Chapter 10: When Fate Bites Back

The night was perfect.

The drums pounded, steady as a heartbeat.

Chunhe sat at the grand festival table, stuffing his face like a starving ghost.

Roasted duck, juicy and crisp, filled the air with its rich aroma. Lanterns swayed, their glow painting golden ripples across the crowd. Mooncakes so sweet they made his teeth ache. Warm rice wine that burned just right. He had no shame. No restraint.

Why should he?

The village was celebrating, and he was very good at celebrating.

The dragon dance spun through the village. Laughter boomed. The scent of feasts and incense filled the air.

Chunhe ignored all of it.

He was here to eat.

One bite. Another. His chopsticks moved like a storm. Plates emptied. Servants rushed to replace them.

"Slow down, Chunhe."

Chunhe placed his cup down. He already knew what this was about.

The festival sounds faded, leaving only silence.

Hong Xian sat across from him, his expression unreadable.

"When were you going to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage?"

The words fell like a stone into a still pond.

Chunhe didn't even look up. He was in the zone.

"I have no such intentions," he answered.

A long silence.

Hong Xian's fingers tapped against the wooden table. "Why?"

"I have my own path to walk," Chunhe said. "I will not be bound."

The old man's eyes darkened. "Marriage does not bind—it stabilizes. A rootless man is easily swept away by the world."

Chunhe's lips curled slightly. "A blade of grass grows where it must. If I am tied down, I will wither."

Safe. Comfortable.

And then—

Ding!

Loading… Host has spent too long avoiding fate. Compensation task initiating. New Task: Stop avoiding reality. Get married to the village head's daughter. Reward: A proper life, fool. Punishment: DOG MODE – 24 HOURS.

Chunhe's chopsticks froze mid-air.

His body went cold.

What?

What?!

Punishment activating in 3… 2… 1…

"BARK."

Silence.

The entire festival stopped.

Every villager turned to look at Chunhe.

He slowly, painfully, lowered his chopsticks.

He had not spoken. His mouth had moved on its own.

Hong Xian narrowed his eyes. "…Did you just bark?"

Chunhe forced a smile. "No."

BARK BARK.

Chunhe's soul shattered.

The whispers started.

"Did he just…" "…Was that a bark?" "I knew it! Too much wine!"

Chunhe tried to walk away gracefully. He took three steps.

Then—

He dropped onto all fours.

The system had taken over.

His body refused to obey.

He sprinted across the festival grounds like a possessed beast.

"Ah…?"

The villagers froze.

"…Chunhe?"

Hong Xian stepped forward.

Chunhe—one of the strongest men in the village—was now wagging his head and sniffing a tree.

"Good boy!" A drunk elder laughed and patted his head. Chunhe's body leaned into it instinctively.

His mind screamed. No, no, NO!

But it wasn't over.

BARK BARK!

He howled at the moon.

He sniffed the ground. He ran in circles. He nearly crashed into a food stall.

Then, he found a tree.

A very nice tree.

The system forced him closer.

His leg twitched.

DON'T YOU DARE.

It started to lift.

"NOOOOOOO—"

Chunhe threw himself to the ground, rolling away before his dignity could die completely.

The village elders watched in absolute confusion.

Even the drunkest men were sober now.

And then, the worst happened.

Big D, his dog, approached him.

Big D sat down.

Big D tilted his head.

Chunhe crawled over and panted next to him.

Big D blinked.

Chunhe blinked back.

A moment of silence.

Then Big D slowly moved away from him.

Like he didn't want to be associated.

Chunhe despaired.

Hong Xian exhaled sharply. This fool.

I must be crazy to even consider marrying my daughter to him.

After all, our first encounter was him running naked through the streets like a ghost.

The punishment continued through the night. Chunhe ran. He chased chickens. He even stole a villager's shoe and chewed on it.

He could not stop himself.

And then—

The children got involved.

Someone held up a chicken drumstick.

"Here boy! Want a treat?"

Chunhe froze.

Too late.

The system locked his body.

The children laughed and made him perform tricks like a trained dog. Clapping. Rolling over. Shaking hands. Fetching sticks. Catching food in his mouth.

It became a full mini circus show.

The villagers cheered. A few elders wiped tears from their eyes.

Chunhe wanted to die.

A long moment of silence.

Then—

Big D turned his back.

Like he wanted no part in this.

Chunhe collapsed.

He had lost.

And the system, that damned system—

Punishment over. Returning control to host.

And finally—

Chunhe lay face down in the dirt. Dead inside.

Big D walked over and licked his face.

At his side, Big D stretched lazily.

A blade of grass did not need roots.

Only the wind to carry it forward.

Huh.

Big D watched him with comradeship. A small tear formed in Chunhe's eyes.