Su Qing smiled helplessly at the words.
She didn't mention much, only saying: "Something happened on the way, so I was delayed for several decades."
The Stone Monkey was a bit confused, not understanding what could cause a delay of several decades.
However, he didn't ask further, just nodded and said:
"It's good that Big Sister is back, it's good that you're back!"
"Big Sister doesn't know how much all the monkeys and their descendants on Flower-Fruit Mountain have missed you!"
"Today Big Sister is back, I'm truly overjoyed! How about we set up a feast! To celebrate Big Sister's return to Flower-Fruit Mountain!"
Su Qing shook her head slightly at the words and said, "As you wish."
Hearing Su Qing's words, the Stone Monkey said no more.
He simply ordered his attendants to prepare a banquet.
The Red-Bottomed Macaques on either side, having received the order, quickly swung through the branches to arrange the feast.
After giving his orders, the Stone Monkey led Su Qing towards the Water Curtain Cave.
"I knew Big Sister would return one day, so I've kept the Water Curtain Cave reserved for you all this time!"
"Now that Big Sister is back, please continue to live in the Water Curtain Cave!"
The Stone Monkey walked ahead, saying cheerfully:
"It's just that I haven't seen Big Sister in a long time, and I didn't expect Big Sister to not have changed at all! You truly are a Celestial Immortal!"
Su Qing chuckled at the words.
She really hadn't expected the Stone Monkey to actually keep the Water Curtain Cave for her all this time.
She laughed and said, "I can't be called a Celestial Immortal. Nearly a hundred years have passed, and I've only just barely entered the Earthly Immortal realm."
"What does that mean?" The Stone Monkey didn't understand cultivation realms.
Calling Su Qing a Celestial Immortal was just because he thought she was powerful, not knowing that Celestial Immortal was a major realm.
Su Qing shook her head slightly and didn't explain further.
She only asked the Stone Monkey about recent events...
The Stone Monkey told Su Qing.
In the decades since Su Qing left, Flower-Fruit Mountain had encountered almost no trouble.
It had always been very peaceful and tranquil, and no short-sighted demons had come to bother their monkey kind.
And because of the excellent environment outside the Water Curtain Cave,
many monkeys on Flower-Fruit Mountain had joined his ranks, becoming one of his countless monkey descendants.
And many other spiritual animals of different species had also joined them.
There were cattle, sheep, foxes, peacocks, and the like...
The Stone Monkey also told Su Qing that he hadn't forgotten Su Qing's past achievements.
He would occasionally recount past events to the monkey troop.
He told the new monkeys that there once was a very powerful Willow Immortal here, who was also his Big Sister.
Now, every monkey, more or less, had heard of Su Qing's story.
Su Qing's mouth twitched slightly at the words...
She wondered why so many eyes had been staring at her along the way, yet without malice, all filled with reverence and admiration.
Turns out, it was for this reason.
However, Su Qing was too lazy to comment on the Stone Monkey's actions... after all, it was his good intention.
Outside the Water Curtain Cave, Su Qing removed her hairpin and asked Leng Xiang to tidy up the Water Curtain Cave.
After all, she would be staying in the Water Curtain Cave for a while.
If it wasn't tidied up, it would likely be uninhabitable.
At the same time, Su Qing also let the Little Sparrows roam freely.
She had long noticed that these little fellows had been somewhat restless since returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
So she simply let them move about as they pleased.
Anyway, there would be no danger for them on Flower-Fruit Mountain.
After making arrangements,
Su Qing found a rock by the waterfall and sat down.
The Stone Monkey also sat down beside her.
Su Qing asked, "By the way, you're still the Monkey King, so how is the Old Monkey doing now?"
Su Qing was naturally asking about the old monkey who had stayed by the Stone Monkey's side before.
That old monkey was agile and intelligent, so Su Qing had asked her to assist the Stone Monkey.
Now, decades had passed, and she was curious if the Old Monkey was still alive.
The lifespan of animals in the blessed land of Flower-Fruit Mountain was much longer than those outside, and that old monkey could also be considered a demon.
Even if not three to five hundred years, two to three hundred years of life was possible.
However, she was an old monkey after all, and after several decades... whether she was still alive was indeed a question.
Speaking of the Old Monkey, the Stone Monkey naturally knew who Su Qing was referring to.
He scratched the back of his hand, seemingly unable to sit still, constantly fidgeting.
"Chancellor, she hasn't been doing too well in recent years..."
"I don't know why, but she always forgets who I am! Sometimes she even forgets who she is!"
"Her memory is sometimes good, sometimes bad, I don't know what illness she has."
"Hehe, but now that Big Sister is back, I'm afraid you'll be able to cure her, the old lady."
"Big Sister, what do you think is wrong with Chancellor? How can she not even remember who I am?"
Although the Stone Monkey was both intelligent and kind, he lived in the wilderness.
Surrounded by monkeys with little wisdom.
And no one taught him such obscure knowledge...
Naturally, he didn't know what illness the Old Monkey had.
But when Su Qing heard the symptoms, she understood.
She knew what this illness was...
She just hadn't expected... that the monkeys on Flower-Fruit Mountain would also get Alzheimer's?
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "I naturally know what this illness is, but... I can't cure it."
"Big Sister can't cure it either?"
"That's right! I can't cure it either!"
"Then there's no way? But why did Chancellor get this illness?"
"She's just old... I suppose she doesn't have many years left to live. Just stay with her well these years."
Su Qing had thought that returning to Flower-Fruit Mountain would free her from contemplating the matter of lifespan.
But to her surprise, no matter where in this world, King Yama secretly governed.
No matter the place, lifespan was always a consideration.
"This..." The Stone Monkey was at a loss for words for a moment.
He didn't have much concept of birth, aging, and death...
But he could sense the heaviness in Su Qing's tone.
"Never mind, never mind, let's talk about something else!"
Su Qing said:
"By the way, what about the Macaque? The Macaque who used to always call me Big Sister!"
Remembering the Old Monkey, Su Qing naturally also thought of the Macaque.
The Macaque was the first monkey Su Qing communicated with on Flower-Fruit Mountain... and later became a relatively good friend.
At that time, that monkey was quite attached to her, and now that she was back and hadn't seen her, she couldn't help but be curious about her whereabouts.
The Stone Monkey, hearing this, no longer dwelled on what Su Qing had said earlier and answered the question.
"Little Sister is no longer on Flower-Fruit Mountain."
"Oh? She left?"
"Yes! Big Sister, you were gone for decades, and Little Sister waited for you for decades without seeing you return, plus Chancellor got that strange illness. So Little Sister made a raft and went out to sea to find Big Sister and immortal medicine."
The Stone Monkey spoke of this with some self-reproach, saying:
"I wanted to stop her, but Little Sister was determined to go. If I stopped her, she wouldn't eat or drink, and I was worried she'd starve herself, so I had no choice but to let her leave. I don't know if she's safe and sound now."
After hearing this, Su Qing couldn't help but frown slightly.
She had thought Flower-Fruit Mountain hadn't changed much in decades...
But now she saw, how could there be no change! The changes were no less than in the mortal world.
"You don't have to blame yourself, some things you can't stop."
Seeing the Stone Monkey's self-reproach, Su Qing just patted his head and said:
"I'll just try to deduce her situation."
With that, Su Qing tried to deduce the Macaque's situation.
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