Wukong sneered upon hearing her words. "You demon, cease your arrogant talk! Today, I shall have you return my master and brothers!"
Without another word of waste, Wukong swung his Golden-Hooped Rod, aiming it straight for Su Qing’s head. At that same moment, Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun raised his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade and joined Wukong in the assault.
Facing their combined attack, Su Qing remained unfazed. With a flick of her wrist, she produced a peach wood sword. This was no ordinary weapon, but a genuine dharma treasure. Though it wasn't exceptionally powerful—ranking perhaps in the middle tier of such artifacts—even a mid-tier treasure could manifest impressive power in the hands of a master.
Engaging the two of them at once, Su Qing did not find the battle particularly taxing. This was largely because Yang Jian was not exerting his full strength, nor did he have any intention of fighting her to the death.
The reason was simple: Su Qing had already explained the situation to him moments before. Yang Jian had a general understanding of the circumstances and had believed her without suspicion. Consequently, he was not going all out.
He certainly wasn't going to risk his life against Su Qing for the sake of a play. However, they still had to make the performance look convincing; otherwise, Wukong would start grumbling.
As for why Su Qing had bothered to explain things to Yang Jian? She wasn't that reckless. While she was curious to see who was stronger between them, she wouldn't go so far as to fight him to the death under these circumstances. If she wanted to spar, she could find him anytime later. There was no need to keep him in the dark and risk a genuine, bloody conflict.
Thus, while Su Qing and Yang Jian appeared to be fighting fiercely, neither was actually using their full power.
Midway through the battle, Yang Jian called out to Wukong, "Wukong! Xiao Tian and I will hold this demon here. You go rescue your master!"
Wukong parried another of Su Qing's strikes and shouted, "Very well!"
He agreed without a moment's hesitation. Wukong knew that Yang Jian would never claim to do something he couldn't handle, so he trusted him implicitly.
Su Qing chuckled inwardly at the sight. She put on a show of mock outrage, shouting, "Hmph, don't even think about it!"
She lunged at Wukong, but he easily dodged the blow. Taking the opportunity, Wukong broke away from the battlefield and rushed into Black Wind Cave.
Su Qing feigned an attempt to pursue him, only to be blocked by Yang Jian.
Su Qing smiled and sent a sound transmission to Yang Jian. 'I didn't realize a man like you, True Sovereign, was such a skilled actor.'
'A man like me?' Yang Jian asked, puzzled.
Su Qing pondered for a moment before replying, 'The type who is stubborn, sticks to his guns no matter what... someone who fears no authority, takes orders from no one, and disdains deception.'
Yang Jian smiled inwardly and shook his head as he transmitted back, 'I was never that kind of person. I simply have my own set of principles. Besides, I only heed the summons but ignore the proclamations; I'm not entirely disobedient. Moreover... people must grow. I, too, must learn to adapt and change.'
Su Qing smiled slightly at his words and halted her attacks. After a brief pause, she pinched a hand seal and said to Yang Jian, "Enough, enough. Now is not the time for such talk. We can chat more when we have the leisure! The situation is mostly settled, so I'm making my escape. As for how to explain this to Wukong, I'll leave that to you. After all, you aren't incapable of telling a lie, True Sovereign."
Without waiting for Yang Jian's response, Su Qing vanished instantly.
Yang Jian was left stunned by her abrupt departure. She had moved so fast he hadn't even had time to reply.
He shook his head helplessly. 'The Sovereign is as headstrong as ever.' He chuckled. Though slightly exasperated, he wasn't angry. He simply stood outside, waiting for Wukong to emerge with his master.
Before long, Wukong appeared, leading his master and brothers out of the cave. Zhu Bajie was muttering incessantly as usual, while Sha Wujing remained exceptionally calm. Tang Sanzang, however, let out a massive sigh of relief. This was yet another tribulation survived without actual harm.
"Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun, where did that demon go?" Wukong asked, seeing only Yang Jian and no sign of a corpse.
Yang Jian shook his head. "That demon was skilled in evasion arts and managed to escape."
"Escaped?" Wukong scratched his head. "No matter. As long as my master is safe, that's enough! As for that demon, I'll have to ask you to petition the Jade Emperor to send troops to capture her."
Although Wukong didn't like the Jade Emperor, he had to admit the Emperor could accomplish many things he couldn't. To deal with such a demon, he would have to rely on the Heavenly Court's resources, as he still had to escort his master to the Western Heaven.
Yang Jian smiled inwardly at Wukong's request but kept his expression neutral. "I am aware of the matter. Rest assured, I will inform His Majesty. I cannot allow such a demon to trouble the mortal world."
With Yang Jian's assurance, Wukong felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The matter was no longer his responsibility.
"Then I thank you, Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun! Once I have finished seeking the scriptures, we shall have a proper gathering," Wukong said, cupping his hands in a rare show of formality.
Yang Jian chuckled. "Very well. We shall talk again once your journey is complete."
Beside him, the Celestial Hound barked twice as if in agreement.
Wukong laughed. "Then my master and I shall take our leave!"
"Mmm," Yang Jian nodded. "I shall return as well."
After bidding each other farewell, they went their separate ways. Once Yang Jian had departed, Wukong and his master found the White Dragon Horse. Leading the horse, they continued their journey toward the Western Heaven.
On the other side, after leaving Black Wind Cave and allowing Wukong to rescue Tang Sanzang, Su Qing didn't return immediately to the Northern Continent. Instead, she went to find Taishang Laojun and Guanyin Bodhisattva.
