The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 242: "Dragon Blood Mountain" Concubine Chu

Chu Wanning did not verify the matter about the Empyrean of Immortal's Path further nor did he say much.

Actually, the look of unease on Mo Ran's face was the best answer. There was no need to ask anything else. Besides, he was already exhausted to the extreme at this moment. After being hit repeatedly, one's mind would become numb.

After a long while, he managed to break free from Mo Ran's embrace and slowly stood up. He did not look directly at Mo Ran, closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and spoke in a terrifyingly calm voice. "I want to go into the cave."

"..."

"Since the other me went through so much trouble to set this trap, I want to see it for myself."

"…Will you hate me if you know the truth?" It was a question that sounded almost childish, but Mo Ran still asked it. Afterward, he muttered to himself, "You will hate me."

Chu Wanning's pupils flickered slightly before he finally turned to look at him. "What exactly did the Empyrean of Immortal's Path do?"

He did not use 'you'; he referred to the Empyrean of Immortal's Path.

Mo Ran sensed a glimmer of hope from this address, but it was too faint. On one hand, he wanted to grasp onto it with all his might, but on the other hand, he was trembling in fear.

Chu Wanning's lips moved slightly, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Killing? Murders?"

Mo Ran didn't respond.

"Slaughtering a city?"

Mo Ran closed his eyes, still remaining silent.

Recalling the dreams he had experienced before, those absurd yet intimate spring dreams, and the mannerisms of that man in the Dragon Soul Hall towards him, Chu Wanning faintly grasped the underlying reason. However, when the words reached his lips, he found himself unable to ask. Finally, he said, "What about me? What am I to him?"

His Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to find an answer.

Mo Ran had been running and fleeing for so long, but now, with the net closing in, he felt like a criminal awaiting execution on the platform. Kneeling on the ground, he could see the shadow of the executioner raising his blade.

When would his head roll? When would it fall...

Suddenly, he no longer wanted to wait or run. The anticipation of the blade descending was too drawn out; he'd rather crash into a wall and have his blood splatter everywhere.

Mo Ran opened his eyes and said, "Let's enter the cave."

His fingers twitched, as if he wanted to hold Chu Wanning's hand, but in the end, they fell back down, brushing against the corner of his own robe. He walked ahead.

Before stepping into the cave, he hesitated for a moment, then turned around, flashing a wide grin at Chu Wanning.

"Shifu."

Chu Wanning looked at him, surprised by the sudden bright and passionate smile. It was as if all hope and joy were being spent in that instant, never to be used again.

Chu Wanning was suddenly pierced by this smile, jolting him awake. He approached but didn't know what to say. His heart was in turmoil, so he raised his cold hand to touch the equally cold face of the other.

"..." Mo Ran froze, his eyes gradually widening.

Chu Wanning closed his eyes and sighed, taking hold of Mo Ran's hand that no longer dared to reach out first. It was as if he was speaking to Mo Ran, yet also to himself. "I... watched you grow into the person you are today. So you're not him."

"You are not the same as Heaven-Stepping Lord."

Mo Ran still had his eyes curved in a smile, frozen for a moment before he chuckled, his voice choked with emotion. "Mm."

His vision blurred.

How could it be any different?

He was the most wicked person in the world, a ghost who had escaped from his past life.

But to receive such acknowledgment before everything ended, Mo Ran thought that the heavens had been generous to him. No matter what happened after Chu Wanning regained his memories, he would harbor no more resentment.

Closing his eyes, he held Chu Wanning's hand and took a deep breath as they stepped towards the Dragon Blood Mountain cave.

Once inside, they could no longer see anything outside.

The two of them looked around the small space, realizing it was about the same size as a disciple's chamber on the Summit of Life and Death. In this empty cave, there was only a small table with an old, rusty incense burner on top, the same one that appeared in Huai Zui's painting. The incense burned softly, releasing a gentle smoke. Although Mo Ran typically disliked the scent of incense, this one didn't irritate his senses. Instead, it faintly carried the aroma of West Courtyard's crabapple blossoms.

"What kind of spell is this?"

Chu Wanning shook his head, his voice low. "...I don't know. This 'me' isn't the current me. He might have learned some spells due to circumstances, which I may not be aware of. Just like you, Heaven-Stepping Lord might not use willow vines as weapons."

His gaze shifted to the incense burner, its body veiled in misty smoke. "Perhaps we need to touch it to verify who's here?" he suggested, reaching out to tap the burner gently with his fingertip. Still, nothing happened.

Since entering the cave, Mo Ran had been watching Chu Wanning with a tender yet sorrowful expression. Although he didn't wish for Chu Wanning to regain his memories, he suggested, "Since this is an illusion left for both of us by 'Shifu,' maybe touching it alone won't work. We should tell it that we're both here."

