Chapter Summaries

Xuanzang questioned Ruyi True Immortal about the Immortals-Gathering Convent, prompting Ruyi to strike his own head and lose his memory. The group healed him and carried him toward the Western Liang Women's Kingdom, where they were nearing the city gate.

• Xuanzang asked Ruyi True Immortal what the Immortals-Gathering Convent was, and Ruyi reacted with alarm before smashing his head against the bluestone.
• Xuanzang and Sha Wujing treated Ruyi True Immortal, and Wukong determined that the blow had damaged his consciousness and caused temporary memory loss.
• Ruyi True Immortal could not remember the Bull Demon King or the Immortals-Gathering Convent, so Xuanzang invited him to travel with them for safety.
• Wukong asked Bajie to carry Ruyi True Immortal while the group continued west along the main road.
• The group reached the outskirts of a bustling city, and Wukong identified it as the Western Liang Women's Kingdom.

Xuanzang and his disciples entered East Gate District Street in the Royal City, where the women crowded around them, calling them breeding stock and trying to take them home. The group struggled to push through as Bajie's attempt to frighten the women only made them laugh and crowd closer.

• Xuanzang told the group to stay cautious, find the Travelers' Station, and have their travel papers endorsed before entering the city.
• Ruyi True Immortal recognized the approaching Royal City but felt pain when he tried to remember it, so Bajie urged him not to force himself.
• The women of East Gate District Street spotted Xuanzang and his male companions and swarmed them, shouting that the breeding stock had arrived.
• Wukong, A-Hu, and Sha Wujing tried to shield Xuanzang, Little White Dragon, and the others as women tugged at them and offered food and invitations home.
• Bajie transformed his face to scare off the women, but they laughed and crowded closer, leaving him to ask Wukong why his trick had failed.

Xuanzang and his companions were escorted through the prosperous outer district of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom after the street patrol cleared a crowd around them and inspected their travel pass. They arrived at Yingyang Posthouse, where the steward welcomed them, while Wukong teased Bajie about the nearby Fetus-Reflecting Spring and Little White Dragon avoided the female officials’ attention.

• A green-robed female official dispersed the crowd surrounding Xuanzang’s party, and Xuanzang presented the group’s Travel Pass for inspection.
• The official escorted Xuanzang and his companions through the outer district and explained that the kingdom’s Inner City lay farther ahead.
• Little White Dragon declined the official’s offer to show him around, and A-Hu and Bajie teased him about it.
• The party reached Yingyang Posthouse and recognized the nearby well as the Fetus-Reflecting Spring mentioned by villagers.
• Wukong teased Bajie about looking into the well, and Bajie insisted he was not afraid and refused to go.
• The Posthouse Steward welcomed Xuanzang’s party, and the green-robed official departed after glancing back at Little White Dragon.

Xuanzang and his companions registered at Yingyang Posthouse before the keeper reported their arrival to the Queen of Western Liang. The queen learned that Tang Sanzang had come and eagerly asked what he looked like.

• The posthouse keeper welcomed Xuanzang and his companions, and Bajie carried the amnesiac Ruyi True Immortal into the hall.
• Bajie introduced the pilgrims and presented their Travel Pass, while Wukong explained that Ruyi True Immortal was an injured traveling companion whose name was unknown.
• The keeper recorded the group and arranged rooms before taking their register and credentials to the palace.
• The keeper reported the pilgrims’ names and identities to the Queen of Western Liang, including that Yu Wuyuan was a woman and Ruyi True Immortal was not one of the pilgrims.
• The queen’s composure gave way to delight, and she asked what Xuanzang looked like.

The queen decided that Xuanzang’s arrival fulfilled an auspicious dream and planned to persuade him to marry her and rule Western Liang. After hearing officials describe his holy bearing and his disciples, she became especially interested in the handsome Ao WujI.

• The queen recalled dreaming of a glowing Golden Screen and Jade Mirror, took Xuanzang’s arrival as Heaven’s sign, and proposed making him king through marriage.
• The posthouse keeper warned that Xuanzang’s calm, kindly presence made people instinctively keep their distance and might make him difficult to sway with worldly desire.
• A blue-robed official confirmed that Xuanzang had calmed a crowd at the Eastern Gate and inspired a reverence like that felt before a Buddha statue.
• The queen asked about Xuanzang’s disciples, dismissed descriptions of Sun Wukong and Zhu Wuneng, and learned that Ao WujI was exceptionally handsome—more so, the officials said, than Xuanzang.

