With a “click,” Ye Zhen removed the large iron lock from the cage. She was visibly terrified of the creatures inside, which no longer resembled dogs but rather monsters, her eyes and brows betraying her fear.

The dogs in the cage seemed to hear the lock being removed and began slowly moving closer. Their faces were hidden behind long black hair, and in the dim light, they appeared even more ferocious and terrifying.

Zhou Jiayu noticed their movements were odd. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to shuffle along the ground like crouching humans rather than canines. Could these animals really be transforming into humans? As Zhou Jiayu pondered this, he saw Lin Zhushui pull open the cage gate and step inside.

Though he knew Lin Zhushui’s capabilities, Zhou Jiayu couldn’t help but tense up, holding his breath to avoid disturbing the dogs.

Lin Zhushui, however, seemed unfazed. He walked toward the corner where Ye Zhen had pointed out the first dog to change.

The surrounding dogs began to growl lowly, some baring sharp teeth. Zhou Jiayu could see saliva dripping from their mouths, leaving dark stains on the ground.

The dog in the corner, which had been facing away, twitched slightly at the sound of Lin Zhushui’s footsteps but didn’t turn around.

Lin Zhushui stood quietly, observing the dog as if waiting for something.

The air grew heavy, and those outside the cage held their breath, watching the scene unfold.

After a moment, the dog slowly turned its head. When its face came into view, everyone outside gasped. If the other dogs’ faces bore a six or seven out of ten resemblance to humans, this one was almost indistinguishable from a human’s. Yet its features were grotesque—eyes narrowed into slits, a flattened nose, and an overly large mouth. Though human-like, its face was unnervingly discordant.

Lin Zhushui seemed about to approach the dog when a sharp whistle pierced the air from outside. At the sound, the dogs in the cage began to roar, their agitation surging. Some started circling Lin Zhushui, mouths open, ready to attack.

“What’s going on?” Lin Jue demanded, clearly displeased.

“It’s evening… feeding time,” Ye Zhen said nervously, less concerned for Lin Zhushui’s safety than for the possibility of the creatures breaking out. “The keeper always blows a whistle at feeding time…”

Zhou Jiayu frowned, realizing something. “You haven’t been feeding them?”

Ye Zhen stammered before admitting, “How could we? They’re so ferocious—they killed someone. No one dares to feed them.”

It wasn’t just a matter of not feeding them. Zhou Jiayu realized Ye Zhen had abandoned these dogs entirely. He’d initially thought the excrement in the cage was due to neglect in cleaning, but now it was clear she hadn’t even provided food. The starving dogs, hearing the feeding whistle, grew restless, slowly moving to surround Lin Zhushui.

Lin Zhushui’s expression remained unchanged, but Zhou Jiayu, outside, grew anxious. “Will he be okay?”

“He’ll be fine,” Lin Jue said. “Your Master knows his limits.” If Lin Zhushui dared to enter, he was confident in his ability to handle it.

The dozens of monstrous dogs closed in, poised to attack.

At that critical moment, the dog in the corner let out a faint, weak whimper. Though soft, the sound instantly froze the other dogs in their tracks.

Lin Zhushui said, “You’re a smart one.” He was clearly addressing the dog.

To outsiders, Lin Zhushui seemed to be the one in danger, but his calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense dog, making it seem as if the dogs planning to attack were the ones at risk.

Lin Zhushui walked slowly to the strange dog’s side.

The dog eyed him, its pitch-black eyes like two hollow voids. Crouched on the ground, its gaze was cold and lifeless, devoid of the loyalty or warmth typical of dogs.

Lin Zhushui crouched down, facing away from the others outside.

The move made Zhou Jiayu’s palms sweat. If the dogs attacked now, would Lin Zhushui react in time?

Fortunately, his fears didn’t materialize. Lin Zhushui crouched for about four or five minutes, seemingly speaking softly to the dog in front of him.

“Is Mr. Lin talking to it?” Ye Zhen asked, her expression odd.

“Maybe,” Lin Jue replied casually.

“As expected of Mr. Lin… truly impressive,” Ye Zhen said, though no one paid her much attention, their focus fixed on Lin Zhushui.

A few minutes later, Lin Zhushui stood and walked back toward the cage’s exit.

Ye Zhen rushed forward eagerly. “Mr. Lin, how is it?” She didn’t forget to reattach the iron lock to the cage.

“Miss Ye,” Lin Zhushui said in a mild tone, though his words were anything but gentle. “You should thank your lucky stars you only killed two dogs.”

