Chapter 39: Emperor Yingying Returns!
The damp moss gave off a pungent, rotting odor.
Deep inside a subterranean cavern, a dozen young men and women were meticulously searching the walls.
Xia Xiyao trailed at the back of the group, her mind miles away. ‘The livestream for the husky adoptions should be starting soon, right?’
She absolutely loathed the damp, slimy environment, but she had no choice but to be here.
“Found one!”
The boy in front of her suddenly shouted in ecstasy.
Xia Xiyao looked up and saw him waving his arm excitedly. Coiled tightly around his wrist was a small, dark green snake, its tongue flicking rapidly.
The other youths immediately crowded around him, their eyes burning with envy. “That’s incredible!”
“You found a Bamboo Viper willing to contract with you so quickly!”
“It’s gorgeous. Do you think I’ll find one too?”
Xia Xiyao subconsciously took a step back. This cavern was their family’s exclusive Secret Realm. Contracting a snake was a rite of passage, and everyone in her clan took immense pride in their serpentine pets.
But she just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.
She absolutely despised snakes.
What she truly wanted was a fluffy, loyal companion. She wanted a little husky.
While Xia Xiyao was lost in thought, a small snake suddenly slithered out from a crack in the wall directly behind her, flicking its tongue as it crawled toward her ankle.
“Ah!” Xia Xiyao couldn’t stop the scream from tearing from her throat as she instinctively leaped back.
The cavern fell into a dead, awkward silence. The other youths stared at her.
Then, the aggressive whispering began.
“What’s wrong with her?”
“Did she… did she just get scared?”
“No way. She’s afraid of snakes?”
“How pathetic. She doesn’t even have the guts to contract a viper!”
The insults and mocking glances rained down on her. They looked at her like she was a freak.
Xia Xiyao’s face drained of color. She realized her reaction had been too extreme. Her parents were definitely watching through the cavern’s monitoring cameras.
They would be furious.
She could already picture their disgusted expressions. She could hear their cold voices: “Yaoyao, you are an absolute disappointment.”
But in that exact moment, a wave of absolute clarity washed over Xia Xiyao.
Yes, I hate snakes.
What I love are dogs. The little husky that I’ve been dreaming about for weeks.
She had imagined burying her face in its soft, warm fur countless times.
Xia Xiyao abruptly turned around. She couldn’t waste another second in this miserable cave!
The livestream had already started. This was her one and only chance to bring a husky home!
Without a word, she sprinted toward the exit of the Secret Realm.
Her clan members shouted after her in shock. “Xia Xiyao, what are you doing?!”
“Hey! Get back here!”
“Are you insane?!”
But Xia Xiyao didn’t even pause. All she could hear was the frantic pounding of her heart and the rush of the wind past her ears.
She felt like she had transformed into a running husky—wild, free, and completely unrestrained.
She knew exactly what this meant. By running out, she would forfeit her right to contract a Bamboo Viper forever. Her parents would disown her.
But she didn’t care.
“I only have one life,” she whispered to herself. “I’m going to spend it doing what I love.”
Inside the Holographic Projection Space.
The virtual lobby was packed, the atmosphere electric.
Everyone stared eagerly at the five husky pups sitting at the front of the room, unconsciously forming a massive, single-file line.
“I’m so nervous! I wonder if they’ll pick me.”
“Which one are you hoping for?”
“I want the third one! He’s definitely the cutest!”
“Haha, you’ll be lucky if any of them pick you! Beggars can’t be choosers!”
“Hey, a guy can dream, right?”
The selection rules were simple: walk past the pups and gently pat their heads. If a pup wagged its tail happily and began circling a candidate, it meant they had found their master.
Uncle Lan stood quietly at the very back of the line. He wanted to give ‘Number Two’ every opportunity to choose someone else.
But if, after seeing every single person in the room, the pup still chose him…
He wouldn’t back down.
Compared to Uncle Lan, Shu Can was practically vibrating with confidence.
