Sludge suction system

Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi, filled with terror, slowly approached the direction where the eerie figure had disappeared. Fine beads of sweat covered their foreheads, and their clothes were already soaked through. They gripped the makeshift wooden sticks tightly in their hands, so tightly that their knuckles turned white from the effort. Each step was cautious, as if the ground beneath their feet might collapse at any moment. Their heartbeats were exceptionally clear in the silent, dilapidated temple, the pounding like rapid drumbeats against their chests.

As they approached the corner, the "monster" fell silent, as if it had merged into the darkness. A deathly stillness enveloped the entire space, the air itself seeming to freeze. Fang Xiaobei took a deep breath, the air trembling slightly as it echoed in his chest. He thrust the wooden stick in his hand forward with a sudden "whoosh," the stick slicing through the air, only to strike a pile of old, worn-out junk. The junk clattered loudly at the touch of the stick, the sound particularly jarring in the silence.

Just as they were wondering what was going on, they suddenly heard a soft "woof." The sound seemed to come from a distant place, weak yet clear, and sounded rather pitiful, as if it were telling of its helplessness. Xia Zhi trembled as she raised the torch in her hand. The torchlight flickered in the darkness, illuminating her face, which was full of tension and curiosity. As the torchlight gradually illuminated the corner in front of them, they saw a dog curled up there. Its body was dirty, and its fur was matted and tangled, as if it had been entangled by years and grime, hanging messily on its body. But upon closer inspection, the dog's appearance was somewhat peculiar. One of its ears stood straight up, as if it were alert to everything around it, while the other drooped halfway, making it look somewhat comical. Its eyes were round and bright, like two black gems, looking at them timidly, revealing unease and fear in its eyes. It still had the grilled fish that it had just stolen in its mouth, and the scales of the grilled fish shimmered faintly in the firelight. Its tail was tucked nervously between its legs, yet it swayed gently, as if trying to control its emotions, or as if conveying some kind of signal to them.

Perhaps frightened by Fang Xiaobei's stick, the puppy let out a low whimper, the sound even more pitiful than before. Its body involuntarily shrank back, its paws scratching at the ground, trying to find a sense of security, its eyes fixed on them, as if afraid of being hurt, or perhaps pleading with them not to take away the food it had worked so hard to obtain. Fang Xiaobei slightly lowered the stick, it made a soft "clang" as it touched the ground, and he said softly, "Oh, it's just a dog. Look how scared we were." His voice carried a hint of relief, and a touch of amusement. Xia Zhi also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face, a smile like a ray of dawn in the darkness, dispelling some of the tension: "This little guy, although he looks a bit strange, is kind of cute when he's scared."

The puppy seemed to understand them, cautiously rubbing itself forward. Its movements were slow and careful, its nose constantly sniffing, as if trying to discern their scents and determine if they were friendly. The fear in its eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of curiosity and longing, as if it had become interested in these two suddenly appearing humans. Fang Xiaobei slowly squatted down, his knees making a slight scraping sound as they touched the ground. He reached out his hand to the puppy, his hand trembling slightly, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, little one, we won't hurt you." The puppy hesitated for a moment, then gently touched Fang Xiaobei's hand with its nose. Its nose was cool, and Fang Xiaobei could feel its cautiousness at the moment of contact. Then it quickly withdrew its nose. Seeing that Fang Xiaobei didn't move, it boldly licked Fang Xiaobei's fingers, its tongue lightly tracing over them, bringing a warm touch. Its tail began to wag gently, and the grilled fish fell from its mouth without it noticing. Its eyes were full of affection and dependence on its new owner, and it made occasional "woof woof" sounds, as if it were being affectionate. Its adorable appearance made the two of them burst into laughter. Their laughter echoed in the dilapidated temple, and the tense atmosphere instantly dissipated, replaced by a warm and relaxed feeling.

Looking at the puppy's adorable appearance, Fang Xiaobei was filled with joy and couldn't help but gently scratch its chin. The puppy comfortably squinted its eyes, making a purring sound in its throat, which made Fang Xiaobei laugh out loud.

"Xia Zhi, look how cute it is, we need to give it a name," Fang Xiaobei said to Xia Zhi while continuing to tease the puppy.

Xia Zhi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "How about calling it Little Black? You can see that although its fur is dirty, most of it is black."

Fang Xiaobei frowned, shook his head, and said, "Xiao Hei is too ordinary. I want to give it a more special name." His gaze fell on the puppy's round belly, and suddenly a brilliant idea flashed in his mind. "I've got it! Let's call it Xiao Baozi! Look, its belly is so round from eating just now, just like a little steamed bun."

The puppy seemed to understand that it had a new name. It raised its head, looked at Fang Xiaobei with bright eyes, and wagged its tail happily, seemingly very satisfied with the name "Little Bun".

"Little Baozi, Little Baozi!" Fang Xiaobei called out with a smile, and the puppy immediately ran over, rubbing against his legs. From then on, Little Baozi became their closest companion on their journey, accompanying them through wind and rain, and exploring the unknown world. Whether trudging along rugged mountain paths or gazing at the stars on quiet nights, Little Baozi was always close by their side, bringing them endless joy and warmth.

Among all the dogs, Little Baozi is like a hidden gem, its cover simple yet its contents astounding. Its seemingly ordinary paws move like the wind, silent yet swift, making the air seem to give way to it, its movements imbued with extraordinary power.

Its eyes are like two ancient and tranquil deep pools, so deep that the bottom cannot be seen. Beneath the calm surface, there seems to be a mysterious black hole that can devour all light. The gaze that is inadvertently revealed seems to be able to see through all the hidden secrets of the world and observe all the movements around it. Even the slightest rustling of the wind cannot escape its "eyes of the deep pools".

The little dumpling's appetite is like a bottomless abyss. Ordinary food is to it like stars in the vast night sky. No matter how much you put in, it can never fill the endless "abyss of hunger." Every meal is like a mysterious and solemn ritual. It's not just about filling its stomach, but about absorbing some kind of hidden and powerful energy. In this seemingly ordinary behavior, it reveals its unique qualities, as if it is a unique existence favored by some mysterious power, quietly wandering the world with an innate mysterious aura.

"Strange, why do I sense a powerful totem fragment energy?" Little Scum said quietly from the shadows.