Chapter Summaries

Tang Xuanzang confronted the shadow demon at the Flowing Sand River, prompting it to flee before he admitted he could not defeat it. The group returned to the riverbank, where Tang Xuanzang claimed to have a plan, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie bickered until Tang Xuanzang stopped Sun Wukong from attacking.

• Sun Wukong tried to disrupt the shadow demon’s mud figure, but the figure grew larger as the Flowing Sand River churned.
• Tang Xuanzang broke free of his restraints and approached Sun Wukong and the others, radiating Buddhist light that made the shadow demon wary.
• The shadow demon fled as black mist and its mud figures melted into the river; Tang Xuanzang stopped Sun Wukong from chasing it and admitted he could not beat the demon either.
• The group returned to the riverbank, where Zhu Bajie pointed out that they could not cross the Flowing Sand River, and Tang Xuanzang insisted he had a plan.
• Sun Wukong asked Tang Xuanzang to teach him his dramatic entrance, then argued with Zhu Bajie until Tang Xuanzang stopped him from attacking.

Sun Wukong sought Bodhisattva Guanyin’s help after the group could not cross the Linshan River. At Guanyin’s cave, an attendant brought urgent news about an incident at the Flowing Sand River, but the chapter ended before he explained what had happened.

• Tang Xuanzang corrected Sun Wukong for hitting Zhu Bajie, and the disciples argued about Sun Wukong’s treatment of the Seven Fairies.
• Little White Dragon urged Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie to stop arguing and focus on getting Tang Xuanzang across the river.
• Sun Wukong traveled to the South Sea and asked Bodhisattva Guanyin to help the group cross the Linshan River.
• An attendant hurried to Guanyin with news that something had happened at the Flowing Sand River, and Sun Wukong learned that Tang Xuanzang had not been captured.
• Bodhisattva Guanyin calmed Sun Wukong and scolded him for asking for a preview of the journey’s future monsters and events.

Sun Wukong saw that Tang Xuanzang had subdued the Flowing Sand River monster, and Bodhisattva Guanyin hurried to stop Tang from killing him. She revealed that the monster was Sha Wujing, whom she had chosen to join the scripture journey, and sent Muzha to explain this to him.

• Sun Wukong watched images of Tang Xuanzang jumping into the Flowing Sand River after deciding he could not wait for Sun Wukong to return.
• Tang Xuanzang struck the shadowy monster with Great Might Heavenly Dragon and continued beating him while Zhu Bajie tried to follow him into the river.
• Bodhisattva Guanyin arrived and stopped Tang Xuanzang from delivering a final blow, and the monster thanked her.
• Sun Wukong accused Bodhisattva Guanyin of being in league with the monster, but she explained that he was Sha Wujing, whom she had arranged to join the journey.
• Bodhisattva Guanyin gave Muzha a gourd and sent him to tell Sha Wujing the truth, and Muzha called to him over the river as Sha Wujing weakly answered from below.

Sha Wujing joined Tang Xuanzang’s party after Muzha revealed that the Bodhisattva had left him to accompany the scripture-seeking pilgrims. The group crossed the Flowing Sand River and resumed their journey, but as night fell, Zhu Bajie complained about carrying the luggage and argued with Sun Wukong.

• Muzha told Tang Sanzang and Zhu Bajie that Sha Wujing was meant to join their pilgrimage, then used Sha Wujing’s nine skulls and a treasure gourd to make a boat.
• Sha Wujing apologized to Tang Xuanzang, and Sun Wukong shaved his head before Sha Wujing ferried the group across the Flowing Sand River.
• After the group reached the bank, Bodhisattva Guanyin blessed the four pilgrims and departed, while Ao Changsheng watched them travel into autumn.
• As darkness fell, Zhu Bajie asked Sun Wukong where they would rest and complained that he had carried the luggage alone since the river crossing.
• Sun Wukong told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to carry the luggage and lead the horse, threatening to strike them if they slacked off.

Sun Wukong led Tang Xuanzang and his disciples to a house in the wild mountains, where an old woman offered them lodging and proposed that her three daughters marry them. Zhu Bajie eagerly accepted the idea, while Sun Wukong rebuked him.

• Sun Wukong explained that the White Dragon Horse was the Third Prince of the Dragon King of the West Sea, then startled him into racing to a nearby house with Tang Xuanzang riding on his back.
• Tang Xuanzang agreed that the group should stay at the house for the night, and Sun Wukong recognized signs of Buddha's light around it.
• Sun Wukong entered the house ahead of the others and met an old woman, who invited Tang Xuanzang and his disciples inside after hearing they were seeking lodging.
• The old woman introduced herself as Jia and said that she had three daughters, then offered to marry them to the travelers.
• Zhu Bajie urged Tang Xuanzang to accept the proposal so he could marry one of the daughters, and Sun Wukong angrily scolded him.

