Outside Chang'an City, a troop of cavalry escorted a carriage as it approached. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the carriage curtain to reveal a bald monk sitting inside with his eyes closed and his palms pressed together in front of his chest.
High above the carriage, amidst the clouds, three ethereal figures quietly watched the person inside.
"Bodhisattva, Golden Cicada has come to Chang'an ahead of schedule. Will this..."
"It is of no consequence. I have used my divine powers to investigate; there is nothing out of the ordinary within Chang'an City. That Li Ling is now merely an ordinary mortal and will not disrupt our grand plan for Buddhism."
"The two of you must continue to secretly watch over Golden Cicada. Until the right moment arrives, under no circumstances must he be allowed to reunite with his father."
"Understood! We obey!"
Guanyin nodded, watched for a moment longer, and then her figure slowly vanished as she flew away toward the Western Paradise.
As the carriage entered Chang'an City, Fang Xuanling, who had been waiting there for a long time, stepped forward with tears in his eyes, trembling with emotion.
The carriage curtain opened, and a monk with a refined and delicate appearance stepped out.
"This poor monk is Xuanzang, and I pay my respects to you, Benefactor!"
Seeing this, Fang Xuanling could no longer hold back his emotions. He stepped forward excitedly, seized Xuanzang by the arm, and was about to speak and reveal the truth.
At that moment, a voice echoed directly in his ear.
"Xuanzang, revealing the truth now will only make his devotion to Buddhism even more steadfast. It will not be too late to tell him when the time is ripe."
Fang Xuanling's voice stopped abruptly. He steadied himself, composed his expression, and smiled as he spoke.
"You have had a long and tiring journey, Master Xuanzang. I have already prepared a banquet at my estate to welcome you."
"Amitabha. This poor monk is not tired; paying my respects to Your Majesty is of the utmost importance."
"His Majesty is occupied with affairs of state and has entrusted me with the responsibility of arranging the scripture expounding. Let us first partake of some vegetarian food, and we can discuss the scriptures afterward."
Upon hearing this, Xuanzang pressed his palms together.
"In that case, I must trouble you, Benefactor."
Back at the Fang Estate, Lady Lu, Fang Yu'ai, and Fang Yuzhi had been waiting for some time.
"Mother, I heard that Eldest Brother is a monk?"
Lady Lu glanced sideways at Fang Yu'ai.
"Whose eldest brother are you talking about?"
"The person Father is bringing back today, of course. Isn't he Father's eldest son?"
Looking at him with a mix of exasperation and disappointment, Lady Lu said:
"Yuzhi is your true eldest brother. I won't meddle in whatever petty matters went on between you two brothers before, but from now on, you must stick together. Otherwise, the title and estate of the Fang family will end up in the hands of outsiders."
Fang Yu'ai still looked somewhat clueless.
"We are all members of the Fang family, so what difference does it make who gets it? It's not going to fall to me anyway."
Hearing this, Lady Lu felt her anger flare up even more, and she raised her hand to smack Fang Yu'ai on the head.
"I understand what Mother is saying. Second Brother is still young and lacks sense; I will not allow the Fang family's title to fall into the hands of outsiders."
"Good!"
Hearing Fang Yuzhi speak thus, Lady Lu nodded with a gratified expression, then turned her gaze back to Fang Yu'ai.
"Listen to your eldest brother more often from now on. The two of you must remain united."
"Understood, Mother."
Just as the three of them were talking, the sound of footsteps came from outside, and Fang Xuanling walked in, accompanied by Xuanzang.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Wife, I am back. Look, I have brought my son... I have brought Master Xuanzang back with me."
Lady Lu hurriedly rose to her feet upon hearing this and smiled.
"Master Xuanzang truly is a man of exceptional talent and appearance. Someone, bring out the food."
Before long, the table was laden with dishes. Fang Xuanling smiled at Xuanzang and said:
"Xuanzang, make yourself at home. After we have partaken of some vegetarian food, I will have these two unruly sons of mine take you around the city so you can familiarize yourself with Chang'an City."
Xuanzang made no move to sit. He looked at the sumptuous dishes on the table and said:
"Benefactor, this poor monk is a man who has left the secular world behind; I do not partake of meat or pungent herbs."
Xuanzang stood up, bowed to everyone, and turned to walk toward the door.
Fang Xuanling hurried forward to stop him and said to Lady Lu:
"Wife, quickly have the servants prepare some vegetarian dishes."
"Very well, Husband. It was my oversight and my poor preparation that has slighted Master Xuanzang. Please wait a moment, Master."
Lady Lu stood up and walked toward the door, though a sharp gleam flashed across her eyes as she pondered what to do next.
