The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 255: "Penance on Dragon Blood Mountain"

The kiss seemed to last an eternity before Heaven-Stepping Lord finally released Chu Wanning. Chu Wanning had thought that would be the end of it, but as soon as their lips parted, they met again.

This cycle repeated numerous times until Heaven-Stepping Lord was finally sated. He licked his lips and gazed into Chu Wanning's face with his dark eyes.

"It's still you," he said.

There were too many questions to ask and too many changes to comprehend. Chu Wanning fell silent for a moment before managing to rasp, "Do you remember everything from the past?"

"Of course."

"Do you remember how you died?"

A shadow fell across Heaven-Stepping Lord's face. "The alliance of the Ten Great Sects attacked me. I detested it."

"Then do you remember how I died?"

The darkness in Heaven-Stepping Lord's brows lessened, only to be replaced by another shade of gloom. "You of Treading Snow Palace interfered with my grand plans. I hated that."

Chu Wanning asked again, "Do you recall how you were resurrected?"

"Heaven-Stepping Lord was saved by Hua Binan."

"In what way?"

"That...," the answer was left unspoken as a trace of bewilderment appeared on Heaven-Stepping Lord's face. However, this confusion didn't last long. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were clear and focused.

Furrowing his brow, Heaven-Stepping Lord said, "What did you just say?"

Chu Wanning fell silent.

He had a good idea of what Shi Mo had done to this body. Since ancient times, people's hearts have been the hardest to control. After Mo Ran's death, Shi Mo couldn't fully manipulate the emotions in this corpse, nor did he dare to further fragment Mo Ran's already disoriented memories. Thus, he chose to erase only a select few significant events that might influence Mo Ran's obedience.

This Heaven-Stepping Emperor Lord before him was likely nothing more than a mindless weapon.

Closing his eyes, Chu Wanning remained silent for a moment. It seemed like he wanted to speak, but before he could, a metallic taste rose in his throat. He began to cough violently.

"Mo Ran..." His lips were stained with blood as he lifted his tear-filled gaze. "Stop doing things for others. You're just a shell now, you should rest in peace. You... cough, cough."

Blackness swirled before his eyes as those fragmented memories resurfaced.

You should return to the past. You should be resting beneath the earth, for this place does not belong to you.

But he lacked the strength to utter those words. Chu Wanning's lips moved slightly before his consciousness began to dissipate once more.

In his final moments, he saw Heaven-Stepping Lord frowning, speaking urgently to him with his handsome and pallid face. "Chu Wanning," he vaguely heard him call, just as in their previous life, "Wanning..."

Closing his eyes, he was overwhelmed by the searing pain of his souls merging again. Whatever happened next, he knew no more.

Beyond a thousand mountains, the forest was bleak.

For days, a drizzle had been falling in Shu, causing a thin layer of mold to grow on the wooden frames of the inn. Through the small window, droplets fell from bamboo leaves, splashing into the pond below, creating ripples on the surface.

Suddenly, a pair of shoes stepped into the puddle, shattering the reflection of the sky and clouds.

Grandmaster Mo appeared at the winding mountain path leading to the Summit of Life and Death.

Since the upheaval on Dragon Blood Mountain, his spiritual energy had yet to recover, rendering him unable to ride his sword. Fearing for the safety of the Peak of Life and Death, he rushed back without stopping, taking four days in total.

Along the way, he had thought about many things.

Like why he had been reborn, why Chu Wanning from his past life had set such an intricate trap in the Dragon Blood Mountain cave, and Shi Mo.

After much contemplation, he found no clear answers.

He was never a particularly clever person to begin with, and now, tormented by worry and anxiety, he found it even harder to calm down and think carefully. Shi Mo had always understood him. Chu Wanning was his weakness; if Chu Wanning remembered their past, it would seal his fate. His mind was in chaos. The rain gradually grew heavier as Mo Ran stood at the entrance to the mountain steps leading to the Peak of Life and Death, facing the wind. He looked up, feeling silver frost fall onto his face. Before him, a winding stone staircase led to the misty summit shrouded in clouds.

