Chapter Summaries

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong disguised themselves as Imps and infiltrated Lion Camel Ridge to gather intelligence. Sun Wukong learned that the demon kings planned to capture Tang Monk, while Chu Yang approached their palace but was stopped by its guards.

• Chu Yang disguised himself as a small cleaning Imp, while Sun Wukong became a Patrolling Imp, and they agreed to gather information separately before meeting in the Pine Forest.
• Sun Wukong convinced the gate guards he had come to relieve them and entered Lion Camel Ridge, where he observed the guarded passageways.
• A minor leader told Sun Wukong that the Three Great Demon Kings had strengthened defenses because Tang Monk was expected and planned to eat his flesh; captured, Tang Monk was to be taken directly to the main hall.
• The minor leader described the demon kings' powers, including Golden Winged Great Peng's speed, but threatened Sun Wukong when he asked about their weaknesses.
• Chu Yang surveyed the ridge while pretending to sweep, spotted the demon kings' palace, and followed a food-delivery Imp toward it before the palace guards stopped him.

Chu Yang infiltrated Lion Camel Ridge to gather intelligence on the Three Great Demon Kings and their defenses. He learned two kings’ weaknesses but not the Golden Winged Great Peng’s before patrol imps interrupted his observation.

• Chu Yang disguised himself as a cleaning imp, observed the palace security, and overheard the Three Great Demon Kings plan to capture Tang Monk while the Golden Winged Great Peng personally guarded the ridge.
• Chu Yang explored the Back Mountain and entered a hidden cave that served as an imp storehouse.
• Chu Yang overheard imps explain that every demon had a Demon Qi Mark and that the Golden Winged Great Peng could see through Genjutsu.
• An imp revealed that the Green Mane Lion Monster feared Manjushri Bodhisattva’s Lotus Throne and the Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster feared Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s Wishful Hook, but the Golden Winged Great Peng’s weakness remained unknown.
• A Patrolling Imp ordered the imps out to patrol, and Chu Yang’s conversation with them was cut short as they left the cave.

Chu Yang escaped the Back Mountain cave with intelligence about the Demon Kings, while Sun Wukong searched for a way out of Lion Camel Ridge. Sun Wukong reached the lightly guarded South Road Entrance, but the chapter ended before he passed its checkpoint.

• Chu Yang waited for the Imps to leave the cave, then concealed his aura and headed toward the Front Mountain to meet Sun Wukong in the Pine Forest.
• Sun Wukong learned from a minor leader that the South Road and North Road entrances had fewer guards, while Golden Winged Great Peng patrolled the East Road Entrance.
• Golden Winged Great Peng arrived and ordered the minor leader to inspect the Back Mountain, giving Sun Wukong a chance to move toward the South Road Entrance.
• Golden Winged Great Peng stopped Sun Wukong, questioned why he was leaving his post, then let him continue after Sun Wukong claimed he had been assigned to patrol the entrance.
• Sun Wukong found only two lazy Imps guarding the South Road checkpoint and scolded them for slacking off.

Sun Wukong and Chu Yang escaped Lion Camel Ridge’s patrols and reunited with Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie after gathering information about the Three Great Demon Kings and their defenses. The group agreed to avoid direct confrontation and began preparing to cross the ridge cautiously.

• Sun Wukong tricked two imps at the South Road Entrance and slipped away to meet Chu Yang in the Pine Forest.
• Chu Yang told Sun Wukong that the Three Great Demon Kings had fortified Lion Camel Ridge, that the Golden Winged Great Peng could see through Genjutsu, and that the South and North entrances were less guarded.
• Sun Wukong reported what he had learned about the entrances, and the two returned to Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie with their findings.
• Chu Yang proposed sneaking through the South Road Entrance and taking a path along the Back Mountain while avoiding the patrolling imps and demon kings.
• Sun Wukong assigned Chu Yang to scout ahead, himself to protect Tang Monk and the White Dragon Horse, and Zhu Bajie to guard the rear as they set out.

