Recaps

Sun Wukong, Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing reached the Horse-Racing Kingdom, where they found shackled monks from the Golden Light Temple. The monks said a holy monk from the Great Tang would save them and began describing the kingdom’s troubles, including a strange rain of blood.

• Sun Wukong teased Zhu Bajie about seeing beauties, then identified the distant city as a great kingdom.
• Tang Xuanzang saw shackled monks begging at the city gate and sent Sun Wukong to ask what had happened to them.
• The monks said they came from the Golden Light Temple and led the group there to speak privately.
• At the dilapidated temple, the monks recognized Tang Xuanzang as a holy monk from the Great Tang who had appeared in one of their dreams.
• The monks named the city the Horse-Racing Kingdom and said its king was wicked despite the kingdom’s former prosperity.
• The monks recounted that blood had once rained from the sky, prompting the king to summon Daoists to perform rituals at the temple.

Tang Xuanzang promised to sweep the pagoda and investigate the monks’ false accusation before continuing his journey. While sweeping, Sun Wukong found two monsters at the top and brought them to Tang Xuanzang for questioning.

• Tang Xuanzang listened as the monks explained their plight and decided to report the matter to the king after sweeping the pagoda.
• Sun Wukong removed the monks’ shackles, and Tang Xuanzang ate, bathed, and prepared to sweep the pagoda that night.
• Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong swept the pagoda’s floors, and Tang Xuanzang rested on the tenth floor after growing tired.
• Sun Wukong heard voices on the thirteenth floor and found two monsters eating and drinking there.
• Sun Wukong brought the monsters to Tang Xuanzang so he could question them about the stolen treasure.

Sun Wukong learned that the Dragon King’s demons had stolen the pagoda’s treasure, and Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong brought the accusation before the king. The king sent imperial guards with Tang Xuanzang to the Golden Light Temple to bring the captured demons to court.

• Wang Laowu confessed that the Dragon King’s son-in-law had stolen the sarira and that Princess Wansheng had taken the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi Herb.
• Sun Wukong stopped Zhu Bajie from killing Wang Laowu and Li Lao'er, and the monks locked the demons up at the Golden Light Temple.
• Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong went to court to have Tang Xuanzang’s travel permit certified.
• Tang Xuanzang told the king that the demons who stole the pagoda’s treasure were captured and held at the temple.
• The king sent imperial guards with Tang Xuanzang to the Golden Light Temple to bring the demons before him.

Sun Wukong brought two demons before the king, then agreed to capture the demons who had stolen the king’s treasure. The nine-headed demon confronted him, and Sun Wukong explained that he had come to help the king and the wrongly accused monks.

• Sun Wukong brought the two demons before the king, who questioned them about the stolen treasure and the other demons.
• Tang Xuanzang introduced himself and his disciples to the king, who offered a reward if Sun Wukong captured the remaining demons.
• Sun Wukong sent the two lesser demons back to warn their king that he had arrived and demand the treasure’s return.
• The Dragon King’s son-in-law volunteered to fight Sun Wukong, then challenged him when he appeared.
• Sun Wukong faced the nine-headed demon and defended his right to help the king and clear the Golden Light Temple monks’ names.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie fought the Nine-Headed Bug and tried to recover the stolen treasure, but the monster escaped into the river palace. After Sun Wukong killed the old Dragon King, Erlang Shen arrived with the Six Brothers of Mount Mei, and Sun Wukong began asking him for help.

• Sun Wukong fought the prince consort through the night, while Zhu Bajie joined the battle and the monster revealed his true form as a Nine-Headed Bug.
• The Nine-Headed Bug captured Zhu Bajie and took him to the water palace, where Sun Wukong found him tied up and learned that his Nine-Toothed Rake had been taken.
• Sun Wukong used an Invisibility Technique to steal back the Nine-Toothed Rake, and Zhu Bajie charged into the main hall and smashed the rice bowls.
• The prince consort confronted Zhu Bajie, who escaped from the river as the old Dragon King led his troops in pursuit; Sun Wukong killed the old Dragon King with one blow.
• Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie to return for the treasure and promised to help fight the prince consort, but Lord Erlang Shen arrived with the Six Brothers of Mount Mei before they could act.
• Sun Wukong asked Lord Erlang Shen to help them with their difficult problem.

