Everyone was stunned upon hearing of the Western Heaven's Great Thunderclap Monastery and the Tathagata. This was a journey to the West to obtain scriptures, and the journey would surely be long!
After the old monk finished speaking, he transformed into Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Chen Xuanzang, seeing the Bodhisattva in person, immediately knelt and said, "Namo Amitabha, greetings to the Greatly Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
As for the others, they were merely surprised that the Bodhisattva had personally appeared, but did not kneel. However, Buddhist followers immediately prostrated themselves in worship. This was the current state of humanity; humans governed the mortal realm and did not need to bow to any gods or immortals, nor could immortals or gods arbitrarily interfere with the mortal realm!
"To obtain the true scriptures, you must endure hardships, and the journey is one hundred and eight thousand li. Are you willing to go to the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures?" Guanyin asked Chen Xuanzang!
Chen Xuanzang kowtowed repeatedly and said, "I am willing!"
Guanyin nodded and flew away!
Afterward, Chen Xuanzang rose and said to the King of Tang, "Your Majesty, I shall now go to the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures!"
The King of Tang was overjoyed. This could help transcend the souls of the departed. The Great Tang had been engaged in war for many years, and there were indeed many lost souls. With this, it would solve a major problem. He personally escorted Chen Xuanzang back to the palace and bestowed upon him the imperial surname. Because he was seeking the three-yagna true scriptures, he was also called Tang Sanzang!
In the Heavenly Court, Di Xin smiled and said, "Now that Tang Monk is leaving the Great Tang, he needs someone to escort him. Esteemed immortals, who would be suitable for this task?"
Everyone's eyes fell on Taibai Jinxing in unison!
Upon hearing Di Xin's words, Taibai Jinxing instinctively flinched, trying to shrink back and minimize his presence. "Why are all these people looking at me like this?"
"Taibai, you go!" Di Xin said with a smile!
Taibai Jinxing's eyes immediately went blank. "Me again? Seriously, can't I have a couple of peaceful days? If you're going to fleece a sheep, you can't always go for the same one!"
"Your Highness, Tang Monk is a follower of Buddhism and will be protected by the West," Taibai Jinxing's meaning was clear: this was not our concern, was it? Couldn't I have a few days of peace?
Di Xin shook his head, "Taibai, it is only when Tang Monk reaches the West that they are responsible. During this period, we are in charge!"
Taibai Jinxing rolled his eyes furiously. "Isn't this just causing trouble?"
"Alright, Your Highness!" Taibai Jinxing had no choice but to agree. It was obvious that this kind of tedious work was his burden. As for the tribulations and such, if it were about merit, why wasn't I considered?
Taibai Jinxing sighed, he knew it would be like this!
The others smiled slightly, "Who told you to be so close to the Jade Emperor? This is practically courting disaster!"
Leaving the Heavenly Court, Taibai Jinxing flew all the way to the skies above the Great Tang.
Soon, he found Tang Monk riding a white horse. At this time, the King of Tang had also dispatched two escorts, but after leaving the city, Tang Monk sent them back. After all, the journey ahead was long, and he couldn't implicate them.
Afterward, Tang Monk placed some of his belongings on the white horse and continued on foot!
In the distance, a tiger was poised to pounce!
A sudden roar from the tiger startled Tang Monk, rendering him pale with fear. He thought to himself, "This is an inauspicious start, I fear I will meet my end by the tiger's maw today!"
Just then, Taibai Jinxing appeared and, with a flick of his finger, froze the tiger in place!
Seeing such an immortal descend, Tang Monk immediately knelt and said, "Many thanks to the immortal for saving my life!"
Taibai Jinxing gently raised his hand, helping Tang Monk up, and smiled, "Elder, you are too kind. I am Taibai Jinxing from the West, who happened to be passing by and saw the elder in danger, so I intervened!"
Tang Monk continued to express his gratitude repeatedly!
Taibai Jinxing then concealed his form!
Afterward, Tang Monk continued to walk forward. However, Taibai Jinxing glanced at the sky, where a lotus platform sat with Guanyin seated upon it!
Taibai Jinxing rolled his eyes. "Damn it, they don't trust the Heavenly Court. Since you're watching, can I leave now?"
With this thought, Taibai Jinxing rejoiced and was about to leave when the lotus platform moved away first!
Taibai Jinxing was stunned, and then he began to curse, "Damn it, weren't you watching? Why did you leave? I'll stop watching too!"
However, there was no one to respond to Taibai on the spot, leaving him feeling helpless!
As for how long he would protect Tang Monk? Naturally, it would be until Tang Monk reached the Five Elements Mountain!
Along the way, there were many ferocious beasts, all of which Taibai Jinxing secretly resolved. When there were others to assist, Taibai Jinxing did not reveal himself!
At this moment, Taibai Jinxing was complaining about Tang Monk, "You, a mere mortal, want to go to seek scriptures? If we weren't protecting you, you would have been fed to the beasts long ago! And you keep thanking your Buddha? What good is that? Did he show up? You should be thanking me!"
Finally, they reached the Five Elements Mountain, also known as the Two Realms Mountain, because half of it was within the Great Tang and the other half was within the Tatar territory, hence the name!
"Master, save me! Save me!" At this moment, a voice echoed from afar!
Tang Monk was greatly alarmed. He looked around, but saw no one, and continued to walk. The voice grew closer, and then Tang Monk finally saw it. At the foot of the mountain, a great ape was being suppressed, and it was this ape who was speaking to him!
"Master, why have you come so late? It is good! It is good that you have come! Save me, and I will escort you to the Western Heaven!" the monkey shouted!
Tang Monk pointed at himself and said, "Are you speaking to me?"
This monkey was Sun Wukong. He immediately nodded and said, "Yes, Master, it is you! Are you Tang Sanzang, who is going to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures?"
Tang Monk nodded, but then said, "But I have never met you. Why do you call me Master?"
Sun Wukong immediately said, "Master, Guanyin Bodhisattva told me to wait for you here, saying that you could save me and that I would escort you to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures!"
Upon hearing that it was the Bodhisattva's instruction, Tang Monk immediately chanted a Buddhist phrase and said, "Very well, but I am a mortal, and I have no axe. How can I save you?"
Tang Monk glanced at the suppressed Sun Wukong and the great mountain, feeling very uncertain!
"Master, you don't need an axe. You just need to climb the mountain and remove the talisman!" Sun Wukong immediately said!
Tang Monk looked at the peak of the mountain and seemed to see a yellow object. He said, "Alright, I will go up now!"
Afterward, Tang Monk began to climb the mountain. When he reached the top, he found that there was indeed a talisman with Buddhist verses written on it. He clasped his hands in prayer and said, "Buddha above, if what that monkey said is true, then allow this humble monk to remove the talisman. If it is false, then let it not be removed!"
But as soon as he finished speaking, the talisman flew away on its own!
Tang Monk breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the monkey had spoken the truth!
Afterward, Tang Monk came down, and Sun Wukong said, "Master, you ride your horse and flee quickly. I will collapse this mountain later, and I fear it will harm you!"
At this moment, Sun Wukong was grateful to Tang Monk. After all, he had suffered for five hundred years, and he, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong, had spoken his word and would stand by it. He had said he would escort Tang Monk to the West, and he would do so!
Tang Monk knew that this monkey was probably very powerful and quickly mounted his horse and fled!
"Master, further away, further away!" Sun Wukong still shouted!
Tang Monk sped up his horse again, and then there was a loud bang from behind, with stones flying everywhere. It seemed a shadow flew out from behind the mountain and quickly disappeared without a trace!