The queen interpreted her second dream of a silver-armored immortal as a sign that Ao WujI was destined for her, alongside Xuanzang, and ordered marriage proposals sent to both men. At Yingyang Posthouse, the travelers ate while Little White Dragon felt inexplicably agitated.

• After hearing the warden and blue-robed official describe Ao WujI, the queen recalled dreaming of a silver-armored immortal who said their bond remained unfulfilled.
• The queen decided both Xuanzang and Ao WujI matched her dreams and ordered the Rites Office to prepare marriage proposals for them.
• The queen told the warden to keep Xuanzang and Ao WujI at Yingyang Posthouse, while the rest of their party continued toward the Western Heaven.
• The queen appointed the Grand Tutor as matchmaker and the warden as the marriage presider, then ordered them to propose at the posthouse.
• At Yingyang Posthouse, Wukong teased Bajie for eating slowly, while Little White Dragon said he felt inexplicably agitated and wondered if the Bing Fire was acting up.

Xuanzang reasoned that the Fetus-Reflecting Spring, not the Mother-Child River, caused conception, and that the river water might be poison. As he warned that someone was secretly poisoning the Kingdom of Women, the Grand Tutor and postmaster arrived with a vermilion box, and Little White Dragon grew more uneasy.

• Wukong and the others teased Bajie and Sha Wujing during their meal, while Xuanzang suggested that Little White Dragon copy scriptures to calm himself.
• Xuanzang connected the Fetus-Reflecting Spring to conception and concluded that the Mother-Child River might be poison, with the Abortion Spring serving as its antidote.
• Wukong realized someone had altered the Kingdom of Women's records to make its women willingly drink poison, and Xuanzang warned that an entire kingdom was being poisoned.
• A posthouse attendant announced the arrival of the palace Grand Tutor and the postmaster, who entered carrying a vermilion wooden box.
• The Grand Tutor examined Xuanzang and his companions, while Little White Dragon's unease deepened and he edged closer to Sha Wujing.

The Grand Tutor and station mistress offered Xuanzang a marriage to the Queen of Western Liang, but he refused and insisted on continuing west. The Grand Tutor then proposed to Ao WujI on the Queen’s behalf, citing a second dream, and Ao WujI also refused.

• The Grand Tutor told Xuanzang that the Queen wanted to marry him and share her kingdom with him.
• Xuanzang rejected the marriage and asked the officials to exchange the travelers’ permit so they could continue west.
• Bajie objected when the Grand Tutor suggested Xuanzang might reconsider, and she revealed that the Queen had another proposal.
• The Grand Tutor presented a Marriage Contract for Ao WujI, who refused and said he was devoted to following his master on the Journey to the West.
• The Grand Tutor described the Queen’s dream of a Silver-Armored Immortal and claimed it meant she and Ao WujI were bound by a past-life marriage.

The Grand Tutor threatened to withhold the pilgrims’ travel permit unless Xuanzang or Little White Dragon agreed to marry the Queen. After Bajie frightened the court officials with his power, Xuanzang asked to meet the Queen.

• Little White Dragon refused the marriage, and the Grand Tutor said the Queen’s decree could be satisfied if either he or Xuanzang agreed.
• The Grand Tutor warned that the pilgrims might not receive their travel permit and suggested they could continue their journey without one of the two men.
• Bajie grew angry and unleashed a black wind in the hall, but Xuanzang ordered him to stop.
• Wukong told Bajie he had noticed a strange extra shadow behind the officials and wondered if it was related to the poison.
• Xuanzang apologized for frightening the court, then asked the Grand Tutor to arrange a meeting with the Queen.

Xuanzang refused the Queen of Western Liang’s marriage proposal and asked to meet her to explain his refusal and exchange travel documents. The Queen considered the Grand Tutor’s warning against detaining the travelers, but the Posthouse Steward offered a different plan.

