Kuikui was once the most promising pup in the Palace Guard kennels. Gou Ge prides himself on having judged cou…
Kuikui was once the most promising pup in the Palace Guard kennels. Gou Ge prides himself on having judged countless dogs, and his eye for hounds carries real weight among the guards.
As one military text puts it: "Fearing the enemy may scale the walls at night, hang large lanterns every thirty paces along the wall's midline, and station watchdogs on the ramparts. Wherever they bark, reinforce the watch with oil-fed torches."
A sharp dog can scent trouble early and warn the guards to tighten patrols and keep prowlers out.
Kuikui is tall and long-legged, with a keen nose, quick instincts, boundless energy, and zero fear of people. Surely it was going to make something of itself in the palace.
One month later, Gou Ge admitted he had picked the wrong dog.
Day 3 (date redacted): hates being cleaned, restless and hard to handle. Scratched Guard Gou Di during a bath.
Day 5 (date redacted): started a fight during training. The other dog suffered minor physical injury and major emotional damage, then refused to report for duty.
On patrol, it's listless and low. Off duty, it's suddenly full of pep. Day after day, no improvement.
Woof woof woof, woof woof woof... (one thousand woofs omitted)
"Everyone calls me Kuikui. Yesterday I played with the person who bathed me again, but they didn't look very happy."
"So I licked their face to cheer them up, and they scrubbed their cheek raw with their sleeve."
"I raced Big Lu. Big Lu is weak. It lost and wouldn't play with me after. Boring."
"The palace is so fun. Getting picked up and brought here is the best!"
Gou Ge tried to reason with it: "I'm talking to you. Fix your attitude on duty!"
He watched the “miracle hound” he had pinned his hopes on, grinning with its tongue out, wobbling in place as it spun in circles.
Fine. Fine.
Miracle hound or not, as long as Kuikui is happy.