The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 258: The Resilient Gentleman of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion

"..."

"What?!"

Back then, when Duan Yihan had appeared with his pipa, he had been the object of desire for all the young men of the Five Cities, and countless red silk ribbons were given to him after his performances – that peerlessly charming Song Immortal was actually his mother?

"My mother met Nan Gongyan, who was also the City Lord of the Ninth City of the Confucian Wind Sect, by chance," Mo Ran paused. "He knew how to write poetry and sing, and he had a sweet tongue. He was quite handsome too."

Xue Meng shook his head as he listened, muttering, "How could that be possible..."

"How could Nan Gongyan resist such a beauty throwing herself into his arms?" Mo Ran continued. "But he still had his status and identity, so he didn't dare to reveal his true situation to a musician easily. So he lied to my mother, saying that he was a businessman from Lin Yi, temporarily living in this place."

"But... they were already in love, and they spent day and night together. Didn't your mother notice anything?"

Mo Ran sneered. "If she had noticed, there wouldn't have been so many things happening later on. Nan Gongyan was very good at telling lies, and besides, he only stayed in Xiangtan for a short period of time. My mother didn't have the chance to find out about his background. Later, a letter arrived from Lin Yi. After receiving that mysterious letter, Nan Gongyan hastily left Xiangtan."

"Didn't your mother ask where he was going?"

"He left in the dead of night without bidding farewell to my mother. After months as lovers, all Nan Gongyan left was a stack of silver coins and a slip of paper with 'Forget Me' written on it. Then he vanished without a trace."

A female cultivator sighed. "Ah, these courtesans and opera performers – it's hardest for them to find someone sincere. They're pitiful, truly."

After her lament, curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "What happened after that? Did your mother refuse to accept being abandoned and send someone to look for him?"

Mo Ran shook his head. "My mother had a gentle and timid nature. Abandoned, she would swallow her sorrows rather than cause trouble. ...But not long after, she discovered she was pregnant."

Madame Wang let out an "Ah" at this point, her expression quite sorrowful as she looked at Mo Ran, unsure what to say.

"The pleasure house was willing to keep her, but only if she didn't give birth. A woman who has borne children isn't as captivating when dancing, and they weren't in the business of losing money."

Mo Ran closed his eyes.

"My mother refused. The matron in charge then demanded a large sum for her freedom. So she gave up all her savings, every piece of jewelry she owned, even the embroidered shoes on her feet, to the establishment, earning her freedom and planning to go to Lin Yi to find my father."

Madame Wang spoke softly, "How could a penniless woman travel from Xiangtan to Lin Yi?"

Mo Ran replied, "Someone helped her."

"Who was it?"

"It was Xun Fengruo," Mo Ran replied. "Sister Xun knew that my mother had left the music troupe and chased after her under the starlit night sky. She gave all her savings to my mother and told her – if she couldn't find my father, she could come to the Drunken Jade Tower and the two of them could live well together as sisters."

Grandmaster Xuanying sighed. "With such loyalty, I underestimated these seemingly fragile women."

Jiang Xi asked, "What happened next? Did your mother find Nan Gongyan?"

Mo Ran fell silent for a moment before scoffing. "She did. Even though Nan Gongyan's identity and name were fake, my mother found him without any difficulty."

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? Does she possess such incredible abilities?"

"There were no incredible abilities involved," Mo Ran said. "It was just a coincidence."

The people exchanged glances, doubt etched on their faces. "How could something like that be a mere coincidence? The City Lords of the Confucian Wind Sect rarely make public appearances."

"They do indeed rarely show themselves…" A gloom settled over Mo Ran's face. "But they host banquets on the city walls to receive congratulations for weddings and when their children turn one month old, don't they?"

Everyone was stunned by this revelation. "Could the letter Nan Gongyan received back then have been a summons for him to return for his wedding?"

Another person chimed in, "Oh, now I recall. Nan Gongyan's lawful wife was supposedly the daughter of a prominent wealthy family. Perhaps he was compelled by circumstances to abandon the courtesan with whom he had a deep connection and marry into that wealthy household..."