Chu Yang led Tang Monk, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and White Dragon Horse into Lion Camel Ridge by sneaking past two lazy guards at South Road Entrance. They followed a remote Back Mountain path but stopped and hid when Chu Yang spotted two Patrolling Imps ahead.

• Chu Yang spotted only two lazy imps guarding South Road Entrance and signaled the others to sneak past.
• The group slipped into Lion Camel Ridge, and Chu Yang directed them toward the less-guarded Back Mountain path.
• After reaching the narrow trail, the group continued cautiously through the dark, rugged back mountain.
• Chu Yang spotted two Patrolling Imps ahead, so Sun Wukong led everyone behind a boulder to hide.
• One Patrolling Imp complained that guarding the remote Back Mountain path was a waste of time.

Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, Tang Monk, and Zhu Bajie sneaked past two lazy imps and continued through Lion Camel Ridge in the dark. They reached the boundary stream, and Sun Wukong sent Chu Yang ahead to scout before the others crossed.

• Two imps slacked off on patrol, allowing Chu Yang to circle behind them and signal the others to follow.
• Sun Wukong led Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie past the imps, then scolded Zhu Bajie for speaking too loudly.
• The group concealed their auras and traveled along the Back Mountain path for about two hours as night fell.
• Chu Yang spotted the clearing near Lion Camel Ridge’s boundary, and the group pressed on while keeping quiet.
• Chu Yang showed Sun Wukong the boundary stream, and Sun Wukong asked him to scout the far bank before they crossed.

Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, Tang Monk, and Zhu Bajie tried to escape Lion Camel Ridge, but Black Mountain Demon King caught up with them. Sun Wukong defeated and captured the demon, and the group crossed the stream together with him as their prisoner.

• Chu Yang led the group toward the mountain stream, but a roar from Lion Camel Ridge alerted them that they had been discovered.
• Black Mountain Demon King confronted the group, and Sun Wukong fought him while Chu Yang urged Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie to cross the stream.
• Sun Wukong gained the advantage and broke Black Mountain Demon King's leg when he tried to flee for reinforcements.
• Chu Yang stopped Sun Wukong from killing the demon, arguing that they could question him and should leave before more demons arrived.
• Sun Wukong carried Black Mountain Demon King across the stream, where Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie were waiting with Chu Yang.

Sun Wukong and Chu Yang forced Black Mountain Demon King to reveal the Three Great Demon Kings’ plans and Lion Camel Ridge’s defenses, then Tang Monk persuaded them to spare him. The group continued west through the forest and reached a quiet meadow, leaving the dangers of Lion Camel Ridge behind for the moment.

• Chu Yang threatened Black Mountain Demon King with fire, and the demon revealed that the Three Great Demon Kings were at the Central Palace planning to capture Tang Monk, with forty-eight thousand imps and the Ten Thousand Demons Formation guarding Lion Camel Ridge.
• Tang Monk asked Sun Wukong and Chu Yang to spare Black Mountain Demon King, and the demon promised to reform before limping back toward Lion Camel Ridge.
• Sun Wukong, Chu Yang, Tang Monk, Zhu Bajie, and White Dragon Horse hurried deeper into the forest to escape Lion Camel Ridge.
• The group discussed whether Black Mountain Demon King would keep his promise as they traveled through the dark forest.
• The group emerged into a peaceful meadow with no Demon Qi or imps nearby.

After escaping Lion Camel Ridge, Tang Monk and his companions rested and discussed how they might face the Three Great Demon Kings. Sun Wukong and Chu Yang discovered a spying imp, learned the Third Great King still believed they were at Lion Camel Ridge, and spared the imp before returning to inform the others.

