In the past, when playing horror games, Chen Zhou always mocked the protagonist's lighter and flashlight as being nuclear-powered.
Now it's his turn to face such a situation, and he really wishes for that kind of lighter, even if it only illuminates a small area, it's better than walking anxiously like this.
While distractedly reminiscing about several endlessly replayable AAA titles, his usually solid footing suddenly felt different, soft as if stepping on a carpet.
Before he could react, an unhappy bark rang out in the dark corridor.
"Woof~woof!"
After the drainage room incident, the shadow lingering in Chen Zhou's heart hadn't dissipated, much like a startled bird, hearing this loud bark nearly scared him to jump up.
His left hand instinctively went for the sword sheath, but on the way, his right hand blocked it reaching for the crossbow, leaving him momentarily unsure what to do.
As he struggled to coordinate his nearly entwined hands, the owner of the sound had already stood up unhurriedly, turned around, and approached Chen Zhou's leg, sniffing with its sore-waved tail.
After getting soaked by the rain and for the sake of convenience when drying by the fire, Chen Zhou wasn't wearing any undergarments, only a thick coat over his body.
The big dog's sniffing sent warm air from its nostrils onto Chen Zhou's bare legs, shaking his leg hair, making him feel quite itchy.
Under the faint light, Chen Zhou could see the big dog's appearance clearly.
It was draped in a coat of light yellow fur, with a broad skull, thick and long snout, a straight build but extremely thin, resembling a golden retriever.
Standing up, the dog's head could almost reach Chen Zhou's waist; a bite from this fellow wouldn't be a joke.
Though the big dog showed no malice, Chen Zhou was still uneasy inside, instinctively wanting to block the dog's head close to his leg while scratching an itch when the dog suddenly stuck out its tongue and licked his leg, its tail wagging larger and larger, causing its body from butt to front shoulder to sway.
The wet and soft large tongue's saliva was initially warm, then slightly cool as it evaporated with the moisture.
"Licking my leg at the first meet, how presumptuous you are!"
Before he could mock the dog's overly familiar behavior, Chen Zhou felt a fluffy dog head firmly pushed into the palm of his lowered hand.
The big dog sat obediently on the ground, its tail sweeping quickly while its head continuously nudged Chen Zhou's palm; even without seeing its eyes, one could imagine its flattering expression from its antics.
Using all its might to please Chen Zhou, seeing this unfamiliar-smelling human still failing to understand its intention, the big dog swiftly turned around and scratched the nearby door with its paw.
The crisp scraping sound brought Chen Zhou back from the discomforting enthusiasm.
Through brief contact, the big dog had initially gained his trust, so he smoothly rubbed its soft fur-covered head, then pushed the kitchen door.
However, when he pushed the kitchen door, it didn't move an inch, which truly surprised Chen Zhou.
With wide-open eyes, he carefully explored the door in darkness once more, discovering a latch secured on it.
The big dog, seeing Chen Zhou touching the latch, seemed to realize the meal was imminent, its tail wagging more energetically, and a hurried whimper squeezed out of its throat.
"This latch wouldn't have been installed specifically to prevent you from sneaking in to eat, right?"
Chen Zhou chuckled, once again stroking the dog's head, a silent warmth rising within him; he was starting to like this friendly, smart, and empathetic big fellow.
Though freshly arrived in this world, Chen Zhou already knew he would spend 28 long years on the lonely island.
To avoid unnecessary variables, during these 28 years, he wouldn't rescue the Cannibal Tribes nor contact any passing merchant ships, hence the whole challenge likely meant staying alone throughout.
He prepared himself, intending to face prolonged dullness alone, confronting the loneliness of being "the only one in this world," yet also yearning for psychological solace.
Looking at the dog trying hard to impress and flatter, imagining it could accompany him through a few years to over a decade, ease his boredom, stride with him across the island's untouched lands, helping him hunt, guarding the house, Chen Zhou felt an impulse to embrace it.
With such a reliable companion, future life would surely become much easier.
Reflecting further, this big dog waited at the kitchen door expecting the sailors to return, caressing its head and feeding it as usual.
Yet it's unforeseen that those people had perished at sea. If Chen Zhou hadn't boarded, it might have ended up waiting here alone until dying of hunger or heading to the island to live as a stray dog—what a miserable fate.
Realizing this, Chen Zhou's thoughts shifted, he discovered he was just as pitiful.
A moment of impulse led him to be dumped on this desolate island in a strange world, striving with all his might to complete the prolonged and arduous challenge, earning uneven rewards.
In some sense, he and the dog were indeed fellow sufferers, by chance meeting each other to achieve mutual redemption, hence their instant connection.
"Perhaps this is fate's arrangement!"
Whispering to himself, Chen Zhou pulled out the latch and pushed open the kitchen door.