The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 156: Master's Excellent Riding Skills

Chu Wanning appraised her from head to toe. He had already found her breathtakingly beautiful at the Xuan Yuan Pavilion, and now, up close, she was like a lotus emerging from water, radiant as the sun. Her raven-black hair seemed to shimmer, making her an unparalleled beauty in this world. No wonder Nan Gongsi was smitten.

Lost in thought, Chu Wanning glanced at Mo Ran, curious about his reaction. However, their gazes met, for Mo Ran hadn't been looking at Song Qiutong at all; he seemed to treat Nan Gongsi's side as if it were empty air. Instead, Mo Ran's eyes were fixed on him, and when their eyes met, he smiled gently.

Chu Wanning felt a shiver run down his spine under Mo Ran's gaze but maintained his composure. After a moment of eye contact, he casually averted his eyes.

"Nirvana Moon Field is home to many demonic wolves. The bravest one is Naobaijin, my personal favorite."

Nan Gongsi led everyone to the center of the open grassland and took out an ivory flute from his waist. Blowing three sharp whistles, he broke the silence. Moments later, a gust of demonic wind stirred in the distant forest, and a snow-white figure shot out like a whirlwind and lightning bolt. In the blink of an eye, a magnificent wolf with crystal fur and golden claws leaped into the air, drawing a graceful arc before letting out a howl against the backdrop of the cold winter day. It then landed firmly in front of Nan Gongsi.

"Oooh! Aaah!"

Nan Gongsi stroked its fluffy neck and turned back with a smile. "Grandmaster, look, it's grown so much. When you left, it was still just a cub."

"It was already as tall as an adult man when I left," Chu Wanning replied expressionlessly.

"Ahaha, really? I always thought it was small and still a pup."

"..."

"Grandmaster, why don't you give it a try?"

Nan Gongsi then blew his flute again, summoning two more snow-white demonic wolves from the woods. "Grandmaster Mo, would you like to join in?"

The three of them mounted the demonic wolves. Nan Gongsi said, "Hold on to the ropes or their neck fur, and keep your legs tight around them. It's not too different from riding a horse." Then he looked down at Song Qiutong and said, "Qiutong, ride with me. I'll guide you."

Chu Wanning had initially thought he wouldn't be able to do it, but after mounting the demonic wolf and taking a few steps, he found it wasn't as difficult as he'd imagined. In fact, because the demonic wolves were highly intelligent and could understand the rider's intentions, they were easier to control than ordinary horses.

Nan Gongsi laughed. "How about we take a lap around?

"Can we go anywhere here?"

"You can go wherever you like. The rear mountain forest garden or the howling moon training field – take your pick."

Mo Ran smiled. "Are we racing?"

"Shall we have a race?" Chu Wanning glanced at Nan Gongsi, who was riding the demonic wolf with Song Qiutong. He thought it would be a good chance to strengthen their bond and agreed readily.

Nan Gongsi chuckled, removing an exquisite spirit stone bracelet from his wrist. "Alright then. The first one to catch five stonefish from Sweet Spring Lake in the Forest Garden and return here wins. This bracelet will be the prize. What do you think?"

"Seven-star spirit stone bracelet? Mr. Nan Gong is quite generous."

"A thousand gold pieces can't buy my joy," Nan Gongsi tightened the reins and then lowered his head to speak to Song Qiutong. "Hold on tight, don't fall off. If we're going too fast, just tell me."

Mo Ran glanced at Song Qiutong and smiled. "I'm afraid Mr. Nan Gong might need to hand over his bracelet sooner than expected."

"Haha, underestimating me. I grew up on a wolf's back. It's no big deal to carry one extra person, let alone two. Let's go. On the count of three, two, one, we'll start."

"One, two, THREE!"

As soon as he finished counting, three figures in white shot through the air like arrows piercing through the forest, galloping across the grassland and reaching the hunting garden at the end before disappearing into the depths of the woods.

At first, Chu Wanning kept a slower pace, following behind Nan Gongsi and Song Qiutong. But the girl's frequent screams kept piercing his ears, and her coquettish whines were unbearable. Thus, he couldn't help but speed up and overtake them.

