The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 5: This Seat Did Not Steal

The Pill Heart Hall was brightly illuminated.

Shi Mo had already left, while Mo Ran followed Xue Meng into the hall, utterly confused. The moment he saw the scene inside, everything became clear to him.

It was Rong Jiu, that second disciple.

After he had stolen some silver from the man before leaving, Rong Jiu had actually mustered the courage to come to the Summit of Life and Death.

Rong Jiu was leaning against a tall and sturdy man, sobbing pitifully like a pear blossom in the rain. When Mo Ran and Xue Meng entered the hall, his cries escalated an octave higher. It seemed that if not for the man holding onto him, he might have collapsed on the spot, frothing at the mouth.

On the dais, behind a beaded curtain, a delicate woman sat there, appearing somewhat lost and helpless.

Mo Ran didn't spare a glance at the gay couple. Instead, he bowed to the woman on the platform first. "Auntie, I'm back."

That woman was the esteemed master of the Summit of Life and Death—Madame Wang.

Unlike those formidable heroines who were as capable as men, she was a sheltered housewife who knew nothing about the world outside. With her husband away and someone causing trouble at their doorstep, she didn't know how to handle the situation. She said timidly, "Ah Ran, you're finally here."

Mo Ran pretended not to see the two complainants in the hall and smiled. "It's so late, and Auntie is still up. Do you need something from me?"

"Well, yes. This Young Master Rong says that... you took his silver?"

She was too bashful to mention that Mo Ran had dallied with him, so she skirted around the issue.

Mo Ran's eyes curved into a smile. "What's this? I'm not short of silver, so why would I take theirs? Besides, these two look unfamiliar. Do I know you?"

The tall and sturdy young master chuckled coldly. "My family name is Chang, and I am the eldest in the family. Business people don't concern themselves with trivialities, so just call me Da Chang."

Mo Ran gave a slight smile and deliberately reversed the name. "So you're Young Master Da Chang. Pleased to meet you, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner. And who might this other person be?"

Young Master Da Chang said, "Hehe, Young Master Mo is quite the actor. Though we've just met, you spent fifteen out of the last thirty days in Rong Jiu's room. Are you blind? How could you not recognize him?"

Mo Ran's face remained unperturbed as he shot a glance at Rong Jiu with a grin. "What, trying to swindle me? I'm an upright person; I haven't slept with any third or ninth in my life."

Rong Jiu's face flushed with anger, but he still sobbed in Young Master Chang's embrace like a pear blossom in the rain. "M-Mo Young Master, I know my status is low and I'm not fit to be seen in public. If it weren't for your excessive bullying, I-I wouldn't have come here. But you're denying all knowledge of me now. I... I..."

Mo Ran put on a hurt expression. "I really don't know you. I can't even tell if you're male or female. How could we have possibly met before?"

"You were doing business with me last night, how could you be so heartless now? Young Master Chang, Young Master Chang, please help me!" As he spoke, he buried himself deeper into the arms of the man named Chang, weeping like a waterfall.

Xue Meng, standing by the side, turned deathly pale. His eyebrows twitched, and it seemed that if not for his self-restraint as a young master, he would have already driven this overly affectionate couple off the mountain with a barrage of sticks.

Young Master Da Chang patted Rong Jiu's head gently and comforted him softly. Then, he lifted his head and said sternly, "Madame Wang, the Peak of Life and Death is a reputable major sect, but this Young Master Mo is despicable and vile! Nine has been working hard to earn money to buy his freedom sooner. Yet, instead of treating him well, he abused Nine and stole the money Nine had worked so hard for. If your esteemed sect does not give us a satisfactory explanation today, my family, though not cultivating immortals, has generations of wealth in trade, with connections reaching the heavens. We will make sure that your stay in Bashu will not be a pleasant one!"

Madame Wang panicked. "Ah... Young Master Chang, please don't be angry. I... I..."

Mo Ran sneered inwardly. The salt merchant Chang family was rich beyond measure, yet even Young Master Da Chang couldn't afford to buy Rong Jiu's freedom. Instead, he made Nine earn it himself. If there wasn't something fishy going on, who would believe it?

But on the surface, he still smiled amiably and said, "Ah, so Brother Da Chang is actually the son of a wealthy merchant from Yi Province. Indeed, quite the impressive background. Well met, well met. I'm impressed."

A hint of arrogance flashed across Young Master Da Chang's face. "Hmph, at least you know your place. Since that's the case, be smart and save yourself the trouble. You took Nine's belongings—return them promptly!"

Mo Ran chuckled. "How curious. Your Nine serves so many guests every day. Why doesn't he blame others for losing his treasure, but only me?"

