This Is an Unforeseen Variable!

Mount Putuo of the South Sea, Purple Bamboo Forest.

Guanyin Bodhisattva sat upright on her lotus throne, eyes closed as she calculated the tribulations of the Journey to the West.

A streak of white light pierced the sky, landing and taking the form of Taibai Jinxing.

The old man's beard was blown askew, and the fly whisk in his hand shook wildly. All his composure was gone:

"Bodhisattva! How does your Buddhist order conduct its affairs? Why did you make such a fool of this old Daoist?"

Guanyin slowly opened her eyes, her expression calm but touched with surprise. "Why do you say that, Jinxing? The trial at Shuangcha Ridge was predestined."

"The Pilgrim is mortal flesh and blood. He was to suffer a fright and fall into danger, and you would rescue him in passing, earning a share of merit. I would count it as a trial, and everyone would be happy. Why come here demanding an accounting?"

"Forgive the spectacle, Bodhisattva. The baleful aura of the tribulation affected this old Daoist, and I lost control of myself. But surely you aren't toying with me?"

Taibai Jinxing's anger gradually subsided. With a sweep of his whisk, he regained his composure, though his words remained barbed.

"Mortal flesh and blood? Fright and danger? A tribulation?"

"This old Daoist followed your arrangements and reached the demons' cave, only to find the demons long gone. Far from being frightened, the Pilgrim was sitting upright in its center, bathed in Buddhist light. What need did he have of my rescue?"

"Did your Buddhist order arrange this to strip the Heavenly Court of its dignity?"

"Or could you not bear to part with that share of merit?"

The more Taibai Jinxing spoke, the angrier he became, his questions ringing out.

"If that is the case, I shall report to the Jade Emperor that your Buddhist order has ulterior motives for this Journey to the West to obtain the scriptures!"

Faced with Taibai Jinxing's accusations, Guanyin Bodhisattva did not grow angry. She lightly waved her jade-white hand and touched a fingertip to the empty air before her.

Hum.

A water mirror appeared out of thin air, displaying the scene that had just unfolded at Shuangcha Ridge.

"This..."

Guanyin thought, This Xuanzang truly is extraordinary. Though he is the Golden Cicada Child after ten reincarnations, his memories of Spirit Mountain were washed away long ago. He is now mortal flesh and blood. Even with profound knowledge of Buddhism, how could he possess such cultivation? I have yet to teach him the Heart Sutra, so how has he learned it already?

"Look closely, Jinxing."

Guanyin pointed at the image and said evenly, "I was not toying with you. At that moment, Xuanzang's Buddhist heart attained perfect clarity, and he freed himself from danger."

Taibai Jinxing stared at the image for a long while, his beard twitching. Though his tone softened somewhat, it remained distinctly sour.

"Bodhisattva, with cultivation like that, he can hardly be far from attaining the rank of Arhat. Why would he need this old Daoist to save him?"

"Had I arrived a moment later, those demons might all have converted to your Buddhist order!"

"Since he needed no rescue, this old Daoist made the trip for nothing. As for that merit..."

Though Taibai Jinxing was an amiable old fellow, he would not yield an inch when it came to the tangible benefits of merit for his cultivation.

Guanyin dismissed the water mirror, considered briefly, then said:

"Do not be impatient, Jinxing. Our Buddhist order and the Heavenly Court have already reached an understanding on the Journey to the West. How could we have ulterior motives? This trial involved an unforeseen variable. I truly did not conceal it deliberately."

"Though you did not actually 'rescue' him, without your appearance, Xuanzang might not have known the way ahead. The note you left directed him toward Two Realms Mountain. That is the merit of 'showing the way.'"

Guanyin pressed her palms together, her expression solemn:

"I must immediately go to Western Spirit Mountain and present this turn of events to our Buddha, Tathagata."

"I guarantee that your contribution in 'showing the way and guiding the course' will also be entered in the register of tribulations and counted as a meritorious deed. What do you think, Jinxing?"

The instant Taibai Jinxing heard "counted as a meritorious deed," the clouds on his face gave way to sunshine.

"You are too kind, Bodhisattva, too kind!"

