The night sky was quiet. The charred, withered branches of the Ashoka Tree fell piece by piece with a gentle gust of wind.One happened to fall on the kneeling human soldier, Wuni."You couldn't even catch one little white deer, and you call yourself having the 'Fleet-Footed' supernatural power?! If it weren't for that, why would I, the King, keep someone like you who can't fight in my tribe!"Wuni trembled, burying his head even lower."My King, it was a momentary mistake. I beg you, please don't cast me out! Give me three more days, no, one day! I will definitely find it!"From behind a distant haystack, in the shadows untouched by the firelight, Lugen supported Amo as they moved stealthily.When she saw her son wrapped in the gray robe outside the wooden fence, Amo could no longer hold back her tears."Bensheng... my child!""Shh, quiet! If we're discovered, he won't be able to escape!" Lugen sighed, looking at Bensheng. "Bensheng, don't worry about us. Second Uncle will take good care of everyone. You just go, the farther the better.""Yes, Lugen is right. Even if I never see you again, I'd rather you live well, Mother."Bensheng held back tears, trembling as he asked, "Mom, where's Father?"Amo and Lugen paused, lowering their heads.Tears streamed down Bensheng's face. He leaned against the
wooden fence, trying to get closer to them. "Mom, Second Uncle, wait for me... I will definitely come back to defeat the humans and save you!"Amo cried out in alarm. "No, don't come back!""Who's there?!" Human soldiers holding torches gathered around. Someone immediately shouted, "Someone! The little white deer is here!"Amo covered her mouth and pushed Bensheng hard. "Go, quickly.""Mom..."The crow swooped down from the tree onto Bensheng's head. "Follow me!" it exclaimed urgently.Lugen supported Amo as they turned back. His gaze was calm as he looked at Bensheng, who refused to leave. "Bensheng, if you want to save us, then abandon your homeland! Otherwise, you cannot leave this place."...Without the resolve to abandon your homeland, you cannot leave here.Bensheng stood up, trembling, his mind in chaos. Ananda, seeing Wuni's unusually fast approach, hesitated no longer. He pecked hard on Bensheng's antler. Bensheng, in pain, lifted his hooves and ran away frantically.The morning sun had climbed into the sky. Across the empty gobi, the only signs of life were a small white deer swathed in tattered robes and the crow upon his head.Bensheng looked back, towards where he came from, and murmured, "Ananda, do I no longer have a homeland?"Ananda flapped his wings and flew up. He circled overhead once, then suddenly flew back down."The journey is far, but your pace is not slow.""Once you cultivate and learn supernatural powers, it will be easier to come back.""This old one has also been away from home for a long time. But as long as you hold your homeland in your heart, it will always exist."Bensheng's eyes curved into a smile. "Thank you, Ananda."He no longer looked back and walked straight ahead.Mom, Second Uncle, I will definitely come back!I will definitely save everyone!...Noon was the most drowsy time. The young antelope was dozing off, about to fall asleep, when suddenly her ears twitched."Bensheng is back!"
