Chapter 10 Little Gold

With a sweep of his hand, a line of fire ignited across the ground, blocking the golden retriever’s path.

The enormous dog immediately panicked. It tried to force its way across the fireline, only to have its fur singed by the scorching heat. It let out a pitiful “awoo” and hurriedly retreated a few steps.

It stared at Mo Chu from beyond the flames, its gaze filled with shock—and unmistakable grievance.

Mo Chu had never known it was possible to see “aggrieved” in a dog’s eyes.

But she definitely didn’t recognize this golden retriever.

On the other side, Li Chen watched the dog coldly, his expression sharp and hostile, clearly ready to act if it became dangerous.

Mo Chu quickly stepped in front of him. Lowering her voice, she said, “Let me go take a look.”

Li Chen frowned slightly. “But…”

“It’s fine,” she said, shaking her head.

After a brief hesitation, Li Chen still withdrew the fireline between them.

The moment it vanished, the giant golden retriever lunged forward excitedly. Mo Chu barely had time to react before Li Chen wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her out of the way.

The dog扑了个空.

And to make sure it didn’t rush them again, Li Chen raised another fireline, circling it in. The golden retriever was trapped inside, pacing frantically in circles.

On the other side, Li Chen released Mo Chu and stepped forward, squatting down in front of the dog with calm indifference.

“I don’t know if you can understand me,” he said evenly, “but if you want her to come closer, you’d better behave.”

The golden retriever bristled instantly, baring its teeth, body arched and tense, ready to strike.

Li Chen’s voice turned colder. “If you don’t behave, you’ll stay in the circle.”

The dog glanced at him, then at Mo Chu carefully shielded behind him. It scratched the ground in frustration, circling anxiously—until finally, it lay down halfway in submission.

A reluctant compromise.

And just like that, an agreement was made between man and dog.

Li Chen’s expression remained serious and focused. In those deep black eyes, there was even a faint echo of something Mo Chu had once seen in a certain Demon King from another life.

And yet, watching him threaten a golden retriever with such solemn gravity… Mo Chu suddenly found it absurdly funny.

Then she actually laughed.

Li Chen turned to look at her in surprise. Mo Chu quickly swallowed her laughter, coughed once, and forced a serious expression.

But under his gaze, she only grew more self-conscious. For a moment, she thought she saw the faintest hint of a smile in his eyes—though it might have been her imagination.

Then Li Chen nodded slightly.

“Go on,” he said.

Mo Chu hurried past him, and he withdrew the fire circle.

The golden retriever behaved far better this time.

It lay half-prone on the ground, tail wagging furiously, watching her with unmistakable eagerness.

Before approaching, Mo Chu had already formed a rough guess about it. The dog’s body was far larger than an ordinary golden retriever’s. Even mutated beasts didn’t usually grow this big. Its ability was likely strength-based.

And the reason this supermarket was so clean—everything preserved so well—was probably because of it.

It should have been the dog of the supermarket’s former owner, or perhaps a customer’s pet. After the apocalypse, it had awakened an ability and instinctively remained here, guarding its territory.

Last time she’d come, she hadn’t seen it at all. They’d even managed to take supplies without issue—probably pure luck.

Mo Chu knelt down cautiously, mirroring Li Chen’s posture until she was almost level with the dog’s eyes.

It stared at her eagerly.

After a moment’s hesitation, she reached out and patted its head.

Instantly, the golden retriever lit up. It licked her palm enthusiastically, then pressed its head against her leg, rubbing affectionately.

Mo Chu almost laughed. Softly, she asked, “Little guy… do I know you?”

The dog let out two soft “awoo” sounds.

It looked like it recognized her—but she was certain she didn’t recognize it.

Then something occurred to her.

“Hey,” she tried cautiously, “did you mistake me for your owner?”

The dog whined again, rubbing harder against her.

Mo Chu understood now.

It really had mistaken her for its owner.

That made things difficult.

She didn’t know what had happened to its real owner, but judging from the state of the supermarket… chances weren’t good.

Still, she wasn’t its owner.

Mo Chu gently patted its head. “You’ve got the wrong person, little guy.”

She stood up, intending to discuss what to do with Li Chen.

But the golden retriever, thinking she was leaving, suddenly grabbed the hem of her clothes with its paw.

When Mo Chu turned back, she froze.

There were tears gathering in the dog’s red eyes.

The faint smile on her lips faded.

She looked at it seriously. “You’ve really got the wrong person. I’m not your owner.”

The dog clung tighter, refusing to let go.

After a long moment, Mo Chu suddenly asked, “Do you want to come with me?”

For a second, it seemed to understand.

It immediately released her, sprang up, and began circling her excitedly, tail wagging like crazy.

It even proudly picked up Mo Chu’s half-packed backpack and carried it for her.

It really wanted to leave with her.

Mo Chu patted its head gently. “Even though you got the wrong owner… if you’re coming with me, then I’m your new owner. If you ever abandon me and run away, I won’t want you anymore. Not ever again.”

The golden retriever pressed against her leg obediently.

Only then did she feel slightly relieved—before realizing something.

From beginning to end, Li Chen hadn’t said a word.

Only now did she remember she wasn’t alone. She had made a decision to take the dog… without asking him.

A little guilty, she turned to him. “Li Chen… is it okay if I take it with me?”

His expression was unreadable—calm, neither pleased nor displeased.

He glanced at the dog circling Mo Chu attentively.

“Okay,” he said.

Mo Chu finally relaxed. She patted the dog’s head again and went back to packing supplies.

There were only two of them now—three if you counted the dog. They couldn’t possibly take everything, only the most useful items.

As she was sorting supplies, Li Chen suddenly asked,

“What you said earlier… about abandoning you and never wanting them again. Was that true?”

Mo Chu glanced at him. “It’s true.”

Anything that abandoned her—people or animals—she would never take back.

Li Chen nodded slightly. “I understand.”

Mo Chu: “???”

Understand what? She was talking to the dog!

Before she could react, Li Chen moved.

A fire circle descended instantly, enclosing a group of people trapped in a nearby alley. At the same time, the golden retriever shot forward like a streak of gold, suddenly fierce and wolf-like.

Mo Chu, who had intended to help, ended up last again.

Something competitive flared in her. She gripped her dagger and rushed in.

But when she finished off her second zombie and looked up again—there were no standing enemies left.

Li Chen calmly withdrew the fire circle.

The golden retriever looked at her expectantly, tail wagging proudly.

Mo Chu exhaled softly, a little envious.

This was the advantage of an offensive ability.

Still, she didn’t dwell on it. Every ability had its trade-offs. Healers lacked attack power—but once they reached third rank, they became far more terrifying than offensive types.

She turned to the rescued group.

Ying Yi immediately recognized her. “Sister!”

Mo Chu nodded.

Then an elderly man stepped forward and bowed deeply. “I am Xie Jinyuan. On behalf of myself and my students, I thank you.”

Mo Chu hurried to support him. She couldn’t accept such a formal bow.

Li Chen stepped in smoothly. “Mo Chu, we should go. We’re on a schedule.”

Relieved, she quickly took her leave.

As they walked away, Ying Yi watched her back and said brightly, “Teacher, she’s the one I mentioned—the person who told us about crystal cores.”

The old man looked thoughtfully in her direction.

“If not for her,” he murmured, “I might not have discovered that this condition is actually an awakening ability… super cognition, perhaps. She’s given me a great favor.”

Ying Yi smiled. “It’s okay. When the rescue team arrives, we’ll definitely meet her again.”