She found them in the large manor, deep in a game of Go. They were so engrossed in their battle that they didn't seem to notice her arrival.
Approaching them, Su Qing said naturally, "You two seniors certainly have it easy, while I was left to do all the hard work alone."
Guanyin Bodhisattva and Taishang Laojun both laughed. "How was that hard work? You got to give Wukong a sound thrashing; shouldn't you be satisfied?"
Seeing their reaction, Su Qing shrugged. "Beating him did help vent some frustration, but I wouldn't call it satisfying. Regardless, I didn't come here to talk about that. I just wanted to let you know that I have other things to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave now."
The two did not try to stop her. They both nodded, and one said, "Go if you must. Why bother telling us?"
"I didn't want you two waiting for me in vain," Su Qing said helplessly.
Laojun laughed. "Guanyin is a master of divination. She knew exactly when you were leaving! She wouldn't have waited for nothing."
Su Qing threw up her hands. Fine, it seemed she really had overthought things. Still, one had to follow proper etiquette.
"In that case, this junior shall take her leave!" Su Qing said.
"Go on, go on! Since you have business, head off. Just come back and chat with this old man when you have the time," Laojun said, stroking his beard with a laugh.
Guanyin Bodhisattva merely glanced at Su Qing, nodded, and returned her focus to the game.
Seeing this, Su Qing said no more. She pinched a hand seal and departed on her Somersault Cloud.
After Su Qing left, the two continued their game and discussed the future.
"Since we aren't leaving yet, are we going to add another tribulation for Wukong and his group?" Laojun asked, looking at Guanyin.
Guanyin smiled and nodded. "Indeed! We're still one short. Su Qing's interference threw off the predestined count. Some changes are fine, but the number of the Eighty-One Tribulations cannot be altered. We must fill the gap."
"I see... then why didn't you ask Su Qing to stay?"
"She only agreed to help with one tribulation, not the ones after. Besides, looking at her makes me a bit irritable. I only had a few prized female disciples, and she's managed to abduct every single one of them. How could I not be annoyed?" Guanyin said with a pout and a helpless sigh.
Laojun laughed heartily. "You truly sound like an old father..."
"Old father? Old mother is more like it..." Guanyin replied with a wry smile.
"What does it matter? Your gender depends entirely on what the mortals believe! Bodhisattvas have no fixed gender—even a Daoist like me knows that. Surely you, a Buddhist, are even more aware?"
Guanyin shook her head helplessly. "In essence, there is no gender, but when enough people believe, it becomes so. You Daoists still have a shallow understanding of our Buddhist matters."
The two continued to debate the Dao while they played, enjoying themselves immensely.
After Su Qing flew away from the manor, she still didn't return to Great Emperor Zhenwu's domain. Instead, she took out a talisman to sense Ao Ying's location and flew off to find her.
Su Qing's original plan had been to find Ao Ying and the others, but she had been intercepted by the Buddha before she could start. Now that the business here was concluded, she could resume her original task.
As for the domain of Great Emperor Zhenwu... being away for ten days or half a month wouldn't be a big deal. At most, the work would just pile up. Besides, with Liu Xixi there, what could go wrong? It didn't make much difference whether she was there or not; her presence was mostly that of a presiding deity.
Su Qing's cloud was exceptionally fast. Before long, she was hovering in the sky above Ao Ying's location. After sensing the position again to be sure, she lowered her cloud and landed inside a temple.
She didn't see Ao Ying immediately, though she felt her presence was very close.
'Strange. The location is definitely here, so why don't I see her?' Su Qing's brow twitched in confusion.
Just as she was about to expand her divine sense to search the area, she suddenly felt someone pouncing toward her.
Su Qing instinctively turned her head and saw Su Ying rushing at her with a mischievous grin. Su Qing reacted instantly, appearing behind Su Ying in a flash and grabbing her by the collar.
"You little brat, what do you think you're doing?" Su Qing asked, giving her a light rap on the head.
Su Ying giggled and scratched her head. "I just wanted to give you a surprise, Mother! Who knew your reactions and movements would be so fast that you'd catch me instantly?"
Su Qing pouted and pinched the girl's cheek. "Giving surprises like that... you'd better be careful, or I might accidentally give you a thrashing! By the way, where is your mother? I can feel her nearby, but I don't see her."
Seeing Su Qing's question, Su Ying straightened her collar and said, "Mother is hiding inside the statue! It was her idea for me to give you a surprise!"
Hearing this, Su Qing looked up at her own divine statue. "Come out, Ao Ying! Your daughter has already sold you out."
Ao Ying let out a helpless laugh and stepped out from the statue. She sat on the altar table and reached out to relight the extinguished incense. "This girl really didn't hesitate to sell out her own mother! It seems I'll have to give her a proper education later."
"She definitely needs a lesson," Su Qing agreed, looking at Su Ying.
Su Ying put her hands on her hips and protested, "I don't! It was Mother's idea, so why should I be the one punished?"
Ao Ying and Su Qing looked at each other and shared a light laugh, deciding to stop teasing the girl.
Ao Ying asked, "Well? Did you fail to sense my location this time?"
"I really didn't. Who would have thought you'd hide inside my own statue?" Su Qing said, shrugging. "And you used the incense power to mask your aura, making it even harder to detect."
"Heh heh—this is a recent discovery of mine!" Ao Ying said. "You'd better be careful of this in the future! It would be bad if you got caught off guard by a move like this. After all, I heard you say that your clone is currently dealing with an 'evil god.'"
Su Qing shook her head. "You needn't worry about that. Your situation is unique; it's unlikely anyone else could pull off that trick."
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