The young beasts jumped around joyfully. Bensheng looked at everyone apologetically. "Sorry for worrying you all! Where's Gautama?""Him? He's doing something earth-shattering."The young beasts parted to both sides, revealing Gautama sitting cross-legged in the clearing. With his eyes closed, his hands formed strange shapes as he murmured incantations."What's he doing?""Channeling his supernatural power. He's been holding that posture for a long time."A gentle breeze rose from the ground, gradually growing stronger, turning into a whirlwind. Everyone's fur stood on end from the wind. But the whirlwind didn't expand further. No matter how strong the wind force, it remained hovering within three feet in front of Gautama.Finally, a rift tore open in the center of the storm, emitting a blinding white light. Gautama pressed his hands to the ground, and the white light instantly grew larger, illuminating everything around.Wuni hurriedly hid in a nearby bush, peeking out fearfully. He had finally caught up with Bensheng and was about to capture him. But what were this strange man and this white light?Gautama gasped for breath and released his hands from the ground."Finally opened it... a rift in the Hourglass of Time. Through the corridor inside, you can go anywhere in the Great Continent."The young antelope said worriedly, "Bensheng, are you really leaving?""Mm." Bensheng nodded.Before the towering gate of light and the raging hurricane, the small white deer appeared utterly insignificant. Yet its eyes held within them the most resolute and determined spirit in the world.Gautama observed this and sighed inwardly. What a sacred picture this was!Ananda fluttered his wings and landed on Bensheng's head."This old one will accompany you.""Mm." Bensheng smiled and nodded. Saying "thank you" again would seem distant now. He turned around and bid farewell to everyone."Goodbye, everyone. Goodbye, Gautama. Thank you for everything you've done for me."Gautama looked somewhat pale. He urged, "Bensheng, we don't
have much time. You must survive in the human world... You must become an 'Enlightened One'!"Bensheng said nothing more. He turned and stepped firmly into the gate of light.Gautama's eyes were illuminated by the white glow, complex emotions swirling within them. As the figures of Bensheng and Ananda vanished, he seemed to sink into deep thought.The gate of light gradually shrank. Suddenly, a short figure rushed inside.Gautama stirred slightly, but the light gate had already vanished. All that remained on the barre was floating dust and motes of light."A sneak got away. Oh well, consider it a small test for Bensheng."It was already evening. Lanterns were hung along the main road and gateways. A few carriages traveled by the roadside; occasionally, the curtains blown by the wind revealed a strong smell of alcohol."Whoa!"The carriage driver reined in the horses abruptly, staring in terror and uncertainty at the "person" wrapped in a grey robe blocking the way."What's going on?" a drunken voice asked from inside the carriage."Master, there's a person... blocking the way, asking for directions.""Huh? Such a small matter dares to block the carriage? Shoo them away!"The carriage driver, by the light of the lantern, watched as the "person" directed a crow to bring a note. He said, "Master, he's asking about the Northern Gate family.""Northern Gate?"The master lunged towards the carriage door and flung open the curtain. "You should have said so earlier! Come, come, I'll show you the way. May I ask what relation you have to the cultivation family, Northern Gate?"The gray-robed "person" seemed startled, its whole body shrinking down suddenly. Just then a gust of wind blew, lifting the grey robe to reveal a white deer's head.
Bensheng forced a smile. "Um, thank you for being willing to give me directions...""De... demon!!!"The master and the driver both screamed, abandoning the carriage and scrambling away on hands and feet."Huh?" Bensheng looked around in confusion. "Did I do something wrong?"But wherever he looked, there were screams. Ananda quickly helped him pull the robe back over his head, and they ducked into an alley. After many twists and turns, when there were no more human sounds around, they finally relaxed."Who would have thought, back in Chaoyun Country, we were so afraid of humans, but here in Qiyue Country, it's the humans who are afraid of us." Bensheng couldn't help but laugh.As soon as he finished speaking, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps."That demon ran this way!""Hurry, after it!"Bensheng and Ananda quickly moved along the wall, felt for a small door, pushed it open, and slipped inside."A white face, with two horns, scared me to death!""The demon can even speak human language! Officers from the Royal Enforcement Department, be careful!""Don't worry, everyone. A demon appearing in the capital is no small matter. We've already sent someone to Zhouku Academy for help. Whether it's an Academy Supervisor or a Court Supervisor who arrives, they will give everyone an answer!"The voices outside gradually faded away and, this time, didn't return.Bensheng took off the robe, shook the fine sweat from his brow, and looked up at the moonlight.The full, round moon was the same as the one he used to see in Lumbini.They say all things are separated by high and low, noble and base, but the moon treats them all equally.He stood in the small courtyard, admiring the moon, enjoying the rare tranquility. Unbeknownst to him, someone nearby was also quietly observing him.The person was tall and slender. Moonlight filtered through the corridor, falling upon his cloak—a garment covered in patches large and small, all but obscuring its original color. Yet, beneath it, his
