The crowd below fell silent, even the five warriors under the command of the Sijins were stunned. It took Moheduo a while to react, and he couldn’t help but burst into wild laughter. “Hahaha! Did you all see that? This is the David King’s Bottle! This is the divine power that can do anything under heaven and earth!” He walked over to the five corpses, examining them closely. “Kebili, Jumu Jian… tsk tsk, and Shabo Luo? Hmph, so you were a spy for Tongyehu! How dare you call me brother! Someone, kill all their subordinates!”
Moheduo’s cavalry had already been secretly mobilized, surrounding the lakeshore. At his command, they charged into the crowd, surrounding the subordinates of the five tribes and shooting them with arrows. No one expected such a turn of events, and still reeling from the shock of the David King’s Bottle, the Turkic warriors were caught off guard. In an instant, the air filled with the sounds of arrows whistling, bowstrings twanging, screams, and curses. The cavalry paid no heed to anyone else, focusing solely on shooting at these people. Moments later, the subordinates of the five Turkic nobles had been nearly wiped out, leaving a field strewn with corpses.
Moheduo nodded in satisfaction and returned to the high platform, shouting, “Everyone, the traitors have been eliminated, and the power of the David King’s Bottle has been proven. Will you keep your promises?”
At this point, who would dare to refuse? The crowd knelt, calling out, “We are willing to follow the Great Khan!”
Moheduo laughed heartily but suddenly froze. It turned out that Nishu and Xuanzang had mixed in with the crowd. As the people knelt, they inadvertently revealed Nishu and the others, making them stand out like a crane among chickens, or like rocks exposed after the tide recedes.
Nishu sensed the danger and was about to give orders to his men when Moheduo spotted him. He burst into laughter, “Nishu? Hahaha, Nishu! What a big fish! Come, capture him!”
Nishu had only brought a few dozen men and was not mounted. Seeing the cavalry surrounding him, he could only force a bitter smile and order his men to drop their bows and arrows on the ground. This was the custom among the Turkic people; discarding weapons signified surrender.
Nearby, the young khans and Sijins recognized Nishu, and many had close ties with his Ten Surnames Tribe. Upon seeing him, they immediately grew worried and began to murmur among themselves.
Moheduo listened to their discussions, his expression unreadable as he descended from the high platform. He squinted and surveyed the crowd, darkly addressing Nishu, “Nishu, Qu Zhicheng, oh, even the monk is here? This complicates things. Monk, I hear that killing a monk is a grave sin?”
Xuanzang smiled slightly, “All living beings are equal; a monk’s life is no more precious than that of any other.”
Moheduo was taken aback. “Aren’t you afraid I will kill you?”
“Yes,” Xuanzang replied calmly. “However, I am on a pilgrimage to seek the Buddha in the Spirit Mountain. The journey is perilous, and is it not a trial arranged by the Buddha? If the Buddha allows you to kill me, then do so.”
“I see!” Moheduo scratched his head in frustration. “The Buddha wants me to kill a monk? What kind of reasoning is that? You, monk, have repeatedly opposed me. If it weren’t for my reluctance to bear the bad reputation of destroying Buddhism and killing monks, I would have already dealt with you. What do you want me to do?”
At this moment, a young khan asked, “Great Khan, is this the monk who came from the Tang Dynasty? He has quite a reputation in the Western Regions!”
“You… you bastard!” Moheduo was even angrier. Buddhism had a significant influence in the Western Regions, and with this young Khan revealing Xuanzang’s identity, he realized he could no longer secretly kill him.
Moheduo pondered for a moment, then coldly looked at Nishu. “Nishu, do you wish to serve me as the lord of the Turkic people?”
Nishu showed a mocking expression. “What do you think?”
Moheduo had enough self-awareness to shake his head. “I know you wouldn’t want to. Right now, in the Western Turkic region, aside from Tongyehu, you and I are the strongest. You are at odds with Tongyehu but dare not oppose him; I can understand that. Today, I will not kill you or force you. Once I eliminate Tongyehu and become the Great Khan of the Turkic people, I will come back to ask you what you and your Ten Surnames Tribe will do.”
“You think you can defeat Tongyehu?” Nishu scoffed.
