Chapter 414 · Volume 1

True or False?

When Leng Xiang heard Su Qing say this, she couldn't help but look at her with suspicion.
After a moment, she said helplessly, "Since you've put it that way, Master, I won't say anything more... After all, even if you do enjoy dallying with others, you surely wouldn't lay a hand on a child."
Su Qing's mouth twitched slightly. How had she become such a person in Leng Xiang's eyes?
It left Su Qing feeling quite exasperated.
However... she truly didn't have any special intentions, and she certainly wouldn't target a child.
The reason she did this was purely because she wanted to 'raise' that little girl a bit.
Well, more like a free-range style of raising, perhaps?
After all, it was impossible for Su Qing to guide her constantly.
By doing this much, Su Qing felt she had already fulfilled her duty to the utmost.
As for whether the girl could do better in the future...
Su Qing wouldn't know.
She couldn't say for sure what the future held.
After all, no one could clearly predict what was yet to come.
But Su Qing still held high expectations for the girl's future. Her talent and luck were both quite good.
Regardless, this matter was now settled.
Half a day passed.
Su Qing pinched her fingers to calculate Wukong's location... she found that he was still staying in the South Sea Purple Bamboo Grove.
Thus, she knew that the fellow likely hadn't left the grove, but had been kept there by Guanyin Bodhisattva, just like in the original story.
Su Qing wasn't surprised by this.
Even though many things had changed because of her influence, Guanyin often still made the same choices as in the original tale.
This was probably what they called a control variable!
Su Qing didn't quite understand Guanyin's plan, but if it were her, she would likely choose to do the same.
"Still, thinking about it now, Sha Wujing's cloud-soaring technique is really quite poor! It takes him so long just to make a trip to Flower-Fruit Mountain." Su Qing lay back in her chair, pondering. "Forget it, it seems this matter can't be rushed. Since worrying is useless, I might as well stop being anxious. It's just a pity that I'll have to wait a while longer to see the fun."
Su Qing wasn't worried that Wukong wouldn't come to her...
Because she understood Wukong quite well. She knew that if he wanted someone to distinguish between himself and the Six-Eared Macaque, he would definitely come to her. After all, in his heart, she was someone who understood him very deeply.
Therefore, Su Qing wasn't worried at all that Wukong wouldn't show up.
She was determined to see this entertainment.
Even if, by some miracle, Wukong didn't come to her for help...
Then Su Qing could simply pay a visit to the Buddha. She could see the fun just as well there.
Su Qing shook her head inwardly and continued to lie there, slacking off...
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
In the blink of an eye, another two or three days had passed.
Su Qing was currently fiddling with the wood carvings Bai Suzhen had made. These lifelike carvings were part of Su Qing's collection and were things she liked very much.
So, when she had nothing to do, she would occasionally take them out to play with.
Especially recently, after Bai Suzhen had started making movable wood carvings at Su Qing's suggestion, these items became even more worth fiddling with.
Just as Su Qing was having a grand time, a series of clattering and banging sounds of fighting suddenly came from overhead. The noise sounded like two iron rods constantly clashing against each other, accompanied by mutual insults and arguments over who was the real one.
Seeing this, Su Qing knew exactly who had arrived.
Just as she was thinking about it!
Two figures landed in the courtyard with a 'whoosh.'
They immediately began to trade blows right there in the yard.
Su Qing frowned, walked into the courtyard, and said, "Alright, you two, stop fighting! I could hear your clashing from miles away. Oh? Why are there two Wukongs?"
Su Qing's acting was as superb as ever, showing no flaws, appearing as if she were truly surprised by the sight of two Wukongs.
Seeing this, one of the Wukongs said, "Big Sister, he's the fake! I'm the real one!"
The other also said, "Nonsense! Big Sister, he's the fake, I'm the real one!"
The two of them went back and forth, and as they spoke, they were about to start fighting again.
Su Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "Enough. Speak properly. No fighting in my courtyard!"
Although Su Qing wasn't afraid of them fighting, she decided to stop them to prevent them from breaking her things. Besides, if they started fighting, they would inevitably keep swapping positions, making it even harder to tell who was who.
It was quite interesting...
