What she couldn't do, Xiao Hei could.
Hiding a child so no one could find him should be a piece of cake for Xiao Hei, shouldn't it?
As Yan Jiaojiao thought this, she began to form seals. With a flash of faint light, Xiao Hei appeared.
Dongfang Cangwu was on the verge of collapse. One second he was sleeping soundly, and the next he was suddenly on the hard ground!
Summoning him in the middle of the night, was this woman tired of living?
Xiao Hei the dog growled angrily at Yan Jiaojiao, baring his teeth.
"Xiao Hei, do you still have morning temper?"
Xiao Hei the dog's threat, which lacked any real menace, looked like a deliberate display of cuteness to Yan Jiaojiao. Fearlessly, she scooped up the little black dog and even teased him.
Tong'er saw a real dog for the first time, and it was such a soft, cute little black dog. He let out a joyful exclamation and pounced, his small body clinging to Yan Jiaojiao's leg, hopping and shouting, "Give it to me, give it to me, let me see!"
Dongfang Cangwu was speechless. What was this thing? Dammit, stop pulling on this seat's leg!
Yan Jiaojiao, however, insisted on stuffing Xiao Hei the dog into Tong'er's arms. Tong'er got his wish and happily petted the dog's soft fur, his eyes full of joy.
He felt that perhaps being with this sister wasn't so bad.
Dongfang Cangwu endured it for a moment before struggling free from Tong'er's embrace, leaping onto a low cabinet out of reach.
If it weren't for the fact that hitting a child was ungentlemanly, this brat deserved to have his arm severed for daring to touch his head!
Yan Jiaojiao knew time was of the essence. She let Tong'er circle the low cabinet, trying to figure out how to climb up. She then walked over, met Xiao Hei's gaze, and spoke to him gently and kindly, "Xiao Hei, do me a favor. Set up a high-level barrier in the house later to hide this little boy so no one can find him. You can do that, right?"
As soon as Xiao Hei the dog heard this, he twisted his small body and turned his furry tail to Yan Jiaojiao.
No way!
After a few interactions, Yan Jiaojiao seemed to have figured out that although her summoned beast was small, it had a rather proud personality. It was likely that he was more receptive to coaxing than to being forced.
So, Yan Jiaojiao went around again. "I know that since you became my summoned beast, I've troubled you a lot, but this also fully demonstrates your abilities, doesn't it? It's just a barrier, you can do it!"
Xiao Hei the dog remained unmoved.
Yan Jiaojiao began to rummage through the drawers of the low cabinet. "Oh, right, right, I packed a lot of meat for you last time. This is all well-deserved."
As she spoke, Yan Jiaojiao found the leftover pork ribs she had packed from their last outing. There was even a chicken leg. She opened the oiled paper like a treasure and held it out to Xiao Hei the dog. "The weather wasn't too hot, so everything is still good. Try it quickly."
Dongfang Cangwu stared at the pile of food in a daze.
Should he be grateful that Yan Jiaojiao hadn't at least brought back chewed bones for him?
"Eat," Yan Jiaojiao nudged it towards him.
Xiao Hei the dog flicked his chubby legs and unceremoniously kicked the bag of food far away.
Yan Jiaojiao froze. This was a failed attempt at appeasement, wasn't it?
Tong'er had already found a stool and climbed onto it. His small head was level with the top of the low cabinet, and the bag of food was now about a foot in front of him.
Although the ribs and chicken leg were cold, they still gave off a faint aroma of meat. Tong'er swallowed hard with a "gulp," his big eyes filled with longing. He no longer even looked at Xiao Hei the dog.
Perhaps it was because Tong'er's gulp was too loud, but both Yan Jiaojiao and Dongfang Cangwu couldn't help but turn to look. They met Tong'er's bright eyes.
"Sister, can I eat this?" Tong'er asked softly. "I haven't eaten meat in a long time."
Let alone noble families, even ordinary households would give young children meat every day for nourishment, yet this child was pitifully saying he hadn't eaten meat in a long time.
Yan Jiaojiao felt a pang of heartache. "This isn't for people to eat. Otherwise, when morning comes, I'll take you to eat lots of meat, okay?"
Tong'er shook his head. "Sister, it's okay. I'll just eat this. After I finish, I have to go back. I told you I still have to make balls tomorrow."
Yan Jiaojiao's nose twitched. Even after living for three thousand years, she couldn't bear to see a child suffer.
Damn that Chen Wenyu, truly a beast!
"Can I?" Tong'er's small hands were already itching to try.
Seeing Tong'er's pleading gaze, Yan Jiaojiao couldn't find any other food at the moment, so she nodded in agreement.
Tong'er immediately grabbed the chicken leg and began to eat.
While Tong'er was eating, Yan Jiaojiao looked at Xiao Hei and whispered, "I know you can understand. This child is being forced to peel spiritual energy balls every day. Please take pity on him and help him?"
Dongfang Cangwu glanced at Tong'er. His thin, small body looked even more hollow in the coat Yan Jiaojiao had given him. He ate the cold chicken leg with gusto. In contrast, he looked more like a stray puppy.
The food on the oiled paper suddenly began to emit wisps of steam, causing Tong'er to lift the chicken leg and exclaim, "Why is it hot? It tastes even better!"
Tong'er said, and then took another bite from the steaming chicken leg, his cheeks puffed out.
Who else could be heating the food but Dongfang Cangwu?
"You agreed!" Yan Jiaojiao exclaimed with delight, and then hugged Xiao Hei the dog tightly. "I knew you'd saved me so many times, you must be a kind-hearted Xiao Hei!"
Yan Jiaojiao leaned in and nuzzled against Xiao Hei the dog. Dongfang Cangwu quickly lifted his small paws and pushed her face away with all his might.
Damn woman, let go of this seat!
With Dongfang Cangwu's permission, Yan Jiaojiao naturally relaxed. When a commotion sounded at the courtyard gate, Yan Jiaojiao calmly placed Xiao Hei the dog on Tong'er's knees. "Xiao Hei, I'm entrusting Tong'er to you."
Dongfang Cangwu had already given up struggling. He glanced at Tong'er, who was still eating, and then lazily stretched, lying down on Tong'er's legs and feigning sleep.
The next second, Xiao Hei the dog, along with Tong'er, seemed to vanish from the room.
Yan Jiaojiao let out a long sigh of relief.
As soon as Yan Jiaojiao stepped out of the room and closed the door, the courtyard gate was violently pushed open. Torches blazed in the courtyard, and many people rushed in.
The black-clothed man she had knocked unconscious was the first to appear. Mud stains were still visible on his clothes. The moment he saw Yan Jiaojiao, a twisted look of anger flashed across his face.
Mother Chen walked out from among the guards, staring at her. "Eldest Miss, why are you not resting so late at night?"
"With all this commotion, are you trying to disturb people's sleep?" Yan Jiaojiao retorted, her eyes as cold as ice, completely unlike the gentleness she had shown to Xiao Hei the dog and Tong'er.
The aura of authority instantly suffocated Mother Chen, making her afraid to meet Yan Jiaojiao's gaze. Yan Jiaojiao then asked, "What is it?"