Jiang Zuo looked at Jiang Ran. He didn't know why his supervisor was looking for him right now, but it probably wasn't for something trivial.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Zuo got up and left with Jiang Ran.
"Who's that guy? The supervisor actually came to get him personally. It must be for something good, right?"
"I don't know, but his cultivation seems to be only around 1.2. Why would they want him? What can you even do with a 1.2 cultivation?"
Jiang Zuo ignored everyone and followed Jiang Ran to his office.
They were alone in the office.
Jiang Zuo asked, "Did you need something, Supervisor?"
Jiang Ran sat down and gestured for Jiang Zuo to do the same.
"I've heard recently that you're quite powerful for a Tier One. I'd like you to accept the commission for that Secret Realm."
Jiang Zuo refused. "I'm busy."
"That's because you don't know what that Secret Realm is really about. It's filled with countless opportunities, waiting for someone with the right destiny," Jiang Ran tried to persuade him.
Jiang Zuo still shook his head. "I don't need any fortunate encounters."
Jiang Ran frowned, then said, "You're in your twenties, aren't you? With your current cultivation, how far do you think you can really go? Tier Two? Tier Three?
You don't have forever. Without a world-altering opportunity, even a genius can't get very far. Let alone someone in your current state.
Once an opportunity is missed, it's gone for good. What cultivator doesn't have to struggle against adversity to advance?
The Secret Realm might be a little dangerous, but with danger comes opportunity. Fortune favors the bold. Without that kind of mindset, you'll never move forward."
Jiang Zuo frowned. 'This whole sales pitch is making me suspicious of that Secret Realm.'
'Is this some kind of conspiracy?'
But Jiang Zuo wasn't concerned. He wasn't going, regardless.
"If there's nothing else, Supervisor, I'll be on my way."
With that, Jiang Zuo turned and left.
Jiang Ran watched Jiang Zuo leave, then shook his head. 'Scared? Looks like he's just some petty nobody who happens to have a Magical Treasure. I overestimated him. I was thinking of using him, but I'll have to drop the idea now.'
As soon as Jiang Zuo got out, he received a call about a delivery. The caller specified that he had to be there to accept it in person.
So Jiang Zuo had no choice but to go downstairs. There was a designated package pickup area at Tianhe.
When Jiang Zuo arrived, he saw a rather large crate with three men standing beside it.
'They're probably the movers,' he thought. 'But the herbs I ordered shouldn't take up much space. Why use such a huge crate?'
Seeing Jiang Zuo approach, a sharp-looking man in a suit walked over to him. "Excuse me, are you Miss Ximen?"
Jiang Zuo was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head.
The man in the suit said politely, "My apologies, sir. This package isn't for you."
Jiang Zuo turned to leave. Then, he spotted a delivery man off to the side holding a very ordinary-looking package.
Seeing Jiang Zuo, he also asked politely, "Mr. Po?"
A dark look crossed Jiang Zuo's face. He then asked, "Is it from Chi Xue Child?"
The delivery man glanced at the package and nodded. "Yes."
Jiang Zuo then signed for the package.
He wanted to leave immediately. Even with his thick skin, this was still awkward.
He hadn't taken more than two steps before Ximen Linglong appeared. She looked at Jiang Zuo and asked curiously, "Po Xiao? What are you doing here?"
Then she added worriedly, "You're not after my pet, are you?"
Jiang Zuo glanced at Ximen Linglong. 'Now I remember,' he thought. 'The man who asked for Miss Ximen earlier must have been referring to her.'
Jiang Zuo had no intention of engaging with her, but just as he was about to leave, a mournful cry suddenly came from the large crate, as if something inside was on the verge of death.
The man in the suit from earlier jumped in fright. The thing was priceless; if something happened to it, they'd be in more trouble than they could possibly handle.
Ximen Linglong was startled, too. She immediately shouted, "Quick, open the crate! My Qiqi is going to suffocate!"
Jiang Zuo decided not to leave just yet. 'That sound was strangely familiar,' he thought. 'If I remember correctly, that should be a dog.'
'A rather special kind of dog, at that. A Duoling Dog, most likely. Its one and only strength is its exceptional ability to find treasure.'
'Ximen Linglong must have acquired it to participate in the Secret Realm commission.'
The crate was opened to reveal a large, white dog. It lay limply on the ground, looking completely listless, as if it were on its last legs.
Ximen Linglong immediately rushed forward to check on Qiqi, then cried out, "How could this happen? Why is its aura in such disarray? Qiqi, where are you hurt?"
The man in the suit immediately explained, "Miss Ximen, we followed all procedures. There were no incidents during transport. This has nothing to do with us."
If they were blamed for this, they could never afford the compensation; it would be a death sentence.
But Ximen Linglong had no time to deal with them. She was about to use Summoning on Yaya to take a look.
Jiang Zuo tapped the man in the suit on the shoulder, motioning for him to step aside.
The man in the suit gave Jiang Zuo a grateful look, assuming he was there to help.
Then Jiang Zuo said, "My condolences. Since it's dying anyway, you might as well stew it. The meat of a Duoling Dog is actually delicious."
Ximen Linglong glared at Jiang Zuo. "You're a monster!"
Jiang Zuo glanced at Qiqi, then said, "Do you want to save it?"
"You have a way?"
"I do. But as I said, Duoling Dog meat is truly delicious. I can keep it alive, but I want one of its legs."
"You... I could never agree to that."
Jiang Zuo said nonchalantly, "Is that right? It has three minutes. If it's not saved within three minutes, it's a goner. I'll give you thirty seconds to think it over."
'Those words again.' She could clearly sense that Jiang Zuo wasn't joking. This was just how he operated, by presenting people with these kinds of choices.
Sometimes, this man was a true Demon.
"Ten... nine... eight..." Jiang Zuo began the countdown.
Ximen Linglong was torn, unable to make a decision. "How about... how about I treat you to a nice meal? I..."
"Three..."
Hearing the "three," Ximen Linglong immediately cried out, "I agree! I agree! Just save Qiqi!"
"WOOF..."
In that same instant, the dog shot to its feet, looking perfectly spirited. No one would have guessed there was anything wrong with it at all.
Ximen Linglong was a little surprised. 'It's really okay, just like that?'
Jiang Zuo looked at the dog expressionlessly and said, "There, it's all better. One of your legs is mine now."
"WOOF WOOF! WOOF!"
The dog barked furiously at Jiang Zuo, as if to say, 'In your dreams!'
At that, Ximen Linglong also said, "Qiqi, it's just a limp. He did save you, after all."
"Woof? WOOF WOOF!" Qiqi whined, shaking its head frantically, as if to say, 'No, that's not it!'
A faint smile touched Jiang Zuo's lips. A sword had appeared in his hand from out of nowhere. He walked toward the dog and said calmly, "Don't be nervous. I know you Duoling Dogs have excellent constitutions, and your master has a special knack for healing animals. It's just a leg. It'll be as good as new in a year or two.
Seeing how much your master dotes on you, it will probably only take ten months or so.
Running is useless."
The dog tried to run, but Jiang Zuo was faster. He swung the sword without a moment's hesitation.
"YELP, YELP..." This time, the cries were real, and they were utterly miserable.
That's right. The previous display was fake. Jiang Zuo recalled that this breed of dog had another ability: feigning illness and playing dead.
If a Duoling Dog's aura was a persistent, chaotic mess, it was probably just an act. A good stewing would usually fix it.
And if it *still* wasn't better, then it was truly sick—in which case, once it was cooked through, it was ready to eat.