The Strange Dogs

"Brother, so you were drinking chicken soup?"

Yuan Xiuxiu had taken out another small bowl and filled it with pure chicken meat for him, her expression gentle.

"There's plenty for all of you! But there are some medicinal herbs in it that replenish qi and blood, so drink less. We still need to save some for Father and Mother!"

"Alright! Sister-in-law really treats us well!"

Yang Huan immediately beamed.

Yang Huai curled his lip.

"So as long as there's food, it's good; if there isn't, it's not, right?"

He casually smacked Yang Huan on the head, making him bare his teeth slightly.

"How could that be? Eldest Brother, you're good too!"

He chuckled merrily, his mouth seeming to have been smeared with honey as he picked only pleasant things to say.

"This brat..."

Yang Huai could not help smiling. Then he recalled what Yang Huan had said and asked,

"What great joyous news were you talking about just now?"

While wolfing down his food, Yang Huan replied without even raising his head.

"Eldest Brother, you don't know! Yang San Laizi got bitten by a wild dog! I saw them carrying him back just now. Blood was gushing all over the ground, and even the bone in his leg had been bitten through. He kept howling—hearing it was truly satisfying. Isn't that good news?"

He sounded positively gleeful at the man's misfortune.

"What did he do to get bitten so badly by a wild dog? Could it have been a tiger, or perhaps a leopard?"

Yang Huai was rather surprised. What kind of wild dog could have enough strength to bite through Yang San's leg?

"No, it was a wild dog. Blackhead saw it with his own eyes. They say several huge wild dogs appeared outside the village. Yang San Laizi led a group of people to catch them for drinking snacks, but one huge black dog bit him. If those people hadn't slashed at it with knives, that wild dog still wouldn't have let go!"

"Several?"

Yang Huai was slightly taken aback.

Yang Huan raised his head and gestured with his hands.

"Yeah, they were huge and sturdy, like little calves. I've never seen dogs that big. They were even a whole size bigger than Black Tiger, the one Yang San Laizi keeps in town. Black Tiger ran away the moment it went up against them!"

Black Tiger was a large black dog with sleek, glossy fur, and one of Yang San Laizi's accomplices in terrorizing the countryside. The dog had been fed very well and was often used to intimidate people.

Yang Huai's brows furrowed slightly, suspicion arising in his heart. These days, ordinary people could barely fill their stomachs. Where would so many large wild dogs come from? Even if there were any, they would have long since been hunted down for meat.

These so-called wild dogs most likely had an owner.

Yet no household around the Yang Family Hunting Grounds raised hunting dogs this fierce, and the few hunters did not possess such skill either.

Suspicion lingered in Yang Huai's heart.

Before long, Yang Huai heard a commotion outside the courtyard from afar. When he pushed open the gate, he saw a burly middle-aged man in short attire and black-and-red constable's clothing leading a group of people angrily toward the outskirts of the village.

The people behind him carried forks and clubs, while some even held fishing nets.

Such a huge disturbance drew many onlookers.

As they passed the Yang residence, someone called out.

"Huai, come out and help hunt down those wild dogs that are plaguing the village! The ancestral hall is providing food today, and there's wine too!"

Hearing this, Yang Huai cursed inwardly.

That dog-rich bastard is squandering the Yang clan ancestral hall's common funds again, being generous with the whole clan's wealth...

Still, after thinking it over, Yang Huai got up and joined them. He was genuinely curious about those suddenly appearing vicious dogs as well.

Just then, someone rushed over from ahead with news.

"They found one! Everyone, hurry!"

Hearing this, the burly man in constable's clothing at the head of the group shouted,

"Brothers, whoever kills this wild dog will be rewarded ten dou of grain, a slab of meat, and a new set of clothes! Surround it!"

At his shout, young and old throughout the village had their eyes light up. One dou of grain was roughly ten jin; ten dou was nearly a hundred jin. Not to mention there was meat and new clothes to be had. Wasn't that more exciting than a festival? The sturdy men all rolled up their sleeves.

Yang Huai watched coldly from within the crowd. This Yang Daxin was truly black-hearted. With just a few words, he had lured so many people into risking their lives, while paying only a little grain and meat.

How could a vicious dog capable of biting through a leg bone be so easily hunted down? If things went wrong, people would die.

Just then, a wave of shocked cries rose from ahead.

"What a huge one!"

Yang Huai's gaze shifted. Relying on his nimble frame, he had unknowingly squeezed his way to the front. From afar, he saw a sleek-furred vicious dog atop an earthen slope. This dog had a different build from ordinary hunting dogs: the muscles on its chest bulged in knots, its eyes glowed yellow with a faint trace of gray, and it stood on the slope glaring at the crowd from afar.

It did not resemble a dog at all, but rather a fierce tiger descending the mountain. Merely being stared at by it made one's scalp tingle.

For a moment, the villagers were all intimidated and hesitated.

