Jingwei Fills the Aquarium

Two police officers were checking forty-two ID cards. They could confirm that these were all real IDs. However, the situation was just a little strange.

These forty-two identically dressed people came from almost entirely different cities. It wasn't that outsiders weren't allowed in Donghai, but it was always a bit strange. Why would people come to Lingyou Zoo from all over the country?

The old man had reported them because he thought he saw suspicious individuals. Now, the two police officers also found it a bit strange, but since the zoo director said they were his volunteers and their records were clean, there was naturally nothing more for them to say.

Any local who paid even a little attention to news about Lingyou Zoo knew that the owner must have powerful connections. It was best not to cause trouble if it could be avoided.

“Thank you both. And that old man, if you see him, please thank him for his concern. It was all a misunderstanding.” Duan Jiaze shyly shook hands with the diligent local police officers and saw them off.

Turning his head, he saw the forty-two bald men in black T-shirts still standing there in three rows. They were organized and disciplined, but not in the way police or soldiers were. Duan Jiaze knew they were monks, which was fine, but once he stepped outside that context, it really was... quite suspicious.

The old man and the police today, and Xu Wen yesterday, had all misunderstood. This couldn't continue.

Duan Jiaze thought about it for a moment, then contacted a former classmate from his university's animation department to help design a pattern for some cultural shirts.

He decided to make a batch of staff uniforms, something cute and friendly with the Lingyou name on it. That way, when people saw they belonged to an organization, they would at most assume it was a group head-shaving event and wouldn't misunderstand.

He would make a few extra so other people could wear them too.

His classmate gave Duan Jiaze an idea: did the zoo have any famous animals or special features that could be drawn on the shirts?

Duan Jiaze thought about it. In his heart, he was inclined towards Yousu, whose image was endearing. But based on his current understanding of Luya, if he really printed Yousu on the shirts, he wouldn't be killed, but Luya might go crazy and perm his hair into a Black brother's curls.

So Duan Jiaze hesitated for a moment and said, “Let's make two versions then...”

Duan Jiaze sent two pictures, one of Luya and one of Yousu. The classmate spent two days drawing two Q-version designs for him, as Duan Jiaze had requested something cute.

The classmate also laid out the text, choosing a brushstroke-style font.

Duan Jiaze paid a 'friendship price', then took the files to a Taobao shop for printing. The Luya version would be black, and the Yousu version would be macaron pink. Both would have a large design on the back, with the five characters for 'Lingyou Zoo' on the chest.

Each version had men's and women's styles, with both long and short sleeves. When the time came, everyone would receive two different versions for the two seasons.

......

Duan Jiaze didn't make a big announcement about making uniforms; he 'autocratically' ordered them himself. Everyone only found out about the uniforms after they arrived, and they gathered in the break room to receive them.

Duan Jiaze was already leading by example, wearing the black shirt with the red Q-version Golden Crow. “What do you think? My classmate drew it.”

“It's nice.” Everyone applauded.

Xiao Su egged him on, “Director, wear the pink one! You’d definitely look good in pink.”

“What are you little girls thinking... Don't worry, since I had them made, I'll definitely wear it.” Duan Jiaze urged the monks to try on the pink version first.

When the monks put them on, although their uniform hairstyle was still eye-catching, they at least no longer looked like ex-convicts. In fact, they looked a little cute.

Xu Wen was helping Duan Jiaze distribute the clothes. Duan Jiaze had ordered dozens of extra sets for future employees. He now had nearly twenty official employees, plus the forty-two volunteers.

The remaining clothes were to be stored in the storage room. Xu Wen had a sudden idea, “Director, should we save a set for Brother Lu?”

Although Luya wasn't an employee of Lingyou Zoo, everyone tacitly assumed his relationship with Duan Jiaze was anything but simple. He had helped attract customers during the opening, not to mention he could bring his own relatives to live here and even have Duan Jiaze cook for him personally. Wasn't this the treatment reserved for imperial relatives?

Duan Jiaze said, “Save one? Of course, we’ll save one. Save several sets.”

Not only Luya, but Bai Suzhen, Xiong Siqian, and the others couldn't be left out. The same went for Hu Dawei; they were all part of Lingyou Zoo. Duan Jiaze had even specially ordered a set in children's size, just for Yousu.

The human employees received their clothes during the day, and at night, it was the 'animals'' turn.

