15: Black Myth Wukong Episode Three: Valley of Ecstasy

In this episode, The Destined One arrives at the Valley of Ecstasy, where he encounters Lang-Li-Guhh-Lang, Old Ginseng Guai, the Green-Capped Martialist, and Yellowbrow’s disciples Non-White and Non-Able.
Yellowbrow has four disciples. Whether in the original “Journey to the West” or the game “Black Myth: Wukong,” Yellowbrow looks down upon the pilgrimage team and has always wanted to undertake the pilgrimage himself.
The names Yellowbrow gives to his disciples are Non-Void, Non-Able, Non-Pure, and Non-White. These correspond to Tangseng’s disciples Wukong, Wujing, Wuneng, and White dragon horse. Interestingly, the personalities of Yellowbrow’s four disciples are the exact opposites of Tangseng’s. Here, we will discuss Non-White and Non-Able.
Tangseng’s disciple, the White dragon horse, tends to be inconspicuous within the pilgrimage team. In contrast, Yellowbrow’s disciple Non-White aspires to be the protagonist. In Non-White’s story, he was originally a performer in a theater troupe, always painted with a white face, playing the role of the Clown. Despite his ambitions to play the hero, he practices day and night but ends up only able to portray the Clown, earning ridicule from the audience. This limitation stems from Non-White’s lack of righteousness, rendering him unsuitable for heroic roles.
Once, Non-White improvised during a performance and was expelled from the troupe. In a radical move, Non-White killed the hero of the play, skinned his face, and wore it himself to perform on stage. The troupe believed Non-White had gone mad and sent him to a temple. The temple master told Non-White that he could become a true hero if he waited for a person destined to greatly advance his skills. Thus, in the story, when Non-White sees the protagonist, he says, “After I peel off your face, I’ll try being The Destined One for a bit.”
Tangseng’s disciple, Wuneng, likes to cut corners and make jokes, whereas Yellowbrow’s disciple, Non-Able, is more straightforward and stubborn in his beliefs. In the backstory, Non-Able mocks his fellow disciple Non-Void for his hypocrisy and criticizes their master Yellowbrow for scheming.
The backstory mentions a Debating the Scriptures between Non-Able and Non-Void about the morality of killing. Non-Void argued that killing for The Great Way is not sinful. However, Non-Able believed that killing not only fails to resolve Cause and Effect but also creates more karmic obstacles, preventing early ascension to paradise. He bluntly accused Non-Void of using clever arguments and pretense, leaving Non-Void speechless. After this, Non-Void never approached Non-Able for a discussion on Zen again.
In the story, Non-Able also mocks his master, Yellowbrow. It started when Non-Able, believing in his superior fistfighting skills, refused to use any other methods. Knowing this, Yellowbrow decided to teach him a magic spell to overcome his enemies. However, Non-Able felt that winning by using methods he did not endorse would, despite a superficial victory, leave him dissatisfied internally. When Yellowbrow asked, “Do you disagree with my teachings?” Non-Able responded bluntly: “Master, you always take the clever route, which is why you find it hard to achieve enlightenment. It seems you can do everything, but in reality, you excel at nothing.” Yellowbrow chuckled lightly upon hearing this and ordered Non-Able’s hands to be tied behind his back, making him reflect in front of the temple’s stone walls. Initially, it was thought he would abandon his stubbornness after a few days on his knees; however, he remains defiant to this day. Interestingly, Yellowbrow in the plot indeed often takes clever shortcuts. His return to the Minor Western Heaven was because he acquired one of Wukong’s Six Roots instruments, and he also stole Maitreya’s magical implements—the short soft mace, Species Bag, and Golden Cymbal—using the power of Wukong’s Root Instrument to transform the Species Bag into a magical implement capable of soul-devouring.
Therefore, in the game, when Non-Able is first seen, his hands are bound. But in the second phase, he can break free from the ropes to fight. In fact, the ropes cannot restrain Non-Able; he remains bound in “reflection” because he steadfastly believes he is not in the wrong. Moreover, during fights with Non-Able, it is evident that he remains true to his original discipline, constantly using fistfighting with no magic spells. Non-Able once said to The Destined One: “In the next life, do not bully the weak.” Indeed, in the game, it is The Destined One who initially attacks Non-Able. At first, Non-Able’s hands are still bound as he “goes easy” in the match, but once he breaks free, he truly demonstrates his prowess as a “King of Fistfighting.”
The Destined One encounters Lang-Li-Guhh-Lang, an original character from the game, who is a toad turned into a spirit and serves as the leader of the Yaoguai in Minor Western Heaven. This character does not appear in the original “Journey to the West.” The name Lang-Li-Guhh-Lang echoes the tonality of Ba-Bie-Er-Ben from the classic, suggesting that Game Science crafted this character as a tribute to “Journey to the West.”
Old Ginseng Guai is a ginseng that has transformed into a spirit, inspired by the classic novel “Journey to the West.” In the story, the Ginseng Fruit is a highly prized fruit believed to extend one’s lifespan. In the game, Old Ginseng Guai likely draws creative inspiration from this concept.
Within the game, the Green-Capped Martialist is also one of Erlang Shen, Yang Jian’s, brothers, specifically one of the brothers from Meishan mentioned previously. The Green-Capped Martialist is sent by Erlang Shen to test The Destined One, and the ‘big brother’ he refers to is indeed Yang Jian.