Journey to the West: Tang Monk Conquers Everything

Dawn was breaking, and the crowing of mighty roosters could be heard in the distance. At the entrance of Chang'an City gates, several city guards took down the enormous bolts from the gates.

Accompanied by a heavy "creak," the massive gates were slowly pulled open, as many citizens who had been waiting at the entrance eagerly entered and exited upon seeing the gates unlocked.

Ding ding dong dong!

Just then, suddenly, a series of clear bell and Buddhist drum sounds arose, and a faint chanting of Buddhist mantras could be heard from afar, drawing closer.

The guards and citizens at the gate looked toward the source of the sound.

On the streets of Chang'an in the early morning, a procession of monks was making their way, their ranks impressively arrayed, numbering in the dozens. These monks each carried a magic artifact in their hands, softly chanting Zen Buddhist Scriptures, making all who heard them feel a sense of tranquil calm.

In the middle of this procession, there was a luxurious palanquin carried by sixteen men, which appeared like a small house as it approached. As this entourage passed, citizens along the roadside spontaneously knelt down and worshiped.

"Is that? The Buddhist Palanquin of Saint Monk Longhai?" Watching the procession approaching, several guards at the city gates tensed up, hurriedly asking the nearby citizens to step back, clearing the way, and then they all kneeled along the sides of the road, reverently welcoming the palanquin of Saint Monk Longhai.

The palanquin was carried by sixteen bald, robust monks. Seeing their bronze skin and the steadiness of their stride, one could tell their cultivation levels were not low.

As the palanquin passed, the kneeling guards stealthily raised their heads for a glance.

Sitting within the palanquin was a young monk, draped in a bright red kasaya, his head crowned with a luxurious monk crown, exuding an air of supreme nobility.

"Eh? That's not Saint Monk Longhai? Who is that young monk?" The guard wondered to himself as he watched the palanquin slowly move away.

What young man could possibly be riding in Saint Monk Longhai's palanquin? Even Daoji, who was a fellow disciple with the nine incense scars, wouldn't be allowed, right?

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"Wait, if even Daoji, who also has nine incense scars, is not allowed, then, the one sitting on the palanquin must be the legendary Master Xuanzang with the twelve incense scars?"

Realizing the identity of the young monk in the palanquin, the guard was inwardly shocked, never expecting that, by a stroke of fate, he would actually be able to see the true face of the legendary Master Xuanzang.

Sitting atop the Buddhist Palanquin of Saint Monk Longhai, and seeing everyone kneeling to welcome and honor him, accompanied by the ranks of monks around him—even the monks carrying the palanquin had several incense scars on their heads—Jiang Liu couldn't help but feel a deep sense of reflection.

This damned display of pomp, this dreadful hierarchy, it fills one with an immense sense of vanity.

Riding atop the grand palanquin, being carried by others, with music playing all around, he was en route to Jinshan Temple—a far cry from his arrival in his threadbare monk's robe.

The entourage of Saint Monk Longhai was made up of monks with cultivation, the journey of barely twenty li was not at all far.

By the time the sun was well up, looking at the sun in the sky, he guessed it should be around ten in the morning, and the entourage had already arrived at the foot of Jinshan Temple.

As the procession ascended the mountain, pilgrims along the mountain path began to kneel, loudly calling out the name of Master Xuanzang.

Sitting in the Buddhist Palanquin, looking at the familiar mountain path, what had been a rarely trodden trail had become livelier than before, bustling with many pilgrims on the road.

What used to be a mountain path cluttered with weeds now appeared clearer, possibly because more people had been traveling it these days, so much so that even the weeds had vanished.

Inside Jinshan Temple, Senior Abbot Faming and others were receiving temple visitors. Some of the visitors, after being received, wandered freely within the temple grounds. The dilapidated Zen Room where Jiang Liu once lived now drew queues of visitors wanting a peek.

Clearly, it was the effect of fame; these visitors all wanted to see what the life of Master Xuanzang, who bore the twelve incense scars, was like before the Incense Offering Ceremony.

"Hmm? Xuanming, go out and see what's causing such a commotion," as Jiang Liu's procession approached the mountain with music and fanfare, even drawing the cheers of many people, Senior Abbot Faming, who was in the Buddhist hall receiving visitors, was slightly startled and immediately said to Xuanming beside him.

"Alright, Master," Xuanming nodded and strode outside.

It wasn't long before Xuanming hurried back, flustered.

"Master, it's Liu'er, no, I mean Master Xuanzang has arrived..." Xuanming's somewhat plump face was a mix of shock and joy as he spoke urgently.

Hearing that it was Master Xuanzang's arrival, the visitors in the Buddhist hall excitedly headed outside, and even Faming himself stood up with joy.

Putting aside his identity as the one with the twelve incense scars, Jiang Liu was someone they had watched grow up. He had achieved fame overnight, known throughout the land, but left behind at the Great Buddha Temple—everyone deeply missed him.

Seated upon the Buddhist palanquin, Jiang Liu soon arrived in front of Jinshan Temple. Looking at the temple, which had undergone some changes with many parts newly repaired and rejuvenated, even the shabby temple signboard had been replaced with a brand new one, Jiang Liu felt a surge of delight.

"We pay our respects to Master Xuanzang!" With the Buddhist palanquin coming to a halt in front of Jinshan Temple's gate, many visitors who had heard the news kneeled down en masse in front of Jiang Liu, shouting aloud in greeting.

"Please, rise," Jiang Liu said to the kneeling visitors.

Having come through time from the modern society, where there wasn't much of a concept of hierarchy and definitely not one for kneeling as a form of greeting, Jiang Liu, despite reveling in the vanity while riding pompously on the Buddhist palanquin, was not accustomed to others kneeling before him.

"I am the old monk Faming, paying respects to Master Xuanzang..." Following the visitors, Senior Abbot Faming—assisted by Xuanming and several other fellow monks—made his way to the temple gate as well and knelt down.

"Master, what are you doing?" Jiang Liu was startled to see Faming preparing to kneel before him and hurriedly hopped down from the palanquin to support the elderly abbot.

"Master Xuanzang, I, I am not worthy to be your master, I…" Looking at Jiang Liu, Faming was moved, yet he also felt somewhat frightened.

"What Xuanzang? Are you saying a few scars on my head have turned me into another person? Master, please just call me Liu'er, like before. I would prefer it," he said, supporting Faming as they walked into the temple.

The accompanying brother Xuanming and others quickly gestured for the members of the Great Buddha Temple's procession to come in and rest.

...

At the base of Jinshan Temple mountain, a young Taoist strolled up at a steady pace.

This Taoist looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a blue Taoist robe with a treasure sword strapped to his back, his hair tied up into a topknot. As a light breeze blew, his robe fluttered elegantly, exuding an extraordinary presence.

"This Buddhist disciple is known throughout the world. It is inevitable that Buddhism will flourish greatly in the future, while the Taoist Sect declines. Today, I shall make him lose face before all under heaven…" the young Taoist murmured under his breath, his expression resolute as he proceeded with vigorous strides up the mountain.