Chapter 441: Chapter 387: Don’t Bully My Puppy

The surroundings were indistinct, noisy, and crowded, filled with the towering figures of Beastmen. Gu Ning stood among them, and it seemed as though even the lights were dimmed, blocked by their massive forms.

After steadying herself, Gu Ning felt a weight on her shoulder and looked up at the Beastman in front of her.

She couldn’t quite make out the Beastman’s face.

It wasn’t that the lights were too dim, but that the Beastman was wearing a hood, hiding most of his face in shadow. With his back to the light, the first thing she could make out were a few strands of long, grayish-white hair spilling from his hood onto his chest. The color was unusual—the tips faded to black.

Gu Ning’s gaze lingered on his hair for a couple of seconds. As she tried to step back, the hand on her shoulder tightened its grip, holding her firmly in place with a measured pressure.

"Let go—"

Just as Gu Ning spoke, the stuffed puppy she had dropped in the snow was held out in front of her.

"Is this yours?"

The Beastman leaned down slightly, one hand still on her shoulder, the other offering her the stuffed puppy.

An unfamiliar scent washed over Gu Ning. She flinched, about to push his hand away, but the Beastman released her first. He remained leaning over, however, and pushed the stuffed puppy a little closer to her.

Gu Ning hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you," as she took the stuffed puppy, her eyes simultaneously sweeping over the Beastman’s face.

Now that she was closer and he was leaning down, she could see... and yet, she still couldn’t see his face.

The Beastman was wearing a face mask, so all Gu Ning could see were his eyes—a pair of clear, cold, ice-blue eyes.

Seeing those eyes, Gu Ning felt a strange sense of familiarity. ’It’s like... I’ve seen them somewhere before.’

Kaper’s gaze also locked onto her eyes.

’The little female is bundled up tightly, her head and face wrapped securely, revealing only this pair of sparkling, jet-black eyes.’

’Very familiar.’

Before either of them could think any further, the sound of Cook’s "WOOF WOOF WOOF" grew closer, and then a gigantic puppy came bounding over, sending a flurry of snowflakes into the air.

"Ning! Ning!"

Having found her, Cook’s voice was a mix of worry and excitement as he wagged his big, fluffy tail and nudged up against her.

Gu Ning was knocked to the ground by the puppy’s backside, only to be quickly grabbed and pulled up by the hand wrapped in black cloth.

"WOOF!" Cook saw the Beastman next to Gu Ning and froze for a moment. He tentatively stretched his head forward to sniff, then tilted his head in confusion. "Woof?"

Kaper released Gu Ning and slowly straightened up, his gaze shifting from the little female to his foolish younger brother.

’The pup’s nose is sharp, though. It’s why I didn’t dare get too close and could only look for a chance to grab the trophy.’

Kaper glanced to his right. Not far off, the handful of Mixed Breeds he’d hired had already started a fight with the Beastmen protecting the little female.

The noisy crowd concealed the commotion. Kaper wasn’t in any hurry. His gaze returned to his silly brother and the female.

’From a distance, the female looked tiny. Up close, she’s still just as tiny.’

"Cook?"

Gu Ning brushed the snow from her clothes. Seeing Cook standing defensively in front of her, she tried to pull him back, wanting to prevent a conflict with the other Beastman.

Cook nudged her hand and paced anxiously in place, his eyes fixed on the blue-eyed Beastman.

Gu Ning hugged Cook’s arm and whispered, "Cook, he didn’t hurt me. Let’s go find Barto and the others."

Cook stopped moving when she held onto him, but his tail began to whip back and forth even more anxiously.

Gu Ning tried to pull him away, but unlike usual, Cook wouldn’t follow her lead. He sat there, stock-still. He was such a large puppy; she couldn’t budge him at all.

She glanced at the Beastman who had retrieved her toy. He was also standing motionless. Sensing her gaze, he turned his head slightly to look at her.

"Cook, let’s go..." Taking this as a dangerous signal, Gu Ning ducked behind Cook and yanked hard on his arm.