Mo Ran's expression was extremely indifferent. "It wasn't out of necessity, nor was it to get married. That mysterious letter he received back then was actually good news — the Sect Leader of the Confucian Wind Sect informed him that his wife was about to give birth, asking him to return and be by her side."

Even Xue Zhengyong, who had remained silent all along, paled at this. He exclaimed, "So when Nan Gongyan was leisurely enjoying himself in Tanxiang, he was actually a married man?"

"Mm." Mo Ran lowered his eyelids. It was remarkable that he could speak of such matters now without a trace of profound pain on his face. He said calmly, "Nan Gongyan came out to take his mind off things because his wife was pregnant and in poor health, with a high risk of miscarriage. When he met my mother, he took a liking to her and pretended he was unmarried to win her affection."

An irate voice stamped its foot, exclaiming, "This is simply beastly!"

"I left my pregnant wife at home to gallivant around and then ended up having another child outside. Sigh."

"One could say Duan Yihan was truly out of luck. Would Nan Gongyan acknowledge him?"

The answer was self-evident. After a bout of passionate indignation, the onlookers cast more sympathetic glances at Mo Ran. But Mo Ran wasn't too concerned about how others perceived him. He merely continued recounting his mother's story.

It was the first time he had ever spoken openly about this secret that he had carried for two lifetimes. Amidst the pain, he also felt a sense of relief.

Mo Ran said, "At the time, Lin Yi was celebrating with a grand feast in honor of the Confucian Wind Sect's City Lord welcoming a son. My mother arrived at the corner tower of the ninth city, where she saw Nan Gongyan embracing his wife and child on the festooned balcony, greeting the common folk below and tossing out auspicious fruit and sweet cakes. My mother... never went to find him again. She had already spent all her savings, and couldn't even afford the fare back to Xiang. Half a year later, she gave birth to me in an abandoned shed in Lin Yi."

Jiang Xi asked, "Did you return to the Drunken Jade Tower in Xiangtan later?"

Mo Ran shook his head. "When I was born, my health was very poor. I fell ill before I was even a month old and was too weak to travel. She sought help from every physician in the city to treat me, but no one was willing to assist her... In the end, she had no choice but to carry me and find a way into the Confucian Wind Sect to locate Nan Gongyan."

That year, a frail mother carried her newborn, like a tiny kitten, through the dust and wind to appear before the man she once loved.

There was no joy on his face—only endless astonishment, fear, and even anger.

He had a tender wife and a young son. His wife came from an influential family, and their child was plump and adorable; they were a harmonious, blissful family. To him, Duan Yihan was a fly in the ointment, spoiling his good reputation and threatening the unity of his household.

She harbored ulterior motives.

Why should he acknowledge them?

Fearing that she would cause a scene, Nan Gongyan gave her ample money to leave the Confucian Wind Sect with her child as quickly as possible. With tears in her eyes, Duan Yihan clung to her last hope. "The child hasn't been named yet. Could you...?"

He glared at her with a furious expression, his face ashen. "Get out! Leave now! This isn't my child. Don't shame yourself further, just get out!"

She was roughly shoved out the door.

There was no time for sorrow. The infant in her arms cried weakly, his tiny limbs cold like those of a dying kitten, curled up against her chest.

When she called to him, he opened his dark eyes slightly, looking at her with a confused yet innocent gaze. He was neither mischievous nor restless, but rather calm and well-behaved.

Through her tears, she carried him to the clinic.

The doctor there barked at her, "How many times must I say this? This isn't the Jishi Hall; we can't just treat your child for free! If you don't have any money—"

She hurriedly pulled out the copper coins that Nan Gongyan had given her as charity, fumbling anxiously to avoid alarming the infant in her arms.

With a desperate look in her eyes, she repeatedly bowed her head and said, "I do have money, Doctor. I do. Please, have mercy and save my child. Look, he's still so tiny..."

The clinic wasn't entirely heartless, but they had grown weary of this woman's constant pleading. Besides, the medicinal plasters and herbs needed to treat a child were expensive. Thus, they had initially refused her roughly. However, since she could afford the cost, their attitude improved.

