Recaps

Sun Wukong questioned an old man about the monsters nearby, but his frightening true form left the old man too terrified to answer. Tang Xuanzang sent Zhu Bajie to question him instead, and Zhu Bajie headed up the hillside as the chapter ended.

• Sun Wukong asked the old man about the monsters and offered to deal with them, but the old man boasted of the monster’s powerful connections.
• Sun Wukong claimed that the immortals and Yamas were his juniors, then revealed his true form to prove his identity.
• The old man fell in terror and became too frightened to tell Sun Wukong anything about the monsters.
• Sun Wukong returned to Tang Xuanzang without useful information, and Zhu Bajie offered to question the old man himself.
• Tang Xuanzang warned Zhu Bajie not to frighten the old man, and Zhu Bajie walked up the hillside to speak with him.

Zhu Bajie questioned an old man about Lion Camel Ridge and learned that three powerful fiends and a vast host of monsters occupied Lion Camel Cave. Though Zhu Bajie and Tang Xuanzang feared the danger, Sun Wukong dismissed their worries, and Sha Wujing urged the group to continue.

• Zhu Bajie calmed the frightened old man and asked him about the mountain, cave, monsters, and road west.
• The old man told Zhu Bajie that the mountain was Lion Camel Ridge, Lion Camel Cave lay within it, and three fiends with more than ten thousand monsters lived there to prey on people.
• Zhu Bajie rushed back in fear and warned Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong about the fiends and their followers.
• Tang Xuanzang trembled at the news, while Sun Wukong reassured him and boasted that his Ruyi Jingu Bang could wipe out the monsters.
• Sun Wukong joked that he could clear the monsters by rolling his enlarged Ruyi Jingu Bang down the mountain, and Sha Wujing urged Tang Xuanzang to mount his horse and proceed.

Sun Wukong learned that Taibai Jinxing had warned them about a powerful fiend on the mountain, then went ahead to investigate. He disguised himself as a patrolling little monster and tried to trick it into recognizing him.

• Sha Wujing suspected the vanished old man was a monster, but Sun Wukong discovered that he was Taibai Jinxing in disguise.
• Taibai Jinxing warned Sun Wukong that a powerful fiend guarded the way and said heavenly soldiers could be summoned for help.
• Tang Xuanzang grew distraught about the dangerous mountain, while Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to guard the group as he went to investigate.
• Sun Wukong spotted a little monster patrolling the mountain and heard it repeat a warning about Sun Wukong disguising himself as a fly.
• Sun Wukong copied the little monster’s appearance and tried to convince it they were old drinking companions.

Sun Wukong disguised himself as a mountain patrol demon and tricked a suspicious little demon into believing he was a newly promoted superior. He persuaded the little demon to lead him to the other patrol demons so he could collect from them.

• Sun Wukong changed his appearance and convinced the little demon that he tended fires before being promoted to mountain patrol.
• The little demon questioned Sun Wukong about the patrol demons’ identification tokens, so Sun Wukong coaxed him into showing his wooden token.
• Sun Wukong created a token labeled “Chief Wind Scout” and claimed the king had promoted him to lead the patrol demons.
• The little demon accepted Sun Wukong as his superior, apologized for doubting him, and offered to take him to the other demons.
• Sun Wukong agreed to go with the little demon and told him that he could contribute less than the others.

Sun Wukong disguised himself as a patrol demon and tricked the demons into revealing the abilities of the three kings. After learning about the second and third kings’ powers and treasures, he prepared to leave with the information.

• Sun Wukong claimed the king had made him chief patrol officer and questioned the patrol demons about the king’s abilities.
• A patrol demon explained how the king had transformed and swallowed a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals.
• Sun Wukong asked about the second king, and the patrol demon described his appearance and deadly nose.
• The patrol demon said the third king was Kunpeng, who could travel instantly and wield the Yin-Yang Bottle, which turned anyone inside into bloody water.
• Sun Wukong decided he had learned enough and was ready to leave.

Sun Wukong learned that the Third King had seized the Lion Camel Kingdom and planned to eat Tang Xuanzang, then disguised himself as the Little Wind Scout to infiltrate Lion Camel Cave. After discovering the cave’s forces and defenses, he frightened the guards with a fabricated account of his own strength and began setting up a confrontation.

