The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 347 Extra “Fighting for Favor (5)”

When Heaven-Stepping Lord entered, Gao Batian was sitting amidst the half-built landscape and rural idyll created by Mo Ran, daintily tapping its short legs in an attempt to catch a butterfly.

Upon hearing the sound, it swiftly turned its head. Almost losing its balance and tumbling to the ground, it managed to regain its footing with great difficulty. Gao Batian then reached out its tiny paw to adjust the lotus leaf on its head while exclaiming, "Ah, ah, ah—Young Adonis, you've finally come back! I've been so, so bored!"

Heaven-Stepping Lord gazed at it for a moment before reaching a conclusion: such an endearing glutinous rice cake guardian.

Then, he redirected his sharp gaze to thoroughly inspect the entire residence.

The otherworldly fairyland was nearly complete, only a hair's breadth away from perfection. Heaven-Stepping Lord could appreciate its elegance and refinement: fields of flowers shimmering with ethereal light, tiny spirits playing lutes and flutes nestled in their blossoms, a golden lotus pond, treehouses entwined with ancient vines, and seashell loungers in the courtyard...

The more he looked, the darker his expression became.

He understood Chu Wanning. Though outwardly serious and proper, Chu Wanning had an inquisitive heart. He would undoubtedly be captivated by such a peculiar and otherworldly abode.

The only thing that might deter Chu Wanning's affection—

He turned and glared at Gao Batian.

With lips barely parting, a chilling question emerged: "Is this place expensive?"

Gao Batian, still unaware of the sudden change in the person before him, stammered in confusion, "S-S-Silly...?"

Heaven-Stepping Lord's long eyebrows knitted together as he abruptly lifted the man, pinning him within his grasp.

"Yee—"

"Who did you call silly?"

Gao Batian's butterfly net fell from his hands. Under Heaven-Stepping Lord's grip, his eyes rolled back, and with trembling legs, he struggled to speak proper Mandarin, "W-W-What's going on?"

Heaven-Stepping Lord: "............"

It had been a misunderstanding. With a cold huff, he loosened his fingers slightly and dropped the little monster back onto the ground. Gao Batian rubbed his neck, heaving a deep breath. Looking up at the clearly darkened expression on the man's face, he suddenly realized his mistake.

Oh? ! This wasn't Grandmaster Mo!

Everyone in their village knew that Mo Ran's personality switched every three days. It was just that, having been exiled for so long, Gao Batian had forgotten about this quirk. The intimidating aura and tyrannical demeanor before him were far from the kind and gentle Grandmaster Mo from just two days ago. Clearly, this was...

"Ahh!!" Gao Batian let out a shrill cry, scrambling to his feet and preparing to flee. "Help! He's here! He's coming for me and I won't survive!"

His stutter had vanished due to sheer terror.

With his soft, doughy legs, Gao Batian struggled to run, bolting blindly for a while. When he dared to peek with one eye cracked open, he realized he was still in the same spot.

"..."

Unbeknownst to him, Heaven-Stepping Lord had already cast a spell, creating an ethereal cage resembling a waterwheel. Trapped inside like a hamster, Gao Batian had been running in circles fruitlessly.

Gao Batian swallowed hard, turning back with trembling limbs, a mix of embarrassment and fear in his eyes.

"Younger... younger brother..."

"Heavens, are you seeking death? !" Heaven-Stepping Lord erupted in anger. "Who are you calling my younger brother?"

"Emp... Empyrean, greetings!"

Heaven-Stepping Lord responded once more: "............"

In order to preserve his existence, Gao Batian quickly submitted to Heaven-Stepping Lord's intimidating authority. He divulged every detail about the Wish-Fulfilling Box to the Empyrean, reluctantly revealing the answer he least wanted to know:

"It doesn't cost... not, not, not expensive. It's affordable!"

Heaven-Stepping Lord fell into silence.

Not expensive, not wasteful, and full of thoughtfulness.

How could he possibly compete with such a gift?

Damn it, he was fortunate to have discovered it early. If not, with Wanning's birthday right around the corner, if Grandmaster Mo really played that card, he would have surely lost.

Heaven-Stepping Lord knew he couldn't let this opportunity slip away. He had to dismantle everything before it was too late and rebuild from scratch!

His handsome face was veiled in ambiguous shadows as he gazed at Grandmaster Mo's landscape residence while listening to Gao Batian's rambling.