As the cries of "Sir, please slow down" faded into the distance, Chu Wanning began to appreciate the thrill of riding the demonic wolf. These spiritual beasts were incredibly intelligent; even the slightest twitch of his finger was enough for Nao Baijin to understand his intentions and react accordingly. No wonder Nan Gongsi cherished these creatures.

The winter wind brushed against his face, but it didn't feel cold. Chu Wanning looked up at the scattered sunlight stretching endlessly before him. It swept over his feet like a torrential flood, then rolled away into the distance. He couldn't help but laugh, feeling the exhilaration of this sprint. He urged his Nao Baijin mount to dash wildly, its wolf claws sinking into the thick layer of pine needles, kicking up clouds of dust.

Behind him, Mo Ran rode the black-clawed demonic wolf, following closely from the start to the end. In that moment, an inexplicable sense of joy and reassurance welled up in Chu Wanning's chest.

Suddenly, he wasn't so sure anymore. It seemed like he finally had the right to be impulsive and move forward, as if no matter where he ran, there would always be these footsteps behind him, this person echoing continuously, never to be separated again.

Chu Wanning and Mo Ran arrived at Sweet Spring Lake almost simultaneously. The lake shimmered with emerald green water, clear as a black mirror, rich in water elemental spirit energy. Thanks to the nourishment of the spiritual flow, the flowers, trees, and fruit trees on both banks remained unaffected by the changing seasons. Even in the depths of winter, the orange trees were still lush and leafy, hiding countless golden fruits behind their bright green leaves. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of citrus.

Landing steadily on the ground, Chu Wanning surveyed his surroundings and said, "It's indeed a place of exceptional natural beauty."

Mo Ran walked over, leading the black-clawed demonic wolf, and smiled, asking, "If Master likes it, I'll plant many fruit trees on the Summit of Life and Death when we return. We can cultivate them with spirit energy all year round, and you can pick them whenever you want to eat."

Chu Wanning harrumphed noncommittally. He walked to the lakeside and summoned Tianwen.

Seeing something amiss, Mo Ran stepped in front of him, asking, "What are you doing?"

" Catching fish."

" ...Master, you're not thinking of opening the Wind Gate to lift all the fish out of the lake, are you?"

"What are you thinking about?" Chu Wanning shot him a glance and threw the golden vine onto the lake surface. Then, he casually said, "Is anyone tired of living? Those who want to can take the bait."

After repeating this three times, Chu Wanning retracted his sword. Surprisingly, there were actually a few fathead fish helplessly flipping their eyes and floating with bubbles coming out of their mouths on the glistening leaves.

Chu Wanning looked, then turned to Mo Ran and asked, "Did he ask for grouper?"

"Mm."

"......Do you even know what a grouper looks like?" Chu Wanning felt that his question was too roundabout, so he simply picked up Tianwen and showed Mo Ran the fish he had caught. "Is any of these what he wants?"

"......I'll catch them for Shifu, then."

Mo Ran caught ten fish and put them separately into the Qiankun Pouches hanging around the necks of the two demonic wolves. Chu Wanning returned the "tired of living" fish he had caught back into the water, saying indifferently as he did, "Life is short. I'll trouble all of you to endure a little longer."

Upon hearing such words, Mo Ran found the man both amusing and adorable. After putting down the last grouper, he turned around and saw Chu Wanning walking towards the shore from the edge of the Cold Lake. The rippling lake water behind him softened his white figure, veiling it in a hazy glow.

Suddenly, a strong desire welled up within him. He wanted to stride over and hold Chu Wanning in his arms, wanting to be intimate with him, to caress him gently, yet also to ravage him. He wanted to pull Chu Wanning into the orange grove, pin him against a tree, lift his legs, and invade him roughly.

As Chu Wanning drew closer, Mo Ran realized how contradictory and intense his yearning was. Both tenderness and roughness arose from his feelings for this man.

Love, love, love.

Isn't that precisely its nature?

Fiercely hot, it's the blazing blade that rips through you.

Gentle and soft, it's the tender spring waters that enfold you.

"Lord Nan Gongsi, really now." Chu Wanning didn't notice the fluctuating emotions in Mo Ran's eyes. He walked up to Mo Ran and examined the Qiankun Pouch around his snow-white neck. "To bring a maiden along and still move so slowly."