• The Little Wind Scout told Sun Wukong that the Third King had slaughtered the Lion Camel Kingdom’s people and joined the other kings to capture Tang Xuanzang for his flesh.
• Sun Wukong killed the Little Wind Scout, took his belongings, and transformed into him to approach the other monsters.
• Sun Wukong learned that ten thousand monsters were drilling in formations outside Lion Camel Cave and decided to clear the defenses before entering.
• When lesser monsters stopped him, Sun Wukong claimed he had seen Sun Wukong sharpening his staff and described him as a mountain-sized figure wielding an enormous iron staff.
• Sun Wukong whispered a threatening story about the staff’s power, promising it would help him kill the monsters and the three kings.

Sun Wukong infiltrated the yaoguai cave as Little Wind Scout and frightened its rulers by claiming he was sharpening his staff outside. The yaoguai sealed the gates, so Sun Wukong planned to turn into a fly and scare them into opening them.

• Sun Wukong frightened the little yaoguai at the entrance into fleeing by warning that he would be blamed for Tang Xuanzang and beaten by Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong entered the cave, recoiled at its gruesome heaps of bones and human remains, and found three yaoguai rulers inside.
• Disguised as Little Wind Scout, Sun Wukong told the Azure Lion Yaoguai and the other rulers that Sun Wukong was sharpening his staff and intended to attack them.
• The yaoguai rulers ordered the gates shut, and a chief reported that the little yaoguai had already fled.
• Sun Wukong claimed that he would turn into a fly and drag them outside, then decided to transform into a fly to frighten the rulers.

Sun Wukong’s disguise was exposed when Kunpeng recognized him, and the demons captured him and sealed him inside a deadly treasure bottle. As its flames and other tortures began to overwhelm him, Sun Wukong feared he would be left disabled and called out to his master.

• Sun Wukong disguised himself as Little Wind Scout, but Kunpeng recognized him when he laughed and revealed his true form.
• Azure Lion trusted the token Sun Wukong showed him, but Kunpeng had the demons tie him up and uncover his monkey body.
• Kunpeng persuaded the demons to put Sun Wukong inside a sealed treasure bottle before they celebrated.
• Sun Wukong initially thought the bottle was harmless, but speaking triggered flames, followed by poisonous snakes and other creatures.
• Sun Wukong’s attempts to change size failed because the bottle changed with him, and his body softened under the heat.
• Sun Wukong grew anxious, wept, and recalled his journey with Tang Xuanzang as he called out to his master.

Sun Wukong escaped Kunpeng’s bottle using one of Guanyin’s life-saving hairs and returned to Tang Xuanzang. He then set out with Zhu Bajie to confront the demons while Sha Wujing stayed behind to protect Tang Xuanzang.

• Sun Wukong found Guanyin’s three life-saving hairs, turned one into a diamond drill, and bored his way out of Kunpeng’s bottle.
• Disguised as an insect, Sun Wukong tricked the demons into discovering the bottle was empty, then escaped the cave and flew to Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong reunited with Tang Xuanzang and told him and Zhu Bajie about his escape and the demons.
• Sha Wujing offered to join Sun Wukong, but Sun Wukong told him to stay and protect Tang Xuanzang.
• Zhu Bajie agreed to accompany Sun Wukong to face the demons, and Tang Xuanzang sent them on their way.

Sun Wukong confronted the Azure Lion outside his cave and agreed to let him strike his head three times in exchange for Tang Xuanzang’s safe passage. The Azure Lion’s first blow failed, and his second split Sun Wukong into two copies, leaving him stunned as Sun Wukong approached him.

• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie reached the Azure Lion’s cave, where the demons feared Sun Wukong and the Azure Lion decided to face him himself.
• The Azure Lion challenged Sun Wukong to a one-on-one fight and proposed an agreement: he would strike Sun Wukong’s head three times, then let Tang Xuanzang pass if Sun Wukong survived.
• Sun Wukong agreed, and the Azure Lion struck his head once with his saber without injuring him.
• Sun Wukong mocked the Azure Lion and invited him to strike again.
• The Azure Lion’s second blow split Sun Wukong in two, but Sun Wukong became two copies, while Zhu Bajie laughed at the Azure Lion.
• The Azure Lion realized Sun Wukong had used the Clone Technique, and Sun Wukong walked up to him and patted his shoulder.

