Chapter 13 — Reunion
劍問蒼天 · Page 4 of 5
For some reason, the yellow dog had never taken a liking to this monkey. At first, every time it saw Little Gray it would bark wildly, frightening Little Gray into scrambling for high places. As time went on, it finally came to grudgingly accept Little Gray as one of Dazhu Peak, but at every meeting it would bare its teeth and put on a fierce show, and only when Little Gray was scared into shrill squeals would Big Yellow give a few "woof woof woofs," lift its proud doggy head, wag its tail, and walk off to one side.
Autumn went and winter came, and the weather on Dazhu Peak gradually turned cold. Apart from Tian Buhui and his wife, whose cultivation was deep and who had long ceased to fear ordinary cold and warmth, the rest of the disciples slowly added more clothes.
One day the sun on Dazhu Peak was uncommonly warm and mild. Zhang Qingyue finished his work in the kitchen and came out, stretched, and sat down by a pine tree outside the house. Leaning against the trunk, he narrowed his eyes and basked comfortably in the sunlight.
He had sat there a while and was just growing drowsy, on the verge of sleep, when he suddenly heard a few barks from ahead. He opened his eyes and saw Big Yellow sprawled lazily on the ground in front, sunning itself, while Little Gray crept toward it step by step from behind.
Zhang Qingyue was greatly astonished. Big Yellow often ran to the kitchen to eat and had grown familiar with him too, so he knew the relationship between monkey and dog better than anyone. He had not expected the sun to rise in the west today—Little Gray was actually approaching Big Yellow of its own accord! Zhang Qingyue perked up at once and fixed his eyes on the scene ahead.
He saw Little Gray quickly draw near Big Yellow. Though Big Yellow could not see behind it, its nose twitched and it caught the strange scent at once. It turned its head, and immediately opened its big mouth, baring sharp teeth, barking several times in a row: "Woof woof woof!"
Little Gray shrank back, evidently still somewhat afraid. But the monkey's eyes rolled a few times, and it raised its right hand and waved it before Big Yellow.
At first Big Yellow paid it no mind, barking at Little Gray without cease. But then its nose twitched a few times, as if catching some scent, and its two doggy eyes fixed on Little Gray's hand, unblinking and motionless, and it stopped barking. It opened its mouth and lolled out a long tongue, and even its tail began to wag without pause, signaling friendship.
Zhang Qingyue was astonished beyond measure. Looking closer, he could not help laughing aloud. It turned out Little Gray held a meat bone in its hand, its fragrance spreading far and wide—even he had caught a faint whiff from that distance. This was what he used for making soup. Knowing Big Yellow loved such things best, he had carefully sealed it and put it up high after cooking. Little Gray, however, had stolen a piece at some point and come to curry favor with Big Yellow.
Then he saw Little Gray shake it twice and toss the meat bone before Big Yellow. Big Yellow's mouth had long been watering; it immediately took the bone in its jaws and crunched away: "Chomp chomp chomp."
Watching Big Yellow carry on, Little Gray gave two squeaks and cautiously approached. After a moment's hesitation, it reached out to touch Big Yellow's head.
Big Yellow gave a low growl, and Little Gray quickly pulled its hand back. But before long it could not resist reaching out again toward Big Yellow's head. This time Big Yellow did not react, busy as it was gnawing the bone. Little Gray laid its hand on Big Yellow's head and gently stroked the glossy, soft yellow fur. Big Yellow actually seemed to find it pleasant; it shrank back a little and gave a low sound, but by then all
hostility was gone.