Chapter Summaries

Chu Yang, Tang Monk, and Sun Wukong defeated Soul-Devouring Patriarch and exposed Lin Wanguan’s crimes in Tianfeng City. Chu Yang proposed turning Benevolence Hall into a genuine refuge for orphans, sick beggar children, and the elderly, funded by Lin Wanguan’s estate.

• Sun Wukong slaughtered Benevolence Hall’s guards, and Chu Yang forced Lin Wanguan to emerge and answer for the children harmed by his Holy Water.
• Soul-Devouring Patriarch appeared and attacked the three with chained souls and the Ten Thousand Spirits Blood Evil Formation.
• Sun Wukong destroyed the Patriarch’s defenses while Chu Yang burned away the blood ghosts with Red Lotus Karma Fire.
• Chu Yang rejected the Patriarch’s offer of a Samsara Pill, and Sun Wukong killed him; Chu Yang then seized Lin Wanguan and took him to the City Lord Mansion.
• Chu Yang confronted City Lord Zhao Guangcai with Lin Wanguan’s confession and recovered treasure, then proposed using Lin Wanguan’s estate to make Benevolence Hall a real refuge.

Chu Yang secured funding and City Lord Zhao Guangcai’s help to establish Ciguang Orphanage in Tianfeng City, then continued the journey with Tang Monk and Sun Wukong. That evening, the travelers camped by a river and shared Chu Yang’s spicy fish stew and sweet potatoes after Sun Wukong accidentally caused chaos with his staff routine.

• Chu Yang funded the orphanage, threatened Zhao Guangcai against misusing its resources, and Tang Monk named it Ciguang Orphanage.
• Chu Yang ordered Sun Wukong to strip Lin Wanguan and leave him in beggar’s rags, then the group departed Tianfeng City.
• As they traveled, Tang Monk reflected that he now sought freedom in life rather than bliss after death.
• At the riverside camp, Chu Yang caught fish and prepared spicy stew while he and Tang Monk discussed Tang Monk’s changed view of the journey.
• Sun Wukong’s staff routine knocked down a willow branch, startling the donkey and scattering Chu Yang’s sweet potatoes.
• The group ate Chu Yang’s fish stew and sweet potatoes, while Sun Wukong apologized for the mishap.

Chu Yang, Tang Monk, and Sun Wukong shared a peaceful night before continuing west, while a hidden figure vowed that Tianfeng City's growing compassion would become an abyss. In Tianfeng City, Stone and Xiao Cao helped build the orphanage and waited for Chu Yang to return.

• Chu Yang shared fruit brew with Tang Monk and Sun Wukong, described his distant homeland, and urged them to treat the journey’s trials as sightseeing.
• Chu Yang cultivated through the night as a black-mist figure watched from afar, identified him as the killer of Bai Ling, and threatened the future of Tianfeng City.
• The travelers set off at dawn, with Tang Monk practicing Chu Yang’s exercises and Sun Wukong complaining about the donkey.
• Zhao Guangcai oversaw the rebuilding of Benevolence Hall as an orphanage, while Stone and Xiao Cao helped the workers and received support from the townspeople.
• Zhao Guangcai checked on the children, who remained wary but trusted Chu Yang would return to protect them.
• As the group continued west, Chu Yang joked with Sun Wukong about the White Donkey, and Tang Monk asked where they were headed next.

Chu Yang, Tang Sanzang, and Sun Wukong met Su Wanwan, a Fox Demon who had tried to approach them under false pretenses, and Chu Yang immediately recognized her and put her to work. They reached Wild Goose Slope by evening, where Chu Yang assigned Su Wanwan camp chores while she continued hiding her frustration and intent.

