Zhou Yu considered, offering his theory, “It must be that the status of Avalokitesvara is just too high—daring to suspect her is already a grave offense.”
“Not only that—” Kofman took over, “Avalokitesvara—er, Su Fu—was truly masterful at reading people. She retreated to advance, pressed at the right moment, and occupied the moral high ground, striking at Iron Fan Princess’s sore spot.”
“She was hit by both a sense of guilt and the fear of angering Avalokitesvara and she had no choice but to surrender the fan to appease the Bodhisattva’s displeasure.”
After all, she had accepted offerings from the people but failed to help them by extinguishing the fire.
Worse yet, she’d even tried to test the Bodhisattva sent to help, which was a grave disrespect.
“Brilliant, truly brilliant.”
“Exactly,” Ji Yao was impressed, “If the Bodhisattva grew angry, punishment wouldn’t fall on her alone—her son is under Avalokitesvara as well!”
Lina understood and said, “So it’s better to hand over the fan and earn some favor.”
“Heavens, that really is the case!”
Everyone watched as the Iron Fan Princess held the Banana Leaf Fan high, offering it to Avalokitesvara.
“Merciful Bodhisattva, this is the Banana Leaf Fan.”
The fan was entirely green, with clearly veined leaves and a delicate appearance.
Iron Fan Princess explained, “With a single wave, it puts out fire; two waves, it summons wind; three, it brings rain…”
“When using it, there are special steps…” She explained the method for using the Banana Leaf Fan in detail—utterly sincere.
Everyone was left dazed, unsure how to react.
Did she really just get the Banana Leaf Fan?
And Iron Fan Princess gave it up so willingly?
Well, perhaps unwillingly, but she had no choice—who would dare offend Avalokitesvara?
At that moment, Su Fu took the Banana Leaf Fan.
“Well done, well done.”
“Iron Fan Princess, your act is a great kindness for all who suffer. Though you were confused for a time, you awakened in the end—proving your nature is not bad. This Banana Leaf Fan will save countless lives beneath the Flame Mountain. This is a great merit; on behalf of the people, this humble monk thanks you.”
These words finally allowed Iron Fan Princess to breathe a sigh of relief, though she couldn’t help feeling a little lost.
On one hand, to be able to lend her treasured fan to Avalokitesvara was indeed a merit.
But on the other hand, lending out the Banana Leaf Fan meant losing her only bargaining chip to reunite with Red Boy.
Just then, she heard the Bodhisattva say, “You have done a good deed. Is there any wish unfulfilled? This humble monk might help.”
Iron Fan Princess looked up in surprise—she hadn’t expected Avalokitesvara to be so kind as to fulfill her wish.
She said softly, “I do have one wish—to see my son.”
Avalokitesvara’s expression was compassionate as she nodded, “Then, in seven days, when the fire is out and the fan is returned, Red Boy may come home.”
“You have indeed made mistakes, but have also spent years in hardship, protecting the people. Since you miss him so much, I will grant this mother-son reunion.”
Iron Fan Princess was overjoyed and greeted, “Thank you, Avalokitesvara!”
“Amitabha. Since that is the case, this humble monk must go to Flame Mountain at once to extinguish the fire and rescue the people. Farewell.”
Su Fu put her palms together.
With that, the Lotus Throne beneath her feet bloomed with dazzling light, lifting her skyward with the Banana Leaf Fan.
Since she had the Banana Leaf Fan, Su Fu wasted no time escaping.
She never expected Iron Fan Princess to be so cooperative.
She’d worried that if the matter of Red Boy was brought up by Avalokitesvara herself, it would be a little out of character.
But unexpectedly, Iron Fan Princess herself handed over the leverage—how could Su Fu not make use of it?
As for promising Red Boy’s return in the end?
That was just to focus Iron Fan Princess’s mind on the joy of her son’s impending homecoming, so she wouldn’t notice anything amiss and create trouble.
After all, in seven days, she’d have cleared the Flame Mountain quest and slipped away.
By then, the whole map would probably collapse.
So for now… time to run!
Iron Fan Princess watched Avalokitesvara disappear into the horizon, finally letting out a long breath.
Her maid hurried forward to support her, “Princess, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine…” The Iron Fan Princess waved her hand.
Honestly, even if Celestial Soldiers and Generals besieged Baijiao Cave, she had never been as terrified as just now.
After all, her son was at Avalokitesvara’s side—if she angered the Bodhisattva, who knew what disaster might follow?
“But…” The Iron Fan Princess started laughing, “Flame Mountain truly is my lucky star! I don’t even know who it was, but someone ended up helping me by accident.”
She was thrilled and continued, “At least my son is finally coming home. I wonder how his years of cultivation have gone? If I’d known there was such a method, why did I wait so long?”
“Yunsi has rendered great service this time—I must reward her handsomely.”
Just then, Rong Er, the maid sent to investigate the Tongtian River, hurried back.
“Princess,” Rong Er reported, “I have verified everything. There truly is a Fish Demon causing trouble in Tongtian River, and the people say they saw Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva appear with their own eyes.”
Iron Fan Princess was finally at ease, “Excellent. In that case, make preparations. My son must have a comfortable place to stay. Clean up his room, and prepare his favorite fruits…”
***
Jianxia Mountains.
Everyone exchanged glances—Su Fu had already obtained the Banana Leaf Fan and was heading down the mountain.
“Why does it seem… so easy?” Ji Yao felt it was surreal, “Wasn’t it always nearly impossible to borrow the Banana Leaf Fan? Yet she got it effortlessly?”
