05:”Black Myth: Wukong” Episode One: Black Wind Cave

At the end of the first chapter—Black Wind Cave—the Destined One finally encounters this chapter’s major boss—Black Wind King (the Black Bear Guai).

In the game, Black Wind King is the first stage of the boss, and the Black Bear Guai is the second stage.

In the original text of “Journey to the West,” the Black Bear Guai was originally a black bear who, after years of cultivation, became a demon. He wields a long spear, excels in transformations, and is highly skilled in combat. He enjoys engaging in intellectual discussions and is proficient in literature. He has transformed his cave into a celestial dwelling so enchanting that even Bodhisattva Guanyin took a liking to it. He is a cultured and sophisticated yaoguai with a Buddhist nature, encountered along the journey to the Western Paradise.

After achieving human form through his cultivation, the Black Bear Guai settled in Black Wind Mountain. Located merely twenty miles from Guanyin Temple, this place is not only a venue for him to discuss Dharma with Elder Jinchi but also a window through which he learns about worldly affairs. He often visits Guanyin Temple to sit and converse with Elder Jinchi, teaching him Breathing Exercises and Nurturing the Spirit, which allowed the elder Jinchi to extend his life to the age of two hundred seventy.

Although a yaoguai, the Black Bear Guai does not possess the fierce appearance typical of his kind. He harbors a deep love for Buddhism and shows great interest in its scriptures. Through his interactions with Elder Jinchi, he continuously absorbs the wisdom of Buddhism, which adds to his character a sense of peace and kindness. His actions and demeanor consistently reflect his respect for the Dharma.

• When he saw the Guanyin temple on fire, he rushed to put out the flames immediately. However, upon seeing the precious Kasaya, he was overtaken by greed and stole it. After acquiring the Kasaya, he summoned his Yaoguai friends, the Snake Spirit (dressed as a scholar in white) and the Wolf Spirit (Ling Xu Zi), to discuss the art of Chinese alchemy. He then planned to host a “Kasaya Festival” under the pretense of celebrating the Kasaya the day before his birthday.
• While they were discussing, Sun Wukong, who was searching for the Kasaya, learned that the Black Bear Guaihad stolen it and promptly attacked with his Golden Hoop. The Snake Spirit was killed on the spot, and the Black Bear Guaialong with the Wolf Spirit transformed into a breeze and fled. Sun Wukong chased after them to the Black Wind Cave, demanding they open the cave door. He battled the Black Bear Guai for several rounds without a clear victor. Mid-fight, the Black Bear Guai claimed he needed to eat lunch and escaped back into the cave, locking the door behind him. He then arranged a banquet and sent out invitations to various mountain kings to attend the Kasaya Festival.
• The Black Bear Guaidid not know that Elder Jinchi had already taken his own life and had sent him an invitation as well. The little Guai delivering the invitation happened to encounter Sun Wukong at the Guanyin Monastery and was killed by him with a single strike. After reading the invitation, Sun Wukong transformed into Jinchi’s likeness and headed toward the Black Wind Cave. The Black Bear Guaithought Jinchi had arrived too quickly, suspecting it was Sun Wukong who had sent Jinchi to demand the Kasaya. Thus, he ordered the little Guai to hide the Kasaya. While he was speaking with the disguised Jinchi, a patrolling Guai discovered the dead messenger and hurried back to inform the Black Bear Guai that this Jinchi was actually Sun Wukong in disguise. In a panic, the Black Bear Guai grabbed a spear and lunged at Sun Wukong, who pulled out his Golden Hoop from his ear and fought back. The two battled from the cave entrance to the mountain peak, and from there out into the clouds. By evening, using the dark as a pretext, the Black Bear Guai called a halt to the fight and fled back into his cave, refusing to come out. Unable to breach the cave, Sun Wukong had to return to the Guanyin Monastery.
• Early the next morning, Sun Wukong went to the South Sea to seek help from Bodhisattva Guanyin. The two arrived at Black Wind Mountain just as a Wolf Guai, Lingxu Zi, was carrying two Elixirson a plate to a Buddhist robe ceremony. Sun Wukong killed him with a single strike, ate one Elixir, and then had Guanyin disguise herself as Lingxu Zi while he transformed into an Elixir on the plate. The disguised Lingxu Zi offered the Elixir to the Black Bear Guai, who unknowingly ate the Elixir that was actually Sun Wukong. Inside the Black Bear Guai’s stomach, Sun Wukong wreaked havoc, causing unbearable pain until the Black Bear Guaiknelt and begged for mercy. Guanyin revealed her true form, placed a Golden Hoop around the Black Bear Guai’s head, and persuaded him to convert to Buddhism. After agreeing, the Black Bear Guai received the Head-Touch Ordination from Guanyin and was taken to Mount Luojia to become a guardian deity.

The Black Bear Guai possessed great wisdom and was one of the rare Yaoguai who managed to retrieve the Root Instrument of the Great Sage and escape unscathed. According to the description in the game’s Shadow Deity map, the Black Bear Guai initially had no intention of besieging Sun Wukong. It was the Bodhisattva who personally designated him for this task and even sent the Dragon Maiden to persuade him. Initially, the Black Bear Guai wanted to refuse, but eventually, he seemed to realize that he had no choice but to agree to the siege on Sun Wukong.

Before leaving the South Sea,the Sudhana (Red Boy)wanted to join him, but the Black Bear Guai advised the Sudhana to stay in the South Sea. Afterwards, the Black Bear Guai touched the Golden Hoop on his head and said, “To lose one’s life for the sake of a Golden Hoop is not worth it.” From this statement, it is clear that he knew Sun Wukong sought to remove the Golden Hoop to free himself from control, but to him, life was of utmost importance, and thus he did not approve of Sun Wukong’s actions.

Later, the Black Bear Guai obtained one of Sun Wukong’s six Root Instruments. After trying to refine it, he realized that Sun Wukong’s Root Instrument was malevolent and untouchable. Consequently, he enshrined Sun Wukong’s Root Instrument and used it to amass wealth. When the Destined One arrived, he immediately burned the temple he had built earlier, offered up the Root Instrument, settled all his mortal affairs, and returned to the South Sea to resume his role as the guardian deity of the mountains. It is evident that the Black Bear Guai was acutely aware of his position; he was merely a figure sent by the Bodhisattva to make up the numbers, and everything he did was to preserve his own life.