The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 6: This Seat's Master

After all, Xue Meng had grown up on the Summit of Life and Death and was well-versed in its shortcuts. In the end, he managed to capture Mo Ran.

He escorted Mo Ran all the way to the back mountain. The rear of the Summit of Life and Death was the closest point in the human world to the Realm of Ghosts. Beyond a barrier, one would find the Netherworld.

Upon seeing the disastrous state of the back mountain, Mo Ran immediately understood why that person, despite being at home, still needed Madame Wang to attend to guests in the main hall.

It wasn't that they didn't want to help; rather, they were simply unable to spare the time. —

The barrier between the Ghost Realm and the mortal world has been breached.

At this very moment, the entire rear mountain is shrouded in an oppressive aura of ghostly malevolence. Unembodied phantoms wail and circle mournfully in the air, their eerie cries audible even at the entrance to the mountain gate. There, one can witness a gaping chasm torn open in the sky, revealing the threshold to the realm of ghosts beyond. A massive flight of several thousand greenstone steps extends from within the rift in the barrier, already stained with the essence of flesh. Along this staircase, fierce spirits—now endowed with corporeal form—tremble and swarm downward, their inexorable ascent from the underworld to the mortal world a chilling sight to behold.

Ordinary folk would surely have been terrified by such a sight, and Mo Ran had been frightened out of his wits the first time he saw it. But he was used to it now.

The boundary between the human and ghost realms was established by the ancient deity Fu Xi. In the present era, it has grown incredibly fragile, frequently developing ruptures that necessitate repair by cultivators. However, such tasks neither offer significant cultivation advancements nor are they energy-efficient, making them unappealing endeavors. Thus, few immortals from the Upper Realm are willing to take on this arduous responsibility.

When malevolent spirits emerge, it is the common folk of the Lower cultivation realm who suffer first. As the guardian deities of this realm, Death and Life Peak took upon themselves the task of repairing the barrier. The rear mountain of their sect directly faces the weakest point of the boundary, allowing them to promptly mend any breaches.

This dilapidated barrier would leak four or five times a year, just like a patched pot that couldn't hold up.

At the entrance to the Realm of Ghosts, on a long flight of green stone steps, a man in snowy attire moved gracefully, his wide sleeves billowing. Swords surrounded him, and golden light boiled as he single-handedly swept away malevolent spirits and repaired the breaches in the barrier.

The man had a slender waist and luxuriant hair, exuding an immortal aura. From afar, he resembled an elegant scholar reading scrolls under a blossoming tree, detached from the dust of the world. But up close, his sharp brows, slanted phoenix eyes, straight and narrow nose, and refined appearance belied a harshness in his gaze, making him seem particularly unapproachable.

Mo Ran gazed at him from a distance. Though prepared, seeing this person healthy and whole before him once more still made his bones tremble in a fine, intricate way.

Half fear, half... excitement.

His master.

Chu Wanning.

In his previous life, it was this man whom Xue Meng had cried to see before the Temple of Wu Mountain.

It was this man who had ruined Mo Ran's grand ambitions, crushed his aspirations, and ultimately been imprisoned and tormented to death by Mo Ran himself.

Logically speaking, after toppling his adversary and avenging his grievances, Mo Ran should have been overjoyed.

In the vast ocean, fish can leap freely; in the high sky, birds can soar without constraint. No one could hold him back anymore. Mo Ran had initially thought that was how he felt.

But it seemed not to be the case.

After Master's death, buried along with his hatred were some other emotions as well.

Mo Ran wasn't refined enough to recognize this feeling as the thrill of meeting an equal, a rival worthy of respect.

He only knew that from then on, he no longer had his nemesis in this world.

While Master was alive, he was filled with fear and dread, trembling at the sight of the willow vine in Master's hand. He was like a whipped stray dog, whose teeth would ache and legs turn weak at the sound of a wooden clapper, saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth. His calves would twitch nervously.

Then, Master died, and the person Mo Ran feared the most was gone. He felt he had grown, made progress, and finally dared to defy his master and ancestors.

From that point on, no one in the mortal world dared to make him kneel or slap him in the face.

To celebrate, he uncorked a jar of white pear blossom wine, climbed onto the roof, and drank through the entire night.