He was near the front of the line. The moment he stepped up to the pups, ‘Number Three’ immediately leaped up and charged at him, barking excitedly as it ran joyous circles around his legs, its tail wagging so hard its entire back half shook.
Shu Can laughed, dropping to a crouch and vigorously rubbing the pup’s head. “Let’s go home, buddy!”
The crowd erupted in envious groans.
“Oh my god, he’s so lucky!”
“He got picked instantly!”
“So that’s what it looks like! The pups really do take the initiative when they find the right person!”
“Damn it, I’m so jealous…”
Fortunately, there were still four pups left.
Wave after wave of candidates walked past. Many of them knelt down, gently and affectionately petting the remaining huskies.
But no one else got a reaction.
The little huskies sat obediently, staring intently at the endless sea of faces.
But they never felt that spark—the ‘love at first sight’ that Sister Su had told them about.
They could tell these humans liked them. They liked their soft fur, their chubby paws, and their fluffy tails. But looking into their eyes, the pups felt like something crucial was missing.
Number Two was getting tired. His eyes ached from staring at the blur of moving legs. He anxiously scanned the back of the line, desperate to see that familiar face.
He lowered his head in frustration, rubbing his eyes with his paws.
Is he not coming? Sister Su said he liked me too… so why is he hesitating?
Number Two began to doubt himself. Was he not cute enough? Not special enough?
He felt a deep pang of sadness. He really liked the man who had smiled at him so gently, the man with the broad, sturdy shoulders.
“Awooo…” Number Two let out a soft, aggrieved whimper.
The vast majority of the candidates had already walked through, and the remaining four pups hadn’t made a move.
The crowd was growing restless.
“Isn’t this a little too strict?”
“What kind of owners are they even looking for?”
“Ugh, I was so happy watching the people in front of me get rejected, but now I’m pretty sure I’m going to get rejected too.”
Monitoring the chat, Huihui grew slightly anxious. “Boss, what if the pups don’t pick anyone else? If they end the stream without choosing, the internet is going to accuse us of rigging it.”
Su Wudeng shrugged, completely unfazed. “Let them talk. I don’t care what the internet says.”
“Everything is entirely up to the pups.”
“If they don’t want to choose anyone, we absolutely will not force them.”
“There is no reason to make them commit to a lifelong contract against their will just to appease a bunch of angry commenters.”
“Besides,” she added, her gaze shifting to the largest pup. “Look at Number One. He’s wild, restless, and completely hates being restrained. He’s a free spirit. It’ll be incredibly difficult for him to accept a human master.”
“I have a feeling he just wants to go back to the Secret Realm and run wild.”
“As for Number Two…”
Su Wudeng paused, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “He’s obviously waiting for Uncle Lan. Look at how pathetic and sad his little eyes are getting.”
Huihui sighed. “I really hope Uncle Lan stops overthinking and just accepts Number Two’s feelings. He’s terrified of holding the pup back, but it’s so obvious that all Number Two wants is him.”
“Ugh, I hope the old man figures it out soon.”
Just then, the fourth pup, Number Four, suddenly stood up.
“Huh?” Huihui gasped. “Did Number Four find someone?!”
A young girl was standing in front of the pup.
She was petite and looked slightly frail, but her eyes burned with an intense, unwavering brightness. It was Xia Xiyao.
She stared down at Number Four, her hands trembling. She didn’t reach out to pet him. Instead, she slowly offered an open palm, asking with stuttering, desperate sincerity, “Would… would you be willing to come with me?”
Number Four tilted his head, staring deeply into Xia Xiyao’s eyes.
In that moment, he felt a strange resonance. This girl’s eyes looked exactly like Sister Su’s.
They were just as bright, just as clear, and carried the exact same unyielding determination.
Looking at her gentle, hopeful smile, Number Four suddenly knew that this was the master he had been waiting for.
He let out a soft, happy bark. “Woof~”
As the crowd gasped in shock, Number Four slowly raised his paw and placed it gently into Xia Xiyao’s trembling hand.
“You… you really want me?!”
