Little Western Heaven

Su Qing and her companions were just descending the mountain.

They happened to spot pavilions and halls on a distant flatland.

Auspicious light shimmered there, colorful mists swirled, and the faint, melodious sounds of bells and chimes drifted, clearly indicating a temple.

Morning Glory, seeing the distant temple, couldn't help but exclaim:

"I can't believe there's a temple here too! There are so many temples in the West~ Wherever there's beautiful scenery, there's always a temple."

Su Qing narrowed her eyes slightly at the sight; she naturally knew what lay below.

She had been heading precisely here... so how could she not know where it was?

She smiled and said, "This temple is quite interesting; it resembles the Great Thunder Monastery. However, this place is still very far from Spirit Mountain, so it's probably not the true Great Thunder Monastery."

"This place really does look like the Great Thunder Monastery!" Yudie said, shading her eyes with her hand, observing carefully, and agreeing with Su Qing.

Yudie had also traveled to many places with Su Qing, so she knew what the Great Thunder Monastery looked like.

Su Qing nodded with a smile, "You recognize it? Well, that's good. Since we're here, let's go visit that temple!"

Morning Glory quickly nodded upon hearing this, "I was just thinking the same thing! But, Godmother, is the Great Thunder Monastery really similar to this temple?"

Morning Glory's reason for wanting to go to the temple was simple: besides wanting to pay respects to the Bodhisattvas, she also planned to stay there for the night.

After all, it was already getting late after crossing the tall mountain...

And whether they would find a place to stay further down the road was a big question.

So, it was better to just stay at the temple for a night.

"To be precise, this temple resembles the Great Thunder Monastery; it was likely built to imitate it, wasn't it? The builder of this temple must have visited the real Great Thunder Monastery, otherwise, they couldn't have constructed a temple that looks like this," Su Qing said with a gentle smile.

"Oh, I see~ Godmother, haven't you been to that temple?"

"If I intended to go to Spirit Mountain, I would fly there... I rarely walk on the ground."

Su Qing shook her head and said:

"It's only when I'm with you, lass, that I walk. Besides, when I passed through here before, there was no such temple. It must have been built later and doesn't have a long history."

Morning Glory chuckled upon hearing this, scratching her head, "Oh, Godmother, you've gone to so much trouble~"

"No matter, let's go down and take a look!" Su Qing said.

Seeing Su Qing move ahead, Morning Glory quickly followed.

Yudie, seeing her mother leave, naturally followed suit.

Only Liu Jingyue looked at the distant temple, raising an eyebrow.

She wondered if it was her imagination, but she felt a faint hint of malevolence within the auspicious light of the temple.

"If I can sense it... then Sister can definitely sense it too. But why does she still want to go there?" A hint of doubt flickered in Jingyue's eyes.

However, her sister had done many strange things, so she didn't immediately question her.

After all, in her opinion, Su Qing always had her reasons for doing things.

What those reasons were, remained unknown.

She simply habitually trusted the other party...

And followed along.

After all... Jingyue hated using her brain the most.

The three walked without stopping.

Soon after, they descended the mountain.

And arrived before the temple.

Morning Glory stood before the temple, looking at the four large characters above its entrance, and paused slightly.

"Little Great Thunder Monastery?" Morning Glory asked, "This temple's name is truly interesting... If there's a Great Thunder Monastery, then there's a Little Great Thunder Monastery~"

Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, casually remarking:

"The person who built this temple was quite honest, imitating the Great Thunder Monastery's architecture, yet naming it the Little Great Thunder Monastery?"

Morning Glory pondered this, then nodded slightly, "Then, Godmother, do you think there will be a Buddha in this Little Great Thunder Monastery?"

"That's hard to say... Wouldn't we know if we went in and looked?" Su Qing stroked her chin, half-jokingly, "Who knows, there might even be a real Buddha."

Although in Journey to the West, Yellow Brow transformed into a Buddha to deceive Sun Wukong and his companions, whether he would do the same to deceive Morning Glory now was hard to say.

After all, Morning Glory's destiny was somewhat interesting.

Seeing Su Qing's smiling face, Morning Glory also smiled.

Then she tidied her monastic robes, gripped her staff, and walked into the open temple gate.

However, Morning Glory didn't actually believe there would be any real Buddha in this temple.

She just found the temple's name amusing and was joking with Su Qing.

