Xuanzang does not know spells; he is merely a mortal. Physically, he is a weakling, but not necessarily so in spirit.

Every time he is captured by demons, the first thing he thinks of is not escape but engaging the demon in dialogue, trying to persuade them not to err again. From this, it can be seen that he is not weak at all spiritually; in fact, he is astonishingly strong.

He wants to save even those unrelated to him, let alone his disciples.

Thus, without hesitation, he followed Bajie to the Mountain God Temple.

Huang Mei was very faithful to his promise. As soon as he saw Xuanzang, he released Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong was truly annoyed; how come every one of you has such treasures to control people.

He raised the Jingu Bang defensively in front of Xuanzang, but Huang Mei didn't do much and instead began speaking on his own.

"Five hundred years ago at the Water and Land Dharma Meeting, I debated with a monk. I claimed all beings are evil and only the teachings from the Heavenly Gods and Buddhas can guide them to good.

But that monk argued all beings are equal, and everyone has goodness in their hearts and can become Buddha; why should Gods and Buddhas hold themselves above others?"

"Xuanzang, you are the esteemed monk from East Earth. Which do you think is correct?"

Xuanzang had never encountered such a demon on his journey, one who wanted to discuss Buddhist Law.

This journey of reincarnation, walking this path, his thoughts now differ from those he held during his Jin Can Zi period.

After witnessing and feeling the suffering of all beings, his thinking had undergone a significant transformation.

"You are wrong, and the monk is also mistaken. The world does indeed have distinctions, but the goodness within their hearts doesn't differ. The so-called evil of lower beings is merely the struggle for survival, while the goodness of the upper class is but the surplus resulting from their affluence."

"Therefore, regardless of one's situation, maintaining and spreading the goodness within one's heart is the true path to becoming Buddha."

Xuanzang leapt out from the division of human nature into intrinsic goodness and intrinsic evil, proposing the idea that there is no concept of good and evil in one doing what fits their class's survival. Only by transcending one's own limited perspective and spreading their benevolence is true goodness achieved.

Do Gods and Buddhas have personal biases?

Indeed.

Nevertheless, beyond their biases, they strive to save many more people, which is why they are Buddhas.

Huang Mei paused for a moment, evidently surprised that he had posed a question of choice and Xuanzang addressed it as an inquiry into the Tao.

You kid always manage to throw me a curveball.

"Hahaha, you are still just as interesting."

"Since you say so, the two countries below once lived harmoniously through generations. I severed the water to one side, and originally, a fair collaboration between both would simply result in reduced grain production, not such a dire extent."

"See, this is the evil rooted in their nature."

Xuanzang countered, saying, "Good and evil are one entity. When they showed their good side, you used external factors to influence and guide them. Now hatred fills their hearts, though kindness still exists, it no longer extends towards the other."

Huang Mei frowned, coming here with the intent to defeat Jin Can Zi, yet Jin Can Zi, despite losing his cultivation, proved to be even more troublesome.

"Do you truly believe there is still goodness in their hearts?"

Xuanzang confidently replied, "Yes."

"Then prove it to me. Afterward, I will move the mountain, restoring the previous state between the two nations. Let's place a bet; without external pressure, if the countries reconcile, proving goodness exists in their hearts, you win."

"Should the two continue to war, fighting viciously, then that means I win."

This bet was undoubtedly unfair, yet Xuanzang still accepted it.

Huang Mei, without any deception, moved the mountain away.

Sun Wukong, seeing Huang Mei depart, said indignantly, "Master, how could you agree to this? The hatred between the two nations has already been sown; how could they easily forget it?"

Xuanzang remained calm.

"Wukong, my win or loss matters not. If losing a bit of our face ensures the citizens of both nations no longer worry about fields lacking irrigation and no need to fear hunger next year, then what does losing a bit of our face mean?"

Both parties were wise; they understood the outcome that followed. Even when the water was shared again, the nations did not immediately cease fighting.

Xuanzang conceded the bet to Huang Mei, asking Sun Wukong to use martial power to forcibly stop the war.

His aim was achieved, allowing the people to return to peaceful days.

This time, Huang Mei won; he defeated the Jin Can Zi he held dear, yet he knew while he won the bet, he lost in understanding Buddhist Law.

He still lingered five hundred years in the past while Jin Can Zi had moved far beyond.

He did not further trouble Xuanzang and his disciples but returned to Sumeru to pay respects to his master, Maitreya.

Maitreya continued to lie smiling on his cushion.

"Huang Mei pays respect to Master."

"You have returned, have you bested Jin Can Zi?"

"I won, yet also lost."

"The long road stretches far; being surpassed by others is of no consequence."

"Thank you, teacher, for your guidance."

This minor conflict within Buddhism did not cause any great ripples. Young people, striving to excel and refusing to lose is quite normal.

...

Xuanzang and his disciples continued westward, later defeating the Python Demon, passing through the Silk Cave, and, with Vilanpo Bodhisattva's help, vanquishing the remnant of the Hundred-Eyed Golden Centipede. All in all, their journey was smooth sailing.

That day, the disciples were traveling as usual. Sun Wukong, leading the way, suddenly halted.

"Be cautious, Master."

Xuanzang immediately reined in his horse and asked, "Wukong, have we encountered another demon?"

Sun Wukong shook his head; he sensed no demon energy, only that something seemed peculiar ahead.

Activating the Eyes of Golden Flame, he saw an area in front where the space seemed hazy.

"Wait here; I'll go explore."

He approached the hazy area, raised his staff resting at the mouth of the spatial passage, and tried to poke it inside, feeling resistance, as if an invisible restriction sealed the place.

With the principle of preferring fewer troubles over more, Sun Wukong turned to leave, but then the space glimmered with golden light, emitting a voice within.

"Who is out there? Come rescue me, I am the Jade Emperor. Save me and I'll appoint you Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Court."

Sun Wukong paused, then pretended not to hear and turned to run, thinking, who is the Jade Emperor? Do I know you well?

Taking ten thousand steps back, being the senior disciple with ten thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals at his beck and call, what good would come from Zhang Bairen being the Jade Emperor?

Deng Chanyu, as the Marshal, might be unreliable, yet having led troops to aid several times, surely he cannot be ungrateful!

Returning to Xuanzang, the Monkey didn't intend to mention the matter, instead casually explaining, "Master, that place likely holds a sealed demon, so let's avoid him."

Upon hearing the demon was sealed, Xuanzang did not dwell on it, trusting Sun Wukong wholeheartedly.

"Alright, Wukong, let's skirt around it."

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