Recaps

Ao Tu visited Yuanshi Tianzun, won three games of Go, and received the Yuanshi Artifact Classic and access to rooms in the Jade Void Palace. After returning toward the Daughter Kingdom, he met Alu, gave him three Golden Elixirs, and learned that Tang Sanzang and his disciples had resumed their westward journey.

• Ao Tu won three games of Go against Yuanshi Tianzun, who gave him the Yuanshi Artifact Classic and permission to use an artifact-refining chamber and a nearby hall.
• White Crane Boy gave Ao Tu a talisman key and told Bodhisattva Manjushri that he could descend the mountain.
• Ao Tu returned to the Daughter Kingdom after Lady Yunxiao rescued Tang Sanzang and his disciples from the Yellow River Formation.
• Ao Tu met Alu on the road and heard how Alu had become abbot of the Great Prajna Monastery before passing the position to a disciple.
• Ao Tu gave Alu three Three-Turn Golden Elixirs and instructed him to deliver two as gifts, including one to the powerless Water Virtue Star Lord.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples left the Daughter Kingdom's borders, and Ao Tu received rewards as his side mission concluded.

Ao Tu settled his rewards, including the Black Origin Water-Control Banner, and sent his Demon Emperor Incarnation to the lower realm with treasures. He then used a gathering to learn that the Water Virtue Star Lord had lost his cultivation and went to visit him.

• Ao Tu examined his rewards, decided to postpone refining the Ancestral Dragon's Broken Horn, and absorbed the Black Origin Water-Control Banner.
• Ao Tu returned to the Flower Realm, checked the third-grade white lotus, and sent his Demon Emperor Incarnation down to the lower realm with three treasures.
• Ao Tu kept Wukong's former cultivation for use in pill refinement after Wukong recovered his own cultivation.
• Ao Tu asked the Host of Stars why the Water Virtue Star Lord had missed their gathering and heard that a fiend had stripped him of his cultivation.
• Ao Tu took gifts and headed to Wuhao Palace to visit the Water Virtue Star Lord.

Ao Tu’s disciple Alu used a Rain-Request Writ to bring rain to drought-stricken Fengxian County, tricking the powerless Water Virtue Star Lord into approving it despite Heaven’s ban. Ao Tu confessed his involvement to the Jade Emperor and accepted a penalty of refining Golden Elixirs, while the Water Virtue Star Lord faced questioning in Lingxiao Hall.

• Ao Tu visited the Water Virtue Star Lord, who complained that Golden Elixirs to restore his cultivation had not arrived, and promised to refine some for him.
• Alu absorbed a Golden Elixir, became an immortal, and traveled to drought-stricken Fengxian County, where he offered to pray for rain.
• After the Dragon King explained that Heaven had forbidden rain, Alu flew to Heaven and obtained the Water Virtue Star Lord’s seal on a writ by disguising Fengxian County as Fengshan County.
• Alu gave the writ to the Dragon King, who brought heavy rain to Fengxian County, while the Water Virtue Star Lord recovered some of his cultivation with Alu’s Golden Elixirs.
• Ao Tu discovered the deception and confronted the Water Virtue Star Lord, who begged him to keep the forbidden rain decree secret.
• Ao Tu confessed the truth to the Jade Emperor, who ordered him to refine Golden Elixirs as punishment, while the Water Virtue Star Lord blamed Taixi when questioned in Lingxiao Hall.

The Jade Emperor punished the Water Virtue Star Lord for accepting a bribe and concealing his misconduct, then sent Ao Tu to obstruct Tang Sanzang’s party during the True and False Monkey King tribulation. Ao Tu encountered a monkey who claimed to oppose Sun Wukong and began fighting him, while Wukong’s party noticed two suns ahead and continued onward.

