Chapter Summaries

Guanyin persuaded Tathagata to replace demonic trials with a mortal scheme at Xuanyun Temple, hoping to sow resentment among Tang Monk’s companions. As Guanyin prepared the temple, Chu Yang and the others continued west, unaware that a trap awaited them.

• Guanyin proposed using carefully chosen mortals to subtly drive a wedge between Tang Monk, Sun Wukong, Chu Yang, and Su Wanwan, and Tathagata approved the plan with limits.
• Guanyin traveled to Qingdu Ridge and selected Xuanyun Temple as the place to stage the scheme.
• Guanyin quietly replaced the temple’s residents with mortals trained to offer veiled remarks that would provoke doubt and resentment.
• Guanyin coached the replacements to make their comments sound sympathetic and natural, then added a protective veil over the temple.
• Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Su Wanwan crossed White Stone Ferry without incident and discussed the likelihood of a scheme ahead.

Chu Yang and his companions reached Xuanyun Temple on Qingdu Ridge, where seemingly ordinary hosts welcomed them with suspiciously careful hospitality. After settling in, the group reunited to compare notes and realized the temple’s people were quietly probing and trying to stir resentment.

• Chu Yang predicted that their next opponents would use ordinary people and subtle provocations rather than demons.
• The group arrived at Qingdu Ridge near dusk and found Xuanyun Temple, whose welcoming Taoist priest showed no signs of Demon Qi or Ghost Qi.
• The temple’s residents separated the travelers and offered each of them attentive hospitality, making Chu Yang suspicious of their intentions.
• Chu Yang inspected his room and found no obvious poison or harmful incense before Sun Wukong and Su Wanwan joined him through the window and Tang Monk entered by the door.
• Sun Wukong, Su Wanwan, and Tang Monk reported that temple residents watched them and used sympathetic remarks and questions to probe their feelings.

Chu Yang countered Xuanyun Temple’s attempt to sow discord by tempting its workers with food and money. By the next morning, his roast-chicken errand had already stirred envy among the temple’s staff, and he watched the first cracks spread from the corridor.

• Chu Yang proposed exploiting the temple workers’ differing desires instead of confronting the people trying to divide the group.
• At dinner, Chu Yang offered silver for roast chicken and other treats, and Abbot Xu agreed to send someone to town.
• The young Daoist boy returned with extra food, and Chu Yang rewarded him with a chicken leg and told him to keep quiet.
• The next morning, the boy’s account of the food and leftover silver sparked envy among the kitchen workers while Chu Yang watched from the corridor.

Chu Yang, Su Wanwan, and Sun Wukong undermined Xuanyun Temple’s plan to sow discord among the pilgrims by redirecting its Daoists’ attention toward food, money, and games. Abbot Xu tried to steer Chu Yang back to the temple’s scheme, but Chu Yang cheerfully proposed replacing roast chicken with roast goose instead.

• Su Wanwan pretended to feel wronged by Chu Yang, persuading two women at Xuanyun Temple that he had disregarded her wishes.
• Chu Yang sent Sun Wukong to befriend the young Daoists, and Sun Wukong drew them into gambling games behind the woodshed.
• Chu Yang planted suspicions between the temple workers by hinting that others resented them, prompting arguments among the Daoists and kitchen staff.
• Chu Yang’s offers of silver for errands tempted more temple workers to compete for trips into town and distracted them from their plan to sow discord among the pilgrims.
• Abbot Xu confronted Chu Yang about behaving too casually, but Chu Yang agreed only to replace roast chicken with roast goose and suggested more treats for his companions.

Chu Yang’s down-to-earth tactics turned Guanyin’s attempt to sow discord at Xuanyun Temple against the temple’s own people, forcing Guanyin to withdraw her agents. The real Daoists woke the next morning with no memory of the scheme, and the scripture-seeking group prepared to move on.

• Chu Yang deflected Abbot Xu’s criticism by arguing that comfortable food and lodging helped the group prioritize its westward journey, then turned a kitchen dispute over chicken soup against the temple leaders.
• Chu Yang privately gave candied fruit to two young Daoists while Su Wanwan suggested to two women that Chu Yang could lead people astray, deepening suspicion within Xuanyun Temple.
• Guanyin admitted the scheme had failed, and Tathagata ordered the agents withdrawn before Chu Yang could lead them further astray.
• Guanyin sent the temporary agents away in a dreamlike sleep and returned the real Daoists to their places in the temple.
• Su Wanwan, Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk discovered the agents were gone and found the real temple residents asleep; Chu Yang reassured Tang Monk that they had not been seriously harmed.

