Chapter five
Disrupting the Peach Festival, the Great Sage steals elixir.
With revolt in Heaven, all the gods pursue the demon.
luànpántáodàshèngtōudān乱蟠桃大圣偷丹fǎntiāngōngzhūshénzhuōguài反天宫诸神捉怪
How to read this chart:
Wukong's Indolent Life in Heaven
HeavenThe Great Sage, Equal to Heaven (Wukong) is idle and carefree in his official residence. He enjoys meals and leisure while making friends with heavenly beings. His growing boredom stirs thoughts of mischief.
Xu Jingyang Reports on Wukong's Behavior
HeavenDaoist immortal Xu Jingyang warns the Jade Emperor that Wukong is idling and fraternizing with heavenly officials. He suggests assigning him duties to prevent mischief.
Assignment to Guard the Garden of Immortal Peaches
HeavenThe Jade Emperor appoints Wukong as guardian of the Garden of Immortal Peaches. He instructs him to care for it diligently.
Inspection of the Immortal Peach Garden
Wukong inspects the garden with a local spirit. He admires its immortal peaches and learns about their miraculous properties.
Wukong Steals Immortal Peaches
Wukong tricks the garden staff into waiting outside. He then transforms to sneak and feast on ripened peaches undetected.
Queen Mother's Maids Encounter Wukong's Trickery
The Seven-Gown Immortal Maidens arrive to collect peaches for a banquet but find only Wukong's clothes. He has transformed into a small figure and hidden among the trees.
The Great Sage Confronts the Immortal Maidens
The Seven-Gown Immortal Maidens are picking peaches when Wukong (disguised as a peach branch) is startled and reveals his true form. He confronts the maidens for stealing his peaches, but they explain they were sent by the Queen Mother to prepare for the Immortal Peach Festival. After learning he isn't invited yet, Wukong casts an immobilization spell on them to investigate further.
Wukong's Deception at Jasper Pool
Jasper PoolWukong encounters the Great Immortal of Naked Feet en route to the festival. He deceives the immortal into changing course, then transforms into his form to infiltrate the Peach Festival. He arrives at the treasure chamber adorned with lavish decorations and food for the banquet.
Great Sage Steals Wine at Jasper Pool
Jasper PoolWukong is tempted by the aroma of wine while exploring the banquet preparations at the Jasper Pool. He uses magic to transform his hairs into sleep-inducing insects, causing all the wine-makers and workers to fall asleep. Wukong feasts on rare delicacies and drinks heavily from the wine jars, becoming thoroughly drunk. Afraid of being discovered by the arriving guests, he hastily leaves and accidentally heads toward the Tushita Palace.
Great Sage Steals and Eats Laozi's Elixir
Tushita PalaceDrunk from the Peach Festival, Wukong accidentally wanders into the Tushita Palace instead of returning home. Finding Laozi and his attendants away at a lecture, Wukong discovers five gourds of finished elixir in the alchemical room. He eats all the elixir tablets, reasoning that since no one is around, he might as well try them.
Return to Flower-Fruit Mountain
Water-Curtain CaveDrunk Wukong returns home, welcomed by the Four Elder Monkeys, seventy-two demon kings, and demon followers. He boasts about stealing divine wine and vows to bring more for his followers.
Wukong Steals More Divine Wine for the Demons
Jasper PoolWukong returns to Heaven's Jasper Pool using invisibility magic. He steals two bottles of divine wine and brings them back to Flower-Fruit Mountain for a demon festival.
Maidens Report Stolen Peaches
Jasper PoolThe Seven-Gown Immortal Maidens inform the Queen Mother that Wukong stole and ate most of the large immortal peaches. He then used magic to incapacitate them during their harvest. Their report prompts an official investigation.
Heavenly Court Reports on Stolen Items
HeavenThe Queen Mother reports the theft of festival items to the Jade Emperor. Laozi reveals his Golden Elixir was stolen. The Great Immortal of Naked Feet shares a deceptive encounter with Sun Wukong. The Jade Emperor orders an investigation.
Celestial Army Mobilization
HeavenThe Divine Minister confirms Sun Wukong as the culprit. Devaraja Li leads a massive celestial army, including Twenty-Eight Constellations and other deities, to capture him at Flower-Fruit Mountain.
Celestial Army Arrives at Flower-Fruit Mountain
Flower-Fruit MountainThe celestial army encircles the mountain, deploying cosmic nets. The Nine Luminaries confront Wukong’s troops, who mock their demands for surrender.
Battle Between Great Sage and Nine Luminaries
Flower-Fruit MountainEasily overpowering the Nine Luminaries, Wukong defends his mountain—the Great Sage effortlessly defeats them with his iron rod. The defeated deities retreat to report their failure to Devaraja Li.
Celestial Army Launches New Offensives
Flower-Fruit MountainAfter the Nine Luminaries are defeated, Devaraja Li orders the Four Great Devarajas and the Twenty-Eight Constellations to attack together. Wukong sends the One-Horn Demon King, the seventy-two monster kings, and his commanders to meet them in battle. A fierce, large-scale battle erupts between Heaven's forces and the monkey demons at the mountain.
Battle at Dawn and Wukong's Magic
Flower-Fruit MountainThe battle rages from dawn until sunset, with vivid descriptions of weapons and chaos. The One-Horn Demon King and the monster kings are captured by Heaven's army, while Wukong holds off the main commanders. As evening falls, Wukong uses his hair to create thousands of duplicates, overwhelming Prince Naja and the Devarajas, and forcing them to retreat.
Return to Water-Curtain Cave
Water-Curtain CaveWukong returns to the cave, greeted by the four mighty commanders and the remaining monkeys. The commanders express both grief and joy over the losses and Wukong's safe return. Wukong reassures them, explains the outcome, and urges everyone to rest and prepare for the next day.
Heavenly Forces' Strategic Deployment
Flower-Fruit MountainThe Heavenly forces regroup, reporting the capture of various monsters but no monkeys. They set up encampments, reinforce the cosmic nets, and prepare for another assault the next day.