In a secluded alley, Lin Zhishui carried the little Pomeranian toward his Calligraphy and Painting Shop, rubbing her head as he muttered to himself, "Since nobody wants you, I'm taking you home. If your owner comes looking in a few days, I'll give you back. In the meantime, I'll use you for a little experiment."
The little Pomeranian's adorable face froze. An experiment? What kind of experiment? This mortal isn't some kind of pervert, is he?
Still, she lay obediently in Lin Zhishui's arms and did nothing.
She could still sense other mortals nearby, so this was no place to act. Besides, when she had used her Outer Demon power earlier, she had failed to completely suppress the sword intent. Fairy Featherfall and Venerable Dragon Subduer might already be pursuing her.
If she exposed her aura again now, she would be finished.
So she decided to wait until this mortal left the area, then find a chance to devour his memories!
For now... she would just endure this mortal's pestering.
Before long, Lin Zhishui reached the street where his Calligraphy and Painting Shop stood, the little dog in his arms. He could see his shop and the little pine tree outside its door from a distance.
But the little Pomeranian in his arms suddenly raised her head, staring slack-jawed toward the Calligraphy and Painting Shop as though she had discovered an astonishing surprise.
The Hidden Dragon Scale suddenly became so hot. Could it be... the Hidden Dragon Pearl is inside that Calligraphy and Painting Shop?
Sensing the Hidden Dragon Scale concealed inside her body, she found its temperature rising higher and higher. She gazed toward the shop, wild with joy.
No wonder this mortal had come into contact with the Hidden Dragon Pearl. It was in his shop!
Her excitement and delight grew.
In that case, she did not even need to risk devouring this mortal's memories. She only needed to find an opportunity to steal the Hidden Dragon Pearl!
"What are you so excited about? I don't have any dog food in my shop. I'll feed you when we get home."
Noticing that the little Pomeranian seemed rather excited, Lin Zhishui reached out and rubbed her head.
Hmph. Since you helped me find the Hidden Dragon Pearl, mortal, rub all you like. Consider it your reward, she muttered inwardly.
Before long, he arrived at the door of his Calligraphy and Painting Shop.
He was about to unlock it when he noticed that the soil beneath the pine tree beside the entrance seemed to have been dug up. Some loose dirt had even spilled outside the ring of soil, leaving it rather messy.
"Shuishui wouldn't be this careless... probably some neighborhood brat again..."
Lin Zhishui was a little speechless. After a moment's thought, he decided to write a sign and hang it on the tree to keep troublesome children from messing around.
Holding the dog in one arm, he took out his key with his free hand, unlocked the door, and entered the shop.
The little Pomeranian in Lin Zhishui's arms immediately spotted the crystal ball on the desk. She also felt the Hidden Dragon Scale inside her grow scorching hot, and her canine eyes lit up.
Taking a closer look, she saw a winding white dragon sculpture inside the crystal ball, shrouded in white mist. Even the faint fluctuations it naturally emitted were enough to keep mortals from approaching.
There was no doubt-
This was the Hidden Dragon Pearl, one of the components of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation that her master was searching for!
Excitement surged through her. If she brought this Hidden Dragon Pearl back, her master would reward her. Not only could she increase her power again, she might even gain true freedom!
If this mortal had not been watching her, she would have rushed over and snatched the Hidden Dragon Pearl right then.
After setting his shoulder bag on the desk, Lin Zhishui lifted the little Pomeranian with both hands and said solemnly, "Go play in the dirt for now. No pooping or peeing, and no jumping around. Understood?"
I am a noble Outer Demon! How could I possibly excrete! The Heavenly Dog inside the little Pomeranian roared inwardly, then obediently wagged her tail and gave a little yip in response.
"Well, let's hope you can manage that."
Seeing how well the little creature seemed to understand him, Lin Zhishui smiled and set her on the floor.
But the little Pomeranian merely sat obediently on the floor, looking up at him, apparently having no intention of playing in the dirt.
"I'll write a few words first."
Lin Zhishui paid her no further attention. He took his beloved writing brush from his bag, spread out some paper, and began grinding ink.
After a short while, once the ink was ready, he picked up the brush beside him, soaked its tip in ink, and began writing on the paper. He intended to write the four large characters for "Keep away" to stop troublesome children from making a mess.
There were no especially large brushes in the shop. His beloved brush was already the largest size for large regular-script calligraphy, so he would simply have to write slowly.
After writing the first character, "Forbid," he inspected it with satisfaction, then dipped the slightly dry brush tip in ink again. Just as he was about to continue, he felt the need to urinate. After a moment's hesitation, he put the brush down, deciding to attend to his kidneys first.
He had no idea why, but over the past two days, it had been as though he had taken laxatives and diuretics. His bladder and bowels were working a little too freely, and his energy and spirits kept improving.
Could it be that my body is purging impurities because I've been keeping regular hours and drinking plenty of water lately?
"I'm stepping away for a moment. Be good, and don't knock over the ink, or I'll turn you into a black dog," Lin Zhishui warned the little Pomeranian before leaving.
The little Pomeranian sat on the floor, stuck out her tongue, and wagged her tail, looking perfectly sweet and obedient.
