The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 252 - "Dragon Blood Mountain" Soul Splitting

They were engrossed in an amusing conversation, both wearing relaxed and bright smiles on their faces. Xue Meng playfully placed a small, cream-colored flower with yellow petals behind Shi Mo's hair. Shi Mo, amused yet exasperated, plucked it off, causing Xue Meng to burst into laughter.

"Ahh, Master?"

Xue Meng had already failed to dodge out of sight. When he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of his master. At first, he was startled, but then he said joyfully, "It's rare to see you at such a late hour, Master." As he spoke, he stepped forward to greet him.

Shi Mo also smiled and followed, politely saying, "Greetings, Master."

Chu Wanning found himself momentarily speechless. He wanted to answer calmly, but before he could open his mouth, his eyes had already reddened. Fortunately, it was late at night, with ample darkness to conceal his emotions.

Xue Meng displayed a feline-like curiosity: "Where is Master going?"

"J-just…" His voice came out hoarse, barely recognizable. He quickly stopped himself, clearing his throat before he managed to say after a brief pause, "Just for a stroll."

After a while, he couldn't resist asking again.

"And you two?"

"I just returned from Impermanence Town with Shi Mo. We bought so many delicious treats," Xue Meng said, clearly delighted. "There was a temple fair today, it was bustling with activity."

If this were the old Chu Wanning, the conversation would have ended there.

He wouldn't have shown much interest in what these young men found entertaining, what snacks they had purchased, or why they were so happy.

Back then, he was aloof, keeping his distance from everyone, not wanting to pry into others' personal matters.

But now, Chu Wanning found every word, every expression, even the slightest glimmer in Xue Meng's and Shi Mo's eyes, invaluable.

He wanted to see more, hear more.

These were things he could never experience again in his own mortal world.

So he asked, "What did you buy?"

"Would Master like to see?" Xue Meng eagerly rummaged through his Qiankun Bag, presenting his treasures. "Jujube peel, pine nut pastries, osmanthus candy..."

As he rattled off the list, he suddenly held out a handful of osmanthus candies, offering them all to Chu Wanning.

"Too many purchases, these are all for Master."

Shi Mo rummaged through his own bag as well but seemed to have bought very few items. Frustrated by his inability to find anything substantial, his ears tinged with a faint red.

"..."

Chu Wanning said, "You don't need to give me any more." He picked out two or three candies and returned the rest to Xue Meng. Under the moonlight, his gaze was almost tender and moist.

"That's enough already."

He knew that the Portal of Time, Life, and Death could close at any moment. He had already drained much of Nine Songs' power, and reopening it wouldn't be easy. Besides, they only had one night on the other side; if they were late, Heaven-Stepping Lord might sense their presence.

Suppressing his restless emotions, he asked, "Where's Mo Ran? Wasn't he with you two?"

The pair exchanged glances. Xue Meng replied, "We haven't seen him since lunchtime."

His junior apprentice sister added, "He hasn't spent much time with us these past few days. He must have something else to attend to."

Chu Wanning thus went to the disciples' quarters, but found no one there. He then searched the fair, still without success. As time passed, his anxiety grew.

With a furrowed brow, he pondered for a long while until suddenly, a memory resurfaced.

He recalled it now.

Could it be that Mo Ran had gone to...

Halfway through his thought, he didn't dare to continue. The notion that flared up like a flame made him uneasy, and his expression gradually darkened as his knuckles unconsciously clenched.

---

He remembered a place where Mo Ran used to frequent when he first strayed from the right path.

After a good half-hour, Chu Wanning stood before a lacquered wooden building with red and purple hues. A vermilion plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with the four large characters, "Immortal Peach Gathering Hall."

This was the somewhat renowned Peach Blossom Pavilion in the vicinity. Though it was late into the night, the spectacle of the pleasure house had only just begun. Streams of people flowed in, mostly greasy-looking men and powdered actors, but Chu Wanning's cool demeanor and straight posture made him stand out awkwardly amidst the crowd.

"Sir, please come inside."

"Take a look around! Today, we have a famous actor performing. A talented soprano from Xiangtan, whose singing rivals that of Xun Fengruo in his prime, and whose dancing is no less impressive than Duan Yihan's. Eighty copper coins per show, an additional ten for front-row seats—"

At the entrance, a servant was shouting loudly, while a scholar-like young nobleman happened to stroll by, mocking, "How arrogant! Calling themselves famous performers, yet daring to compare with the two musical immortals, Duan and Xun from years ago."

"Exactly, charging only eighty coins for a show and still claiming to be on par with Xun Fengruo. His performances cost eight hundred gold coins per show!"

"A shabby opera house trying to scam people again!" A night watchman passing by scratched his armpit and chuckled.

