Though Sun Wukong attained Buddhahood and became the Victorious Fighting Buddha, he never shed the unruly nature that once had him wreaking havoc in Heaven. The strict rules at the Thunderclap Monastery on Vulture Peak and the daily “Buddhist check-ins” of chanting sutras and meditating left the former Great Sage itching all over. He often sneaked down to the mortal world to play pranks on immortal friends and tease his junior brothers, passing his days in carefree idleness as he stumbled upon strange happenings and little demons. Then hundreds of people suddenly disappeared in the mortal kingdom of Yong'an. Demons were at work, the authorities were helpless, and the people wept in despair. Seeing this, Wukong decided to break free of his shackles and went to Vulture Peak to ask for his Buddha title to be revoked. The Buddha Tathagata indulged him and honored his true nature: he kept Wukong's title but granted him complete freedom to travel through the Three Realms as he pleased. Wukong found Zhu Bajie at Gao Village and invited him to help right the world's wrongs. Moved by his brother's devotion, Bajie gladly left behind his comfortable life to join him. Tang Sanzang and Sha Wujing soon came along too. The four pilgrims shed the constraints of their identities in the Buddhist realm and the heavenly court, and, guided by pure chivalry, once again set out side by side on a new journey to vanquish demons and save the suffering, writing a new legend of heroic deeds across the Three Realms.
After Sun Wukong was awarded the title of Fighter and defeated the Buddha, he personally experienced the tragedy of the people of Yong'an Kingdom disappearing for no reason. Seeing the suffering of the people, he decided to break free, help the world and eliminate evil, and then begged the Tathagata to take back the Buddha's name. The Tathagata, thinking of his sincerity, retained his title and granted him complete freedom. Wukong invites Zhu Bajie to work side by side to take care of the injustices in the world. Tang Seng and Sha Wujing also give up their Buddhist duties to follow. The four masters and disciples reunite, abandon the Buddhist rules, abide by the right path of the world, and start a new legend of the three realms of subduing demons, eliminating demons, and helping those in need.