Ye Zhen’s face stiffened.

“If all these dogs had died, you wouldn’t have had the chance to come to me,” Lin Zhushui continued.

Ye Zhen’s face paled, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak.

“So, what did you dream about?” Lin Zhushui asked.

“I…” Ye Zhen’s cheek twitched, her voice barely a whisper. “I dreamed I turned into a dog…”

Lin Zhushui raised an eyebrow.

“And was thrown into the fighting ring,” she added. Though brief, her fear made it clear how terrifying the dream was. “Mr. Lin, that dream… it won’t come true, will it?”

Lin Zhushui didn’t answer. His lips parted slightly as he said, “It’s late. Let’s rest for now.”

Normally, Lin Zhushui would resolve issues quickly, so his suggestion to rest was unusual.

Ye Zhen, hearing this, didn’t dare press further. She nodded reluctantly, saying she’d prepared dinner and accommodations for everyone to rest.

Dinner was lavish, but after the afternoon’s unsettling scene, no one had much appetite. Even Shen Yiqiong, who never picky about food, barely touched his chopsticks, let alone Lin Zhushui.

The accommodations were arranged at Ye’s family estate rather than a hotel. Zhou Jiayu had expected a bustling household, but aside from servants, it seemed only Ye Zhen and her uncle lived there.

After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms.

Zhou Jiayu’s room was next to Shen Yiqiong’s. Before bed, he visited Shen Yiqiong to chat.

“This Ye Zhen is definitely hiding something,” Shen Yiqiong said, munching on sunflower seeds while sprawled on his bed. “Those dogs didn’t just change for no reason.”

Zhou Jiayu said, “What’s the deal with those dogs? I remember seeing something like them when my soul left my body—like the creature I saw in the underworld confronting a grim reaper.” The underworld version was larger and more menacing.

“The underworld?” Shen Yiqiong recalled Zhou Jiayu’s out-of-body experience. Leaning closer, he asked, “Wait, you never told me—what did you see down there?”

Zhou Jiayu said, “It’s a long story…”

And so, Shen Yiqiong listened to a lengthy bedtime story. By the time it was over, the sky was completely dark. Zhou Jiayu looked at Shen Yiqiong, curled up in his blankets with only his eyes peeking out, and said with mock pity, “Goodnight, little darling.”

Shen Yiqiong groaned, “Guan’er, you’ve changed.”

Zhou Jiayu said, “It’s not me who’s changed—it’s the world,” before gracefully exiting, not forgetting to switch off the room’s light. Having seen plenty of supernatural things, his immunity had grown stronger. Only Shen Yiqiong, the scaredy-cat, still hadn’t gotten used to it…

As Zhou Jiayu climbed into bed, he felt a smug pride for spooking Shen Yiqiong. But once he fell asleep, he regretted it—he dreamed of dogfighting.

It was a chaotic dream. Zhou Jiayu seemed to float in midair, looking down at two beasts locked in a deadly struggle within an iron cage. Before him were two massive dogs, muscular and sharp-toothed, tearing into each other with lethal precision. Wounds and blood fueled the crowd’s excitement—some cheered, others cursed.

Zhou Jiayu saw their bloodshot eyes, the thread of rationality completely snapped. The larger dog lunged, sinking its teeth into the other’s neck. The bitten dog thrashed wildly, but as it suffocated, its strength faded, its struggles weakening.

“Win! Win!” A woman’s shrill laughter rang out. Zhou Jiayu saw Ye Zhen standing by the cage.

Compared to the Ye Zhen he’d met today, the dream version was almost unrecognizable. Her face twisted with manic glee as she pounded the bars, shrieking, “Bite it to death! Kill it!”

Obeying its master, the winning dog tightened its grip, crushing the life out of its opponent. Then, it released its hold, staggering to Ye Zhen’s side, tongue lolling, tail wagging, craving her affection.

Ye Zhen reached out, stroking its head, unbothered by the fresh blood on its fur. “You’re so beautiful. I love you,” she said, rubbing her cheek against its wet coat, eyes full of adoration.

The dog happily licked her face, seemingly oblivious to its own pain…

Zhou Jiayu felt uneasy watching this, but before he could dwell on it, the dream shifted. Another brutal fight unfolded, but this time, the loser was the dog Ye Zhen had just showered with love.

Covered in wounds, it lay dying in the cage, gazing hopefully at Ye Zhen outside.

