Chapter Summaries

After the old demon captured Tang Xuanzang, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing found the demon’s cave and confronted its occupants. The demons tried to trick Sun Wukong with a fake human head, but he exposed it as a willow root, and the disciples demanded that Tang Xuanzang be returned.

• Sun Wukong told Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie that the demons had separated them and captured Tang Xuanzang, so the three searched the mountain for the cave.
• Zhu Bajie smashed a hole in the cave door and demanded that the demons release Tang Xuanzang, while the vanguard dismissed him as harmless.
• Sun Wukong shouted for the demons to bring out Tang Xuanzang, and the vanguard devised a plan to fool him with a fake head.
• The vanguard carved a willow root into a head and had a demon claim that Tang Xuanzang had been eaten.
• Sun Wukong recognized the head as fake by the sound it made, then blew on it and revealed the willow root; Zhu Bajie demanded Tang Xuanzang back.

The Great King of the Southern Mountain tricked Sun Wukong and his companions into believing Tang Xuanzang was dead, prompting Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie to attack the demons’ cave. The old demon escaped and sealed the entrance, leaving Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie to return to Sha Wujing without rescuing their master.

• The little demon brought Sun Wukong a real human head, and Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing mourned, believing it was Tang Xuanzang’s.
• Zhu Bajie buried the head, then joined Sun Wukong in attacking the demons’ cave while Sha Wujing stayed to guard the grave and their belongings.
• The Great King of the Southern Mountain confronted Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, and a battle broke out between them and the demons.
• Sun Wukong used the Clone Technique to rout the little demons, and he killed the wolf vanguard as the Great King of the Southern Mountain fled.
• The old demon blocked the cave entrance with stones and earth, so Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie gave up trying to break in and returned to Sha Wujing.

Sun Wukong investigated the monster’s lair and discovered that Tang Xuanzang was alive and being held captive. He rescued Tang Xuanzang and a farmer, then brought them out to the back door, where Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing were still mourning.

• Sun Wukong left Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing at the grave and sneaked into the monsters’ lair disguised as a mouse.
• Sun Wukong overheard a little monster report that Zhu Bajie and his companions had buried a fake head, realizing Tang Xuanzang might still be alive.
• Sun Wukong found Tang Xuanzang and a farmer tied beneath a tree and promised to rescue them.
• Sun Wukong killed the little monsters, untied Tang Xuanzang and the farmer, and led them out through the back door.
• Sun Wukong pointed out Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, who were still crying under a tree.

Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang from a leopard spirit, and the travelers defeated the monsters in its cave. After sharing a meal with the farmer and his mother, Tang Xuanzang and his disciples set out again with the farmer leading the way.

• Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing mistook the rescued Tang Xuanzang for a spirit until Sun Wukong explained what had happened, and Zhu Bajie reburied the bones of the man who had saved Tang Xuanzang.
• Sun Wukong put the cave’s lesser demons to sleep and tied them up, while Zhu Bajie helped burn them; when the leopard spirit awoke, Zhu Bajie struck it with his rake.
• The farmer invited Tang Xuanzang and his disciples to his home, where his mother joyfully welcomed him back and thanked the travelers for rescuing them.
• The farmer and his mother served the travelers a meal, and after they ate and packed, the farmer agreed to lead them along the road ahead.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples reached Fallen Flower Commandery, where a prolonged drought had driven the commandery lord to seek someone who could pray for rain. Sun Wukong agreed to help, and the chapter ended as the commandery lord described a past drought that lasted three years.

• A farmer told Tang Xuanzang that the Kingdom of Tianzhu lay less than a thousand li away, and the group continued west.
• Tang Xuanzang and his disciples entered the desolate Fallen Flower Commandery, where frightened townspeople mistook Zhu Bajie for a monster.
• Officials explained that the commandery had suffered years of drought and showed Sun Wukong a notice seeking mages to pray for rain.
• Tang Xuanzang asked his disciples to help bring rain, and Sun Wukong said the task would be easy.
• The commandery lord invited Tang Xuanzang and his disciples to his residence and asked them to pray for rain.
• Tang Xuanzang asked how long the drought had lasted, and the commandery lord recalled one that continued for three years.

Sun Wukong summoned the Dragon King of the East Sea to bring rain to a drought-stricken prefecture, but learned that the Jade Emperor had forbidden it. He went to the Heavenly Court to request permission and was told the drought had been arranged, then insisted on seeing the Jade Emperor.

