The summer was coming to an end, yielding to early autumn.
Desolate cold winds swept through the trees, flowers, and grasses of the mountains, slowly draining them of their vitality.
Steep peaks, towering ranges, and endless mountain chains formed a landscape rarely touched by human presence.
The mountains were precipitous, the wind slightly chilly, and a fleet of black flying airships cut across the sky, breaking the quiet of this desolate wilderness.
Wang Ming looked at the scenery along the way, collapsing entirely into the ice-blue throne. The seat was covered in soft furs, making it extremely comfortable to lie upon. He had spread them out while recovering from his injuries earlier, and being too lazy to put them away afterwards, they had remained there ever since.
Even though he was reclining in a luxurious and comfortable chariot, Wang Ming's inner anxiety could not be reduced by half.
This was precisely the twenty-seventh year of Zhenguan.
It was the fourteenth year since their departure from Chang'an of the Tang Empire on the westward journey.
According to Tang Sanzang's original schedule for the westward journey, by this year he would have already reached Western Paradise, Spirit Mountain, then attained the fruit of proper cultivation and brought the scriptures back to Chang'an of the Tang Empire.
However,
Wang Ming and Tang Sanzang had only just passed Zhuzi Kingdom.
Lord Lao had suddenly intervened in the Journey to the West, wanting to drag out Li Shimin's life until he died of old age, and had forcefully stalled Wang Ming for five whole years at Jindou Mountain.
In orthodox history, Li Shimin died in the tenth year of Zhenguan, but Judge of the Underworld added twenty years of mortal span to his life, causing the Li Shimin of this world to die only in