“Whether I can or not is not for you to worry about!” Moheduo replied confidently, “Your vision is narrow and short-sighted. I will dig a pit by this lake and imprison you here, so you can understand what it means to be trapped in a well and only see the sky.”
He immediately ordered people to dig a vertical well two zhang deep by the lakeshore, confiscated the weapons of Nishu, Xuanzang, and Qu Zhicheng, and lowered them down with ropes. As for Nishu’s few dozen subordinates, they were all tied up and thrown into a tent.
The well was too close to the lakeshore, and the bottom was extremely damp; stepping down could even cause water to seep up. Nishu and Qu Zhicheng were restless, feeling the walls of the well for a way out. Xuanzang, however, sat quietly in the muddy bottom of the well, twisting his prayer beads and reciting scriptures.
“Master,” Qu Zhicheng said with a bitter smile, “You can sit still, not afraid of the dampness.”
Xuanzang opened his eyes. “Bodhidharma faced the wall for nine years; would he be afraid of discomfort?”
Qu Zhicheng was left speechless.
Nishu laughed. “The monk is a child of Buddha; you don’t even count as a novice, so you don’t understand the nature of Buddhism.”
“Do you understand?” Qu Zhicheng glared at him.
Nishu laughed heartily. This man was truly rough; even in a perilous situation, he could still find humor.
“Nishu,” Xuanzang asked curiously, “Why doesn’t Moheduo kill you?”
Nishu shrugged. “If he kills me, it would mean a break with the Ten Surnames Tribe. Right now, he wants to deal with Tongyehu. If my tribe joins forces with Tongyehu, he would be doomed. Moreover, there are so many young Khans and Sijins here, most of whom have marital ties with my tribe. He is eager to win their hearts; how could he dare to kill me in front of them?”
“Then can we not survive this?” Qu Zhicheng said, feeling hopeful.
“Dream on,” Nishu replied coldly. “If he kills Tongyehu and stabilizes the Western Turkic region, killing me would be as easy as slaughtering a sheep.”
Qu Zhicheng’s face fell again.
At this moment, the noise above gradually faded, replaced by the sound of hooves receding into the distance. It seemed the crowd had begun to disperse after their oath. The flickering light of the bonfires that had illuminated the well wall gradually extinguished, leaving only a sliver of moonlight shining down, creating a chilling atmosphere.
“By tomorrow, Tongyehu Khan will likely be a corpse,” Nishu sighed.
“Tomorrow will not come,” Xuanzang shook his head. “The outcome will be revealed tonight.”
Tongyehu had already fallen asleep.
The ancient moonlight illuminated the white tents, and the campfire cast flickering shadows on the faces of the night watchmen, whose footsteps were silent, careful not to disturb the Great Khan’s slumber.
At that moment, the sound of hooves suddenly erupted outside the camp, and a group of over ten riders approached from a distance. The sentinels immediately became alert, drawing their bows and aiming at them. As the riders reached the camp, they reined in their horses. The leader lifted his veil, and the night watchmen recognized him as Moheduo.
“It’s Moheduo!” one of the night watchmen, Meilu, exclaimed, relieved.
Moheduo smiled and said, “Ah, it’s you on duty tonight. Has the Great Khan gone to sleep?”
“The Great Khan drank too much tonight and has already fallen asleep,” Meilu replied. “I wonder why the Great Khan has come here so late?”
“I recently acquired a treasure and came to present it to the Great Khan tonight,” Moheduo said with a smile.
Meilu was taken aback, feeling a bit awkward. “Great Khan, if you are presenting a treasure, the Great Khan will surely be pleased. However… he has been having trouble sleeping lately, and now that he has finally fallen asleep if he is disturbed…”
“You don’t know what treasure I’m giving the Great Khan. If you did, you would crawl to him even if I broke your legs to tell him this good news,” Moheduo laughed.
Meilu was somewhat astonished. “What treasure is so important?”
“The David King’s Bottle!” Moheduo said slowly. With a wave of his hand, the knights behind him lifted the David King’s Bottle from their horses. Under the moonlight, the bronze bottle radiated a dazzling light, dimming even the moonlight.
Meilu was instantly stunned, and the soldiers around him were equally astonished, staring blankly at the David King’s Bottle. After a long while, Meilu finally reacted. “Quick! Open the camp gate! Great Khan, I… I will personally report to the Great Khan. Please give me this credit!”