cuffs revealed exquisite embroidery, and the jade crown upon his head was elegant and refined. This noble young man and his patched cloak made for an incongruous sight.Ananda finally noticed him and immediately called out, "Who's there?"The person walked out from the corridor and stood in the moonlight. His handsome face bore a trace of a polite smile. "This is the first time I've been challenged by an uninvited guest in my own courtyard... I truly don't know how to respond."Ananda's face turned red. Fortunately, being a pitch-black crow, no one could tell. "I didn't mean it that way."Bensheng hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to barge into your home. There was a situation just now. We were asking for directions but ended up scaring people...""Commoners have never seen beasts, let alone a talking deer and crow," the man raised his hand and gently stroked his chin. "It seems you are beast clan from Chaoyun Country. But Yongle Country and Qiyue Country have long strictly prohibited beast-formed creatures from entering..."Bensheng grew nervous. He remembered Gautama saying he was considered a heretic. If asked about his origins, how should he answer? Should he mention Gautama? Would that bring him danger...Before Bensheng could finish his train of thought, the noble young man suddenly smiled broadly. "Ah, well, meeting is fate. You said you were asking for directions. Where do you wish to go?"A turn for the better! Bensheng was overjoyed and said quickly, "I'm looking for a certain Mister Northern Gate. He is a Court Supervisor at Zhouku Academy. I need to find him to enter Zhouku, cultivate, comprehend the Dao, and become enlightened!"The noble young man smiled even wider. "So you see, the workings of fate are truly wonderful." He bent down to look at Bensheng. "I am Court Supervisor Northern Gate."Another turn, followed by bright prospects! Bensheng grew even more excited and couldn't wait to say, "Then can I...""Unfortunately, you cannot enter the Academy."The ups and downs of life really are sudden. Bensheng sniffled. "Why can't I enter?""Do you know what kind of academy Zhouku Academy is?" Northern Gate tucked his sleeves, sat on a fake rock in the center of the courtyard, and looked at Bensheng leisurely. "You only know you can cultivate here, but you don't know why we cultivate."
"Because..." Because cultivation can make you strong, so you won't be bullied anymore. But looking at it, the humans of Qiyue Country lived in peace and order; they didn't need to work so hard."Because we have a goal we must achieve. The land of the Great Continent may seem calm, but it actually hides myriad dangers. Every one hundred and eighty years, it must undergo a great tribulation. When that happens, the earth shakes, mountains tremble, and heaven and earth fall into chaos. At that time, only the 'Enlightened One' selected by Zhouku Academy can stabilize time.""We have preserved our legacy in peace until now, relying on generation after generation of Enlightened Ones! Once they have fulfilled their sacred duty of guarding the flow of time, they may ascend beyond Kunlun to an eternal paradise.""Immortals above Kunlun?"Northern Gate smiled. "'Immortal' is a term used by ignorant mortals. Those who cultivate—the Enlightened Ones—respectfully address the enlightened predecessors as 'Venerables.'""So that's how it is..." Bensheng was captivated, but he quickly came back to his senses and continued asking, "Then why can't I enter?""Since Zhouku Academy aims to cultivate Enlightened Ones who save all living beings, it naturally needs to select disciples with excellent aptitude for enrollment. Chaoyun Country... is simply too far away, and the beast clan's aptitude cannot compare to humans', so the places are naturally scarce. In a hundred years, there's only one. Unfortunately, that spot for this century has already been used."Bensheng and Ananda stood frozen in place. After a good while, they reacted in unison. "What?!"Just because of that?!Northern Gate rested his head on his hand and said softly, "So, even if you find me, I am powerless to help. By the way, how did you know that I am responsible for disciple enrollment matters...""No, there must be another way to enter!" Bensheng couldn't hear what Northern Gate was saying. In a moment of desperation, he shouted, "Court Supervisor Northern Gate! As you said, Zhouku Academy cultivates Enlightened Ones to save all living beings. So, even if it's outside the quota, it certainly wouldn't refuse a disciple with excellent aptitude. Right?""Oh," Northern Gate said teasingly, "then how will you prove that you are a disciple with excellent aptitude, capable of becoming an Enlightened One?"
Bensheng responded, "As long as you give me a chance, I'll prove it to you!"Northern Gate looked at him as if seeing him for the first time, examining him up and down once more. This time, he revealed a smile that went beyond mere politeness."Then, are you willing to die?"He took a scroll from his sleeve and tossed it over. On it were two words—Bensheng couldn't read human script, but Ananda read it out: "Land Trial.""If you are not afraid of death, then come take the Land Trial. Pass it, and you are a disciple of Zhouku Academy."