Since Guanyin Bodhisattva had put it that way, Su Qing found it difficult to say anything else. She simply nodded and went to call for the person herself.
Ao Yiyi had, of course, noticed her master's arrival long ago. However, for certain reasons, she had chosen to hide. After all, she still wanted to wander the world for a few more years, following Su Qing's clone to find the answers she sought. Naturally, she didn't want to be taken back by her master so soon.
Unfortunately, Ao Yiyi had clearly fallen into a misunderstanding. The reason she hadn't been caught and brought back all this time wasn't because Su Qing's influence was truly that immense, nor because they had traveled so far that Guanyin Bodhisattva couldn't calculate her location. It was simply that the Bodhisattva hadn't wanted to seize her.
"Big Green Sister." Ao Yiyi gave a bitter smile as she saw Su Qing approaching. "You've come to tell me to see my master, haven't you?"
Su Qing nodded. "Yes. Guanyin Bodhisattva personally asked me. But don't worry, she promised me she wouldn't force you to return. In fact, even if she wanted to, I wouldn't allow it! After all, I still need you by my side to practice medicine!"
Su Qing didn't bother with grand moralizing; she simply stated her thoughts and the facts.
Ao Yiyi fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
Su Qing continued, "Actually... if she really wanted to take you away, she would have done it long ago. Come on, go see her. Your master misses you quite a bit, as you surely know. You used to understand these things so clearly; why have you become so muddled now?"
Su Qing's words made Ao Yiyi freeze for a second. Then, she let out a long, soft sigh and nodded. "I understand."
Seeing this, Su Qing nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go!" she said with a smile.
Ao Yiyi stood up and followed her. Taking quick steps, the two of them soon reached Guanyin Bodhisattva's side.
"I've brought Yiyi here as you requested, Guanyin Bodhisattva. As a senior, you mustn't go back on your word! Everyone here is watching," Su Qing said with a playful, threatening grin.
This 'threat' carried no real weight; to Guanyin Bodhisattva, it wasn't a threat at all. She looked up at Su Qing, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.
She had never intended to break her promise in the first place, so there was no reason to refuse.
Satisfied, Su Qing nodded. "Then I'll leave you two to catch up. I have to get back to my duties."
With that, Su Qing prepared to leave. However, she sent a Sound Transmission to Chaoyan, asking her to keep an eye on Guanyin Bodhisattva and report if anything seemed amiss.
Though Su Qing felt this was likely unnecessary, Guanyin Bodhisattva was known to be quite the prankster when she wanted to be, so it was best to remain a bit cautious.
Fortunately, as time passed, Su Qing received no messages from Chaoyan. The interaction between Ao Yiyi and Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared perfectly harmonious. Her worries had been for nothing.
Relieved, Su Qing focused on her tasks. Guests continued to arrive one by one until almost everyone was present. As for those who hadn't arrived, Su Qing didn't plan on waiting any longer; they likely weren't coming.
It was almost time for the meal. Su Qing called back those who were in the inner palace, and the banquet officially began.
As the host, Su Qing naturally had to step up and deliver a few standard pleasantries. Fortunately, she had prepared her speech in advance and finished quickly.
Following her opening remarks came the congratulatory toasts from the gathered deities—and, of course, the presentation of gifts. One does not attend a feast or a Full Moon Banquet empty-handed. Since the guests had come, they had naturally prepared gifts for Su Tingtong.
Of course, while some gifts were ostensibly for Su Tingtong, they were effectively for Su Qing, given under a different name. Only a few representative figures presented their gifts publicly at this time; most guests had already delivered theirs privately. After all, the setting dictated the expected value of the gift. Everyone's wealth varied, and not everyone was prepared to present something incredibly precious in such a public forum. Many gifts were simply tokens of goodwill.
Regardless of what was given—whether precious or common—Su Qing accepted them all. They were for her daughter, after all. There was nothing wrong with her holding onto them on the child's behalf for now.
The formalities didn't take long. Once they were concluded, the feast truly began.
There wasn't much to say about the lunch itself. It was a time for the various immortals to converse and make new acquaintances. Although Su Qing had organized this as a Full Moon Banquet, it served as an opportunity for the deities to build connections and forge ties. Su Qing didn't mind this at all. As long as they weren't plotting anything malicious, they could do as they pleased.
Time flowed by, and soon the banquet drew to a close. As the guests began to depart, Su Qing didn't need to see every single person off; she would have been far too busy. She only saw off the most important figures.
Guanyin Bodhisattva was one of them.
"Senior Guanyin, are you leaving already?" Su Qing approached as she saw the Bodhisattva preparing to depart.
Guanyin glanced at her and nodded. "Indeed, it is time. Why? Do you have something to say?"
Guanyin actually knew exactly what Su Qing wanted, but she feigned ignorance. She had already resolved not to agree to the request to let Chaoyan stay behind.
Seeing her play dumb, Su Qing gave a cheeky grin and brought the matter up anyway.
Guanyin Bodhisattva shook her head. "The child has only just broken through and needs to stabilize her realm. It's better if she returns with me to focus on her cultivation."
"That's not a problem. One can stabilize their realm anywhere."
"She's quite mischievous."
"She listens to me."
"...No means no." Guanyin decided to stop pretending and laid her cards on the table; she simply didn't want to leave her here.
Su Qing's eyes twinkled as she sent a Sound Transmission to Guanyin. 'Senior, you can't do this. If you're too strict, a rift will form between you and your disciple. You wouldn't want that, would you? Just like what happened with Little Sister Yiyi.'
