Chapter Summaries

Chen Wei and Yang Chan drove the Bull Demon King away after he attacked Chen Wei at Banana Cave, and Chen Wei discovered that Niu Aitian had accidentally provoked the fight. Chen Wei then proposed a heart-to-heart to resolve the family’s grievance over Red Boy joining Buddhism, promising that Sun Wukong could bring Red Boy back for a visit.

• Yang Chan rushed to check Chen Wei for injuries, then composed herself when Madam Iron Fan watched.
• Chen Wei spotted Niu Aitian hiding in a cloud and learned that he had tipped off the Bull Demon King about Sun Wukong visiting Banana Cave.
• Niu Aitian explained that the Bull Demon King had heard only that Sun Wukong was at his wife’s cave and had attacked without hearing the rest of the explanation.
• Chen Wei realized the conflict had resulted from a misunderstanding and recalled Sun Wukong’s advice about dealing with the Bull Demon King.
• Chen Wei proposed that everyone talk through their grievance over Red Boy joining Buddhism and offered to ask Sun Wukong to bring Red Boy back for a visit.
• Madam Iron Fan brightened at the offer, and Chen Wei assured her that Sun Wukong could do it.

Chen Wei used Sun Wukong’s authority to promise Madam Iron Fan that Red Boy would be brought back for a family reunion, while Yang Chan prepared to cover for him if the promise caused trouble. At Pure Heart Temple, Sun Wukong backed Chen Wei’s claim and Xuanzang supported releasing the Golden-Winged Great Peng after proper procedures.

• Chen Wei told Madam Iron Fan he would arrange for Red Boy to visit, and she urgently contacted the Bull Demon King.
• Yang Chan trusted Chen Wei but prepared sealed Imperial Decrees in case she needed to rescue the situation.
• Guanyin Bodhisattva asked Sun Wukong to release the Golden-Winged Great Peng, explaining that she would seek the Great Heavenly Venerable’s approval.
• Guanyin told Sun Wukong that an Immortal Official from Tongming Hall had come to Mount Potalaka to invite Red Boy to visit his parents in the name of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
• Sun Wukong claimed he had indeed authorized Red Boy’s visit and agreed to follow Xuanzang’s suggestion to seek proper approval before releasing the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

Chen Wei resolved the Bull Demon King's attack as a misunderstanding and refused his public gift, while Niu Aitian repaired Banana Cave and ingratiated himself with Chen Wei. Yang Chan privately imagined having a child with Chen Wei, and Red Boy arrived at the mountain insisting that everyone call him Niu Aimin.

• Madam Iron Fan scolded the Bull Demon King for attacking Chen Wei, then helped frame the incident as a misunderstanding, which Chen Wei accepted.
• The Bull Demon King tried to give Chen Wei a Storage Bag, but Chen Wei refused it on official grounds, and Niu Aitian signaled that gifts should be handled privately.
• Niu Aitian repaired Banana Cave's damaged ceiling and hung a banner praising the Heavenly Court, earning approval from Madam Iron Fan and Chen Wei.
• Yang Chan wondered what a child with Chen Wei would be like while Chen Wei exchanged praise with the Bull Demon King, Madam Iron Fan, and Niu Aitian.
• Red Boy arrived at the mountain and told the demons that his name was now Niu Aimin, not Great King Sacred Infant.

Niu Aimin returned to Green Cloud Mountain with a new name, new manners, and a fervent commitment to the Heavenly Court, shocking his parents and everyone at Banana Cave. The reunion ended with Niu Aimin formally pledging his mountain's support to Chen Wei, while Chen Wei and Yang Chan were left awkwardly contemplating a future child.

• Niu Aimin ordered the lesser demons on Green Cloud Mountain to wear clean Daoist robes and polished shoes, then reassured himself that demonkind needed to align with the Heavenly Court.
• At Banana Cave, Madam Iron Fan sensed Niu Aimin's return and rushed outside with the Bull Demon King, while Niu Aitian stayed behind Chen Wei and Yang Chan until they went out.
• Niu Aimin knelt before his parents and staged an emotional reunion with music played by lesser demons hidden in the clouds, leaving the Bull Demon King bewildered.
• Yang Chan wondered whether a future child with Chen Wei would be as obedient as Niu Aimin, and they both became flustered when they realized what they were discussing.
• Niu Aimin approached Chen Wei and delivered a formal speech pledging Green Cloud Mountain's support for the Heavenly Court's principles and directives.