Chu Yang and his companions left Xuanyun Temple after dismantling Mount Ling’s scheme, then reached a demon-infested forest on the westward road. As they prepared to enter, Chu Yang declared that it was Su Wanwan’s turn to clear the way.

• Chu Yang and his companions left lodging money at Xuanyun Temple and departed without waking the real Daoists.
• Su Wanwan asked whether Tathagata and Guanyin would keep arranging schemes, and Chu Yang said they would continue until their plans were dismantled.
• Su Wanwan discovered Chu Yang had spent his wine money on roast chicken to lead the Daoists astray, and the group laughed as they traveled on.
• The Old Temple Master woke after the pilgrims had left, found their payment, and vaguely sensed they had been extraordinary guests.
• The travelers reached a dark, miasma-filled forest that White Dragon Horse and White Donkey refused to enter.
• Chu Yang said it was Su Wanwan’s turn to clear the way, prompting Sun Wukong’s approval and Tang Monk’s surprise.

Su Wanwan stepped forward to confront the creatures in the forest while Chu Yang and Sun Wukong guarded her. The gray-robed leader hesitated over who controlled the forest, and Chu Yang silenced a hostile woman with a precise strike, leaving the gathered creatures stunned.

• Chu Yang persuaded Su Wanwan to speak to the forest's leader while he and Sun Wukong backed her up.
• Su Wanwan led the group into the dark forest, where Chu Yang sensed several creatures watching them.
• Su Wanwan demanded that the watchers come out, and a gray-robed man appeared with several nonhuman companions.
• Su Wanwan warned the gray-robed man not to target Tang Monk and insisted he summon everyone who could make decisions for the forest.
• When the red-clad woman tried to interrupt, Chu Yang split her hairpin with a streak of white light and told her to finish speaking.

Su Wanwan and Chu Yang confronted the forest demons and demanded that they leave Tang Monk alone, then forced the gray-clad man to lead them deeper into the forest toward another group. They reached Mist Swamp, where Chu Yang and Sun Wukong stopped a Bone-Gnawing Spirit from approaching Tang Monk, and continued toward the Black Pool.

• Su Wanwan warned the gray-clad man and the demons not to target Tang Monk, while Chu Yang backed her and threatened those who defied them.
• When the Scaled-Face Man attacked with black vines, Chu Yang destroyed them and injured him, making the demons wary.
• The gray-clad man agreed to guide the group to demons beyond his authority, and Chu Yang accepted because he wanted to meet them all at once.
• The group traveled deeper through a grotesque forest until they reached Mist Swamp, where a Bone-Gnawing Spirit smelled Tang Monk.
• Chu Yang struck the Bone-Gnawing Spirit with a peanut, and Sun Wukong silenced it with his staff before the group continued toward the Black Pool.

Chu Yang and Sun Wukong forced the Pool Master to submit, while Su Wanwan took charge of the negotiations and ordered the forest demons to leave Tang Monk alone. They continued through the forest to confront its other rulers, and the Silk-Spinning Vine Ghosts were the next to approach them.

• Su Wanwan threatened the Pool Master after it showed interest in her, and Chu Yang and Sun Wukong beat it down when it refused to back off.
• Su Wanwan made the Pool Master promise to restrain its creatures and protect Tang Monk as the group crossed the forest.
• Chu Yang learned from the gray-clad man about the Deadwood Wolf Demons, the Silk-Spinning Vine Ghosts, and the Old Scorpion, then set out to confront them one by one.
• Su Wanwan warned the Wolf King against targeting Tang Monk, and Chu Yang demonstrated his strength until the wolf pack agreed to let them pass.
• The group entered the Silk-Spinning Vine Ghosts’ territory, where the female demons tried to lure them into stopping for tea.

Su Wanwan helped the group deter the demons in the forest and grew more confident with Chu Yang and Sun Wukong backing her. After a peaceful night, Chu Yang asked her to keep taking the lead as they set off again.

• Su Wanwan ordered the Vine Ghosts to take down their webs, and Chu Yang dragged the Old Scorpion Demon from its hiding place and beat it into submission.
• At camp, Chu Yang and Sun Wukong encouraged Su Wanwan for standing up to the demons, and she reassured Tang Monk that their greed was not his fault.
• An imp brought fruit as an apology from the Grey Lord, and Su Wanwan told it to have him keep watch over the other demons.
• The group spent the night untroubled, and Su Wanwan thanked Chu Yang for having her back.
• At dawn, Chu Yang told Su Wanwan to keep leading the group, and she felt ready to do so.

