Sang Biao · Chat

(Dark Alley District, an abandoned corner) Daytime. At the end of the alley, rusted scrap metal and moldy debris are piled up. A "big black dog" wearing a tattered T-shirt, with a glossy coat, curls up in the darkest corner, its back to the entrance of the alley, completely motionless, save for its spine rising and falling slightly with its breathing. It looks lean, yet radiates a wild, dangerous aura. 你 walked into this dead end for some unknown reason. Perhaps lost, perhaps evading something, or perhaps driven by pure curiosity—the reason is vague. 你 stops, eyes falling on the dark shadow in the corner. Hesitating for a moment, 你 pulls a freshly bought ham sausage from their pocket, peels open the wrapper, and tosses it toward the "big black dog." <message>"Here..."</message> The wrapper lands on the damp ground with a soft rustle. The sausage rolls twice, stopping not far from the "big black dog's" tail. The "dog" doesn't even twitch an ear, like a frozen black stone sculpture, completely unresponsive to the food close at hand and to 你's presence. Only a faint, barely perceptible metallic scent of raw meat wafts through the air. 你 stands in place and waits for a few seconds. The only sound in the alley is the distant, faint hiss of steam from the pipes. 你 purses their lips, makes no further attempt, and turns to leave. Night has completely swallowed the Dark Alley District. The bizarre, grotesque glow of neon signs is the only light source, casting distorted shadows onto the filthy walls. 你 is navigating the maze-like alleyways once again. Whether out of frustration from the lack of response during the day, or some inexplicable premonition, 你's steps, as if possessed, turn back into that abandoned dead end. The shadows in the corner are even deeper. Aided by the faint red light filtering in from the distant neon signs, 你 can barely make out that the "big black dog" is still in the same spot, its posture virtually unchanged, as if merged with the darkness. Just then, the sound of chaotic footsteps and drunken, jeering laughter approaches from afar, shattering the dead silence of the alley. <message>"Damn, this crappy place really reeks!"</message> <message>"Hey, look! A stray sheep?"</message> <message>"Tsk tsk, and a tender, fair-skinned one at that..."</message> Three or four sloppily dressed, reeking-of-alcohol thugs block the mouth of the alley, their malicious gazes crawling over 你 like slimy insects. They stagger closer, nauseating sneers plastered on their faces. 你 freezes and looks up. <message>"Hey! If you know what's good for you, hand over your valuables..."</message> The lead thug's swearing cuts off abruptly. *Grrrr—!* A low, threatening beastly growl, sounding as if it rose from the depths of the earth, erupts without warning! It isn't loud, but it carries a bone-chilling cold and primitive violence, instantly drowning out the thugs' clamor. The "big black dog" curled in the corner moves! It's not a dog! The dark shadow launches forward with unnatural, explosive speed, its form rapidly stretching and shifting mid-air! Fluffy black fur recedes, revealing lean, fluid human muscle lines. Short, wolf-tail black hair whips around in the motion, and on his head, a pair of alertly perked, furry wolf ears stands tall! A slender yet explosively powerful youth replaces the "big black dog," landing steadily, shielding 你 from the thugs. His movements are like a ghost's. The thugs don't even see how he moves; they only feel a dark blur flash before their eyes, followed immediately by agonizing pain. <message>"Aaargh—!"</message> <message>"Holy shit!"</message> The dull thuds of fists hitting flesh, the sharp cracks of dislocated bones, and the agonizing screams of the thugs instantly fill the narrow alley. The youth strikes with ruthless precision, his movements driven by beastly instinct—every punch, every kick aims for vital points without mercy. The thugs are easily knocked down and kicked away like tattered sacks, slamming into cold walls or scrap metal, wailing and unable to get back up. The entire ordeal takes only a few seconds. Only heavy breathing and painful groans remain in the alley. The youth shakes his hand, as if merely brushing off some dust. He turns his head slightly, glancing at 你 behind him from the corner of his eye, his gaze as cold as an ice-tempered blade. Just then, a low, husky voice with a deep chest resonance rings clearly, word by word, in 你's ear. Every syllable is enunciated with extreme clarity, yet wrapped in an irrepressible, violent irritation. <message>"Damn it... look closely. I'm not a dog."</message> He pauses, his tone thick with offended hostility and a near-obsessive emphasis. <message>"I'm a wolf!"</message> The moment the words fall, the furry wolf ears on his head seem to twitch slightly with anger. He doesn't look at 你 again, but sweeps his faintly glowing eyes in the darkness over the groaning thugs on the ground, letting out a short, warning growl from the depths of his throat. <message>"Scram!"</message> The thugs scramble and flee the alley in sheer panic. The youth (Sang Biao) turn around completely to face 你. He stands tall, his features strikingly handsome under the dim light, but his brow is locked in an unyielding coldness and a trace of hard-to-detect fatigue. He sizes 你 up, his gaze as sharp as a knife, as if evaluating an object or a potential trouble. After a moment, he lets out an irritated "Tsk," seemingly finding the current situation incredibly troublesome. <message>"And you," that raspy, magnetic voice rings out again, carrying an unquestionable tone of command, "don't fucking come back. This is my den."</message> <choice_group> <choice id="1">As someone from the Upper City who has never seen a beastman before, you look at him in astonishment. Swallowing hard, you pull a sausage out of your bag. Thinking that the "dog" might not like ham sausages, you had specifically switched to a proper sausage. Feeling a bit awkward, you ask: "Um... do you still want something to eat?"</choice> <choice id="2">As someone who has lived in the Dark Alley for years but rarely goes out, you've naturally heard rumors of beastmen, but this is your first time seeing one. You immediately approach him, sizing him up with curiosity: "A wolf? Why do you live in a place like this? If you're short on money, how about I find you a job? My seventh aunt's eighth cousin's brother-in-law runs a grocery store, and they're hiring a clerk. Interested?"</choice> <choice id="3">Terrified to tears, your lips quiver as tears start to drop: "Waaah, the big doggy is so mean!"</choice> </choice_group>