Chen Wei helped Niu Aimin persuade his family and Green Cloud Mountain’s demons to embrace the Heavenly Court, then reconciled the Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong praised Chen Wei’s work and asked Yang Chan when she would address his disciple’s matter.

• Niu Aimin urged Madam Iron Fan to have another child and convinced the Bull Demon King to rename himself Niu Zuntian, while Niu Aitian supported him.
• Chen Wei proposed celebrating with dumplings, and Niu Aimin invited the Demon Kings of the Seventy-Two Caves to gather at Banana Cave.
• The demon representatives arrived in clean Daoist robes and joined the gathering, while Chen Wei and Yang Chan approved of the peaceful scene.
• Sun Wukong appeared from Chen Wei’s chest, and Niu Aimin protected him when the Bull Demon King angrily confronted him.
• Madam Iron Fan reminded the Bull Demon King of his promise, and the Bull Demon King and Sun Wukong apologized and agreed to let bygones be bygones.
• Sun Wukong congratulated Chen Wei on completing the assignment, then asked Yang Chan when she would address his disciple’s matter.

After Sun Wukong teased Chen Wei and Yang Chan about their future child, Chen Wei promised to marry her openly and honorably. He completed his assignment for Taishang Laojun, who offered him another reward, and Chen Wei asked to become his Named Disciple.

• Sun Wukong secretly advised Chen Wei to have a child with Yang Chan before seeking approval, but Chen Wei firmly rejected the idea.
• Yang Chan considered Sun Wukong's plan, but Chen Wei promised to find a proper way to marry her and take her home as his bride.
• Chen Wei traveled to the Thirty-Three Heavens and reported the completed assignment to Taishang Laojun, who praised his work and gave him a Jade Tablet.
• Taishang Laojun invited Chen Wei to request another reward, and Chen Wei asked to serve him and become his Named Disciple.

Chen Wei failed to secure nominal disciple status from Taishang Laojun but received the Six Ding Divine Fire Technique and displayed it in his office. He offered his trusted subordinates the chief official’s post to test their loyalty, and Ma Muzhi proposed merging the offices under Chen Wei’s leadership.

• Chen Wei asked Taishang Laojun to take him as a nominal disciple, but Laojun refused and bestowed the Six Ding Divine Fire Technique instead.
• Chen Wei hung the jade slip beneath the plaque in the Left Commissioner’s Office, where Ma Muzhi, Pang Long, Xiao Yan, and Chu Feng admired it.
• Chen Wei announced that he would give up his concurrent post and invited his four subordinates to consider becoming chief official of the Censorate.
• Chen Wei watched the four subordinates carefully, using the offered post to test their loyalty and awareness.
• Ma Muzhi spoke first and suggested merging the Folk Customs and Morals Inspection Bureau, the Left Commissioner’s Office, and the Inspector’s Government Office under Chen Wei as chief official.

Chen Wei tested his subordinates’ loyalty with the Chief Official’s Seal, then endured Yang Chan’s sweet-tangyuan test during a meeting. Yang Chan announced that the Great Heavenly Venerable had issued an imperial decree making Chen Wei a director, leaving his new promotion’s implications unknown.

• Pang Long and Ma Muzhi rejected taking the Chief Official’s Seal and affirmed their loyalty to Chen Wei and Yang Chan, prompting Chen Wei to put the seal away.
• Yang Chan entered the meeting with tangyuan and insisted that Chen Wei eat two bowls; Chen Wei ate three to satisfy her and set an example for his subordinates.
• Chen Wei reprimanded Yang Chan for arriving late, and she accepted his criticism while planning to serve him molten-centered Black Sesame Tangyuan later.
• Yang Chan presented an imperial decree from the Great Heavenly Venerable and congratulated Chen Wei on becoming a director.

