The Four Heavenly Kings and the celestial troops returned to camp, showering Erlang Shen with praise.

But Erlang Shen stayed humble. “Please, I was just doing my part. It was a team effort. Credit goes to all the gods and Jade Emperor’s divine favor, of course.”

Generals Kang, Zhang, and company suggested, “Let’s strike while the iron’s hot. Drag the monkey straight to Heaven for judgment!”

Erlang Shen shook his head. “You don’t have a mandate to meet Jade Emperor. Let me and the Celestial Generals handle the report. You stay behind and secure Mount Huaguo. We’ll share the glory when I return.”

Orders given, he soared off toward the Tongming Palace.

There, the Celestial Master announced, “The rebel monkey is captured. Your Majesty, please issue punishment.”

Jade Emperor wasted no time: “Take him to the Demon Execution Platform! Chop him to bits!”

Wukong was bound to a post. Blades slashed. Axes hacked. Spears stabbed. Swords pierced. Nothing even scratched him.

Then Southern Dipper lit a fire. Still nothing. Thunder gods hurled lightning. No effect.

The Mighty Ghost King stepped forward. “Your Majesty, this monkey’s skin is tougher than dragonhide. Blades, fire, lightning,nothing works. What now?”

Jade Emperor frowned.

Taishang Laojun stepped in again. “He gorged on celestial peaches, divine wine, and my alchemy pills—five batches, raw and cooked. Then roasted himself in his own fire spell. His body’s basically indestructible now. Let me take him. I’ll throw him in my eight trigrams furnace. Forty-nine days of sacred fire, and those stolen elixirs will be burned right out of him.”

Permission granted. Six Ding and Six Jia escorted Wukong to Taishang Laojun’s palace. Taishang Laojun removed his chains, unhooked his bones, and shoved him into the furnace.

“Turn up the fire!” he told his disciples. “Make it hot!”

Inside, Wukong huddled in the “Wind Palace” quadrant, avoiding the worst of the flames. But the smoke burned his eyes bright red. That’s how he got his legendary fiery golden eyes.

Forty-nine days later, Taishang Laojun opened the furnace, expecting ashes.

Instead—BOOM!

Wukong leapt out, eyes blazing, and kicked the entire furnace over. The disciples tried to stop him. He knocked them flying like bowling pins. Taishang Laojun lunged. Wukong grabbed him by the beard and flipped him head-first into a wall.

Then, from behind his ear, Wukong pulled out his golden cudgel, grew it to its full size, and went wild.

He stormed Heaven, smashing and bashing. The Nine Stars locked their gates in terror. Even the Four Heavenly Kings gave him a wide berth.

Wukong charged straight for the Lingxiao Palace.

The gate guard, General Wang, stepped forward, golden whip in hand. “Hold it, monkey! You’re not going any farther!”

Wukong didn’t even blink. He swung his golden cudgel, and the duel was on.

Soon, reinforcements arrived. 36 Thunder Generals from the Lightning Division. Wukong didn’t flinch. He parried. He struck. His golden cudgel whirled like a cyclone.

Then—poof!—he grew three heads and six arms, each one armed with a golden cudgel. He spun like a windmill, pummeling the heavenly forces so hard they couldn’t get within ten feet.

Heaven descended into chaos.

Jade Emperor stomped in frustration. “Enough! Send word to the Western Paradise. Bring Tathagata Buddha!”

Two divine envoys flew west, arriving at the Leiyin Temple. They bowed before the Four Great Vajras and Eight Great Bodhisattvas.

“Please inform Tathagata Buddha,” they said, “that Heaven needs his help.”

Soon, the envoys were kneeling before Tathagata Buddha himself.

“What brings you to me?” Tathagata Buddha asked.

They explained, “A monkey from Mount Huaguo has thrown all Heaven into disarray. He’s mastered seventy-two transformations, somersault clouds, and immortality. We offered him a post as the supervisor of heavenly stables. He was dissatisfied with the low rank of this position and left on his own. Later, he was made to the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven. He’s still not satisfied. He’s stolen peaches, wine, and pills. Finally, he went on a rampage in Heaven. Even ten thousand celestial soldiers couldn’t hole him back. Erlang Shen and Taishang Laojun joined forces and managed to temporarily capture him. First, the monkey was brought to the demon execution platform to chop off his head, but it didn’t work. Then, Taishang Laojun put him in the eight trigrams furnace for 49 days. Not only was he unharmed, but he became even more powerful. After coming out of the furnace, he ran to Heaven to cause trouble. No one can stop him. Please, Tathagata Buddha, only you can subdue him.”

Tathagata Buddha nodded. “Stay here. I’ll handle this myself.”

With disciples Ananda and Kasyapa at his side, Tathagata Buddha flew to the edge of Heaven, where the battle still raged.

“Everyone, stand back,” Tathagata Buddha commanded. “Let me deal with him.”

Wukong, wild-eyed and glowing with fury, pointed his golden cudgel. “Who the heck are you?”

Tathagata Buddha smiled. “I am Shakyamuni Buddha. I’ve heard that you’ve crowned yourself Great Sage the Equal of Earth and started a celestial riot. Care to explain?”

Wukong puffed up with pride. “I’m born of Heaven and Earth, trained in the Water Curtain Cave, mastered every art and transformation under the sun. I deserve to live in Heaven! Why should Jade Emperor sit on a throne while I sit on a cloud?”

Tathagata Buddha chuckled. “Jade Emperor has cultivated virtue for over 1,700 kalpas, millions of years of devotion. You, monkey, have dabbled in a few tricks and think you’re ready to rule? Your arrogance will be your downfall.”