Moheduo nodded with a smile. As the camp opened, Meilu hurriedly mounted his horse and galloped toward the royal tent. Moheduo laughed and led the others behind him.
Tongyehu had indeed drunk too much that night. Since his brother, Shekui Khan, died, he had inherited the position of Great Khan, rising early and sleeping late, leading the Wolf Clan of the Grasslands to expand across this vast land. He was brave and resourceful, skilled in warfare, having repeatedly defeated the Eastern Turkic people to the east, annexed the Tiele to the north, continuously defeated the Sasanian Persians to the west, and advanced to the Punjab region to the south, intimidating India. With tens of thousands under his command, he dominated the entire Western Region. The prosperity of the Western Turkic people reached unprecedented heights under his leadership.
However, in recent years, Tongyehu has grown old. Like a toothless lion, he was filled with vigilance, suspicion, and unease. Externally, relations with the Geluo people were tense, often leading to war. Internally, he feared the major tribes, imposing heavy taxes and harsh treatment, causing widespread resentment. The internal strife within the Western Turkic people deepened Tongyehu’s fears, leaving him in a state of constant mental tension, unable to sleep.
Tonight, however, was the best night of sleep he had in years. But upon hearing that Moheduo had come to present the David King’s Bottle, Tongyehu was overjoyed and immediately ordered someone to summon Moheduo.
Yet his inherent suspicion did not allow him to relax his guard. His royal tent was enormous, capable of accommodating hundreds of people without issue. Hearing that Moheduo had only brought a dozen men, he immediately summoned over a hundred of his guards to enter the royal tent, feeling much safer.
After a short wait, Moheduo entered with his men, carrying the David King’s Bottle. Upon seeing Tongyehu, he bowed and saluted, “Greetings, Great Khan.”
Tongyehu quickly rose. “Uncle, please rise, please rise! You are my closest kin; there’s no need for such formalities. Hmm, I heard you obtained the David King’s Bottle and wish to present it to me?”
Moheduo gestured behind him. “Bring it forward.”
His cavalry brought the David King’s Bottle over and placed it before Tongyehu. Instantly, Tongyehu’s entire attention was captured. He gazed at the mysterious bottle, murmuring, “Could this be the national treasure of the Sasanian Persians, the David King’s Bottle?”
“Indeed,” Moheduo replied with a smile. “If the Great Khan does not believe it, you can summon the spirit within the bottle and make a wish.”
“Good, good, good!” Tongyehu was immensely excited. “How do I make a wish?”
“Great Khan, this bottle can grant three wishes, capable of anything. Since we are to witness such a miracle, why not let those loyal ministers in the royal court see it, so they can be even more devoted to you?” Moheduo suggested with a smile.
“Right, right, right!” Tongyehu suddenly realized. “Uncle, you are correct. Since I have obtained this divine object, they should certainly witness it. Hmph, the Sasanian Persians relied on this bottle to intimidate the world for four hundred years. Now that I have it, who under heaven would dare to defy me? Someone, summon all the ministers left in the royal court—She, Teqin, Yiduhu, and Silifa—bring them all to me!”
An inner minister was dispatched to carry out the order.
Tongyehu looked at the David King’s Bottle, grinning from ear to ear, but he also had doubts. “Uncle, I want to ask, since this David King’s Bottle can fulfill any wish, and you have obtained it, why not make a wish yourself instead of giving it to me?”
“Great Khan,” Moheduo sighed deeply, “I am old! Over the years, I have assisted four Great Khans. Although I have fought south and north, I have never had much ambition. What wish could I make? Immortality? Perhaps the David King’s Bottle cannot grant that; otherwise, the emperor of the Sasanian Persians would have lived forever. My sons are not ambitious; passing it to them would undoubtedly bring disaster. As for anything else, what use would it be to me? Great Khan, your achievements are visible to all on the grasslands. I present this to you, hoping that after I die, you will take good care of my tribe and my sons. That is my greatest wish.”
Tǒng Yèhù felt a surge of emotion. “Uncle, I have misunderstood you all along. From now on, you will be the closest person to me. If I can conquer Géluólù in the future, I will grant the entire territory to your son.”
“Thank you, Great Khan,” Mòhèduō replied, bowing respectfully.