Su Qing had grown accustomed to calling Ao Yiyi 'Little Sister.' Although Ao Yiyi was technically much older, she insisted on calling Su Qing 'Sister,' so Su Qing had eventually just leaned into it.
Guanyin Bodhisattva's eyebrows twitched with a hint of annoyance. This brat was actually using that incident to threaten her!
Yet, she had to admit Su Qing's words moved her. The threat was effective because it struck at her genuine concern. That was exactly why it was so irritating. If the threat were groundless, she could ignore it, but Su Qing had pinpointed her weakness. It was truly vexing.
Seeing the shifting expressions on Guanyin's face, Su Qing smiled, knowing her words had hit the mark. However, she didn't press further herself. Instead, she caught Chaoyan's eye, signaling for her to speak.
Chaoyan immediately understood. Her eyes darted around before she said with a beaming, sweet smile, "Master, Master! If a year is too long, how about six months? That's fifty percent off! Please? Pretty please?"
Chaoyan didn't particularly care if it was a year or six months; the important thing was getting her master to agree.
Guanyin Bodhisattva felt helpless as she watched her disciple act so spoiled.
"Fine, fine! If you want to play here, then play! But remember, I will be checking your progress. If I come to fetch you in six months and find you haven't been practicing your cultivation properly, I won't let you follow Su Qing so easily again."
Guanyin finally relented. She was simply too kind-hearted and couldn't withstand her disciple's pleading.
Chaoyan's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Master! Thank you! I knew you were the best!"
Watching her disciple—who looked more mature now—act so spoiled in her old way gave Guanyin a peculiar feeling. However, she didn't dislike it. After all, she had raised this child herself. She was no different from a mother to her.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed softly and gave Chaoyan a light tap on the head. "The two of you certainly make a good team. Honestly, as disciples grow up, their loyalties always seem to shift toward outsiders."
Chaoyan blinked innocently. "What are you talking about, Master? My loyalty is shifting inward! After all, I'm siding with my godmother!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva paused, then tapped her on the head again. She didn't even want to talk to this brat anymore.
"Fine, fine. Stay here for six months. I'm leaving."
Guanyin didn't want to stay any longer, lest her dignified persona crumble entirely. Although her image had long since vanished in front of Su Qing and her disciples, there were still other guests around. She had to maintain some level of decorum, much like a certain mistress of the Moon Palace.
"Safe travels, Master!" Chaoyan was in high spirits as she saw her master off.
Guanyin Bodhisattva gave a small huff, choosing not to bicker with the girl, and followed the Buddhist delegation out of the hall.
Once Guanyin was gone, Ao Yiyi walked over to Su Qing's side. As if talking to herself, she murmured, "Master... she's changed a bit."
Su Qing looked at her in surprise. "How so?"
"It's just... a feeling." Ao Yiyi shook her head. "I feel like she's much easier to talk to than before..."
Su Qing blinked and rubbed her chin. 'Easier to talk to? Hasn't she always been like this?' She couldn't figure it out, so she didn't dwell on it.
She simply said, "Yiyi, when do you plan on heading back? I can send you with the Somersault Cloud whenever you're ready."
"Wait until you're finished with everything here," Ao Yiyi replied. "I'm in no hurry."
Su Qing didn't push it. She patted Chaoyan's head and said, "Alright then. Both of you wait here for a bit. I'm going to handle a few remaining matters and then I'll send you back. Chaoyan, you too!"
Chaoyan was a bit confused by this, but she didn't ask questions. She simply nodded. "So I'll just wait here with Sister Yiyi?"
"Exactly." Su Qing nodded and turned to leave.
Chaoyan watched her walk away, then turned to Ao Yiyi. "Sister Yiyi, what kind of business do you think Godmother has left to handle?"
"That... I wouldn't know." Ao Yiyi couldn't read minds, so she had no idea what Su Qing was up to.
However, if she did know, she would likely be speechless. Su Qing's 'business' wasn't anything particularly important or grand. She was simply going to prepare a private meal for Chang'e.
As for why she was in such a hurry? It wasn't Su Qing who was impatient, but Chang'e. She had become so restless that she'd sent Yuer to deliver a Sound Transmission. Su Qing felt that if she didn't go now, Chang'e might actually start holding a grudge.
Thus, Su Qing had to go, even if she didn't plan on drinking with her just yet.
Su Qing soon found Chang'e. The goddess was currently playing with little Su Tingtong in her cradle, surrounded by Su Ying'er and Yudie.
When Chang'e saw Su Qing, she stopped playing with the baby and said, "You're finally here. You promised me a private meal; you'd better not go back on your word!"
Su Qing nodded. "Of course. I've kept it in mind; I won't break my promise! By the way, where's Red Boy? Is she not here?"
Red Boy's family had attended the banquet as well, arriving with the Buddhist group. Since they were demons without official titles, it was more convenient for them to arrive under the protection of the Buddhist faction. Su Qing hadn't seen Red Boy leave, so she assumed the girl had come to the inner palace.
Chang'e couldn't answer that, but Yudie proved to be reliable for once. Upon hearing the question, she immediately replied, "Red Boy is tidying up her room! She plans to stay here for a year or two, so she brought a lot of things with her."
"I see." Su Qing nodded. "In that case, Sister Chang'e, why don't you sit with these little ones? I'll prepare a special meal for all of you together. How does that sound?"
"Huh? Why am I sitting at the kids' table?" Chang'e asked, immediately catching the implication.
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