After transmigrating into the body of the protagonist's childhood friend, he was targeted by a

Bai Ya carefully chose her words before slowly speaking, "Xiao Hei is still too young; its bloodline hasn't awakened at all. As you've probably noticed, although it has royal blood, its physique and spiritual energy are not much different from ordinary cubs."

"This child has been well protected by you, but precisely because it has been so well protected, its bloodline has remained dormant. If we don't awaken it soon, it may be too late when it gets older."

Yu Linzhou frowned slightly: "You want to keep it?"

Baiya shook her head: "I don't want to take it away from you. I just hope it can stay here for now, and we can teach it."

"My benefactor, it carries the royal bloodline. If it doesn't grow stronger, it will surely suffer in the future. This child is the hope of the Wolf-Eating Clan, and also yours."

After a moment of silence, Yu Linzhou turned his head and glanced at Lin Zhixu: "What do you think?"

Lin Zhixu looked down at the little black dog in the corner, who had already chewed the glowing bead until it was wet, and remained silent for a while.

"Stay. I trust you will take good care of it."

A glint flashed in Bai Ya's eyes, and she quickly replied, "Of course. Don't worry, it won't be long. Once its bloodline is fully awakened and it can cultivate on its own, we will let it go."

Lin Zhixu nodded and didn't say anything more.

He walked to the corner, squatted down, and gently picked up Xiao Hei, who was still struggling with the beads.

The little guy was suddenly picked up, and the beads slipped from his paws. He let out a yelp and then snuggled closer to him.

Lin Zhixu rubbed its ears, handed it to Bai Ya, and said earnestly, "I'll leave the rest to you."

Bai Ya gently took Xiao Hei and held it steadily in her arms, saying softly, "Please rest assured, we are all its family, and we will definitely not let it suffer any harm."

With the matter resolved, the two did not linger any longer.

Baiya carried Xiaohei and escorted them to the exit.

The little guy was initially lying quietly in her arms, but when Lin Zhixu turned to leave, it suddenly seemed to sense something and began to struggle violently.

It made urgent whimpering sounds and desperately poked its head out in Lin Zhixu's direction.

Bai Ya quickly hugged it tightly, gently comforting it as she stroked its back.

After leaving the territory, the sunlight outside was a bit too bright.

Yu Linzhou glanced at Lin Zhixu's profile and suddenly asked, "Are you really willing to do that?"

Lin Zhixu said calmly, "What can I do if I'm reluctant? I can't selfishly keep it by my side forever. It will grow up eventually, and constantly protecting it will only harm it."

Yu Linzhou: "If you really miss it, I'll get you another spirit beast."

Lin Zhixu finally stopped and turned to look at him, her tone firm: "No. Xiao Hei is Xiao Hei, and no one in this world can replace it."

Yu Linzhou was struck in the heart by these words, and his heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

He couldn't quite explain what was making his heart flutter, but he felt that Lin Zhixu's serious demeanor at that moment made it impossible for him to look away.

It's so captivating.

Lin Zhixu didn't know what he was daydreaming about again, but he was used to it.

"When will you go next time? Please bring all the toys and food I prepared for Xiao Hei with you."

Yu Linzhou: "...Oh."

……

Since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Lin Zhixu has clearly felt that his cultivation speed has slowed down.

Cultivating skills alone is far from enough to improve one's cultivation level; it seems that one must accumulate practical combat experience.

Having made up his mind, Lin Zhixu packed his luggage and prepared to go down the mountain.

Before leaving, he went to say goodbye to Yu Linzhou.

Yu Linzhou was lounging on a deck chair under the eaves, basking in the sun. After listening to what he said, he waved his hand lazily.

Lin Zhixu glanced at him, somewhat surprised.

This person usually pesters him to tell him when he'll be back, even when he goes to the main peak to turn in a mission. But today he's changed his ways.

It was rare to find Yu Linzhou so unattached, and Lin Zhixu was more than happy to oblige, so he immediately turned and left.

As soon as his footsteps disappeared at the end of the stone path, Yu Linzhou sat up abruptly, his previous drowsy and listless demeanor completely gone.

He squinted, discerned the direction Lin Zhixu had gone, and silently followed.

……

After leaving the mountain gate, Lin Zhixu put away his flying sword and wandered aimlessly along the official road.

We passed through several villages and towns along the way, occasionally stopping to inquire about any monsters appearing nearby, but the answers we received were mostly vague.

He wasn't in a hurry, so he simply slowed down and took it as a way to relax.

After spending too much time at Qiyue Peak, going out for a walk actually made me feel much more relaxed.

I don't know why, but I always feel a faint chill on the back of my neck from time to time, as if someone is watching me from the shadows.

But every time I looked back, all I saw was an empty official road and the distant, rolling mountain shadows.

He frowned, quickened his pace, and turned into a grove of trees ahead.

……

Lin Zhixu walked through the woods, and suddenly the view opened up before him.

A small town is built along the river, with stalls and shops crowding both sides of the bluestone road, and the air is filled with the aroma of braised meat and freshly baked sesame cakes.

He found an inconspicuous wonton shop on the edge of town, ordered a bowl of their signature fresh pork wontons, and chose a seat by the window.

While waiting for my wontons, snippets of conversation from the locals at the next table drifted into my ears.

Besides gossiping about the Dong family, Lin Zhixu also heard something else that interested him.

Two middle-aged men dressed as traveling merchants at the next table lowered their voices and changed the subject.

"Have you heard? Things have been unsettled in Nanshan lately. Several caravans traveling at night have been robbed; not only were their goods stolen, but the caravans have also disappeared."

"Several groups of government officials went there, but they found nothing, and quite a few people went missing. If you ask me, it definitely wasn't the bandits. Bandits wouldn't have that kind of ability."

"That's right. One of the officials who escaped said that every night he would hear a strange sound, like something crying, a sound that made people's scalps tingle. He was so scared that he wet his pants and scrambled down the mountain, which saved his life."

Lin Zhixu only snapped out of his daze when a steaming bowl of wontons was placed in front of him.

A layer of glistening oil floats in the celadon bowl, with chopped scallions and cilantro sprinkled on top. Stimulated by the hot soup, the aroma wafts straight into the nose.

He picked up a spoon, scooped one up, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

The dough is rolled out thinly yet chewy, and when you bite into it, you find finely chopped pork with bits of shrimp mixed in.

The town is located by the water and is rich in aquatic products, with shrimp meat being particularly fresh and delicious.

It's definitely not made from dead shrimp.

This trip down the mountain was worth it, even just for this bowl of wontons.

While eating, Lin Zhixu silently memorized the location of the restaurant, planning to come back again on his way back.

Lin Zhixu paid the money, got up and left the wonton shop, quickly disappearing into the crowd at the street corner.

No sooner had he left than Yu Linzhou appeared, walking leisurely into the restaurant and sitting down directly in the spot where Lin Zhixu had just been sitting.

He glanced at the empty bowls still on the table and pointed, "Boss, what did that guy order? Give me a bowl too."

Shopkeeper: "Okay, please wait a moment, sir."