The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 16: This Seat is Stunned

Really, one couldn't blame Mo Ran for his bestial behavior. Anyone trapped in such an enclosed space with someone they had shared countless beds with, regardless of whether it was genuine or feigned, out of revenge or affection, would inevitably be stirred by the familiar scent of the other.

Moreover, Mo Ran was inherently a despicable creature.

Shi Mo was his pure white moonlight, whom he absolutely refused to touch or defile.

He focused on destroying Chu Wanning; only before him could he unleash all his darkness, primal desires, and inherent savagery without restraint.

Crushing this person beneath him, tearing through them, forcing him to participate in every act that he would never attempt with Shi Mo.

In his past life, whenever he saw Chu Wanning's neck arched with his Adam's apple bobbing, he felt himself slipping into a monstrous beast, thirsting only for blood, ready to sink his teeth into the man's throat, gnawing and sucking until there was nothing left but bone.

He didn't care about Chu Wanning's pain, so he ravaged him relentlessly.

Until eventually, his body became conditioned. The mere scent of Chu Wanning would ignite a fire in his abdomen, itch at his heart, compelling him to bind the man to the bed and take him.

Silence fell in the coffin, broken only by the sound of Mo Ran's slightly agitated heartbeat.

He knew that Chu Wanning's face was very close, and he could sense the man's breath. If he were to sink his teeth in now, Chu Wanning would undoubtedly be unable to break free. But...

He decided against it.

Mo Ran leaned back, creating some distance between himself and Chu Wanning. This was no easy feat, considering how little space there was left in the coffin.

"Sorry, Master," Mo Ran chuckled nervously, pretending to be apologetic. "I didn't expect this coffin to... rock!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the coffin tilted again. Mo Ran tumbled right back into Chu Wanning's arms.

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

Mo Ran retreated once more, only for the coffin to sway again. This cycle repeated several times.

"I'll be damned if I believe in this nonsense," Mo Ran grumbled as he leaned back once more.

The golden boy and jade girl seemed to be traversing a slope, and the slippery walls of the coffin offered little grip. Before long, Mo Ran found himself rolling helplessly back towards Chu Wanning.

"Master..." He bit his lip, looking aggrieved.

This fellow already had a hint of youthful charm to his appearance. If he deliberately tried to hide his wolf tail and act like a puppy, he could actually pull it off quite convincingly.

Chu Wanning remained silent.

Mo Ran really didn't want to roll around anymore, so he simply gave up struggling. "I didn't do it on purpose."

Chu Wanning: "..."

Mo Ran whispered softly, "But the wound on my back hurts when it bumps into things..."

In the darkness, Chu Wanning seemed to let out a faint sigh. The noise of the gongs and drums outside was rather loud, so Mo Ran wasn't sure if he had truly heard it.

But in the next moment, Mo Ran caught a clearer scent of peach blossoms. Chu Wanning's hand circled around his back, blocking any gaps that he might accidentally collide with.

It wasn't an embrace, but Chu Wanning's arm was suspended in mid-air, deliberately avoiding physical contact with Mo Ran. Only their clothes touched, but even this position held a certain intimacy.

"Be careful, don't bump into anything again." His voice was deep, like porcelain soaked in a stream, carrying an ancient dignity. If one listened without hatred, it was actually very appealing.

"…Mm."

Suddenly, no one spoke anymore.

At this time, Mo Ran was still a growing youth, not yet having reached the height he would attain in adulthood. Thus, as he leaned against Chu Wanning's embrace, his forehead nestled perfectly at the level of Wanning's chin.

This feeling is both familiar and strangely unfamiliar.

Familiar is the person lying beside me.

Strangely, it was this particular position.

In times long past, amidst the remnants of bygone days, it was the Fallen Immortal Emperor, now a solitary figure atop the Mountain of Life and Death's Wu Shan Palace, who clung desperately to Chu Wanning in the suffocating darkness that stretched on endlessly.

He had grown taller than Chu Wanning then, and his strength exceeded that of his master. His arms were like iron shackles, a cage that held tightly onto the last vestige of warmth within his embrace, as if cradling the final flicker of fire in this mortal world.

He bent down to kiss Chu Wanning's jet-black tresses, then greedily lowered his face further, nestling deep into the crook of his neck. Without any mercy, he bit and nibbled.

"I hate you, Chu Wanning. I hate you to the core."

His voice held a hint of roughness.

"But I only have you left now."

A fierce collision shattered Mo Ran's recollections. The drumming and gong striking abruptly ceased, leaving the surroundings eerily silent.

"Shifu..."

Chu Wanning reached out, placing a finger on Mo Ran's lips. "Don't speak. We've arrived."

Indeed, there were no more rustling footsteps outside. The world was still and quiet.

A pale golden flame ignited at the tip of Chu Wanning's finger. He traced it along the coffin wall, creating a narrow slit, just wide enough for two people to peer through.

They had indeed been carried to the outskirts of Butterfly Town, where the temple honoring the Ghost Conductor was filled with tightly packed coffins. The rich scent of butterflies grew stronger, seeping into the coffin through its cracks.

Mo Ran suddenly felt something amiss. "Shifu, do you feel that the fragrance here, as well as in the illusion, is slightly different from that in Young Master Chen's coffin?"

"How so?"

