Honghuang: Creation of the Green Lotus, the beginning of the Three Pure Ones

Tang Sanzang, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, stood in front of the mirror, lost in thought. The bright red robe was dazzling, a stark contrast to the cassock he usually wore.

"The holy monk is truly handsome and extraordinary; he and His Majesty are a match made in heaven." The female official smiled gently, her eyes full of blessings.

Tang Sanzang hesitated, then finally just sighed softly. After all, only he himself knew the bitterness in his heart.

Even if Guanyin Bodhisattva hadn't made the final decision, Tang Sanzang would never have bowed to the King of Xiliang, no matter what. Even if he had feelings for the King of Xiliang.

Just then, Tang Sanzang suddenly sensed that the original power belonging to Jin Chanzi within his body was resonating mysteriously with the omnipresent Yin energy of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom.

An unprecedented realization was slowly growing in his heart. He seemed to have touched upon a trace of the Dao.

The interplay of Yin and Yang in the universe, their mutual generation and restraint, and their endless cycle of reproduction, is the most fundamental law of the universe.

Buddhism emphasizes severing emotions and desires to transcend the cycle of reincarnation, but what if all things were devoid of emotions?

If desire is extinguished, wouldn't this primordial world become a stagnant pool, devoid of any life?

Marriage, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of nature and manifestations of reincarnation.

True Buddhism should not be about deviating from the natural way, but rather about embracing it, understanding it, and ultimately transcending it.

Once this thought arose, it was like a seed falling into fertile soil, quickly taking root and sprouting in Tang Sanzang's heart.

The Buddhist cultivation accumulated by Tang Sanzang through ten lifetimes of reincarnation collided and merged with his current insights, giving him a sense of clarity and peace regarding the impending tribulation of love.

He looked at his unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, his gaze gradually hardening. He no longer felt any resistance to marrying the Queen of Xiliang.

Meanwhile, in the distant capital of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, laughter and merriment filled the Taiji Hall. Emperor Taizong (Li Shimin) gazed upon the image of Tang Sanzang dressed in wedding attire in the Kunlun Mirror, and was greatly pleased.

"Good, very good. My brother has finally come to his senses. This is a joyous occasion for all."

"Although Cheng Zhijie often talks nonsense, what he said this time does make some sense. What the Women's Kingdom lacks is not gold and silver, but the foundation for its continuation."

"By imperial decree, I will personally lead an envoy to the Kingdom of Western Liang to congratulate my younger brother. At the same time, I will present betrothal gifts to the Queen of Western Liang on behalf of my younger brother."

The three dukes, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and Yuchi Gong, looked at each other in bewilderment. Although they felt that His Majesty's actions were quite shocking, they could not disobey the emperor's orders.

……

In the Western Liang Kingdom, the royal palace was brightly decorated, a scene of celebration. The people were overjoyed to learn that their queen was finally getting married, and that her groom was none other than a holy monk from the Tang Dynasty in the East.

It was as if I saw hope for the continuation of the nation. Even the cold moonlight seemed to have become much warmer.

Nine-Tailed Earth Scorpion bustled about, giving orders with composure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

She secretly set up numerous restrictions, keeping a watchful eye on any movements from all sides. The Queen of Xiliang sat regally in her palace, adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robes, her beauty beyond compare.

Her slender fingers twisted the hem of her dress slightly, revealing her inner tension and anticipation. She knew all too well that this wedding was unlikely to go smoothly.

Sure enough, just as the auspicious hour was approaching and Tang Sanzang was about to walk hand in hand with the Queen of Xiliang into the hall, a strange change occurred.

Above the Western Liang Kingdom, auspicious clouds gathered, Buddhist light shone everywhere, and amidst the chanting of Buddhist hymns, three incomparably powerful auras suddenly descended.

"Tang Sanzang, you are the one chosen by the Buddha to retrieve the scriptures. How can you be tempted by worldly love and betray the Buddha's great vow?" The voice was as loud as a bell, making everyone's eardrums ache. The newcomers were none other than Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, as well as the Dharma protector, Venerable Weituo.

