Another sunrise illuminated the area outside Gaochang City, the brilliant sunlight casting a blood-red hue over the yellow sands, making it seem as if the passersby were weeping blood.
Three people, three horses, walked through the western gate of Gaochang. The vines in the vineyard had turned yellow, and leaves fluttered down, crunching underfoot. Long Shuangyue, dressed in white as snow, led a magnificent red steed, walking with a sense of melancholy. Ni Shu and Qu Zhisheng silently followed behind her.
Ni Shu mounted his warhorse and boldly smiled at the two: “You two need not see me off. We Turkic men are like eagles of the grasslands; whether we lose our homeland or our companions, we will never break our wings.”
“Ni Shu, I’m sorry,” Long Shuangyue sighed softly. “I did not honor the marriage pact between my father and you.”
“Ha ha, Shuangyue,” Ni Shu shook his head. “That was not an agreement between you and me. Shuangyue, go find your happiness. If you wish to stay in Gaochang, I will defend your happiness with my sword; if you wish to wander the world in search of it, I will bless you with the most beautiful songs of the grasslands.”
“Ni Shu!” Qu Zhisheng stepped forward, arms outstretched.
Ni Shu dismounted and embraced him warmly. “Brother Qu, among us Turkic people, holding a sword does not necessarily make one a true warrior, but one who disregards life and death for the sake of love is undoubtedly a true warrior. I admire you, and I concede to you, withdrawing from this contest.”
Qu Zhisheng forced a smile, saying nothing.
Ni Shu remounted his horse, gazing at the rising sun in the east, and shouted, “The battlefield of us Turkic men will never be over a woman!”
With that, he spurred his warhorse, galloping towards the western desert and grasslands, never looking back.
Long Shuangyue watched his retreating figure, feeling lost. She turned to Qu Zhisheng and said, “Prince, I must leave as well.”
“Where will you go?” Qu Zhisheng asked, his face filled with reluctance, his eyes reddening, his voice choking.
“Who knows?” Long Shuangyue replied, her thoughts heavy. “I am a sinner of Yanqi, and I have caused serious losses to Guizi and Shule. I will never be accepted in Yanqi or the Western Regions. Perhaps it is for the best; I can sever the ties to what I hold most dear.”
“Shuangyue,” Qu Zhisheng cried out in anguish, “don’t go, don’t go! I can’t bear to part with you!”
“Things that are hard to part with must be let go,” Long Shuangyue pressed her palms together and silently prayed towards the desert. “All that accumulates will disperse, the noble will inevitably fall. Togetherness must lead to separation; there is life, yet no one is immortal. The state may be in order or chaos, tools may be restored or destroyed. All pleasures in the world are fleeting and unreliable.”
In the golden desert, a figure in white knelt in prayer, resembling a lotus blooming on the ground, as springs gushed forth from the desert. Long Shuangyue bowed her head to the ground as if blessing her family, or perhaps bidding farewell to herself. Qu Zhisheng, with tears in his eyes, saw Long Shuangyue rise, mount her horse, and seemingly turn back to smile at him, or perhaps she left resolutely without looking back.
The sound of hooves faded away, the white figure, the red horse, the yellow sands, and the snow mountains all merged into the impermanent world, becoming a speck of dust.
Qu Zhisheng realized she had taken his life with her.
Outside the northern gate, another farewell was taking place.
This farewell was grand, with yellow drapes adorning the city gate and a red carpet laid out below. The musicians and dancers from the Gaochang royal palace lined the road, singing and dancing. Thousands of people crowded the city gate; not only were all the high-ranking officials of Gaochang present, but even the three hundred Buddhist monasteries in the country sent monks to chant prayers and offer blessings. The merchants and common folk in the city held various offerings, creating a bustling scene.
Today, they were bidding farewell to Master Xuanzang from the Tang Dynasty.
After the death of Zhu Gui, the internal and external troubles of Gaochang had dissipated. Qu Wentai had lost two sons and his legs in this upheaval, leaving him deeply affected and bedridden. Xuanzang accompanied him day and night, reciting scriptures and praying for him. Qu Wentai reflected on his sins and realized that it was his cruelty towards the previous two queens that had triggered this rebellion and revenge. The cycle of cause and effect had finally made him see the power of the heavenly way in his fear.
Once he recovered, Xuanzang planned to take his leave, but Qu Wentai insisted on keeping him. To Qu Wentai, Xuanzang had become his spiritual mentor and pillar; how could he bear to let him go?
