Chapter 36
The recording ended relatively early tonight.
Based on the director’s hint, there might be unexpected activities around eleven o’clock at night. The guests were advised not to go to sleep too soon.
At nine-thirty, Wen Xingze lay on the bed in his bedroom, pondering the matter of Chi Yan’s late arrival. Suddenly, he remembered the small package that Lei Qi had brought him. Could he open it now?
Wen Xingze had placed the package in his mustard seed space earlier.
He wasn’t very familiar with how to use the mustard seed space yet. Wen Xingze thought for a moment, then quietly opened the small drawer in the bathroom and whispered, “Lei Qi’s gift, Lei Qi’s gift, please put Lei Qi’s gift in my hand.”
As he reached into the drawer, he could clearly feel the temperature drop below freezing. It seemed like a snowy landscape.
At first, Wen Xingze’s hand was empty, but then he faintly heard footsteps coming from the mustard seed space. After about half a minute, a package covered in snow was placed in his palm.
Just as Wen Xingze was about to pull his hand back, the package was taken away, and he heard the sounds of tapping and wiping. Half a minute later, the package was returned to him, now completely clean and free of snow.
Wen Xingze blinked. “Is it really this intelligent?”
The implications were terrifying.
He decided not to dwell on it too much.
Finding a box cutter, he carefully opened the package. Considering Lei Qi’s personality, he had expected guns, bows and arrows, bullets, or even a stack of credit cards.
However, to his surprise, inside was a small bottle of perfume.
Calling it perfume wasn’t entirely accurate. The glass bottle resembled a test tube, containing a light green liquid with hints of citrus, lemon, and sage. The scent wasn’t overpowering.
Next to it was an instruction manual, written in Lei Qi’s twisted, reptilian-like handwriting. It read: “A rare collection fluid from the planet Mu Sul, named ‘Green Tangerine.’ When sprayed behind the ear, you can hear the thoughts of others within two hours (provided that this person/dragon/any creature really likes you).”
It was quite miraculous. Wen Xingze read it two or three times before fully understanding.
In other words, if he sprayed this ‘Green Tangerine’ behind his ear, he could hear other people’s thoughts?
Of course, the prerequisite was that the person really liked him. He wondered where the boundary of “really liking” someone lay…
Suddenly, Wen Xingze heard hurried footsteps outside the window. Chaos erupted on the deck, with flashlights flickering everywhere. The director and crew were shouting:
“Can anyone help?”
“What’s going on?”
“Does anyone know a bit about veterinary medicine?”
Veterinary medicine? Without hesitation, Wen Xingze sprayed some of the Green Tangerine behind his ear, grabbed his coat and mask, and hurried out.
At ten o’clock that night, the entire deck of Fantasy Cruise was brightly lit, bustling with activity. The director, using a megaphone, directed everyone. Although it was regular filming time, the cameramen were still carrying their cameras, unsure if this segment would make the final cut.
“What happened?” Wen Xingze approached the director. Over the years, he had taken on various magical part-time jobs, and there were few fields he didn’t understand. “Director, how can I help? I know a bit about veterinary medicine; I’ve assisted in delivering puppies in the village.”
…Well, “a bit” was an understatement.
But at this moment, there was no time to dwell on that. The director, desperate for assistance, patted Wen Xingze’s shoulder with relief. “Great! A'Ze, follow Xiao Li and take the small boat down to see what’s going on.”
Once they disembarked from the cruise ship, wearing life jackets, Wen Xingze boarded the gently swaying small boat. There, he learned the backstory:
A group of white dolphins had appeared, swimming around their ship. These dolphins bore scars, as if from recently healed wounds. Their behavior was highly agitated, repeatedly bumping into the Fantasy Cruise ship with their tails and heads.
While their ship might be safe, the dolphins were at risk of getting hurt.
Wen Xingze was puzzled. “A group of dolphins?”
Props team member Xiao Li sighed. “These dolphins were just released. Remember the news? They stranded on the Tenerife beach three months ago and were rescued by the local animal protection agency. They even starred in a documentary… Look.”
Following Xiao Li’s gesture, Wen Xingze saw another boat nearby.
The boat was equally well-lit, with several people resembling journalists, some carrying cameras, and even a woman who seemed like a YouTuber. At the harbor, environmental banners were visible.
The onboard journalists continued filming, but they looked worried and hesitated to approach too closely, fearing further distress to the dolphins.
