Su Qing returned to the living room.
There, Su Qingyu was chatting with Coal Ball again...
Though, rather than a conversation, it was more like she was talking to herself.
Su Qing listened for a moment and realized the little girl was feeling quite excited about their departure.
Noticing this, Su Qing couldn't help but find it amusing.
Only someone who knew nothing of the world like her would feel excited about leaving.
Someone like Li Yichou, on the other hand, had long since been frantically preparing in a panic.
"Forget it, let her be happy. This matter won't affect her anyway," Su Qing shook her head and turned toward the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Meanwhile, on the Changbai Mountains.
Su Qing was wandering through the woods with nothing to do.
Two Golden Tabbies and one Silver Tabby followed by her side like three bodyguards, looking quite majestic.
However, rather than bodyguards, they were more like pets.
After all, if they actually ran into trouble, it was hard to say who would be protecting whom!
Su Qing rode on the back of one of the Golden Tabbies and patted its head.
Small cats had their perks, but big cats had theirs too. After all, unless a small cat transformed, it couldn't serve as a mount, whereas a big cat could.
Just as she had finished her stroll and was thinking of heading back...
Several sparrows flew to her side.
"What is it? Did Leng Xiang tell me to come back for dinner?" Su Qing knew these sparrows only came looking for her when it was time to eat or when they had a message to deliver.
Thus, she knew these fellows definitely had business with her.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva is here!" one of them chirped. "She told us to find you and bring you over!"
"That's right, that's right! She said she has something to say to you."
"She said it's important!"
"Very important indeed!"
Watching the sparrows chatter one after another, Su Qing gave a helpless smile and nodded. "I understand, I understand. I'll head over now."
Su Qing didn't know what Guanyin Bodhisattva wanted this time...
But since the Bodhisattva was a regular guest at the Changbai Mountains, her presence wasn't surprising.
In fact, even if she had come just to scrounge a meal, Su Qing wouldn't have found it strange.
Su Qing stood up and patted the big cat's head. "Alright, that's enough for today. You guys head back!"
The Golden Tabby was clearly reluctant, rubbing its head against her hand.
Su Qing smiled but said nothing more, simply waving them off.
Seeing this, the big cats obediently headed back.
Once they were gone, Su Qing made her way to the courtyard at the mountain peak.
"What business does the Bodhisattva have with me today?" Su Qing asked as she saw Guanyin Bodhisattva sitting in the courtyard drinking tea.
The two were very familiar with each other, so there was no need for tedious greetings. Su Qing got straight to the point.
Guanyin Bodhisattva glanced at Su Qing and didn't beat around the bush. "I've come to tell you some good news."
Su Qing raised an eyebrow. For some reason, even though the Bodhisattva called it good news, Su Qing had a feeling it was anything but.
After all, Guanyin Bodhisattva was prone to setting traps.
And the number of times she had 'pit' Su Qing was not small.
"I hope the news you've brought is actually good, and not just something you consider good," Su Qing complained helplessly.
The Bodhisattva chuckled. "Rest assured, for you, this is definitely good news."
Su Qing merely smiled back, signaling her skepticism.
"Then please, Bodhisattva, tell me what this good news is."
"Did you send your newly refined clone to the Northern Continent?" the Bodhisattva asked.
Su Qing nodded. "How did you know?"
"Amitabha. I calculated it."
"..."
"And? What do you wish to say?"
"Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you that since you've gone to the Northern Continent, there's a fox there looking for you."
"Huh?" Su Qing raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"What do you mean 'huh'? It's exactly what it sounds like," the Bodhisattva said, exasperated. "I'm the one who told her to go to the Northern Continent to find your clone."
Su Qing's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "What is your goal in doing this? Don't you hate it most when I lead girls astray?"
"I never hated you leading women astray; I only hate you leading my disciples astray! I only have two female disciples, plus one potential one, and all three were taken by you. Are you planning to abduct me as well next time?"