Chen Wei received an imperial decree promoting his bureau into the Discipline Inspection Court and making him its director, a powerful position that drew immediate concern from him and Taibai Jinxing. After Yang Chan helped him fuse their dao fruits, Chen Wei visited Taibai Jinxing to affirm his loyalty, just as the Morning Court Assembly began.

• The Great Heavenly Venerable's decree reorganized the Tongming Hall Folk Customs and Morals Inspection Bureau into the Discipline Inspection Court and promoted Chen Wei to Court Director.
• Ma Muzhi, Pang Long, Xiao Yan, and Chu Feng left to handle the new court's preparations while Ma Muzhi sealed the hall with a soundproof barrier.
• Yang Chan told Chen Wei she had brought the decree from Lingxiao Palace, reassured him about his new responsibilities, and summoned his dao fruit to fuse with her own.
• After two hours of dao fruit fusion, Chen Wei went to see Taibai Jinxing and humbly placed the new court and its officials under the Star Lord's command.
• Taibai Jinxing warned Chen Wei that many eyes were watching him and that the promotion carried serious significance; a bell then rang to announce the Morning Court Assembly at Lingxiao Palace.

At his first Morning Court Assembly, Chen Wei learned how Heavenly Court officials presented only successful outcomes before Martial Virtue Star Lord challenged his appointment as director of the Discipline Inspection Court. Great Emperor Ziwei called Chen Wei forward to answer the objection, leaving every official watching him.

• Chen Wei attended the Morning Court Assembly for the first time and observed the ranks of immortals and their reports.
• Chen Wei realized officials presented resolved problems and successful results rather than asking the court to handle difficulties.
• Martial Virtue Star Lord objected to Chen Wei's appointment, arguing that the Discipline Inspection Court's director needed greater seniority and standing because he wanted the position for his son, Wu Ji.
• Chen Wei understood that Taibai Jinxing and the Great Heavenly Venerable would not intervene, so he had to defend his appointment himself.
• Great Emperor Ziwei called for the Discipline Inspection Court's director, and Chen Wei stepped forward to answer.
• Nezha told Li Jing that Chen Wei had once bested the Holy Manifestation True Lord and warned that Martial Virtue Star Lord might be asking for trouble.

At the Morning Court Assembly, Martial Virtue Star Lord tried to undermine Chen Wei’s appointment as Chief of the Discipline Inspection Court, but Chen Wei turned the accusations back on him by declaring his loyalty to the Great Heavenly Venerable. Just as the confrontation seemed over, Big Dipper Star Lord launched a new insinuation against Chen Wei.

• Martial Virtue Star Lord questioned Chen Wei’s shallow roots and fitness to lead the Discipline Inspection Court, while Great Emperor Ziwei asked whether Chen Wei objected.
• Chen Wei calmly admitted that his roots were shallow, then insisted he could oversee the Heavenly Court’s officials and the Three Realms.
• Martial Virtue Star Lord accused Chen Wei of relying on a mentor, backer, or accomplice, hoping to implicate Taibai Jinxing or Yang Chan.
• Chen Wei named the Great Heavenly Venerable as his mentor and backer, denied having accomplices, and invited an investigation into his background.
• Martial Virtue Star Lord backed down, but Big Dipper Star Lord immediately insinuated that Chen Wei was skilled at wading into muddy waters.

Taibai Jinxing defended Chen Wei’s record of risking his life to quell the Tongtian River rebellion, turning the criticism of his fishing into an accusation against the Heavenly Court’s military officers. The Great Heavenly Venerable charged Chen Wei with diligently serving the newly established Discipline Inspection Court, and Chen pledged his loyalty.

• The Big Dipper Star Lord criticized Chen Wei for wading into the water to catch fish, and Chen stayed silent while resolving to investigate how the Star Lord had learned about it.
• Taibai Jinxing challenged the Big Dipper Star Lord and praised Chen Wei for entering the Tongtian River rebellion and capturing demons, while mocking the Martial Virtue Star Lord for criticizing him from the sidelines.
• The Big Dipper Star Lord withdrew, but the Martial Virtue Star Lord tried to object until Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing admitted the military officers had failed to suppress demonic calamities and declared their guilt.
• Nezha openly insulted the Martial Virtue Star Lord, who glared at him, while Chen Wei watched and felt reassured by Taibai Jinxing’s support.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable instructed Chen Wei to attend diligently to his duties in the Discipline Inspection Court, and Chen pledged not to fail him.

