Chapter 331 | I, Liu Xian, Am Not a Divine Dragon

The autumn of that year was exceptionally beautiful.

Though many say autumn is a season of desolation, it is also a season of harvest.

As Su Qing and her companions walked along the main road, they watched the travelers by the wayside harvesting crops, their faces brimming with smiles...

Such a scene was truly magnificent.

Not to mention the wild mountains and remote ridges, where the sky was filled with red leaves, making the scenery even more exquisite.

One day.

After bidding farewell to the family that had hosted them for the night, Su Qing and the others set off once more, proceeding along the main road.

However, they hadn't been walking for long that day...

Before they encountered another city.

This city wasn't large; it didn't look like a capital, but rather a county town.

Seeing this, Su Qing said, "It's almost noon. We might as well head to the county town ahead, have lunch, and then continue."

At Su Qing’s suggestion, Yudie was naturally overjoyed.

By now, she didn't particularly care about the pilgrimage for the scriptures anymore...

The reason she still had so much drive was mostly to taste the local delicacies along the route.

So, when Su Qing mentioned having lunch in the county town,

Yudie nearly dragged Su Qing there herself.

Su Qing was somewhat speechless at Yudie's behavior. She felt like her girl was truly being led astray...

She wondered if Yudie had spent too much time with those Little Sparrows at home, which was why she had developed such a gluttonous nature.

But despite her exasperation, they still had to go.

The group arrived beneath the city walls.

Looking up at the name of the county town...

They saw the three characters for Yuhua County written above.

"Godmother... now that we're in Yuhua County, how much further is it to the Kingdom of Tianzhu?" Chaoyan asked curiously as they entered the town.

Hearing this, Su Qing was visibly stunned for a moment before saying, "Yuhua County is already within the borders of the Kingdom of Tianzhu..."

"Ah? Then how much further is it to Spirit Mountain?"

"There's still some distance to Spirit Mountain... but it's not far from the capital of the Kingdom of Tianzhu," Su Qing replied after a moment of thought.

"I see..." Chaoyan nodded and asked again, "Is Spirit Mountain inside the capital of the Kingdom of Tianzhu?"

"Erm, no... You know it's called Spirit Mountain, so naturally, it's a mountain..." Su Qing smiled helplessly and said, "Anyway, don't ask so much... We aren't that far from Spirit Mountain. Once we arrive, won't everything be clear to you?"

When it came to explaining these things...

Su Qing found it quite troublesome.

She simply threw the question back at her.

After all, they were already within the borders of the Kingdom of Tianzhu...

Spirit Mountain wasn't far off.

It was better to let the girl see it for herself...

Rather than wasting her breath explaining.

Hearing this, Chaoyan could only nod.

Since her godmother didn't want to talk about it...

Even if she asked, she certainly wouldn't get an answer.

So there was nothing more to say.

Su Qing and the others took a turn around Yuhua County, and after having lunch... they didn't plan to stay long.

Su Qing knew what events took place in Yuhua County...

It wouldn't hurt to ignore them.

As for the Nine-Spirited Origin Saint...

He was indeed a significant bit of trouble.

But he wasn't worth Su Qing worrying too much about...

She didn't even feel like going there to 'check-in.'

If they happened to run into him, she would give him a scare.

If they didn't, she would act as if she knew nothing about it.

Leaving Yuhua County,

Su Qing and the others continued toward the Western Heaven.

In the blink of an eye, it began to grow late.

Su Qing and her companions prepared to find a place to rest.

However, in these wild mountains and remote ridges, it was truly difficult to find any households.

As for camping out...

Su Qing looked up at the sky.

The gloomy, heavy sky didn't look like it would be very friendly to those sleeping outdoors.

They would likely be soaked like drowned rats by midnight.

"Let's walk a bit further! If we're lucky, we might find a cave. If we're unlucky... then we'll just put up a makeshift shelter to rest."

Su Qing shook her head. Camping out was fine on normal days, but doing so when it looked like it was about to rain...

That was just asking for trouble.

Chaoyan and Su Qing shared the same thoughts... after all, no one wanted to wake up in the middle of the night soaked to the bone.

The group didn't stop and continued forward for a while.

As it turned out, their luck was quite good.

After walking a few miles, they actually encountered a cave.

The cave was large and appeared to be unclaimed territory...

Staying there for a night wouldn't be an issue.

After spending the night there...

They set off again the next day.

Over the next few days,

Su Qing and her companions traveled along the main road.

The journey was exceptionally smooth... they didn't encounter any trouble.

After traveling for about seven or eight days,

They suddenly saw another city in the distance.

Looking at the city from afar, Chaoyan couldn't help but sigh:

"The Kingdom of Tianzhu is truly prosperous. We haven't walked for long, yet we see such a grand city again! However, there are no flagpoles on the city walls, so I don't know what place this is! Godmother, why don't we go over and rest for a day before moving on?"

Hearing this, Su Qing looked up...

Seeing that the city in the distance was indeed prosperous, she nodded as well.

"As you wish... I've also grown tired of walking these past few days, so a rest wouldn't be bad."

Having received Su Qing's response, Chaoyan nodded happily.

She followed Yudie to lead the way.

Su Qing and the others walked toward the city.

But before they even entered the city, they saw a temple...

Chaoyan looked up and saw the three characters for Ciyun Temple written above.

"Godmother... I'm going inside to offer a stick of incense to the Buddha. I'll be back as soon as I'm done." Seeing a temple, especially one like this, Chaoyan naturally felt the urge to offer incense.

She was, after all, a Buddhist cultivator... her reverence for the Buddha went without saying.

However, while she wanted to offer incense, she didn't plan to stay and disturb them for long. She intended to finish and then enter the city with Su Qing.

"Go ahead." Su Qing looked up at the temple, nodded, and didn't stop her.

