Chapter 12: Sword Heart Husky
When Su Wudeng pushed open the shop door, she discovered her kitten had staged a rebellion.
A young woman she didn’t recognize was squatting on the floor, holding the smallest and most timid Snow Crystal Cat in her arms. The kitten, which normally avoided everyone, was currently blinking its sapphire eyes and gripping Zhong Huihui’s collar tightly with its tiny claws.
Zhong Huihui scrambled to her feet, looking incredibly nervous. “Hello, I’m Zhong Huihui. I… I’m the person who messaged you yesterday. Um… because you mentioned that I needed to be here in person…” She spoke a bit slowly, clearly overwhelmed by anxiety.
Su Wudeng looked down, noting that the naturally fearful kitten was still clinging desperately to Zhong Huihui. It clearly adored her. This little creature usually bolted the moment anyone came close, yet here it was, actively acting spoiled at this girl’s feet.
Su Wudeng pondered for a moment. It seems this little guy has chosen her as its owner.
Excellent. It had actually learned to take the initiative.
She nodded with a wave of relief. If a kitten selected its own owner, the hardest part of her job was already done. All that mattered now was that Zhong Huihui loved the animal and could provide it with a stable environment to grow.
Sensing the shopkeeper’s gentle demeanor, Zhong Huihui’s pulse quickened, and she blurted out, “Shopkeeper, I genuinely, truly love this kitten. But… I have to be completely honest with you. I just resigned from my job.”
As an ordinary corporate worker, how could she have easily taken a day off first thing in the morning? When her former boss heard she wanted to request leave, he had flown into a rage, giving her an ultimatum: either get back to work or pack her bags and get out.
The choice had been obvious to her. She could always find another soul-crushing job, but this might be her only chance to secure the kitten.
She didn’t want to deceive the shopkeeper. “I know my current qualifications aren’t ideal, but could you please wait for me? Could you let the kitten wait for me? Just a month… no, just a single week! I will find a new job immediately, and I swear I will give it the absolute best life possible. Please, can you hold it for me?”
She was terrified of letting this miracle slip through her fingers. The cats in this shop were so impossibly beautiful that she feared if she walked out empty-handed today, they would be completely sold out by tomorrow.
“Ms. Zhong, raising a living pet isn’t something you do on a sudden whim,” Su Wudeng said softly. “It requires a stable lifestyle and proper care. Without a steady income, how will you afford to feed it?”
Zhong Huihui’s face drained of color instantly, a look of profound despair flashing through her eyes. She was right. What right did she have to ask the shopkeeper to reserve a priceless creature for her? There were countless people out there far wealthier and with much more free time. Why should the cat be given to someone like her?
Lowering her head, tears welled in her eyes, her voice cracking with emotion. “You’re right… I’m being too selfish.”
The kitten, completely oblivious to why its chosen human was crying, began circling anxiously around her ankles, letting out distressed meows.
Seeing its worry, Zhong Huihui fiercely wiped away her tears. She bent down, fighting back her heartbreak, and gave the kitten’s head one last gentle stroke. “I’m sorry… little kitten. I just don’t have the capability right now.”
Su Wudeng watched Zhong Huihui’s defeated posture, then looked down at the frantic kitten. It was abundantly clear that the little creature was completely smitten with her.
Letting out a soft sigh, Su Wudeng spoke up. “Actually… I happen to be short of a shop assistant.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “If you’re willing, you can come work for me first. Once you have a stable income, we can finalize the adoption.”
Zhong Huihui snapped her head up, a brilliant spark of hope reigniting in her eyes. “Really? I… I can actually work here?”
Su Wudeng nodded. “Of course, as long as you’re interested.”
Her shop desperately needed a dedicated clerk. Right now, Coco and Chu Yansen were only stepping in to help her watch the counter temporarily. Whenever she traversed to the Great Prosperity Era, the storefront was left completely unattended, which was far from ideal.
But she made sure to set the expectations beforehand. “You need to think this through carefully. This job will be vastly different from your previous office routine. You’ll need to study and master all kinds of pet care knowledge, and most importantly, you have to genuinely love these animals.”
Zhong Huihui’s eyes shone like stars, and she nodded vigorously. “Don’t worry! I can absolutely do it!”
She had long been utterly miserable at her old, toxic job, dealing with a power-tripping boss and insufferable colleagues. It wasn’t the life she wanted at all. Day after day, it had felt like an endless cycle of mental exhaustion. But a job dedicated to taking care of soft, furry little angels? She felt she could do that for the rest of her life!
