Chapter 18: Cat, Dog, and Human

“Roar… roar?”

The golden retriever froze at first. 

Although it couldn’t understand the black cat’s words, it somehow felt that the other party had insulted its dignity as a dog. 

Unfortunately, it truly had no energy left to argue with the black cat. 

Lacking any spirit, it lay down on the ground, staring blankly at the floor. 

The entire dog looked utterly listless. 

It just felt so hungry. 

Its stomach growled.

Bai Ziyu sat down on the wall ledge. 

She observed it. 

This golden retriever was starving to such an extent, yet it still hadn’t attacked the woman from earlier. 

So either it possessed high intelligence, or it had been adopted by someone in the past only to be abandoned later. 

She paused, then meowed at the golden retriever.

“Meow?”

Are you a dog yokai?

“Roar.”

“Meow?”

Can’t you understand?

“Roar.”

The only replies Bai Ziyu received were the golden retriever’s unconscious, mumbling syllables. 

As expected, this fellow was just an ordinary dog.

The black cat let out a soft sigh. 

The excitement and faint hope she had felt were thoroughly extinguished. 

It seemed that in this world, she truly was the only yokai.

Since the facts were clear and the dog showed no intention of harming anyone, she couldn’t be bothered to “uphold justice on behalf of heaven.” 

That would be far too troublesome.

The black cat turned to leave. 

Yet she had barely taken half a step with her paw before pulling it back. 

She couldn’t resist looking into the small alley once more.

The golden retriever’s eyelids drooped heavily, its gaze drowsy and unfocused. 

Its lusterless fur was matted and tangled, covered in mud from the rain several days earlier.

Bai Ziyu knew in her heart that once it fell asleep, it might never wake up again. 

It would remain there until someone discovered the body tomorrow and disposed of it.

“Meow.”

I really can’t do anything with you.

The black cat bit her lip, feeling somewhat conflicted. 

She couldn’t help recalling her own days as a stray… 

Well, she had been much better off than this golden retriever back then.

After all, she was so adorable that anyone who saw her wanted to come over and pet her. 

Food had been piled up for her, more than she could eat, even if it was all cold.

However, the hardships of life on the streets weren’t easy to endure. 

Bai Ziyu had realized this deeply long ago. 

Seeing the dog now, she inevitably felt a touch of empathy.

After a moment of hesitation.

She made her decision.

Plop.

It seemed as if something had fallen straight from the wall ledge into the small alley. 

The golden retriever sniffed, and a rich, savory aroma filled its nose.

Its drool nearly spilled all over the ground. 

Opening its eyes, it saw an opened ham sausage lying quietly right in front of it.

Sensing something, the golden retriever lifted its head and gazed at the black cat with eyes full of gratitude. 

Then it lowered its head and devoured the sausage with great gusto.

Bai Ziyu watched its ravenous manner.

She shook her head.

“Meow.”

This was supposed to be my midnight snack, you know.

“Meow.”

Remember to compensate me.

The black cat meowed softly twice and looked away. 

That sausage should be enough to sustain the golden retriever’s life for now. 

As for whether it could survive afterward, she didn’t plan to get involved.

Bai Ziyu let out a light hum, turned elegantly, and strode toward home. 

A gentle breeze blew past, causing her fur to ripple like waves.

The black cat lightly leaped into the darkness.

She disappeared beneath the moonlight.

***

Luo Yunzhi’s daily life remained as simple as ever. 

She hadn’t noticed that Bai Ziyu had sneaked out the previous night. 

Just like always, she prepared breakfast for the black cat.

“Xiao Bai, good morning.”

“Meow.”

Good morning.

After finishing breakfast, the girl slung her backpack over her shoulders and hurried off to school. 

She attended classes, ate lunch, and waited in the classroom for dismissal.

The previous “monster” incident seemed to have had no effect on her. 

Her routine remained unchanged, and her academic performance showed no decline whatsoever.

Aside from needing to take a longer detour at night because of that “monster,” her life was peaceful, mundane, and ordinary.

What Luo Yunzhi never expected was that as soon as she arrived at the convenience store for her shift that day, she learned the “monster” no longer existed.

Her face filled with astonishment.

“What? It was a dog?”

The girl’s surprised voice rang out inside the store. 

Fortunately, there were no customers at the moment, so it didn’t draw any attention. 

“That monster was actually a dog?”

“You wouldn’t have guessed, huh? Neither did I.” 

At this, Sister Li couldn’t help sighing with emotion. 

“Someone discovered it this morning while passing by the small alley.”

“The rumored ‘monster’ turned out to be a pitiful, skin-and-bones golden retriever. 

That dog was terrified of people. 

It would hide the moment it saw anyone.”

“That’s why it went undiscovered for so many days. 

Those strange howls came from its empty stomach, and it was so hungry that its eyes started glowing green.”

Sister Li let out a deep, sorrowful sigh.

“How pitiful.”

“It really is quite pitiful.”

Luo Yunzhi’s expression shifted slightly. 

Only then did she recover from the shock of Sister Li’s news. 

Combined with what she had seen before, it truly seemed to be the case.

She patted her chest, feeling relieved, yet still somewhat puzzled. 

“You said it’s afraid of people. 

So how was it discovered?”

“How would I know?”

Sister Li shrugged. 

“I heard that the dog seemed to be waiting for something. 

When people came by, it didn’t hide anymore and just stayed obediently in the alley.”

As if recalling something, the middle-aged woman continued after a pause, “But no matter how pitiful it is, I think that golden retriever will still be staying there.”

Luo Yunzhi blinked.

“Why?”

The girl knew that once someone found the dog, they would probably arrange for it to be handled—whether taken away, contained, or adopted.

But it was still there… 

She couldn’t understand it. 

It was almost unbelievable. 

“Could it be unwilling to leave?”

“You guessed correctly.”

Sister Li chuckled, her hands arranging merchandise. 

“That golden retriever can be considered quite loyal. 

It’s waiting for a specific person, and it refuses to leave the spot where they left it.”

“The family living next door to me wanted to adopt it. 

But before they could even enter the alley, the dog started baring its teeth, warning them not to come closer.”

“Throwing food in from outside is allowed, though.”

Sister Li sounded quite helpless.

“At least it won’t starve to death.”

“Uh… It has quite the personality.” 

Hearing this, Luo Yunzhi couldn’t help twitching the corners of her mouth. 

She was about to speak when a customer pushed open the door and entered.

She could only close her mouth and return to her work. 

In her heart, however, she was already thinking that when she got home, she must go check on the golden retriever.

The golden retriever truly was very pitiful.

She would feed it some food.

***

Closing time arrived right on schedule. 

After changing out of her work uniform and bidding Sister Li goodbye, Luo Yunzhi left the convenience store carrying some food she had purchased at the employee discount.

Knowing the truth about the “monster,” the girl no longer felt anxious. 

She walked forward and even deliberately chose her old route.

It didn’t take long before Luo Yunzhi arrived near the small alley. 

The streetlights flickered. 

Even the lamp at the alley entrance still hadn’t been repaired.

She felt a touch of resignation.

Stepping into the darkness.

And following closely behind her… 

In the small alley, accompanied by an unpleasant low growl, two clusters of “ghost fire” lit up faintly, drifting eerily.