The Departure

Time passed quickly.

After the New Year, Su Qing continued to live with Su Qingyu and the others for a while, just as she always had.

By the time March and April arrived, Su Qing felt the time was right.

One morning, during breakfast, Su Qing announced her decision.

She stated that she, along with Ao Yiyi, Jin Xin, and Hu Lin'er, would be leaving that very day.

Hearing this, Su Qingyu was momentarily stunned before asking curiously, "Where do you plan to go, Master? When will you be back?"

Su Qingyu hadn't anticipated that Su Qing’s departure would be permanent; she assumed Su Qing was simply going away for a short while, as she had done before, and would return after a period of time.

Su Qing did not give the answer Su Qingyu expected. Instead, she said simply, "If nothing unexpected happens, we likely won't return to this place for the rest of our lives."

Hearing those words, Su Qingyu froze. With a look of disbelief, she said, "Master, you're joking, right?"

"No, I really am leaving," Su Qing said, shaking her head. "I originally planned to leave a while ago, but because I was reluctant to part from you, I delayed it until now."

"But... if you're reluctant to leave me, shouldn't you stay?"

"I want to, but clearly, I cannot."

"Why?"

"..." Su Qing fell silent for a moment, then said with a smile, "There is no why. You now have the ability to stand on your own and are capable of handling your future life. My task is considered complete. Naturally, it is time to go..."

"But..."

"There are no more 'buts.' After this meal, we will depart," Su Qing said calmly, appearing as though she felt no lingering attachment.

Su Qingyu fell silent at those words, and the atmosphere at the dining table grew heavy.

After a long while, she finally spoke. "Can you really not stay?"

In response, Su Qing only shook her head once more.

Seeing this, Su Qingyu could only let out a sigh.

She knew she could not stop Su Qing from leaving.

"I... I understand. But Master, are you sure... you'll never come back to see me again?" Su Qingyu asked once more.

Hearing this, Su Qing pondered for a moment and said, "If there is an opportunity, I will return!"

Su Qing could not be certain she would never return, so she didn't give a definitive answer.

After all, who could say for sure what the future held?

Upon hearing this answer, Su Qingyu nodded, then let out a long breath of turbid air and said, "Then I understand. Master, if you want to go, I can't stop you. Just remember to come back and see me occasionally in the future..."

Su Qing was slightly surprised that she had accepted it so quickly.

She had expected the girl to throw a bit of a tantrum!

However, she didn't say much, merely nodding with a smile. "I promise you."

"Pinky swear!"

"No changing for a hundred years!"

Su Qingyu and Su Qing hooked their pinkies and made a vow.

Though it lacked any real binding power, it served to satisfy a longing in their hearts. It allowed Su Qingyu to let out a sigh of relief, as if this act could guarantee that Su Qing would fulfill her promise.

Seeing this, Su Qing smiled softly. She then made arrangements for the two girls regarding what would happen after her departure.

However, rather than 'arrangements,' it was more of a simple conversation about what they needed to be mindful of. After all, once she was gone, they would truly have to rely on their own efforts.

Su Qingyu and Rendong both nodded seriously at Su Qing’s words.

Satisfied, Su Qing finally turned her gaze toward Li Yichou.

"As for you... well, do as you please. If you wish to go back for revenge, your current strength should be entirely sufficient. But if you wish to stay, that is fine as well."

Su Qing didn't force Li Yichou into anything; whether she stayed or left was entirely up to her own will. After all, once Su Qing left, their agreement would reach its end, and there would be no need for Su Qing to constrain her.

Hearing this, Li Yichou fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I will think it through..."

"It’s good as long as you have your own decision," Su Qing said, nodding. "Alright, the meal is just about finished. If you're going to the medical clinic, head there now. Ao Ying and the others and I will pack up and prepare to leave."

Since Su Qing had decided to go, she certainly wouldn't linger. The longer one stayed, the easier it was for one's resolve to waver. Therefore, when it was time to move, one had to act immediately.

Hearing this, the others were momentarily dazed. However, in the end, they said nothing, nodding obediently before leaving the house to head to the clinic.

