You were taken aback upon hearing that.
"We’re familiar with foot races, horse races, and car races, but this is the first time I’ve heard of dog racing, come on, let’s go and see."
Saying this, the three of you guys took the lead and walked out, and before long, Wu Qiyi and the other four girls followed.
Next to the Little Qing Inn was a large field, and at this moment, many people had gathered on both sides, standing in two rows, leaving the middle of the field empty.
Some hundred meters away at a spot resembling a starting line stood five people, each holding a dog. These dogs looked very muscular, and their breeds varied, including German Shepherds, Dobermans, and even some mutts.
Seeing the dogs sitting obediently on the ground, Xiao Feng frowned and said, "How do they make the dogs run, and how can they ensure that the dogs sprint along the track and cross the finish line?"
"Just keep watching, and you’ll see—since this is a tradition, they must have a way."
"Eh? Did you guys hear the sound of a motorcycle?"
Just as Yang Kai spoke, everyone saw a man on a black motorcycle burst forth nearby, stopping about ten meters from the racing dogs.
Soon, the previously listless racing dogs suddenly stood up, as if they spotted something exciting, desperately trying to break free from their owner’s leashes to rush forward.
"Hmm? Could there be something on the motorcycle?" Yang Kai widened his eyes, staring at the motorcycle and the rider.
"No, it’s not about the motorcycle, but what’s in the rider’s hand."
Prompted by your words, everyone looked over and noticed the motorcycle rider pulling a rabbit out of the bike’s storage box. After securing it with rope, he casually threw the rabbit behind the motorcycle, which made the five racing dogs lunge even more fiercely.
"So that’s how it is!"
The moment the motorcycle rider twisted the throttle and accelerated away, the owners of the dogs also released the buckles around their necks, and the five eager dogs burst forth all at once!
The motorcycle dragged the half-dead rabbit with a rope, and the five racing dogs chased after it with full force. They had eyes only for the rabbit, so their sprint was exceptionally fast.
To your eyes, the five dogs seemed to launch like rockets towards the rabbit, and within just a few blinks, they had crossed the finish line one after another. The dog in the lead got what it wanted and devoured the rabbit, while the other four were quickly controlled by people who had been waiting at the finish line.
Watching the Doberman fiercely tearing at the rabbit, you and Wu Qiyi both closed your eyes.
"Yikes, that’s so gory," Han Lele couldn’t stand such a sight and turned away.
"Let’s not watch anymore, let’s go," Wu Qiyi said to the girls beside her and then started walking back to the inn first.
Seeing the excitement of the people around, you sighed softly, "For the rabbit, this was its entire life; for the dogs, it was just a meal; and for the people, huh, it’s merely a game."
The five girls walking stopped in their tracks at your words; Wu Qiyi and Xian Qianling turned to glance at you, exchanged a look, and then silently walked away.
"Old Shu, as the president of the supernatural detective society, that’s rather a melancholic thing to say," Yang Kai looked at you calmly for the first time, "In our line of work, we deal with the darkest, ugliest aspects of society. If you view everything from the perspective you just expressed, you probably won’t last long."
Xiao Feng wrapped an arm around Yang Kai’s neck, laughing, "Kai Zi, you just don’t understand Little Yunyun. Despite his tendency to be sentimental during the spring and fall rains, that’s only a small part of his inner fuss; the rest of him is tough."
Hearing what Yang Kai said, you straightened up and shamelessly replied, "Hehe, the toughest part about me is right here, care to give it a try?"
Both men turned their faces away, "Scram! Brother ain’t into that!"
From the Little Qing Inn to Chaotian Village was a long journey; you first took a car to a small mountain town called Pingxi, and after getting off, you had to carry your backpacks and walk a long and rugged mountain road.
Among you all, except for the somewhat frail Han Lele, no one else had any issues, so Xiao Feng, her boyfriend, ended up carrying both their bags.
Unlike those ever-changing highways outside, once you entered the mountains, what met you were the familiar scents and the long-missed sights of your childhood.
It was curious, no matter how much the outside world changed, everything in the mountains seemed just the same, with only the trees growing thicker and the trails becoming a tad smoother than remembered.
After walking for about an hour, and considering the girls’ stamina, you all rested by a creek.
Putting down the heavy backpack from your shoulders, Xiao Feng pointed to a rock not far away and laughed, "Little Yunyun, remember that stone?"
You turned to look, and your eyes inadvertently glazed over, effortlessly sweeping past it.
Yang Kai, always observant, seeing that expression on your face, sat on a nearby rock beside Xiao Feng and asked with a grin, "Hey, Madman, why don’t you share that story you know with everyone?"
Xiao Feng glanced at you and raised two fingers to Yang Kai, "Two weeks’ worth of late-night snacks."
Seeing Yang Kai hesitate, Xian Qianling promptly offered, "Half a month’s worth of late-night snacks, I’ll pay for it."
"Deal," Xiao Feng glanced at the girls, then stretched out his hand towards the rock and said with a smile, "From our perspective, that rock might not look like anything special. If you walk around it, you’ll find that it’s hanging halfway off the ground, with a small cave underneath that’s just the right size for hiding one person. Little Yunyun here once hid in there for a record three days."
"Three days?" Xian Qianling raised an eyebrow.
"Hiding from what?" Wu Qiyi frowned slightly.
"Of course, from a person, um..."
You covered Xiao Feng’s mouth before he could finish, pulling him aside and whispered menacingly, "If you don’t want Han Lele to twist bruises onto your back, I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut."
Although Xiao Feng was intimidated into silence, the more he refrained from speaking, the more curious everyone became.
After even Han Lele asked, Xiao Feng finally shared under your glare, "Well, that person, we should be able to meet them once we get to Chaotian Village."
Looking up at the sky, you picked up your backpack and said to everyone, "Let’s go, there are still two hours left on our journey."
A gentle breeze passed, stirring the black hair ends, bringing a faint scent into your nostrils.
Turning to look at the person next to you, you smiled...