Dog King
 Vol.1

Chapter 1: Master's Wife

People say you should call someone "Master" and Master's Wife as ‘Madaam’, but those old rules don't really matter anymore. There's no official apprenticeship ceremony. It's more like going to school: you pay tuition, and it's not cheap—$450. If you finish your apprenticeship in three years, you have to do all the chores at your master's house and follow whatever your master says. They give you meals, but you don't get paid.

[A/N: I've used 'dollar' as the currency to give you an idea of the antiquated and rural setting of this story.]

Kelo Murphy is fifty years old; Maya Devi is only twenty-five. They have a four-year-old girl named Lele Murphy and a dog named Black Panther.

Dino James settled down at Kelo's house and officially began his apprenticeship.

Dino felt comfortable and at ease in Kelo's home, thanks not to Kelo himself but to Maya, or perhaps Lele, or even the dog, Black Panther.

Dino was very diligent and did everything. Whenever he came back from outside or was tired from work, Maya would always hand him a cup of cold tea and say, "You've worked hard."

Her voice was gentle, soothing like a cup of herbal tea. She had a beautiful smile, and whenever Dino looked at her, his eyes seemed to blur. He tried to see her clearly, but somehow he never quite could.

At night, when he was lying in bed, Dino could clearly remember Maya's smile. It made him happy, and he wondered, "Will Madam always be like this? When I come home from work, she'll hand me a bowl of tea and say, 'You've worked hard.' How great it would be if she stayed this way until she's eighty."

Maya didn't like being called "Madam" because it made her feel old. She wanted Dino to call her "Sister" instead. Lele didn't like it either. Whenever she heard Dino say "Madam," she didn't understand and would hug Maya's neck tightly, her little eyes full of suspicion.

But Dino was good with kids and liked them a lot. In just a few days, Lele warmed up to him. One day, she even told him, "I'll give you half of my mother."

Dino was overjoyed.

Black Panther, the dog, was also very attached to Dino. It followed him everywhere. Sometimes, if Dino went out with Kelo, Black Panther stayed behind, but when they came back, it would run up to greet them and jump all over them. Its affection always made Dino happy.

Dino thought everything would stay the same, but then something unexpected happened.

Kelo didn't like seeing patients at home. He preferred making house calls. Maple Leaf Town was big, with dozens of villages, and Kelo knew them all.

[A/N: Maple Leaf is a fictional Town for this story]

Kelo wasn't just a vet. He also treated people—setting broken bones, removing fish bones from throats, and treating strange swellings. He even dealt with superstitions, like summoning gods to drive away evil spirits, matchmaking, and singing at night. He was good at all of it.

He could even deliver babies and had done it before, but he just shrugged it off: "Isn't it just like helping a piglet be born? What's the big deal?"

In Maple Leaf, lots of people don't know who the town mayor is, but everyone knows Kelo.

Dino used to really admire Kelo's skills and respect how hard he worked. He thought Kelo was the kind of man who could take care of a family. But later, he found out there was more to the story.

Dino went with Kelo on house calls, carrying his boxes and helping out. He learned the trade along the way.

Being a vet isn't too technical, and as long as the master is willing to teach, you can pick it up fast. In half a year, Dino traveled with his master and learned a lot.

After a while, Master Ke would just look things over, give a few instructions, and then leave the work to Dino. He could do everything—give medicine, give shots, set bones, do surgery, and stitch wounds.

[A/N: Kelo = Master Ke, Don’t be confused]

I discovered Kelo's shady dealings while he was on his house calls.

It was a small village called Kalamata.

[A/N: Kalamata means Black Mud]

He stayed at the home of a family surnamed Smith. It was autumn, and there were many mosquitoes. Dino usually fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed, but this night he couldn't sleep because of the mosquito bites. He also felt stuffy and hot, so he decided to go outside to cool off.

There was a threshing ground behind the Smith family's house. It was on higher ground, and a breeze was blowing. Dino walked up there and cooled off for a while. Suddenly, he saw movement in the haystack not far away.

"It can't be a rabbit, can it?" Dino said with interest.

But upon closer inspection, something was amiss; those were people, a man and a woman, embracing and kissing.

"Field combat, huh?" Dino was startled and felt a mix of amusement and curiosity, so he lowered his body and watched quietly.

It was too far away to see clearly. In the moonlight, they looked like two large fleshy worms. Occasionally, sounds could be heard: a woman's screams and a man's chuckling laughter. Strange, the voices sounded familiar, like Kelo Murphy's, but how could that be?

"No way," Dino thought it was impossible.

About half an hour later, the two separated. The woman walked into the house first. It turned out to be Smith's wife. Dino remembered her. She was a woman in her thirties, not very pretty but very strong, with a full chest.

"Didn't they say that Brother Smith went out to work? Could it be that Sister-in-law is having an affair at home?" Dino was startled and shrank behind a pile of straw in a corner of the threshing ground, afraid that Smith's wife would find out. It wasn't that he was afraid, but he felt ashamed for Smith's wife.

The man didn't leave. After putting on his clothes, he actually started smoking by the haystack. When the firelight lit up, Dino was stunned to see his face. It really was Kelo.

"How so?"

Dino returned to his room and barely slept all night.

He heard Kelo return to his room. Kelo never slept in the same room as him. There were plenty of rooms in the countryside, and Kelo was well-connected, so getting an extra room to sleep in was a piece of cake. Kelo said he snored at night, but Dino now knew that it wasn't him snoring; it was probably for another reason.

Dino didn't say a word that day, thinking it might just be a one-off thing. Besides, he didn't know what to do. The next day, Dino continued his rounds and arrived at another village. He pretended to be asleep and listened to the noises coming from Kelo's room. Around nine o'clock, Kelo went out of the room again, and Dino followed him out. Kelo went to a house, knocked on the door twice, and the door opened.

A woman opened the door, wearing a short blouse with delicate floral patterns. Old Ke chuckled and reached out to grope the woman. She spat and said, "You're so annoying, come in."

She dragged Kelo in.

"Master really has a woman outside, does Madam know?" Dino's body stiffened, and it took him a while to come to his senses.

