Chapter 55 Reunion

After that unprecedented Dharma assembly, Xuanzang's prestige reached an unprecedented peak.

And he ultimately chose to refuse his teacher, refuse his friends, refuse the king's invitation, and with Buddhist scriptures and relics, resolutely embarked on the road back to the Tang Dynasty. Along this road, the princess who had originally studied Hinayana Buddhism became a practitioner of Mahayana Buddhism.

At the time of departure, they experienced countless hardships and obstacles.

But when they returned, there were no obstacles ahead.

The Tang Dynasty had risen and become the most powerful empire in the world.

There was one incident, however. While crossing a river, the boat capsized, and Shi Pantuo also fell into the river. He was extremely anxious, hoping to salvage the scriptures, but Chen Yuan jumped into the water and brought him up instead.

"What time is it? You're still thinking about those Buddhist scriptures."

"You're such a fool! An idiot!"

Even as Chen Yuan lifted him, Shi Pantuo was still struggling fiercely, hoping to salvage the Buddhist scriptures.

In the end, fifty volumes of Buddhist scriptures were lost.

And the Sword-Holding Jie Ri, which Chen Yuan originally wore at his waist, the sword pendant possessing the divinity of the ancient Indian sun god, fell into the river. It seemed that this land did not want this sword to leave, yet did not dare to stop the monk whose aura and cultivation had already reached their peak. It could only resort to this strategy, capsizing his disciple's boat.

When they reached the shore, Shi Pantuo knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.

After a long period of time, this former bandit had finally completely turned over a new leaf.

He hoped that his master could forgive him.

But at that moment, Xuanzang simply placed his hand on the top of his head and pressed down.

"Don't worry about it. If the Buddhist scriptures are gone, we can just write them again."

"The Buddha was able to create Dharma, and we descendants can create it as well."

"All phenomena are manifestations of consciousness."

These were again such plain yet domineering words. Chen Yuan sighed in his heart, looking at the turbulent river, feeling lost. Perhaps that sword would never return to his hands. To be honest, he still felt somewhat regretful. After all, he found this sword quite easy to use.

"Oh well."

Even though he was already a top-tier martial artist of this era, the ranger still possessed the unyielding spirit of his youth.

Back then, in the Luoyang brawl and the Chang'an beatdown, he would never admit defeat.

The ranger pointed at the rushing river with his fingers and shouted, "River God of this river, listen up!"

"One day, I will return to take the sword away. Remember that!"

..................

The nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era.

After leaving Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty for a full nineteen years, Chen Yuan and Xuanzang finally returned to this great homeland. The ranger laughed heartily, introducing to the people traveling with him along the way what a wonderful place the Divine Land Chang'an was.

There would never be a greater city in the world.

"When the time comes, I'll take you to drink the wine of Chang'an's taverns and see the flowers there."

"I guarantee you've never drunk such good wine."

The ranger was smug.

He had no attachments in Chang'an. At most, he would just see how Wang Xuanze was doing.

As for Yuan Tiangang.

It had been twenty years. Even if that old charlatan was still alive, he probably wouldn't be able to walk.

And that little one from the Wu family...

The ranger leaned back on his horse, drinking wine. When he thought of the chubby little fellow from nineteen years ago, the expression on his face softened. Nineteen years had passed. That little one had probably already gotten married, and her children should already be as old as she was back then.

He wondered if it was a boy or a girl?

If it was a boy, he could pass on his swordsmanship.

If it was a girl...

Heh... he'd pass it on too.

When the time came, he would ride through Chang'an with that little one. If her husband dared to bully her, then he would use his sword.

Xuanzang looked at him curiously, "What are you thinking about?"

"You're smiling so strangely..."

"Eh? Was I smiling?"

The ranger reached out and touched the corner of his mouth, unable to suppress his smile. He casually tousled the monk's hair, patted it, and said:

"I just miss home, that's all."

"Don't you miss it? Xuanzang."

The ranger spread his arms, stood on the back of his horse, and shouted:

"Tang Dynasty, Chang'an!"

"We're back! Hahahaha..."

"Hey, Xuanzang, smile too, don't be so tense."

In the end, Xuanzang couldn't help but laugh when the ranger tickled him on purpose. His laughter was full of relief. No matter how memorable the past experiences were, and no matter how much respect and achievement he had gained, only returning to his homeland was truly meaningful.

