"Woof."
"Woof."
The little black dog lay by Fourth Uncle's elbow.
Watching the little boy.
Barking again and again.
"Xiao Hei!"
The woman stopped the little boy after he had run a few steps.
The little boy raised his hand high and waved with all his might.
"Xiao Hei!"
"Wait for me to come see you!"
"Xiao Hei!"
"All right."
The woman tugged at the little boy's hand.
"They're out of sight now."
"Stop looking."
"Let's go home."
The little boy still twisted his head around.
The man stepped forward and turned the little boy's head back.
"Watch where you're going."
"You won't see Xiao Hei no matter how much you look back."
The little boy mumbled something as the man forced him to face forward.
Soon, the little boy and his parents disappeared at the end of the road.
The Young Scholar pressed his lips together slightly.
He looked up at the sky.
It was already broad daylight.
Bright sunlight fell on him.
He took a deep breath.
What had just happened...
had opened his eyes.
Suddenly, he understood...
All this time...
he had actually been taking his frustration out on the black monster—
No.
He'd go back to calling it Little Auspicious Omen—
Though it wasn't an auspicious omen at all.
Then...
Should he call it Xiao Hei?
That was the little dog's name.
Ah.
A flash of inspiration struck the Young Scholar.
How about...
calling it Taotie?
It really did look a lot like the Taotie described in books.
It was a pretty good name.
People gave names that included "dragon" or "phoenix," didn't they?
It was the same idea.
The Young Scholar smiled.
He'd thought so much just over what to call it.
The Young Scholar gave a