Gao Batian explained, "E-everything outside can be traded with me for materials. Don't be deceived by its appearance; these construction materials aren't the best available. The items you exchanged with me the other day weren't exactly valuable."

"Oh? Is that so?" Heaven-Stepping Lord replied. "But this sea of flowers looks quite costly."

"That's the freebie."

Heaven-Stepping Lord then pointed at the pond. "This pond doesn't seem cheap either."

"It was exchanged with the best item you sent."

Heaven-Stepping Lord pricked up his ears. "The best item?"

"Four."

"What is it? If he can afford it, so can this seat. Go ahead and say it."

Upon hearing this, Gao Batian's small eyes sparkled. "A gift? ... Then, then, then we love the charcoal made by Lord Chu!"

"..."

He was wrong.

There was indeed something in this world that he was almost obsessively unable to give, no matter what.

That was a dish prepared by Chu Wanning.

Grandmaster Mo was different in this aspect. His persona hadn't experienced the living death of Wushan Palace in his past life, nor had he gone mad with longing for those unappetizing but earthly dishes in that stifling solitude. Thus, Grandmaster Mo had never been possessively obsessed with Chu Wanning's culinary skills.

On the contrary, Grandmaster Mo always wished for more people, or perhaps the mountain spirits, to acknowledge his master's cooking. That way, Chu Wanning would be delighted, and seeing Wanning happy made him happy too.

So when he learned that Gao Batian enjoyed the burnt food Chu Wanning made, he was genuinely willing to share it with him.

But Heaven-Stepping Lord was different.

He was like someone who had starved and been impoverished for a decade, retaliating by selfishly hoarding all the food Chu Wanning cooked, even if it tasted terrible. He would devour it hungrily, swallowing every bite with ravenous thirst. If it caused him stomach pain, he would refuse to share it with anyone else, no matter what. The most exaggerated incident was when Chu Wanning, having nothing better to do, wrapped fifty steamed dumplings in bamboo leaves, planning to eat them slowly over two weeks.

Knowing that he would switch back to his other state the next day, Heaven-Stepping Lord, not wanting to benefit his alter ego, actually forced himself to consume all the dumplings before midnight.

As a result, Grandmaster Mo was bedridden for three days.

Upon hearing Gao Batian's craving, Heaven-Stepping Lord immediately retorted angrily, "Don't even think about it! Only this deity is worthy of eating the burnt food Chu Wanning makes!"

Gao Batian looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"Crying won't help!"

Gao Batian wiped his eyes pitifully with his tiny paws. "Sob, sob, sob..."

The Heavenly Emperor is indeed a wicked, wicked creature!

Since charcoal was no longer an option, Heaven-Stepping Lord began considering alternatives.

"You tell me, apart from charcoal, what else can I give you in exchange for more intricate and valuable demonic artifacts?"

Sniffling, Gao Batian reluctantly replied, "Y-Your Highness can try figuring it out yourself, and trade four items at a time to see..."

Heaven-Stepping Lord frowned. "Did Grandmaster Mo also try this way?"

Gao Batian nodded, looking aggrieved. "Two days ago, you exchanged your own clothes for that floral field."

"So... He stripped himself...?" muttered Heaven-Stepping Lord, stroking his chin in thought. He couldn't allow himself to be outdone.

Thus, he removed his outer robe and handed it to Gao Batian.

"This is my robe. Take a good look and see what you can offer in exchange."

Gao Batian held the garment up, examining it from all angles for a long time without saying a word. Just as Heaven-Stepping Lord was growing impatient, the creature hesitantly poked half its head out from behind the cloth, wearing a lotus leaf on top.

"Your Highness, i-i-isn't what to exchange not up to me alone? There are rules. If the item you receive isn't to your liking, please don't strangle me again..."

"Enough with the nonsense! What can I actually exchange this for?!"

Gao Batian's voice was barely audible. "P-pure... uncontaminated... w-washing... d-dong water..."

Heaven-Stepping Lord thought he had misheard. "Foot washing water?"

"F-f-four... f-f-fourth-grade washing... d-dong water..." Gao Batian looked on the verge of tears as it stammered, "Washed once every three days for three consecutive months, preserving the natural essence of herbs to nourish your... your being. You'll become even more... more impressive, stronger, and more majestic than you are now..."

