Several months later.
In some desolate wilderness rarely visited by anyone.
Upon a rugged road.
A soldier said with a somewhat worried expression:
"Tell me, how long will this journey of ours actually take?"
"Will five years be enough?"
Another soldier casually replied:
"Definitely not. Before setting out, I asked merchants who had been to India. They said it would take at least ten years."
"And that's assuming favorable weather and no calamities along the way."
"If we have bad luck and war breaks out on a necessary route, barring passage..."
"Then even doubling that time would not be impossible."
Upon receiving that answer.
One of the soldiers immediately let out a long sigh. "...Say, since the Holy Monk possesses such great power, why doesn't he just fly there?"
At those words.
After briefly being stunned, the other soldiers were equally puzzled. They could only hazard an uncertain guess. "Perhaps it shows greater sincerity this way?"
"That sounds pretty reasonable."
"I think that makes more sense too..."
"..."
Listening to the discussions around him.
The leader of the escort party's eyelid twitched.
Probably only he knew the truth.
The reason that Demon Monk had chosen such a relatively slow pace to travel to India was entirely because of Li Shimin's persuasion in bed.
And the reason Li Shimin had used was precisely that it showed greater sincerity this way.
Otherwise.
That Demon Monk might have simply ridden the clouds and soared through the mist straight to Great Thunderclap Monastery...
Of course, setting aside Li Shimin's plea.
According to that Demon Monk, there was actually another important reason.
This journey to Great Thunderclap Monastery would very likely involve a fierce battle!
Thus, proceeding at a slower pace would also allow him to temper his Buddhist principles, so that he could better