At the old woman’s home, Zhu Bajie eagerly pursued marriage to one of her daughters while Tang Xuanzang and Sun Wukong objected and mocked him. The old woman blindfolded Zhu Bajie and arranged her three daughters around him so he could choose, leaving him poised to begin.

• Zhu Bajie protested Sun Wukong’s matchmaking, while Tang Xuanzang rebuked him for craving wealth and beauty.
• The old woman invited Tang Xuanzang to marry one of her daughters, but Zhu Bajie volunteered himself as her son-in-law.
• The old woman brought out her three veiled daughters, and Zhu Bajie stared at them in fascination.
• Sha Wujing joked that Zhu Bajie should marry into the household, and Sun Wukong dragged him toward the rear courtyard to arrange the wedding.
• Zhu Bajie asked to marry all three daughters, and the old woman proposed that he choose one while blindfolded.
• The old woman blindfolded Zhu Bajie and positioned her daughters around him, and Zhu Bajie told her to step aside before he began.

Zhu Bajie was tricked and bound after pursuing the old woman and her daughters, while Sun Wukong freed him and the pilgrims continued west. At Five Terraces Manor, Sun Wukong restored Zhenyuanzi’s Ginseng Fruit Tree with Bodhisattva Guanyin’s help, and the reunited travelers eventually resumed their journey.

• Zhu Bajie tried to marry the old woman after her daughters rejected him, but she bound him with a garment and disappeared with them.
• Tang Xuanzang, Sun Wukong, and Sha Wujing awoke in a flower-filled grove, realized they had been tested by bodhisattvas, and set off without Zhu Bajie.
• Sun Wukong used a strand of hair to free Zhu Bajie, who apologized and caught up with the group.
• At Five Terraces Manor, Sun Wukong stole Zhenyuanzi’s ginseng fruit and knocked down the Ginseng Fruit Tree after an argument.
• Sun Wukong brought Bodhisattva Guanyin to revive the tree, and Zhenyuanzi thanked her by sharing its fruit and then became Sun Wukong’s sworn brother.
• After Zhenyuanzi gave Tang Xuanzang a pill, Tang Xuanzang urged the group to leave, and the four pilgrims resumed their journey.

Sun Wukong went ahead to find food for Tang Xuanzang, leaving him with Zhu Bajie and Monk Sha. A demon disguised as a beautiful woman approached with food, and Tang Xuanzang began to lower his guard even as he hesitated to accept it.

• Tang Xuanzang asked Sun Wukong to find food while they crossed a dangerous mountain, and Sun Wukong flew ahead toward a peach grove.
• A demon spotted Tang Xuanzang and transformed into a beautiful woman carrying rice and bean sprouts.
• Zhu Bajie saw the woman, became captivated by her, and rushed back to tell Tang Xuanzang that she had brought them food.
• The woman claimed her parents had predicted Tang Xuanzang would pass by and urged him to accept the meal.
• Tang Xuanzang thanked the woman but said Sun Wukong was already seeking food, and she complained that he seemed to think her family's food was unworthy.

Sun Wukong exposed the woman offering food to Tang Xuanzang as a monster and revealed that her provisions were actually spoiled, but Tang Xuanzang still scolded and struck him after Zhu Bajie sowed doubt. Tang Xuanzang forgave Sun Wukong, and the monster secretly followed the group from the clouds, planning another attempt.

• Sun Wukong spotted black Yao Qi around Tang Xuanzang and recognized the woman as a monster, but Tang Xuanzang stopped him from striking her.
• Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing warned Tang Xuanzang that the woman was trying to deceive him, and Sun Wukong offered to build Tang Xuanzang a house if he wanted to stay with her.
• The monster escaped Sun Wukong’s attack using a dummy, and Sun Wukong showed Tang Xuanzang that the food she had offered was insects and maggot-infested meat.
• Zhu Bajie suggested that Sun Wukong had killed an innocent woman, so Tang Xuanzang struck Sun Wukong with Great Might Heavenly Dragon and threatened to send him away.
• Sun Wukong apologized and reminded Tang Xuanzang of his past suffering, so Tang Xuanzang forgave him and accepted the peaches he had picked.
• The monster revealed that she had escaped into the clouds and followed Tang Xuanzang’s party, waiting for a better chance to attack.

The monster repeatedly disguised himself to deceive Tang Xuanzang, but Sun Wukong recognized him and explained the danger. Sun Wukong stayed with the group after Tang Xuanzang refused to remove his golden circlet, then disguised himself and approached the monster again.

