The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 222: A Frightening Transformation on Dragon Mountain

Xue Meng stood frozen in place for a moment before he abruptly snapped out of his daze and angrily shouted at Mei Hanxue, "You damn thing! Who were you calling stupid?"

Xue Zhengyong pulled him back. "Meng-er!"

"This person called me stupid!"

"Alright, alright. You misunderstood. Hanxue didn't say anything."

"But he whispered it in my ear!"

Amidst the commotion, Jiang Xi was assessing the injured and the situation. After his evaluation, he instructed everyone to rest and recover where they were, healing their wounds or meditating as needed. There was no other choice; the most formidable fighters were all exhausted, like a bowstring not fully drawn and an arrowhead worn dull. Proceeding recklessly would leave them vulnerable to any further unexpected developments.

After giving these orders, Jiang Xi approached Nan Gongsi. "Nan Gong, I have something to ask you."

"Please go ahead, Headmaster Jiang," Nan Gongsi replied.

Jiang Xi remained silent, instead casting a glance at Ye Wangxi first.

Nan Gongsi said, "She doesn't need to avoid us."

"Still, it's better if she does," Jiang Xi replied, his gaze dropping to rest on Nan Gongsi's chest, where his spirit nucleus was located.

After Ye Wangxi left, Jiang Xi sat down beside Nan Gongsi.

"What about your spirit nucleus? Are you planning to hide it from her?"

A shadow flickered in Nan Gongsi's eyes. "I don't know how to tell her."

"You're afraid she'll reject you because of it? Actually, you're overthinking it. Miss Ye isn't someone who would—"

"No," Nan Gongsi interrupted Jiang Xi. "I'm not afraid that she'll reject me. I just don't want her to be sad."

"…" Jiang Xi fell silent for a moment, seemingly pricked by the inexplicable arrogance in Nan Gongsi's bones. He scoffed. "You're quite confident, aren't you?"

"Nan Gongsi, you misunderstood. It's not confidence, but trust in her."

Hearing the firmness in Nan Gongsi's tone, Jiang Xi responded coolly, "You're now a tiger fallen from its mountain, yet you still speak to me like this. Aren't you afraid I might cause you trouble in the future?"

"You won't."

Jiang Xi paused. "Is that trust in me?"

"On this journey, I've come to understand what kind of person Sect Leader Jiang is," Nan Gongsi said. "That's why I spoke those words when I thought my life was about to end."

"…" Jiang Xi had been staring at Nan Gongsi the whole time. Only when he brought up the matter did he avert his gaze. "Now that you're still alive, do those words still hold true?"

"They do," Nan Gongsi replied. "Once we defeat Xu Shuanglin, I'll make it clear to everyone."

Jiang Xi fell silent for a considerable moment before he said, "Nan Gongsi, it's regrettable that I won't be able to witness the Confucian Wind Sect flourish under your leadership. Otherwise, you would have been a worthy rival."

Nan Gongsi replied calmly, yet an undercurrent of pride was discernible in his words: "Headmaster speaks amiss. I have been fortunate enough to learn the very best that the Confucian Wind Sect has to offer."

Jiang Xi was rarely one to refrain from rebutting others or sparing them his biting sarcasm, let alone expressing admiration or agreement. Yet, this time, he remained silent for a long while before he attempted to refute Nan Gongsi's words. Finally, he said, "Let's not dwell on that. I have a more important question for you."

"I understand what the Sect Leader wishes to inquire," Nan Gongsi caressed the slumbering Nai Baijin in his quiver. The demonic wolf had sustained an injury, a patch of fur on its forehead torn and still oozing blood. "However, as to why Dragon Mountain suddenly lost control and defied Grand Sect Leader's will, that is truly beyond my knowledge. I, too, find it inconceivable."

Jiang Xi said, "Not even a single clue? Think again. Is there any secret lore about this mountain within the Confucian Wind Sect?"

Nan Gongsi shook his head. "No. The Nan Gong family has known for generations that Dragon Mountain obeys the family's descendants, but the first in command would always be Ancestor Changying."

"Absolutely no one else?"

"Absolutely not. The dragon's spirit recognizes the Grand Sect Leader as its first master, and that will never change."

Jiang Xi's expression flickered with uncertainty. His face, already darkened by the deadlock they were in, grew even more sinister. "How on earth did Xu Shuanglin do it?"

"I can't figure it out," Nan Gongsi said, suddenly pausing. Jiang Xi thought he had an idea and turned to look at him. Instead, he found Nan Gongsi staring intently at someone in the distance. Following his gaze, Jiang Xi saw Nan Gongliu peeling an orange.

