Gu Jingyang saw A’Ling stand up and walk out, and originally intended to follow.
But when she passed by the ‘dog’ A’Ling had picked up, she felt the air solidify for a moment.
She lowered her head in surprise, seeing complex emotions, typically only found in humans, in the eyes of a ‘dog’.
The faint light in its eyes was as sharp as a blade. Gu Jingyang suddenly felt a cold wind sweep past. Following its ice-crystal-like gaze outwards, she saw A’Ling and Lan Fushang approaching, laughing together.
Lan Fushang had come to bring A’Ling some newly developed crispy candies infused with revitalizing and mind-clearing effects.
She knew A’Ling hadn’t reached the state of abstaining from grains and still enjoyed various pastries. Having heard A’Ling often felt drowsy, she thought of adding medicinal pills to the crispy candies.
A’Ling only needed to take one when she wanted to clear her mind and revitalize.
Hearing A’Ling say Gu Jingyang was also there, Lan Fushang became even happier. That’s perfect, she thought. She had also prepared a portion for Gu Jingyang, which she could give to her directly.
When A’Ling heard Lan Fushang mention the items she was bringing—crispy candies with medicinal pills—her scalp tingled. She was reminded of the tea earlier that tasted like bitter medicine mixed with vinegar.
She swallowed nervously, torn about whether to accept them.
Lan Fushang didn’t notice the conflict on A’Ling’s face. As she entered the room with A’Ling, she saw Gu Jingyang standing upright inside.
Upon seeing her clearly, Lan Fushang couldn’t help but feel a doubt arise. Gu Jingyang’s complexion seemed off.
Before she could examine further, Lan Fushang’s eyes suddenly trembled, her forward steps halted, and her hands loosened, causing the items she was holding to fall simultaneously.
A’Ling felt fortunate that her movements were swift and her reflexes quick enough to catch them. Otherwise, if those crispy candies had fallen to the ground, they wouldn’t be edible.
Although she wasn’t very eager to eat them, she had just decided to accept them. She was afraid Lan Fushang would be sad if she didn’t.
She used her spiritual energy to move the items, safely transferring the boxes of crispy candies to the tea table where they had just had tea.
Turning her head, she saw Lan Fushang was startled by the ugly dog. A’Ling raised an eyebrow, not expecting Lan Fushang to be so timid.
Although the dog was a bit ugly, it wasn’t enough to scare someone this much. The person was frozen in place, eyes wide as if their eyeballs were about to pop out.
“It’s fine, Fushang. That’s a dog I picked up. It doesn’t bite.”
A’Ling said, then took a step forward, continuing to walk. After two steps, she realized Lan Fushang was still standing rooted to the spot and hadn’t followed. She walked back.
“Really, don’t worry. It doesn’t bite people. Forget biting people, this ugly dog can’t even walk properly right now. Relax.”
While comforting Lan Fushang, A’Ling pointed at the ugly dog, then gestured towards its dog bed nearby. The meaning was clear: she wanted it to go back to its bed.
But the dog seemed as if it couldn’t see or understand, still standing stiffly by Gu Jingyang’s feet.
Both it and Gu Jingyang stood like two statues.
A’Ling turned her head to look at the one beside her. Good heavens, three statues.
What’s going on? Why does the atmosphere feel so strange?
“Gu Jingyang, what’s wrong with you?”
A’Ling looked at the three statues and chose to ask the one that seemed most normal first.
Hearing A’Ling’s call, Gu Jingyang snapped back to reality and gave an awkward smile. “It’s nothing, just stood up to move around after sitting for too long.”
She couldn’t very well say she had been awed by A’Ling’s dog. For a fleeting moment, the aura emanating from this dog truly felt like the imposing presence of a peerless master in a dire situation.
She looked down; the oppressive aura from earlier was gone. Was it just her imagination?
A’Ling raised an eyebrow. Why did that sound strangely similar to what she had just said about the dog? How odd.
Seeing she was fine, A’Ling turned to ask Lan Fushang, “Fushang, what’s wrong with you?”
When Gu Jingyang spoke, Lan Fushang’s momentarily captivated mind returned to its place.
She shook her head in confusion. For an instant just now, she had felt a powerful oppressive force.
Lan Fushang followed A’Ling a few steps forward, moving to stand in front of Gu Jingyang and the dog.
