This is a journey to the West that turns tradition on its head, drawing on chapters from the original novel and elements from its screen adaptations. The main characters: Sun Wukong is a woman, lively and mischievous, with formidable skills. Tang Monk, a hopeless romantic, is no longer a monk who knows only Buddhist teachings. Ever since Jin Chanzi was reincarnated, he has been plagued by bad luck, but around his female disciple, ripples quietly stir beneath his usually placid expression. Zhu Bajie, a womanizer, is still greedy and lazy. As he carries the luggage, he pursues his senior sister most fervently, often shamelessly sidling up to her to offer his attentions. Sha Seng may be taciturn, but deep down he harbors feelings for his senior sister too, and always protects her in silence when it matters most.
On their journey to obtain the scriptures, hardships and affection grow side by side. The demons of Pingding Mountain are bumbling fools who constantly trip each other up, while the ghosts of the Kingdom of Wujia are adorably goofy. Red Boy mischievously sets fires, and the crocodile demon of the Blackwater River is clumsy and ridiculous. The demonic priests of the Kingdom of Chechi make fools of themselves in a contest, while the golden carp spirit of the Tongtian River keeps everyone laughing. Zhu Bajie’s pregnancy in the Kingdom of Women is absurd, and the scorpion spirit of Pipa Cave is as seductive as a stage performance. Through all the dangers along the way, the three never stop loving Wukong, their tangled feelings intertwined with their quest to subdue demons. As the true and false Monkey Kings clash, the nine-headed demon of the Kingdom of Saisa charges around in search of treasure. The tree spirits of Thorn Ridge recite love poems, while the Yellow-Browed Monster of Little Leiyin Temple is arrogant and conceited. From Zhu Bajie’s chatter in the Kingdom of Zhuzi to his romantic disaster in Spider Cave, from the adorably foolish demons of Lion Camel Ridge to the White Deer Spirit’s farce in the Kingdom of Bhiksu, the journey plunges into romance and fantasy, spinning a wildly different tale of love and adventure on the road to the West.