After Taibai Jinxing warned Chen Wei to settle the Golden-Winged Great Peng case without compromising the Heavenly Court’s laws, Chen Wei and his subordinates debated how to act. Chen decided the Great Peng had to die and ordered them to find Yellow Brows.

• After the court assembly, Taibai Jinxing told Chen Wei that Spirit Mountain was pressuring the Heavenly Court over the Golden-Winged Great Peng and urged him to resolve the case with dignity while upholding the law.
• Chen Wei gathered Ma Muzhi, Pang Long, Xiao Yan, and Chu Feng at the Discipline Inspection Court to ask for a proposal.
• Ma Muzhi and Pang Long suggested using Spirit Mountain’s internal divisions to release the Great Peng under strict restrictions.
• Chen Wei interpreted Taibai Jinxing’s order as a demand to kill the Great Peng, and Ma Muzhi and Pang Long reluctantly agreed.
• Chen Wei ordered Ma Muzhi and Pang Long to find Yellow Brows to handle the matter.

Chen Wei visited Sun Wukong on Flower-Fruit Mountain to explain the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s crimes, while Yang Chan accompanied him as the newly appointed deputy director of the Discipline Inspection Court. Sun Wukong tacitly approved the Heavenly Court’s action, and Chen Wei inferred a way to make the Great Peng’s death look accidental.

• Yang Chan declared herself deputy director of the Discipline Inspection Court and insisted on joining Chen Wei’s mission.
• Chen Wei and Yang Chan traveled to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where Yang Chan urged Chen Wei to target Wu Ji in future investigations against the Martial Virtue Star Lord.
• A mischievous six-eared monkey threw a peach at Chen Wei, and Sun Wukong caught the monkey and teased the visitors about being lovers.
• Sun Wukong agreed to Chen Wei’s request before hearing the details, then listened as Chen Wei described the Golden-Winged Great Peng’s crimes at the Tongtian River.
• Sun Wukong mentioned the Great Peng’s extraordinary speed, and Chen Wei concluded that he could arrange an accidental death by having the demon collide with something immovable.

Chen Wei reassured Yang Chan about their future before they returned to the Heavenly Court, while Sun Wukong reflected on his lonely origins with Little Macaque. Meanwhile, Yellow Brows arrived to free the trapped Golden-Winged Great Peng, Azure Lion, and White Elephant Spirit, warning them to fly north; the Great Peng accepted despite his unease.

• Chen Wei found Yang Chan staring at the sea, reassured her about their future, and stayed close as she leaned against him.
• Sun Wukong carried Little Macaque into the Water Curtain Cave and lamented that they were both born from rocks without mothers.
• Yellow Brows and another Immortal General arrived at the mountain where the Golden-Winged Great Peng, Azure Lion, and White Elephant Spirit were trapped.
• Yellow Brows told the demons that the Heavenly Court would free them, but ordered them to fly straight north and not west.
• The Golden-Winged Great Peng and his companions agreed to the condition, and Yellow Brows began breaking the Imperial Decree's seal.

After Yellow Brows freed the Golden-Winged Great Peng, Azure Lion, and White Elephant Spirit, the three demons ignored his instructions and fled south, where they were caught causing trouble. Spirit Mountain learned that the Heavenly Court expected the demons to face punishment, and Manjushri and Samantabhadra set out for Lingxiao Palace to answer for them.

• Yellow Brows warned the three freed demons to fly north, but they turned south instead.
• The Golden-Winged Great Peng cut off contact with Yellow Brows and led Azure Lion and White Elephant Spirit toward Southern Jambudvipa to seek food.
• The southern Growth Heavenly King caught the demons and filed a complaint with Lingxiao Palace, angering the Great Heavenly Venerable.
• Manjushri told Tathagata Buddha that the demons had defied the ruling and fled, while Tathagata declined to intervene directly.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng urged Manjushri to go to Lingxiao Palace, and Manjushri made Samantabhadra accompany him because White Elephant Spirit was his mount.