She looked at the animal by Gu Jingyang’s leg, which was about the height of her calf.
“A’Ling, this Mutated Beast is…?”
Lan Fushang looked at the uniquely ugly animal before her in astonishment. For a moment, she couldn’t tell what kind of animal had mutated into this Mutated Beast.
“It’s a dog I picked up a few days ago. Don’t worry about it; we have important matters to discuss.”
As A’Ling spoke, she squatted down, picked up the ugly dog, and placed it in its dog bed.
Lan Fushang saw that the dog was still glaring at her when it was picked up, and even after being placed in its bed, it continued to glare. Is there something wrong?
Lan Fushang walked to the side of the dog bed, looking at the bandages on the Mutated Beast. “A’Ling, how did this Mutated Beast get injured?”
“I don’t know. When I found it, it was almost dead, and there was nothing else around.”
A’Ling guessed some cultivator must have been ruthless. Even if other demonic or Mutated Beasts tortured to death, they couldn’t skin a creature.
Lan Fushang looked at the stitches on the Mutated Beast’s eyelids. “Were these injuries treated by Apothecary Mu Ling?”
A’Ling nodded. “Mhm, the medicine was also from her.”
Just as I thought, Lan Fushang mused. Only Apothecary Mu Ling would have the skill and the kindness to treat a Mutated Beast.
One must know that in Mystic Crane Mountain, apart from rare spirit beasts, other creatures like demonic beasts and Mutated Beasts were often considered low-level beings, fit for amusement or practice in the eyes of many cultivators. Most medical cultivators in Cave Abodes wouldn’t bother with the life or death of a Mutated Beast.
“A’Ling, keeping a Mutated Beast in your cave dwelling might not be appropriate.”
Lan Fushang was a little worried. Apart from others’ cautiousness towards Mutated Beasts, even the Mutated Beasts themselves could be dangerous.
She didn’t know the extent of their mutation, or if any negative after-effects of their mutation might target humans.
“It’s just an ugly dog, not a Mutated Beast,” A’Ling explained to Lan Fushang.
Lan Fushang looked at A’Ling in surprise, a bit hesitant. “A’Ling, this isn’t a dog…”
How could a dog have such a sharp chin, and fur so purely black without a single impurity, as if it had condensed from a mass of black mist?
A’Ling sighed, feeling a little weary as she looked at the ugly dog. This dog, too, couldn’t it look a bit more like a dog? In her previous life, too, no one believed it was a dog except for her.
Some even called it a dangerous Mutated Beast and wanted to kill it.
It’s just a bit ugly, looks a bit peculiar, has a slightly bad temper, doesn’t recognize good intentions, and is a bit ungrateful; otherwise, it’s fine.
It doesn’t kill sentient beings or harm people. Usually, when I grill it a rabbit leg, I have to coax it to eat.
If it’s dangerous, then rabbits are dangerous too. Even a cornered rabbit will bite.
“Fushang, this really is a dog. If you don’t believe me, ask Gu Jingyang. She even heard it bark just now,” A’Ling said, turning her body to look at Gu Jingyang.
Gu Jingyang had already returned to her seat when the two of them squatted down to examine the dog.
Hearing A’Ling ask her to prove that a dog was a dog, Gu Jingyang nodded eagerly. “Yes, that’s a dog.”
She was so afraid A’Ling would get into it with the dog again and ask it to bark for Lan Fushang too.
In fact, A’Ling truly had that thought for a moment, but then she remembered the ugly dog’s pitiful state and decided against it.
This dog probably just doesn’t like to bark naturally. And the way it barked just now, it sounded less like a dog than her own impression.
Perhaps there’s a pecking order in the dog world too. Since it’s already so ugly and can’t bark like a dog, it’s likely often bullied within the dog world.
Lan Fushang heard Gu Jingyang say this but still didn’t quite believe it. She guessed the sound might just be similar. Feeling uneasy, she showed a conflicted expression.
A’Ling thought for a moment. “How about this, Fushang, you can examine it? See if this ugly dog has any mutated areas, apart from its strange appearance?”
Generally, when demonic beasts or ordinary beasts mutate, it’s usually a change in a specific part of their body, typically becoming stronger or adapting for survival.
For example, once, when A’Ling wanted to catch a rabbit for a snack, she encountered a mutated rabbit.
Just by looking at its appearance, she couldn’t tell anything was different about it.
