The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 168: Master, Someone's Come Back from the Dead

In the scene, Xu Shuanglin's eyes suddenly widened, and most people outside the image also froze.

Seeing this, Mo Ran sensed something amiss, albeit subtly.

He had lived two lives, and linking this conversation with events from his previous life, he picked up on some intriguing details.

He knew that Ye Wangxi's feelings for Nan Gongsi weren't just because Ye Wangxi had requested to be buried alongside him before dying, but rather because in the last life, Ye Wangxi's female identity was revealed to the world at a young age, and Nan Gongliu had personally chosen her to marry Nan Gongsi.

Now, looking back, it seemed like a father arranging a cultivation partner for his son, but not long after their engagement, Nan Gongsi had suddenly died, while Ye Wangxi had survived... Mo Ran couldn't help but wonder if Nan Gongsi's death back then was really just a coincidence?

It didn't seem so to him.

In the image, Xu Shuanglin's fingers clenched into a fist. Although he still wore a smile, there was a chill in his tone.

"You want Little Ye to marry Si?"

"Mm, she's the most suitable."

"How is it suitable?" Xu Shuanglin chuckled bitterly. "You were grooming her to be the head of your secret guards, turning her into something neither male nor female. Now you want to marry her off to Si'er. Aren't you afraid that Si'er will reject her?"

"He's indeed unhappy. I noticed he often laughed and joked with Ye Wangxi and treated her well, so I thought he might accept her to some extent. But when I brought up the marriage, he flew into a rage, saying he doesn't like Ye Wangxi at all. He only took care of her because she's a girl and it's tough for her in Dark City. He refuses to accept this marriage."

Xu Shuanglin: "…"

"How could I compromise? He had a huge fight with me, claiming I didn't respect his decision and was meddling with his life's matters. He even avoided Ye Wangxi altogether, treating her coldly. The more I talked to him, the worse his attitude became. Eventually, he accused me of favoring Ye Wangxi. What an ungrateful fellow." Nan Gongliu cursed. "Doesn't he just think she's unattractive?"

Xu Shuanglin was quite fair. "… If the former Sect Leader suddenly forced you to marry a woman you disliked, would you have agreed? I really don't think this is about looks. You didn't respect his feelings."

"He's shallow! A wife should be useful and virtuous. If he likes pretty girls, can he not take concubines after his spiritual core stabilizes?" Nan Gongliu sighed. "Ah, it's my fault. Cough, cough, I didn't… timely realize Ye Wangxi's feelings for Si'er. If she still looked as she did before, Si'er would've liked her."

"You're being absurd," Xu Shuanglin said. "Si'er won't accept her."

"Unless he doesn't care about his life. Sharing cultivation with someone with a violent spiritual core like him is excruciating. If he marries an ordinary woman… I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to endure…" Nan Gongliu caught his breath. "Ye Wangxi loves him. She's willing and can withstand it."

"How could she possibly be willing?!"

"I asked her myself."

"…What?!"

"I've already asked her about it," Nan Gongliu said. "She fears for Si'er's well-being more than for her own life."

"…" Xu Shuanglin fell silent, his head drooping as he lost himself in thought. After a moment, he murmured, "She truly is a fool."

Reading this, Mo Ran was almost certain – in his previous life, how could Nan Gongsi have suddenly fallen ill and died? There was a ninety percent chance that Xu Shuanglin had killed him with his own hands.

With Nan Gongsi gone, Ye Wangxi could live on.

In this life, the reason Nan Gongsi was still alive might really be due to Song Qiutong's intervention. As a Butterfly Bone Beauty, she was naturally suited for dual cultivation. With her marrying Nan Gongsi, her father would have no complaints, perhaps even seeing it as a stroke of luck, and thus would no longer insist on Ye Wangxi marrying Nan Gongsi.

Since the marriage contract between Ye and Nan was canceled, it made sense that Xu Shuanglin wouldn't harm Nan Gongsi in this life. However, one thing still puzzled Mo Ran – Xu Shuanglin now seemed like a deranged devil, yet why did he place such great importance on Ye Wangxi, who was only an adopted daughter? What was the motive behind that eerie and unpredictable person?

What was it that he so desperately sought?