After a moment of stunned silence, Heaven-Stepping Lord's face darkened with rage. "Are you trying to die?!"

"W-wah wah wah! No, I'm not!!!" Gao Batian shook its head and burst into tears.

"Why does his get a sea of flowers while mine gets washing dong water?! Do I look like someone who needs that kind of thing? Huh?!!"

"Wuwuwu, you don't need to do that!"

"Think of something else! Can't you choose another option?!"

"It's not possible..."

Faced with the intimidating gaze of Heaven-Stepping Lord, Gao Batian cried out repeatedly, "It's not up to me! Our demon clan also has rules!"

"What kind of rule can't be changed? Do you believe I won't kill you for your absurdity?"

"You can't just let me go, I'm still needed as your guide!"

"You...!"

Heaven-Stepping Lord choked, suppressing his impending rage.

"Fine, fine, forget it!" In the face of this major matter, he had to endure for a broader perspective.

After all, he was counting on this glutinous rice cake to defeat Grandmaster Mo.

Withholding his barrage of insults, he forced himself to remain calm, though his teeth gritted as he asked through clenched jaws, "Then tell me this instant what you need to bring in exchange for—" He gestured towards the almost completed farm. "Something better than these materials?"

Gao Batian choked, "I-I can't say…"

Heaven-Stepping Lord's veins bulged, and he lost his cool, roaring, "If you don't speak up, I'll really chop you up!"

"Waaaaahhhhhh!!"

There was no other choice.

To avoid being flattened into osmanthus-scented rice cakes and served on a plate, Gao Batian slumped onto a log, sniffling as he began to divulge the secrets of the trade with Heaven-Stepping Lord.

Fishing in its pockets with its chubby little paws, it eventually produced a tattered bark notebook, which it meekly handed over to Heaven-Stepping Lord, all traces of its previous bravado vanished. Heaven-Stepping Lord accepted the book without ceremony, flipping through its pages with a rustling sound.

"Spirit Flower Songstress... Not good, she might throw flirtatious glances at Chu Wanning."

"Premier Chef... No interest there. My culinary skills far surpass those of a mere chef; I don't need anyone else's help."

Frowning in disdain, Heaven-Stepping Lord suddenly found himself drawn to one particular entry.

Blossoming Petals in a Rain of Flowers —— Upon obtaining this cloud, it would hover above your rural courtyard, continuously scattering petals down.

The eccentric Heaven-Stepping Lord clapped his hands in appreciation after reading it. "Excellent, this is great. How do we exchange for it?"

Gao Batian timidly reached out with his paw to turn the page.

On the back was written:

Exchange Condition: Living Human.

Heaven-Stepping Lord's eyes widened abruptly. "Living human? A living sacrifice?"

"…Don't think, don't think so gruesomely," Gao Batian buzzed. "Just, just capture them and keep them in a box… Once they're inside, the flower rain falls, and when they're let out, the rain of flowers, it stops. Very, very civilized!"

"Why would you need to keep someone inside?"

Gao Batian poked at his soft little paw hesitantly. "After there's no one else in the box, the rice cakes in our village can actually freely visit each other's homes. By, by capturing them, it allows everyone to come and have a look."

"You monsters… visit humans?"

Gao Batian continued to rub his hands together sheepishly. "F-o-u-r."

"It's an utter mockery! Would I, the Heaven-Stepping Lord, engage in such absurdity?"

Gao Batian: "You don't have to trade for these, either. The items exchanged with living beings are top-notch, but you could also choose one grade lower..."

"Hold on."

The moment Heaven-Stepping Lord heard 'top-notch,' he interrupted, raising his hand. "Living beings yield the best results?"

"Yes, yes."

With a snap, Heaven-Stepping Lord closed the bark notebook decisively and crossed his arms, stating solemnly,

"Tell me, whom do you wish to capture?"

.

Chu Wanning felt that Mo Ran had been behaving strangely these past few days.

First, there was Master Mo Ran, who, in the middle of the night, wouldn't sleep and instead sprawled naked on the ground, pinning down a dog's head.

Then there was the Heavenly Emperor version of Mo Ran, who mysteriously locked himself in the small kitchen for hours without coming out, claiming he was making pies. Yet, when it was time for lunch, he hadn't even started on the dough. When asked what he had been doing for so long, he answered that he had been pondering the meaning of life.

