Chapter 5 - Repairing the Temple

Chapter 5 - Repairing the Temple.

Zheng Yu's words made the County Magistrate pause for a moment.

He had thought his daughter was clever for considering something he had overlooked, but he never expected someone else was involved.

"Who was it that reminded you? Tell your father at once! She helped me so much this time. If it weren't for her, forget about my official post, even you and I might not have been safe... I must thank her properly!"

"Well..."

Hearing her father's words, Zheng Yu was unsure how to answer.

After all... the one who had warned her was not a person!

If she told her father this, would he believe her?

After some thought, Zheng Yu decided to tell the truth...

"Actually... the one who reminded me was not a person."

"Not a person? Then what could it be?"

"It was a Willow Immortal!"

"A Willow Immortal...?"

Seeing her father fall silent, Zheng Yu thought he didn't believe her, so she recounted the entire sequence of events.

After finishing, she added, "If Father doesn't believe me, you can ask the guards and the maidservant who were with me that day... They certainly wouldn't dare to deceive you."

The County Magistrate shook his head.

"There's no need to ask them. How could your father not believe your words?"

He knew his daughter's character very well... She was not one to lie.

Besides, what benefit would she gain by giving the credit to a snake?

"Then why were you silent, Father?"

"I was just wondering how to properly thank the Willow Immortal. She is a snake. Worldly treasures like gold and silver, or fame and fortune, are probably useless to her, aren't they?"

The County Magistrate had a bit of a headache...

Hearing this, Zheng Yu's bright eyes shifted, and an idea came to her. She said:

"I remember that Senior Willow Immortal was in a mountain god temple. That temple was exceptionally dilapidated, looking to be over a hundred years old. After being battered by several days of heavy rain, that old temple must have suffered."

Without needing Zheng Yu to say more, the County Magistrate already knew what his daughter was suggesting.

"Hmm? You mean, you want me to help her repair the mountain god temple?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean."

"Mm, that is indeed a good idea." The County Magistrate thought for a moment and said, "But if I just send people over to start work, I'm afraid Senior Willow Immortal might misunderstand, right?"

Zheng Yu pondered for a moment, thought of someone, and said, "Li Lianyu's father was an old acquaintance of Senior Willow Immortal, and she knows the Senior as well. It should be much easier if she goes to speak with her."

"Mm, excellent. We'll do as you say! Truly worthy of being my, Zheng Shen's, daughter, you've completely inherited my intelligence!"

Zheng Yu smiled faintly and said no more. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

In truth, anyone could have gone to negotiate...

She could tell that Su Qing had a good temperament. The reason she suggested Li Lianyu was naturally to create an opportunity for her.

Besides, Su Qing had likely warned her this time on account of Li Lianyu.

The next day was another bright, sunny day.

The group of craftsmen summoned by the County Magistrate, led by Li Lianyu and Uncle Liu, arrived at the ruined temple in the mountains, carrying a pile of supplies.

Looking at the ruined temple, Li Lianyu couldn't help but gasp.

The young miss was right, the temple really has collapsed.

"I hope Xiao Qing wasn't crushed by the temple..." Li Lianyu thought to herself, then called out a few times, "Xiao Qing, Xiao Qing!"

Inside the ruined temple.

Su Qing, who had been sleeping in, suddenly smelled a multitude of unfamiliar scents outside.

She was startled awake.

She lifted her head slightly and looked outside... Why had this group of people come to her ruined temple? Could they be here to steal rotten wood?

Just as Su Qing was wondering whether to scare away this baffling group of people.

A familiar voice came from outside; it was Li Lianyu's.

From Li Lianyu's words, Su Qing finally understood.

It turned out the County Magistrate truly hadn't noticed the possibility of a flood. Because she had reminded the young miss, and the young miss had informed the County Magistrate.

This allowed the County Magistrate to prevent the flood, ensure the safety of the county's people, and also save his official position.

So, he had come to repay the favor by helping her repair the ruined temple.

Upon learning they were here to repair the temple, Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

She had thought they were here to cause trouble!

Knowing their intentions, Su Qing slithered out of the ruined temple.

She looked at the crowd of people in front of the temple and flicked her tongue...

She was long accustomed to humans; even a large crowd wouldn't make her feel uncomfortable or afraid.

However, the craftsmen who had come with Guard Liu and Li Lianyu, upon seeing Su Qing's six-to-seven-meter-long form, were so frightened they couldn't help but take several steps back.

Seeing this, Su Qing just flicked her tongue, thinking nothing of it.

She was well aware that her current appearance could easily frighten people.

She just found it a little amusing.

A group of people claimed they were here to thank her, but upon actually seeing her, they were scared into retreating.

But Su Qing couldn't laugh. She just shook her head, flicked her tongue, and slithered into the forest.

If she stayed here, the craftsmen probably wouldn't dare to start working. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

It was better to leave for a while.

She had no interest in so-called credit, but if the place that sheltered her from the wind and rain could be repaired, she was happy about it.

As for becoming some worshipped deity...

Su Qing was rather reluctant.

She knew very well: with the crown comes the burden.

Becoming a deity in the eyes of others... was a very troublesome affair.

Besides, the fact that incense offerings are 'poisonous' was a well-known concept, so there was no need to elaborate.

All she wanted was to become a powerful demon and live a leisurely life...

Although, right now, she was still very weak.

After Su Qing left, the craftsmen also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly began their work.

Even though they knew this was a Willow Immortal who wouldn't harm people, seeing such a massive snake still inevitably made them tremble.

The fear of snakes seemed to be etched into human instinct.

Most people would feel an instinctive fear upon seeing one...

Even if they knew the snake before them was harmless.

After seeing Su Qing leave, Li Lianyu also quickly followed after her... As for the craftsmen, with Guard Liu there, she didn't need to worry.

Besides, she wasn't cut out to be a leader.

Su Qing left the crowd, found a spot where she could bask in the sun, and coiled up there.

"I'm really not human anymore, after all!" Su Qing flicked her tongue, thinking to herself.

She had human memories, but her current self no longer had anything to do with being human.

"Perhaps, I should really start looking for some cultivation methods..."

Just as Su Qing was thinking this, she heard a sound from not far behind her.

It was Li Lianyu, who had found her.

"Xiao Qing... don't blame those craftsmen. They're just ignorant and are afraid of any snake they see! They're so silly! You're so beautiful, Xiao Qing, how could you possibly look like a snake that bites?"

Li Lianyu's words made Su Qing want to roll her eyes.