"This humble monk hails from the Great Tang of the Eastern Lands."
The monk gave a gentle smile and bowed with palms pressed together.
"And where are you going?"General Hong Ying asked with a flicker of interest in her eyes.
"To the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I seek the true scriptures, to help all sentient beings transcend karma and escape suffering. Namo Amitabha."
The monk replied again, his voice calm and filled with serene compassion.
In the Eternal World, countless Buddhist domains were clustered around Mount Lingshan, forming the Leiyin Realm in the Seventy-Two Spiritual Regions—a land entirely governed by Buddhism, known as the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Within the ancient continent also existed the Supreme Sacred Buddhist Land—Ten Thousand Buddha Lingshan.
What this monk referred to as "the Western Pure Land" was none other than the Leiyin Realm, the foundation of the Buddhist path.
"This humble monk is Tang Xuanzang, and these are my three disciples.May I ask, General, which nation is this?I wish to visit your capital to exchange national credentials, thereby marking this country in my pilgrimage."
His tone was gentle, yet imbued with a spiritual presence.
"Tang Xuanzang... Three disciples...Is he truly the Tang Sanzang of legend?"
Yi Tianxing, watching silently, couldn't help but feel a jolt of astonishment.
If these were truly the figures from the ancient myth of Journey to the West, then each of them would be mighty beings of tremendous power. So why were they repeating the pilgrimage?
A possibility flashed in Yi Tianxing's mind.
Had they fallen in a past epoch, and now in this new era, were walking the pilgrimage once more—retracing their old path to reclaim the power they once held?
Such things were not unheard of.
The Eight Immortals, for instance, had done the same. They had to re-walk their destined paths, align with fate, and retrieve their previous epoch's destiny and power.
Though the destination might be the same, the result was never guaranteed. Success and failure both hung in the balance.
Take Cao Guojiu, for example. If someone else claimed his fate first, even a reincarnated Cao Guojiu wouldn't be able to become one of the Eight Immortals again.
One fate equals one slot.
One radish, one pit. No repeats.
"Ah, so it is Elder Tang.Since you come on behalf of Great Tang, please follow me to the capital.You may exchange diplomatic credentials and obtain your pilgrimage visa.It's rare for a monk to visit our Kingdom of Women—Her Majesty may even request a sermon."
General Hong Ying smiled gently.
"Such a handsome monk,"she thought."Even without hair, he stands out like a crane among chickens."
"Master, have we stumbled into a demon realm?They're all women! I don't see a single man!"The golden-furred monkey scanned the surroundings, warily clutching his golden staff.
"Not just yin-heavy, but void of any yang presence.This place reeks of spiritual imbalance."
To him, these women were no different from demons—temptations that could corrupt one's cultivation.
"Nonsense, Senior Brother!These are clearly female bodhisattvas, not demons,"the pig demon declared, carrying his rake with drooling anticipation.
His eyes sparkled with uncontrolled desire.
"Amitabha.Second Brother, be careful.If Senior Brother swings that staff, I doubt you'll survive it,"the fierce-looking monk said with surprising serenity.
Their bamboo raft steadily approached the opposite shore.
"Interesting,"Yi Tianxing mused."This visit to the Kingdom of Women might prove quite entertaining."
A faint smile curled his lips.
He was intrigued by Tang Xuanzang and his disciples. If they were truly the figures of legend, then this encounter would be priceless.
Of course, part of him remained skeptical.
"Are they truly those four, or simply spiritual inheritors?"
He focused his will and released a silent ripple of spiritual rhythm across the river—like a thread of melody threading into the hearts of nearby maidens.
Suddenly, a crisp, melodic singing rose across the river.
Onboard many boats, young women gazed at Tang Xuanzang with admiration, visibly enamored. His handsome monk appearance clearly stirred something deep in their hearts.
Some bolder girls began singing love songs.
🎵 "Mandarin ducks nest in pairs, butterflies dance in twos.Spring blossoms make hearts woozy."