Herbs, acupuncture.

Due to the severity of his illness, Mo Ran had to stay in the clinic for several months before he finally recovered. By then, Duan Yihan's savings were nearly depleted. After thanking the doctor, she left with her child. Winter was approaching, and she feared that her baby might catch a chill, so she made a small coat and a quilt for him.

Having spent all her money, she couldn't return to Xiangtan. Nonetheless, sitting in the abandoned shed, watching the baby giggling and sucking on his fingers, Duan Yihan felt a deep sense of happiness and tranquility.

She had always been content with what she had.

"I wonder what I should call you?"

The infant cooed and gurgled, unable to form words yet.

Duan Yihan lit a fire, hugging her child close by the hearth to keep them both warm, entertaining him with playful gestures.

When the baby laughed, so did she.

The flickering flames illuminated their humble, dilapidated abode, but the warmth from the fire made her heart feel incredibly cozy. She gently rubbed his little face, tickling him until he giggled and kicked his tiny feet in delight.

After some thought, she said, "How about I name you Yan'er?"

Mo Ran sucked on his fingers, gazing at her with his bright, curious eyes.

A fleeting hint of sadness crossed Duan Yihan's face. "I don't know what surname you should have. You can't take the Nangong surname, and you can't have the same one as your mother, for that was given to me by the matrons of the music ensemble. It feels odd for you to follow me with this name... Let me just call you Yan'er, alright?"

Mo Ran happily smacked his lips together, neither nodding nor shaking his head.

"Little Yan'er, when spring comes, we'll return to Xiangtan," Duan Yihan stroked his soft hair. "Your mother can play the pipa and dance. There's a Miss Xun there, who is my good friend. She will surely love you if you behave well and learn to call her 'auntie'... Hmm, forget it. She has a fiery temper, so it's better for you to call her 'sister.' Remember to greet Miss Xun nicely when you meet her, then she might give you candies, understand?"

She held his tiny fingers gently and spoke warmly.

"Yan'er, just wait a little longer. Winter will pass soon, and when flowers bloom in spring, we'll go home."

But that winter seemed to stretch on endlessly.

That year was plagued by disasters; malevolent spirits ran rampant in the Lower Realm. Lin Yi strengthened its city defenses, forbidding ordinary citizens from entering or leaving. Thus, Duan Yihan had no choice but to stay put.

She took up work at a shop to earn money for their living expenses. However, secrets have a way of leaking out. Someone must have informed Nan Gongyan's wife about her husband's dalliances. In short, not long after Duan Yihan started working at the bun shop, she was unceremoniously fired without any explanation.

From then on, Duan Yihan faced discrimination and could not find work in Lin Yi. She resorted to performing on the streets with her young son to beg for food. On several occasions, she sang softly and elegantly on the streets while Nan Gongyan, dressed in fine attire and riding a fierce horse, passed by with an entourage of followers.

He felt guilty and tried to avoid her.

In reality, there was no need for him to do so. Despite her vulnerability, Duan Yihan possessed a proud spirit. She simply sang Xiangtan's folk songs, not even sparing the man a glance, nor would she cry out to her former lover in public, asking why he was so heartless.

He never truly understood how dignified this pipa player was.

Observing her face, stained with tears, and her gentle demeanor despite her tattered clothes, one might wonder why she would fix her gaze upon a stranger in such a manner.

Someone casually tossed a copper coin at her as they passed by.

She bowed her head, just like the captivating Music Fairy of old, and softly thanked the kind gentleman, "Many thanks for your benevolence."

Days went by like this. The Lower Realm was plagued with strife, yet Lin Yi remained an impartial spectator, with the Demon-Repelling Wall standing tall.

It stood there for five long years.

Mo Ran turned five years old.

On one particular day, Nan Gongyan had an argument with his wife and, feeling vexed, wandered around aimlessly, eventually strolling through the Western Market. It was a sunny day, and he watched the various jewelry and pastry shops with little interest, hands behind his back. Under a large banyan tree, a group of elderly men were engrossed in a game of chess.