The employees received their clothes but had to wash them first, so after trying them on, they didn't wear them immediately. It wasn't until night that Luya and the others found out there were zoo uniforms, and they were printed with Luya... and Yousu.

Luya picked up his shirt and stared at the design on the back.

Duan Jiaze laughed sheepishly, “Although you can all transform, I thought about it and decided to give everyone a set...”

Luya said faintly, “What is this drawing on the back...”

Duan Jiaze tensed up, not daring to answer.

Yousu glanced at it and said with a grin, “Daoist Lord, isn't this you? Oh my, the other one has my picture on it. In that case, I don't want the Daoist Lord version. I suppose the Daoist Lord wouldn't want mine either, hehe.”

Yousu even picked up the pink T-shirt and held it against herself, seemingly unsatisfied. With a flick of her hand, the T-shirt extended, turning into a dress. She used a little magic, and the new outfit replaced what she was wearing, now complete with a belt at the waist.

Bai Suzhen glanced at it and likewise replaced her white blouse, but the style also changed, becoming a short, off-the-shoulder top.

The male comrades weren't so demanding; as long as it fit, it was fine. It was just that no matter what Xiong Siqian wore, his muscles would stretch the fabric.

—And then there was Xiao Qing. He looked at Bai Suzhen and Yousu with envy, but ultimately, considering his current gender, he didn't make any changes.

Now only Luya was left. He said in disbelief, “This is me? How can this possibly be me?”

The bird was drawn in a three-head-tall chibi style, with rounded wings. How did it bear even the slightest resemblance to the Daoist Lord's heroic posture?

Duan Jiaze said, “This is the 'moe-fied' version... Look, Yousu's is in the same style, but it captures the Daoist Lord's expression perfectly. Besides, the style of the shirt isn't bad. I think it looks great. I wore it today.”

Look at that superior gaze. The moment he saw his classmate's unfinished version, he thought it was a spitting image.

Luya: “Is... is that so?”

Duan Jiaze: “Yes, look at ‘your’ eyes. Aren't they very... domineering.”

Luya fell silent for a moment, as if considering it, before giving a heavy nod. He was already wearing a shirt, probably transformed from his feathers, so he didn't need to take it off, simply pulling the long T-shirt on over it.

“It's a perfect fit!” Duan Jiaze said. “Mainly because our Daoist Lord has a great figure!”

Luya: “............Pervert.”

Luya slammed the door and left.

Duan Jiaze: “...”

Duan Jiaze stared dumbfounded at the others, pointing at himself. “How am I a pervert?”

He was just following the bird-taming regulations he had summarized, praising Luya after he cooperated. On what grounds was he called a pervert?

No one else could answer. Finally, Xiao Qing said with difficulty, “Director, we aren't birds. How would we know?”

Even if they were birds, they weren't Three-legged Golden Crows. And since there was only one Three-legged Golden Crow now, there was no way to know if all Three-legged Golden Crows had this strange quirk or if it was just Luya...

Duan Jiaze could only say in his heart, 'This director won't stoop to your level.'

......

Lingyou Zoo's white elephant began its exhibition.

When this white elephant was at Wuliang Temple, it was never exhibited to the public. Now that it was sent to the zoo for foster care, it could finally meet everyone. Given its mysterious aura and the constant media promotion before the exhibit opened, many local citizens, and even those from neighboring cities, came to Lingyou Zoo over the weekend to see the legendary white elephant that symbolized good fortune.

In the afternoon, Chuguo returned to the elephant house from the exercise yard, and the visitors flocked to the indoor viewing hall. It was now Chuguo's feeding time, and everyone wanted to watch the elephant eat.

They had just watched the elephant playing with its recreational facilities in the exercise yard. It was their first time seeing an all-white Asian elephant; it was strangely beautiful. It was just a pity that visitors were not allowed to feed it, which left many tourists disappointed.

Besides the facilities in the exercise yard, the elephant house also had many enrichment devices. For Chuguo to eat its fodder, it had to maneuver its trunk around the bars in front of it and then reach into the feed trough to get the food.

This made Chuguo's flexible trunk bend into all sorts of shapes. The children watched with great excitement. Occasionally, when Chuguo's attempt failed and it took the wrong path, unable to reach the grass, they would call out directions, even though the elephant probably couldn't understand.

Enrichment is actually about making an animal's living conditions closer to those in the wild. Since its first renovation, Lingyou Zoo's enclosures have all been designed to simulate a wild environment. This is environmental enrichment.