Best of all, she wouldn’t have to walk away; she would be able to see her kitten every single day.
Seeing her pure enthusiasm, Su Wudeng smiled and nodded. “In that case, welcome to the team, Ms. Zhong Huihui.”
Overjoyed, Zhong Huihui immediately gave a deep, respectful bow, her voice ringing with excitement. “Thank you so much, Shopkeeper! I promise I will work incredibly hard! I swear I’ll care for every single cat—no, every single pet that walks through that door—as if they were my own children!”
She couldn’t resist scooping her kitten back up into her arms, planting a sudden, ecstatic kiss right on its forehead. “I’m so incredibly happy! I love you so much, little guy!”
Startled by the sudden burst of affection, the tiny kitten shyly pressed its pink paws against Zhong Huihui’s face. It… it loved its new owner too.
The velvety touch of those warm paw pads made Zhong Huihui’s heart completely melt. She couldn’t handle the sheer cuteness. “Aww, are you blushing?”
Her kitten was perfect! The absolute most precious thing in the universe!
Su Wudeng couldn’t help but chuckle at the little creature’s bashful reaction. It was wonderful to see them bond so naturally. The small cat nestled deeply into Zhong Huihui’s embrace, letting out a rhythmic, deeply satisfied purr. It seemed it had found its own perfect human, a quiet sanctuary that belonged to it alone.
Once the initial excitement cooled down, Zhong Huihui immediately got to work looking up apartments to rent nearby.
Su Wudeng sat back down behind the counter and unlocked her phone, only for a high-priority video notification to immediately pop up on her screen.
Trending News: The Owner of Pet Love Home Unmasked as a Absolute Fraud! Claims to Exclusively Sell Living Pets, but Secretly Purchases Mechanical Inventory Behind the Scenes!
The comment section below the post was already a toxic wasteland of coordinated vitriol.
Su Wudeng’s eyes narrowed. How on earth did anyone find out I purchased a mechanical assistant? It certainly wasn’t leaked by the Star Peace Corporation; a massive conglomerate like that guarded client confidentiality fiercely, and pulling a stunt like this would only damage their own reputation.
Su Wudeng shifted her gaze through the glass window, looking directly at the sprawling storefront across the street. It’s Xiaowei and her boyfriend.
She hadn’t even found the time to settle the score for Xiaowei’s previous betrayal, and yet these two had the shameless audacity to launch another smear campaign. They truly took her for a helpless pushover. She would definitely make them pay.
Chu Yansen walked over to the counter at that moment, holding up his own device. “Have you seen the news? This is a textbook case of a coordinated, malicious smear campaign designed to completely ruin your reputation. What do you want to do?”
Su Wudeng gritted her teeth. “Give them a taste of their own medicine. We collect hard evidence and expose the masterminds publicly.”
Chu Yansen nodded smoothly. “Shopkeeper Su, why don’t you leave the investigation to me? I possess considerable resources and connections; pinpointing the digital source of these troll accounts will be remarkably simple.”
Watching these trolls slandering the shopkeeper was testing his patience. He had witnessed firsthand how meticulously and lovingly she cared for every single kitten. What right did these corporate hacks have to subject her to such blatant injustice? These rumor-mongers wouldn’t receive a shred of mercy from him.
Su Wudeng’s eyes lit up. “That would be incredible!” She was still functionally a stranger to this high-tech world; truth be told, her only option would have been to hire a generic digital investigator, and she wouldn’t have even known if they were competent. If a powerful, high-tier young master like Chu Yansen was willing to take the reins, the truth would be dragged into the light in no time.
Chu Yansen offered a calm, reassuring smile. “Leave it to me.” He would make absolutely certain the culprits faced the music.
Ding! Your express shipment has been successfully delivered!
Su Wudeng was thoroughly impressed by the sheer efficiency of the interstellar postal system. The premium spiritual plants she had shipped out to her sister had arrived at the academy ahead of schedule.
She pulled up her communicator and fired off a quick text: Yulan, did the spiritual plants arrive safely? Also, are there any other specific varieties you need for your finals? She was already planning her shopping list for her next cross-world run.
She waited for a good while, but Yulan’s status remained offline.
Shrugging, Su Wudeng decided to do some market research on her own. She opened a tamer forum and typed into the search bar: Recommended spiritual plants for Beast Taming Academy freshmen.
A massive list of search results materialized instantly, highlighting specimens like Dragon Blood Vines, Sky Eye Fruits, Jasper Spirit Flowers, and Moonstones. She had already gathered the first three during her previous run, and the descriptions for the others looked incredibly promising.
