Su Qing had guessed all of this, but she wasn't in a hurry to stop it.
It was naturally impossible to let Chaoyan interfere in this matter,
but speaking up now would be a bit too hasty and would inevitably make Chaoyan feel confused.
Explaining it later would only be more troublesome.
Therefore, Su Qing's current plan was to wait and see.
Su Qing knew that these people had sent their dream message too early, and the person they were looking for wasn't them.
As for why the Bodhisattva would make such a mistake,
Su Qing actually had some guesses in her heart... After all, it wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. So there was no need to find it too strange.
As Su Qing pondered.
The monks of Jinguang Temple also came back to their senses.
Although they seemed to have brought the wrong people back, since they were here, they should still clarify the situation for them.
Otherwise... it would surely displease the other party.
The monks quickly said, "Junior Sister, it's like this... Last night, we all had a dream. We dreamt that the Bodhisattva told us that tomorrow, a group of pilgrims from the Eastern Land of Great Tang would pass through here. We were instructed to go begging in the city as usual, and we would unexpectedly meet those monks."
"And if we just tell them what happened, they will be able to clear our names... allowing our Jinguang Temple to rekindle its incense power."
"It's just... we seem to have mistaken the people this time."
"Although you truly come from the Eastern Land of Great Tang, you are not monks, and there is only one Buddhist cultivator among you..."
Chaoyan was stunned upon hearing this.
She hadn't expected that the Bodhisattva had actually prompted them to do this.
However, listening to their words, she also felt that perhaps these people had made a mistake.
It might even be that the Bodhisattva had made a mistake.
After all, a Bodhisattva isn't necessarily infallible.
But she was a Buddhist cultivator, and speaking ill of a Bodhisattva among fellow practitioners felt a bit inappropriate.
After a long pause, she nodded slightly and said, "So that's how it is... But tell me, what crime did you commit? Why have you fallen to this state?"
Since it was awkward to say more on that topic, she wisely changed the subject.
She said, "Although I may not necessarily be able to help you all, please tell me what happened... That way, I'll know if I truly can assist you."
The monks didn't say much upon hearing this.
They simply began to explain to Chaoyan what had actually happened.
In simple terms...
Jinguang Temple originally possessed a special national treasure. That treasure caused the Buddha Pagoda to be enveloped in auspicious clouds and propitious mist, rising so high that people could see it from thousands of miles away.
Because of this national treasure, Jinsai Kingdom was revered by neighboring countries, who paid tribute every year.
However, due to a blood rain one or two years ago...
the national treasure was lost.
And the Buddha Pagoda was no longer shrouded in auspicious clouds and propitious mist...
Neighboring countries also stopped paying tribute to Jinsai Kingdom.
The King was extremely angry about this, believing that the monks in the temple had stolen the national treasure.
So he had the monks of the temple arrested, tortured, and interrogated.
The older generation had died from the torture.
While the younger monks had endured the torture, they were still found guilty and wore these shackles.
After hearing the monks' plight, Chaoyan couldn't help but feel pity, her heart somewhat aching for those of her kind.
"Alas, we are all honest monks, how could we dare to steal that Buddhist treasure? It's simply because His Majesty suspected us that we suffered this great calamity," one Jinguang Temple monk sighed deeply and said.
Chaoyan nodded and said, "You have truly suffered an undeserved disaster!"
The Jinguang Temple monks all sighed upon hearing this.
This could indeed be considered an undeserved disaster.
How could a group of mortals like them know how the national treasure was lost?
"So such a thing happened..."
Su Qing spoke up at the opportune moment, saying:
"However, we can't help you with this matter. We are indeed not the saviors the Bodhisattva spoke of... Most likely, the Bodhisattva made a mistake. After all, Bodhisattvas are not omnipotent, so it's not strange if they make a mistake."
"But even if the Bodhisattva made a mistake, it's not entirely without reference. Perhaps the true pilgrims will arrive here later?"
When the Jinguang Temple monks heard Su Qing say this, although they wanted to refute her statement about Bodhisattvas making mistakes, they didn't know how to speak up at that moment.
They could only look at each other... silently.
Seeing this, Su Qing smiled faintly and said, "But there's no need for you to be disheartened. Since it's a wrongful case, there will surely be a time for it to be overturned. I believe the Bodhisattva will definitely give you justice."