Although Su Qing's cultivation was extremely high, at this moment, it was indeed difficult for her to distinguish which was real and which was fake.
This Six-Eared Macaque was truly impressive.
Whether it was the physical form or the personality, every single detail was imitated perfectly.
Even their strength was evenly matched.
It was as if they were cast from the same mold.
No wonder those other people couldn't tell them apart.
Aside from Guanyin Bodhisattva, who was likely just acting, the others probably truly couldn't see through it.
After all, if she couldn't see through it, then those who were inferior to her certainly wouldn't be able to.
After Su Qing spoke, the two Wukongs stopped immediately and said:
"Big Sister, look at me. I'm the real one. Quickly help me beat that fellow back into his true form."
"Big Sister, don't listen to him. I'm the real one. Big Sister, join forces with me to deal with him."
Su Qing sighed softly and said, "Why don't you first tell me exactly what happened? Right now, I don't even know the situation. How am I supposed to know who to help?"
Hearing this, the two Wukongs didn't hesitate to recount the entire ordeal.
Afterward, Su Qing nodded as if considering it and asked, "I see... However, I can't tell who is real and who is fake just by looking with my eyes. Why don't you tell me a few things that only the real Wukong would know? I'll evaluate them and see who is real and who is fake."
Su Qing didn't actually care who was real or fake...
This tribulation didn't hold any special significance for her.
It was nothing more than wanting to see some entertainment.
So, whatever provided the most fun was what she would do.
The two Wukongs didn't hesitate to share some specific details.
Especially things that only Wukong and Su Qing knew...
For example, things from when Wukong was still a little monkey.
But to Su Qing's surprise...
Although the content shared by the two was slightly different, they both spoke of things that, as far as she knew, only the real one should have known.
Su Qing was somewhat astonished...
"This Six-Eared Macaque is truly formidable, to be able to know even these things... though it's hard to say how much of this is its own innate ability. If the Six-Eared Macaque were truly that absurd, why would there be so few legends about it in the world?"
Su Qing looked at the two Wukongs, who seemed ready to start arguing again, and stroked her chin.
Then she spoke up, "It seems this method won't distinguish between you two either... How interesting. To think such a strange thing actually exists in this world. Wukong, do you think this might be a clone of yours that developed its own consciousness? Or perhaps, is this a twin born from that same stone that held you?"
"Strange, strange? It is indeed strange!"
"Odd, too odd! These things are only known to me and Big Sister. How does he know them?"
Su Qing spread her hands and said, "The world is vast, and there are no wonders too great. Anything is possible."
"But Big Sister, you watched me be born... How could you not know that the stone only nurtured me? That fellow must be a fake! Big Sister, you must see clearly!"
"He's the fake! Big Sister, don't listen to his nonsense, I'm the real one! I'm the monkey you watched jump out from the crack in the stone!"
The two Wukongs began to argue again.
Listening to them gave Su Qing a slight headache.
She said, "My apologies, you two are truly identical. I can't tell who is who... However, I have heard a legend."
"A legend? Big Sister, quickly tell us what kind of legend! I want to see which suicidal fool dares to impersonate me!"
"Hmph, I want to see exactly what kind of monster dares to act like this! I'll definitely beat it to death!"
Su Qing looked at the two of them, smiled, and said, "I once heard that there is a spiritual monkey in this world called the Six-Eared Macaque. 'Six ears' doesn't mean it has six physical ears; it refers to a third party... an eavesdropper and observer. This monkey is a spiritual monkey of heaven and earth, just like you, Wukong, and its natural talent is not inferior to yours. Furthermore, the Six-Eared Macaque has a unique ability: if it stands in one place, it can know things thousands of miles away. It can hear the speech of mortals and understand all things. Thus, it is skilled at listening, can discern principles, knows the past and future, and understands all of creation."
Hearing this, both Wukongs showed expressions of great shock. Then, they both glared fiercely at the other and began to debate again.
Clearly, this Six-Eared Macaque's transformation was not only amazing, but its psychological state was also extremely strong, and its acting was even more refined.
"Big Sister, there is one thing I don't understand. My cultivation method was taught to me by my master. How does he know it?"
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "What if that Six-Eared Macaque has been following you since you started following Tang Sanzang? What if it's been following you even longer? That Six-Eared Macaque is a formidable fellow!"