Sun Wukong and his companions fought the dragon’s son-in-law and recovered the kingdom’s stolen treasure. The old dragon woman revealed how the treasure and lingzhi herb had been stolen, and Sun Wukong forced her to guard the pagoda.

• Zhu Bajie entered the water, killed the dragon’s son, and drew the nine-headed son-in-law into a battle.
• Erlang Shen recognized the son-in-law’s ancient divine-beast bloodline and warned the others not to kill him, while Sun Wukong retrieved the treasure from the princess.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie brought the old dragon woman before the king, where she revealed that her son-in-law stole the treasure and Princess Wansheng stole Queen Mother Niangniang’s lingzhi herb.
• Sun Wukong spared the old dragon woman on the condition that she guard the pagoda, chained her shoulders, and ordered the local Land God to bring her one meal every three days.

Sun Wukong led Tang Xuanzang and the others west after renaming Golden Light Temple Coiled Dragon Monastery and helping them pass through a thorny road. At a ruined temple, a disguised Land God lured them with food, then carried Tang Xuanzang away after Sun Wukong exposed him.

• Sun Wukong renamed Golden Light Temple Coiled Dragon Monastery and used transformed hairs to frighten the monks so Tang Xuanzang could continue west.
• Zhu Bajie enlarged himself and cut through the brambles with his Nine-Toothed Rake, allowing the group to cross.
• After traveling for a day and night, the group found a ruined temple, where Sun Wukong warned that danger might be nearby.
• A supposed Land God appeared with food, but Sun Wukong recognized something was wrong and struck at him with the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
• The old man escaped as a gust of chill wind, then returned and carried Tang Xuanzang away.

Sun Wukong discovered that Tang Xuanzang had been taken away, while Tang Xuanzang found himself in a stone house with an old man and the Peach Blossom Demon. After the demon pressed him to marry her, Tang Xuanzang tried to escape as his disciples searched for him.

• Sun Wukong noticed Tang Xuanzang was missing from the White Dragon Horse and panicked with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing.
• The old man brought Tang Xuanzang to a stone house, where they discussed Buddhist scriptures until the Peach Blossom Demon arrived.
• The old man accused the Peach Blossom Demon of killing villagers, and she claimed one man had died accidentally while trying to rescue her.
• The Peach Blossom Demon urged Tang Xuanzang to marry her, while her servant threatened to carry him off if he refused.
• Tang Xuanzang decided to leave, but the Peach Blossom Demon blocked his way as Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie searched for him.

Tang Xuanzang reunited with Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing after escaping the Peach Blossom Demon, and Sun Wukong identified the surrounding demons. The group continued their journey, while the willow-tree old man survived and Tang Xuanzang showed unusual interest in meeting him again.

• Tang Xuanzang struck the Peach Blossom Demon back into her original form and hurried to Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, who had crossed the thorn thicket looking for him.
• Tang Xuanzang told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing about the old man and the Peach Blossom Demon, while Sun Wukong discovered that the peach blossom tree was a demon.
• Zhu Bajie attacked the peach blossom tree and then smashed the surrounding trees; Sun Wukong burned their remaining roots, but a willow tree with Buddhist light survived.
• The old man returned to his original form as a willow tree and watched Tang Xuanzang and his disciples leave.
• On the road, Tang Xuanzang said he hoped to discuss Buddhist scriptures with the old man again, and Zhu Bajie teased him about taking an interest in the man.
• Tang Xuanzang grabbed Zhu Bajie by the ear and threatened him, leaving Sun Wukong bewildered by his master's changed behavior.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples climbed a dangerous mountain and discovered a monastery that resembled Thunderclap Monastery. Despite Sun Wukong’s warnings, Tang Xuanzang insisted on entering the Lesser Thunderclap Monastery to honor his vow.

• Tang Xuanzang prayed for the old man, and the willow tree sprang back to life with new branches and leaves.
• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing debated the mountain’s height before Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing playfully fought.
• Sun Wukong frightened the mountain’s wild animals away and led Tang Xuanzang up the dangerous slopes.
• The disciples spotted a monastery surrounded by Buddha light and sinister presence, and Sun Wukong warned that it might be dangerous.
• Tang Xuanzang mistook the mountain gate’s inscription for Thunderclap Monastery, then saw it read Lesser Thunderclap Monastery.
• Sun Wukong tried to stop Tang Xuanzang from entering, but Tang Xuanzang insisted that his vow required him to bow before a Buddha.