• Zhu Bajie, Sun Wukong, Chu Yang, and Tang Monk rested for the night after escaping Lion Camel Ridge and discussed the Three Great Demon Kings' strengths and weaknesses.
• Sun Wukong and Chu Yang set out to patrol the grassland while Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie stayed behind.
• Chu Yang spotted a figure hiding in the bushes, and Sun Wukong caught the spying imp.
• The imp told Sun Wukong and Chu Yang that Black Mountain Demon King had not told the Third Great King about their escape, and that no imps had been sent after them.
• Sun Wukong spared the imp after warning him to abandon evil, and the imp ran away toward Lion Camel Ridge.
• Sun Wukong and Chu Yang decided to return to Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie with the news and continue west at dawn.

Tang Monk’s group escaped Lion Camel Ridge and resumed their westward journey, believing they had time before the demons discovered their departure. The Green Mane Lion Monster sent the Golden Winged Great Peng to pursue them, and the group traveled through the woods unaware of the pursuit.

• Sun Wukong and Chu Yang told Tang Monk and Zhu Bajie that the Third Great King still believed they were on Lion Camel Ridge and had not sent demons after them.
• The group rested safely overnight, then packed their belongings and continued west with Chu Yang scouting ahead.
• The Green Mane Lion Monster ordered the Golden Winged Great Peng to capture Tang Monk and bring him back.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng took Black Wind and Black Cloud to pursue Tang Monk’s group while the Green Mane Lion Monster and Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster strengthened Lion Camel Ridge’s defenses.
• Tang Monk’s group traveled through mountain woods, with Sun Wukong watching for signs of pursuit.

The Golden Winged Great Peng caught up with Tang Monk’s group and abducted Tang Monk, while Black Wind and Black Cloud held Sun Wukong and Chu Yang back. The chapter ended with the group fighting in the forest as the Great Peng prepared to escape with Tang Monk.

• Chu Yang warned Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Tang Monk to stay alert as they continued west from Lion Camel Ridge.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng searched the forests with Black Wind and Black Cloud, and Black Cloud found Tang Monk’s group.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng ordered Black Wind and Black Cloud to restrain Sun Wukong and Chu Yang while he seized Tang Monk.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng swooped down, grabbed Tang Monk from the White Dragon Horse, and evaded Sun Wukong’s attack.
• Black Wind fought Sun Wukong while Black Cloud attacked Chu Yang, leaving the Golden Winged Great Peng poised to fly away with Tang Monk.

Golden Winged Great Peng abducted Tang Monk and carried him into Lion Camel Ridge while Sun Wukong and Chu Yang pursued him. After failing to break through the mountain gate, they planned to infiltrate the ridge through the South Road Entrance, while Green Mane Lion Monster and Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster waited in the Central Palace.

• Golden Winged Great Peng seized Tang Monk and flew toward Lion Camel Ridge as Sun Wukong and Chu Yang defeated Black Wind and Black Cloud and left Zhu Bajie to hold them off.
• Sun Wukong and Chu Yang chased Golden Winged Great Peng, who taunted them and warned that his brothers and forty-eight thousand imps awaited at Lion Camel Ridge.
• Golden Winged Great Peng entered Lion Camel Ridge with Tang Monk, and Sun Wukong's blows could not break the sturdy, Demon Qi-protected mountain gate.
• Chu Yang proposed sneaking in through the South Road Entrance, and Sun Wukong agreed to infiltrate the ridge with him to rescue Tang Monk.
• Green Mane Lion Monster and Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster waited anxiously for Golden Winged Great Peng in the Central Palace.

Golden Winged Great Peng returned to Lion Camel Ridge with Tang Monk, and the three demon kings prepared to eat him while tightening their defenses. Sun Wukong and Chu Yang infiltrated through the South Road Entrance using Chu Yang’s Genjutsu, and the imps realized the trick only after both had vanished inside.

