The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 290: "The Peak of Life and Death" - Cold Plums Bloom Together

Xue Meng lay on the ground, his mind muddled from intoxication, unaware that he had just encountered the most formidable demon in the world. He remained sprawled face-up in the snow, as the pure snowflakes from the summit of Kunlun fell gently, like willow catkins in spring or reed seeds in autumn, covering him.

After an indeterminate time, someone approached through the heavy snow, holding a bright red paper umbrella. Squinting, Xue Meng caught sight of a cold, serene face.

"Mei...," he muttered, but didn't finish with "Hanxue." He was too exhausted.

"Hmm, it's me," Mei Hanxue replied, not one for many words, as he helped Xue Meng to his feet.

Leaning against Mei Hanxue's shoulder, Xue Meng didn't move away. Instead, he asked, "Got any wine?"

Mei Hanxue replied, "No."

Xue Meng pretended not to hear. "Alright, alright, then will you have a drink with me?"

"...No."

Xue Meng fell silent for a moment before scoffing and laughing. "Look at you, you dog, earlier when I didn't want to drink, you forced me to down the wine. Now that I've had some, you tell me there's none left. Are you playing with me?"

"I abstain from alcohol."

Xue Meng grumbled a few more words, sounding like he was cursing. Then he pushed Mei Hanxue away and stumbled into the vast, snowy landscape. Mei Hanxue held the umbrella, watching his slightly hunched back without following. He simply asked, "Where are you going?"

He himself didn't know where he should go; he only wished there was more alcohol to drown himself in.

Mei Hanxue said, "Come back, there's no path ahead."

Xue Meng abruptly halted. He stood there, dazed, then suddenly burst into tears. "I just wanted to have some damn wine! You won't even let me! If I don't want to drink, fine, but why did you lie and say you abstain from it?! Are you even human?!"

"… I didn't lie to you."

Xue Meng wouldn't listen, howling, "Are any of you even human?!"

"…"

"Can't you see I'm not in the mood?!"

Mei Hanxue said, "I can tell."

Xue Meng was taken aback, then grew even more aggrieved, his nose reddening. "F-fine, fine, fine. Even if you see it, you won't accompany me for a drink. Are you afraid I'll freeload your alcohol and not pay you? Let me tell you, I'm not that poor..."

As he spoke, he really did fumble in his pockets, producing a pile of scattered copper coins. He counted them over and over again, only to become even sadder. "Ah, why is there so little?"

Mei Hanxue rubbed his forehead, clearly experiencing a headache. "Xue Meng, you're drunk. You should go rest first."

Before Xue Meng could reply, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from behind him.

Another gentle voice rang out, "Big Brother, why are you arguing with a drunk person?"

As the words faded, a hand clad in a silk glove reached out, holding a leather bag, its wrist adorned with tinkling silver bells. Mei Hanxue glanced sideways and turned around—

Behind him stood a man who looked exactly like him, except that his face wore a deep smile and his eyes were extremely gentle.

"There are actually only two ways to deal with a drunkard," the man chuckled. "Drown him in more alcohol or knock him unconscious."

Mei Hanxue: "..............."

The man winked at Mei Hanxue as he spoke, "I know Big Brother doesn't drink. You go back, I'll keep him company."

A faint, light blue smoke swirled gracefully, filled with emotion yet elusive.

The master's quarters in the Treading Snow Palace were infused with the rich and costly scent of dragon's saliva. The room was covered in white plush carpets that reached up to one's ankles, and sheer curtains obscured the passing of day and night. With the breeze lifting the gauzy drapes and then settling them back down, it created an ethereal atmosphere.

Mei Hanxue lay barefoot on the white carpet, propping his chin on his hand. His jade-like toes rubbed together carelessly as he gazed at Xue Meng, who sat cross-legged before him, drinking heartily.

After several rounds of drinking, Mei Hanxue smiled and asked, "Hey, Ziming, aren't you surprised?"

"What should I be surprised about?"

"We're two people here."

Xue Meng responded, "…Oh."

Mei Hanxue shook his head. "I forgot how terrible your tolerance for alcohol is. When you're drunk, your mind might function differently from others, so there's no surprise there."

Xue Meng huffed.

"I wonder if you noticed that it was my elder brother who shielded you from that sword on the Summit of Life and Death."

"I don't recall."

Mei Hanxue continued, "You've seen his weapon, Frostwind. A sword forged from silver-hued black iron."

Xue Meng frowned, trying hard to remember. "But the person who blocked the attack for me in the hall that day was very ugly. And their weapon wasn't silver—it was...it was..."

"It was blue," Mei Hanxue nodded understandingly. "That day, he was angry and anxious, so he infused it with spirit flow. Normally, he doesn't do that. My brother isn't one to deal harsh blows."

"..."

"Actually, we both use that sword. I have a Wood-Water spirit core, while he has a Water-Fire spirit core. If you get the chance, you'll see green, red, and blue spirit flows. But..."

