, Chaoyan bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Zen Master."
Su Qing and Yudie also bowed, maintaining proper etiquette.
The old Zen Master looked at Chaoyan, nodded slightly, and said, "I presume you are the pilgrim?"
"Ah? Yes. I am following my master's orders to go to Leiyin Temple to retrieve the scriptures." Although Chen Chaoyan was a bit confused as to how he knew she was a pilgrim, she nodded and answered.
Hearing this, the old Zen Master was slightly stunned. He lowered his head to perform a calculation before asking, "Was it not the King of Tang who sent you?"
This completely confused Chen Chaoyan. She shook her head in bewilderment and said, "I was sent by my master."
"And who is your master?"
"Grandmaster Shiguan," Chaoyan answered truthfully.
"Strange..." The Zen Master's brow furrowed.
He was quite puzzled.
He had clearly calculated that the Western Pilgrim had arrived, but not only was the person before him a woman, she wasn't even the one he was looking for... but another one entirely.
But logically... even if there were other pilgrims going to the West, he shouldn't have been able to calculate their arrival.
One had to be truly commissioned by Buddha and Heaven for him to sense them.
He had done this specifically to minimize errors.
How could he still be wrong?
Had he gone so long without acting that his divination skills had regressed?
Seeing the Zen Master's confused expression, Su Qing sighed helplessly and sent a telepathic message:
"She is commissioned by Guanyin Bodhisattva to go to the West for scriptures, though she doesn't know her master is Guanyin. Furthermore, she indeed isn't the pilgrim you are waiting for... she is another one found by Guanyin for a different purpose."
Hearing Su Qing's transmission, the Zen Master's brow arched. He looked up at Su Qing, and his pupils shrank slightly...
He... was dazzled by her.
"So it is Immortal Su. Forgive this old monk for failing to recognize you... Truly, your attire and the way you perfectly suppress your cultivation made it impossible for me to notice you immediately," Zen Master Wuchao replied telepathically.
Zen Master Wuchao had never met Su Qing; he recognized her only by seeing through her disguise.
And after seeing through it, he became even more depressed...
Not only had he mistaken the pilgrim... but he had also run into such a troublesome person.
Su Qing rolled her eyes inwardly and said, "Senior... since you know Chaoyan's identity, please do not tell her about me."
Zen Master Wuchao sighed helplessly.
Since Su Qing had put it that way...
What else could he do?
His strength was naturally above Su Qing's, but so what? Didn't you see the crowd of people backing her up? If he didn't give her face and she held a grudge...
What if she went back and said a few words about him?
With how protective those people were...
Who knew how much trouble would follow?
Zen Master Wuchao was also frustrated. He could calculate the past and future, so how could he have failed to foresee this scene?
One could only say that divination was not an all-powerful ability.
"Rest assured, this old monk understands," Zen Master Wuchao replied gloomily through telepathy.
The exchange between the two lasted only an instant.
In Chaoyan's eyes, the Zen Master had simply looked at Su Qing with confusion before falling back into silence.
Seeing this, Chaoyan couldn't help but ask, "Senior? Senior called me over... is there something you need?"
Chaoyan was also helpless... she had vaguely realized that this senior had probably mistaken her for someone else.
But the conversation had to continue...
After all, it would be somewhat impolite to just leave now.
Hearing Chen Chaoyan's voice, the Zen Master snapped out of it and said, "Never mind, I suppose I was mistaken. However, no matter! Since we have met, it is fate! I have here a scroll of the Heart Sutra, fifty-four sentences in total, comprising two hundred and seventy characters. If you encounter demonic obstacles, simply recite this sutra, and you shall naturally be unharmed."
"Additionally... I have here a Zen staff and an alms bowl. This staff is called the Nine Tribulations Copper Staff, forged from refined copper by eighty-eight Arhats over forty-nine days; it is a Buddhist treasure. This bowl is called the Daluo Golden Alms Bowl, made of refined gold; it can enhance one's own dharmic power and is also a fine Buddhist artifact. I shall gift them to you now."
Chen Chaoyan was stunned. She really had been mistaken for someone else.
However, even though he had mistaken her, the fact that he was giving her so many good things was truly unexpected.
For a moment, she was overwhelmed.
She smiled helplessly and said, "Amitabha. I can accept Senior's Heart Sutra, but as for those Buddhist treasures... I wouldn't dare take them."
The Heart Sutra was a Buddhist scripture, so she didn't mind accepting it. It was just a matter of memorizing another text.
But the staff and bowl were different.
After all, they were valuable goods...
And Buddhist treasures at that. How could she just take them?
Moreover, her master had told her not to accept valuables from others while traveling.
Given her master's divine foresight, if she took them, she would surely face a long lecture upon her return.
The Zen Master glanced at Su Qing and then smiled helplessly, saying:
"Take both the sutra and the staff! This staff is a good thing for you! Besides, as a lay nun, it's easy for people to mistake you if you don't have any Buddhist items on you."
This reason was naturally quite clumsy...
But it served as a pretext for Su Qing to intervene.
As for these items... they weren't particularly precious treasures to him... giving them away was no loss.
It gave him face without failing to give Su Qing face.