After a long while, the Jinguang Temple monks all chanted a Buddhist epithet, then nodded and said, "Benefactor speaks wisely."
Su Qing nodded and said, "Although I cannot help you overturn the case, I can still assist you in some ways. I see that you currently lack incense power funds and live a difficult life, forced to beg for a living. How about this, I will donate some incense power funds to you all! This way, you won't have to beg on the streets anymore!"
As soon as Su Qing spoke, the monks couldn't help but press their palms together, chant Buddhist epithets, and thank Su Qing.
"Thank you very much, Benefactor," the monk said.
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "It's just a pity that we cannot help you clear your names."
"No matter, it's just that we accidentally mistook you for others," the monk continued.
Su Qing smiled faintly at this and said nothing more.
She simply took out a few silver ingots from her pocket and handed them to the monks as incense power funds.
This amount of money was naturally not much...
But it was enough to improve the living conditions of these monks without much difficulty.
As for whether they could last until Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived,
who knew?
In any case, what happened afterward was none of her concern.
Chaoyan looked at her godmother...
She had originally wanted to say something, but after a brief thought, she closed her mouth.
With her own abilities, she couldn't offer any help in this matter.
And her godmother didn't seem to want to help, or rather, her godmother couldn't do anything about it...
So, there was no need for her to say anything more.
She just needed to listen to her godmother.
After all, she couldn't force her godmother to do anything, could she?
Honestly, although these Jinguang Temple monks were quite pitiful, and she did want to help, in terms of affection, her bond with her godmother was much deeper.
To make her godmother pay a heavy price to help a group of people she had just met, with no return...
If that were the case, she would be too unqualified as a goddaughter.
Su Qing saw that Chaoyan didn't speak, and nodded inwardly.
Afterward, Su Qing didn't stay in Jinguang Temple any longer.
After bidding farewell to the monks, she left Jinguang Temple.
After all, there was nothing else to do by staying there.
Leaving Jinguang Temple.
Su Qing and her companions then found an inn on the street to stay for a while...
It was already late, and it was a bit too late to go exchange the travel permit.
So they decided to rest here for the night and go tomorrow.
They could also take the opportunity to buy some dry rations on the street today.
Su Qing didn't go to buy the dry rations herself; instead, she entrusted it to Chaoyan, Jingyue, and Yudie.
Su Qing's original intention was to give the task to Chaoyan and Jingyue, but Yudie, unable to bear the boredom, went along with them.
Su Qing didn't stop her...
After all, keeping Yudie tied to her side would only mean more commotion in her ears.
Staying in the inn.
Su Qing sat by the window, gazing at the diverse array of passersby, a little lost in thought.
Her mind was somewhat cluttered at the moment, filled with many thoughts.
On one hand, there was the matter of Jinsai Kingdom, and on the other, Chaoyan's affairs.
The more she thought, the more chaotic her mind became. After much deliberation, Su Qing couldn't help but sigh.
She muttered to herself, "Well, so be it, I'll wait and see!"
Su Qing shook her head, then stood up and stretched, before going downstairs to order food from the waiter.
Calculating the time, those few troublesome individuals should be back with the dry rations by now.
When the kitchen finished preparing and serving the dishes, it would probably be just in time to eat.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, another day had passed.
The next morning.
According to the original plan, Su Qing went with Chaoyan to find the King and exchange the travel permit, while Jingyue and Yudie had a day to play freely.
The process of exchanging the travel permit was quite smooth...
After all, with Su Qing present, it would be impossible for the process to be anything but smooth.
Even if the King intended to make things difficult, Su Qing could subtly use her abilities to make him more amiable...
Although she didn't particularly like using magic to bully mortals...
they couldn't stop here.
Fortunately, the process was relatively smooth.
After all, just being from the Great Tang was quite intimidating.
After exchanging the travel permit.
Su Qing and her companions stayed in Jinsai Kingdom for another day.
Only then did they set off again, heading towards the Western Heaven.
Su Qing and her companions traveled, stopping and starting, but their journey was relatively smooth.
Although they occasionally encountered minor troubles or skirmishes along the way, it didn't delay them for long.
Traveling westward, time slowly passed.
In the blink of an eye, it was spring again.
On this day.
The weather was excellent.