"…Mm. Let's give it a try."

They placed their fingers on the intricate vine patterns of the incense burner, one on each side. Suddenly, the scent of flowers inside the cave intensified, and the flowing smoke surged like waves, filling the entire cavern and obscuring their vision. Mo Ran hadn't expected such a sudden change, and as he was about to grasp Chu Wanning's hand, he was engulfed by the rolling clouds of mist.

Startled, Mo Ran exclaimed, "Shifu!"

It was too late. There was a spiritual energy within the mist, distinct from ordinary spirit core power yet exceptionally pure and potent. It felt as if he were floating amidst the ninth heaven, and then his limbs turned numb, no longer under his own control. Before even his voice could escape him, he mustered all his strength to call out, "Shifu, how are you?"

What emerged was only a muffled sound, and then he could move no more.

Chu Wanning's situation was not much different from Mo Ran's. He called out Mo Ran's name amidst the fog, initially receiving some response, but soon all he heard was silence.

"Mo Ran?"

Chu Wanning reached out in the mist, trying to find its edge, but it seemed that some enchantment had been cast on the incense burner, making this space boundless, with no end in sight.

"Mo..."

Suddenly, Chu Wanning found his throat constricted, just like Mo Ran, realizing that he was unable to make a sound. Soon, he discovered that not only his voice but also his movements were restricted—he couldn't even control his own body. It felt as if he were in a dream where he remained himself, yet his actions and speech were no longer under his command. He could only watch helplessly as events unfolded before him, unable to alter anything.

His already disoriented mind grew even more perplexed. If there was something to convey, wouldn't it suffice to create a memory scroll? Why go to such lengths?

After a long while, the smoke gradually dissipated.

Opening his eyes, he found the original scene gone, replaced by flickering red candles and their slow descent of tears. He sat at a familiar yellow sandalwood table, which was neatly arranged with few items displayed. Upon the tabletop, there was a deep mark—left from when he accidentally slashed it with a saw while crafting the Night Traveling Spirit.

...The cave had transformed into the appearance of the Red Lotus Water Pavilion.

Chu Wanning sat stiffly, still without control over his body. This seemed like the illusory Daoist realm of Peach Blossom Spring, with the sole difference being that he had no say in how events unfolded; he could only relive certain past occurrences.

Why cast such a spell? What did his past self want him to see and relive?

Outside, night had fallen. Two servants he had never seen before stood behind him, combing his hair.

Under the control of the illusion, he raised his hand to stop them, saying, "Don't bother, I'll do it myself."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud bang echoed as the door was abruptly pushed open. Chu Wanning could sense that he was not at all eager to see the person who had entered. He sat stiffly at the table, his back straight, without turning his head or even opening his eyes.

"Everyone, leave."

A familiar voice rang out behind him.

The two servants promptly set down their combs and basin, their faces respectful as they bowed.

"At your service, Your Majesty."

After the attendants left, Chu Wanning still didn't turn around or open his eyes, but of course, he knew who had arrived. How could he mistake that voice?

Chu Wanning was as vigilant as a wild beast. He sensed the person drawing closer, step by step... until suddenly, breath hot with the scent of alcohol brushed against his earlobe.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Mo Ran asked in a low, rough voice behind him.

Chu Wanning heard himself reply coldly, "I'm about to."

"Hmm... I can tell." Mo Ran chuckled softly into his ear. "Your outer robe is off, and your hairpin is gone. You really don't like this attire? These were made with the finest golden threads and inlaid with the highest-grade Jade Hua stones. I gave you something better than what I gave the Empress. Why aren't you impressed?"

"..."

"Well then," Mo Ran said without waiting for Chu Wanning's response. "In any case, you don't appreciate anything I give you, and you look down on me from the bottom of your heart." He chuckled as he continued, "But so what? Look, in the end, you still have to be mine."

As he spoke, Mo Ran provocatively reached out and roughly pulled Chu Wanning into his embrace from behind. The intensity of the stimulation and anger was too much for Chu Wanning's body to bear, so he finally opened his eyes, allowing him to see what was before him once more.

There was a copper mirror in front of him, reflecting both Mo Ran and himself. Mo Ran was dressed in a magnificent robe of golden red, adorned with a nine-stringed pearl crown - it was a wedding attire. This man held him from behind, leaning in to kiss his earrings and neck.

Chu Wanning trembled slightly, from anger and something else.

"Don't move."

"Huh, well, it's easy to say not to move. So, Master, how do you want me to move?"

Finding his threats ineffective and being mocked instead, Chu Wanning gritted his teeth and growled fiercely, "Beast!"