This was the second time, but not the last. Dino followed along on medical rounds, seeing patients through. Dino counted that in seven days, Kelo had slept with eight women.

So he wasn't making house calls; he was planting seeds.

Dino watched the whole way, feeling frustrated the whole way. He didn't dare to ask Kelo anything. He just couldn't understand why the women were better off. Their men had gone out to work, and they had to take care of older people and children. Why did Kelo do this? Putting everything else aside, did he do right by Maya?

Two days after returning, Dino paid special attention to the situation. He slept on the second floor, while Kelo, Maya, and their family of three slept on the east side of the first floor. Every time they went to bed, he would eavesdrop on their room.

Kelo was out having affairs with women, making a lot of noise. He liked to chuckle, a smug and perverted laugh. So Dino was sure that whenever Kelo was with Maya, there would be noise. But Dino listened for two nights, and there was no sound at all in the room. All he heard each time was Kelo's loud snoring.

This greatly disappointed Dino, who was eager to try it himself.

Chapter 2: Kelo's affair exposed

After resting at home for two days, KeLo started going out on his rounds again. Just like before, he would sleep on the way he went. He had his lovers in almost every village, and in some villages, he had several. Sometimes he would even climb on several women in one night.

Whenever he returned, he would fall into a deep sleep and wouldn't touch Maya.

This situation lasted for more than a month. Dino finally couldn't stand it anymore. One night, after Kelo returned from his rendezvous, he sat on Kelo's bed.

Upon seeing him, KeLo was taken aback: "Why aren't you asleep yet? What are you doing sitting on my bed? Go to sleep, we have to go to Kaseri faat early tomorrow."

[A/N: Kaseri faat is a village name]

Dino didn't move, which surprised Kelo: "What's wrong with you, kid? What's gotten into you?"

Dino held his breath and looked up at Kelo: "Master, why are you doing this? How can you face your wife like this?"

Kelo was stunned for a moment, then looked into Dino's eyes, which suddenly seemed to light up: "You know, kid?"

Dino wasn't afraid of him. He glared at him angrily without saying a word. After a long pause, he finally said, "Your wife is so beautiful, more beautiful than all women combined. Why are you doing this?"

His sullen appearance amused Kelo, who took out his wine gourd, took a sip, and laughed, "Homegrown flowers are never as fragrant as wild ones, kid. You'll understand this after you get married."

These words angered Dino, but he didn't know how to refute them, so he said, "But you've ruined someone else's woman."

"What do you mean by 'harming'?" Old Ke laughed again.

"You little brat, you don't understand anything. Look around, in the countryside now, how many men are left? It's mostly older women and children at home. Those women have elderly parents to care for and young children to raise. They work in the fields all day long, and when they finally get some rest at night, they're all alone. They're human too. They also think, 'I'm doing them a good deed!' Since you've seen it, tell me, which one of them have I forced? Weren't they all happy to do it?"

Kelo has a silver tongue; he can talk his way out of anything. Dino can't argue with him at all. Besides, what he said is true. Some of those women really are even more promiscuous than Kelo.

Dino was speechless. He returned to his room and thought about it for half the night, but couldn't figure out the cause and effect. He thought only of Maya and concluded, "No matter what, he has wronged his wife."

He tossed and turned in bed all night, and the next morning, he came out with dark circles under his eyes. Kelo looked at him, chuckled, and handed him the wine gourd:

"Take a sip."

"I won't drink." Dino turned his head away.

This was the first time he had ever been angry with Kelo, but Kelo wasn't angry at all. He just chuckled and said, "Little Boy, this wine of mine is not something that ordinary people can get their hands on."

Dino ignored him.

After reaching Kaseri faat Village, the two men tended to various animals. Dino treated two pigs and assisted a belligerent ox that had suffered a broken leg after falling from a field. Although Kelo was present, he provided only instructions, while Dino handled all the labor. The original plan was to depart in the afternoon, but Kelo decided to stay after lunch.

“He must have women in Kaseri faat, too.” Dino gritted his teeth and sulked, but there was nothing he could do. He could just sulk and let it go, but he didn’t dare to really lose his temper with Kelo.

Upon his return, Kelo announced his intention to take a walk to Zoohi Hills, stating, "I need to check on two pigs there. From Zoohi Hills, I'll return via Red Bridge, as it's a short route."

What he said made sense, and, most importantly, he promised to return today, so Dino carried his suitcase and followed him.

Pleased by Dino's listlessness, Kelo persistently mocked him, asking if he still wished to go, but Dino remained silent.

Upon reaching Zoohi Hills Village, they instructed Dino to stay put. Kelo, not holding it against him, proceeded to visit several homes on his own.

Around noon, Kelo suddenly came running back, panting, and grabbed Dino:

"Hurry up, let's go back."

Dino, seeing Kelo's flustered state, was initially slow to react. Kelo took a couple of steps, then turned back to him.

"Hurry up and go, you idiot," he snapped.

Putting the box down, Kelo added, "You carry this. Now, hurry and catch up."

He then rushed out, but immediately stumbled over a stone, nearly falling.

Only then did Dino realize the urgency. He quickly grabbed the suitcase and followed.

To cross the bamboo bridge, one had to cross Zoohi Mountain. Halfway up the mountain, Dino heard a shout from behind.

Turning, he saw a man, fueled by rage, pursuing him with a carrying pole. The man was shouting threats: "You old bastard, you stole my wife! I'll beat you to death and feed you to the dogs today!"

Hearing the shout, Kelo's already pale, aged face blanched further, causing him to stumble and fall, before desperately scrambling back onto his hands and knees.

Now Dino understood: Kelo's affair with another man's wife had been exposed, and the man was coming after him, ready to fight to the death.

Looking at Kelo's disheveled appearance, Dino felt both amused and that he deserved it. But then the image of his Madam, Maya, flashed before his eyes, and he thought to himself, "If he really gets beaten to death, my Madam will be heartbroken."

Thinking this, he called out to Kelo, "Master, why don't you hide in the woods over here? I'll lead them up the mountain; I can run fast."

With that, he slung the box over his shoulder and ran off, while Kelo disappeared into the bamboo grove next to him without hesitation.