This memory was not long, and soon came to an end. When the illusion flickered back to life, it showed a much earlier time.

Nan Gongliu appeared significantly younger, not yet plump. He held in his hand a small object that shimmered with a greenish luster. Upon closer inspection, they recognized it as the ring of the Confucian Wind Sect's leader.

The ring could only be removed on the day one's tenure ended, and since Nan Gongliu wasn't wearing it in the scene, it proved that at this moment, he had yet to become the true master of the Confucian Wind Sect.

A servant entered, kneeling to pay respects. Bloodstains still stained their robe, indicating a fierce battle had just taken place. This memory likely occurred on the night Nan Gongliu killed his master and regained the Sect Leader's ring.

" Sect Leader, what shall we do with Luo Fenghua's corpse?"

Nan Gongliu turned the ring in his hand, contemplating. "Bury him in the Heroes' Tomb. He was, after all, my master and disciple. Let's give him a decent final resting place."

"Yes!"

The servant withdrew.

Mo Ran furrowed his brow slightly, feeling something was off. From the memories they'd seen, Nan Gong's master, Luo Fenghua, had been gruesomely dismembered by Nan Gongliu, his remains sunk into a pool of blood, turning into a vengeful ghost trapped in the Abyss of No Return, never to find peace.

But now, why was Nan Gongliu saying he had respectfully buried his master in the Heroes' Tomb?

In the illusion, Nan Gongliu caressed the emerald green Sect Leader's ring, his eyes shimmering with a complex and peculiar luster, as if he was both afraid and eager.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and finally, he slowly raised his hand. Under the candlelight, he solemnly slid the ring onto his thumb.

He gazed at his own hands, examining them back and forth. A slow curve formed at the corners of his lips, as if about to bloom into a radiant and joyful smile. But before that smile could fully unfold, it abruptly froze.

Nan Gongliu let out a loud cry and suddenly collapsed from his position as Sect Leader, his entire body convulsing in tremors.

"Ahhhh! Ahhhh!!"

"Sect Leader!"

"What's wrong with the Sect Leader?"

People rushed to support him, but when Nan Gongliu lifted his head, his face was covered in blood. The unblemished skin on his face had suddenly torn open into countless tiny wounds. These wounds would heal almost instantly only to tear open again. Blood continuously gushed from those mysterious scars.

"What's happening?!" Nan Gongliu cried in panic, "It hurts... So much pain... How... How can this be? What's going on?!!"

Footsteps echoed from outside the door.

A man walked against the moonlight, barefoot with elegantly shaped feet stepping on the cold brick floor, until he stood before Nan Gongliu. He swept back his long robe and knelt down on one knee.

This person was Xu Shuanglin, though slightly younger than his current self. He leaned forward to pinch Nan Gongliu's face for a closer inspection. Nan Gongliu struggled and gasped for air, tears, snot, and blood mingling together. Xu Shuanglin seemed to feel a bit repulsed, furrowing his brows. Then he asked, "Why did this happen all of a sudden?"

"I don't know... I don't know... Mister Shuanglin... Please save me..."

At this time, Xu Shuanglin was merely an advisor to Nan Gongliu, so he was addressed as Mister Shuanglin rather than an elder.

After examining the situation, Xu Shuanglin grabbed Nan Gongliu's right hand and stared at the glittering ring, his expression suddenly changing. "There's actually a Ten Thousand Calamities Curse attached to it?"

Upon hearing this name, all the attendants present drew in a sharp breath. Only Nan Gongliu, still in a daze, had no idea what a death curse was. With tears streaming down his face, he lifted his head blankly, a translucent trail of mucus continuously flowing from his nose, mixing with blood, and dripping onto the floor tiles.

"Ahh, what is that?"

"A death curse."

Xu Shuanglin's expression was grim.

"This ring has been cursed by Luo Fenghua with a death curse. Whoever wears it next will have their skin crack the moment they're exposed to even the slightest moonlight, suffering an agony worse than death... Every single night."

"What?!"

"It doesn't end there." Xu Shuanglin's hand glided over the jade on the ring, closing his eyes to sense the surging spiritual energy within. "On the night of the full moon, even if you stay indoors, with every opening sealed, not a hint of moonlight entering, you'll still endure the excruciating pain of being sliced a thousand times, with nowhere to escape..."