No one intended to see Su Qing off. Their reasoning was likely similar to Su Qing’s own.

Su Qing packed quickly, as there wasn't much to take. Once finished, she led the horse out.

The white horse was as it had always been—full of spirit, plump, and sturdy.

"Good horse, it’s time for us to go today," Su Qing said, patting the horse’s head.

The horse let out a snort in response, seemingly indifferent to when they left.

Su Qing chuckled and said nothing more. Just then, she saw the black cat jump onto the horse’s back and speak to her. "Did you forget about me? You promised to take me with you!"

Coal Ball hadn't forgotten Su Qing’s words. She remembered that a long time ago, Su Qing had said she would take her along and teach her more spells. Now that Su Qing was leaving, she naturally intended to follow.

"Oh? I certainly didn't forget you! But do you really plan to come with me? I thought you might prefer staying here!" Su Qing teased with a chuckle.

Coal Ball said indignantly, "I don't like staying here at all! The only reason I liked it here was because you were here. After all, you're the only one who can talk to me, and the only one who knows this Great General's true strength. So, if you're leaving, I'm naturally coming along."

It wasn't that Coal Ball disliked Su Qingyu and the others; she simply felt that following Su Qing would be better. She would be more free and happy. Besides, it felt better when Su Qing stroked her.

Hearing this, Su Qing said with a light laugh, "Fine, fine, fine. Since you want to come, then come along."

Su Qing didn't object to her joining; it was something they had agreed upon. However, since the black cat was quite special, Su Qing wouldn't have forced her to follow if she had wanted to stay.

Coal Ball nodded proudly, then with her tail held high and looking very pleased, she jumped into the carriage.

Seeing this, Su Qing smiled gracefully, then turned to look at Ao Ying behind her. "What? Are you feeling a bit reluctant to leave?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Ao Yiyi said with a helpless smile. "We've lived together for so many years; how could I not be reluctant to part? Besides, aren't you the same? It’s just... you're better at not showing it as clearly as I am."

Ao Yiyi didn't deny her reluctance, but she had no intention of staying. She knew that in matters like this, one had to be decisive. If one wasn't resolute, it would only be more painful in the future.

Su Qing didn't deny her words, simply saying, "What you say... is indeed true. However, since I am the one who decided to leave, I naturally cannot show it. Besides, the ones who are truly most reluctant are the little ones, aren't they?"

Ao Yiyi sighed and nodded. "I know... Sigh, let's go!"

With that, she followed her into the carriage.

Behind them, Su Qing looked at Jin Xin.

Jin Xin simply smiled and said, "I don't have any reluctance at all!"

"I know you don't..." Su Qing’s mouth twitched as she laughed. "Alright, get in quickly."

Jin Xin nodded and boarded the carriage. Finally, Hu Lin'er took the driver's seat.

Su Qing looked at Hu Lin'er and asked, "Are you reluctant?"

"I am..." Hu Lin'er fell silent for a moment, then said, "I am Miss's maid. No matter what, I must be willing to part."

Hearing this, Su Qing shook her head with a light laugh.

Well, it seemed that among them, Hu Lin'er was the one most reluctant to leave. But that wasn't surprising; after all, Hu Lin'er was the youngest and had experienced the least.

Su Qing said nothing more and boarded the carriage. Then, with a cry of "Giddyup!" from Hu Lin'er, the carriage rolled forward.

The carriage slowly left the city.

Atop the city wall, Liu Qian watched from afar. Seeing Su Qing depart, she let out a faint sigh and flew back to the palace. She informed the Empress, Ye Qingyu, of the departure.

Upon learning this, Ye Qingyu looked at the Golden Branch and Jade Leaf Hairpin in her hand and couldn't help but give a bitter smile. "I wonder which kingdom Big Green Sister will travel to in the future."

"When we have spare hands later, we can send people to inquire. Wherever people start believing in the One-Leaf Bodhisattva, we will know she has been there," Liu Qian said calmly.