But Ye Zhen didn’t approach. Her expression was cold, tinged with disgust, her eyes flicking over the fallen dog before looking away.

Someone nearby spoke, “Miss Ye, looks like your champion’s done for.”

“Three years of wins—what more do you want?” Ye Zhen retorted with a sneer. “Don’t get cocky. I’ve got new dogs in training that are even better.”

With that, she casually ordered her men to “deal with” the defeated dog.

Though Zhou Jiayu had braced himself, seeing men approach with iron rods still churned his stomach.

The dog seemed to understand its fate. Its hopeful gaze dimmed, and it struggled to move, whimpering softly, as if begging Ye Zhen for one last look.

But Ye Zhen walked away without a glance. To her, a dog without fighting spirit was no different from trash.

An iron rod was raised and swung down. Zhou Jiayu instinctively closed his eyes, unwilling to witness the scene. Yet the sound of metal striking flesh and the dog’s mournful whimpers lingered in his ears…

He thought such cruelty was the worst of it, but when he opened his eyes again, he saw something incomprehensible.

The dog’s body wasn’t buried. Instead, it was dragged back to the kennel, skinned, and chopped into pieces. The meat was cooked, mixed with feed, and distributed as food to the other fighting dogs.

The sound of eating filled the air. Zhou Jiayu felt a chill run through him, horrified by the kennel’s depravity.

“Eating other dogs’ meat brings out their bloodlust,” someone said, possibly Ye Zhen. “It’s our kennel’s secret recipe.” She laughed. “Look at that—our champions have all come from this kennel. Pretty impressive, huh?”

In that moment, Zhou Jiayu felt a surge of disgust for Ye Zhen. This seemingly gentle, charming girl was behind something utterly vile. Cannibalism was supposed to occur only in extreme circumstances, yet Ye Zhen treated it as a proprietary technique.

The dying dog’s resentful gaze flashed in Zhou Jiayu’s mind, filling him with an indescribable rage.

A sudden cool sensation on his neck snapped him out of the dream. He woke to see the white ceiling and the dark night beyond the window.

Was that really a dream? It felt more like a memory. Zhou Jiayu sat up, his face drenched in sweat.

“Hoo…” He exhaled, heading to the bathroom to wash his face.

It was nearly 2 a.m., and the house was silent except for the sound of water flowing from the faucet. Washing his face, Zhou Jiayu felt clearer, his tension easing slightly. But as he returned to bed, a strange sound reached his ears—like something gnawing on meat.

The sound was close, as if just behind the door.

“What’s that noise?” Zhou Jiayu asked.

Ji Ba, roused from sleep, yawned and glanced up. “Sounds like something eating…”

Zhou Jiayu: “…” Thanks for the obvious.

The sound was unsettling. Zhou Jiayu tried to ignore it, but the more he tried, the louder it seemed, driving him nearly mad in the quiet room.

“I can’t take it,” Zhou Jiayu said, getting out of bed.

Ji Ba suggested, “Go check it out?”

Zhou Jiayu hesitated. “I’m a bit worried.”

“What’s to worry about?” Ji Ba said. “The Master’s right next door. If anything dangerous were here, he’d have dealt with it already.”

That made sense. The noise was too disturbing to ignore, and Zhou Jiayu knew he wouldn’t sleep if he didn’t investigate. Instead of heading out directly, he cracked the door open and peered into the hallway.

The corridor was empty. The sound, which had seemed so close, was actually coming from downstairs.

Now Zhou Jiayu hesitated, unsure if he should investigate alone.

“Why not get the Master to go with you?” Ji Ba suggested.

“Is that okay?” Zhou Jiayu asked.

“Why not? He’s not gonna eat you,” Ji Ba said, blinking its black eyes with sincere encouragement.

In the past, Zhou Jiayu would’ve been too intimidated to bother Lin Zhushui, but he was less afraid of him now. Driven to distraction by the incessant chewing sound, he decided to knock on Lin Zhushui’s door to ask what was going on.

Knock, knock, knock. Zhou Jiayu tapped lightly three times, standing nervously in front of Lin Zhushui’s door.

The door creaked open, revealing Lin Zhushui in pajamas. His voice, slightly hoarse, sounded softer than usual. “What’s wrong?”

“Sir,” Zhou Jiayu said, “I heard chewing noises downstairs. Did you hear them too?”

Lin Zhushui nodded, confirming he had.

“I…” Zhou Jiayu started.

Before he could finish, Lin Zhushui, reading his mind, said, “Come on, I’ll go check with you.”