• Golden Winged Great Peng brought Tang Monk to the Green Mane Lion Monster and the Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster, who celebrated capturing him and planned to eat his flesh.
• Golden Winged Great Peng told his brothers that Sun Wukong and Chu Yang were outside Lion Camel Ridge, and the Green Mane Lion Monster ordered extra guards at the South Road Entrance and North Road Entrance.
• Sun Wukong and Chu Yang found the South Road Entrance heavily guarded and agreed that Chu Yang would distract the imps while Sun Wukong slipped inside.
• Chu Yang cast Genjutsu that made the imps see flames, then signaled Sun Wukong to enter through the checkpoint.
• Sun Wukong infiltrated Lion Camel Ridge, and Chu Yang followed while keeping the imps distracted.
• The imps realized the flames were Genjutsu and searched for the intruders, but Sun Wukong and Chu Yang had already disappeared inside.

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong infiltrated Lion Camel Ridge and fought their way through its guarded passages and cooking grotto. They learned Tang Monk was in the Central Palace's Main Hall and hurried there to rescue him.

• Chu Yang and Sun Wukong evaded the patrols and silently defeated the Black Bear Demon General and his guards at the bone bridge.
• Chu Yang and Sun Wukong discovered demons preparing to cook Tang Monk and attacked the crowded grotto, smashing the cauldron and killing many demons.
• Sun Wukong fought the demon horde while Chu Yang defeated the Crocodile Commander and forced him to reveal Tang Monk's location.
• Chu Yang killed the Crocodile Commander, and Sun Wukong finished off the remaining demons before rushing toward the Main Hall with Chu Yang.

Sun Wukong and Chu Yang stormed the demons’ hall to rescue Tang Monk and battled the Three Great Demon Kings. Chu Yang fell unconscious after stopping the Golden Winged Great Peng long enough for Sun Wukong to free Tang Monk, while the great peng’s attack remained imminent.

• Sun Wukong smashed open the bronze gates and found Tang Monk bound in the hall beneath the watch of the Three Great Demon Kings and their demon generals.
• Sun Wukong fought the Green Mane Lion Monster while Chu Yang tried to hold off the Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster.
• The Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster trapped Chu Yang in his trunk, but Chu Yang burned him with Burning Heaven True Fire, forcing him to release Chu Yang.
• Sun Wukong wounded the Green Mane Lion Monster when the demon turned his attention to his injured sworn brother.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng attacked with a massive phantom, and Chu Yang used the Immovable Wisdom King Formation to delay him before collapsing unconscious.
• Sun Wukong used the opening to reach Tang Monk and snap the Adamantine Rope binding him.

Sun Wukong fled Lion Camel Ridge with Tang Monk and the gravely wounded Chu Yang while the Three Great Demon Kings pursued them. After hiding in a forest cave, the group faced discovery, and Chu Yang stopped Sun Wukong from charging out to fight alone.

• Sun Wukong carried Tang Monk and unconscious Chu Yang out of the Central Palace, escaping the Three Great Demon Kings on his Somersault Cloud.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng overtook Sun Wukong and attacked alongside the Green Mane Lion Monster and Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster, but Sun Wukong used his roar to break their assault and fled into a dense forest.
• Sun Wukong found a concealed cave, hid Tang Monk and Chu Yang inside, and helped Chu Yang regain consciousness by pouring true qi into him.
• The demon kings searched the forest and began smashing through the mountainside as Tang Monk chanted and Sun Wukong prepared to confront them.
• Chu Yang grabbed Sun Wukong and warned that fighting all three demons alone would leave Tang Monk exposed, making Sun Wukong hesitate.

After Chu Yang revealed that the three Lion Camel Ridge demons were connected to powerful Buddhist figures, Sun Wukong resolved to confront their masters rather than fight them directly. He left Chu Yang and the Tang Monk protected in a cave and raced toward Mount Wutai, while the demons realized he might expose them.

