Chapter 99

Chapter 99

The history of canine domestication could be traced back tens of thousands of years.

Across that long span of time, dogs had always appeared at humanity’s side as companions.

But every fighting dog before them now seemed to have been completely stripped of that history carved into their very genes.

Every single one hated humans with a hatred so vivid it felt almost tangible.

Behind the specially made glass, ferocious dogs from every country went berserk the moment they saw people, throwing themselves forward.

One with an especially violent temperament slammed its head into the glass, bashing itself bloody. An arc flashed from its collar, and it was shocked to the ground.

For the dogs, this place was hell.

And yet the glass between the kennels and the corridor was so well soundproofed that as they walked through, not a single bark could be heard.

All they could feel were venomous stares, as if steeped in deadly poison, clinging tightly to their backs.

Yin Minmin couldn’t help shrinking her shoulders and edging a little closer to Qin Ying.

Her movement seemed to act as a signal. Zhang Lang, already timid by nature, also took a step toward Qin Ying.

Lin Yicheng, this young master, was passionate about extreme sports, so he was not exactly lacking in courage.

But the physiological thrill of an accelerated heartbeat was clearly different from the situation before them now.

All around them were hateful eyes, plainly telling you that they hated you.

If given the chance, they would tear you to pieces without the slightest hesitation.

With the threat of death following them like a shadow, and seeing Yin Minmin and Zhang Lang’s behavior, Lin Yicheng followed the principle of if they can do it, so can I, and also edged one step closer to Qin Ying.

The scene became Qin Ying walking ahead expressionlessly, with three panicked little good-for-nothings stuck to her.

This sight made the middleman surnamed Huang, who was leading the way, quietly size Qin Ying up.

A smile appeared on his face as he said to Qin Ying, “Before you came in, I was worried the two ladies might be frightened. Now it seems I was the narrow-minded one.”

As he spoke, he offered her a business card with both hands. “My humble surname is Huang. Huang Zezhong. If you need anything, you can contact me.”

Only handing over his card now came off as rather opportunistic, but Qin Ying didn’t care and accepted it casually.

Printed clearly on the card were the words: Smart Ecology Bio-Research Center, Transaction Consultant Huang Zezhong.

“Smart Ecology.” Qin Ying held the card between her fingers and gave a soft laugh. “Your company’s line of business is quite interesting.”

She turned her head and glanced at the various ferocious dogs behind the glass, driven half-mad by the electric shocks from their collars.

Hearing the mockery in her words, Huang Zezhong smiled indifferently. “They’re just beasts.”

The overwhelming majority of people who came here carried malice in their hearts, so he spoke without the slightest restraint.

Qin Ying did not dwell on the fact that this company name was most likely fake. She merely shook her head in dissatisfaction.

“These dogs do look decent, but… I still feel like they’re lacking something. Do you have more?”

Huang Zezhong’s attitude remained excellent as he continued leading them through the underground breeding facility.

They toured the entire base, and in the face of Huang Zezhong’s eloquent sales pitches and introductions, Qin Ying had only one response-none of them clicked with her.

As for what exactly counted as “clicking,” that was entirely up to her to decide.

Lin Yicheng, who should have been the main customer, instead said nothing the whole time and became nothing more than someone accompanying her to look.

By the end, even Huang Zezhong’s patience had been exhausted. “Miss, this is the last one. You really didn’t take a liking to any of them?”

Qin Ying shook her head. “I don’t like it.”

Huang Zezhong fell silent for a moment, thinking this deal was probably not going to happen.

Seeing this, Qin Ying smiled faintly. “You’re a professional, so you should know that this sort of gut feeling is mysterious. Sometimes the one you set your heart on isn’t necessarily the best.”

“Just take us to see all of them. That’s enough.”

Perhaps Qin Ying’s words gave Huang Zezhong an idea. After a moment of hesitation, he led Qin Ying and the others back to the elevator.

With a ding, the elevator stopped on the fourth underground floor.