Dino was young and strong, and being a country boy, he had been climbing mountains and wading through rivers with Kelo for the past six months. He was very fast and didn't think the man could catch up to him. But what he didn't expect was that the man had a dog with him.

The man didn't catch up, but the dog did. Just as Dino climbed to the top of the mountain, the dog suddenly rushed up and bit his foot.

Caught off guard, Dino screamed in pain, but the dog still wouldn't let go. He swung the box and slammed it down on the dog's back.

The dog was hit and felt the pain. When it saw Dino swinging the box again, it got scared, howled, and ran down the mountain.

Fearing the man would catch up, Dino endured the pain and climbed over another hill. He looked up and saw that the man hadn't followed. He then sat down in the nearby woods, pulled up his trouser leg, and looked at the hill. He couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

The dog bit fiercely, leaving two rows of teeth marks, and the blood soaked through my trousers.

"It died of plague." Dino cursed. He opened the box, but then let out a cry of despair. When he had smashed the dog earlier, the wine gourd inside had overturned, spilling all the wine.

The gourd of wine is all gone, but that's alright. Healing your foot is the priority. What's with Dino's complaints?

[A/N: Dog King Egg wine is fictional]

Kelo's wine has a special name. Kelo's wine is called Dog King Wine. Kelo occasionally let slip that there is a 108-year-old Dog King Egg soaked in his wine.

Chapter 3: Dog King eggs

What are dog king eggs? They are actually dog ​​testicles. However, dogs don't live long, usually only one or two decades. A dog that can live to 108 years old is extraordinary; it is the king of dogs. Dog king testicles, combined with some special medicines, are soaked in alcohol and have some special effects.

Everyone knows that if a dog bites you, you need to get a rabies vaccine; there is no cure for rabies once you are infected.

But Kelo treats dog bites with only Dog King Wine. He washes the wound with the wine, then drinks a sip of Dog King Wine, and doesn't even need bandages; it heals in three days.

Kelo claims this isn't superstition, but an undeniable fact, and once backed it up with a bet. 

A person who was severely bitten by a dog chose to get vaccinated, while another person chose Kelo's method: washing the wound with alcohol and drinking three sips. The person who got vaccinated struggled for two weeks, while the person who drank alcohol was reportedly well enough to plant rice seedlings just four days later.

Kelo became famous overnight. He was well-known in Maple Leaf and known to everyone because of the impact of this battle.

This Dog King Wine actually has another effect: it enhances male virility. Old Ke is fifty-one years old. He not only travels around everywhere, but also plays with women every night, sometimes several in one night. He borrows this Dog King Wine. Dino only found out about it because Old Ke unintentionally showed it off.

It's not a big deal if you get bitten by a dog, as long as you have some wine. But now the wine is spilled, which is why Dino is complaining so much. It's not that he's afraid of being scolded by Kelo for spilling the wine. He can just brew another pot of wine. The key is that he has no wine to wash his wound.

Dino turned the gourd upside down and managed to filter out a few drops. He barely managed to apply it to the wound, and it was truly miraculous. As soon as he applied it, the bleeding stopped immediately, and yellow fluid slowly seeped out.

Dino needed another sip. Shaking the gourd, he sensed liquid remaining. He inverted the gourd, placed his mouth on the opening, and tapped the bottom twice. Something soft and fluffy, like a date, slid into his mouth. With a slight squeeze, some wine was extracted as he took a sip.

Dino was happy that there was alcohol. He put it in his mouth and left his wound unbandaged, waiting for Kelo to come.

About half an hour later, Kelo finally caught up. Dino came out when he heard the noise, which startled Kelo.

“Ou-uu Motherfu….hah.”

Upon seeing that it was Dino, Kelo wiped the sweat from his brow.

He looked pathetic. Usually, he was always arrogant and haughty, like a rooster, but now he was covered in sweat, and his face was deathly pale, as if he had suddenly aged ten years.

"Serves you right, it'll do you a good scare," Dino thought to himself.

"Give me the gourd of wine." Kelo sat down on a rock, reached out, and immediately saw Dino's leg:

 "What happened to your leg?"

"That guy's dog chased after me and bit me. I hit him with a box, and then I spilled the wine too."

Old Ke took the gourd, drank from it, and then inverted it. His expression shifted as he demanded, "Where's the Dog King Egg? And there's not a single drop left?"

"What Dog King Egg?" A sudden thought flashed through Dino's mind, and he exclaimed, "That's Dog King Egg?"

"What?" Old Ke looked at him suspiciously.

Dino stumbled aside, overcome with nausea. To his horror, the raw dog testicle he'd been holding in his mouth was gone. He realized he had unconsciously sucked it down to a small fragment and then accidentally swallowed it whole. The thought of having ingested the raw dog testicle was enough to make his stomach turn.

Kelo understood somewhat: "You...you ate it?"

"The dog bit me. I wanted to have a drink, but we were out of alcohol. It fell into my mouth. I thought it was a sediment. Ugh."

Unable to vomit, Dino was red-faced and frustrated. At the same time, Kelo stood there dumbfounded, his old face sometimes red and sometimes white, seemingly wanting to get angry, yet also seemingly helpless, and perhaps also having some other meaning.

"Master." Seeing that Kelo's condition was not right, Dino called out.

Kelo looked at him, his expression shifting. Suddenly, he burst into laughter: "You ate Dog King Egg! You actually ate Dog King Egg!"

His smile was a bit strange, and Dino didn't know what Kelo was laughing at. He just thought he was laughing at him. His face turned red, and he felt a little annoyed: "I actually ate a dog's testicle. How embarrassing. I hope Master won't tell anyone."

He looked at Kelo with some concern, but he felt that Kelo's smile had another meaning, though he didn't quite understand what it meant.

Dino had an injury on his foot, but Kelo didn't take the box from him. He walked ahead on his own, and Dino followed behind with the box on his back. Whether it was because of the alcohol or the dog’s testicles, his foot injury didn't hurt anymore.

They still had to cross another ridge, but it started raining halfway through, and it seemed like it would only get heavier. Kelo said, "Let's take shelter at David Cooper's house for a while."

