This eight-chapter volume is an original condensed retelling based on Wu Cheng'en's public-domain classic, not the complete original text or a line-by-line translation.

The westward road crossed not only wild mountains but labyrinths of the heart. In Chechi Kingdom, three Daoist spirits used tricks of rain and wind to oppress Buddhist monks. Wukong challenged them to summon rain, meditate, and identify hidden objects, then to survive beheading, disembowelment, and a bath in boiling oil. The Tiger, Deer, and Antelope Immortals trusted in crooked magic and finally revealed their animal forms. Wukong did not claim the victory for himself; he asked only that the king treat different faiths fairly from then on.

At the River That Reaches Heaven, the Great King of Numinous Power demanded a boy and girl as an annual sacrifice. Wukong and Bajie transformed into children and sat upon the offering trays. When the monster came to feed, they drew their weapons. Waves towered over the river through several battles before Guanyin reclaimed the demon, who was really a goldfish escaped from her lotus pond. An ancient turtle carried the pilgrims across and asked Tripitaka to learn when it might shed its shell. The monk promised, but the request sank beneath the dust and troubles of the road.

The hardest enemy to recognize looked exactly like Wukong. The Six-Eared Macaque copied his face, voice, memories, and even his golden-hooped staff. The two monkeys battled from earth to the underworld, from the Dragon Palace to Heaven. Even the demon-revealing mirror could not tell them apart. Only the Buddha perceived the creature whose six ears heard every secret beneath the sky. When the false Wukong fell, the true one stared down as though seeing the shadow of the self he might have remained.

Tripitaka asked, “What is the greatest difference between you?”

After a long silence, Wukong answered, “He wanted only to prove that he was real. I still want to carry you to the Western Heaven.”

Identity did not lie in a face or in power, but in choices made again and again. Wukong would still become angry, but from that day onward, he no longer fought only for his name.