This path, he had walked both in life and death, through joy and sorrow, countless times since his naive youth until now, burdened with guilt and returning home.

It was bitterly cold, and snow mixed with raindrops fell, dampening his black clothes and staining his hair.

A criminal who had willingly walked into a trap finally pushed open the vermilion doors of the Heart's Core Hall at the Peak of Life and Death with a creak.

The door creaked open, revealing the madness and glory, nightmares and darkness of his two lifetimes intertwined within.

He recalled his past life, when he was twenty-two years old. He had changed the name of Danxin Hall to Wushan, smashing the plaque into fragments as dust swirled around him. Standing before the ruins, he vowed to conquer all immortals and reign supreme over the world. That life had crumbled here, and this one would likely meet its end at the same place.

Danxin Hall was packed with people, more influential figures gathered than during the Dragon Mountain's assault on Xu Shuanglin.

Upon hearing the door's creak, everyone turned to see a tall figure clad in black standing before the threshold, his face pale and dampened by a few strands of wet hair. The daylight poured behind him, casting a leaden-gray dome overhead as snowflakes swirled down.

No one had expected Mo Ran to appear so abruptly.

Is he the hero on Dragon Mountain who sacrificed his life for the safety of all, or the ruthless devil in Solitary Moon Night who slays without spilling blood? Just who exactly is he?

For a moment, no one spoke, their eyes all fixed on the returning man.

Those who trusted him saw him as pitiful, drenched and cold like a dog returning home in the rain. But to those who distrusted him, he was terrifying, dark and unfathomable, akin to a ghost rising from the depths of hell.

Raindrops relentlessly tapped against the green eaves of the roof, seeping into the cracks of the stone steps, nourishing moss on the tiles.

Mo Ran lifted his dark, glossy eyes, beneath which his eyelashes fluttered like fans. His voice was soft as he said, "Uncle, I'm back."

"Ran-er! How—how can you be alone?"

Xue Zhengyong sat in his high seat, his expression terrible and unusually disheveled. The iron fan lay casually on the table, the words "The World is Vile" shimmering faintly, as if annotating a farce.

"Where's Yu Heng?"

Mo Ran stepped into the hall, like a drop of water falling into seething oil that had calmed after reaching its boiling point, creating a loud crackling sound. Almost everyone took a large step back when he approached.

"Mo Ran!"

"Evil fiend, how dare you show your face?!"

"You killed so many people at Solitary Moon Night, yet you still dare to appear?!"

Mo Ran ignored these voices. He had already heard about the recent massacre at Solitary Moon Night along the way. He was well aware of how deranged Heaven-Stepping Lord could be. What did a few dozen lives matter? A few hundred, a few thousand, even tens of thousands – all were but corpses in the eyes of Heaven-Stepping Lord. Solitary Moon Night was nothing to him.

"Madman... You're in cahoots with Hua Binan!"

"What do you want now? All the sect leaders are gathered here today, and the head of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion will soon arrive. No matter how cunning and unpredictable you are, you won't escape this web of heaven and earth!"

"Mo Ran, you're so cunning! You switch between being the good cop and the bad cop, confusing everyone until your vile schemes succeed. How sinister of you!"

Amidst the tidal wave of criticism and questioning, furious faces swarmed around him. Mo Ran paid no attention to them. He continued walking, now grasping the true intentions behind Hua Binan's actions – forgive him for not addressing him as Shi Mo.

Hua Binan had dug his own grave. Even the epitaph on the tombstone was prepared. Hua Binan had calculated it all, anticipating that he himself would fall into the trap.

For the moment Chu Wanning remembered his past life, Mo Weiyu had already sentenced himself to be an irredeemable corpse.

It was over.

"No matter how many false masks you wear, today's heroes will expose your true face!"

"You must be handed over to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion for punishment!"

Amid the raucous clamor, one word echoed in Mo Ran's ears: "Heavenly Sound Pavilion."

He hadn't anticipated Hua Binan implicating the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. Was it mere coincidence or part of a premeditated plan?

