Chapter 28 - Unexpectedly Adopting a Puppy

“Take that!” Lu Hong seized the moment to hurl his weapon towards the hunter classmate.

Facing the oncoming Pug, this guy didn’t resist; he even threw away his weapon.

Lu Hong’s move completely baffled everyone present, including the big shots on the viewing platform.

“What’s he doing?

Giving up resistance?”

“I know!” The hunter big shot slapped his forehead and forced an explanation, “He must think that if he throws away his weapon and loses his aggressiveness, the dog won’t attack him anymore.

That must be it.”

“Can you shut up?”

“Alright, I was just saying.”

Not only were the spectators guessing, but the Pug was also confused.

Is this guy an idiot?

Why did he throw his weapon away?

Does he think that’ll be the end of it?

Hmph!

Foolish humans!

The Pug internally raged with criticism, yet its limbs seemed to start powering to the sides against its will.

What’s happening to me?

As the greatsword sailed over the Pug’s head, its eyes widened as if discovering a new world; it screeched to a halt, stopping dead in Lu Hong’s face.

Then it turned and seemed to see only the thrown object, sprinting at full strength toward its new target.

“Oh, shit!

Dog Bro, no, your opponent is over there, don’t come this way.” The hunter classmate panicked when he saw the Pug charging at him.

Subsequently, both the hunter and his monkey were sent flying by the Pug, hitting the energy shield, and it looked like they’d lost their combat ability.

When people saw the Pug pick up Lu Hong’s greatsword from the ground and trot over to him, tail wagging, eager for praise, they had no clue what had happened.

In fact, Lu Hong didn’t understand either; he was just gambling.

He was betting on whether this dog was still a “stupid dog,” because normal dogs don’t like monkey butts, especially this monkey’s butt.

“Good boy!

You did very well.” Lu Hong stretched on his toes to pat the Pug’s head, instantly relaxing.

Had the dog not been distracted by the thrown weapon, he might have opted for a donkey roll to dodge the dog’s charge – a continuous donkey roll at that.

Even though he had Orcish blood, with physical and magic resistance far above the average person, this dog was obviously not normal; a direct confrontation would be likely futile.

“Woof woof woof!” At this moment, the dog was irritated; it didn’t understand why it had to fetch things or why it returned them to the benefactor unconsciously, and even less why it enjoyed being petted on the head.

But with that single stroke, it seemed like a mark on the dog’s head was triggered.

Suddenly, an invisible chain appeared, piercing through the hearts of Lu Hong and the dog, startling everyone present.

“Damn, is this Pug trying to take the warrior with it?” Forgive the audience below; their knowledge was too limited to discern what was happening.

But the big shots on the viewing platform were different; the hunter big shot almost dropped his jaw: “Is this, is this a Soul Contract?!”

Soul Contract, the highest level of equal contracts.

How did I sign a contract with this dumb dog, and why is it the highest level?

How did I sign a contract with this weak human?

The man and the dog looked disdainfully at each other, getting even angrier after hearing each other’s inner thoughts unexpectedly.

“Who are you calling dumb?

Clarify that!” the dog roared internally.

“Like you could spit ivory from a dog’s mouth!

Who’s the weak one, say it again!” Lu Hong demanded menacingly.

“Then I’ll say it again.

You’re just trash!” The dog sneered, unfazed by Lu Hong’s hostile gaze.

“Alright, alright!

You’ve got guts!

Just wait, tonight I’ll cook a dog meat hotpot with you in it!”

“Heh, I’m following you today, I’d like to see what you can do,” the dog retorted, looking back at the hunter and monkey comforting each other at a distance.

It said to the monkey, “I’ve got things to do, you better take good care of your butt.”

Hearing this, the monkey burrowed even tighter into its owner’s embrace, trembling.

“Is that your only hobby?

Pathetic.” Lu Hong scorned.

“What do you know; it’s called taste, taste, get it?”

Watching one man and one dog staring at each other on the platform, while on the other side a man and monkey huddled together for warmth, the referee slapped his head.

He might have officiated a sham of a match.

“Are you guys going to fight or what?”

“No more fighting, no more.

Even Doggy has betrayed us, how can we continue fighting.

Teacher, please take down the energy shield now!” The hunter student knew his combat power was lacking, and without Doggy’s help, he would never have been chosen to participate in the match.

Now that Doggy was gone, what could he use to fight others?

“Let’s move as soon as we leave the arena, and this time, Doggy definitely won’t be able to find us.” The hunter student whispered to the ghost-faced monkey in his arms.

“Squeak?

Squeak squeak!” The ghost-faced monkey was overjoyed, and suddenly, magic power surged within it.

Indeed, the monkey had broken through and officially became a fourth-level Demon Beast.

So, the hunter student and his monkey joyfully left the arena to move house…

“Congratulations, Young Master, congratulations!