Qu Wentai was resolute, speaking earnestly, refusing to let Xuanzang leave no matter what.
Qu Wentai exhausted all his persuasive words, but Xuanzang remained firm. Frustrated, Qu Wentai declared, “I will not let you go! Either you stay in Gaochang, or I will escort you back to the Tang Dynasty. Think it over!”
Xuanzang remained uncompromising, replying, “Very well, you may keep my bones, but you cannot keep my wishes.”
Faced with Qu Wentai’s insistence, Xuanzang ultimately chose to fast, sitting in silence for three days without food or water. Qu Wentai wept bitterly, finally yielding: “Master, I will allow you to travel west; I only ask that you eat something soon!”
In this situation, Qu Wentai finally understood that he could not keep Xuanzang and prepared all the necessary supplies to send him off. The people of Gaochang, knowing Xuanzang was leaving, were also deeply saddened and came to bid him farewell.
Qu Wentai, now disabled, sat in a sedan chair carried by others, personally escorting Xuanzang to the city gate, instructing people to bring forth the gifts for Xuanzang. Upon seeing them, Xuanzang was taken aback; Qu Wentai had gifted him a caravan, or rather, a diplomatic mission!
“Master, I have nothing to repay you with. During these days, I had thirty sets of robes made for you, along with masks, gloves, and boots to shield you from the wind and sand,” Qu Wentai explained. “The journey to the West is long, likely taking twenty years round trip. I have prepared one hundred taels of gold, thirty thousand silver coins for travel in the Western Regions, and five hundred bolts of silk and fine fabric for your expenses over these twenty years.”
Xuanzang felt uneasy. “Your Majesty, how can this be?”
“It can be! It can be!” Qu Wentai’s eyes reddened. “The kindness you have shown me, even if the Congling Mountains were high, could not compare! The journey will be arduous, and I have also prepared thirty horses and twenty-five servants, along with four novices to serve you. Along the way, you will pass through about twenty-four countries in the Western Regions.
I have written twenty-four letters to the kings of these countries, each accompanied by a bolt of fine silk, requesting them to take good care of you. Even so, I still fear that someone may cause trouble. When you came, you knew Huanxin; I have sent him ahead to accompany you to the court of the Western Turkic Khagan, Tongyehu. I have given him five hundred bolts of silk and two carts of fruits. He will surely take good care of you, and once you pass through the Western Turkic defenses, there will be no more obstacles in the Western Regions.”
The attendant Huanxin had long been waiting nearby and bowed to Xuanzang, saying, “Master, I have everything prepared.”
Xuanzang gazed at the crowd of people bidding farewell and the carriages and horses lined up on the road. He understood that Qu Wentai was supporting his journey to the West with the strength of his entire nation: “Your Majesty, how can I repay your deep affection?”
Qu Wentai wiped away his tears and smiled, “Master, I have a request. I wish to become sworn brothers with you. Would you agree?”
Xuanzang was taken aback by this unexpected gesture. Moved by Qu Wentai’s friendship, he immediately agreed. Right there at the city gate, by the roadside, the two swore an oath and became sworn brothers.
“All right,” after the oath, Qu Wentai smiled contentedly. “Since you and I are brothers, everything in Gaochang belongs to both of us! You need not thank me any further!”
Tears streamed down Xuanzang’s face as well. The two embraced and wept, and the surrounding officials also cried out loud, their sorrow echoing through the outskirts.
Amidst the sadness, Xuanzang and Qu Wentai parted in tears, stepping onto the journey to the West amidst swirling sands.
Watching Xuanzang’s caravan depart, Qu Wentai cried out, “Master, when you return with the scriptures, be sure to come to Gaochang!”
Xuanzang turned back on his horse, silently clasping his hands together, promising this vow.
Exiting Gaochang City to the north, they encountered the Flaming Mountains. Following the trade route along the base of the Flaming Mountains to the west, they soon reached Jiahe City, a path Xuanzang was already familiar with. They left the city in the morning and arrived at Jiahe City by dusk. The governor of Jiahe City had already received word and led the officials and citizens to welcome them.
However, Xuanzang unexpectedly spotted someone in the crowd.
“Third Prince!” Xuanzang exclaimed in surprise, quickly dismounting.
Qu Zhisheng, dressed in a cloak, wearing gloves and foot coverings, and with a mask on his face, appeared to be dressed for a long journey. Upon seeing Xuanzang, Qu Zhisheng approached with a smile: “Master, since you are heading west, why didn’t you let me know?”