"Perhaps they are engaged in some other endeavor."

Mo Ran's mind was slightly feverish, and with a gaze as fierce as a wolf, he stared at the fair nape of Chu Wanning's neck exposed when he bowed his head. A wave of heat surged in his abdomen, and without a moment's hesitation, he murmured in a deep voice.

Chu Wanning paused. "What are you doing?"

"..." Mo Ran finally realized his slip of tongue and coughed dryly, turning his head away. "Never mind."

Chu Wanning, however, had caught on to the undercurrent. His eyes suddenly widened before narrowing perilously, revealing a thin veil of anger. "What are you thinking? Mount up, we're going back!"

Mo Ran's lips twitched, wanting to say, "It's not getting on a horse, but on a wolf," but seeing Chu Wanning's gloomy expression and flushed ears, he swallowed the words back down.

He looked at Chu Wanning with a hint of regret as he mounted the Naobaijin with exceptional agility, exuding unparalleled elegance and unparalleled handsomeness. He selfishly yearned, wishing that Chu Wanning belonged to him. Then, he would have softened him so much that he wouldn't be able to get on a horse or a wolf, but could only come into his embrace.

He was immediately shocked and guilty by this thought, shaking his head subconsciously.

Chu Wanning noticed this action and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you shaking your head? Did I say something wrong?"

"No, no, Master is always right. It's just that I'm overthinking."

But not about Nan Gongsi and Song Qiutong's messed-up affair.

The person on my mind is you...

Then Mo Ran thought, oh, if only he could break Naobaijin's legs, then Chu Wanning wouldn't have a wolf to ride. Perhaps, out of courtesy, he might agree to mount Mo Ran's Blackclaw.

He longed to hold him again, like a dying man yearning for the nectar he had once wasted... Lost in these persistent daydreams, Mo Ran followed closely behind Chu Wanning as they rode back to the Howling Moon Training Grounds. Upon arrival, he saw that Song Qiutong and Nan Gongsi were already waiting there.

Song Qiutong sat on the ground, his jade-like ankles extended, marked with bloodstains.

It turned out that she had forgotten Nan Gongsi's warning to keep her legs tight while running, causing her skin to be scratched by thorns. Although it was a minor injury, Nan Gongsi didn't neglect it and brought her back early for treatment.

Mo Ran glanced at her legs; they were fairly attractive, but compared to Chu Wanning's, they fell short. It was a pity that in his previous life, he had quite admired Song Qiutong's feet.

How blind he had been.

Now, he found everything about Chu Wanning delightful, whether seen from the side or head-on. Even those cold, aloof eyes that seemed to scorn others, he now perceived as pride and temperament. Chu Wanning should be like that – truly, breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that even when he glared, scolded, or rolled his eyes at him, his heart bloomed with joy, as if birds took flight and grass grew.

"Noble and graceful in defeat," Nan Gongsi said generously, handing the valuable chain to Chu Wanning. "This is for the Grandmaster."

Chu Wanning examined the chain and replied, "Seven-star spirit stones nourish spiritual cores. I do need them. Thank you."

Mo Ran felt a twinge of jealousy upon hearing this and muttered indistinctly, "Next time, I'll buy you something better."

"What?" Chu Wanning didn't catch what he said and turned to look at him.

Mo Ran saw his phoenix-like eyes so close, reflecting his own face clearly in their depths. The intimacy of their proximity lessened the bitterness in his heart.

Mo Ran chuckled. "I'll keep an eye out for something more suitable for you, Shifu, and buy it for you next time."

"Alright."

Chu Wanning's prompt and decisive agreement made Mo Ran even happier.

He even peered at Nan Gongsi spitefully. But Nan Gongsi paid no attention to this at all. Still, Mo Ran gloated inwardly, wanting Nan Gongsi to know that when Shifu accepted his gift, he would receive a polite 'thank you,' but not from him. Look, Shifu is so casual with me.

Chu Wanning said, "Remember to get the owner to issue an invoice. I'll pay you back later."

Mo Ran: "..............."

