Su Qing pinched Red Boy’s cheeks, and for a moment, the girl looked at her with a rather depressed expression, puffing out her cheeks.
She had never expected this.
Not only had Su Qing seen through her disguise, but she had even turned the tables and played a prank on her instead.
However, she wasn't actually angry...
She simply felt that Su Qing was still the same Su Qing from back then, not having changed a bit.
Still, she felt a bit sulky.
After all, she had lost.
Of course, she wasn't the only one feeling a bit depressed or confused.
Chaoyan and Yudie were both quite puzzled at the moment, not entirely sure what Su Qing was talking about or why she had suddenly said those things.
"Godmother (Mother), what are you talking about? What's going on?" Chaoyan and Yudie asked simultaneously.
Chaoyan had actually been a bit confused when she heard their conversation on the road...
She just hadn't found an opportunity to interject, so she had remained silent until now.
Now that the little girl had fallen to the ground and Su Qing was pinching her cheeks while saying such things, her confusion had naturally deepened.
Thus, she couldn't help but ask.
As for Yudie, she was no different from Chaoyan; she was extremely confused by the scene.
However, she knew Su Qing better than anyone...
She suspected that the little girl before them was likely not as simple as she appeared.
It was even highly probable that she was someone she used to know.
Unfortunately, Yudie's strength was limited, making it difficult for her to see who the girl really was or to see through her transformation technique.
Liu Jingyue, on the other hand, appeared quite calm.
Because Su Qing had pulled her back earlier, she had already noticed that something was off about the girl.
So, she stood there quietly, just as before, watching.
She remarked, "This girl doesn't seem as simple as she looks. She's likely someone else in disguise... and seeing as Sister didn't attack her directly, I suspect Sister must know her."
Although Liu Jingyue was also in the Earthly Immortal realm, she still found it difficult to see through the girl's transformation...
But that was normal.
After all, one shouldn't forget who her father was.
Bull Demon King possessed many formidable skills as well.
Seeing Liu Jingyue help explain, Su Qing smiled slightly.
She then patted Red Boy’s head and said, "Jingyue is right... she isn't human, and I do indeed know her. As for the rest, you can explain it to everyone yourself!"
Su Qing looked at Red Boy with a sly, mischievous grin and continued, "Explain it well, and don't say anything strange. Otherwise, don't blame me for being mean~ I know exactly what you're afraid of!"
Hearing Su Qing's words, Red Boy’s body trembled slightly, and she curled her lip in annoyance.
Since Su Qing had put it that way, what else could she do?
She had to admit it honestly!
Otherwise, she would surely be teased further!
Su Qing knew her weaknesses too well... if she gave her an opening to play a prank, the outcome would definitely be disastrous.
Besides, she really couldn't outwit the woman!
Red Boy let out a heavy sigh, patted the dust off her clothes, and stood up.
"What is there left to explain? Sister has already told them my situation, hasn't she? I'm not human... and I do know Sister."
"Anyway, I'm sorry, Sister Nun, for lying to you just now! But I didn't actually want to deceive you; I just wanted to play a trick on Sister Su..."
"Also, let me reintroduce myself... My name is Niu Shengying, but you can also call me Red Boy."
As she spoke, Red Boy transformed. She became a young girl with black hair, red eyes, and a blood-red dress.
She continued, "It's such a shame... I thought I could finally prank Sister Su. In the end, I still underestimated the elderly!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Qing pinched her cheek again. "Who are you calling elderly?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong, Sister Su... I was wrong, you're the youngest of all!" Red Boy was quick to surrender.
Seeing this, Su Qing gave a helpless smile. "Fine, I'll forgive you for now. But you, little girl, haven't seen you in years and you've grown even more cheeky. I liked you better the way you used to be..."
Red Boy only chuckled in response, offering no further explanation.
Chaoyan, hearing Red Boy’s words, was stunned for a moment.
She waited until the two were finished before speaking.