David was a forest ranger. His family lived on the mountain and had two dogs. Usually, they would bark as soon as they heard human voices from afar. But today, strangely, they didn't bark. When they reached the open ground, they saw two dogs, one black and one yellow, lying there, whimpering, as if they had seen a tiger.

Dino was puzzled and asked, "What's wrong with these two dogs?"

Kelo glanced at him, chuckled twice, and said nothing.

The rain kept falling, so Dino had no choice but to sleep at David's house. As soon as he fell asleep, he started having strange dreams.

He saw countless dogs, black dogs, white dogs, spotted dogs, yellow dogs, big dogs, small dogs, too many to count. These dogs came and went, all talking to him, and he seemed to understand them.

Dogs can speak human language, or rather, they can understand dog language. What kind of strange thing is that?

He suddenly found himself atop a high mountain, transformed into a dog. With a single bark, every dog worldwide bowed down, acknowledging him as "King."

A smug, hearty laugh escaped him, but then a realization struck him:

"How did I become a dog?"

This thought startled him awake. He abruptly saw Kelo standing beside his bed, holding a small dagger used for chicken castration.

"Ah."

Dino jumped up in fright. He found that his voice sounded strange, almost like a dog's bark.

As soon as he shouted, the sound of dogs barking suddenly rang out outside. It was the two dogs that David had fed. They were barking wildly, circling the house, running to the front door, then to the back window, as if they wanted to rush in.

The dog's bark jolted Dino awake. He looked at Kelo and said, "Master."

Kelo's expression was strange. Hearing him call out, he froze for a moment, shook his head, sat down on the edge of the bed, threw the knife in his hand onto the table, and the way he threw it gave Dino a sense of dejection.

It feels like wanting to do something but lacking the ability, and then giving up.

Puzzled, Dino questioned, "Why is Master in the middle of the night with a rooster-castrating knife?"

The dog was still barking. David woke up and yelled twice, but the dog wouldn't stop. Kelo said, "Tell that dog to stop barking."

Kelo turned to look at Dino, who hadn't yet grasped that Kelo was calling him. Dino realized this, and though the barking was somewhat puzzling, he knew a dog's bark always had a reason. Even David was unstoppable, so what could he do? Nevertheless, he commanded, "Stop barking."

Strangely, as soon as he spoke, the two dogs immediately shut up, as if they had been suddenly choked.

The world suddenly fell silent. There was no electricity on the ridge, only oil lamps. A breeze blew in through the cracks in the roof, and the lamplight flickered, illuminating the dim and unclear area of ​​Kelo's house.

Dino suddenly felt a chill, but he didn't understand why.

"Master," he called out, wanting to say something, but then he couldn't open his mouth.

Kelo didn't answer him. After a while, he said, "Touch your crotch."

"Huh?" Dino didn't understand.

"Feel it, how many testicles do you have?"

"Ah," Dino exclaimed again. He understood, but he was also confused. What did "a few testicles" mean? Most people have two testicles, but some are said to have only one.

Chapter 4: Three eggs

Momentarily stunned, Dino felt his embarrassment as he hesitantly reached out, gradually pulling the blanket up to cover himself.

When he touched it, he suddenly realized something was wrong; it felt swollen, like a small, inflated ball.

"What's going on?" Dino was startled. He took off his pants and peeked at the scene.

Indeed, that pouch was swollen, red, and slightly warm to the touch, and very elastic when pressed.

Dino was so frightened he was about to cry: "Master."

"Hmm?" Old Ke narrowed his eyes.

"It's swollen," Dino said, tears welling up. "Was it bitten by a dog?"

Kelo exclaimed loudly, "Oh! How could a dog bite your balls and make them swell up? Let me see."

Though embarrassed, the terrible disfigurement of the swollen area left Dino with no choice but to lift the blanket.

Kelo leaned over for a look, clicking his tongue. Having been somewhat dejected after the fright of the day, he was now full of renewed energy, his eyes bright with interest.

Old Master Ke then reached out and pinched the area a few times. Shame and fear overwhelmed Dino, and tears streamed down his face involuntarily.

 "Master," he pleaded.

Kelo didn't respond, but clicked his tongue repeatedly:

 "Three eggs, it really is three eggs. That old codger didn't lie to me."

"What?"

His reaction surprised Dino.

"You have three testicles, and you haven't felt them yourself?"

"No, I didn't dare touch it. How could there be three testicles?"

Dino was somewhat incredulous. He reached out and touched it, and indeed there seemed to be three. Still not believing it, he pressed harder, and it hurt.

"Master, why do I have an extra one?" he cried out in sudden panic and pain.

Tears sprang to her eyes once more as she spoke.

Old Ke gave a small frown. "One extra grain is just one extra grain. Why the tears?"

Dino blushed with embarrassment: "But, three pills..."

"What's wrong with that?" Kelo glanced at him, a strange look that seemed to carry a hint of jealousy. It was only much later that Dino understood the meaning of that look.

At the time, he didn't understand and was completely flustered, just touching his testicles and looking at Kelo.

Kelo ignored him, flopped onto the bed, and closed his eyes. He wasn't asleep, though; after a while, he turned over, lying on his side, and suddenly muttered, "Women of the world, ah..."

He let out a strange laugh, then started snoring.

Old Master Ke, seemingly unconcerned, had simply fallen asleep. Dino, feeling deeply wronged, let tears flow as he thought of "Madam." He was suffering immensely, yet no one seemed to care, despite his affliction of having three testicles.

If my Madam were here, she would definitely ask, her face full of worry, her beautiful eyes filled with anxiety.

Dino had no choice but to lie down. He spent the whole night touching his testicles, drifting in and out of sleep. When he woke up, he initially thought it was a dream. But when he touched his scrotum, it was smaller and less swollen, and the color had returned to normal. However, it was still puffy, about the same size as when he was eleven or twelve.

Since it doesn't hurt, he doesn't care about the size. What Dino is most worried about is his testicles. When he touches them, he finds three.

Dino suddenly remembered that last night, Kelo stood in front of his bed, holding a castrator's knife. He thought to himself, "Could it be that Master is imagining himself as a castrator, helping me remove one of my testicles?"