Chu Wanning couldn't understand the chatter, and it gave him a headache. He simply lifted the curtain and stepped inside. The place was illuminated with silk lanterns, bustling with noise and excitement. Some were listening to the opera, some were indulging in wine, and others were lost in the alluring gentleness created by rouge and makeup.

The actor's voice was like golden and jade, resonating melodiously, while the courtesans' fair skin exuded spring-like vitality.

On the first floor, the Empress was depicted as drunk, surrounded by a profusion of flowers. Every gesture of the actor conveyed vulnerability and sorrow, evoking endless sighs and emotions from the audience.

"Bravo! Bravo!"

"One more act, please!"

The pungent scent of powder and perfume irritated Chu Wanning's sword-like brows, darkening his expression. His phoenix eyes scanned the area but failed to find the young man he was looking for.

He wondered if he had guessed the wrong location once again.

Amidst her bustling duties, the madam noticed him, fluttering over like a vivid, resplendent butterfly. With lips painted a rosy crimson, she smiled invitingly:

"Sir, if you wish to enjoy the opera, please take a seat. For more amusement, there are private rooms available."

Chu Wanning glanced at her. "I'm looking for someone."

"Looking...?" The madam's expression froze, her smile fading as her gaze turned cold. "Feel free to search on your own."

Chu Wanning sighed, unfastening the jade pendant from his waist – a gift from the Immortal Suppression Emperor, warm to the touch. He handed it to the madam and repeated, "I'm looking for someone."

The madam took it, looking at it from left to right. The brilliance and luster of the object illuminated her eyes, making them sparkle.

She gave a soft cough, stowing away the jade with care, then offered a radiant smile, more abundant and sincere than before, "Which noble person is the gentleman looking for?"

"A young man who appears to be around fifteen or sixteen," Chu Wanning said. "His surname is Mo."

On the third floor, the Fei Rong Pavilion is adorned with luxurious carpets and elegantly carved ornaments. It's no wonder that many choose to spend their nights here, drowning in merriment, provided they are willing to part with their wealth. The performers and beauties weave opium-poppy-like illusions, ensnaring countless heroes into their enchantment. If such long nights could be spent in such tender distraction, who would willingly confront life's hardships and the bitterness of reality?

"This is the one." The madam lifted her slender finger, tipped with the shade of nail polish akin to bougainvillea, and turned over the wooden plaque on the door, revealing the characters "Rong Jiu" intricately carved upon it.

She lifted her gaze, her sharp mind pondering as she studied Chu Wanning carefully. "My lord, please wait a moment. Let me call Rong Jiu out before inviting you to chat with your friend inside."

"..."

Even the madam could see the concern he had for him.

Chu Wanning closed his eyes briefly. "Trouble you."

She then retreated into the room, where faint voices could be heard, muffled and indistinct.

After a while, she emerged again, followed by a young courtesan. Chu Wanning took a glance at the boy named Rong Jiu, whose cheeks still held a rosy flush. He seemed strangely familiar from the side, reminiscent of someone. Rong Jiu bowed low to him before departing with the madam. Chu Wanning pushed open the door and was met with a jumble of red and purple hues that made his scalp prickle. There was no scent of incense in the air, but the smell of alcohol lingered. Mo Ran leaned on one cheek, lying on the bed with his slender fingers still fiddling with the red tassel attached to a small clay pot. The bed itself was also red, its sheets in disarray. It was best not to dwell on what might have transpired upon it.

He approached, as cold as frost in this scene of spring passion that clashed with his being.

"Hmm... Shifu is here?"

"..."

"Would you like to sit down and have a drink? Apricot blossom white, a fine wine. I'm sure you've never tasted anything like it."

Chu Wanning said, "You're drunk."

With a cheeky grin, Mo Ran saw the man in white approach his bedside. He was indeed drunk and, on a sudden impulse, dared to reach out and grab at Chu Wanning's waist sash.

"Drunk is good, isn't it? When drunk, one fears neither heaven nor earth. Come on, the night is long; let's indulge in some playful chaos."

Chu Wanning did not speak further, but instead, he lifted the young Mo Ran from the bed, which was as alluring and red as a sea of desire, his veins slightly protruding on his hands. He was a man of a master's demeanor, maintaining his solemnity and dignity even at such a moment, but the tremble in his fingertips betrayed the turmoil within his heart.

He closed his eyes softly and whispered, "Mo Ran."

The tipsy young man hummed in response, still clueless, his smile carefree and innocent.

Chu Wanning's voice was raspy: "I'm late."

He pressed his forehead against the other, his fingertips moving gently, causing an instant of excruciating pain.

Amidst this searing agony, a divine weapon emerged, its body crafted from a peach blossom wood, its tail curling up, with seven strings shimmering with ethereal light. It was a magnificent ancient zither made of divine wood.

