The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 44: I Don't Want to Owe You

Before Heart-Plucking Willow Spirit could answer, his face contorted in agony. He raised his hand and clutched his head, mouth agape as he let out a silent scream. Though he was voiceless, the ferocious expression and bulging eyes seemed to make one hear a heart-wrenching cry.

Help!

HELP!!!

His lips twisted into an inconceivable shape, and bloodshot veins soon covered his entire eyeballs. If not for the four chains binding him, he might have already leaped up to self-destruct in a frenzied rage.

"Please... hurry... destroy me..."

It appeared that the time limit for Heart-Plucking Willow's regained consciousness had arrived. Despite his desperate struggles, the Heart-Plucking Willow Spirit was powerless against the black aura surging from the Sword Forging Pool, relentlessly attacking his physical form submerged in the water. The sound of clanging chains echoed, accompanied by sparks flying everywhere.

Seeing the change in circumstances, Chu Wanning swiftly waved his sleeves to shield his disciples behind him. His expression stern, he asked Heart-Plucking Willow, "How can we save you?"

Though Heart-Plucking Willow's movements were sluggish, he could still manipulate the molten iron of the Sword Forging Pool to form the ancient Book of Cang Jie in an instant.

"I will lose my consciousness at any moment. If I harm you all then, it would not be my true intent. I am powerless to assist further, nor do I have time to elaborate. I can only impart the spells I know to you—please take heed..."

The molten iron transformed swiftly.

"I excel in three particular spells. The first is the Dream of Nanke. It's a spell of illusion that grants the victim their deepest desires while they sleep, ensnaring them in an eternal, blissful dream. Even if someone possesses enough spiritual power to discern it as an illusion, they would still willingly remain in slumber, never to awaken.

The second is the Bewitching Heart Formula, which exploits the greed within people, driving them to turn against one another.

And the third is the Heart-Plucking Technique..."

However, at this moment, his spiritual energy had been pushed to its limits. He was unable to manipulate the molten iron further to form more words.

What exactly was this Heart-Plucking Technique remained a mystery.

Heart-Plucking Willow writhed in agony, suddenly bursting into a cloud of blood mist. He could no longer control the molten iron, yet still, he used his finger to smear the spurted blood, his convulsing eyes locked onto Chu Wanning with an intense, unwillingness to accept defeat.

"Master!" Seeing Chu Wanning step forward, Xue Meng quickly held him back. "Don't go, it might be a trap!"

Heart-Plucking Willow was unable to speak, only dangling his blood-soaked finger. Suddenly, tears began to stream down his face.

Chu Wanning: "...Do you want me to come closer?"

Faint Hearted Willow nodded slowly.

"..."

"Master!"

Xue Meng attempted to intervene once more, but Chu Wanning shook his head, proceeding forward alone to the very edge of the Sword Forging Pond, extending his hand outwards.

pluck-your-heartWillow seemed deeply moved. He gazed profoundly at Chu Wanning, struggling to wave his arm that was still attached to strips of flesh, as if attempting to give a salute. Then, with great pain, he grasped Chu Wanning's hand and trembled as he wrote in the other's palm:

Drawing lots, dispelling nightmares...

Beware—lose not...your heart...to reason...

Yan... Break... Tribulation —— Annihilation!!

The final stroke of the word 'extinguish' was still mid-sweep when the Heartplucking Willow suddenly withered like molten mud, collapsing swiftly and plunging back into the boiling sword-forging crucible, vanishing without a trace.

At the same time, with a loud "bang," the sword-casting pool suddenly surged with a massive scarlet wave. Molten iron water burst into the air, and nine dragon-shaped pillars of fire rose from the ground. Chu Wanning was forced to retreat by the shocking waves, with the firelight reflecting on his dark eyebrows.

From within the gushing iron pillar, four bamboo slips suddenly shot out, suspended in mid-air.

Recalling Heartstripping Willow's awakening instructions, Shi Mo hurriedly said, "Is this… the lottery Heartstripping Willow mentioned?"

Seeing him approach, Chu Wanning stopped him. "Don't touch them. Get behind me."

"Master…"

"There's nothing to worry about with me here," Chu Wanning said. "You mustn't take risks. Wait until I'm done before you come forward."

His words were spoken casually, without any detectable emotional fluctuation, but they stirred something within Mo Ran. For some reason, the Chu Wanning standing before him suddenly overlapped with the cold, heartless figure from his past life who had watched his disciple die.