Su Wanwan and her companions left the demon-filled forest after the man in gray gave Chu Yang a Forest Passage Token and promised to keep the demons in line. Three days later, Chu Yang pointed out that Su Wanwan still lacked the skills to defend herself in a real fight, leaving her to face the weakness she had relied on others to cover.

• Su Wanwan warned demons away from Tang Monk as the group crossed the forest, while Sun Wukong and Chu Yang dealt with two attacking Imps.
• The man in gray gave Chu Yang a Forest Passage Token and asked the group not to fill in Black Water Pool; Chu Yang accepted after the man apologized to Tang Monk.
• Su Wanwan left the forest feeling more confident about speaking up, and Chu Yang and Sun Wukong promised to back her.
• Three days later, Su Wanwan rested by a stream and heard Sun Wukong praise her for spotting a Mountain Ape first.
• Chu Yang told Su Wanwan she was only a little useful and said she needed more ability to handle danger herself; she recognized that he was right.

Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk agreed to detour to Moon-Perch Ridge so Su Wanwan could seek cultivation knowledge left by an ancient Fox Demon branch. They set out north the next morning, while Chu Yang warned that people as well as demons might cause trouble on the road.

• Chu Yang asked Su Wanwan whether she knew a Fox Demon senior, and she remembered Moon-Perch Ridge and its Fox Tomb Ruins, said to hold cultivation teachings suited to foxes.
• Su Wanwan admitted she wanted to seek the ruins, and Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk agreed to change their route for her.
• Su Wanwan described the route north, including Wind-Return Ravine, and the group planned their journey before deciding to leave in the morning.
• The group changed course at dawn, and White Donkey dragged his feet on the uphill road.
• Sun Wukong reported that no Great Demon seemed to occupy the nearby route, while Chu Yang warned that hunters or cultivators could still pose a threat.
• Su Wanwan asked why the others distrusted righteous cultivators, and Sun Wukong recalled demons being hunted without regard for whether they were wicked.

Su Wanwan traveled with Chu Yang and the others toward Moon-Perch Ridge, sharing how she had learned to hide from hostile cultivators and recalling the wandering fox Hu Sanniang. They crossed Wind-Return Ravine and discovered a strange bird released from a hollow in the rock when Sun Wukong removed an old talisman.

• Su Wanwan told Chu Yang that she had learned to conceal her identity and speak cautiously to survive, and he assured her she no longer had to do so around them.
• Su Wanwan recalled Hu Sanniang, who had taught her not to falter when cursing and warned her never to visit Moon-Perch Ridge alone.
• The group found old traces of writing near a campsite, including the words “under the moon,” “fox lantern,” and “do not,” then continued north.
• Chu Yang led the group to Wind-Return Ravine, where Su Wanwan coaxed the reluctant White Donkey into following her through the dangerous passage.
• Su Wanwan spotted an old yellow talisman on the ravine wall, and Sun Wukong removed it, releasing a gaunt, red-eyed bird from the stone.

Su Wanwan and her companions reached Moon-Perch Ridge, where she hoped to find a path of cultivation, and passed through its fox-recognizing mist. A mysterious nonhuman figure appeared and questioned who had brought her there.

• Sun Wukong flung the noisy Wind-Eating Owl out of Wind-Return Ravine after Chu Yang identified it.
• Su Wanwan and her companions spotted Moon-Perch Ridge and camped nearby, where Chu Yang helped calm her nerves about what they might find.
• The group entered Moon-Perch Ridge, and its mist parted for Su Wanwan but blocked Chu Yang and Sun Wukong.
• Su Wanwan introduced herself as a Scatter Fox seeking cultivation, and the mist opened a path deeper into the ridge.
• A mysterious figure appeared beyond the mist and questioned Su Wanwan about who had brought her there.

Su Wanwan sought guidance on how a Fox Demon should cultivate, and the Green-Shirt Woman tested her by separating her from her companions in a maze of mist. Su Wanwan found the way through by sensing moon energy and reached a hidden valley, where the woman acknowledged her potential.

• The Green-Shirt Woman identified flaws in Su Wanwan's cultivation, noted Chu Yang's mixed nature, recognized Sun Wukong as having come from a stone, and reacted with complicated familiarity to Xuanzang.
• Su Wanwan admitted she wanted to learn how a Fox Demon should cultivate so she could stand on her own, rather than merely hide, flee, or imitate others.
• The Green-Shirt Woman filled the terrace with mist, separated Su Wanwan from her companions, and challenged her to find the way through alone.
• Su Wanwan sensed silver moon energy flowing through the stone and followed its patterns to a narrow passage leading into a hidden valley.
• The Green-Shirt Woman appeared beside Su Wanwan, revealed her Body-Concealment Technique, and praised Su Wanwan's instincts and good roots despite her scattered foundation.

