The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 304: The Edge of Life and Death - Their Past Lives

In their previous lives, Xue Meng stood in the midst of a fierce storm, his voice hoarse. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, swallowing hard several times before finally uttering the most obedient words possible, "Disciple Xue Meng, pays respects to Master."

Eight simple characters, yet no one had been there to hear them for over a decade.

After saying those words, Xue Meng felt a myriad of emotions rise to his throat, leaving him with an unbearable bitterness that prevented him from speaking another word.

Behind him, Mei Hanxue said, "Ziming, focus."

The Mei brothers from their past lives looked largely unchanged, save for a hint of maturity in their brows, and their spiritual energy far surpassed their former selves.

"I know your heart is troubled, but the flow of spirit cannot be disturbed. I just saw your younger self arrive in this world too. If you lose again, you'll lose all face in front of yourself. Snap out of it."

"..."

Xue Meng was no longer the impetuous young man he once was. He knew Mei Hanxue was right, so despite his reluctance, he took a deep breath, tore his gaze away from Chu Wanning, and refocused on Heaven-Stepping Lord.

"What are you?" Heaven-Stepping Lord narrowed his eyes dangerously within the spell formation, "Rushing to your deaths?"

Mei Hanxue paused, startled. "What's going on? It seems like he doesn't recognize us anymore."

Chu Wanning, having recovered his composure nearby, spoke up. "He's completely lost consciousness. He wouldn't be able to recognize anyone right now."

Xue Meng: "..."

If seeing Chu Wanning just now had already stirred his heart, then hearing that familiar voice again – a voice he could only hear in his dreams – was too much for Xue Meng to bear. His tears could no longer be held back, slowly filling his eyes.

How many years had passed since then?

He dared not turn back to gaze upon those years, for fear that the slightest reminiscence would cause his tears to fall uncontrollably.

In truth, time had passed swiftly yet slowly for him. He still recalled the first year of Chu Wanning's captivity, when his fate hung in the balance on the precipice of life and death. Back then, he had wandered alone, desperately seeking aid, but perhaps due to his erstwhile arrogance and lofty heart, few in the realm of cultivation cared to lend a hand.

Eventually, the rebel forces gathered, and he yearned eagerly to rescue his friend from the clutches of the demonic lair. However, they criticized his recklessness and self-centeredness with mocking words. Mei Hanxue, occupied with military deployments, was also absent from the front lines. Isolated and unsupported, he could only ascend the mountain by himself.

But what awaited him there? A changed landscape atop the Edge of Life and Death, a dying Heaven-Stepping Lord, and—by the cold pond of the Red Lotus Water Pavilion—the fading remains of Chu Wanning, fading alongside the demise of the Heaven-Stepping Lord.

Nearly a decade had passed.

The person he had waited for a decade turned into a lifeless corpse before him, which then crumbled into ashes right before his eyes.

His pillar of support vanished, leaving him feeling like a helpless and bewildered child as he knelt amidst the falling ashes, weeping uncontrollably.

He was too late; he didn't even get to touch the hem of his mentor's robe.

And now, he would never hear Chu Wanning call out his name again: "Xue Meng."

In the end, events took a more terrifying turn.

Heaven-Stepping Lord returned from the dead, and Shi Mingjing revealed his demonic visage. They unleashed a massacre, turning the mortal world into a realm of ghosts. For Xue Meng, old friends were either gone or transformed. That jar of Du Kang wine he had buried beneath the osmanthus tree in his youth – who could he share it with when it was dug up again?

So it was that Xue Meng didn't realize how much strength he had exerted to finally tear his gaze away from Chu Wanning after more than a decade.

"This time, I haven't come too late," Xue Meng said. "Master, I'm here to assist you."

In that very moment, another worldly Xue Meng arrived alongside the other two Mei siblings. Although they were aware that the Portal of Time, Space, Life, and Death might lead to encountering bewildering individuals, the sudden appearance of themselves more than a decade in the future still startled the three youths to some extent.

The young man, Xue Meng, stammered, "Y-You... You...?!"

In his previous life, Xue Meng had only given him a fleeting glance, a look that held both envy and sorrow. Then, he chuckled softly, "I almost forgot. So, this is how I looked more than ten years ago."

"..."

"How naive."

The young man, Xue Meng, was inexplicably labeled as a fool and before he could react, Immortal Emperor Trampling Heaven's flaming orb already plummeted towards his back.

Xue Meng deftly sidestepped, not originally intending to use the Snow Phoenix, but instinctively drew the divine weapon at this moment, barely parrying the assault. He stumbled back several steps, barely managing to regain his footing. Fuming, he shouted as he attempted to rush at Heaven-Stepping Lord, only to be stopped by a sword shimmering with blue light.

In his previous life, Mei Hanxue stood before him, tilting his eyes sideways. "Since we're here, there's no need for you to make a move."

Mei Hanxue also smiled at his younger self from ten years ago. "The mess caused in this mortal world should be cleaned up by its inhabitants. There's no need for your trouble, Lord Mei, in the prime of your youth. If you were to be surrounded by bitter resentment just like me, leading an uninteresting life for the rest of your days, that wouldn't be nice at all."

Young Mei Hanxue: "…"

At that moment, the array trapping Heaven-Stepping Lord began to tremble violently. Mei Hanxue ceased teasing his past self and immediately turned, his expression grave. "Something's wrong! His power is even stronger than before!"

Chu Wanning said, "There's a new heart that has fused within his body."

"!"

