Guanyin Bodhisattva was stunned for a moment by Su Qing's answer, then she gave a knowing smile.
Looking at Su Qing, she said, "Indeed. Perhaps the Great Sage Equal to Heaven is more likable, but even he could not escape the shackles of fate in the end."
Su Qing fell silent for a long time before shaking her head with a smile.
In truth, she could have changed things.
But in the end, she had chosen to let events follow their original course.
When it came down to it, she was also one of the accomplices.
She wasn't necessarily that noble.
"Yes... so, out of sight, out of mind," Su Qing said helplessly.
Guanyin Bodhisattva laughed and nodded. "Very well. Since you intend to keep it out of sight and out of mind, then so be it. Your presence or absence doesn't make much difference to the matter anyway. Inviting you was more about having you as a witness..."
Su Qing cupped her hands toward Guanyin Bodhisattva in a gesture of thanks. If Guanyin had insisted she come along, it would have been quite difficult to refuse.
But now that the Bodhisattva had given up on bringing her, she didn't have to worry about that headache anymore.
"Then, Senior Guanyin, are you heading back now?" Su Qing asked.
Even if she wasn't going, Guanyin Bodhisattva surely had to be present.
As expected, Guanyin replied, "I must go, of course... You've reminded me; I should be on my way. I cannot keep chatting with you. That is all! I am leaving. Take good care of my disciple; do not let her suffer. Also, you truly do have a penchant for dragon girls... to have abducted yet another one. However, this dragon girl's bloodline is quite special... you should make good use of it. It might bring you an unexpected harvest! Well, I have said enough. I'm off."
While Guanyin Bodhisattva disliked Su Qing in many other respects, she was never stingy with her concern when it was called for. After all, the fact that things had progressed so smoothly—and that the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth had been delayed for so long—was largely due to Su Qing's contributions.
Su Qing nodded slightly after hearing Guanyin's words, as if she had understood something.
"Then I shall not see you out, Senior," Su Qing said.
Guanyin naturally didn't need Su Qing to see her off. She departed directly on a cloud. Su Qing only watched her go for a moment.
Guanyin nodded, formed a hand seal, and flew toward the west on an auspicious cloud, turning into a streak of crimson light.
Once Guanyin was far away, Su Qing's expression turned slightly complex. She murmured to herself, "Guanyin Bodhisattva told me to make good use of her for an unexpected harvest... what kind of harvest could that be? And how exactly am I supposed to 'make good use' of her?"
Su Qing felt a bit helpless.
But she couldn't blame the other for being vague this time.
After all, the Bodhisattva had already given her a hint, which was more than enough.
If she went back to ask for every single detail, she would look rather foolish.
Su Qing shook her head and muttered, "Forget it, I'll take it one step at a time. I'll worry about later things later. For now, I'll just wait for Wukong to become a Buddha and then come back to be the Handsome Monkey King! No matter what, I've put my heart and soul into this Flower-Fruit Mountain; it cannot be destroyed... I'm still looking forward to seeing what kind of unique brilliance this place can develop after the Great Tribulation!"
Thinking of this, Su Qing chuckled. She left Jingyue's residence to find Chaoyan, Red Boy, and Bai Zhu.
She hadn't forgotten her promise to them.
It was time to go back and continue strolling through the streets with them.
'But how much longer can this tranquil life last?' Su Qing thought suddenly as she squinted at the bright sun while walking toward the others.
A moment later, she shook her head and quickened her pace.
Before long, Su Qing found Chaoyan and the others.
At that moment, they were at a tea stall listening to a storyteller. The story seemed to be about Su Qing's past deeds on Flower-Fruit Mountain, though it had clearly undergone much adaptation and polishing, with no small amount of exaggeration.
In short, Su Qing found it quite absurd, and it made her feel rather embarrassed.
However, while Su Qing was blushing with shame, Chaoyan and the others were listening very intently.
Su Qing walked up and gave Chaoyan a light pat on the head.
Chaoyan snapped out of it, looked up at Su Qing with a flash of surprise in her eyes, and then asked with a smile, "Goddaughter, you're here! Are you done talking with Master? What did you two talk about?"
