Although Su Qing said it didn't matter whether Li Lianyu came or not, in her heart, she still hoped she would arrive as promised...
She had grown accustomed to the solitude of the mountains, yet she still yearned for the bustling world of mortals.
Su Qing couldn't go to that bustling world, but if someone could occasionally chat with her about it, she would be content.
"But, it looks like she won't be coming today, will she?"
Su Qing flicked her tongue, shook her head, and was about to go out to hunt.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door...
Su Qing stopped and looked up.
It was Li Lianyu.
Today, she was still wearing a simple cloth dress. Perhaps because she had walked the mountain path... her shoes and the hem of her dress were stained with mud.
"Sorry, Xiao Qing... I'm a little late. It's been raining recently, so the mountain path is a bit difficult to walk."
Li Lianyu said with the same gentle smile as always.
Su Qing nodded. As long as she came, that was enough.
In truth, Su Qing was quite moved...
Because Li Lianyu truly seemed to consider her a friend.
She was very happy that someone could think of her as a friend.
"Xiao Qing, how did this place get so dusty so quickly! Let me help you clean up!"
Seeing the thick layer of dust, Li Lianyu found a broom and began to sweep.
While sweeping, she chatted about recent events, just as before.
There was much to talk about in the mortal world; even in a small county town, there were endless stories...
Li Lianyu cleaned the temple, while Su Qing coiled on the divine platform, listening quietly.
The scene felt somewhat dreamlike.
Li Lianyu stayed for a long time, only leaving when the sun had slipped halfway down the mountain.
By the time she left, the temple was clean.
Su Qing watched her leave, thinking to herself, "Next time she comes... this place will probably be covered in dust again."
If only Su Qing had hands and feet, she would have cleaned it herself.
Unfortunately, she did not.
Li Lianyu left, and Su Qing returned to her daily routine.
The days passed one by one. Winters came and summers went, springs departed and autumns arrived. In a flash, an unknown number of years had gone by.
As always, Su Qing didn't keep track of the years... she might note the passing of one during hibernation, but as time went on, she couldn't be bothered to remember.
Over these years, Li Lianyu had always kept her promise to come to the temple, chat with Su Qing, and clean up...
Regardless of the cold or heat.
And each time, Su Qing would listen to her talk about matters in the county...
Watching her gradually mature from a young girl.
Su Qing had also forgotten which year it started... but Li Lianyu began to visit less and less frequently.
Once a month became once every two months, and then even only once every three or four months.
It seemed she was burdened by the toils of life.
She didn't know when it started...
Wrinkles appeared on her old friend's face. Her once delicate skin had become rough and sallow.
At that moment, Su Qing knew... Li Lianyu had grown old.
Later, a few more years passed.
Su Qing didn't know what year it was... she only remembered that it seemed Li Lianyu hadn't come for a long time.
Perhaps she was ill?
Humans are not demons, much less machines. When they grow old, they naturally fall ill.
Su Qing wanted to go see her, but she didn't know where she lived... so she could only give up the idea.
She just thought, if a few more winters and summers passed and she still didn't come...
It would be time to leave, wouldn't it?
Staying here would only bring more sorrow.
Autumn.
The leaves of the trees in front of the temple had withered and yellowed, filling the courtyard...
It seemed someone had come to the temple, their steps rustling on the leaves in the yard.
Su Qing heard the sound and lazily raised her head.
She looked at the visitor.
It was an old woman, and by her side, she held the hand of a young child.
Her granddaughter, perhaps?
Su Qing looked at the old woman and recognized who she was...
Her only old friend.
"Perhaps... I shouldn't have hoped for her to come."
Looking at the old woman, Su Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of grief.
Humans age so easily, while her own lifespan was long.
The Li Lianyu before her was now stooped, the skin on her face long since sagging into wrinkles.
There were even some age spots...
The impression she gave Su Qing... was one of heavy, twilight years.
Li Lianyu raised her cloudy eyes and looked at the green snake coiled on the divine platform.
"Xiao Qing..."
Li Lianyu smiled, revealing the few teeth she had left, and said:
"I've come to see you again... but this might be the last time I see you! Ai, I'm getting older and older, while you, Xiao Qing, are only growing stronger..."
Su Qing flicked her tongue, looking at her and the little girl by her side.
She knew that the other had brought the little girl with her for a reason, that she must have a request.
Li Lianyu knew that Su Qing couldn't speak.
She just continued on her own, "Xiao Qing... I'm too old. I feel... I probably won't live past today."
Su Qing looked at her, puzzled...
Was she trying to entrust her child to her? If so, should she accept?
However, Li Lianyu's next words left Su Qing slightly stunned.
"Can I... close my eyes here?" Li Lianyu seemed tired just from standing. She plopped down on a dusty prayer cushion and said, "When people get old, they become nostalgic... To close my eyes here with you would fulfill a small wish of mine."
Su Qing looked at her, understood her meaning, and nodded.
Then she looked at the little girl.
"Her name is Liu Huaiya... she's my granddaughter. I had intended to come alone, but I couldn't stop this girl from insisting on coming along to see the Willow Immortal," Li Lianyu explained.
Su Qing nodded slightly. It seemed she had misjudged a noble heart with her own petty thoughts...
Perhaps because Su Qing was staring at her, Liu Huaiya was a little shy, her face flushing as she hid behind her grandmother.
Li Lianyu smiled and gently stroked the child's head.
Then, just like in the old days, she began to reminisce about the past.
But this time, she spoke more of family matters... the little details of her life.
Su Qing listened, and only listened.
She could notice that as the old woman spoke, her breath grew weaker...
It was obvious that she truly wouldn't make it through the day.
Su Qing sighed inwardly, deciding to give her a proper burial afterward.
However, Su Qing still felt a sense of reluctance in her heart... even after preparing herself mentally so many times.
"Ai... forget it. When she dies, I should leave too. Before that, let me do something more for her! After all, she has done so much for me..."
Su Qing thought for a moment.
Then, she plucked a scale from her tail and offered it to the little girl.
The little girl was a bit confused. She looked at her grandmother, then back at Su Qing, not understanding what it meant.
But Li Lianyu, seeing this, immediately understood its significance.
She couldn't help but pull the little girl to thank Su Qing.
Su Qing shook her head slightly.
The scale she left behind wasn't actually of much use; it could only ward off some evil and drive away some ignorant wild beasts.
Then she thought, since she was going to leave anyway, there was no use in keeping some things... she might as well give them all to them. Perhaps they could be sold for some money to improve their lives.
So she took out a bundle of shed snake skins from behind the statue...
Never mind her own shed skins, even ordinary ones were a medicinal ingredient.
If her own shed skins were sold to a pharmacy, they should be worth even more, right?
"It's a pity my abilities are limited. This is all I can do to help," Su Qing sighed to herself, placing the shed skins in front of Li Lianyu.
Her meaning was already very clear. How could Li Lianyu not understand?
"Xiao Qing..."
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