Manjushri and Samantabhadra brought Guanyin and the Sandalwood Merit Buddha to Lingxiao Palace as the Heavenly Court prepared to punish the Three Demons. The Great Heavenly Venerable ordered Chen Wei to propose a plan, and Chen Wei suggested sparing the demons only if they survived the overwhelming force sent to capture them.

• Manjushri and Samantabhadra persuaded Guanyin and the Sandalwood Merit Buddha to join their delegation to the Heavenly Court.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable ordered Li Jing, Nezha, and a hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers and Generals to capture the Golden-Winged Great Peng, Azure Lion, and White Elephant Spirit, and sent a decree summoning Yang Jian.
• The Big Dipper Star Lord scolded Spirit Mountain, while Samantabhadra declared that the Buddhist Sect would accept whatever punishment heavenly laws imposed.
• Guanyin asked the Sandalwood Merit Buddha, Xuanzang, for his judgment, and he said the Three Demons deserved death for their crimes.
• The Great Heavenly Venerable called on Chen Wei to propose a plan, and Chen Wei said the demons could be spared if they survived the Heavenly Court's encirclement.

Chen Wei secured the Heavenly Court's approval to send Sun Wukong alongside its forces against the Three Demons. At Spirit Mountain, Tathagata Buddha refused to save the Golden-Winged Great Peng and tried to stop the Peacock Buddha Mother from intervening, but she pleaded to rescue her brother.

• Chen Wei repeated Taibai Jinxing's proposal, and the Great Heavenly Venerable agreed to spare the Three Demons if they survived the encirclement.
• The Sandalwood Merit Buddha proposed sending Wukong to Southern Jambudvipa, and the Great Heavenly Venerable authorized him to arrange it.
• Ancient Buddha Randeng left the Great Hero Hall to bring the Three Demons back, while Tathagata Buddha refused to take responsibility for his mission.
• Tathagata Buddha visited the Peacock Buddha Mother and warned her that the Golden-Winged Great Peng's crimes left him beyond saving.
• The Peacock Buddha Mother offered to confess and accept punishment in her brother's place, but Tathagata Buddha told her not to leave Spirit Mountain.

Chen Wei closed the case against the Three Demons and endured Yang Chan’s jealous interrogation, which revealed that Lu'er and Zi'er had also visited him. After learning that the Nine-Headed Lion had slipped away from the Palace of Sublime Grandeur, Chen Wei decided to use the report as a reason to visit Great Emperor Qinghua.

• Sun Wukong returned three Sariras after the Three Demons perished in the astral winds, and Nezha and Yang Jian supported his account.
• Chen Wei signed the case-closing document, and Yang Chan mocked him over the fairies visiting the Censorate.
• Chen Wei let slip that Lu'er and Zi'er had visited him, and Yang Chan struck him with her elbow before flying away.
• Ma Muzhi reported that the Palace of Sublime Grandeur had documented the Nine-Headed Lion’s absence.
• Chen Wei learned that the Nine-Headed Lion had gone to the Mortal Realm and planned to visit Great Emperor Qinghua under the pretext of official business.

Chen Wei met with Heavenly Lord Taiyi about the Nine-Headed Lion and agreed to resolve the old injustice involving the Yellow Lion Spirit through the Censorate. Yang Chan planned to borrow treasures from Yang Jian to help Chen Wei deal with the powerful Nine-Headed Lion.

• Chen Wei and Yang Chan visited the Palace of Sublime Grandeur and were ushered in ahead of ordinary procedure.
• Heavenly Lord Taiyi welcomed Yang Chan warmly, then praised Chen Wei for his work and conduct.
• Yang Chan explained that Chen Wei had treated the Nine-Headed Lion's descent as an important matter and had come to seek guidance.
• Heavenly Lord Taiyi hinted that the Yellow Lion Spirit's death remained a source of grief for the Nine-Headed Lion, and Chen Wei proposed restoring justice through the Censorate.
• Heavenly Lord Taiyi approved Chen Wei's plan and ordered him to handle the matter according to the rules.
• Yang Chan decided to borrow treasures from Yang Jian so Chen Wei could face the Nine-Headed Lion.