Sun Wukong fought the Azure Lion after boasting about his Ruyi Jingu Bang, but the monster swallowed him whole. Zhu Bajie returned to Tang Xuanzang and Sha Wujing without Sun Wukong, and the Azure Lion carried his captive back to the cave.

• Sun Wukong taunted the Azure Lion, then fought him in the air with the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
• Zhu Bajie joined the fight, frightening the Azure Lion into fleeing before the monster revealed his true form and swallowed Sun Wukong.
• Zhu Bajie escaped into the grass and returned to Tang Xuanzang and Sha Wujing, telling them Sun Wukong had been swallowed.
• Tang Xuanzang mourned Sun Wukong while Zhu Bajie urged Sha Wujing to divide the luggage and abandon the journey.
• The Azure Lion returned to his cave and told the other monsters that he had captured Sun Wukong.

Azure Lion swallowed Sun Wukong, who refused to leave and tormented him from inside his belly. Azure Lion eventually collapsed in agony while Sun Wukong lay motionless within him.

• Azure Lion told the elephant monster and Kunpeng that he had swallowed Sun Wukong, then tried to vomit him out with hot water.
• Sun Wukong refused to come out, saying he would stay warm in Azure Lion’s belly until spring and threatening to cook and eat his innards.
• Sun Wukong frightened Azure Lion with threats of making a cooking pot and chimney inside him, then drank the wine Azure Lion swallowed.
• Sun Wukong became drunk and battered Azure Lion’s insides, leaving the monster rolling in pain while his frightened followers kept their distance.
• Azure Lion fainted and begged Sun Wukong for mercy, while Sun Wukong answered that it was too late.

Sun Wukong tricked the Azure Lion into letting him out while secretly tying a rope around the monster’s heart so he could still make him escort Tang Xuanzang. Once Sun Wukong emerged, the Azure Lion, Kunpeng, and the elephant monster attacked him together.

• Sun Wukong agreed to spare the Azure Lion if the three brothers carried Tang Xuanzang over the mountain in a sedan chair.
• Kunpeng urged the Azure Lion to bite Sun Wukong, but the Azure Lion shattered his teeth on the Jingu Bang.
• Kunpeng taunted Sun Wukong into agreeing to come out and fight in a wider place.
• Sun Wukong tied a magical rope around the Azure Lion’s heart, transformed into a tiny monkey, and escaped through the monster’s nostril with a sneeze.
• The Azure Lion, Kunpeng, and the elephant monster attacked Sun Wukong as he emerged holding the rope and his staff.

Sun Wukong subdued the Azure Lion by tying a rope to his heart and forced the demons to promise to escort Tang Xuanzang across the mountain. After reuniting with his companions, Sun Wukong learned that the demons planned to betray him and capture him with a battle formation.

• Sun Wukong used the rope to torment the Azure Lion until the Azure Lion begged for mercy and promised to escort Tang Xuanzang across the mountain.
• Sun Wukong returned to Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, who had believed he was dead, and explained how he had escaped the Azure Lion.
• Tang Xuanzang thanked Sun Wukong and prepared to travel in the demons’ sedan chair, while Sha Wujing packed the luggage.
• The elephant demon told the Azure Lion that they should not escort Tang Xuanzang and proposed using the demons in their cave to capture Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong sent Zhu Bajie to fight the second demon, but a rope meant to protect him tripped him up and the demons captured him. Sun Wukong followed them into the cave as a bug and listened while they prepared to torture and eat Zhu Bajie.

• The elephant demon rallied the lesser demons and sent one to challenge Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong urged Zhu Bajie to fight the second demon and gave him a rope to use as a lifeline.
• Zhu Bajie weakened in the fight, tripped over the rope while retreating, and was captured by the elephant demon.
• Tang Xuanzang blamed Sun Wukong for failing to rescue Zhu Bajie, and Sun Wukong set off after the demons in disguise.
• The green-maned lion questioned whether Zhu Bajie was the right captive, but Kunpeng ordered the demons to soak him, salt him, and dry him for food.