He didn't finish his sentence because Xue Meng didn't seem too interested. Halfway through listening, Xue Meng started sipping his wine with a detached expression.

Mei Hanxue narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, he found Xue Meng's demeanor not as arrogant and overbearing as usual, but rather cold. This coldness made Xue Meng seem like an entirely different person, not himself.

But like whom?

Mei Hanxue couldn't think of anyone at the moment, nor did he bother to try. His way of doing things had always been as leisurely as the thin stream of smoke emitted by the agarwood incense burner, drifting wherever it pleased, weightless and unbothered.

Xue Meng drained another goatskin bag of wine and then asked Mei Hanxue, "Is there more wine?"

"There is, but you've already had too much. You shouldn't have any more."

Xue Meng replied, "I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."

Mei Hanxue chuckled. "Are you sick or something?" Despite his words, he still passed the wine over, speaking softly beforehand, "This is the last jug. If I give you any more, my brother will skin me alive when he finds out."

Xue Meng drank slowly, his expression cold.

He didn't resemble Xue Meng at all.

As they drank, Xue Meng suddenly murmured, "You have an older brother."

"Ahh," Mei Hanxue smiled. "What else would I have? We've talked for so long, and you saw him just now."

Xue Meng's gaze was somewhat unfocused, his long eyelashes resembling butterflies resting on his cheeks. He murmured again, "I also have an older brother."

"Mm-hmm, I know."

Leaning against the pillar, Xue Meng had grown numb from sitting cross-legged for too long. He straightened one leg and gazed at Mei Hanxue for a while.

Suddenly, the cold expression on his face vanished, replaced by a radiant glow in his eyes. However, beneath this radiance, Xue Meng still didn't quite resemble himself.

He asked with a smile, "Hey, how does your brother treat you?"

Mei Hanxue was surprised by the change in him. Was this how this person behaved when drunk? Nonetheless, he replied, "…He treats me well."

"Ahaha, you really are frugal with your words. What do you mean by 'treats you well'? Does he forge weapons for you, or cook you noodles when you're sick?"

Mei Hanxue smiled and said, "Neither. But he shields me from women."

Xue Meng: "…"

"I don't particularly enjoy seeing my ex-lovers make a scene," Mei Hanxue explained. "When I can't handle them, he steps in. He's much more decisive than me, not letting emotions cloud his judgment nor getting entangled in messy situations. But he lacks a sense of romance, so despite his age, he's never even held a girl's hand."

Xue Meng wrinkled his nose. "What's your brother's name?"

"Mei Hanxue."

"The same as you?"

"Our names have different characters," he said with a smile. "His is the cold 'han,' fitting for his name."

Xue Meng grumbled, "Why do you guys have to go through all this trouble..."

Mei Hanxue replied, "It makes things easier. Some tasks aren't strange when done by two people, but if others believe they were accomplished by one person, it seems more mysterious. The Palace Master intended for us to work like this, so we've been doing it since we were young."

As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the incense burner and used a silver spoon to stir the remaining ashes before adding more calming and warming scents. His voice was gentle.

"Both of us always carry human-faced masks. When he wears his, I reveal my true appearance, and when I wear mine, he acts as himself. We've been doing this for over twenty years."

"Isn't that tiring?"

"Not really, it's quite fun." Mei Hanxue chuckled. "But I suppose my brother might find it exhausting. He always says I've accumulated too many debts of passion outside, making him have to avoid those female cultivators when he goes out."

Xue Meng had never experienced being surrounded by female cultivators. In fact, he felt that his situation wasn't much different from Mei Hanxue's – at their age, neither of them had even held a woman's hand before.

But there was nothing to boast about in such a matter. He thus drank silently, saying nothing.

Mei Hanxue assumed Xue Meng was drunk and his mind wasn't functioning properly. However, at this moment, Xue Meng suddenly asked him, "Why did you save me?"

The tone of his voice had changed again, this time becoming gentle.

This gentleness was too incongruous on Xue Meng's face. It was more striking than the radiance he had shown earlier and the coldness he had displayed before that.

Mei Hanxue finally couldn't take it anymore. He sat up, raised his hand adorned with silver bells, and held Xue Meng's chin, turning his head back and forth as he examined him. "Strange, it's definitely me. What's going on?"

Xue Meng didn't resist, allowing him to manipulate his face. His dark eyes gazed quietly at Mei Hanxue. After a while, he asked again, "Why did you help Death and Rebirth Peak? Are we close?"

"Not particularly," Mei Hanxue replied. "We played together when we were young, but one day it was me, and the next, it was my brother. Actually, I only spent about ten days with you."

"Then why did you agree to take me in?"

Mei Hanxue sighed. Extending a slender finger, he poked Xue Meng between his eyebrows. "Your mother and father saved my mother's life. …She was from Shattered Leaf City, which you know has many vengeful spirits. After giving birth to us brothers, she sent us to Kunlun's Treading Snow Palace. Later, when the city was plagued by evil spirits, there were heavy casualties. She barely managed to escape but lost a leg."

The newly added spice carried a crisp, woody fragrance reminiscent of cedar.

