Early the next morning, Tang Sanzang woke Sun Wukong and told him to accompany him to an audience with the Cart Slow Kingdom King.
Sun Wukong climbed out of bed with a yawn. "Master, there's no need to be in such a hurry, is there? The king probably hasn't even gotten out of bed yet."
Tang Sanzang said with a solemn expression, "Wu Kong, if we go earlier, the bhikkhus' burden can be relieved sooner. For the sake of the bhikkhus of Cart Slow Kingdom, we cannot cling to this brief comfort."
"Fine, fine." Sun Wukong rolled his eyes helplessly. "Then let's go."
When Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang left the inn, Wang Yuan was already waiting for them.
"Let's go. Into the palace."
The three said nothing along the way until they reached the palace.
The Cart Slow Kingdom King was an old man, somewhat lean, but he looked kind and benevolent.
Tang Sanzang lowered his head and pressed his palms together. "This humble monk is Xuanzang, from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, traveling to the Western Heavens to obtain scriptures. I pay my respects to the ruler of Cart Slow Kingdom!"
As expected, the Cart Slow Kingdom King's reaction was extremely indifferent.
That was only natural. Cart Slow Kingdom honored Daoism and suppressed Buddhism, so this king naturally had no fondness for monks.
"A monk from the Great Tang?"
"Rise."
The king nodded faintly. Although he did not welcome monks, this one had come from the Great Tang of the Eastern Land, which made him different.
The Great Tang of the Eastern Land was a renowned celestial empire. Though Cart Slow Kingdom was separated from it by countless miles, they had still heard of its mighty reputation.
Out of respect and awe for the Great Tang,