"That Cat Immortal is really impressive."
Su Qing thought it best to go along with this child's wishes and offer some praise... treating it as if she were coaxing a child.
Children's thoughts are simple, and they are easy to please.
And this Cat Immortal's temperament was also like a child's...
Simple, and yearning for validation.
Sure enough, although Su Qing's praise was casual, it made the Cat Immortal incredibly happy.
"By the way, what's your name?"
After her moment of happiness, the Cat Immortal added:
"My name is Mimi. When I was alive, my master often called me by this name! So I've kept it ever since."
Su Qing flicked her tongue, momentarily speechless.
If names were decided according to the Cat Immortal's logic, she'd probably be called Long Worm.
"My surname is Su, and my given name is Qing. You can just call me Su Qing..."
"Su Qing? I don't think your name sounds as good as mine! Mine is much more impressive! Otherwise, so many people wouldn't give their cats the same name as me."
The Cat Immortal was clearly very fond of her name, even proud of it.
Su Qing flicked her tongue.
She decided it was better not to tell the Cat Immortal the truth about her name.
Let her be proud...
"It's true, it's not as good as yours."
Su Qing coaxed the Cat Immortal as if she were a child.
Hearing this, the Cat Immortal smiled happily.
"Of course! My name is super impressive."
The Cat Immortal said with a grin:
"So, Su Qing, you're not a local demon, are you? Why did you come here?"
The Cat Immortal knew that there were no snake demons who had achieved immortality within a radius of dozens of miles.
Especially a strange snake demon like Su Qing, she was completely unheard of.
So she must have come from somewhere else!
The Cat Immortal was very confident in her deduction; she thought she was quite clever.
"Yes, I came from the direction of Huai County."
Su Qing nodded and said:
"I'm planning to go to the Qinling Mountains. Do you know how to get there?"
She naturally wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this to ask for directions...
She knew very well that if she went in the wrong direction, it would be a sunk cost in terms of time.
Moreover, as a demon, long-distance travel was also very dangerous.
"Hmm... the Qinling Mountains? Of course I know how to get there! But that place is so far away, why do you want to go there?"
Su Qing replied: "For eternal life."
Su Qing was well aware that although her lifespan was long, she would eventually die...
She was also afraid of death.
Especially after witnessing Li Lianyu's death, her determination to cultivate had become even firmer.
Although her current lifespan already far exceeded that of an ordinary snake, she wasn't content...
Merely surpassing ordinary snakes was meaningless.
She wanted to live even longer, to witness a more distant future.
"To seek eternal life?"
The Cat Immortal repeated Su Qing's words, then said with a chuckle:
"Hmm... that's good. You will definitely live for a very long time in the future... Your talent is very good."
Su Qing nodded; she also hoped to live for a very long time.
"I'll tell you how to get to the Qinling Mountains. But, you can't just abandon me and run off without fulfilling our agreement."
"Okay! I won't."
Su Qing wasn't in a particular hurry to reach the Qinling Mountains; she had plenty of time and could take it slow.
Hearing this, the Cat Immortal gave a mischievous laugh.
"Keep heading north until you reach Chencang, and you won't be far from the Qinling Mountains. Once you're there, you can just ask a nearby earth god or a deity enshrined in a temple. Remember to be respectful... not all deities are as easy to bully as I am."
"Hmph, only an immortal like me would be this nice to you."
At this moment, the Cat Immortal was very seriously giving Su Qing directions...
"Hmm, let me think. If you can travel by water, you can also follow the river. After entering a tributary of the Huai River, follow the Huai River to the Qinling Mountains."
Su Qing listened and nodded slightly.
But the Cat Immortal was still talking.
"I'm not actually very clear on the specifics of how to travel by waterway..."
"But, there are quite a few river gods, well gods, and the like along the way. You can ask them for directions."
"Hmph! That's all this immortal can say! I've already told you everything I know!"
"I've been good to you, haven't I! So you better remember, don't break your promise! People who break their promises have to swallow a thousand needles!"
The Cat Immortal was truly afraid that Su Qing would break her promise.
Because if Su Qing wanted to leave, with the Cat Immortal's current strength, she wouldn't be able to stop her at all.
Their agreement had no binding force; it was entirely a gentleman's agreement.
However, Su Qing would not break her promise.
She had already waited for so many years; a few more days didn't matter.
"Don't worry, I won't break my promise."
Hearing this, the Cat Immortal's laughter, like the tinkling of silver bells, echoed through the ruined temple.
For the next few days.
Su Qing did indeed stay in the ruined temple as promised, keeping the Cat Immortal company.
The Cat Immortal was like a child who had opened a chatterbox...
She recounted her interesting experiences to Su Qing as if they were family treasures.
Su Qing just listened...
Occasionally, she would chime in with a few words, which made the Cat Immortal very happy.
However, after spending a few days with the Cat Immortal, she discovered that the Cat Immortal didn't seem as lively and cheerful as she usually appeared...
She would occasionally feel sad about things from the past... crying for a long time.
And Su Qing also noticed that the Cat Immortal sometimes appeared a bit weak.
Even though she tried her best to hide it, Su Qing still sensed it.
Su Qing couldn't help but connect this to the situation here...
This temple had long been without incense offerings.
Without incense for so long... the Cat Immortal's condition was probably not very good, was it?
Su Qing thought for a moment and finally decided to just spend the winter here.
Consider it accompanying the Cat Immortal on her final journey...
The Cat Immortal had been lonely for a long time.
Su Qing thought that at least in the Cat Immortal's final moments, she could make her a little less lonely.
And so, Su Qing stayed here for a few more days... far exceeding the three days they had initially agreed upon.
The Cat Immortal had also asked her why she wasn't leaving.
Su Qing just said she was feeling lazy and wanted to stay a few more days.
A few more days passed.
The weather gradually turned colder; winter was approaching.
"Su Qing, aren't you leaving yet? It's almost winter. In winter, the roads will be even harder to travel! And you're a snake demon..."
"It's almost winter already? Since winter is coming, I guess I won't leave! I'll just spend the winter here with you. You won't kick me out, will you?"
"..."
The Cat Immortal was silent for a long time before replying:
"Of course not... I'm just worried you won't be able to sleep well here in the winter."
"It's fine... I'm no longer an ordinary snake."
"Hmph! My good intentions are wasted on you! This immortal can't be bothered with you anymore!"
Su Qing flicked her tongue and said nothing.
A long while later, a barely audible voice came from the Cat Immortal's statue.
"Thank you..."
A few more days passed...
The weather grew colder and colder.
Winter had arrived!
Su Qing also gradually began to feel drowsy...
So she caught some food, dug a hole in the temple, and prepared to hibernate.
Su Qing coiled her body, glanced at the statue, and then closed her eyes.
In the end, she couldn't fight the instinct to hibernate...
"Good night..."
Just before falling asleep, Su Qing heard a familiar voice in her ear.
But Su Qing had no energy to respond... and quickly fell into a deep hibernation.
Su Qing fell asleep...
And outside, snowflakes began to drift down.
The weather in the south is relatively warm, and it rarely snows in winter.
It was especially rare for it to snow right at the beginning of winter...
This snow felt like some kind of omen.
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