Xuan Miao finished his seemingly imposing yet cowardly speech, waved his arm, and turned towards the main hall of the monastery.
If he were wearing a kasaya, that wave would have surely been filled with celestial grace.
However, he seemed to have forgotten that he was shirtless at the moment, rendering his wave utterly useless.
Or rather, it did have a use.
At the very least, it exposed his long, black armpit hair to everyone's eyes, with flecks of yellow, indescribable matter clinging to the curled hairs.
Guan Chang and Bai Song followed Xuan Miao into a nearby room.
After Xuan Miao closed the door, his expression changed instantly. He looked at Guan Chang and the two with a fawning gaze.
Hahaha, this humble monk was merely considering appearances earlier. Esteemed benefactors, please do not be angry!
Guan Chang scanned the room. Damn these Indians, they don't even have chairs. He had to find a low table and plop himself down, then looked at Xuan Miao and said indifferently.
We are all citizens of the Great Tang. I'll allow you this dignity. Quickly tell us where Hou Junji went!
Esteemed warriors, please listen to this humble monk's detailed account.
Xuan Miao, like a good child, recounted the events one by one.
It turned out that after their master and disciples left the Eastern Women's Kingdom, they crossed Tubo and arrived in the territory of Tianzhu.
Tianzhu was the birthplace of Buddhism, and the practice of Buddhism was very prevalent here, with nearly eighty percent of the Tianzhu populace being Buddhist practitioners.
Those who could enter monasteries to practice Buddhism were ordinary people with some achievement in Buddhist teachings.
The four monks from the Great Tang received a grand welcome as soon as they entered Tianzhu. This was the first time Tianzhu monks had seen people travel thousands of miles to seek scriptures.
Yes, when they first entered Tianzhu, they still came with the intention of seeking scriptures.
However, from Anxi City, to Kamarupa, to Purnavardhana, and until now, to Nalanda Monastery located in Rajagriha.
Nalanda Monastery was actually the ultimate destination of Xuan Miao's westward journey.
After meditating for a few days on what was called Mahayana Buddhism here, Xuan Miao suddenly realized that this thing was not as perfect as he had imagined.
Coupled with the fact that Cheng Yaojin had inadvertently revealed the Great Tang's suppression of Buddhism when they were in the Eastern Women's Kingdom, returning home was simply impossible.
But if he were to stay in Tianzhu, where Mahayana Buddhism was prevalent, then with his understanding of Mahayana Buddhism, he would be unable to establish himself.
Once, he saw Tianzhu women being casually bought and sold like goods, doing heavy physical labor like oxen, while the Tianzhu men were idle all day, letting their wives and concubines manage the entire household.
And in the Eastern Women's Kingdom, the past events he had heard told him that women were also half the sky and must be respected!
Therefore, with no possibility of returning to the Great Tang, Xuan Miao made a Buddhist vow to save the women of Tianzhu from suffering.
For the first few days, no matter how much he pleaded, no one listened to him. On the contrary, the master and disciples were often beaten for it. Although his three disciples had advanced martial arts skills, such matters could not be forced.
Otherwise, after they left, those women would face even more severe abuse.
So, Xuan Miao had a flash of inspiration, remembering his previous insights in the Eastern Women's Kingdom. He established the Dharma of Joyful Union, declaring himself an emanation of the Buddha of Joyful Union in the mortal world.
Using the Dharma of Joyful Union, he guided the monks to treat women kindly, and thus influence the people of Tianzhu.
From then on, Xuanzang changed his Dharma name to Xuan Miao, meaning profound and mysterious, with infinite marvelous uses in the Dharma of Joyful Union.
At the same time, he also changed the Dharma names of his three disciples.
Wukong was changed to Wu Huan.
Wuneng was changed to Wu Xi.
Wujing was changed to Wu Chan.
Together, it meant to meditate on the joy of Zen.
The Dharma of Joyful Union, once spread, quickly gained the faith of the monks.
Of course, the propagation of the Joyful Buddha was not without its challenges. For the local eminent monks of Tianzhu, Xuan Miao and his disciples were clearly poaching, how could they stand idly by?
The abbot of Nalanda Monastery dispatched three hundred Arhats and eight hundred Vajras to surround and kill the master and disciples. On the day of the engagement, Xuan Miao only sent Sun Wuhuan to fight, while he himself sat aside watching the show, protected by his other two disciples.
Sun Wuhuan fought alone against three hundred Arhats and eight hundred Vajras. With the Ruyi Jingu Bang in his hand, he swung it with great vigor. No matter how the Arhats and Vajras attacked, they could not even harm a single strand of his hair. Instead, he knocked them all to the ground with his staff.
In fact, in Xuan Miao's opinion, those so-called Arhats and Vajras were no different from the thugs in the Great Tang, and perhaps even inferior. Their moves were undisciplined, relying solely on brute strength.
As a result, Sun Wuhuan dealt with over a thousand people in just half a day.
This feat so terrified the abbot of Nalanda Monastery that he abdicated on the spot, handing over the position of abbot to Xuan Miao.
From then on, Nalanda Monastery, which had practiced Mahayana Buddhism for over a hundred years, changed to the Dharma of Joyful Zen.
And Xuan Miao continued to uphold his previous Buddhist vow, spreading the teaching that dual cultivation must be consensual to achieve the best results, and that one must respect their dual cultivation partner, otherwise they would be destined to be separated from the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss after achieving Nirvana.
Cultivate in this life, attain Buddhahood in the next.
As soon as this saying spread, the populace near Nalanda Monastery changed their ways overnight.
Although the status of women was still at the bottom of society, at least they were no longer beaten or sold at every turn.
As for Hou Junji and his group, they arrived at Nalanda Monastery five days ago.
Cheng Yaojin recognized Xuan Miao, and Hou Junji also recognized him, as he was present when Xuan Miao requested permission to travel west.
By the time Xuan Miao finished speaking, Bai Song was already impatient.
Bald donkey, I asked you where he went, I didn't ask how you got here!
You're rambling on. I really doubt how you've lived this long!
Xuan Miao quickly put his palms together in a Buddhist salute: Benefactor, please be patient, this humble monk will immediately talk about Duke Hou Junji.
After Duke Hou entered the monastery, he originally intended to rest for a while and leave the next day.
However, he recognized this humble monk's identity, so he implored this humble monk to let him stay in the monastery for a period of time to recuperate before leaving.
We are all from the Great Tang, and this humble monk could not refuse, so he agreed.
However, three days ago, a female benefactor came to the monastery seeking the Dharma of Joyful Union.
As this humble monk was imparting the Dharma, Duke Hou happened to come to inquire about miscellaneous matters. He was originally a military man, and his physique was more robust and tall than the Tianzhu men. As a result, he was taken a liking to by that female benefactor, who insisted that he be her dual cultivation partner.
Duke Hou refused, but was then guarded by that female benefactor and her followers outside the monastery, ambushed, and carried away.
Xuan Miao looked at the two with a wronged expression as he said this: You two heroes, this humble monk only knows that the female benefactor went westward after capturing them, but I don't know the specific location!
And the people he brought with him were also captured by that female benefactor.
She said that Tang people had tall physiques and strong stamina, making them ideal partners for practicing the Dharma of Joyful Union!
Bai Song stopped filing his fingernails and looked askance at Xuan Miao, saying coldly: Then send the monks from your temple to find them for me!
If you can't find Hou Junji, don't blame me for burning this broken monastery to ashes!