Chapter Summaries

Sun Wukong discovered that the Daoist had poisoned Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, then learned the Daoist was connected to the seven female demons from Webbed Silk Cave. After escaping their web, Sun Wukong remained at odds with the demons.

• The Daoist urged Tang Xuanzang and his disciples to eat, and Zhu Bajie complained that the food was unusually salty.
• The Daoist served tea with dates, but Sun Wukong noticed black dates in one cup and tried to exchange it with the Daoist.
• Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing drank the poisoned tea and collapsed, while Sun Wukong avoided drinking it.
• The Daoist blamed Sun Wukong for trouble linked to the female demons at Webbed Silk Cave, and Sun Wukong attacked him.
• The seven female demons joined the fight and trapped Sun Wukong in a web, but he broke through it and escaped.

Sun Wukong learned from the Land God that the monsters at Yellow Flower Temple were spider spirits, then attacked them to rescue Tang Xuanzang and his junior brothers. After the Daoist trapped him in powerful golden light, Sun Wukong escaped underground, injured and unable to use his Law Power, and encountered a woman in burial clothes.

• Sun Wukong summoned the Land God, who told him the monsters were spider spirits that had arrived five or six years earlier.
• Sun Wukong used transformed monkey hairs and weapons to tear apart the spider silk and capture seven spider spirits outside Yellow Flower Temple.
• The spider spirits asked the Daoist to return Tang Xuanzang and save them, but he refused and said he wanted to eat Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong smashed the seven spider spirits to pieces, then fought the furious Daoist with the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
• The Daoist revealed countless eyes that shone golden light, trapping Sun Wukong until he escaped into the sky and injured his forehead.
• Sun Wukong transformed into a pangolin and burrowed beyond the golden light, then lamented his injuries before noticing a woman in burial clothes burning paper money.

Sun Wukong learned from Bodhisattva Guanyin that Fangkong on Purple Cloud Mountain could defeat the Many-Eyed Monster and save Tang Xuanzang. He reached Thousand Flowers Cave and found a female Daoist, whom he addressed as Fangkong.

• Sun Wukong met a grieving woman and learned that the Yellow Flower Temple master had poisoned her husband.
• Sun Wukong told the woman about the Many-Eyed Monster poisoning Tang Xuanzang and defeating him with golden light.
• The woman identified the monster and directed Sun Wukong to seek Fangkong at Thousand Flowers Cave on Purple Cloud Mountain.
• The woman revealed herself as Bodhisattva Guanyin and warned Sun Wukong not to say she had sent him to Fangkong.
• Sun Wukong flew to Purple Cloud Mountain, entered Thousand Flowers Cave, and asked a female Daoist for Fangkong's help.

Sun Wukong persuaded Bodhisattva Fangkong to help defeat the monster at the Yellow Flower Temple and save Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing from poison. The three recovered after taking her antidote pills.

• Sun Wukong explained that a monster at the Yellow Flower Temple had poisoned Tang Xuanzang and his junior brothers, and Bodhisattva Fangkong agreed to help.
• Bodhisattva Fangkong revealed her special embroidery needle, forged in her son Hairy Head Sun Stellar Official's eyes.
• Bodhisattva Fangkong threw the needle through the temple's golden light and caught it back in her hand.
• Sun Wukong found the monster immobilized and went to the back of the temple, where Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing lay unconscious and foaming at the mouth.
• Bodhisattva Fangkong gave Sun Wukong three antidote pills, and Tang Xuanzang, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing vomited the poison and survived.

After Bodhisattva Fangkong subdued the centipede spirit, Tang Xuanzang and his disciples resumed their journey and reached a mountain where an old man warned them of demons. Sun Wukong transformed into Tang Xuanzang and went to question the old man, leaving the group at the mountainside.

• Zhu Bajie wanted to kill the monster, but Bodhisattva Fangkong stopped him and revealed the monster’s true form as a giant centipede spirit.
• Bodhisattva Fangkong carried the centipede spirit back to the Thousand Flowers Cave, and Sun Wukong explained that her son’s needle could break the spirit’s golden light.
• Sha Wujing prepared a meal, and Sun Wukong burned down the monster’s temple before Tang Xuanzang and his disciples continued west.
• Tang Xuanzang saw a towering mountain, and an old man warned him that demons there had eaten thousands of people.
• Sun Wukong transformed into Tang Xuanzang so he could approach the old man and ask about the warning.

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.