Arrival at Five Villages Temple, Stealing Ginseng Fruit

The Old Abbot violated the three Buddhist precepts and met his end beneath a staff, his soul scattered and destroyed.

After returning to Guanyin Monastery, Sun Wukong told Xuanzang what had happened. Xuanzang shook his head with a bitter smile.

Without a sincere heart, one could not enter Buddhism. Worshipping demons out of greed would only bring about one's own destruction.

"Wukong, Bajie, Wujing, it is time for us to leave!"

Xuanzang looked ahead. The Old Abbot's fate had suddenly brought him great enlightenment, strengthening his resolve to spread Buddhism and obtain the scriptures.

He would obtain Mahayana Buddhism no matter what.

The master and disciples bid farewell to Guanyin Monastery and once more set out upon the road to obtain scriptures from the Western Paradise.

They traveled for another year. Few Little Demons crossed their path, and with Sun Wukong around, their journey remained smooth.

One day, they arrived at a Taoist temple.

Clouds and mist swirled around the place, Immortal Qi drifting through the air. It seemed like an Immortal Realm within the Mortal Realm.

Above the temple hung a gilded plaque bearing the words Five Villages Temple, while gilded vertical inscriptions adorned the pillars on both sides.

"Residence of the Undying Immortal, abode of the Equal to the World—Five Villages Temple!"

The master and disciples looked toward the gate.

Just then, the gate opened, and two Taoist boys dressed in light Qing Su robes emerged. They glanced at Xuanzang and stepped forward.

"May I ask if you are monks from the Tang Dynasty?"

Xuanzang held his hands in a Buddhist salute. "Amitābha, we are."

The Taoist boys nodded. "Then please come in with us. Our Master knew long ago that you would arrive and ordered us to receive you."

Xuanzang frowned in confusion. "May I ask who