That night.
Su Qing and Leng Xiang went outside the Water Curtain Cave together to admire the moon.
Tonight's moonlight was exceptionally bright, like a beacon in the sky, almost dazzling.
Su Qing rested her head on Leng Xiang's lap, squinting at the rare moon, feeling exceptionally relaxed.
Now that she had a strategy, she no longer worried about the Stone Monkey, naturally feeling at ease.
Getting the Stone Monkey to become the Monkey King was actually quite simple.
Most of the monkey troop weren't very cunning.
She only needed to stage a play to put the Stone Monkey back on track to become the Monkey King, to once again be the Handsome Monkey King.
She already had a plan for what kind of play to put on; she didn't even need to invite actors...
She alone would be enough.
However, there was no rush for any of it.
For now, it was better to let the Stone Monkey continue familiarizing himself with the environment and build emotional connections with the monkey troop.
Leng Xiang saw the smile on Su Qing's face and couldn't help but say:
"Master seems to have achieved clarity of thought?"
Su Qing nodded.
"Yes, I've achieved clarity. But it seems we'll have to stay on Flower-Fruit Mountain for a while longer."
"Wherever Master is, I will be. As long as Master doesn't abandon me."
"Uh... if I lost you, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to live on my own."
Su Qing smiled helplessly.
She was so pampered by Leng Xiang that her domestic skills were practically nonexistent.
Without Leng Xiang, things would surely be a mess.
Hearing this, Leng Xiang's face also broke into a smile, very happy.
However, she actually wanted to say that without her Master, she also couldn't live.
"Master... tonight's moonlight is truly beautiful."
"Indeed, but it's still missing something."
Indeed, how could an unchanging moonlight compare to a beautiful little immortal maiden?
The two admired the moon for a while, and feeling tired, they returned.
The next day.
Su Qing came out of the Water Curtain Cave, intending to show herself to the Stone Monkey.
As soon as she landed, she saw a group of monkeys, chattering and surrounding her.
Some even mimicked the way demons bowed to a demon king, constantly bowing to Su Qing.
Su Qing watched the pile of monkeys bowing repeatedly, her lips twitching slightly.
She found the scene somewhat comical.
Before Su Qing could speak, the Old Monkey asked:
"Great King, Great King! Why have you come out? Do you have something for us to do?"
The Old Monkey also held considerable prestige and wisdom among the monkey troop.
Su Qing said, "Nothing, just came out to look around. Tell me about recent events."
Hearing this, the Old Monkey didn't ask for specifics.
He simply recounted everything that had happened recently in great detail.
Beside them, the Stone Monkey watched.
He felt that Su Qing, this Monkey King, didn't seem like a monkey, yet he also felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her long ago.
There was even a sense of closeness...
After the Old Monkey finished speaking, Su Qing nodded.
The Stone Monkey leaned closer and asked, "Great King... why don't you look like a monkey?"
Hearing this, Su Qing said, "No need to call me Great King. Like the Macaque, just call me Big Sister."
Su Qing originally wanted him to call her by her name...
But then a playful thought arose in her mind.
Who wouldn't want to be Brother Wukong or Big Sister Wukong?
Anyway, she was indeed many years older than the Stone Monkey, so being a Big Sister wouldn't be taking advantage of him.
Besides, in the future, she would even be his senior sister!
"As for why I don't look like a monkey, it's because I'm not a monkey to begin with... This title of Great King is only temporary; in the future, this Monkey King position will still have to be handed over to one of you monkeys."
Su Qing smiled slightly, giving a sort of pre-announcement.
"What does 'Big Sister' mean?"
However, the Stone Monkey was clearly not interested in who would be the Great King, but rather curious about the term 'Big Sister'.
Su Qing blinked, finding the Stone Monkey to have many questions.
But it also fit the image of a newborn child curious about the world.
So, Su Qing began to answer the Stone Monkey's questions according to her own understanding.
The Stone Monkey had many questions, and Su Qing answered all that she could.
The Stone Monkey just kept nodding as he listened... thinking Su Qing knew so much, no wonder she could become the Great King of the monkey troop.
After almost all questions had been answered.
The Stone Monkey quickly said, "Thank you, Big Sister, thank you, Big Sister."
"It's a small matter. Since I've taken on this title, I naturally have to do some things," Su Qing said casually.
The Stone Monkey nodded, half understanding.
He just felt that Big Sister was as kind as those Little Sparrows.
Thinking of this, the Stone Monkey asked again, "Big Sister, where are those sparrows?"
"Sleeping in," Su Qing paused for a moment before replying, "What's wrong? Did they bully you?"
"No, no, I just wanted to play with them."
"They'll come out once they wake up."
Su Qing didn't think much of it, nodding slightly as she spoke.
Sometimes Su Qing also thought the sparrows were quite remarkable; everyone seemed to like them a lot.
Was it because they were plump and fluffy, making them endearing?
But they had feathers, didn't they? Besides, not all furry creatures were endearing.
For example, the monkeys of Emei Mountain.
Su Qing thought about it for a moment, then decided not to bother, as it wasn't a bad thing anyway.
Returning to the Water Curtain Cave.
Su Qing continued her daily cultivation.
And after the sparrows woke up, they couldn't sit still and ran out.
To play with the monkey troop...
Since coming to Flower-Fruit Mountain, the sparrows spent much less time cooped up at home.
This was good too; perhaps moving around more would help them lose some weight.
Half a year passed in a flash.
The Stone Monkey had long since fully integrated into the monkey troop, getting along extremely well with them.
Over the past six months, the Stone Monkey had been carefree and learned many skills from the other monkeys.
Of course, these so-called skills were mostly about using sticks to bully small animals.
Or snatching honey from bees, or digging sand pits and building sandcastles—playful skills.
After all, a group of monkeys naturally couldn't teach anything truly useful.
Similarly, because the Stone Monkey was mixed in with this troop...
His feelings for Su Qing were also extraordinary.
Especially with the Macaque, the Old Monkey, and the sparrows chattering idly by her side.
Unbeknownst to him, in the Stone Monkey's eyes, Su Qing had become an extremely powerful yet exceptionally approachable elder, a Big Sister.
She knew astronomy and geography, and could perform all sorts of magical tricks.
She could always help the monkey troop solve many problems.
In the words of the Macaque brother...
Big Sister was a Heavenly Immortal!
She was truly amazing!
That day, the weather was overcast and rainy.
Su Qing felt it was time, so she prepared to hand over the Monkey King position to the Stone Monkey.
She exited the Water Curtain Cave.
And went before the monkey troop.
The monkey troop came forward to greet her, chattering endlessly.
Some called her Great King, some Big Sister, and some even Immortal Sister...
Su Qing listened, seemingly unaffected, and said calmly:
"I have held the position of Great King for a long time... Now that the monkey troop has grown, I intend to hand over this position of Great King to one of you monkeys!"
"Great King... Great King, are you going to leave us? If the Great King leaves, what will we do?" the Old Monkey asked upon hearing this.
"Yes, yes. Is Big Sister leaving?" the Stone Monkey asked.
Su Qing had already told the Stone Monkey that she would leave one day.
Now, seeing Su Qing speak like this, he thought she was leaving and couldn't help but feel a little reluctant.
Although the Stone Monkey was born of heaven and earth, he was not heartless.
On the contrary, he was more affectionate and righteous than most humans.
Hearing this, Su Qing shook her head slightly and smiled:
"I'm not leaving yet. I just feel that the position of Monkey King is more suitable for a monkey... so I intend to abdicate the throne and let a monkey become the Great King."
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