127: Chapter 127: Fire?!

Inside the hotpot restaurant, the waiter led them to a semi-enclosed private room.

"This is our pet-friendly area," the waiter said with a smile. "Your dog can move around freely here."

As soon as Black Panther entered the room, he displayed the professional quality of a military dog. He quickly patrolled the entire space, checking every corner, and then chose a spot to lie down where he could see both the door and the window, remaining highly alert.

"Wow, it's like he's standing guard!" Lin Xiaoyu exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Budian nodded proudly. "Of course! My Xiao Hei is a warrior!!"

Xiao Nuan carefully approached Black Panther, holding a pet treat provided by the waiter. "Xiao Hei, want to try this?"

Black Panther looked at her warily, his nose twitching as he sniffed, but he didn't accept it immediately.

"Don't be in a hurry," Su Han said softly. "Military dogs are professionally trained and won't easily accept food from strangers."

Xiao Nuan was a bit disappointed, but she still nodded understandingly.

Xiao Budian took the treat. "I'll feed him! Xiao Hei, this is from Great-grandaunt; she's a good person!"

Only then did Black Panther carefully take the treat from Xiao Budian's hand, though his eyes never left Xiao Nuan.

"Take it slow," Su Han comforted his sister. "He'll be fine once he gets used to your scent."

The steaming hotpot was soon served, and the aroma filled the entire room.

Black Panther's nose kept twitching, but he still maintained the discipline of a military dog, showing no behavior of begging for food.

"Great-grandfather," Xiao Budian suddenly thought of something, "Xiao Hei hasn't met Aunt and Uncle yet. I want them all to know how amazing Xiao Hei is."

Su Han's chopsticks paused. "Are Ling Xue and Grandson-in-law back?"

Su Wu said, "They're back. They said they'd come over to play for a couple of days in two days. After National Day, Haitao has to return to the military."

"Then Xiao Hei has many more new family members to meet!" Xiao Budian counted on her fingers. "Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle, Aunt, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle..."

Black Panther seemed to sense the topic revolved around him; he raised his head and let out a "Woof," making everyone laugh.

Inside the restaurant, wooden screens and antique lanterns created a quaint atmosphere.

The four walls of the private room were paneled with dark logs, and several bamboo-woven pendant lights hung from the ceiling. The warm yellow light spilled onto the redwood round table, making the red oil broth in the copper pot look even more vibrant.

"What's wrong, Xiao Hei?" Xiao Budian hugged the suddenly restless Black Panther, her small hand gently stroking his back.

Black Panther's ears stood bolt upright, a low whimper came from his throat, and his eyes were fixed on the direction of the kitchen.

His front paws kept scratching the floor, and the unique alertness of a military dog made his muscles tense up.

Su Han put down his chopsticks, his brow furrowing slightly. "Something's not right."

Almost at the same time, a burst of noise and the crisp sound of dishes breaking came from outside the room.

"Maybe there's a rat in the kitchen?" Lin Xiaoyu guessed softly, but she was startled by Black Panther suddenly turning to bark at Xiao Budian.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" Black Panther no longer paid attention to the kitchen; instead, he bit Xiao Budian's hem and tried desperately to pull her toward the door.

"Xiao Hei!" Xiao Budian was pulled into a stumble, and Su Han quickly caught her.

Su Wu stood up abruptly. "There's a problem!"

Before he finished speaking, a pungent smell of gas seeped into the room through the door crack.

"Gas leak!" Su Han's pupils constricted as he scooped up Xiao Budian. "Everyone, evacuate immediately!"

Black Panther took the lead and rushed to the door, using his body to push open the partially closed door.

The hallway was already filled with light blue smoke, and several waiters were running out in a panic.

"Stay low! Cover your nose and mouth!" Su Han shouted sternly, while taking off his military jacket to wrap it around Xiao Budian's head.

Su Wu pulled Xiao Nuan with one hand and Lin Xiaoyu with the other. "Follow me! The emergency exit is to the right!"

Black Panther led the way, occasionally looking back to make sure everyone was keeping up.

When they rushed out of the hotpot restaurant's entrance, the screams of customers and the cries of children could already be heard behind them.

"There's still someone inside!" Xiao Nuan suddenly pointed to a second-floor window, where a little girl was leaning against the glass, crying and shouting.

Su Han handed Xiao Budian to Su Wu. "Take them to the square across the street! I'll go take a look!"

"It's too dangerous!" Su Wu was about to stop him, but Su Han had already rushed back into the store like an arrow from a bow.

Black Panther turned back to follow without hesitation, his agile figure disappearing into the smoke in the blink of an eye.

"Xiao Hei!" Xiao Budian cried out in anxiety.

On the second floor of the hotpot restaurant, thick smoke had already obscured most of the vision.

Su Han moved forward hunched over, feeling his way toward the private room where the little girl was based on his memory. Black Panther led the way in front, stopping occasionally to wait.

"Help!" The little girl's cries grew closer.

Su Han kicked open the half-closed door and found the little girl trapped under overturned tables and chairs.

He stepped forward and lifted the heavy solid wood table with one hand—

With a "crack," the table leg snapped.

The little girl was frozen in fear until Su Han picked her up, then she burst out crying.

With Black Panther leading the way, the two people and the dog quickly moved toward the emergency exit.

Just as they were about to reach the stairwell, a loud bang came from the direction of the kitchen.

"Explosion! Get down!" Su Han shielded the little girl under him, and Black Panther instinctively crouched low as well.

The airwave knocked over decorations in the hallway, but fortunately, the main structure was not damaged.

Su Han seized this brief moment of calm and rushed down the stairs holding the little girl.

"Brother!" Xiao Nuan rushed forward with red eyes. "You scared me to death!"

"There are still people in the rooms on the third floor! They don't know there's a fire!" a customer shouted loudly.

Su Han's expression changed. He looked at the restaurant owner, chefs, and waiters who had escaped and asked in a deep voice, "Didn't you notify the customers to evacuate?"

The owner stammered, "I... we saw the fire and... and just came out! We didn't dare go back up!"

"Damn it!" Su Han cursed, then shouted to Black Panther, "Xiao Hei! Come with me to save people!"