"You!" Young Master Da Chang gritted his teeth and sneered coldly. "Fine, fine, I knew you'd try to worm your way out of it! Madame Wang, you've seen it too. Young Master Mo is being unreasonable and refuses to take responsibility. I won't waste my breath on him anymore. You're in charge here, so you decide what to do about this!"

Madame Wang was an inexperienced woman, and she was now too flustered to speak coherently. "I... Ah Ran... Meng'er..."

Xue Meng stood by, witnessing his mother's distress, and stepped forward, "Young Master Chang, the Peak of Life and Death has strict rules. If what you say is true, and Mo Ran truly violated the prohibitions against greed and lust, we will punish him without leniency. But your words hold no weight. You accuse Mo Ran of theft - do you have any proof?"

Young Master Chang sneered coldly, "I knew your esteemed sect would play this card. That's why I hurried here on horseback, arriving before Mo Ran, to confront Madame Wang."

Clearing his throat, he declared, "Listen carefully. Jiu lost two bushels of pearls, ten gold ingots, a pair of plum blossom gold bracelets, a pair of jade hair clasps, and a jade butterfly pendant. Just search Mo Ran for these items, and you'll know if I've wronged him."

Mo Ran protested, "What right do you have to search me?"

"Hmph, I suppose you're feeling guilty," Young Master Chang lifted his chin arrogantly. "Madame Wang, how is theft and adultery punished on the Peak of Life and Death?"

Madame Wang whispered, "This... in our sect, my husband has always been in charge. I truly... don't know..."

"You misunderstand. Madame Wang doesn't seem ignorant but rather determined to protect your nephew. Haha, I never expected the Peak of Life and Death to be such a corrupt and filthy place..."

"Enough, enough. My aunt said she doesn't know how to handle it, yet you continue to bully a woman?" Mo Ran, who had grown impatient, interrupted, his usual jovial smile fading as he turned to glare at the pair.

"Fine, I'll let you search me. But if you find nothing, what will you do about the slanderous words you've used against our sect?"

"I'll immediately apologize to Young Master Mo."

"Alright." Mo Ran agreed rather readily. "But there's one condition: if you're wrong, as an apology, you'll have to crawl down the Peak of Life and Death on your knees."

Seeing Mo Ran's confident demeanor, Young Master Da Chang couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Since he was young, he had always envied those who cultivated in the Dao. Unfortunately, he lacked the talent for it, unable to grasp its essence.

Recently, he learned that his old lover Rong Jiu had gained Mo Ran's favor. The two struck a deal: if Rong Jiu could seize Mo Ran's cultivation, Young Master Da Chang would buy Rong Jiu's freedom. Not only that, he'd bring Rong Jiu into his home, ensuring a life of wealth and comfort.

Young Master Da Chang sought immortality, while Rong Jiu sought riches; the two conspired together, their goals aligning perfectly.

In their previous lives, Mo Ran had fallen for their deceit, though he eventually overcame it, enduring much hardship along the way. But in this life, their plan backfired, as Mo Ran's personality seemed to have suddenly changed. Just a few days ago, he was indulging in hedonistic pleasures, constantly calling out 'Jiu'er' this and 'Jiu'er' that. Yet this morning, after roughly using Rong Jiu twice, he fled with all of Rong Jiu's belongings.

Furious, Young Master Da Chang dragged Rong Jiu to the Peak of Life and Death to seek justice.

This salt merchant's son was a shrewd businessman. He calculated that if they caught Mo Ran red-handed, he could force Madame Wang to strip Mo Ran of his cultivation. To this end, he carried a jade pendant that absorbed cultivation, ready to gain some benefits for himself by integrating it into his Sea of Qi.

However, seeing Mo Ran's current state, Young Master Da Chang hesitated at the last moment.

Mo Ran was too cunning; perhaps he had already disposed of the stolen goods and was waiting to deceive them.

But on second thought, since things had already come to this point, it would be a waste to give up now. Perhaps the boy was merely bluffing...

While he was still pondering, Mo Ran had already started undressing.

He stripped off his outer robe and tossed it aside nonchalantly, then made a gesturing invitation with a grin, "Feel free, take your time searching."

After all the fuss, other than some silver coins, nothing else was found. Young Master Da Chang's expression changed drastically.

"How is that possible?! You must have cheated!"

Mo Ran narrowed his purplish-black eyes, stroking his chin as he replied, "You've searched my outer robe ten times over, and patted my body up and down at least seven or eight times. You were just one step away from making me strip naked for you, yet you're still not convinced?"

"Mo Ran, you—"

Mo Ran suddenly realized, "Ah, I see. Young Master Da Chang, could it be that you're lusting after my beauty, so you put on this act just to grope me and take advantage of me?"