Thinking about it this way, he felt grateful to Master Ke. His master still cared about him. Although he knew that he would have to have surgery and it would be painful, he often castrated chickens, so he wasn't afraid.

Kelo got up early and chatted with David outside. Dino got up, the rain stopped, and, with David's family there, He didn't feel comfortable telling Kelo he needed his help with the egg-removal surgery. After breakfast, he set off for home, thinking he could talk about it when he got home.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, it rained all night, and the Red River swelled, flooding the Red Bridge.

The structure of the bamboo bridge is simple: a frame of three bamboo poles with bamboo planks laid across it. Five bamboo piers support the bridge as it spans a ten-meter-wide river. 

While passable on sunny days, a rise in the water level causes the bridge to sway and wobble like a boat, making it daunting for the less courageous to cross.

Today, the river was high enough to flood the bridge, though the water was only ankle-deep. The bridge surface was still vaguely visible beneath the murky yellow, somewhat frightening-looking water.

Kelo hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Dino: "Do you dare to pass?"

Despite the frightening sight of the widening river and its surging, muddy current, Dino was impatient to return. "Are you alright?" he asked.

 "It looks like we can cross now."

He was afraid that Kelo would turn back and go to some other village to find a woman he liked. He was still thinking that Kelo would go back to help him get the eggs. Kelo hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay."

Once on the bridge, Kelo reached out his hand: "You go first, give me a hand."

The bamboo bridge sways precariously due to the water's impact. Ideally, people should cross one by one, but it's difficult to stand steadily, so they have to support each other.

Dino followed him onto the bridge. Kelo put his hand on his shoulder, and the two of them helped each other across. The water only reached their calves. Although the bridge was swaying, the impact on people was not great. Slowly, they saw the other side when, suddenly,y a large surge of water came from upstream, and the bamboo bridge tilted and actually collapsed.

Startled, Dino suddenly felt a powerful force surge forward. He had just reached the shore when something grabbed his left foot. Luckily, there was a willow tree by the river with a branch hanging down. He grabbed it and looked back. It turned out that the one who had grabbed his foot was Kelo.

"Master!" Dino exclaimed in surprise and delight, quickly pulling his feet up.

He was also half-submerged in water, while Kelo was completely submerged, his head submerged, with only a clump of hair remaining. He was clinging tightly to Dinog's feet, preventing the flood from washing him away. Dinog pulled his feet back, and Kelo's head emerged from the water.

Chapter 5: I will give you my Wife

Kelo choked on two mouthfuls of water, his face pale, and shouted, "Pull me up!"

"Okay," Dino replied, but he had no choice. He had originally climbed onto the embankment but was forcibly pulled down by Kelo. He grabbed a willow branch as he went. The riverbank was high, and there was nothing else to hold onto. He hooked his feet up, fearing that Kelo would lose his grip as the strong force grew stronger, and tried to climb up by pulling on the willow branch with both hands.

Dino struggled to pull Kelo from the rising river. The soft willow branches he clung to only bent under his weight, preventing him from getting far up the bank. The embankment itself was high, steep, and dangerously slick with water. Despite his great effort, Dino only managed to pull Kelo to the very edge of the bank. Kelo remained submerged, clinging desperately to Dino’s feet as he had nothing else to hold onto. Dino was also mostly underwater, relying entirely on the willow branches. The river's current was intensifying, its force growing stronger as the water level continued to rise, likely due to persistent rain upstream.

With the water no longer obscuring his vision, Kelo finally saw the precariousness of their situation. Anxiety flared as he shouted at Dino, "You little brat, pull me up! Hoist me up!"

"Okay." Dino's face turned red, and he tried to lift the willow branch upwards with all his might, but the willow branch itself was soft, and with someone hanging on his body, he couldn't use the embankment for support, so he couldn't get up at all. Instead, he pulled the whole willow tree down and bent it over.

Kelo saw that Dino had done his best. If he let go, Dino could climb up by himself using his feet as stepping stones. But could he let go? There needed to be something to grab onto on the bank. If he let go and let Dino climb up, he could break off a willow branch and pull him up. Both of them could climb up. But he couldn't let go. He could swim a little, but this was a flood. If he let go, a wave could sweep him away.

"Call someone," Old Ke shouted.

Alerted by the warning, Dino shouted, "Is anyone here? Someone come here!"

The area around Red Bridge is quite remote, and cattle herders only occasionally come here. It's slippery when it rains, and it looks like it's about to rain again, so you can't see a soul around at this time.

"Master, there's no one here."

"Shout louder! Shout for help! Would it kill you to shout for help?" Old Ke got angry.

Dino was indeed a bit shy. After being scolded by Kelo, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help! Someone help me!"

But there was no one around. After a long call, the rain started and grew heavier. Dino's feet and hands were numb from being tucked in. But what he was most worried about was Kelo. The water was rising higher and higher, and waves were constantly crashing over Kelo's head. He could feel that Kelo's hands were losing strength.

"Master, please don't let go, let me try again."

Calling for help was impossible. Dino mustered his strength and pulled himself up by the willow branch. Suddenly, he heard a cracking sound. The base of the willow branch had split open. Although it hadn't completely broken off, it was hard to say what would happen if he continued to pull.

Kelo's face turned deathly pale, and Dino panicked, no longer daring to exert any force. He let go with one hand and grabbed the muddy embankment. Although he managed to insert his hand, the mud was a clump, and he couldn't get any leverage.

"Master," he called out.

Kelo gritted his teeth, his eyes locked on Dino. "Dino, I'll only let go if you do me a favor," he threatened with a desperate intensity. "Otherwise, we'll die together—I'll hold you tight. It's hopeless."

Dino, sounding anxious, pleaded, “Master, don’t let go.” He scanned their surroundings, then suggested, “Master, how about I let go instead? I can swim. Don’t worry, I’ll take you to that bend down there. The embankment is lower there, and we should be able to get up.”

Kelo, still wanting to live, glanced back, his eyes dimming again: "You're talking nonsense. It's at least tens of feet over there, with waves that high."

