Red

Before long, the second dish was brought to the table.

Spicy Roast Duck!

The duck skin had been roasted a reddish-brown, glossy on the surface, crisp outside and tender within. Its fragrance filled the air, the smoky aroma blending perfectly with the meat's savoriness. A layer of stir-fried chili powder had been sprinkled over it, the salty base flavor complementing the heat and making one salivate, leaving an endless aftertaste.

The only regret was that there were no pancakes.

The people of this world apparently had yet to discover the boundless charm of wrapping duck meat in pancakes.

Even so, Fang Zhixing and Skinny Dog ate with immense delight, unable to stop.

The third dish was boiled fish.

The fish was thorny catfish caught from the Little Clear River. Its flesh was tender and delicious, with few bones, making it especially suitable to eat with rice.

"Slurp, slurp~"

Fang Zhixing was eating with abandon, sweeping through the food like a whirlwind.

Skinny Dog was stuffed as well. He only hated that he was still young and did not have the appetite to eat as much as Fang Zhixing.

"Burp~"

Fang Zhixing set down his painted porcelain bowl, wiped his mouth, and let out a loud, satisfied burp.

All three dishes had been picked completely clean. Not even a drop of broth or oil remained.

Seeing this, Skinny Dog said disdainfully, "Look at the way you eat. You licked the plates clean. Aren't you embarrassed?"

"What the hell do you know!"

Fang Zhixing patted his stomach and said contentedly, "Waste is shameful; thrift is glorious!"

Too ashamed to associate with him, Skinny Dog looked at the spotless plates and said speechlessly, "I'm not human, but you really are a dog."

Fang Zhixing snorted. "You're stuffed, aren't you? You sure have a lot of crap to say."

While they were bickering, two figures leaned against each other as they entered the restaurant.

They were two men!

One of them was very young, around fifteen or sixteen. He had a woman's slender build, powder and rouge on his face, and wore a floral dress with a cinched waist and embroidered shoes. If one did not look carefully, it was genuinely difficult to tell whether he was male or female.

The other was a robust middle-aged man with a shaved head. He looked remarkably like Lu Zhishen, with bulging muscles and formidable strength.

The two men held hands, intimate and inseparable, as close as glue and lacquer.

"Master, you're here!"

The manager and waiter hurried over, bowing and scraping.

The bald, burly man was none other than Master Chen's only son, Chen Yusheng.

"Mm. How has business been these past few days?"

Chen Yusheng clasped his hands behind his back and strolled into the main hall with an indifferent expression.

"Replying to you, Master, business hasn't been easy, but our revenue is quite good..." The manager followed behind him, reporting earnestly.

Suddenly, Chen Yusheng stopped. He turned his head and glanced toward Fang Zhixing and Skinny Dog. Frowning, he said unhappily, "What's going on? Why was a dog allowed inside?"

The manager quickly explained, "Master, that dog isn't a stray. It belongs to that guest."

The waiter added, "That guest is quite fond of the dog. He's even willing to feed it meat."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing that, Chen Yusheng carefully sized up Fang Zhixing, then focused on Skinny Dog. He turned away, only to suddenly turn back again.

As though he had discovered something extraordinary, he strode over and stared fixedly at Skinny Dog without stopping.

"Damn it, what do you want?"

Skinny Dog was startled when a bald brute suddenly began staring at him. He let out a low growl.

Fang Zhixing frowned slightly and shot Chen Yusheng a sidelong glance. The muscles throughout his body subtly tensed as he instantly entered a combat-ready state.

"Is this your dog?"

Chen Yusheng did not even look at Fang Zhixing as he asked.

Fang Zhixing raised a brow. "He's my dog. What about it?"

Chen Yusheng's eyes lit up, and he said bluntly, "I'll buy him. Name your price."

Fang Zhixing was taken aback.

"What, buy me?"

Skinny Dog was astonished. His fur stood on end as he said, "What's with this queer? Does he like eating dog meat or something?"

Fang Zhixing fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "My dog isn't for sale."

Chen Yusheng tilted his head and glared at Fang Zhixing. He took a gold bean from his robes and slapped it onto the table, declaring grandly, "I'll give you one gold bean."

