Recaps

Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang from the Old Yellow-Robed Demon and defeated the monsters of Lotus Cave before Guanyin subdued Red Boy. After the group crossed the Black Water River and rescued Tang Xuanzang from the Black Fish Spirit, Sun Wukong investigated a city where monks were forced to haul carts.

• Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang from the Old Yellow-Robed Demon, then led the group toward Flat-Top Mountain, where King Golden Horn and King Silver Horn targeted the pilgrims.
• Sun Wukong outwitted the brothers with their Law Treasures, freed Tang Xuanzang and the others, and learned from Taishang Laojun that the treasures belonged to him.
• Red Boy captured Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie, but Bodhisattva Guanyin extinguished his Samadhi True Fire and subdued him with golden hoops.
• Sun Wukong freed Zhu Bajie and reunited him with Tang Xuanzang, but the Black Water River monster seized Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie while taking them across the river.
• Sun Wukong enlisted the Dragon King of the West Sea and his son to capture the Black Fish Spirit, while Sha Wujing and the river god rescued Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie.
• Sun Wukong spared the Black Fish Spirit, learned that Guanyin had arranged the river god’s help, and continued west with the group.
• Sun Wukong investigated a commotion near a city, found monks hauling carts under two young Daoist priests, and disguised himself as a Daoist to question them.

Sun Wukong exposed the Daoist masters in the kingdom and won the pilgrims’ travel permit before the group faced monsters along the Tongtian River and beyond. He rescued Tang Xuanzang from the Azure Bull Spirit, but the travelers ended the stretch with Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie suffering after drinking from a forbidden lake.

• Sun Wukong discovered that the three Daoist masters had enslaved the kingdom’s monks, then exposed their frauds and defeated them in contests that earned Tang Xuanzang the travel permit.
• Sun Wukong and the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas produced rain before the king, while Sun Wukong’s tricks led to the deaths of Great Immortal Tiger Power, Great Immortal Luli, and Great Immortal Goat Power.
• At the Tongtian River, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie tried to stop the Great King of Numinous Touch from taking children, and Bodhisattva Guanyin captured the goldfish demon and helped the pilgrims cross the river.
• After the travelers reached the far bank, the Azure Bull Spirit’s minions captured Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, and the demon’s ring repeatedly seized Sun Wukong’s weapon and the immortals’ arms.
• Sun Wukong brought Taishang Laojun to confront the Azure Bull Spirit, who surrendered after Taishang Laojun recovered his Vajra Bracelet, and Sun Wukong freed Tang Xuanzang and retrieved his weapon.
• An old man warned the pilgrims not to drink from a lake, but Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and the others drank when thirst overcame them, and Tang Xuanzang and Zhu Bajie soon developed painful, swollen bellies.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples crossed the Women's Kingdom, survived the Scorpion Spirit and a bitter split with Sun Wukong, then reached the Flaming Mountain. Sun Wukong obtained the real Plantain Fan after contending with Rakshasi and the Bull Devil King, cooled the mountain, and the pilgrims continued west.

• Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing obtained spring water to end Tang Xuanzang's pregnancy, and the pilgrims left the village for the Women's Kingdom.
• The queen offered Tang Xuanzang marriage, but he secured the travel documents and set out before a Scorpion Spirit abducted him.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie defeated the Scorpion Spirit with help from the Star Officer, rescued Tang Xuanzang, and left the kingdom.
• Sun Wukong killed bandits despite Tang Xuanzang's objections, and Tang Xuanzang drove him away after he killed a robber gang's leader.
• A Six-Eared Macaque impersonated Sun Wukong, but Tathagata identified the impostor, and Sun Wukong rejoined Tang Xuanzang's group.
• At the Flaming Mountain, Sun Wukong borrowed a fake Plantain Fan from Rakshasi, then learned from the Land God that the real fan was needed.
• Sun Wukong stole the real fan from Rakshasi, but the Bull Devil King tricked him into surrendering it and fought him until the gods arrived.
• The Bull Devil King surrendered the fan, and Sun Wukong cooled the Flaming Mountain and extinguished its embers so the pilgrims could continue west.

Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang and their companions from Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo, then helped villagers defeat a python demon before leading the group to the Kingdom of Zhuzi. There, Sun Wukong arranged to be brought before the ailing king, who came to the guesthouse asking him to return to the palace.

• Tang Xuanzang learned that the Horse-Racing Kingdom’s monks had been shackled after blood rained from the sky, and Sun Wukong uncovered that the Nine-Headed Bug and Princess Wansheng had stolen the pagoda’s treasure and lingzhi herb.
• Sun Wukong defeated the Nine-Headed Bug with help from Zhu Bajie and Lord Erlang Shen, retrieved the treasure, and left the old dragon woman to guard the pagoda.
• Tang Xuanzang was carried off by the willow-tree old man and confronted the Peach Blossom Demon, then rejoined Sun Wukong, who destroyed the peach blossom demon while sparing the Buddhist willow tree.
• Tang Xuanzang entered Lesser Thunderclap Monastery despite Sun Wukong’s warning, and Old Buddha Yellow Brow trapped him, the other disciples, and their rescuers.
• Sun Wukong enlisted Great Emperor Zhenwu and other helpers, but Yellow-Browed Old Yaomo captured them, and Maitreya Buddha then revealed the demon was his attendant and helped Sun Wukong recover the stolen bag and free everyone.
• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie killed a giant python that had been terrorizing a village, and Zhu Bajie cleared a passage through the mountain before the travelers continued west.
• Tang Xuanzang reached the Kingdom of Zhuzi to exchange his travel permit and learned that the king was gravely ill, and Sun Wukong took down the royal healer proclamation and arranged for officials to bring Zhu Bajie to the palace.
• Sun Wukong told the eunuch that the king must come in person before he would treat him, and the king went to the guesthouse to ask Sun Wukong to return to the palace.