• Xuanzang told the Grand Tutor he would refuse the marriage proposal in person and wait at the Yingyang Posthouse for the Queen’s decree.
• After the Grand Tutor left, Wukong hinted to Bajie that he had noticed something unusual about her.
• The Grand Tutor warned the Posthouse Steward not to say another word when they reported to the Queen.
• The Grand Tutor told the Queen that Xuanzang and Ao WujI rejected the proposals and described Zhu Wuneng’s divine power, advising the Queen to grant an audience and let the travelers go if they still refused.
• The Posthouse Steward suggested using Xuanzang’s request for an audience to their advantage.

The Posthouse Steward persuaded the Queen to lure the Imperial Younger Brother into the palace and make him break his vows, while the Grand Tutor tried to object but was mysteriously compelled to agree. The Queen announced a royal wedding and ordered preparations, unaware that the officials’ identical smiles and attention were fixed entirely on her.

• The Posthouse Steward proposed welcoming the Imperial Younger Brother, inviting him into the palace, and arranging to keep him there until he broke his vows.
• The Grand Tutor objected, but she lost control of her speech and ultimately endorsed the Posthouse Steward’s plan.
• The Queen summoned the officials and announced that she would welcome the Imperial Younger Brother herself and prepare for a royal wedding.
• The Queen ordered the Rites Office and Court of Imperial Banquets to prepare decorations, a carriage, and feasts.
• The officials smiled and followed the Queen’s every movement in unison while she remained absorbed in her wedding plans.

The Queen prepared a grand procession to fetch Xuanzang as her bridegroom, while her official invited him to enter the palace alone. Wukong froze the official and attendants, and the group reconsidered how to obtain their travel papers and deal with the Mother-Child River poison.

• The Queen set out from the palace in a lavish procession to fetch Xuanzang.
• A crimson-robed official told Xuanzang that the Queen was coming to the posthouse and invited him to enter the palace without his companions.
• Wukong refused to let Xuanzang go alone and froze the official and attendants with a spell.
• Bajie suspected the Queen was using the feast and the separation to trap Xuanzang into marriage.
• Little White Dragon and Sha Wujing reminded Bajie that they still needed travel papers and a solution to the river poison, so Bajie proposed talking it over again.

Wukong proposed disguising himself as Xuanzang to meet the Queen, but Xuanzang insisted on going in person and asked Ruyi True Immortal to accompany him. Ruyi True Immortal revealed that he had regained his memories and recognized Wukong, though he refused Xuanzang’s favor.

• Wukong transformed himself into Xuanzang and offered to enter the palace in his place, while Bajie and the others inspected his disguise.
• Xuanzang rejected Wukong’s plan and said he would meet the Queen himself, prompting Bajie to warn him about the dangers in the kingdom.
• Xuanzang approached Ruyi True Immortal and asked for a favor, but Ruyi refused before hearing what it was.
• Wukong realized Ruyi recognized him, and Ruyi confirmed that he knew Wukong even after Wukong had transformed.
• Bajie grabbed Ruyi by the collar and demanded to know whether he remembered the Bull Demon King, while Ruyi remained silent and Xuanzang repeated his request.

Xuanzang asked Ruyi True Immortal whether he would marry the Queen and offered to officiate, but Ruyi refused. As the Queen arrived to fetch Xuanzang, he prepared to meet her while Ruyi remained behind, unable to bring himself to leave.

• Xuanzang asked Ruyi True Immortal if he was willing to marry the Queen and offered to officiate their wedding.
• Ruyi True Immortal refused, and Xuanzang accepted his answer and said he was free to leave.
• Xuanzang asked Wukong to release the Immobilization Spell, and the palace attendants resumed their tasks without noticing what had happened.
• Sha Wujing dressed Xuanzang in the Brocade Kasaya, while Xuanzang told Little White Dragon to stay behind and copy scriptures.
• The Queen's procession arrived at the guesthouse, and Xuanzang headed out as Ruyi True Immortal watched him and repeatedly stopped himself from speaking.

Xuanzang met the Queen of the Western Liang Kingdom, who invited him to ride with her to the palace. As she tried to lead him away, Ruyi True Immortal rushed out of Yingyang Posthouse and agreed to go with Xuanzang.