The three powerful beings appeared solemn and dignified, their Buddha-light enveloping the heavens and earth. Their immense pressure suffocated the people of the entire Western Liang Women's Kingdom, who knelt on the ground, trembling in fear. The festive atmosphere was instantly replaced by a chilling and terrifying chill.

The Nine-Tailed Earth Scorpion snorted coldly, flew into the air, and its demonic aura soared into the sky, briefly resisting the pressure of the Buddha's light.

"Hmph, what arrogance! My Emperor and the Holy Monk are in love and have been married. What business is it of yours, you bald monks?"

"Doesn't Buddhism emphasize detachment from worldly affairs? Why are you meddling in other people's marriages? Are you perhaps just jealous?"

Upon seeing that it was actually a nine-tailed earth scorpion, even Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva couldn't help but gasp. After all, this was a ruthless creature that even dared to sting the Buddha.

Venerable Weituo, however, was unimpressed. He glared at the Nine-Tailed Earth Scorpion and coldly shouted, "Demon, cease your arrogance! Tang Sanzang is the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, and he bears the heavy responsibility of obtaining the scriptures. This is ordained by Heaven."

"You have already committed a sin by setting up this obstacle. Retreat immediately, or don't blame me for the merciless nature of this Vajra."

Just as tensions were running high between the two sides, a dragon-like bell tolled from the eastern horizon, and a vast and powerful aura of human imperial power swept in, instantly diluting the Buddha's light that filled the sky.

"When did it become the Western religion's place to interfere in my brother's wedding?"

Li Shimin's majestic voice rang out. The Map of Mountains and Rivers unfolded, bathed in countless rays of light, and Li Shimin, clad in a dragon robe, led the elite armored soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, traversing the void.

The imperial dragon energy and the human blood energy converged into a powerful force that rivaled the Buddha light of the three Bodhisattvas.

Li Shimin spoke with unparalleled arrogance: "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the land, all people are subjects of the king. My younger brother was appointed by me, and I will preside over his marriage."

"If you Westerners know what's good for you, stay and have a drink at our wedding. If you don't, I won't mind leading the elite troops of the Tang Dynasty to attack Mount Ling."

Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's expressions hardened. They hadn't expected the Human Emperor to come in person, and with such elite troops.

Venerable Weituo, however, had a fiery temper. Upon seeing this, he coldly said, "King Tang, this is the will of Heaven. The flourishing of Buddhism is personally approved by the Daoist Ancestor."

"You, a human emperor, how dare you defy the heavens? If you wish to obstruct me, do not blame this Dharma Master for being impolite." With that, the Vajra pestle in his hand shone brightly, and he was about to make his move.

"Defying the heavens? Whose heavens are you talking about? Do you think they are the heavens of your Buddhist sect?" A more domineering shout, filled with the aura of an ancient emperor, seemed to come from the primordial era.

Immediately afterwards, the phantom of the Nine Cauldrons shook the void, and the fortune that suppressed the Nine Provinces descended with a roar.

A figure wearing an imperial crown and a black bird-patterned court robe stepped out, with the Nine Cauldrons of Yu the Great, which suppressed the fortune of the nine provinces, floating above his head.

It turned out to be Emperor Xin, who, along with Wen Zhong, Huang Feihu, and other ministers of the Holy Dynasty of the Human Race, came to congratulate Jin Chanzi and the Queen of Xiliang.

Di Xin's gaze swept over Venerable Weituo with piercing intensity, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, "With me here today, let's see who dares to touch a single blade of grass or tree on this land?"

"In this primordial world, when did the Western Sect come to rule the heavens? Marriage between men and women is the fundamental principle of human relations, the way of Heaven. You bald monks who attempt to sever emotions and desires are truly defying Heaven."

The appearance of Emperor Xin, along with the powerful civil and military officials of the Shang Dynasty behind him, caused the expressions of Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, and Venerable Skanda to change completely.

After all, many of these people were old friends who had once routed them during the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods. (End of Chapter)