Sun Wukong and his companions were captured at the demon-made Lesser Thunderclap Monastery, where a demon king disguised as the Buddha trapped Sun Wukong inside an unbreakable golden bowl. After Sun Wukong failed to escape, the immortals reported the danger to the Jade Emperor, who sent the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions to help.

• Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Sun Wukong entered the false monastery, where Sun Wukong exposed the fake Buddha as a demon.
• The demon king trapped Sun Wukong beneath a golden bowl, while lesser demons captured Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.
• Sun Wukong tried to break or escape the bowl by striking it, changing his size, and using his Ruyi Jingu Bang and a transformed hair, but none of his attempts worked.
• Sun Wukong summoned the immortals for help, but they could not lift or open the golden bowl.
• An immortal reported the capture to the Jade Emperor, who sent the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions to assist Sun Wukong.
• The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions reached the cave and told Sun Wukong they had come to rescue him.

The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions tried to rescue Sun Wukong from the Heaven and Earth Immeasurable Golden Bowl while demons watched over it. After drilling through the bowl, Sun Wukong escaped through the Lunar Mansion’s Law Artifact and asked to be carried out.

• The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions hid when the demon king sent lesser demons to check whether Sun Wukong was still alive.
• Sun Wukong answered the demons from inside the golden bowl, and they hurried back to tell their king he had survived.
• A Lunar Mansion used his Law Treasure to drill through the bowl while the other Lunar Mansions pushed and Sun Wukong urged him on.
• Sun Wukong drilled a hole in the Lunar Mansion’s Law Artifact with the Ruyi Jingu Bang, shrank to the size of a mung bean, and slipped inside.
• Sun Wukong told the Lunar Mansion to take him out.

Sun Wukong and the immortals were captured by Old Buddha Yellow Brow’s sack, but Sun Wukong freed Tang Xuanzang and the others. He returned to the demon’s building to recover the luggage and spotted valuables beside the glowing kasaya, just as an unexpected event occurred.

• Sun Wukong smashed the golden bowl, then faced Old Buddha Yellow Brow and fought him until the demon captured him and the immortals in a white sack.
• Inside the sack, Sun Wukong heard Tang Xuanzang regret ignoring his advice and went to reassure him.
• Sun Wukong freed Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the immortals, then returned to search for the luggage.
• Sun Wukong transformed into a mouse, entered the building through a chimney, and found the bundle by the light of Tang Xuanzang’s kasaya.
• Sun Wukong noticed wish-granting pearls, agates, sarira, and luminous pearls nearby, resumed his true form, and prepared to take them when something unexpected happened.

Sun Wukong’s failed attempt to rescue Tang Xuanzang led to the group being captured by Yellow-Plum Old Yaomo. Sun Wukong fled to Mount Wudang to seek Great Emperor Zhenwu’s help and began explaining their predicament.

• Sun Wukong knocked over a luminous pearl, waking Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo, who ordered the Yaomo to search the sack and guard every exit.
• Sun Wukong escaped without the luggage as Yellow-Plum Old Yaomo pursued Tang Xuanzang and the others, and Sun Wukong joined the battle.
• When Yellow-Plum Old Yaomo used his treasure, Sun Wukong ran while Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and the immortals were captured and locked in a cellar.
• Sun Wukong decided to ask Great Emperor Zhenwu for help and flew to Mount Wudang, where Zhenwu’s phantom appeared before him.
• Sun Wukong told Great Emperor Zhenwu how Tang Xuanzang had been captured at Lesser Thunderclap Monastery and how the Jade Emperor had sent the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions to help.

Sun Wukong sought Great Emperor Zhenwu’s help against Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo, but the monster captured Zhenwu’s reinforcements and Sun Wukong fled. The Land God sent him to Hibiscus Temple, where the national preceptor agreed to help if Sun Wukong first subdued a monster troubling him; Zhang Lao'er stopped Sun Wukong just as he was about to strike it.