• The Jade Emperor punished Ao Tu for failing to discipline Alu and sentenced the Water Virtue Star Lord to two thousand hammer blows and demotion to Water Lord of Fengxian County, while ordering Heavenly King Li to arrest Alu.
• Ao Tu descended ahead of Tang Sanzang’s party and received a mission to keep the Pilgrim within the area, with rewards based on how long he obstructed them.
• A monkey who said he had a grudge against Sun Wukong proposed joining forces with Ao Tu, but they fought over who would lead.
• Ao Tu wielded the Fusang to repel the monkey’s attacks and then rose into the air, shining like a second sun.
• Wukong spotted two suns in the distance, but Tang Sanzang suggested the light came from river mist, and the party continued along the road.

Ao Tu defeated Six-Eared Macaque, healed him with a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, and agreed to help him take Sun Wukong’s place. They set out toward a nearby household, and Ao Tu gave Six-Eared Macaque a set of armor.

• Ao Tu overwhelmed Six-Eared Macaque in a fight, forcing him to submit and call Ao Tu Your Majesty.
• Ao Tu gave Six-Eared Macaque a Golden Elixir, which he ate to heal his injuries.
• Six-Eared Macaque told Ao Tu that he wanted to replace Sun Wukong because he had been rejected and isolated while Wukong had friends and good fortune.
• Ao Tu offered to help Six-Eared Macaque take Wukong’s place and asked him to listen for a nearby home.
• Six-Eared Macaque led Ao Tu toward the household, and Ao Tu gave him a set of armor.

Ao Tu and Six-Eared Macaque encountered a band of robbers in the woods, defeated them, and took their hidden treasure. Ao Tu then offered to lead the bandits, but one challenged his right to replace their dead chief.

• Ao Tu and Six-Eared Macaque walked into the woods, where Thunderbolt Saber and his bandits demanded their money and clothes.
• Ao Tu revealed that he claimed to be a thief like the bandits and demanded half their loot, but Thunderbolt Saber attacked him.
• Ao Tu shattered Thunderbolt Saber’s saber, while Six-Eared Macaque killed the horse-faced bandit; Ao Tu killed Thunderbolt Saber and bound the fleeing bandits.
• The bandits showed Ao Tu their hidden silver, gold, and jewels, which he took.
• Ao Tu offered to lead the bandits in their business, and one of the dead chief’s close followers questioned why they should follow him.

Ao Tu took control of the bandits and stayed at Yang Meng’s home, where he saw how Yang Meng abused his family and taught his son to rob. The next day, Ao Tu proposed opening an inn to lure travelers and rob them, and Yang Meng enthusiastically embraced the plan.

• Ao Tu killed a bandit who challenged him, and the rest accepted him as their king.
• Yang Meng brought Ao Tu and the bandits to his home and mistreated his parents and wife while demanding food and wine.
• Ao Tu changed clothes and had Six-Eared Macaque disguise himself as a yellow-faced man.
• Yang Meng berated his son for attending a teacher’s lessons and later forced his wife to go keep Ao Tu company, but Ao Tu sent her away.
• Ao Tu stopped Six-Eared Macaque from attacking Yang Meng and said he wanted to see whether Buddhist teachings could guide him toward goodness.
• Ao Tu proposed opening an inn to lure and rob travelers, and Yang Meng and the bandits approved.

Ao Tu turned Yang Meng's bandit gang into the operators of the Homecoming Inn and taught Yang Meng's son a way to travel fast. He told Yang Meng's wife that Tang Monk and Sun Wukong could help her and her child, then prepared the bandits for their arrival.

• Ao Tu made the bandits contribute money and labor to build the Homecoming Inn, then assigned Yang Meng's father, family, and selected bandits to run it.
• The inn earned a small profit from ordinary travelers while Ao Tu waited for a wealthy customer and had Yang Meng buy knockout powder.
• Ao Tu taught Yang Meng's son a method of traveling fast, pleasing the boy but prompting Yang Meng to imagine his son becoming a famous bandit.
• Yang Meng's wife asked Ao Tu to let her child earn an honest living and keep the inn from taking lives; Ao Tu said Tang Monk and Sun Wukong could help them.
• Six Ears told Ao Tu that Tang Monk and his disciples were approaching, and Ao Tu summoned the bandits to go do business.

Ao Tu sent bandits to rob Tang Sanzang’s party, but Wukong and his companions defeated them and injured Yang Meng. Ao Tu then planned a second ambush, using Yang Meng’s father to lure the monks back to the inn.

