Jiang Liu, cradling Gaoyang in his arms, advanced step by step.
As Jiang Liu passed by, Gaoyang's entirely decayed body would even stain the robes with pus and blood, which then dripped onto the ground, making the people behind cover their mouths and noses.
Certainly, such gestures from these people only occurred after Jiang Liu had passed; before him, these commoners would kneel one by one to pay respect and make way.
The status of the Imperial Brother was supremely noble, and the Emperor of Tang had even decreed for all under heaven: Seeing the Imperial Brother is as seeing Myself.
"Why could someone who earned twelve Scar of Precepts and became the Imperial Brother, Master Xuanzang, be a fool," a shabbily dressed ruffian, watching Jiang Liu pass by, stood up while covering his mouth and nose, his eyes filled with envy as he sighed to himself.
If I could become a Holy Monk with twelve Scar of Precepts, if I could become the Imperial Brother, wouldn't I have whatever I wished, just like calling the wind and summoning the rain? Yet he walks through the city carrying someone on the brink of death, whose body is completely rotten. How can such a fool receive so much? The scoundrel felt that the heavens were too unjust.
"Alas, he's still just a child..." an elder also stood up from the ground, watching Jiang Liu's retreating figure, heaving a sigh to himself.
Others only saw his twelve Scar of Precepts, the unparalleled esteem of the status of Imperial Brother. But to this elder, Master Xuanzang was still a fifteen-year-old child who had to endure such painful separations and death, which made his heart ache.
Whose grandson is he, whose son is he? If his parents and grandparents back home knew everything that he had experienced, wouldn't their hearts break?
"Wuu wuu wuu..." On the balcony of a small pavilion beside the main street, a young girl watching Jiang Liu leaving while holding Gaoyang couldn't stop her tears from falling, drop by drop.
They weren't tears shed for herself, they were indescribable, unfathomable, yet they simply flowed.
Along the way, Jiang Liu paid no mind to what thoughts the surrounding commoners harbored; he just held Gaoyang, step by step, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, Jiang Liu walked the entire way and finally stopped. He raised his head slightly and could see the Great Buddha Temple right in front of him.
Jiang Liu was in no hurry to enter; returning to the Great Buddha Temple, he felt everything had changed.
Having spent several months at the Great Buddha Temple before, Jiang Liu did not actually detest everything about it.
Although the Saint Monk Longhai also opposed his companionship with Gaoyang, his methods were not harsh. Even when Jiang Liu sought his help, wanting to see Gaoyang once more at the Imperial Palace, Saint Monk Longhai had agreed.
Moreover, within the Great Buddha Temple, his interactions with Daoji were very harmonious. To be more precise, the bond between Jiang Liu and Daoji was one of life-and-death friendship.
Otherwise, when Jiang Liu had sought his help, Daoji would not have resolutely chosen to lie for him, deceiving Longhai, to gain two more months of time spent together with Gaoyang.
But regrettably, after Daoji became Dragon Subduing, he transformed completely into a different person.
Daoji was willing to come back and lie to help Jiang Liu and Gaoyang stay together, but Dragon Subduing wished for nothing more than Gaoyang's swift demise.
In a sense, with the Dragon Subduing Arhat's True Spirit Awakening, Daoji was already dead.
"Master, Master Xuanzang, you, you've returned?" at the entrance of the Great Buddha Temple, two monks covered their mouths and noses, looked at Jiang Liu standing at the temple gate in astonishment, and said.
They had not expected Master Xuanzang to suddenly return to the Great Buddha Temple, and moreover, with Princess Gaoyang, whose body was now fully decayed.
Without speaking, Jiang Liu entered the Great Buddha Temple holding Gaoyang, heading directly towards the main hall.
Very soon, Saint Monk Longhai evidently received news of Jiang Liu's return and came before him.
"Amitabha, Xuanzang, the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. It's good that you have returned, but Princess Gaoyang she..." Saint Monk Longhai looked at Jiang Liu and began to speak.
