Don't Be Afraid, Little Dog—Your Mother Is Here - Chapter 2

Delighted, I cried, “Master, can you be my mother?”

His expression changed several times before he ground out, “Your master is a man. How could I be your mother? Don’t you have one?”

Disappointed, I shook my head. “I don’t have a mother. Everyone else does…”

Master slapped his thigh. “No wonder we’re on the same side! I don’t have a mother either. How about this—you be my mother for a day, and I’ll be yours for a day?”

I hesitated. “But you’re a man. How can you be my mother? That’s not fair!”

He exploded, pointing at my forehead as he swore. “You blockhead! I’m not even human. Why get tangled up in all those pointless rules? Why can’t I be your mother?”

Thoroughly satisfied, I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressed close to his neck, and called sweetly, “Mama! Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama…”

The word made his skin crawl. His embarrassment heated even his neck, and he hurried to cover my mouth. Before his hand could descend, a fragrant breeze reached me. I inhaled dreamily and surrendered without a struggle.

He took offense and shut his door tight at dinner, refusing to let me in.

I was not worried. He was an incubus; ordinary food could never fill him. He needed human vital essence. So I tucked my hands into my sleeves and squatted outside to wait. When hunger became unbearable, he would let me in on his own.

But before he opened the door, Senior Brother arrived with a bowl of congee and knocked. As he passed me, he looked down his nose and said coldly, “Junior Sister, could you stop shamelessly clinging to Master all the time? He shows you the least kindness and you fling yourself at him.”

His hand rose by reflex. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head away, but the familiar pain never came. When I opened my eyes, I saw him casting a wary glance toward Master’s room.

In that moment, revelation struck. I could never let go of Master’s hand. Even if I had to cling like a plaster, I would hold on until death. Only he could protect me. Only he would keep me from starving.

Master suddenly opened the door and crooked a finger at Senior Brother, beckoning him closer.

I scrambled up, deliberately knocked Senior Brother aside, and darted toward Master like an excited puppy.

Senior Brother grunted in pain and shouted behind me. I was not afraid at all. I reached for Master, only for one finger to press against my forehead and bring me to a forced halt.

Master frowned.

Lowering his voice beside my ear, he said, “Get out of my sight. I haven’t forgiven you yet. I’m starving, so stop making a nuisance of yourself.”

Senior Brother arrived just in time to hear “nuisance.” Enraged, he seized me by the collar and shoved me aside. “How dare you keep pestering Master? Get lost! I’ll deal with you later.”

Then he carried the congee inside with Master. I looked up at the door that closed firmly against me, and tears slipped down my cheeks without my noticing.

When had everything begun to change?

At first, Master really had treated me well. Every delicious thing, every amusing trinket, went to me first. He called me his first disciple. Partners in crime, we took revenge on everyone in the sect who had ever bullied me.

But once he met Senior Sister and Senior Brother, he declared that they were his disciples too and laughed about how interesting every one of them was.

Then he complained that my cultivation was too low, that my vital essence had no flavor, and that I was so skinny there was no pleasure in eating my flesh either.

At first, whenever they bullied me, you protected me.

Now you let them spit their cruelty at me.

My stomach felt hollow. I used to go hungry all the time. I thought you would remember. I had not reached the stage where I no longer needed food, and no one except you ever fed me.

I sat on the mountaintop with a flatbread, eating it one tear-salted bite at a time. Fortunately, whenever there was food, my lack of security made me hide some away. That was why I had even this one piece of bread now.

All at once, a fluffy little dog rubbed against my ankle, whining at the bread in my hand.

I kicked it away. “Stupid dog! Get lost! What am I supposed to eat if I give it to you?”

It persisted, whining as it pressed against my ankle again. This time, it did not dare look up at my bread.

I stared at it and suddenly knew exactly how it felt.

It was just like me, forever depending on Master. Kicked away, yet still stubbornly crawling back.

With a sigh, I wiped my tears and gave it half.

Its fate was a little kinder than mine. At least my heart had softened.