By the artificial lake, as the story of the water monster spread, the number of tourists flocking to witness it surged once more.
If Lin Feng hadn't brought reinforcements, the tourists would likely have started fighting amongst themselves before they even saw the water monster.
"Why isn't the water monster coming out yet? Is it fake?"
"Exactly, we've been here for two hours and haven't seen a shadow of it."
"How could it be fake? I saw a huge dark shadow emerge from the water before, almost pulling the park director in."
"Right, with so many of us, could we all be mistaken?"
"Speaking of which, I know this artificial lake. I even mined here thirty years ago. It was a mine pit dozens of meters deep, full of crisscrossing tunnels. It's perfectly normal for a water monster to hide in there."
"What if that water monster stays hidden inside and doesn't come out? Then we'd have waited for nothing."
"Are there any streamers with diving equipment? Go down and film what the water monster looks like for everyone."
"If a streamer dared to go down, I bet they'd go viral instantly."
"Aren't there usually a lot of exploration streamers? Now that there's a real water monster, why isn't anyone going down?"
"You don't understand. Do you think those exploration streamers are really exploring? They're just following a script."
"Exactly. The situation in this lake is unclear right now. Who the hell would dare to go down? You can't spend money if you're dead."
"But we can't just keep waiting like this."
"By the way, where's the park director? Where did he go? He didn't actually go to get a water pump, did he?"
...
As the tourists were chattering, a loud boom suddenly came from behind the artificial lake.
Hearing the deafening sound, the onlookers immediately turned their gazes in that direction.
The next second, everyone's pupils constricted, and their faces instantly showed expressions of terror.
"Ah! A monster!"
No one knew who shouted it first, but the surrounding tourists instantly descended into chaos.
Even the police officers like Lin Feng, who were maintaining order, couldn't help but swallow, their hands unconsciously reaching for their waists.
At this moment, Yang Lin, holding a megaphone, suddenly appeared before them.
"Everyone, please don't panic. This is a saltwater crocodile we raise in our park. It's my helper, and it's very gentle. Please don't be afraid."
Hearing Yang Lin's words, the people present finally managed to suppress their fear.
Following their gaze, they saw an unknown creature, as large as a small car and covered in earthy yellow scales, slowly moving in their direction.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a colossal crocodile.
As for its breed, they were unsure. Since Yang Lin said it was a saltwater crocodile, it was a saltwater crocodile.
Even though they knew this ferocious-looking creature wasn't a monster, they were still somewhat intimidated by its massive size.
"Oh my god, is this thing really a crocodile? I thought it was a dinosaur."
"Can crocodiles really grow this big? Did it eat Jinkela all its life? This thing must be at least seven or eight meters long."
"Don't talk nonsense if you don't know. There are small and large crocodiles. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest crocodile species in the world, so it's reasonable for it to be this big."
"In ancient China, crocodiles were called earth dragons and pig dragons. There used to be a Black Dragon Pool in my hometown, and they say a big pig dragon lived there."
"Anything that has 'dragon' in its name can't be small."
"But the park director said it's gentle. How can I believe that? If it takes a bite, won't it blow my head off?"
...
As everyone retreated, Yang Lin, driving the saltwater crocodile, slowly walked up to them.
An inexplicable sense of intense pressure emanated from the colossal saltwater crocodile.
Just then, a mischievous child, no one knew whose, suddenly ran in front of the saltwater crocodile.
Before her parents could react, she placed her fair little hands on the crocodile.
Seeing this, everyone was terrified, and the little girl's parents nearly fainted from fright.
Just as everyone expected the little girl to be attacked by this terrifying creature, the fierce-looking saltwater crocodile seemed not to notice her.
The little girl, seeing this, became even more spirited.
"Hee hee! Big doggy, ride horsey."
The next second, she climbed onto the saltwater crocodile's back.
Yet, the saltwater crocodile remained as it was.
Seeing this, everyone finally believed Yang Lin's words.
"See? It doesn't have any ill will towards humans. Now, allow me to formally introduce her."
"This saltwater crocodile's name is Li Xiaopang. She is 7 years old, a little girl, and her favorite foods are pumpkin and sweet potato. She occasionally eats chicken, but she always gets stuck on the bones."
"Her greatest enemy is the macaw in the Bird Aviary. That naughty bird always bullies her."
Listening to Yang Lin's introduction, the fear in everyone's hearts instantly vanished. Instead, they found its massive size somewhat cute.
"Hahaha, growing so big, but her favorite foods are pumpkin and sweet potato."
"My goodness, this is a little girl? She must weigh at least a ton."
"So she's a thousand-jin lady."
"She can't even beat a parrot? Is it really that exaggerated?"
"I thought it was ridiculous that the Chinese alligator couldn't beat a goose, but this big saltwater crocodile can't beat a bird."
"Why do I suddenly find her a bit cute?"
While the tourists found the true nature of the giant saltwater crocodile amusing, some tourists spotted a discrepancy.
"Park director, why do all your animals have the surname Li? The gorilla is called Li Wei, the gibbon is called Li Qiang, the tiger is called Li Hua, and even this crocodile is called Li Xiaopang."
Hearing someone ask this question, the curiosity of the assembled tourists was instantly piqued.
They had wanted to ask this question for a long time.
Yang Lin, suddenly hearing the tourist's question, was taken aback.
He couldn't possibly say that his grandfather wanted to take revenge on his love rival, so he named all the animals with the surname Li.
After a moment's thought, he quickly came up with a tactful explanation.
"Actually, these animals have the surname Li because my father and I almost had the surname Li. So, we named the animals Li to show that they are like our family."
After hearing Yang Lin's explanation, everyone felt a warmth in their hearts.
As for why Yang Lin and his father almost had the surname Li, they didn't pry further.
And as the crowd finished their questions, Yang Lin's gaze turned to the unfathomably deep lake water.
"Xiaopang, I've raised you for a thousand days, and now it's time to use you for one. It's time for you to contribute to the zoo."
"Go down and drag that water monster out for me, and I'll reward you with a ton of pumpkin."
As soon as Yang Lin finished speaking, the saltwater crocodile's massive body swiftly plunged into the lake.