Tormenting Chang'e

Chaoyan stood in a daze for a long while.

Finally, she asked blankly, "Those guards... were they actually Bodhisattvas in disguise?"

"Indeed... those guards were transformed Bodhisattvas. They came to warn us about the demons on the road ahead. At the same time, they likely wanted to see your performance—to see how deep your resolve for the pilgrimage truly is."

Su Qing nodded slightly, not hiding much as she casually shared her deduction. Although she kept many things from Chaoyan, she didn't mind telling her about most inconsequential matters. It was also a good opportunity to teach her a lesson!

Hearing this, Chen Chaoyan sighed softly. "I suppose my behavior earlier must have disappointed the Bodhisattvas?"

"It doesn't matter... as long as you haven't given up on the pilgrimage, it's fine," Su Qing said, shaking her head.

Chaoyan nodded, though she felt her godmother was mostly just trying to comfort her. Regardless, she couldn't let her godmother down again.

"Yes, don't worry, Godmother. I definitely won't give up halfway," Chaoyan said firmly, clenching her small fists.

Su Qing didn't say much to that, simply nodding. "That’s good."

"By the way, Godmother... how should we handle the road ahead? There are so many demons there... if we have to perform rites for all of them, even a Bodhisattva would be exhausted to death. And there are those three demon lords too."

Chaoyan couldn't help but feel distressed again. "Godmother, why don't we just take a detour? It might take a few more days, but it's better than facing those demons directly!"

Chaoyan wished she could simply charge through Lion Camel Ridge and bring all those demons to justice. But her strength was limited, and her abilities were weak. With such meager power, how could she accomplish such a feat?

Su Qing smiled faintly. "A detour? There's no need. Besides, detouring is too much trouble... it would likely add six months or even a year to our journey. It's not worth it."

"You've been frightened by those Bodhisattvas. No matter how powerful those demons are, they aren't impossible to deal with."

"In Lion Camel Ridge, only the demon lords are likely to be formidable. As for the lesser demons, there's no need to worry about them at all. And as for those demon lords, I have a way to handle them."

"You don't need to worry too much."

"Godmother has a way?" Chaoyan tilted her head and asked.

"Of course..."

Su Qing patted her head and said, "Your godmother has many friends! At worst, I'll just borrow some treasures from them to give those demons a lesson. We'll be able to pass through naturally. As for whether we can kill those demons and send them to see the Buddha... that's hard to say."

Of course, it wasn't actually hard to say. It was because Su Qing had promised someone she wouldn't kill those fellows. Otherwise, she would have certainly gone to finish them off herself.

Chaoyan was slightly stunned.

She had thought her godmother's plan would be to avoid the demons and slip through Lion Camel Ridge quietly. Instead... her godmother intended to face them head-on?

"Godmother... isn't that a bit too reckless?"

"Reckless? I don't think so. Why? Do you not trust me?"

"I naturally trust you, Godmother, but I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Rest assured, if I weren't absolutely certain, why would I easily confront them? Though my strength is average, I am not that weak."

Su Qing shook her head and smiled with great calm. "Besides, didn't I tell you? I have many friends, and their strength is not weak either. Even if they can't come to help in person, they can lend me some treasures."

Chaoyan looked at Su Qing and pursed her lips. "I believe you, Godmother... but if you do that, won't you owe them a favor?"

"In this life, who doesn't owe favors?" Su Qing shook her head. "Compared to a favor, I'm more worried about whether you can make it to the Western Heaven in the end."

Hearing Su Qing say this, Chaoyan didn't know what to say for a moment.

Seeing this, Su Qing chuckled. "Alright, I'm very happy that you care about me so much. But this time, just listen to me."

Chaoyan let out a long breath and nodded slightly. "I understand."

She didn't plan to argue further. It was best to just listen to her godmother. If she kept talking, her godmother would probably get annoyed.

Seeing her like this, Su Qing rubbed her head. "However, because I need to go find my friends... I'll be leaving for a while. I'll probably be back in a few hours. Why don't you and Jingyue wait for me here?"

Chaoyan naturally had no objections and said obediently, "I know, Godmother! Sister Jingyue and I will wait for you here."

Su Qing was quite satisfied with Chaoyan's obedience. She nodded and said, "Yudie, come here! We're taking a trip."

Hearing Su Qing call her, Yudie was startled for a moment. She put down her rations and said, "Coming, Mother! Where are we going?"

Although Yudie hadn't joined the conversation, she had been listening to Su Qing and Chaoyan. She knew Su Qing was going out to find someone, so she was curious about which friend they were going to see this time.

However, Su Qing didn't explain much, only saying, "Just come here."

Clearly, Su Qing didn't intend to explain too much before they set off. Yudie didn't mind and obediently went to Su Qing's side, following her out of the ruined temple.

Then, Su Qing performed a hand seal and stepped onto a crimson Somersault Cloud, departing the area.

In truth, even without seeking help, Su Qing could deal with those three demons. The reason she wanted to find someone was partly to maintain her cover so Chaoyan wouldn't overthink things, and partly to save some effort. After all, while she could handle the three demons, it would be difficult to subdue them without killing them. Moreover, that Golden-Winged Great Peng was extremely cunning and incredibly fast; dealing with him would be a headache.

So, since she had already told Chaoyan the lie about finding help, she might as well make it true. It was also a good excuse to catch up with old friends, as she hadn't seen them in a long time.