Unable to contain her joy a second longer, Xia Xiyao dropped to her knees and pulled Number Four into a fierce hug.
Number Four wagged his tail furiously. He had found his master!
As the girl and the dog walked over to the designated ‘adopted’ area, Shu Can smiled warmly. “Congratulations!”
Xia Xiyao felt like she was floating. “Thank you!”
She looked down at Number Four, her eyes shining with unshed tears. It felt like a beautiful dream, yet the solid, warm weight of the pup in her arms proved it was real.
She had abandoned everything—her family, her status, her future—just to look this pup in the eyes and offer him her heart. And miraculously, he had answered.
If this is a dream, please, let me never wake up!
The crowd stared at Xia Xiyao and Number Four with rabid jealousy.
“She is so lucky!”
“How did she do it?!”
“Is it really just a matter of destiny?”
“Do we still have a chance?!”
“Of course we do! We just have to look at them with absolute sincerity! They can sense it!”
“Okay! I’m going to try it!”
The vast majority of the remaining candidates shifted their focus to Number One.
He was the largest and most energetic of the bunch, and seemed perfectly happy to interact with everyone who walked past. In reality, Number One just thought the holographic avatars were a fun game to play with!
As for Number Two, most people wisely avoided him. It was glaringly obvious that he was anxiously waiting for a specific person. A few stubborn candidates tried to distract him, but Number Two merely gave them a polite sniff before immediately looking back toward the end of the line.
Finally, there was Number Five. He sat perfectly still, his posture as rigid and disciplined as a veteran military dog. He didn’t look around, didn’t sniff hands, and completely ignored anyone who tried to wave toys in his face.
As the very last people trickled through the line, none of the remaining three pups had made a move.
The chat sighed in collective disappointment.
“Ugh, it really is just about finding that spark.”
“The moment I looked into Number Five’s eyes, I knew he wasn’t meant for me.”
“What a shame.”
Finally, Uncle Lan stepped up as the very last person in line.
The second he entered Number Two’s line of sight, the pup exploded forward.
He sprinted toward Uncle Lan like a furry missile, leaping into the air and launching himself directly into the old man’s chest.
Uncle Lan’s strong arms caught him perfectly.
“You were waiting for me, weren’t you?”
Uncle Lan’s voice cracked with emotion. “After all those people… you still chose me. I’m so sorry I made you wait.”
Number Two didn’t care about Uncle Lan’s bank account. He didn’t care about his social status or his age. He had chosen him simply because he was Uncle Lan.
A profound warmth filled the old man’s chest. The moment Number Two had started running toward him, Uncle Lan knew he was completely defeated.
He would never, ever let this pup go again.
Number Two aggressively nuzzled his face into Uncle Lan’s neck, letting out a series of high-pitched, ecstatic whimpers.
He was so happy! His master finally wanted him back!
Holding Number Two tightly against his chest, Uncle Lan walked over to join Shu Can and Xia Xiyao.
Shu Can laughed, clapping the older man on the shoulder. “I told you he liked you! You made the poor guy wait the entire event!”
Uncle Lan’s face was filled with guilt, but his eyes shone with joy. “I was a fool. But I promise, I’ll never push him away again. I’m going to give him the best life possible.”
“He ran to me without a second of hesitation. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure I never let him down.”
Number Two looked up at Uncle Lan, gently booping his wet nose against the old man’s chin.
A moment later, the remaining avatars faded from the holographic space.
Su Wudeng materialized in front of the three successful candidates, looking at their beaming faces with immense satisfaction.
“Congratulations, everyone! The pups have officially chosen you as their family!”
“I know you will treat them well.”
“I’ll see you all at the clinic soon for your training month!”
The second he logged out of the VR hub, Uncle Lan sprinted out of his house and practically flew to the Pet Love Home.
The moment he pushed open the front door, he heard a joyous bark. Number Two came tearing down the hallway.
Uncle Lan dropped to his knees, throwing his arms open, and caught the pup in a crushing, desperate hug.
Number Two wriggled happily, overjoyed to finally be reunited with his real, physical master!