Neither cold nor warm, perfect for leisurely enjoyment.
The group continued to walk slowly.
Suddenly, they saw a long ridge.
There were traces of a path at the top of the ridge, but it was overgrown with thorny bushes and tangled vines...
Su Qing looked at the thorny path ahead.
She couldn't help but stop.
"We've already reached here..." Su Qing thought to herself.
Chaoyan, seeing the thorny path, couldn't help but frown and say, "Godmother, are we still going to take this path? Although there's a path ahead, it's all thorns... We can walk it, but the horse will likely struggle. Should we go around?"
Hearing Chaoyan's words, the horse immediately nodded.
You are all immortals, but I am just a mortal horse that has just gained sentience. If I go through those thorns, I'll surely end up covered in wounds!
Yudie, seeing the horse nod, couldn't help but pat its head and say, "Why don't we burn it?"
Jingyue shook her head and said, "Your method is even worse than Chaoyan's suggestion to go around! First, it's early spring, so it might not even catch fire. Even if it does, wouldn't your single fire burn down the entire mountain? We're just passing through; why destroy the mountain along with it?"
Hearing Jingyue's words, Yudie felt that it made sense.
She couldn't help but nod and say, "It was my oversight; Big Sister Jingyue, you know more!"
Jingyue rolled her eyes at this...
It wasn't that she knew more; it was just that the logic was simple, and Yudie simply didn't bother to think.
Su Qing glanced at Yudie, who seemed intent on spending eternity in jail, then shook her head slightly and said:
"Going around probably won't work either. Looking at the length of this ridge, it's probably a thousand li long. If we go around, we'd have to walk a considerable distance more. However, the fact that this place is now surrounded by thorns is quite surprising to me. I truly don't know when so many thorns grew here."
Chaoyan was a little surprised to hear this and asked, "Godmother has been here before?"
"Yes, it was a long time ago. There weren't so many thorns here back then."
Su Qing casually bluffed:
"Well, no matter if there are many thorns! We'll just clear the path and continue. As for the horse, I'll make the path wide enough, and it will naturally be able to pass. They're just thorns, not evil demons that have killed countless people, so there's no need to make it so complicated."
Seeing Su Qing say this...
Chaoyan said nothing more.
She simply nodded slightly, agreeing to Su Qing's plan.
After all, her godmother surely saw more than she did.
And since her godmother said it was fine, why should she say more?
Chaoyan's trust in Su Qing was mostly subconscious.
Except when she clearly felt Su Qing was pulling her leg...
"Leave the thorn-clearing to me! I'm best at this~ Just chopping should be enough, right?" Hearing that they needed to clear thorns to proceed, Yudie eagerly volunteered.
As a sword spirit, Yudie hadn't properly chopped anything in a long time.
Naturally, she couldn't miss such an opportunity today.
Seeing Yudie volunteer, Su Qing said nothing more, nodded, and said, "Since you want to do it, then you do it!"
Hearing her mother speak, Yudie grinned.
Then she formed a hand seal and summoned a short sword.
That sword was, of course, Yudie's true form... the Fish Gut Sword.
As a sword spirit, no weapon was as convenient for Yudie to use as her true form...
After all, other weapons were just weapons, but her true form was her body. Who could understand herself better than herself?
And so...
Yudie held the short sword and cleared the path ahead.
Chaoyan and Jingyue moved the cut thorns to both sides of the road.
So that subsequent travelers wouldn't have to walk on thorns.
As for Su Qing, she was idle...
She just rode her horse at the back.
The group cleared the path and moved forward, their speed not slow.
In just one day.
Su Qing and her companions had traveled about a hundred li.
If the sky hadn't already darkened, Su Qing and her companions could have traveled even further.
The group stopped advancing and prepared to clear an open space for their rest tonight.
However, as they cleared the space, they suddenly discovered a boundary stele.
On it, the three characters 'Thorny Ridge' were scrawled.
Below those three characters were two more lines of smaller text.
They read: 'Eight hundred li of thorny vines, a path of old, rarely trod by man.'
Looking at the lines of text above.
Chaoyan couldn't help but look at Su Qing, and that classic question popped into her mind again.
Just how old was her godmother?
Although she was curious, she didn't dare to ask... After all, her godmother seemed quite sensitive about her age.
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