• The monster disguised himself as an old woman, but Sun Wukong saw through him and struck, while the monster escaped and left a fake corpse.
• Tang Xuanzang questioned Sun Wukong, who explained that the old woman was the same demon and shared a plan with his master.
• Sun Wukong asked Tang Xuanzang to remove his golden circlet, but Tang Xuanzang said he knew only the Tightening Incantation, so Sun Wukong continued the journey.
• The monster praised Sun Wukong, then returned disguised as an old man when he feared another monster might capture Tang Xuanzang first.
• Sun Wukong disguised himself and approached the old man, who mistook him for a stranger and said he envied him for having a goal.

Sun Wukong exposed and struck down the White Bone Spirit’s disguise, then staged his departure from Tang Xuanzang’s party. After the White Bone Spirit abducted Tang Xuanzang, he faced her calmly in her cave.

• Sun Wukong saw through the White Bone Spirit’s old-man disguise and struck her down after summoning the earth god and mountain god as witnesses.
• Tang Xuanzang pretended to dismiss Sun Wukong, who bowed to him with three hair-created copies before leaving on his Somersault Cloud.
• Sun Wukong flew toward Flower-Fruit Mountain but watched Tang Xuanzang and the others from a cloud, while the White Bone Spirit revealed her true form.
• The White Bone Spirit swept Tang Xuanzang and his companions away with a sinister wind and carried Tang Xuanzang to her cave.
• The White Bone Spirit taunted Tang Xuanzang about Sun Wukong leaving, but Tang Xuanzang replied that he could handle things without him, making her panic.

The White Bone Spirit captured Tang Xuanzang and tried to eat him, but Tang used a Buddhist attack to wound her. Sun Wukong returned to help, and the chapter ended as he prepared to strike the White Bone Spirit with his Ruyi Jingu Bang.

• The White Bone Spirit taunted Tang Xuanzang while Zhu Bajie suggested splitting the luggage and going their separate ways, and Sha Wujing urged him to bring Sun Wukong back.
• Tang Xuanzang tricked the White Bone Spirit into examining his right hand, then struck her with Great Might Heavenly Dragon.
• Sun Wukong transformed into an old man and headed toward Tang Xuanzang, but the injured White Bone Spirit seized him as a hostage.
• Tang Xuanzang challenged the White Bone Spirit to look at her hostage, and she discovered she was holding Sun Wukong instead of the old man.
• Sun Wukong raised the Ruyi Jingu Bang and struck toward the White Bone Spirit's head.

Sun Wukong defeated the White Bone Spirit, reconciled with Zhu Bajie, and left to investigate trouble at Flower-Fruit Mountain. There, he learned that Erlang Shen’s attack had devastated the mountain and killed many of his monkey subjects.

• Sun Wukong struck the White Bone Spirit, turning her to ashes, then punished Zhu Bajie for wanting him gone until Tang Xuanzang stopped their fight.
• Tang Xuanzang urged the group to remain united, then allowed Sun Wukong to kill a wicked demon if it threatened his monkey subjects.
• Sun Wukong sensed trouble at Flower-Fruit Mountain and flew there on his Somersault Cloud.
• Sun Wukong found the mountain burned and ruined, then met several surviving monkeys who said Erlang Shen had set the mountain ablaze after Sun Wukong was taken to the Heavenly Court.
• The monkeys told Sun Wukong that more than half their kind had died, though some had survived by hiding in water or rock crevices.

Sun Wukong avenged the monkeys by killing the monster that had attacked Flower-Fruit Mountain, then restored the mountain with help from the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. Meanwhile, Tang Xuanzang and his disciples reached White Tiger Ridge, where Zhu Bajie went to find food and failed to return before nightfall.

• Sun Wukong learned that monsters had slaughtered and captured the monkeys, then promised to overthrow them and restore Flower-Fruit Mountain.
• Sun Wukong challenged the monsters and killed the bear-and-lion monster after surviving its saber strikes and splitting into two forms.
• Sun Wukong borrowed immortal water from the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, and the monkeys replanted the burned mountain.
• Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing arrived at White Tiger Ridge, where Tang Xuanzang warned them to watch for monsters.
• Zhu Bajie went into the forest to find vegetarian food, but fell asleep and did not return before nightfall.
• Tang Xuanzang grew hungry and worried, and Sha Wujing offered to go look for food.

Tang Xuanzang wandered into a monster’s pagoda and was captured while Sha Wujing searched for Zhu Bajie. After the two disciples found their master missing, they spotted the pagoda and headed toward it, unaware that the monster was waiting for them.

• Tang Xuanzang left the luggage and horse to explore the woods, where he found a shining pagoda and entered it.
• The monster woke, ordered its lesser monsters to seize Tang Xuanzang, and had him tied to a wooden stake.
• Tang Xuanzang told the monster that Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were his disciples, and the monster ordered its followers to wait for them.
• Sha Wujing found Zhu Bajie asleep and brought him back to where Tang Xuanzang had been, but they found only the horse and luggage.
• Zhu Bajie dismissed Sha Wujing’s worry and led him toward the golden pagoda, believing Tang Xuanzang had gone there.

Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing found the Old Yellow-Robed Monster’s cave and fought him while Tang Xuanzang remained captive. The monster’s wife, Baihuaxiu, freed Tang Xuanzang and began distracting her husband so he could escape.

• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing confronted the Old Yellow-Robed Monster, rejected his offer of human-meat buns, and fought him to a standstill.
• Baihuaxiu told Tang Xuanzang that she was the king of the Kingdom of Precious Images’ third daughter, had been taken by the monster, and wanted him to carry a letter to her parents.
• Baihuaxiu cut Tang Xuanzang free and gave him her letter, then helped him slip out through the back of the cave.
• Baihuaxiu called the Old Yellow-Robed Monster away from the battle and claimed she had dreamed of an immortal who resembled Tang Xuanzang.

Tang Xuanzang reached the Kingdom of Precious Images and delivered the third princess’s letter to the king, who asked him to rescue her from the Yellow-Robed Yao. Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing attacked the demon, but Sha Wujing was captured, and the Yellow-Robed Yao began to suspect his wife had revealed their secret.

• The Yellow-Robed Yao released Tang Xuanzang, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing escorted him west to the Kingdom of Precious Images.
• Tang Xuanzang presented the king with the travel documents and the third princess’s letter, revealing that the Yellow-Robed Yao had captured her.
• The king asked Tang Xuanzang to save the princess, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing agreed to confront the demon.
• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing returned to the demon’s cave, where Zhu Bajie fought the Yellow-Robed Yao and then asked Sha Wujing to take his place.
• The Yellow-Robed Yao caught and captured Sha Wujing, then suspected that the princess had sent a letter to the kingdom.

The Old Yellow-Robed Demon accused the princess of seeking help, but Sha Wujing protected her by explaining how Tang Xuanzang had discovered her identity. The demon went to the Kingdom of Precious Images, turned Tang Xuanzang into a tiger and imprisoned him, while Little White Dragon infiltrated the palace as a maid to approach the demon.

• The Old Yellow-Robed Demon accused the princess of sending a letter to Tang Xuanzang, but Sha Wujing claimed Tang had learned about her from the king’s portrait.
• The Old Yellow-Robed Demon apologized to the princess, freed Sha Wujing, and went to the Kingdom of Precious Images to meet the king as his son-in-law.
• The Old Yellow-Robed Demon tricked the king into believing Tang Xuanzang was a tiger spirit and used a spell to transform him into a tiger.
• The king locked Tang Xuanzang in an iron cage, while the Old Yellow-Robed Demon ate people at the welcoming feast.
• Little White Dragon heard that Tang Xuanzang was imprisoned, transformed into a palace maid, and offered to pour wine for the Old Yellow-Robed Demon.

Little White Dragon tried to kill the Old Yellow-Robed Demon but was wounded and escaped to the inn, where he told Zhu Bajie that Tang Xuanzang had been captured. Zhu Bajie refused to seek help and planned to return to Old Gao Village instead.

• Little White Dragon used magic to impress the Old Yellow-Robed Demon, then took his sword and attacked him.
• The Old Yellow-Robed Demon caught Little White Dragon's blade, wounded his hind leg, and drove him into a river before returning to his palace.
• Little White Dragon escaped to the inn and turned back into a horse, while Zhu Bajie woke from hiding and returned to find Tang Xuanzang missing.
• Little White Dragon told Zhu Bajie that the Old Yellow-Robed Demon had turned Tang Xuanzang into a tiger and that Monk Sha had been captured.
• Zhu Bajie said he would return to Old Gao Village rather than fight the demon or call Brother Monkey back.

Zhu Bajie went to Flower-Fruit Mountain to bring Sun Wukong back after Tang Xuanzang was captured by the Old Yellow-Robed Demon. Sun Wukong traveled with Zhu Bajie to the Kingdom of Precious Images, where he began scouting the demon’s pagoda and drew the attention of a patrol demon.

• Zhu Bajie traveled to Flower-Fruit Mountain, where Sun Wukong had his monkeys capture him as a prank.
• Zhu Bajie revealed that Tang Xuanzang had been captured, and Sun Wukong agreed to return with him.
• Zhu Bajie told Sun Wukong how the Old Yellow-Robed Demon had captured Tang Xuanzang and cursed Sun Wukong.
• Sun Wukong washed in a pond before traveling with Zhu Bajie to the pagoda near the Kingdom of Precious Images.
• Sun Wukong seized two children outside the pagoda, and a demon patrolman went to report him to the princess.