Bajie’s Survival Wisdom: Concealing His Talents and Keeping a Low Profile

What kind of spectacle is a hundred thousand-strong navy on the Celestial River? Warships spread across the river, their sails blotting out half the starry sky; every sailor clad in silver armor, the clash of weapons loud enough to shatter the clouds; and him standing at the bow of the flagship, cloak billowing in the wind, while thousands of soldiers behind him salute. In those days, he always wrapped himself in the brightest armor, even combing the feathers on his helmet every day. He wanted to prove that even a monster from the mortal world could carry out his duties in Heaven with dignity. The waters of the Celestial River were clearer than mountain springs in the mortal world, and colder, too. On night patrols, he would often stare blankly at the water, thinking of the cave beneath Qingfeng Cliff and the villagers he had once saved. But those memories seemed to have grown damp and blurred in the river mist.

The Peach Banquet was a major occasion in Heaven, even livelier than the naval drills on the Celestial River. The ambrosia gleamed amber in crystal cups, and the peaches on the tables were as big as lanterns. They were said to grant a thousand years of cultivation with a single bite. He sat among the military officers, beside Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, and Nezha, the Third Prince. They reminisced about their past military exploits and occasionally asked about his life in the mortal world. He mentioned a few episodes from his water-control work, steering clear of the years spent gnawing tree bark and drinking dew as he cultivated. Chang'e arrived later, dressed in plain white palace robes and carrying a lantern shaped like the Jade Rabbit. She sat not far from the Jade Emperor. He had heard her name long ago and knew she was the mistress of the Moon Palace. He also knew she was aloof, and that ordinary immortals hardly dared approach her.