The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 139: A Good Dream, Master

Mo Ran froze instantly.

The familiar scent of peach blossoms filled his nostrils. Though Chu Wanning didn't show much expression, his sleeves were gentle as they brushed across Mo Ran's eyelids, wiping away the sweat carefully. The key point was that this man in snow-white robes was standing so close to him that he could discern the delicate texture on Wanning's lips. If he just lowered his head a bit more, he could easily plant a kiss on those lips, savoring the tender bud between them.

"You won, but you didn't wake me up. It's not a fair victory."

Chu Wanning suddenly said this after wiping the perspiration from Mo Ran's brow.

Mo Ran was taken aback for a moment before he chuckled. "I didn't win. Master is the one who triumphed."

"Didn't you continue cutting rice in the afternoon?"

"No. There wasn't much left. I went to the market and bought some supplies for the winter. I also visited each household, which took some time." Mo Ran explained, "So, Master harvested more rice than I did."

Chu Wanning let out a light, nonchalant hum, seemingly content.

After a while, he asked, "What did you buy at the market? A mattress?"

Before Mo Ran could speak, Ling'er, standing nearby, couldn't resist chiming in with a smile, "Lord Mo bought so many things, it must have exhausted that packhorse."

"Not that much," Mo Ran replied. "Just some charcoal, some meat, and a few sweets."

"But there's more than that," Ling'er said. "Lord Mo even bought a quilt for each household. The old lady who makes cotton padding even wheeled her cart into the village with him, and it was loaded full."

Chu Wanning looked surprised. "Where did you get all that money?"

"I saved it up," Mo Ran said with a grin. "Actually, those quilts weren't expensive at all, much cheaper than what you'd find in the cultivation world."

"What about the meat?"

"I bought it on a whim. I asked the village chief to cook it for everyone tomorrow."

Chu Wanning's expression remained unchanged as he asked again, "And the sweets?"

Ling'er clapped her hands and laughed. "Of course they're for the children in the village. Lord Mo gave them out as soon as he returned. He had barley sugar and osmanthus cakes. Many of the kids in our village have never tasted such treats before, so they were overjoyed."

Pausing for a moment, she added, with a hint of sweetness, "I got a piece too."

This young lady was the type who knew how to socialize easily and quickly became acquainted with others. Chu Wanning had not minded her interruptions before, but after this comment, he rolled his eyes at her with a cold glance.

"Is it delicious?"

Ling'er replied candidly, "Yes, it's so sweet."

Chu Wanning seemed to be sneering. "Then eat more." With that, he swept his sleeves and left. Mo Ran was unsure what had upset him this time and was about to follow when suddenly, darkness enveloped his vision as Chu Wanning threw the cloak he had been wearing over Mo Ran's face. Mo Ran caught it and, pulling down the robe, looked at him anxiously.

"Master?"

"How indecent it is to be naked! You may not feel cold, but I do just by looking at you!" Chu Wanning reprimanded sharply. "Put your clothes on!"

"..."

Although Mo Ran was indeed feeling hot, he still promptly put his clothes back on without complaint, as instructed by Chu Wanning. The damp fabric sticking to his skin was somewhat uncomfortable. He lifted his fluttering eyelashes, looking at the other man in confusion.

Chu Wanning frowned and said, "Button up your shirt! Who are you showing off to? You have no manners!"

"..." Mo Ran immediately adjusted his clothing, pulling up the collar so that it was high and tightly closed. Now, not a single inch of skin was exposed, but it added an alluring air of abstinence. Upon seeing this, Chu Wanning felt even more frustrated, muttering a curse before storming off, leaving Mo Ran standing there like a foolish puppy.

The village chief and his wife, along with Ling'er, watched from the side, utterly perplexed. Ling'er expressed her concern quietly, "This Lord Mo… He's so fierce… I've never seen someone with such an odd temper…" She spoke with a tinge of sympathy, even trying to appease him.

"You must have it rough with your master treating you poorly. It's only because you're so mild-mannered that you can endure not—"

As she spoke, she turned around but suddenly met Mo Ran's gaze. Her words were cut short as they shattered in her mouth. She saw that the always smiling and amiable Lord Mo suddenly had a dark, intense expression, his eyes gleaming with a wolfish ferocity.

Ling'er abruptly fell silent, but Mo Ran quickly averted his face. With the changing light, the emotions in his eyes were no longer discernible. Ling'er's heart raced, uncertain if what she had just witnessed was a hallucination or if this mountain-like man before her had momentarily revealed a different, predatory side.

Mo Ran grunted, "Apologies, carry on with your work. I need to check on him; I'm worried." With that, he strode away rapidly.