Their return was greeted with the grandest welcome from the Tang Empire, with the prime minister personally going out to greet them. Almost all the people of Chang'an came to see this holy monk who was almost like a living legend. The Tang Dynasty of this era had already begun an incomparably domineering conquest.

The Eastern Turkic Khaganate had fallen.

And now the countries of the Western Regions appeared in the eyes of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

How did ancient China prove itself to be a prosperous age?

First, follow the Qin Emperor's strategy and unify the Central Plains.

Second, follow Emperor Wu of Han's strategy and beat up all the disobedient countries in the Western Regions one by one.

Those who didn't submit would be destroyed.

At this moment, the returning Xuanzang and Chen Yuan almost immediately became key figures in the emperor's eyes.

Or rather, what was more important was the true and accurate geographical route they had traveled over the past nineteen years.

After returning to Chang'an, Chen Yuan slipped away to find the residence of the Duke of Ying.

The recorded records of the Western Regions were narrated and embellished by Xuanzang, and recorded by a monk named Bianji, as handsome as Xuanzang back then. However, neither Chen Yuan nor Shi Pantuo liked this young monk. Shi Pantuo grumbled that he was the kind of frivolous monk who was handsome on the surface and eloquent.

He was different from their master.

As for Emperor Taizong.

This monarch, whose martial prowess was unrivaled in history, took a liking to that monk at a glance.

Emperor Taizong, who had no interest in Buddhism at all, hoped more than once that Xuanzang would directly renounce his vows and become his general.

The intensity of this was even recorded in the history books as 'forcing him to return to secular life, placing him by his side, and conspiring in court affairs.' The historians of that era even used the word 'forcing', which clearly showed that Taizong's actions had reached a level that even the old rascal Wei Zheng could no longer tolerate.

And for this, both Shi Pantuo and Chen Yuan expressed their complete understanding.

They understood it perfectly.

For example, if you are an emperor who won the empire on horseback, and you are planning to use force against the Western Regions.

Suddenly, a strong man with rich experience, who has been wandering in more than a hundred countries in the Western Regions for nineteen years, appears before you.

This is almost a living map.

The importance of this kind of talent is completely comparable to the surprise attack ability of Marquis Guan Jun.

Moreover, this strong man can wield an eight-hundred-pound Buddhist staff with one hand.

He is mighty and unmatched, and no one can stop him.

What's important is that he's also very learned and not a brute.

Are you happy?

But when you plan to recruit him, this strong man says.

I'm just a monk, I chant Buddha and read books.

Can you stand it?

You can't stand it.

Especially since the Tang Dynasty of this era was about to restore the glory of China and beat up those little brats in the Western Regions again, Xuanzang, this experienced and explosively powerful man, almost made Taizong's eyes light up.

Chen Yuan expressed his complete understanding of this.

In the morning, he comforted the monk and promised to find a solution together.

In the afternoon, he instinctively slipped away and sold Xuanzang out.

The familiarity of this set of operations made him wonder if he had suffered a loss at someone's hands before.

As for Shi Pantuo's thinking, it was even simpler.

The record is as follows: "His Majesty the Emperor, seduced (crossed out), attracted by the master, plus one."

Anyway, their incredibly capable Emperor of the Tang Dynasty directly dragged Xuanzang, who was saying "Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation, this poor monk is just a monk, I don't know martial arts at all, no, Your Majesty, please listen to my explanation..." to the front line of the Liaodong battlefield in the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era, demanding that he watch the battle.

And on the battlefield full of fierce generals, Taizong once again demanded that Xuanzang return to secular life.

As for what Xuanzang did on the front line, and even the generals helped Taizong force the monk to return to secular life, and quite happily threw out olive branches, Chen Yuan didn't care. He took a leisurely job and wandered lazily in Chang'an.

He made a longevity lock for a child to wear himself.

He was overjoyed.

He stayed in the Duke of Ying's residence for more than ten days.

Seeing the leaves fall, and the fish from nineteen years ago were no longer in the pond in the back garden, he finally couldn't help but ask a member of the Wu family. The latter recognized this younger brother of the great master's clan, so he replied, "Her, are you talking about the second daughter of the Wu family?"

