The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 246: Shackled on Dragon Blood Mountain

Mo Ran clenched his teeth so hard they seemed to shatter, his eyes bulging with rage. "Shi Mingjing!!!"

With a flick of Shi Mo's sleeves, his robe fluttered in the moonlight amidst the tree branches.

He stood atop a treetop, turning his face slightly to reveal his handsome countenance, luminous in the moonlight. "Come on, if we don't leave now, our Master might wake up. If he sees us bickering here, he won't be pleased."

Pausing for a moment, he added with a smile, "Oh, and Aran. Remember to call me Hua Binan, or you can address me as your grandmaster—assuming there is a next time."

This time, upon finishing his words, he ascended into the air with grace, his feet as light as a feather. In the blink of an eye, he vanished amidst the lush foliage of Dragon Blood Mountain, leaving no trace behind. Only his captivating yet chilling laughter lingered, descending like a spider's web, shimmering with a cold, eerie glow that persisted in the air.

"Shi Mo! —— Shi Mingjing!!"

Amidst the mist shrouding the treetops, Shi Mo no longer turned to look at Mo Ran. Instead, he swiftly swept across the undulating rock cliffs, cradling the person in his arms. His cloak fluttered wildly, and his robes billowed in the wind.

A profound sense of satisfaction swelled within him, his eyes gleaming with an inner radiance. He felt like a hunter returning from a bountiful hunt, eager to savor the fruits of his triumph. Yet, as he swooped low over the ground, he suddenly heard a hoarse whisper from the person in his embrace, tormented by a nightmare from their past life: "Mo Ran..."

Shi Mo's expression of joy froze slightly, and then he narrowed his eyes, his gaze three parts cold and seven parts ardent.

"...What's so great about him that you would go this far for him?"

But Chu Wanning couldn't hear. He was burning with fever, his handsome face as pale as an icy lake, revealing the faint blue veins beneath.

Chu Wanning whispered, "Mo Ran..."

Shi Mo suddenly halted, his impatience and irritability from holding back too long apparent. But after a moment's hesitation, he managed to restrain himself.

Unlike with Mo Ran, he didn't possess the same composure and ease in front of the unconscious Chu Wanning. Staring at his face for a while, he said, "Forget about him. Soon, there won't be a Mo Ran anymore. From now on, just follow me."

Pausing, he added, "I know you're sentimental, so it's alright if you can't forget him right away. After my grand plan is accomplished, I'll have enough energy to slowly erase your memories."

With that, he leaped into the air again, summoning his sword mid-flight and heading straight for Dragon Mountain's Hero's Tomb.

It was late into the night, and Confucian Wind Sect's burial ground was quiet. Moonlight shone upon tombstone after tombstone. Those who had been turned into Xul Shuanglin's precious chess pieces were no longer animated, standing stiffly in their places without moving.

Shi Mo used the stored blood of the Nan Gong clan to open the gate to Dragon Mountain. Looking around, he saw Nan Gongliu standing dumbfounded at the foot of the mountain.

Nan Gongliu wasn't a complete pawn, but rather a half-finished product that still retained some vitality. However, he had lost all sense of reason, his mind akin to that of a five-year-old child. Shi Mo didn't have the time to kill him, and besides, the man could still serve some purpose.

"Dearest Brother, you're back." Upon seeing him, Nan Gongliu's face lit up with a genuine smile, his slightly plump cheeks displaying his delight.

Xu Shuanglin had once considered Shi Mingjing as his dearest friend, so Nan Gongliu followed suit and addressed him as Dearest Brother.

This title made Shi Mo pause slightly before narrowing his eyes. "Don't call me that."

"Ahh…" Nan Gongliu looked at him in confusion. "You don't like me calling you that?"

"I don't. Just call me Hua Binan," Shi Mo replied with a grim expression. "Go, lead the way for me."

"Where is Dearest Brother going?"

"…" There was no point arguing with someone whose mental age was only five, Shi Mo sighed impatiently. "Take me to the secret chamber Xu Shuanglin used to occupy."

Nan Gongliu led him there.

In truth, the secret chamber was no secret to Shi Mo. However, there were too many spots along the way where he needed to sprinkle the blood of the Nan Gong family. Although he had some stored, it would be troublesome to free his hands from holding onto Chu Wanning. Nan Gongliu proved to be more useful in this situation.

After walking for a while, Nan Gongliu turned back suddenly, unable to contain his curiosity. "Dearest Brother, are you bringing a friend back to spend the night?"

"Stay the night?" The mention of those two words seemed to amuse Shi Mo, as his brows relaxed slightly. He smiled and said, "Something like that, but he'll be spending many, many nights here from now on. One could say he's taken up residence."

Nan Gongliu grew even more curious. "Who is he?"

Shi Mo pondered for a moment before suddenly laughing. "Do you really want to know? It might not be suitable for a child's ears."

Nan Gongliu's eyes widened, and on the face of this middle-aged man, such an expression appeared both revolting and comical.

