The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 296: "The Peak of Life and Death" Like a Dream of Yesteryear

Do you understand?

What else could there be to misunderstand? From the very beginning, Shi Mingjing had concealed his true identity from the Peak of Life and Death. For so many years, he had avoided discussing his biological parents altogether. Even when he occasionally mentioned them, it was with just a few words before a sorrowful look would appear in his eyes, making others hesitant to press further.

Lies always have loopholes; the more one speaks, the more likely one is to slip up. This simple principle couldn't have escaped Shi Mo's comprehension.

Reflecting on the past, Shi Mo indeed had never shed a tear, no matter how much injustice he had suffered or how deeply he had been wounded throughout his life...

"Climb in, My Lord will take you to the end of the Path of Martyrdom."

The carriage belonged to the demonic realm, crafted entirely from lustrous gold and adorned with silver inlays depicting various figures of the Demon Domain. At the carriage's yoke were two statues, a bearded man on the left with glaring eyes, holding a ruler. Whoever sculpted him seemed to bear a deep grudge, for the figure was portrayed in an incredibly grotesque manner, instilling revulsion upon sight. On the right stood a plump woman with lowered eyebrows and a serene expression, also wielding a ruler. Though she too was unappealing, her image was marginally more tolerable.

What made one most uncomfortable were the five items suspended in mid-air before the five demonic horses, using spiritual energy: four limbs and a bloodied head. These were wooden replicas, but Chu Wanning, having seen the false Gouchen at the bottom of Jin Chengchi, easily recognized that they represented the appearance of Gouchen, the Supreme Palace Lord.

"All carriages and horses in the demon realm have always been like this," Heaven-Stepping Lord remarked, glancing at the intricately detailed head. "For countless millennia."

Inside the carriage, the small bells on the demonic horses' reins jingled melodiously. Heaven-Stepping Lord reclined comfortably and said, "You must have already guessed who those two miniature figures on the yoke represent."

"…It was Fu Xi and Nuwa."

"Indeed." He smiled. "That old Demon Sovereign hates the Divine Realm with a passion, wishing that the Primordial Deity would pull his carriage for all eternity."

"But why did Shennong escape unscathed?"

"Hua Binan didn't mention this. But it's rumored that Shennong was gentle and kind, not fond of getting involved in battles and killings. His relationship with Fu Xi and Nuwa wasn't particularly close. Presumably, that cunning old fox didn't participate much in the ancient war between gods and demons."

Chu Wanning fell silent and turned to gaze at the crimson Path of Martyrdom outside the window.

The demonic horse was swift, and after about a tea's time, they had reached the end of the bloodstained bridge.

Alighting from the carriage, they found themselves standing on a bridge railing made of stacked white bones, facing an endless sea of clouds. The Gate to the Demon Realm appeared hundreds of times larger than when seen from the Summit of Life and Death. Both its overall structure and intricate details were now clearly visible. It was colossal, as if connecting the heavens above and the void below, engulfed in demonic flames amidst the rainy night. Standing before it, mortals would feel as insignificant as a mayfly before a towering tree or a grain of sand in an ocean.

Chu Wanning gazed at the colossal gate, admiring the exquisitely carved reliefs depicting the five realms. Among them, the Demon Realm held the highest position, followed by the Ghost, Demon, and Human Realms, while the Divine Realm was at the very bottom. Though grandiose, these reliefs exuded an inexplicable eerie aura.

"Do you find it peculiar?" Heaven-Stepping Lord walked beside him, looking at the massive gate alongside. "When I first laid eyes on it, I felt something was off too."

"…"

"It took nearly half an hour to spot the issue," he said.

However, he had no intention of wasting more time for Chu Wanning to stare at it for another half-hour. "All the reliefs on this gate and the stone itself aren't of the same material. They were cast and attached later. It's made from divine bones."

Chu Wanning turned abruptly.

Heaven-Stepping Lord's expression, illuminated by the demonic flames, became even more unpredictable. "During the primordial chaos, when gods and demons battled, the Demon Overlord skinned and stripped the bones from all captured deities, using them to create these reliefs which were embedded in every gateway leading to the demon realm."

His robes flapped wildly in the fierce wind.

"All creatures heading to the demon realm from now on will see how many celestial beings once fell captive to the demons. It also proclaims that the demons behind this gate will never again interact with the celestials for eternity."

After observing the astonishing sight for a while longer, Heaven-Stepping Lord continued, "That's about it. Now that you know what we're doing, do you still have so much resentment?"

"...Killing countless lives just to pave this path home." Chu Wanning lifted his gaze. Even though he knew that Heaven-Stepping Lord was merely a puppet controlled by someone else, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his teeth. "No resentment? Do you expect me to say that it was well done?"