• Ao Tu used Six-Eared Macaque’s hearing to direct bandits toward wealthy monks traveling nearby.
• The bandits ambushed Tang Sanzang, took him for a penniless monk, and hung him from a tree while waiting for his disciple to ransom him.
• Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing arrived, freed Tang Sanzang, and fought off the bandits; Wukong injured Yang Meng as the bandits fled.
• The bandits told Ao Tu that the monks were formidable, and Six-Eared Macaque brought the injured Yang Meng back to the inn.
• Ao Tu ordered Yang Meng’s father to lure the monks to the inn, promising revenge and a larger share of the spoils.

Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached the Homecoming Inn, where Yang Meng's Father warned them that it was a thieves' den set up to ambush them. They entered despite the warning, and Wukong sensed two unusual beings inside as the thieves prepared to drug their food.

• Tang Sanzang and his disciples found an inn on the road, and Yang Meng's Father recognized them as the monks who had injured his son, Yang Meng.
• Yang Meng's Father warned the group that the inn was a murderous den and that the thieves planned to take revenge on them.
• Wukong insisted on confronting the thieves, and Tang Sanzang agreed after Wukong promised not to beat them.
• The group entered the Homecoming Inn, where Wukong noticed Ao Tu and the Yellow-Faced Attendant seemed extraordinary.
• An attendant offered the monks a free meal, then told the thieves they had arrived, and Yang Meng ordered knockout powder added to their food.

Wukong uncovered Yang Meng’s plan to drug the pilgrims and helped save his wife, then fought off the bandits when they attacked for Tang Sanzang’s Kasaya. Tang Sanzang stopped Wukong from killing the defeated robbers, while Ao Tu challenged the pilgrims’ judgment and urged them to consider his role as their bandit chief.

• Wukong questioned Ao Tu, who revealed that he had come to see whether Wukong had truly joined the monks.
• Wukong discovered Yang Meng trying to force his wife to drug the pilgrims, stopped him from suffocating her, and warned Tang Sanzang which dishes were poisoned.
• Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing ate the drugged food, pretended to collapse, and then fought the bandits when they moved to rob and kill the pilgrims.
• The bandits found Tang Sanzang’s Kasaya and prepared to divide it, but Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing defeated them.
• Tang Sanzang stopped Wukong from killing the defeated bandits, and Yang Meng’s father pleaded for his son’s life.
• Ao Tu mocked Wukong’s hesitation and defended his own inaction, asking Tang Sanzang why a bandit chief should persuade his men to become good.

Tang Sanzang spared the bandits and spent months preaching to them and teaching them to earn a living, while Ao Tu advised Six Ears to wait for a falling-out between Tang Sanzang and Wukong. As winter deepened, the bandits asked Tang Sanzang to stay at the inn while they gathered firewood and herbs themselves.

• Wukong proposed handing the bandits over to the authorities, but Tang Sanzang let them go after Yang Meng's parents pleaded for mercy.
• Ao Tu told Six Ears to wait for Tang Sanzang and Wukong to fall out before trying to take Wukong's place.
• Tang Sanzang preached to the bandits, treated Yang Meng's broken leg, and led them into the mountains to gather firewood and medicinal herbs for money.
• After two months, Tang Sanzang believed the bandits had reformed, and the group waited for Yang Meng's leg to heal before resuming their journey.
• As snow deepened near year's end, the bandits asked Tang Sanzang to rest at the inn while they went into the mountains on their own.

The bandits abandoned their promised reform, robbed a traveler, and returned to Yang Meng’s home to feast. Wukong wanted to kill them, but Tang Sanzang stopped him, leaving master and disciple in a heated argument that Ao Tu used to instruct Six Ears.