• Sun Wukong asked the Dragon King of the East Sea to bring rain, and the Dragon King said he needed the Jade Emperor's decree and rainmaking ministers.
• Sun Wukong told Tang Xuanzang what had happened, left Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to protect him, and flew to the Heavenly Court.
• The Four Heavenly Kings told Sun Wukong that the Jade Emperor had forbidden rain until a mountain of rice, a mountain of flour, and a great golden lock disappeared.
• Sun Wukong met the Four Great Celestial Masters, explained why he had come, and asked them to take him to the Jade Emperor.
• The Four Great Celestial Masters told Sun Wukong that the prefecture was not supposed to receive rain, but he insisted on seeing the Jade Emperor.

Sun Wukong learned that the Jade Emperor had withheld rain because the commandery ruler had offended heaven, and he urged the ruler to repent and return to good ways. After the ruler began a Buddhist ritual, Sun Wukong set off to ask the Jade Emperor for rain.

• The Jade Emperor showed Sun Wukong three supernatural signs that had to disappear before rain would fall, and the Four Great Celestial Masters told him the ruler needed to mend his ways.
• Sun Wukong returned to the commandery ruler, who confessed that he had overturned offerings during a quarrel with his wife.
• Sun Wukong explained heaven’s punishment, and Zhu Bajie offered to eat the signs and break their lock, but Sun Wukong told him the signs were only in heaven.
• Sun Wukong urged the commandery ruler to read Buddhist scriptures and recite the Buddha’s name; the ruler repented, took refuge in the Buddhist Order, and established a ritual site.
• Sun Wukong left Tang Xuanzang with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing and went back to heaven to ask the Jade Emperor for rain.

Sun Wukong asked the Duke of Thunder and the Mother of Lightning to bring rain to the drought-stricken princess’s land after the required matters had been resolved. When no rain fell despite thunder and lightning, Sun Wukong urged the White Dragon Horse to make it rain, and the dragon began gathering his power.

• Sun Wukong told the Heavenly King Who Protects the Nation that the princess had converted, then learned the messenger was taking a memorial to the Jade Emperor.
• The Heavenly King Who Protects the Nation advised Sun Wukong to ask the Duke of Thunder and bring the Mother of Lightning.
• Sun Wukong asked the Duke of Thunder to help bring rain, and the Duke agreed after hearing that the three conditions had been fulfilled.
• The Duke of Thunder and the Mother of Lightning made thunder and lightning over the drought-stricken land, while the Jade Emperor heard that the three matters had been addressed.
• When the rain still did not come, Sun Wukong asked the White Dragon Horse to help, and the White Dragon Horse revealed his dragon form and began gathering power.

Sun Wukong brought rain to a drought-stricken land before the Jade Emperor’s officials could act, then arranged for the Four Great Celestial Masters to receive credit and honor. After the grateful people hosted Tang Xuanzang and his companions, the pilgrims resumed their journey, and the chapter ended as late autumn arrived and Long Hongtao spoke to Old Ancestor Hongmeng.

• The White Dragon Horse made rain pour down at Sun Wukong’s command, saving the people from the drought.
• The Four Great Celestial Masters arrived after the rain had begun, and Sun Wukong asked them to let the people honor them as the rainmakers.
• The prefect thanked Sun Wukong, hosted Tang Xuanzang and his companions, and had a temple built for them.
• Tang Xuanzang refused the people’s money and left with his companions after several days of feasting and farewells.
• Tang Xuanzang praised the reward of helping others, while Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie praised Sun Wukong and teased him along the road.
• Late autumn came, and Long Hongtao spoke to Old Ancestor Hongmeng in the heavens.

Old Ancestor Hongmeng explained to Ao Changsheng that Sun Wukong’s trip to the Underworld could not have involved his soul, since he was outside the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and they suspected Luo Hou and Guiche were behind it. Luo Hou and Guiche plotted to recruit wronged souls through Black and White Wuchang before Ao Changsheng confronted them, leaving the conspirators frightened.

• Ao Changsheng called the tribulation simple, but Old Ancestor Hongmeng warned him not to underestimate Sun Wukong.
• Old Ancestor Hongmeng pointed out that Sun Wukong, born from stone, could not have been taken as a soul by King Yama, suggesting the Underworld’s records had been tampered with.
• Ao Changsheng and Old Ancestor Hongmeng suspected Luo Hou had intervened and that Guiche was helping him.
• Luo Hou and Guiche planned to use Black and White Wuchang to mark wronged souls and recruit them after reincarnation.
• Ao Changsheng sent a warning to Luo Hou and Guiche, and Luo Hou hastily promised they would not do anything bad.