Just as Heaven-Stepping Lord was about to respond, they heard a commotion coming from behind them.

They turned around to see Mu Yanli leading a vast crowd of thousands up the rear slope of the Summit of Life and Death. She hadn't expected to find the two of them here. At first, she was taken aback, then her eyes immediately landed on Chu Wanning.

"How did you bring him here?" she stared at Chu Wanning but addressed Heaven-Stepping Lord, "Don't you fear causing trouble?"

Heaven-Stepping Lord replied coldly, "With just one glance from him, I know what he's about to do next. Your concern is unnecessary."

"This place is crucial for the Butterfly Bone Clan's return. Do you realize that —"

He interrupted her without any intention of listening further, "Then among this bunch of useless ones, who can match him in a fight?"

Mu Yanli was left speechless.

"He's more trapped by my side than in a cage sealed with ten layers of enchantments. I'm kindly bringing him here to share your burden, yet you still have so much nonsense to spout."

"You —!"

"What?" Heaven-Stepping Lord lifted his thin eyelids, revealing an icy gaze, "If you're dissatisfied, I'll send him back right away and stay out of it. You figure out how to keep an eye on him. Don't let him get close to Hua Binan again and easily take Hua Binan's life."

Mu Yanli was left speechless by his words, unable to retort for a long while. Eventually, she changed the subject with a hint of anger in her brows, "…Let's drop this matter. I've gathered some pawns, deal with them all. Also, Nan has captured some from the mortal realm and confined them on the Summit of Life and Death. Once you're done here, hurry back and create new pawns."

After saying that, she swept her sleeves and left. Heaven-Stepping Lord glanced at Chu Wanning, revealing a charming smile that formed deep dimples in his cheeks.

"Your luck is indeed remarkable, with a supply of labor and materials arriving. Would you like to witness how this seat constructs a bridge?"

The spectacle of a living sacrifice forming a makeshift bridge was too horrifying. That night, Chu Wanning had a nightmare.

In his dream, Heaven-Stepping Lord stood at the end of the Path of Martyrdom, his feet resting on shattered bones, organs, and flesh. Each fragment had a crimson mouth, wailing in agony.

"I don't want to die..."

"Give me back my life... Give me back my life..."

Among those fragments, he saw half of Xue Meng's face, Xue Zhengyong's eyes, Madame Wang's body, and the freckled hand of Huai Zui.

He rushed towards them desperately, shouting, "Xue Meng! Supreme Ruler! Wife—"

His voice trailed off.

Under the blood-red sky, Mo Ran slowly turned around, still dressed in his old disciple robes. His gaze was tender and sorrowful as he said, "Master, save me..."

"I don't want to die, I don't want it to end like this... Save me..."

Roused abruptly, he gasped, his cheeks and back drenched in cold sweat. Attempting to sit up, he found his wrists bound by Heaven-Stepping Lord's restrictive spell, rendering him immobile.

The room was eerily quiet, with only him occupying the space. The dripping of a water clock trickled steadily, like the accumulated tears of the deceased forming a stream.

"Someone... help..."

In recent times, he had withered away, his frame now skeletal. Sitting on the bed, he appeared so frail that the thick blanket covering him barely showed any movement.

Memories from his past life, missed opportunities in this one, a sea of corpses, and a hopeless future – all weighed heavily upon his shoulders, crushing even the toughest of bones into dust.

Chu Wanning's eyes were hollow, his mind adrift as he slowly regained consciousness from the nightmare. Yet, reality proved no less harrowing, and his expression reflected the profound fragmentation within.

"Someone... help..."

Uncle Liu stumbled in, appearing far more aged than Chu Wanning remembered from his past life.

After all, the world had changed significantly since the year he had died in his previous existence.

"Master, were you having a nightmare?"

The old servant could read his emotions at a glance. Chu Wanning nodded wearily.

"I'll go warm up some ginger tea for you then..."

"No need." Chu Wanning lifted his slightly damp eyes and gazed at the old man in the darkness. "Where's Mo Ran? Is he still on the Path of Martyrdom?"

"..."

"How many more has he killed?"

Old Liu fell silent for a long while before heaving a sigh. "Master, please don't ask."

The water in the hourglass trickled slowly, while the wind and rain howled outside.

"I may not understand the ways of sorcery cultivation, but I do know that once the Gate of Life and Death is fully opened, there will be no turning back. You masters all understand this deep down."

