Dog

A nap turned into three hours of deep sleep. When Ye Chuan finally stirred awake, he felt as though he had been resting on an incredibly comfortable water pillow. Blinking his eyes open, he noticed a familiar white-haired girl sound asleep beside him, her arm still wrapped around him in a loose embrace.

Xiaoke?

"When did she even get in here?" Ye Chuan thought for a few seconds, vaguely recalling Lan Xiaoke barging in earlier, excitedly announcing that she had broken through in her cultivation and wanted him to know.

Now, Lan Xiaoke lay sprawled on her back, her chest rising and falling gently with each breath, the pillow beneath her trembling slightly.

"Time to wake up," Ye Chuan said, pinching her chubby, baby-soft cheek.

"Mmm? Did the game reset already?" Lan Xiaoke sleepily rubbed her belly before cracking her eyes open with a silly grin. "Hehe."

Then she rolled over and immediately dozed off again.

"Do ghosts even need sleep?" Ye Chuan sat cross-legged on the bed, propping his chin on his hand as he studied her sleeping face.

Her bangs were long, obscuring her expression. Truthfully, Xiaoke had always kept her eyes hidden behind that fringe, as if guarding some secret.

Ye Chuan reached out, tempted to brush her hair aside, but ultimately stopped himself. He wasn’t that curious—if Lan Xiaoke didn’t want others to see, he wouldn’t force it.

Better to focus on something else.

After idly kneading the pillow for a moment, Ye Chuan finally got up to wash up.

Once ready, he scooped up Lan Xiaoke with one arm, tucking her under his armpit as he carried her out of the room—still fast asleep, her limbs dangling limply in the air.

Not long after stepping out, the aroma of food hit him. He glanced toward the kitchen, where a figure stood by the stove.

A girl with a long ponytail, tied in an apron, was busy preparing breakfast. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden outline around her, lending her an almost holy glow.

"Hum hum~ Hakimi north-south mung beans~ Ashiga ashi~" Luo Xi hummed a nonsensical tune as she stirred a pot of soup, completely oblivious to Ye Chuan and the unconscious Lan Xiaoke behind her.

Ye Chuan casually tossed Lan Xiaoke onto the nearby sofa, where she bounced a couple of times before letting out a confused groan.

"Why am I sleeping here?" she mumbled, blinking as she looked around, puzzled by her sudden relocation to the living room.

Hearing her voice, Luo Xi turned and finally noticed Ye Chuan.

"Morning, Chuan~"

"What’s the beauty cooking today?" Ye Chuan slid an arm around her waist, nuzzling her neck.

Hiss— Ninety-nine percent pure. Rare treasure.

"Ew, stop! I just got back from my morning jog, I’m sweaty," Luo Xi protested, swatting at his wandering hands.

"Even better."

"Ah! No groping! People are watching!"

Ye Chuan glanced back. Lan Xiaoke immediately shrank into the couch.

"I’m leaving! Pretend I was never here~"

The cowardly ghost floated away, only to peek back around the corner moments later.

"Ye Chuan, I reached the late Foundation Establishment stage last night! Broke through multiple levels in one go!"

"Uh-huh. And?"

Lan Xiaoke stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Could it be… I’m actually a cultivation genius?"

Despite barely practicing, her strength had skyrocketed.

She raised a hand triumphantly. "Applaud me."

Ye Chuan raised his hand too—only to pat her head. "Has nothing to do with you being a genius."

He had received rewards from the Heavenly Profound Continent’s settlement, and his tenants naturally benefited too.

In other words, even a pig could fly.

Lan Xiaoke was the piggiest of them all, but at least she was like a tiny sunflower—Ye Chuan didn’t expect much from her anyway. Keeping her around as a mascot was fine.

"By the way, where’s Qianshuang?" Ye Chuan frowned, sensing Bai Qianshuang’s absence.

She wasn’t the type to go out on her own.

"I asked her to buy some soy sauce. She should be back soon," Luo Xi replied before suddenly shaking her head playfully, her ponytail swaying. "Chuan, look how smooth my hair is now!"

Since starting cultivation, her hair had become silky soft.

"Not bad," Ye Chuan said, tugging her ponytail lightly.

Just then, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the apartment. Bai Qianshuang stepped in, holding a bag.

"Soy sauce. Purchased."

Noticing Ye Chuan and Lan Xiaoke were already up, she greeted them softly.

"Morning."

"Thanks, Qianshuang!" Luo Xi hurried over to take the bag. "Totally forgot Chuan’s place was out of soy sauce. Hehe."

"No trouble. I’m happy to help," Bai Qianshuang replied calmly.

Then, without changing expression, she added, "Also, I found a dog outside."

A dog?

Ye Chuan and Luo Xi exchanged glances. Had Bai Qianshuang picked up a stray?

Ye Chuan stepped outside—only to come face-to-face with a massive black dog the size of half a building, panting heavily, its hot, rancid breath nearly knocking him out.

Ye Chuan: "……"

He pointed at the beast, then turned back to Bai Qianshuang.

The girl nodded. "Big dog."

"That’s a monster?!"

Ye Chuan raised a fist, ready to strike, but Bai Qianshuang quickly intervened.

"Wait, Ye Chuan. It means no harm."

After a pause, she added, "Good dog."

Luo Xi craned her neck to stare at the seven- to eight-meter-tall beast. "How did you even bring it back?"

Though they’d encountered plenty of monsters lately, a giant black Shiba Inu this docile was a first.

"A rift appeared, and it walked out," Bai Qianshuang explained.

She had been about to attack, but the dog had immediately sat down and whined submissively.

"A non-aggressive monster? That’s rare," Ye Chuan mused, studying the creature.

Noticing his gaze, the dog happily licked its chops and leaned in to lick him.

"Whoa, hold on—!" Ye Chuan recoiled at the stench.

"Woof?" The dog tilted its head but obediently froze in place, though its sheer size had already sent nearby neighbors slamming their windows shut.

"It’s still a monster…" Ye Chuan started, only to notice Bai Qianshuang staring intently at him.

"Don’t tell me… you want to keep it?"