Young Master Da Chang was almost livid, pointing at Mo Ran's nose but unable to utter a single word, his face turning red from the effort. By the side, Xue Meng had long reached his limit. Though he disliked Mo Ran, the latter was still from the Summit of Life and Death, and should not be humiliated by outsiders.

Xue Meng stepped forward without hesitation, breaking one of Young Master Da Chang's fingers in anger. "Half the night wasted playing along with your nonsense, turns out you're just causing trouble for no reason!"

Young Master Da Chang screamed in agony, clutching his finger. "Y-you! You're in cahoots! No wonder they couldn't find anything on Mo Ran; you must have hidden it for him! Take off your clothes too, so I can search you!"

How dare someone order him to strip? Xue Meng's face flushed with anger. "Disgraceful! Your dog claws aren't worthy to touch the corners of this young master's clothes! Scram, now!"

With their young master's command, the servants who had been holding back in the Danxin Hall immediately swarmed forward, forcefully driving the two powerless mortals off the mountain.

From afar, Young Master Da Chang's furious cries echoed. "Mo Ran, just you wait! I won't let this go easily!"

Outside the Danxin Hall, Mo Ran stood beneath the starry night sky, squinting his crescent-shaped eyes as he chuckled. "I'm so scared."

Xue Meng shot him a cold glance. "Scared of what?"

Mo Ran genuinely fretted. "His family sells salt; I'm afraid we won't have any to eat."

"......"

Xue Meng was speechless for a moment before asking again, "You really didn't solicit a prostitute?"

"Nope, seriously."

"Did you really not steal anything?"

"I swear I didn't."

Xue Meng snorted. "I don't believe you."

Mo Ran raised his hand with a smile. "If I'm lying, may the heavens strike me down with lightning."

Suddenly, Xue Meng grabbed Mo Ran's arm tightly. Mo Ran glared at him. "What are you doing?" Xue Meng snorted and quickly chanted an incantation. A series of tinkling sounds echoed as a few unremarkable, bean-sized beads slid out from Mo Ran's sleeve and fell to the ground.

Xue Meng infused his spiritual energy into his palm and waved it towards the beads. They shimmered and grew larger, eventually transforming into a pile of jewelry - a plum blossom bangle, jade earrings, and a glittering heap of gold.

Mo Ran: "......We're fellow disciples, why make things difficult?"

Xue Meng's face darkened. "Mo Weiyu, how shameless of you."

"Haha."

Xue Meng growled in anger. "Who's laughing with you?!"

Mo Ran sighed. "But I can't cry even if I want to."

Xue Meng's face was dark as he said, "So this is how you use the Stealthy Crossing technique of Death and Life Peak?"

"Mm-hmm, applying what I've learned in practical ways."

Xue Meng's anger flared again. "That vile salt merchant was annoying, so I didn't bother properly interrogating you in front of him. But he did have a point: if you broke rules about theft or promiscuity, any sect would have a field day with you!"

Mo Ran wasn't afraid at all. He chuckled. "What are you going to do? Wait for Uncle to come back and tattle on me?"

He had nothing to fear; his uncle doted on him to no end. At most, he'd scold him verbally, never actually laying a hand on him.

Xue Meng turned around, brushing aside the strands of hair that the night breeze had blown into his eyes. His eyes shimmered with an arrogant luster in the darkness.

"Daddy? No, Daddy's gone to Kunlun. He probably won't be back for a month or two."

Mo Ran's smile froze, and a foreboding feeling suddenly crept over him. He abruptly thought of someone.

But —

If he were here, it should've been him entertaining Young Master Chang in the Pill Heart Hall tonight, not that clueless Madame Wang who knows nothing.

That person... shouldn't be here, right...

Xue Meng noticed the flicker in his eyes, and the disdainful arrogance became even more apparent.

"Daddy loves you, but isn't there still someone on this Summit of Life and Death who doesn't care for you?"

Mo Ran took a few steps back slowly and forced a smile. "Dear younger brother, look, it's so late already. Let's not disturb his peace. I know I was wrong, I won't solicit anymore or steal next time. Isn't that enough? Quickly go rest, heh heh, you look exhausted."

With that, he darted away without hesitation.

What a joke! This brat Xue Meng is too wicked!

He was no longer Heaven-Stepping Lord, the ruler of the human world. How could he fall into that person's hands? If he found out that he had stolen something and visited a male courtesan, he'd probably break both his legs on the spot! If not now, then when should he run?

Author's Note: Why doesn't Young Master Da Chang have any brains?

Because his head is full of large intestines (aka. he's not very smart) ~\(≧▽≦)/~

In the next chapter, the revered Master makes an appearance.