Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

A loud bang.

The pig demon transformed into a cloud of blood mist and dissipated into the air.

Within that blood mist, a faint golden light flew towards the western sky.

Sun Wukong looked up at the golden light and scratched his head:

"Monk, what is that?"

Xuanzang coldly said:

"Buddha's eyeliner."

"I've gone back to report."

Sun Wukong was stunned:

"Buddha? This pig demon is one of Buddha's people?"

Xuanzang nodded:

"It's not just him."

"All the monsters on this journey to the west are..."

"Some want to eat me, some want to kill me, and some want to capture me."

"But no matter what they want to do, there's a hand behind the scenes manipulating everything."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"You mean, it was arranged by Buddha?"

Xuanzang gazed towards the west:

"It's not just about making arrangements."

"It's a scheme."

"This game began the moment I was banished into the cycle of reincarnation."

"Ten lifetimes of reincarnation, ten lifetimes of arduous practice."

"In every lifetime, I am being watched."

"In every lifetime, I am being schemed against."

"For today."

"So that I could willingly embark on this journey to the west."

"Go and help him obtain the scriptures."

"Go and help him spread Theravada Buddhism."

"Go and help him consolidate his rule over Ling Mountain."

Sun Wukong scratched his head in disbelief:

"Monk, there's something you're saying that I, Old Sun, don't quite understand."

"However, I understood one thing..."

"That old Buddha, is he no good?"

Xuanzang nodded:

"It's not a good thing."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"Okay!"

"I, Old Sun, have disliked him for a long time!"

"He imprisoned me under the Five Elements Mountain for five hundred years back then, and I haven't settled that score with him yet!"

Xuanzang looked at him:

"You don't regret it?"

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"What are you regretting?"

Xuanzang said:

"If you follow me, you may never reach the Western Paradise again."

"It will never come to fruition."

"I will never attain that so-called golden body and enlightenment again."

Sun Wukong laughed heartily:

"Achieving enlightenment? I, Old Sun, don't care!"

"I've already benefited immensely from following my seniors!"

"Isn't the peak of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm stronger than any True Enlightenment stage?"

He leaned closer:

"Monk, I, Old Sun, have just one question for you..."

"Do you still want to go to the Western Paradise?"

Xuanzang shook his head:

"I'm not going."

"That road was paved by the Buddha."

"That true scripture was compiled by the Buddha."

"That enlightenment is just a pie in the sky painted by the Buddha."

Why should I go?

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up:

"Where are you going?"

Xuanzang gazed into the distance.

Looking out at that vast expanse of sky and earth.

a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth:

"Go find a way out."

"A path that can truly save all living beings."

"A path that doesn't require begging on your knees."

"A path... that goes against the Buddha."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"I, Old Sun, still don't quite understand."

"However, I understood a little bit..."

"Are you going to oppose Buddha?"

Xuanzang nodded.

Sun Wukong grinned, a very bright and radiant smile:

"Then I, Old Sun, am sticking with you!"

"He imprisoned me under the mountain for five hundred years back then, and I've wanted revenge for a long time!"

"Now that you're leading the way and we have experienced mentors supporting us!"

"Screw him!"

Xuanzang looked at him, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes:

Thank you.

Sun Wukong waved his hand:

"You're welcome."

"I, Old Sun, am not doing this for you."

"I did it for my senior."

"He told me to protect you, so I will."

"If you want to go against Buddha, I'll follow suit."

"It's that simple."

Xuanzang smiled slightly.

The smile was faint, yet it conveyed a sense of relief.

He turned around and looked at the house.

The old man was still kneeling on the ground, staring blankly at them.

His daughter had been helped out; although she was frightened, she was not seriously injured.

Xuanzang stepped forward and clasped his hands together in prayer:

"Old man, the monster has been eliminated."

"If your daughter is alright, you may take her home."

The old man nodded blankly:

"Thank you... thank you, Venerable Master..."

Xuanzang nodded slightly.

He turned and walked out of town.

Sun Wukong followed:

"Monk, where are you going?"

Xuanzang said:

"Let's find a place to stay first."

"Then......"

He paused:

"Wait for that senior."

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"Waiting for senior? Do you know where he is?"

Xuanzang shook his head:

"have no idea."

"But I know he's always been there."

"He has been watching from Chang'an until now."

"I've been waiting."

"Wait until I make this choice."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"choose?"

Xuanzang nodded:

"The choice is to continue being a pawn of Buddha, or to walk your own path."

"Now, I've made my choice."

"He should...show up by now, right?"

The voice just fell.

A faint voice echoed from the void:

"You're quite clever."

Xuanzang looked up.

In the void, a figure in a black robe slowly emerged.

Kong Xuan.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Xuanzang with a calm gaze.

But beneath that calm surface lay a faint hint of approval.

Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer:

"Thank you, senior."

Kong Xuandao:

"What are you thanking me for?"

Xuanzang said:

"Thank you for your continued support, senior."

"Thank you, Senior, for letting me, Old Sun, come with you."

"Thank you, senior... for letting me see all of this clearly."

Kong Xuan's lips curled slightly:

"Did you see it clearly?"

Xuanzang nodded:

"I saw it clearly."

Kong Xuandao:

"Then are you still going to the Western Paradise?"

Xuanzang shook his head:

"I'm not going."

Kong Xuandao:

"Where are you going?"

Xuanzang looked into the distance:

"Go find a way out."

"A path that can truly liberate all beings."

Kong Xuan looked at him.

Looking at that calm yet resolute face.

a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth:

"That road is difficult to travel."

Xuanzang smiled slightly:

"Even if it's difficult, we still have to go."

"I've survived ten lifetimes of reincarnation."

"What are you afraid of?"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly:

"it is good."

"Then let's go."

Sun Wukong came closer:

"Senior, aren't you coming with us?"

Kong Xuan shook his head:

"I won't follow."

"I have my own things to do."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"What's up?"

Kong Xuan looked towards the west:

"Let's go and meet the Buddha."

"Let's see how many cards he still has up his sleeve."

Sun Wukong's eyes lit up:

"Senior is going to Mount Ling?!"

Kong Xuan nodded.

Sun Wukong exclaimed excitedly:

"Then I, Old Sun, will go with you!"

Kong Xuan shook his head:

"You stay."

"Protect him."

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"But he's not going to the Western Paradise anymore, so why should I protect him?"

Kong Xuan looked at Xuanzang:

"He may not go to the Western Paradise, but the places he wants to go are even farther than the Western Paradise."

"There are more demons and monsters on that road than on the journey to the West."

"Without your protection, he won't go far."

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"Alright."

"The senior told me to protect him, so I protected him."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly.

He looked at Xuanzang:

"remember."

"The path you choose is your own path."

Keep going, and don't look back.

Xuanzang put his hands together in prayer:

"Thank you, senior."

Kong Xuan turned around.

The ink-black robe fluttered lightly.

With one step, it disappeared into the horizon.

Sun Wukong stared at the disappearing figure and scratched his head:

"Monk, where are we going now?"

Xuanzang gazed into the distance.

Looking out at that vast expanse of sky and earth.

a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth:

"Let's go somewhere first."

Sun Wukong said:

"where?"

Xuanzang said:

"Five Elements Mountain".

Sun Wukong was taken aback:

"What are you going there for?"

Xuanzang said:

There's someone there who wants to see you.

Sun Wukong scratched his head:

"Who?"

Xuanzang smiled slightly:

You'll know when you get there.