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

The journey home is always faster than the journey there.

After traveling east for several months, the master and his disciples arrived at the Tongtian River again. The river was still wide, but the demonic aura of the past was gone. The old turtle was already waiting on the bank, and was overjoyed to see them arrive.

"Holy monks! You've returned!" The old turtle surfaced. "Quickly, get on my back, I'll carry you across the river!"

The master and disciple boarded the turtle's back, and the old turtle moved forward steadily. Reaching the middle of the river, the old turtle suddenly turned back, pleading, "Holy monk, years ago I asked you to inquire of Buddha when I could shed my shell and become human. Did you ask?"

Xuanzang was taken aback.

He forgot.

Having endured countless hardships and encountered the controversy surrounding the wordless scripture, he completely forgot the old turtle's instructions!

"This...this..." Xuanzang looked ashamed.

The old turtle's expression changed drastically, and it roared, "I sincerely offered to carry you across the river, yet you've forgotten all about my help! What a holy monk, what a pilgrim!"

He suddenly sank and submerged into the water!

Caught off guard, the master and his disciple fell into the river along with their horse! The scrolls and bundles were completely soaked!

Sun Wukong quickly rescued Xuanzang, while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing frantically retrieved the scriptures. By the time everyone reached the shore, the scriptures were spread out on the rocks to dry, but many were damaged.

Looking at the damaged scriptures, Xuanzang was filled with shame and knelt down, weeping, saying, "This humble monk has broken his promise and deserves this punishment!"

Lu Chen walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Holy Monk, there is no need to blame yourself. This final tribulation was destined. The scriptures are damaged and the Buddhist teachings are incomplete, which will need to be supplemented by future generations."

Xuanzang looked up: "Daoist Master, you knew all along?"

Lu Chen smiled and said, "I know. But some things you have to experience yourself to understand."

He raised his hand, and a surge of chaotic energy enveloped the damaged scrolls. After a moment, the scrolls were restored to their original state, except that he had subtly altered a few key passages on some pages.

"Alright." Lu Chen stopped. "Holy Monk, you may begin your journey now."

Xuanzang held the intact scriptures, but felt no joy whatsoever. He stared in the direction where the old turtle had disappeared, remaining silent for a long time.

Lu Chen knew what he was thinking and said softly, "Holy Monk, I have noted down the matter of the old turtle. After returning, I will go to the South China Sea to inquire about it for him."

Xuanzang looked at him, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Daoist Master."

The master and his disciples continued their journey eastward.

Outside Chang'an City, there is a ten-mile-long pavilion.

Banners fluttered and drums resounded. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, personally led civil and military officials to welcome the pilgrims back from their pilgrimage.

Xuanzang gazed at the familiar city tower in the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Seventeen years, a full seventeen years. He had transformed from a young monk into a middle-aged monk. And this city remained as prosperous as ever.

"Royal Brother!" Li Shimin quickly stepped forward and helped Xuanzang up from his kneeling position. "Royal Brother, you've worked hard! Get up quickly, let me take a good look at you!"

Xuanzang stood up, and Li Shimin looked him over, tears welling in his eyes: "My brother has lost weight and gotten darker. But you are in better spirits, and your eyes are brighter. You have suffered a lot on this journey."

Xuanzang shook his head: "Your Majesty is too kind. This humble monk is fortunate to have fulfilled his mission and retrieved the true scriptures."

He took out the ball of light and offered it with both hands. In the sunlight, the ball of light transformed into the Tripitaka Sutra, totaling over fifteen thousand scrolls, piled up like a small mountain!

Li Shimin was stunned, then overjoyed: "Excellent! Excellent! Issue my decree that the true scripture be enshrined at Hongfu Temple, and that eminent monks from all over the land be summoned to translate and copy it for posterity!"

The city of Chang'an was in an uproar.

The people lined the streets to welcome him, eager to catch a glimpse of the holy monk. The temple bells and drums rang out in unison, and the monks knelt to chant sutras, expressing their gratitude for the Buddha's grace.

However, Xuanzang did not show much joy on his face.

In the stillness of the night, Xuanzang sat alone in his meditation room at Hongfu Temple, looking at the scriptures, but his mind was preoccupied with something else entirely.

The image of the old turtle lingered in his mind.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Lu Chen pushed the door open and entered.

"Holy Monk, are you still thinking about the old turtle?"

Xuanzang nodded: "I broke my promise to someone, though it was not my intention, I still feel indebted to them."

Lu Chen sat down opposite him and said softly, "Holy Monk, do you know why the old turtle asked that question?"

Xuanzang was taken aback.

"The old turtle has cultivated for thirteen hundred years. Although he can speak human language, he is still a turtle in form. What he wants is not the Buddha's answer, but a promise—a promise that someone remembers him and cares about him." Lu Chen looked at him. "You forgot about him. What disappoints him is not that you broke your promise, but that you didn't care about him at all."

Xuanzang was startled.

Lu Chen stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the night sky: "Holy Monk, on this journey, you have endured eighty-one tribulations and encountered countless gods, Buddhas, demons, and monsters. What have you learned?"

Xuanzang remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "This humble monk has learned... Compassion is not about giving alms from a high and mighty position, but about keeping every sentient being in one's heart."

Lu Chen turned around and smiled: "Holy Monk, you have finally attained enlightenment."

He raised his hand, and a wisp of chaotic energy flew out and disappeared into the night sky. A moment later, a joyful roar came from the direction of the South China Sea—it was the old turtle's voice.

"I have already inquired with Buddha on behalf of the Holy Monk," Lu Chen said. "The old turtle will shed its shell and become human tonight."

Xuanzang was stunned, then tears welled up in his eyes. He stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Chen: "Daoist Master, your kindness is immense, this humble monk..."

Lu Chen helped him up: "Holy Monk, there's no need to thank me. This is your own cultivation."

He turned and left, leaving behind a single sentence:

"Holy Monk, the scriptures reside not only in books, but also in your heart. May you spread the scriptures with your heart in the future, and live up to this life."