“I never imagined... the changes to Flower-Fruit Mountain would be so vast...”
Wukong fell silent for a moment before sighing in admiration.
The transformation of Flower-Fruit Mountain truly astonished him.
But then, considering his Big Sister's capabilities, he felt a sense of understanding.
After all, Big Sister always had such wondrous ideas.
As for whether these changes were good or bad for Flower-Fruit Mountain, Wukong wasn't entirely sure.
But seeing the monkeys in the city living so happily... it seemed quite good.
He had spent years tempering himself in the mortal world, after all. He didn't harbor any particular dislike for mortals—he had even saved quite a few on the journey west.
“Hundreds of years have passed; naturally, the changes are great,” Su Qing said with a faint smile, noting the shocked expressions on Wukong and Liu Jingyue's faces.
She had long anticipated their surprise, so she was mostly enjoying the spectacle.
To be honest, she hadn't returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain in many years herself, and it had changed quite a bit since her last visit.
Indeed. A few decades might not be much to her, but it was enough for the mortal world to undergo earth-shattering changes. Flower-Fruit Mountain was no exception; it was part of that world.
If the place had changed this much in her absence of a few decades, it was only natural for Wukong and Jingyue to be stunned after centuries.
“It truly is... astonishing. Even though I heard Sister mention the changes before... seeing it with my own eyes is still quite something,” Liu Jingyue said, shaking her head with a sigh as she looked at the small city in the distance. “The Flower-Fruit Mountain of old has become this now.”
Su Qing continued to smile elegantly. Though she found their reactions amusing, she didn't mock them.
After a long while, once they had calmed down, Su Qing spoke.
“Since you're back, you can't just stand here staring. Wukong, as the Handsome Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain, you should return with great fanfare! Don't worry about scaring the mortals; they all know the stories of the Monkey King who left. So, feel free to manifest your divinity before them...”
“And what about you, Big Sister?” Wukong asked, startled.
Su Qing told him to return grandly, but she hadn't said what she would do.
Wukong was curious. He knew her personality; she likely wouldn't want to appear before a crowd with such pomp.
Su Qing didn't hide her intentions and laughed. “You know me. I don't enjoy showing off in public, so I won't appear with you. I'll head near Water Curtain Cave and wait for your news.”
This answer was expected. Wukong nodded. “If that's what Big Sister wants... I understand. You're still as indifferent to fame and fortune as ever...”
Su Qing shook her head. “It's not that I'm indifferent; I'm just a bit thin-skinned.”
Before Wukong could respond, she added, “Jingyue, you should go into the city with Wukong. Take a good look around and see what Flower-Fruit Mountain has become.”
Liu Jingyue looked at Su Qing, stayed silent for a moment, then nodded. “Then once I'm done looking around, I'll find you at Water Curtain Cave.”
Su Qing nodded calmly. “Very well. Yudie and I will go ahead. You two go on.”
With that, Su Qing took to the clouds, leading Su Yudie toward Water Curtain Cave.
Seeing Su Qing leave, Wukong lowered his cloud and headed for the city. Liu Jingyue followed silently but vanished as they entered, deciding to explore on her own.
Su Qing was right. Both Wukong and Liu Jingyue wanted to witness Flower-Fruit Mountain five hundred years later with their own eyes. Watching from the sky was too detached; they couldn't see the reality of it.
“Mother, are you really not going to the city? It's been so many years... I want to see what delicious food they have there!” Su Yudie said, looking at the city.
Su Qing smiled helplessly, finally realizing the girl's true motive for coming here.
She shook her head. “If you want to go, go ahead. I have other things to attend to.”
The “other things” Su Qing spoke of were, of course, sending off the monkeys who were dying or wished to die. The Underworld Emissaries didn't dare take them, fearing Wukong's resentment, so she had to do it herself.
Yudie pouted. “If I can't go with you, it's no fun. I'll just come with you. I have a pretty good idea of what you're going to do anyway.”
Yudie had been to Flower-Fruit Mountain with Su Qing more than once, so she could guess. She had seen it before.
Su Qing smiled and rubbed her head. “In that case, let's go together.”
She didn't mind bringing Yudie along. The girl wasn't truly an ignorant child; she knew a lot but enjoyed playing dumb and acting cute.
Su Qing stretched, looking at the waterfall of Water Curtain Cave. Hundreds of years later, it remained unchanged.
Su Qing and Yudie moved swiftly, arriving at their destination in the blink of an eye.
This was a hidden cave—the same one where Su Qing had sent off the very first monkey.
Monkeys waiting for death or wishing for it would come here, waiting for Su Qing to send them on. This was a tacit understanding among the monkeys whose names had been struck from the Ledger of Life and Death.