“System, initiate traversal.”
The moment Su Wudeng materialized back in the cabin within the Great Prosperity Era, she immediately froze.
“Wait… where’s my bread?” Su Wudeng’s eyes went wide as she stared at the empty wooden table outside her porch. “And my tea…”
She distinctly recalled pouring herself a fresh cup of tea right before exiting, but the ceramic cup was now spotless, lacking a single drop of liquid. Her gaze darted down to the lush grass surrounding the patio, noticing a series of distinct paw prints pressed into the soft earth.
Are these… dog tracks? She blinked, remembering the energetic barking she had heard echoing from the forest earlier.
A sharp, incredulous laugh escaped her lips. Incredible. Her premium afternoon tea spread had actually been plundered by a stray dog. She was definitely going to find out who this thief was.
Su Wudeng reached into her inventory and pulled out a fresh slice of artisanal cake that radiated a rich, sweet aroma. She filled the ceramic cup with fresh water, placed them both squarely on the wooden table, and carefully brushed away her footprints as she backed into the cabin.
She was going to run a classic sting operation. If the thief had been drawn in by plain bread earlier, there was no way it could resist a luxury cake. Holding her breath, she peered quietly through the window glass.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for a rustling sound to echo from the edge of the woods.
A massive canine carefully poked its head out from the foliage, its piercing blue eyes scanning the perimeter with comical vigilance. Once it convinced itself the coast was clear, the creature tiptoed toward the wooden table.
It sniffed the air intensely before daintily extending its tongue to take a tiny, testing bite of the cake. The instant the flavor hit its tongue, the animal looked practically intoxicated, tossing its head back with an expression of pure, unadulterated bliss.
“Woof~”
The very next second, all structural caution went completely out the window. The beast pounced onto the table, gorging itself on the dessert.
Oh my god, this is incredible! It’s so sweet! It’s delicious! The canine inhaled the cake, letting out muffled, ecstatic whimpers between bites. Praise be to nature for this divine bounty! How can food taste this magnificent?
Watching the dramatic display through the glass, Su Wudeng burst out laughing. It was just a massive, gluttonous hound. She threw the cabin door open and marched out onto the grass.
“You greedy rascal. You’re the one who plundered my breakfast, aren’t you?”
The canine bolted upright, freezing instantly with half the slice of cake still wedged comically in its jaws. It stared at Su Wudeng with wide, dinner-plate eyes, looking utterly flabbergasted to find another living soul in the clearing.
“Woof?!” it barked around the mouthful, sending a mini shower of cake crumbs flying onto the grass.
Su Wudeng put her hands on her hips. “Don’t ‘woof’ me. You’re caught red-handed, so stop playing dumb. Pay me back for my food!”
The hound stopped barking and tilted its head to look at her, its bright blue eyes gleaming with unmistakable intellect. The expression was a total classic—it was the look of a purebred, chaotic husky.
Suddenly, her eyes locked onto the object strapped to the creature’s back. A beautifully forged, gleaming longsword was secured across its shoulders.
“Wait a minute… don’t tell me…” Su Wudeng’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “A Sword Heart Husky?”
She rapidly recalled the text from her academy cram sessions: The Sword Heart Husky line. Born with a flawless, innate comprehension of the sword, they are premier candidates for blade mastery. As pet beasts, they are exceptionally powerful, deeply loyal, and fiercely reliable.
The specimen standing before her was clearly a fully matured adult, meaning its combat capabilities and swordsmanship were likely formidable.
Right on cue, the husky let out another bark. Realizing that neither side could understand the other’s language, the beast abruptly spun on its heel and bolted toward the treeline.
“Hey! Wait a second!” Su Wudeng snapped out of her daze, shouting after it. “Don’t you want more cake? Don’t run away!”
But her pleas fell on deaf ears. The robust canine vanished into the thick foliage in a flash, leaving behind nothing but the distant, echoing sound of joyful barking.
Su Wudeng let out a sigh of deep disappointment. “Man… I really wanted to bring that husky back with me.”
While the infant Snow Crystal Cats were undeniably adorable, they were far too young to establish a tamer bond and hadn’t unlocked their latent abilities yet. But a matured Sword Heart Husky like this? It was prime for a formal contract right now. Furthermore, given how ridiculously motivated by food this specific hound was, she would have had a spectacular chance of successfully winning it over.
And yet, the dog had just vanished like a puff of smoke.