That night, under the influence of alcohol, the scars on his back from Master's beatings in his youth seemed to burn anew with a fiery sting.

In that very moment, as he beheld his Master reemerge before him, Mo Ran stared, filled with both fear and hatred, yet also a twisted sense of ecstatic delight.

To regain such an opponent after losing them, how could one not feel delight?

Chu Wanning paid no attention to his two disciples who had ventured into the rear mountain, remaining fully focused on combating the overflowing spirits.

He had refined features, with evenly elongated brows and aloof phoenix eyes that hung low. His demeanor was serene, detached from the world, and his bearing exceptional. Unflappable amidst the demonic winds and bloody rain, he appeared indifferent, as if it would be no surprise to see him sit down to burn incense and play the zither at this very moment.

Yet, this very refined and elegant beauty was now wielding a gleaming exorcism sword, its blade still dripping with crimson blood. With a sweep of his wide sleeves, the sword qi sliced through the stone steps before him, causing them to explode in a deafening roar. Debris tumbled downward, cracking the stairs from the mountain gate all the way down to the foot of the mountain. In an instant, a bottomless chasm was cleaved through the thousands of steps!

It was too overwhelming.

How many years had it been since they last witnessed their Master's prowess?

The familiar domineering strength made Mo Ran's knees instinctively buckle, and he tumbled to the ground with a thud.

It didn't take Chu Wanning too long to eliminate all the ghosts and mend the breach in the Netherworld. Descending gracefully from midair, he arrived before Mo Ran and Xue Meng.

He first cast a glance at Mo Ran, who was kneeling on the ground, then lifted his gaze to look at Xue Meng. A chill permeated his pair of phoenix eyes.

"Trouble?"

Mo Ran was convinced.

Master had an uncanny ability to make the most accurate assessments of situations instantly.

Xue Meng said, "Master, Mo Ran has committed theft and lewd conduct during his trip down the mountain. I request punishment from Master."

Chu Wanning remained expressionless for a moment before coldly acknowledging, "Noted."

Mo Ran: "......"

Xue Meng: "......"

Both were momentarily stunned. What now? Was that it?

Just as Mo Ran secretly felt a glimmer of hope and dared to lift his gaze to look at Chu Wanning, he caught a glimpse of a fierce golden light piercing through the air with a whoosh, like a bolt of lightning and rumble of thunder, striking Mo Ran's cheek square on!

Blood splattered everywhere!

The golden light's speed was astonishing; Mo Ran didn't even have time to blink before it sliced through his flesh, leaving a burning pain on his face.

Chu Wanning stood with his hands behind his back, coldly standing in the chilly night wind. The air still reeked of the foulness of malevolent spirits and ghosts, now mixed with the stench of human blood, making the forbidden area at the back of the mountain seem even more sinister and terrifying.

It was a willow vine that had struck Mo Ran, seemingly materializing out of nowhere in Chu Wanning's hand. The slender vine was long and narrow, adorned with fresh green leaves that hung down to his boots.

It was such an elegant object, one that should have evoked poetic lines like "Gently pluck a willow branch, to send my love to you."

Unfortunately, Chu Wanning was neither gentle nor in love.

In his hand, the willow vine was actually a divine weapon called Tianwen. At that moment, it shimmered with a golden-red glow, illuminating the darkness and casting a radiant sheen upon Chu Wanning's impenetrable eyes.

With his lips barely touching, Chu Wanning said in a chilling tone, "Mo Weiyu, how dare you. Do you really think I won't discipline you?"

If this were the fifteen-year-old Mo Ran, he might not have taken the words seriously, assuming his master was just trying to intimidate him.

But Mo Weiyu, having been reborn, had already learned the harsh lesson of his master's "discipline" in his previous life with his own blood. The pain in his teeth made him feel hot-headed, and without thinking, he started to deny any wrongdoing.

"Master..." Blood trickled down Mo Ran's cheek as he lifted his gaze, his eyes misty with tears. He knew he must look desperately pitiful. "I didn't steal... I didn't commit licentious acts... Why did Master strike me without question, just because of Xue Meng's word?"

"..."