The Bodhisattva shot Su Qing a glare, nearly failing to maintain her proper composure. Fortunately, she quickly calmed herself and cleared her throat twice.
"Ahem, I lost my composure. Thinking about those things makes me a bit angry. Back when I was young, I had quite a temper too!"
Su Qing was momentarily speechless...
The fact that the Bodhisattva once had a fiery temper was something she truly hadn't expected.
But at least the current Bodhisattva was relatively easy to communicate with.
Even if she was a bit of a prankster.
"As for the purpose... it's simply because I happened to run into her, realized she shares a great destiny with you, and owes you a debt of gratitude, so I lent a helping hand," the Bodhisattva said, regaining her dignified aura. "After all, I am one who cannot bear to see others suffer! Since she has searched for you for so many years, it's only right to help her if I can. Wouldn't you agree?"
Guanyin Bodhisattva naturally couldn't reveal that this was the Buddha's intention...
After all, the Buddha had given instructions at the start. If she exposed him, she would likely face a lecture upon her return.
Regardless, the Buddha was her superior; it was best not to provoke his displeasure.
Looking at Guanyin's righteous expression, Su Qing didn't know whether to praise her or be speechless.
"What? I'm sending a woman your way, and you still look so exasperated?" Guanyin teased.
Su Qing spread her hands. "Bodhisattva, I've told you, I'm not that kind of woman. Rumors are just rumors. Don't you know what I'm really like?"
"I know, I know very well. You are exactly that kind of person. If you weren't, would you have snatched away two of my disciples and one future one in a row?" Guanyin curled her lip and said flatly.
Su Qing: "..."
Fine.
It seemed her image in Guanyin's mind was permanently stained.
Forget jumping into the Yellow River; even jumping into the Heaven-Reaching River wouldn't wash this clean.
In the Bodhisattva's eyes, she was the woman who had stolen three of her disciples.
Su Qing felt helpless and simply gave up on explaining further.
Guanyin Bodhisattva continued, "In any case, I've only come here to fulfill my duty to inform you. Now that I've delivered the message, what you do is your own business. However, I imagine you wouldn't have the heart to watch a child who has searched for you for centuries lose hope just after finally finding it, would you?"
"..." Su Qing sighed.
This Bodhisattva really knew how to stir things up...
But Guanyin was right—she indeed didn't have the heart to see that happen.
However, if they didn't end up crossing paths, that would be another story.
Su Qing let out a breath and said, "Fine. You really do know how to find trouble for me."
"No... you find plenty of trouble for me as well. Do you know how busy I've been lately because of you?" Guanyin rolled her eyes and added, "Also, prepare yourself mentally. I might need your cooperation in a while."
Su Qing nodded. "I understand... Just tell me what to do when the time comes. However, I hope you won't pit me again."
Su Qing wasn't surprised about helping the Bodhisattva arrange the tribulations.
After all, because of her, more than one or two tribulations had been disrupted.
Furthermore, by going to the Banana Leaf Cave this time, she had resolved one tribulation while inadvertently blocking another, so Guanyin Bodhisattva definitely had to find a way to compensate.
It wasn't strange at all that she would need Su Qing's help.
"Don't worry, I'm a very kind person. How could I pit a junior like you?" the Bodhisattva said with a beaming smile. "Alright, I'm leaving now! I won't disturb you further."
Su Qing didn't believe a word of it...
Guanyin Bodhisattva had 'pit' people plenty of times.
Heck, in a sense, she had been 'pit' again today.
But since the Bodhisattva was leaving, Su Qing naturally wouldn't try to make her stay. She nodded and said, "Safe travels, Bodhisattva. I won't see you out!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded and then departed on an auspicious cloud.
She didn't care whether Su Qing saw her off or not.
After the Bodhisattva left, Su Qing turned to Leng Xiang. "Alright, Guanyin is gone. Let's go eat!"