How could he say such a thing now, when in his previous life he had stood idly by as his disciple perished?

Mo Ran suddenly realized that he had never truly understood Chu Wanning as a person.

He couldn't help murmuring, "Master..."

Chu Wanning ignored them and plucked one of the slips from the air. It was made of a pale yellow jade, and he examined both sides before softly uttering an "Hmm?"

"What's the matter?" Xue Meng asked.

Chu Wanning replied, "There's not a single character written on this slip."

"Really?" Xue Meng wondered. "Let me try then."

All four slips were eventually drawn. Just like Chu Wanning, Xue Meng and Shi Mo found no writing on their jade pieces. When Mo Ran turned his slip over, his eyes widened.

"Ming Gu Yu?"

The other three immediately looked at him. Xue Meng frowned. "What's Ming Gu Yu?"

Mo Ran poked his slip. "It's written right here."

Xue Meng leaned in for a closer look and then angrily retorted, "Pfft! You just read out half of what you could recognize, didn't you?"

"…It's Blood-Drop Sandglass," Chu Wanning suddenly said.

He could recognize most of the characters in Cang Jie's ancient text, and he wouldn't make up anything if unsure. Therefore, since he claimed it said Blood-Drop Sandglass, he must be absolutely certain.

Mo Ran was startled. "What does 'Blood Drop Sandglass' mean?"

Chu Wanning shook his head. "I don't know."

As if in response to them, a rumbling sound echoed from the high dome of the Divine Weapons Repository. A gigantic sandglass descended from the sky, its body covered in greenish-brown rust. Unlike other sandglasses, this one had an additional cross-shaped copper frame on top, the purpose of which was unclear.

Chu Wanning glanced at the sandglass and then lowered his gaze to the lotus seedpod in Mo Ran's hand.

Blood Drop Sandglass.

In the blink of an eye, he suddenly understood what the "lotus seedpod drawing" meant. Chu Wanning's expression changed momentarily as he sternly shouted, "Mo Ran, throw that lotus seedpod away quickly!"

Although he didn't understand Chu Wanning's intentions, the commanding tone made Mo Ran instinctively comply.

But when he tried to throw it away, Mo Ran realized that the jade lotus seedpod was somehow tightly adhered to the palm of his hand, refusing to budge despite his efforts to shake it off.

Chu Wanning cursed inwardly and rushed forward, intending to exchange his own lotus seedpod with Mo Ran's. However, just as he did so, the rust-covered copper sandglass suddenly extended dozens of sharp thorns, heading straight for Mo Ran!

"Move out of the way!"

"Master!!!"

"Master!"

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere. At the crucial moment, Chu Wanning pushed Mo Ran away with a palm, and the thorny vines pierced Chu Wanning's flesh like arrows through a forest.

Now in his youthful form, Mo Ran couldn't withstand Chu Wanning's attack and stumbled backward, falling to the ground. But the sound of flesh tearing was so clear and horrifying, and Xue Meng and Shi Mo's distorted voices were piercingly sharp.

Impossible.

How could this be...

That was Chu Wanning, the one who scolded and beat him, never giving him a kind look. The one who callously watched his disciple die before his eyes for his own selfish gain. The one who coldly said, "Vile character, difficult to shape." The one who...

Mo Ran lifted his head.

Amidst the chaos, he saw the person being drenched in blood, the sharp and dense thorns piercing through their back and protruding gruesomely from the front, right where they had been struck by the cruel blow from the Ghost Host. Old wounds yet to heal, the tendons and flesh tore once more, creating a bloody mess.

That was... That was the Chu Wanning who, inside the coffin, used his own body to protect him and endured in silence as razor-sharp claws tore through his flesh...

It was that Chu Wanning, who, hidden beneath the stone bridge, secretly cast a formation to shield everyone from the wind and rain, yet dared not reveal himself.

It was that Chu Wanning, in his previous life, after Shi Mo's death, clumsily attempting to make dumplings in the kitchen just to coax him into eating something.

It was that person with a terrible temper, a sharp tongue, who disliked bitter medicine and coughed at spicy food – someone he knew all too well.

That person whom he often forgot to care for, whom he despised to the point of gritting his teeth, yet also found pitiful...

Chu Wanning.

Wanning...

"Master!!" Mo Ran yelled hoarsely, scrambling towards Chu Wanning. "MASTER!!!"

