FATE: Target of Grand Master

"Hmm? Master of Light, your radiance is much weaker today. Is it because you're not used to my hospitality?"

Osmandis used his unique descriptive style to describe Xia Yan's extremely low spirits.

"No, Sun King. Your hospitality was excellent; it was my fault."

Xia Yan glanced at the three followers behind him while scratching his head.

All three of them had an "it's none of my business" expression, making Xia Yan unable to get angry even if he wanted to.

"Alright," Xia Yan said, pulling himself together. After leaving behind one familiar, he bid farewell to Osmandis.

The four quickly left the great temple and headed northeast.

"Xia Yan"

Morgan suddenly called out to Xia Yan.

"What's wrong?"

"There are two Servants reacting to our southeast, but their magical reactions are a bit strange."

"What's so strange about it?"

Xia Yan became interested.

"Their magical reactions are fluctuating wildly; their state is very unstable. Should we go check on them?"

Xia Yan's first thought upon hearing the two Servants was Lionheart and Morai, but they should be in the north at this time, and they hadn't contacted him to say they wanted to move. But perhaps something unexpected had happened.

However, Xia Yan is more inclined to believe that this is a new Servant. After all, among the three forces, only the Lion King's side has the resources to send two Servants along. But after he has already killed three Knights of the Round Table, the Lion King's side should not recklessly send out any more Servants.

In short, whether they are friend or foe, two mere Servants pose no threat to me. If I have the chance to pick off the enemy while they are at large, I can actually make a profit.

"Let's go take a look."

The four quickly arrived at the location where Morgan sensed the servant, but the surrounding area was desolate, with nothing but yellow sand and not a soul in sight.

Xia Yan naturally wouldn't question Morgan, but the current situation made it impossible to hide anyone, unless they were all hiding in the sand.

Yes, they are very likely in the sand.

"Morgan, use the wind to blow some of the sand away from here."

Morgan summoned his magic wand and with a casual wave, several tornadoes, like sandstorms, began to rage across the desert, blowing away large amounts of sand.

Gradually, two figures lying in the sand and gravel came into view.

"Musashi, Cú Chulainn, hurry and save them!"

Xia Yan immediately ordered the rescue because he saw that one of the two people had long black hair, wore a golden robe, and had a purple-gold monk's hat and a tin staff lying next to him.

The other person had long green hair, wore a red haori, and had half of his back exposed, with a rice basket visible to the side.

These two are clearly Sanzang and Tawara Tota.

"Water...I need water..."

After being picked up by Musashi, Sanzang uttered a few words in a daze.

Xia Yan immediately opened a bottle of water and slowly poured it into Sanzang's chapped lips.

After feeling the water moisten his mouth, Sanzang's consciousness gradually became clearer. He then tightly hugged Xia Yan's hand that was holding the bottle, as if afraid that he would take the water bottle back.

On the other side, Tawara Tota also got to drink water with Cú Chulainn's help. After each of them was given a bottle of water, the two Servants finally came back to life, and their magical reactions stabilized.

"Ah, I'm truly saved! Thank you so much, four benefactors, I am deeply grateful."

Sanzang clasped his hands together and bowed to Xia Yan and the other three in turn.

"My real name is Xuanzang Sanzang, and I am a monk who knows a little about Buddhism. This is my newly accepted disciple, named Tawara Tōta."

"Master, I told you to bring water, but you wouldn't listen. At a time like this, don't bother with introductions, just get out of this desert first."

The two men, who had left Camelot without taking anything with them, walked into the desert like reckless fools, and unsurprisingly collapsed in the desert due to lack of water.

If the two were just ordinary people, they would have died of thirst by now. But because they are followers, they are constantly teetering between dying of thirst and consuming magic power to maintain their spirit origins. As a result, their magic power fluctuates wildly, making the process incredibly torturous.

Tawara Taiko only had to recall for a moment before he couldn't help but shudder.

"How can that be? No matter when or where, we must always show courtesy to our saviors. Besides, I didn't expect that your treasure that can produce food indefinitely is really just rice."

"I'm really sorry about that."