• The bandits resumed robbing travelers, beat a stonemason, and stole his fifteen taels of silver and belongings before letting him go.
• The bandits bought wine and meat, gave Yang Meng’s son a rattle drum, and feasted with Yang Meng while insulting Tang Sanzang and his disciples.
• Yang Meng’s wife learned about the feast and told Tang Sanzang, who arrived as Wukong smashed the door and prepared to attack the bandits.
• The bandits admitted they had only pretended to kill the traveler, and Tang Sanzang stopped Wukong from striking them.
• Wukong insisted the bandits deserved death, while Tang Sanzang argued they should be handed to the authorities, and Bajie and Sha Wujing tried to intervene.
• Ao Tu told Six Ears that a rift between master and disciple was inevitable and warned him not to act as Wukong did.

Tang Sanzang refused to let Wukong kill the bandits and wavered when Yang Meng and his parents pleaded for mercy. Wukong used the Golden Sarira to make the bandits repent, frustrating Ao Tu and Six Ears’s scheme.

• Wukong yielded to Tang Sanzang’s demand to spare the bandits and sent Bajie to report them to the authorities.
• The bandits turned on Yang Meng when he claimed he had not joined their robberies, and Yang Meng’s parents arrived as Bajie went to report them.
• Yang Meng feigned remorse and pleaded to care for his elderly parents, prompting Tang Sanzang to ask Wukong to delay reporting the bandits.
• Wukong argued with Tang Sanzang, then remembered the Golden Sarira and shone its light on Yang Meng and the bandits, transforming them into sincere penitents.
• Ao Tu realized the Tathagata’s intervention had ruined the scheme, while Six Ears remained calm.

Tang Sanzang allowed the Buddha-Light-converted bandits to go unreported, but Wukong remained troubled by their past crimes. When Yang Meng reverted to evil and attacked his wife, Wukong killed him; the remaining bandits were still plotting to steal the kasaya and flee.

• Tang Sanzang agreed not to report the reformed bandits after Yang Meng's parents pleaded for them, and the pilgrims accepted a vegetarian banquet before planning to resume their journey west.
• Wukong went outside at night, while escaped bandits returned to the inn and stirred Yang Meng's memories of his crimes until the Buddha-Light's influence faded.
• Yang Meng and the bandits planned to steal Wukong's kasaya and escape, and Yang Meng went to take his son while leaving his parents behind.
• Yang Meng struck his wife and threatened her when she tried to stop him from taking their son, then drew a knife as she called for help.
• Wukong smashed into the room and killed Yang Meng with his staff after Yang Meng begged for mercy.

Wukong killed Yang Meng and buried his body with Yang Meng’s wife taking responsibility, while Ao Tu and Six-Eared Macaque chose not to expose him. Thieves tried to steal Tang Sanzang’s Kasaya, and Bajie discovered Wukong burying the corpse just as Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing arrived.

• Wukong killed Yang Meng, and Yang Meng’s wife agreed to conceal the truth and take responsibility for burying him.
• Wukong buried Yang Meng in the vegetable patch while Ao Tu and Six-Eared Macaque watched; Six-Eared Macaque refused to inform on him.
• Three thieves entered Tang Sanzang’s room to steal the Kasaya, but Sha Wujing caught one and Bajie pursued the other two.
• Bajie found the fleeing thieves beside Wukong as he buried Yang Meng, then saw the bloody remains in the pit despite Wukong’s attempts to hide them.
• Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing arrived while Bajie questioned Wukong about the body.

Wukong killed Yang Meng and refused to show remorse, while Tang Sanzang condemned his actions and tried to honor the dead. After Yang Meng's soul resisted Tang Sanzang's scripture, Wukong destroyed the grave mound and challenged his master to use the Tightening-Fillet Spell.

• Bajie and Sha Wujing bound the two thieves, who confessed that Yang Meng had planned to steal from the household with them.
• Wukong revealed that he had beaten Yang Meng to death, and Tang Sanzang rebuked him while Wukong admitted fault without arguing.
• Tang Sanzang recited scripture over Yang Meng's remains, but Ao Tu noticed the soul resisted the delivering power and collected it for later examination.
• Wukong refused to bow to Yang Meng and argued with Tang Sanzang, then interrupted Yang Meng's wife's attempt to explain the truth.
• Wukong struck apart the grave mound, immobilized Yang Meng's mother when she tried to protect it, and told Tang Sanzang to recite the Tightening-Fillet Spell.