• Sun Wukong persuaded Great Emperor Zhenwu to travel with him to the Lesser Thunderclap Monastery, where Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo captured Zhenwu’s followers and the immortals accompanying him.
• Sun Wukong fled to a mountaintop, where the Land God told him that Tang Xuanzang and the captured reinforcements were locked in the cellar and urged him to seek more help.
• The Land God directed Sun Wukong to Hibiscus Temple to ask the national preceptor and Zhang Lao'er for help.
• The national preceptor agreed to help Sun Wukong if he first subdued a monster that might cause trouble in his absence.
• Sun Wukong fought the monster at its cave and was about to strike it when Zhang Lao'er intervened.

Sun Wukong and Maitreya Buddha subdued Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo, allowing Sun Wukong to rescue Tang Xuanzang and the others. The travelers continued west, but after reaching a lonely mountain manor, they learned they had arrived at Lesser Western Heaven and heard a warning about the road ahead.

• Zhang Lao'er transformed a water monster into an immortal pill, calming the water, and he joined Sun Wukong and the Imperial Preceptor at Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo's cave.
• Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo trapped Zhang Lao'er in his bag, and Sun Wukong fled to Maitreya Buddha, who revealed that the yaomo was his attendant boy and had stolen the Heaven and Earth Ruyi Bag.
• Sun Wukong transformed into a watermelon and let Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo eat him, then rolled around inside the yaomo until Maitreya Buddha made him return the bag and took him back to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.
• Sun Wukong escaped through Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo's mouth, rescued Tang Xuanzang and the others, and they set off toward Western Heaven again.
• After rain forced the travelers to seek shelter, they found an old man's manor, where the old man warned Tang Xuanzang that they had reached Lesser Western Heaven and that the road ahead was difficult.

Tang Xuanzang and his companions stayed with an old man whose village was plagued by a monster. Sun Wukong agreed to deal with it but said the villagers would need to cooperate, leaving the old man puzzled.

• The old man warned Tang Xuanzang that the land beyond his home was deserted and explained that a monster had harmed the area.
• Sun Wukong introduced himself as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, but the old man dismissed his reputation and invited the group inside.
• After feeding them, the old man asked Sun Wukong to catch the monster that had been devouring livestock and people.
• Zhu Bajie questioned whether they should take on the monster, angering the old man, who accused the monks of taking food under false pretenses.
• Sun Wukong calmed the old man and said the monster would be easy to catch if the villagers cooperated, then criticized them for being inexperienced.

Sun Wukong explained that the monster was difficult to catch because the villagers lacked unity, then volunteered to capture it himself. The neighbors agreed to reward him with food, but asked how he would catch the monster.

• Sun Wukong told the old man that the villagers could pool their silver to hire someone to catch the monster.
• The old man recounted how a monk had been killed by the monster and how a Daoist had drowned after fighting it.
• Sun Wukong offered to catch the monster, and the old man promised to arrange a reward if he succeeded.
• The neighbors doubted Sun Wukong could defeat the monster and asked what reward he wanted.
• Sun Wukong refused money and land, asking only for food, and the neighbors asked how he planned to catch the monster.

Sun Wukong confronted the monster that had been terrorizing the village, while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing watched and then joined the fight. At dawn the monster revealed himself as a huge blue-green python, and Zhu Bajie attacked him from behind.

• Sun Wukong took Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to meet the monster as it approached the village at night.
• Sun Wukong fought the monster for hours, but neither gained the upper hand.
• Zhu Bajie joined Sun Wukong in battle, and the monster blocked his Nine-Toothed Rake with a spear.
• At dawn the monster fled, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie pursued him through a foul stench.
• The monster revealed his true form as a huge blue-green python, and Zhu Bajie landed on his back with the Nine-Toothed Rake.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie killed the python demon and returned it to the village, where the villagers celebrated and hosted Tang Xuanzang’s party. After they resumed their journey, they reached a filthy, blocked cave, and Sun Wukong said he would handle the way forward himself.

• Sun Wukong sent Zhu Bajie to guard the python demon’s back entrance while he jabbed it from the cave’s front entrance.
• The wounded python fled toward the back entrance, knocked Zhu Bajie down, and was pursued into its cave by Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong entered the python’s mouth and killed it from inside with the Ruyi Jingu Bang, then Zhu Bajie struck its corpse and dragged it back to the village.
• Tang Xuanzang and his disciples returned with the python, and the grateful villagers hosted them for four or five days.
• The travelers reached a stinking cave blocked by muddy pools and filth, and the old man offered to have the villagers open another road.
• Sun Wukong declined the villagers’ help, saying that clearing a road would take too long.

