Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

You strangled the tiger, and seemed exhausted. You mumbled a few words while holding the tiger's carcass, and then... you fell asleep right next to the tiger's body. I... I waited until dawn, and only when I saw you were truly asleep, did I dare approach slightly, but even then, I dared not disturb you.”

After listening to Liu Boqin's account, Tang Sanzang froze on the spot like a clay or wooden sculpture.

He tried hard, bit by bit, to recall. Fragmented images began to emerge.

Drunk, he led his white horse, carrying a heavy broadsword he had picked up from who-knows-where. A strange heat and violent energy welled up in his chest, with nowhere to vent it. He found the mountains an eyesore and the forests repulsive... Then, he brandished the broadsword like a madman, hacking and slashing his way through the desolate mountains outside Hezhou Guard.

It seems... it seems they really did fight their way through three mountains? They encountered wild animals along the way and casually "saved" them? Finally... it seems they actually strangled a tiger with a python?
These fragments of memory, pieced together, are absurd yet incredibly real, especially the exhilarating feeling of unleashing power recklessly after drinking and ignoring all rules, which still lingers in the blood.

After a long while, Tang Sanzang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the fear on his face gradually faded, replaced by an expression that was... indescribable, a mixture of embarrassment and strange radiance.

He clasped his hands together, bowed slightly to Liu Boqin, and spoke in a tone that tried to appear calm but still carried a hint of fierceness.

“Amitabha. I see. Don’t be afraid, Benefactor Liu. Last night… Last night, this humble monk was practicing Buddhism and had a breakthrough. My heart was surging with emotion and I could not control myself. Therefore, my behavior was… slightly unrestrained. I have disturbed you, benefactor. I hope you will forgive me.”

"Cultivating... practicing Buddhism?!"

Liu Boqin's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his voice changed as he pointed at the gruesome tiger carcass on the ground and the wolf and leopard carcasses that were faintly visible in the distance.

"You call this practicing Buddhism?! What you're doing is clearly... clearly physical exorcism! Master, is your Buddhism even legitimate? You wouldn't happen to be... a fake monk from some mountain, would you?"

Faced with Liu Boqin's furious questioning, Tang Sanzang did not get angry; instead, his expression became even more "solemn."

He straightened his tattered monk's robe, straightened his back, cleared his throat, and spoke loudly.

"Benefactor Liu, you may not know this. This humble monk is an imperial envoy of the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty, sent by imperial decree to the Great Thunder Temple in the Western Paradise to worship Buddha and seek scriptures. Before becoming a monk, my surname was Chen, and my Dharma name was Xuanzang. I was recommended by many eminent monks of the Great Tang Dynasty and was appointed as the 'Great Master of Buddhist Monks of the World' at the Water and Land Assembly at Huasheng Temple in Chang'an. This humble monk is none other than Tang Sanzang."

Upon hearing this string of titles, Liu Boqin was completely stunned. Imperial Envoy of the Tang Dynasty? Seeking Buddhist scriptures? The Grand Master of the Buddhist Order? Tang Sanzang? He might have heard of some of these titles individually, but combined, coming from the mouth of this "wild monk" who last night was carrying a wine jar, wielding a large knife, and strangling a tiger with a python, the impact was simply too great!
His mouth gaped open, unable to close for a long time. His gaze darted back and forth between Tang Sanzang's disheveled yet subtly dignified face and the tiger corpse beside him, his mind a complete mess. Suddenly, as if recalling some distant legend, he tentatively asked in an extremely uncertain tone.

"The...Chang'an Water and Land Assembly? That...that legendary assembly, where a monk with immense strength, unable to win a debate, so...so physically performed a ritual to 'deliver' several eminent monks, even cracking the golden statues of Arhats and Buddhas who had descended to earth...Could it be...could it be..."

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanzang blushed slightly, but quickly suppressed it, clasped his hands together again, and spoke in a "humble" tone that carried a strange sense of certainty.

"Amitabha.

That was the Dharma assembly presided over by this humble monk. At that time, my understanding of Buddhism was not as…profound as it is today, and my actions might have been…a little too direct. However, everything was for the purpose of propagating the Dharma, to make even the most stubborn person nod in agreement, and to ward off evil spirits. Please forgive my presumption.”

Liu Boqin.

"..."

His expression froze completely, as if he had been frozen in place. His eyes were fixed on Tang Sanzang, as if he were looking at a being who had stepped out of mythology and was completely beyond the comprehension of common sense.

The Imperial Brother of the Tang Dynasty, the Grand Master of Buddhist Orders, the formidable figure who performed the physical salvation of Arhats at the Water and Land Ritual, the drunkard who gave birth to a tiger last night… How could these identities possibly overlap in one person?!
The forest fell silent for a moment, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind and Liu Boqin's heavy, disordered breathing. Tang Sanzang stood there quietly, meeting Liu Boqin's dazed gaze, his face still bearing that expression of a "high monk"—an expression that was trying to appear peaceful and compassionate, yet strangely distorted by his hangover and the previous night's "achievements."

