Heluo fish
In Chinese mythology, Heluo fish and Zi fish are fish with one head and ten bodies.
Descriptions
The ancient text Classic of Mountains and Seas explains :
In the 1827 fantasy novel Flowers in the Mirror by Li Ruzhen, the protagonist Tang Ao encountered such a creature in a fishing net at the "Country of Black-bottomed People" and wondered whether it was the fragrant Zi fish. His brother-in-law Lin Zhiyang smelled it and retched, whereupon Duo Jiugong—their companion—laughed and suggested kicking it. When it barked like a dog, they all knew that it was a Heluo fish. Old Duo then explained the difference between the species: "One smells heavenly, and the other extremely foul."
Xiujiu bird
In the 16th century, Yang Shen wrote in Encomiums on Strange Fish that, just like the Kun fish, the Heluo fish can also change into a bird known as Xiujiu, notorious for stealing husked rice and falling into mortars, dead. The Xiujiu bird often shrieked as it flew by at night and unlike the Heluo fish, it was scared of thunder and lightning.
Black Myth: Wukong features the Heluo Fish as a fightable Yaoguai found mainly in chapter 3. In game the fishes were said to have been taken in by Yellowbrow after passing Bitter Lake, after he saw the fish bowing towards him. Yellowbrow later brought them in as diciples, clothed them, and taught the fish the ability to turn into humans. One fish was particularly robust and a fierce temperament, often engaging in battles with Yellowbrow. Eventually the fish learned to chuck snowballs, nearly freezing Yellowbrow. Yellowbrow was impressed and gave the fish the title of "Monk from the Sea". This particular Monk from the Sea is a Yaoguai chief in New Thunderclap Temple, Rewarding The Destined One with the ability to transform into a Monk from the Sea.