After bidding farewell to the small mountain village, Chen Sheng, Xuanzang and Bai Jingjing continued on their way.

This place is not far from Chang'an.

Chang'an is the capital of the Tang Dynasty today. Since the fall of the Sui Dynasty, Xuanzang and Chen Sheng have never been to a city of this level again.

Bai Jingjing wanted to go and see a place like Chang'an to see if it was more lively and prosperous than the human cities she had passed by before.

Xuanzang wanted to go to the current capital to see if there were any new Buddhist ideas there.

Along the way, everyone was speechless.

After hearing Xuanzang's analysis when they were suppressing the bandits, Bai Jingjing couldn't feel happy anymore. She wanted to say something but couldn't.

According to my senior brother, because of the impact of some reversal in the trend of the times, the departure of Master seems to be inevitable.

So what should the two of them do after that? From the day when the master said that he would give her a chance to reform, she secretly decided to follow the master forever.

In this world, Bai Jingjing just wants to stay by the side of her senior brother and master, and quietly appreciate the scenery along the way.

She wanted nothing else.

She wanted to ask her master if she could stay.

But when she looked up at her master who was walking forward in silence, the countless words she wanted to say in her heart could not be uttered at this moment.

At this moment, she seemed to have turned back into the timid girl when they first met, feeling confused and helpless but not knowing what to do.

So, she just lowered her head and followed behind her master and senior brother.

Xuanzang also said nothing and followed his master's footsteps, which seemed very slow but seemed urgent.

He remained in this thoughtful and depressed state for much longer than Bai Jingjing.

When Bai Jingjing became more lively because of her master's care, he, who was always playing weird, became silent at any time.

After all, Junior Sister Bai Jingjing just found out that the Master might be leaving, but he had guessed it long ago.

After Xuanzang punched to death the corrupt official who embezzled disaster relief grain that day, he understood something from the relieved yet helpless look in his Master's eyes.

After that eye contact, he could no longer return to his previous state of excitement of punching the villains.

The possibility that his master would soon leave him weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The possibility took his breath away.

Obviously, as someone who is well-versed in Buddhist teachings, he should understand the pain of separation better than anyone else, and should be able to see through all of this better than anyone else.

But the fact is, he can't see through it.

Ever since the Master asked his name in the dining hall of the Pure Land Temple eleven years ago, Xuanzang could never forget the man who would influence his life.

Xuanzang, who had provided psychological treatment to countless people over the past eleven years with his profound knowledge of Buddhism, was now trapped in it himself.

He just followed Mr. Chen closely without saying a word.

This looked just like when he was a kid, when his master held his arm and taught him to punch.

Although he knew nothing at that time, he would follow his master ignorantly but firmly.

A long period of silence lingered among the team of two people and one demon.

Chen Sheng also felt this atmosphere and realized that the two disciples had actually realized that he was about to leave.

Chen Sheng, who was not good at facing separation, did not say anything, but just silently quickened his pace.

In fact, the threshold of time and space disturbance is consumed too quickly, so it would be best to reach Chang'an City before leaving.

Along the way, I had a good opportunity to think about what I wanted to tell the two of them.

Naturally, the most things need to be explained about Xuanzang, but if you think about it carefully, it seems that there is no need for too much explanation.

Xuanzang, good enough.

I still remember that I wanted to find Xuanzang at the beginning because Master Jiexian of Nalanda Temple needed a talented disciple who could reach the eighth consciousness realm and inherit the demon sealed in his body.

So he immediately thought of Xuanzang, the disciple of Master Jiexian in the original history.

Eleven years ago, when he came to the Pure Land Temple, he made a decision to accept Xuanzang as his disciple and let Xuanzang join Yongzhou.

Then, everything changed.

In the original history, Xuanzang faced difficulties and traps from evil people from all over the world, the oppression of irresistible natural disasters, and the torture of endless loneliness on his journey to the West...

I still remember what was said in the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions: there were no birds flying above the Liusha River, no animals running below, no water and no grass. During the day, the sand carried by the strong wind covered the sky, and at night, the sky was full of ghost lights, flashing like stars, and ghosts and monsters with terrifying shapes.

Apart from an old horse, all that accompanied Xuanzang were endless phantoms of demons and monsters that disturbed his mind.

But the Xuanzang today is very different.

No scenes or illusions could shake his mind, and no strong winds or dust could move his body.