• Chu Yang and his companions headed toward Wild Goose Slope, where travelers had reportedly been vanishing at night.
• Su Wanwan claimed bandits had separated her from her brother, but Chu Yang and Sun Wukong suspected her motives and Chu Yang made her carry their luggage.
• Chu Yang revealed to Tang Sanzang and Sun Wukong that Su Wanwan was a Fox Demon who was probably targeting Tang Sanzang, and he kept her with them to handle their chores.
• Su Wanwan fetched water twice and tried to flirt with Chu Yang on the way to Wild Goose Slope, but he remained unimpressed.
• After the group made camp near Wild Goose Slope, Chu Yang ordered Su Wanwan to wash the pot, rinse the rice, and slice the salted meat.

Chu Yang kept Miss Su, a Fox Demon posing as a woman, busy with camp chores while she tried and failed to seduce Tang Monk and Chu Yang. After spending the night washing clothes, she was ordered to make breakfast the next morning, while she resolved to keep following the group and wait for another chance.

• Chu Yang had Tang Monk teach Miss Su to rinse rice, then made her cut meat while he prepared dinner.
• Miss Su tried to tempt Chu Yang by the fire, but he called Sun Wukong over and sent her to wash the pot.
• Chu Yang made Miss Su massage Tang Monk and then himself, before ordering her to wash his robe.
• Chu Yang explained that he kept Miss Su nearby to watch her because he suspected her intentions were dangerous, while she vowed to find another opportunity.
• Miss Su returned from washing clothes to find little room to sleep, and Chu Yang ordered her to make breakfast at dawn.

Fox Demon Su Wanwan tried to get close to Tang Monk, but Chu Yang kept assigning her chores and blocking her advances while revealing that he was no ordinary mortal. The group reached a town and checked into an inn, where Su Wanwan was left with a pile of clothes to mend.

• Chu Yang made Su Wanwan cook breakfast, carry the pot and supplies, and sweep the abandoned Mountain God temple while Sun Wukong and Tang Monk watched.
• Su Wanwan tried to approach Tang Monk, but Chu Yang repeatedly interrupted her and assigned her work; she massaged Chu Yang and Sun Wukong and sensed his overwhelming power.
• Over the following days, Chu Yang continued to keep Su Wanwan busy and thwarted her attempts to serve Tang Monk fruit, wipe his sweat, or bring him a robe.
• The group reached a riverside town, and Su Wanwan offered to mend Chu Yang's black robe.
• Chu Yang told Su Wanwan to buy socks for Tang Monk and mend clothes for the group, then led everyone to an inn with three superior rooms.

Su Wanwan’s pursuer arrived at the inn and exposed her as a Fox Demon who had stolen his treasure and killed his subordinates. Chu Yang and the others revealed they already knew what she was, and Chu Yang stood between her and the Demon King as the confrontation began.

• Chu Yang made Su Wanwan mend the group’s clothes late into the night, and she reflected on how difficult he was to understand.
• The next morning, Chu Yang learned of a dangerous mountain road, but White Dragon Horse and the White Donkey sensed an approaching presence.
• Su Wanwan recognized the approaching Demon Qi and tried to flee, but Chu Yang stopped her and told her to stay behind him.
• The Demon King burst into the inn, accused Su Wanwan of stealing his treasure and killing two subordinates, and demanded her return.
• Chu Yang and Sun Wukong said they already knew Su Wanwan was a Fox Demon, and Chu Yang refused to let the Demon King take her.

Su Wanwan defended her theft of the Soul-Locking Bell, and Chu Yang and Sun Wukong protected her from the Demon King. After Sun Wukong drove the Demon King away, Su Wanwan asked Chu Yang to let her stay with the group as his servant.

• Su Wanwan told the Demon King that she had stolen the Soul-Locking Bell to reclaim her clan's souls, and Chu Yang condemned him for refining them.
• Chu Yang protected Su Wanwan while Sun Wukong fought the Demon King, and Tang Monk shielded the inn with Buddhist Light.
• Su Wanwan confronted the Demon King about his plans to take her life and refine her into the bell, while Chu Yang praised her courage.
• Sun Wukong overwhelmed the Demon King with his Golden Staff, and Chu Yang stopped him from chasing the fleeing demon.
• Su Wanwan admitted she had originally planned to deceive the group, then knelt before Chu Yang and asked to stay as his servant.