"Nothing much, just some minor matters. Your master left after she finished..." Su Qing shook her head with a smile. "Honestly, she didn't even stay to spend time with her precious disciple."
Chaoyan chuckled. "Godmother, you're so stubborn. You clearly find it most annoying when Master tries to control me! But I find it annoying too... I prefer playing here with you. It's a pity I'll have to go back soon."
Although it wasn't particularly difficult for Chaoyan to visit Su Qing now, she still had to return dutifully after staying for a while.
Su Qing shook her head and said, "It's fine. You can visit often anyway! It's just a matter of how long you stay. But you should still listen to your master—except for the things that aren't worth hearing."
"Hehe, I'll listen, of course—but I'll be selective," Chaoyan said with a giggle.
Su Qing tapped her head. "Alright, these stories aren't worth listening to. Let's go wander somewhere else!"
"Aren't they great? Godmother, why don't you join us? Red Boy, what do you think?" Chaoyan asked, turning to Red Boy.
Red Boy crossed her arms, glanced at Chaoyan, and pouted. "I also think listening to stories here is more interesting! We've already seen most of Flower-Fruit Mountain anyway. Listening to your glorious deeds, Sister Xiao Qing, is much more entertaining."
As for Bai Zhu, who was dozing off nearby, she didn't voice an opinion. She only yawned and silently rubbed her cheeks; she had been resting her face on her hands for so long that they hurt.
Seeing this, Su Qing pursed her lips and could only helplessly agree to stay and listen.
'Honestly, am I spoiling these girls too much?' Su Qing thought to herself as she listened to the tall tales of her past. 'Maybe I should be a bit stricter in the future.'
She thought along those lines as time slipped away unnoticed.
On the other side of the world...
Tang Sanzang and his disciples had already arrived at the Great Thunder Monastery on Spirit Mountain.
They were led into the Hall of Great Might to await their official titles.
Wukong stood in the hall and glanced around, noticing that his Big Sister indeed hadn't come.
He smiled inwardly, then reached up to touch the Tight-Fillet on his head.
After today, this hoop should finally disappear.
Just as he was thinking this...
Ru Lai, seated upon his throne, slowly began to speak.
He conferred titles upon Tang Sanzang and his disciples one by one. Tang Sanzang and Wukong were both made Buddhas, while the others were given different statuses.
After all, the position of Buddha wasn't something handed out lightly. Although the others had contributed greatly, it wasn't enough to reach Buddhahood; at most, they were Bodhisattvas.
However, even as Bodhisattvas, their status within the Buddhist sect was extremely high.
They were only second to those legendary figures who held the title of Bodhisattva but possessed incredible power.
Thus, Sha Wujing and the others didn't lose out.
When Wukong saw that the conferment had ended, he said with a grin to Guanyin Bodhisattva, "Bodhisattva, I have now attained the right fruit and become a Bodhisattva-ranked Buddha. Can you take this Tight-Fillet off for me? After all, what kind of look is it for the dignified Victorious Fighting Buddha to have a hoop on his head?"
Wukong's words made Guanyin laugh. She couldn't help but say, "Feel your own head and see if the hoop is still there."
Wukong hurriedly reached up to check. When he felt that the Tight-Fillet was gone, he breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Guanyin Bodhisattva repeatedly.
"Hahaha, there is no need for such ceremony... You have become a Buddha; naturally, you are no longer bound by that hoop," Guanyin said, shaking her head with a smile.
Wukong chuckled and said no more.
Afterward, the Buddha assigned them their respective places.
Jin Chanzi returned to the Buddha's side, while Sha Wujing and Bajie were given their own assignments. As for the White Dragon Horse, he transformed into his dragon form and coiled around a pillar.
Regarding Wukong, the Buddha said, "You... you may go wherever you wish! I shall not concern myself with you... After all, a monkey like you would surely find it dreadfully boring to stay here in our Buddhist fold. It would be bad if you ended up turning my Great Thunder Monastery into a mess."
Wukong quickly grinned and said, "How could I ever cause trouble for you, Buddha! But since you've told me I can go anywhere, then I shall return to my Flower-Fruit Mountain."
