Thump thump thump…
The insistent drumming made Lâm Hòa’s head throb and his vision swim. He cursed inwardly.
“What’s with all this racket so early in the morning? Can’t a guy get some sleep?”
Opening his still-sleepy eyes, Lâm Hòa couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Where am I?
Who am I?
What am I doing?
This classic trio of questions was all that remained in Lâm Hòa’s mind at that moment.
Lâm Hòa considered himself nothing more than a shut-in, his eighteen years of life never having truly “bloomed,” but he could definitively say he wasn’t a sleepwalker, nor was his family wealthy enough to be targeted by kidnappers for ransom. So why, at this moment…
Suddenly, a genderless, mechanical voice echoed in Lâm Hòa’s head.
“Checking for compatible soul. Do you wish to confirm integration with the system?”
“What the hell? A system? Have I transmigrated, or am I reborn?”
“Please make a choice within 10 seconds. Otherwise, it will default to rejection. For security purposes, after confirming rejection, the system will proceed with annihilation… Countdown begins: 10…9…8.”
Lâm Hòa’s face went blank.
“Annihilation, what the hell is that? Stop counting! I agree to bind, alright?”
The mechanical voice echoed once again.
“Confirming binding. Progress: 1%…2%…5%…20%…22%…50%…80%…100%. Binding successful. Beginning host scan.”
Host: Chen Xuanzang (Lâm Hòa)
Cultivation: Mortal
Skills: Hinayana Buddhism
Items: None
Merit: 337
“Beep… The system issues a beginner’s mission: Become the Scripture Seeker. Mission content as per name. Reward: Novice Gift Pack *1. Punishment: Dust returns to dust.”
Looking at the flood of information before him, Lâm Hòa – no, now he should be called Chen Xuanzang – confirmed once more that he had transmigrated and possessed Tang Seng, Tang Sanzang. Yes, it was indeed the world of Journey to the West, complete with the Great Sage Sun, Marshal Pig, as well as Buddhas, heavenly soldiers, and the Western Paradise.
He raised a hand and sniffed it. Countless strange thoughts arose in Xuanzang’s mind.
“I heard that eating Tang Seng’s flesh grants immortality, if not… Ptooey! I can’t think such perverse thoughts, who would eat themselves anyway? …System… Are you there? Get out here!”
“It is recommended that the Host dedicate all their faith and life to the System with the utmost respect.”
“Ptooey! What ‘faith’? System, quickly tell me what kind of crappy system you are!”
“Warning: The Host must respect this mighty, unique System of the universe… This is the final warning to the Host. If you reoffend, the System will employ electrotherapy.”
At this moment, Xuanzang felt utterly exasperated. What the hell was this? Weren’t systems supposed to obey their hosts? What kind of system even had electrotherapy?
“Alright, I’ll endure… Handsome System, tell me, what the hell are you?”
“The System announces, what the hell is this System? This System's full name is the Eminent Monk System, formed from the countless gathered powers of faith from tens of thousands of worlds. Currently, the Host's privileges are insufficient to know more information. The Host is advised to quickly complete the novice mission.”
Ignoring the System's antics, Xuanzang looked around. He was currently in a vast temple, surrounded by countless monks and soldiers. Above, a figure dressed in dragon robes was lighting incense and bowing to the Buddha. This person seemed to be the Tang Dynasty Emperor. Combined with the surrounding circumstances, it appeared 90% certain that this was the Water-Land Dharma Assembly, organized by the Emperor for eminent monks from Chang'an and beyond to preach sutras. If Xuanzang remembered correctly, a Bodhisattva would soon appear, selling a brocade cassock and a nine-ringed staff, then seek someone to retrieve scriptures.
Just as Xuanzang predicted, after the Emperor finished lighting incense and was about to inaugurate the Water-Land Dharma Assembly, someone came in to report.
Upon hearing the report, a flicker of surprise and amusement crossed the Emperor's face. He nodded to a soldier, who then ran out. A moment later, the soldier returned with two monks: one elderly with a white beard, and a younger one carrying a cloth bundle and a staff.
The two approached the Emperor and bowed slightly.
“— Amitabha... Greetings, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, a eunuch shouted.
“— Impudent! You don't kneel before His Majesty?”
The Emperor waved his hand at the eunuch, signaling him to retreat.
“— Monk, why do you not kneel before Us?”
Hearing this, Xuanzang inwardly admired both the Emperor and the eunuch. To dare tell a Bodhisattva to kneel, perhaps only these two existed in this world.
“— This poor monk has taken refuge in the Buddha, distanced himself from the mortal world. I only kneel before the Buddha, not before fame or profit.”
The Emperor burst out laughing.
“— Well said, 'only kneel before the Buddha, not before fame or profit.' Then why have We heard that you are selling a cassock and a staff?”
The monk, who was a manifestation of the Bodhisattva, slowly spoke.
“— The cassock is priced at 5,000 taels, and the staff at 2,000 taels. This price is for those who abuse their power, extort and coerce, and do not belong to the Buddhist gate. If it is a person of the Buddhist gate, one of high virtue and reputation, with a kind heart, then this poor monk will give these two items away for free, not taking a single coin or penny.”
Hearing the Bodhisattva's words, the crowd gasped in astonishment, almost everyone exclaiming how expensive it was.
“— May I ask, monk, why is the price so high?”
The Emperor continued to ask.
“— My cassock ensures that its wearer will not enter hell, avoids floods and fire, and is immune to all poisons. It is made from the silk of ice silkworms and swan feathers, adorned with precious and rare treasures. This staff is called the Nine-Ringed Staff; it suppresses evil spirits and calms souls. I ask Your Majesty, are my cassock and staff not worth 7,000 taels?”
“— If what you say is true, then they are indeed worth it. Then you said that if you meet a person of the Buddhist gate, one of high virtue and reputation, with a kind heart, you would give these two treasures away for free, is that correct?”
The Bodhisattva nodded.
“— That is correct.”
– Today, I am hosting the Grand Dharma Assembly of Water and Land, with eminent monks from both within and outside Chang'an attending. Therefore, I ask, Venerable Master, who among those present do you deem to be of the highest virtue and greatest renown?
The Venerable Master surveyed the assembly and spoke.
– May I ask, among the eminent monks present, is there anyone who expounds Mahayana Buddhism? If so, please step forward.
Upon hearing "Mahayana Buddhism," the entire assembly turned to look at each other, shaking their heads. Xuanzang couldn't help but smile inwardly as he watched them.
– Venerable Master, up until now, I have only heard of Hinayana Buddhism; I have never heard of this Mahayana Buddhism.
– Your Majesty, just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Hinayana Buddhism is merely superficial and chaotic, whereas Mahayana Buddhism can deliver departed souls to ascend to the heavens, rescue all sentient beings from suffering, and even cultivate eternal life and longevity.
Upon hearing "eternal life and longevity," everyone was astonished. Who in this world doesn't desire eternal life? The more powerful one is, the more one craves it. Since ancient times, how many emperors have sought the path to immortality?