Chu Wanning stood by the riverbank where reeds swayed in the air, and the setting sun partially submerged in the shimmering water, as if flames were burning within the river.

Mo Ran, having run hastily, caught his breath before speaking, "Shifu."

"..."

"Did I do something wrong?"

Chu Wanning replied, "No."

"Why aren't you happy then?"

"I am happy."

Mo Ran was taken aback. "What?"

Chu Wanning turned back and said gloomily, "Whether or not I'm happy."

Mo Ran: "………………"

He didn't want to engage in wordplay with Chu Wanning. He studied the latter's expression carefully and suddenly laughed, realizing something. "I know why Shifu isn't happy."

Chu Wanning clenched his fists inside his wide sleeves, his shoulders moving slightly but imperceptibly. Yet, he maintained a calm facade. "I already said I—"

But Mo Ran had already approached, standing under the tree with his hands behind his back, smiling. The old banyan tree by the river had some thick veins exposed on the ground, resembling robust arteries that slowly pierced into the soil.

Standing on one of the protruding roots, he appeared even taller.

Chu Wanning sensed danger and felt irritated. He said, "Get down from there."

"Oh."

Mo Ran lithely leaped, his toes leaving the protruding knot on the tree trunk before landing gracefully in front of Chu Wanning. The tree's gnarled roots sprawled like a coiled dragon, offering only a small area without thick roots. With Chu Wanning standing on one spot, Mo Ran had to stand exceptionally close to avoid the uneven ground.

He lowered his head, his breath almost tickling Chu Wanning's eyelashes. This made Chu Wanning feel awkward again, so he sternly said, "Get up there."

"..." Mo Ran couldn't help but chuckle. "Up and down, up and down—is Master playing a joke on me?"

Chu Wanning knew he was being irrational due to his anger, and now that his behavior had been exposed, he chose to remain silent, his face dark and brooding.

Mo Ran reached behind his back and, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a handful of candies wrapped in rice paper, vibrant colors piled up in his palm like a tiny, sugary mountain.

"Don't be angry. I saved these for you."

"..." Chu Wanning was even more furious, on the verge of spitting blood or exploding with rage. He frowned deeply and barked, "Mo Weiyu!"

"Here!" Mo Ran quickly stood up straight.

"Who asked for candy? Do you think I'm a three-year-old to be coddled? Or are you trying to sweet-talk me like a maiden? I don't - uh!"

A candy was placed gently against his lips and slipped into his mouth.

Chu Wanning was stunned.

His ears turned red in an instant, followed by his cheeks, blushing from either embarrassment or anger. His phoenix eyes widened in a mix of shock and fury as he glared at the smiling man before him.

"Vanilla-flavored," Mo Ran said. "Your favorite."

Chu Wanning suddenly found himself speechless, feeling powerless, like a cat whose claws had been clipped, rendering its fierce posture useless.

With the vanilla candy in his mouth, a few stray hairs on his forehead, tousled by the wind from his hurried walk, fluttered softly, resembling delicate blades of grass. Seeing this, Mo Ran felt an itch in his heart, longing to reach out and tuck those strands of hair back into place.

He was a man of action.

With that thought in mind, he actually reached out his hand.

Chu Wanning: "..............."

Mo Ran smiled and said, "I bought candies and pastries for everyone in the village, but the ones I got for Shifu are the best. I've secretly stashed these sweets in my sleeves. The pastries are in your room. Eat them quietly when you return tonight, away from those little ones. They're lotus seed pastries, very pretty. If they catch sight of them, they'll pester you for sure."

Chu Wanning didn't respond immediately. After a long while, he used the tip of his tongue to swirl around the melting milk candy, then lifted his gaze to study the man before him, standing amidst the reeds beneath the old banyan tree.

For a moment, he threw out four unrelated words: "Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Pudding."

Mo Ran smiled. "Purchased."

"Sesame Crab Meat Meatballs."

"Also bought."

"..."

Chu Wanning tilted his head. He felt that he had lost quite a bit of his dignity today, and he wanted to reclaim it, dust it off. So, he deliberately straightened himself, lifting his chin slightly. "Too bad we missed out on Apricot White."

He probably imagined that lifting his chin made him look stern and imposing.

But that was in the past, back when Mo Ran was still a teenager, not as tall as he was now.

Chu Wanning was unaware that by doing this now, all Mo Ran would see was the gentle curve of his jawline, the exposed Adam's apple as his chin rose, and that porcelain-white neck.

He was like a proud cat, exposing his most vulnerable spot beneath the fangs of a wolf dog, yet arrogantly unaware. He thought he had intimidated the beasts, but they only longed to savor his throat between their lips, licking and kissing, devouring him whole.

A fool.