With all his might, Xue Meng activated his spell, veins bulging in his hands as he gritted his teeth. "We might not be able to hold on for as long as we thought—Master, you have to turn back and kill Hua Binan!"

Before Chu Wanning could respond, the younger Xue Meng asked, "Kill Hua Binan? Why Hua Binan? Not this… this…"

He was momentarily unsure whether to address the Exalt of the Immortal Path as Mo Ran or by some other name.

Xue Meng glanced at himself. "This is a puppet made from a corpse. You can't kill it. But if its controller dies, it won't last much longer. Also—" He paused, mustering the strength to spare one hand. Instantly, a fiery red formation lit up beneath the younger Xue Meng's feet.

"This place is dangerous. You're still young and shouldn't have to suffer through this. Go, return to the main army attacking the mountain."

"No! I don't want to! How dare you—Hey!"

Despite the younger Xue Meng's struggles, he was swiftly enveloped by the spiritual energy butterflies that swarmed out of the light formation, just like the Mei brothers. The butterflies carried the three young men towards the main hall, disappearing in an instant.

No sooner had they left than a sharp "crack!" echoed, causing Mei Hanxue's face to pale. "The formation is about to shatter, Ziming!"

All of Xue Meng's spiritual energy surged towards the Exalt of the Immortal Path. His entire body trembled as if he were desperately holding back a vicious beast that sought to break through the sky, and the rope around the beast's neck was on the verge of snapping.

"Master, let's go—!"

Without waiting for Xue Meng to prompt him, Chu Wanning leapt into the air. His sword-like brows knitted together as he glanced at Xue Meng. "I'll be back soon. Don't get hurt."

"I should be the one saying that to you, Master," Xue Meng gritted his teeth. "Don't worry, I'm not the same as before. I can hold my own now."

He had been holding on for so many years. Endurance had become a habit, and that habit sustained him as he moved forward. He had endured countless dark days, and now that he had reunited with his mentor, there was no reason for him to give up.

Chu Wanning sighed. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone for all these years..."

His master's voice still echoed in his ears, but the person had already vanished into the distance.

It wasn't a pretty sight when a man approaching middle age cried, even if the downpour tried to conceal his trembling shoulders and reddened eyes.

Heaven-Stepping Lord was nearly berserk within the array. The array's light resembled cracks in a frozen lake, revealing signs of imminent collapse! Just as he was about to break free, a streak of red light shot towards him, binding him tightly. The fury within Heaven-Stepping Lord intensified. He lifted his bloodshot gaze, staring in the direction from which the red light had originated.

Xue Meng met Heaven-Stepping Lord's eyes and declared, "Give up; I won't let him disappear before me for a second time."

As he spoke, he poured all his spiritual energy into his words, veins bulging on his neck, his gaze as hard as steel.

"Junior Brother, in the past, you always had the upper hand. Today, with our Master watching, I won't let him down, so... you can forget about defeating me!"

Mei Hanxue reacted swiftly, startled, his long brows knitted together as he shouted, "Ziming! What are you doing?!"

A loud boom echoed as a blazing red flame flared behind Xue Meng. With a fierce cry, he pushed forward with both palms, directing the flames straight at the Heaven-Stepping Imperial Lord. In an instant, it felt like being pierced by a thousand arrows, locking the lord in an intricate web of constraints!

"Ahh—!"

The Heaven-Stepping Lord's eyes widened, his head thrown back as he grunted in pain. The surrounding spiritual energy was drained by more than half. His dark, lifeless eyes slowly turned to stare at Xue Meng, silent yet filled with resentment, black blood dripping from the corners of his mouth.

On his left chest, near his heart, there was a scar.

It was once the spot where Xue Meng's Dragon City sword had pierced through him.

Now, hundreds of spells and restrictions conjured by Xue Meng pierced his body anew, the sharpest one retracing its path from years ago, piercing through his chest once again.

An empty, blood-soaked hole...

Mei Hanxue was both alarmed and anxious. "Stop, you're already draining your Spirit Core's power. If you keep this up, your Spirit Core will be...!"

"Enough!" Xue Meng interrupted him fiercely.

He stared at Heaven-Stepping Lord, the former senior apprentice brother looking at his junior, the erstwhile assassin gazing at the tyrant.

These former brothers locked eyes, erasing years of life and death with a single glance. Though Xue Meng's face was pale, a fierce glow, reminiscent of the young Phoenix he once was, ignited in his eyes.

"All that I, Xue Meng, have learned in my life is for this battle today."

Mei Hanxue: "..."

The moment his words faded, a phoenix pierced through the clouds, and flames shot skyward!

In the raging fire, one could almost see a vision from long ago – a youth in a silver-blue light armor, with a golden braid securing his blond hair, loudly declaring,

"I want to win first place at the Spirit Mountain Assembly!"

"Humph! Something like Divine Martial Arts, I'll have it sooner or later! What's so rare about it?"

"In fifty years, no! Within thirty years, I will surely uplift the Peak of Life and Death to new heights under my guidance, its prestige resonating throughout the Nine Provinces!"

With eyebrows as tender as sprouting leaves, and a voice as crisp as a freshly bloomed peach, that young man was fearless, unconcerned about heaven, earth, or destiny, boldly expressing his grand aspirations from the depths of his heart.

The flames illuminated half the sky above the Peak of Life and Death, reducing countless yesterdays to smoldering ashes and remnants...

All vicissitudes have settled, leaving only the present Xue Ziming.

With a resolute and intense gaze, he declared, "I do not seek fame or accomplishment, but only for people to remain as they were in those bygone years."