And Chuguo's more difficult feeding conditions, as well as the recreational facilities outside, were a form of behavioral enrichment, preventing them from getting too bored and sinking into lethargy, or even developing psychological problems.

Lingyou was doing relatively well. If any problems arose, like with Jinwei, Cuicui, and Lele in the previous sudden side quest, they could be detected and resolved in time. In some zoos, animals developed psychological problems, and severe cases even led to self-harm.

Today was Chuguo's first time meeting so many people, so Duan Jiaze made a point of staying inside the elephant house. He was also wearing his zoo uniform.

Duan Jiaze stood in the crowd and faintly overheard someone discussing:

“That seems to be the zoo's director...”

“Which one?”

“The curly-haired guy in the uniform.”

......

Duan Jiaze: “...”

Sigh, ever since his hair was (forcibly) permed, it seemed to have become his most prominent feature. Before, people would usually say “that handsome/young lad,” but now he was just called 'curly-hair'. There was a faint sense of sorrow...

Just then, Duan Jiaze's phone rang. He looked and saw it was the landline from the ticket office. Duan Jiaze answered, “What's up?”

Xu Wen: “Director, someone's here to see you again.”

Lately, people were always looking for the director, and they all seemed rather strange.

“Looking for me? Who is it?” Duan Jiaze asked casually.

Xu Wen whispered, “He's a bit chubby. This gentleman calls himself Mr. Zhu and says he's from some Ling Xiao...”

Mr. Zhu? Could it be... Second Senior Brother?

Duan Jiaze said excitedly, “Wait, I'm at the elephant house now. I'll be right out. Have someone take him to the reception room!”

Duan Jiaze hung up and ran outside. He wasn't a fan of Zhu Bajie, but he was very interested in Sun Wukong! Meeting Zhu Bajie, by rounding up, was basically the same as becoming sworn brothers with Sun Wukong*, right?

*T/N: Sun Wukong was the Eldest Senior Brother of Zhu Bajie. Both were disciples under Tang Sanzang.

—Although, sending a pig to the zoo was a bit speechless. Who had ever seen a pig exhibited in a zoo?

In less than ten minutes, Duan Jiaze rushed to the reception room. He opened the door and saw, sure enough, a chubby man sitting on the sofa, head down, studying the dents on the floor.

Duan Jiaze panted, “S-sorry to keep you waiting...”

“No trouble,” Mr. Zhu stood up very politely—what a joke, he knew something was off the moment he saw those two dents on the floor, there was definitely a formidable character here—“I haven't been here long.”

Duan Jiaze stepped forward to shake his hand, almost unsure of how to address him. He thought for a moment; Old Pig seemed to be very proud of his former position, so he said politely, “Marshal, I've long admired you! My name is Duan Jiaze, you can just call me Xiao Duan.”

Mr. Zhu said with surprise, “What marshal? I have never been a marshal.”

“Huh?” Duan Jiaze was taken aback. Had he actually guessed wrong? He said awkwardly, “Your true form is a...”

Mr. Zhu: “A pig, yes, which is why I use this surname. My name is Zhu Feng.”

Duan Jiaze: “...So you're not Marshal Tianpeng*?”

*T/N: A Taoist deity and former commander of the celestial navy, most famously known as the previous incarnation of Zhu Bajie (or Pigsy) from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

Zhu Feng said gloomily, “Tianpeng? What a joke, do I look like Tianpeng to you?”

'With your physique and this surname... you do!' Duan Jiaze thought.

“I am the Lord of the Blazing Star! Who said he was the only pig?” Zhu Feng pointed at himself in disbelief. “Have you never heard of the Twenty-Eight Stars?”

Duan Jiaze: “...”

He had heard of the Twenty-Eight Stars, but he really wasn't clear on what they each corresponded to. He might have seen related information before but wouldn't have remembered it. Only when Zhu Feng mentioned it did he realize in shock that Zhu Bajie really wasn't the only pig. How embarrassing.

“My apologies, my apologies. My brain short-circuited for a moment, it was a misunderstanding.” Duan Jiaze quickly apologized, saying sheepishly, “It's just that... everyone who has come here seems to have made a mistake and been sent to do service. In my impression, the Star Lords all seem to be highly professional.”

Luya, Yousu, Bai Suzhen, Xiao Qing, and Xiong Siqian were all troublesome, one could even call them thorns in one's side. Zhu Bajie's style really fit in better with them. Weren't the Twenty-Eight Stars diligent civil servants?

