Chapter 455 - 358: Dahuang
"Why are you running away! So what if I pulled your tail? I shared all this delicious food with you!"
Little White grumbled, a little disgruntled. Looking at Dahuang, he thought the creature just couldn’t recognize kindness when it saw it!
Little White was still holding his snack: spicy strips.
They say that no one—adult or child, human or animal—can resist the allure of spicy strips, right?
Little White decided Dahuang really didn’t know what was good for him!
Kong Jian stood by Little White’s side like a loyal retainer, providing moral support.
Jiang Zhishang paused when he heard that. "Dahuang?"
Hearing Jiang Zhishang, Dahuang threw his head back, his eyes, which seemed to speak volumes, gazing pitifully at Jiang Zhishang.
’Dahuang!’
’Just listen to that!’
’Is that a name for a dog?!’
’The injustice!’
’The rage!’
’The fury!’
’If these two little brats hadn’t been brought here by the Master’s guests, I’d have taught them a lesson!’
"Dahuang... it’s certainly a fitting name."
Hearing Jiang Zhishang’s conclusion, Dahuang shot him a resentful glare!
’Fitting????’
’Which one of your eyes thinks it’s fitting?!’
’I’m a rare and expensive...’
’Ugh, forget it. Best not to even bring it up!’
’But it absolutely can’t be Dahuang!’
"Dahuang, how can you throw a tantrum when someone is sharing their snack with you?"
Dahuang turned his head and, with a flick, ignored Jiang Zhishang completely.
He spun around and bolted!
His retreating figure had a strange air of lonely heroism~~~
Little White blinked at the scene. "Mister, Dahuang isn’t some kind of spirit beast, is he?"
Ever since he started accepting the changes in the world, Little White figured that running into a spirit-beast dog was probably pretty normal.
But Jiang Zhishang was clearly taken aback for a moment by Little White’s question. Then he just smiled without answering.
"Hmph! If he doesn’t like them, I’m not gonna bother with him anymore! What a waste of my spicy strips!"
Jiang Zhishang finally understood what had happened.
’Xiao Shen has never eaten spicy food, not since he was little... Of course he wouldn’t be happy about being offered spicy strips.’
But of course, he wasn’t about to tell the child that.
"Little White, how have you been feeling on the mountain these past few days?"
"It’s great!" With his childish nature, Little White said whatever was on his mind. "It’s really comfortable. I like it here a lot!"
Little White’s limited vocabulary didn’t allow for any particularly eloquent phrasing.
Jiang Zhishang seemed very satisfied as well.
"Old Jiang, isn’t your favoritism a bit too obvious?" Wen Ying stood to the side and couldn’t help but speak up.
’Isn’t my little apprentice adorable?’
’Why not ask him how he’s doing?’
Struck by being called "Old Jiang," Jiang Zhishang gave a helpless smile. "Young Benefactor Kong Jian clearly has no desire to speak with me. Why make things difficult?"
Kong Jian showed no reaction.
’That was true, though he did feel there was something off about the man before him.’
’But he doesn’t seem to have any ill will toward Liger.’
’He’s pretty nice to Little White, too.’
’And as for ignoring me?’
’That’s perfectly fine by me. It’s what I wanted!’
’I don’t want to waste my breath on strangers. I just want to be with Liger and Da Guo.’
’So I don’t care if these people pay any attention to me or not.’
Wen Ying was only joking, not trying to actually give him a hard time. "So, Dahuang is...?"
"A... parting gift... from an old friend."
Jiang Zhishang offered no further explanation, and Wen Ying didn’t press him.
But the change in Jiang Zhishang’s appearance was drastic. When Wen Ying had first met him, he had looked to be in his early twenties.
Now, a mere half-month later, he looked much more world-weary, as if he were approaching thirty.
Little White found listening to Wen Ying and Jiang Zhishang talk rather boring, so he grabbed Kong Jian and went to find Dahuang again.
Jiang Zhishang didn’t stop them either.
This time, Wen Ying and Jiang Zhishang spoke for two hours.
Wen Ying said she still needed time to think and announced her decision to leave the mountain the next day.
Jiang Zhishang didn’t try to make her stay, saying only that he would wait for her answer.
That evening, Dahuang, who usually paid Little White little mind, suddenly spent a long time running circles around him. He even led Little White to a rare fruit tree deep in the mountains and had him pick a strange-looking fruit.
The fruit was delicious, so Little White picked three of them.
Dahuang winced as he watched, but he didn’t say anything to stop him.
Finally seeing something he liked in the creature, Little White reached out and patted Dahuang’s head. "Dahuang! I’m really seeing you in a new light! From now on, we’re best buds, no matter the age difference! You still haven’t taken human form, but Da Guo believes in you! You can do it! The day you finally transform, you have to come find Da Guo. Da Guo’s got your back!"
There were less than six fruits on the entire tree, and Little White had just picked three of them. He skipped away, pleased as punch.
Watching Little White’s retreating figure, Dahuang felt he finally understood what humans meant when they talked about "empty promises."