A wave washed over his head. When he resurfaced, a look of despair and ferocity appeared in his eyes. He stared intently at Dino and said, "You have to do me a favor."

Dino was also somewhat desperate and said in a tearful voice, "Okay." Dino had no choice but to nod.

“You must swear an oath. Failure to keep this promise will result in your death, specifically by drowning.”

"Okay." Dino swore, "If I can't do it, may I die in an accident, drown, or be struck by lightning."

The country boy cursed fiercely, but Dino's curses were genuine.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded, and Kelo chuckled, "The Thunder God heard it."

His gaze sharpened, and he stared intently at Dino: "I'll give you your Madam."

"What?" Dino was jolted, thinking he had misheard.

"I will give Maya to you," Kelo said again, his teeth clenched, a fierce light in his eyes, like a miser who was about to hand over all his property to another person.

"Master." Dino heard it clearly now and was stunned.

Madam, that moon-like woman, whenever Dino thought of her, he felt like he couldn't open his eyes. Even today, he felt like he hadn't seen her clearly. But Kelo said he would give her to him.

"However, the first child you have with your Madam must take the surname Murphy, which is the same as mine."

"Master."

Dino finally understood that Kelo was serious, and he panicked.

"You won't die, I'll take you up." Dino was anxious, and suddenly a great force came from nowhere. He grabbed the willow branch with his left hand and plunged his right hand deep into the riverbank. With this momentum, he bent over and pulled Kelo up a bit.

Dino was overjoyed, but his left hand suddenly loosened, and the willow branch split open, leaving only a little bit of bark hanging from it.

"It is fate; you are the king of dogs." Kelo chuckled and suddenly let go.

His hand loosened without warning. Dino was shocked and tried to grab it back, but only managed to pull out a handful of Kelo's hair. In the flood, Kelo's body disappeared in an instant.

"Master."

Dino screamed.

Suddenly, the old man sprang out of the water: "Respond to me?"

At that moment, his gaze was so fierce that Dino couldn't help but cry out, "I promise you."

Kelo seemed to be holding his breath, but as soon as Dino agreed, he breathed a sigh of relief, let out a strange laugh, and was swept into the water, never to resurface.

Only that strange laugh echoed on the water's surface; that laugh was so eerie that Dino had never forgotten it.

"Master!" Dino cried out.

He seemed to find strength in some unknown place, and he plunged his hands into the embankment, climbing up it in a crisscross pattern. He ran down the riverbank, hoping to see Kelo, but the floodwaters surged, and the rain poured down harder and harder, and Kelo was nowhere to be seen.

Kelo's body was later found about 20 or 30 miles downstream, hanging from the roots of an old tree.

The funeral procession and burial took place. The rain stopped the next day, and the weather was unusually hot. Moreover, since Kelo had drowned, it was said to be an ominous sign. The burial took place on the third day.

Lele cried very hard. She was so young and didn't understand. She cried when her mother, Maya, cried.

When Maya's mother, Old Lady Martha, came, she cried when she held her granddaughter. But Dino held her, and he didn't cry.

Dino was somewhat dazed. ‘My master is dead.’

His master even betrothed his mistress to him.

This huge change left his mind completely blank.

Then he discovered something extremely strange: he could understand what dogs were saying.

Yes, the black panther's previously unintelligible cries now sounded like understandable words to him.

He could understand the black panther's roar.

I can understand little wood's bark. Oh, little wood is Kori San's dog next door.

[A/N: Little wood, Big Yellow, Old Nine: dog names]

He could understand Big Yellow's barking and Old Nine's barking.

He could understand the barks of all the dogs in the village.

In other words, he understands dog language.

That's easy to explain, because he had read a story before about a man named Ross Massy in ancient times who could understand bird language.

Chapter 6: Wise Dog

Understanding dog language and understanding bird language are essentially the same thing, so Dino didn't think he was so abnormal as to be unique.

However, one thing terrified him: he had heard from the Black Panthers that they called him the Dog King.

Every dog, upon smelling its scent from afar, will cower on the ground in fear, either tucking its tail between its legs and running away, or lying on its back in the air. This is how dogs express absolute submission.

"But I'm a human, not a dog, so why did I become the Dog King?"

Dino wanted to cry.

He recalled the words Kelo had said before letting go: "It is fate, you are the Dog King."

He also remembered the dream he had that night at David's house, where he turned into a dog, standing atop a mountain, howling loudly, with countless dogs lying prostrate on the ground in all directions.

All of this was eerie, to the point that he began to resent Kelo, who called him Dog King. Kelo clearly knew something, but he just wouldn't tell him.

There's another thing, namely the three testicles. Dino guessed that the reason he had three testicles was related to the dog king egg he had eaten. Everything that followed, including the dog king dream, his ability to understand dog language, and the fact that Black Panther and the others called him dog king, was probably all due to the dog king egg.

"The third testicle must be the king's testicle. If I'm castrated, I won't be the king anymore, and I won't be able to understand dog language anymore."

Dino made up his mind to perform surgery on himself and remove one of his testicles. He wasn't afraid and was confident. Castrating dogs and chickens came easily to him. He knew it was simple, too. It was just a thin scrotum. He could cut open the skin, remove one testicle, and sew it back up. At most, he'd need a few days of anti-inflammatory injections. It was a very simple thing.

After the seventh day of mourning, things gradually calmed down at home. Dino made up his mind and ate vegetarian food for two days, without even eating chili peppers. He was preparing to have surgery when Black Panther told him that Old Lady Martha didn't like him and wanted to kick him out.

“That old hag has been feeding you way too much.” Black Panther said angrily, not by shouting, but by using a low whimper to tell Dino, “There’s no reason for her to keep you. She has to kick you out, and she won’t return a single penny of the $450.”

Old Lady Martha's home was in Maki Village, more than 30 miles away. However, since Old Man Ke had just died, Old Lady Martha would naturally stay for a while longer. Dino couldn't hear her talking to Maya in private. But people are wary of each other, not dogs. Who would pay attention to a dog next to them? Plus, dogs have sharp ears, so even if they were talking inside the house, people outside could hear them. That's why Black Panther knew.

