Translator: CinderTL
The next morning, Xu Sanyan opened his eyes.
He hadn't slept a wink all night, wary of letting his guard down in this secret realm. Moreover, with his current cultivation level, he no longer needed sleep to replenish his energy; meditation sufficed.
Gently lifting the covers, the three-headed dog perked up at the sound, glanced at Xu Sanyan, and then settled back down. It knew this was its new master, whose status even surpassed that of its old one. For the past two nights, it had heard the old master whimpering and yelping as Xu Sanyan "disciplined" her.
Xu Sanyan also glanced at the three-headed dog, wondering where it had been. The creature had only returned late at night, looking utterly exhausted.
"Mmm..."
At that moment, Xun Ancai stirred awake, stretching her arms out from under the covers in a vigorous yawn. Rubbing her eyes, she looked at Xu Sanyan, her cheeks flushed with contentment.
"Are you hungry?"
"A little," Xu Sanyan replied, feeling the need to replenish his energy after the previous night's exertion.
The three-headed dog perked up its ears, all three heads turning simultaneously toward Xun Ancai, its eyes gleaming with hunger. It, too, felt drained after its mysterious night's activities.
Seeing this, Xun Ancai said nothing more. She skillfully pulled a fur pelt from beneath her buttocks, casually wiped it on a nearby pile of grass, and slipped it over her body, intensifying the pungent, gamey odor.
"Is this the only garment you have?" Xu Sanyan frowned.
"Mm-hmm. If you don't like it, I can take it off," Xun Ancai said, reaching to remove the pelt.
She wore the fur not for modesty or warmth, but simply because her breasts were too large and needed support to avoid hindering her movements.
"No, keep it on," Xu Sanyan quickly stopped her.
"Oh," Xun Ancai replied, saying nothing more. She retrieved the meat hanging from the rafters and began preparing breakfast.
Xu Sanyan sat nearby, watching her work.
As the meat roasted over the fire, its savory aroma filled the air, and drool dripped from the corners of the three-headed dog's mouths.
Just as they finished eating, the middle-aged woman who had escorted Xu Sanyan to the clan chief earlier arrived. Xun Ancai instinctively shrank back, as if terrified of her.
"The clan chief wants to see you," the woman said sternly.
"Are the preparations complete?" Xu Sanyan asked with a smile, wiping his hands on his clothes as he slowly rose to his feet.
Today was the first day of the blessing ceremony.
The middle-aged woman ignored him, turned, and walked away after delivering her message.
Xu Sanyan didn't mind. This type of woman was clearly an old maid, her personality twisted by years of deprivation of male companionship, some even developing a deep-seated aversion to men. He understood this perfectly.
Xun Ancai leaned in and whispered, "She might be our next clan chief. She's very powerful, so don't provoke her."
Xu Sanyan chuckled, about to pat her shoulder, but Xun Ancai's tall stature made it awkward. He settled for a playful pat on her butt instead.
"Don't worry, why would I provoke her?"
"Good. You should go now. Don't keep the clan chief waiting." Xun Ancai seemed relieved.
"You're not coming with me?" Xu Sanyan asked, surprised. Xun Ancai usually followed him everywhere, but this time she was staying behind.
"Outsiders aren't allowed at the blessing ceremony. There's no point in me going," Xun Ancai explained. "Besides, you'll be starving afterward. I need to prepare food for you."
"Hmm... alright then."
Xu Sanyan rose and walked toward the clan chief's cave.
Along the way, he passed many wooden huts. Some people glanced at him curiously, but no one spoke.
Outside the clan chief's cave, a middle-aged woman stood beside the clan chief, waiting for him. The seven-headed dog lay lazily at the clan chief's feet.
"You've come," the clan chief said, her smile as gentle as ever.
"I've come."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, hoping she would catch the reference, but alas, the clan chief hadn't seen Infernal Affairs.
"Come with me," she said, leaning on her staff as she walked toward Back Mountain. The middle-aged woman supported her, and the seven-headed dog lumbered behind them.
When they reached Back Mountain, Xu Sanyan realized there was another mountain behind it.
This was a small mountain, barely worthy of the name—more like a pile of stacked rocks. It stood only about ten to thirteen meters tall, shorter than some ordinary city walls.
"This is Heroic Soul Mountain," the Old Clan Chief said, turning to look at Xu Sanyan. "Ancai must have told you about it."
"Yes, I have one question I'm particularly curious about. May I ask for your guidance, Clan Chief?" Xu Sanyan bowed slightly.
"Speak," the old woman said, her eyelids heavy as she struggled to lift them. Her dark pupils fixed on Xu Sanyan, as if she already knew what he was going to ask.
Xu Sanyan paused, organizing his thoughts before speaking. "Your people... are they considered human?"
He quickly added, waving his hand, "Please don't misunderstand. I mean no offense whatsoever."
"Heh... no matter," the old woman chuckled warmly, unbothered. She turned her gaze toward Heroic Soul Mountain, her eyes filled with deep reverence.
"Humans... I suppose not."
She glanced at the seven-headed dog lying beside her, her aged hand stroking its flank. "In truth, there's little difference between it and me. We are both children of the Dog God, merely existing in different forms in this world."
So it's true, Xu Sanyan thought to himself.
The night before last—the very night he first shared a bed with Xun Ancai—he had sensed something amiss.
Xun Ancai's physical structure differed from that of ordinary humans!
Xu Sanyan was no novice in such matters; having bedded countless women, he could discern the truth with a single touch.
Though Xun Ancai appeared human on the surface, her internal anatomy was vastly different. Perhaps calling them "demons" would be more accurate.
And this so-called Dog God... it was likely just a powerful Great Demon.
In other words, Xu Sanyan had actually been sleeping with a "dog" for the past two nights.
Of course, he didn't mind. After all, one should always be open to trying new things in life.
The old woman spoke again, "The Dog God grants us wisdom and strength. In return, we offer our faith and loyalty."
She gestured toward the seven-headed dog. "This is the Dog God's precious gift to us, and our dearest brother. On the day a Dog Clan child is born, a dog is born alongside them."
Her gaze softened as she stroked the seven-headed dog's body. "It will accompany us through life, growing stronger and older together. When I die, it will follow me back to Heroic Soul Mountain, returning to the Dog God's embrace."
Xu Sanyan stared at the seven-headed dog, suddenly understanding. These dogs were manifestations of the Dog Clan people's strength.
Xun Ancai had undergone three blessings, hence her three-headed dog.
The Old Clan Chief's dog was seven-headed. Could that mean...?
Holy shit!
Seven blessings?!
Xu Sanyan's pupils constricted as he whipped his head toward the old woman. She had likely undergone seven blessings!
If Xun Ancai, with just three blessings, could beat him to a pulp, what could the Old Clan Chief, with seven blessings, do? Crush him with a single finger?
(End of the Chapter)
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