After taking Su Wanwan in as a servant, Chu Yang made her help repair the inn’s courtyard wall, then showed quiet consideration by giving her new shoes and protecting her from unnecessary chores. The group continued their journey together, and the chapter ended with Chu Yang telling Su Wanwan to rest while Sun Wukong washed the pot.

• Chu Yang agreed to let Su Wanwan stay with the group after she promised not to pursue Tang Monk or wander at night, then assigned her to mix mud while Sun Wukong moved bricks to repair the courtyard wall.
• The next morning, Chu Yang gave Su Wanwan a clean cloth and new shoes, and she joined the group as they left town.
• On the road, Chu Yang told Su Wanwan she did not have to work just because she had called herself a servant, and stopped her from stepping into a hidden pit.
• At a midday rest beside a stream, Sun Wukong shared wild fruit with Su Wanwan and bickered with Chu Yang over flatbread.
• When Su Wanwan offered to fetch water, Chu Yang noticed the marks on her hands from repairing the wall and told her to rest while Sun Wukong washed the pot.

Su Wanwan gradually settled into traveling with Chu Yang, Tang Monk, Sun Wukong, White Dragon Horse, and White Donkey, taking on small tasks and growing comfortable with their company. After Tang Monk noticed how much she had changed, Su Wanwan asked whether he meant it was a bad thing.

• Tang Monk gave Su Wanwan medicine for her injuries, and she later helped Sun Wukong clean a pot before Chu Yang rewarded her with roasted flatbread.
• The group traveled through narrow mountain paths and stayed at an abandoned Mountain God temple, where Chu Yang made sure Su Wanwan had a sheltered place to sleep.
• Over the following days, Su Wanwan began filling waterskins, mending Tang Monk's robes, buying supplies, and caring for the animals without being asked.
• When Su Wanwan returned from gathering vegetables, Chu Yang admitted he had come outside to check on her, though he claimed he was worried about having no one to cook.
• After praising Su Wanwan's wild vegetable and sliced meat soup, Sun Wukong and Chu Yang joked that she should handle the cooking from then on.
• Tang Monk told Su Wanwan she had been different lately, and she asked whether he meant that as a bad thing.

Su Wanwan and the pilgrims reached Moon-Return Marsh, where a powerful marsh spirit trapped them in deceptive fog and attacked. As Chu Yang went to find the missing Sun Wukong, Su Wanwan tried to lead Tang Monk and White Dragon Horse to safety, but the Blackwater spread beneath them.

• Su Wanwan grew more at ease with Tang Monk and shared a warm, rainy evening with Chu Yang and the others at a ferry crossing.
• After crossing the river, the group learned that travelers had vanished in Moon-Return Marsh, and Su Wanwan sensed many strange auras within it.
• Fog hid the road and mimicked Sun Wukong's voice, while strange fish and phantom sounds attacked the group.
• Chu Yang and Su Wanwan fought off the marsh's black hair while Marsh-Dwelling Mother emerged in a sedan and revealed herself as a powerful spirit connected to the entire marsh.
• Chu Yang went into the fog to find Sun Wukong as Su Wanwan led Tang Monk and White Dragon Horse toward higher ground, but Blackwater and living hair spread beneath their feet.

Su Wanwan used her mother’s Protective Bone to help Tang Monk escape the Marsh-Dwelling Mother, then endured a brutal attack until Sun Wukong and Chu Yang returned. The group destroyed the monster’s sedan and defeated her, and Chu Yang carried the injured Su Wanwan as Sun Wukong teased her.

• Su Wanwan stood between the Marsh-Dwelling Mother and Tang Monk, then shattered her Protective Bone to unleash Qingqiu Bone Fire and clear a path west.
• Su Wanwan blocked the Marsh-Dwelling Mother’s blackwater and delayed her pursuit, but was wounded and trapped in the monster’s hair.
• Sun Wukong returned and struck the Water Marsh, freeing Su Wanwan, while Chu Yang pulled her to safety and confirmed Tang Monk had escaped.
• Tang Monk returned to support the group with Buddhist Light as Sun Wukong and Chu Yang attacked the Marsh-Dwelling Mother.
• Chu Yang cut apart the black sedan that served as the Marsh-Dwelling Mother’s core, then killed her as the marsh’s creatures and fog collapsed.
• Chu Yang carried the injured Su Wanwan while Sun Wukong teased her about blushing.

