The Story and Lore of Black Myth: Wukong
The Story and Lore of Black Myth: Wukong
This guide unravels the story and lore of Black Myth : Wukong, drawing from both the game and the classic novel Journey to the West. Expect spoilers ahead as we navigate this intricate world.
We organize this guide following the game’s progression, beginning with the Prologue and moving chapter by chapter.
Lore of Black Myth: Wukong. Prologue – Wukong’s Death
At the game’s start, Wukong battles Erlang. He asserts that he has protected his client, delivered the texts, and thus earned his freedom.
Wukong’s claim refers to the novel Journey to the West. In the story, after causing havoc in Heaven, he was imprisoned as punishment. To earn his freedom, he had to assist Tang Sanzang on a journey to retrieve Buddhist texts. Wukong completed this task, expecting Heaven to fulfill their promise of freedom.
However, Heaven betrayed him. They offered Wukong a place among them. A prison masked as a reward. Wukong recognized this deception and chose to leave. This sets the stage for the opening scene, where Heaven’s forces, including Erlang and the Four Heavenly Kings, try to force Wukong back into this “prison.”
Wukong’s body was destroyed in the battle. However, his essence splintered into six parts scattered across the land. This event propels the game’s story.
Chapter 1 – Black Cloud, Red Fire
The first chapter’s final boss is Black Bear.
Journey to the West Lore
In the novel, Black Bear is depicted as an educated and respectful being with a deep interest in Buddhism. He resided in Black Wind Cave near Guanyin Temple and maintained a friendship with Jinchi, the Grand Monk of the temple.
Despite being a monk, Jinchi was greedy. When Sanzang passed by the temple, Jinchi coveted Sanzang’s robe and persuaded him to lend it overnight. Jinchi’s disciple, Guangzhi, suggested a sinister plan to kill Sanzang for the robe. While another disciple, Guangmou, warned that Wukong could pose a serious threat. Guangmou proposed setting the room on fire to eliminate them both.
Wukong foresaw the plan and protected Sanzang with a fireproof artifact. Turning the tables by using wind magic to fan the flames. The entire Guanyin Temple complex burned down. Black Bear intervened to extinguish the fire but, spotting Sanzang’s robe, seized it and let the flames spread. Realizing his mistake, Jinchi killed himself.
Black Bear invited his friends, White Noble (Snake) and Lingxuzi (Wolf), to study the robe, planning an exhibition. Wukong, in disguise as Jinchi, confronted him but was discovered. The ensuing battle ended in a draw. Wukong then sought Guanyin’s help, who forced Black Bear to surrender. As punishment, Black Bear became Guanyin’s disciple, bound by a headband like Wukong’s, which caused intense pain if disobeyed.
Black Myth: Wukong Lore
In the game, after Black Bear became Guanyin’s disciple, he was tasked with governing Black Wind Mountain. He enlisted White Noble and Lingxuzi to maintain order. Although tension simmered among the denizens, especially with Lingxuzi.
Black Bear also attempted to resurrect Jinchi, resulting in a partial success. Jinchi’s spirit and body remained separate. Despite his role as leader, Black Bear relied on Wukong’s artifact to gain followers and financial support. When the Destined One defeated him with a help of the staff, he admitted his greed. But defended his actions as Heaven’s mandate.
Chapter 2 – Yellow Sand, Desolate Dusk
Lore of Black Myth: Wukong
Lingji sings a song recounting the region’s history:
“Yellow Wind Creek, 800 li across, once a prosperous place beyond the gate.
A rat pandemic emerged, society crumbled.
No father, no ruler, no law—Heaven protected none.
Blessed was the Great Saint who, with Bodhisattva’s power, subdued the Wicked Wind.
Disaster struck unexpectedly; the yellow-haired beast returned.
The murderer thrived, while the blessed one fell.”
While Lingji’s tale aligns with the novel at first, the game reveals more layers. Lingji’s narrative implies that Yellow Wind Sage instigated chaos, turning humans into rats. However, if players complete a secret mission, they learn the Kingdom of Sihali’s backstory.
Story of Kingdom of Sihali according to Lore of Black Myth: Wukong
Yellow Wind Sage risked his life to defeat a giant bug, Fuban, threatening Sihali. Fuban, immune to wind magic and empowered by a Bodhisattva, hints at Lingji’s manipulation. He likely planted the Bug to make the people dependent on him for protection and worship.
The King’s subsequent neglect of Buddhist practices angered Lingji, who unleashed the rat pandemic to incite chaos. Although Yellow Wind Sage was framed for this crime, the pandemic persisted after his defeat, revealing his innocence.
Journey to the West Lore
Yellow Wind Sage, occasionally translated as Yellow Wind Demon, was the lord of Yellow Wind Ridge. He served as one of the early obstacles to the Tang Monk’s journey. Believing he could achieve immortality if he consumed the monk’s flesh, Yellow Wind Sage instructed Tiger Vanguard to kidnap the monk. Though Tiger Vanguard was wounded from his encounter with Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, he was able to complete the task. As Yellow Wind Sage and Tiger Vanguard debated over how best to cook the Tang Monk, both Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie arrived to try and make a rescue.
Tiger Vanguard was quickly killed by the pair, but Yellow Wind Sage is able to defeat both disciples thanks to his Samadhi Wind. Notably, Sun Wukong could not function in their fight as the wind not only blew his clones away. But the high amount of dust that the wind carried also blinded him. The pair would go around to find a way to defeat Yellow Wind Sage before eventually reaching Bodhisattva Lingji, who had previously subdued Yellow Wind Sage but allowed him to live under the condition he not harm others again.
Wukong would return to attack Yellow Wind Sage, but as Yellow Wind Sage was about to use his Samadhi Wind, he is defeated by Bodhisattva Lingji’s Golden Loong Staff, which hits Yellow Wind Sage so hard that he reverts back to his true, rodent-like form. With Yellow Wind Sage defeated, Sun Wukong and co are able to resume their journey.
