In this chapter, the Destined One will arrive at the Temple of Yellow Flowers. In the original “Journey to the West”, the Temple of Yellow Flowers is a Taoist temple, home to the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. After defeating the Spider Guai in The Webbed Cave, the seven Spider Guai flee to the Temple of Yellow Flowers to seek refuge with their senior brother, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master. Tang Seng, on his journey to the Western Heaven to obtain sacred texts, stops at the Temple of Yellow Flowers to rest. When the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master learns that Tang Seng and his companions are the enemies of the Spider Guai, he devises a plan to poison them with date tea. Only Sun Wukong is not deceived.
In the midst of battling Sun Wukong, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master released a golden light, making it difficult for Sun Wukong to defeat him. Sun Wukong then went to the top of a mountain and sought guidance from Lishan Laomu, a woman burning ritual paper. Following her advice, he sought the help of Bodhisattva Pilanpo. Bodhisattva Pilanpo used an embroidery needle forged from her son Dawnstar’s eyes and cast it into the sky, breaking the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master’s guai magic. With a point of her finger, Bodhisattva Pilanpo revealed the true form of the demon. Afterwards, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master was taken by Bodhisattva Pilanpo to serve as a Young Acolyte watching over the mountains. After bidding farewell to the Bodhisattva, Sun Wukong set the Temple of Yellow Flowers ablaze, packed their belongings, and continued protecting his master on their journey westward.
In Chapter Four, players at the Temple of Yellow Flowers will encounter a boss teaching the art of the sword to the Sword Daoist—this is the Beetle Commander. During the battle, the Sword Daoist also assists in the fight. Throughout the confrontation, the Beetle Commander constantly urges the Destined One to hasten and release him from his bond, which is quite peculiar. Why is that so?
From the backstory, we learn that the Beetle Commander was coerced into becoming a guai. Originally an Imperial Bodyguard, he was victimized by treacherous court officials who used sorcery to transform him into a beetle, leaving him no choice but to fend for himself in the mountains.
In the story of the Beetle Commander, there is also an episode where he imparts martial skills: One day, a young man came to a deserted village in the mountains. The young man, having conflicts with the County Magistrate, was repeatedly ostracized. Learning that the Village of Lanxi was plagued by a Yaoguai, the County Magistrate deliberately sent the young man to investigate alone, hoping to get rid of him. Despite being deliberately put in a difficult position, the young man refused to beg for mercy. Unfamiliar with the area and with night falling, he decided to stay overnight in the village. In the middle of the night, feeling scared, he boldly practiced his swordsmanship inside the house to bolster his courage. The Beetle Commander, witnessing this and realizing that the young man, like himself in the past, was being harassed by a superior, empathized deeply and thus decided to teach him his martial arts.
The insect and the man, accompanied by the fading light, exchanged skills and knowledge until dawn. As they were about to part ways, the Beetle Commander kindly said, “In today’s world, there are many who advance through flattery without talent or virtue. Why entangle yourself with them and end up in a mess? Look further ahead, it’s better to stand with dignity between heaven and earth.” With that, he laughed heartily and left. After this encounter, the young man had an epiphany; he gave up his position at the yamen and joined the frontier army. With his exquisite swordsmanship, he rose to the rank of general. Later, he led his troops to victory against foreign enemies, becoming a renowned and celebrated general.
According to clues in the game, it is speculated that the Beetle Commander was forced to consume insect eggs and was persecuted into becoming a Yaoguai. Even as a Yaoguai, the Beetle Commander continued to guide the young man in martial arts, directing him to protect his homeland. Perhaps the Beetle Commander was once such a passionate young man himself, but was thwarted by treacherous officials, left with no way to serve his country and even unable to seek death. Therefore, it was only natural for him to urge the Destined One to help him find release soon.
In the Temple of Yellow Flowers, there lived a Taoist Priest whose head resembled that of a centipede. Originally the most elite Sword Daoist of the temple, he blindly believed his master’s tales of “ascending to immortality in the Celestial Ladder Kingdom.” After consuming the egg of the Elder Amourworm, he transformed into the Worm Practitioner he is today.
The disciples practicing swordsmanship in the Temple of Yellow Flowers had followed their master in cultivation for many years. They joined the temple with the hope of achieving enlightenment, practicing tirelessly. One day, their master finally told them that after years of diligent cultivation, their techniques had matured, and they could accompany him to a secluded retreat in the mountains. If fortunate, they might Ascend to Immortality and travel to the Celestial Ladder Kingdom in the north to join the ranks of the Immortals. The disciples, overjoyed, quickly packed their bags, eager to follow their master into the mountains.
The master led them using the Short-Distance Transfer Technique to a remarkably scenic spot in the mountains. The hills were draped in golden winds, and autumn leaves rustled, creating a crisp autumnal scene. At the top of the mountain was a villa; they set down their bags, and the master led them along a path behind the villa to the summit. There, strands of silk dangled in the air, one end hanging amidst the mountain mists, and the other reaching high into the clouds, its destination unknown. The master explained, “This is the heavenly ladder to the Immortal realm. Hundreds of years ago, your senior brother ascended from this very spot.” With that, he handed each disciple a peculiar object and said, “This is the Elixir that will help you Ascend to Immortality. Quickly, take it, my disciples.”
The disciples, their emotions stirred, swallowed the egg-like objects immediately. A few hesitated, only to see their fellow disciples who had ingested the elixir first; their faces shattered, transforming into flat-headed, meaty worms, a ghastly and horrifying sight. Terrified, they urgently questioned their master, who shook his head and sighed, “Those who encounter their fate yet lack courage are not meant to become Immortals.” As his sigh lingered, the disciples who had turned into worms lunged at them.
From this, it can be seen that based on the background stories of the Sword Daoist and the Worm Practitioner, the Sword Daoist in the Taoist temple consumed worm eggs and transformed into a monster. These monsters are likely the materials needed by the Immortals in the heavens for Chinese alchemy. The entire Temple of Yellow Flowers was established as a nurturing ground for the Celestial Court dignitaries to cultivate their elixirs, which might also explain the absence of the Keeper at this location.
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