"Your... your slip..." Chu Wanning lifted his hand, trembling and deathly pale, but his gaze remained fierce. "Give it to me..."

In the palm he extended to Mo Ran was the blank slip he had drawn, quivering slightly from the pain as he struggled to raise his arm with great effort and slowness.

Chu Wanning's eyes were bright, resolute, and veiled with a misty film.

"Quickly, give it to me!"

Mo Ran didn't even have time to stand up. He crawled on his knees to Chu Wanning, staring helplessly at the horrifying wound with exposed flesh.

"No... Master..."

"MASTER!!"

Xue Meng and Shi Mo tried to approach, but Chu Wanning, with a look of disappointment, cast a barrier that pushed them both away. Then, he sternly shouted, "Heaven's Inquiry!!"

Heavenly Inquiry responded with a resounding cry, severing all the sharp vines that were piercing Chu Wanning!

But these vines were no ordinary creatures; Chu Wanning could distinctly feel them devouring his spiritual energy within his flesh. With no other choice, he gritted his silver teeth, raised his hand to grasp the broken branch, steeled himself, and yanked the vine out with a sudden jerk!

In an instant, blood gushed wildly!

Chu Wanning cast aside the broken branch, catching his breath as he carefully pressed upon his spiritual meridians and acupoints to temporarily stanch the bleeding. His gleaming black eyes fixed intently upon Mo Ran, his voice hoarse as he demanded, "Give it to me."

"Master..."

"Exchange your lottery token with me! I'll trade you!" Chu Wanning demanded fiercely.

Mo Ran finally grasped the meaning behind the "Blood-Dropping Hourglass." The malicious technique employed by Gou Chen millions of years ago bore an eerie resemblance to the method he had used to torment Chu Wanning in his past life.

Indeed, it seemed that regardless of deities, demons, humans, or ghosts, when one turned wicked, their ingeniously cruel ideas could be disturbingly similar.

The Blood-Dropping Hourglass.

It was a timekeeping device that substituted human blood for fine sand or flowing water, which was then poured into the hourglass.

Human blood drained, time came to an end.

When he was crowned Heaven-Stepping Lord in his previous life, hadn't he used Chu Wanning as a sand timer, making him watch as he trampled over all the immortal sects, and letting Chu Wanning's blood drain drop by drop before his very eyes?

Yet in this life, before the Blood Droplet Array set up by Gouchen himself.

Chu Wanning, however, was willing to voluntarily offer up his own safety token as barter, he was prepared to take his place upon the copper frame, he...

Mo Ran's entire heart was in disarray.

He couldn't even think straight.

How could this be...

How could this BE!!

The copper dropper failed to ensnare its target and swiped again with its vine branch, preparing for another assault.

Chu Wanning looked at it, the tremors in his eyes barely perceptible.

Pained and ashen-faced, he panted softly, "Mo Ran, you... you listen to me, give it to me now."

"..."

"Hurry up..." Chu Wanning's face was as pale as new snow under the moonlight, "...do you want me to shield you from another attack?!"

"Shifu..."

The willow vine lunged forward once more.

In that split second, Mo Ran raised his hand to pass the slip. Without hesitation, Chu Wanning reached out as well.

Unexpectedly, just as their palms were about to touch, a bright glint flashed in Mo Ran's eyes. He swiftly withdrew his hand and turned it around, shielding the unprepared Chu Wanning behind him. At the same time, another wave of vine willows struck, enveloping Mo Ran's body and dragging him towards the copper clepsydra.

"Mo Ran!!"

Dozens of willow vines entangled him, lifting him onto a cross-shaped scaffold and binding him tightly. Mo Ran turned his face and glanced at Chu Wanning, his lips moving soundlessly.

Chu Wanning's eyes widened abruptly.

Mo Ran's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for him to hear every word without mistake.

Mo Ran said, "Shifu, I really am not... incorrigibly flawed..."

So, could you please... not give up on me?

—

But the latter part of his sentence remained unspoken. In his past life, he had failed to express it; in this lifetime, it was already too late.

It no longer mattered to Mo Ran whether Chu Wanning would give up on him or not.

He merely didn't wish to owe this person anything.

He was foolish and had already become somewhat confused about his feelings towards Chu Wanning. He didn't want to complicate things further.

In this lifetime, Mo Ran thought, the only one he cared for and cherished would be Shi Mo.

The reason he refused to exchange fate tokens with Chu Wanning was simply that he didn't wish to owe this man anything without cause, and he didn't want...