Lin Yi had always been a blessed land; the deaths in the Lower Realm mattered little to them. For a hundred years, their lives had been filled with joy and revelry.

Nan Gongyan approached to watch the elders play chess.

Dressed in casual attire, nobody recognized him. He cheerfully offered strategic advice from the side, but his interference eventually annoyed the old men, who then chased him away.

Nan Gongyan, having suffered a setback, felt discontented. He took a few steps forward and stood beneath another large tree, gazing at a golden-thread embroidered birdcage hanging from a branch. Within the cage, a thrush sang melodiously.

Perhaps it was due to the pleasant sunlight that soothed his mood, as Nan Gongyan stood there, he suddenly recalled a gentle and amiable maiden from over five years ago in Xiangtan Tower.

Leaning his head sideways, he teased the thrush, "Hm, can you sing a Xiang tune?"

The thrush, of course, couldn't sing and continued its chirping.

Nan Gongyan sighed and hummed the small tune that Duan Yihan had sung countless times by his ear many years ago.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious voice echoed behind him, reciting with tender emotion, "In the wilderness, low-hanging clouds and biting winds bring chill; The icy snow seals the well, blanketing the world." The voice was like a string of jade beads, tinkling softly.

It felt like a déjà vu. He turned around abruptly.

Having deliberately avoided her for so long, he hadn't seen her in ages. Yet, amidst the bustling marketplace and the stream of passersby, he caught sight of that delicate and gentle woman—just as she had appeared in his unspoken dreams about his wife over the years.

He encountered her again.

Duan Yihan stood on the street corner with a frail child, the mother singing a nostalgic song that once could not be bought for a fortune, hoping to evoke compassion from the gentlemen passing by and earn a meal's worth of coins.

She sang softly, "On this main road, before and behind the hills, countless travelers pass by... through front and rear mountains."

Countless people came and went before her, yet none paused for her.

Though her song was delightful, it was but an intangible melody. No one was willing to pay for her performance of it.

"..., parting from my lover is easy, but meeting again is hard. Gazing afar at the river and mountains veiled in mist, feeling the chill in the air." Suddenly, a pair of shoes, embroidered with golden threads and inlaid with emerald green jade, appeared before her eyes. She heard a man humming the unfinished tune she had been singing, "Countless flying wild geese, but no letter arrives. By the well, tears pile up, awaiting your sight."

Duan Yihan froze for a moment, then slowly lifted her gaze.

She saw him again.

He remained as handsome and dashing as he had been over five years ago, with an imposing demeanor and striking good looks. Time seemed to have left no mark on him.

In his eyes, Duan Yihan saw her reflection. From a delicate flower by the water's edge five years prior, she had become a weathered woman, devoid of charm, and unappealing to behold.

Yet, Nan Gongyan looked at her with a touch of profound affection.

After many years of marriage, his wife, upon learning of his past love affairs, though not daring to voice her displeasure outright, had often shown her discontent by throwing tantrums and acting haughty. Their son, too, was a wayward troublemaker. Standing before Duan Yihan today, witnessing her current state, a twinge of guilt and sympathy stirred within him.

Duan Yihan fell silent, lowering her eyelids and ceasing her singing.

"Mother?" Mo Ran, puzzled, turned to look at her.

Duan Yihan replied, "Mother is tired today. Let's go home."

Mo Ran obediently nodded, smiling. "Then we'll go back and rest. I'll figure out dinner."

The mother and son started to walk away together.

Nan Gongyan called out to them, "You..."

His gaze then fell upon Mo Ran.

The child was thin and small, clad in tattered clothes, but he was sensible and had a handsome face.

Suddenly, Nan Gongyan realized that this was his own child.

His flesh and blood.

He reached out and gently stroked Mo Ran's head.

Mo Ran, unaware of who this person was, squinted his eyes and allowed the man to tousle his black hair. "Mm..."

Nan Gongyan recalled that year when Duan Yihan had come to his residence, cradling an infant like a tiny kitten, seeking his help.