They continued walking until they reached the entrance of the secret chamber. The door opened, revealing a lamp burning inside. The room was quiet and uncluttered, with only a bed prepared, covered with thick fur from a saber-toothed beast and draped with a delicate silk canopy. Next to the bed stood a small table and a harp, while the rest of the walls were bare, devoid of any other furnishings.

Shi Mo gently settled Chu Wanning onto the bed, then gracefully took a seat beside the bedside, his sleeves brushing aside as he lowered his gaze to study Wanning's face. The candlelight was bright, illuminating that familiar countenance.

Sober-minded, his sword-like brows nestle into his temples, and his phoenix eyes exude a majestic aura.

At this moment, his face appeared haggard, with a single stroke of a line etching to his jawline like the remnants of a fading smoke...

Shi Mo paid this no mind, for he felt that after traversing two lifetimes, Chu Wanning and Mo Ran had ultimately fallen into his grasp. At this very moment, Chu Wanning lay beside him, while Mo Ran, temporarily stripped of his spiritual power, would soon willingly step into the trap he had meticulously set. His schemes were on the cusp of fruition.

Lost in admiration, I suddenly heard Nan Gongliu remark, "Ah? This person seems so familiar."

Shi Mo glanced at him with a sideways look. "Do you remember who he is?"

"I can't."

Shi Mo prompted, "This brother scolded you and embarrassed you before."

"Oh? Where was that?"

"In the Confucian Wind Sect's main hall."

Nan Gongliu looked puzzled. "Ah, really?... But why don't I remember any of it?"

Shi Mo fell silent for a moment before smiling gently. "It's better if you don't remember."

Nan Gongliu didn't understand the hidden meaning behind Shi Mo's words. He tilted his head and studied Chu Wanning for a while before suddenly saying, "But he really is handsome. Even when he has his eyes closed and isn't smiling, he looks good."

Smiling warmly, Shi Mo said, "He's the favorite concubine of the Immortal Emperor, how could he not be good-looking?"

"Favorite concubine... what does that mean?"

A gentle smile deepened in Shi Mo's eyes. "You'll understand when you grow up. For now, go pick some oranges for me and boil some hot water... With his terrible temper, he might get even angrier if there's no delicious food to serve him when he wakes up."

Nan Gongliu prepared to leave.

But as he reached the door, he hesitated. Shi Mo noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Oranges..." Nan Gongliu bit his finger hesitantly. "Does Brother Zhiyou know when His Majesty will return?"

By 'His Majesty', he meant Xu Shuanglin.

Of course, Shi Mo wouldn't tell Nan Gongliu that Xu Shuanglin was already dead. He smiled and said, "Just listen to me and do your tasks well. His Majesty will be back soon."

Nan Gongliu's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up the small bamboo basket beside the secret room's entrance before heading out to pick oranges.

Shi Mo watched him leave before chuckling after a while. "Interesting. Brothers fought when they were of sound mind, but they're respectful to each other now that they've lost it... Indeed, many things in this world are purest only during childhood. Once grown up, they become tainted by schemes and conflicts."

As he spoke, he turned around and caressed Chu Wanning's cheek. "Look, most people in the cultivation world are like him. They're not worth protecting." Tracing the contours of his strong face with his fingertips, Shi Mo sighed. "Why exhaust yourself, sever your soul, tear through time and space, bear humiliation, and carry such burdens just for these people... and fight against me across two lifetimes?"

Sleeping Chu Wanning was, of course, unable to respond.

His previous life's bitter suffering and nightmares tormented him, causing his cheeks to flush hot and his brows to furrow. Shi Mo propped his cheek on his hand and watched for a while before retrieving from his Qiankun Pouch a vial filled with the spirit beast Meng's fragrance.

"I'll give you a little of this to drink," Shi Mo uncorked the fragrant dew. "I know you're dreaming about your past life. Back then, at the Xuan Yuan Pavilion, I knew you'd come, so I specifically had them sell the Meng's Fragrance Dew... I want to make things easier for you, but I don't wish to arouse suspicion. So, see, it's better to be with me than Mo Ran? These insignificant trinkets, I can let you enjoy them every day if you make me happy. But what can he give you? All he knows is fighting."

The fragrant dew, rich and aromatic, was poured into a small white porcelain cup and brought to Chu Wanning's lips.

After administering the medicine, Shi Mo stared blankly at his hard-won victory for a moment before an idea suddenly occurred to him, lighting up his eyes. He rummaged through his Qiankun Pouch and eventually found a pitch-black silk ribbon. He placed this ribbon over Chu Wanning's eyelids, casting a spell to fixate them in place, completely blinding him.

Having finished, he slowly rose and pinched Chu Wanning's chin, examining him from all angles with great satisfaction.

"Hmm, indeed, very handsome. No wonder Mo Ran liked binding you like this and... using you in the last life. Occasionally imitating him isn't bad either; at least he has some taste in this area."

Sister Mo's smile remained as gentle as ever. His fingertips brushed gently across Chu Wanning's chin, lips, nose, finally landing on the black ribbon covering his eyes.

Once again, he spoke in that chillingly gentle voice, "Master, please wake up soon. I just thought of a rather amusing trick. When you wake up, how about we play together, alright?"