After Su Wanwan was injured protecting the Tang Monk at Moon-Return Marsh, Chu Yang cared for her as the group sheltered overnight. Though she tried to hide her lingering pain during the next three days of travel, Chu Yang noticed and began seeking better lodging in Linchuan Prefecture; the chapter ended with him stepping outside from a dilapidated mountain pavilion.

• Su Wanwan argued with Chu Yang after the Tang Monk thanked her for saving him, and Chu Yang insisted she was his responsibility.
• Chu Yang carried Su Wanwan to an abandoned tea pavilion, where the Tang Monk treated her injuries and Chu Yang fed her medicine and a candy.
• Su Wanwan reflected on how much she cared for her companions and openly admitted to Chu Yang that she was looking at him.
• Over the next three days, Su Wanwan continued traveling despite her injuries, but Chu Yang caught her swaying and made her rest.
• Chu Yang learned that Linchuan Prefecture was nearby and remembered the inn Man Ting Chun after hearing it had good rooms and food.
• At a dilapidated mountain pavilion, Chu Yang gave Sun Wukong the last piece of roasted flatbread and went outside, claiming he was checking the road.

Chu Yang arranged a quiet room, hot bath, and food for Su Wanwan in Linchuan Prefecture, then bought her clothes and medicine. He returned to the inn and paused outside her room after realizing she was still bathing.

• Chu Yang warned Su Wanwan not to carry the bundle as the group descended the mountain toward Linchuan Prefecture.
• Chu Yang booked Su Wanwan a quiet room with hot water and light food at Man Ting Chun, while the others stayed on the third floor.
• Su Wanwan bathed and reflected on how Chu Yang noticed and tended to her needs.
• Chu Yang went out and bought Su Wanwan a pale green dress, underclothes, shoes, ribbons, preserved plums, and medicine.
• Chu Yang returned to the inn, sent food to Su Wanwan's room, and knocked on her door after hearing water inside.

Chu Yang bought Su Wanwan new clothes and took her through Linchuan Prefecture to choose jewelry as a reward for her actions in Moon-Return Marsh. They left the market with a jade hairpin, a bracelet, and several other gifts, while Su Wanwan struggled to accept his generosity.

• Chu Yang left new clothes, candied fruit, and medicine for Su Wanwan, who thanked him after her bath.
• Su Wanwan came downstairs the next morning in her new dress, and Chu Yang told her it suited her.
• Chu Yang sent Tang Monk and Sun Wukong to the temple and took Su Wanwan shopping for jewelry as a reward for her injury in Moon-Return Marsh.
• Chu Yang chose a white jade haitang hairpin and a moon-white bracelet with a red jade bead for Su Wanwan.
• Chu Yang bought Su Wanwan a fox-shaped sugar figurine and a bamboo-leaf sachet, then refrained from buying lip color when she pulled him away.

Chu Yang’s thoughtful gifts made Su Wanwan cry as she realized he and the others had come to treat her as one of their own. After comforting her by the river, Chu Yang returned with her to the teahouse, while Su Wanwan stayed in her room that evening.

• Chu Yang treated Su Wanwan to candied lotus root and explained that his gifts were a reward and compensation for her hardships on the journey.
• Sun Wukong and Tang Monk joined Chu Yang and Su Wanwan at the riverside teahouse, where Su Wanwan became overwhelmed and left in tears.
• Chu Yang followed Su Wanwan and told her she belonged with them because of how she had helped and cared for the group.
• Chu Yang wiped Su Wanwan’s face with a handkerchief, teased her until she could smile, and shielded her from Sun Wukong when they returned.
• Sun Wukong pressed Chu Yang for gossip, while Tang Monk advised him to be gentler with Su Wanwan.
• Su Wanwan ate dinner in her room that evening, and Chu Yang passed her door without knocking.