Mo Ran was quite sensitive to scents. He explained, "Back in North Mountain, when the coffin was split open, the aroma that wafted out was pleasant, causing me no discomfort. It must have been the Hundred Butterfly Fragrance Powder. But ever since we entered the illusion, I've sensed that although the smell is similar, there's a subtle difference. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but now... I think I might have an idea."

Chu Wanning turned to look at him. "You don't like this scent?"

Mo Ran leaned against the crevice, still gazing outside, then said, "Mm. I've never liked the smell of incense since I was young. This scent here, as well as in the illusion, isn't the fragrance of a hundred butterflies; it's the specially crafted high-quality incense that the people of Butterfly Town burn when they worship the Ghost Host. Look there—"

Following his gaze, Chu Wanning saw that indeed, in the clay incense burner in front of the earth temple, three thick incense sticks were burning, their sweet and cloying aroma wafting gently in the wind.

The people of Butterfly Town were skilled at using various flowers to make perfumes, so the incense they used for praying to gods and buddhas was also made in their own town, not bought from elsewhere. As they used flowers cultivated in the outskirts of the town, the scents they produced weren't significantly different to an untrained nose.

Chu Wanning mused, "Could it be that the fragrance inside Young Master Chen's coffin has nothing to do with the scent in the illusion?"

Before he could fully digest this new discovery, a blinding red light suddenly emanated from within the earth temple, interrupting his train of thought. The two hiding in the coffin looked over to see the temple shining brilliantly, casting a resplendent glow around it. Next to the temple was a row of iron racks holding wish-granting lotus lanterns. These lanterns had originally been extinguished, but at that moment, one by one, they flickered back to life.

The boys and girls guarding each coffin knelt down, chanting, "Empress Hostess has descended to guide us lost souls out of suffering, to meet our beloved, and share a coffin, accompanying each other into the afterlife."

Amidst the chorus of voices, the Ghost Host in the temple radiated with golden divine light. Lowering her lids, she slowly curved her lips and gracefully leaped off the altar.

Her movements were graceful and elegant.

Unfortunately, her body was made of clay and was too heavy. With a thud, the young lady dug a large hole into the ground upon landing.

Mo Ran: "Pff."

Chu Wanning: "..."

The ghost bride seemed displeased with her own appearance as well. After gazing at the large hole in the ground for a moment, she stepped out of it gracefully and adjusted her attire.

She appeared to be a heavily made-up woman, dressed in vibrant red and green, exuding a festive air. In the darkness, she turned her neck and approached the coffin containing a hundred corpses. Amidst the stench of the undead, her mood seemed to improve, and she slowly opened her arms, letting out a soft cackling laugh.

"You all worship me, offer to me, and you shall find a good match, fulfilling the unfinished matters of your past lives," her childlike voice echoed through the night. The ghosts eagerly bowed their heads in response.

"Mother Bride, bless us—"

"Please, Mother Bride, grant us marriage—"

Such pleas resounded continuously, and the ghost bride seemed to relish in their adoration. She leisurely walked among the rows of coffins, her long, bright red nails scratching against the wood with a sharp, piercing sound.

Curious, Mo Ran asked, "Master, I recall you saying that demons, fairy spirits, ghosts, gods, devils, and humans belong to the six realms. But if these immortals don't reside in the heavens, why do they associate with the spirits of the underworld?"

"Because she oversees ghost marriages and mainly feeds on the offerings of the ghosts," Chu Wanning explained. "Their offerings can greatly enhance her powers. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to attain the status of an immortal in such a short century. With such benefits, she is naturally willing to keep company with her 'friends' from the Netherworld."

The Ghost Conductor circled around the coffins and returned to the front. His hollow, childish voice resounded again, "Open one coffin, bestow one destiny. Starting from the left."

At its command, the first coffin on the left slowly creaked open. A golden boy and a jade girl stood by, respectfully greeting the figures that emerged. The two corpses stumbled out, their faces, adorned with vivid scarlet wedding attire, appearing even more pallid and lifeless against the vibrant hues.

The ghostly couple proceeded slowly to the spirit officiant and knelt before him.

The Ghost Conduitor placed his hand between them and declared, "By the power of my Conduitor's name, I bestow upon you a union in the afterlife. Henceforth, you shall be partners, a match of male and female, sharing joy and bliss."

Mo Ran rolled his eyes and muttered, "If you can't write poetry, then don't. A perfectly good wedding vow sounds so lewd and lascivious."

Chu Wanning said coldly, "Your mind is corrupt."

Mo Ran fell silent.

But soon, the ghost MC proved that it wasn't Mo Ran who was corrupt, but rather the deity in charge of the ghost marriage was the true embodiment of perversion.

The corpses that had been matched together seemed to have consumed some kind of aphrodisiac. Despite being two deceased spirits, they suddenly began tearing at each other's clothes and passionately embracing, shamelessly entwining themselves in public.

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

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

"I, the Ceremonial Host, bestow upon thee the joy of kinship. Yin and yang shall unite, and what of life or death?!"

The Ghost Ceremonial Host's voice grew shriller and more exultant.

The movements of the two corpses became increasingly dramatic. Upon removing the clothing of the male corpse, it burst with furious vitality, indistinguishable from a living being.

Mo Ran was flabbergasted. "....This... damn it... is possible???"

Author's Note: Thank you, little angel who wants to drink Ai Ba Tea, for the grenade. To each reader, I gift a Ceremonial Host Empress's Rejuvenating Pill to munch on while reading, hehehehe.