After all, if there were so many Buddhas, and even such a place had a Buddha, then why bother going to the Western Heaven?

She thought, at most, there would just be a statue of a Buddha inside.

Seeing Morning Glory enter,

Su Qing also followed through the main gate.

The scene inside the gate looked familiar, not surprising her in the slightest... it was built entirely in imitation of the Great Thunder Monastery.

The only thing that exceeded her expectations was that

there were no fake Buddhas in the temple, only a group of monks putting on an act.

Su Qing looked at the monks, a slight curve on her lips, finding it quite interesting.

These monks' disguises were good; with Morning Glory's abilities, she probably wouldn't see through them...

At most, she would sense something was amiss.

Clearly, to be able to disguise themselves like this, it must be Yellow Brow's transformation technique...

Yellow Brow, after all, was a boy attendant under Maitreya Buddha, possessing several transformation techniques, so it wasn't strange.

Although those demons probably hadn't perfected their transformation methods, it was enough to deceive ordinary people, and even minor immortals.

While Su Qing was thinking, Morning Glory had already gone to chat with the monks.

However, those monks were merely demons in disguise. Seeing Morning Glory approach them for conversation, they didn't know what to say, fearing they might accidentally let slip a word and ruin their Great King's plan.

So, they merely said they would take them to meet the temple's abbot.

Morning Glory felt a little strange about this situation.

But she didn't think too much of it, simply believing that the monks she encountered were not eloquent speakers.

Su Qing watched from the side, her expression unchanged, simply following Morning Glory to meet this so-called abbot.

If Su Qing's guess was correct...

Then that abbot was likely none other than the Yellow Brow Great King.

As they walked with the group,

Liu Jingyue couldn't help but transmit a message, "Sister... those monks are disguised, do we really not need to intervene?"

Su Qing replied via spiritual transmission, "Don't worry, and don't intervene. They're just minor demons, and I'm here! Besides, I'm also curious about what will happen next, so just relax and follow me."

Liu Jingyue raised an eyebrow and asked, "What exactly are you planning, Sister?"

"No plans, I'm just going to watch the show," Su Qing replied with a slight smile via spiritual transmission, "Anyway, don't worry, I probably know the owner of this dojo."

Seeing that Su Qing had no intention of explaining, Liu Jingyue could only pout and suppress her curiosity.

She then grumbled about her sister always not telling her what she was going to do.

However, this time Liu Jingyue truly misunderstood Su Qing.

What she said this time was the absolute truth...

She really was just planning to watch the show.

After all, although she knew what was generally going on here, she wasn't clear about what the Yellow Brow Great King intended to do or how he planned to do it.

If she knew, she wouldn't have followed Morning Glory in.

Her presence was merely to provide an extra layer of insurance for Morning Glory.

To prevent any unexpected incidents.

This Little Great Thunder Monastery was very large...

After walking a considerable distance with the monks,

Su Qing and her companions finally met the Yellow Brow Great King...

Oh, no, at this moment, he should be called the abbot.

However, although the Yellow Brow Great King had transformed into the appearance of a mortal monk, his characteristic eyebrows remained unchanged... which looked quite comical.

Su Qing's expression remained calm...

She stood beside Morning Glory, waiting for Morning Glory and the Yellow Brow Great King to converse first.

"So, you all wish to stay for the night? Amitabha, that is certainly not a problem,"

the Yellow Brow Great King said, putting on an act.

"I built this temple here precisely to provide a resting place for travelers and to allow people to witness the grandeur and majesty of the Great Thunder Monastery."

"So, for you Bhikkhunis to wish to stay here for the night is naturally not a problem."

"Um, actually, I am the only nun. This is my Godmother, and they are not nuns," Morning Glory quickly explained.

After all, if it wasn't, it wasn't; if it was, it was. If there was a mistake, it should naturally be corrected.

The Yellow Brow Great King heard this, glanced at Morning Glory, and chuckled, "I see, I see. In any case, it's no problem for you all to stay for the night."

The Yellow Brow Great King found it amusing in his heart...

How could he not know that Su Qing was not a nun?

He had seen Su Qing more than once.

However, the Yellow Brow Great King didn't mind playing along with Morning Glory, as he had no intention of exposing his demonic identity.

That would only bring him unnecessary trouble...

And attract even more troublesome individuals.