As they spoke, the Turkic nobles summoned by the edict hurriedly arrived. These individuals were Tǒng Yèhù’s trusted confidants, residing within the royal court, so they were not far away.
Tǒng Yèhù glanced around, somewhat dissatisfied. “Why hasn’t Tièli arrived?”
Tièli was his most beloved son.
“Great Khan,” an inner minister reported, “Tièli went on a special mission to visit the Nìshǔ outside the city, but Nìshǔ was not there. He waited too long and ended up falling asleep there.”
Tǒng Yèhù shook his head. “Forget it, we won’t wait for him. Uncle, please summon the devil! I want to make my first wish!”
The Turkic nobles gathered around, curious. Mòhèduō, just like that time by the lake, used a silver knife to cut his finger, letting his blood drip into the hexagram seal. The surface of David King’s bottle began to swirl with thick black mist, growing denser by the moment.
Everyone watched, transfixed, a mix of fear and anticipation in their eyes, while Tǒng Yèhù gaped in astonishment.
Mòhèduō began to chant softly in Persian: “My child, I have waited a thousand years for your birth, and now you must wait for me for nine thousand years. The eternal world has now arrived, and I will fulfill my promise. Come forth, my child; I will hand this world over to you, allowing you to walk in the sunlight of Persia.”
As his words fell, the black mist roiled, forming the vague shape of a giant. A booming laughter echoed from within the mist: “My king, you have summoned me for the second time. What wish shall I fulfill for you?”
Tǒng Yèhù was momentarily stunned, sensing something was amiss. Before he could gather his thoughts, Mòhèduō burst into laughter and pointed at him. “Ākǎmànà, kill Tǒng Yèhù and all those who stand in my way!”
“As you command, my king.”
The deep voice sent shockwaves through everyone present. Tǒng Yèhù realized he had been deceived. Just as he was about to shout, several slender tendrils of smoke shot out from the mist, swiftly entering his mouth and ears. From a distance, it appeared as if three long snakes had burrowed into his body.
Tǒng Yèhù’s expression went blank, his face turned dark, and he fell silently to the ground. The once-mighty ruler met his end.
Chaos erupted among the nobles in the royal tent. Tǒng Yèhù’s guards drew their swords, ready to charge. Mòhèduō laughed maniacally, standing beside the David King’s bottle, and pointed at them. “Kill them!”
The smoke surrounding David King’s bottle exploded, filling the entire royal tent with thick black smoke. Those who inhaled it struggled to breathe, their eyes bulging as they clutched their throats in desperation. Moments later, over a hundred personal guards and several nobles collapsed, lifeless, their weapons scattered across the ground. Everyone in the royal tent, except for Mòhèduō’s men, perished without exception!
Mòhèduō stood amidst the black smoke, his expression twisted like a demon. He approached Tǒng Yèhù’s corpse, kicked it lightly, and murmured, “The position of the Turkic Great Khan has passed through your family for three generations; now it is time for it to be mine!”
He slowly walked among the bodies, reaching the entrance of the royal tent, and commanded the Fùlì soldiers, “Go, tell them that Tǒng Yèhù is dead, and all the central officials of the royal court have perished. Mobilize the army to seize control of Suìyè City! Anyone who does not acknowledge me as the Great Khan shall be killed!”
Two Fùlì soldiers acknowledged and were about to leave when Mòhèduō added, “Go, kill Tièli. I will not allow Tǒng Yèhù to have any surviving sons.”
In the deep well, the underground water slowly rose, now reaching their knees. The well was pitch black, and the three men sat in the water, silent, with only Xuánzàng’s calm breathing breaking the stillness.
“Master, have you fallen asleep?” Qū Zhìshèng asked.
“Mm,” Xuánzàng replied drowsily.
“Alas, how can you sleep in such a situation?” Qū Zhìshèng murmured. “Master, let’s chat for a bit!”
Xuánzàng yawned. “What shall we talk about?”
“Master, I’m a bit afraid of death,” Qū Zhìshèng admitted honestly. “Please enlighten me with your Buddhist teachings!”
“I cannot guide you with Buddhist teachings,” Xuánzàng continued to yawn.
“Why not?” Qū Zhìshèng asked, puzzled.
