Previously, Li You had planned to send a letter to Li Jue and the others during the battle between Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, informing them that he was doing well in Taishan and suggesting they launch an attack on Bingzhou. Additionally, he wanted them to fend off the Hu people and protect the borders.
However, when he saw that they had begun excavating the Zhengguo Canal, he decided to focus on developing Yong and Liang as well as Sili earlier than planned. After all, relying on others to do certain things could be more convenient. For example, he let Yuan Shao develop Jizhou, and similarly, it wouldn't be a bad idea if Cao Cao developed Yong and Liang.
Chen Xi, feeling frustrated, returned home. In an era without psychologists and with limited games for entertainment and stress relief, it seemed best to roll into bed and rest.
As he pushed open the door, "Bang!" Chen Xi was knocked to the ground by a small white dog that leaped out of his house. Despite being less than a foot long, the little white dog had enough force to knock Chen Xi down.
Chen Xi was stunned. He felt as if his intestines had nearly been torn apart. Lying on the ground, he finally realized what had happened when he felt the warmth on the back of his hand. The little dog, showing some human-like concern, nudged Chen Xi's chest and stomach as if trying to help him get up.
"You guys..." Chen Xi struggled to stand and glared at the girls peeking out from behind his door. His face turned dark; he was already annoyed, and now this group was causing more trouble.
"Why has Chen Hou come back?" Mi Zhen asked without a hint of fear. However, the way she twitched her fingers made Chen Xi certain that this small white dog, which had knocked him down, was somehow connected to her.
"This is my house! Am I not allowed to come back? Go play somewhere else." Chen Xi angrily reached out to grab the little white dog that was less than a foot long. If he couldn't argue with the girls, at least he could take out his frustration on the dog that had almost knocked him unconscious.
"Be careful..." Zhen Mi, panicked, tried to warn him. She had found the dog, but afraid to bring it back to her own home, she had taken it to Cai Zhenji. There, the second lady of the Cai family had given it a thorough cleaning, making its pure white fur even more appealing. This had caused Zhen Mi to develop other ideas.
Zhen Mi's thoughts aside, the real change came when the dog, after being washed and fed at Cai Zhenji's house, started sniffing around, eventually digging up and swallowing a stone. After that, the dog became even more adorable, with smoother, glossier fur.
But these were just superficial changes. The biggest transformation was that the dog had just barreled through several walls in a row before showing up at Mi Zhen's house, and later being brought to Chen Xi's place.
"Rip!" Chen Xi looked at the neat tear in his sleeve. He hadn't been too alarmed before, but seeing the tear now sent a chill down his spine.
"Chen Hou, perhaps it's best not to approach. That is no ordinary dog anymore," Zuo Ci said, placing a hand on Chen Xi's shoulder. Then, turning to an empty spot, he added, "You should deal with this creature quickly. How did something like this even slip through?"
"Is this a mythical beast?" Chen Xi frowned. If Zuo Ci hadn't stepped in just now, his arm might have been broken.
"Yes, and quite a powerful one at that. Once it fully absorbs the energy within, it could rival even the weakest of inner energy masters," Zuo Ci replied, frowning. "I can't believe there's something like this nearby."
As he spoke, Han Qiong appeared, holding the little white dog by the scruff of its neck. His expression showed some caution, but he didn't seem inclined to kill the creature.
"Mi Zhen, you'd better explain yourself. What's with this thing?" Chen Xi immediately glared at Mi Zhen. It was obvious that this trouble was her doing.
"Don't hurt it," Mi Zhen hurriedly said as she ran over, relieved to see the dog, which had been struggling in Han Qiong's grasp, quiet down. "I found this little dog in the backyard. Isn't it cute?"
"Get lost. You really have the guts to bring anything into my house," Chen Xi grumbled. "You're going to drive me crazy. This thing is dangerous."
"It's not dangerous, see?" Mi Zhen responded, trying to tease the small white dog with her slender, pale fingers, despite Han Qiong holding it tightly.
"Whap!" Without thinking, Chen Xi swatted Mi Zhen's hand away. "Do you want to lose your hand?"
Mi Zhen clutched her hand, looking at Chen Xi with tear-filled eyes. Meanwhile, the little white dog in Han Qiong's grasp barked furiously at Chen Xi, baring its teeth.
"Chen Hou, it's really well-behaved," Zhen Mi whispered.
"Well-behaved?" Chen Xi showed them his torn sleeve, the large rip clearly visible. "If Zuo Daozhang hadn't acted quickly, my arm would have been broken. This thing should be cooked. It'll make a great meal."
"Woof woof woof!" The little white dog barked furiously at Chen Xi, seemingly understanding his words. But seeing Chen Xi still baring his teeth at it, the dog quickly turned towards Mi Zhen and the others, whimpering pitifully for help.
Chen Xi couldn't help but be intrigued by the dog's behavior. His desire to cook it faded as his curiosity grew—this dog was clearly not normal.
"Husband, don't tease Zhen'er anymore. The dog just sensed your hostility and was trying to defend itself," Fan Jian said, stepping out to mediate. She, too, liked small animals, especially since there were no children in the house, leaving it feeling a bit empty.
"Daozhang, is it alright to keep this dog as a pet?" Chen Xi asked, his interest piqued. After all, a creature that could eventually grow to the level of an inner energy master was quite fascinating.
"Although it seems to have some intelligence, I still wouldn't recommend keeping it..." Zuo Ci stroked his beard and shook his head, only to feel a wave of strong resentment that stopped him from finishing his sentence.
"If you must keep it, there is a way," Han Qiong, who had been silent, finally spoke.
"Master Han, do you have a solution?" Chen Xi asked, his face lighting up with hope.
Without a word, Han Qiong's hand suddenly emitted a burst of icy blue light. After a few seconds, the light dissipated, and he casually tossed the little dog away. The dog let out a yelp as it hit the ground and rolled over before being quickly scooped up by a frantic Mi Zhen.
"There, problem solved," Han Qiong said smugly, completely oblivious to the hostile stares behind him.
"Hmph, you can keep it now, just be careful not to get bitten," Chen Xi said, knowing that Han Qiong had used his inner energy to suppress the dog's power. This meant the dog would be no more dangerous than an ordinary dog, though still a bit stronger.
"Hmph, who needs your approval? I could have kept it before!" Mi Zhen retorted. "Since you like to 'hmph' so much, I'll call you 'Hmph Hmph' from now on!" The little white dog wagged its tail excitedly as Zhen Mi petted it, almost as if it understood the new name.