Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

The Kingdom of Women in Xiliang has no men.

When Xuanzang and his disciples entered the city, it was noon. The long street was crowded with women, young and old, fat and thin, all with shining eyes, as if they had seen a rare treasure.

"Look, look! A real man!"

"Four! Four men!"

"Is that fat guy a man too? He looks like a pig..."

Pigsy, who had been smugly pleased with his protruding belly, frowned upon hearing the last sentence: "Who! Who said I, Old Pig, look like a pig? I am... Bah! I'm not a pig!"

Sun Wukong laughed so hard he almost fell over, Sha Wujing chuckled silently, and the white horse (Ao Lie) snorted, seemingly mocking him.

At the inn, a female official brought tea and snacks, but her eyes kept glancing at the master and his disciples. Xuanzang felt very uncomfortable under her gaze and began chanting Buddhist mantras.

"Holy monk, please don't be offended," the female official said with a smile. "Our Western Liang Women's Kingdom has never had men. If the women in the city wish to have children, they go and drink the water of the Mother-Child River. You are the first group of men to arrive since the city was founded, so it's understandable that you are a rare sight."

Just then, an announcement came from outside: "Her Majesty the Queen has arrived!"

Xuanzang quickly stood up and saw a group of palace maids escorting a woman into the room. The woman wore a phoenix crown and a wedding robe. Her face was as beautiful as a lotus, her eyebrows were as dark as distant mountains, and her eyes were brimming with tears. In just one glance, she fixed her gaze on Xuanzang.

"Brother Royal Brother..." The Queen parted her lips slightly, her voice soft and sweet.

Xuanzang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed his head and clasped his hands together, saying, "This humble monk, Xuanzang, greets Your Majesty."

The Queen took a few steps closer, scrutinizing him from head to toe, her eyes gleaming with admiration: "I've long heard that you, my brother, are the reincarnation of Jin Chanzi, and that your Buddhist teachings are profound. Seeing you today, it's indeed true... indeed..."

Her face flushed slightly, and she couldn't continue.

Sun Wukong, watching from the sidelines with amusement, nudged Zhu Bajie and said, "You idiot, the Queen has taken a liking to Master."

Pigsy scoffed, "What's so great about Master? He's as skinny as a bamboo pole. I, Old Pig, have all this meat on me, I look so lucky!"

The Queen ignored them, focusing instead on Xuanzang, and said softly, "Brother Xuanzang, you have come from afar and must be tired. Tonight, we will host a banquet to welcome you back. We hope you will grace us with your presence."

Xuanzang could not refuse and had no choice but to agree.

That evening, the royal palace was brightly lit.

The Queen sat in the main seat, Xuanzang in the guest seat, and the table was laden with vegetarian food and fruit. Sun Wukong and his two companions were seated in a side hall, accompanied by palace maids.

"Brother Xuanzang, please." The Queen personally poured tea for Xuanzang.

Xuanzang accepted the tea, thanked her, and lowered his head to drink it, not daring to look at her.

The Queen was not annoyed; she simply rested her chin on her hand and quietly watched him.

"Brother, how long did it take you to travel from the East?"

"Your Majesty, it has been over a year."

"Was the journey arduous?"

"Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune, it is still acceptable."

"Brother, have you... have you ever thought about staying somewhere and never leaving again?"

Xuanzang looked up and met the Queen's affectionate eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head: "This humble monk is ordered to retrieve the scriptures and dares not abandon the journey halfway."

The Queen was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up, walked to him, squatted down, and looked up at him.

"Brother, I offer you the wealth of an entire kingdom to be my queen. We will rule the land together and share its glory. From now on, the Western Liang Women's Kingdom will be your home. Are you willing?"

Xuanzang shuddered, opened his mouth to speak, but could not utter a word.

The Queen grasped his hand, her eyes brimming with tears: "Brother, I know you are a monk and shouldn't have worldly desires. But the moment I saw you, I... I..."

She couldn't continue speaking, and tears streamed down her face.

Xuanzang looked at her hand, feeling its warmth, and a feeling he had never experienced before welled up in his heart. He thought of the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp at Jinshan Temple, his master's teachings, and the Tang Emperor's entrustment... but the tears of this woman before him made his heart in turmoil.

Just then, a faint wisp of chaotic energy quietly entered his brow.

Xuanzang's soul trembled, and countless images flashed before his eyes—he saw himself walking the journey to the West again and again, being swallowed by Sha Wujing time and time again, and collapsing on the banks of the Flowing Sand River time and time again. Nine lifetimes of reincarnation, nine tragic deaths, each time his obsession was "the journey to the West," and each time his end was death.

