In Wukong’s eyes… in this entire life of his, the one who had been best to him—aside from his master—was his Big Sister.
Although Big Sister usually appeared somewhat cold and often ignored people, whenever something actually happened, she would always step in to help and stand by his side.
Seeing him like this, Su Qing gave a small chuckle. Then, changing the subject, she said, "However, Wukong, you shouldn't be too angry. Your master is, after all, a mortal. With his mortal eyes, he cannot recognize demons, and his life experience is far inferior to yours… it isn't surprising that things turned out this way."
"But since he has expelled you, you might as well stay here for a few days. Afterward, you can return to Flower-Fruit Mountain with Jingyue."
Beside them, Jingyue blinked. She hadn't recognized who the monkey before her was.
She had left early, and Wukong was now quite different from how he had been back then. Naturally, Jingyue couldn't recognize him.
As for the power of divination…
It could only be said that Jingyue was only slightly better than a complete novice in that regard.
Thus, Jingyue sat there watching the monkey, wondering who he could be…
This monkey was familiar with Su Qing, and he was a monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Who exactly was he?
"Forget it. Once they finish talking, I’ll just ask," Jingyue thought as she sat quietly to the side. Her eyes flickered with curiosity, but she remained silent.
Meanwhile, Wukong was slightly stunned upon hearing Su Qing’s words.
He then said, "Stay on Big Sister’s mountain? I’m afraid that wouldn't be appropriate, would it? Although I am a monkey, I have been a monk for a while now."
"Then do you intend to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain?"
"I must return to Flower-Fruit Mountain, of course. I haven't been back in a long time, and I don't even know what it looks like now!"
"I see! In that case, stay here for one night and head back to Flower-Fruit Mountain tomorrow."
"This…"
"No need to worry. My Mount Changbai is very large. Deep within the mountain, there is a small town where various types of demons live. You can stay there."
Su Qing smiled and continued, "The place is large and has plenty of accommodations. To be honest, even if you wanted to stay here with me, I’m afraid there wouldn't be enough room. I have quite a few people living here…"
Hearing this, Wukong finally understood and nodded quickly. "So that's how it is. I see. Then I’ll head to that mountain town in a bit. But I truly didn't expect that Big Sister would build a town for demons in the mountains."
Su Qing shook her head. "I didn't build it; they built it themselves. I merely provided a bit of guidance… There are many demons on Mount Changbai. If I didn't guide them, they would inevitably go out and harm people. So, rather than letting them cause trouble outside, it’s better to bring them under my wing and let them live in the town."
At these words, Wukong’s eyes shimmered. He felt that his Big Sister was truly a person of many talents.
She considered so many things.
He couldn't help but say, "Big Sister is truly magnanimous! To be able to balance both sides like you do is truly rare."
"It’s not exactly magnanimity… I’ve simply done what I could."
Su Qing chuckled and added, "Besides, I’m not exactly balancing both sides… I am, after all, somewhat biased toward humans."
Ultimately, she had been human in her past life…
Her self-perception was still rooted in being human.
Therefore, she naturally favored humans more.
Of course, while she favored humans, Su Qing did not mistreat those demons who were honest and followed the rules.
"In the end… I just don't have the heart to be truly ruthless."
"No, Big Sister shouldn't say that… What you are doing is already excellent… Those demons didn't lose their lives and can even work under you; it is their good fortune!" Wukong shook his head and spoke with conviction.
Wukong was a demon himself…
Although he had killed many demons along his journey… those he killed were the ones who actively provoked them. If they hadn't coveted his master or harmed mortals, he wouldn't have acted.
Su Qing chuckled and shook her head, choosing not to dwell on the matter.
She simply said, "Speaking of Flower-Fruit Mountain, I haven't been back in a long time either… I don't know what it looks like now. When the time comes, I can accompany you back to see how it has developed."
Wukong scratched his head. He didn't blame Su Qing for not visiting often.
After all, Su Qing had her own affairs to tend to.
And she was quite busy.
She was, after all, an orthodox deity appointed by the Heavenly Court.
Mount Changbai was her Daoist domain.
Moreover, whether emotionally or logically, he was more biased toward his Big Sister.
How did the saying go?
Big Sister can do no wrong.
If their opinions differed, it was definitely his own problem.