Sun Wukong tricked the captive Zhu Bajie into revealing the silver hidden in his ear, then freed him from the ropes. Zhu Bajie wanted to escape through the back, but Sun Wukong insisted they leave openly through the front.

• Sun Wukong disguised his voice as a soul-reaping envoy and told Zhu Bajie that Fifth King Yama had sent him to collect him.
• Zhu Bajie begged to live one more day and offered Sun Wukong the silver hidden in his left ear.
• Sun Wukong revealed himself, kept Zhu Bajie's silver, and promised to rescue him.
• Sun Wukong used the Ruyi Jingu Bang to lift Zhu Bajie out of the water and free him from the ropes.
• Zhu Bajie urged Sun Wukong to escape through the back door, but Sun Wukong insisted they walk out the front; Zhu Bajie said his legs had gone numb.

Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie fought their way out of the demon cave and captured the elephant demon, who agreed to carry Tang Xuanzang over the mountain in exchange for his life. Back at the cave, Kunpeng began outlining a plan to lure Tang Xuanzang and his companions away, leaving the details unresolved.

• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie fought through the cave, recovered Zhu Bajie's Nine-Toothed Rake, and confronted the elephant demon.
• Sun Wukong evaded the demon's trunk, jabbed the Ruyi Jingu Bang into his nose, and captured him with Zhu Bajie's help.
• Tang Xuanzang agreed to spare the elephant demon if he carried him over the mountain, and the demon promised to bring a sedan chair.
• The elephant demon returned to the cave and told the Azure-Haired Lion and Kunpeng what had happened.
• Kunpeng said that carrying Tang Xuanzang across could be part of a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, then proposed selecting demons from the cave.

Kunpeng’s scheme lured Tang Xuanzang into the demon-filled city while the three fiends fought Sun Wukong and his companions. The demons captured Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Sun Wukong, but the rope used to bind Sun Wukong could not hold him.

• Kunpeng explained his plan to escort Tang Xuanzang toward a city he controlled, where his demons would capture the monk.
• Sun Wukong accepted the demons’ offered sedan chair, and Tang Xuanzang traveled with them toward the city, unaware of their scheme.
• At the city, Kongtou attacked Sun Wukong while the Azure Lion and the elephant demon fought Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing; the little demons carried Tang Xuanzang into the palace.
• As night fell, the Azure Lion captured Zhu Bajie, and the elephant demon captured Sha Wujing.
• Sun Wukong tried to flee on a Somersault Cloud, but Kunpeng caught him and brought him to the great hall.
• Kunpeng ordered a little demon to tie up Sun Wukong, but the rope failed to restrain him.

Sun Wukong used a hair clone and summoned the Dragon King of the North Sea to protect Tang Xuanzang and the others from being steamed. After the three fiends went to sleep, Sun Wukong descended from the clouds but heard no sound from inside the cage.

• The green-haired lion ordered Tang Xuanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing to be put into an iron cage to steam.
• Sun Wukong reassured Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, then made a bound hair clone to fool the monsters as his true body escaped into the air.
• Sun Wukong summoned the Dragon King of the North Sea, who cooled the cage and protected Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing from the fire.
• The green-haired lion told his underlings to watch the cage while he and the other two fiends went to sleep.
• Sun Wukong descended from the clouds after the fiends fell asleep, but heard nothing from inside the cage.

Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang, Sha Wujing, and Zhu Bajie from the steaming cage by putting the demons to sleep, then retrieved their horse and luggage. The group found both gates sealed and had to consider how to escape with Tang Xuanzang, who could not travel on clouds.

• Sun Wukong heard Zhu Bajie and the others in the cage, then used sleep bugs to put the demons tending them to sleep.
• Sun Wukong opened the cage and rescued Tang Xuanzang, Sha Wujing, and, after hesitating, Zhu Bajie.
• Sun Wukong led the horse from the hall and retrieved the group's luggage after Tang Xuanzang told him where it was.
• The group found the front gate locked and sealed, then discovered the back gate was sealed as well.
• Sun Wukong noted that Tang Xuanzang could not ride the clouds because he was mortal.