Su Wanwan met Bai Xi in Moon-Perch Ridge and earned permission to study under her without becoming her disciple. After learning that Hu Sanniang had asked Bai Xi not to turn Su Wanwan away, Su Wanwan prepared to begin training the next day while Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk camped outside the valley.

• Bai Xi told Su Wanwan she was worth teaching and set rules for her training, including forbidding her from passing on what she learned to foxes.
• Bai Xi said she would not take Su Wanwan as a disciple, and Su Wanwan accepted the arrangement.
• Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk left Su Wanwan in the valley and camped outside while Bai Xi gave her a cushion and a blanket.
• Bai Xi revealed that Hu Sanniang had once waited outside the fog and asked her not to drive Su Wanwan away.
• Su Wanwan told Bai Xi she was ready to begin, and Bai Xi said they would start the next day.

Chu Yang, Tang Monk, and Sun Wukong reached Peaceful Market and spent the night at the Peaceful Inn before visiting Cloud Arrival House for massages. Tang Monk nervously began a back rub with Xiao Cui while Chu Yang and Sun Wukong received massages in the next room.

• Chu Yang led Tang Monk and Sun Wukong to Peaceful Market, where the old man at the entrance directed them to the Peaceful Inn.
• Chu Yang rented three rooms, and the group ate mutton soup and flatbread at the inn.
• The shopkeeper recommended Cloud Arrival House, and Chu Yang persuaded Tang Monk and Sun Wukong to go for massages.
• At Cloud Arrival House, Chu Yang assigned Xiao Cui to massage Tang Monk while he and Sun Wukong entered the next room with two male practitioners.
• Xiao Cui began rubbing Tang Monk's shoulders and back as he struggled to relax.

Tang Monk fled Xiao Cui’s massage, and Chu Yang and Sun Wukong teased him about it on their way back to the inn. At Moon-Perch Ridge, Bai Xi gave Su Wanwan the Moon Breath Guide and began teaching her Fox Clan cultivation.

• Tang Monk hurried away from Xiao Cui’s massage, and Chu Yang teased him while Sun Wukong laughed at how quickly he had fled.
• Sun Wukong suggested returning to Cloud Arrival House the next day, while Chu Yang told the shopkeeper to give their fat donkey a little more fodder.
• Su Wanwan woke beneath the Moon-Illuminating Branches and found Bai Xi sitting in a tree above her.
• Bai Xi showed Su Wanwan the Fox Clan lightness skill Shadow Fall and warned her to strengthen her foundation before attempting it.
• Bai Xi gave Su Wanwan the Moon Breath Guide and explained the first three sections as Su Wanwan memorized them through the morning.
• Bai Xi led Su Wanwan to the open space and told her to sit cross-legged facing the stone wall.

Su Wanwan quickly learned the Moon Breath Guide and three Fox Clan techniques under Bai Xi, who then showed her the true inner Fox Tomb and its abundant Moon Qi. Bai Xi told Su Wanwan to return the next morning with Chu Yang and the others so they could wait nearby while she cultivated.

• Su Wanwan drew Moon Qi into her dantian on her first morning of meditation, surprising Bai Xi.
• Over three days, Su Wanwan learned the basics of Moon Gazing, Breath Listening, and Form Concealment at remarkable speed.
• Bai Xi revealed Stone-Piercing and led Su Wanwan through a hidden passage into the inner Fox Tomb.
• Bai Xi explained that the silver fox skeleton belonged to the branch’s final clan chief and that the tomb’s Moon Qi could greatly accelerate cultivation, though Su Wanwan could initially stay only two hours.
• Bai Xi reminded Su Wanwan that Chu Yang and the others had waited outside for four days and told her to bring them to the valley entrance the next morning.
• Su Wanwan bowed to the fox skeleton and left Moon-Perch Ridge.

Su Wanwan reunited with Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk after her successful cultivation, then invited them to accompany her to the Inner Tomb and benefit from its Moon Qi. The group set out the next morning, following her along a weed-covered trail toward the tomb.

• Su Wanwan found Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk feasting at Peaceful Eatery and joined them for a meal.
• Su Wanwan told them about her progress with the Moon Breath Guide and Bai Xi's lessons, and invited them to accompany her to the Inner Tomb.
• Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, and Tang Monk agreed to go with Su Wanwan, while White Donkey complained outside and went unnoticed.
• Su Wanwan arrived early the next morning, and Chu Yang, Sun Wukong, Tang Monk, and White Donkey joined her to leave Peaceful Market.
• Su Wanwan led the group north from town along a narrow, overgrown trail as Sun Wukong asked how much farther they had to go.