“Because…” Xuánzàng stretched his legs, settling more comfortably as the water splashed around, “I recite Amitābha Buddha in my heart. When I fear death, I think that perhaps when I die, I will close my eyes and see the Buddha. That thought brings me joy. But you? You recite Lóng Shuāngyuèzhī; when you close your eyes and see Amitābha Buddha, you won’t feel very happy.”
Nìshǔ laughed heartily. “Coward! What’s the big deal about death? A master like you is truly carefree.”
Qū Zhìshèng spat at him. “What do you know? What does a monk fear? We fear not seeing Amitābha Buddha after death. I fear not seeing Shuāngyuèzhī. She is all alone out there; if I die, who will accompany her?”
“You need not worry about that,” Nìshǔ scoffed. “There are more people who want to accompany her than those who wish to be reborn.”
Just as Qū Zhìshèng was about to retort, a sudden thud struck his head with a clod of dirt, igniting his fury. “Nìshǔ, why did you hit me?”
“Why would I hit you?” Nìshǔ retorted.
“Who else could it be?” Qū Zhìshèng fished out the clod of dirt from the water, waving it in the darkness.
“It was me.” A lazy voice suddenly came from above.
The three men froze. At that moment, a faint light broke through the well wall, revealing a hole. They suddenly realized that a tunnel had been carved horizontally into the wall, and a head was peeking out, smiling as it observed them.
“Wáng Xuáncè?” Qū Zhìshèng exclaimed, jumping up. He then saw that a tunnel had indeed been dug into the well wall, and Wáng Xuáncè was lying in it, holding a shovel. There were faint outlines of several other people in the tunnel.
“Master,” Wáng Xuáncè shone a fire stick down to illuminate Xuánzàng, then sighed in relief and smiled. “Did I disturb your peaceful dreams?”
“Amitābha,” Xuánzàng smiled back. “Lord Wáng, you were quite drunk tonight, yet you still managed to remain alert enough to know that the three of us were trapped here.”
Wáng Xuáncè smiled awkwardly. “Master, nothing escapes your notice. If I had fallen asleep with my eyes closed and let you pass away here, I fear I wouldn’t be able to open my eyes again when I returned to Cháng’ān. Please come in quickly; I’ve been digging this tunnel for several hours. If the guards above hear us, we won’t be able to escape.”
The three men wasted no time and crawled into the tunnel one after another. The tunnel was quite narrow, with Wáng Xuáncè leading the way, holding the fire stick. The air was damp, and in some places, water had pooled, indicating that digging it had been quite laborious. After crawling for about ten zhangs, they finally reached the tunnel’s exit.
The exit was behind a small mound, which was covered in dense trees. Beyond the trees lay Mòhèduō’s camp.
Once out of the tunnel, Wáng Xuáncè collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. “After a few years in office, enjoying the benefits of the people, I’ve realized that physical labor is truly exhausting.”
Nìshǔ asked, “Lord Wáng, how did you know we were trapped here by Mòhèduō?”
Wáng Xuáncè displayed a troubled expression. Xuánzàng quickly interjected, “Lord Wáng, since you’ve come to rescue us, something significant must have happened outside, right?”
Nìshǔ suddenly realized, “Yes, yes! Lord Wáng, what is the situation now?”
“Not good,” Wáng Xuáncè replied candidly. “Tonight, at the hour of the pig, Mòhèduō entered Tǒng Yèhù’s royal tent under the pretense of presenting treasures, assassinated Tǒng Yèhù and several key royal officials, and then allied with several tribes to launch an attack on Suìyè City. A fierce battle is currently raging within the city.”
“What?” Nìshǔ was stunned. He had anticipated trouble, but he never expected it to be this severe. Mòhèduō had completely dismantled the royal court in one fell swoop. The Western Turkic realm was now in chaos.
“When I arrived, Mòhèduō’s men were already besieging your camp,” Wáng Xuáncè sighed. “Fortunately, Tièli was not in the royal court tonight; he is spending the night in your camp.”
Nishu suddenly grew anxious. “Master, everyone, I must go save my people first. You all find a place to hide.”
After saying this, he scanned the area and spotted Wang Xuance’s horse tied among the trees. He hurried over, untied one, mounted it, and galloped away.
Xuanzang watched Nishu’s retreating figure and sighed deeply. “Lord Wang, what kind of deal did you strike with Mo Heduo?”