"GRRR... WOOF!!!" Cook remained fixated on the blue-eyed Beastman, a strange growl rumbling in his throat.

Terrified that Cook would pounce and start a fight, Gu Ning pulled on him with all her might. "Cook!"

Kaper’s eyes flickered. His gaze shifted between her and Cook before he raised his right hand toward Cook.

Cook initially retreated, instinctively trying to protect Gu Ning. But just as Gu Ning thought she had pulled him back, the big puppy let out an excited "WOOF!" and lunged forward, pulling her along with him.

In that instant, she glimpsed the Beastman deftly sidestep and raise his hand—

"WOOF!"

Cook was slammed to the ground by an immense force. Gu Ning was about to fall face-first into the snow, the tip of her nose nearly touching it, when she was caught by the back of her collar.

Her knees hovered over the snow, caught in a half-kneel. She lifted her gaze and met that pair of ice-blue eyes.

The Beastman was crouched on the ground, one hand pinning Cook down, the other holding her up.

Gu Ning met his gaze for two seconds, then looked down at the struggling Cook. In a stern voice, she said, "You... You’re not allowed to bully my puppy."

Kaper glanced down at Cook, then spoke slowly. "Your... puppy?"

Gu Ning: "Yes. He’s mine."

Cook: "ARF ARF ARF!"

Gu Ning nodded. "Exactly!"

Kaper raised an eyebrow and glanced around. "Your puppy? He’s a Mixed Breed." ’This little female is spouting nonsense.’

Gu Ning: "He’s my puppy."

Cook: "ARF ARF ARF!"

Kaper applied a little more pressure to the pup’s head. His gaze returned to the little female’s face. Her hat had fallen off, and stray strands of hair now obscured her features.

Gu Ning grabbed his wrist with both of her hands. Keeping her voice low, she tried to sound fierce. "You, let us go. Or else... I’ll beat you up."

Kaper stared intently into her eyes for a moment. He leaned in slightly, trying to get a better look at her face, when a massive black wolf lunged at him.

Kaper’s eyes darted to the side. In the nick of time, he released them both and leaped backward, dodging the Black Wolf’s attack.

Alex shielded Gu Ning and Cook, his body low in an attack stance as he snarled at the other Beastman.

Kaper put a good seven or eight meters between them, his gaze sweeping over the Black Wolf—

’The bag isn’t on him anymore.’

’Did the Mixed Breeds get it?’

Kaper took a half-step back. Just as he was about to leave, a red blur shot out of the crowd. "Xiao Ning! Cook!"

Hearing the vaguely familiar voice, Kaper froze. His gaze shifted to the redhead who had rushed to the little female’s side.

’This fox...’

Kaper looked him up and down, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

A thought occurred to him, and he glanced at Cook again.

’No way... Right?’

Barto let out a sigh of relief after making sure Gu Ning was unharmed. He shot a cold glare at the Beastman standing there. "Who sent you? Tell me and I might let you live."

Kaper’s focus returned as he spotted the bag at Barto’s waist. He sighed internally. ’A waste of money. Looks like I have to do it myself after all.’

"GRR-WOOF!" Cook pawed at the snow and shouldered Alex aside.

"Cook." Gu Ning reached for Cook’s hand, but Alex suddenly nipped her gently, pulling her to the side.

When Gu Ning looked back for Barto, he was already fighting the blue-eyed Beastman.

Barto was unarmed, but his movements were nimble and swift. He intended to capture the man and see just who was brazen enough to attack them in plain sight, right here in the Inner District of the 12th District.

However, the Beastman did nothing but dodge, as slippery as an eel. Barto’s brow furrowed. After the man evaded his attack yet again, Barto reached for the short blade at his waist.

A faint blue light flashed before their eyes, followed by a sharp "CLANG!" The blue-eyed Beastman had blocked Barto’s short blade.

And the weapon that blocked Barto’s dagger was a sharp, silver-white blade that had extended from the blue-eyed Beastman’s own right hand.

Seeing this, the color drained from Gu Ning’s face.

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