"So now this dog has no owner?"
"It never really had an owner. Who knows what method that Bu Qi used to force this ancient divine beast into submission."
Di Yao looked at Xibian, who clearly understood their conversation. It was now holding its head high, looking rather smug.
"So you have such an impressive background, huh." Di Yao tapped Xibian's nose. "Alright, you don't seem too bad off now. You can leave—go back to that Heavenly Emperor Mountain or whatever."
Not having to find an owner saved a lot of trouble. Di Yao stopped paying attention to Xibian and started working with Meng Po.
There were quite a few ghosts crossing the bridge today. Di Yao put on an apron and got to work, busying herself until dusk. After packing up, she stood at the entrance of Meng Po's Shop, about to let out a long sigh, when she heard a dog bark.
Xibian was lazily stretching in the twilight glow. Then it got up, sat down in front of Di Yao, and looked up at her.
"Eh? You haven't left yet?" At this moment, Xibian didn't look as fierce and intimidating as it had in the morning. Di Yao mustered her courage, crouched down, and scratched under its chin.
Seeing this, Meng Po came over with a smile. "This little one is very smart. It probably has nowhere to go, so it's waiting for you."
When Xibian barked twice in agreement, both of them chuckled.
"Do you really want to come back with me?" Di Yao crouched down and asked Xibian patiently.
Xibian barked again, so loudly it nearly shattered Di Yao's eardrums.
"Just take it back. It's not easy for a divine beast to choose its master, but once it does, if you don't take it back, it will pester you all day. It might even take revenge."
Di Yao's bright, almond-shaped eyes turned to Meng Po. She bit her lip gently, forming two perfect arcs at the corners of her mouth.
She stood up, cheerfully beckoned Xibian, and took a few steps before stopping abruptly. Even her smile froze.
"Oh no. I forgot about my husband."
Remembering that Wei Xunzhou had said Xibian couldn't stay this morning, and she had confidently promised to return it to its owner, Di Yao suddenly felt a headache coming on.
She truly learned what it meant to not speak too soon.
She turned to look at Xibian, who was wagging its tail. After much deliberation, she spoke: "You must have heard it this morning, right? My husband won't accept you. Maybe you shouldn't come home with me."
She thought Xibian might be afraid of Wei Xunzhou, so invoking him might work.
"If you really have nowhere to go, I can ask Granny Meng if she's willing to keep you?"
Sure enough, at the mention of Wei Xunzhou, Xibian stopped wagging its tail.
"I'm sorry."
Afraid that if she hesitated any longer, she might soften and bring it home, only to anger Wei Xunzhou, Di Yao didn't dare linger. She hurried home at a brisk pace.
But as it turned out, just as Meng Po had said, if Xibian didn't get its way, trouble would follow.
In the middle of the night, while the two were fast asleep, Xibian somehow opened the window, jumped into the room, and attacked Wei Xunzhou.
Luckily, Wei Xunzhou was a light sleeper and instinctively reacted the moment he sensed something wrong. Still, Xibian managed to scratch his neck.
Di Yao woke up at the commotion. By the time she did, the fight between the man and the dog had already ended. Wei Xunzhou was wiping the wound on his neck, while Xibian lay on the floor, its limbs tied with ropes, wailing helplessly.
Di Yao quickly found a clean towel and helped Wei Xunzhou wipe the wound. She deliberately avoided his probing gaze and spoke softly, telling him everything that had happened during the day.
"Husband, it seems this divine dog is not only psychic but also quite vindictive. Maybe... this time we shouldn't chase it away?" After saying this, Di Yao instinctively blew a cool breath on his wound.
Only then did she realize the impropriety, and her movements froze for a moment.
"Alright."
Author's Note:
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To gather more collections, I'll temporarily update every other day.
(The obscure author kneels and admits fault!)