After talking with Xuanzang for several days, Uchiha Shin left.
Though he had left, he remained near Chang'an. He did not want to interfere too much with Xuanzang's affairs and preferred to let Xuanzang handle things himself.
He had already done nearly everything he needed to do. The rest would be left to Xuanzang.
After receiving his appointment in Chang'an, Xuanzang returned to Gold Mountain Temple.
By then, all the monks at Gold Mountain Temple knew that Xuanzang was going to Western Heaven.
They were all deeply shocked by this. They could not understand why Xuanzang wanted to go to that illusory, ethereal place known as Western Heaven.
The road to Western Heaven was exceedingly perilous. Setting aside other places, even within the Tang Dynasty, which was already very stable, there were still many dangers. Not to mention the countries beyond the Tang Dynasty—some places were uninhabited, while others were gathering grounds for hordes of demons. Such places were truly fraught with danger.
That was why they could not understand Xuanzang's decision.
Xuanzang was already the abbot of Gold Mountain Temple and held in great reverence by all the monks there. Everyone loved and respected him deeply.
Moreover, Xuanzang was now an honored guest of Tang King Li Shimin and a renowned monk throughout the Tang Dynasty. If he continued to develop as he had, he would surely become the foremost monk of the Tang Dynasty, leave his name in history, and be celebrated for ages.
Yet Xuanzang did not choose that path. Instead, he chose a different road, just as he had when he was still Golden Cicada. He had abandoned his status at Spirit Mountain and made the Ten-Lifetime Great Vow to experience the hardships of the mortal world and forge a new path for the Buddhist Sect.