Chu Wanning gritted his back teeth, allowing the divine weapon to temporarily transfer its abundant spiritual energy into him. This level of spiritual energy was a mere joke when compared to the Immortal Emperor, but it was sufficient for him to cast numerous spells.

Pressing Mo Ran's forehead against his own, he closed his eyes.

Then he sensed... the aura of the Eight Sorrows Long Hate Flower within Mo Ran's body. It was as if he could see a black, double-layered flower rooted in the heart, its roots intertwining with the blood vessels.

It was this very Long Hate Flower.

The source of all wickedness.

Chu Wanning took a deep breath and recited an incantation from ancient texts, enunciating each word with all his might:

"Soul severance!"

Chu Wanning's eyes snapped open, a chilling glint flashing in his pupils.

The Long Hate Flower could only be suppressed by the power of a soul. As described in the book, he forcefully severed half of his Earth Soul and transmitted it through their touching foreheads into Mo Ran's body.

Suddenly, a fierce gale swirled around them, and the Nine Songs resonated with the cry of a phoenix.

The spiritual energy flared intensely.

Mo Ran... Mo Ran...

In the past, it was this Master who failed to protect you.

But now, I will save you.

I will guide you across.

The shattered soul transformed into wisps of white smoke, continuously surging and flowing.

Mo Ran was in a daze, while Chu Wanning was in immense pain.

Foreheads touching, unceasingly.

I will guide you...

With the last streak of brilliant light fading, both of them suddenly lost their strength. Chu Wanning released his grip, and Mo Ran fell heavily back onto the bed.

Nine Songs also vanished, concealing itself within the bones and blood of Chu Wanning. With half his Earth Soul gone, it was incredibly challenging for him to maintain the stability of his Divine Weapon.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Chu Wanning slowly closed his eyes, his face unnaturally pale, devoid of any color, even in his lips. Yet, inwardly, he felt a sense of relief and lightness.

He had finally taken the first step to alter destiny.

Employing the power of his soul, he disrupted the nascent Eight Sufferings Long Hate Flower, preventing Mo Ran from losing touch with his true self.

Time reversed. He had finally protected him.

Chu Wanning couldn't linger. His first task was to stop Mo Ran from being consumed by the Long Hate Flower, which he had accomplished. Now, it was time for the second.

He had no idea how potent the individual behind the scenes was. Although that person couldn't currently tear through spatial rifts, caution was always advisable.

He must ensure that if calamity strikes again, he can regain his memories from his past life, enabling him to confront it in a timely manner.

And so, this second matter is about finding my past self from those years.

None of the prohibitive spells and incantations of the Red Lotus Water Pavilion had any effect on him; he effortlessly made his way inside. Standing before the half-opened window of the pavilion, he gazed upon the white-robed man who had already succumbed to slumber, his head resting on the table within.

The Night Wanderer's craftsmanship was halfway done, with the lacquer still being applied.

...If only the troubles of the mortal world were limited to dealing with these petty demons.

Chu Wanning transferred the half of his Earth Soul that had already been torn apart into the body of his mortal self.

As this soul was originally his own, the sleeping person would not experience any discomfort. He watched as the pure, luminous light drifted over and enveloped his "self" in a gentle glow. Gradually, the light dimmed, and a breeze blew in, scattering the drawings lying by "Chu Wanning's" hand onto the floor.

"If another great calamity were to occur, Mo Ran should no longer be your adversary," he said softly, standing by the window to the person inside. "Now that my Spirit Core is shattered and my soul divided, I can do no more. I cannot change our time, but you still can."

The person inside remained asleep.

"I split the weakest of the Three Souls, the Earth Soul, into two halves, giving one to you and the other to Mo Ran. If both of your lives proceed smoothly, these halves of the soul will have little effect on you. However, if the Eight Sufferings and Enduring Hate continue to invade, or if chaos breaks out in the mortal realm, I will find a way to reunite this soul."

Assuming his prediction was correct, the moment the souls rejoined, the Eight Sufferings and Enduring Hate within Mo Ran would be utterly eradicated. And after the Earth Soul became whole again, Chu Wanning would regain his memories from his past life.

Chu Wanning continued, "Do not hold it against me for sharing these burdens with you. If possible, I also wish for you to forget, but..."

He didn't finish his sentence, instead sighing softly.

Then, he set about doing the third task.

This was the final safeguard—He sought out Huaizui and entrusted him with an incense burner that he had long been refining.

Inside the incense burner, he had cast the Soul Fusion Spell. This secret technique drew upon the deepest memory buried within his subconscious to stimulate the reunion of the two fragmented souls.

Chu Wanning wasn't entirely certain what his most profound memory was. There were too many possibilities. Perhaps it was the great battle during the falling out between master and disciple, or the time he was turned into a blood dropper after losing to Mo Ran, or even the agony of being humiliated beneath Mo Ran for the first time. There were simply too many. Sometimes, people couldn't even see themselves clearly.

