Only after the entourage of the Dharma Protector God Dance had moved further away did Barkhor Street gradually return to its hustle, though many Tibetans still eyed Li Yundong with strange looks, whispering and pointing among themselves.

Liu Xia, standing nearby, could finally not bear it any longer. She pulled Li Yundong into a corner and said, almost frantically, "What were you just doing? Are you insane? Do you know who that was? That was Bandara Lhamo, the Goddess of Auspiciousness, a truly divine incarnation recognized by the Living Buddha! You actually dared to offend her like that? Aren't you afraid these devout believers will tear you to shreds?"

Li Yundong had spent tens of thousands of years in the small thousand worlds, believing he had seen through the sorrows and joys of humanity, understood the changes brought by time, yet unexpectedly, when faced with the moment, his heart was still heavy, his expression desolate.

Li Yundong sighed softly and said, "I only know she is Meiduo... Bandara Lhamo or whatever... I don't care."

Liu Xia was frantic: "What? You don't care? Do you know how terrifying Tibetan people can be when they go into a frenzy? Do you know how fanatical the religious followers of the Tibetan people are? If you had incurred the wrath of the masses just now, you probably would have been crushed into dust in an instant! Yes, I know you must not be an ordinary person, but even if you could escape, what about me?"

Li Yundong seemed not to hear her words, merely sighing softly to himself, "That was Meiduo... How could she become Bandara Lhamo?"

Liu Xia snapped, "Hey, I'm talking to you! Stop saying Meiduo, Meiduo! Hey, I... Huh? Meiduo? That sounds a little familiar. Hey, which Meiduo are you talking about? Many Tibetan girls are named Meiduo."

Li Yundong gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and said to Liu Xia, "Which other one? The Meiduo we encountered together back then."

Liu Xia froze, then asked tentatively, "The Meiduo who loved to sing?"

Li Yundong sighed, "Yes, it's just that... I probably won't hear her sing anymore."

Liu Xia's mouth dropped open, and she stammered, "What? Meiduo is Bandara Lhamo? No, no mistake, right? I, I spoke with Bandara Lhamo? Heavens... I heard that anyone who sees Bandara Lhamo's true form dies. Will I... will I die?"

Li Yundong shook his head, "No. Only when Qing Lhamo decides to perish together with someone will she display her true form, dragging her enemy with her to hell. Normally, if you see her, it won't be like this."

Only then did Liu Xia relax, patting her chest and letting out a breath of relief, "That's good!" But she quickly asked again, puzzled, "But how do you know all this?"

A shadow of melancholy crossed Li Yundong's brow. He was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's go. We're going to Potala Palace; I need to find Master Erdeni."

Liu Xia muttered quietly, "Whether we can see him is still a question..." Seeing Li Yundong's gaze turn towards her, she immediately smiled, "Alright, alright, I'll take you. It's not my fault if we don't get to see him."

Li Yundong smiled without saying more, leading the way out of the alley corner and plunging into the sea of people on Barkhor Street.

Liu Xia shook her head, sighed helplessly, and followed.

To spend a little more time with Li Yundong, Liu Xia deliberately took him on a long detour through Barkhor Street. Along the way, she made sure they passed the entrance of Jokhang Temple, then circled Jokhang Temple, Yak Hill, and Lesser Jokhang Temple, exploring everywhere before finally arriving at Potala Palace.

Li Yundong saw her intent and knew it well in his heart. He didn't expose her, just listened to Liu Xia's lively and animated introductions of the famous Buddhist sites while observing the surrounding scenery.

On the way, Li Yundong passed the Princess Willow in front of Jokhang Temple, and then the Kora street. Beneath the low eaves stood a long row of golden prayer wheels. Countless Tibetan devotees, one hand holding a small prayer wheel, walked while turning the large prayer wheels mounted on the wall with the other hand, their reverence profound.

When the two reached the foot of Potala Palace, it was already the afternoon. Li Yundong looked up and saw the Potala Palace seated solidly between heaven and earth, built against the mountain, its buildings layered, its halls towering, possessing a majestic aura—a sense of emerging from the void, its spirit piercing the firmament.

Especially from a distance, Li Yundong noticed the sturdy, thick white granite walls, the spreading white and grassy parapets, the gilded splendor of the golden roofs, the large, highly decorative gilded vases, ceremonial umbrellas, and prayer flags, all reflecting each other. The stark contrast of red, white, and yellow colors immediately inspired a feeling of awe.

Liu Xia looked at the magnificent Potala Palace with reverence in her eyes. She couldn't help but press her palms together and say, "Every time I come here, I feel it's incredibly sacred, as if an unbelievable power surrounds me."

Li Yundong glanced around and saw countless believers prostrating themselves along the mountain path, kneeling every three steps as they slowly advanced towards the palace of Potala Palace, resembling a gray river slowly flowing uphill.

