The monkey mountain was bustling with people.
As Lu Zhi and the others entered, they heard the sound of gongs and drums from within the monkey mountain.
Looking up, a group of monkeys banging gongs and drums swarmed out of the forest. These monkeys, trained and disciplined, parted ways, allowing a group of golden snub-nosed monkeys wearing different styles of headdresses to emerge.
Clap, clap, clap, clap…
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
“Gifts, quickly send gifts.”
Lu Zhi: ???
He watched as the enthusiastic crowd pulled out all sorts of fruits from their bags and threw them towards the monkey mountain. The management staff made no move to stop them, nor did they seem worried about the monkeys being hit.
Even more outrageous, Lu Zhi saw someone throw a durian.
The monkeys on the mountain, with practiced skill, caught each projectile with precision. They even waved enthusiastically at the crowd, signaling their gratitude and appreciation for the gifts, eliciting shouts of adoration.
“This… they’re truly popular.” Lu Zhi couldn't help but murmur.
A cheerful spectator beside him explained, “Is this your first time watching the Monkey Spectacle? You’ve come to the right place. You’ll soon see what true acting is.”
Lu Zhi nodded, bewildered.
For the rest of the day, he remained utterly disoriented.
“Clang—”
The gong suddenly struck, and the boisterous crowd instantly fell silent.
Surrounded by monkeys of other species, the golden snub-nosed monkeys began their performance, the third act. Later, one of them held up a large blackboard clearly inscribed with, ‘The Returning Monkey Act Three: Revenge’.
Lu Zhi: …It feels like ‘Home Alone’.
When the first female golden snub-nosed monkey, wearing a long headdress woven from grass, let out a ‘squeak’ at the male and female golden snub-nosed monkeys opposite her, and then delivered a resounding slap, the crowd collectively gasped.
Lu Zhi stared, dumbfounded. Then, one monkey squeaked, and another squeaked in response. Their monkey eyes conveyed emotions that were instantly understandable, filling Lu Zhi with admiration.
While the crowd was engrossed in the monkeys’ acting, Lu Zhi noticed a golden snub-nosed monkey with exceptionally vibrant fur behind the performing troupe.
Zhu Ziqian said, “That’s Hou San.”
As if sensing Lu Zhi’s gaze, the noble golden snub-nosed monkey elegantly flicked its tail and then vanished from sight in an instant.
“How should we go in to find him?” Lu Zhi hesitated, “Should we inform the zoo management?” Letting the higher-ups contact the zoo for assistance should not be a problem.
“No need. I’ll take you.” Shen Qi directly wrapped his arm around Lu Zhi’s waist, disappearing in place without anyone noticing.
Zhu Ziqian, left alone, continued to enjoy the monkey show at his leisure.
—
Shen Qi directly led Lu Zhi into the heart of the monkey mountain.
Sunlight dappled through the leafy trees, casting shifting patterns on the stream’s surface. Birdsong mingled with the melodious sound of water striking pebbles. The air was filled with the fragrance of wild grasses and wood.
The clear stream reflected the side profile of a golden snub-nosed monkey, as if it had been waiting for a long time.
The moment Lu Zhi and Shen Qi appeared, the monkey god transformed into an elegant gentleman wearing a fedora.
Hou San removed his hat and asked gracefully, “My Lord, it is a great honor to see you again.”
Compared to the other deities, the monkey god gave Lu Zhi the impression of encountering a foreign noble. “It is my pleasure to see you as well.”
Although he still couldn’t recall any memories related to them, it didn’t prevent him from enjoying the comfortable and natural feeling he experienced when interacting with them.
“My Lord has come for memory fragments?” Hou San smiled slightly and clapped his hands. The surrounding plants and trees seemed to come alive, wriggling and forming a stool behind Lu Zhi. “Please, have a seat.”
Lu Zhi sat down in surprise and noticed Shen Qi was still standing. He turned his head to look. Uh… was he being treated differently again?
Shen Qi calmly snapped his fingers.
The vine stool beneath Lu Zhi’s bottom let out a rustling sound, and a burst of blooming Manjusaka flowers erupted from within. These vibrant blossoms aggressively consumed the vines, transforming the stool into a two-seater floral chair.
Shen Qi sat down in a domineering posture, casting a sidelong glance at Hou San.
Lu Zhi: …Must you two be so childish?
Hou San maintained an elegant smile throughout, like wearing a mask of pleasantry. His golden-brown irises seemed to glow.
Lu Zhi could almost see sparks flying between their eyes. “Ahem… well, I’ve come to ask if you know where the Sheep God is slumbering?”
Hou San understood, “I see. My Lord, please rest assured. When the time is right, I will personally awaken him.”
“Did I also entrust my memories to you?” Lu Zhi knew he had given his memories to the zodiac signs for safekeeping, but he didn’t know who had which fragments or how many.
As Hou San sat down, the vines smoothly coiled into chairs. He smiled warmly, “My Lord’s memories are too important. How could they be entrusted to me, the weakest? However, my Lord did instruct that when you wish to retrieve your memories, you only need to answer one question, and I will tell you which individuals hold your memories.”
Lu Zhi froze for a moment, then muttered, “Why do I always dig pits for myself?”
“What question?” Shen Qi asked sharply.
When Hou San looked at Shen Qi, the light in his eyes dimmed considerably, but the curve of his smile remained unchanged. “Why do you want to recover your memories? In fact, My Lord, who has forgotten everything, lives very well and very happily.”
It was a rather standard question. Lu Zhi was silent for a long time before replying, “I don’t know.
As you said, whether I recover my memories or not, I am living very well now. This is the life I aspire to.
However, a person cannot live in a shell forever. Past memories, whether bad or good, what belongs to me, should all be reclaimed.
I do not wish to be a person or a god without a past. The responsibilities I bear cannot be cast aside with a simple statement of memory loss.”
Lu Zhi suddenly smiled, his dark eyes sparkling, “Moreover, I don’t want to forget anything about you all.”
Lu Zhi met Shen Qi’s eyes, “I also want to know about the little shrine maiden.”
Shen Qi’s fingers on his knees trembled slightly.
Lu Zhi’s gaze returned to Hou San, “Is this answer acceptable?”
Hou San smiled enchantingly, “Regardless of your answer, My Lord, I will tell you where your memories are located. You divided your memories into three parts. One part, you must have already obtained from Old Snake. The remaining two parts are with the Tiger God and the Dragon God respectively.”
Lu Zhi had always assumed the twelve zodiacs possessed equal abilities, but the answer from Hou San indicated that they also had strengths and weaknesses.
The Tiger God, the Dragon God, and the Snake God were likely the three most powerful among the twelve zodiacs.
Lu Zhi asked, “Where are they?”
Hou San shook his head, “When the time is right, My Lord will naturally encounter them.”
Lu Zhi’s expression was complex, “What is this ‘time’ you speak of?”
Hou San put his hat back on, obscuring his bright golden irises, “What My Lord needs to do… only My Lord knows. What is the thing My Lord wants to do most?”
Lu Zhi became even more confused.
“Oh, right, My Lord.” Hou San suddenly asked, “Be careful of this one beside you.”
After speaking, he ignored Shen Qi’s darkened gaze and smiled as he disappeared into a beam of sunlight, leaving behind a final sentence: “I will come to find My Lord again, but not now.”
The spot where Hou San disappeared shimmered with golden light.
Lu Zhi held his palm upwards, catching a few golden monkey hairs. They looked like gold but were just ordinary monkey hairs.