“A political deal,” Wang Xuance replied with a bitter smile. “The Master must remember that on the way to Suiye City, I happened to encounter Mo Heduo. I was sent on a diplomatic mission, and the Emperor ordered me not to interfere in the conflicts of the Western Regions and the Western Turks. As an envoy, how could I dare disobey the imperial decree? I merely informed Mo Heduo that the Tang Dynasty would not meddle in the internal affairs of the Western Turks. He then felt emboldened to launch his coup.”
Xuanzang fell silent for a moment. “You must accompany me to meet Mo Heduo.”
Xuanzang usually spoke with elegance and composure, but this statement was firm and left no room for negotiation. Wang Xuance was taken aback.
By this time, dawn had broken.
The sunrise over the grasslands illuminated the Suiye River valley. The light was dim and indistinct, just like the day before, but the valley was no longer filled with green grass; instead, it was strewn with corpses, the blood staining the earth. The once picturesque winter palace of the Khan had transformed into a hell on earth.
From Suiye City to the southern bank of the Chuhe River, the originally white tents had been burned to the ground. Charred remains lay scattered across the grasslands, attracting countless vultures that swooped down to feast. Occasionally, a passerby or a horse would rush by, but the vultures remained, clutching entrails in their beaks, watching warily.
This was the largest internal conflict in the history of the Western Turks. Suiye City had been completely taken over by Mo Heduo’s forces. Although the royal court of Tongyehu was garrisoned with over ten thousand troops, their leader was dead, and the command center had been destroyed. These elite soldiers became headless flies, unable to comprehend the situation as they were crushed under the attacks of Mo Heduo and the rebel tribal coalition. Nearly five thousand soldiers died in battle, three thousand were captured, and only a little over two thousand managed to escape.
Amid the chaos, Nishu fought his way through the bloodshed, protecting the Dushi tribe as they fled westward, back to Nishu’s territory. Mo Heduo declared himself the new Khan of the Western Turks amidst the sea of corpses and blood, taking the title of Mo Heduo Hou Quli Si Pi Khan, marking him as the sixth Khan of the Western Turks.
Xuanzang and Wang Xuance entered Suiye City, stepping over the bodies scattered everywhere. Mo Heduo’s men were clearing the corpses from the streets, where severed limbs and dismembered bodies littered the ground. The roads within the city were muddy, soaked with blood, and squished underfoot, making a sound as if one were stepping on a person’s belly.
Xuanzang walked carefully, while Wang Xuance frowned tightly. “Master, we are almost there. You must tell me why you want to meet Mo Heduo. The Turks are in a murderous frenzy right now, and if we anger them, I won’t be able to ensure your safety!”
Xuanzang did not respond immediately. After a long pause, he asked, “Lord Wang, when you return to Chang’an this time, you will surely be promoted, right?”
Wang Xuance smiled bitterly. “What are you saying?”
“A diplomat traversing the vast Western Regions, inciting the world’s most powerful empire into hatred and conflict, leading to endless turmoil—what great merit has this brought to the Tang Dynasty? Surely the Emperor will reward you?” Xuanzang said coldly. “I fear that if His Majesty is pleased, he may grant you the titles of Duke or Marquis, elevating you to the highest ranks of nobility. This would fulfill your ambitions, wouldn’t it?”
Wang Xuance fell silent. The two walked for a long time before he slowly replied, “To be honest, Master, I did intend to facilitate this coup. Now that the Eastern Turks have been destroyed, the only strong enemy near the Tang Dynasty is the Western Turks. Although the Emperor instructed me not to interfere in Turk affairs when I came, he was preoccupied with the Eastern Turks and could not afford to divert his attention to the West. The situation in the world has changed, and as a minister, I must seize the opportunity and act decisively. Master, a Western Turk embroiled in civil war aligns with the interests of the Tang Dynasty. This is my duty as an envoy and my responsibility as a citizen of the Tang to defend our homeland. Although I have caused endless bloodshed, I do not regret it.”
Xuanzang carefully stepped past a corpse, gazing at the enormous royal tent ahead. “I finally understand what I seek on this journey to Tianzhu.”