Wen Xingze recalled that these stranded Atlantic white dolphins were known as the “Smiling Angels.” Heartwarming stories about their interactions with rescue station staff had made them internet sensations. Their fan base might even rival Wen Xingze’s current followers.
Unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn during the release.
“Tonight was scheduled for their release, and this process will be included in the documentary,” Xiao Li explained. “Professional film crews are here, but the veterinarians who cared for them are dealing with emergencies.”
If the veterinarians were present, the situation probably wouldn’t leave everyone feeling helpless.
As they spoke, their small boat had already approached the dolphins. Apart from the cameraman capturing footage, the others on the boat had varying levels of knowledge about veterinary medicine. For instance, Xiao Zhang frequently visited aquariums, Xiao Li was a loyal fan of “Animal World,” and Xiao Wen had experience assisting with dog deliveries—a typical group of semi-experts.
Upon closer inspection, the dolphins were indeed agitated, forcefully using their tails to strike the boat. Some of them had re-injured their heads.
Although the dolphins noticed the boat’s approach, they didn’t come any closer, likely wary of the unfamiliar vessel.
The barefoot doctors on the boat began discussing their next steps.
Xiao Zhang whispered, “Don't fight anymore. If you're going to fight, do it in a dance studio.”
Xiao Li played a clip from “Animal World” on his phone: “Spring blossoms, everything revives—it’s dolphin mating season.”
Meanwhile, Xiao Wen instinctively searched for essential tools for assisting with dog births: “Blankets, scissors, thread, disinfectant…”
Cameraman: ...
But then, the unexpected happened.
Right after Wen Xingze spoke, several dolphins nearby suddenly stopped their aggressive behavior toward the cruise ship.
Their actions were unmistakably frozen, and a couple of them even ceased their attacks altogether.
Two young adult white dolphins approached each other, rubbing against one another. They hesitantly swam toward the small boat, circling it, and emitted delicate, high-pitched calls.
The cameraman exclaimed, “It’s working!”
Encouraged, Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, and Xiao Wen prepared for the next steps.
Wen Xingze leaned against the boat’s edge, not initially noticing the slippery, slightly sticky sensation on his hand. When he looked down, he realized that two white dolphins were leaping to reach his palm with their heads.
Their voices resembled those of tiny babies: “Ying—”
Wen Xingze thought, “Is that onomatopoeia a bit off?”
Xiao Li, stroking his chin, said, “A'Ze, could they like you?”
The keyword “like” caught Wen Xingze’s attention.
He touched the spot behind his ear where he’d sprayed Green Tangerine. If the dolphins truly liked him, could he hear their thoughts?
Wouldn’t that help identify the cause of their unusual behavior?
Wen Xingze and the dolphins exchanged glances.
The dolphins nudged the boat with their tails, tilting their heads toward Wen Xingze’s palm, their expressions filled with joy. They seemed eager to leap into his arms.
Despite spraying Green Tangerine, Wen Xingze couldn’t hear anything resembling thoughts in his ear.
After a while, translucent light green text appeared above the dolphins’ heads in Wen Xingze’s vision:
Insufficient affinity; unable to hear thoughts.
Wen Xingze sighed.
The dolphins seemed affectionate on the surface, but he felt a sense of disappointment, as if he’d been let down by a scumbag.
The documentary crew’s boat also noticed the situation and cautiously approached, aiming their cameras at Wen Xingze’s small boat.
“It’s probably my voice they like,” Wen Xingze mused. "Dolphins have poor eyesight."
As expected, just as Wen Xingze had guessed.
As soon as he spoke, the two dolphins became even more affectionate and excited. Two or three more swam over, surrounding the small boat.
“Wow!”
Even the documentary crew was pleasantly surprised. A cameraman disembarked from the larger ship and approached in a smaller boat.
“We’re filming a documentary and gathering news material. Can we film you?” the journalist asked Wen Xingze in English.
In Western legends, dolphins are companions to mermaids, communicating with these adorable spirits through song. Although there isn’t definitive research, it’s known that dolphins have poor eyesight but are sensitive to sound. Perhaps Wen Xingze’s vocal range was just right.
Sighing, Wen Xingze knew it was likely due to the Mermaid's Blessing filter, but he really didn’t want to sing. “Do I have to sing?”
Cameraman: Pfft.
Wen Xingze’s bittersweet remark reminded everyone on the boat of a recent kindergarten song contest. They all laughed, teasingly looking at him. Xiao Li and Xiao Zhang even pretended to search for a drum.