Dino was panicked by the news Black Panther brought.

Logically speaking, now that Kelo is dead, Dino really has no reason to stay with Maya anymore. He should leave. At most, Maya, being reasonable, should refund him some of his apprenticeship fees.

Before Black Panther tipped him off, Dino had never considered leaving.

Deep down, he had already considered this place his home. Maya was here. Only then did he suddenly remember that he didn't belong in this house. With Kelo here, he still had the title of apprentice. Now that Kelo was gone, he couldn't go with Maya. He had to leave.

But Dino didn't want to leave, not only because he couldn't bear to part with Maya, but also because Kelo had promised Maya to him, and he had also promised Kelo that the first boy he had with Maya would have the surname Murphy.

He couldn't imagine what life would be like without Maya.

However, he could not find a reason to stay.

Dino couldn't think of a solution, so he asked Black Panther for help. Black Panther also couldn't think of a solution, but said, "I'll go ask Old Four-Eyes at the village entrance. He always calls himself the wisest in our group."

Old Four-Eyes was an old dog owned by Harry Seth, who ran a small shop at the village entrance. He had kept it for over ten years. It had two black spots above its eyes, making it look like it had four eyes. Dino had seen it once and never expected it to be such a wise dog.

Dino, desperate, agreed.

Black Panther ran off excitedly and came back to tell Dino that Old Fourth Eyes was a little afraid of him and dared not come to see Dino, but he did offer a few suggestions.

The village's general store, bustling with people, is the best place for information. Old Four Eyes has lived a long life, seen many people, and heard many things, so he can easily find a few ready-made solutions.

The simplest way is to pretend to be possessed by a demon, saying that Kelo's soul has returned and is now possessing Dino's body, and then use Kelo's words to get Dino to stay.

Dino thought it over, and it was a good idea. Although he would never want to lie to Maya, he had no psychological barrier to lying to Old Lady Martha. He had been following Kelo for more than half a year, and he had learned Kelo's way of speaking. Even if it wasn't exactly the same, it was about 76% similar.

Black Panther then told Dino a piece of news: Kelo had a jar of silver ingots, which he had found in an old, dilapidated grave after a rain when he was making rounds. After Kelo brought it back, he buried it under the osmanthus tree behind the house, and even Maya did not know about it.

However, while Kelo kept it from people, he didn't hide it from the dogs, so Black Panther knew about it.

"Old Four Eyes told me that the king pretended to be possessed by a demon and then revealed this secret. Even if Old Lady Martha didn't believe it, she would have to. Once she believed that you were Kelo, you could then use Kelo's words to ask her to stay, and she would naturally have no way to kick you out."

"That's a great idea. He truly is a wise dog." Dino nodded in approval upon hearing this.

Black Panther relayed that Maya was hesitant to speak because Old Lady Martha was pressuring her; if Maya didn't speak, Old Lady Martha would speak up for herself.

Dino was still somewhat hesitant. He felt a little embarrassed to lie to Maya. At this point, if he didn't take action and waited for Old Lady Martha to say she wanted to kick him out, it would seem fake for him to pretend to be a shrew.

Taking the initiative, Dino addressed Maya the morning after breakfast: "Madam, I apologize for the disturbance I've caused these past few days, and it's time for me to depart. However, before I leave, I would be grateful for the opportunity to offer one final stick of incense to Master."

Upon hearing that Dino was leaving, a hint of reluctance appeared in Maya's beautiful eyes. However, she glanced at Old Lady Martha beside her and said nothing, only nodding:

 "Your master is gone; it's just that we weren't meant to be. Remember me, come visit Lele when you have time."

She then recalled a further point: "Also, about the tuition fee. It was meant to cover three years, but you've been here for less than one. Considering the cost of meals and other things, I'll deduct $150. I will return $300."

Upon hearing about the refund, Old Lady Martha's eyes widened in surprise, but Maya ignored her and got up to go to the inner room to get the money.

Chapter 7: The Soul's Possessions

Old Lady Martha, her face flushed with anger, followed inside, carrying Lelé.

"Madam is really a good person."

Dino sighed inwardly, made up his mind, then suddenly tilted his head back and fell backward, his eyes rolling back, his whole body convulsing.

Black Panther was right next to him and even praised, "You acted so well, no wonder you're the king."

Fortunately, it was dog talk, and no one but Dino could understand it, but it still made Dino blush.

The noise outside startled Maya. When she came out to see what was happening, she was terrified to find Dino screaming like a chicken claw on the ground.

"Dino, what's wrong?"

Maya rushed to Dino's side, but the frantic cry of Old Lady Martha stopped her: "Don't help him! He's having an epileptic seizure. Make sure he doesn't grab you."

Hearing this, Dino's heart skipped a beat. How wonderful it would be to hold Maya in his arms! However, Dino only dared to think about it and did not dare actually to hug her.

Ignoring Old Lady Martha's advice, Maya helped Dino sit up by supporting his upper body. She half-knelt, weakened by the effort, allowing Dino to lean on her. As he rested against her soft, raised chest, Dino's heart began to pound.

Old Lady Martha was decisive: "Pinch his philtrum, I'll do it." She then walked over and firmly pinched Dino's philtrum.

The older woman had very long fingernails, and when she pinched them, blood was drawn.

Dino, though in pain, felt that it was about time. Mainly, it was his first time pretending to be a ghost, and he was a little nervous, so he had no choice but to open his eyes.

"Mom," he called out to Old Lady Martha, imitating Kelo's accent. To himself, it sounded fake, maybe only three or four parts similar.

Old Lady Martha was stunned for a moment: "This child, has he gone crazy from all the madness?"

At this moment, the black panther barked wildly at Dino, trying to help him. Dino then imitated Kelo's tone and shouted, "Black Panther, what are you yelling for? It's me."

The black panther immediately stopped barking and came to his side, wagging its tail and shaking its head affectionately, just like when the older man Ke used to come back to the house.

He used the same voice twice, and both Old Lady Martha and Maya noticed something was wrong. With Black Panther's help, the atmosphere became even more tense.

