How Could You Eat a Dog!?

How Could You Eat a Dog!?

He had given him two hidden quests in one go, and both had completely unknown quest ranks and rewards.

This A Zhong was certainly no ordinary person!

Still, if he wanted help, couldn't he just come out and say it?

As long as he asked, never mind how well they already knew each other—even if they had been complete strangers, countless players would have fought over the chance to help him just for the words "hidden quest."

What Ye Weiming did not know was that in Eternal Chivalry, every high-level NPC had their own unique story and traits. One of A Zhong's greatest traits was that he would rather die than ask for help!

Players had to uncover his quests on their own initiative. Otherwise, even if they raised his favorability to 1000%, it would be impossible to receive a quest from him.

By the time A Zhong had vanished from sight after just a few breaths, Ye Weiming rubbed his face, pulled himself together, and once again used his movement technique to sprint toward Luoyang City.

Without incident, he arrived at the Blue Fatty Equipment Shop in Luoyang City.

Though the shop's profiteering owner was detestable, his store did provide players with quite a bit of convenience.

And that profiteer named Jiao Taro had not lied. His shop's purchase prices for equipment were fairly decent. Although there was still a gap between the buying and selling prices, it saved a great deal of time that would otherwise be spent setting up a stall. Ye Weiming sold all the useless equipment he had obtained from previous quests in one go, bringing his total funds to 102 gold, 56 silver, and 20 copper.

With that, he had finally scraped together the 100 gold needed to learn the Hundred Family Surnames. Ye Weiming let out a breath of relief. Now he only lacked 5 points of aptitude and the required level in the Breathing Technique.

As he silently calculated how long it would take to max out the Breathing Technique at his current questing speed, Ye Weiming headed toward the post station.

Before he had gone far, however, a shout suddenly caught his attention.

"Folks, Dog Yama is open for business again today! A big bowl of premium fresh fragrant meat is only 50 silver! Miss this chance, and you won't get another!" Following the voice, Ye Weiming saw a temporary stall set up on a street corner. Two large pots had been placed against the wall. Water in one of them was already boiling, steam gathering above the makeshift stove and lingering in the air.

The other pot was slowly simmering over a low flame. Though it gave off less steam, waves of meaty fragrance drifted over, making one's mouth water.

Quite a few diners were already seated at several tables before the stall, enjoying large bowls of rich dog meat. The blissful expressions on their faces made it clear that this fragrant meat tasted far better than New York Turkish kebabs.

Stimulated by the intense aroma, Ye Weiming almost subconsciously approached the stall. Under the enthusiastic welcome of the owner who called himself "Dog Yama," he took an empty seat.

The people of Luoyang City had seen their share of grand scenes. Even seeing Ye Weiming dressed mostly in an official uniform, Dog Yama was not the least bit intimidated. Instead, he warmly asked, "Would this officer like the fragrant meat stewed this morning, or would you rather wait for the next pot of fresh meat?"

"Oh?" Intrigued by the owner's introduction, Ye Weiming asked, "Is there really that much difference between them?"

Dog Yama's eyes widened as he excitedly replied, "Of course there is! What I, Dog Yama, do best is prepare the freshest dog meat! The dog meat stewed in the morning tastes much worse than when it first came out of the pot, so it's only 20 silver a bowl. Fresh dog meat, on the other hand, tastes incredible, and players who eat it even gain temporary attributes. Of course, it costs more—50 silver per bowl."

Food that boosted attributes again?

Ye Weiming's interest immediately grew. Then Dog Yama pointed at a yellow dog tied up in the corner by the wall. "In a little while, I'll slaughter that yellow dog right here, drain its blood, skin it, and put it straight into the pot while it's still hot. That's the only way to preserve the dog meat's freshest flavor. My rule is that I start cutting once ten bowls have been reserved. Nine customers have already placed their orders. Would this officer like a bowl too?"

Following the direction of Dog Yama's finger, Ye Weiming casually glanced at the yellow dog in the corner before looking away again. Just as he was about to speak, a system notification suddenly rang in his ear.

Ding! Passive skill Autopsy Method activated. You have discovered that the yellow dog tied in the corner appears to be somewhat unusual.

The sudden system notification made Ye Weiming instinctively turn back. When his gaze once more fell upon the yellow dog, he was surprised to discover that it actually had a name.

Ah Huang: The one and only Ah Huang in this world.

This yellow dog was actually named Ah Huang—and it was the only Ah Huang in the world!

If the system was not just spouting nonsense about it being "the only one in the world," then did that mean the yellow dog he was looking for in the hidden quest A Zhong had given him was this very dog?

Upon considering that possibility, Ye Weiming quickly shook his head, then said to Dog Yama with righteous indignation, "Dogs are so adorable! How could you eat a dog!?"