"So... that's how it is? Well, I don't blame you for lying to me... I'm just a bit surprised that you also know Godmother." Chaoyan looked at Su Qing and said, "Along this journey, Godmother seems to have way too many friends..."
Su Qing smiled and gave her usual excuse.
In truth, there weren't that many people she was close to...
It was just that many people knew of her, and most were willing to show her some respect.
Hearing Su Qing use her old excuse, Chaoyan stopped asking.
She watched Yudie, who was catching up with Red Boy.
She couldn't help but ask, "Sister Yudie and Red Boy know each other too?"
"Yes, they've known each other for a long time—over a hundred years, in fact," Su Qing replied with a smile.
"Over a hundred years... exactly how old is Sister Yudie?" Chaoyan's lip twitched slightly.
Though she knew Yudie was Su Qing's daughter and couldn't be young, hearing Su Qing mention 'over a hundred years' so casually made her age far exceed her imagination.
So, the sister she thought was roughly her age, or at most twenty years older, was actually old enough to be her grandmother?
It was a bit much for her mind to process.
Su Qing covered her mouth and giggled. "Well, you can ask Yudie that yourself later. It's not very polite of me to expose her age."
Chaoyan pouted at that.
Godmother had avoided the question again, passing it off to someone else.
Chaoyan curled her lip and decided not to ask any further.
Seeing all this, Liu Jingyue felt a bit depressed. She walked over to Su Qing's side.
She sent a silent transmission: "Sister... over the years, exactly how many women have you befriended?"
Su Qing looked at her with a bit of surprise, then tilted her head as she tried to remember. "I've forgotten..."
Liu Jingyue was left speechless.
"As expected of Sister..."
Su Qing looked at her with some confusion, not quite sure why she had suddenly asked that.
However, just as she was about to ask, Red Boy suddenly pulled on her sleeve.
"Since Sister has come to my territory, why not stay at my place for a few days? It's a rare visit; it would be a pity if you just passed through!"
Hearing this, Su Qing smiled faintly. "You little girl... to tell you the truth, I actually intended to come find you."
"Eh? Sister intended to find me? I thought you were just passing by and didn't know I was here, so I came out specifically to find you," Red Boy said, startled.
Su Qing laughed. "Oh? Didn't you come out just to prank me?"
"That was just a bonus!" Red Boy’s lip twitched as she explained. "By the way, Sister Su, how did you know I was here?"
Su Qing smiled. "Mmm, I calculated it with my fingers!"
"Calculated it again? Sister, you're fooling me again!" Red Boy didn't believe Su Qing's 'calculation' for a second. To her, Su Qing's biggest lie was always that she had 'calculated' something.
She clearly knew through other means most of the time, yet she always claimed to have calculated it. She really loved to trick people.
"Fine, whatever! Regardless of how you knew, the fact that you remembered me and even came looking for me makes me very happy. Come! I'll take you to my Fire Cloud Cave for a seat!"
Red Boy wasn't the type to obsess over details.
Since Su Qing chose to brush her off with 'calculation,' she clearly didn't intend to tell the truth.
Continuing to ask would just be a waste of time.
It was better to take her sister to Fire Cloud Cave to play!
Su Qing curled her lips into a smile; this girl really did understand her quite well.
"Alright, you lead the way then," Su Qing said cheerfully.
And so, the group set off again.
However, this time they weren't heading directly west.
Instead, they prepared to stay at Fire Cloud Cave for a few days.
On the way, Red Boy couldn't keep still, asking about everything under the sun.
Naturally, she asked what Su Qing and the others were doing traveling this way.
Su Qing told her the truth.
"You're saying Sister Chaoyan is the pilgrim? The pilgrim whose flesh grants immortality if eaten?" Red Boy asked bluntly.
Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then gave a helpless laugh. "No, of course not!"
"I see..." Red Boy said nonchalantly. "That's good then~ If eating her really granted immortality, this journey would be a nightmare. Sister Su would probably have to kill her way all the way to the Western Heaven."