After a moment, he squirmed out of Uncle Lan’s arms and ran joyous laps around him, his tail wagging so hard his entire body shook.
Then, he trotted over to Su Wudeng.
“Woof woof!” Sister, I got the master I wanted!
Su Wudeng smiled, kneeling down to gently scratch behind his ears. “Our Number Two is so brave and determined! Of course you got exactly what you wanted!”
“Woof!”
Watching them interact, Uncle Lan felt like the luckiest man alive.
If he hadn’t stubbornly followed Su Wudeng into the clinic that first day because he was paranoid about her medical skills, he would never have met Number Two, let alone been chosen as his master.
“Thank you, Shop Owner Su,” Uncle Lan said, his voice thick with gratitude. “Thank you for giving me this chance.”
Su Wudeng waved him off with a warm smile. “This was all destiny. Now, you go play with Number Two. I need to wrap up the livestream.”
When she logged back into the broadcast, the chat was a chaotic mix of intense jealousy, profound regret, and lingering hope.
“Ahhh! Why couldn’t I be the lucky one?!”
“Wuwuwu! I’m crying! I literally watched my dream dog run away with someone else!”
“My heart is shattered!”
“Wait, what about the other two pups? Number One and Number Five! Are they going to choose again?!”
“Shop Owner Su! Please reopen the lobby!”
“Yeah! What about the last two?!”
Su Wudeng shook her head gently. “I’m afraid not.”
“If my intuition is correct, they already know exactly what they want out of life, and it isn’t a human master.”
The chat erupted in fresh wails of despair.
“I accept my defeat. The Shop Owner gave me a perfectly fair shot, and I just didn’t have the aura!”
“Wuwuwu, this hurts even more!”
“Shop Owner, please! Will there be more adoptions in the future?!”
Seeing the desperation, Su Wudeng laughed. “Don’t worry, guys. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just keep tuning in to the streams!”
“I promise, eventually, everyone will find their perfect companion~”
“HAHAHA! YES! Shop Owner Su, I’m holding you to that!”
“I clipped that! It’s legally binding! Everyone gets a pet!”
With the husky drama finally settled, the impatient viewers could no longer hold back.
“Okay, Shop Owner! Can we finally get the tea on the snow leopard?!”
“Yes! What happened after she beat up her ex?! Tell us!”
Su Wudeng laughed at their absolute desperation. “Alright, alright, don’t panic.”
“I’ll tell you the whole story. But first, let’s bring our leading lady out to center stage!”
The chat instantly shifted gears.
“WOW! We actually get to see Yingying today?!”
“Yes! Bring out the queen!”
The camera switched feeds, and a breathtakingly elegant figure sauntered onto the screen.
Yingying’s external wounds had completely healed. Her magnificent, thick white coat, dotted with elegant dark rosettes, was pristine. Her massive paws looked like fluffy winter gloves, and she moved with a silent, regal grace. Her impossibly long, plush tail swayed lazily behind her.
But it was her eyes that truly captivated the audience. The moment her ethereal, crystalline-gray gaze met the camera, the chat exploded into a frenzy of virtual screaming.
“OH MY GOD! How is it legally possible to be this beautiful?!”
“I feel like my heart just stopped!”
“That isn’t a leopard, that is a literal goddess descended from the heavens!”
“I would surrender all my worldly possessions to Yingying!”
“Big cats are the ultimate supreme beings!”
Yingying padded lightly over to Su Wudeng and affectionately nudged her head against the Shop Owner’s cheek.
Unable to resist, Su Wudeng buried her hands in the thick fur around Yingying’s neck, scratching vigorously. “Yingying, the entire internet is telling you how beautiful and elegant you are.”
Yingying looked directly into the camera lens with her mesmerizing eyes. “Ying!”
Su Wudeng smiled. “Yingying says hello.”
“I know you’ve all been dying to know the rest of the story, so I won’t keep you waiting any longer.”
“It started in the den. Yingying ambushed the cheating couple and nearly ripped that deadbeat male to shreds.”