More peculiarly, since Heaven-Stepping Lord could only appear every third day, he usually loved to stick around with Chu Wanning. Although he occasionally went down the mountain during the day for leisurely strolls and his own secret activities, he would always return before dinner, carrying a jar of fine wine or a box of pastries, awkwardly but earnestly presenting them to Chu Wanning.

But today was different. Without pies for lunch, they hastily boiled some noodles. Then, Heaven-Stepping Lord wiped his mouth and announced he had to leave for an errand.

Chu Wanning asked, "What do you want for dinner? I'll make it."

Heaven-Stepping Lord hesitated for a moment, as if engaged in a fierce internal debate. Finally, he said unusually, "No need, Your Esteemed Self won't be back until very late tonight. You don't have to wait; just go to bed early."

Chu Wanning's phoenix eyes widened involuntarily.

Was this...

the seven-year itch?

But wasn't it too soon, or had it already passed?

—That was how Chu Wanning completely forgot that his birthday was almost upon him.

However, birthdays had never held any particular joy for Chu Wanning in the past. Back when he was a child living with Huaizui at the Monastery of Unhappiness, during the first few years, Huaizui would still specially give him small toys or sweet pastries on that day. Every time, Chu Wanning would be delighted, hugging his wooden toy sword or stuffing his mouth with delicious treats, looking at the monk with a bright smile and saying thank you, Master, you're so good to me.

Huaizui's gaze back then seemed to be pierced by some painful memory.

But at that time, Chu Wanning had no idea what exactly caused Huaizui's pain.

After a certain year, Huaizui suddenly stopped celebrating his birthday. Of course, Huaizui would still often give him snacks or trinkets, pulling them out of his flowing sleeves like magic, but it wasn't necessarily limited to his birthday anymore.

Chu Wanning supposed it was because he had grown up; grown-ups didn't celebrate birthdays every year.

He asked Huaizui if that was the case, and the monk was momentarily startled. Looking at the evergreen cypress trees in the Zen courtyard, he finally stroked Chu Wanning's head and said, "Yes, Wanning is already so big. In just a few more years, you'll be reaching adulthood..."

At that moment, Huaizui didn't look into Chu Wanning's eyes. As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the setting sun at dusk.

A streak of crimson reflected in the monk's eyes, like blood.

Chu Wanning couldn't help but feel that Huaizui's expression was complicated. He was still inexperienced in the world, having only encountered many descriptive terms in books but never encountering their tangible manifestation in life. In that instant, he sensed that the veil over Huaizui's face seemed to embody half of the cruelty he had read about, and half of sorrow.

He didn't know why his master had such an expression when he mentioned reaching adulthood, but he felt a lump in his throat and sorrow for Huaizui's sadness.

He stood up, and since Huaizui was still sitting beside him, he summoned the courage to stroke Huaizui's bald head, clumsily trying to comfort the big monk before him.

"Master, don't be unhappy. When I come of age, I'll celebrate your birthday for you."

Huaizui froze for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head.

Chu Wanning didn't see the shadowed expression on his face at that time.

After a moment, Huaizui spoke with a raspy laugh, "Adults don't celebrate this day... only children do." Pausing, he abruptly rose to his feet before Chu Wanning could say more.

The wide monk's robe and kasaya billowed in the evening breeze. At that moment, the monk's figure seemed so tall that when he stood up, he blocked out all the crimson sunset that had been shining on Chu Wanning.

"It's getting late. Master has some business to attend to. You... study well this evening."

With that, he left without looking back.

In the subsequent two decades, Chu Wanning never heard the words "Happy Birthday" again. No one wished him well as he aged, hoping for his remaining years to be filled with peace and health.

Until he retired to the Southern Screen Mountains.

Only then did he finally find stability in his life, with Mo Ran genuinely remembering his birthday and wishing to make up for the lost years. It was just a pity that this concern had come too late; Chu Wanning had long grown accustomed to being forgotten in his past solitude.

He had also become accustomed to forgetting himself.

The Elder Yu Heng, who had completely forgotten about the concept of "birthday," frowned deeply in his courtyard—what was wrong with Mo Ran?

Had he done something to upset him recently?

Or was there some major event happening outside?

Otherwise, why would both Grandmaster Mo Ran and Emperor Mo Ran behave so strangely these past few days...?