"I've come to save Gaoyang," Jiang Liu finally spoke after glancing at Saint Monk Longhai.
For Longhai, Jiang Liu did not harbor any disgust or dissatisfaction in his heart. On the contrary, all along the way, Longhai had been quite protective of him.
Jiang Liu's words left Saint Monk Longhai with a troubled expression on his face. Shaking his head, he said, "Xuanzang, you think too highly of me. Although I am honored as a holy monk, I have no means to cure the Corrupting Spirit Poison".
"No, holy monk, you misunderstand. I am not seeking your help to save her," replied Jiang Liu, shaking his head at Longhai's troubled words.
Without elaborating much, Jiang Liu looked around and, not yet encountering any obstruction from Dragon Subduing Arhat, asked, "Where is Dragon Subduing? Isn't he here?"
"Hmm, since Dragon Subduing Arhat made a trip to the Imperial Palace a few days ago, he left and has not returned," Saint Monk Longhai nodded in response.
Hearing that Dragon Subduing Arhat had already left, Jiang Liu didn't probe further; his question had been no more than a casual inquiry.
Without any further ado, Jiang Liu continued on his way, carrying Princess Gaoyang towards the grand hall.
Off to the side, Saint Monk Longhai and the monks from Great Buddha Temple followed behind to see what Jiang Liu would do and how he intended to save Princess Gaoyang.
Inside the grand hall of Great Buddha Temple stood an imposing and solemn statue of Tathagata, before which countless believers were bowing and praying for blessings.
But within moments, these people were covering their mouths and noses in astonishment. Where was this fetid odor coming from in Great Buddha Temple?
Jiang Liu, carrying the decaying body of Gaoyang, entered the grand hall and then walked straight to the Tathagata Statue. After looking up at the statue for a long moment, he gently placed Gaoyang down, bowed his head, and knelt before the Buddha.
The believers in the great hall, upon witnessing this scene, retreated outside the hall with their hands over their mouths and noses, amazed as they watched Master Xuanzang.
Jiang Liu knelt in silence before the Tathagata Statue.
Yes, there was only one way to save Gaoyang, and that was through Tathagata himself.
The Journey to the West was a setup by both Tathagata and the Jade Emperor. Even if the Immortals and Buddhas had the ability to intervene, none would dare offend Tathagata and the Jade Emperor by interfering in this matter.
Only Tathagata himself could save Gaoyang now.
The Journey to the West was a vast game of chess, and Jiang Liu believed he was its most critical piece. He was certain that if he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect her, Tathagata could not remain indifferent.
"Gaoyang, I once promised that even if difficulties were to arise in the future, I would face them with you," Jiang Liu murmured to himself as he knelt before the Buddha.
Outside the grand hall, all the monks and believers exchanged looks, deeply shocked.
The affair between Master Xuanzang and Princess Gaoyang had already been known across the land. Yet no one had expected that he would bring Princess Gaoyang before the Buddha. What was he trying to do?
A distant bell tolled between heaven and earth, and a streak of golden Buddhist Light fell from the Western Heaven into Great Buddha Temple. In an instant, celestial music sounded ethereal, and flowers rained down in chaos.
Inside the grand hall of Great Buddha Temple, the previously demure Tathagata Statue suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, supremely yang and awe-inspiring, bringing peace to the soul.
At the same time, the eyelids of the Tathagata Statue lifted, and its lively gaze fixed on Jiang Liu.
"Ah! The Buddha is manifest!"
With that, the crowd at the entrance of the grand hall and the believers cried out, all kneeling in unison to worship reverently.
Moreover, outside of Great Buddha Temple, all the citizens of Chang'an noticed the descent of the Western Heavenly Light. Countless people also knelt down.
Feeling the extraordinary phenomenon around him, Jiang Liu raised his head and looked straight at the Tathagata Statue without any sign of retreat.
"Amitabha, Xuanzang, is this worth it?" the Tathagata Statue spoke in human language, its voice resounding.
"It is worth it. I am willing to follow her through life and death..." Jiang Liu replied, gazing resolutely at Tathagata.