Outside the Water Curtain Cave.
The monkeys were looking around.
The Old Monkey said Su Qing was fine.
The Macaque also believed it.
So the idle monkeys waited there...
Wanting to see if Su Qing could emerge from inside.
Most of the monkey troop were skeptical, only the Macaque and the Old Monkey were firm believers.
Amidst the commotion.
Suddenly, they saw a woman float out from the waterfall.
Then she landed steadily in front of the monkeys.
Seeing this, the Macaque was instantly overjoyed, dancing with excitement.
Su Qing saw its excitement but didn't understand what had happened.
However, she was too lazy to ask, merely saying:
"Thank you for helping me find this place."
Su Qing expressed her gratitude.
Although the other party was a macaque with low intelligence and little cultivation.
It had indeed helped her.
Thanks should still be given.
Su Qing had also cultivated from a snake to her current realm.
She wouldn't arbitrarily belittle other sentient animals just because her cultivation was high.
Of course, enemies who harbored hostility towards her were an exception.
"No need to thank me, no need to thank me."
The Macaque excitedly said:
"Big Sister, what's it like inside? How did you go in and come out completely unharmed?"
"There are no water currents inside, only a stone house... it's a blessed land and grotto-heaven."
Su Qing briefly explained.
The monkeys listened, filled with envy.
Su Qing pondered for a moment, then said:
"How about I teach you how to build houses? That way, you'll have shelter from wind and rain, a place to hide from wild beasts. You won't be cold in winter or hot in summer."
Upon hearing this, the Macaque was even more delighted.
"Great, great, that's a truly wonderful idea! Thank you, Big Sister, thank you, Big Sister."
The monkeys were also very excited...
Hearing this, Su Qing felt a bit embarrassed.
After all, this grotto-heaven would eventually be the dwelling place of them and the Stone Monkey.
She was essentially the 'bad guy' who had taken it.
Yet now, she was receiving their thanks...
Even though Su Qing considered herself shameless, she still felt embarrassed.
Before Su Qing could speak, an Old Monkey suddenly said:
"Since the immortal has taught us monkeys such great benefits, we are willing to pledge allegiance to the immortal as our respected leader."
The Old Monkey actually had its own calculations.
Since Su Qing could have that spirit sword as a servant, her power must be extraordinary.
If they, the monkeys, were to acknowledge her as their king, they could also use her name to gain protection.
On Flower-Fruit Mountain, there were Seventy-Two Cave Demon Kings, and those demon kings often bullied monkeys.
Everyone had to avoid the demon kings and their demon soldiers.
But if they had protection, the outcome would be different.
Who would be avoiding whom, that would be hard to say!
When the Old Monkey spoke, the Macaque immediately followed suit.
Its idea was even simpler.
Since the Big Sister it worshipped was so powerful, what was wrong with acknowledging her as king?
The other monkeys, seeing this, also joined in one after another.
Su Qing, however, frowned slightly.
She felt things were exceeding her expectations.
She had never thought of becoming a Monkey King.
Moreover, she was a green snake; if she were a Snake King, that would be fine...
But to become a Monkey King... it would inevitably be a bit strange.
Furthermore, she had taken the Stone Monkey's grotto-heaven, and now to also become a Monkey King... it was somewhat delicate.
"Fine... fine."
Su Qing sighed softly.
After pondering for a while, she roughly understood the Old Monkey's calculations.
They had helped her, and protecting these monkeys before the Stone Monkey's birth was no big deal.
Anyway, those Seventy-Two Cave Demon Kings were just small fry.
They wouldn't cause any trouble.
However, she still had to state things clearly beforehand, to avoid any misunderstandings in the future.
"Do as you please. However, I won't stay here for too long... I will leave someday. You must think carefully; acknowledging me as king won't be for long."
The Old Monkey naturally heard Su Qing's words.
But it still didn't intend to change its mind.
Su Qing had no choice but to let them do as they pleased.
Receiving Su Qing's reply, the monkey troop became excited, shouting 'Hooray!'
Seeing this, Su Qing shook her head slightly; it seemed she couldn't escape being the Monkey King.
After the monkey troop quieted down.
Su Qing led a group of monkeys.
They built houses around the waterfall.
The houses were naturally made of wood.
Most were built by the monkeys themselves.
Su Qing, meanwhile, directed and helped with spells.
Although the monkeys were mischievous, when they really got to work, they were surprisingly capable.
They were, after all, sentient monkeys...
They just couldn't speak human language and had no cultivation.
With the monkeys' efforts, a house was built in less than half a day.
Su Qing also cast a small spell, making the house covered in vines, allowing it to blend into the forest and not stand out.
After a busy afternoon, even Su Qing felt a bit tired.
She said: "That's enough for today. We'll finish the rest tomorrow."
The monkeys were also exhausted and naturally had no objections.
They simply said they'd continue tomorrow.
Su Qing nodded slightly, then turned and returned to the Water Curtain Cave.
Inside the Water Curtain Cave.
Leng Xiang had been waiting for a long time.
Seeing Su Qing return, she immediately came forward to greet her.
"Little Master, you're back!"
She, who had been expressionless, now smiled again.
This made the Little Sparrows feel that Leng Xiang's change of expression was as quick as a magic trick.
Seeing Leng Xiang approach, Su Qing instinctively leaned into her, resting against her and saying:
"I'm exhausted... I knew I shouldn't have agreed to build houses."
Directing monkeys to build houses was indeed hard work.
Their chattering was even noisier than the sparrows'.
It gave Su Qing a headache.
But Su Qing couldn't scold them; it was their nature after all.
"It's still most comfortable by Leng Xiang's side..."
Su Qing inhaled the faint plum blossom scent from Leng Xiang, and couldn't help but say.
Leng Xiang held Su Qing, unsure whether to let go or hold tighter.
She could only say with a blush: "If Little Master finds it troublesome, just leave it to Leng Xiang. Leng Xiang's purpose is to share Little Master's worries."
"But I can't leave everything to you! You'll turn me into a useless person. Besides, if you have too much to do, you'll be tired too, won't you?"
Su Qing reached out and pinched Leng Xiang's little face.
Her own sword spirit was quite peculiar; though a spirit body, her face was very soft.
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt Leng Xiang's body was more substantial than before.
She still remembered when she first saw Leng Xiang, Leng Xiang seemed like a semi-real, semi-illusory being.
Now, Leng Xiang appeared like a normal person outside, with a physical form.
Su Qing thought about it, then pinched again; it was indeed not her imagination.
Leng Xiang was a bit embarrassed by the pinching, and said: "Little Master... dinner is ready, please eat it while it's hot."
Su Qing blinked, looking at the anxious Little Sparrows, and then at the stone table full of hot dishes.
She nodded slightly, reluctantly moving away from Leng Xiang.
She was clearly a sword spirit, yet so soft.
Holding her was exceptionally comfortable.
And that faint plum blossom scent was also captivating.
"Alright, what kind of strange things am I thinking about now? I should've known not to read so many weird books in my previous life."
Su Qing shook her head, bringing her thoughts back.
Then she went off to eat, smiling.
Leng Xiang watched Su Qing leave, and for some reason, felt she shouldn't have been so quick to tell Su Qing to eat.
However, she was a bit puzzled; her Little Master seemed to really like pinching her face.
She pinched her own face, not understanding what was so good about pinching it.
But since Little Master liked it, she couldn't say anything.
She just stood silently behind Su Qing, massaging Su Qing's shoulders.
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