Nan Gongsi had been trying not to look at his father, who had become a pawn in this game. But when their eyes met, his expression immediately revealed the depths of his anguish. Though Jiang Xi was actually around the same age as Xu Shuanglin and Xue Zhengyong, his youthful appearance was due to his unique cultivation method. However, his mindset was no longer that of a young man. Gazing at Nan Gongsi, he felt a sudden surge of compassion. "Don't look anymore," he said.

"..."

"Stop looking."

It seemed to take all of Nan Gongsi's remaining strength to tear his gaze away from his father. Lowering his eyelids, his shoulders trembled slightly. Eventually, he buried his face in his hands, though he couldn't hide the quiver in his voice.

He muttered hoarsely, attempting to change the subject. "I can't understand how Xu Shuanglin did it... that was the dragon tamed by the Grand Sect Leader..."

His shoulders trembled more and more violently.

Jiang Xi had remained stiff with an indifferent expression, but eventually, he reached out to pat Nan Gongsi's shoulder. He seemed to want to comfort the latter, but as someone who had never comforted anyone before, all he could manage was a dry attempt: "It's alright. Everyone has their own destiny. Though you and your father have ended up in this situation, you were still father and son at one point. Look at me, I'm already at an age when people usually have descendants, yet I have none. Try to see the bright side."

Nan Gongsi naturally ignored him after that. Jiang Xi felt awkward too, realizing that his words might have made things worse.

Jiang Xi stood up, slightly embarrassed. "I'll go take a look elsewhere. You should rest for a bit. We'll continue on soon."

"..."

"Oh right, what lies ahead?"

Nan Gongsi replied in a muffled voice, "The Dragon Soul Pool."

"What's its purpose?"

"It's a blood pool used to worship the spirit of the evil dragon," Nan Gongsi explained. "The evil dragon's primordial spirit slumbers within, and every year, members of the Confucian Wind Sect pay their respects to it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xi frowned slightly. Finally, he said, "Let's hope nothing else goes wrong there."

The group rested in the main hall for nearly an hour. With the help of healing cultivators, the injured and those who had exhausted their spiritual energy gradually regained their strength.

Jiang Xi surveyed the two extremes, "Good" and "Evil," created by Xu Shuanglin on either side. His brows furrowed even more tightly.

What use could Xu Shuanglin have for these powerless objects? Were they simply for decoration?

Listening to Nan Gongsi, who had been turned into a pawn, addressing Xu Shuanglin as "Your Majesty," it seemed that Xu Shuanglin saw himself as a monarch, with these black and white, good and evil puppets as his subjects.

Jiang Xi paused for a moment before leaning down, stubbornly asking the same question he'd asked before: "Can you take us to see His Majesty?"

Nan Gongliu gave the same answer as before: "His Majesty has His own matters to attend to. How can we just meet him whenever we want?"

Jiang Xi waved his sleeve irritably, "Useless. A good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing, whether alive or turned into a chess piece. You're still a good-for-nothing."

Upon hearing this, Nan Gongliu shrank back meekly, hugging his bamboo basket filled with oranges. After a while, he burst into tears, "Why are you so mean? I'm useless, that's all there is to it. I've always been a good-for-nothing. What does it matter if you scold me?"

His loud cries attracted the attention of those around them.

Chu Wanning had almost finished meditating at this point. He frowned and said, "This Nan Gongliu is acting very strangely."

Mo Ran asked, "What's wrong?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Chu Wanning replied. "I feel like this is indeed Nan Gongliu, but something is off. It's as if he isn't the Nan Gongliu I know."

Mo Ran watched as Jiang Xi glared at Nan Gongliu with a deathly pale face, while Nan Gongliu sniffled and occasionally rubbed his eyes pitifully with both hands.

"…" Mo Ran observed his behavior and indeed found it odd, an inexplicable sense of inappropriateness, like seeing a child's head on an adult's body, which made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Suddenly, Mo Ran froze and murmured, "Child…?"

"What?"

Mo Ran swiftly turned to ask, "Master, do you think he acts like a child?" As he spoke, he glanced at Nan Gongliu again. Seeing that Nan Gongliu was now wiping his nose with his sleeve, he continued, "...A child no more than five or six years old, even."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanning looked again and found it to be true.

Though Nan Gongliu still looked to be in his forties, every move he made betrayed a foolish and childish demeanor.

Chu Wanning muttered, "Could it be that Xu Shuanglin did something to him, leaving his consciousness and memories stuck at the age of five or six?"

Mo Ran said, "Master, please wait. I'll give it a try."

"How do you plan on trying?"

Mo Ran didn't answer. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked over to Nan Gongliu and picked up an orange, extending it to him. He ventured cautiously, "Don't cry anymore. Have an orange."

"I don't want one. I've already had one. This is for His Majesty."

Mo Ran placed the orange back in the basket and asked, "Who is His Majesty?"

Jiang Xi replied, "What's the point? Haven't I already interrogated him about this?"