"I won't sell him for any price."

Fang Zhixing's attitude was resolute. After saying that, he stood up and walked out of the restaurant.

Skinny Dog followed right at his heels.

Chen Yusheng watched them leave, his eyes narrowing as his expression shifted uncertainly.

A moment later, man and dog were walking down the street.

Fang Zhixing transmitted, "Is anyone following us?"

Skinny Dog replied, "I haven't noticed anyone. What about you?"

Fang Zhixing gave a slight shake of his head.

Skinny Dog pondered, "Strange. What exactly did that queer see in me?"

Fang Zhixing found it strange too, and carefully examined Skinny Dog from head to toe.

Skinny Dog was only a few months old now. Although he possessed the Maned Wolf Bloodline, there was nothing about him that appeared different from an ordinary dog.

Suddenly, Fang Zhixing crouched down and transmitted, "Skinny Dog, open your mouth and let me take a look."

Skinny Dog opened his mouth wide and mumbled, "What do you see?"

Fang Zhixing looked closely, and his brows rose.

His two longest fangs were strangely colored, white tinged with red.

Most of the roots were the normal milky white, but the pointed tips were red, scarlet as blood.

When the sunlight shone on them, they gleamed translucently like rubies.

Fang Zhixing thought back carefully. When the bald brute had entered through the main entrance, sunlight had also streamed into the hall through the doorway.

From where he had been standing...

"So that's it."

Fang Zhixing clicked his tongue. "Skinny Dog, your fangs are red."

Skinny Dog was first stunned. After thinking it over, he suddenly understood. "I have Venomous Fangs. Those red fangs must be them."

Fang Zhixing mused, "That queer has sharp eyes. He only looked at you a few times, yet he noticed that you were unusual."

Hearing that, Skinny Dog could not help feeling smug. "Hmph, hmph. You humans judge dogs too lightly. You couldn't see my charm."

Fang Zhixing rolled his eyes and headed for South Street, where he soon found a clothing shop.

"Boss, do you have clothes suitable for martial artists?" Fang Zhixing asked.

The owner was a plump middle-aged man. He glanced at Fang Zhixing and smiled. "I have clothes in every style. Do you have money?"

Fang Zhixing had no choice but to shake his money pouch.

The moment the owner saw it, he became much more enthusiastic. "Martial artists make broad, forceful movements, so the most suitable style for you is a short, fitted outfit..."

A short while later, Fang Zhixing changed into a black, fitted outfit patterned with bats. It looked clean and sharp on him, understated yet luxurious, heroic and spirited.

Considering that his body could continue growing and become even stronger and more imposing,

Fang Zhixing deliberately chose a size larger. It was slightly loose on him, but it would not hinder his movements.

The owner was a good man. He gave Fang Zhixing a silk ribbon, helped him arrange his hair into a topknot, and tied it with the ribbon.

In an instant, the image of a young wandering swordsman sprang vividly to life, brimming with heroic spirit.

One word: handsome!

Fang Zhixing could not help feeling delighted and was extremely satisfied.

Skinny Dog watched enviously.

In his previous life, he had also fantasized countless times about a martial arts dream: a young man roaming the world in all his splendor, walking out with a smile as falling blossoms rode the wind for a thousand miles.

Seeing this, the owner hurriedly pitched another item. "Sir, would you like to add a short outer cloak? It keeps off both wind and rain."

"Rain?" Fang Zhixing immediately said, "Let me see it."

Before long, a bright yellow short cloak had been added over his fitted outfit, lending him even more of a heroic air.

"Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse!"

Fang Zhixing transmitted, "Skinny Dog, what do you think?"

Skinny Dog turned his head away. "Boring! Stop showing off. It's just a waste of money."

Fang Zhixing chuckled. "Is that so? I was originally going to buy you one too. Ah, forget it, then."

"Woof woof!!"

A moment later, man and dog emerged from the clothing shop.

Fang Zhixing's bearing had changed completely. He looked every bit the young wandering hero.

Skinny Dog, meanwhile, was wearing a floral outfit as well, giving him a rather roguish look that he felt suited his taste.