At Ye Weiming's words, Dog Yama's previously smiling face immediately darkened. "Officer, this is just a small business. I paid money to buy this yellow dog from a hunter early this morning. If you intend to use your position to seize it by force, then though I may be insignificant, I will still go to the magistrate's office with you and argue this out!"

Seeing Dog Yama act like an unreasonable scoundrel, Ye Weiming felt quite helpless.

But he was still very interested in A Zhong's hidden quest. Though a child who knew no Kung Fu could not possibly give him any Martial Arts Manuals, A Zhong's exquisite cooking alone was enough to tempt Ye Weiming.

Thus, in response to Dog Yama's tantrum, Ye Weiming waved his hand readily. "How much for this dog? I'll buy it."

A fawning smile appeared on Dog Yama's face again. "A mere 100 gold!"

"What!?" Hearing that price, Ye Weiming nearly sprang out of his chair. "This skinny yellow dog couldn't make twenty bowls of fragrant meat even if you stewed up every scrap of meat on it! It's worth less than 10 gold, yet you want 100 gold from me. Are you trying to swindle me?"

Dog Yama quickly shook his head, firmly refusing to take the blame, while maintaining his profiteer's smile. "Officer, that's not how we calculate this. I only brought this one dog to set up my stall today. If I sell it to you, I'll have to close up early. The customers who reserved bowls beforehand won't get the fragrant meat they have been looking forward to, either. That would ruin my reputation, and that isn't something money can measure."

"So..." Dog Yama's smile became even smugger. "Compared with 100 gold, I'd actually rather slaughter it and keep doing business."

Damn it...

Ye Weiming glanced at the pitiful little over 100 gold in his inventory and was immediately overwhelmed with grief. He let out a mournful cry. "Ah Huang! How did you end up in such a miserable state, Ah Huang!?"

Ye Weiming's cry shook the heavens, rocked the earth, and stunned everyone present. Dog Yama was left utterly bewildered and hurriedly said, "Um... Officer, we can negotiate the price."

"Ah Huang!" Ye Weiming crouched down and pulled the yellow dog named Ah Huang into his embrace. "Ever since the day I joined the Divine Constable Bureau, when Venerable Huang entrusted you to me, it has been just you and me relying on each other. You even helped me solve case after extraordinary case..."

Hearing that this unremarkable yellow dog had such an impressive background, not only was Dog Yama dumbfounded, but the surrounding diners also put down their bowls and chopsticks and began whispering among themselves.

Seeing this, Dog Yama hurriedly said, "How about I give you half off? Fifty gold?"

"Ah Huang!" Ye Weiming continued, "Over the years, you followed me in fighting tigers and wolves. Even Commander You of the Embroidered Uniform Guard praised you for your intelligence..."

Dog Yama said, "Ten gold!"

"Ah Huang!" Ye Weiming cried. "The bandits of Lotus Stockade couldn't do anything to you, nor could the West Lake Bandits harm you. Yet now, you are going to die in the Luoyang City you once defended with your life, killed and eaten as meat!"

Dog Yama said, "Five gold! That's what I paid for it. I can't go any lower."

"Heavens! Earth!..." Ye Weiming wailed.

Dog Yama said, "I really can't go any lower. I have a feeling that if I cross this bottom line, lightning might strike me dead at any moment!"

That must be the system's bottom line, right?

Ye Weiming stopped while he was ahead. His grief-stricken expression instantly returned to calm as he took out 5 gold and slapped it onto the table. "Here are 5 gold. Take it."

Dog Yama: ???

Ye Weiming had no interest in dealing with Dog Yama's baffled expression. He had already risen and gone to the wall, where he untied Ah Huang's rope.

"Woof! Woof!..."

Ah Huang seemed remarkably intelligent. Once freed, it barked at Ye Weiming a few times, then turned and ran off.

Was Ah Huang going to find its owner, A Zhong?

A faint smile appeared on Ye Weiming's lips. Just as he was about to follow, Ah Huang turned around and ran back. It first bit his trouser leg and tugged it, then ran off again.

Was it telling me to follow?

Shaking his head, Ye Weiming followed after it.

A short while later, he followed Ah Huang to an abandoned house beside White Horse Temple.

Ah Huang then plunged beneath a dust-covered bed. A moment later, it crawled back out with a tattered book in its mouth and placed it at Ye Weiming's feet.

Thanks to reader Idle Scattered Fish for the 1,000 Qidian Coins reward!

Thanks to reader War Five Trash God for the 100 Qidian Coins reward!

Thanks to reader Hollywood Heroes for the 100 Qidian Coins reward!

Thanks to reader You Xiaoqiu for the 100 Qidian Coins reward!

Thanks to reader Dirt-Eating Youth for the 1,500 Qidian Coins reward!

Thank you all for the rewards. Also, please support with recommendations and favorites...