After the vegetarian meal, Fang Xuanling instructed Fang Yu'ai and Fang Yuzhi:
"The two of you take Xuanzang out to tour the city and get acquainted with Chang'an City. Draw some silver from the accounts department to procure daily necessities for Xuanzang."
Xuanzang immediately stood up and said to Fang Xuanling:
"There is no need. This poor monk is a man of religion and brought my own bundle when I arrived. We should discuss the matter of expounding the scriptures first!"
"Oh, come now, Xuanzang, there is no need to stand on ceremony. Since His Majesty has entrusted the duty of hosting you to me, I naturally cannot treat you with neglect. Discussing the scriptures can wait; you should go out into the city with my two foolish sons first to familiarize yourself with Chang'an, lest you lose your way in the future."
Seeing that Fang Xuanling insisted, Xuanzang had no way to refuse and could only agree.
"Father, I still have to study books, so just let Second Brother accompany Xuanzang out!"
Fang Yuzhi stood up at that moment and said to Fang Xuanling.
Fang Xuanling frowned and was about to reprimand him when Lady Lu quickly intervened:
"Husband, Yuzhi's studies are of the utmost importance. Yu'ai has nothing to occupy him all day, so let Yu'ai accompany him, and send two servants along to wait on them."
Hearing Lady Lu say this, Fang Xuanling had no choice but to drop the matter. He looked at Xuanzang with an apologetic expression and said:
"It seems we have neglected you after all, Xuanzang. However, Yu'ai is quite familiar with Chang'an City, whereas Yuzhi only knows how to read all day and rarely steps outside."
"It is no trouble at all! In fact, it is this poor monk who is causing trouble for you, Benefactor."
After collecting silver from the accounts department of the Fang Estate, Fang Yu'ai led Xuanzang out to tour Chang'an City.
As the two of them were walking through the East Market, they happened to run into Cheng Chumo, Zhangsun Chong, and the others.
Seeing Fang Yu'ai in the company of a monk, they all stepped forward to tease him.
"Yu'ai, what are you doing with a monk? Could it be that you want to renounce the world and become a monk yourself?"
"Precisely, Yu'ai. I reckon you must have some deep karmic connection with monks, don't you?"
Fang Yu'ai said indignantly:
"Go on, go on with your gallivanting! This is Master Xuanzang, whom my father specially ordered me to bring out to familiarize himself with Chang'an City."
Cheng Chumo looked skeptical.
"Master Xuanzang? Since when did such a master appear in Chang'an City? How come I've never heard of him?"
Yuchi Baolin chuckled.
"Chumo, if a new courtesan appeared in Miaoyu Brothel, I'd bet my life you'd know about it the very first time. As for a master... unless it's a female one, you wouldn't have a clue. Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"Baolin, why are you always poking your nose into everything? I was talking to Yu'ai; don't interrupt our discussion of Buddhist scriptures."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Cheng Chumo's remark left everyone laughing heartily. Zhangsun Chong turned to Fang Yu'ai and said:
"Yu'ai, we're heading to Miaoyu Brothel. Care to join us? I hear a new courtesan just arrived there. That face, that figure, tsk, tsk..."
Hearing this, Fang Yu'ai felt his heart itch with temptation, but remembering his father's strict instructions, he instantly wilted.
If his father were to find out that he had abandoned Master Xuanzang to go to Miaoyu Brothel, getting his legs broken would be the least of his worries.
"No, I am entirely devoted to Buddhism now. Do not try to shake my resolve! Be off with the lot of you."
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Devoted to Buddhism? You, Fang Yu'ai, devoted to Buddhism? You're going to kill me with laughter."
"Yu'ai, I would have believed you if it weren't for the little brother in your trousers acting up."
Zhangsun Chong also laughed and chimed in:
"Yu'ai, what's so great about Buddhism anyway? Not only do you have to eat vegetarian food, but you also have to practice chastity and abstinence. Mark my words, sooner or later you're going to come to grief because of a monk."
"What are you ruffians up to?"
Just as the group was laughing and joking, they heard someone ask a question. Following the sound, they saw a handsome, ethereal figure walking toward them.
The expressions of everyone present tightened instantly, and they hurriedly saluted.
"Greetings, National Preceptor!"
Hearing this, Xuanzang turned his head slightly to look at Li Ling, feeling as though the invisible gears of fate had begun to turn, and that the person before him was fraught with danger.
Seeing the guarded look on Xuanzang's face, Li Ling smiled gently.
"This must be Master Xuanzang. I offer you my greetings."
"Amitabha. May I ask who you are, Benefactor?"
Fang Yu'ai chimed in to introduce them:
"Master Xuanzang, this is the National Preceptor of our Great Tang."