Could it be that, like Sha Wujing, he made an accidental mistake?

A slightly smug smile appeared on Zhu Feng's chubby face. He didn't hold Duan Jiaze's small mistake against him. “Director Duan, did you know that you and your zoo are famous now?”

Duan Jiaze was startled. “Famous for what?”

Zhu Feng said, “Did something go wrong with the Ling Xiao Hope Project, sending everyone to you? Someone was using a magical artifact to observe the whereabouts of the Nine-tailed Fox and others, when they discovered that some people had actually been assigned to the Human Realm. Haha, the Three Realms have long been separated, and it's difficult for immortals to enter the mortal world. Who knew that those few could openly descend to relax, making everyone so envious!”

Originally, the Immortal Realm was so vast, inhabited by so many races and sects, outsiders would have no way of knowing where Luya and the others had been assigned.

It was quite a coincidence. A second-generation immortal who had some dealings with Yousu wanted to find her. He stole his father's magical artifact and searched the entire Immortal Realm but couldn't find her. It was only when he searched the Human Realm that he found her, and he happened to see the others as well, thus exposing the matter.

Duan Jiaze was reeling. Famous in this way? Did they think his place was a holiday resort?

Zhu Feng laughed, “I haven't been to the Human Realm in many years either. This time, I found out early and seized the opportunity. I asked a friend for a favor, committed a small mistake, and came here. Right now, it seems those up there are still secretly fighting over the spots.”

See, this was the difference between people. Luya and the others were reluctant, yet here was someone fighting for the chance to come and be an animal.

But on second thought, it made sense. Luya and the others were all people who had caused major incidents in the Human Realm. They had a bit of a 'he who has seen the ocean finds it hard to be impressed by water' mentality. At most, they felt it was more relaxed here than up there.

But other idle individuals were different. They came down with a vacation mindset. Although they had to be animals during work hours, they could still have some fun after work. As long as they didn't cause any major trouble, there wouldn't be a problem.

This BUG reporting process was too rigid and cumbersome. Even if everyone knew, the seventy years would still be seventy years. Besides, those in the know wouldn't necessarily report it to higher authorities.

To the gods and immortals, seventy years was probably like a Golden Week holiday for the Human Race. It wasn't easy to have an opportunity for the two realms to interact. Wouldn't it be delightful to take the chance to come down and have some fun?

It was probably because many residents of the various races in the Immortal Realm had this mentality that it led to the outcome Zhu Feng described: Lingyou had also become famous in the Immortal Realm.

Duan Jiaze was both anxious and delighted. Many great deities wanted to come down? Would there be the likes of Sun Wukong, Sister Chang'e, and so on...

As Duan Jiaze was fantasizing, he suddenly realized a problem. “Right, Star Lord, it seems there are two immortals dispatched this time. Didn't you and the other one depart together?”

“We did depart together, but she ran off to play in the water on her own,” Zhu Feng said. “She also got in through connections; her father stuffed her in here for a vacation. Hey, I took a look, aren't you building an aquarium here? Her Highness should be a good fit for your place.”

Duan Jiaze was delighted. From the sound of it, it should be someone from an aquatic race.

He had been thinking they should have dispatched an aquatic being. Although the Lord of the Blazing Star was one of the Twenty-Eight Stars, given his true form, he was too unsuitable for this place. The man was just here to have fun and was of no use to the zoo. The 'Her Highness' he mentioned, on the other hand, sounded very interesting.

Duan Jiaze asked, “She's even a Highness? Which one?”

Zhu Feng chuckled and said, “Her Highness Jingwei.”

Duan Jiaze: “............”

...This was so damn messed up. How was she suitable at all!

He had heard of Jingwei filling the sea*, but this was fucking Jingwei filling the Aquarium?!

*T/N: Nuwa, a goddess and daughter of Emperor Yan, drowned in the Eastern Sea and transformed into the bird Jingwei. As Jingwei, she is eternally doomed to carry twigs and stones from the Western Mountains to the Eastern Sea, tirelessly trying to fill it up and prevent others from sharing her fate.

Filling the Aquarium was one thing, but Donghai was right next door. Great. She couldn't leave her post during work hours, but at night she could spend her time moving rocks from the zoo to fill Donghai. He didn't know if seventy years would be enough for her to empty out Lingyou.