Inside the cave, the light was dim. Beneath the flickering shadows were several monkeys, withered like mummies. There were macaques, horse-monkeys, and even golden snub-nosed monkeys.
These were all monkeys from five hundred years ago. Hearing movement, they opened their eyes. Their gazes were cloudy and lifeless, lacking the pure vitality of wild monkeys.
Only upon seeing Su Qing did a spark of life return. “Greetings, Senior King,” the withered monkeys bowed. “Senior King... you have finally come to send us away.”
Su Qing felt a pang of pity. She shook her head slightly. “You've suffered... I was delayed by some matters for quite a while.”
“It was no trouble... as long as the King remembers us, it is our honor.”
The monkeys were quite polite. Over the centuries, a city had been built on Flower-Fruit Mountain, and they had interacted with residents of nearby islands, learning proper etiquette.
Moreover, the Earth God had been here teaching the various demons their manners.
Su Qing sighed. “Very well, I won't say more. May your journey be peaceful.”
She formed a hand seal, and the souls of the monkeys were drawn out.
Normally, a soul-reaper would need a tool like a soul-reaping chain, but Su Qing didn't. Her cultivation was far beyond any ordinary emissary.
Guided by her power, the souls drifted from their bodies. They were decayed, their very essence worn down.
Su Qing shook her head and formed another seal. Instantly, an Underworld Emissary emerged from the ground.
Seeing her, the emissary bowed and stammered, “G-g-greetings, Bi Ling Yuanjun Azure Spirit Sovereign!”
“No need for formalities. Please take these monkeys to be reincarnated. Though their names were struck from the Ledger, please ensure they have a good rebirth. At the very least... let them not be wild spirits in their next life.” Su Qing spoke calmly.
She didn't like using her power to intimidate, but her reputation preceded her. Those who knew of her deeds often reacted like this emissary.
“I will certainly carry out your orders, Your Ladyship,” the emissary said, binding the souls with his tool.
“Thank you for the trouble,” Su Qing said helplessly. She had known him for a long time, but he was simply too timid.
If he were braver, she wouldn't have to go through this. She could ask King Yama for someone else, but she was already calling in favors for these reincarnations. She didn't want to push her luck.
Besides, this emissary was efficient. His cowardice was his only flaw.
“No trouble at all!” The emissary shook his head, offered some flattery, and hurried away with the souls.
Su Qing massaged her temples. “Only a few this time. It seems their cultivation is going well. At least they're maintaining their life force.”
She shook her head and turned to Yudie. “Girl, any thoughts?”
Yudie was caught off guard. She had been spacing out. “I... I was daydreaming.”
Su Qing: “...” Fine, she took back her earlier praise.
Su Qing didn't scold her and led her back to Water Curtain Cave. Someone was already waiting there.
A white-bearded old man in coarse hemp clothes, leaning on a gnarled wooden staff, looking very kind.
This was the Earth God of Flower-Fruit Mountain, the manager and her proxy in her absence.
“Greetings, Lady Azure Spirit. You've grown even more beautiful since we last met.” Su Qing was speechless.
“I didn't think you'd learn to flatter...”
“Hahaha, I speak only the truth. You truly are more beautiful... perhaps it's the temperament? You seem to have more... ‘humanity’ now.”
“Humanity? What do you mean?”
“Hard to say... just a feeling. Before, you were ethereal and beautiful, but compared to now, you were slightly lacking. Perhaps you were too ‘immortal’ back then!” The Earth God spoke nonsense without blushing.
Su Qing couldn't make sense of it, so she stopped trying.
“Many things have happened over the years,” she said plainly. “And you, old man... your strength has improved as well.”
“All thanks to your grace, My Lady.”
“I did nothing but give you your due reward. But... why have you come to see me?”
“Nothing major, just wanted to report on recent affairs at Flower-Fruit Mountain. Letters are prone to omissions. Now that we meet, I must give a proper report.”
The Earth God was exceptionally dedicated, keeping everything in order. He wasn't greedy and did his job perfectly, like the most upright of officials. It surprised Su Qing.
It was a good thing; she didn't want the mountain in chaos. And she made sure he was well-compensated.
But Su Qing had a headache. Hearing him, she felt a sudden kinship with Chang'e. Being the boss was such a hassle! Can I not listen?
Despite her internal complaints, she said, “Very well, I'm free now. Go ahead.”
Flower-Fruit Mountain was her home, after all. She cared, even if it was a bother.
Yudie, seeing this, scurried away, having no intention of staying.
Su Qing was speechless but didn't chase her. She sat on a dry boulder and listened. Time passed, and soon five hours had gone by.
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