The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 28: This Seat's Heart Is In Turmoil

The news of Elder Yu Heng breaking the rules and being punished spread like wildfire. Before dawn the next day, virtually everyone in the sect had heard about it.

Two hundred strikes with a cane could kill an ordinary person. Even for cultivators, it was no small ordeal.

When Xue Meng heard this, he leaped to his feet. "What?! Master went to the Court of Discipline?!"

"Master, you must go speak with the Lord immediately. Master is already injured; how can he endure two hundred strikes?"

Xue Meng was beside himself with worry. "Father? No, Father isn't back from Treading Snow Palace yet. A message by carrier pigeon won't arrive until at least tomorrow. Why didn't any of you stop Master?"

Mo Ran exchanged a look with Shi Mo.

Stop Chu Wanning?

Who in this world could stop him?

"No, no, I'll go find him right away." Xue Meng dashed off towards the Court of Discipline. Before he even reached the courtyard, he saw a group of disciples from the court blocking the entrance to the main hall, whispering among themselves.

"What are you all standing around for? Get out of the way! Move aside!"

"Master Chu!"

"Ahh, Master Chu is here."

"Make way, Master Chu is here."

The disciples quickly parted to create a path for Xue Meng. The Azure Heaven Hall's doors were wide open, and Chu Wanning knelt inside with his back straight and eyes closed, not uttering a single word. The elder in charge of discipline held an iron rod high, reciting the laws of the Peak of Life and Death. After finishing each law, he struck Chu Wanning's back with the rod.

"The ninety-first law of our sect states that one must not harm the innocent or use immortal techniques against mortals. Under the rod, do you have any grievances?"

"No grievances."

"The ninety-second law: one must not act recklessly or indulge in personal desires. Under the rod, do you have any grievances?"

"No grievances."

The elder in charge of discipline dared not show mercy and carried out the punishment impartially. After over ninety strikes, Chu Wanning's white robes were entirely soaked through with blood.

Xue Meng held the highest respect for Chu Wanning. Witnessing the scene, veins popped in his eyes as he yelled, "Master!"

Chu Wanning ignored him, keeping his eyes closed with his brows slightly knitted.

The elder in charge of discipline glanced at the door and whispered, "Elder Yu Heng, the young master has arrived."

"I'm not deaf; I heard him," Chu Wanning replied, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth without lifting his gaze. "He's just a child making noise, don't pay attention."

The elder in charge of discipline sighed. "…Why must you do this, Yu Heng?"

"Who else can I blame but myself for my disciple's disobedience?" Chu Wanning said nonchalantly. "If I don't accept punishment according to the rules today, how will I have the face to discipline others in the future?"

"…"

"You may proceed."

"Sigh…" The elder gazed at his slender, pale neck peeking out from the wide collar of his robe, hanging down like a gentle wisp of smoke, and couldn't help but say, "Can you at least be a bit gentler?"

"…What difference does it make between this and deception?" Chu Wanning responded. "Relax, it's only two hundred strikes. I can endure it."

"Elder Yu Heng..."

"Enforcer, there's no need for further explanation. Proceed."

The iron cane finally struck down once more.

Xue Meng's voice distorted with anger. "Enforcer Elder! Don't you fucking stop? Where do you think you're putting this young master? You're hitting my master!! MY MASTER!!!"

Enforcer Elder had no choice but to ignore him and press on.

Xue Meng was seething with rage. "Old bastard, didn't you hear me? This young master is ordering you to stop! If you—If you dare lay another hand on him, I—I—I—"

He rambled on, unable to think of anything else to say. After all, he was just a fifteen-year-old boy, no matter how much of a "prized offspring of heaven." His strength and seniority were far below that of the elders, leaving him to stammer out an unreasonable threat through his flushed face and neck.

"I'll tell my father about this!!!"

Enforcer Elder: "..."

Chu Wanning let out a barely perceptible sigh.

Ninety-seven strokes. Ninety-eight strokes. Ninety-nine strokes. One hundred strokes...

His clothes were torn, revealing bloody wounds that were ghastly to behold.

Xue Meng could no longer endure it. His eyes reddened with urgency, and he rashly attempted to rush inside. But Chu Wanning suddenly opened his eyes, waving his hand to create a barrier that instantly slashed down, blocking the entrance and sending Xue Meng stumbling backward, almost falling to the ground.

Coughing up blood, Chu Wanning swiveled his eyes, his sharp phoenix-like gaze slanting disdainfully.

"Embarrassing yourself! Scram back!"

"Shifu!"

Chu Wanning barked fiercely, "Since when can the young master of Death and Rebirth Peak order an elder in charge of discipline to turn a blind eye to the rules? Scram now!"

Xue Meng glared at him, his eyes wide with tears threatening to spill over.

Mo Ran rubbed his chin, still wearing that subtle quirk at the corners of his lips. "Oh dear, not good. The little phoenix is about to cry."

Upon hearing this, Xue Meng spun around, glaring fiercely at Mo Ran. His reddened, tear-filled eyes struggled to hold back the tears from falling.

No complaints, no more backtalk.

He quickly scrambled to his feet, bowed his head, and brushed off the dust from his body with gritted teeth. Then, he knelt toward the Azure Heaven Hall: "Master, I know my mistake."

Chu Wanning was still enduring the beating of the iron rod, his back never once bending, though his face had turned pale, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Xue Meng insisted, "But I won't leave. I'll stay with Master."

With that said, he remained kneeling, not rising.