He opened his eyes and cast a glance at the disheveled Nan Gongliu crouching on the ground. He spoke softly.

"To the bitter end."

Under the thick, stench-laden blood, Nan Gongliu's pupils suddenly constricted. He looked like a terrified rat or a venomous snake peering out from a dark cavern.

He twitched comically and muttered, "To the bitter end?"

"Mm-hmm."

"It can't be broken?"

"It can't," Xu Shuanglin said. "At least, I can't think of any way to break it right now... All I can do is try later..."

Before he could finish, Nan Gongliu wrenched free from his grasp and crawled down the steps with a wild, maniacal laugh, leaving a crooked trail of blood on the cold, polished tiles. He alternated between screams of agony and fits of laughter, his voice strained and distorted to the limit, piercing like needles that even those outside the illusion couldn't bear, covering their ears.

"Hahaha—Cursing me? You're cursing me?"

"Ruo Fenghua! You stole the leadership of the Nan Gong family from me, but I left you in one piece when I overthrew you—it was already... already the most reasonable thing to do! How could you curse me? How could you bear it—how could you have the audacity!!"

"I remember your... debt of teaching... burying you in... the Heroes' Tomb... Ha! The Heroes' Tomb! Yet you torment me with endless pain each night, tearing my flesh apart until the end of my days!!" He roared, inch by inch crawling towards the grand hall's entrance, lurking in the deep shadows cast by its massive bronze doors. His claws twitched ferociously as he slammed them down on the ground, unable to resist the urge to strike.

"Till death do us part! How could you be so heartless? How could you be so cruel – beast! Beast! You've ruined my life!"

"Venerable Master..." The disciples hesitated, wanting to help him back, but Nan Gongliu bellowed and raged, his actions bordering on madness.

His mangled face, usually marked by weakness and incompetence, now displayed a profound hatred. It burned like wildfire in his eyes, scorching away any vestiges of reason.

Nan Gongliu screamed with all his might, "Pass down my... first... Venerable Master's decree..."

The attendants knelt to receive the order.

"The former Venerable Master, Luo Fenghua, committed heinous... unforgivable crimes! Order that his remains be... subjected to a thousand cuts... shattered... into a million pieces – !"

Xu Shuanglin stood silently beside him, listening with lowered eyes, revealing no emotion. "........."

Just then, another wave of agony struck, and Nan Gongliu couldn't endure it. He suddenly broke down, weeping loudly, yet still managed to finish his first command as the new leader of the Confucian Wind Sect, each word squeezed out between gritted teeth: "Sink his body... in the Blood Pool..."

You cursed me to die in a state of disfigurement, never finding peace.

I shall cast you into the Abyss of Unending Torment, never to ascend to reincarnation.

In the final moments of this illusion, Nan Gongliu stared with empty, dazed eyes, his voice like a cracked reed pipe, rasping and hoarse as he muttered, "Luo Fenghua, beast... You monstrous beast..."

The fragments of memory began to collapse and reform like snowflakes. The revelation of the Confucian Wind Sect's sordid secrets captivated nearly everyone present. Some, like Ye Wangxi and Nan Gongsi, were forced to watch due to personal involvement, while others derived a secret pleasure from peering into the hidden flaws of others.

Envy is one of the ugliest emotions in the world. How many among those invited to Nan Gongsi's grand wedding genuinely admired the Confucian Wind Sect? How many, passing through the magnificent triple gates, the precious spirit stones worth their weight in gold, and the seventy-two cities of noble lineage, felt only admiration without a hint of envy?

The taller a towering pavilion stands, the greater the spectacle when it collapses, drawing crowds who munch on sunflower seeds and spit saliva from a distance.

The suffering of others has always been the best topic for casual conversations and idle gossip in every corner of the streets.

Mo Ran was reluctant to continue reading, but the matter was shrouded in too many uncertainties and was of great significance. Although Xu Shuanglin's recollection seemed flawless, explaining both Jin Chengchi's involvement and the transformation of Peach Blossom Spring, he still felt a subtle discomfort about it.

There was something off about this memory, he sensed.

...What could it be?

He furrowed his brow, pondering deeply.