He instructed Huaizui to seal the incense burner in a cave on Dragon Blood Mountain. If he noticed any abnormalities in the mortal world, he must bring both himself and Mo Ran to this place.

With all of this done, Chu Wanning's time was up. Time and space had the power to heal; unless torn apart destructively, fissures would mend on their own.

In truth, he wanted nothing more than to remain here, in this untouched, peaceful world where nothing had transpired yet.

But Chu Wanning knew he didn't belong here. He wouldn't violate the taboo of the forbidden arts for his own selfish desires or yearning for warmth.

He left.

Leaving behind a paradise of dreams as he moved further away, never turning back.

"Grandmaster Chu,"

Having returned to his own era, Chu Wanning had just emerged from the crevice in the back mountain, concealing any traces of his spiritual energy, when he saw a man in crimson clothing walking along the stone path. It was none other than Uncle Liu, the old servant who attended to Mo Ran personally.

"Where has the Master gone? The Emperor has been searching high and low."

Chu Wanning asked, "Where is he?"

"At the Red Lotus Water Pavilion."

As he approached, Mo Ran was sitting with his eyes closed beneath a wisteria trellis. Upon hearing the door open, he slowly lifted his face and waved at him slightly.

"Come here."

Chu Wanning pursed his lips, his expression as aloof as usual. "Didn't you enjoy the music? The performance ended so early."

"I didn't find it particularly pleasing or unpleasing," Mo Ran said. "After a while, it all starts to sound the same. I grew weary."

Unfurling his sleeves, he pulled Chu Wanning into his embrace. Mo Ran didn't inquire about where he had been. After all, Chu Wanning was never one to be obedient; it would have been odd if he had stayed in the pavilion without moving.

He forced Chu Wanning to sit on his lap, kissed the man's cheek, and then buried his face in the crook of his neck.

"I just had a dream," the figure said. "Mm?"

"In my dream, it was you who taught me how to write, stroke by stroke."

Chu Wanning froze, his heartbeat suddenly losing its rhythm. But at this moment, Heaven-Stepping Lord was engrossed in his own reminiscence, utterly unable to detect the change in Chu Wanning. He continued speaking, his tone mild yet carrying a subtle, unnoticed sadness that even he himself was unaware of.

"One character took me four or five attempts to write properly. You were upset, but you didn't give up on me," Mo Ran said. "Later, you held my hand, and as flowers drifted in through the window, I saw..."

He was so deeply immersed in that grand dream that he no longer referred to himself as 'Your Excellency.'

Mo Ran paused, and for a fleeting moment, his expression was endearingly youthful.

"I see the paper bears the words, 'Seeing this letter is like meeting you, may it bring a smile to your face.'"

As he spoke, he suddenly bared his teeth in a smile. It was indiscernible whether the expression was one of relief or malevolence.

"Such a thing can only be seen in dreams."

He lifted his gaze to meet Chu Wanning's eyes, which were filled with contemplation. Gradually, he regained the icy demeanor of Heaven-Stepping Lord. "Do you know why This Seat suddenly wanted to see you?"

"..."

Reaching out, he touched Chu Wanning's slightly cool cheek.

"In that dream, you looked incredibly beautiful," Heaven-Stepping Lord said softly. "Beautiful enough that this deity couldn't forget you. That's why I wanted to see the real you."

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelids.

"I'm afraid I won't hate you, but I need to," Mo Ran said. "Otherwise, I..."

He suddenly faltered. Otherwise what?

Otherwise, he would never be able to forgive himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to move forward. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to continue living this broken life.

He had to hate you. He hadn't changed, nor had he hated wrongly.

"Wanning," he sighed, closing his eyes at last. "In the end, it's just you and me left in this world."

For a moment, his heart felt as if it were being torn apart. Chu Wanning opened his mouth to speak but suddenly felt as if he'd stepped off a precipice and was plunging downward. Suddenly, he woke up from the dream!

Chu Wanning abruptly opened his eyes to find himself immersed in darkness. He could hear his heart pounding like a drum, and beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. The gloomy and chilling face of the Immortal Devouring Emperor still lingered before him.

Trembling uncontrollably, he gasped for air. The overwhelming memories from his past life sent shivers down his spine, yet they relentlessly continued to flood his mind.

Swallowing hard, he... where was he?

Where was he...

Why couldn't he see? Why was everything around him pitch black?

Confused and disoriented, it took Chu Wanning some time to vaguely recall the events at Dragon Blood Mountain.

Slowly regaining consciousness, he muttered, "Mo Ran..."

Just then, a cool and tender palm unexpectedly brushed against his cheek.

That hand gently lifted his chin, the thumb caressing his lips. Chu Wanning heard a voice, altered by a sound-altering spell, softly chuckled at him.

"I've been waiting for you. You're finally awake."