Wen Xingze hesitated.
Then he began singing, “Namo He La Da Na Duo La Ye Ye Namo A Li Ye…”
The melody was spot-on, and his pronunciation precise.
It was the Great Compassion Mantra.
As he sang, Wen Xingze pressed his palms together in front of his chest, forming a mudra. His eyes lowered, expressing compassion.
Suddenly, the entire sea seemed filled with an aura of Buddha’s compassion—a unique resonance that calmed everyone involuntarily.
People even felt like they were being spiritually saved.
Others: “???”
And then, something even more magical happened.
The heartfelt rendition of the Great Compassion Mantra by Wen Xingze spread like ripples on the sea breeze. All the dolphins responded, not only those near their boat but every dolphin present.
Not just the ones close by—the dolphins ceased their aggressive behavior, freezing in the middle of the waves.
Cameras captured this precious moment.
The scene unfolded: Evening breeze brushed over the sea, lights flickering on the dark water. In the vast expanse of the ocean, their small boat floated as if suspended in the night sky. Around it, a dozen white dolphins tilted their heads, attentively listening to the mermaid’s song.
Except, this wasn’t a mermaid’s song—it was a Buddhist chant.
The cameramen were stunned, watching the footage. It truly carried the resonance of saving all beings. Even the dolphins cooperated, though it felt oddly peculiar.
Would it be okay to edit this into a variety show or documentary?
Meanwhile, the Fantasy Cruise cameramen were accustomed to Wen Xingze’s unexpected moments. They quietly listened, exchanging whispers: “This song is already premium on music apps. Hearing it is a win.”
"I only save vinyl records. Amitabha."
“…”
On the other boat, the foreigners initially found it peculiar, then amusing, and eventually settled into a peaceful serenity:
“I heard the mermaid’s song! Is he Chinese? He looks like a mixed-race model—so handsome.”
“An interesting voice.”
“Good job! You can truly feel the dolphins’ emotions. If it were me, I’d also stop and listen attentively.”
“Amen, may the Lord’s radiance shine upon you.”
“The rescue station’s veterinarian said they’ll arrive in half an hour,” the documentary producer called the cameraman on the small boat. “Until then, stabilize the dolphins’ emotions and prevent any further risky behavior.”
The YouTuber pleaded with Wen Xingze, “Please!”
Wen Xingze had just finished chanting the Great Compassion Mantra, and now the dolphins were getting restless again.
“Half an hour?” Wen Xingze felt overwhelmed.
His throat had been strained today, especially after plummeting from thirty thousand meters. Another five minutes of singing might be too much for his voice.
He needed professional help off-camera.
“Can the cameras pause for a few seconds? I’ll perform a magic trick for you,” Wen Xingze requested.
The cameramen exchanged puzzled glances but followed his instructions, blocking the lenses.
Then they witnessed a scene that shattered their worldview.
Wen Xingze conjured a door out of thin air—swish!
Behind the door lay an endless deep sea: soft corals, seaweed, sperm whales, and grumpy lionfish. Lanternfish puffed their mouths, flickering like unstable light bulbs.
“Give me half a minute.”
With those words, Wen Xingze stepped through the door, disappearing along with it.
“He never disappoints with his magic tricks,” the cameraman on their side commented.
The documentary cameramen and host: “???”
Was this the legendary…
Hogwarts top graduate?!
________________________
Inside the mustard seed space, silence enveloped the deep sea.
In an abandoned palace, a small dolphin handed Wen Xingze an oxygen tank, allowing him to breathe.
Elder You leaned against a whale, his face veiled by a jellyfish shroud. His long hair flowed back with the current. Instead of the sea god pearl, he now wore a string of dark mermaid pearls around his pale neck.
“Elder You,” Wen Xingze began, “I have a question.”
Elder You responded coldly, “No need for unnecessary words.”
Yet, in Wen Xingze’s vision, a translucent light green thought floated above Worry’s head:
Speak more. I enjoy listening to the cub’s voice.
The Green Tangerine was clearly taking effect.
Evidently, the elders held a significant fondness for Wen Xingze.
Wen Xingze sighed.
The elders remained blissfully unaware of their exposure.
“Is this about the dolphins?” Elder Li, usually irritable, scoffed. “Such a trivial matter, and you’ve come all this way to ask us. Unnecessary.”
