Monkey King: Hero Is Back

The Monkey King Sun Wukong rebels against Heaven and is imprisoned by the Buddha inside an ice cage deep in the mountains. The seal strips him of his magic and power, leaving him trapped for centuries. His punishment sets the stage for the events that follow far in the future.

Five hundred years after Wukong's imprisonment, Mountain Trolls attack a group of travelers. Everyone is killed except a baby boy, Jiang Liuer, who drifts down a river in a basket and is adopted by a monk. His life is shaped by this survival and new guardianship.

Trolls invade a small village and kidnap 49 young children. Liuer saves one baby girl and is chased by the pursuing trolls. He stumbles into the cave where Wukong is imprisoned and unknowingly releases the Monkey King.

After his release, Wukong defeats some trolls but cannot use his magical powers due to Buddha's seal. He endures pain whenever he tries to harness magic, remaining bound by the remnants of the ancient spell.

Liuer and the rescued girl greet Wukong warmly, unaware that he has lost his powers. They pepper him with questions, including one about Nezha's gender, which Wukong answers with humor before their peril resumes.

A stone monster created by the Buddha attacks the trio. Liuer manages to undo the spell on the monster but falls off a cliff in the process. Wukong arrives in time to save him from the fall.

They encounter Pigsy, the Heavenly Immortal Marshal, who was defeated by Wukong five centuries ago and is now reincarnated as a pig demon. Wukong is hesitant at first, but Pigsy eventually joins the group.

A white dragon attacks the group, attempting to eat Liuer. Wukong scares the beast away, proving his protective power even without full magic. Unlike other tellings, the dragon does not turn into a white horse here.

The travelers stay at an inn that is revealed to be run by trolls in disguise. More trolls arrive, and Wukong fights them, but Hun Dun defeats him and captures the girl. The group prepares a plan to rescue them.

Liuer decides to rescue the abducted children and seeks assistance from his mentor Fa Ming. He nearly gets captured while pursuing the plan, underscoring the danger of Hun Dun's threat.

Wukong discovers a doll of himself that Liuer had, recognizing his symbolic importance as a figure. He and Pigsy set out to help Liuer and the kidnapped children.

Wukong and Pigsy succeed in rescuing Liuer and the 49 children. Hun Dun transforms into a giant beast during a solar eclipse, and Liuer appears crushed by the wreckage. Wukong is filled with fury but remains determined to save them all.

Moved by Liuer's apparent death, Wukong forcibly breaks Buddha's seal and regains his original powers. He defeats Hun Dun with ease, reaffirming that his strength comes from protecting others.

Liuer is shown to have survived the rampage, and the children are returned to their families. The story echoes the canon by revealing Liuer as the younger Xuanzang, with Wukong embodying the enlightened mind that guards and guides toward enlightenment.