Five hundred years after being wrongly imprisoned by the Tathagata Buddha, the real Monkey King confronts his fate and decries the injustice he endured during the journey to the West. He argues he protected the monk faithfully and rejects the blame assigned to him by Heaven. Despite his anger and desire for freedom, those around him caution that he must face his resentment wisely, given his weakened state with only a fractured soul. The episode closes on the Monkey King’s simmering vow to challenge the Buddha’s judgment, leaving his next move uncertain.