The Battle in Journey to the West

The Scripture Seeker had obtained the True Mahayana Sutras and traveled east to the Southern Toad Continent to meet with Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Upon seeing Tang Sanzang, who had been retrieving scriptures for over a decade, Emperor Taizong burst into laughter and joyfully said, "Holy Monk, His Royal Brother, I have awaited you eagerly every day. Today, seeing the purple aura coming from the west, I knew a dignitary from the west was approaching, and I secretly guessed it might be your return. Indeed, I was right!"

Tang Sanzang, with tears in his eyes, responded, "Your Majesty, on my journey west, I faced numerous sufferings! Now, I have finally fulfilled the trust you placed in me and have brought back the true scriptures."

Emperor Taizong chuckled, "You have worked hard, His Royal Brother!"

Kneeling, Tang Sanzang replied, "I always remember Your Majesty’s great kindness; naturally, I dare not slacken. It wasn’t about the hardship! Fortunately, I did not fail Your Majesty’s expectations. Soon, I will find monks to translate these Mahayana Buddhist Sutras with me, to spread them both within and beyond Great Tang. Thus, the nation will flourish, everyone will learn goodness, and naturally, peace and prosperity will reign."

Emperor Taizong helped Tang Sanzang to his feet and said, "Very good, very good! His Royal Brother, with your hard work and high achievements, there’s no hurry these next two days. First rest for a while, and then we can start the translation work."

Tang Sanzang said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wukong, seeing that these matters were conclusively settled, sighed inwardly and thought, "The spread of Buddhism will thin our national fortune, and since my master disrupted the Kunlun Dragon Veins, letting dragon qi leak out to the Uttara Kuru Kingdom, those Hu tribes of the north who drink blood might bring calamity to the Central Plains. When that happens, the human path will affect the heavenly fortunes, and a great catastrophe will be unavoidable!"

Returning from the Nine Heavens, where he monitored the world and where no one dared defy heaven, as doing so would provoke the annihilation by the Nine Great Saints. The propagation of the Buddhist scriptures was now a settled matter. However, Tang Sanzang was now a person of high status and power in the Eastern Land, and he could slightly modify the Buddhist scriptures. That indeed would be the true scripture. Otherwise, a direct translation would simply brainwash people, creating a nation full of mindless followers, only knowing how to pray and chant, which could ruin the national destiny.

Wukong then said, "Let’s leave Sandalwood Buddha here to spread the teachings of Buddhism, while we return to Mount Meru to report back to Tathagata."

The three brothers returned to Mount Meru, entered the Da Xiong Palace, and reported to Tathagata that Tang Sanzang had safely reached the Southern Toad Continent and was currently in the Imperial Palace discussing the spread of Buddhism with Emperor Taizong.