But in the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a strange glow in the distance. However, with the illusions playing out before them, nobody bothered to look beyond the forest, and thus no one noticed it at first.

Mo Ran froze for a moment, then his face paled as he cried out, "Cataclysmic Fire!"

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads. "Cataclysmic Fire? Where?"

"It's over there... Over there!"

"No, wait! There is some here too!"

None of them had expected that while they were witnessing Xu Shuanglin's memories, the entire Confucian Wind Sect, encompassing its seventy-two cities, would be engulfed in raging scarlet flames. The fire was still distant, and the dense forest they were in made it difficult to discern clearly without close attention.

Cataclysmic Fire was one of the fiercest types of flames; it could only be extinguished by divine rain, otherwise it would continue burning until everything within reach was reduced to ashes.

Black smoke billowed, and the fire spread like water splashed onto silk, rapidly extending in all directions. From afar, it seemed like brilliant meteors were streaking across the sky, but upon closer inspection, they were actually Confucian Wind Sect disciples escaping the inferno on their swords.

Seeing this, many in the forest paled and shouted, "What's happening?"

Some immediately turned back towards the Poem and Music Pavilion, calling out their companions' names. Xue Zhengyong's expression also changed drastically, for Madame Wang was still there – she didn't know how to fly on a sword...

"Aran! Yu Heng! I entrust Meng-er to you two. I'm going to check on Madam—"

Mo Ran was equally worried and nodded urgently. "Uncle, hurry and take Aunt away. Leave it to us here. I swear I won't let Xue Meng come to harm."

Xue Zhengyong patted him firmly on the shoulder before dashing off towards the burning Shi Le Palace.

As Xu Shuanglin stood still amidst the sudden chaos, he suddenly wore an extremely radiant smile. He said with a chuckle, "What a scene of monkeys scattering when the tree falls."

Mo Ran turned abruptly, only to see Xu Shuanglin snap his fingers, causing the colorful fragments of memory to surge into his palm like countless snowflakes.

The surroundings returned to being a sea of flames, while the unhealing crack in the sky from the Realm of Unending Torment continued pouring out its molten red-gold flow. It spread slowly but steadily through the forest.

Mo Ran stared at Xu Shuanglin, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine.

There was something off about this person's eyes. This gaze was all too familiar to Mo Ran...

In his past life, atop the Summit of Life and Death, in the empty Wu Shan Palace, after Chu Wanning's death, every time he gazed into the mirror, he saw these same terrifying eyes staring back at him.

Eyes filled with madness and bloodlust, reflecting a despairing resignation to drag everyone else down with him.

"You want to destroy the Confucian Wind Sect?"

Upon hearing Mo Ran's question, Xu Shuanglin's response was merely to intertwine and rub his toes together.

Then, he smiled and said, "So what if I do? It's my own home; why is it any of your concern?"

"Your own home..."

Xu Shuanglin stepped on the surging molten flow and walked over to Nan Gongliu. He grabbed the back of Nan Gongliu's collar, lifting him from the ground, and raised his eyelids as he spoke, "Yes, my own home."

He forced Nan Gongliu to face him. Then, raising one hand, he slowly peeled off another in front of Nan Gongliu, who was hanging by a thread, tortured beyond endurance. Inch by inch, starting from beneath his neck, he meticulously tore away...

Rip.

In the end, it was just a gentle sound. A delicate human skin mask made from the hide of a hundred-year-old snake demon was removed, revealing a face beneath that was no longer in its prime.

Nan Gongliu trembled violently, then shrank back with rapid quakes. His breath was barely audible, but he still managed to force out a few scattered notes from his throat.

"You... It's you...?! You... You didn't... die? You actually... You actually..."

"I didn't die. How could I precede you to the grave when you're still alive?" Xu Shuanglin said with a grin. "I outshine you in every aspect, even in lifespan. Even if you were reduced to dust, I would still live on. Is it because we've been apart for so long that you're too overwhelmed with joy to say anything else?"

He conjured a flame and casually burned away the human skin mask. The fire spread to his fingertips, but he paid no heed and felt no pain. He shook his hand and pressed his charred fingertips against Nan Gongliu's lips, tilting his head with a mischievous smile.

"Dearest Immortal Sect Leader, long time no see... Or should I address you as... Brother?"