Taibai Jinxing once again flicked his whisk with the bearing of a lofty immortal and said with a beaming smile:

"With your guarantee, Bodhisattva, this old Daoist naturally has complete faith. In that case, I shall return to the Heavenly Court to report."

After seeing Taibai Jinxing off, Guanyin sat upright on her lotus throne again, her brows drawing together slightly.

"He freed himself from the demons' trial..."

"This variable is no longer something I can judge alone."

After a moment's reflection, she arranged for Mucha to watch over Xuanzang, then set out for the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Heaven to meet the World-Honored One.

Outside Shuangcha Ridge, the mountain road was rugged.

Since escaping that ordeal with the demons, Xuanzang had walked through the wild mountains for half a day.

He had found some dry provisions and clean water in the demons' cave, enough to meet his immediate needs.

But this mountain road was truly difficult to traverse.

"Huff... huff..."

Xuanzang braced himself against a moss-covered boulder and gasped for breath.

The imperially bestowed white horse was also so exhausted that it foamed at the mouth, all four legs trembling. Facing the steep mountain path, sheer as though carved by a blade, it whinnied mournfully.

Xuanzang looked back at the horse, untied the bundle on its back, and slung it over his own shoulder.

Then he unfastened the reins.

Xuanzang sighed and patted the horse's neck:

"Horse, dear horse."

"The road ahead is perilous, and demons roam unchecked. You are an ordinary horse. You cannot withstand such frights or endure such suffering."

"King Tang bestowed you upon me as a mount. But I cannot sacrifice your life merely to spare my feet."

Xuanzang removed the saddle, tossed it into the grass beside the road, and pointed back the way they had come:

"Go."

"Though these mountain forests are dangerous, finding yourself a pasture and living as a wild horse would still be better than following me as a beast of burden worked to death."

The white horse seemed to understand him and rubbed its head against Xuanzang's palm.

Then, with a long neigh, it turned and clattered away down the mountain path.

Xuanzang watched it leave, then turned and continued onward.

Without the horse, things actually felt a little easier.

Xuanzang stretched his aching arms, secured his luggage on his back, and leaned on the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff as he slowly climbed the mountain, step by step. He admired the mountain scenery as he walked, as though out on an excursion. The treacherous road and the demons roaming unchecked seemed to have no effect on him.

"This is easier after all."

After several more li, the mountain road gradually leveled out.

Ahead lay a dense forest, its ancient trees towering into the sky, blotting out the heavens and the sun.

Xuanzang was just about to pass through the forest.

A rank wind struck his face, and the trees shuddered.

Xuanzang stopped.

Anyone else would likely have been frightened weak at the knees already.

But Xuanzang had encountered a fierce tiger before.

Back then, alone and unarmed, he had faced down a fierce tiger for half an hour through sheer force of presence, until the tiger left of its own accord.

Xuanzang stood firm, pressed his palms together, and gazed calmly at the fierce tiger.

Seeing that this tender-fleshed monk did not flee, the tiger faltered for a moment. Then it lowered its body, a threatening rumble rising in its throat as it poised to pounce.

Xuanzang remained motionless.

He began to recite, "Tathagata attained the Four Fearlessnesses. Amid the multitude, he turns the great wheel of Dharma, like a lion roaring, free and fearless."

"Amid that multitude, I am neither startled nor afraid. My heart rests in peace and joy, abiding in fearlessness."

"With no dread in my heart, no hair upon my body standing on end, I am free and fearless, unmoving as a mountain."

"Tathagata freely turns the wheel of Dharma, having attained the Four Fearlessnesses long ago."

"Gods, humans, demons, Brahma, and ascetics hear the Master's verses and harbor doubts."

"With body and mind unmoving, one attains fearlessness, bringing benefit and joy to all sentient beings."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange, oppressive power.

The tiger's movements actually paused, a trace of bewilderment flashing in its eyes.

At that moment, with disaster hanging by a thread.

Whoosh!

A wolf-fang arrow tore through the air and struck the rock in front of the tiger with a thunk, sending sparks flying.

"You vile beast! Do not harm him!"