The Tang Priest (Sanzang) and his three disciples were journeying to the Western Heaven to obtain Buddhist scriptures. One day, they traveled through a high mountain. Seeing the valley shrouded in clouds and mist, Monkey (Wukong) sensed the presence of fiends. To protect his master, he drew a magic circle on the ground with his cudgel. He instructed Pig and Friar Sand to guard the Tang Priest and not to leave the circle, then went off to scout the mountain and gather fruit.
This mountain was indeed home to a corpse fiend known as Lady White Bone, who had dwelled there for a thousand years. Having heard that consuming a piece of the Tang Priest's flesh granted immortality, she attempted to capture him three times.
- First Strike: She transformed into a beautiful young girl carrying a food basket. With a charming smile, she nearly persuaded the master and his two disciples to step out of the circle. At the last moment, Monkey returned. Recognizing her as an evil spirit, he raised his cudgel and struck. The fiend fled as a gust of smoke.
- Second Strike: The fiend then appeared as an old woman leaning on a stick with a crooked handle. Monkey identified her again and struck, forcing her to flee once more.
- Third Strike: Finally, she disguised herself as an old man waiting by a hut. Monkey saw through the deception and struck her down. This time, the fiend left behind a piece of cloth inscribed: "If you are as kind as a Buddha, how can you kill? Keep Wukong, and you will never obtain the scriptures."
Believing the writing, Sanzang accused Wukong of killing three innocent people and banished him. Without Monkey's protection, Lady White Bone easily captured the Tang Priest and invited her mother to feast on his flesh.
However, Wukong returned just in time. He intercepted and killed the old fiend on her way to her daughter's cave, impersonated her, infiltrated the lair, and ultimately rescued his master.