Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends

The old monk led the young monk outside, took to the air outside the grand hall's gates, and displayed his true form as a Bodhisattva with Mu Zha's appearance.

Li Shimin also hurriedly led all his ministers out of the main gate and looked up to the monk suspended in mid-air, with the surrounding guards in a panic.

Li Shimin exclaimed in shock, "Guanyin Bodhisattva!"

The other civil and military officials also wore strange expressions. The old monk was actually Guanyin Bodhisattva in disguise. According to rumors, this Bodhisattva was not a good sort! She was most skilled at stirring trouble behind the scenes, instigating others. The tragedy of the Princess of Emerald Waves Lake and the Nine-Headed Beast she caused was severe, and now she has come to our Great Tang. We must advise His Majesty to be cautious and guarded.

Chen Yaojin whispered, "I told you! Someone that ugly can't be good news."

Wei Chigong also whispered, "I had the same feeling, actually."

Standing atop an auspicious cloud, Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke loudly, "Xuanzang, your Westward journey is long and will be impeded by demons. Remember to hold fast to your inner truth to witness The Buddha."

Tang Sanzang brought his hands together respectfully and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Bodhisattva!"

The auspicious cloud carried away Guanyin Bodhisattva and Mu Zha, disappearing rapidly into the clouds.

Only then did Xuanzang stand up straight and turn to look towards Li Shimin, saying, "Your Majesty, I shall return to pack my belongings and depart for Western Heaven to obtain the True Scripture."

Li Shimin inquired with concern, "Imperial Brother, do you have a driving license?"

Xuanzang shook his head and replied, "As a monk, I am devoted to the practice of Buddhist Law and do not possess a driving license!"

"You cannot do without a license. Why not spend some time to get one? I've just switched to a new car, and I could give you the old one as a mode of transportation. That way, it would be as if I am accompanying you to Western Heaven to see the True Buddha."

Xuanzang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Shimin immediately called out, "Gao De~"

An old eunuch hurried over and respectfully responded, "Your Majesty!"

"Arrange for Master Xuanzang to get his driving license."

The old eunuch respectfully replied, "Yes!"

...

After the court dispersed, Zhangsun Wu Gou and Li Shimin went for a walk in the back garden of the imperial palace, with palace maids and guards following at a distance.

Zhangsun Wu Gou said softly, "Your Majesty, I heard something amusing happened in court today."

Li Shimin responded with a chuckle, "You've heard as well."

"The whole of Chang'an is already talking about it; how could I not know?"

Zhangsun Wu Gou hesitated and then said, "Your Majesty, it is said that Guanyin Bodhisattva is known for inciting others and working in the shadows. It's best not to plot with her."

Li Shimin's smile faded as he said thoughtfully, "How could I not heed your words? I, of the Li Tang, have acknowledged Taiching Daozu as my ancestor, so I will not act opportunistically. But this matter was arranged by Taiching Daozu in a prophetic dream, and I can only comply."

Zhangsun Wu Gou exclaimed excitedly, "Taiching Daozu has responded to you?"

Li Shimin smiled and nodded, wearing a proud smile. There were some problems with his lineage. He had taken a risk to acknowledge Li Er as his ancestor to legitimize his status, never expecting Taiching Daozu to actually respond now.

Zhangsun Wu Gou said with delight, "That's wonderful."

...

Half a month later, in front of the Imperial Palace, a thousand officials with hanging ornaments took their positions, with the Five Guards' banners and pennants arrayed on both sides. Golden maces in hand, battle-axes and halberds held aloft, in pairs they stood; red silk candles and Imperial Incense burned, creating an ethereal and dignified atmosphere. The scene was as lively as dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, as fierce as fish hawks presenting themselves and eagles soaring.

Xuanzang, clad in a Jinlan Kasaya, with the Nine Ringed Staff in hand, stood on the main road before the gate, beside him was a steel Mechanical Car that had faded a bit, its surface marked with dents and scratches.

Li Shimin stood opposite Xuanzang, and asked with concern, "Imperial Brother, embarking Westward to obtain the scriptures, when will you return?"

"Only three years are needed, I will surely return."

The Tang King patted Xuanzang's shoulder, praising, "Good, I will wait in the Great Tang for your return, to see the peach blossoms bloom."

Xuanzang nodded resolutely and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, when the spring breeze blows upon my face and peach blossoms bloom, I shall return."

The Tang King chuckled and asked, "Does the Imperial Brother have an elegant name?"

"The humble monk has no such title."

"At that time, the Bodhisattva said there are the True Scriptures in the Western Heaven. How about you take a title from the scriptures? Let's call you 'Tang Sanzang.'"

"Tang Sanzang..." Xuanzang murmured, then smiled and said, "Taking Tang as a surname, not forgetting one's roots, how admirable!"

With a light wave from the Tang King's hand, an Eunuch with a tray hurried over, on which lay a liquor pot and two Silver Wine Glasses.

The Tang King picked up the liquor pot and poured a cup in each glass. Then, he bent down, picked some dust from the ground, scattered it into one of the glasses, and stirred it with his finger.

The Tang King handed over the murky wine glass to Xuanzang.

Xuanzang peered down at the turbid liquid and questioned, "Your Majesty, what is this?"

Li Shimin said sentimentally, "When embarking Westwards, time will drag on, and the journey is long and far. Take this drink, Imperial Brother: 'Rather cherish a pinch of soil from your homeland than covet ten thousand taels of gold from a foreign land.'"

Xuanzang understood, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart, he took the cup and drank in one gulp, solemnly tucking the cup inside his sleeve, joined his hands together in respect and said, "Your Majesty, I am now hitting the road."

The Tang King said with reluctance, "Imperial Brother, you must be extremely careful."

Tang Sanzang joined his hands and bowed respectfully to the Tang King, then turned to open the car door, sat inside, and the Mechanical Car trembled slightly before accelerating away, leaving nothing but dust in its wake.

The Tang King returned to the palace in his carriage.

Tang Sanzang, with high spirits and full of determination, drove through Chang'an City. However, he didn't get far before he was caught by the patrol team, on charges of drunk driving—his departure marred by incarceration even before achieving success. In the end, he was released only with assistance from someone from the palace.

Half a day passed before Tang Sanzang finally left Chang'an City, heading towards the grand road to the Western lands.

Inside the Mechanical Car, Tang Sanzang sat in the driver's cabin, with his luggage placed behind him, watching the road ahead seriously and sternly, vowing not to return until he had obtained the True Scriptures.

Not long after leaving Chang'an, Tang Sanzang started to feel uneasy—his stomach discomfort was growing! Gurgling sounds emanated from within, followed by a painful churning in his gut.

With a screech, the grand Mechanical Car stopped by the roadside. Tang Sanzang hastily took off his Kasaya and ran towards a ditch by the river.

Moments later, Tang Sanzang came out of the ditch, clutching his stomach, murmuring, "Meat and wine pass through but are nothing but poison to the bowels, the Buddha truly does not deceive me!"

After getting back in the car, he didn't get far before the car stopped again. Tang Sanzang hurriedly ran out and into the bushes, returning from the thicket shortly after, pale-faced and muttering, "The drink I just had must have been unclean!"

Thus, it was a difficult and halting journey forward.

...

Inside the Great Leiyin Temple at Spiritual Mountain, The Buddha sat on the Lotus Platform, his broad figure cross-legged, with numerous Buddha Bodhisattvas seated below.

On the adjacent wall, there were holes dug out like a honeycomb, each hole occupied by variously posed Arhats, each making curious and bizarre gestures.