• Wukong warned Ruyi True Immortal that Xuanzang’s offer would not remain open, but Ruyi stayed silent as Wukong and Bajie escorted Xuanzang outside.
• Xuanzang, Wukong, and Bajie found the street decorated for the Queen’s arrival and saw her waiting in a Phoenix Carriage.
• The Queen admired Xuanzang, invited him to share her phoenix seat, and came down from the carriage to lead him toward the palace.
• Ruyi True Immortal ran out of Yingyang Posthouse and told Xuanzang that he was willing to go with him.

Ruyi True Immortal decided to accompany Xuanzang, but palace officials objected to letting the unidentified traveler join the procession. The Queen overruled them and invited Xuanzang into her carriage, but he refused and offered to walk to the palace instead.

• Ruyi True Immortal emerged from the posthouse and confirmed he had made up his mind to go with Xuanzang.
• The Queen ignored Ruyi True Immortal and focused on Xuanzang, while the Grand Tutor and the Rites Office official warned that his identity was unknown.
• Xuanzang refused to enter the palace unless Ruyi True Immortal could accompany him, prompting the Queen to permit it despite the female officials' objections.
• The Queen insisted that her promise stood and reached for Xuanzang's arm, but Xuanzang withdrew it and declined to ride in her carriage.
• Xuanzang told the Queen to board her carriage and said he would accompany her to the palace on foot.

Xuanzang entered Western Liang’s palace procession beside the Queen, who urged him to stay and become her king. Ruyi True Immortal followed behind as officials insulted him, leaving him visibly troubled as the procession continued.

• The Queen chose to walk beside Xuanzang after the Grand Tutor objected, and the officials resumed their smiles and obeyed her.
• Wukong encouraged Ruyi True Immortal not to retreat, returned his shattered Golden Hook, and watched him hurry after Xuanzang.
• Xuanzang and the Queen entered the Inner City together while Wukong and Bajie returned to the posthouse for the banquet.
• The Queen praised Xuanzang’s journey and invited him to stay as Western Liang’s king, but he refused.
• The Grand Tutor and several female officials insulted Ruyi True Immortal as they walked, and Xuanzang paused until Ruyi True Immortal met his gaze and continued following.

Wukong suspected that the palace officials were acting under the influence of a hidden force and decided to follow Xuanzang with Bajie. As the Queen welcomed Xuanzang to the palace banquet, Wukong and Bajie slipped out of the posthouse in disguise.

• Bajie and Sha Wujing ate at the banquet while Wukong told his companions that the palace officials had changed their behavior after the Ruyi True Immortal appeared.
• Wukong worried that the palace officials might attack Xuanzang, and Bajie insisted on going with him to watch what happened.
• Wukong left doubles behind and transformed himself and Bajie into tiny flying insects to sneak toward the Inner City.
• The Queen and Xuanzang entered the palace with Ruyi True Immortal and the Grand Tutor, then the Queen personally toasted Xuanzang at the banquet.
• When Xuanzang said he did not drink wine, the Queen drank the cup herself.

At her wedding feast, the Queen of Western Liang used a public show of drunken affection to secretly plead with Xuanzang to save her and her kingdom from an unseen threat. After regaining her composure, she moved her table beside him and asked whether her beauty stirred his heart.

• The Queen drank wine at the wedding feast and invited Xuanzang to sit beside her, but he refused to leave his place.
• The Queen leaned against Xuanzang and whispered that someone was watching her, that she was losing control, and that he must save her and Western Liang.
• Wukong and Bajie watched the banquet from a ceiling beam, and Wukong scolded Bajie for joking that Xuanzang and the Queen had fallen in love.
• The Queen straightened, dismissed concern about her health, and ordered her table moved beside Xuanzang.
• The Queen asked Xuanzang to look at her and tell her whether her beauty stirred his heart.

At the feast, Xuanzang refused the Queen’s advances and explained that attachment came from the heart, not from beauty itself. When she served him tea, he sensed something was wrong and asked whether she was still herself, ending with a quiet question: “Why go to such lengths?”

• Xuanzang answered the Queen’s question about her beauty with a story about a celestial maiden’s flowers and the nature of attachment.
• Xuanzang told the Queen he would not stay, and she accepted his answer while the Grand Tutor watched in anger.
• The Queen personally poured tea for Xuanzang, prompting Bajie to worry and Wukong to watch the scene closely.
• Xuanzang asked the Queen whether she was still herself, then addressed her as a benefactor and asked why she was going to such lengths.