The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 127: Master, Watch Your Step

Chu Wanning didn't ask, and Xue Zhengyong didn't bring it up either.

The Lord of the Peak of Life and Death had had a bit too much to drink, his head spinning and speech slurred.

Suddenly, he leaned in close, staring at Chu Wanning, and said, "Yu Heng, you're not happy."

"No," Chu Wanning replied.

"You're angry."

"No," Chu Wanning replied.

"Who has caused you to be displeased?"

Chu Wanning: "..."

"Ask?"

Inquiring would bring him some solace, perhaps Mo Ran didn't promise to return tonight for sure. Perhaps he only said he would try his best, but Xue Zhengyong misunderstood or misremembered when recounting it...

Chu Wanning gazed into the distance at the door, the night was deep and dark.

The feast was coming to an end, the food growing cold.

On the first day he emerged from seclusion, Mo Ran didn't make it back.

All the disciples of the Summit of Life and Death were present, even those whose names he couldn't recall or had never met. Yet, he was the one missing.

Without him, the banquet felt incomplete.

Many dishes, such as Crab Roe Lion's Head Meatballs, Osmanthus Glutinous Rice, and Apricot Flower White Fragrant Snow Wine, couldn't fill the emptiness.

Chu Wanning closed his eyes, then suddenly heard a commotion from the main hall near the Naihe Pavilion.

"Ah—! Look! What's that outside?"

"What is that in the sky?!"

A growing crowd gathered, and those inside the house could hear the lively crackling and rumbling of the thunderous fireworks. People stepped outside, standing on the lush grass in front of the Hall of Mother Meng, looking up at the dazzling display. The fireworks illuminated the night sky like a sea of stars transformed into flickering fireflies, blossoming and dancing in the air.

"Fireworks!" The young disciples beamed with joy, their youthful faces glowing under the intermittent flames, their eyes reflecting the myriad of celestial fragments.

"So beautiful, I've never seen such magnificent fireworks, not even during the new year celebrations."

Chu Wanning emerged from the hall at a leisurely pace. His mood was less than ideal; despite Xue Zhengyong's grand display, he appreciated it but couldn't shake off the heavy feeling in his chest.

"Whoosh—"

A sharp whistle pierced through the clouds and the moon.

He lifted his gaze indifferently, witnessing a golden-red stream of light shoot across the sky like an arrow loosed from its bow.

Truly breathtaking.

If only that person were here...

"Bang!"

That dazzling starburst soared to be level with Wu Gou, then exploded with a thunderous boom. Millions of shimmering golden rays converged into a flowing river, causing the galaxy to lose its luster and the moon palace to fade into darkness.

The fireworks resembled a weeping willow shedding snow-like blossoms or an endless river rippling with light. Amidst this dazzling spectacle, Chu Wanning slowly closed his eyes.

"Disciple Mo Ran, respectfully wishing Master a successful exit from seclusion."

Suddenly, someone spoke behind him, each word clear as a needle piercing through his ears.

Chu Wanning trembled involuntarily, feeling as if thorns were pricking his back or flames were scorching his throat. His heartbeat raced uncontrollably, and his blood flowed wildly. He struggled to breathe, turning abruptly to face the source of the voice.

A few disciples who had just emerged from the Netherworld Hall stood behind him, all gazing in astonishment at the sky. One of them repeated the phrase.

Gradually, it was no longer just one person reciting those words.

Everyone found it intriguing. The young disciples, both male and female, whether standing alone or in small groups, looked up at the resplendent night sky and echoed the sentence.

Disciple Mo Ran.

Blessings upon Master's emergence from seclusion.

Soft as tidal whispers and dreams, firm as mountains and unyielding as heavyweights, these voices echoed. Chu Wanning lifted his head sharply. Fireworks danced in the night sky, fueled by spiritual energy, forming a dazzling display that spelled out the message.

The fireworks coalesced into a grand, visible-from-miles-away tidal wave. Multicolored stars seemed to traverse countless mountains and bygone memories, rushing towards him from the eternal night. The joy, sorrow, longing, and guilt of that person also surged towards him in this boundless night.

He felt himself becoming a drifting log in the ocean, with the seawater being those eyes that had suddenly embraced him in front of the Ghost King's Hall – warm, ardent, and resolute, back in the Underworld.

There was nowhere for him to escape.

Surrounded by the whispers, laughter, and profound emotions of that person, Chu Wanning didn't care if it was the affection of a master and disciple or something else.

Any sentiment at all was enough.

Mo Ran still hadn't managed to return before the banquet ended.

Despite traveling through starlit nights, despite riding tirelessly, the path home was still too distant.

Fortunately, there was still the transmission firework crafted by Elder Xuan Ji in his backpack. It was made for emergencies, allowing one to write messages with spiritual energy on paper, which would then ignite and transform the words into magnificent fireworks. Even from great distances, the peak of Life and Death could witness them.

This firework was worth a fortune and extremely difficult to make, but Mo Ran cared not about its value; he only wished that his Master wouldn't be angered.

No matter how many mountains and rivers separated them, no matter how much time had passed.

He wanted Chu Wanning to hear this message.

"I, disciple Mo Ran, offer my sincerest congratulations on Master's emergence from seclusion."

Two hours later, the banquet dispersed. By the time they returned to the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, it was already late at night.

Chu Wanning reeked of alcohol and felt uneasy, desiring a bath. However, the weather had turned chilly, and the lotus pond at the Red Lotus Water Pavilion was too cold. After bathing in it the previous day, he nearly froze. He pondered for a moment, fetched a few sets of clean clothes and a wooden basin, then headed for the Wonderful Sound Pond.

