Time Waits for No One

Chang'an City was magnificent, teeming with people, with merchants and travelers passing through in an endless stream. Here, there was no distinction between Han and Hu; all were citizens of the Great Tang emperor.

Xuanzang and his party entered Chang'an City through the Gate of Bright Virtue, carrying the scriptures!

"Monster?"

"Th-this... look!"

"It's actually a monkey?"

"Where did these people come from? They're so strange!"

Among the group, Sun Huo Wang quickly drew the attention of quite a few people. Yet everyone was merely astonished; no one was frightened by him into scattering and fleeing. After all, Chang'an City was now the center of the world. What marvels had the people of Chang'an not seen before?

A monkey that knew how to wield a staff was not something unheard of, either.

"Tch..."

Sun Huo Wang clicked his tongue.

When the group reached the Vermilion Bird Gate, they were stopped by the Imperial Guards defending the imperial city.

The Imperial Guards had never seen such a combination either, and were even more bewildered.

"You people..."

Xuanzang immediately stepped forward. "I am Xuanzang, who journeyed west years ago in search of the true scriptures of Mahayana Buddhist Law. Now that I have obtained the true scriptures and returned, I seek an audience with Your Majesty!"

The Imperial Guards, who had been about to make a move, froze on the spot the moment Xuanzang spoke.

Xuanzang?

Master Xuanzang?

No...

"Y-you truly are Master Xuanzang? Do you have proof?"

The Imperial Guard frowned deeply and asked hesitantly.

Xuanzang nodded and took out the travel document Li Shimin had given him all those years ago. It clearly stated his identity. After the Imperial Guard took the document and inspected it carefully, how could he possibly tell whether it was real or fake?

But he