Into the Badlands Inspired Dog Names

The Chinese God Erlang Shen is the master of a "Howling Celestial Dog" that's only ever addressed by the title Xiàotiān Quan. Erlang Shen and his Xiàotiān Quan take on antagonistic roles in the Journey to the West, but that doesn't mean that they're the villains of the story. Shen and Quan only get involved in the tale after Sun Wukong (the mythical Monkey King and the inspiration behind M.K.'s moniker) throws a tantrum in the Jade Emperor's court. Erlang Shen is the Jade Emperor's nephew, so the Illustrious Sage takes Wukong's disrespectful display personally. Brash and brazen as he is, Wukong refuses to change his attitude or apologize for his actions.

Erlang Shen and Xiàotiān Quan eventually come to blows with Wukong right in the middle of the Jade Emperor's court. Enraged by Wukong's reckless attitude, Erlang Shen approaches the Monkey King and challenges him to a duel. The way that Erlang Shen and Sun Wukong fight underscore the drastic differences in their personalities; Shen adopts a careful and measured approach to combat while Sun Wukong battles like a wild beast who holds nothing back. Shen and Wukong's fight shakes the heavens to its very core. The two are unable to best one another, and it takes the intervention of Xiàotiān Quan and a host of other Gods to beat Wukong.

Xiàotiān Quan was the first of Shen's allies to jump into the fray; the dog immediately charged at Sun Wukong and bit one of his legs with all of his might. Wukong possesses the ability to change his shape and transform on a whim. To shake Xiàotiān Quan off of him, Wukong frantically began transforming into various animals and structures; at one point, Wukong converted into an enormous temple to try and deter Xiàotiān Quan. At this point, Laozi, another Chinese god, jumps in and helps Shen detain Wukong. Feeling cheated out of a fair fight, Wukong insults the Chinese pantheon and calls them cowards for ganging up on him. Not long after this whole ordeal, Wukong regains his freedom thanks to the efforts of Tang Sanzang and joins him on his journey. 

Wukong, Erlang Shen, and Xiàotiān Quan reunite later on to fight an evil Dragon King. Both Shen and Wukong are reluctant to work together but eventually bite the bullet and team up. To their combined surprise, Shen and Wukong make a pretty good team. In the end, the Monkey King and the Illustrious Sage come to view each other with more respect. They don't become full-fledged friends; instead, they begin to see each other as divine frenemies.