Ten freshwater perch were taken out of the Qiankun Bag, and Nan Gongsi led them to a small hunting cabin beside the Howling Moon Training Ground. Outside, there was a soot-covered fireplace, complete with pots and pans. However, the wooden cabin looked weathered and aged, quite unlike the grandeur of the grasslands, suggesting it might not have been built in the same era.

Chu Wanning's fingertips brushed against the fence, stopping before a bundle of yak hair rope tied to it. The rope had withstood countless winds and rains, losing its original vibrant colors.

Nan Gongsi came out of the cabin with spices and saw Chu Wanning studying the yak hair rope. He smiled. "I tied that here the year the Grandmaster left. It's almost rotten now."

Chu Wanning didn't speak, only sighing softly as he sat down on a short stool made from a wooden post.

Back when he served the Confucian Wind Sect, Nan Gongsi was still just a child. He would often bring the young boy to the Howling Moon Training Ground. This hunting lodge was a relic from that time.

The fire blazed up, and the stonefish were skewered on fruitwood branches, their plump fat dripping down from the crispy skin, filling the air with a rich meaty aroma.

Nan Gongsi shared six of them with the wolf demon crouched by the wooden fence. The remaining four he sprinkled with salt before distributing them among the group.

Song Qiutong only took a few bites before passing the roasted fish to Nan Gongsi, who had already devoured a whole fatty fish. "I've had enough. Sir, please help me share it."

Chu Wanning glanced over at them. Seeing Nan Gongsi happily enjoying his second fish, he thought that Song Qiutong appeared gentle and considerate, unlike the rumored unfaithful woman. Gossip, indeed, couldn't be trusted.

As he pondered, a lotus leaf was offered to him, its surface divided into neat sections with the main bones removed. The tender, white flesh steamed with heat and smoky fragrance.

Chu Wanning felt a slight surprise. Turning his head, he saw Mo Ran sheathing his silver short dagger with a smile. "Shifu, eat this."

"Where did you get the lotus leaf?"

"I picked it by the lake while catching the fish earlier," Mo Ran replied, handing him the fish. "Eat it while it's hot; it won't taste as good when it's cold."

Chu Wanning accepted the lotus leaf, a small ripple forming in his heart. "Thank you."

Indeed, he disliked getting fish bones stuck in his throat. The boneless rockfish melted in his mouth, and Chu Wanning enjoyed it without feeling satiated. By the time he finished, the tea hanging over the fire had started to boil. Song Qiutong stood up to take down the iron kettle, pouring a cup for each person with both hands.

"Master Chu, please enjoy your tea."

Her slender fingers held the small white porcelain cup, her arms as luminous as the moon, with a striking dot of cinnabar on her wrist.

Suddenly, Chu Wanning recalled the auction at "Xuan Yuan Pavilion" years ago when the pavilion master mentioned that a cold-fingered sage had marked her wrist with a love charm. This must be the same mark. Given the presence of the love charm, the rumor about Song Qiutong's relationship with Ye Wangxi was utterly baseless.

With this realization, Chu Wanning felt a sense of relief. Nan Gongsi was an innocent and straightforward person, like a wild horse on the prairie or a lone wolf with a stubborn will. He possessed an untamed and vigorous spirit, and Chu Wanning did not dislike such a person. Thus, he wished for Nan Gongsi to encounter only good people in life.

Song Qiutong offered her tea to Mo Ran, who accepted it but didn't drink, instead setting it aside with a smile. "Miss Song, I have a gift for you."

Author's Note:

This short scene is a lighthearted, bonus version at the end of this chapter: "The Protagonist Has a Gift for You."

Mo Ran: Miss Song, I have an oil cauldron to give you.

Mo Ran: Xue Mengmeng, I have a group of gay men to gift you.

Mo Ran: Junior Sister, I... ah, forget it, it doesn't matter.

Mo Ran: Young Master Ye, I have a wedding to gift you.

Mo Ran: Nan Gongsi, I have a pair of glasses for you.

Mo Ran: Master, come to my room tonight. I have a billion-dollar project to present to you.

Mo Ran: Ummmm... seems like I missed something... scratching my head... can't recall, never mind then.

Mei Hanxue: ...