Liu Boqin stood frozen in place, his mind a complete mess.

Although he was a hunter in the mountains, he was not completely isolated from the world. Merchants traveling from the north and south, and occasional travelers would bring him news from the outside world.

The sensational Water and Land Assembly in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, and the legendary Master Dachan, who was said to be incredibly strong and could "physically deliver" the golden bodies of Arhats and Buddhas after failing to win a debate, have been the subject of many exaggerated and bizarre rumors, which have even reached the remote Shuangcha Ridge area.

At first, Liu Boqin dismissed it as a ridiculous story passed down through generations. In his simple understanding, monks, even highly accomplished ones, were nothing more than chanting scriptures, meditating, and persuading people to do good. At most, they might possess some magical abilities, but how could they possibly fight against Arhats or Buddhas? And what about "liberating" them? Monks were all compassionate; what evil intentions could they possibly have?
But what he witnessed last night completely overturned his understanding.

The figure under the moonlight, like a mad savage, the ferocious power of wielding a python's corpse like a whip and slicing jackals and leopards like cutting vegetables, the cold words of "physical salvation" and "sending you to see Buddha" that he uttered when he strangled a tiger... all of this strangely overlapped with the image of the legendary Master Chang'an.

Could it be... that the rumors are true? Is this young-looking monk who claims to be Tang Sanzang really the powerful figure who "exorcised" cracks in the golden statues of Buddhas and Arhats in Chang'an?
Liu Boqin felt his throat was dry and his back was chilly.

When he looked at Tang Sanzang again, his eyes held a deeper reverence, but also a hint of indescribable wariness and... bewilderment.

This monk seems to be completely different from the "monk" he has understood since childhood!
Tang Sanzang himself was also somewhat bewildered.

He could vaguely feel a warm current slowly circulating in his body, and his limbs were filled with strength he had never felt before.

This was probably because of the jar of "fine wine" from the demon king that he had drunk last night? Although the wine had a strange and spicy taste, upon reflection, it seemed to contain some kind of peculiar spiritual power, which his mortal body had absorbed in considerable quantities.

His strength now is probably several times greater than that of ordinary martial artists who have practiced some rudimentary skills, so dealing with fierce tigers and wild beasts is truly no problem for him.

All of this, naturally, could not escape the perception of Lin Zhu, who was hidden in a higher dimension and quietly observing.

He touched his chin, a strange smile appearing on his face.

"Interesting. The Demon King's blood wine is mixed with the essence of demons and a little crude spiritual energy. It is a filthy and violent substance. If an ordinary mortal drinks it, he will either die or become seriously ill."

But this reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, even weakened by ten lifetimes of reincarnation, still possessed extraordinary potential. Furthermore, my previous 'guidance' caused a violent fluctuation in his emotions and a surge of qi and blood, which inadvertently allowed him to infuse some of the impure spiritual energy into his limbs and bones, thus establishing a rudimentary 'foundation.'"

Lin Zhu pondered to himself.

"Now... the Western Paradise is going to have a real headache."

According to the original design of the Buddha and Guanyin, Jin Chanzi's reincarnation needed to be a pure mortal, undergoing eighty-one tribulations, enduring hardships, and having his will tempered, so that he could absorb the merits and fortune along the way to the greatest extent, and also be easier to control and guide. A Tang Sanzang who was powerless and needed to rely on his disciples for protection was the "perfect" template for the pilgrimage.

But what about now? This Tang Sanzang, not long after leaving Chang'an, almost got himself killed by his own magnificent cassock. His sworn brother died tragically before his eyes, his severed finger regenerated, his worldview was shattered by Lin Zhu's "physics" and "sophistry," and he inexplicably gained some rudimentary spiritual power, enough to tear tigers and leopards apart!
Lin Zhu could almost imagine the expressions on the faces of the immortals and Buddhas in the Western Paradise who were monitoring the progress, upon seeing Tang Sanzang's current state.

"Physically exorcising them along the way?"

Lin Zhu thought that although this possibility was outrageous, when applied to Tang Sanzang, whom he had interfered with, it didn't seem entirely impossible. He suddenly felt a bit looking forward to the upcoming plot. It seemed that the fun of Journey to the West was going to be even greater than expected.

Over here, Liu Boqin finally recovered from the huge shock of his understanding. Seeing that the sun was getting higher and the "fierce monk" did not seem to have any intention of leaving immediately, he mustered up his courage, stepped forward, and respectfully clasped his hands in greeting.

"Elder Tang... Elder Tang. Last night was a dangerous night, and you must be tired. My humble abode is not far ahead. If you don't mind, why don't you come back with me to rest for a while? I can also do my best to be a good host and prepare some vegetarian food and clean water for you to change your clothes."

