You Want Me to Hold You Too

After leaving the teahouse, Zhuang Hong noticed that many people were secretly watching him.

More precisely, they were watching Xiao Bai following behind him.

Clearly, more and more people had learned that Hand of God—Zhuang Hong—had a little white puppy following him around.

Zhuang Hong stroked his chin and lowered his head to study Xiao Bai thoughtfully.

Xiao Bai: "Woof?"

Then Zhuang Hong turned and slipped into a long, deserted alley.

Xiao Bai followed him into the alley in a daze.

When Zhuang Hong emerged from another alley, Xiao Bai, who had been following behind him, had turned black. Zhuang Hong had clearly given him a thorough coating of black paint.

Xiao Bai looked utterly defeated. Even his usually lively steps had become much heavier.

"Woo woof woof!"

His voice was full of grief and indignation, as though he were demanding to know what Zhuang Hong had done to him.

Satisfied, Zhuang Hong patted his head. "This looks much better. The name White Dragon was a little too delicate and didn't suit your temperament. Black Dragon is different—very domineering."

"Woo..."

"Let's go!"

Sure enough, once Xiao Bai had become Little Black, most of the curious stares disappeared. Zhuang Hong felt much more at ease as he toured the area, heading lightly toward the city outskirts.

His next destination was a place called Jiangling City.

It was said that on Lake Heart Island west of Jiangling City stood a martial arts sect hailed as the greatest sect of the millennium: the Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate, or Eternal Prosperity Gate for short.

Many martial artists of immense strength and great renown in the martial world had come from this sect.

Zhuang Hong had also heard that many martial artists in Eternal Prosperity Gate were not particularly high-level, yet had spent their entire lives researching the principles of martial arts, creating many exceedingly profound and powerful martial arts techniques.

These people might understand the path of martial artists even better than the ten greatest experts renowned throughout the world.

So Zhuang Hong wanted to visit Eternal Prosperity Gate. Ideally, he could find a master and learn some skills, opening the next two great secret stores, "Secret Consciousness" and "Heavenly Bridge," in one go and completing his martial cultivation.

Now that he had merely opened the "Secret Sea," he had liberated his body's strength and gained an enormous boost. What would happen if he opened Secret Consciousness and Heavenly Bridge as well?

Zhuang Hong was filled with anticipation.

As for why he did not cultivate according to that copy of the Shadow God Art, Zhuang Hong had his own reasons.

First, he was ultimately unfamiliar with the martial artists of this world. Although Liu Yueling had given him some guidance, he still lacked much basic knowledge and could easily cultivate himself into ruin.

Second, his constitution differed from that of people in this world. The same technique might cause no problems for others, but it was hard to say what changes it might bring him. He had to thoroughly understand martial arts theory before cultivating; that was the safest approach.

Third, learning anything was the same. One could slowly figure it out alone, but with someone to teach them, they could learn both faster and more steadily.

Therefore, his best choice was not to fumble around on his own, but to boldly seek instruction.

Zhuang Hong walked along at an unhurried pace.

Along the way, he admired scenery unlike that of Earth: mountains and rivers, trees and forests, great rivers and small streams, flowers and grasses, insects and beasts, birds in flight, the setting sun...

As he strolled along alone, he seemed to blend into it all.

Whenever he was truly tired, he had Xiao Bai stand guard while he found a shady spot to sleep for a while. Once he woke up, he continued on his way.

If he encountered a Void Spirit that attacked him, he would casually kill it, tear off one small leg for Xiao Bai, and use it to show his appreciation for his guard duty.

For example, after using qi to activate his body and transform into the First Liberation Form, Zhuang Hong easily smashed apart the brain of an Armored Monster with an incomparably hard shell and began enjoying his meal.

After some thought, he tore off one forelimb for Xiao Bai, who had performed fairly bravely earlier. He crushed the shell and tossed it over.

"Woof woof!"

Xiao Bai wagged his tail excitedly as he gnawed on it. After finishing, he stared longingly at the body Zhuang Hong had sucked dry and could not resist rushing over to take a bite.

Unfortunately, his teeth were simply too poor. He tugged at it for a long time without leaving even a mark on the shell.

Zhuang Hong got up and stretched. After dealing with the Void Spirit's remains, he nudged the blackened Xiao Bai with his foot. "Let's go. We should reach Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate before long."

Zhuang Hong slung his backpack over his shoulders again and set off.

Xiao Bai trotted along behind him.

Not long after setting out, Zhuang Hong encountered a teenage boy traveling the same road. Surprisingly, a little white dog followed behind him too—and it was female.

But Xiao Bai seemed too young to understand the appeal of female dogs. He showed no reaction at all toward the little female dog behind the boy.

When the little female dog approached him on her own, Xiao Bai sniffed her, then walked away with a look of disdain.

This caught the attention of both the boy and the little female dog.

The boy awkwardly picked up his little female dog. After hesitating for a moment, he took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Zhuang Hong.

"Big Brother, did you also raise this dog after hearing the story of Hand of God—Zhuang Hong?"

Zhuang Hong's mouth twitched, and he answered perfunctorily, "Yes."

The boy's eyes lit up, as though he had met someone with the same interests. Much of his earlier restraint vanished. "Me too. I admire Hand of God so much that I got a dog just like him. I've already decided that after I learn martial arts, I'll become a martial artist as powerful as Hand of God—Zhuang Hong, protecting my home and country. I've even thought of a nickname. I'll call myself Hand of Two Gods."