Xuanzang felt embarrassed. “Amitabha, it is my fault. Third Prince, why are you here?”
“Of course, I’m here to accompany you on your journey to the West!” Qu Zhisheng replied nonchalantly.
Xuanzang felt a bit troubled, glancing at the governor of Jiahe, who also looked helpless: “Master, the Third Prince has been waiting here since noon. He said he left a letter for His Majesty and wishes to accompany you to the West to seek the Buddha. I… I didn’t dare to stop him, so I had someone quickly inform His Majesty.”
“What did His Majesty say?” Xuanzang asked.
“His Majesty said that everyone has their fate. Just as you are destined to travel west to achieve a great way, the Third Prince should leave the deep palace to seek his destiny,” the governor of Jiahe replied.
Qu Zhisheng beamed: “Master, let me follow you on this journey to the West!”
“Why do you want to travel the West?” Xuanzang inquired.
“I…” Qu Zhisheng thought for a moment, “I want to follow my master and seek the Buddha’s great way.”
Xuanzang shook his head: “Third Prince, please return!”
Qu Zhisheng grew anxious: “Master, I’ll be honest with you. I want to find Shuangyue. No matter where she is, even if I have to wear my feet down on this earth, I will find her!”
Xuanzang smiled: “That is your journey to the West. Go ahead!”
Qu Zhisheng knelt: “Then I will take you as my master! From now on, I will be your eldest disciple.”
Xuanzang hurriedly helped him up, smiling wryly: “You may take me as your master, but you cannot be the eldest disciple.”
“Why not?” Qu Zhisheng asked, puzzled.
“There is a child who has always called me master since I met him. Although he is not a Buddhist, in my heart, he is my first disciple in this life,” Xuanzang said slowly, feeling a pang of sadness.
“Are you talking about Ashu?” Qu Zhisheng suddenly realized, recalling Ashu who perished in the furnace of Tianshan, feeling a twinge of sorrow. “Fine, Master, then I will be your second disciple. Ashu will always be my elder brother.”
After accepting Qu Zhisheng, Xuanzang rested for a night in Jiahe City. At dawn, they set off, continuing their journey westward.
The Silk Road began at Jiahe, bending southwest, winding through the sandy areas between the mountains, leading to Yanqi. Xuanzang’s caravan consisted of thirty to forty people, along with camels and horses, resembling a small trading convoy.
It was late winter in the third year of the Zhenguan era, and the desert was extremely cold.
Although the Silk Road was said to be prosperous, it stretched for thousands of miles, with most sections being uninhabited. Once they entered the mountainous areas, the scenery became monotonous and dull. After a day’s journey, if they were lucky, they might find a simple inn to rest; otherwise, they would have to sleep by the roadside, huddled with their camels and horses to endure the night’s chill.
Most inns along the Silk Road were located where wells could be dug, but the conditions were rudimentary, often consisting of only two or three dilapidated rooms and a single well, with no fodder provided. Even so, these inns were unstable, as the wells might run dry, forcing them to close.
Further ahead lay the Silver Mountains, which served as a natural boundary between Gaochang and Yanqi. Once they passed through the pass, they would have reached Yanqi. Ahead lay larger towns where Xuanzang and his companions could finally breathe a sigh of relief, find lodging, and secure fodder for their livestock. They might also encounter larger trading caravans, exchanging information about destinations and conditions on the road, such as where to find wells, which inns provided fodder, where bandits were active, and even where wars had broken out, necessitating detours.
This information was crucial, often a matter of life and death. Near a town less than a hundred miles from Yanqi’s royal city, Xuanzang and his companions encountered a caravan coming from Yanqi, which informed them that bandits were active not far ahead and advised travelers to set out in groups after sunrise.
After discussing with Huanxin, Xuanzang decided to change their plans and rest until the third hour before departing. However, a caravan secretly set out before dawn, hoping to reach Yanqi’s royal city first to sell their goods at a good price. When Xuanzang and his group arrived at a valley, they discovered that the entire caravan had been ambushed by bandits, with no survivors.
Xuanzang lamented deeply, ordering the bodies of the merchants to be buried and chanting sutras for their souls. He also wondered how there could still be bandits in this area, so close to Yanqi’s royal city.
A Hu merchant traveler explained, “The Yanqi king is rough and impulsive, and the country’s laws are lax. When Princess Long Shuang was here, the officials were somewhat diligent, but since the battle of Gaochang, after the princess left the Western Regions, the governance in Yanqi has fallen into chaos.”