Of course, Su Qing didn't dare return to the Changbai Mountains. If she went back, she certainly wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon. Not just because of Leng Xiang and the others, but because she feared that once she returned, she wouldn't want to leave again. Furthermore, even if she went back there for help, she wouldn't find anyone who could make this specific trouble easier to solve. While Leng Xiang was her most trusted sword, it would be hard for her to stop a demon determined to flee. The Golden-Winged Great Peng's speed was simply too great.

Therefore, the place Su Qing was heading to was actually the Moon Palace. The person she was looking for was Sister Chang'e. Chang'e might not be able to help her directly, but asking her for a treasure to trap the Golden-Winged Great Peng wouldn't be a problem.

Of course, if Chang'e couldn't provide a treasure, then she would just have to do it herself. It might be a bit more tiring, but it wasn't a huge issue; it would just take a bit more time.

While riding the Somersault Cloud, Yudie chattered incessantly, asking Su Qing who they were going to see. Su Qing had no choice but to answer honestly to stop the girl from pestering her.

Upon hearing the answer, Yudie was overjoyed.

"We're going to see Auntie Chang'e? That's wonderful! I haven't seen her in so long. Come to think of it, I haven't seen Yuer in ages either! I wonder how she's doing."

Yudie had a good relationship with Yuer. Having not seen her for so long, she naturally missed her. In the past, she could visit the Moon Palace every once in a while, but since the pilgrimage began, there had been no chance to play there. Thus, the prospect of seeing Chang'e made Yudie even more excited than Su Qing.

Seeing her so worked up, Su Qing said with some helplessness, "We aren't going up there to play. We're going to ask Palace Mistress Chang'e for help! So, you'd better behave yourself. We don't have much time for you to fool around in the Moon Palace."

"I know, I know! I know why Mother is going to the Moon Palace... but I'm just so happy!" Yudie said with a giggle.

Su Qing shook her head, wanting to give the girl a couple of knocks on the head. But she was worried about making the already somewhat silly girl even dumber, so she reluctantly abandoned the idea.

The Somersault Cloud was very fast. Although Su Qing had slowed down a bit to chat with Yudie, they still arrived at the gates of the Moon Palace in short order.

The guards at the gate were the same as always. Several female generals stood guard, and seeing Su Qing approach, they didn't block her way. They simply saluted her and said, "Yuanjun, you haven't visited the Moon Palace in a long time! What wind blew you up here today?"

The female guards were already very familiar with Su Qing and considered her a friend. Knowing her temperament, they dared to tease her a little, though they would never say anything truly out of line.

"Naturally, I have business with the Palace Mistress," Su Qing replied with a smile.

"The Yuanjun is indeed here for the Palace Mistress. She has been mentioning you often lately; she must miss you dearly. Please, come in quickly! She will be delighted to see you."

The female guard laughed and opened the gates. Su Qing nodded slightly, thanked them, and entered the Moon Palace.

Having not been here for many years, the Moon Palace hadn't changed at all. Even the staff remained largely the same. Everything was so familiar. Su Qing followed the familiar path and soon arrived at the door of Chang'e's study. She knew exactly where Chang'e spent her days, so it was easy to find this lazy Palace Mistress.

She knocked on the door without saying a word.

Inside the study, Chang'e was buried under a mountain of paperwork, looking utterly miserable. She looked as if she were about to die, as if the pile of documents before her was draining her very life force. When she heard the knock at the door, her heart skipped a beat, followed by a heavy sigh.

"I suppose it's more paperwork..."

Lately, Chang'e had been driven nearly insane by the various affairs of the Moon Palace. Whenever she heard a knock, her subconscious assumed more documents were being delivered. But she couldn't ignore them; she was the actual administrator of the Moon Palace. With Yuer currently away, she had to do everything herself.

She said weakly, "Come in! Just come in and put the documents down. Don't knock anymore; the sound of knocking irritates me."

Hearing Chang'e's feeble, death-like voice from within, Su Qing couldn't help but chuckle. She didn't stand on ceremony, pushing the door open and walking into the study.

As Su Qing and Yudie entered, they were greeted by stacks upon stacks of paperwork—and Chang'e, slumped over her desk with a look of utter despair.

Su Qing looked at her and said, "Sister Chang'e, it's been a long time! How did you end up in such a state after all this time?"

The exhausted Chang'e froze for a moment upon hearing Su Qing's voice. Then, like a dying person suddenly jolted back to life, she sat up straight and looked at Su Qing in surprise. "It really is you, girl! I thought it was more paperwork! Why haven't you come to see me in so long? What brings you to my palace today?"

The previously hopeless Chang'e had somehow completely regained her vitality, as if the person who was just half-dead on the desk wasn't her at all.

Su Qing's lip twitched slightly. When it came to emotional management, she felt there was still a massive gap between her and Chang'e. She certainly couldn't change her face that quickly. However, she was already used to it and didn't bother to comment.

She simply spoke the truth. "Naturally, I've come to ask for Sister's help with something! And as you know, I'm currently accompanying the pilgrim on the journey to the West."

Hearing this, Chang'e pursed her lips. Though she was a bit unhappy with Su Qing, she didn't say much, only replying: "You only think of me when you're in trouble, don't you? But whatever, out with it! What is it? It just so happens I want to get out and move around. As long as it's something that takes up a lot of time, I'm in! Even if it doesn't take that much time, I'll still help!"