The next day, Verdant Green Maiden bid Chunyu Tiying farewell. Their meeting had merely been a chance encounter along the road, so there was no need to dwell on it too deeply.
After all, they would live forever. There would always be chances to meet again.
Wan Nian County.
After Li Shimin brought Xuanzang back to Chang'an, he held a water-and-land dharma assembly at Qing Xiao Jade Maiden Temple and Heavenly Maiden Palace in Wan Nian County, with Xuanzang presiding over it! The arrival of this young man left the monks of Chang'an unwilling ten thousand times over!
Holding a water-and-land dharma assembly, inviting Buddhists and Daoists, that was secondary—but no matter what, they should not have invited someone from outside Chang'an!
What were they supposed to do then?
Before the water-and-land dharma assembly began, some monks visited the place where Xuanzang was staying to debate the Law with him.
Xuanzang refused no one. Anyone who came to debate the Law with him was welcome!
Moreover, Li Shimin also intended to test Xuanzang's abilities, so he specifically ordered that no one was to bar Chang'an's monks.
Thus, they could seek out Xuanzang whenever they wished.
The debates continued for a full month!
Xuanzang won.
Throughout that month, no one could out-debate Xuanzang!
The monks of Chang'an all hung their heads in despair. It was not that they cared so deeply about winning or losing, but...
It was humiliating!
Humiliation would have been one thing!
More importantly, they discovered that what Xuanzang said truly was the ultimate truth!
"Amitabha!"
"...This poor monk has been enlightened!"
The abbot of the last Buddhist temple bowed to Xuanzang and chanted the Buddha's name, bringing the debates that had lasted more than a month to an end.
Xuanzang returned the bow. Before the abbot took