Wukong snorted. “Heaven isn’t his birthright. There’s an old saying—‘Even emperors take turns.’ His turn is over. Mine’s just beginning.”

Tathagata Buddha raised an eyebrow. “Then let’s make a wager. If you can jump out of my palm, I’ll ask Jade Emperor to hand you the throne. But if you can’t, you’ll return to Earth, and stop all this nonsense. Deal?”

Wukong laughed. “Deal? That’s not a deal, it’s a joke! I can somersault across 108,000 miles. Your palm’s barely a foot wide. I’ll be out before you blink.”

Tathagata Buddha stretched out his right hand and his palm was wide as a lotus leaf.

“See ya!” cried Wukong, leaping onto it. In a blink, he somersaulted off on his cloud, flying so fast the sky blurred. He soared through wind and mist until he spotted five towering red pillars piercing the green haze. Thinking he’d reached the edge of the world, he plucked a hair, turned it into a brush, and scrawled on one of the pillars:

“Great Sage the Equal of Heaven was here.”

To top it off, he relieved himself at the base, then zipped back, triumphant.

Landing back in Tathagata Buddha’s palm, he declared, “I made it to the end! Now hand over Heaven already!”

Tathagata Buddha chuckled. “You cheeky monkey. You never left my hand.”

Wukong scowled. “What? I saw the edge of the world! I wrote on it! I even took a leak! Don’t believe me? Let’s go back!”

“No need,” said Tathagata Buddha calmly. “Just look down.”

Wukong glanced at Tathagat Buddha’s middle finger and froze. There it was: his graffiti. And the unmistakable scent of monkey pee. His smug face turned pale.

“What?! That can’t be right. I went all the way to the edge!”

“I’ll go again!” he growled, fists clenched, preparing to jump.

But Tathagata Buddha was one step ahead. With a gentle flip of his hand, his five fingers closed in, transforming into five mighty peaks—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—the legendary Five Elements Mountain.

Boom.

He pinned Wukong beneath them like squashing a fly under a stone.

The Thunder Gods and disciples Ananda and Kasyapa pressed their palms together and chanted in unison:

“Born from stone, he sought immortality. After centuries of training, he gained power, but gave in to pride. He stole peaches, drank the divine wine, and wreaked havoc in Heaven. Now his karma has caught up with him. Justice is served.”

Tathagata Buddha nodded, satisfied, and turned to leave with his disciples.

Just then, Marshal Tianpeng and True Lord Tianyou rushed up in a panic.

“Please wait, Tathagat Buddha! Jade Emperor himself wishes to thank you!”

Moments later, celestial music rang out. Clouds swirled. Jade Emperor descended in full regalia. Bowing deeply, he said:

“Gratitude beyond words for subduing the demon monkey. I’ve arranged a grand banquet in your honor. Please come, all the immortals are invited.”

Tathagata Buddha returned the bow. “I was merely fulfilling my duty. It was the collective virtue of the gods that made it possible.”

Jade Emperor summoned every divine being, including Three Pure Ones, Four Sovereigns, Five Elders, Six Ministries, Seven Star Lords, Eight Directions, Nine Stars, Ten Officials, the Thousand Truthful Ones, and the Ten Thousand Saints, to gather at the Jade Palace for what was called the Heaven-Stabilizing Assembly.

The halls sparkled with jewels. The tables overflowed with heavenly delicacies. The air was thick with incense and music.

Soon, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun, Daode Tianzun, the Star Lords, Heavenly Kings, Nezha, and many others arrived with rare treasures and fruits, bowing to the Buddha:

“That demon monkey disturbed the Three Realms. Thanks to your divine power, peace has returned. Let this be known as the Heaven-Stabilizing Assembly.”

Tathagata Buddha smiled and agreed. Applause thundered through the halls. Flutes and zithers played. Divine wine flowed. Celestial maidens danced. Clouds swirled with golden light. It was a feast unlike any other.

The Queen Mother of the West herself arrived with a troop of fairy maidens, performing a graceful dance as she offered a few bright, fragrant Flat Peaches of Immortality.

“Just one bite,” she said with a wink, “and you won’t age for a hundred years.”

Old Man of the South Pole appeared next, carrying lingzhi mushrooms, jade lotuses, and golden elixirs. Laughing, he said:

“I thought that monkey would learn his lesson after being cooked in Taishang Laojun’s alchemy furnace, but nope, he caused even more chaos! Good riddance he’s finally pinned down. That’s a relief!”

Even Barefoot Immortal showed up to celebrate, bringing rare fire dates and divine pears. Praise for Tathagata Buddha’s virtue filled the air.

Tathagata Buddha offered a modest bow. “I only did what needed to be done.” He instructed Ananda and Kasyapa to carefully store the gifts.

The feast rolled on, wine cups clinking, laughter echoing. But just then, a celestial guard burst in:

“Great Sage! He’s poked his head out from under the mountain!”

Tathagata Buddha smiled. “No problem.”

From his sleeve, he pulled out a golden talisman, inscribed with the sacred mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum.

“Stick this to the mountain,” he told Ananda.

Ananda did as told. The moment the talisman touched the mountain, the Five Elements Mountain locked tight. Wukong could only gasp for air, his limbs flailing, but he was going nowhere.

Tathagata Buddha, now fully at ease, recited a few final mantras and commanded the local mountain gods and Five Gates of the Five Elements Mountain to stand watch.

“If the monkey gets hungry, feed him iron pellets. If he’s thirsty, give him molten copper. Let him suffer a while until someone fated comes to save him.”

End of this chapter. Thank you for reading!

This is just the serialized version of Journey to the West (modern retelling). If you want to read the full book faster, check out the complete, easy-to-read English and Chinese (Simplified & Traditional) version on Amazon.

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