"Servant, where’s the tribute you promised to bring me?" Coco sat on the sofa, arms crossed, a smug grin on her face as she watched her brother massage her feet.
Her delicate, porcelain-white feet looked like precious works of art. Feng Ye channeled spiritual energy to invigorate her blood flow, sighing. "I had it, but on the way back, I ran into a Beast again. The tribute got destroyed."
"What?" Coco snapped. "Do you think I’m three years old? Who runs into Beasts every single day? You’re not even a spearman!"
"I’m not lying," Feng Ye said. "Check the news on TV if you don’t believe me."
As if on cue, the TV broadcasted breaking news: half an hour ago, the A-Rank Awakened "Shooting Star" had eliminated another A-Rank Beast, safeguarding Haven City. In the distant shot, Coco spotted a familiar cake shop now reduced to rubble.
Her brows furrowed in displeasure. She lifted one foot and stomped it right onto Feng Ye’s face. "Useless Servant! You couldn’t even protect this young lady’s tribute!"
"Idiot! Don’t kick your legs up while wearing a skirt—your panties are showing!" Feng Ye grumbled, shifting her tiny foot off his face. Though her foot—smaller than his palm—didn’t hurt, and carried the faint fragrance of shower gel, having his little sister’s sole pressed against his face made his dignity as an older brother evaporate completely.
"You wash my panties every day anyway. You’ve seen it all already," Coco said nonchalantly.
"That’s totally different..."
Feng Ye couldn’t help but flick her forehead.
"Hah? Filthy Servant! Not only did you fail to protect your master’s tribute, but you dare resist her punishment too?" Coco yowled like an angry kitten, pouncing onto Feng Ye to bite and nibble him.
Rollroll, gnawing a plastic bone nearby, widened its eyes at its suddenly feral-looking little master, then rolled them skyward.
"Coco, stop messing around," Feng Ye hurriedly said. "Look—Rollroll’s laughing at you."
Coco whipped her head around, furious. "What? A dumb dog dares mock its master? I’ll turn you into dog meat hotpot!" She grabbed a feather pillow, leaped off the sofa, and chased after Rollroll.
Rollroll immediately darted under the sofa, shooting Feng Ye—who was smirking on the couch—a deeply resentful glare. *Damn it. If I could beat you, I’d slam that Green Pot Lid right onto your head!*
Of course, Rollroll only dared think it. Actually doing it would surely end its life as a dog.
...
"Damn it! This cursed pot lid! That cursed dog!"
Walking down the street, Lü Xiaodao’s face was bruised and swollen, his teeth clenched in fury. He truly wished he could chop Rollroll into pieces.
"Brother Xiaodao, what do we do now?" The timid driver’s face was also battered, though far better off than Lü Xiaodao—whose cheek was puffed up like a balloon, and whose head was wrapped in bandages like a Sandy Tribe tribesman from S City, topped with a glowing green pot lid.
Even through the bandages, an eerie green light seeped out. Every time the driver saw it, he thought Lü Xiaodao might need a new name: Green Xiaodao.
Though Brother Xiaodao wouldn’t have to flip his surname upside down like a character for failing to catch the dog, becoming "Green Xiaodao" seemed inevitable. The driver wasn’t sure if that was a loss or a win, but he’d learned his lesson: never make rash vows. Who knew how karma would strike back?
"What do we do? Go home and treat these injuries first, obviously. You think we should hunt that dog looking like this?" Green... Lü Xiaodao snapped. Passersby’s stares pricked his skin like needles.
"Never seen a Sandy Tribe turban before? Keep staring, and I’ll gouge your eyes out!" he snarled at a passing couple, sending them scurrying away with lowered heads.
"Guess all that propaganda about racial harmony was poorly thought out," the boyfriend muttered once they were far enough. "Sandy Tribe folks are so hot-tempered. Better leave them herding in the northwest."
If the Sandy Tribe knew Lü Xiaodao was single-handedly ruining their hard-earned reputation, they’d probably chop him into mincemeat.
Seeing Lü Xiaodao’s sudden volatility, the driver didn’t dare linger. Since they’d decided to treat their wounds first, he quickly made an excuse to leave.
Lü Xiaodao grunted. "After you’re patched up, assemble immediately. Bring hotpot ingredients too—we’re having dog meat hotpot tonight."
With the tracker guaranteeing Rollroll’s location and a three-day deadline, Lü Xiaodao wasn’t overly anxious. Especially since the signal placed it right in Haven City.
After giving orders, Lü Xiaodao headed home. Truthfully, the ominous feeling from that green pot lid on his head was why he hadn’t rushed to hunt Rollroll down yet...
And that night, the driver never managed to get through to Lü Xiaodao’s phone...
...
"What’s for dinner?"
Feng Ye’s eye twitched as he watched his sister using Rollroll as a footrest.
"Anything but greens," Coco declared.
"Bark!" Rollroll barked in agreement.
On food matters, Coco and Rollroll shared uncanny common ground.
Feng Ye decided on fried meat patties—minced meat and vegetables wrapped in a crispy batter. That should keep Coco from complaining.
As for Rollroll, regular dog food would do.
"Lend me your pot," Feng Ye said. For some reason, cooking in Rollroll’s pot made ingredients taste exceptionally good.
Rollroll casually spat out a green pot. But seeing Feng Ye’s darkening expression, it quickly swallowed the green one and coughed up its Black Cauldron instead.
"Eh!"
Coco’s eyes lit up like she’d found a new toy. "Dumb dog, where’s that other pot? Spit it out—I want to play with it!"
Rollroll shook its head frantically. If its little master slammed that green pot onto its head, it’d be bred with a teddy for sure.
"What a useless flunky," Coco huffed. "Won’t even lend your pot to me? And you call yourself my top enforcer?"
Rollroll’s forehead beaded with sweat. *Damn it. That title was forced on me by you.*
But then it remembered Feng Ye was technically the *second*-ranked enforcer under Coco—and for some reason, a flicker of pride warmed its chest.
...
