After fifty or sixty rounds, Hui'an’s arms were numb. His grip weakened. He feinted and retreated, defeated.

Wukong withdrew his troops and set up camp just outside his cave.

Back at the celestial camp, Hui'an returned exhausted. “That monkey’s a beast. I couldn’t beat him. He’s too powerful.”

Li Jing was alarmed. He wrote a formal request for reinforcements and sent Hui'an and the Mighty Ghost King to deliver it.

They pierced the heavenly net and soared back to the Celestial Court. At the Tongming Palace, they were escorted inside by the Four Celestial Masters. In the Lingxiao Palace, Hui'an bowed to Guanyin and said:

“I went to Mount Huaguo as ordered. My father told me they fought yesterday and only captured a few wild beasts. Wukong came today to challenge us. I fought him but couldn’t win. Father sent us here to request backup.”

Guanyin fell into deep thought. Jade Emperor opened the scroll, then chuckled.

“A monkey causing this much trouble? And ten legions of troops can’t stop him? Now Li Jing wants reinforcements? Who exactly does he expect me to send?”

Guanyin pressed her palms together. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I have someone in mind—your nephew, Erlang Shen. He’s stationed at Guan Jiang Kou. A powerful warrior. He once defeated six demons in a single battle. He’s got six sworn brothers and 1,200 spirit soldiers at his command. Normally, he doesn’t take orders. But if you give the word, he’ll obey.”

Jade Emperor agreed at once. He sent the Mighty Ghost King to deliver the decree.

At Guan Jiang Kou, Erlang Shen personally received the royal edict with incense and ceremony. The order read: A rogue monkey has stolen peaches, wine, and elixirs, disrupted the banquet, and resisted arrest. Heavenly armies have failed. You are to engage and defeat him. A great reward awaits.

Erlang Shen smiled. “At last, a worthy challenge. I shall leave at once.”

He gathered his six sworn brothers—Generals Kang, Zhang, Yao, Li, and warriors Guo Shen and Zhi Jian, along with his eagle, hound, and army. They crossed the East Sea and arrived at Mount Huaguo.

Outside the mountain, the heavenly net blocked the way. Erlang Shen called out:

“I am Erlang Shen, ordered by Jade Emperor to subdue the monkey. Open the gate!”

The heavenly guards rushed to report. Li Jing and the Four Heavenly Kings came to greet him in person. After exchanging salutes and briefing him on the situation, Erlang Shen smirked.

“Finally! I’ve wanted to see how I stack up against this so-called Great Sage. Here’s the plan: lift the net, surround the mountain. If I lose, stay out of it. If I win—also stay out of it. I’ll finish the job myself. Li Jing, stay in the air and keep your demon-revealing mirror handy—just in case he tries to slip away.”

Everyone took their positions. Erlang Shen and his six generals stepped out of camp. His hound and eagle stayed behind.

Meanwhile, outside the Water Curtain Cave, the monkey army stood ready. A massive banner fluttered in the wind: Great Sage the Equal of Heaven.

Erlang Shen sneered. “A monkey… calling himself ’the Equal of Heaven’? What a joke.”

A monkey scout ran into the cave. Moments later, Wukong strode out in full battle gear with golden cudgel in hand. When he saw Erlang Shen’s noble bearing and sharp features, he thought to himself that this one’s not like the others. He’s the real deal.

Erlang Shen wore a pale golden robe, dragon-embossed boots, and held a gleaming trident spear. He radiated calm fury—a true demon-slaying hero, the same one who once split a mountain to save his mother.

Sun Wukong grinned cheekily. “And who’s this little warrior come to challenge me?”

Erlang Shen barked back, “Insolent monkey! Do you even know who you’re talking to? I’m Jade Emperor’s nephew, sent by divine order to arrest you, the rebel of Heaven! Surrender now!”

Wukong laughed. “Ah, the runaway god-child. Listen, I don’t even know you, don’t owe you, wasn’t looking for a fight. But since you’re here flapping your gums, don’t blame me for what comes next. Where’s your backup? Send out the real fighters!”

Furious, Erlang Shen shouted, “Take this!” and lunged with his three-pointed spear. Sun Wukong dodged and swung back with his golden cudgel.

The mountain trembled as they clashed. Sparks flew. Dust swirled. Monkey soldiers joined the fray, facing off against Erlang Shen’s brothers from Mount Mei. The air rang with weapons and war cries.

Both fighters were freakishly skilled. Sun Wukong, the battle-hardened immortal; Erlang Shen, the shapeshifting divine warrior. Blow for blow, trick for trick, neither could gain the upper hand.

After 300 bone-rattling rounds, Erlang Shen suddenly grew into a towering giant—fangs bared, red hair flying, his massive spear whistling through the air. Not to be outdone, Wukong transformed too, matching him size for size, wielding his golden cudgel like a thunderbolt.

The sight was enough to make seasoned generals lose their nerve. Marshals Ma and Liu were too scared to wave their flags. Generals Beng and Ba dropped their swords. Chaos erupted as the Mei brothers led their troops, along with eagle hounds and bowmen, straight toward the Water Curtain Cave.

The monkey army fell apart. Four of Wukong’s elite guards were scattered. Thousands of magical beasts were captured. Monkeys screamed, tossed their weapons, and ran for the hills like birds flushed from the trees.