“It’s not hard,” Kofman spread his hands, “as long as you can fool Iron Fan Princess.”
But who could fool her?
Everyone fell silent.
Truth be told, none of them knew how Su Fu had faked the Sweet Dew.
What was really in that Net Bottle?
Was it truly Sweet Dew?
If it was fake, why did Iron Fan Princess feel so refreshed after drinking it, her headache gone?
Their expressions grew complex—it was as if someone else had solved a difficult problem, but when you looked at the steps, you just laughed—it made no sense how the answer was reached.
Utter confusion.
It was like watching a genius solve a problem in seconds, while you spent ages racking your brain and got nowhere.
“We all saw the same thing,” Fox Hart wondered, “so how did she even come up with impersonating Avalokitesvara? Iron Fan Princess was so suspicious, yet not only did she not panic, she turned things around and subdued her outright.”
“Wait, with the Banana Leaf Fan in hand and the ‘Avalokitesvara’ identity nearly unassailable, shouldn’t Su Fu just take the chance to get rid of Iron Fan Princess?”
At this question, everyone was stunned.
“That’s right,” Ji Yao reacted, “Although the Iron Fan Princess is an A-level anomaly, her true strength lies in the Banana Leaf Fan, that top-tier artifact. But now the Banana Leaf Fan is in Su Fu’s hands. If Su Fu’s team takes action directly, they’re more than capable of taking her down, aren’t they?”
“Could it be that she didn’t think of this?” Ji Yao asked in confusion.
Everyone shook their heads, finding it hard to believe.
With Su Fu’s mind, nothing escapes her calculations—how could she miss something so obvious?
“So…” Murray narrowed his curious eyes and asked, “Then what’s her real reason?”
***
At the same time, Su Fu had already regrouped with her teammates.
As soon as she landed, everyone immediately rushed over in excitement.
“Boss, you’re finally back! Are you alright?” George nervously sized up Su Fu, afraid she’d been hurt.
Yi Congling also came forward, worried: “That Iron Fan Princess didn’t give you trouble, did she? You…”
“Don’t worry, not a scratch on me.” Su Fu hurriedly waved her hand.
“I’m doing better than ever.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“So, the Banana Leaf Fan?”
Su Fu smiled sweetly and nodded, “Mission accomplished—see for yourselves.”
She extended her hand.
In her palm lay a small green fan, just the size of her palm.
A fan.
Everyone froze, glancing at each other.
They could hardly believe their eyes that the Banana Leaf Fan was really this small?
Could such a little thing extinguish fire?
Su Fu gave a gentle flick of her wrist, and that tiny Banana Leaf Fan instantly swelled and grew, turning into a full-sized fan in the blink of an eye.
“This is the Banana Leaf Fan—it can change its size.”
“Wow!” everyone exclaimed in delight, “So it’s actually a shape-shifting divine artifact!”
They crowded around, curiously examining the treasure, its vibrant green shade so beautiful to behold.
George gave a big thumbs up full of admiration and said, “Boss, you’re too incredible! Just two trips to Baijiao Cave, and you brought the Banana Leaf Fan back!”
“Who else could be as fast as Boss?”
Yi Congling nodded repeatedly, “I was thinking we’d have to brace for a hard fight, but you went alone and not only came back fast, but did it all bloodlessly!”
Her face was full of awe, “We’d even prepared to rush in and support you at any time and discussed several tactics…”
“Seriously,” Theresa chimed in, “we came up with all sorts of battle plans, and then you just… brought it back so easily?”
She couldn’t help but sigh—Su Fu wasn’t just powerful; her mind was even sharper.
Theresa felt certain now—choosing to follow Su Fu was the best decision she’d ever made.
“Oh right,” she quickly recollected, eyes sharp, “so are we going to take out the Iron Fan Princess now? Leaving her alive is like a ticking time bomb. If she finds out she was deceived, it could spell trouble for us.”
Everyone turned to Su Fu, clearly waiting for her command.
But Su Fu shook her head, “No need for now.”
She had no intention of going up against the Bull Demon King—not at this stage, anyway.
It wasn’t that she lacked the power to fight.
She could summon the Great Sage to battle him if she wished.
But what she wanted was to act only if she could strike with a sure-kill blow, never giving the enemy a chance to react—no threats left behind.
Otherwise, if she failed to kill, and acted recklessly, she would only alert the enemy and invite disaster on herself.
Besides, the Banana Leaf Fan was already in hand—the main mission was complete.
To provoke the Iron Fan Princess now was far too risky for too little gain.
It was better to wait for the map’s destruction and let her fade away naturally.
Theresa didn’t quite understand why, but she trusted Su Fu.
She nodded and said, “Fine, anyway, anomalies only exist as long as the map does. Once we destroy the Flame Mountain and the map core collapses, she’ll naturally disappear.”
But Su Fu couldn’t help but wonder: after they left the map, once the Iron Fan Princess found her fan gone and the Flame Mountain extinguished, perhaps she’d really call the Bull Demon King back…
Wait, could that cause problems then?
But she thought it over.
Since the school could open up this map, surely they’d be able to handle the Bull Demon King’s wrath, right?
They should, right?
Besides, she thought that Chief Examiner Murray seemed pretty formidable—surely things would be fine?
There was nothing to worry about.
Right then, Yi Congling grew eager, her eyes shining: “So, can we go put out the fire at Flame Mountain now?”
Su Fu smiled slightly, “That’s right—let’s go!”