She let the dramatic tension build for a second before continuing. “But the story didn’t end there.”
“Furious that his affair was exposed and humiliated by his defeat, the male leopard completely abandoned his morals. He teamed up with his mistress, and together, they launched a coordinated ambush on Yingying—who was heavily pregnant at the time!”
Su Wudeng gently parted the fur on the back of Yingying’s neck, exposing a thick, jagged scar.
“This scar is still here. That despicable male leopard gave it to her.”
The viewers instantly saw red.
“OH MY GOD! Yingying! That is a massive scar!”
“That male is absolute garbage!”
“I am so angry right now I could punch a hole in my wall!”
“To protect her unborn cubs,” Su Wudeng continued softly, “Yingying was forced to abandon her territory and flee. But the cheating couple refused to let it go. They hunted her across the mountains, intent on killing her to secure the domain.”
“During her desperate escape, completely exhausted and bleeding, she stumbled directly into the path of those poachers.”
Hearing the full tragedy, the viewers were heartbroken.
“Yingying has suffered so much! I’m crying!”
“No, this is unacceptable! We demand vengeance!”
“Yingying, we support your right to absolute, unhinged revenge!”
Su Wudeng gently stroked Yingying’s head. “Yingying agrees with you. But we had to wait until she was back to 100%.”
“And now that she is… I am going to personally escort Yingying back to her territory to take her revenge.”
The chat erupted into a bloodthirsty cheer.
“YES! Shop Owner, you are an absolute legend!”
“We fully support this! You have to livestream the fight!”
“I need to watch Yingying tear them apart with my own eyes!”
“Wuwuwu, the Shop Owner always knows exactly what we want!”
“I literally cannot wait!”
Su Wudeng smirked at the camera. “Don’t worry, you’ll have front-row seats for the reckoning.”
“Make sure you keep your notifications on for the Pet Love Home.”
“That’s all for today, folks! Thanks for tuning in. See you next time!”
She cut the feed, leaving the internet in a state of absolute frenzy.
The hype surrounding the upcoming battle was astronomical. Hashtags immediately dominated the trending charts.
#YingyingsRevenge# #GoYingyingGo# #CheatersMustPay#
Thousands of viewers began furiously theory-crafting in the comments.
“The Shop Owner needs to gear Yingying up with some serious hardware! Let her one-shot them!”
“Yes! We have the technology! Build her some mecha-armor! Give her an orbital strike laser!”
“Yingying, rip and tear until it is done!”
Reading through the unhinged suggestions, Su Wudeng actually felt inspired.
Wait… I absolutely could equip Yingying with tactical gear!
Lightweight kinetic shielding, strength-enhancing exoskeletons…
Oh, I am definitely building her a combat suit.
One week later.
Inside the Pet Love Home, Su Wudeng looked at the heavily armed, tactical snow leopard standing before her and nodded in deep satisfaction.
“Are you ready, Yingying?!”
Yingying stood tall, her gray eyes burning with fierce determination.
“Ying!” Ready!
Her natural claws had been augmented with custom-forged, razor-sharp titanium-alloy sheaths. Her sleek body was encased in a lightweight, nearly indestructible nano-weave combat suit that offered maximum kinetic defense while actively monitoring her vitals.
To top it all off, a sleek tactical visor rested over her eyes, providing augmented thermal vision and advanced threat-scanning telemetry.
With her full combat loadout equipped, Yingying looked incredibly badass!
“Yingying, you look absolutely terrifying!”
Yingying swished her massive tail, raising her chin proudly.
“Ying!” I feel invincible! Those traitors don’t stand a chance!
Su Wudeng grinned. “Perfect!”
She turned to look at the rest of her chaotic family. Amber, the five husky pups, and the entire litter of Snow Crystal kittens were all lined up, wearing their own custom-fitted, miniature nano-suits.
The babies had finally made a full recovery. Having been cooped up in the nursery for weeks, they were practically vibrating with pent-up energy.