Mo Ran had two secret weapons when dealing with his uncle: being adorable and acting pitiful. Now, he employed these tactics on Chu Wanning, looking so wronged that tears were about to fall. "Does your disciple mean so little to you? Why won't Master give me a chance to defend myself?"

Xue Meng stomped his foot in anger beside them. "Mo Ran! You... you sycophant! You... shameless! Master, don't listen to him! Don't let this scoundrel deceive you! He really stole it! The evidence is still here!"

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelashes, his expression cold. "Mo Ran, did you truly not steal anything?"

"No."

"You should know the consequences of lying to me."

Mo Ran's goosebumps rose; how could he not know? But he stubbornly clung to his lie. "Please, Master, see justice in this matter!"

Chu Wanning raised his hand, and the shimmering golden vines swung again. This time, they didn't strike Mo Ran's face but bound him tightly.

This sensation was all too familiar. In addition to its daily use for disciplining, the Heavenly Questioning Vine had another purpose...

Chu Wanning gazed at Mo Ran, securely ensnared by Heavenly Questioning, and asked once more, "Did you steal?"

Mo Ran felt a familiar searing pain pierce his heart, as if a venomous snake with sharp fangs had abruptly sunk its teeth into his chest, writhing within his organs.

The agony was accompanied by an irresistible temptation. Mo Ran involuntarily opened his mouth, his voice hoarse, "I... didn't... Ah...!!"

As if sensing his deception, Tianwen's golden light grew even more frenzied. Despite the sweat pouring down his face from the pain, Mo Ran desperately struggled against this torment.

This was Tianwen's second function besides whipping: interrogation.

Once bound by Tianwen, no one could lie before its master, whether they were human, ghost, alive or dead. Tianwen had a way to make them speak and reveal the answers Chu Wanning sought.

In his previous life, only one person had managed to keep their secret until the end, despite Tianwen's relentless interrogation.

That person was Mo Weiyu, who had become the Empyrean of the Human Realm.

After being reborn, Mo Ran clung to the hope that he might still be able to withstand Tianwen's torture like he did back then. Yet, after biting his lip for what seemed like an eternity, large beads of sweat trickled down his dark brows as he trembled uncontrollably. Finally, he knelt before Chu Wanning's boots, gasping for breath.

"I... I... stole..."

The pain vanished abruptly.

Mo Ran was still catching his breath when he heard Chu Wanning ask another question, his voice even colder.

"Did you engage in debauchery?"

A wise man wouldn't do foolish things. Since he hadn't been able to resist just now, there was even less of a chance now. This time, Mo Ran didn't even bother to resist. As the searing pain struck, he yelled, "Yes, yes, yes, yes!! Master, please stop! Please stop!"

Xue Meng's face had turned green with shock as he exclaimed, "H-How could you... Rong Jiu is a man! You actually..."

No one paid him any attention. The golden light of Tianwen slowly dimmed, and Mo Ran panted heavily, drenched from head to toe as if he'd just been fished out of water. His face was as pale as paper, and his lips continued to tremble as he lay on the ground, unable to move.

Through his sweat-drenched eyelashes, he vaguely saw Chu Wanning's elegant figure, wearing a green jade crown and long sleeves that reached the ground.

A surge of intense hatred rose up in his heart—Chu Wanning! What I did to you in my previous life was right after all!! Even if I were to live again, I would still find you disgustingly annoying! Damn your ancestors eighteen generations back!!

Chu Wanning was unaware that his disciple was cursing his ancestors. He stood there for a moment with a dark expression before speaking.

"Xue Meng."

Although Xue Meng knew that it was fashionable among wealthy merchants and young masters these days to indulge in male companionship for novelty, and that many did so simply for the thrill of it and not because they genuinely preferred men, he was still struggling to process this. After a stiff moment, he said, "Master, I'm here."

"Mo Ran has violated the three taboos of greed, licentiousness, and deception. Bring him to the Hall of Yama for repentance. Tomorrow at dawn, he will be publicly punished on the Platform of Virtue and Vice."

Xue Meng was startled. "W-What? Public punishment?"

Public punishment meant dragging the disciple who had committed grave offenses before the entire sect, with everyone watching, even the canteen auntie. They would be convicted and disciplined on the spot, losing face in front of everyone.

It was humiliating.