Sure enough, Nan Gongliu answered, "His Majesty... His Majesty is just that, His Majesty. Who else could it be?"

Undeterred, Mo Ran pressed on with his second question, "Alright, His Majesty is His Majesty. If he knows how loyal and sensible you are, he'll surely be delighted. Right, I've been asking you about His Majesty, but I haven't asked you yet, little brother. What's your name?"

Huang Xiaoyue, growing impatient watching from the side, snorted and was about to speak when Jiang Xi stopped him with a shake of his head. He too sensed something amiss.

Nan Gongliu, holding the basket of oranges, looked at Mo Ran for a moment before answering hesitantly, "My name is Nan Gongliu."

Mo Ran gently patted Nan Gongliu's head with a smile, asking discreetly, "Let's get acquainted. My name is Mo Ran, and I'm twenty-two years old. How about you?"

"I... I'm five..."

"!!"

For a moment, there was dead silence.

Though Nan Gongliu's response was soft, the quiet surroundings made his timid "I'm five" echo like a thunderbolt in the grand hall, stunning everyone present.

Almost everyone was dumbfounded.

If not for the tense situation, many would have burst into laughter, tears streaming down their faces—five years old? Five?

Three years back, if they were told that the leader of the world's top sect would cower beside a basket of oranges and mumble, "I'm five," they would have rather believed pigs could climb trees.

But at this very moment, Nan Gongliu genuinely spoke those words, leaving the crowd in disbelief. They stood frozen, staring at each other, unsure of what was happening.

Jiang Xi stepped forward and sternly asked, "What do you do here in the palace every day?"

Nan Gongliu hurriedly hid behind Mo Ran, tugging on the corner of his robe and saying, "Big Brother, I don't want to talk to him. This uncle is so scary..."

Jiang Xi: "..."

Nan Gongliu was actually older than him. He never would have dreamed that one day Nan Gongliu would address him as uncle.

Mo Ran also found it a bit much. If it had been a five-year-old child, he might have enjoyed it, but the person holding onto him now was a man with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. The corners of Mo Ran's mouth twitched, and he coughed twice to reassure him. "Alright, alright, you don't have to pay attention to him. Let me ask you, what do you do here in this palace every day?"

Jiang Xi's eyes widened – he was somewhat impressed by Mo Ran now. This kid could endure quite a lot, huh?

"I pick oranges every day. After I wash them, I carry them up to His Majesty, and wait for him to come out and eat them," Nan Gongliu said. "His Majesty loves oranges the most. He can eat a whole basket in a day. There used to be trees at the foot of the mountain that only bloomed without bearing fruit, but His Majesty said they were boring, so he replaced all of them with orange trees. I think orange trees are good too, the fruit is sweet."

He chattered on, then his expression dimmed. "Unfortunately, His Majesty hasn't been very well these past few days. He can only eat half a basket now..."

Jiang Xi picked up on the important point. "His Majesty's health hasn't been good recently?"

Nan Gongliu held a grudge, pouting and puffing up his cheeks. "I hate you, I'm not talking to you."

Jiang Xi endured for a moment, but couldn't take it anymore. He quickly turned his head and covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief.

Huang Xiaoyue asked with concern, "What's wrong, Sect Leader Jiang?"

"Don't talk to me," Jiang Xi frowned in disgust, refusing to look at the pouting giant child, Nan Gongliu, who was crouching there. "I feel like puking."

Mo Ran inquired, "What's the matter with His Majesty? Is he unwell?"

"It's... It's just that he keeps coughing, and blood comes out when he does. He's so thin and won't eat, even though he's like that. There are many parts of his body that are rotting away..." As Nan Gongliu spoke, his tears tumbled down like pillars of water, and he began to cry pitifully again. "I'm so worried about him. What will I do if he's gone? No one will play with me, talk to me, or feed me oranges anymore."

"He... He feeds you oranges?"

From what Mo Ran had seen at the Confucian Wind Sect, the two brothers, Nan Gongliu and Xu Shuanglin, held a deep grudge against each other. It was a miracle that Xu Shuanglin hadn't continued torturing his older brother with Lingchi Fruits. Feeding oranges?

He couldn't even picture it.

Jiang Xi fell into deep thought. "Many parts of his body are rotting away..."

Xue Zhengyong suggested, "Does it sound like the backlash from the Zhenlong Chess Game?"

Mo Ran was well aware of this as well. The Zhenlong Chess Game, one of the three forbidden arts, would cause the body to start decaying if the caster didn't have enough spiritual energy and still forcefully manipulated the chess pieces too many times.