Red Boy didn't think it was a pity; in fact, she thought it was for the best.
Su Qing shook her head slightly. "Speaking of which, where did you hear that eating the pilgrim grants immortality?"
Seeing Su Qing ask, Red Boy answered truthfully.
After hearing Red Boy’s answer, Su Qing’s lip twitched.
If Su Qing guessed correctly...
This girl had definitely been fooled by Guanyin Bodhisattva.
After all... most of the obstacles on this journey west were set up by the Buddhist faction.
"Sister... is something wrong?" Red Boy asked, tilting her head as she saw Su Qing fall silent.
Su Qing shook her head and smiled. "It's nothing... I just thought of something. Don't worry too much about that pilgrim business... Immortality isn't such a big deal. Once your cultivation reaches a high enough level, you will naturally be as long-lived as the heavens themselves."
Hearing Su Qing say this, Red Boy laughed.
"I know, I know. I didn't actually want to catch some pilgrim; I was just curious."
Su Qing glanced at her, finding it hard to believe.
After all, this girl was supposed to be one of the tribulations on the journey west.
If she didn't capture Tang Sanzang...
How would that tribulation be fulfilled?
However, Su Qing also thought to herself.
If she did capture Tang Sanzang, how could she prevent her from being taken away by Guanyin Bodhisattva?
After a moment's thought, Su Qing felt that she didn't need to worry too much.
After all, when Wukong ran into trouble in the future...
Who knew if he would go to Guanyin Bodhisattva or to her!
At worst... if she really was taken by Guanyin Bodhisattva, Su Qing could just be thick-skinned enough to go and ask for her back.
As long as her skin was thick enough, there was nothing she couldn't achieve.
Su Qing didn't say much more, only adding, "Regardless, eating people is wrong... you'd best not mess around."
Su Qing didn't know if this sentence would stop Red Boy from capturing Tang Sanzang...
But it had to be said.
After all, under her guidance, Red Boy had never eaten a human before.
Red Boy laughed and said, "I know, I know. I understand all that!"
Seeing this, Su Qing nodded slightly and changed the subject.
The group chatted as they walked, and before long, they had traveled dozens of miles.
As they walked, they came upon a pine forest.
Within the forest was a winding stream, with crystal-clear water cascading down.
At the end of the stream was a stone slab bridge that led directly to a cave dwelling.
Upon reaching this place, Red Boy said, "My home is just ahead. How is it? I chose a good spot for my cave, didn't I?"
Hearing this, Su Qing turned to look at Red Boy. Seeing her look of 'please praise me,' she couldn't help but find it amusing.
She said, "Yes, it's quite nice indeed. I didn't realize you had such good taste."
Red Boy chuckled and rubbed her head. "Of course! Come, let's go inside! My cave is quite grand! It definitely won't disappoint you, Sister."
Su Qing smiled faintly and followed Red Boy into the cave, leading the horse.
The cave was exceptionally spacious, and the interior decor was surprisingly decent...
Though it wasn't exactly 'grand and magnificent' in a traditional sense.
What surprised Su Qing more was that although there were many demons in the cave, they were all minor ones.
Many of them hadn't even fully transformed.
And those who had transformed had done a poor job of it...
To put it simply... it was something like a furry lover's paradise?
In short, the demons in the cave were very weak...
Surprisingly weak, even.
While Su Qing was observing those little demons, Red Boy walked up to a high platform with a beaming smile and loudly introduced Su Qing to the rowdy group of small demons.
After hearing Red Boy’s introduction, the little demons cheered enthusiastically... though they looked a bit silly, they lacked the baleful aura typically found in the demons one encountered on the road.
It was quite obvious...
Red Boy was likely using Su Qing's methods to manage her subordinates.
"No wonder... although this girl claimed the mountain as her own, we didn't hear any farmers along the way talking about a terrifying demon in these mountains. It turns out they just don't have much of a presence."
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