Wukong, still locked in combat with Erlang Shen. When he glanced down at the battlefield, he panicked. He broke off, shrank down, and ran like mad.

“Running won’t save you!” Erlang Shen shouted. “Surrender, and I might spare your life!”

But Wukong wasn’t listening. He bolted for the cave entrance—only to find it blocked by the six Mei brothers.

“Going somewhere, Monkey?”

Wukong didn’t answer. He shrunk his golden cudgel, tucked it behind his ear, and shapeshifted into a sparrow, fluttering up to a tree and freezing in place.

The six brothers looked around, baffled. “He’s gone!”

Erlang Shen arrived and immediately spotted the trick. With a smirk, he transformed into a hawk and dove.

Wukong flapped once and turned into a giant cormorant, soaring through the clouds. Erlang Shen gave chase, morphing into a sea crane.

Wukong dived into a stream and became a fish. Erlang Shen dove in after him, now a fish-hunting bird.

Wukong darted and rolled beneath the surface. Erlang Shen studied the fish, then pounced—“Gotcha!”

But Wukong flipped out of the water and turned into a snake, slithering into the grass. Erlang Shen transformed again, this time into a gray heron.

Now Wukong shifted into a gaudy river bird, hoping the ugly form would repel his pursuer. But Erlang Shen just scoffed, “Nice try. No one likes a flower pheasant, not even me.” He snapped back to his real form, whipped out a slingshot, and let it fly.

Wukong tumbled off a cliff, rolling and twisting midair, then transformed into a tiny Earth Temple. His wide mouth became the door, teeth the gate, tongue the Bodhisattva, eyes the windows, tail the flagpole.

Erlang Shen arrived and squinted. “Since when do temples put their flags in the back? This monkey’s trying to lure me in so he can bite me!” He punched the window and kicked the gate.

Inside, Wukong broke into a cold sweat. “Uh-oh! Those were my eye and teeth!” With a leap, he shot back into the sky.

Erlang Shen chased him again but missed. His brothers soon caught up.

“Got him?”

“No,” Erlang Shen muttered, rubbing his jaw. “He turned into a temple. Almost had him. Slippery devil.”

“Where is he now?”

“Gone. Again. You guys stay on watch. I’ll hunt from above.”

Meanwhile, Li Jing, holding the demon-revealing mirror, hovered beside Nezha in the clouds.

“See anything?” Erlang Shen asked.

Li Jing shook his head. “He hasn’t flown past. I’ve had the mirror pointed this way the whole time.”

Erlang Shen laughed. “Don’t bother. That monkey turned invisible and probably snuck back to my temple at Guan Jiang Kou.”

With that, he bolted back home.

Sure enough, Wukong had beaten him there. He disguised himself as Erlang Shen and strolled into the temple like he owned it. The ghost judges all bowed. “Master’s back!”

Wukong casually flipped through the incense register and read the offerings and wish lists.

Just then, someone shouted, “Wait! Another master just arrived!”

The ghost judges froze. Two Erlang Shens?

The real one burst in. “Has anyone seen the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven?”

The confused ghost judges pointed inside. “Just one Master in there, reading the prayer scrolls…”

Erlang Shen stormed in. Wukong dropped the act, flashed a toothy grin, and said, “No need to yell! This temple belongs to me now!”

Out came the golden cudgel.

They fought from the temple to rooftop, from sky to forest, finally clashing back at Mount Huaguo.

This time, the Heavenly army was ready. The Mei brothers and their troops surrounded Wukong. There was nowhere left to run.

Back in Heaven, Jade Emperor and all the gods were growing anxious. News from the front had gone quiet. Guanyin finally suggested, “Your Majesty, why not go to the Southern Heavenly Gate and see for yourself?”

Jade Emperor agreed. The entire heavenly court followed.

From above Mount Huaguo, the gods watched the chaos unfold. Wukong and Erlang Shen were locked in a savage duel.

Guanyin leaned over and said, “Erlang Shen’s tough, but he hasn’t caught him yet. Let me give him a little help.”

Taishang Laojun chuckled. “Hoow exactly do you plan to help?”

Guanyin smiled. “I’ll toss my pure vase with willow branches. Just a little bonk on his head. Won’t kill him, but might buy Erlang Shen a chance.”

Taishang Laojun shook his head. “That vase? Made of porcelain. One toss, it’ll shatter. No good. I’ll handle this myself.”

From his sleeve, he drew out the diamond snare—a mystical weapon immune to fire, impervious to water, and deadly to illusions. “This baby helped me turn barbarians into Buddhas. It’ll work just fine on a rowdy monkey.”

Without another word, Taishang Laojun hurled the snare. It spun through the air and landed squarely on Sun Wukong’s head.

WHAM!

Wukong dropped like a rock mid-fight, face-first into the dirt. He struggled to get up—only to have Erlang Shen’s divine hunting dog sink its teeth into his calf. Down he went again.

“Stupid mutt!” Wukong cursed. “Can’t bite a real villain, just comes after me!”

Before he could wriggle free, the Seven Saints closed in. They tied him up tight, pierced his shoulder blades with hooks, and left him pinned and helpless.

Taishang Laojun calmly retrieved the snare, then flew back to Heaven with Jade Emperor, Guanyin, the Queen Mother of the West, and the rest of the divine VIPs.