Wukong gave a mischievous grin and said, "By the way, Big Sister, I wanted to ask when I first arrived… who is this immortal lady? When I arrived, she looked somewhat familiar. But I’ve been racking my brain for a long time and still can't figure out which old friend she might be."
Wukong naturally possessed the Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils. If he used that divine ability to reveal her true form, he would immediately know who she was. However, in front of his Big Sister, using a divine ability to peer at someone she was close with would be quite rude.
It would be bad if Big Sister took offense.
Wukong wasn't worried about Su Qing being deceived…
Although he hadn't seen her in a long time, now that he was free from the suppression of the Five Elements Mountain, he could naturally tell that after five hundred years, his Big Sister’s strength had long since surpassed his own.
Who could possibly deceive her?
Besides, his Big Sister had a cautious nature. If it wasn't someone she trusted, how could they have entered this courtyard?
Su Qing wasn't surprised by Wukong’s question at all.
She gave a light laugh. "I didn't expect this girl’s change to be so great that even you can't recognize her!"
"Big Sister, I’m a bit slow. Please stop talking in circles. Who is she?" Wukong grinned and pressed further.
Su Qing said, "She is, of course, the macaque from back then."
"The macaque? Could it be… Little Monkey Sister?"
Wukong thought for a moment, then said in a daze, "The little sister who went out to sea before me? When I passed by Wuzhuang Temple earlier, I heard from Zhenyuanzi that an old friend of mine once lived there. Later, that friend left Wuzhuang Temple with a woman… I take it she is that old friend?"
"You went to Wuzhuang Temple?"
"My master and I passed through it during our journey west."
"I see…"
Su Qing feigned a casual tone and said, "That’s right… she is indeed that macaque from back then. She went out to sea to find me but met with an accident. Later, she stumbled into Wuzhuang Temple to cultivate. Afterward, I passed by, met her, and brought her along on the journey west for a while…"
Su Qing picked and chose what to say, giving a brief summary of the events.
When Wukong saw Su Qing confirm his suspicion, he was momentarily stunned…
He then hurriedly asked, "Are you truly that Macaque Sister?"
Jingyue’s brow furrowed slightly as she looked at Wukong. "I was indeed a macaque on Flower-Fruit Mountain back then, but you are?"
"I am the Stone Monkey! I am the Handsome Monkey King, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong!" Wukong laughed and stood up abruptly.
Jingyue’s eyebrows shot up. She had forgotten many things from back then.
But she certainly knew the Stone Monkey.
After all, both she and the Stone Monkey were part of Su Qing’s circle.
"You are truly the Stone Monkey from back then?" Jingyue couldn't help but say in surprise. "I never imagined you would actually become a monk."
She remembered what Wukong had said earlier…
"Hehe… I’ve only been a monk for a short while, and I’ve already been expelled by my master! Sigh, let’s not talk about it. It makes me angry just thinking about it!" Wukong said. "I truly didn't expect that you would have cultivated a human form by now, and such a beautiful one at that. You even followed Big Sister to the Western Heaven."
Thinking of this, Jingyue couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "It was also a stroke of luck that I met Big Sister. Otherwise, I would probably still be cultivating in Wuzhuang Temple, not knowing when I would ever be able to leave and find her."
She had been influenced by Wukong’s constant use of "Big Sister" and had started calling Su Qing that as well.
Su Qing, standing to the side, didn't mind at all.
Either way, they were going to call her sister!
It didn't matter.
"But Stone Monkey, so many years have passed. Have you still not transformed?"
"I like this appearance. I like being a monkey."
"I see. That certainly fits your personality…"
Wukong and Jingyue reminisced about the old days.
Su Qing didn't interrupt.
She simply held her teacup, smiling as she watched them chat for a while.
However, the two clearly didn't intend to reminisce forever.
Once they had talked enough, Wukong said, "By the way, Big Sister, didn't I hear you say earlier that you were married? Where are your wives? I should go pay my respects to them."
Wukong might be boisterous and lack manners elsewhere…
But here with Su Qing… he was truly a polite monkey.
He was even more polite than he had been with Bodhi.
Su Qing chuckled as she looked at the polite monkey, knowing that after being suppressed for five hundred years, his pride had mellowed significantly.
She smiled and said, "There’s no need to pay formal respects. Just say hello during dinner later."
"This… I’ll listen to Big Sister then." Wukong grinned and scratched his head.
The two didn't have much else to chat about, so they spoke only occasionally after that.
As for the matter of going to the town…
It was temporarily put on hold.
Su Qing’s intention was to wait until after dinner to discuss finding a place to stay in the town.
In truth, Su Qing hadn't visited the town much herself.
The first time she went was when the town was just being established.
Moreover… Su Qing had said earlier that she didn't want to go to the town today, yet her plans had changed by the afternoon…
Life was truly unpredictable.
Just like the plan to go to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
When she made the agreement with Jingyue, how could she have foreseen this?
As they were chatting, time slowly slipped away.
Before they knew it, Chaoyan and the others had finished playing and were tired.
They returned to the courtyard together.
As soon as Chaoyan entered and saw Wukong in his monkey form, she was momentarily stunned.
Su Qing then saw them and said, "Chaoyan, Yudie, Ying'er, come here for a moment… This is Sun Wukong, a brother of mine. Though he isn't my biological brother, you can call him Uncle."
Su Qing had actually struggled with what her children should call Wukong…
Calling him simply "Wukong" felt a bit inappropriate.
But titles were indeed a bit troublesome.
After all, Wukong had no gender…
Ultimately, he was a monkey born from a stone.
But he still needed a title.
After thinking it over, she finally decided based on his attire…
He usually wore male clothing and had a masculine personality. Having her daughters call him Uncle seemed perfectly fine.
As for why she ultimately had them call him "Uncle" in the paternal sense…
It was naturally because she had played the role of the husband when she got married.
Of course, whether they called him a paternal or maternal uncle didn't really matter…
It was mainly Su Qing herself who was overthinking it.
Yudie and Ying'er were very direct, politely calling him "Uncle."
Both of them were aware of Wukong’s existence.
He was, after all, Su Qing’s younger brother.
Chaoyan, however, was a bit hesitant…
This person looked… like a demon!
Could there be a problem?
However, since Su Qing had already said so, she couldn't say much else…
She addressed Wukong as "Uncle."
Wukong was slightly stunned to see the children. Hearing them call him "Uncle," he couldn't help but grin.
"Old Sun came in a hurry and didn't bring anything as a meeting gift… I’ll owe you for now. Next time I go to the Heavenly Palace, I’ll fetch some Golden Elixirs for you all to eat." Wukong chuckled, seemingly very pleased with the title.
He had no father or mother, after all. Su Qing was his only family…
Hearing his only relative’s children call him Uncle made him extremely happy.
Because it meant he had gained a few more members of his 'family.'
Seeing Wukong like this, Su Qing couldn't help but laugh and shake her head.
Although Wukong was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, a child born of stone, he still possessed a heart of flesh…
But this was for the best… Compared to the Great Sage in her past memories.
The current Wukong was indeed much easier to feel close to.
"I wonder… after the journey west in this life, what kind of image Wukong will leave in people’s hearts. After all, the Wukong of this life is quite different from the original version."
Su Qing thought curiously to herself.
However, she only thought about it and didn't intend to interfere further.
Her main task now was to find a way to survive the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth.
Chaoyan looked at Wukong, then at Su Qing, and whispered, "Godmother… is this Uncle a demon?"
"Have you heard the legends of the Havoc in Heaven?"
"Emmm, my master told me about it."
"He is that monkey who caused the Havoc in Heaven."
"???" Chaoyan was stunned. "Then isn't he very dangerous?"
"Does he look dangerous to you now?"
"Not really. He actually looks a bit silly."
"Hahaha, indeed." Su Qing chuckled and said, "Don't worry. He is my little brother. He was punished after the Havoc in Heaven and has mellowed out quite a bit. But he is indeed a demon…"
"I see…" Chaoyan nodded thoughtfully.
Su Qing smilingly patted Chaoyan’s head. It seemed this girl hadn't quite moved past her experiences from the journey west yet.
Wukong, standing nearby, naturally overheard the conversation between Su Qing and Chaoyan.
However, he didn't mind… after all, he really had been suppressed for five hundred years.
If his Big Sister and the Bodhisattva hadn't pleaded for him, he would probably still be under that mountain!
As for Chaoyan calling him silly…
That was just a child’s joke.
Did he need to take it seriously?
He wasn't that petty!
"Still, I truly owe Big Sister too much… If I have the chance in the future, I must find a way to repay her properly."
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