A’Ling was about to grab the rabbit that was looking up at an apple in an apple tree. Suddenly, the rabbit stood up.
Good heavens, the legs hidden beneath its body were longer than hers, thin like a pair of stilts, supporting the rabbit as it ate the apple from the tree.
After that, A’Ling didn’t dare to catch rabbits for a long time. She was afraid of accidentally catching one of these mutated long-legged rabbits.
Just imagine that scene: roasted rabbit legs that would have the presence of a roasted giraffe neck. If she ate that, she feared she might mutate too.
Lan Fushang immediately agreed when A’Ling said this. An examination would put her mind at ease.
However, as soon as she extended her hand, the Mutated Beast turned its head away.
“Don’t move!”
A’Ling grabbed the ugly dog’s two ears, pressed down its head that was trying to dodge, and also covered its two terrifyingly wide eyes.
Seeing that the ugly dog couldn’t struggle anymore, A’Ling said to Lan Fushang, “It’s fine now, you can go ahead.”
Gu Jingyang had been watching them from a distance. Seeing this, she truly felt that this ‘dog’ had an exceptionally good temper towards A’Ling.
Lan Fushang also noticed that this dog seemed only close to A’Ling.
She gathered blue healing light in her palm. A medical cultivator’s healing art could not only help wounds heal and restore health but also be used to detect mutated areas within a Mutated Beast’s body.
Lan Fushang’s hand steadied an inch away from the Mutated Beast’s body. The blue healing light seeped into the Mutated Beast’s body, gradually spreading outwards. The white bandages slowly began to glow blue.
Even its two dark ears, not covered by bandages, turned blue.
A’Ling’s eye twitched uncontrollably. Too ugly! This is truly terrifyingly ugly. Thankfully, her ugly dog is black. If it were this kind of dark black with a faint blue glow, that would be… she’d think she saw a ghost in the middle of the night. So ugly it could scare someone to death.
Lan Fushang saw blue light glowing from all parts of the Mutated Beast’s body and withdrew her hand, waiting quietly to the side.
If any part of the Mutated Beast’s body had mutated, then after the blue light faded, a blue lotus pattern mark would appear.
A’Ling naturally knew this as well. She said nothing, quietly waiting with Lan Fushang for the blue light to fade.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the blue light gradually faded. A’Ling also released her hand covering the ugly dog’s eyes.
Shi Qingqian half-closed her eyes, looking at the two people in front of her. They were squatting together before her, shoulder to shoulder, their knees touching without a single gap.
She found it quite an eyesore, and powerfully slapped the two touching knees.
Unfortunately, she was currently only a Nascent Soul clone, her spiritual consciousness severely injured, and her true energy completely depleted. This palm strike was so light it was like a small puppy accidentally nudging someone during play.
Looking at her hand, so easily held, Shi Qingqian felt foolish for the first time.
A’Ling looked at the slightly agitated ugly dog, her heart softening a bit. Her tone became much gentler. “It’s okay, it’s just a check-up. It doesn’t hurt.”
The moment her words fell, the blue light on the ugly dog completely dissipated. Its bandages, apart from a few pre-existing bloodstains, showed no other abnormalities.
The ears visible on its head were as black as ever.
A’Ling had known the outcome would be this way. If any mutation could be detected, Apothecary Mu Ling wouldn’t have had to argue with her dryly about whether this ugly dog was a Mutated Beast; she would have just provided the evidence.
In her previous life, many also said the ugly dog was a Mutated Beast, but no one could ever produce proof.
It really is just an ugly dog.
A’Ling turned to look at the very surprised Lan Fushang. “Believe me now?”
As A’Ling spoke, she stood up. She had been squatting for so long that her legs were a bit numb. There were also important matters to attend to. Besides, it was almost time to change the ugly dog’s medicine, so it was crucial to discuss the main business quickly.
A’Ling helped up Lan Fushang, who also clearly had numb legs, cutting off any remaining doubts she might have had, and guided her to sit by the tea table.
“Important matters first. Gu Jingyang, you tell Fushang.”
Gu Jingyang nodded and recounted to Lan Fushang what she had just discussed with A’Ling. At the end, she sought Lan Fushang’s opinion.
“We need a medical cultivator. A’Ling’s intention is for you to come with us. What are your thoughts? Do you want to go?”