Wukong clashed with Tang Sanzang over killing Yang Meng and destroying his grave, then left for Spirit Mountain to demand that Tathagata Buddha explain why the Sarira had failed to redeem the bandits. He reached the Buddhist hall and was welcomed by Dragon-Subduing Arhat and Tiger-Taming Arhat.

• Tang Sanzang woke after fainting and rebuked Wukong for killing Yang Meng and flattening his grave mound, while Wukong insisted the bandits deserved death.
• Wukong told Bajie to leave the captured bandits tied up for Tang Sanzang to handle, then decided to ask Tathagata Buddha whether the Sarira’s failure was part of a test.
• Wukong departed for Spirit Mountain, leaving Bajie and Sha Wujing to protect Tang Sanzang and the captives.
• Bajie told Tang Sanzang where Wukong had gone and suggested Buddha might have arranged a test.
• Wukong shouted that Buddhist teachings did not work, evaded the Four Great Guardian Kings, and entered the hall with Dragon-Subduing Arhat and Tiger-Taming Arhat.

Wukong sought Tathagata Buddha's help after killing a robber and falling out with Tang Sanzang, and learned that demons had been blamed for their discord. Mahamayuri Bodhisattva captured Six-Eared Macaque while Ao Tu escaped, but as the Bodhisattva moved to kill the macaque, a blazing sun and three-legged golden crow appeared.

• Wukong told Tathagata Buddha that the Holy Buddha Sarira had failed to reform the robbers and that his actions had caused a rift with Tang Sanzang.
• Tathagata Buddha revealed that two demons had caused discord between Wukong and Tang Sanzang, and ordered Mahamayuri Bodhisattva to help subdue them.
• Mahamayuri Bodhisattva told Wukong he would kill the demons and robbers, and they traveled together to the inn.
• Ao Tu sensed their arrival and escaped as a rainbow, while Mahamayuri Bodhisattva captured Six-Eared Macaque in his true form.
• Six-Eared Macaque said he had planned to trouble Wukong but changed his mind out of pity, as Mahamayuri Bodhisattva prepared to kill him.
• A great sun appeared with a three-legged golden crow seated at its center.

Ao Tu evaded Mahamayuri Bodhisattva in a battle that brought a second sun into the sky, while Tang Sanzang and his disciples sheltered at the inn. Mahamayuri Bodhisattva agreed to stop fighting, but Ao Tu seized Six-Eared Macaque and escaped, leaving the others to hear how he had been tricked.

• Ao Tu appeared as a second sun, and Mahamayuri Bodhisattva pursued him across the sky while Tang Sanzang and his disciples took shelter from the heat.
• Tang Sanzang asked Wukong to rescue the robbers, but Wukong refused and Bajie pretended to suffer heatstroke, so Sha Wujing brought the bound robbers into the inn.
• Wukong opened another stable and led the White Dragon Horse into the inn, while the robbers entered and asked for water that Bajie had already drunk.
• Mahamayuri Bodhisattva warned Ao Tu that two suns were harming living beings, and the pair agreed to stop fighting and descend together.
• Ao Tu attacked Mahamayuri Bodhisattva during their descent, seized Six-Eared Macaque, and fled as a rainbow.
• Mahamayuri Bodhisattva descended to the inn and told Tang Sanzang, Wukong, Bajie, and Sha Wujing how Ao Tu had deceived him.

Mahamayuri Bodhisattva took the bandits to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, while Ao Tu and Six-Eared Macaque escaped and settled near Tang Sanzang’s route. Ao Tu disguised himself as a monk and entered a poor family’s hut, where he learned the family’s hardship and offered to treat the injured son.

• Mahamayuri Bodhisattva took the bandits away, ate them on the way to the Netherworld, and delivered their souls to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who suppressed them with vow power.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples set out west again after Wukong said the bandits seemed to be sent to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
• Ao Tu escaped with Six-Eared Macaque, whose arms were broken, and directed him to establish a cave abode near a thatched hut and recruit lesser demons.
• After Six-Eared Macaque left, Ao Tu transformed into a monk and asked the old granny at the hut for food and water.
• Ao Tu learned that the old granny’s son had been injured by bandits and that the family was struggling to survive, then offered to treat him.