Leng Xiang nodded without a word and went to bring out the food.
She knew this didn't have much to do with Su Qing, so there was no need for an explanation.
After all, she had been listening from the side the whole time...
This entire matter was orchestrated by the Bodhisattva.
As for what her master would do later, that was a matter for the future. There was no point in asking now.
The next day.
Linzhou City.
Su Qing woke up early to wash up.
After a simple breakfast, she addressed the group.
"Everyone should be finished packing, right?"
Li Yichou nodded. "Yes, almost everything is ready... But with so many of us, can one carriage fit everyone?"
Su Qing looked at her and nodded. "It'll fit, it'll just be a bit crowded. But it's not a big problem... Once we reach a safe city, we'll just spend some money to buy a few more horses."
Yesterday, Su Qing had actually sent people to buy horses.
Unfortunately, the current situation was quite troublesome.
Even though they offered a high price, they couldn't find any suitable horses.
There were only a few old, weak, and sick ones... completely unfit for pulling a carriage.
"I see," Li Yichou nodded. "Then, Miss, when do we set off?"
"Now..." Su Qing said plainly.
After Su Qing announced their departure, Li Yichou went to the stable to lead the white horse out and hitched it to the carriage.
Then, everyone boarded the carriage and headed toward the city gates.
Su Qing had expected leaving the city to be a hassle, but to her surprise, it went exceptionally smoothly.
Perhaps it was because they didn't take the main road, but left via a small path instead.
On the way out, Su Qing saw many commoners fleeing with their belongings.
Clearly, news of the defeat had spread among the people.
Many had already begun to escape.
Su Qing wasn't surprised by this. It was better for more people to leave; that way, fewer would die.
Inside the carriage, it was slightly cramped.
Su Qing sat by the window with a calm expression, occasionally swatting away Jin Xin's hand when she tried to cause mischief.
Su Qingyu was exceptionally excited about the trip, her whole being radiating joy as if this were a vacation.
Li Yichou looked tense, only managing to stay somewhat calm by looking at Su Qing's composed face.
As for the others, most were relatively calm, including Big Sister Zhou.
Su Qing turned to Li Yichou and suddenly said, "Calm down. You've been over-tense these past two days."
Su Qing could tell this woman was clearly different from her usual self.
She just hadn't been in a hurry to ask.
However, now that they had already left Linzhou City, for her to still be this nervous was truly uncalled for.
Hearing Su Qing's words, Li Yichou let out a long breath. "My apologies... I have some trauma regarding war, so..."
"It's fine. Regardless, we've already left Linzhou City. No matter how fierce the fighting gets, it won't reach us."
"Yes." Li Yichou nodded, then asked, "Is Miss not curious?"
"Not curious... Your business is for you to know. I'm not so bored that I want to know everything." Su Qing yawned. "I'd rather spend my time sleeping than thinking about your affairs!"
"..." Li Yichou gave a helpless smile.
At the same time, she felt relieved.
Because if she were truly forced to speak, she might not have been able to bring herself to say it.
Su Qing said, "Go swap with Hu Lin'er. You drive the carriage and let her come back to rest for a bit."
Su Qing didn't know what had happened to Li Yichou in the past, nor did she want to. She had her secrets, and Li Yichou had hers. She was too lazy to pry into Li Yichou's business.
Li Yichou nodded silently and went to swap places with Hu Lin'er.
Giving herself something to do was also a good way to stop her mind from wandering.
And so, the carriage continued forward.
Before they knew it, evening had arrived.
Su Qing's group was still traveling along the small path...
Just as Su Qing was starting to feel bored, the carriage suddenly lurched to a halt.
Li Yichou, who was driving, shouted, "Miss, there are bandits! No, wait—it's routed soldiers!"
Su Qing had been dozing in the carriage. Hearing that trouble had arrived, she yawned and stepped out. "Don't panic. It's not like they're demons..."
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