Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Mystic Hound

Wu Ming had been the head of the Yiqi Dao Sect for just over a year. The New Year had barely passed, and the business in Wu Ming's online shop had entered the legendary off-season. Although the sect now only had a handful of members, which meant fewer expenses, profits were equally pitiful. Especially since the well-known former leader had returned to the Spirit Realm, customers seeking fortune-telling, character readings, or feng shui consultations left disappointed—Wu Ming simply had no idea how to do any of it.

"Sigh," Wu Ming drained a large cup of Yixing black tea in one gulp. Forget about savoring the tea; he lacked that sort of sentimentality. He drank like a thirsty ox, and the warmth that filled his stomach seemed to ease his melancholy. He had thought that taking over the Yiqi Dao Sect would be like becoming a CEO, marrying a rich beauty, and stepping onto the pinnacle of life. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a pitfall—a money-devouring machine that forced him to work doggedly for every penny.

He set the teacup down and fiddled with the laptop in front of him. The online shop still had no business, and even visitors were scarce. Fortunately, he recalled what Director Storm Dragon had told him: after the New Year, online shopping slows down, and things would only pick up again in mid to late March. His mood improved considerably.

Just then, his QQ messenger chimed. Wu Ming glanced at the avatar—a Taoist priest's head, with the nickname "Sect Announcements," a rather odd name, and he couldn't remember when he'd added them as a contact.

"Sect Leader Wu Ming, hello!" Wu Ming opened the blinking avatar, and sure enough, the message was addressed to him.

"Hello, may I ask who you are?" Wu Ming replied, adopting the tone of an online customer service representative.

"May I ask if this item in your shop comes with free shipping?" Clearly, the other party was confused as well—another online shopping addict.

"Ahem, that's not right! I am San Jin, the liaison of Yiqi Dao Sect from the Spirit Realm!" The other party quickly corrected himself, realizing his mistake.

"Oh, so the Spirit Realm can access the internet too! What can I do for you?" Wu Ming typed into the chat box.

"Sect mission: There are signs of spiritual activity in the Yangxian region of the human world under Yiqi Dao Sect's watch. The sect leader stationed in the human realm is required to coordinate with disciples to investigate and handle the situation!"

"So there are such assignment tickets? Is there any reward?" Wu Ming inquired.

"Upon completion of the sect mission, a spiritual hound will be awarded. Due to the special nature of this task, the reward will be delivered in advance!"

As the text appeared, the young Daoist Wang Anquan brought Wu Ming a courier box, the lid already open, revealing the head of what looked like a pug dog poking out. Wu Ming craned his neck toward the box. It truly was an exceptionally ugly pug, with legs oddly splayed outward, a dog’s head resembling a pig’s, fur all dull and gray, marked with tiger-like stripes.

"Are you sure this so-called spiritual hound is not just a dog your sect thought was too hideous, too voracious, and, crucially, a cripple—the tail is missing—and decided to dump it on me like garbage?" Wu Ming eyed the fat dog with no affection, unable to discern any trace of spiritual power.

"First of all, this is a bulldog. Secondly, this breed of spiritual hound is born tailless. Moreover, it is a beast with the bloodline of the gluttonous fiend, not the garbage you claim. If you don't want it, you can return it!"

"I see! Well, I suppose I’ll accept it reluctantly, but if it turns out to be different from what you said, I’ll leave a bad review and return it!" Wu Ming's reply was shamelessly brazen.