Su Wanwan grew increasingly baffled as Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk turned their scripture journey into a leisurely tour of scenic spots, feasts, and hot springs. She finally confronted Chu Yang about their lack of urgency, and he insisted he was being serious.

• Su Wanwan wore the Haitang jade hairpin Chu Yang had bought her, and Chu Yang told her it looked good.
• The shopkeeper's wife called Su Wanwan someone Chu Yang doted on, and Chu Yang pointed out that he had accompanied her shopping and chosen her clothes and hairpin.
• Chu Yang and Sun Wukong repeatedly stopped to enjoy scenery, eat, drink, and play, while Tang Monk indulged their delays.
• At Qingping Mountain, Chu Yang persuaded the group to stay overnight at Tangchi Inn and soak in the hot springs.
• Su Wanwan repeatedly asked when they would resume the journey, but Chu Yang kept putting it off with casual excuses.
• Su Wanwan accused Chu Yang of treating the scripture journey like a spring outing, and he asked where he was not being serious.

Su Wanwan grew increasingly frustrated with Chu Yang and Sun Wukong for treating the scripture journey like a leisurely tour, until she confronted them in Luoxia Prefecture. Chu Yang revealed that Tathagata and Guanyin had planned most of the journey’s trials, and Sun Wukong confirmed his account.

• Su Wanwan repeatedly urged the group to hurry while Chu Yang and Sun Wukong stopped to enjoy sights, food, and entertainment along the road.
• After the group spent another day in Luoxia Prefecture, Su Wanwan confronted Chu Yang and accused everyone of treating the scripture journey as a game.
• Chu Yang told Su Wanwan that the journey had never required the urgency she believed it did.
• Chu Yang revealed that Tathagata and Guanyin had staged the journey and arranged most of its hardships and encounters.
• Sun Wukong confirmed that many demons and trials had clearly been planned in advance.

Chu Yang revealed to Su Wanwan that the scripture journey had been arranged and watched by powerful figures, and explained that he and Sun Wukong intended to follow their own path rather than the prescribed script. After they reconciled, the group decided to enjoy the rainy night together before continuing their journey the next day.

• Chu Yang and Sun Wukong told Su Wanwan that many tribulations on the scripture journey had been arranged, though some dangers had been real and unexpected.
• Chu Yang explained that he would still seek the scriptures and save people, but would refuse to follow Tathagata and Guanyin’s planned route and hardships.
• Tang Monk acknowledged the schemes behind the journey and accepted that the group would walk their own road.
• Su Wanwan confronted Chu Yang and Sun Wukong for keeping the truth from her, and Chu Yang agreed to explain things sooner in the future.
• Chu Yang invited the group to visit the night stalls by the bridge, and he confirmed to Su Wanwan that they would leave the next day.

After Chu Yang reassured Su Wanwan that they would resist anyone trying to control their journey, the party embraced a more leisurely, self-directed approach to traveling west. Tathagata and Guanyin recognized that their planned trials kept failing and considered how to handle Chu Yang and his companions.

• Chu Yang told Su Wanwan that he would oppose any attempt to force the party onto a predetermined path, and she joined him and the others for a late-night meal in Luoxia Prefecture.
• Su Wanwan stopped obsessively urging the party onward and began enjoying their detours, while the group continued traveling at its own pace and intervened decisively when genuine danger arose.
• Tathagata and Guanyin discussed how the party had disrupted the planned trials at Qingping Mountain and Luoxia Prefecture, with Chu Yang revealing the scripture-seeking road's hidden arrangements to Su Wanwan.
• Guanyin warned that using demons to stage further trials would likely fail because Chu Yang and Sun Wukong could detect and dismantle the schemes.
• Tathagata recognized that Chu Yang's refusal to follow the script threatened their carefully arranged journey, even as the scripture quest still needed to succeed.