Sun Wukong persuaded the villagers to feed Zhu Bajie, who transformed into a giant pig and opened a path through the mountain so Tang Xuanzang and his disciples could continue their journey. After bathing in a river, they reached a city, where Sun Wukong teased Tang Xuanzang for not being able to read its sign.

• Sun Wukong told the old man that Zhu Bajie could clear the mountain passage if the villagers fed him.
• Zhu Bajie transformed into a giant pig, ate the villagers’ food, and rooted a road through the mountain while Tang Xuanzang and the others followed.
• The villagers brought more food and farewelled Tang Xuanzang, who thanked them before the group continued onward.
• Zhu Bajie jumped into a river to bathe, and Tang Xuanzang and the others joined him before resuming their journey.
• Tang Xuanzang asked Sun Wukong what city lay ahead, and Sun Wukong teased him for not reading the characters on its flag.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples entered the Kingdom of Zhuzi, where the king welcomed the monk after learning he had come from the Great Tang to seek scriptures. The king questioned Tang Xuanzang about his homeland, then revealed his illness and asked how the monk had survived the journey.

• Sun Wukong identified the distant city as the Kingdom of Zhuzi, and Tang Xuanzang said they needed to exchange their travel permit.
• The townspeople stared at Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, and some children threw bricks at Zhu Bajie, so Tang Xuanzang led his disciples into a guesthouse.
• The guesthouse envoys gave Tang Xuanzang and his companions a room, while Sun Wukong resented their shabby accommodations and vowed to make them offer better hospitality.
• A servant told Tang Xuanzang that the emperor was receiving officials, and Tang Xuanzang went to the Five-Phoenix Tower to request an exchange of travel permits.
• The king summoned Tang Xuanzang, welcomed him with a meal, and asked about the Great Tang before his illness caused him to cry out in pain.
• The king asked how Tang Xuanzang had survived the journey, and Tang Xuanzang answered by praising the Great Tang chancellor Wei Zheng.

Tang Xuanzang learned that the sick king had long wondered why no minister could save him, while Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie went out to buy cooking supplies. They reached the crowded drum tower, where Sun Wukong left Zhu Bajie waiting and headed toward the restaurant.

• The king told Tang Xuanzang that he had been ill for a long time and wondered why none of his ministers could cure him.
• Sun Wukong sent Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to buy cooking supplies, persuading Zhu Bajie with promises of food.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie followed the officials’ directions toward Zhengjia Shop, passing restaurants and teahouses.
• A crowd gathered around Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong at the drum tower, blocking the road.
• Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie to wait by the wall while he went to buy supplies and flatbread, then found the restaurant packed with people.

Sun Wukong took the emperor’s proclamation and flew to the palace to treat the ill ruler, leaving Zhu Bajie behind with the notice hidden in his robes. The servants mistook Zhu Bajie for the man who had taken it and brought him to the palace, where he explained what happened and led them to the guesthouse to find Sun Wukong.

• Sun Wukong read the proclamation seeking a healer, took it down, and told Zhu Bajie he was going to the palace.
• Sun Wukong left for the palace while Zhu Bajie fell asleep with the proclamation tucked inside his robes.
• The servants found the notice on Zhu Bajie, accused him of taking it, and tried to force him into the palace.
• Zhu Bajie resisted the servants at the palace gates and explained to a eunuch that Sun Wukong had taken the proclamation and left him behind.
• The eunuch ordered the servants to release Zhu Bajie and go with him to the guesthouse, where Zhu Bajie warned them to greet Sun Wukong as Grandpa Sun.

Sun Wukong insisted that the king of the kingdom personally invite him before he would treat the king’s illness. The king went to the guesthouse to fetch him, but Sun Wukong turned and walked away after the king asked him to come to the palace.

• Zhu Bajie confronted Sun Wukong over the royal proclamation, and Sun Wukong admitted placing it in Zhu Bajie’s robes to make the officials bring him to the king.
• Sun Wukong told the eunuch that the king had to come in person before he would treat him, and the eunuch sent men to report this to the palace.
• The king learned that Sun Wukong had offered to cure him, and Tang Xuanzang insisted that his disciple had no medical skills.
• The king went to the guesthouse and asked Sun Wukong to return to the palace with him.
• Sun Wukong snorted and turned to leave, prompting the servant to hurry after him.