Old Lady Martha's expression changed; she cried out, "Oh dear!" and took two steps back. Maya's face also changed color, but, being kind, she didn't let go of Dino and kept supporting him.

"Maya," Dino called out to Maya.

Maya was supporting him and was right behind him. Dino had never seen her this close before. Her face seemed to glow, and Dino felt a little dizzy.

"Who are you?" Old Lady Martha exclaimed in alarm.

"I'm your son."

"Oh!" Old Lady Martha exclaimed again.

Maya's body trembled, and she moved her hand away.

"Mom, Maya, don't worry," Dino quickly assured them, fearing he had startled them. "I just remembered something and came back to tell you: I'm about to cross the Bridge of Helplessness. After I cross it, I won't be able to return."

People say that when they die, they have to go through the Gates of Hell and cross the Bridge of Helplessness. People here believe in these superstitions.

"What, what do you want to say?" Old Lady Martha was even more frightened, and Maya was, too. Holding Lele, she went to Old Lady Martha's side and stared at Dino, her eyes wide with shock.

Dino, wanting to avoid alarming her, spoke directly: "Maya, your name is unfortunate. Your surname, Devi, contains the character for 'Goddess,' suggesting a 'Glowing light that is flowing and cannot be held back,' and 'mouth in the sky,' which is too expansive. Furthermore, your given name, 'Maya,' includes the 'Love' radical. While its original meaning was 'magical love,' it has since faded. Consequently, your fate is not good."

Kelo helped people believe in superstitions and often made up ghost stories. Dino had heard it so many times that he seemed to be able to make them up naturally. However, the saying that Maya's mouth was in heaven was an old saying of Kelo that he had said before. Dino remembered it but did not take it seriously at the time. Now it came in handy.

"Ah." Maya exclaimed, her pretty mouth opening slightly.

Old Lady Martha opened her mouth as if to say something, but then remained silent, staring at Dino with a look of fear on her face. However, there seemed to be a hint of suspicion in her old eyes. This old lady was a formidable figure; only Kelo could deal with her. Ordinary people were no match for her.

Dino considered the situation carefully. Ignoring Old Lady Martha, he addressed only Maya, stating, "Your marriage is clearly failing. You married a man nearly fifty when you were just twenty. Once I leave, you'll be left with a child to raise, which will undoubtedly make remarrying very difficult."

Finally, Old Lady Martha muttered, "Why is it difficult to marry?"

Dino initially felt a little uneasy, but the discussion about Maya marrying Kelo quickly provoked his anger. He blamed Old Lady Martha entirely. Staring at her, he demanded, "What's your justification for an old woman marrying a cripple, especially a widow with a child to raise?"

His shout was exactly like Kelo's usual tone, and Old Lady Martha was immediately silenced.

Maya's face turned pale, and she choked out, "It's because my birth chart is bad."

Dino, having anticipated the statement, "Your birth chart is not good," immediately countered. "But that is irrelevant. Let Dino remain. He is a lucky star. Allow him to reside in this house for one year, three months, and three days. His inherent good fortune will compensate for the shortcomings in your birth chart, ensuring that your good fortune will never depart for the remainder of your life."

Dino felt guilty and didn't dare to reveal directly what Kelo had said about Maya promising him. He just made an excuse to stay and talk about it later.

"Really?" Maya's eyes lit up with joy, but Old Lady Martha's expression remained uncertain.

In rural areas, many people believe in superstitions, such as being possessed by evil spirits, having their souls locked away, or having spirits reside in their homes. Some believe in these things wholeheartedly, while others are indifferent. Old Lady Martha also believes in superstitions, but she is more pragmatic and holds onto her money tightly, belonging to the type of person who believes in superstitions lightly.

Knowing she didn't quite believe him, Dino immediately pulled out his trump card and waved to Old Lady Martha: "Mom, you go out first. I have something to say to Maya in private."

"What do you want to say?" But Old Lady Martha refused to move: "Just say it."

Maya was also a little scared. She stood next to Old Lady Martha and said to Dino, "Just say what you have to say."

"Alright."

Seeing that Dino was intentionally provoking him, he chose to step back. "I once buried a jar of silver beneath the osmanthus tree behind here, facing east," he announced. 

"Maya, go and dig it up; it will be Lele's dowry."

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Old Lady Martha, mimicking the look of the lecherous old woman: "Mom, this is what I left for Maya and Lele. If you dare to take even a single silver ingot back, I'll possess you and torment you to death."

Upon hearing that there was a jar of silver, Old Lady Martha's expression changed, and she immediately nodded, "Alright, alright, I won't take it, I won't take it."

"Then I'm leaving."

Dino fell backward, his eyes tightly closed and his jaw clenched. Such scenes were common in rural areas where people believed in superstitions, and he had seen them many times. He didn't know if they were true or false before, but after acting it out himself this time, he knew it was all a lie.

"Lelo." Maya started crying instead. Lele saw Dino lying motionless and also called out, "Brother Dino, Brother Dino."

The black panther also barked and licked Dino's face with its tongue. Dino sighed, opened his eyes, sat up, touched his head, and said, "Huh, what happened to me?"

He acted quite convincingly, mainly because he was usually an honest man, and this was his true nature. Maya opened her mouth to say something, but Old Lady Martha said, "It's alright, you might be tired and have fainted. Get up, don't leave yet, wait a few days, so that when you go back you won't say that you got sick from working so hard at Master's place."

That old lady is really something. With just a few words, she not only got the matter over with but also kept Dino here.

"Master is gone now, so it doesn't feel right for me to hold onto this," Dino said, feigning reluctance and glancing at Maya.

"It's fine," Maya replied. 

"Dino, you should stay here for now. Since you've already mastered some of the Master's techniques, you can use this time to practice further. Plus, I'm a bit nervous being alone without a man in the house. Please stay for a bit and keep me company."

She spoke earnestly, and Dino readily agreed.

Chapter 8: Busy Day

A villager suddenly arrived, calling out that his pigs were refusing to eat. Although Kelo had passed away, Dino had been Kelo's apprentice for over six months, travelling not only to nearby villages but eventually to more distant ones. Since Kelo was not one to easily shirk a task, he took Dino and left with the villager immediately.