Hearing news of Long Shuangyue, Qu Zhisheng felt a wave of sorrow wash over him. After burying the merchants’ bodies, they continued their journey, arriving at Yanqi’s royal city before sunset.
Yanqi’s royal city was not large, located on the southern bank of the Kaidu River, east of Bosten Lake. The city’s circumference was about six or seven li, surrounded by mountains, making it easy to defend but hard to attack, with springs drawn from the Kaidu River nourishing the fertile fields.
Huanxin had already sent someone with Qu Wentai’s letter and silk to inform Long Tujizhi. Although the two countries were not on good terms, after a great battle, there were still many matters to address, such as the wounded soldiers and the bodies of the fallen, and Yanqi relied heavily on Gaochang for many things, so they could maintain a semblance of decorum.
As the group arrived outside Yanchi City, Long Tujizhi led a contingent of subjects to welcome them. Although the scene was lively, the atmosphere felt rather cold. Xuanzang understood that Long Tujizhi harbored unresolved grievances, but he chose not to dwell on them. However, Long Tujizhi was polite to Xuanzang but less so to Huanxin. When Huanxin requested to change horses, Long Tujizhi refused without hesitation, saying, “Your Excellency, all the fine horses of Yanchi have perished outside Gaochang City. At this moment, we truly cannot provide any mounts.”
Huanxin was furious but felt powerless.
Xuanzang did not wish to linger in Yanchi. After spending one night, he set off at dawn the next day. Long Tujizhi did not try to keep him, seeing to the formalities and escorting him part of the way before bidding farewell. Before leaving, he returned Qu Wentai’s letter and the silk to Huanxin, stating, “I have hosted the monk because he is a high monk from the Central Kingdom, not out of respect for Qu Wentai. You may take back this silk!”
Huanxin felt as if he had been slapped in the face, and he cursed Long Tujizhi along the way, while Xuanzang could only smile wryly. It seemed that tensions among the Western Regions had escalated due to the matter of the David King’s vase.
As they traveled further west, the landscape became increasingly desolate. This area was over seven hundred miles from the capital of Kucha, with endless stretches of desert. The merchants along the Silk Road had dwindled significantly, and often there were hundreds of miles without a soul in sight. Even the towns along the way had fallen into ruin, buried under sand and wind. Weathered human corpses, animal bones, and petrified trees served as grim markers guiding the way for those who followed.
Kucha was renowned as the musical capital along the Silk Road, bustling with people, and its capital, Yiluolu City, was grand in scale. Surrounding the city were fertile fields, with tall poplar trees lining the roads and orchards abundant with apricots, pears, and pomegranates.
At this time, the king of Kucha was named Su Fadie. The recent joint military campaign against Gaochang was a result of Long Tujizhi bribing Su Fadie’s powerful ministers, leading to a significant defeat. However, unlike Long Tujizhi, Su Fadie did not view Xuanzang as an enemy. He was naturally hospitable and welcomed Xuanzang warmly, treating him with great enthusiasm. Xuanzang had hoped to continue westward quickly, but Su Fadie informed him that beyond lay the Ling Mountain, which was extremely cold and frozen year-round. Even in summer, when the ice and snow melted slightly, it would quickly refreeze. At this time of year, the mountain was completely covered in ice and snow, making passage impossible.
Reluctantly, Xuanzang had to stay in Kucha, visiting Buddhist temples and engaging in debates. The national master of Kucha, Mu Chaluo, challenged Xuanzang and suffered a crushing defeat. Two months later, when spring arrived and the snow melted, Xuanzang took his leave from Su Fadie to continue his journey westward. Su Fadie gifted him over a dozen camels and horses and sent several soldiers to escort him, reluctantly bidding him farewell.
Ling Mountain lay north of the Congling Mountains, perpetually snow-covered, with rugged terrain and glaciers, frequently experiencing avalanches. This perilous route was a vital artery of the Silk Road. In Xuanzang’s memory, Ling Mountain was second only to the Moheyan Desert.
As they crossed Ling Mountain, a blizzard struck, swirling snowflakes like a white tornado, stinging their faces and bodies painfully. Xuanzang and his companions tied themselves together with long ropes, trudging along the narrow mountain path. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed as an ice peak collapsed, crushing several camels and horses, and two servants from Gaochang were smashed into pulp, tumbling into the valley.
Many began to weep, and Xuanzang recited scriptures to encourage them. At that moment, Qu Zhisheng displayed remarkable courage, leading the Gaochang attendants and Kucha soldiers to carve ice steps and paths into the ice peak with axes, helping the others and the camels climb up.