Zhou Jiayu’s face lit up with relief. With Lin Zhushui by his side, even raising a flag in this eerie atmosphere didn’t seem so risky…

The sound was coming from downstairs. After searching, Zhou Jiayu pinpointed it to the kitchen. The closer they got, the louder the chewing became, and at the door, he could even hear heavy swallowing sounds from within.

Lin Zhushui glanced at Zhou Jiayu, who was hesitating at the entrance, and tilted his chin slightly, signaling him to go in. Emboldened by Lin Zhushui’s calm demeanor, Zhou Jiayu took a deep breath and stepped into the kitchen.

But when he saw the scene inside, he froze. Ye Zhen’s uncle was sitting there, voraciously devouring a piece of raw, red meat. Blood dripped from it, and he clutched it tightly, tearing into it with a feral expression. Hearing the noise at the door, he raised his head, his eyes glaring with the savage intensity of a beast interrupted mid-meal, as if he might pounce at any moment.

Zhou Jiayu flinched, but Lin Zhushui merely raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “Good evening.”

Ye Zhen’s uncle wiped the blood from his chin with a heavy swipe, revealing a strange smile. “Good… eve… ning,” he said, his words labored, as if speaking was a struggle. It seemed Ye Zhen hadn’t lied about his communication difficulties.

“Are you having a midnight snack?” Zhou Jiayu asked. Though the scene was bizarre, he felt less afraid knowing it was a person and not some supernatural entity.

“Mm… eating… meat,” the man replied, setting down the meat and wiping his blood-stained lips clean with a napkin. “Hungry.”

Zhou Jiayu didn’t know how to respond. “Uh… keep eating, then?”

Ye Zhen’s uncle didn’t reply, just stared silently. The ferocity in his eyes faded, replaced by the calm demeanor he’d shown during the day, as if the earlier scene had been Zhou Jiayu’s imagination.

“Let’s go,” Lin Zhushui said, his expression unruffled from start to finish.

So Zhou Jiayu followed Lin Zhushui back upstairs.

“Sir, why was he eating raw meat alone in the kitchen?” Zhou Jiayu whispered.

“He said he was hungry,” Lin Zhushui replied. “When people are hungry, they’ll want to eat something.”

Maybe Zhou Jiayu was overthinking, but he felt there was a deeper meaning in Lin Zhushui’s words.

“Scared me half to death. I thought it was some evil spirit,” Zhou Jiayu said, convincing himself he’d been paranoid.

“You did well,” Lin Zhushui said suddenly, praising him.

Zhou Jiayu was flattered. “Sir, why are you praising me?”

“For things like this, don’t go alone. Come find me first,” Lin Zhushui said. “Got it?”

Zhou Jiayu was deeply touched and nodded vigorously, then, realizing Lin Zhushui couldn’t see, said, “Yes!”

“Still scared?” Lin Zhushui asked.

Zhou Jiayu answered honestly, “Not anymore.”

“Good. Go back to sleep, then,” Lin Zhushui said, pausing briefly. “If you’re scared, you can sleep in my room.”

Zhou Jiayu instantly regretted his answer. He should’ve said he was still scared—then he could’ve bunked with the Sir for the night. How perfect would that have been?

But the words were out, and regret was useless. Zhou Jiayu bid Lin Zhushui goodnight and returned to his room. Thankfully, the rest of the night passed without incident, and he slept soundly until morning.

The next day, Zhou Jiayu saw Ye Zhen’s uncle again at breakfast, sitting beside Ye Zhen. He ate elegantly, showing no trace of the savage figure gnawing raw meat the previous night. Spotting Lin Zhushui and Zhou Jiayu, he nodded slightly in greeting.

The disturbing scene from the night before seemed to have affected everyone’s sleep. Ye Zhen was the most visibly impacted—her pale skin made the dark circles under her eyes stark, her haggard appearance betraying a restless night.

Upon seeing Lin Zhushui, Ye Zhen hesitated, then couldn’t hold back. She whispered, “Mr. Lin, I had another dream last night.”

“What did you dream?” Lin Zhushui asked.

Ye Zhen bit her lip. “I dreamed… I turned into a dog, and then… I was eaten by other dogs.”

__

Author’s Note:

Lin Zhushui: Good job.

Zhou Jiayu: softly sobbing

Lin Zhushui: From now on, come to me for things like this. Understood?

Zhou Jiayu: teary-eyed, nodding with a whimper