Lin Tianyu slept terribly.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the enormous golden eye opening beneath the zoo.
He jolted awake before sunrise.
“…Just a dream.”
The System immediately corrected him.
Negative.
“…”
Host experienced a resonance with the Sanctuary Core.
“…That wasn’t a dream?”
No.
“…Can we not talk about it before breakfast?”
Accepted.
Tianyu sighed.
“I really hope you’re joking someday.”
The System does not joke.
“…That’s depressing.”
The morning routine began.
Sweep the pathways.
Prepare animal feed.
Check the enclosures.
Open the front gate.
Business wasn’t glamorous, but it had become second nature.
As he passed the panda enclosure, Hei Bao lazily lifted a paw in greeting.
“…Morning.”
Tianyu grinned.
“Morning.”
The giant panda was already munching on apples from the old tree.
His mood was noticeably better.
A blue notification appeared.
Primary Guardian Mood: Happy
Trust Level: 8%
“So feeding you apples actually works.”
Hei Bao nodded.
“…Good apples.”
“They’re just backyard apples.”
“…Not…
anymore.”
“What does that mean?”
Hei Bao simply smiled—a surprisingly mischievous expression on a panda.
“…Grow.”
“Huh?”
Before Tianyu could ask another question—
A loud crash echoed across the zoo.
BANG!
Followed by shouting.
“HEY!”
“COME BACK HERE!”
“Oh no…”
Tianyu recognized that voice instantly.
“Zhao Ming.”
He sprinted toward Monkey Mountain.
By the time he arrived, the zoo’s accountant was running in circles.
A brown macaque sat triumphantly atop the ticket booth.
In one tiny hand…
It held Zhao Ming’s wallet.
“You little thief!”
Zhao Ming pointed furiously.
“Give it back!”
The monkey opened the wallet.
Pulled out a hundred-yuan note.
Examined it carefully.
Then…
Stuffed it into its mouth.
“…NO!”
Zhao Ming nearly fainted.
The monkey burst into what sounded suspiciously like laughter.
Visitors gathered outside the enclosure.
Phones were already recording.
One little girl giggled.
“Mommy, the monkey is funny!”
Her mother laughed.
“I’ve never seen one act like that.”
Tianyu rubbed his forehead.
“Sun.”
The monkey ignored him.
“Sun Xiaohou.”
Still nothing.
“…I’ll give you two bananas.”
Tiny ears twitched.
The monkey slowly turned its head.
“…Three bananas.”
In a blur, the macaque landed on Tianyu’s shoulder.
Wallet included.
“…Traitor,” Zhao Ming muttered.
As Tianyu reached for the wallet, the System activated.
Scanning Target…
The familiar blue screen flashed.
Name: Sun Xiaohou
True Identity: Descendant of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven
Bloodline Purity:
12%
Cultivation:
Sealed
Danger Level:
Extremely High
Current Mood:
Bored
Recommendation:
Increase environmental stimulation.
Tianyu stared.
“…Seriously?”
This tiny troublemaker?
“The Monkey King’s descendant?”
Sun Xiaohou proudly puffed out his chest.
“…Correct.”
Tianyu nearly dropped the wallet.
“You can talk too?”
“…Of course.”
“You’ve been stealing wallets this whole time?”
“…Treasure collection.”
“That’s called theft.”
“…Different species.”
“…No, pretty sure it’s still theft.”
The monkey scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“…Hmm.”
“…Maybe.”
Another notification appeared.
New Mission
Improve Monkey Mountain.
Current Satisfaction:
9%
Problems Detected:
• Insufficient climbing structures.
• Lack of puzzle toys.
• No spiritual fruit.
Reward:
Monkey King’s Staff Fragment
100 Spirit Qi
Sanctuary Authority +1
“…Wait.”
“You’ve been acting out because you’re bored?”
Sun Xiaohou dramatically nodded.
“…Too easy.”
“You climb the same ropes every day?”
“…Yes.”
“You steal wallets for entertainment?”
“…Also yes.”
“…I suddenly feel like a terrible zoo keeper.”
The monkey patted Tianyu’s shoulder.
“…Learning.”
Nearby, Zhao Ming stared at Tianyu.
“…Boss…”
“Hmm?”
“…Are…”
“…Are you talking to the monkey?”
Tianyu froze.
“…”
“…No?”
“You’ve been having a full conversation for the last minute.”
“…”
“…You’re even nodding at each other.”
Sun Xiaohou waved enthusiastically at Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming’s face turned pale.
“…Boss.”
“…Have you been sleeping enough?”
“…Probably not.”
Just then…
Hei Bao wandered over from his enclosure, lazily carrying another apple.
The panda glanced at Sun Xiaohou.
“…Again?”
The monkey crossed his arms.
“…Research.”
“…Wallet.”
“…Research wallet.”
Hei Bao sighed.
“…Idiot monkey.”
“…Sleepy bear.”
“…Brat.”
“…Old man.”
The two legendary beasts glared at one another.
For a tense second…
The air shimmered.
Leaves rustled violently.
An invisible pressure spread across the zoo.
The visitors looked around in confusion.
“Did the wind suddenly pick up?”
“My phone signal just disappeared.”
“What was that?”
Then, just as quickly…
The pressure vanished.
Hei Bao took another bite of his apple.
Sun Xiaohou stuck out his tongue.
It looked like nothing more than two animals squabbling.
But Tianyu noticed something important.
They weren’t enemies.
They were…
Old friends.
Friends who had been teasing each other for centuries.
The System chimed.
New Sanctuary Record Updated.
Legendary Beast Count Confirmed: 2
Synchronization Progress: 4%
Before Tianyu could ask what that meant—
A deep tremor shook the ground beneath his feet.
Unlike yesterday, it wasn’t centered under the panda enclosure.
It came from beneath Monkey Mountain.
…Thump.
…Thump.
…Thump.
Sun Xiaohou’s playful smile disappeared.
Hei Bao slowly stood on all fours.
Both beasts turned toward the rocky hill at the center of the enclosure.
For the first time since Tianyu met them…
He saw fear in their eyes.
Sun Xiaohou whispered only three words.
“…It’s waking up.”
[End of Chapter 4]