"What is this?"

Yang Huai frowned. He could "smell" an extremely nauseating stench of blood and rot from the vicious dog, and "see" wisps of invisible black qi. It resembled the aura of those demons slaughtered in Slaughter Hall, only more putrid and foul.

A ghost dog? A demon dog? Has this thing gained sentience, or does it have another owner?

Yang Huai pondered inwardly, recalling the unorthodox practitioners Yuan Xiuxiu had mentioned. His vigilance deepened.

The vicious dog's eyes seemed to reveal a humanlike look of contemplation.

"Look, it's running!"

With someone's shout, the vicious dog vanished in the blink of an eye down the small path below the slope, racing toward the distant forest with incredible speed.

"Chase it! Today, we must eliminate this evil menace!"

Yang Daxin roared. His qi and blood faintly surged around his body, and he shot toward the hillside like an arrow loosed from the bow. The people behind him were immediately emboldened, charging after him with their weapons.

"It's running! Catch that beast!"

"Slaughter it! Tonight, everyone can eat meat together!"

A throng of villagers surged forward.

Yet Yang Huai vaguely sensed that something was wrong. He grabbed a burly man beside him and advised,

"Wait, Liu Si, don't be rash. I think there's something off about this vicious dog. It would be best not to enter the forest!!"

The Liu Si Yang Huai spoke of was Liu Jingjing's fourth brother, also a large, brawny man. He was even taller than Yang Huai, though not much older; he simply looked older than his years.

"Yang Huai, you're scared?" Liu Si froze for a moment, then laughed. He patted Yang Huai on the shoulder and said with a grin,

"You may be scared, but I'm not. The four of us brothers slaughter countless animals every year. Are we supposed to fear one wild dog that's merely a little bigger? Even if it has gained sentience, it won't escape the blades, spears, and arrows of so many people today!"

"Let go. Don't delay us brothers from claiming the prize!"

He pointed at the few hunters carrying bows ahead, then shook free of Yang Huai's grasp and rushed into the forest as well.

Liu Da, who had been working the fields behind them, arrived carrying a manure fork. He was broad and powerfully built, with a naturally bold air about him. Yang Huai tried to dissuade him as well, but Liu Da was practically the same as Liu Si. He ignored the warning and insisted on entering the forest.

Seeing this, Yang Huai's brows knit slightly. Good advice was harsh on the ears. Since these people were willing to risk themselves, he could only let go of his urge to save them. He had no intention of wading into this muddy water; he could vaguely sense that something was amiss.

Still, with so many people, and Yang Zhuang, a trained fighter, along with all those hunters, there shouldn't be any major problem!

Thinking this inwardly, he stopped walking.

Deep down, he was still rather cautious. Before his cultivation had come into its own, it was better not to draw such attention.

With that, he turned and left the forest, walking back along the ridge between the fields.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest, before a small mound of earth, Wild Dog Daoist opened his eyes. One gray-eyed vicious dog after another leaped out from the grass and came to crouch before him. Wild Dog Daoist gently stroked the dogs' heads, and a smile appeared on his face.

"They all came? Are those few 'murderers' among them too? Then that truly is wonderful!"

"Today, I can finally avenge my elder brother with my own hands!"

He continued raising his hand to soothe them. But as the vicious dogs knelt low one after another, wisps of black qi flowed into his body. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Oh? There's even one who has voluntarily wandered off alone. Not bad. Then I'll deal with you first!"

He looked toward the two cloaked figures behind him, both carrying blades and swords.

"Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, I'll leave that man to you. Grayling will lead the way for you. Go quickly and return quickly!"

At his words, the two figures behind him exchanged glances. One of them said in a low voice,

"Leave it to us!"

Just then, Wild Dog Daoist's mind stirred. The unusually large vicious dog stepped forward, and he was stunned for a moment as he mused inwardly.

The Dog King says that man's essence is exceptionally pure, and his flavor surpasses that of other martial artists by far. Eating him can greatly replenish vital essence? There's such a good thing? Then I can't let Fourth and Sixth go, lest they ruin this good fortune delivered right to my door!

He gave a slight cough, then said,

"Forget it, I'll handle that man myself. You two accompany my treasures and have some fun with those villagers. You should already know who the targets are—take the chance to kill them!"

As his words fell, his body turned into a gray shadow and vanished into the dark forest in an instant. The Dog King immediately followed after him, disappearing into the woods.

At that moment, the swordsman holding the Wu Hook Sword sneered.

"Looks like Second Brother found some good fortune again and cast the two of us aside. How unfair. Whenever something good comes along, he takes it for himself first!"

The cloaked saber-wielder carrying a thick-backed blade said coldly,

"He has always been like that. Forget it. Let's deal with those targets first. Eldest Brother must already be waiting impatiently!"

"Fine!"

The two immediately sprang away and vanished amid the trees.