You Can Ride Me!

Qingfeng and Mingyue entered carrying six lifelike infant-shaped fruits with skin like congealed fat, and the exotic fragrance instantly filled the entire great hall.

Big White's saliva flowed down with a "whoosh," and Kui Niu also widened its ox eyes, its breathing quickening.

Zhenyuanzi personally distributed the fruits to everyone.

Chen Song and Hongyun each received two, while Big White and Kui Niu got one each.

"Awooo!" Big White swallowed the Ginseng Fruit in one gulp, without even chewing, then looked pleadingly at the one in Chen Song's hand, "Big Brother... Woof..."

Chen Song glared at it impatiently. After thanking Zhenyuanzi, he slowly ate his Ginseng Fruit. Today's Ginseng Fruit tasted much better than the one Hongyun had given him before?

Seeing that it couldn't get anything from Chen Song, Big White turned its gaze to Kui Niu. Kui Niu, seeing this, rolled the fruit into its mouth and chewed slowly, feeling the surging energy, its ox eyes closing comfortably.

"Forget it, forget it, it's my dog after all." Chen Song tossed the remaining fruit towards Big White. Big White was quick; it stood up on its hind legs and hugged the Ginseng Fruit with its front paws, mimicking Chen Song's posture and eating it bite by bite, its dog face showing an expression of pure enjoyment.

It was clear it was savoring it.

Who was Hongyun?

He had been best friends with Zhenyuanzi for a lifetime! Even after Hongyun, the good-natured man, was schemed against and harmed, Zhenyuanzi never forgot to avenge him. Therefore, he was not surprised by the Ginseng Fruit. He quickly devoured two and licked his lips, still wanting more, his gaze drifting towards Chen Song.

Zhenyuanzi smiled and, seeing Hongyun's gaze, also looked at Chen Song and asked, "Little friend Chen Song, after the sermon at Purple Heaven Palace last time, fellow Daoist Hongyun has been reminiscing about the... interesting games you played with the Ancestral Witches in Purple Heaven Palace..."

He spoke tactfully, but his eyes held a hint of curiosity. Hongyun coughed awkwardly and withdrew his gaze.

He was just thinking about how to bring it up with Chen Song.

With Zhenyuanzi's opening, Hongyun's image as a senior expert completely vanished.

Chen Song chuckled inwardly. As expected! Hongyun couldn't hold it in! But, Senior Zhenyuanzi, you spoil him!

Chen Song popped the last bit of fruit in his hand into his mouth, his face showing an expression of "You've finally asked!" He took out the Mahjong set made of "Five-Needle Pine Wood" from his sleeve and scattered it onto the table with a "crash."

"Senior Zhenyuanzi! I call this 'Mahjong,' but you can also call it 'Ma Diao.' It's an excellent game created by your junior for exercising the mind, cultivating character, and fostering camaraderie among fellow Daoists! The rules are simple, and the fun is endless!"

He began to speak eloquently, explaining "Pong," "Gang," "Hu," "Pure Color," "One Dragon," and more... Zhenyuanzi listened, stunned. Qingfeng and Mingyue beside them craned their necks curiously.

Hongyun winked and gestured wildly, "That's right! It's so much fun! Much better than just sitting around cultivating!"

Big White and Kui Niu, having finished their fruits, also came closer. Although they didn't understand, it didn't stop them from finding the colorful stone tiles amusing.

After explaining the rules, Chen Song enthusiastically invited, "Seniors, talking without action is pointless. Why don't we set up a table right now?"

Zhenyuanzi looked at the Mahjong tiles, then at the expectant Hongyun and the eager Chen Song. After a moment of contemplation, he couldn't resist his curiosity and chuckled, stroking his beard, "Since that's the case... this humble Daoist will not refuse and will experience your 'mind-exercising' creation."

"Alright!" Chen Song was overjoyed and immediately began to arrange the tiles.

And so, a bizarre scene unfolded:

In the solemn and majestic great hall of Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Hongyun, the good-natured elder of the Great Wilderness, Chen Song, the eldest disciple of the Three Pure Ones, and... a white Samoyed dog that kept clamoring to join the table, sat around a table, three people and one dog... playing Mahjong!

"Pong!"

"Two Bamboo!"

"Woof, Hu! Big Brother, you owe me a Ginseng Fruit!"

Big White stood on its hind legs, slapping the table triumphantly with one paw, while the other swiftly swept its tiles, its dog face beaming with pride, as if asking to be praised for its intelligence.