"Damned Six-Eared Macaque! You dare to steal the incantations my master taught me!"
"Hmph, you're the Six-Eared Macaque! Hah! Take this!"
Seeing the two monkeys about to fight again.
Su Qing raised an eyebrow and said, "I said, no fighting here."
Su Qing's tone was very calm, but it brooked no argument.
Seeing this, the two who were about to strike immediately stopped.
Although Su Qing didn't know who was the Six-Eared Macaque, there was no doubt that the Macaque certainly wouldn't want to expose himself over such a small matter. He would definitely imitate whatever the real Wukong did.
So Su Qing knew her words would definitely be effective. It worked on both the real and the fake.
Both Wukongs looked anxious, asking who was the fake and who was the real one, and how they should distinguish which was the Six-Eared Macaque!
Su Qing spread her hands and said, "I don't know how to distinguish you either! Have you gone to see the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King? What about Guanyin Bodhisattva?"
"The Bodhisattva is useless, useless! She couldn't tell us apart either. She only knew how to recite that tight-fillet spell, making me roll on the ground in pain!" Both Wukongs shook their heads repeatedly.
Su Qing nodded. It seemed she had missed another bit of fun.
But Guanyin truly was a great actress.
Su Qing didn't believe for a second that Guanyin couldn't tell the real from the fake.
She might not be stronger than the Buddha, but she wasn't much weaker either...
This was a Bodhisattva with immense faith across the world and heaven-reaching strength... even many of the tribulations on the journey west were personally arranged by her. Could she really not distinguish this?
Su Qing didn't believe it.
So it was nothing more than adding a bit of difficulty for Wukong.
As for reciting the tight-fillet spell, a part of it was definitely because of Su Qing.
After all, if she couldn't bully Su Qing, couldn't she at least bully Wukong?
Su Qing knew exactly what Guanyin was thinking.
But Su Qing wouldn't say these things to Wukong... she could only silently cheer for him in her heart and offer a few seconds of mourning.
After thinking for a moment, Su Qing said, "Since you've already been to Guanyin's place, you should go find the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li and his son. I remember the Heavenly King has a Demon-Reflecting Mirror in his hand. Perhaps it can show which of you is real and which is fake!"
Hearing this, both Wukongs nodded quickly and said, "Big Sister's idea is good! I want to see what this Six-Eared Macaque impersonating me actually looks like!"
The other Wukong also said, "Hmph, I want to see who is real and who is fake! Big Sister, could you come with us? When the fake is exposed, we can strike together."
The corners of Su Qing's mouth curled up as she said, "That is naturally no problem..."
Su Qing had already intended to follow along to watch the excitement. Now that the Wukong of unknown authenticity had invited her, why wouldn't she go?
If there was fun to be had and she didn't watch it, she would be doing herself a disservice.
A boring life needed a bit of entertainment to break the peace.
Seeing Su Qing agree, both Wukongs broke into cheerful smiles.
Then, they both rode their Somersault Clouds toward the Heavenly Court, preparing to find the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li.
The speed of the Somersault Cloud was not something ordinary auspicious clouds could match.
In just a short moment, Su Qing and the others arrived outside the South Heaven Gate.
When the gate guards saw Su Qing, they didn't intend to stop her. When they saw the two Wukongs, they simply dodged out of the way, letting the group pass through together.
When Wukong had caused Havoc in Heaven back then, although some generals had held back, there were undoubtedly others who had fought with all their might, only to be left with psychological trauma.
After all, Wukong's strength was not weak.
One Wukong was annoying enough; having another one show up was a recipe for a massive headache.
The group proceeded without any obstacles.
Before long, they found Li Jing and his son.
Li Jing and his son were playing chess. It was a stalemate when the two monkeys kicked the door open, interrupting the game.
Li Jing came out fuming with rage, but when he saw Wukong, his anger vanished.
And when he saw two Wukongs, he immediately reached for his pagoda.
Finally, when he saw Su Qing slowly walking in, he breathed a sigh of relief.
No matter what, as long as someone who could suppress Wukong was present, there wouldn't be a big problem.
He had never been so grateful for Su Qing dropping by for a stroll.

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