• Chu Yang told Sun Wukong that the Green Mane Lion Monster and Yellow Tusk Elephant Monster were mounts of Manjushri and Samantabhadra, and that the Golden Winged Great Peng was Buddha Tathagata’s maternal uncle.
• Chu Yang argued that the demons had been deliberately sent to create a tribulation and urged Sun Wukong to demand answers from their masters.
• Chu Yang gave Sun Wukong an Image Recording Stone as evidence, and Sun Wukong protected Chu Yang and the Tang Monk with a magical barrier.
• Sun Wukong emerged from the cave and announced that he was going to the Western Heaven to confront Tathagata, then sped toward Mount Wutai on his Somersault Cloud.
• The Golden Winged Great Peng missed his attack, and the three demons worried that Sun Wukong had discovered their identities and gone to complain.

Sun Wukong returned to Lion Camel Ridge, rescued Chu Yang and Tang Monk, and took Chu Yang to Mount Wutai to confront Manjushri Bodhisattva. Chu Yang challenged Manjushri’s claim that their suffering was destined, asking whether the tribulations belonged only to Tang Monk or to all living beings.

• Sun Wukong turned back toward Lion Camel Ridge, deciding he needed Chu Yang’s help to argue with Manjushri Bodhisattva.
• Sun Wukong defeated Green Mane Lion Monster, removed the barrier, and rescued Tang Monk and the badly injured Chu Yang.
• Sun Wukong left Tang Monk guarded by three Golden Armored Divine Generals and carried Chu Yang toward Mount Wutai.
• Sun Wukong smashed Qingliang Temple’s mountain gate and demanded that Manjushri Bodhisattva come out to face him.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva defended the journey’s tribulations as destiny, and Chu Yang asked whether they were Tang Monk’s tribulations or those of all living beings.

Chu Yang exposed Manjushri Bodhisattva’s mount as the Green Mane Lion Monster and forced her to admit responsibility and compensate him with a restorative pill. With Manjushri Bodhisattva accompanying them to subdue the monster, Chu Yang and Sun Wukong headed toward Mount Emei to confront Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

• Chu Yang showed Manjushri Bodhisattva the recording of the Green Mane Lion Monster’s atrocities, and Sun Wukong demanded an explanation.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva admitted the Green Mane Lion Monster was her escaped mount and agreed to accompany Sun Wukong to Lion Camel Ridge.
• Chu Yang demanded compensation for his injuries and Tang Monk’s suffering, while Sun Wukong backed him up against a Vajra.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva gave Chu Yang a Nine Revolutions Great Restoration Golden Pill, which healed his injuries and strengthened his spiritual power.
• Chu Yang agreed to keep the recording private for now, and Manjushri Bodhisattva set off for Lion Camel Ridge.
• Sun Wukong carried Chu Yang toward Mount Emei, where they planned to confront Samantabhadra Bodhisattva next.

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong confronted Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on Mount Emei over her Yellow-Tusked Elephant’s crimes at Lion Camel Ridge. After the Image Recording Stone proved the elephant had attacked Tang Xuanzang, Samantabhadra admitted fault but offered only a Peace Talisman, and Chu Yang rejected her inadequate compensation.

• Chu Yang urged Sun Wukong to make a commotion at Mount Emei, and Sun Wukong smashed through the Golden Summit Buddhist Light and damaged the plaza.
• Sun Wukong defeated Tiger-Subduing Arhat when the eight Vajra Arhats tried to subdue him, prompting Samantabhadra Bodhisattva to appear.
• Sun Wukong accused Samantabhadra’s Yellow-Tusked Elephant of terrorizing Lion Camel Ridge, and Chu Yang showed the Image Recording Stone as proof.
• Samantabhadra initially called the recording an illusion, but Chu Yang challenged her over the elephant’s crimes and Sun Wukong threatened to expose the matter to Heaven and the Buddhist sect.
• Samantabhadra admitted her mount had escaped during her seclusion and said she would capture it, but offered Chu Yang only a Peace Talisman.
• Chu Yang rejected Samantabhadra’s offer, citing his injuries and the damage to his Natal Flying Sword while protecting Tang Xuanzang.