To witness Chu Wanning's lifeblood drain away once more.

Mo Weiyu wasn't entirely heartless. The happiest moment in his life was when someone was willing to treat him kindly.

Just a little kindness could make his eyes shine with joy.

If it were an immense amount of affection, he would be willing to die willingly.

Amidst the dense vines, a brilliant sword suddenly shimmered into view.

That sword was clearly divine in nature, though ancient and unadorned, it exuded an aura of valor that struck one's face. Two ridges adorned its sides; the pommel was toothed like thorns; the guard was narrow, inlaid with a relief sculpture of a bull-headed dragon, intricately detailed. The blade shimmered with a blue luster, capable of slicing hair and piercing through iron as if they were nothing.

Mo Ran only managed to catch the characters "Gouchen" on the blade before the entire word "Shanggong" was lost to him. The divine sword, belonging to the deity of all weapons, pierced straight into his chest.

Blood flowed instantly, merging with the dripping liquid.

At the same moment, a curtain of torrential water descended from the divine weapon repository, separating Mo Ran and Chu Wanning. Everyone was halted by this sudden deluge.

Shi Mo yelled, "Aran!! Aran—!"

The rushing waters concealed their vision, preventing them from seeing Mo Ran's condition behind the veil. Chu Wanning attempted to break through the water several times but was repeatedly hurled back by the raging current. Eventually, he was drenched from head to toe, his dark brows and eyes stern against his anxious face, his lips pale with worry.

Chu Wanning's voice rasped,

"Mo Ran—!"

The cry was not loud, but it trembled violently. Unaware of his own distress, Shi Mo was startled and turned to look at him, only to see their usually composed and collected Master reduced to a disheveled mess. His long, thick lashes quivered, and a trace of concern, impossible to conceal, flickered across his face.

Watching him summon Tianwen, Chu Wanning's brows knitted with fury, his expression resembling a tightly drawn bowstring. Shi Mo felt uneasy and grabbed him, shouting, "Master, don't go! You can't get through!"

Chu Wanning turned his back, his eyes sharp as blades as he silently erected a barrier. Determined to move forward, he found himself unable to penetrate the water veil, which instead pierced his flesh like countless arrows due to the spiritual energy of Jin Chengchi contained within.

He had been severely injured previously, and this intense impact now made him wobble. Despite clutching his chest in an attempt to endure the pain, he couldn't help but kneel down on one leg, his face pale as blood seeped from the reopened wounds on his back.

Unable to tell if it was water droplets or tears on Shi Mo's face, he cried out in despair, "Master! Why... why must you do this to yourself?"

"What's the point?" Chu Wanning snapped. "If the person behind the water veil were you, Xue Meng, I would still..."

The pain was unbearable, causing him to furrow his brows and trail off.

Unexpectedly, a sword beam sliced through the water veil as if cutting through tofu, dividing the powerful array in two.

The sword aura was extraordinary, striking precisely where Shi Mo stood. Seeing that it was about to hit his disciple, Chu Wanning swiftly waved his sleeve, casting a protective barrier with all his remaining spiritual energy, sheltering Shi Mo beneath it. The exertion was too much for him, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

A clear and dignified male voice echoed slowly through the divine weapons repository:

"I am the God of War, Gou Chen, and you insignificant pests have dared to intrude upon the forbidden grounds of divine weapons. How dare you be so reckless!"

Author's Note:

Today's Mini-Theater: "What Everyone Bought on Double Eleven"

Mo Ran: Soy sauce, vinegar, beautiful dishes, adorable pots, tasty snacks.

Shi Mo: Everyone is shopping. If I were to order now, it would add more work for the delivery guy. Although my purchase alone wouldn't make a significant difference, every small step counts. So, I won't be buying anything.

Xue Meng: Clothes, hand cream, hair bands, hairpins, and the complete deluxe edition of "The Road After Twenty for Geniuses."

Chu Wanning: The complete deluxe edition of "How to Improve One's IQ" (Note: Please send to Disciple Mo Weiyu at the Summit of Life and Death. Anonymously, if possible. Thanks.)

Let's give some screen time to two supporting characters whose names have appeared but haven't officially entered the story yet. You can probably guess their personalities, lol 23333

Mei Hanxue: Bulk purchase of 300 pairs of lovers' jade pendants, 500 embroidered sachets, and 5,000 premium hair accessories from a wholesale store.

Ye Wangxi: Not buying anything.