Gu Jingyang had just witnessed Lan Fushang’s healing art. The azure light of her technique already demonstrated Lan Fushang’s remarkable abilities, truly, as A’Ling said, stronger than what was typical for new medical cultivators in Cave Abodes.
Previously, when the Cave Abode selected disciples, the test was on healing arts. She had clearly seen from below Immortal Rainbow Platform that no one’s healing light was bluer than the one Lan Fushang had just displayed.
This blue was as pure as a clear sky.
She truly hadn’t expected that Lan Fushang, contrary to the useless impression she gave, actually possessed some real strength.
After hearing what Gu Jingyang said, Lan Fushang felt a surge of longing. Then, hearing that Gu Jingyang was actually inviting her along, the surprise was so sudden she could hardly believe it.
“Me? I can go too?” Lan Fushang’s eyes gleamed with hope, sparkling as she looked at Gu Jingyang.
Gu Jingyang raised an eyebrow. Was what she just said not clear enough? “Yes, as long as you’re willing and not afraid of danger, you can come with us.”
Lan Fushang was naturally not afraid of danger. She was just worried about causing trouble for Gu Jingyang and the others. She hesitated, “Will I be a bother to you?”
Gu Jingyang furrowed her brows. Why was this person always so timid and anxious, afraid of this and that?
Before Gu Jingyang could say anything, A’Ling leaned over with a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m here. If you cause trouble, just come to me. I’m practically eager to solve your problems.”
A’Ling smirked inwardly. If she caused trouble a few more times, wouldn’t their relationship deepen?
Lan Fushang looked at A’Ling’s sincere and confident smile, and much of the nervousness and unease in her heart dissipated.
“Thank you for being willing to bring me along.”
This kind of mission generally wouldn’t fall to newcomers without a sect affiliation. Lan Fushang gratefully glanced at Gu Jingyang. If Gu Jingyang weren’t in charge of this matter, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to participate.
Lan Fushang secretly vowed in her heart that she would perform well and be a useful person.
Hearing they would depart in a month, Lan Fushang quickly rose to take her leave. She needed to go back and prepare thoroughly, refine more medicinal pills, and also go to the Soaring Rainbow Tower to research more information on demonic beast mutations.
After Lan Fushang left, Gu Jingyang also bid farewell to A’Ling. She still needed to report the selection of the personnel to Heng Qingyi.
Before leaving, A’Ling insisted that Gu Jingyang take all the ‘crispy candies’ Lan Fushang had given her from the table.
She certainly didn’t want to experience a second taste she had never encountered before.
Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty—A’Ling had only known these flavors before. Now, her life experience included one more taste: Lan Fushang’s tea.
After seeing everyone off, she saw that it was just the right time to change the ugly dog’s medicine.
Ever since Lan Fushang examined its body, it had suddenly quieted down. Afterwards, it didn’t bother them again, simply squatting quietly in its dog bed.
Seeing A’Ling approach, it even stretched its neck out. A’Ling raised an eyebrow. Quite cooperative, isn’t it? She grabbed the ugly dog by the scruff of its neck, supported its hindquarters, and picked it up, placing it on her lap.
She took out the items she needed from her spatial storage bag. There were quite a few things, so A’Ling freed up one hand to push the tea tray and teacups on the table into a corner.
By the time all the necessary wound medicines were taken out, the table was almost overflowing.
However, this was already much better than the past few days. Especially during the first three days, so many things were needed that three tables wouldn’t have been enough.
Each time she applied the medicine, the full set of procedures took almost two hours. Essentially, for the first three days, she spent her time applying medicine, resting, applying medicine, resting.
A’Ling gently let out a breath. She didn’t know if this ugly dog was lucky or unlucky.
If it was lucky, why would it suffer such severe injuries? If it was unlucky, why would it suffer such severe injuries only to happen to meet her?
A’Ling felt that, apart from her, probably no one else would be so kind as to expend such great effort to save an ugly dog.
“Just consider yourself lucky, meeting me.”
A’Ling murmured to herself while gently untying the bandages on the ugly dog’s body.
Some areas were stuck to unhealed flesh, and each time she unwrapped them, some shredded bits of flesh would be torn off.
A’Ling clenched her back teeth tightly. Every time this happened, she felt a shudder of horror, as if a piece of her own flesh was being torn off.
“Bear with it.” A’Ling didn’t know if she was saying this to the ugly dog or to herself.