But the thought above his head revealed:
Seeing the cub makes me happy.
Similarly, Elder Cang, the twin, wore a stern expression. “These dolphins have no sense.”
Yet, his thought revealed:
These dolphins did well.
Wen Xingze: “…”
What an embarrassing play! This was beyond awkward!
The Green Tangerine seemed adept at curing all forms of tsundere behavior. Wen Xingze felt like he’d scratched his toes across the Pacific Ocean.
He’d suspected the elders were tsundere to some extent, but he hadn’t realized they’d taken it to such extremes. Their words and thoughts were worlds apart!
Wen Xingze couldn’t let this excruciating situation continue. He steered back to the main topic: “Let’s focus on the real issue… Do you know why the dolphins behaved that way?”
Wen Xingze had spent nearly three hours in the mustard seed space today, and time was of the essence. Fortunately, the elders were efficient when it came to serious matters. They explained some common knowledge and possibilities related to the dolphins. Worry added:
“Due to the Mermaid's Blessing’s effect, your voice can soothe them. Any sound you create will suffice.”
It didn’t have to be singing.
Upon hearing this, Wen Xingze felt enlightened.
After discussing the matter, Elder Li, in his usual blunt manner, dismissed him impatiently:
“Is everything settled? If so, go back. I don’t want to see you.”
Wen Xingze was accustomed to their sharp tongues: “Fine. You all should head back too. I’ll—”
In the last moment before turning away, Wen Xingze caught a glimpse of translucent light green letters above Elder Li’s head. Perhaps due to his low spirits, the color had deepened:
It’ll be a long time until I see the Emperor again.
Meanwhile, Elder You’s thought echoed:
Reluctant to part with the cub.
Elder Cang, the other twin, added:
Dragons can hug the Emperor, so why not mermaids?
Wen Xingze hesitated.
Elder You and Cang, true to their twin status, maintained their icy silence outwardly but communicated telepathically.
Elder Li: It's all because of those two scumbags Cang and You for always saying harsh things to the cub. Maybe he took it seriously.
Elder Cang: He might dislike me.
Elder You: He probably doesn’t like me much either. He hurries away when he sees me, although he’s patient with Wu Zhu and Zhi Xia.
Elder Cang: Other mermaids have handwritten identity cards, but I don’t. He must dislike me.
Wen Xingze: “…”
Seeing Wen Xingze hesitate, Elder You raised an eyelid and clicked his tongue impatiently: “What now?”
Elder Cang snorted coldly: “You’re troublesome.”
Wen Xingze: “…”
Without another word, he closed the half-opened door and silently swam back to the elders.
The elders exchanged puzzled glances: “?”
Wen Xingze spoke up: “You actually like me, don’t you?”
They were furious: “Nonsense! Who likes—”
Their words trailed off.
“…”
In the silent depths of the deep blue sea, faint light filtered through, and ocean currents flowed like wind.
Wen Xingze embraced his mermaid companions.
Not a perfunctory hug—this was a tight, earnest embrace, akin to a child rushing into a parent’s arms after school.
Wen Xingze touched each merfolk’s head, their silky hair slipping through his fingers. He caught a delicate, cool, slightly seaweed-scented fragrance.
Human and Merfolk body temperatures differed significantly, as did their skin textures. As one of the universe’s most formidable mermaids, their seemingly soft, porcelain-white skin was actually firm and icy.
So, for the Merfolk elders at this moment…
…it felt as though they were holding a warm, cuddly little sun.
They felt almost bewildered, their spines stiff, unsure where to place their raised hands. It was as if their hearts were clenched together.
In this embrace, the Emperor held them.
“In truth, I did create identity cards for you before, but I thought you didn’t like them, so I didn’t bring them out. Next time I return to Muse, I’ll give them to you.”
“Don’t overthink it. I like you all too.” Wen Xingze whispered, perhaps due to the deep-sea environment, his voice carrying a unique, moist softness. “See you tomorrow.”
The elders remained expressionless.
Wen Xingze bid them farewell and then left the mustard seed space, plunging the deep sea back into silence.
The dolphins and lionfish swam eagerly near the nonexistent door, as if expecting Wen Xingze to emerge again. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
One second, two seconds, three seconds… A full thirty seconds passed.
It felt like someone had hit the pause button.
The elders remained stoic.
Even the system notification from Cub Raising Program failed to prompt any action:
Ding-dong! Congratulations to the merfolk parent for completing half of the PK task ‘Receive Cub’s Loving Hug.’ There are six days left until the task ends. Keep up the good work!