He thought that regardless of whether the monk was real or fake, fierce or benevolent, he had saved him and seemed to be a high-ranking monk from the East, so he should be treated well both out of courtesy and reason.

To everyone's surprise, upon hearing the words "vegetarian dishes," Tang Sanzang waved his hands repeatedly, his face displaying an expression that was a mixture of disdain and eagerness.

“Vegetarian food? There’s no need to trouble Benefactor Liu. This humble monk… has prepared his own ingredients.”

"Bring your own ingredients?"

Liu Boqin was taken aback. In this desolate wilderness, where did he get any food besides his skinny horse and tattered luggage?
Before he could figure it out, Tang Sanzang turned around and stared intently at the corpse of the striped tiger on the ground.

He rubbed his hands together as if he had seen some priceless treasure, then bent down and grabbed one of the tiger's hind legs—the tiger weighed at least five or six hundred pounds, yet he lifted it up with one hand. Although it was clear that he had used some strength, his physical strength was astonishing!

“Benefactor Liu,” Tang Sanzang, dragging the dead tiger, turned to the dumbfounded Liu Boqin and asked in a very “sincere” tone.

"May I ask if you may lend me your pots and pans? If you have any salt or seasonings, please also lend me some. These 'ingredients' are fresh and need to be cooked properly, so as not to waste... uh, so as not to waste the opportunity bestowed by Buddha."

His eyes clearly showed that he was drooling over the tiger meat!

Liu Boqin.

"..."

He felt that he might not have woken up properly, or that the trauma he experienced last night was too great, causing him to hallucinate.

A monk, dragging a tiger he'd just killed, asks you for pots, pans, and seasonings, saying he needs to cook these "ingredients"? He even claims it's a blessing from Buddha? What on earth is going on?!

He had taken Tang Sanzang's earlier remark about "bringing his own ingredients" as a joke, never imagining the other party was serious! And so self-righteously!
Looking into Tang Sanzang's "sincere" and "longing" eyes, and recalling his ferocity in tearing apart tigers and leopards last night, Liu Boqin swallowed back the refusal and advice that were on the tip of his tongue.

He chuckled dryly, his voice sounding somewhat unsteady.

"Pots...pots and pans...my humble abode certainly has them. Salt and seasonings are also available...Elder...elder, please follow me."

He really didn't dare to say "no".

Thus, a spectacular scene unfolded in the forests of Shuangchaling.

Ahead, a young monk leaned on a seemingly ordinary staff that now appeared to be tainted with malevolent energy, while in the other hand he easily dragged a huge, striped tiger carcass, its head scraping deep marks on the ground.

The monk walked steadily with piercing eyes. When he encountered bushes and vines blocking his way, he would sometimes impatiently sweep them away with his staff, or even drag the tiger carcass over them. He could be described as "opening up mountains when he encountered them and killing beasts when he encountered them".

Behind them, hunter Liu Boqin led a skinny horse laden with tattered luggage. He followed closely behind, his face displaying an extremely complex expression, a mixture of awe, fear, absurdity, and bewilderment.

The two men, along with a horse and a tiger carcass, marched through the forest and across the stream in a "grand and imposing" manner. After about half an hour, a relatively open valley appeared ahead, with dozens of houses scattered in the valley, smoke rising from their chimneys and the sounds of chickens and dogs. This was the manor where Liu Boqin lived.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the village, some sharp-eyed villagers spotted them, especially the enormous thing that Tang Sanzang was dragging in his arms.

"Oh dear! A tiger! A worm!"

"Brother Liu is back! He...he brought a giant tiger with him?!"

"Wait...is that a monk dragging the tiger?!"

"Good heavens! A monk fighting a tiger?!"

Exclamations erupted immediately as men, women, and children from the village rushed out of their houses and gathered by the roadside, peering out with a mixture of curiosity and fear.

When they saw the tiger's gruesome death and the tattered but still discernible monk's robes of Tang Sanzang dragging the tiger, everyone was so frightened that they all retreated. Many children hid behind the adults, and the women covered their eyes.

Upon seeing this, Liu Boqin quickly stepped forward, blocking Tang Sanzang's path, and loudly explained.

"Fellow villagers, do not be afraid! Do not be afraid! This elder is a highly virtuous monk from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, the Tang Sanzang! This tiger... was killed by the elder last night to rid the place of harm! The elder has profound magical powers and a compassionate heart, so there is no need for you to panic!"

He emphasized the words "enlightened monk", "possessing profound magical powers" and "compassionate heart", even though he himself was quite apprehensive. For now, he could only try to stabilize the situation.

Hearing that he was a high-ranking monk from the Tang Dynasty, and seeing Liu Boqin's respectful attitude, the villagers' fear lessened slightly, but they still dared not get too close, only pointing and whispering among themselves at Tang Sanzang and the tiger corpse from afar. (End of Chapter)