Besides... he had other tasks to complete!

Seeing this, Morning Glory quickly thanked the abbot.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Abbot..."

"No worries, no worries... We are all from the same sect; it's only right," Yellow Brow said with a chuckle.

Then he pointed to the two monks from earlier and said, "You two, take them to the side rooms first!"

The two monks naturally dared not disobey their Great King's words, quickly nodded, and prepared to lead Morning Glory and her companions away.

It was then that the Yellow Brow Great King spoke again, "By the way, Benefactor... speaking of which, I felt you looked somewhat familiar earlier. Have we met somewhere before?"

As the Yellow Brow Great King spoke, he also transmitted a message, asking Su Qing to cooperate with his act.

Su Qing raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled faintly, "Now that you mention it, I also find the abbot somewhat familiar. Perhaps I happened to meet the abbot when I went to the Great Thunder Monastery to offer incense?"

Upon hearing the spiritual transmission, Su Qing immediately understood that this person wanted to speak with her privately.

So, she naturally played along with his brief act.

As for whether the performance was good?

That was a matter of opinion.

"Hahaha, my memory is indeed quite good. By the way, Benefactor, since you have also been to the Great Thunder Monastery, why don't you join me in the pavilion for a chat? I have a few things I'd like to ask you! I'd like to hear your thoughts on this Little Great Thunder Monastery of mine," Yellow Brow said at this point.

Su Qing smiled faintly upon hearing this, "That's certainly not a problem..."

Su Qing looked at Yellow Brow, feeling a little curious... What exactly did Yellow Brow want to talk about with her?

Yellow Brow was Maitreya Buddha's boy attendant... he must be delivering some message from Maitreya Buddha?

Su Qing didn't know, but she would soon find out.

Beside them, Morning Glory was stunned to hear Su Qing and Yellow Brow's conversation, then said, "Then shall we go to the side rooms first?"

Su Qing nodded, "You go ahead! I'll come find you after I finish talking with the abbot."

Seeing this, Morning Glory nodded and followed the two monks to the side rooms.

Liu Jingyue, who was nearby, glanced at Su Qing, pouted, and then left with Morning Glory.

After everyone had left, Su Qing and Yellow Brow went to a small pavilion in the back garden.

They both took their seats.

Yellow Brow performed a Buddhist salute to Su Qing and said, "Greetings, Senior Yuanjun! It's been a long time, and you are as beautiful as ever."

Su Qing heard the clumsy compliment, pouted, and waved her hand, "Let's not bother with flattery... If I'm not mistaken, you are Senior Maitreya's boy attendant, aren't you?"

"Senior Yuanjun has keen insight. I had intended to explain my identity to you first, but I didn't expect you to see through it so quickly," Yellow Brow retracted much of his demonic aura, indeed looking like a Buddhist practitioner.

Su Qing shook her head upon hearing this, then asked knowingly, "Why aren't you cultivating properly by Senior Maitreya's side? Why did you run off to this remote, backward place to build some Little Great Thunder Monastery?"

"To answer Senior Yuanjun, this is my master's decree. My master instructed me to build a Little Western Heaven here, establishing a Little Great Thunder Monastery, to await the pilgrim Holy Monk Tang Sanzang, who is journeying to the West, and also... Senior Yuanjun and my goddaughter, Chen Chaoyan."

Yellow Brow answered every question honestly; whatever Su Qing asked, he truthfully responded.

This made Su Qing sigh with a bit of emotion...

She was almost a riddler herself, yet she could still encounter such an honest person.

However, Su Qing wasn't surprised by Yellow Brow's words in the slightest... she merely confirmed her thoughts further in her heart.

As for why Yellow Brow answered so honestly...

Su Qing thought it was likely Maitreya's intention.

After all, without Maitreya's permission, how could he answer so honestly?

There was also another reason: perhaps Maitreya knew she had already guessed some things... which was why he allowed Yellow Brow to answer truthfully.

Su Qing gently shook her head and said:

"So that's how it is... By the way, you called me over, presumably not just to say these things, right? Tell me, what else is there besides this? Also, I'm a bit curious, why did your master instruct you to wait for the Holy Monk, and also for me and my goddaughter?"

In truth, Su Qing already had some suspicions as to why they were waiting for her and Morning Glory... but she still chose to ask, to verify her conjectures.