Mo Ran's eyes nearly rolled up into his head. Xue Meng, Xue Ziming, the pride of heaven, yet before Chu Wanning, they were humbly submissive to the core. They were phoenixes before others but quails before their master. If not for being certain that Xue Meng didn't fancy men, Mo Ran would've suspected that this guy must have a crush on Chu Wanning to be so steadfastly devoted. If Master slapped him on the left cheek, this little quail would shamelessly offer the right one.

He was convinced, utterly convinced.

Truly a bootlicker through and through.

Though he inwardly despised it, his cheeks inexplicably tingled with a sour sensation. Staring at Xue Meng, Mo Ran found it increasingly unbearable. He couldn't let Xue Meng have all the loyalty to himself.

Chu Wanning already disliked him. With Xue Meng's antics, wouldn't Chu Wanning favor him even more in the future?

He thus simply knelt down beside Xue Meng.

"I'll accompany Master as well."

Of course, Shi Mo followed and knelt down. The three disciples waited outside on their knees. Upon hearing the news, disciples from other elders rushed over to the Law Court under various pretexts, eager to witness the spectacle.

"Oh my god, it's Elder Yu Heng…"

"I heard he lost his temper and hit an ordinary person."

"Ah! So fierce?"

"Hush, keep your voice down. If Elder Yu Heng hears you, he'll punish you!"

Someone else asked, "Why is Young Master Mo kneeling?"

"And Mo Ran is too…."

Mo Ran was handsome and had a sweet tongue, which had won him much favor from female cultivators. Now, some of them couldn't help but feel sympathetic, whispering, "I feel so bad for Young Master Mo. What should we do? Should we beg for mercy on his behalf?"

"Our business with their master-disciple relationship is none of our concern. If you dare to go, then go ahead. I'm too cowardly for that. Do you still remember the senior sister who was whipped hundreds of times by Elder Yu Heng?"

"..............."

The two hundred strokes finally came to an end.

Xue Meng scrambled to his feet and rushed to the Azure Heaven Palace, rolling and crawling along the way. As he approached Chu Wanning, he let out an angry cry at the sight of his condition and grabbed the collar of the Discipline Elder. "You old bastard! Couldn't you have been a little more gentle?!"

"Xue Ziming," Chu Wanning said with his eyes closed. His bloodied lips moved, and his hoarse voice carried an invisible air of intimidation.

"..."

Xue Meng's knuckles cracked as he pushed the Discipline Elder away. At this moment, Mo Ran arrived, still smiling, believing that the Discipline Elder would hold back due to Chu Wanning's status. But when he saw the severity of Chu Wanning's injuries, his smile froze.

Chu Wanning hadn't told the Discipline Elder about his injured shoulder?!

Those two hundred strokes, to some extent, had landed heavily on the old scar on his shoulder.

New wounds overlapped old ones.

Chu Wanning, you...

Have you lost your mind?!

His pupils constricted, a surge of intense resentment welling up inside him.

Mo Ran wasn't sure what he was resenting or angry about; he only felt a blazing fire rise in his stomach, scorching his organs and searing his intestines. He was accustomed to Chu Wanning being tormented until he was on the brink of death, to having his pride crushed and his purity defiled. But Mo Ran couldn't tolerate the sight of Chu Wanning's battered body, injuries inflicted by someone else!

Perhaps because of his memories from his previous life, Mo Ran subconsciously felt that Chu Wanning belonged to him. Whether alive or dead, whether despised or hated, it was all his domain.

He hadn't cared about Chu Wanning being punished before, assuming that as an elder, those two hundred strokes wouldn't be too severe.

At the very least, they would avoid the unhealed wound on his shoulder.

But Chu Wanning didn't say a word! Not a word! What was this madman stubbornly holding onto? What was he enduring silently? What foolish determination was driving him?!?

His mind was in a fog, but before Mo Ran could reach out to help, Xue Meng had already stepped forward, supporting Chu Wanning and helping him to his feet.

"..." Mo Ran's hand lingered in the air for a moment before he let it fall.

He watched helplessly as Xue Meng supported Chu Wanning away, his heart filled with indescribable emotions.

He wanted to follow them but found himself unwilling to take a step forward.

All the events from his past life were behind them now.

Currently, Chu Wanning was merely his master.

None of the chaotic, hateful, or romantically entangled conflicts between them had transpired yet.

He shouldn't be having such thoughts. No matter who hurt Chu Wanning, who supported him, who he chose to be with, or even if he were killed, it was none of Mo Ran's concern.

Shi Mo came to stand beside him. "Let's go. We'll accompany Young Master to see what's happening."

"I'm not going. Xue Meng is enough. I can't be of any assistance, and too many people would just make things more chaotic." Mo Ran maintained a calm exterior, but his mind was in turmoil.

He truly couldn't comprehend what he was feeling right now.

Is it hatred?

Author's Note:

Here's Character Profile Sticker No. 2.

Xue Meng

Given Name: Ziming.

Posthumous Title: This person has never died.

Occupation: His father is the founding king of a realm, making him the young master of the founding king.

In simpler terms: A mining heir.

Social Standing: An outstanding, yet unapprenticed, cultivator talent.

In simpler terms: An unemployed youth.

Current Favorite: Being praised, extolled, lavished with compliments.

Favorite Food: Hot pot, preferably absurdly spicy.

Dislikes: Not being praised.

Height: Currently 169 cm, will be 178 cm when fully grown.