Zhenyuanzi looked at Big White's messy hand and then at his own almost-completed Big Four Happiness.

The hand stroking his beard trembled slightly. After a long pause, he chuckled helplessly, "Little friend Chen Song, your companion... is indeed... blessed." He couldn't find any other words to describe this fluke win.

Hongyun laughed so hard he doubled over, pointing at Big White, "Hahahaha! This stupid dog! It can't even recognize the tiles, and it actually won! Hahahaha!"

Chen Song covered his face, unable to watch. He strongly suspected Big White had secretly switched tiles with its paws, or perhaps the Heavenly Dao had simply gone blind and favored this foolish dog.

"That doesn't count! You stupid dog must have cheated!" Chen Song tried to renege.

"Woof woof woof! Big Brother, you want to go back on your word? Elder Brother Hongyun and Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi are witnesses! On white paper black and white... ah no, carved on the wooden tiles! Do you want to be a deadbeat!"

Big White immediately protested, jumping and yipping around Chen Song, almost spitting saliva on his face.

Hongyun greatly enjoyed watching the man and dog bicker, even taking out some melon seeds from his pocket to crack and share with Zhenyuanzi.

In the end, Chen Song cheated by stuffing pine nuts into Big White's mouth to shut it up.

The three people and one dog continued playing Mahjong and eating melon seeds, with Chen Song occasionally kicking Big White, until they were all satisfied. Chen Song decided it was time to leave, as he had set out on a journey of exploration.

What was the point of staying here playing Mahjong?

Besides, he had already decided to let Kui Niu return to be Third Martial Uncle's mount. He couldn't favor one over the other, could he? His own master also needed a mount, right?

As for Second Martial Uncle? Didn't he dislike creatures that were furry, horned, born from water, or hatched from eggs? So, he'd have to endure it for now!

Master's mount, Chen Song remembered, should be a Green Ox or a Single-Horned Kui? Kui? Doesn't that mean rhinoceros? Was his master's mount a rhinoceros?

Chen Song shook his head, dismissing the messy thoughts in his mind. He should ask Hongyun instead. This guy had traveled more in the Great Wilderness and might have seen it.

Having made up his mind, he stretched and cupped his hands to the still-reluctant Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun, "Two seniors, your junior has overstayed his welcome and should continue his journey."

Hongyun, cracking his last melon seed, mumbled, "Leaving already? Won't you play a few more rounds? I haven't even used my 'Gang Shang Kai Hua' yet!"

Zhenyuanzi, however, was understanding. Stroking his beard, he smiled, "Since little friend has important matters, this humble Daoist will not force you to stay. If you have free time in the future, please visit often." He quite enjoyed the lively atmosphere.

Chen Song thanked them, then leaned closer to Hongyun and whispered, "Senior Hongyun, you are knowledgeable and experienced. Your junior would like to ask you about something."

"Oh? Speak freely," Hongyun said with interest.

"Have you, while traveling the Great Wilderness, ever seen a... hmm... perhaps green ox? Maybe with a single horn? One that's incredibly strong? Its name should be Single-Horned Kui, right?" Chen Song gestured, trying to describe the image of Taishang Laojun's mount from his memory.

"Single-Horned Kui? A green ox? With a single horn?" Hongyun stroked his chin, pondering. "Now that you mention it... I do seem to have a slight impression..."

Big White, who was struggling with the last few pine nuts nearby, instantly perked up its ears and warily raised its head. "Woof? Big brother, are you looking for a new mount? Am I not soft enough, or not fast enough?" As it spoke, it vigorously shook its fluffy white fur, trying to prove its worth.

The Kui Niu also pricked up its ears and grumbled, "Young master, do you find this old ox's legs too slow? Or am I not fit to be Tongtian's mount?" It uncomfortably pawed the ground with its front hoof.

"Go, go, go, this has nothing to do with you!" Chen Song waved his hand impatiently. "I'm looking for one for my master! As the foremost of the Three Pure Ones, he can't always fly himself or ride me when he goes out, can he? That would be so undignified!"

"Woof, boss! You can ride me! What do you think of me as your master's mount?" Big White's ears perked up. Your master, boss? Wouldn't that make them my own legitimate master!

"Little friend Chen Song, the Single-Horned Kui you mentioned should be the Holy Water Buffalo, shouldn't it?" A voice interjected from the side, having overheard Chen Song "quietly" asking Hongyun about a "green ox."

(More later, probably?)

(To my family along the coast, a typhoon is coming, stay safe!)