In his previous life, when he first began cultivating, he had also been weak, starting from his toes. Back then, Mo Ran was afraid that Chu Wanning would discover him, so he didn't dare to act recklessly. It wasn't until he invented the "Shared Heart Formation" that he could continue his cultivation. Later, as he became the Immortal-Treading Emperor, with abundant spiritual energy, he no longer needed the Shared Heart Formation to control an army. However, the necrotic little toe on his left foot could never be restored.

Mo Ran couldn't help but find it strange.

The zombies outside were clearly controlled by the Shared Heart Formation, while the ones freely moving in this grand hall were under Xu Shuanglin's full command of his spiritual energy.

If Xu Shuanglin couldn't support so many pawns, why would he do something so impractical?

There was no point pondering over it here. Jiang Xi said, "Let's move forward."

The entrance to the Dragon Soul Pool also required a mechanism to open, and fortunately, it was still intact. With its activation, the front door of the main hall, adorned with the Seven Stars Formation, rumbled loudly, retracting into the wall. The central chamber of the Confucian Wind Sect's Ancestral Temple Celestial Palace gradually revealed itself before them.

It was a hexagonal, sealed palace chamber with damp, cold walls. A fierce, coiled dragon was engraved on the ceiling, its muscles defined and eyes glaring. In the dragon's mouth was a lantern, burning with an eerie blue flame, the source of which was unknown.

In the very center of the hall, a pool bubbled with crimson froth, emitting thick steam.

Nan Gongsi said, "This is the Dragon Soul Pool. The dark dragon's primordial spirit is sealed within this blood pool."

Someone tried to approach for a closer look, but Nan Gongsi warned, "Don't stare too long. This pool is filled with malevolent energy. If you look at it for too long, your mind will become disoriented. Let's hurry."

Under Nan Gongsi's guidance, the group proceeded in single file past the blood pool and into the corridor behind the central hall. Despite the utter darkness with no points of reference, Mo Ran could sense that they were ascending a slope.

After a good while, equivalent to the burning of an incense stick, Nan Gongliu halted. Before him stood a narrower door, yet adorned with lavish jewels.

"Nan Gongsi," he said, "Once this door is open and we've walked a bit further, we'll reach the exit of the tunnel. Beyond it lies the final area of the Heavenly Palace – the Soul Summoning Platform. Xu Shuanglin should be there."

Huang Xiaoyue suddenly asked, "Is that all there is to the Confucian Wind Sect's Heavenly Palace? The main hall, the Dragon Blood Pool, and the Soul Summoning Platform?"

"Indeed."

"Surely there must be some hidden chambers?" He nearly blurted out 'treasure chambers' but caught himself just in time. "I mean, Xu Shuanglin might be in a secret room."

Nan Gongsi gave him a telling look, one that made Huang Xiaoyue uneasy. Eventually, Nan Gongsi spoke, "Let's check the Soul Summoning Platform first."

Opening this last door required more of the Nan Gong family's blood. Nan Gongsi smeared his own blood on the dragon-eyed stone door, causing the mechanism to whirr and click. A faint sigh echoed in response.

Huang Xiaoyue jumped. "Who's speaking?!"

He then pointed at Nan Gongsi. "You're not trying to trick us, are you? Luring us into a trap?"

Nan Gongsi said nonchalantly, "If you don't trust me, Daoist Huang, it's not too late to leave now. You can wait in the main hall."

Of course, Huang Xiaoyue wasn't willing to do so. But before he entered, he had a suspicion – throughout their journey, he noticed that every significant threshold required the blood of the Nan Gong family to be unlocked. The legendary treasure chamber was likely no exception. So, as he stepped in, Huang Xiaoyue casually wiped his hand across the dragon's eye, stealthily collecting some of Nan Gongsi's blood.

Suddenly, an empty and echoing voice resounded in the dark corridor:

"Who approaches?"

Huang Xiaoyue, feeling like a thief caught in the act, nearly jumped in fright. The others looked around nervously. Nan Gongsi spoke, "The one who comes is Jiang Xi, the seventh-generation member of the Confucian Wind Sect."

"Wangli... Greetings... Master..."

After the voice slowly finished its words, it faded into silence.

"That's the name of the black dragon," Nan Gongsi informed Jiang Xi. "Pengzhang, please proceed."

Jiang Xi glanced ahead at the corridor. About a hundred feet away, a white light shone, indicating that the Soul Summoning Platform must be there. Taking a few steps forward, the ground suddenly shook violently, and the ethereal voice echoed once more.

"Wangli, greetings... M-Master..."

"What's going on with this dragon?" Jiang Xi furrowed his brow. "Did it just repeat the same sentence?"

But Nan Gongsi's expression had already shifted. He immediately turned his head toward the Soul Summoning Platform. There, a faint shimmer suddenly danced, and before he could make out what was happening, a hissing sound reached his ears, followed by a tidal wave surging in from the illuminated sky.

Nan Gongsi's pupils constricted abruptly. He yelled fiercely, "Run!!"