Chapter 436 - 382

Chapter 436: Chapter 382

He paused, then corrected himself. "I’m pretty lucky I met you."

Without Gu Ning, he never would have been able to return to the Upper District, no matter how hard he tried. Not that he wanted to go back anyway.

But what Gu Ning had given him was something no amount of wealth or status could ever buy—the most precious thing in the world.

With Xiao Ning, he had a home no matter where he was, a place where his body and soul belonged.

"I’m lucky, too." Gu Ning reached out and scratched the little fox’s chin. "Meeting Cook and you."

If she hadn’t met Cook and the little fox first, she couldn’t bear to think what would have become of her in a place like Zone 19.

Barto revealed a rare, gentle smile. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his embrace. He bent down to hold her, each of them drawing in the other’s warmth and scent.

Smelling the faint scent of wolf on her, Barto’s smile quickly vanished. He returned to her earlier question. "Cook and Kaper don’t live here. They were probably driven out by their pack."

Gu Ning said, "The 12th District is huge, and my brother has money."

When Barto heard her say "my brother," his brow furrowed again.

Gu Ning clarified, "I was talking about Cook."

The clever little fox always understood her, and she had grown accustomed to speaking to him in shorthand. It was less tiring that way.

"Silly Ning," Barto said. "This isn’t a problem money can solve."

’Besides, Kaper’s case of Crystal Stones... they were probably off the books.’

Gu Ning absently stroked the little dog’s head in her arms and said, "Now that Cook is back, will there be trouble?"

"He’s the next-of-kin of your deceased mate now. Who would dare cause trouble over that?" Barto said. "Even if there is trouble, don’t you worry. If one comes, I’ll take them down. If a pair comes, I’ll take down a whole group."

Gu Ning smiled and scratched the little fox’s chin again. "No fighting."

Barto grabbed her hand. "Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ll use my words, not my fists."

.

"BEEP!"

The team leader swiped his pass on the checkpoint scanner and spoke in a low voice to one of the guards.

Gu Ning scanned her surroundings. The checkpoint’s entrances and exits were heavily guarded. The guards held guns and electric batons, with long knives at their waists. Their expressions were cold and solemn as they swept their eyes over the passing crowds and vehicles. Giant dogs and wolves in their beast forms patrolled the area. The security was far stricter than in any other zone she’d seen.

The entry and exit lanes were also several times wider than those in Zone 19 and Zone 15, and all sorts of vehicles moved in and out in an orderly fashion under strict control.

A large truck loaded with fish stopped beside their sled.

Gu Ning glanced at the truck, then looked toward the off-road vehicle following them.

Because of traffic regulations, Philinos, who had been standing on the vehicle’s roof, had been forced to get inside.

"Stupid dog, stay still!" Barto pulled Cook, who had leaned halfway out to sniff the truck, back in.

Gu Ning shifted her gaze back and saw Cook with half a fish dangling from his mouth. "...!"

"Cook!" Gu Ning hurriedly tried to grab the fish from his mouth. "Spit it out! You can’t eat that."

Cook shook his head, his eyes fixed on the truck.

Barto grabbed the scruff of Cook’s neck and pulled, forcing his mouth open.

Just then, a large husky heard the commotion and trotted over, sniffing the air. Barto instinctively pushed the misbehaving Cook down. Gu Ning caught the half-eaten fish that fell from his mouth and tossed it back onto the truck, then held Cook’s head down to keep him from getting up.

The two of them acted in perfect sync, leaving the few sled team members nearby dumbfounded.

’That move, that coordination... it was as if the three of them had pulled this stunt countless times before.’

’So this is what a Mixed Breed with a female to discipline him is like?’

In the blink of an eye, the husky walked over. He first looked at the tailed half of the fish that had fallen to the ground, then raised his large head to scan the sled. His gaze landed on Gu Ning. He stretched his head toward her and sniffed, his iconic silver-blue eyes watching her with probing curiosity.

"WOOF!" Barto and Gu Ning couldn’t hold Cook down. He jumped up and let out a rather fierce bark at the husky.

The husky shot Cook a sideways glance, then its gaze shifted back to the female on the sled. "WOOF? AWOO?"

"Ahem..." Gu Ning cleared her throat, deliberately lowering her voice to change its tone. "He’s mine."

Barto looked down at her in surprise.

Alex, who was negotiating with the guard, also turned his head.

The husky tilted its head and continued to question Gu Ning. "AWOO?"

Gu Ning said, "My mate’s... younger brother."

At that moment, a Beastman hidden in the truck next to them heard her words. He lifted his head in the cramped space, his eyes widening slightly as he peered through a gap at the female who was speaking.