Zhuang Hong said, "That's a very good nickname..."

"Look at my Xiao Bai. Doesn't she look just like Hand of God—Zhuang Hong's little dog?"

Zhuang Hong studied the little female dog in his arms. She looked vastly different, especially her fur, which did not possess Xiao Bai's sheen.

Still, he said in surprise, "Your dog is also called Xiao Bai? What a coincidence. The one by my feet has the same name."

The boy widened his eyes and examined Xiao Bai for a while, looking even more surprised than Zhuang Hong. "Isn't he black? Why isn't he called Little Black?"

"My dog dreams of becoming white."

"I see."

"Woof woof!"

At that moment, Xiao Bai howled twice and came over to paw at Zhuang Hong's trouser leg, drawing his attention.

Zhuang Hong looked down and saw Xiao Bai's two pitch-black eyes repeatedly glancing at the little dog in the boy's arms, full of envy.

Zhuang Hong nearly burst out laughing. "Ha, you want me to hold you too?"

"Woof!"

Xiao Bai really did not treat him like an outsider. He wanted to eat him, yet he also wanted to be held by him.

"Dream on. Get lost!"

With a flick of his foot, Xiao Bai flew in an arc and landed in the grass to the side. He whimpered sorrowfully, but before long, he was taking little steps to catch up again.

That kick left the boy and the little female dog in his arms staring in stunned disbelief.

Like this, the two walked and chatted along the way, gradually becoming acquainted.

The boy was named Yu Fangchun. He would turn sixteen soon, and his purpose was the same as Zhuang Hong's: he planned to go to Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate to learn martial arts.

By rights, Yu Fangchun would not turn sixteen for another five months, meaning he had not yet reached the age to begin martial training. But after hearing of Hand of God—Zhuang Hong's legendary deeds some time ago, he could no longer restrain his passion. He had secretly run away from home and headed for Lake Heart Island in Jiangling City.

Before leaving, he had even bought a little white dog to show his resolve.

However, little white dogs had now been driven up to astronomical prices on the market. Even though his family was wealthy, he had no choice but to settle for a female one.

He said that perhaps, in the future, she might have the chance to become happily paired with Hand of God—Zhuang Hong's little dog.

After hearing that Zhuang Hong was also going to Eternal Prosperity Gate, Yu Fangchun exclaimed once again at the coincidence.

But he soon began eyeing Zhuang Hong suspiciously. "Big Brother Zhuang, you should be over twenty by now, right? Isn't it a little late to start learning martial arts now?"

Zhuang Hong said, "Not too late. You're never too old to learn."

"I heard that Eternal Prosperity Gate stops accepting people once they're over eighteen, and most martial arts sects are the same."

"Is that so? What a coincidence. I'm seventeen years and one hundred months old."

Yu Fangchun: "???"

As the sun was about to set, the two people and two dogs finally saw a vast, boundless lake in the distance, along with a faint island amid its waters.

They then paid to hire a small boat, which carried them toward Lake Heart Island.

Yu Fangchun whispered, "Big Brother Zhuang, I'm already sixteen this year, so don't let it slip. Don't worry either—I'll insist that you're seventeen too."

Zhuang Hong chuckled. "All right."

In truth, he had not yet figured out how to get into Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate. He could only adapt as things came.

The two soon landed on the island and arrived at the registration office. After Yu Fangchun paid a huge sum, he successfully completed his registration.

When it was Zhuang Hong's turn, the registrar studied him suspiciously.

"Are you sure you're seventeen?"

Zhuang Hong said, "Of course. I just matured early, so I look a little older."

Then the registrar suddenly understood. He sensed Zhuang Hong's aura. "Ha, who are you trying to fool? Aren't you already a Secret Sea Warrior? Go on, go on. Since you already have a master, Humanity Eternal Prosperity Gate cannot take you in."

Beside him, Yu Fangchun said in surprise, "Big Brother Zhuang is actually a Secret Sea Warrior?"

Zhuang Hong explained again, stating plainly that his constitution was special, that he was not very old, and that he had no sect or master. Yu Fangchun also stepped forward to prove that Zhuang Hong truly was seventeen, but the registrar did not believe them.

With no other choice, Zhuang Hong planned to leave for the time being and think of another way.

"Zhuang Hong?"

At that moment, a delighted voice came from afar. A woman in red drifted over, her face full of joy.

The registrar was momentarily dumbfounded, then immediately leaped out from behind the desk and cupped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Elder Dancer."

The newcomer was Dancer, one of the ten greatest experts.

Dancer stepped forward and reached for Zhuang Hong's hand, but Zhuang Hong casually took a step back and avoided her.

Dancer did not mind at all. She stepped closer again, her beautiful eyes fixed tightly on Zhuang Hong's face. "That's right. You are Zhuang Hong, Hand of God—Zhuang Hong."

The registrar and Yu Fangchun froze at the same time. "Huh?"

Zhuang Hong could clearly feel the exceptionally intense enthusiasm radiating from the woman in red, and it made him somewhat uncomfortable. He took a slight step back and smiled politely. "I am indeed Zhuang Hong. May I ask who you are...?"

Dancer stepped closer again, her eyes burning as she stared at Zhuang Hong. "Since you came to Lake Heart Island, you must have seen the message I left for you, right?"

Zhuang Hong: "???"