Today you’ve actually acquired a magical pet.” As soon as Lu Hong left the arena, the old man hurried over to congratulate him.

“You’re just in time, take this Doggy away and give it a good beating, and later we’ll have a dog meat hotpot.” Lu Hong instructed the old man, pointing at Doggy, who had shrunk back to its original form.

“Humph, you think that by getting an old man, you can beat me?” Doggy sneered.

“Leave it to me!” The old man was puzzled by why Lu Hong was doing this, but since the young master had given an order, he dutifully went to carry it out.

With that, he grabbed Doggy by the legs, ready to drag it away from the arena to a quiet place to carry out the tasks Lu Hong had arranged.

Doggy would not just let the old man take it away so easily.

It was about to resist when the Fighting Spirit surged within the old man like a flood, completely suppressing Doggy without a chance to fight back.

“You bastard!

Getting someone so powerful to deal with me?

Don’t you have any sense of shame?” Doggy, although strong, could only bully others among those with First Transition Professions.

How could it possibly stand against someone like the old man, a Second Transition mid-level expert?

Thus, Doggy was dragged away, cursing and swearing…

“Tukuru!” Nono appeared by Lu Hong’s side at some point, asking with a displeased look, “Exactly what did my aunt say to you yesterday?”

“She said I should join the military after I graduate.” Lu Hong didn’t see the need to hide this, so he straightforwardly spoke out.

Seeing that Lu Hong didn’t show any hesitation, Nono decided to not worry about the matter for now.

This attitude pleased Nono – it seemed that he still trusted her.

Wrapped in a sense of trust, Nono began to worry about Lu Hong’s safety in the military again, “Lately, the friction between the Empire and Snowy Region has been escalating, and a great battle is likely to break out.

It’s too dangerous for you to enlist.

I really don’t know why my aunt would make you join the military—I won’t allow it!

I’ll go and talk to her to change her decision later.”

“I actually want to join the military anyway, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“No, it’s very dangerous!

But…” Nono, remembering her royal status, quickly changed her proposal, “I can arrange for you to have a clerical position or join a trusted aide squad, something that avoids the battlefield as much as possible, where you can still gain military honors.”

Nono thought that Lu Hong wanted to join the military to earn merits and climb up the imperial hierarchy.

After all, these days, the quickest way to rise in rank was through military service.

“No way, I’d rather wander the world than be a bureaucrat.

I want to join the military to fight on the front lines, so don’t mess things up for me.” Lu Hong quickly stopped Nono’s plan.

Although he had never inquired about her identity, it wasn’t hard to guess that Nono was someone of great importance.

If Nono really did manage to get him a clerical position, joining the military would be of no benefit.

“Okay, okay, you know how powerful I am, so let’s not rush into arguing about this for now.

I’ll treat you to dog meat hotpot—let’s go, let’s go.” Seeing Nono wanted to say more, Lu Hong quickly changed the subject.

“Dog meat?

Where did it come from?”

“It’s from that dog I fought with in the arena.”

“I heard the teacher say that it had signed a contract with you?” Nono looked puzzled—eating one’s magical pet?

No sane person would ever do that!

“What’s the use of keeping Doggy if it doesn’t obey?

Better to enjoy a good meal.” Thus, Lu Hong first took Nono for a stroll around the academy, giving the old man plenty of time to deal with Doggy, before slowly heading back to the courtyard.

By then, Doggy was being forcibly held down in a boiling pot of water, its cries of agony continually coming from its mouth, but it was unable to escape the old man’s suppression.

“Help!

Get this old coot off me!” Doggy called out as soon as it saw Lu Hong arriving.

“I said we’re having dog meat hotpot, and that’s what we’ll have.” Lu Hong sneered.

“Ah, Young Master, you’re back.

Doggy’s skin is thick; it might take a while longer to cook.

Please rest for a bit.”

“Tukuru, are you really going to stew this Demon Beast?” It was only then that Nono believed Lu Hong’s decision.

How could that be possible?

Doggy was quite powerful—what a waste it would be to stew it!

“Yes, who said I was kidding?” Lu Hong muttered insincerely.

Realizing Lu Hong was serious about stewing it, Doggy quickly pleaded, “No, no, brother!

My dear brother, we made a pact; you can’t just stew me!”

“The pact is an equal one.

If you die, I’ll be fine.

What’s the use of keeping a disobedient dog like you?” Lu Hong sneered.

“No, no, I’ll obey!

Just let me go, and I’ll be your loyal lackey.

If you tell me to go east, I will not go west!” A whiff of meaty aroma emerged, making Doggy realize it might really get cooked soon!

“Are you certain?”

“Certain, certain!

Brother!

My dear brother, I think I’m getting cooked!

Please, believe me!” Doggy howled.

“Fine, I’ll give you another chance.

If I find you disobedient again, I will stew you for real.” Lu Hong felt the timing was just right and then said, “Old man, let it go.”