That Wu family disciple smiled and said, "She entered the palace long ago."

Chen Yuan's expression froze, "Entered the palace?"

"Yes, she entered the palace and was named a talented woman."

"She probably entered the palace when she was fourteen years old, almost ten years ago."

Chen Yuan had never imagined that the chubby little dumpling from back then had now become a palace person. The longevity lock in his arms was probably impossible to send out anymore. It was only later, when the palace person went out, that he saw the little one from back then.

She had grown up to be dignified and generous.

At that time, Chen Yuan entrusted someone to send the gift that Wu Zetian had given him when she left Chang'an twenty years ago, that half-moon-shaped jade pendant, to the Wu family. Only then did he meet her. The woman still wore the short knife that the ranger had given her when she was young, the short knife that Chen Yuan had sharpened himself in Luoyang.

The scabbard, made of cowhide, was already somewhat old.

"Yo, little one."

"Do you still remember me?"

The ranger scratched his head awkwardly.

That bright woman looked him up and down, and then deliberately said:

"Hmm, who are you? Why don't I remember?"

"Why do you have my jade pendant?"

"Did you steal it!"

When her eyes widened, there was no majesty at all, only brightness and charm. Then, when Chen Yuan was stunned, the woman couldn't help but laugh, held her hand in front of her eyes, and said playfully, "Brother Chen, do you still get beaten by civil officials now?"

Chen Yuan let out a breath and smiled, "That's impossible now."

"However, that monk still can't compare, that's all..."

The two recounted the past. Later, Wei Yuan learned that something had happened to the girl's family when she was young, and she had suffered a lot of grievances. After entering the palace, Chen Yuan felt somewhat regretful and said, "His Majesty the Emperor is very powerful, but you are so much younger than him, you are old enough to be his daughter-in-law."

Wu Zetian just muttered, "It's fine anyway."

"It's a pity, I originally got a good piece of jade from Tianzhu and carved this longevity lock all the way, but it seems I can't send it out."

Chen Yuan was somewhat regretful.

The girl snatched the longevity lock, her eyes full of joy, seemingly because this childhood friend still remembered her. She coughed and said seriously, "It's, it's actually not bad, maybe I'll give birth to a princess or a prince? When the time comes, you can send this longevity lock again."

"You can also carve a word on it, like your own symbol."

The girl gestured with her hand and said, "Then you will be my child's uncle."

Chen Yuan said strangely, "…………Wouldn't I be taking advantage of that person?"

That's what he said, but the ranger, who had been alone until now, was still looking forward to that day.

A living, breathing child calling him uncle.

His mouth was grinning from ear to ear, and his eyes were shining.

Wu Zetian asked him with a smile, "Then, Brother Chen, do you hope it's a niece or a nephew?"

"Boy... no, no, it's better to have a girl."

The ranger said happily, "When the time comes, I'll find someone to pass on my swordsmanship."

"Just pass it on to your daughter."

"Okay."

Neither the ranger nor the girl at this moment had any idea what would happen in the future.

It was just that when Yuan walked out, he once again encountered that familiar figure:

"We meet again."

The refined man smiled, as if detached from this era. Wei Yuan's pupils suddenly shrank—

Even Xuanzang was now gradually showing signs of aging.

Yuan Tiangang was exactly the same as he was twenty years ago, without the slightest change.

And beside him, there was also a heroic young man.

"I am... Gengchen."

While drinking, the young man introduced his name, and then said, "There is a great tribulation in China, but I learned that that great tribulation is more than a thousand years later... I am seriously injured at the moment, and I am afraid I will not be able to live to that era."

"Moreover, from the standpoint of the gods, it is impossible to stand on the side of mankind."

The ranger only felt that he had drunk too much. How could he be talking so much nonsense? He casually said:

"Then how do I help you?"

Ying Long Gengchen pursed his lips and said, "To enter this tribulation, I must be reincarnated."

"But even for the gods, like reincarnation, it is difficult to control themselves. I don't know when I will be reincarnated."

"And if you want to be reincarnated in the great tribulation, you must have a connection with you."

"That is to say... Yuan."

Gengchen said, "I want you to kill me with your own hands."

"I will tell you the location of the great tribulation and Jue..."
Hu Die Lan