Tang Xuanzang was captured again after his escape attempt, and Kunpeng persuaded Azure Lion to hide him and spread a false rumor that he had been eaten. Sun Wukong searched for his master, believed the rumor, and flew into the sky weeping.

• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie tried to help Tang Xuanzang climb over the wall, but Azure Lion caught Tang Xuanzang while the demons captured Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing; Sun Wukong escaped.
• Kunpeng convinced Azure Lion to lock Tang Xuanzang in a cabinet and tell the city that he had been eaten.
• Sun Wukong destroyed the demons at Lion Camel Cave, then entered the city disguised as a little demon to seek news.
• Sun Wukong found Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing tied to pillars, and Zhu Bajie told him that the demons claimed Tang Xuanzang had been eaten.
• Sun Wukong searched for Tang Xuanzang without finding him, then flew into the sky and wept, blaming Buddha Tathagata for their perilous journey.

Sun Wukong went to Thunderclap Monastery seeking help after the monsters of Lion Camel Cave captured Tang Xuanzang, and Tathagata revealed the monsters’ origins. Tathagata set out with Sun Wukong to subdue them and met Bodhisattva Wenshu and Bodhisattva Puxian.

• Sun Wukong arrived at Thunderclap Monastery and argued with the Four Great Vajras before Tathagata’s disciples escorted him inside.
• Sun Wukong told Tathagata that the monsters at Lion Camel Cave had captured Tang Xuanzang and asked to return to Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Tathagata explained that the blue-haired lion and elephant demon were the mounts of Bodhisattva Wenshu and Bodhisattva Puxian, while Kunpeng was related to him through Peacock and Great Peng.
• Tathagata agreed to go with Sun Wukong to subdue the monsters and summoned Bodhisattva Wenshu and Bodhisattva Puxian.
• Bodhisattva Wenshu estimated that his mount had been away for about seven days.

Sun Wukong brought Buddha Tathagata to Lion Camel Kingdom, where Tathagata subdued the three demon kings and learned Tang Xuanzang was still alive. The reunited pilgrims left Lion Camel City and, months later, reached another city.

• Sun Wukong lured the three demon kings into an ambush by Buddha Tathagata and the assembled Buddhist forces.
• Wenshu and Puxian subdued the Azure Lion and the white elephant, while Tathagata trapped Kunpeng and made him submit.
• Kunpeng revealed that Tang Xuanzang was locked in an iron cabinet, and Sun Wukong rescued him with Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie.
• The four master and disciples ate, gathered their belongings, and left Lion Camel City to continue west.
• After several months of travel through winter weather, the pilgrims reached another city, and Tang Xuanzang asked Sun Wukong what place it was.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples entered the prosperous Children's City, formerly known as the Bhikkhu Kingdom, and discovered children confined in goose cages outside the houses. After arranging to meet the ruler the next morning, Tang Xuanzang asked a local official about the cages, but the official's reaction left him astonished.

• Sun Wukong woke an old soldier at the city gate, who identified the place as the Bhikkhu Kingdom, now called Children's City.
• Tang Xuanzang and his disciples entered the bustling city and noticed a goose cage outside every house.
• Sun Wukong transformed into a bee and found young boys imprisoned in the cages.
• Tang Xuanzang showed his travel rescript to an official at the posthouse and arranged to visit the ruler the next morning.
• Tang Xuanzang asked the official about the children in the cages, and the official reacted in a way that astonished him.

Tang Xuanzang learned that the king of the Bhikkhu Kingdom planned to consume children’s hearts and livers as medicine, and he urged Sun Wukong to save them. Sun Wukong summoned immortals to move the children into the forest overnight, but the rescue had not yet been completed.

• An official told Tang Xuanzang that a Daoist had prescribed a medicine made from children’s hearts and livers to treat the king’s illness and prolong his life.
• Tang Xuanzang wept over the children’s fate, while Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing tried to comfort him and suggested confronting the king and the Daoist.
• Sun Wukong promised to investigate the Daoist and proposed moving the children so the king could not obtain them.
• Tang Xuanzang approved the plan, and Sun Wukong left the city to summon immortals for help.
• Sun Wukong asked the immortals to take the children into the forest overnight and keep them safe and fed.