The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 294: A Stormy Night at the Edge of Life and Death

This was not an ideal place for conversation. With Chu Wanning in tow, Heaven-Stepping Lord braved the tempestuous winds and rain back to the Wu Mountain Palace. The corner of the eaves where Xue Meng and the others had been were now empty; it was understandable, given Mei Hanxue's intelligence, that he knew when to retreat.

Kicking the door open, they entered the warm and dry palace hall, drenched from the storm.

The lamp that had been left burning for Chu Wanning's return had already been extinguished.

Heaven-Stepping Lord paid no heed. If the moth refused to fly into the flame, he could just as well be a spider patiently weaving his web, luring his prey into his lair.

He roughly pushed Chu Wanning onto the bed, looking down at the silent man with a pale, ashen face, his eyes cold.

He felt that there were many things he wanted to say, but after moving his lips, what emerged was a tepid, ominous remark:

"What does it take? Must this seat become like him for you to look at me again?"

He lifted Chu Wanning's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. The face beneath his touch was wet and cold.

"Chu Wanning, you'd better understand one thing," he growled through gritted teeth. "Grandmaster Mo is no longer in this world. No matter how much you miss him, he will never come back."

Chu Wanning seemed pricked by a needle, his usually numb expression trembling faintly. This reaction only fueled Heaven-Stepping Lord's jealousy, and he abruptly felt a surge of anger, pressing against the other's cold lips.

Familiar with both kissing and undressing, the man before him might be stubborn, but after so many years, Mo Ran knew how to devour him.

The resistance was identical to their past life, and Heaven-Stepping Lord effortlessly deflected the attack. Then, he grabbed the medicinal pill prepared by the bedside and forcefully brought it to the other's lips.

"At least we've reunited after a long time. I don't want to see you looking unwilling. Come, swallow it."

Seeing Chu Wanning frown and struggle, his gaze turned cold, and with almost brutal force, he pressed the pill into the other's mouth, causing blood to seep from Chu Wanning's lips. Only then did he manage to force the pill inside, immediately leaning down to lick and suck at those thin lips.

His rough tongue slipped in, pressing against the pill that could melt bones and soften intestines, moistly and forcefully pushing it down Chu Wanning's throat.

"Ugh..."

A thick, metallic scent spread across their lips and teeth. The soft, wet tongue forced the pill to the back of Chu Wanning's throat, leaving him unable to resist as he swallowed it whole.

Mo Ran released him, and Chu Wanning immediately arched his body, coughing violently and retching nauseously.

"Such a shallow throat?"

"..."

"You didn't seem to have any trouble swallowing when you were doing it for him."

Chu Wanning's face paled abruptly. He turned around, his eyes wide with shock, staring at Heaven-Stepping Lord's pale, mocking face as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"How could you think that no one would know about what happened between you two?" Heaven-Stepping Lord said, his expression a mix of smugness and fury. "In fact, I know more about your secret dealings than anyone else."

With that, he peeled off his wet robe and climbed onto the bed. The soft furs sank beneath him as his broad, well-proportioned shoulders arched slightly, his arms supporting him as he looked down at the man lying beneath him.

Damp strands of hair fell across Chu Wanning's forehead, the raindrops trickling down his cheeks and catching Heaven-Stepping Lord's gaze.

Heaven-Stepping Lord's eyes darkened as he leaned forward, extending his tongue to lick away the glistening droplets.

Feeling Chu Wanning's body tense up, he chuckled softly. "You're still so sensitive, aren't you?"

"..." If in the past, Chu Wanning would have lashed out, demanding to be left alone, now, his heart was numb with despair. He merely bit his lower lip, remaining silent and refraining from insults.

But even so, his fingertips and every bone in his body trembled uncontrollably. He despised this loss of control over himself.

Seeing him in distress, Heaven-Stepping Lord became even more composed. Gazing at the reddening face of the man beneath him, caused by both surprise and the drug's effects, he spoke in a slow, soothing tone, "Speaking of which, he hasn't really entered you from behind, has he?"

His hand drifted downward, and he whispered into his ear, "Tell me, is it still as tight as before?"

Despite his handsome features, he spoke such lewd words. His voice grew more alluring with each passing moment, and his fingertips grew bolder in their exploration. The drug's effects intensified under his touch, and as he gazed upon the face he yearned for, his Adam's apple bobbed, his voice deep and smoldering.

