Su Qing heard the Underworld Emissary call her "Senior" and couldn't help but be slightly stunned, feeling a little surprised.
She had always been a junior, so had she, unknowingly, become a senior?
She thought, shaking her head helplessly, "What kind of senior am I? I'm just a bit stronger, that's all."
Suppressing the jumbled thoughts in her mind, Su Qing pointed to the Old Monkey's soul beside her and said:
"It's nothing troublesome, I just want you to take this Old Monkey's soul to reincarnate."
The Underworld Emissary heard this, stared at the Old Monkey's soul for a moment, then said with difficulty:
"Senior... we Underworld Emissaries always apprehend people according to the Book of Life and Death. I don't have this Old Monkey's death date here, nor any notification from King Yama. I truly wouldn't dare to apprehend someone without cause!"
Su Qing heard this and couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. It seemed the Underworld had quite a few rules.
But, it was actually normal...
If a place like the Underworld had no rules, wouldn't the cycle of life and death between Heaven and Earth fall into chaos?
However, Su Qing felt that this Old Monkey actually complied with the rules and regulations.
After all, this Old Monkey was originally a monkey destined to die.
So she pondered for a moment, then abruptly asked, "Do you know that a long time ago, the Underworld experienced a disturbance?"
Although the Underworld Emissary didn't understand why Su Qing suddenly brought this up, he still nodded slightly.
Many in the Underworld knew about this matter. Although the Ten Kings of Hell hadn't allowed it to spread for the sake of their reputation, it was simply too big an event.
Moreover, he was a direct participant in that event back then, so he naturally knew.
"What does Senior mean?"
"My meaning is. This Old Monkey is one of the monkey species whose names were erased from the Book of Life and Death back then... If we follow the Book of Life and Death, he should also have reincarnated by now."
Su Qing nodded slightly and said:
"Therefore, taking him to the Underworld now and sending him to reincarnate doesn't count as violating the rules."
"This..."
The Underworld Emissary heard this, pondered for a moment, then also felt there was some logic to it, so he nodded and said:
"I understand! I will take this Old Monkey to reincarnate. As for what kind of birth he gets... that's something I can't control."
"No matter, just take him to reincarnate, the rest is irrelevant." Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Su Qing had only agreed to send the Old Monkey to reincarnate. As for what kind of birth or where he would reincarnate, she was too lazy to manage it, and couldn't even if she wanted to.
That was the Underworld's job...
"No trouble, no trouble, this is my duty," the Underworld Emissary quickly shook his head and replied.
"Oh, and if King Yama asks about this... just answer truthfully," Su Qing thought for a moment, then finally added.
The Underworld Emissary quickly nodded upon hearing this. With Su Qing's words, even if King Yama blamed him, at least the blame wouldn't fall squarely on him.
The Old Monkey watched from the side.
After learning he had received the chance to reincarnate, he bowed to Su Qing and said:
"Many thanks, Senior King, many thanks, Senior King! Your great kindness, I have no way to repay."
Su Qing waved her hand slightly and replied:
"If you have no way to repay, then don't. I'm just cleaning up a mess, so just go with the Underworld Emissary to reincarnate in peace."
The Old Monkey was momentarily at a loss for words upon hearing this, and could only nod, muttering thanks.
After the Old Monkey finished thanking, the Underworld Emissary took out a magic artifact, brought the Old Monkey with him, and left the cave.
The Old Monkey disappeared, and only Su Qing and the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey remained in the cave.
Su Qing glanced at the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, saw that she wasn't sad, and said, "It seems you already knew your grandfather's intentions?"
"Yes... yes, Grandpa already told me," the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey replied.
Su Qing nodded slightly and asked, "What's your name? What year were you born?"
The Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey heard this, shook her head, and stammered in reply, "Grandpa calls me Jin Yatou. As for what year I was born, I don't remember."
Su Qing nodded, then formed a hand seal. The Old Monkey's corpse instantly disintegrated into fine powder, which she then placed into a small box.
"Alright then, Jin Yatou, these are your grandfather's ashes, take them and bury them!"
Humans return to the earth upon death, and monkeys are no different.
The Old Monkey had already gone to reincarnate, so his corpse naturally had to be buried.
The Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey clearly understood the reasoning, so she quickly nodded, bowed, and said:
"Senior King's great kindness! Thank you, Senior King, for helping my grandfather find release."
Su Qing shook her head slightly, waved her hand, and then prepared to leave the cave.
However, before leaving, Su Qing still said to the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, "You must keep your grandfather's matter a secret. Do not speak of it to other monkeys."
Most of the monkeys in the mountain were unaware that such a situation could arise after one's name was erased from the Book of Life and Death.
Therefore, if this matter spread, it would inevitably cause some unnecessary trouble.
It wouldn't be too late to discuss these things after she had thought of a solution.
As for the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Su Qing believed she wouldn't spread these matters carelessly.
Although she appeared rather timid and naive, she wasn't actually foolish.
Truly foolish monkeys weren't like that.
The Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey heard this, nodded, and said, "I... I know. Grandpa, Grandpa also told me the same thing."
"Mm, that's good," Su Qing said, satisfied, and then left.
After Su Qing left, the Little Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, who had seemed calm, suddenly deflated, staring blankly at the medium-sized box in her hand.
After a long while, she slowly rose, left the cave, and prepared to bury the box.
Su Qing returned to the courtyard, sat in an armchair, and rubbed her temples.
Indeed, having one's name erased from the Book of Life and Death granted immortality, but this immortality was merely an inability to die; one would still age, get sick, and get injured.
Although such a situation was somewhat expected, seeing it firsthand still made her feel a little depressed.
"What troubles you, Master?" Leng Xiang asked, seeing a hint of vexation on Su Qing's face.
Su Qing heard this and quickly snapped back to reality.
She shook her head slightly, composed her emotions and words, then replied:
"It's nothing... just thinking about some messy situations."
"Is... that so?"
Leng Xiang saw that Su Qing had no intention of explaining in detail, so she nodded slightly, not pressing further, and simply said:
"Master, you needn't worry too much. Troubles always have solutions... perhaps the time just isn't right yet."
"Don't worry, I think so too. I just feel a little down, that's all," Su Qing said with a slight smile.
Leng Xiang heard this, nodded slightly, then changed the subject, saying, "In that case, Leng Xiang is relieved. So, Master, what would you like to eat tonight?"
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