Chu Wanning's lips quivered slightly. After a moment, he abruptly closed his eyes, gripping the fiery red spell chain around his wrist. Ever since his assassination attempt had failed, Heaven-Stepping Lord had been wary of him. In his leisure time, the lord would personally keep an eye on him; when it was time to pave the way for the demons' return, Chu Wanning would be locked up in the Wu Mountain Palace.

"Grandmaster... forget it. In two lifetimes, you've done enough." Uncle Liu's voice was aged, like a withering autumn leaf. "In these last days, just let go like everyone else."

"It's all over now. There's no turning back."

"Live well, and stop tormenting yourself..."

Later, Uncle Liu served a bowl of ginger tea, making sure Chu Wanning drank it. The old man had always been cautious with his words, knowing what to say and what not to, which was why he had stayed by Heaven-Stepping Lord's side for so long.

But on this rainy night, as he looked at the desperate and haggard Chu Wanning, whose cheeks were even paler than fine porcelain, and saw the bleak, sorrowful night outside, his emotions became conflicted.

Uncle Liu didn't know how to comfort him. All he could manage was a stammer: "Drink some more, at least finish the bowl. Ginger tea warms the body; they say nightmares come from being too cold. Drink up, and you won't have nightmares when you sleep."

After a moment, he murmured in a daze, "My son used to have nightmares too. I'd give him some, and he'd sleep peacefully..."

But his mutter was too soft, and Chu Wanning didn't hear it.

The old servant finished attending to him, then slowly carried the tray out, wiping away a tear before leaving the room. His back, already stooped, seemed even more bowed by his inability to do anything.

He disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Actually, Liu Laoshu was right. The best opportunity to stop Shi Mo would be before the Portal of Time and Death opened. If missed, the situation would become almost irreparable.

Chu Wanning sat alone in the deserted Wu Mountain Palace. He knew that he had ultimately lost to Shi Mo. In his previous life, he discovered the truth too late. His sacrifices and schemes only postponed the calamity by about a decade.

In the end, everything returned to its starting point.

He had tried his best, but it still ended in vain.

It was recorded in numerous ancient texts that when time and space were torn apart, divine punishment would inevitably follow. Even without divine retribution, these two worlds had already descended into chaos. It was the final era, and many were aware, but Heaven-Stepping Lord's divine consciousness was incomplete, so he wasn't anxious. He lived with ease.

On this day, he returned with a flask of Pear Blossom White wine.

Pouring two cups full, he spoke to Chu Wanning, "The path to martyrdom is almost paved."

"..."

"After helping Hua Binan complete this task, we'll have some respite." He took a sip of the long-awaited Pear Blossom White and smiled. "Mm, it still tastes the same."

Finished speaking, he looked up at Chu Wanning again. "Once they return to the Demon Realm, do you want to stay with this seat in this mortal world or cross the Portal of Life and Death and let this seat take you back to our previous world?"

Chu Wanning glanced at him and asked, "Where's Shi Mo?"

"Shi...

He paused, then his dark brows gradually furrowed as he appeared both bewildered and pained. He set down his wine cup and rubbed his forehead with his hand.

Observing his every move, Chu Wanning thought to himself that Hua Binan had indeed severely confused his mind. For Heaven-Stepping Lord, the concept of "Shi Mo" was now inexplicable, so he couldn't delve deeper into it.

Eventually, Heaven-Stepping Lord felt an excruciating headache. Suddenly, he slammed down his cup. Under the candlelight, he stared at the man before him with his tired, slightly reddened eyes.

"I don't know."

Closing his eyes, he pulled Chu Wanning over to stand next to him. He remained seated, and after a while, leaned his forehead against Chu Wanning's waist, inhaling the scent of peonies.

"Please don't ask me again."

In the following days, Heaven-Stepping Lord's behavior resembled his previous life even more, if not worse.

This lifeless body, which shouldn't be capable of emotions, seemed terrified of Chu Wanning disappearing or dying again. As a result, he used all his most powerful spells to keep him confined. During the day, Heaven-Stepping Lord would work on crafting the precious chess pieces and paving the way for martyrdom, while at night, he would return and engage in endless intimacy with Chu Wanning. It was as if only the most intense lovemaking could soothe his inner turmoil, as if only sinking deep into Chu Wanning's warmth could assure him that this was not a dream.

"Wanning..."

In the stillness of the night, the man sleeping soundly beside him muttered in his sleep.

"Pay attention to me..."

Although he was well aware that it was impossible, at such moments, he still felt that the person entwined with him possessed a soul. The steady and strong heartbeat beneath his chest, the identical eyebrows and eyes to the deceased young man—it was all too reminiscent.

When Heaven-Stepping Lord called out "Wanning" in his raspy voice, there was even something akin to affection within it.