Not to mention the so-called demons in the illusion, even if real demons appeared, they would be sent to hell with two punches from Xuanzang.

Such a Xuanzang makes Mr. Chen feel at ease.

The task of destroying the last monster's life can probably be given to him.

The seal of the monster in Master Jiexian's body can probably be handed over to him.

In silence, Mr. Chen thought about Bai Jingjing again.

This demon, whom he gave a name, found the meaning of his existence six years ago.

Then, with his and Xuanzang's company, he changed from being timid to being lively and cheerful.

For her, Mr. Chen’s only expectation is that she can always be happy.

It’s a pity that he is leaving now. Bai Jingjing probably won’t be happy anymore.

In silence, Mr. Chen continued to move forward.

After crossing green mountains and rivers, the two men and one demon came to the official road and gradually met pedestrians.

The moisture in the air becomes moist.

Looking ahead, one can vaguely see a large river in the distance.

This is the Wei River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River.

After arriving here, we are not far from Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. The next step is about less than 20 kilometers.

The two men and the demon continued to move forward. As there were already pedestrians around them, they did not show too much exaggerated leg strength.

But even so, they soon arrived in Chang'an before dark.

For Bai Jingjing, who had not been to a big city in the six years since she was born, everything in Chang'an City was really an eye-opener for her.

She, who had been feeling depressed because her master was leaving, couldn't help but open her eyes wide in surprise.

The Tang Chang'an City was based on the Sui Daxing City.

The characteristics of its construction system and planning layout are unprecedented scale, the creation of an imperial city, three layers of city walls, utilization of six slopes, symmetrical layout, wide streets, neat blocks, uniform shape, crisscrossing canals, green shade covering the city, and altars surrounding the suburbs.

The capital was built according to the shape of the sky, and the palace city, imperial city and other neighborhoods in the capital were arranged according to the positions of celestial phenomena and stars, embodying the mysterious theme of the unity of man and nature and the divine right of kings.

While Bai Jingjing's eyes widened, Xuanzang also looked around in surprise.

On the surrounding streets, the number of Buddhist disciples seemed unusually large.

On their way to Xingshan Temple, the largest temple in Chang'an City, to stay overnight, Xuanzang saw many monks discussing Buddhism along the way.

Many shops even put up plain signs to welcome the many monks who looked tired and had come from far away.

In silence, Xuanzang took his master and his junior sister to a shop along the street, ordered three bowls of vegetarian noodles, and then sat down.

"Are there so many monks in Chang'an?"

Bai Jingjing looked around in surprise and uttered the first words of her journey.

Obviously, she also noticed the abnormality here.

"I don't know. Maybe I can ask the waiter."

Recently, I have been traveling around the Qinling Mountains, along the mountains and rivers, and I have no well-informed channels to obtain various news from the outside world.

So, he didn't know what happened here.

However, Chen Sheng, who was standing by, raised a smile and looked at Xuan Zang: "Today, there are indeed some special activities."

If we say that before finding out that Chen Sheng was leaving, Bai Jingjing wanted to come to the big city Chang'an to watch the excitement, Xuanzang wanted to come to Chang'an Xingshan Temple to exchange Buddhist teachings.

So Chen Sheng's purpose was to send his disciple Xuanzang to the place where he was supposed to be before the time point of 626 AD.

In 626 AD, the monk Paramitra from India gave public lectures in the Tang Dynasty city of Chang'an.

Many Buddhists came to listen to his teachings.

The Xuanzang in the original history gained a new understanding of many Buddhist concepts during this lecture, and everything suddenly became clear to him.

It was also during this lecture.

Xuanzang in the original history understood what he had been confused about all along, and understood what he had always wanted to do...

The monk from India gave him enlightenment.

In China, various Buddhist concepts are incomplete and we cannot find the correct answer to save the world and help people.

So if we go to the Western Regions, can we explore the true meaning of various Buddhist concepts in the birthplace of Buddhism? While perfecting Buddhism, can we seek a correct answer to save all living beings and save the world?

From then on, Xuanzang officially made up his mind to go to the Western Regions.

And Mr. Chen is now bringing Xuanzang to this destined place.

"A Buddhist activity?"

When Xuanzang heard Chen Sheng's speech, there was more curiosity in his eyes when he looked at Chen Sheng.

"Yes, a Buddhist from the Western Regions will be preaching along the street."

Mr. Chen replied to Xuanzang.