The resounding melodies of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion were an ancient sect that had been passed down for thousands of years in the cultivation world. Its founders were originally offspring of deities and mortals, with the leadership passing down through bloodline generations. Though the divine blood within the successive leaders had thinned, they still possessed immense spiritual energy. While the Heavenly Sound Pavilion typically remained detached from mortal affairs, its reputation for fairness was revered by cultivators, much like how mortals looked up to cultivators themselves.

Centuries of authority are not easily overturned, let alone a millennium. Thus, even in his previous life when Heaven-Stepping Lord had dominated the world, he still preserved Heavenly Sound Pavilion as a sanctuary. Shi Mo was astute; handing Mo Ran over to Heavenly Sound Pavilion for judgment was an excellent decision. No one would question the verdict, and no one could defy it.

Amidst the bustling commotion within the grand hall, Mo Ran strolled along a carpet intricately embroidered with duoluos, until he reached the front and stood firmly in place.

"I..."

With but a single word from the man, the cacophony of voices suddenly fell silent. They fixated on him, many with a mixture of hatred and wariness in their eyes.

They awaited his defense, his loss of composure, his mistake. They strained their necks, ready to pounce at any moment, to tear this cunning demon into shreds.

This person's intentions are inscrutable, their actions unpredictable. It's better to err on the side of caution and not let them go. He must be made to — "Answer for his crimes."

Dead silence, even quieter than before.

It was as if the sharpening of swords and the pounding of war drums, the clamor of battle cries, were all in anticipation of a great conflict, only to abruptly learn that the enemy general had taken his own life within his tent.

How absurd.

"What did he say?"

It took a moment for someone to react, but they couldn't believe the demon had confessed so easily. They whispered to their neighbor, "Did he just admit his guilt?"

Mo Ran lowered his gaze and knelt down, facing his uncle, aunt, and the ashen-faced Xue Meng. The dim light cast shadows on his handsome, slender face.

He was indeed prepared to accept punishment, but after Huabinan's manipulation, he wouldn't let the man have his way so comfortably. Before confessing, there was one more thing he needed to do—

He would use his last bit of strength to protect the person he could no longer protect.

Mo Ran spoke slowly, his voice deep and intense.

"I admit that my hands are stained with blood due to personal vendettas, and I've taken many lives. Though I've sought redemption in recent years, my crimes are still unforgivable. Chu Wanning is aware of this... Today, before all of you, besides confessing my wrongdoings, I have another matter to declare."

He paused, each word cutting like a knife, "I no longer hold a master-disciple relationship with Chu Wanning."

Upon hearing this, most of those present were more stunned than shocked. "What's going on?"

For a master and disciple to publicly sever ties was a major scandal in the cultivation world. In such cases, both parties would find it difficult to save face. Therefore, unless there was an irreconcilable hatred, they would at least maintain a facade of cordiality.

After the initial shock, whispers filled the air. "Weren't they fine before? Why is this happening now? Could it be some kind of trick?"

"It doesn't seem like it. Could it be that something happened between them on Dragon Mountain later?"

"Possible... Chu Wanning doesn't seem to hold much regard for his disciples. Didn't he fail to save Shi Mingjing when Hua Binan captured him? It even led to Shi Mingjing losing his sight... If I were his disciple, I'd be chilled to the bone too."

The voices swelled and subsided like waves.

Amidst these whispers, Mo Ran continued, "It's not just about his intolerance for my killing and arson; his coldness towards me and his disrespect for my dignity are far more significant. He preaches about the welfare of the world, yet he ill-treats his disciples—how hypocritical! Had it not been for him, I would never have ended up like this."

It hurt so much.

He paused, his lips and teeth quivering, but still forced himself to finish every word. Cutting himself into a thousand pieces.

"It was he who harmed me, he who misled me. I have no association with him, and I'm ashamed to have ever called him Master. Now that I've completely severed ties with Chu Wanning, if anyone dares to consider me his disciple again in the future..."

He lifted his gaze, revealing the eyes of Heaven-Stepping Lord.

"That would be an insult to me, so I hope you all will refrain from mentioning it!"

