Coming out of the Zhou Palace's Special Cultivation Hall, Han Xiao was greeted by the guards at the gate. He gave them a brief nod before turning his gaze to the row of pagodas. He wondered, 'I understand the Tianfu Sword Palace Institute is still within the soil of the Zhou Nation. What confuses me is why they are installing such a top-notch resource tower in the very center of the Outer Court's territory. After all, the Institute is supposed to be an autonomous unit, separate from the Zhou Palace. Well, it's not really my concern. Now, where should I go? Maybe I'll attend a lecture and then pick up some new sword-fighting techniques from the library.'
His journey this time was smooth, as he had already pieced together the layout of the entire Outer Court's territories from his fragmented memories. Reaching into his chest, he pulled out the envelope marked with the crimson snake biting its own tail and whispered, "Finally, I've got a clue about who killed you. And since I'm now Han Xiao, it's likely they won't stop here. But this time, I'm ready." He placed the envelope back and continued toward the academy, which was not far away.
Clad in a silk robe, he looked striking, drawing admiration from everyone he passed. As he walked, a sudden commotion behind him caught his attention. Turning around, he saw a portly man chasing a fluffy puppy. "Get back here, you little rascal!" the man called out, huffing and puffing but determined to catch the three-tailed puppy.
Seeing Han Xiao, the chubby man called out, "Hello, brother! That rascal is my naughty pet. Can you block it for me?"
Han Xiao glanced back disinterestedly and continued on his way without a second thought. However, the puppy quickly caught up and jumped, landing perfectly on Han Xiao's left shoulder. He kept walking.
"You! Stop there!" a thunderous voice bellowed from behind.
Without batting an eye, Han Xiao kept moving, about to shoo the beast off his shoulder but paused as he saw a notification accompanied by a soft dinging sound.
Ding!
[Three-Tailed Celestial Wolf has chosen you as its master!]
[Benefits: This creature was born on an auspicious day. Its master will be granted the Dao of Luck!]
Ignoring the chubby man, Han Xiao whispered, "What is the Dao of Luck?"
After a moment of waiting and seeing the loading dots on the red interface, another ding sounded, providing the answer.
Ding!
[The Dao of Luck is the polar opposite of the Dao of Curse that you are practicing! Additionally, your current Dao of Curse is attracting all sorts of bad luck to you. You need the Dao of Luck to conceal its intent from the Greater Dao Laws of this world. Otherwise, when you make a breakthrough, they would do anything to terminate you, like a lightning strike.]
[If you encounter accidents or setbacks in your training, the Dao of Luck can serve as the perfect remedy. Additionally, this beast is attracted to the Dao of Curse. You should take her in as a contingency plan.]
Han Xiao paused, taking in a deep breath as he glanced at the adorable puppy happily wagging her three tails. She looked up at him and emitted a sweet wolfish sound.
'Hmm, I used to adore dogs back on Earth and often pestered my parents for a puppy. Now, this irresistibly cute creature has found its way onto my shoulder, accompanied by the Dao of Luck... It's starting to appeal to me. Alright, I'll keep her. And anyone who came after her will be my enemy.'
The chubby man quickly jumped in front of Han Xiao, pointing at his shoulder and shouting, "Thief! Give it back before I punch your pretty face. You know what I hate the most after that beast? Pretty faces!"
"I get it, you're insecure about your looks. Don't worry, just focus on your cultivation and maybe you'll get prettier too," Han Xiao retorted, delivering a sharp response.
"Just give it back!" the man demanded.
"Give what back?"
"The beast on your shoulder!"
"I don't see anything. And stop accusing a stranger of being a thief," Han Xiao replied, growing irritated.
"And if I don't?"
"And if you don't?" The man quickly unsheathed his sword, but Han Xiao was faster. He appeared before the man, slapping his hand and sheathing the sword again. The man cried out in agony as the slap shattered the bones in his palm.
Keeping a firm grip on the man's shoulder to prevent him from escaping, Han Xiao leaned in and whispered, "Consider this your first warning, fatty. If I see you again, the pain you're feeling now will be nothing compared to what comes next."
The chubby man was so frightened that he wet himself when he felt the ominous aura coming from Han Xiao, even though Han Xiao wasn't aware of it. The man shuddered as a chill ran down his spine.
Witnessing the dampened pants, Han Xiao signaled for the man to depart, stating, "Leave before I change my mind and decide to deal with you."
Stepping back, the hefty man regained his composure and proclaimed, "You'll see. The creature belongs to my young master, Chu Ren." Giving a stern look, he then hurried away, leaving behind amused onlookers who had noticed his predicament.
"Hmm, this guy wets himself and still has the guts to threaten me. Who is this Chu Ren he's talking about? Someone from the Chu Nation? Whatever," Han Xiao mused. "This beast has chosen me as her master. If I don't stand up for her, what kind of person would I be?" With that thought, he extended his hand and affectionately stroked the little wolf's head, eliciting a contented response from the animal.
Considering the Dao Of Luck, he questioned, "System, are you certain that this pup holds the Dao of Luck? However, I have a feeling she might end up causing trouble and attracting unwanted attention."
Ding!
[Indeed, I am certain that this is the Auspicious Three-Tail Wolf blessed by the Dao Of Luck.]
[While her abilities may not be fully activated right now due to your higher level in the Dao Of Curse, I am confident that you will need her assistance in the near future.]
"Whether it's luck or not, what else am I if not fortunate? I've been Isekaied not long ago. Isn't that lucky enough? Regardless, she's far too adorable to abandon," he whispered, continuing his journey towards the academy while intermittently petting the beast.