Only then did Lin Zhishui go around the screen to use the toilet.
The instant the bathroom door closed, the little Pomeranian sprang to her feet.
This is my chance! I'll take the Hidden Dragon Pearl now!
With a light leap, she nimbly landed on the desk beside the Hidden Dragon Pearl. She reached her little paws toward it, intending to pick it up and slip outside immediately. Once she found somewhere to assume someone else's appearance, she could leave.
The main problem was that Fairy Featherfall and Venerable Dragon Subduer might be nearby, so she dared not use her Outer Demon power.
The instant her paws touched the crystal ball-
The sheet of calligraphy paper on the desk seemed to sense something. It suddenly floated up, moving without a breeze and trembling violently.
"Forbid."
At that moment, a vast voice, calm and indifferent, suddenly rang out. It seemed to echo deep within her heart, thundering through her divine soul.
What is this?
Even as she reeled in shock, she recognized it... this seemed to be that mortal's voice?
The large character "Forbid," its ink not yet dry, suddenly burst into brilliant light. A huge, luminous "Forbid" flew out of the paper, drifted onto the little Pomeranian, and instantly vanished into her body.
Huh?
The little Pomeranian froze. She immediately felt the Outer Demon power within her body grow sluggish, as though it had congealed.
Before she could do anything, another enormous, luminous "Forbid" flew out of the inked character and shot toward her.
What is this thing?
She hurriedly leaped aside to dodge, but the luminous "Forbid" seemed to possess a will of its own. It instantly curved through the air, caught up with her, and effortlessly stamped itself onto her body, making her Outer Demon power even more sluggish.
Forbid!
Forbid!
Forbid!
Several more instances of "Forbid" flew out in rapid succession, stamping themselves onto the little Pomeranian one after another. No matter how she dodged, she could not evade them as they continued merging into her body.
When the ninth "Forbid" flew out and stamped itself onto the little Pomeranian, her entire body stiffened, and she fell to the floor. She could no longer sense even a trace of the formidable Outer Demon power that had filled her body, as though it had been sealed away!
Then the sheet of calligraphy settled back onto the desk, its ink only slightly paler.
"Woof, woof!"
The little Pomeranian got up and instinctively roared in fury, but all that emerged was a weak little bark that even sounded rather cute.
She froze, then tried to transform into a human. But... with her Outer Demon power completely beyond her senses, how could she take human form?
She was utterly stunned.
Moreover, she felt the sword intent inside her being repelled by the mysterious sealing power. It was expelled in an instant and soon dissipated entirely.
Although the sword intent had dissipated, its release meant Fairy Featherfall would sense it!
She abruptly came to her senses and sprang onto the desk. Grabbing the crystal-ball-like Hidden Dragon Pearl in her paws, she charged toward the shop's exit.
Although her Outer Demon power had been sealed, the physical strength of her transformed body alone still made her faster than an ordinary leopard.
And now that the sword intent was gone, Fairy Featherfall could no longer track her!
As long as she took the Hidden Dragon Pearl and left before Fairy Featherfall caught up, she could find somewhere to hide. Even Fairy Featherfall would have trouble finding a little dog like her!
After that, she only needed to find a way to see her master. Surely her master could break this accursed seal!
Yet just as she reached the entrance of the Calligraphy and Painting Shop with the Hidden Dragon Pearl in her paws-
Whoosh!
A sharp crack suddenly rang out, like a long whip tearing through the air. She felt a shadow descend over her vision, then saw a tree limb, supple and tough as a vine, lash straight down onto her.
Under that heavy blow, the tiny Pomeranian was like a flea swatted to the ground. She slammed headfirst into the stone paving at the entrance with a smack.
Fortunately, her body was supple and sturdy enough. Otherwise, either the paving would have cracked or she would have.
Even so, the impact left her thoroughly dazed. Only after staggering to her feet did she realize that the culprit was the little pine tree outside the door!
After swatting her away with one hand-like limb, the little pine tree caught the falling crystal ball securely with another. Supporting the ball, that limb stretched into the room, gently returned it to its original spot on the desk exactly as it had been, then withdrew.
A sweet, pretty girl's face then appeared on the main trunk. As though sharing a secret, she slowly whispered to the little dog, "No stealing."
Then the face disappeared, and everything returned to normal.
The breeze blew gently, and the pine tree swayed, as though everything that had just happened had been an illusion.
The Pomeranian stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbstruck, with no intention of trying again or simply fleeing.
Because...
She had already seen the three figures approaching from the distance: Fairy Featherfall, Venerable Dragon Subduer, and that handsome older man from earlier, Zhu Chenghuo.
"Oh, why did you run outside?"
Just then, she heard a warm, amused voice behind her. Turning her head stiffly, she saw Lin Zhishui walking toward her with a smile.
Her heart suddenly trembled.
That unfathomably mysterious "Forbid" had been written by this seemingly mortal man before her. Yet she could not sense that he was a cultivator. That could only mean one thing-
His cultivation realm had already surpassed the bounds of mortal cultivators!
An immortal?
At the thought of that word, she seemed to turn into a stone dog, sinking into utter despair.
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