Wang Xuance sighed. “Master ahead is the royal tent. As an envoy, I can only be present during this internal conflict of the Western Turks; I cannot meet with Mo Heduo. I must excuse myself from accompanying you inside. My mission here is complete, and I will return to Chang’an to report tomorrow. Master, take care on your journey.”
Xuanzang understood this reasoning. “Lord, if you see His Majesty, please convey a message for me.”
“What message?”
“To establish merit, what is most beneficial?”
Wang Xuance remained silent for a moment before nodding. “I will remember that.”
After returning to Chang’an, Wang Xuance indeed conveyed this message to Li Shimin. However, at that time, Li Shimin was not pursuing merit but rather achievements and this question was soon forgotten. It wasn’t until eighteen years later, in the twenty-second year of the Zhenguan era, the year before Li Shimin’s death, that he was tormented day and night by nightmares and recalled this question. He summoned Xuanzang to the palace and asked him the same question: “To establish merit, what is most beneficial?”
Inside the royal tent, the corpses from the previous night had already been removed. In the vast, empty tent, Mo Heduo sat alone on the throne, with King David’s bottle placed on a small table before him. Strange smoke coiled around the bottle, and the demon within it had once again appeared, conversing with Mo Heduo.
“My King, you have summoned me for the third time. What wish do you wish to fulfill?”
Mo Heduo looked weary and somewhat anxious. “The spirit in the bottle, it was you who made my wishes come true. I have now killed Tongyehu and gained the loyalty of half the Turks, but I suddenly find that I have no one to talk to. I don’t know who secretly opposes me or who harbors hatred in their hearts. Sitting on the throne, I look at everyone below and feel they all have ulterior motives. I am terrified but dare not speak to even my closest confidants. Today, I summoned you to have a conversation.”
“My King, if this is your third wish, I will grant it.”
“No, no, no,” Mo Heduo quickly waved his hand. “I… I wouldn’t waste it like that. Sigh, never mind, you can go back for now. I will summon you again when I am ready to make a wish.”
“My King,” King David’s bottle replied, “you can only use the summoning spell three times, and you have already used it. If you do not make a wish, our pact will be considered fulfilled. I will be able to break free from the seal and return to freedom.”
“I…” Mo Heduo was dumbfounded. “I haven’t thought it through…”
“Then, my King, I will take my leave,” the King David’s bottle said.
“No, no, no, let me think!” Mo Heduo was in a panic, sweating profusely, wishing he could slap himself. What was he thinking, chatting with a demon for no reason?
The King David’s bottle waited quietly, and suddenly Mo Heduo remembered something. “Oh, I just thought of something! My subordinate Meilu reported to me that many tribes remain loyal to Tongyehu. They hope to support Tongyehu’s son as the Khan and wage war against me! Deli is not to be feared; he is sheltered by Nishu, and Nishu has a longstanding grudge against Tongyehu, so he won’t help him. But Tongyehu has the eldest son, the king of the Tuhuo Kingdom, named Datushe, who commands a formidable army. Upon hearing of his father’s death, he will surely come with his troops to seek revenge. If he joins forces with Nishu, all my efforts will be in vain!”
“Then, my King, what is your wish?” the King David’s bottle asked.
“Kill Datushe for me!” Mo Heduo said fiercely.
“Understood, my King,” the King David’s bottle replied. “This is your third wish, and once fulfilled, I will regain my freedom.”
“Good!” Mo Heduo felt a pang of regret; this wish had come to him in a rush, and he felt it was somewhat too simple, but having spoken it, he could not take it back.
“My King, please send me to the Tuhuo Kingdom,” King David’s bottle said. “The day I arrive in Ahuan City will be the day Datushe dies.”
Mo Heduo was taken aback. “Can’t you just kill Datushe here? Why must you go to Tuhuo?”
“Because when I regain my freedom, darkness will cover the earth, and all living things will perish,” King David’s bottle replied. “I have been sealed in the bottle for countless epochs, and my inner rage must be quelled with the blood of living beings. My King, do you wish to grant me freedom by your side?”
Mo Heduo was frightened and waved his hands repeatedly. “No, no, no, spirit in the bottle, you should… um, I will send someone to escort you to Tuhuo tomorrow!”
The King David’s bottle laughed heartily, the smoke coiling and retreating into the bottle.