Apart from the first day of applying medicine, when the ugly dog let out some involuntary muffled grunts, it remained completely silent and still afterwards, as if it wasn’t the one injured.
If not for its uncontrollable trembling whenever A’Ling tended to the severely injured areas, A’Ling would have thought it felt no pain.
Sigh, how could it not be in pain? A’Ling felt pain just by looking at it.
In her previous life, seeing these wounds had filled her with such sorrow that she silently vowed to treat it well in the future.
Initially, its cold resistance, A’Ling took it as a defensive measure after being injured by cultivators. This was understandable; if she had been injured like this by humans, she might be afraid of seeing cultivators in the future.
A’Ling tossed the removed bandages aside, picked up the most prominent bottle on the table, labeled [One]. Tilting the bottle, she carefully poured the viscous green liquid inside into the empty bowl labeled [Two], then poured the liquids from the bottles labeled [Three, Four, Five, Six] into the bowl as well.
A’Ling gently stroked the ugly dog’s ears with one hand, while stirring the liquids together. If this medicine hadn’t been given by Apothecary Mu Ling, she would seriously question it.
It was the same in her previous life; she had used it on the ugly dog with a skeptical attitude, only because she had no other choice.
The mixed ointment was a strangely clear gel-like substance. Its scent wasn’t unpleasant either; it had a slight grassy fragrance.
A’Ling carefully picked up the small soft spoon Apothecary Mu Ling had specially given her, applying the ointment little by little onto the ugly dog’s black skin.
“When you’re better, you really must go and properly thank Apothecary Mu Ling. I’ve never used medicine this good.”
A’Ling thought to herself that the medicinal efficacy was secondary; there might be better medicines within the Cave Abode. But this light, fragrant scent had clearly been specially treated.
Generally, it was already good enough if a medical cultivator was willing to treat their injuries. No one would think about whether the medicine was bitter or fragrant. Anyone who dared to make such demands would be stepping on toes and ungrateful.
Every bottle of medicine Apothecary Mu Ling gave had been treated; they all had the same grassy fragrance.
This ugly dog’s treatment was better than that of any of them. A’Ling hadn’t thought about this in her previous life, but thinking about it now, Apothecary Mu Ling probably liked dogs too.
A’Ling thought to herself, perhaps in a month, she should just send the dog to Apothecary Mu Ling.
Otherwise, with this ugly dog’s pitiful appearance, if she threw it out the door, no one would probably pick it up. Also, being this small and masterless, it might very well be bullied again.
While planning, A’Ling smeared the remaining wound medicine layer by layer onto it.
Shi Qingqian felt waves of coolness on her body. She quietly watched A’Ling, who was diligently applying medicine with her head bowed. Her eyes held a hint of confusion. Why was A’Ling so quiet this time?
Normally, at this time, she would always curse a few times, saying things like ‘You’re such a hassle to take care of’ or ‘Only a fool would save you.’
She would also mock her for being ungrateful, say that being good to her was useless, and that once she was better, she would simply leave without a trace.
Shi Qingqian didn’t know why A’Ling would think this way. Although she truly couldn’t stay for long—a Nascent Soul had to return to its true body eventually—A’Ling didn’t know this. So how could she be so certain that she would leave?
She quietly watched A’Ling, who was lost in thought about something unknown. A slight bitterness rose in her mouth.
After Gu Jingyang left A’Ling’s place, she went directly to the Warm Tower Cave Abode to find Heng Qingyi.
Heng Qingyi wasn’t surprised to hear that Gu Jingyang wanted to bring A’Ling along, but the name Lan Fushang was quite unfamiliar to her.
“Since this matter has been entrusted to you, you shall decide. However, do not be careless. If the situation isn’t right, send back a message in time. Do not act recklessly.”
“The Sword Cave Abode will also send two people with you. You must cooperate cautiously, prioritizing safety above all else.”
Heng Qingyi’s words held implied meaning. Since there were some things she couldn’t state too clearly, she could only hint at them. Fortunately, Gu Jingyang was intelligent and quickly understood her meaning.
This was to say that the sword cultivators might be up to something, and she needed to be wary. Most importantly, their safety came first. As for the sword cultivators, they could be abandoned if necessary.