As the doors opened, Huang Zezhong said, “The dogs here aren’t quite so professional. They’re only sparring partners.”
As they spoke, the elevator doors opened, and a foul stench rushed in through the gap as if it couldn’t wait another second.

The conditions on this floor were much worse.

It fit the stereotype of a dog farm far better.

Rows of enormous iron cages stretched out before them. At a rough count, there were around fifty or sixty.

The instant they stepped out of the elevator, barking erupted from every direction.

The chained cages shook as dogs of every kind inside threw themselves against the bars with all their might.

“Why is there even a golden retriever here?” Yin Minmin blurted, pointing somewhere ahead.

Compared to the purebred dogs on the previous floor, the breeds locked up here were a chaotic mix.

In the direction Yin Minmin was pointing, there really was a golden retriever in one of the cages, a breed known for being friendly and enthusiastic toward humans.

But whatever torment that golden retriever had suffered, it wore a collar around its neck, and its fur was matted into filthy clumps.

When it looked at Qin Ying and the others, the anger and hatred in its eyes were no less intense than those of the fighting dogs.

Huang Zezhong did not look at Yin Minmin. He smiled at Qin Ying instead. “These are all new recruits.”

In plain terms, they were cannon fodder used to feed experience to the fighting dogs upstairs.

Generally speaking, the dogs here were all destined to die in the dogfighting ring.

Qin Ying’s expression did not change. She lifted her chin at Huang Zezhong. “Show us around?”

Just then, Zhang Lang, who had been doing his utmost to make himself invisible, stammered, “Wh-what’s over there?”

Huang Zezhong looked slightly surprised and instinctively shook his head. “It may not be convenient to take you over there.”

Lin Yicheng, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. “Just lead the way. You won’t be shortchanged.”

Money made the world go round, and Huang Zezhong knew Lin Yicheng’s background very well. After a moment’s thought, he decided there was no sense in turning down cash.

He led Qin Ying and the others in the direction Zhang Lang had indicated, giving them a warning in advance as they walked. “The dogs over there are either injured or of little value. They’re waiting to be disposed of in batches.”

“The conditions may be rather unpleasant.”

Before he could finish, a shrill canine scream rang out.

A thick-armed man was dragging a yellow village dog out of a cage with a steel-wire snare.

The dog was as thin as a sheet of paper. It was female, and her swollen teats suggested she had given birth not long ago.

The steel-wire snare had bitten deep into her flesh. She no longer even had the strength to struggle, and only managed to squeeze a faint whimper from the depths of her throat.

Seeing Huang Zezhong bring people over, the thick-armed man, whose pockmarked half-face looked as if it had been shelled, grew displeased. “Manager Huang, why did you bring guests here?”

As he spoke, he put more force into his hands and tossed the paper-thin dog into an iron cage.

That cage was caked with fur, bloodstains, and feces. The stench was unbearable, and several dogs were crammed tightly inside.

At the very bottom lay a brown defeated fighting dog. Its body was powerfully muscled, but there was a gaping bloody wound in its neck. It wheezed for breath; without treatment, it would undoubtedly die.

But clearly, no one here intended to save it.

Qin Ying seemed completely unmoved by the horrific scene. With mild curiosity, she asked, “Where are you taking them?”

Before Huang Zezhong could answer, she put on a look of sudden realization. “Slaughtering and skinning them for feed?”

Her tone was light, carrying a touch of innocent malice.

Huang Zezhong’s smile stiffened on his face. The man with the dog snare answered, “No, we don’t do that. Our fighting dogs don’t eat low-grade feed.”

Low-grade feed?

Qin Ying’s gaze swept over the cage, a chill creeping through her heart, though aloud she said, “Then where do they go? From the look of this dog, she gave birth not long ago. Where did you get her?”

Before the man with the snare could speak, Huang Zezhong abruptly cut in. “Everyone, it’s filthy and smelly here. Why don’t we go somewhere else?”

Unexpectedly, Qin Ying showed no tact whatsoever. She planted her feet and did not move. “I want that one.”

Her finger pointed straight toward a corner of the cage.