"If you don't answer, I'll just have to try it myself... Let me see if you've been thinking of me inside..."

The drug was potent, and its effects were swift. Chu Wanning's back was already numb, his entire body devoid of strength. He could only allow Heaven-Stepping Lord to press into him, lifting his legs onto his shoulders.

He abruptly closed his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering.

Unlike the previous Mo Ran, Heaven-Stepping Lord was never one for much foreplay or tenderness. Chu Wanning could hear him undress, followed by the searing heat pressing against him, ready to pounce and invade.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door outside, "Your Majesty, Senior Holy Hand requests your presence—"

"Get out!"

Amidst the thunderous roar, the sound of porcelain shattering echoed as he had already picked up a teacup from the side and smashed it at the oblivious servant before they could enter.

The temple doors immediately slammed shut, and no one dared to disturb them again.

Heaven-Stepping Lord's rough thumb brushed against Chu Wanning's lips. "Look, it's just you and me now. It can only be you and me."

Outside, the storm raged on, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the sounds within the room gradually subsided.

Underneath the heavy curtains, a disheveled silk quilt was seen sliding off, its edges illuminated unevenly by the ominous flames and electricity outside the window. The rain continued to pour heavily, growing stronger with each passing moment.

In the darkness, Chu Wanning opened his eyes to find the man beside him already asleep. Perhaps due to years of companionship becoming a habit, or maybe because Heaven-Stepping Lord believed he was safe after administering the paralyzing powder, the man slept soundly without any guard. Half of his well-built and symmetrical body still weighed heavily upon Chu Wanning, leaving him struggling for breath.

Turning his head, Chu Wanning gazed at the man's face.

When the Gate of Time and Life first cracked open, he had also come into contact with Heaven-Stepping Lord. He could still recall the icy touch and lifeless chest.

But now, the person pressed against him had a beating heart.

The spiritual core that had been extracted reformed within Heaven-Stepping Lord, turning into something akin to a heart.

—Don't overthink it. Mo Ran is already dead, in any world, he's gone.

Chu Wanning told himself, listening to the slow and steady heartbeat.

Mo Ran was already dead. This was just an empty shell without a soul or spirit.

He knew what he ought to do.

His heart as hard as iron, Chu Wanning gathered light in his palm, but the glow flickered and eventually extinguished.

Silently, Chu Wanning gazed at the man who was so close by.

The lighting was dim, and with Heaven-Stepping Lord's closed eyes and lowered lashes, it was even harder to discern whether this was the past or present.

Chu Wanning suddenly felt that this moment was eerily similar to that rainy night when they first shared a bed in Impermanence Town. That night, he had woken up too, and leaned in to gently kiss Mo Ran's sleeping face.

No... ...no, no, no.

Mo Ran was already dead… Even if there was a heartbeat, it was just a corpse. Even if he could speak, his soul had been lost.

Dead.

Yet why did he still remember events after reincarnation? Why were the emotions in his eyes so vivid and full? Why…

Chu Wanning shuddered, unable to continue his thoughts.

Gritting his teeth, a glow emerged from his hand as he summoned Huai Sha, forming a gleaming golden short sword radiating cold light. In a split second, he rolled over, shut his eyes, and with all his might, mercilessly stabbed towards Heaven-Stepping Lord's chest!

With a sharp "swoosh", the sword went straight through the hilt!

Chu Wanning abruptly opened his eyes, only to find nobody beside him. The blade transformed from Huai Sha had pierced through the bed, but the divine weapon that could cut through steel stopped short of reaching that mindless emperor.

The rain was too intense. A window on the east side, long neglected, suddenly flung open amidst the stormy night, allowing a deluge to pour in, accompanied by gusts of chilly wind.

A blinding bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, illuminating a terrifying face by the bedside with its snowy glow.

"I had been naively hoping that you wouldn't strike again."

"Heaven-Stepping Lord leaned against the bedpost, his bare chest bearing a shallow scratch from evading an attack earlier. He paid no heed to it, instead gazing coldly at Chu Wanning. "I didn't expect you'd still try to kill me."

In a startlingly swift move, he closed in on Chu Wanning, seizing his wrist in an instant. A sharp crack echoed as he dislocated Chu Wanning's arm without hesitation.