Gu Jingyang didn’t say much, simply agreeing. But in her view, whether sword cultivators or spiritual arts cultivators, they were all fellow inner sect practitioners. Since she was taking them out, she would naturally do her best to bring them back safely.
On the other side, after Lan Fushang returned to her residence, she organized all her existing medicinal pills to see which ones might be useful.
She had dabbled in too many things before. Many of them felt unfamiliar even to her when she saw them. She even had medicinal pills that could help beasts strengthen their muscles.
This immediately made Lan Fushang think of A’Ling’s ‘dog’.
Although she still felt it really didn’t look like a dog, and even though no mutations could be detected, Lan Fushang just felt that the ‘dog’ was off.
Lan Fushang pondered what felt off while organizing medicinal pills. Suddenly, she saw her own furrowed brow reflected in a glass bottle.
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck her, and she realized what was wrong!
That dog looked too much like a human. Beasts were different from humans; the more they resembled humans, the stranger they were. A’Ling’s ‘dog’ looked at people and moved just like a human.
And the way it looked at her—cold and gloomy. Such a gaze felt somewhat familiar to her.
As she thought this, an image unexpectedly popped into her mind: Shi Qingqian’s gaze at her beneath Immortal Rainbow Platform.
It felt so similar to the feeling A’Ling’s ‘dog’ gave her just now!
Lan Fushang covered her mouth in surprise, then vigorously shook her head, silently muttering apologies in her heart.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry. How could she think of an ugly dog as Shi Qingqian? She shouldn’t have. How could Shi Qingqian turn into a dog?
Lan Fushang quickly patted her head, feeling a bit annoyed at the same time. She had forgotten to ask earlier: would A’Ling bring the dog along in a month?
If she did bring it, Lan Fushang could also prepare some animal-specific wound medicines for the dog.
A’Ling didn’t know yet that Lan Fushang was already concocting all sorts of strange medicinal pills for her ugly dog. After finishing treating the ugly dog’s wounds, she was so tired she lay straight back on the bed, unmoving.
It wasn’t that this single medicine change had exhausted her; rather, the weariness accumulated day after day over the past few days had erupted in full force this time.
A’Ling poked the ugly dog she had placed back in its bed with her finger. “I’m going to sleep. If you want to leave, go ahead, the door’s over there. But I advise you not to do anything foolish. With your current condition, if someone steps on you, you’ll be finished.”
After speaking, A’Ling was too lazy to look at it anymore. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Shi Qingqian found it amusing. This person clearly didn’t want her to leave, yet every time she spoke, she deliberately pretended to be fierce.
Seeing the person on the bed gradually fall silent, she slowly approached the bedside, forcefully propped herself up to lean over the edge of the bed, and held her breath as she peered onto the bed.
A’Ling on the bed had her eyes tightly closed, her breathing deep and even, her body rising and falling very regularly.
She fell asleep so quickly.
Shi Qingqian quietly and haltingly moved to the side of the dog bed, carefully dragging the dog bed little by little towards the bed.
The wounds on her body were excruciatingly painful as they were torn with her movements. Shi Qingqian clenched her back teeth tightly. She felt utterly helpless about her current weak body.
Who would have thought that she, with her extraordinary talent, would find it so difficult just to climb onto a bed now?
The bandages on her body gradually turned red. Shi Qingqian gritted her teeth, not allowing herself to let out even a whimper.
She had already discovered a few days ago that as soon as she made a slightly louder whimper, A’Ling would immediately come to check on her.
She could only try her best not to cry out in pain, so that this person could rest well.
After successfully dragging the dog bed to the bedside, Shi Qingqian used her head to prop it up, flipped it over, and using the dog bed as a step, used her last ounce of strength to finally climb onto A’Ling’s bed.
Shi Qingqian lay sprawled on the bed, exhausted, trying to suppress her rapid breathing, quietly gazing at the person sleeping soundly on the bed.
Shi Qingqian found it amusing. This person had already reached Core Formation, so why did she still need so much sleep?
If A’Ling had heard this thought, she would definitely have scoffed. Even if sleeping wasn’t mandatory anymore, it was still her hobby.
However, A’Ling didn’t expect that this nap would lead her to dream of the past.
Specifically, her past with the ugly dog.
Looking at the scene in her dream, A’Ling was greatly surprised. The ugly dog had indeed barked once, though she hadn’t expected it to be under those circumstances.
It had been so long, she had actually forgotten.
Good work 👏