The Tragic Love Story of Zhu Bajie & Zi Zhu – Explained

Tech
Mar 24
4 min read

Updated: May 26

In the vast and mystical world of Black Myth: Wukong, countless legends unfold, each filled with deep emotions, unforgettable battles, and tragic fates. Among them, one of the most heartbreaking stories takes place in Chapter 4, where love, destiny, and sorrow intertwine. This is the story of Zhu Bajie and Zi Zhu, a love doomed by the heavens themselves.

A Love Born in the Heavens - The Love Story of Zhu Bajie

Long before the events of the game, Zhu Bajie was not the pig demon we know today but a celestial marshal, a being of great power and respect. It was during his time in the heavens that he met Zi Zhu, a heavenly maiden. Their love was instant, pure, and forbidden.

But fate is cruel.

One fateful night, during a secret meeting, they accidentally stumbled upon a conversation between the Jade Emperor and the Moon God, something no mortal, nor celestial, was ever meant to witness. In their desperation to escape, they sealed their doom. There was no running from the wrath of the heavens.

Zhu Bajie was cast down to the mortal world, cursed to live as a pig demon. Zi Zhu, torn from her celestial grace, was transformed into the spider spirit that would later become known as the Violet Spider.

Zhu Bajie as the Pig Demon — Zhu Bajie in his Demon form

Destiny Brings Them Together Again

Time passed, and Zhu Bajie found his place in the scripture-seeking journey, wandering the mortal world. He had no memory of his past love, yet a feeling of emptiness always lingered within him.

Meanwhile, Zi Zhu, now a powerful spider spirit, had built her own kingdom in the demon world, raising spider demonesses and waiting for the one man she could never forget.

Zi Zhu as the Violet Spider — Zi Zhu in her Spider form, the Violet Spider

Then, their paths crossed once more.

During a fateful battle, almost all of Zi Zhu’s spider kin were slain by Sun Wukong. But Zhu Bajie spared her life. He didn’t understand why, he only knew she felt strangely familiar. That night, under the moonlit sky, they shared a moment of undeniable connection. Zi Zhu recognized him instantly. She had waited so long for him, and at last, she gave herself to him.

Zhu Bajie and Zi Zhu cant kill each other — Zhu Bajie and Zi Zhu

Time passed, and she discovered she was carrying his child. Hope filled her heart. She waited for him to return, to fulfill the love they once had.

The Hunt for Sun Wukong’s Root Instrument (Relics)

Years later, chaos erupted in the demon world. Sun Wukong, the once unstoppable warrior, had fallen, and his body had been transformed into six root instruments. One of them had fallen into the hands of Zi Zhu’s senior brother, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord.

Then, Zhu Bajie returned, this time, not for love, but for duty.

He arrived with the so-called "Destined One," seeking the root instrument. But Zi Zhu was not ready to let him go again. Desperate to keep him by her side, she tried to capture him, to fulfill her dream of finally being together. But destiny is merciless. The "Destined One" defeated her, and she was forced to flee.

Zhu Bajie following the Destined one — Zhu Bajie and the Destined one

Betrayed and Broken

Wounded and desperate, Zi Zhu sought out her brother, the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord. She told him everything, the truth of her love, the pain of waiting, and the hope she still held onto.

Violet spider and the Hundred-Eye daoist master — Zi Zhu as the Violet Spider and her Brother the Daoist master

But instead of helping her, her own brother betrayed her.

He took the root instrument from her body, nearly killing her in the process. And when the Destined One arrived, he struck down the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, reclaiming the sacred item.

Zi Zhu, barely alive, lay in a field of flowers, her vision fading. Zhu Bajie knelt beside her, realizing too late what she truly meant to him.

With her last breath, she whispered, "You are still the same as before…"

And then, she was gone.

A Father in Denial

As Zi Zhu’s life faded, their daughter stood beside them, heartbroken. But Zhu Bajie could not look at her. He knew the truth, she was his child. But he couldn’t bear to acknowledge it. He turned away, unwilling to face the pain, the responsibility, the love he had lost once more.

Zhu Bajie looking at his daughter — Zhu Bajie and his Daughter

And so, he walked away, leaving behind the only family he had ever truly known.

A Story of Love, Loss, and Fate

The tale of Zhu Bajie and Zi Zhu is one of the most tragic love stories in Black Myth: Wukong. It is a reminder that sometimes, love is not enough to fight destiny. Despite their undying affection, the heavens, fate, and the cruel world around them ensured they could never be together.