"Go, go. As long as you don't go causing any more earth-shattering incidents, I won't interfere with you," the Buddha said, shaking his head with a smile.
In truth, the Buddha had always intended for Wukong to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
That place was Wukong's birthplace and a brilliant pearl of the East Sea; it was naturally the best place for him.
Moreover, expecting Wukong to be like an ordinary member of the Buddhist sect—quietly accepting his stipend and dutifully performing tasks—was simply impossible.
Though this monkey's wild nature had long since been tempered, he was still a wild spirit at heart.
Furthermore, this could be considered a favor to Su Qing.
Giving him more freedom was something Su Qing would be happy to see.
'Su Qing is not a heartless person, after all...' the Buddha thought silently.
Wukong, of course, had no idea what the Buddha was thinking about his Big Sister. He only quickly promised, "I've already caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace once and learned the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth. I naturally won't go ruining things again. You can rest easy, Buddha; I'll definitely be on my best behavior..."
Hearing this, the Buddha nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very well. Let this matter end here. Everyone is dismissed."
Since the Buddha had arranged everything, there was no need to keep everyone standing there.
Thus, the assembly was dismissed.
Seeing this, the various Buddhas departed one after another.
Wukong also respectfully bid farewell to his master.
"Wukong, take care," Tang Sanzang said, performing a Buddhist salute. "Now that you are on your own, do not commit any evil."
"Master, I have already become a Buddha; how could I possibly commit evil? You can rest easy... Besides, with my Big Sister watching over me, I'll be very obedient!" Wukong laughed and shook his head.
Hearing this, Tang Sanzang laughed and said, "Then I am at peace."
"Hmph, Eldest Senior Brother, you've got it good, getting such a grand title. I, on the other hand, was made some sort of Altar-Cleansing Messenger. Hmph, this Buddha is far too unfair," Bajie grumbled to Wukong, not missing the chance to complain even as Wukong was leaving.
Wukong snorted with a laugh. "You idiot, given your performance on this journey, the fact that you even got the title of Altar-Cleansing Messenger is surely thanks to the Buddha's mercy! Don't go complaining that the status isn't high enough. You aren't the type to handle official business anyway; what's wrong with being a gluttonous Bodhisattva?"
"Eldest Senior Brother, it's easy for you to say... Hmph, you don't understand anything," Bajie grumbled and turned his head away, ignoring Wukong.
Seeing this, Wukong shook his head with a smile and turned to Sha Wujing. "Third Junior Brother, are you satisfied with your title?"
"Eldest Senior Brother, though my title isn't particularly high, it is quite good... I am naturally satisfied. At the very least, it's much better than being a Great Marshal of the Golden Curtain in the Heavenly Court," Sha Wujing laughed, having no complaints whatsoever about his title.
Seeing this, Wukong pulled on Bajie's ear and said, "Look at Junior Brother Sha..."
Bajie became even more disgruntled.
Wukong laughed and said no more, simply waving his hand. "Alright, I'm off. I need to get back to Flower-Fruit Mountain!"
"Go, go!" Tang Sanzang said, pressing his palms together.
Wukong grinned and nodded. With a thought, he summoned his Somersault Cloud and flew toward Flower-Fruit Mountain.
At that moment...
At Flower-Fruit Mountain, Su Qing was handling official business alongside Jingyue.
Fortunately, they were almost finished.
It was finally time to rest.
Su Qing took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Calculating the time, it should be about right. Wukong is probably on his way back by now."
"Sister Xiao Qing, your calculations are that precise?" Jingyue asked in surprise.
"It's not so much a precise calculation as a bit of a guess," Su Qing said, shaking her head. "By the way, have you and that old man thought about how to teach Wukong?"
Jingyue also shook her head. "I haven't really thought about it... As for the Earth God, he seemed to be fretting over it for a few days, but he looked to be in a good mood today. I assume he has some ideas?"
Hearing this, Su Qing nodded with satisfaction. "I'll stay here for a few more days to help you keep an eye on Wukong."
"That would be for the best... Without you, Sister, the Earth God and I definitely wouldn't be able to handle the Great Sage," Jingyue said with a smile.
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