This novel carries on the fantastical spirit of Journey to the West while grounding its mythology in everyday life, focusing on the ordinary cultivation that comes after attaining Buddhahood. There are no earth-shaking battles, just the four pilgrims struggling with the little things of life among mortals: Wukong learns patience, Tang Sanzang learns flexibility, Bajie learns to choose what to keep and what to let go, and Sha Seng learns to move on. In the end, it shows that a Buddha is simply someone who has seen through life’s hardships and still chooses to hold on to a sincere heart, letting flowers bloom in the dust.