Li Yundong remarked, "The power of centuries of pilgrimage converges here, of course, it is sacred! It's just a pity that Songtsen Gampo disrespected the gods when he built Potala Palace with one thousand rooms, which incurred heavenly tribulation... If the heavenly tribulation hadn't once scattered the accumulated faith power of Potala Palace, the power condensed here would be much stronger now."

Liu Xia asked curiously, "Hey, what are you talking about? What about Songtsen Gampo disrespecting the gods? What heavenly tribulation? I don't know anything about this?"

Li Yundong gazed at the spectacular and imposing Potala Palace, suddenly feeling the heavy weight of history, and sighed, "Back then, to celebrate his marriage to Princess Chizun of Nepal and to boast for future generations, Songtsen Gampo built the Potala Palace with as many as nine hundred and ninety-nine rooms..."

Liu Xia said curiously, "I know that, but what does that have to do with inviting heavenly tribulation?"

Li Yundong smiled slightly and said, "Then do you know why the Forbidden City in Beijing only has just over nine hundred palace rooms?"

Liu Xia gasped, suddenly realizing, "Ah, I get it! The Forbidden City has this number so as not to exceed the one thousand rooms of the Heavenly Palace of the Jade Emperor, to avoid angering the gods. Is that it?"

Li Yundong nodded and smiled, "Exactly."

Liu Xia asked again, perplexed, "But didn't you just say Songtsen Gampo only built nine hundred and ninety-nine rooms? That means he still revered the gods."

Li Yundong shook his head, "The pity is, he also built one extra meditation chamber, bringing the total exactly to one thousand rooms!"

Liu Xia exclaimed, "Ah! Why did he build that extra meditation chamber? With so many rooms, which one couldn't he use for meditation?"

Li Yundong lamented, "Greed knows no bounds! Songtsen Gampo considered himself an incarnation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, so he specially constructed a meditation room for Guanyin... As a result, Potala Palace, possessing one thousand rooms, attracted celestial lightning, and the palace was destroyed by lightning and burned. The Tubo Dynasty established by Songtsen Gampo was subsequently wiped out. This is the result of disrespecting the Heavens..."

Liu Xia laughed hearing this, "You make it sound very exciting, but this is just a legend, superstition, you can't believe it."

Li Yundong shook his head and said earnestly to Liu Xia, "Then tell me, why has the Forbidden City, with only just over nine hundred rooms, never been destroyed?"

Liu Xia replied, "This has something to do with the Qing Dynasty establishing its capital in Beijing, and the subsequent wars?"

Li Yundong pointed to the sky and said, "Heaven has eyes, and the human heart should hold reverence! When the world stops respecting the Heavens, the Heavens will send down heavenly tribulation to punish all beings!"

Liu Xia was stunned by Li Yundong's words. She subconsciously looked up at the sky, where the hazy clouds seemed to truly hold a pair of eyes staring down at her, imposing and solemn.

Liu Xia shivered and quickly put her hands together, saying, "Amitabha, I am very respectful, please don't punish me!"

Li Yundong smiled, about to speak, when a sneer suddenly came from nearby: "Feudal superstition!"

Li Yundong and Liu Xia turned to look and saw a stylishly dressed but somewhat effeminate young man with his arm around a fashionable and beautiful girl, looking at them with clear mockery.

Liu Xia said with some displeasure, "Comrade, who are you talking about?"

The young man laughed loudly, "Comrade? Don't joke, what era is this to still use that address?"

Liu Xia said, looking puzzled, "Aren't you a comrade?"

The young man finally realized that there was something off in Liu Xia's tone, and he said angrily, "You're the comrade! Your whole family are comrades! Didn't you see I'm a man?"

Liu Xia covered her mouth in surprise and said, "Ah? You're actually a man? I couldn't tell, my apologies! Ah, I was mistaken, if you were really a comrade, I should have called you a 'Lala'!"

Liu Xia, having been a tour guide, was naturally sharp-tongued, and with a few words, she left the young man looking ready to roll his eyes.

Li Yundong merely glanced at him faintly, seeming to disdain engaging in a war of words with such a young man. He smiled slightly and said to Liu Xia, "Forget it, different philosophies, nothing to discuss. Is Master Erdeni here?"

Having gained the upper hand verbally, Liu Xia turned back to Li Yundong as if returning from a victory and smiled, "Yes, but I don't know which palace he resides in."

Li Yundong smiled and said, "Thank you for bringing me here. I can go in and find Master Erdeni by myself later."

Liu Xia was greatly disappointed, "Ah? You don't need me to take you in? Aren't you afraid of getting lost inside? It's huge inside!"

Li Yundong smiled and said, "It's fine, I can ask someone."

As soon as his words fell, the young man beside them couldn't help but burst into loud laughter, his laughter filled with sarcasm and ridicule. He laughed loudly, "Hilarious, ask someone? Hey, bumpkin, do you know who Master Erdeni is? Do you think you can see him just because you want to? People like me can't even get an audience, who do you think you are..."

Before Li Yundong finished speaking, a lama dressed in yellow robes and wearing a high crown walked over. He smiled, pressed his palms together, and said, "True Man Li, we meet again!"