When Li Huowang woke up again, it was still night. Only then did he learn from the monk that he had been unconscious for three whole days. Although he felt extremely hungry, his spirit was much better than when he had first been skinned.
He took out his dry rations and water flask. While eating and drinking heartily, he walked toward his own skin, surprised to find Mantou there. The dog lay curled up nose to tail, forming a big yellow ball, guarding Li Huowang's skin even in his sleep. Nearby lay two large rats, bitten to death.
Smelling the scent of food, Mantou immediately woke up, sat back on his haunches, and wagged his tail at Li Huowang nonstop.
"The more people I meet, the more I like dogs," Li Huowang said, patting Mantou's head. He then tossed half of his flatbread into the distance for Mantou to fetch.
Watching him munch on the bread, Li Huowang squatted down and carefully pulled his own skin out of the dirt.