Mermaid's Blessing upgraded! Current level: Lv2. Tidal Summon.
…
After an indeterminate time, the lengthy reflex arc finally reached its end.
Suddenly, a resounding “boom”!
Like overcooked shrimp, all three elders turned bright red. Their brains became a mush of gibberish: “$#@(&)%#%!%《?/*%???!?”
A wisp of smoke emerged above their heads.
The surrounding fish scattered in alarm.
The Merfolk’s mightiest warrior, the blue-tailed merman who wielded the sea god pearl and once sang divine hymns, had crashed.
________________________
The passage of time in the mustard seed space differed from the outside world. Although Wen Xingze had spent nearly ten minutes inside, it appeared as a mere blink of an eye to those outside.
So, here’s what happened:
The cameramen watched as Wen Xingze opened a nonexistent door, stepped inside, and then calmly emerged from the same nonexistent door about twenty seconds later.
His clothes were damp, and his hair clung to his cheeks.
But in that split second of stepping out, his clothes and hair rapidly dried, and all the moisture flowed back into the “door.”
The dolphins circled the small boat restlessly, seemingly intent on slapping the boat’s edge with their tails—quite the opposite of their quiet behavior when Wen Xingze sang.
The veterinarians from the rescue station would arrive in approximately twenty-seven minutes.
Wen Xingze stood still, adjusting his shirt hem, and looked up. “I know now!”
A journalist asked him, “Would you like to continue singing? Everyone on our boat loves your voice, saying it brings them inner peace.”
A couple of foreigners were already contemplating converting to Buddhism.
Wen Xingze: “…”
He hadn’t expected the Great Compassion Mantra to be so well-received. Shaking his head, he declined.
Wen Xingze signaled to the cruise ship’s director, who looked puzzled.
Moments later, Zhu Bo approached in a kayak, holding a long package. He handed it to Wen Xingze.
Opening the package, Wen Xingze revealed a conical instrument. It was his trusty companion—the best busking partner from his travels.
At Tenerife Beach, street performers and bands often play into the late hours. Since this area is by the sea and far away from residential zones, there’s no need to worry about disturbing anyone.
However, most foreigners associate Chinese instruments primarily with bamboo flutes and guzheng.
Foreigner: “I know this one—it’s… a car horn!”
Wen Xingze: “?”
The suona’s reputation took a hit!
Wen Xingze tested the sound. Now the surrounding foreigners wore expressions of half-belief, half-doubt. Would the dolphins really respond to this sound?
This time, Wen Xingze kept it low-key. He began by playing “Canon” and “Chihiro’s Summer,” both gentle and refreshing tunes. Each note was crisp and precise, with beautiful glissandos and transitions. Even disregarding the instrument itself, the skill and pitch were impressive.
But the suona’s rogue quality lay in the fact that once it started, no one paid attention to anything else…
In the first second, the foreigners remained skeptical.
In the second second, their legs started tapping.
By the third second, they were completely hooked. Like the lighting crew from the Encounter with the Dragon drama, the documentary team’s lighting crew spontaneously pulled out glow sticks and distributed them to everyone on board.
The dolphins on the water even began nodding and swaying to the rhythm, leaping up and then diving back down, their tail fins keeping perfect time. Both the Fantasy Cruise and documentary crews synchronized their dance moves at the bow of their respective ships…
The cameramen exclaimed, “First, the Great Compassion Mantra for enlightenment, and now the suona to bid farewell—a thoughtful and comprehensive service!”
A few minutes later…
At the Tenerife Beach harbor in distant Spain, waves of applause and cheers echoed, accompanied by sustained applause.
The dark sea surface swayed, carrying a mysterious melody from the distant East. Amidst the darkness, enigmatic fluorescence flickered, following the beat like legendary night spirits.
Coincidentally passing Chinese tourists stopped in their tracks, drawn by the familiar sound. Even from a distance, the captivating and penetrating melody of the entire song was discernible. They couldn’t resist recording short videos on their phones, discussing with friends nearby:
“What’s he playing? ‘Chihiro’s Summer’?” (Note: One Summer Day from Spirited Away ^^)
“Chihiro didn’t make it through the summer.”
“Chihiro’s seventh day.”
“Wait a minute—since when did the underworld expand its overseas business?!”
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Thanks for the hard work~
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