Mo Ran chuckled softly. His expression was one of infatuation. There was a half-awake, half-asleep sensuality on his handsome face as his lips continued to brush against Chu Wanning's cheek, muttering, "So what if I'm a beast? Look at you now, aren't you completely... mine?"

Without knowing where the urge to kill came from, Chu Wanning felt his body grab something from the table and sharply stab it into Mo Ran's hand.

Mo Ran winced in pain and grunted.

Seizing the opportunity, he struggled free, glaring furiously at the man in the flickering lamplight.

"Get out."

Underneath his physical form, Chu Wanning saw that what he had used to pierce Mo Ran was a golden hairpin, an ornament worn by men during weddings.

"Tsk…" Mo Ran lifted his hand, examining his bleeding wound. He sneered first, then extended his tongue like a venomous snake, licking the blood that trickled down, drawing it into his lips and teeth.

His eyes gleamed with a crazed light, a sheen that was filled with animalistic ferocity. For a moment, his face lost its Handsome charm and took on a more menacing, ghostly appearance.

"I didn't expect you, with your crippled spirit core, to still be able to hurt me," Mo Ran chuckled through bloodstained lips. "Chu Wanning, your claws are sharper than I gave you credit for."

"…Get out."

"Is that all you can say? 'Get out, get out'?" Mo Ran let his wrist drop, not in a hurry to tend to his wound. It seemed he derived pleasure from the pain, a twisted sort of comfort etched on his face. "You love spitting at me so much, yet why were you silent before all the guests today?"

"…"

"I've sealed your movement, but not your voice. You could have shouted at me to stay away," Mo Ran said as he stepped closer again, stopping just inches away from Chu Wanning. He seized the wrist holding the hairpin with a grip so forceful it was shocking.

He grinned, blood still caught between his pearly teeth.

"But all you did when the Binding Hands spell was lifted was to drench half of my robe sleeve with water from your ablutions."

Mo Ran paused and chuckled. "Shifu, since you're so furious, why didn't you scream back then?"

"You... shameless!"

"I am shameless, but who's the noble one here? Xue Meng? I did invite him to today's banquet, but he chose not to come. If he had been here, what would you have done?" Mo Ran asked with a light laugh. "Would you have begged him to take you away during the ceremony?"

Though Chu Wanning was still lost in this recreated scenario, his body understood Mo Ran's words and despised them, clenching his teeth in silence.

Seeing his fury, Mo Ran suddenly stuck out his bloody tongue and licked the edge of Chu Wanning's earlobe.

"..."

"Chu Wanning, do you know when you're most irresistible? It's when you look at me with that resentment and anger in your eyes," he said, pulling Chu Wanning's hand down. "Go ahead, touch it. Isn't it big and hot? Shifu, Elder Yu Heng, Grandmaster Chu—" Each title he called Chu Wanning by was more respectful than the last, until they were laced with moisture.

"Look, it seems to desire you so much."

"Get out!"

"You've said that roughly three times already," Mo Ran observed, malice intensifying in his eyes. "Today is, after all, a joyous occasion for Your Seat – ascending to the peak of humanity, taking a beautiful wife and concubines... I even left the Empress behind to accompany you. Why are you still so fierce?"

Pausing for a moment, he spoke two words steeped in malicious intent:

"Princess Chu?"

"!!"

Inside the body, Chu Wanning was struck as if by lightning. His own form wasn't faring much better; those two words had repulsed him to such an extent that his entire body trembled uncontrollably.

But Mo Ran was laughing, his eyes gleaming with mirth. "What's wrong? Are you too overjoyed by me addressing you this way that you can't speak? After all, I've been with you for so long. If you were a woman, I'd have likely impregnated you by now with endless nightly dalliances. How could I not give you a title, then, and let you continue serving me in bed with a clear conscience? Your Seat isn't an unreasonable person, hahaha."

In a fit of rage, Chu Wanning was left speechless, his vision darkening before his eyes.

Was this fury and disgust something this body could truly feel?

Both his possessed body and his free spirit rebelled with intense disgust. Chu Wanning felt nauseous and was filled with disbelief.

The Tyrant of Immortality...

Mo Ran from his past life.

What on earth had he done?!

Madman! Madman!!!

When Mo Ran was done laughing, he suddenly pinched Chu Wanning's chin and kissed him fiercely, their mouths tasting of blood. With one hand, he roughly restrained both of Chu Wanning's wrists, pushing him down onto the bed before leaning in—

Chu Wanning closed his eyes, trembling.

That fiery and robust male body pressed down on him like a mountain, covering him completely.

"Carry out your duties as my servant," Mo Ran said. "We're already married now. You belong to me, and there's no escape."