After seven days and nights, Xuanzang and his group finally emerged from Ling Mountain. They suffered heavy losses; Qu Wentai’s novice had died, and about a third of the soldiers and attendants perished in the mountains, with even more camels and horses lost. Qu Zhisheng and Huanxin were in a pitiful state, especially Qu Zhisheng, whose fingers were bloodied, the blood frozen into ice shards.
“Master,” Qu Zhisheng said joyfully, “after crossing this Ling Mountain, I feel as if the world before me has taken on new colors.”
Not far beyond Ling Mountain lay the Great Clear Pool.
The Great Clear Pool was surrounded by mountains, with water flowing into the lake, which appeared dark blue and slightly salty. Nearby, Ling Mountain remained icy year-round, while the Great Clear Pool never froze.
In the Western Turkic region, the Great Clear Pool area centered around Suiye City, serving as a winter grazing ground for the Turkic khan and a hub for trade along the northern Silk Road, bustling with merchants from various countries traveling between the southern and northern Tianshan Mountains. At this time of year, as spring was ending and the sheep-shearing season approached, merchants from Samarkand and even Persia came to purchase wool for transport to the Tang Dynasty. The river valley was filled with wool trading markets, and at night, the entire valley was abuzz with noise as merchants gathered to drink and laugh boisterously.
At this time, the Western Turkic court was in Suiye City. The Turkic people were nomadic tribes, and this was the Khan’s winter residence. Each winter, the khan would migrate the court, army, and livestock here to graze, rest, and endure the long winter. Inside the city, apart from the Western Turkic army, there were merchants, and the grasslands along the roads were filled with thousands of horses, cattle, sheep, and camels, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Xuanzang and his companions followed the road flanked by sheep and cattle toward Suiye City. Despite the sounds of neighing horses and mooing cattle, the group was in good spirits. Upon reaching Suiye City, Huanxin and the Kucha soldiers could return home to report. However, as they walked, a cloud of dust suddenly rose ahead, and the sound of hooves thundered like rolling thunder, shaking the ground.
Everyone turned pale, fearing they had encountered bandits. Huanxin stood on his horse, peering ahead, and saw a troop of cavalry rushing toward them like a black tide, with a golden wolf-head banner soaring in the center. He was instantly filled with excitement, exclaiming, “Master, that’s the banner of Tongyehu Khan!”
As the cavalry approached, Huanxin quickly dismounted and bowed by the roadside to greet them. The troop halted, and Huanxin hurriedly presented Qu Wentai’s letter along with fruits and silk. The letter was delivered to Tongyehu, the supreme ruler of the Western Regions, who quickly came to meet Xuanzang.
Tongyehu, nearing fifty, was robust and towered like an iron tower. He dressed casually in a green silk robe, with long hair flowing freely and a long strip of plain silk tied around his forehead, trailing behind him. Accompanying him were over two hundred high-ranking Turkic officials, all clad in brocade robes and braided hair, with the most elite cavalry of the court flanking them, exuding great authority.
Tongyehu was delighted to see Xuanzang. “I have long heard of the monk’s great name. It is said that as you journey westward, the faithful on the earth follow you like migrating geese from all directions.”
“That is because I follow the footsteps of my Buddha, and all beings pray to receive the teachings of the Buddha,” Xuanzang replied, joining his palms together.
Tongyehu looked Xuanzang up and down, nodding repeatedly. “Monk, I just read the letter from the king of Gaochang. It states that you are a slave, wishing to seek the Dharma in the land of the Brahmins and that you hope the Khan will treat you as he would a slave, allowing you to pass through the Western countries to leave the territory. Alas, my son-in-law was proud and never bowed his head in his youth. Today, for the monk, he has written such humble words, which shows your charm!”
“That is the king’s kindness; I am deeply grateful,” Xuanzang replied, touched by the letter’s tone, which seemed almost pleading, recalling Qu Wentai’s friendship.
Tongyehu laughed heartily. “Rest assured, within the territory of the Western Turkic, I guarantee your passage will be unimpeded. Speaking of which, you are also my good fortune. In recent days, I have heard some good news from the Tang Dynasty and was about to celebrate when I encountered a high monk from the Tang. Is this not heaven’s will?”
“Good news from the Tang Dynasty?” Xuanzang asked, surprised.
“Do you not know?” Tongyehu said cheerfully. “The Eastern Turkic has been destroyed!”