"Holy Monk, may I ask—do you find us pretty? Do you think we're pretty?" 🎵
The lyrics were direct, expressing affection with youthful sincerity.
🎵 "Forget royal wealth and monkish vows,I only wish to follow you till the end of time." 🎵
The next verses were even more blatant, openly expressing their desire.
The monk's ears flushed red, and he immediately began chanting scriptures, trying to stabilize his Zen heart and fend off the rising temptation.
"What a song—Daughter's Love, most moving of all.Holy Monk… has your heart begun to waver?"
Yi Tianxing chuckled and waved his hand. A bamboo raft appeared beneath him on the river.
With a light step, he boarded, clasped his hands in greeting toward Tang Xuanzang and said with a grin.
That song—Daughter's Love—held a deep impression in his memory. When he first watched Journey to the West, the beauty of the Kingdom of Women's Queen stunned him, and her longing romance with the monk was something he could never fully comprehend.
Just now, the song hadn't been sung randomly—he had implanted it silently into the minds of the maidens, making it feel as if they themselves had thought of singing it.
"This monk's heart belongs to Buddha.How could I be swayed by such temptations?Worldly beauty is but a skeleton adorned in rouge.I am a man of the cloth—my apologies to the young ladies for their misplaced affections."
Tang Xuanzang replied solemnly, his expression unshaken.
However, Yi Tianxing caught a subtle flicker in his eyes.
A momentary ripple.
That song had touched something, even if his composure remained.
"Fate brought us together.You've traveled far—please, have some water."
Yi Tianxing smiled kindly.
As he spoke, he dipped a jade bowl into the river, scooping the most pure and refined part of the water. It glimmered with clarity and spiritual aura—sweet and invigorating.
He then offered the bowl to the four monks.
"You're too kind,"Tang Xuanzang said politely, though his brow twitched slightly.
His hand trembled ever so subtly as he received the bowl. Clearly, he was reluctant to drink.
"I'm not thirsty, but thank you for your generosity.Please allow me to decline."
He slowly handed the bowl back.
The monkey and pig demon looked uneasy as well.
They clearly had no intention of drinking it either.
"Oops!"
Suddenly, the pig demon stumbled, bumping into Tang Xuanzang and spilling the bowl entirely into the river.
"Master, a wave hit the raft—I didn't mean to!Please blame me, not the kind gentleman who offered the drink."
He looked genuinely apologetic—but there was a clear intentionality behind his clumsiness.
"Ah, I see. You're not thirsty. Very well—another time, perhaps."
Yi Tianxing smiled, eyes glinting with insight.He turned his bamboo raft, which surged forward like an arrow and reached the opposite shore in the blink of an eye.
"They know what that river is.And they know not to drink its water."
These four… are no ordinary travelers.
"Come, come! Red Embroidery City is ahead.Once inside, all inns are open to you.If you don't like inns, take any house you please.Wine and food await—eat and drink to your heart's content!"
General Hong Ying led the young men toward the massive city ahead.
Yi Tianxing followed along silently.
Before long, they arrived at the city gates, above which hung a grand plaque:
Red Embroidery City
Once inside, everyone scattered to find lodgings.
The city was bustling with birdsongs, laughter, and perfume—a paradise of women. The young men were greeted by waving handkerchiefs and curious smiles from countless ladies.
"I heard this kingdom was full of beauties, but this...This is beyond imagination. They're all divine maidens!I've made up my mind—I'm staying. I'm never leaving."
"A lifetime here among these women... I'm willing. Even if it kills me."
Excited murmurs spread among the newcomers.Whatever fantasies they had before were now vastly outshone by reality.
Words couldn't describe the ecstasy and disbelief they felt.
"Lust is a blade above the head.Staying here may not be wise.But if these beauties could be brought back to Great Yi...That would be a great asset indeed."
A dangerous thought flashed through Yi Tianxing's mind.