Evil Spirits and Yin Ghosts

After Wu Tian came within a foot of the green snake, the poisonous creature finally sensed the danger at such close range. Half its body suddenly reared up, its jaws gaping as it flicked out its scarlet tongue.

But the hunting instinct within Wu Tian's body sent him pouncing almost instantly, whipping up a gust of fierce wind.

Pfft!

His claws struck the green snake with pinpoint accuracy, his two forepaws pinning down its violently thrashing body.

Wu Tian opened his jaws without hesitation and bit down. His sharp teeth tore through the snake's scales, ripping open a bloody gash.

He kept biting and tearing, letting the green snake thrash wildly without loosening his grip in the slightest.

In the end, the strength of the green snake's struggles grew weaker and weaker. At some point, half of its body was torn right off.

Wu Tian found the snake's gallbladder inside its severed body and swallowed it in one gulp. He licked the blood flowing from the carcass, his heart churning with conflict.

Because... in that bloody hunt, he had actually felt a coldness and excitement that came from the very marrow of his bones.

The calmness he possessed while hunting, and the excitement after bringing down his prey.

Even as he licked the blood and swallowed the gallbladder, he felt not the slightest discomfort.

The sensation left him feeling complicated.

After all, he had once been human...

But this sorrowful brooding over spring and autumn was soon cast aside.

With his stomach ravenous, all he wanted now was to survive.

And a little green snake was only the beginning...

Wu Tian devoured the green snake's flesh and blood, and the hunger in his belly gradually eased.

He glanced at the forest ahead but chose not to venture deeper. His short ears caught the wind, allowing him to hear the danger carried within it. There were bound to be terrifying predators deep in that forest.

Wu Tian glanced at the System Panel. The progress of both the Hunting and Wind Listening skills had increased slightly. Although the increase was less than one percent, that was only because he had not made the system display more precise figures.

In truth, even the tiniest improvement could be displayed with extraordinary precision by the System Panel.

Even the forest near the settlement remained extremely dangerous for a young dog like him.

After quickly devouring the little green snake, Wu Tian began searching for his next prey.

Time passed without him noticing...

After that, his luck was not nearly as good. Many of the creatures he encountered were beyond his ability to hunt, and he even had to keep far away from them.

Over the entire afternoon, he devoured several Poisonous Insects, along with a centipede and a patterned snake.

Not only had he filled his belly, but his Hunting and Wind Listening skills had also risen by around one percent.

Seeing that the sky was gradually darkening, Wu Tian did not dare delay and hurried back to the settlement.

The forest at night was extremely dangerous. Even an adult White Dog would not dare walk through it in the darkness. The night belonged to Evil Spirits and Yin Ghosts.

When Wu Tian slipped back into the settlement, he ran into the White Dogs guarding it again. An adult White Dog pounced on him and knocked him to the ground, barking fiercely at him.

"Damn it! Becoming a dog was one thing, but now I even have to be disciplined by dogs!"

Although he knew the adult White Dog meant well, he still felt awkward. With his tail tucked between his legs, he fled miserably.

When he reached Chili Mu's home, he saw a two-story Bamboo building suspended above the ground. It was not directly connected to the earth and was also known as a Stilted House.

He leaped up with practiced ease. In a corner of the second floor was a little nest made from scraps of cloth. That was where he lived.

Wu Tian jumped back into his doghouse and lay down, somewhat exhausted.

An entire afternoon of hunting had drained his still-young body. On top of that, the dangers of the forest had kept him constantly on high alert. Only now that the danger had passed could he finally relax.

Apparently hearing the commotion outside, Chili Mu opened the door and looked toward the doghouse. When she saw Wu Tian, she let out a delighted cry.

"White Dragon, you're back?"

The little girl ran over joyfully, but when she saw the blood and grime covering him, she was immediately startled.

"How did you run out by yourself? Did you leave the settlement on your own? Are you hurt?"

The little girl chattered on, her eyes turning red. She had watched White Dragon being born and had grown up with him. In her heart, he was her companion and family.

She had never seen her mother. Her father had not appeared for several days, and her grandfather was already so old that he could barely walk.

She was frightened, but she was also very sensible. She knew the settlement had been terribly busy these past two days. Even though she missed her father dearly, she had never shed a tear.

But now, looking at the blood on White Dragon's body, her tears finally burst free for some reason, pattering down one after another.

Seeing the little girl cry, Wu Tian grew flustered. He hurriedly stuck out his tongue, wanting to lick her palm, but then remembered that he had eaten quite a few Poisonous Insects and quickly pulled it back. Instead, he merely rubbed his head against her hand.

"Woof, woof!"

He opened his mouth, but what came out was only a dog's barking.

After all, he was no longer human. He could not even comfort the little girl...

Chili Mu did not care about the blood on Wu Tian's body. She picked him up, returned to the house, and washed him in a wooden bucket.

As the blood and grime were gradually rinsed away, the fur covering his body became white and clean once more.

Only after discovering that Wu Tian had no wounds did a smile gradually appear on Chili Mu's face. Tears still clung to her tender cheeks, making her look even more pitiful.

An old man with hair and a beard already gone gray sat on a bamboo chair in the house. He was very old and merely watched Chili Mu's movements in silence, never speaking from beginning to end.

Only when he looked toward Wu Tian did his gaze appear different.

"His eyes are lively, and he already dares to go hunting at such a young age. He certainly has the makings of a Dog King."

Although the old man had never left the great mountains, he had lived a long time and seen much of the world. At a glance, he could tell that Wu Tian was extraordinary.

"Chishe Mu met with misfortune, leaving only this poor child, Chili Mu behind. I won't live much longer either. With this Dog King guarding her, I hope she can live well..."

The old man's cloudy gaze fell upon Chili Mu, becoming exceptionally gentle.

That night, Wu Tian did not sleep in his usual doghouse. Instead, Chili Mu held him in her arms as they slept on the bed.

In the middle of the night, while he was sleeping soundly, he suddenly heard a sinister wind mixed with shrill whistles by his ear. The fur all over his body went taut, and he jolted awake in fright.

When he opened his eyes, he carefully jumped down from the bed without disturbing Chili Mu. Then he leaped onto the table and looked outside through the window.

Sparse moonlight spilled through the gaps in the openwork wooden window. Within his pupils, he could vaguely see black winds howling beneath the moonlit sky, mixed with countless shadows.

With one glance, he felt cold all over. His fur stood on end, and even his blood seemed about to freeze solid.

Yet the two Exorcism Talismans pasted beside the room's entrance faintly emitted a red glow, preventing the black wind from drawing near.

Wu Tian even saw what seemed to be red light blazing like flames at the center of the settlement, guarding the entire settlement.

"Evil Spirits and Yin Ghosts, warding off evil and avoiding calamity. Could it be that demons truly exist in this world?"