Comfortable!
Hongtian jumped down from the garbage bin.
Its crimson eyes glared at him with pure malice!
After finally breaking free from a five-thousand-year seal, it should have gone on a rampage! Taken over this human world!
But because of this bastard, it—a mighty ancient beast—had to resort to scavenging from trash bins to survive!
In this world now, spiritual energy was pitifully scarce.
Returning to its former glory? Easier said than done.
Even with the vast difference in their current strengths, Hongtian was determined to fight this brat to the death!
A wisp of black flame flickered around its paw.
Hongtian bared its fangs in a ferocious snarl and let out an earth-shaking roar!
Woof!
The next moment, it was dragged out of the alley by An Yi, who held its leash.
Covered in the stench of garbage—disgusting.
An Yi gazed at the night sky, casually pulling the black dog along, and murmured, "Time to head back."
At a street-side barbecue joint.
This open-air grill spot was wildly popular in the city, operating year-round.
Late at night, the crowd had thinned. Under a makeshift canopy,
a man and his dog.
An Yi gnawed on a meaty rib while the dog beside him stared with green, envious eyes, drooling uncontrollably.
"Relax, you’ll get your share of bones."
Seeing Hongtian’s desperate craving, An Yi handed over the leftover braised bone he’d been chewing on.
Damn it!
Hongtian was furious.
To think—a legendary ancient beast reduced to gnawing on scraps!
But then, an overwhelming hunger struck.
It had no choice but to devour the half-eaten bone.
Admittedly, after five thousand years of culinary evolution, human food was on a whole other level.
Even leftovers were delicious. Hongtian crunched through every last bit, savoring even the marrow.
Back before its sealing, humans barely knew how to cook—just dry, flavorless roasting. Eating human flesh straight had been more satisfying.
An Yi sighed, looking at the soul-binding chain around Hongtian’s neck.
What was I thinking?
Right now, this thing was just an ordinary dog. Why waste a soul-binding chain on it?
The chain had taming properties.
Would’ve been way more useful on that unruly bodyguard—now that would’ve been a perfect fit.
"Hey kid, no dogs allowed here!"
A burly man in a chef’s uniform stood imposingly in front of An Yi.
An Yi raised an eyebrow. "Say that again?"
The chef enunciated coldly, "I said—no. Dogs. Allowed."
People around them frowned in disapproval.
How rude!
If you’re gonna bring a dog, at least make it a fancy one. Who keeps a mutt these days?
Thud!
A stack of red bills landed on the table.
An Yi smirked. "What was that?"
The chef glanced but stood firm. "Kid, no dogs."
Thud!
Another stack of cash hit the table.
"Say what?"
"Uh, sir, we don’t allow dogs here..."
Thud!
Yet another stack.
"Come again?"
"Sir, your dog is absolutely adorable."
The chef’s stern face melted into a grin as he scooped up the cash.
Before leaving, he even gave Hongtian an affectionate pat on the head.
Witnessing this, Hongtian seethed.
What the hell?!
This brat just threw down tens of thousands—couldn’t he have bought me some actual meat?!
An Yi pulled out his phone and dialed Shen Muxuan.
Only a dial tone answered.
No pickup?
He checked the time—past midnight.
Shen Muxuan never stayed up late. She was probably asleep by now.
Next, he called Shangguan Qianqian.
"An Yi."
Her voice was as cool as ever, but with a hint of softness this time.
"Qianqian, where are you?" An Yi pressed.
"On the streets of Chonglin City. I’ve already called Xie Yan—a company car will pick me up tonight. And you?"
"I’m in Changchun. Heading back today or tomorrow." An Yi checked the time again.
"Be safe. Call me when you get home."
Shangguan Qianqian’s voice dropped slightly, as if still unused to speaking so tenderly to a man.
"Yeah, you too."
After hanging up, An Yi exhaled.
The teleportation spots really were random—scattered all over the place.
He tried Bai Xiu next, but after a long ring, no one answered.
Finally, he stared at Lin Chen’s name in his contacts, hesitated, then pressed call.
"Hey, Poker Face. Where you at?" An Yi teased.
Lin Chen’s icy voice replied, "A villa in Xiagang City."
"A villa?" An Yi’s interest piqued.
"Yeah. Don’t know why, but I ended up in some gangster’s mistress’s bedroom after leaving the secret realm."
"Whoa, nice! Then what?"
"I’m in the closet. There’s another guy in here with me."
An Yi’s eyebrows shot up.
That’s… a lot to unpack. What kind of mess is this?
"So, three people in the bedroom now. What about the mistress?"
"She’s naked."
An Yi: cough "I wasn’t asking about that—well, actually, how’s her figure?"
"The gangster’s here." Lin Chen said flatly.
An Yi heard crashing noises. "What’d you do?"
"Locked the gangster, the guy from the closet, and the woman in the bedroom."
An Yi:
"Brilliant move!"
"I’m surrounded." Lin Chen stated calmly.
An Yi feigned solemnity. "Hold on. Any last—ahem—any messages for Qin Yao?"
"Stay the hell away from her—"
Before Lin Chen could finish, An Yi hung up.
He tugged the leash and yawned. "Dumb dog, let’s go home."
Lin Chen listened to the dial tone, his expression frostier than ever.
He needed to get back fast—who knew what this punk would try with Qin Yao otherwise!
In the villa’s living room,
bodies littered the floor.
The bald gangster was petrified.
Was this even human?
Fighting while on a phone call.
Three seconds—that’s all it took to take down twenty of his men.
Swallowing hard, the gangster turned to his mistress. "Where the hell did you pick up this monster?!"
Trembling, she stammered, "I told you—I don’t know him!"