"What you say is quite true." Ye Qingyu smiled, set down the hairpin, and said, "Very well. I hope that in the future, when she has free time, she will come back to hear more gossip from me!"

Now that Su Qing was gone, Ye Qingyu, as Empress, was destined to be lonely once more. After all, she had lost someone she could truly talk to.

Hearing this, Liu Qian gave a helpless smile and said, "Your Majesty truly does love to chat about such things!"

"After all, it is indeed interesting, isn't it?" Ye Qingyu smiled and said, "Alright, back to work! You too—now that you have Big Green Sister’s cultivation technique, you should practice diligently! After all, you are our most formidable 'General'; you must strive to become even stronger."

Liu Qian nodded and sighed. "I truly never expected that I would one day be urged to cultivate by you, Your Majesty."

Ye Qingyu only smiled and said, "The stronger you are, the happier I am!"

"I am a demon! Aren't you afraid I'll turn against you?"

"If you were going to turn, you would have done so long ago! Besides, we've been together for so many years; do you think I don't know you?" Ye Qingyu said with complete confidence. "Practice well. I will arrange for others to handle as many daily affairs as possible so they don't disturb your cultivation!"

Liu Qian felt helpless, but she simply turned and left, preparing to return and cultivate properly.

On the other side, after leaving the city, Su Qing and the others traveled along the main road. This journey had no specific destination; it was merely for the purpose of spreading incense power. Therefore, the group traveled quite casually, simply picking a road they hadn't taken before.

On the way, Su Qing sat in the swaying carriage, looking at the black cat in her lap who was feeling a bit carsick. She couldn't help but find it funny and said, "Aren't a cat's motor skills supposed to be quite good? How can you get carsick?"

Coal Ball: "Meow! This General is not sick; I just ate too much breakfast and the swaying is making me a bit uncomfortable."

Coal Ball refused to admit it; she would rather die than admit it. Because this was simply too embarrassing, she absolutely could not acknowledge it under any circumstances!

"Is that so? Then I should remind you that in the future, most of our days will be spent in a carriage!" Su Qing said teasingly. "How about it? Should I send you back?"

"I don't need that! I'm not carsick! How could this General possibly be carsick!" The little cat was still being stubborn.

Su Qing nodded, stroked her soft fur, and said, "Fine, fine, fine. I'll just pretend you're not carsick."

As she spoke, Su Qing channeled a wisp of magic power into her, making the cat’s motion sickness feel a bit better.

"Eh? I feel much better!? Does being petted really stop the sickness?"

Coal Ball was a bit dazed, but she was very happy. She declared that she had perked up again and went back to babbling with Su Qing. With Coal Ball around, the journey would likely not be boring.

Of course, with someone like Jin Xin present, it already wouldn't have been boring—it was just that Jin Xin was more dangerous, whereas teasing the little one was more entertaining.

After playing with Coal Ball for a while, Su Qing turned to look at Ao Yiyi. Ao Yiyi was very silent, clearly still struggling to move on from the parting. However, Su Qing didn't mind; she would move on soon enough.

After all, it was just a separation, not a final farewell. If she had stayed to watch Su Qingyu and the other little ones slowly grow old and die, she would likely have been truly miserable. Just like... that one time.

Su Qing smiled inwardly and shook her head, then turned her head to look at the scenery outside.

Time passed bit by bit. Before they knew it, the carriage had been traveling for two months. During these two months, the carriage hadn't stopped much, only staying for a day or two when passing through a town.

As this period of time passed, no one dwelled on the past anymore. They gradually returned to their usual selves.

Meanwhile, back in Xingyang City, Su Qingyu and the others hadn't moved on as quickly as Su Qing and her group. At this moment, Su Qingyu had just gotten out of bed. Walking into the courtyard and seeing the space without those familiar figures, she was still a bit unaccustomed to it.

"Suddenly, it’s become so quiet. I’m really not used to it!"

Su Qingyu let out a melancholy sigh and thought, 'I wonder where Master and the others are now.'

Just as Su Qingyu was thinking this, Li Yichou’s voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Qingyu, I have something to say to you," Li Yichou said.