Since she was heading into the Secret Realm anyway, Su Wudeng had decided to bring the whole family along for a field trip.
Looking at the massive line of fluffy toddlers, she couldn’t help but laugh. “My clinic really has turned into a fully functional daycare. I have so many babies.”
“Alright, listen up! We are going on a field trip, but you all have to promise to behave! No wandering off!”
“Ying!”
“Woof!”
“Meow!”
“Awooo!”
Su Wudeng nodded approvingly. “Excellent. Now, everyone grab the tail in front of you!”
The Snow Crystal kittens obediently clamped their tiny teeth down on the fluffy tail of the kitten in front of them, forming an adorable, fuzzy chain.
The husky pups did the same, linking up behind the cats.
Amber and Yingying stood at the front of the line as the designated chaperones.
At the last second, Yingying reached back and clamped her jaws over her own massive, fluffy tail. Su Wudeng laughed, giving the thick fur a quick rub.
“Alright, Vanguard Team! Move out!”
Su Wudeng initialized the System teleportation, and the scenery instantly shifted.
The group materialized outside the wooden cabin deep within the Prosperous Era Secret Realm.
The moment they saw the lush greenery, the kittens and puppies lost their minds.
“Flowers!”
“Grass!”
“Water!”
Unable to contain themselves, the fuzzy chain instantly dissolved as the babies scattered into the meadow, rolling in the grass and chasing butterflies.
It had been so long since they were outside; they were completely overjoyed!
Su Wudeng watched them with a fond smile before turning to the massive husky. “Amber, I’m heading out with Yingying to handle some business. I need you to stay here and guard the kids, understand?”
Amber puffed out his chest, looking incredibly proud. “Woof!” I am a certified professional babysitter! Leave it to me!
Despite his confidence, Su Wudeng couldn’t help but go into full mother-hen mode. “I left plenty of food in the cabin. Make sure they eat if they get hungry.”
“If anything weird happens, don’t try to handle it yourself. Just wait for me to get back. Do NOT leave the perimeter of the cabin, got it?”
“And if there’s an actual emergency, hit the panic button on your collar to call me.”
Amber’s tail wagged furiously. “Woof woof!” Don’t worry! You’re underestimating my skills! I know this forest like the back of my paw!
Seeing how seriously Amber was taking his duties, Su Wudeng relaxed. There really shouldn’t be any issues. She had deployed a network of surveillance drones around the cabin and could monitor them remotely at any time. Plus, the automated defense turrets she had installed would instantly vaporize any hostile threats.
“Thanks, Amber.” Su Wudeng leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
Amber’s ears instantly flattened against his head in pure bliss, his tail wagging so hard his entire back half shook.
“Woof woof!” It’s no trouble at all! Just remember you promised me grilled fish! Five whole fish!
Su Wudeng laughed. “…You absolute glutton!”
Without wasting another second, she summoned her hover-bike from her spatial storage, swinging a leg over the chassis and settling into the saddle with practiced, effortless grace.
She reached down, ruffling the pristine white fur on Yingying’s neck. “Ready, Yingying? Let’s go.”
As the hover-bike silently lifted off the ground, Su Wudeng activated her streaming drone.
The feed went live, and millions of viewers instantly flooded the chat.
“WOW! We’re live!”
“The Shop Owner actually kept her promise!”
“Look! It’s Yingying!”
“HOLY SHIT! Look at her gear! She looks so badass!”
“Is they actually heading out for revenge right now?!”
“This is incredible! I’ve been waiting all week for this!”
“The Empress has returned to reclaim her throne!”
“With that tactical gear, this is going to be an absolute massacre!”
“Hehe, I can already see the trending hashtags!”
“Yingying: Betrayed by my lover, the Human Emperor forged me a suit of invincible armor to exact my vengeance!”
“I AM VENGEANCE. I AM THE NIGHT. I AM YINGYING!”
“LMAO the people in this chat are unhinged!”
Reading the scrolling text, Su Wudeng burst out laughing.
“You guys are way too creative for your own good!”