The Wonderful Sound Pond was a communal bathhouse used by the entire sect. Mo Ran had only bathed here during the first few months after arriving at the peak of Life and Death.

It was already quite late, so there wouldn't be many people taking a soak. Chu Wanning lifted his hand, pushed aside the fine hemp shower curtain, and stepped inside. Many areas of the peak had undergone renovations, but the Wonderful Sound Pond remained unchanged. Encircled by black-tiled high walls, one had to pass through a corridor with floating gauze curtains before reaching the end, where six narrow wooden steps coated with tung oil varnish awaited.

Everyone removed their shoes and socks before descending these steps to bathe, so a mere glance here would reveal how many people were currently soaking in the pool.

As Chu Wanning removed his shoes and socks, he noticed that there was only a single pair of boots left behind, large and somewhat soiled but neatly placed in a corner, not carelessly discarded due to the emptiness of the space.

He thought to himself, Who could it be? To come for a bath at such a late hour...

But he didn't dwell on it, instead carrying his small wooden basin and descending the steps barefoot. He brushed aside the final curtain at the end of the corridor and stepped into the courtyard.

The courtyard was shrouded in mist and vapor, like clouds and rainbow hues blending together. There was an enormous hot spring pool, its shape following the natural terrain, creating a wide waterfall with a rumbling roar. The hazy heat and billowing white smoke gracefully rose from the pool, spreading into every corner and crevice.

Due to the thick fog, everything here appeared blurred. One had to be very close to discern another person's face.

Chu Wanning walked along the smooth pebble path, passing through layers of blooming peach blossoms, until he reached the nearest entrance to the bath. There was a low stone rack carved from green slate, specifically designed for storing personal belongings. He placed his wooden basin and robe on it before undressing and slowly entering the pool.

It was truly warm.

He couldn't help but let out a contented sigh.

If not for his dislike of sharing a crowded bathhouse and his unwillingness to bathe in the middle of the night, he would have found Red Lotus Water Pavilion too cold and rudimentary.

Xue Zhengyong was, after all, a meticulous and thoughtful individual. He oversaw the construction of the Wonderful Sound Pond, which featured flowers in perpetual bloom around its edges, and a waterfall at the end for rinsing off. If one grew weary from soaking, they could rest in a small wooden pavilion nearby, using heated stones to alleviate pressure points and meridians.

Compared to the hasty and muddled bath he took yesterday at the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, this was indeed far too comfortable.

Chu Wanning momentarily forgot his worries and felt a sense of pleasure. Seeing that no one was around, he stretched out his slender form and swam straight towards the waterfall.

"Whoosh!"

Just as he emerged from the water, wiping his face, the faint smile on his lips still lingering, he suddenly saw a man standing not far away, with his back to him, bathing under the intense cascade. The sound of the waterfall was so loud that Chu Wanning, despite being so close, had not heard the other person's movements.

If he had risen from the water a moment later or continued swimming forward, the tips of his fingers might have brushed against that man's legs.

Fortunately, he managed to pull himself back just in time, not touching the man. However, the proximity was still rather abrupt and impolite. He stood almost right behind the tall man, who exceeded Chu Wanning's height by a considerable margin. His skin was bronzed, giving off a wild vibe. His broad and sturdy shoulders moved with his arms, resembling golden mountains that held immense power capable of destroying anything in its path.

His muscles weren't exaggerated but firm and well-proportioned. The rushing water cascaded over his body, some trickling into rivulets on his broad, masculine terrain, while others splashed around, and some seemed to be infatuated with his form, willingly transforming into a thin veil of water that clung to him, unwilling to part.

Chu Wanning, accustomed to a cool and detached demeanor, had never encountered such a fiery physique. His ears turned red instantly, and he hastily turned to leave.

But either due to the slippery bottom of the pool or his unsteady footing, he stumbled and plunged abruptly into the water, creating a great spray of droplets!

"Cough! Cough!!"

This time, Chu Wanning's face turned crimson with embarrassment. Panicked, he choked on the water, and the realization that it was the bathwater of the guy behind him only made him angrier and more disgusted. Abandoning all composure, he flailed about, desperate to stand up.

As the prestigious Yu Heng Elder, how could he—

Suddenly, a smooth and strong hand reached out to steady him, pulling him up from the rushing water. The man seemed startled by his movements.

"Are you alright?"

Holding onto his arm, the man spoke in a low, soothing voice. Their height difference caused him to look down, his breath tickling Chu Wanning's ear. "The rocks here are slippery. Be careful."

Chu Wanning's ears burned even more. He could almost feel the man's chest, mere inches away, rising and falling rhythmically. It was gentle when it fell, as if showing mercy and sparing his life, but when it rose, it was so tense that it nearly brushed against his back.

Ashamed and furious, Chu Wanning abruptly shrugged off the man's hand. His expression darkened, though his gaze darted away. "I'm fine."

The sound of the waterfall drowned out Chu Wanning's voice.

For some reason, upon hearing him speak, the man jolted, freezing in place. He lifted his hand slightly, as if to say something, but lacked the courage to do so...

Hesitant, Chu Wanning had already walked a short distance away, stepping into, or rather, hiding beneath the tumultuous waterfall of noise and excitement.

Author's Note:

This scene was inspired by an old joke, scratching my head in amusement.

Mo Ran: Hmm... the title even warned Master about the slippery ground, how did Master still slip? (laughs)

Chu Wanning: ...Isn't that read as "be careful of the slippery de"?