After all, Mo Ran was the young master of the Summit of Life and Death. Though the sect's rules were strict, due to his unique status, his uncle, out of pity for his orphaned childhood and years of wandering, had always shown favoritism, scolding him privately but never physically punishing him.

Yet, their Master was not sparing Lord Zun any face, insisting on exposing his precious nephew on the Platform of Virtue and Vice before the whole sect, publicly humiliating Young Master Mo. This was something Xue Meng had not anticipated.

Mo Ran, however, was not surprised at all.

Lying on the ground, a sneer curled at the corner of his lips.

How great and impartial his Master was.

Chu Wanning's blood was cold. In his previous life, when Shi Mo died before his eyes, Mo Ran had cried and begged for help, tugging at his sleeves and kneeling on the ground.

But Chu Wanning seemed to ignore him entirely.

Thus, his disciple passed away before his eyes, while Mo Ran wept bitterly by his side. Yet, he stood idly by, indifferent to it all.

Now, he was merely sending him to the Platform of Good and Evil for public judgment. What was so strange about that?

Mo Ran could only hate how weak his cultivation was at the moment, preventing him from tearing off the man's skin, extracting his tendons, drinking his blood, or ruthlessly pulling his hair in humiliation, torturing him until his dignity was utterly destroyed, making him wish he were dead...

The ferocity in his eyes betrayed him, and Chu Wanning caught sight of it.

He cast a casual glance at Mo Ran's face, which remained composed and scholarly, without any extra emotions.

"What are you thinking?"

Oh, no!

He hadn't retracted Tianwen yet!

Mo Ran felt the vines binding him constrict once more, threatening to twist his organs into pulp. He screamed in agony, gasping for breath as he shouted out the thoughts swirling in his mind—

"Chu Wanning, you've got some nerve! Just you wait, I'll teach you a lesson!"

Silence ensued.

Chu Wanning: "..............."

Xue Meng was utterly stunned: ".................."

Heaven's Query suddenly retracted into Chu Wanning's palm, transforming into specks of golden light before vanishing without a trace. It was an inseparable part of Chu Wanning's bones and blood, summoned at will and disappearing just as effortlessly.

Xue Meng's face paled, his words stumbling, "M-Master... M-Master..."

Chu Wanning remained silent, his long, jet-black eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes as he gazed at his own hand in thought. Then, lifting his eyelids with a rustling sound, his face surprisingly did not crumble, only growing colder. With a glare that screamed 'rebellious disciple deserves death', he stared at Mo Ran for a moment before speaking in a deep voice:

"Heaven's Query is damaged. I'll go fix it."

With that, Chu Wanning turned and left.

Xue Meng, a naive child, asked, "D-Does something like Heaven's Query, a divine weapon, ever break?"

Chu Wanning heard him and shot a glance over his shoulder with a "wayward disciple deserves death" expression. Xue Meng instantly felt a chill run down his spine.

Mo Ran lay on the ground, barely alive, his face blank and lifeless.

He had indeed been fantasizing about finding an opportunity to utterly dominate and humiliate Chu Wanning. He knew that Master Chu, known as "Yuheng of the Late Night and the Northern Dipper, the Immortal Venerated of the Heavens," was a man of refined elegance and could not tolerate being trampled upon and defiled.

But how could he ever let Chu Wanning know such thoughts?

Mo Ran whined like a discarded puppy, covering his face.

Recalling the look in Chu Wanning's eyes before he left, he felt that death might truly be looming.

Author's Note: Master has finally made an appearance~ Don't pair up the wrong characters~ Don't get the top and bottom roles mixed up; Master is the bottom, the bottom, the bottom! = = Mo Fei Yu is the top! This story follows a top perspective!

Meat Bun: Why do your legs go weak when you see Master? Aren't you the top? What happened to your aura?

Mo Fei Yu: I'm getting old, suffering from rheumatism and cold limbs.

Meat Bun: Speak properly.

Ink Feeds the Fish: Don't emphasize repeatedly in the text that I have a 32-year-old soul! After this old man was reborn, I'm as fresh as a daisy! I'm a naive and lively young man!

Meat Bun: Well, then you can just keep your rheumatoid arthritic old man's leg ()っ