Back then, she had said, "He doesn't have a name yet."

"Nan Gongyan asked, "What's your name?"

"Ran-er."

"What's your family name?"

"I don't have one."

Nan Gongyan shot Duan Yihan a rather sour look. He didn't know what impulse had driven him to say, "Otherwise, you could—"

Before he could finish, he spotted a group of Confucian Wind Sect cultivators rounding the corner of the street.

Nan Gongyan's reverie was interrupted.

He jolted back to reality with a start.

Their eyes met again, but Duan Yihan's gaze, once warm and smiling at him, now appeared distant and devoid of any youthful fantasies. Even when he had almost recognized them just now, her expression had been cool.

She had long since seen through this man.

As a result, Nan Gongyan looked somewhat disheveled and embarrassed. To hide his feelings, he cleared his throat and generously emptied the pouch of gold and jewels into Mo Ran's hands.

He patted Mo Ran's head. "Your mother sings beautifully. These treasures belong to her."

But a slender hand reached out from Mo Ran to take the money pouch.

Duan Yihan took only a single copper coin from the bag, placing it in the broken bowl that Mo Ran held. Then, she returned the heavy purse of jewels and silver to Nan Gongyan.

She didn't say much, simply bowing to him softly and calmly, as she would to any passerby who had given her alms.

She politely thanked him, "Thank you, Master, for your kindness."

With that, she turned and left.

She was Xiangtan's Leixian, once the center of attention, with her melodies and dances captivating all. When crowds flocked to see her, she never acted haughty. Now, with faded finery and aging beauty, she could only beg on the streets, but she didn't allow herself to feel inferior.

It was on that day that Mo Ran sensed something amiss in Duan Yihan's subtle demeanor. Through indirect inquiries and persistent pleading, he eventually learned the truth about his origins.

"Duan Yihan told you this so I wouldn't deceive you," she said. "But Little Ran, remember, don't hold a grudge against him. Don't seek anything from him."

As she spoke, she poked at Mo Ran's little head.

"When the cultivation world's calamity is over, and Lin Yi allows ordinary people to travel freely, we'll return to Xiangtan," she said.

Mo Ran was silent for a long time before nodding. "I won't seek anything from him. Ama, let's go back to Xiangtan."

Duan Yihan smiled. "I wonder if Sister Xun will still recognize me. I'm not as pretty anymore."

Mo Ran grew anxious. "Ama, you're still beautiful."

"Hmm?"

"Amy is the most beautiful."

Duan Yihan's smile bloomed even brighter, her eyes and brows evoking the charm of that stunning beauty from years past. Teasing him, she said, "With such a sweet tongue, you'll have to dote on whoever marries you in the future."

Mo Ran felt a bit embarrassed. He pursed his lips, but after a while, he still revealed his little baby teeth in a grin.

"When I grow up, I want to find a wife as beautiful as a celestial maiden, and then we can both be with you, Amy."

"Aiyah, your dreams are too lofty. Which celestial maiden would marry you?"

The mother and son laughed and played together, the crackling fire in the shed providing warmth. It seemed as if every day would continue on like this, peacefully. The fire and the night offered the poor a deceptive comfort, so at that time, neither of them anticipated that Duan Yihan's days were numbered.

"It was in the autumn of the year I turned five," Mo Ran continued. "Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Because the Confucian Wind Sect had been isolated for so long, there wasn't enough food in Lin Yi. They adjusted the prices, essentially telling the poor to curb their appetites and not compete with the rich for food."

Xue Zhengyong listened with a mix of emotions swirling within him, his thoughts in disarray. But upon hearing Mo Ran's words, he pondered for a moment before nodding.

"Yes, I remember that price hike. There were riots by famine-stricken people in Lin Yi afterward, and only then did the Confucian Wind Sect lower the prices again. It lasted for... about a year?"

Jiang Xi replied, "I recall it being half a year."

Mo Ran closed his eyes and said, "It wasn't that long. It was one month and five days. It only lasted a mere thirty-five days."