Don't You like Little Dogs? Now that I'm Taking Liberties, You're Suddenly Reluctant? - Chapter 12

The vehicle sped through the night, yet the interior remained eerily quiet, save for the faint rhythmic beeping of medical monitors and the hushed whispers of the medical staff.

The medics had performed emergency treatment and blood transfusions on Pei Ye, temporarily stabilizing his critical vital signs.

“The wounds are too deep, and he’s lost too much blood. It’s a miracle he held on this long, he needs surgery the moment we get back,” the head medic reported quickly to Jiang Si, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Jiang Si didn’t respond. He simply stared at the face on the stretcher pale as paper, with breath so shallow it was nearly undetectable.

The boy was curled up as if he might shatter at any moment. Yet, his furrowed brow and the way he grit his teeth even in a coma revealed a stubborn, unquenchable spark of life.

A strange, restless agitation swirled in the depths of Jiang Si’s heart. Seeing his property damaged to this extent felt utterly wretched.

He spoke suddenly, his voice cold and hard: “Those men from the Fourth Team.”

The adjutant replied immediately, “They’ve all been detained. I have men watching them, just waiting for your return to handle it, Fourth Brother.”

“You handle it personally.” Jiang Si’s gaze never left Pei Ye. “Find out who started it, who went along with it… and where ‘Cheetah’ stands whether he’s still of any use. Once you have the facts, deal with them.”

The adjutant arched an eyebrow, a rare hint of playfulness in his tone. “Tsk. Sending me to do the dirty work of interrogation and cleanup? Fourth Brother, you’re truly invested this time.”

Jiang Si didn’t rise to the bait.

Invested? Perhaps.

But more than that, it was the violent impulse triggered by a violation of his territory, and a cold necessity to eliminate any hidden threats. His things were not for others to decide the life or death of.

After a moment of silence, he added, “Once his injuries are healed, transfer him to the First Division.”

The adjutant was completely stunned. “The First Division? Are you serious?”

Everyone knew the First Division was the organization’s true vanguard—a small group of monsters who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. They handled only the most perilous missions.

The Captain, “Goshawk,” and the Vice-Captain, “Wind Hawk,” were brothers who had long dominated the second and third spots on the organization’s overall rankings. They were notorious for their formidable abilities and their borderline insane behavior.

“A mad dog belongs with madmen,” Jiang Si said flatly.

The image of Pei Ye in the warehouse flashed through his mind covered in blood yet managing to kill two men and the way he had whispered only Jiang Si’s name while on the brink of death.

That level of ruthlessness and obsession would be a waste and a liability in a lukewarm environment. What Pei Ye needed was a whetstone that would grind him into a perfect weapon, not to be dragged down by mediocrity again.

The adjutant remained silent for a beat before finally nodding. “Fine. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Suddenly remembering something, he added, “By the way, those two brothers were asking me about him a few days ago. Said they heard you picked up a new pet and were quite fond of him? They’re dying of curiosity; they want to see him.”

The corner of Jiang Si’s mouth quirked as he looked at the unconscious Pei Ye.

“Perfect.”

Pei Ye felt as though he were trapped in a long, endless dream.

It was a world of boundless darkness and cold, filled with the suffocating sensation of dying. Then, a pair of arms held him tightly carrying a familiar, reassuring scent. It was Master. He had saved him once again…

“Mm… still not awake? Is he a pig? He’s been out for three days.”

“Back off, don’t disturb him. It’s a miracle the little guy is even alive after getting hit that hard.”

“Hahaha! Brother, you really are…”

So noisy.

Consciousness gradually returned. First came the sensation of warmth and the softness of clean sheets. Then, a feeling on his face as if he were being pinched and poked?

He opened his eyes groggily. As his vision finally focused, he found a handsome face leaning extremely close, wearing a playful smirk. The man had striking red hair and eyes that shone with an alarming brightness.

“Oh, you’re awake?” The redhead grinned, his fingers pinching Pei Ye’s cheek again. “Softer than I thought, little pet.”

Startled, Pei Ye instinctively tried to swing his hand to strike back, but his body was weak and his movements were a second too slow.

The redhead reacted instantly, easily parrying his wrist and pinning it back. The strength was incredible, nearly enough to crush his bones.

“Tsk, scratching already?” The man tilted his head, his smile widening though it held no warmth. “I’m Wind Hawk, Vice-Captain of the First Division. I’m your teammate from now on, kid.”

Just then, another figure leaned against the doorframe. His voice was steadier but carried the same lazy energy: “Knock it off. Don’t scare the newcomer.”

He looked at Pei Ye and added, “I’m Goshawk, Captain of the First Division. Fourth Brother transferred you to our team. Once you’ve recovered, report to us.”

Pei Ye ignored the information. He only looked at them urgently, his voice raspy: “Master… where is Fourth Brother?”

Just as he spoke, footsteps sounded in the hallway. Jiang Si walked in, his gaze sweeping the room. “Everyone out.”

Wind Hawk gave a whistle, released Pei Ye, and draped an arm lazily over Goshawk’s shoulder. “Understood~ Let’s go, Brother. Let’s not interrupt Fourth Brother playing with his dog.”

The two walked out joking, their casual demeanor carrying an invisible pressure.

Jiang Si sat by the bed and looked at Pei Ye. “How do you feel?”

Pei Ye looked back at him, but his eyes slowly reddened. His voice held a faint, trembling trace of grievance: “You… don’t you want me anymore? Why are you handing me over to someone else again?”

He emphasized the word “again,” his voice thick with the fear of abandonment.

Seeing him like this, the agitation in Jiang Si’s heart curiously settled. He reached out and ruffled Pei Ye’s soft hair.

“The Fourth Team wasn’t worthy of you. The First Division is where you belong. They will make you stronger.” He paused, looking into Pei Ye’s still-anxious eyes, and added a rare compliment: “You did well this time.”

Pei Ye froze, almost doubting his own hearing.

Master… praised him?

A massive, surreal wave of joy instantly washed away his anxiety and hurt, bringing a flush of color to his pale face. He instinctively reached for the hem of Jiang Si’s coat, then timidly pulled back.

Jiang Si looked at the light in the boy’s eyes. He suddenly leaned down and gave him a brief, forceful embrace.

“Hurry up and get better, little dog,” he whispered into his ear.

Pei Ye’s entire body went stiff, and then his blood felt as if it were boiling. His heart hammered so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest.

It was real Master truly saw him.

After holding him for a moment, Jiang Si slowly released him and asked casually, “Those people from the Fourth Team… how do you want them handled?”

Still immersed in the warmth of the embrace, Pei Ye’s gaze instantly turned cold, dark, and predatory. “…They wanted me dead.”

“Understood,” Jiang Si replied softly, nodding. He said no more.

Meanwhile, in a dim solitary cell at headquarters.

The adjutant methodically pulled on a pair of black leather gloves, tightening the fingertips to ensure a perfect fit against his skin.

Before him were “Crocodile” and several other members of the Fourth Team who had stood by or encouraged the abuse, all tied up and faces masked with terror.

The adjutant’s expression was blank, he even maintained his usual calm, professional aura but the pure, icy killing intent radiating from him caused the temperature in the room to plummet.

He stepped toward the deathly pale Crocodile, his voice as steady as if he were discussing the weather: “Fourth Brother sent me to ask all of you… what exactly were you thinking back there?”

The adjutant’s real name was Ji Churen. Before following Jiang Si, he had another, more infamous title: The Executioner of the Grey Zone.