Su Qing smiled and said, "Since the Zen Master has told you to take them, then take them! He is a Buddhist Zen Master and thus your senior. If you keep refusing a senior's gift, it would be a form of disrespect."
Hearing Su Qing's words, Chaoyan still hesitated.
After all, she had never accepted treasures from others...
Especially from a senior she had just met.
Su Qing patted her head and said, "Don't be shy."
She nodded slightly and then bowed to the Zen Master, saying, "Then I shall boldly accept them. Thank you for the gifts, Senior! I will make good use of these treasures."
Chaoyan's words pleased the Zen Master, and for a moment, he didn't feel like his gifts were a waste.
At the very least, the person he gave them to was an obedient and polite little nun, not an ungrateful wretch.
The Zen Master stroked his beard with a chuckle and said, "It is good that you accept them! Hold onto the items, and I will recite the Heart Sutra for you. You must remember it well and never forget it. This scripture can save your life in critical moments."
Although the Zen Master felt that if she really encountered danger, the Immortal Su beside her could save her, Su Qing couldn't follow her forever, so giving her this sutra was indeed useful.
"I am all ears," Chaoyan nodded quickly.
The Zen Master smiled, stroking his beard, and said, "Listen well. The full name of this Heart Sutra is the Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra. The scripture says: When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was coursing in the deep Prajna Paramita, she perceived that all five skandhas are empty, thus transcending all suffering and distress. Sariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form itself is emptiness, emptiness itself is form..."
The sutra was not long, only a few hundred words. Although it was somewhat arcane, it was not difficult to memorize.
With Chen Chaoyan's memory, after hearing it once, she was able to recite it.
And so, Chen Chaoyan recited it back in front of the Zen Master.
Hearing that Chaoyan had already memorized the sutra, the Zen Master nodded with satisfaction, then rose to leave.
Seeing this, Chaoyan bowed again, thanking Zen Master Wuchao once more.
The Zen Master smiled and vanished in a flash.
Before leaving, the Zen Master did not forget to say to Su Qing, "Immortal, when you reach Spirit Mountain, I hope you will put in a few good words for me before the Buddha."
Su Qing smiled faintly and replied telepathically, "I will. When I see the Buddha, I will certainly speak well of you."
With that, the Zen Master completely disappeared.
It was unknown where he went.
However, Su Qing knew that the Zen Master likely hadn't gone far. After all, he still had to wait here for Master Sanzang, so he wouldn't leave Futu Mountain.
But after this brief conversation with the Zen Master, she had gained some understanding of him...
"Quite an interesting fellow," Su Qing shook her head and smiled to herself.
Su Qing retracted her thoughts and looked at Chaoyan, who was staring blankly at the Zen staff and alms bowl in her hands, and couldn't help but find it funny.
She patted Chaoyan's head and said, "Dunce, since you've received the treasures, you should use them well."
Su Qing snapped Chaoyan out of her daze. Hearing this, she quickly nodded and said, "Don't worry, Godmother, I will definitely use them well."
Su Qing smiled faintly, gently rubbed her head, and said, "In that case, I'm relieved. Alright, the Zen Master is gone, let's continue our way!"
Chaoyan nodded and followed Su Qing forward.
Along the way, she couldn't help but talk about the Zen Master, saying, "Wow, I really didn't expect to meet such a senior on the road... giving away such treasures the moment he acts."
Su Qing smiled. She could see the value of the bowl and the staff. While they were indeed Buddhist treasures, they weren't anything particularly extraordinary.
At the very least... they weren't enough to catch her eye.
Yudie asked, "Speaking of which... can this golden bowl be used to hold rice? I remember the nuns in the nunnery use these to serve food, right?"
Hearing this, Chaoyan looked down at the bowl, tilted her head, and said, "This is a golden bowl, after all, and it's a magical artifact. Isn't it a bit too extravagant to use it for serving rice?"
"Is that so?" Yudie tilted her head while looking at the bowl. "I see..."
She felt that since it was a bowl, using it for rice was perfectly normal, even if it was a magical artifact.
Regardless, it wasn't a particularly profound treasure...
But seeing how much Chaoyan cherished it, she didn't say anything more.
As a sword spirit, Yudie also looked down on that golden bowl... after all, she had the pride of a spirit! A sword that could give birth to a spirit was inherently more powerful than those that couldn't.
Su Qing and the others weren't bored on the road, chatting as they walked for a long, long time.
They traveled for another month or two.
During these two months, nothing particularly special happened.
Occasionally, they would still encounter some small demons or petty bandits.
But these insignificant fellows were either sent by Yudie to see the Buddha or sent by Chaoyan to the authorities.
And so it went.
Without realizing it, the green of the world had fully returned... becoming incredibly beautiful.
"Mother, look! There's another household over there. Let's go seek alms!" Yudie seemed to have grown accustomed to going out for alms with Chaoyan the nun.
She even found the act of seeking alms quite interesting.
Su Qing was somewhat helpless about this, only hoping that by the end of this journey, Yudie wouldn't be turned into a nun as well.
But with her around, that shouldn't happen, right?
"I know, let's go! It's just about that time anyway," Su Qing smiled helplessly.
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