Those fragments of memory surged and churned, impacting his mind and spirit.

He suddenly understood something.

"Your Majesty's kindness is boundless." Xuanzang slowly withdrew his hand, looked up at the Queen, his eyes now clear and bright. "This humble monk is destined to be with the Buddha in this life. The journey to obtain the scriptures is both my fate and my tribulation. If I give up halfway, all my previous efforts will be in vain, and the suffering of nine lifetimes of reincarnation will have been in vain."

The Queen was stunned.

Xuanzang rose and bowed deeply to her: "Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. If there truly is an afterlife..."

He paused, a tender look flashing in his eyes: "If there truly is an afterlife, I wish to be an ordinary couple with Your Majesty, planting beans in the southern mountains, watching the clouds drift by, and never being apart again."

Tears welled up in the Queen's eyes, and she rose and threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.

Xuanzang froze, his hands hanging in the air, unsure of what to do.

After a long while, the Queen released him, took a step back, wiped away her tears, and smiled brightly: "Brother, I understand. Go, go to retrieve your scriptures. I... I will wait for you here. If I cannot wait for you in this life, I will wait for you in the next."

Xuanzang looked at her, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him. He suddenly realized that this woman was far more real than those gods and Buddhas who spouted words of compassion.

The next day, the master and his disciple took their leave.

The Queen escorted him for thirty miles, stopping at the boundary marker. Looking at Xuanzang, a thousand words were condensed into one: "Brother Xuanzang, take care."

Xuanzang clasped his hands in prayer: "Your Majesty, please take care."

The group of master and disciples gradually disappeared into the distance. The Queen stood at the boundary marker, motionless for a long time, until that figure vanished at the edge of the world.

On their journey to the West, Sun Wukong approached Xuanzang and chuckled, "Master, what did you mean by what you just said? To be husband and wife in the next life?"

Xuanzang shook his head and remained silent.

Pigsy sighed, "What a pity, that queen is so beautiful. If it were me, I would definitely keep her."

Sha Wujing said in a simple voice, "Second Brother, there's no use in you staying. They've got their eyes on Master."

Pigsy glared at him: "Old Sandy, what do you mean by that? Aren't I handsome?"

The three of them started laughing and joking.

Xuanzang turned around and glanced in the direction of the Women's Kingdom, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Lu Chen walked to his side and said softly, "Holy Monk, that chaotic energy just now was sent into your brow by me. Have you clearly seen your nine lifetimes of memories?"

Xuanzang nodded: "I see it clearly now. Nine lifetimes of reincarnation, nine tragic deaths. This humble monk finally understands that this journey to obtain the scriptures is not about seeking the Dharma, but about repaying a debt."

Lu Chen smiled: "It's not just about paying off debts. It's about transcending them. Of the ten incarnations of Jin Chanzi, you are the most clear-headed in this one."

Xuanzang looked at him: "Master Qingfeng, who exactly are you?"

Lu Chen smiled but didn't answer, only patted him on the shoulder.

"Let's go, the Flaming Mountain awaits us ahead. Princess Iron Fan's Banana Leaf Fan, the Bull Demon King's Water-Avoiding Golden-Eyed Beast, and your newly adopted son, Red Boy, are all waiting."

Xuanzang nodded and spurred his horse forward.

From the clouds, Guanyin Bodhisattva watched this scene with a complex expression.

Tang Sanzang refused the Queen not because of the precepts, but because he had clearly seen the path he was on. This is more difficult than strictly adhering to the precepts.

And that Daoist Qingfeng... he actually managed to awaken Jin Chanzi's memories of nine lifetimes?!

"Who exactly is this person?" Guanyin murmured to herself.

She suddenly remembered someone—Lu Chen, who stirred up the storm during the Investiture of the Gods, fought against the sages in Zixiao Palace, and was eventually sent to Guixu by the Dao Ancestor!

"Could it be him?!"

Guanyin's expression changed drastically.

If it really is Lu Chen... then all the "accidents" along the way make sense!

She took a deep breath, suppressed her shock, and flew towards Mount Ling on a cloud.

This matter must be reported to the Buddha.

On his journey west, Lu Chen looked up at the receding Buddha's light and smiled slightly.

"Finally guessed it?"

"Unfortunately, it's too late."

He looked westward, where the heatwave from the Flaming Mountains was already hitting him.

"Now, it's time to wrap up this grand show."