After hearing this answer, Bai Jingjing pouted in obvious boredom, and then she ate the plain noodles brought by the waiter with relish.

She is not interested in Buddhism or Buddhist teachings.

Over the years, every time when her fellow practitioners were studying Buddhism, she would sneak into the kitchen and eat up all the food.

In this way, she could see the frustrated expression on the face of her greedy senior after finishing her study.

This was one of her favorite pleasures.

Compared to Bai Jingjing's lack of interest, there was a gleam in Xuanzang's eyes.

Ignoring his junior sister's hand reaching out to his bowl of plain noodles, Xuanzang fell into silence.

"I know what you've been thinking."

"You have always felt that there are too many mistakes in the current Buddhist teachings since you were a child, right? You have always felt that you cannot find the correct answer to saving all sentient beings in Buddhism since you were a child, right?"

"Now, has a new decision been made in your mind?"

Mr. Chen looked into Xuanzang's eyes.

The series of questions made Xuanzang stunned for a moment, and then he gave a helpless bitter smile: "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you, Master."

"Under my influence, you have already known that there is a master in the Nalanda Temple in the Western Regions whom I admire, right?"

"Why didn't you ever tell me you wanted to go?"

Mr. Chen looked at Xuanzang and asked.

He doesn't have much time left, so maybe he should start explaining everything now.

"I want to follow Master."

Xuanzang answered without hesitation.

This answer made Chen Sheng pause, and the words he was about to say about his funeral arrangements came to an abrupt end.

Bai Jingjing also looked up in surprise, and didn't even have time to swallow the noodles in her mouth.

She was also somewhat surprised at her senior brother's performance.

That senior brother who has always been greedy and conceited, that senior brother who is always fighting and killing and does not act like a Buddhist disciple, would actually say such sensational words.

For a moment, the table fell into a long silence.

After a long while, Chen Sheng slowly said, "Then I will be leaving soon."

Chen Sheng did not say anything about Xuanzang's statement that he only wanted to follow him. He just went straight to the point and talked about a topic that he had never discussed with his disciples before. He was about to leave.

These words made the atmosphere around them even more depressing.

If there was just a bit of awkwardness in the silence just now.

Now the silence is filled with reluctance and confusion.

The two men and the demon had been silent all the way, and the problem that they dared not explain was now made clear.

Seeing that the disciples were silent.

Chen Sheng continued, "Xuanzang, you will have a heavy burden in the future. I have left a lot of tasks for you, my senior brother."

"You must find and eliminate the remaining trace of monster vitality that I have not yet wiped out."

"Then, you just happen to want to go to the Western Regions. There is a second master I have arranged for you waiting for you at the Nalanda Temple in the Western Regions."

"There, you must learn to become stronger, and inherit the monster's vitality in Master Jiexian's body, and destroy it in your lifetime."

When Chen Sheng said this, he saw Xuanzang still keeping his head down without saying a word, and then he looked at Bai Jingjing who didn't even eat the noodles:

"Xiaobai, listen to your senior brother more in the future."

"Then, within our capabilities, we will try our best to eliminate the remaining traces of monster life that we have not yet found."

As he spoke, Mr. Chen touched Bai Jingjing's head.

Bai Jingjing lowered her head and let Chen Sheng touch her, but she still said nothing.

After Chen Sheng explained everything, the two disciples still kept their heads down and remained silent, as if they did not want to face the current situation.

"Okay, I'm leaving now, don't you have anything to say?"

Mr. Chen sighed and used the power of his spiritual practice system to lift up the two men’s lowered heads.

"We have to go, right?"

Bai Jingjing asked tentatively, tears seemed to appear in the corners of her eyes.

In response, Mr. Chen nodded.

Bai Jingjing took a deep breath and said seriously: "I will go find you, Master!"

"It's a deal!"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Chen seriously made a pinky promise with Bai Jingjing.

Xuanzang, who was standing aside, just watched the scene silently for a long time.

He had known for a long time that his master would leave, and had been thinking about it for a long time.

Although it is still hard to accept it at present, he understands that sometimes there are things that are really beyond his control, so the more times like this, the calmer he becomes.

"A person's shadow cannot cover the entire earth, but some voices can travel far."

"I'll leave the unfinished business to you."

Mr. Chen looked at the two of them seriously, with an unprecedented seriousness and earnestness in his eyes.

In response, Xuanzang and Bai Jingjing nodded firmly.

(End of this chapter)