Tawara Tota wasn't angry, seemingly used to Sanzo's easygoing personality.

"Gentlemen, let's find another place to talk, since I don't have much water with me."

Indeed, the desert is not a good place to sit down and chat. The two had no objections and followed Xia Yan and the other three northward.

To increase their speed, Morgan also cast auxiliary magic on Sanzang and Tawara Tota.

Sanzang couldn't help but sigh, "If only I had such convenient magic when I traveled west, I might have been able to make a round trip in half the time, no, a third of the time."

Tawara Tota chimed in, "Master, stop daydreaming. Do you really think that Servant over there, exuding queen-like aura, would agree to become your apprentice like I would?"

Sanzang retorted, "All sentient beings can be saved; how will we know if we don't try?"

After saying that, Sanzang turned to look at Morgan, only to be met with a cold look.

"The Buddha said, 'Only those with affinity are saved.'"

Sanzang quickly changed his words.

Xia Yan, who had been holding back his laughter, took a while to calm down before saying seriously, "Master Sanzang, to save time, let's talk as we walk."

Xia Yan then revealed his purpose and his cooperation with the false Crusaders, but reserved his intention to cooperate with the Sun King for the time being.

"I see. So, Xia Yan, you're telling us all this to understand my and Tawara Tengtai's positions, right?"

Xia Yan smiled.

"I also have a mission to fulfill."

"Well, Xia Yan, you're a smart man. So I'll be frank. After all, the Lion King treated us well as guests, and I can't repay kindness with enmity. Therefore, my stance is to remain neutral. However, you did save my life and Teng Tai's. If you want to fight that Sun King, I can help you."

Xia Yan's lips twitched involuntarily.

"I forgot to tell you earlier, I have also formed an alliance with the Sun King."

"Um... then it seems there's nothing this humble monk can do to help you."

"Master Sanzang, please don't jump to conclusions." Xia Yan changed the subject, "I wonder if you have heard of 'Saint Ba' in Camelot?"

"Just call me Sanzang. Hmm, the Lion King told me that in order to avoid a great calamity, a group of humans with pure souls must be selected to enter the holy city of Camelot and live out their lives there."

Why flee from a great calamity instead of burning down humanity?

Xia Yan pondered the difference between the two. It seemed that BB had indeed turned each singularity into an independent trial instance, but the human reasoning that ran through the beginning and end of multiple singularities in the original work had been transformed into a similar but vague concept in order to achieve logical consistency among the Servants in the trial.

"Sanzang, do you think the Lion King's actions were right?"

Sanzang fell silent.

"If one can only live in the Holy City for the rest of one's life, there will certainly be less freedom, but at least one can escape the impending catastrophe and continue to live."

"What about those humans who weren't chosen? Must they accept their fate of destruction?" Xia Yan pressed.

"Camelot is, after all, limited in her abilities. There's nothing wrong with the Lion King saving as many as he can. She shouldn't be criticized for not saving everyone. After all, no one could have stopped this catastrophe."

After talking with Sanzang, Xia Yan finally realized that he had made a mistake.

He still subconsciously associated the catastrophe here with the burning of human reason.

In this way, Xia Yan would argue that stopping the catastrophe like Fujimaru Ritsuka in the original work would be more effective than the Lion King's "Saintly Resurrection." However, in reality, the catastrophe in this trial cannot be stopped. Therefore, the Lion King's "Saintly Resurrection" becomes the most reasonable method, and naturally, he could not persuade Sanzang.

However, even though the Lion King's method seems to be the optimal solution, his approach is still flawed.

"Sanzang, do you know what happens to those who weren't chosen after the 'Saint Selection'?"

"What else can we do but go back to where we came from?"

Sanzang did not understand Xia Yan's intentions.

"Did the Lion King tell you this himself?"

"No, neither the Lion King nor her Knights of the Round Table told me what would happen after the 'Saint-Battle,' but what other outcome could there be besides leaving?"

Xia Yan said seriously, "If it's just leaving, then naturally I won't say anything, but what if 'Holy Punishment' follows immediately after 'Holy Rescue'?"