It took great effort for Mo Ran to tear his gaze away from beneath Chu Wanning's chin. When he looked at the man before him again, his eyes darkened, and his voice deepened.

He forced a smile, maintaining his gentlemanly composure. "I have it."

Chu Wanning didn't catch on, furrowing his brow. "What?"

"White pear blossom wine," Mo Ran breathed, concealing his desire. His voice roughened as he continued. "There is also white pear blossom wine."

Chu Wanning: "..............."

"I thought you might want some while we were walking," Mo Ran explained. "Fortunately, I bought some."

Staring at his disciple who was desperately trying to please him, Chu Wanning suddenly found himself unable to utter a single word. He suddenly realized how meaningless his previous antics had been, how pointless his pretense of coldness and aloofness.

He finally relaxed his tense body, leaning against the old banyan tree as he appraised Mo Ran from head to toe. Then, he spoke, "Mo Ran."

"Mm."

"You've changed so much."

Upon finishing his sentence, Chu Wanning noticed a hint of unease in Mo Ran's eyes. Mo Ran blinked his thick, long lashes and asked, "Does Shifu like it?"

"..." Chu Wanning replied, "I don't dislike it."

Then, as if he had suddenly recalled something, he straightened up. His finger lifted, hesitated in mid-air for a moment, but ultimately landed on the side of Mo Ran's waist.

Mo Ran jolted, inexplicably and anxiously lowering his gaze to look at Chu Wanning.

"I saw in the book about your fierce battle with the Yellow River's evil spirit," Chu Wanning said, "The injury is here, right?"

"Well,"

Chu Wanning let out a barely perceptible sigh and patted Mo Ran's shoulder. "You've come a long way now. You can truly be called Grandmaster Mo."

"I dare not, Master."

A faint smile graced Chu Wanning's lips as he tapped Mo Ran's forehead with his fingertip, then lowered his gaze. "True, running around in disarray all day doesn't befit a grandmaster. Come on, the sun is setting. Let's head back early and get some rest. What do you plan to do tomorrow?"

Mo Ran pondered for a moment before answering, "I think we're supposed to steam the rice and make rice cakes."

Chu Wanning nodded and suddenly said, "Don't strip your clothes off recklessly anymore."

Mo Ran's face flushed red. "Yes."

"Rest when it gets too hot."

"Alright."

Chu Wanning considered this for a while longer and added, "Remember to carry a handkerchief with you. Don't always hang around unmarried girls. Do you have one?"

"…No." Mo Ran felt awkward.

"…So, what do you usually use to wipe your face then?"

"… …My sleeve." Mo Ran felt even more embarrassed by his rough ways.

Chu Wanning was somewhat speechless. After a moment, he said, "I'll help you cut one when the time comes."

Mo Ran's eyes lit up. "For me?"

"Mm-hmm."

Overjoyed, Mo Ran exclaimed, "That's great! When will Master go and cut it?"

Chu Wanning frowned. "…We'll have to wait until I'm done with my current tasks."

"I… also want one with peach blossoms on it, can that be arranged?"

"…I'll try my best."

With his request granted, Mo Ran spent the whole night beaming with joy, reveling in the happiness of exchanging a handful of candies for a handkerchief. Tossing and turning under his freshly changed blanket, he found himself too thrilled to fall asleep.

For five years, he had been immersed in a drunken, miserable existence.

This was the first time he had found himself tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep due to sheer joy.

His heart raced, pounding incessantly. Eventually, he couldn't bear it anymore and sat up on his bed. His window faced Chu Wanning's. Leaning over the edge, he peered through the slight gap, inhaling the crisp, rural night air. Before him lay a tiny courtyard, and beyond it, a glow of candlelight from the other side.

Chu Wanning was still awake.

What could he be doing?

Is he pondering how to cut the handkerchief, or savoring the lotus cream pastries he brought for himself?

Mo Ran gazed at the warm yellow lamplight shining through the opposite window for a long, long time. It wasn't until the light was extinguished and Chu Wanning had fallen asleep that he reluctantly whispered softly,

"Master, sweet dreams."

There was another phrase buried deep in his heart, one he dared not utter even if no one else could hear it.

Wanning.

Sweet Dreams.

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In the "Mini-Theater," what do the four master-disciple duo use to wipe their sweat?

Cultured Chu Wanning: A peach blossom handkerchief

Primal Mo Weiyu: The sleeves

Beautiful Junior Sister: Fools, how can a beauty be seen sweating? And if she does, no one must ever notice.

Bird Person (...) Xue Ziming: A humiliating handkerchief embroidered with the characters "Xue Meng," a gift from Madame Wang. She did this because he constantly lost his handkerchiefs; having his name on it would make it easier for others to return it to him should he misplace it...