Ning An's Wild Wish System

Chapter 390: Chapter 230: Loyal Black Dog: Sacrificing Its Beloved for a Better Life for Its Master

[Wish Return Method: The owner of the big black dog lies sick in bed, barely hanging on, his life can be measured in less than an hour.

After an hour, by burning the dearest thing to the big black dog, his owner’s vital signs can be revived, but only for half a day.]

Reading the panel’s content, Ning An sighed inwardly, thinking how bizarre the system was becoming.

The live streaming viewers were abuzz with excitement.

"Ziqiao, seriously, I’m not lying to you, there’s really a dog here."

"The dog isn’t the point, the point is it really understands barter, and it can even make a wish."

"I’m really not lying, if you don’t believe me, just open the video, the way it makes a wish is more devout than my grandma!"

"..."

Ning An withdrew his gaze, and just then the big black dog had finished making its wish too, their eyes met, and its gaze was very human-like, full of desperate pleading.

Ning An patted its head, sighed, "Good dog, what a good dog."

Then he stood up, clasped his hands to apologize to the incense burners around, asking them to come again tomorrow, and went out with the big black dog.

...

The big black dog somehow knew the way to Changchun Temple, it led Ning An through twists and turns, the road becoming more rugged and the location more remote.

No one else was around, Ning An held the big black dog in one arm, striding boldly in the direction it pointed, in just a few breaths, they disappeared from view.

Finally, they came upon a makeshift house, the big black dog became agitated, jumping from Ning An’s arms and barking excitedly at the shack.

Surrounding the shack was wasteland, a stack of cardboard was piled at the entrance, and on the right was a large sack full of plastic bottles, despite a slight stench, it was all quite orderly.

Before Ning An could take another look, the big black dog had impatiently rushed into the shack.

Seeing this, Ning An followed inside.

Entering the courtyard, a peculiar stench hit his nose, and upon glancing up, he saw a dog’s carcass lying beside the entrance.

Although autumn had arrived, the daytime was still hot, the corpse had begun to decompose, flies swarmed over the decay, emitting a piercing stench.

A dark collar hung from its neck, tethered to a dead tree, not far from the carcass lay a metal bowl, still containing quite a bit of food, mostly mushrooms.

The big black dog before the shack couldn’t open the door, anxiously barking twice at Ning An.

Ning An walked over, with a creak, pushed the door open.

As soon as the door opened, a tide of dampness, moisture, and a strong earthy smell rushed at Ning An.

Ning An covered his nose and mouth with mana and stepped directly into the dimly lit shack.

Though the shack was small and cluttered, it was quite tidily arranged, even the somewhat battered stove, its paint peeling badly, was spotless.

Perhaps the door’s sound was too loud, a weak cough came from inside, "Baoping? Or Jiadong?"

Not waiting for a reply, another fit of harsh coughs followed, breathless, he said, "Xiaohai isn’t barking... ah, I must be confused, it must have left by now."

The big black dog, hearing its master’s voice, jumped and danced in excitement, but much of its resentment had dissolved now, its form no longer solid, the old man couldn’t see or hear it.

Ning An followed the sound, finding an elderly man lying under a cotton linen quilt, his chest heaving violently on a heated brick bed.

His face was gaunt, bloodless, beside him lay an unfinished bowl of mushroom soup, a pot warming on the stove, emitting the earthy stench.

Sensing someone entering, the old man strained to sit up, struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak, "Is it Baoping or Jiadong, my eyes are old and dim, can’t see clearly."

"Old man, I’m neither Baoping nor Jiadong, I’m the Daoist from our mountain."

Ning An approached, letting the light enable the old man to see clearly.

The old man squinted, leaning forward with great effort, his chest began heaving again.

After a while, he weakly responded, "Ah, it’s Daoist Ning, I recognize you, my little grandson mentioned you some days ago."

"Now we’ve nothing at home, and nothing to... to entertain you with..."

He fell silent after saying this, as if gathering strength to speak again.

In the time the old man rested, Ning An glanced around, quickly spotting a thermos flask not far on a wooden cabinet.

He picked it up and shook it, there was still plenty of hot water, taking a bowl from the wooden cupboard nearby, he poured some hot water into it.

"Old man, here, drink some water first." Ning An handed over the bowl filled with water.

"Thank you... thank you, Daoist." The old man trembled as he took the bowl and drank in small sips, yet quickly.

In the time it takes for a cup of tea, he had drained the bowl.

With the hot water settling, some color returned to his face, and he seemed to regain some strength, his eyes finally able to open a bit wider.

"Daoist, thank you, may I trouble you with a task, to bury the dog in the yard somewhere?"

"I have a little money here, not much, just a token offering for the immortals..."

The old man, having recovered a bit, his eyes showed some moisture, his hand moving under the quilt of cotton and linen.

The big black dog beside him grew more excited, barking more vigorously, but the old man still couldn’t see or hear him.