Xue Zhengyong shuddered, "Ran'er—"

Xue Meng's face had turned deathly pale. "Brother, have you lost your mind?! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

Mo Ran shut his eyes. He refused to look at anyone from the Xue family anymore. That one word, "Brother," felt like sharp claws piercing through his heart.

Mo Ran continued, "Aside from that, there's one more matter I wish to address."

"You admit guilt, admit guilt. Why are there suddenly one, two, three matters? You—"

Before the speaker could finish their complaint, they were interrupted by Jiang Xi, the current leader among the immortals. Jiang Xi looked at Mo Ran and said, "…Please go on."

Mo Ran replied, "My past transgressions are indeed severe, and I accept punishment for them. But the incident at Solitary Moon Night was not my doing."

Many in attendance had come to seek retribution for blood debts, and their emotions were already heightened. Hearing him deny responsibility for the Solitary Moon Night murder, they became furious. They spoke out in chorus:

"Haha! What a joke! The evidence is solid as steel; what else can you possibly say to refute it?!"

"Exactly, if it wasn't you, who else could it have been?"

Mo Ran said, "I wasn't even at Solitary Moon Night that night. Both I and Chu Wanning were at Dragon Blood Mountain. Someone else committed that act. And if my conjecture is correct, that person should be…"

He hesitated and didn't immediately reveal his identity as the Heaven-Stepping Lord.

It wasn't because he was afraid of the crowd's anger but rather that he believed nobody present would believe such an absurd tale of the Door of Life and Death opening, resulting in another Mo Ran appearing.

"Who is it?"

Mo Ran pressed his lips together and decided to postpone mentioning the Heaven-Stepping Lord for now. He didn't answer right away but said instead, "I'll tell you who later. In any case, that person colluded with Hua Binan. One framed Chu Wanning in Solitary Moon Night, while the other took him away."

Upon finishing his statement, two distinct voices emerged from the crowd.

The first voice was faint but still distinguishable, mostly from the disciples of the Peak of Life and Death: "What happened to Elder Yu Heng?!"

"Where was the elder taken?!"

The second group of voices belonged to those who had come to demand answers.

"Mo Ran, do you think we'll believe you?"

"You're up to something! What 'another person'? I think you and Hua Binan are in cahoots! You staged a drama on Dragon Mountain together!! You were willing to kill so many people, even disregarding the bonds of fellow disciples, and harmed Shi Mingjing. You, you, you're a liar!!"

At the mention of Shi Mo's name, Mo Ran slowly lifted his gaze, looking at Xue Zhengyong on the seat and then at Xue Meng. "Shi Mo..."

Xue Meng, panicked with concern, stepped forward. "What happened to Shi Mo? Is he alright?!?"

Mo Ran couldn't bear to meet his eyes.

Seeing someone shattered was once too many times.

Closing his eyes, Mo Ran said, "Shi Mo is Hua Binan."

Silence, as if all life had been sucked out of the room.

After a moment, Xue Meng abruptly slumped back into his seat, muttering, "What kind of joke is this? How could it be..."

Yes, if not for seeing it with his own eyes and hearing it with his own ears, Mo Ran would have also thought it impossible. Shi Mo was so gentle, so wonderful. The three of them had weathered so many storms together. To him, Shi Mo was his first true friend on equal footing in life.

But that friendship was fake, nothing more than a mirage.

How absurd.

Amidst the crowd, whispers erupted. "What nonsense is this?"

"Has he lost his mind? A mere little cultivator could be the world's top expert?"

"If Shi Mo is indeed Hua Binan, why would he help us deal with the Piercing Heart Bugs on Dragon Mountain?"

There were also those who had been rescued by Shi Mo on Dragon Mountain, and they held deep gratitude for him. At this moment, they angrily pointed at Mo Ran, disregarding all reason. "Mo Ran, you're trying to clear your guilt by spouting such absurdities! You're slandering him!"

At this point, Jiang Xi, who had been frowning and silent until now, finally spoke up.

"What proof do you have that Hua Binan is Shi Mingjing?" Jiang Xi asked. "Hua Binan has spent years under my tutelage and rarely left Solitary Moon Night. If you claim he is Shi Mingjing, how could he possibly be in two places at once?"