Having lived with the girl for so many years, how could she not know her temperament?

Chaoyan smiled at the words and followed Su Qing into the temple.

Ciyun Temple was indeed magnificent... with grand towers and majestic altars.

The temple was also very lively.

Chaoyan walked silently into the temple.

Meanwhile, Su Qing and the others stood outside the temple, watching the endless stream of pedestrians.

"Speaking of which... if I calculate the days, it seems the Lantern Festival is approaching." Getting bored while waiting, Su Qing spoke to Yudie. "How about it? Do you want to spend the Lantern Festival here before we set off?"

Hearing this, Yudie looked at Su Qing with some surprise...

Her mother rarely took the initiative to bring up such matters.

So, she couldn't help but find it strange.

But as for whether she was willing to stay for a few more days and spend the Lantern Festival before leaving,

Her answer was, naturally, predictable.

"Of course, of course... let's stay for the Lantern Festival before we go!"

After a brief moment of daze, Yudie immediately said with a beaming smile:

"We've been rushing so busily... aside from that one time we spent the Dragon Boat Festival in that one kingdom, we haven't properly celebrated a single festival! Since you suddenly brought it up today, Mother, I naturally agree with both hands."

Su Qing knew the girl couldn't possibly refuse...

So she nodded and said, "In that case, when Chaoyan returns, let's tell her. We'll set off again after celebrating the Lantern Festival here."

Yudie nodded hurriedly...

She was afraid that if she answered too late, Su Qing might change her mind.

"But speaking of which, Mother, why did you suddenly think of staying here for the festival before leaving?" While waiting for Chaoyan to return, Yudie couldn't stay idle and asked.

Seeing her ask this, Su Qing smiled faintly. "I once heard that the lanterns during the festival here are second to none in the world. It just so happens that the Lantern Festival isn't far off, so I had a sudden whim to stay here for it."

"I see... speaking of the Lantern Festival, I miss my own mother a little."

As Yudie spoke, she couldn't help but sigh. "Mother, how much longer until we finish these hundred and eight thousand miles?"

Hearing this, Su Qing shook her head and said, "I miss them too. But don't worry, it won't be much longer. Soon, we'll be able to go back."

Yudie nodded slightly...

She knew her mother was determined to finish this journey no matter what.

So she didn't say anything more.

"But being able to spend this Lantern Festival with you, Mother, is also a happy thing." Yudie wasn't the type of person who liked to dwell on gloomy thoughts.

Since her mother said they would arrive soon, there was no point in continuing to be discouraged.

Instead, it would only make her mother's mood heavy.

Seeing the girl say this, Su Qing smiled and rubbed her head.

"The Lantern Festival... I've never really celebrated one! Sister Xiao Qing, do you think the lantern fair is truly interesting?" Jingyue, who had been silent for a long time, couldn't help but ask.

Su Qing nodded. "If you like beautiful things, then it's naturally interesting... but compared to the lantern fair, you'll probably enjoy the various delicious foods at the festival even more."

"I think Yudie will like that even more."

"Yudie certainly will!"

"By the way, Sister Xiao Qing... when the time comes, let me go back with you too?"

"You're not going back to Flower-Fruit Mountain first?"

"I'll go to your Changbai Mountain first to take a look."

"That's fine too... you can also go find Leng Xiang to catch up."

"Catch up? Mmhmm!" Jingyue smiled and nodded.

In truth, going to Changbai Mountain was about more than just catching up with Leng Xiang; she had many more things she wanted to do.

But now wasn't the time to say them...

So she didn't say much to Su Qing.

As they were chatting,

Chaoyan, who had finished burning incense and praying in the temple, finally came out.

"How was it?" Su Qing asked with a smile.

Chaoyan nodded and said, "The incense power in this temple is truly flourishing... the Buddha statues are also incredibly majestic. It truly is a temple near the Land of Ultimate Bliss."

Su Qing smiled upon hearing this but didn't continue the conversation on that topic.

She simply told Chaoyan about their plans for the next few days.

Upon learning that Su Qing planned to set off after the Lantern Festival, Chaoyan showed no dissatisfaction.

On the contrary, she also felt... that leaving after the festival was quite good.

Especially after hearing that the lanterns at the fair were exceptionally beautiful, she wanted to see them even more.

Once their opinions were aligned, they set off again toward the city.

On the way, Chaoyan was also quite curious about the Lantern Festival lanterns.

So she kept asking questions.

However, there were many things Su Qing couldn't easily explain, so she could only brush them off.

She told her she would see for herself when the day came.

They entered the city.

The scenery inside was prosperous, and the people were very lively.

Although the Lantern Festival was still a day or two away, the shops on the streets and the households along the way were already decorating their houses or storefronts.

As a result, even though the festival hadn't arrived yet...

The streets already had quite a festive atmosphere.

Walking along such a street, Chaoyan couldn't help but feel much better...

After all, such a lively town was far more interesting than those wild mountains and remote ridges, and certainly more interesting than places where demons and monsters lurked.

After walking on the street for a short while,

Su Qing and the others found an inn...

And they checked in directly.

The inn's decor already had a festive feel...

And the waiter was exceptionally enthusiastic.

Seeing that Chaoyan was very interested in the Lantern Festival fair in Jinping Prefecture...

He began to tell her all sorts of interesting stories about the festival.

As for how the Lantern Festival fair was, the locals naturally knew best... so Su Qing didn't stop the girl from asking questions.

She even gave the waiter some money, telling him to answer Chaoyan's questions well.

After all, if Chaoyan was bothering someone else, she wouldn't be bothering her.

At the same time, although Su Qing knew there was a Lantern Festival fair here, she wasn't particularly clear on the details.

So when the waiter spoke, she also listened quite intently.