Mei Hanxue smiled. "After a long and arduous journey with no silver in hand, I was near death when we arrived at the foot of Kunlun Mountain."

His features remained gentle, with the crimson droplet forehead ornament sparkling between his brows.

"At that time, Uncle Xue and Aunt Wang made their first visit to the Treading Snow Palace on Kunlun. They found my mother on her last breath. Without inquiring about her past or seeking any payment, they provided the finest medicine to heal her. Upon learning that she was searching for her son, they even carried her up Mount Kunlun."

Xue Meng was momentarily speechless, listening in a daze.

After a long while, he asked, "Then, what happened to your mother?"

"Her illness was too severe," Mei Hanxue shook his head. "There was no way to save her, so she passed away... But thanks to Uncle and Aunt, we were able to see her one last time."

A gentle breeze blew in from outside, dispelling the smoke within the room. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves rang softly.

Like the sound of rippling water.

"All these years, Uncle and Aunt always said there was no need to thank them; it was just a small favor. Eventually, they even forgot about it themselves, but my elder brother and I still remember," Mei Hanxue lifted his green eyes, gazing at him peacefully.

Too much time had passed; when he spoke of it, the pain was invisible, replaced only by a gentle demeanor.

On that day, Uncle Xue carried my mother on his back while Aunt Wang held an umbrella by her side, afraid that my mother might catch a chill again. As Uncle and Aunt entered the palace, the first matter they addressed was neither the official business of the Summit of Life and Death nor a desire to form an alliance or friendly relations with Treading Snow Palace. Instead, they inquired if there were a pair of twins from Shattered Leaf City residing within these walls.

Soft golden lashes droop, veiling the clear, jade-like waters.

"To be honest, that was the most extraordinary Sect Leader and Sect Leader's Spouse I have ever laid eyes on in my life."

Xue Meng choked with emotion, "My parents..."

Mei Hanxue hummed in response, "Your parents."

Xue Meng buried his face in his palms, his shoulders trembling slightly. He was weeping again, as if he were shedding all the tears he had left in him during these tumultuous months of disintegration.

He cried, and at last, he transformed back into Xue Meng.

Only then did Mei Hanxue realizel –

Back then, when he coldly declared, "I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk," it was Chu Wanning.

He asked brightly, "Do you also have an older brother?" That was Mo Weiyu.

He spoke gently, "Why did you save me?" That was Shi Mingjing.

He was struggling and clumsily recalling their appearances, every detail, every glance, every smile, whether they were sitting, standing, angry, or annoyed.

In the past, he was accustomed to Chu Wanning's cold determination, Mo Weiyu's fiery passion, and Shi Mingjing's tenderness. Back then, he had a master, an elder cousin, and a dear friend.

Suddenly, a night of rain battered the reeds, shattering mountains and dispersing the land like fragmented silk.

When the rain stopped, he was the only one left in his original place.

They had all vanished.

Xue Meng, alone, carried a flask of muddled wine, drinking it down, becoming three in one.

He cried, laughed, remained indifferent, burned with passion, was gentle, and he loved them all. He expressed his affection respectfully, rebelliously, and awkwardly.

Perhaps he hadn't expressed it well enough, his love for his master always seemed foolish. His affection for his cousin appeared sharp. And his feelings for Shi Mo appeared indifferent.

The wine was finished, and Xue Meng curled himself up slowly. He shrunk so small, his eyes rimmed red.

He said, "It's my fault... I was wrong..."

Please come back.

I won't be arrogant anymore, won't be reckless, won't hesitate, won't be indifferent.

Xue Meng wept, his forehead pressed against his knees, his entire body trembling gently. Through his tears, he pleaded, "Come back... Don't leave me alone."

If only old friends could return, if only everything could start anew. He no longer yearned for the prestige of being a favored child of heaven, nor the grandeur of being the young master of the Peak of Life and Death.

He just wanted to tell them frankly and passionately—

I truly, truly love you all, I can't live without you, my life is intertwined with yours.

I would offer my spirit core, I would give a fortune.

I would sacrifice it all to have our old friends gathered once more, basking in fleeting joy.

Mei Hanxue observed his sorrow, sighed softly, and gently brushed the hair from Xue Meng's earlobe, about to console him when a sudden, rumbling thud echoed outside the palace, akin to thunder rolling through dense clouds, shaking the earth beneath their feet.

The trembling persisted for a while, as if a colossal beast was stirring deep within the snowfield, preparing to exhale powerfully, ready to devour the sun and moon in one breath.

Mei Hanxue sensed trouble. After settling Xue Meng, he was about to leave when he saw his elder brother enter, sword in hand, drawing back the curtains with purposeful strides.

His usually composed older brother's face was grave and dark: "Head to the main hall immediately."

Mei Hanxue was taken aback. "What's going on? What was that sound just now?"

His cool and detached sibling pressed his lips together before responding, "A massive, enigmatic formation has appeared in the northeast. Grandmaster Mo might have been right - the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death is about to open."