“What?” Xuanzang was taken aback. For any citizen of the Central Plains, the Eastern Turkic represented a terrifying nightmare. From the Sui Dynasty to its end, and into the early Tang, the Eastern Turkic frequently invaded the south, causing immense suffering for the people along the borders and even in the capital. Wherever they went, villages turned to ruins, and the population was decimated, with property plundered. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the Eastern Turkic even supported various warlords to fight, reaping the benefits while the people suffered. For those who experienced the chaos of the late Sui, the Eastern Turkic was like a sword hanging over their heads.
But now, had this nightmare finally come to an end?
“Do you not know, monk?” Tongyehu laughed heartily. “Last November, Li Shimin dispatched generals Li Jing, Li Ji, and others, leading an army of one hundred thousand, splitting into six routes to attack the Eastern Turkic. That fellow Qieli was still arrogant, believing the Tang army would not dare to attack. In January of this year, Li Jing led three thousand men to raid his stronghold, and only then did Qieli panic, abandoning the city to flee.
Unexpectedly, he was ambushed by Li Ji along the way. Ha! The talents of the Tang are remarkable; the coordination across the vast grasslands was so exquisite that how could Qieli not be defeated? Unfortunately, Qieli thought he could outsmart Li Shimin, sending envoys to Chang’an to surrender, intending to delay time and shift his troops. Little did he know, Li Shimin played along, sending the army to follow the envoys to raid Qieli’s camp. The Eastern Turkic was utterly defeated, with over a hundred thousand captured, and Qieli fled to Shaboluo, only to be captured by the Tang army halfway and sent to Chang’an. Monk, the Eastern Turkic has been destroyed.”
Xuanzang looked at Tongyehu, who spoke of the Eastern Turkic’s demise with glee and felt a strange sensation. In truth, the enmity between the Eastern and Western Turkic was profound, their conflicts deeper than with foreign tribes. Last year, when the Eastern Turkic was attacked by the Tang army, Qieli had sought aid from Tongyehu, but Tongyehu had ignored him. After Qieli’s defeat, he preferred to flee to Tuyuhun rather than associate with Tongyehu.
“Monk,” Tongyehu said cheerfully, “you have traveled a long way. Stay in Suiye City for a few more days. I am about to go hunting and will return in a few days. I will send someone to accompany you to the city to rest, how does that sound?”
Xuanzang naturally agreed. Tongyehu immediately summoned a high official named Damo Zhi to accompany Xuanzang back to the city, while he led the cavalry away with a roar.
Damo Zhi had a basic understanding of the Han language. On the way, Xuanzang asked him about Nishu. Damo Zhi replied, “Nishu returned from Gaochang a while ago and went back to his tribe. It is said he will come to bid farewell to the khan in a few days.”
“To bid farewell to the khan?” Xuanzang was surprised.
Damo Zhi, hearing that Xuanzang knew Nishu, became even more respectful and explained, “Now that spring is warm and flowers are blooming, summer is approaching. After shearing the sheep, the khan will leave here and return to Qianquan. That is the Khan’s summer palace, where he goes to escape the heat every summer. Therefore, the little khans from nearby tribes will come to bid farewell.”
Xuanzang understood and then asked, “What about Mo Heduo? Where is he now?”
Damo Zhi was taken aback that the monk even knew Mo Heduo, and he quickly said, “Mo Heduo will probably also come to bid farewell to the khan. If the monk waits a few days, you will see him.”
“Hmm.” Xuanzang had been preoccupied with the David King’s vase taken by Mo Heduo. He had promised Ashu to deliver the vase to the Tang Dynasty, but now it had fallen into Mo Heduo’s hands, which troubled him greatly.
“High official, I heard that Mo Heduo brought back a magical vase from Gaochang. Do you know anything about it?” Xuanzang inquired.
Damo Zhi’s expression changed dramatically, and he looked around nervously, fear evident on his face. He whispered, “Monk, this matter cannot be spoken of!”
Xuanzang was taken aback. “Why not?”
“Monk, you are a foreigner, and I will not hide it from you,” Damo Zhi took a deep breath, his expression furtive. “Mo Heduo brought back that vase from Gaochang, which is said to possess supreme magical power. After he returned, a devil suddenly emerged from the David King’s vase, making a prophecy that Mo Heduo would be the future great Khan. This news has spread throughout the grasslands and deserts, but everyone is keeping it from Tongyehu Khan; no one dares to tell him. I implore you, monk, do not mention it.”
Xuanzang exchanged glances with Qu Zhisheng, both feeling a chilling sense of foreboding.