Mo Heduo sighed in relief, thinking about sending the bottle away, yet feeling somewhat reluctant. Just then, a soldier from the outside reported, “Great Khan, the Tang monk Xuanzang requests an audience.”
“Oh? He crawled out of the well?” Mo Heduo felt a surge of anger. He had always harbored resentment towards Xuanzang. “This monk tried to snatch the King’s bottle from me in Gaochang. I didn’t want to kill him, so I hid in Suiye City, yet he still wouldn’t leave me alone, conspiring with Nishu against me. Can I not kill him? Let him in!”
The soldier went out and brought Xuanzang inside. Mo Heduo sat on the throne, drawing a curved dagger and stabbing it fiercely into the ground, but he remained silent, his narrow eyes coldly fixed on Xuanzang.
Xuanzang pressed his palms together in greeting. “I pay my respects to the Great Khan.”
“Master, you come to see me. What is the matter?” Mo Heduo asked coldly.
“I wish to collect the body of Khan Tongyehu for a proper burial and to perform a rite of passage,” Xuanzang replied calmly.
Mo Heduo flew into a rage. “Monk, do you think I truly dare to kill you?”
“Great Khan, the essence of Buddhism lies in the cycle of cause and effect, the wheel of life. Throughout history, how many heroic emperors have been buried on the battlefield? I am a monk, not involved in worldly matters; I only wish to witness the end of this emperor’s fate, the impermanence of fate,” Xuanzang said. “Today, I wish to collect Khan Tongyehu’s body for a proper burial. If you wish to kill me, then in the future, after a hundred years, who will be there to collect your body?”
Mo Heduo was taken aback. Since he ascended to the position of Great Khan, he had always felt an unexplainable anxiety about his fate. Xuanzang’s words struck a nerve, and although they were harsh, he could not bring himself to be angry.
Mo Heduo hesitated for a moment. “You… only wish to collect Tongyehu’s body?”
Xuanzang nodded.
Mo Heduo’s interest waned. “Monk, I will give you face. I originally intended to sever his head and send it to Nishu and Deli. However… you are right; an emperor who has lived a heroic life deserves someone to collect his body. Go, Khan Tongyehu’s body is in the large tent next door. Recite some scriptures for him and give him a proper burial.”
“Thank you, Great Khan,” Xuanzang said, pressing his palms together in gratitude. “Additionally, I have a piece of advice.”
Mo Heduo grew impatient. “Speak quickly; I am busy right now.”
Xuanzang pointed at King David’s bottle. “This bottle is not as extraordinary as it seems; Great Khan should not rely on it too heavily, or it will bring disaster.”
“Nonsense!” Mo Heduo exploded in anger, standing up. “I am now the master of King David’s bottle. It has granted me my greatest wish in this life. How dare you say it is not extraordinary?”
“It is not,” Xuanzang replied calmly, undeterred by Mo Heduo’s fury. “The King David’s bottle is merely a scheme, and you are but a puppet used by certain individuals to realize their plot. Great Khan, since you have now become the Khan of the Turks and achieved your greatest dream, there is no need to rely on it any longer. If you rid yourself of it early, you might avoid disaster.”
Mo Heduo laughed, but there was no trace of mirth in his eyes as he slowly approached Xuanzang, holding the dagger. “Monk, how do I rid myself of it?”
“Just let me take it away,” Xuanzang said calmly.
Mo Heduo flew into a rage. “I knew you were trying to seize my bottle! You thieving monk, I will kill you!”
In his fury, he swung the dagger toward Xuanzang’s neck, the blade gleaming like snow, ready to sever Xuanzang’s head in an instant! Xuanzang did not blink, calmly gazing at the blade.
At that moment, King David’s bottle suddenly spewed forth a cloud of smoke, which seemed to reach out like tendrils into Mo Heduo’s nostrils. Mo Heduo froze, then silently collapsed to the ground, the dagger falling to the side.
Xuanzang was not surprised. He walked over to Mo Heduo’s side, checked his nostrils, and found that he was merely unconscious and not dead. He sighed in relief and sat down directly opposite King David’s bottle.
“Amitabha,” Xuanzang pressed his palms together. “Akaman, thank you for saving my life.”
This time, King David’s bottle did not emit black smoke. A sigh came from within the bottle. “Master, I am a demon, and you are a Buddha’s Follower. Are we destined to determine a victor?”