"Surprised? It seems I'm stronger than ever before," Heaven-Stepping Lord observed, staring at Chu Wanning's pale, pain-stricken face that remained silent. "These counterattacks must be new to you."

Pausing, he seemed to mock himself. "Actually, there's nothing to be surprised about. If you were left alone here, with no one familiar around and always on high alert, the only fun thing left would be practicing your skills. After seven or eight years like this, you'd improve significantly too."

The radiance of Huai Sha faded away, dissipating into tiny shadows that melded back into Chu Wanning's bones and blood.

Heaven-Stepping Lord offered a faint smile. "Master, once upon a time, all my techniques came from you. But not anymore."

"..."

"For as long as he has been reborn, I've endured in this world. And now, I possess his spirit core." As he spoke, his rough thumb, calloused from practice, brushed Chu Wanning's forehead. "With your abilities, it's impossible for you to kill me, Master."

After a moment, he seemed to recall something, saying, "Master might not know what I've been up to these past years in this dilapidated mortal realm."

His tone was affectionate, never again referring to himself as "Your Majesty."

"I'll show you right away."

The place he intended to take Chu Wanning wasn't far, merely the rear mountain of Life and Death Peak, where the barrier between the Lower Cultivation World was at its weakest.

Their previous battle had soaked his clothes through, and Chu Wanning's were torn beyond wear. But Heaven-Stepping Lord didn't seem concerned; with a pinch of his fingers, he sent a spirit butterfly with a message. In a moment, Uncle Liu entered the hall, carrying a stack of freshly laundered garments.

Behind the curtains, Chu Wanning observed the old servant he hadn't seen in years, his heart a jumbled mix of emotions.

"Your Majesty, the clothes have arrived."

"These old clothes—only you would know where they're kept. You've tidied them up quickly," Heaven-Stepping Lord remarked coolly. "Put them down. You may withdraw."

Knowing that Chu Wanning was within the tent, the old servant's hands trembled slightly. Though he longed for another glimpse of his former master, propriety dictated that he keep his head lowered, kneeling before shuffling out of the hall unsteadily.

The clothes fit perfectly—they had to, for they were Chu Wanning's belongings from his past life.

Mo Ran sat beside him with his slender legs crossed, watching silently as Chu Wanning dressed behind the curtains. His gaze was somewhat unfocused, his thoughts unknown to all, much like how no one could fathom why, even after so many years since Master Chu's death, the Heaven-Stepping Emperor still refused to burn those clothes.

It was something that no one needed anymore.

The rain was still pouring heavily, with black clouds rolling in the night sky, accompanied by eerie phenomena. Yet, Heaven-Stepping Lord nonchalantly opened a protective rain barrier, enveloping both himself and Chu Wanning within. As they passed through pavilions and towers, everything they saw was blurred by the downpour, making the scenery and servants' faces indistinct.

"Your Majesty, Master."

"Salutations to Your Majesty, Master."

After passing the Three Lives Hall, an ominous red glow could already be seen rising from the back mountain at the Bridge of Helplessness. Heaven-Stepping Lord walked ahead, turning his head now to glance at Chu Wanning with a faint smile: "The Peak of Life and Death was established at the intersection of yin and yang, where the barriers are weakest. You used to come here frequently to reinforce them. But have you ever sensed any other aura apart from the ghostly energy?"

Chu Wanning didn't reply, but his fingers clenched into a fist under his robe.

He had some idea of what he was about to witness—Shi Mingjing tearing through space and time, controlling the precious chess game, traversing two mortal worlds, and whatever he planned to do next certainly wouldn't be simple.

"..."

"You've arrived in this mortal realm, so I assume you've passed through many villages and towns," Heaven-Stepping Lord slowed his pace, walking alongside Chu Wanning as he spoke calmly, as if discussing daily matters. "Did you find those villages and towns eerily quiet?"

Together, they passed through a narrow goat track leading to the back mountain, brushing aside the lush, hanging vines and flowers.

Around the next corner lies the cliff of the rear mountain.

Heaven-Stepping Lord abruptly halted, standing at the bend. Behind the cliff, it seemed as if a blazing inferno was raging, casting the rocks in a crimson glow. He turned his face half-way, and the eerie red light seeped into the depths of his eyes. He bared his teeth, revealing a sweetly grotesque smile to Chu Wanning.

"I have prepared for this moment for many years. Master, please proceed."