Ao Tu treated a poor stonemason’s rotting leg by giving his family a Buddha statue and instructing them to offer their food. He then joined Six-Eared Macaque and the lesser demons to establish a cave dwelling, naming it Flower-Fruit Mountain and Water Curtain Cave.

• Ao Tu told the stonemason that the dead flesh in his leg had rotted away, then gave Old Granny a Buddha statue and promised that sincere worship would bring a chance of healing.
• Ao Tu told the family to offer four wild-greens cakes to Buddha each day, then transformed into the Peacock Great Wisdom King Bodhisattva to convince them.
• Ao Tu flew to the mountain, where Six-Eared Macaque had gathered several newly transformed lesser demons, and approved them before they began building a cave dwelling.
• Ao Tu directed the wild boar spirit and frog spirit to build a Prison Cave and a back-door escape route while they argued about eating people.
• Ao Tu named the mountain Flower-Fruit Mountain and the cave Water Curtain Cave because a monkey lived there.

Ao Tu built up Flower-Fruit Mountain, cared for its demons, and strengthened them with sun and moon essence before Tang Sanzang and his disciples arrived. Wukong confronted Six-Eared Macaque over the stolen name and appearance, but was left speechless when the demons proudly presented their mountain’s fruits.

• Ao Tu established Water Curtain Cave, organized the demons, and secretly left food for the Stonecutter's Wife.
• Ao Tu refined moonlight and sunlight into drops that healed and empowered the demons, then shared more with Six-Eared Macaque.
• Tang Sanzang and his disciples reached Flower-Fruit Mountain, where the little demons captured them and claimed their Great King was the Handsome Monkey King.
• Wukong learned the mountain’s name and confronted Six-Eared Macaque, accusing him of copying Wukong’s appearance and usurping his banner.
• Six-Eared Macaque challenged Wukong to compare their Flower-Fruit Mountains, and the little demons presented their gathered fruit and flowers.
• Wukong stood rooted in place as Six-Eared Macaque asked which mountain was real and which was fake.

Wukong confronted Six-Eared Macaque at a false Flower-Fruit Mountain, but Ao Tu joined the fight and captured the Tang Monk and his companions. The captives were locked in Prison Cave, where Ao Tu revealed he had seized them for their divine connections rather than to eat them.

• Six-Eared Macaque challenged Wukong’s attachment to Flower-Fruit Mountain, and Bajie helped Wukong regain his resolve.
• Wukong and Six-Eared Macaque fought evenly until Ao Tu emerged from Water Curtain Cave and attacked Bajie and Sha Wujing.
• Ao Tu struck Wukong down with Six-Eared Macaque’s help, then knocked the Tang Monk from his horse and captured the White Dragon Horse.
• Ao Tu defeated the revealed guardian gods, captured everyone, and locked them in Prison Cave.
• Ao Tu told the demons that the captives were divine officials and should not be eaten, while the Tang Monk pleaded to be released.

Ao Tu challenged Tang Sanzang’s faith in the Buddha’s claim that he had plotted against the pilgrims, while Tang Sanzang’s injured leg left him suffering in the Prison Cave. Wukong sought help identifying the three-legged crow, and, guided by the Taiyin Star Lord, set out with Ao Tu to investigate the sun.

• Ao Tu questioned Tang Sanzang about why he believed the Buddha’s claim that Ao Tu had plotted against them, but Tang Sanzang could not explain why Ao Tu had captured them without harming them.
• Tang Sanzang collapsed from a leg and hip injury, and the others could find neither a healer nor medicine in the Prison Cave.
• Wukong went to the Flower Realm, where Ao Tu shared immortal wine, gave him a healing pill for Tang Sanzang, and offered him immortal brocade.
• The Taiyin Star Lord suggested the three-legged crow might be connected to the Taiyang Star Lord or newly nurtured by the sun, and urged Ao Tu to accompany Wukong.
• Wukong and Ao Tu agreed to investigate the sun while Tang Sanzang remained captive.