Ao Changsheng sent a disguised clone to Jade Flower County to observe Tang Xuanzang and his disciples as they continued their journey. After the group reached the royal residence, Tang Xuanzang met the prince, who questioned how he had survived the dangers of the road.

• Ao Changsheng sent his clone, disguised as an old man, to wait near the city gate after Old Ancestor Hongmeng warned him to avoid Sun Wukong's sharp eyes.
• Tang Xuanzang and his disciples met the disguised clone, who told them they had reached Jade Flower County and described its prince as kind and respectful of Buddhism.
• The group entered the prosperous city, where Zhu Bajie frightened the onlookers by boasting about subduing a pig king.
• Tang Xuanzang went to the royal residence to exchange his travel permit while Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing waited at the guesthouse.
• The prince welcomed Tang Xuanzang and asked how he had traveled so far through a land full of demons and monsters, prompting Tang Xuanzang to begin explaining.

Tang Xuanzang and his disciples met the prince and his three sons, who mistook the disciples for demons because of their frightening appearances. The princes challenged them at the meal, and Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong began displaying their weapons.

• The servants brought Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing to the prince’s residence, where the prince was frightened by their looks.
• Tang Xuanzang scolded Zhu Bajie for greeting the prince too boldly, while Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing teased him.
• The prince told his three sons that Tang Xuanzang’s disciples looked like demons, and the sons armed themselves and went to confront them.
• The eldest prince accused the disciples of being demons, but Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing insisted they were people who meant well.
• The second prince attacked Zhu Bajie, who revealed his nine-foot toppling pagoda and frightened him.
• Sun Wukong took out the Ruyi Jingu Bang and faced the eldest prince.

Sun Wukong and his brothers displayed their powers to the three princes, who asked to learn martial arts and became their disciples. Sun Wukong began giving the princes divine strength, while Old Ancestor Hongmeng and Ao Changsheng watched and commented on his methods.

• The eldest prince failed to lift Sun Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang, and Sha Wujing demonstrated his strength by splitting the third prince's staff.
• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing performed their Divine Abilities in the sky, impressing the princes and the townspeople.
• The old prince asked Tang Xuanzang to help his sons learn martial arts, and Sun Wukong agreed to take them as disciples.
• At dawn, the three princes completed their apprenticeship rites and asked about their masters' weapons, prompting Sun Wukong to explain the origin of his Sea-Calming Divine Needle.
• Sun Wukong said he would teach the princes after their journey and drew a circle for them to absorb the power of heaven and earth.
• Old Ancestor Hongmeng praised Sun Wukong's quick thinking for transferring Law Power, and Ao Changsheng reacted with exasperation.

After Sun Wukong and his companions’ Law Treasures vanished from the city, Sun Wukong traced the theft to demons near Tiger Head Mountain. He followed two demons in butterfly form to discover what had happened to the weapons.

• The three princes asked blacksmiths to make copies of Sun Wukong and his companions’ weapons, but a demon spotted their light and stole all three.
• The blacksmiths and princes discovered the weapons were missing, and Zhu Bajie accused the blacksmiths of stealing them.
• The old prince told Sun Wukong about Tiger Mouth Cave, where people believed immortals or demons lived.
• Sun Wukong concluded that demons had taken the weapons, told Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to protect Tang Xuanzang and the city, and went to investigate.
• Sun Wukong reached Tiger Head Mountain, spotted demonic energy and two demons, then transformed into a butterfly to follow them.

Sun Wukong learned that the demons planned a banquet and disguised himself and Zhu Bajie as the two demons while Sha Wujing posed as a livestock seller. They reached Tiger Mouth Cave with pigs and sheep, where the demon king welcomed them and Sun Wukong presented Sha Wujing as someone owed silver.

• Sun Wukong immobilized two demons on the road, took their silver and badges, and returned to the prince's residence with news of their banquet.
• Sun Wukong proposed disguising himself and Zhu Bajie as the demons and Sha Wujing as a pig and sheep seller, and the old prince supplied livestock for their cover.
• Sun Wukong transformed Zhu Bajie and himself to match the demons, while Sha Wujing dressed as a seller, and the three set out for Tiger Mouth Cave.
• On the way, they met a little demon carrying an invitation to the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint, whom Sun Wukong identified from the letter.
• The group arrived at Tiger Mouth Cave with the livestock, and Sun Wukong told the demon king that Sha Wujing had come to collect money they owed him.

Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing recovered their weapons from the demon king and returned to the city. Sun Wukong expected the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint to seek revenge, but the chapter ended as the demon’s subordinate reached Bamboo Joint Mountain and approached the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint.

• Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie persuaded the demon king to show Sha Wujing the stolen weapons, and Zhu Bajie seized the Nine-Toothed Rake to attack him.
• Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing retrieved their weapons and fought the demon king, who fled after a long battle.
• Zhu Bajie killed the lesser demons, and Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie burned the cave entrance before returning to the city with their weapons.
• Sun Wukong reassured the old prince that he would help defeat the demons and warned that the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint might come seeking revenge.
• The demon king remained in his cave while his subordinate traveled overnight to Bamboo Joint Mountain and reached the Nine Spirits Primordial Saint.

The Lion Spirit asked the old demon king for help avenging his defeat by Sun Wukong, and the old demon king recognized Sun Wukong and led a monster army toward the city. Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing went out to face the attackers, and Zhu Bajie challenged them.

• The Lion Spirit told the old demon king that Sun Wukong and his companions had beaten him and taken his three weapons.
• The old demon king identified Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing, then promised to help the Lion Spirit take revenge.
• Two monsters reported that Sun Wukong had immobilized them and taken their silver, while the Lion Spirit mourned his burned cave and missing followers.
• The old demon king led the Lion Spirit and a group of monsters toward the city, frightening its people and prompting the prince to report the threat.
• Sun Wukong reassured the people, then rode out with Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing to confront the monster army.
• Zhu Bajie stepped forward and challenged the monsters, while the Yellow-Haired Lion Spirit cursed him.

Sun Wukong and his companions fought the Nine-Headed Lion Spirit's forces, trading captives as the demon king seized Tang Xuanzang and the king. Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing reached the demon's cave, where the old Demon King came out to fight them.

• Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Sun Wukong battled the monsters, and the monsters captured Zhu Bajie while Sun Wukong captured two lion spirits with his doubles.
• Sun Wukong brought the lion spirits to the city, where he reassured Tang Xuanzang and the princess consort that their captives would be safe.
• The old Demon King sent the Yellow-Haired Lion Spirit to attack the city while he captured Tang Xuanzang and the king in a monstrous wind.
• Sun Wukong used his doubles to capture the monsters, then promised the princess consort he and Sha Wujing would rescue the captives.
• Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing went to Bamboo Joint Mountain, followed a little monster to the cave, and heard the old Demon King mourn his missing descendants.
• The old Demon King left the cave to attack Sun Wukong, who blocked his first strike.

Sun Wukong escaped the cave after the Nine-Headed Lion Spirit captured and tortured him and his companions, then learned that only the spirit’s master could subdue it. He reached Taiyi Heavenly Venerable, who discovered that his mount had gone missing and questioned his disciple about the lion.

• The old demon king captured Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing and had the demons beat Sun Wukong through the night, but his body remained unharmed.
• Sun Wukong slipped free, killed the three little demons, freed Sha Wujing, and escaped the cave, while the old demon king recaptured Sha Wujing.
• Sun Wukong asked the Land Gods how to defeat the Nine-Headed Lion Spirit, and they directed him to seek its master at the Eastern Pole Palace.
• Sun Wukong met the Wide-Eyed Heavenly King, who told him to continue inward to find the demon’s master.
• Sun Wukong met Taiyi Heavenly Venerable, who woke his disciple and demanded to know where the missing nine-headed lion had gone.

Taiyi Heavenly Venerable captured his runaway Demon Beast, allowing Sun Wukong to rescue Tang Xuanzang and reunite with the others. After helping the princes learn to use their weapons, the pilgrims continued their journey and entered Auspicious Cloud Temple, where a monk panicked when he saw Sun Wukong and his companions.

• Taiyi Heavenly Venerable learned that his immortal attendant had fallen asleep after drinking wine, then went with Sun Wukong to Bamboo Joint Mountain to retrieve the missing Demon Beast.
• Sun Wukong lured the Demon Beast out of its cave, and Taiyi Heavenly Venerable immobilized it before the immortal attendant saddled it and rode it back to the palace.
• Sun Wukong rescued Tang Xuanzang, and Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing returned with the old prince and his three sons; the prince later held a banquet, and Sun Wukong arranged for the six lions to be killed.
• Tang Xuanzang urged Sun Wukong and the others to teach the three princes martial arts, and after several days of training, the pilgrims left Long Pool and continued their journey.
• Tang Xuanzang and his disciples entered Auspicious Cloud Temple, where a monk welcomed Tang Xuanzang and knelt to him before panicking upon seeing Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing.