The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 62: This Seat Arrives at Ancient Linan

Mo Ran and the others soon began their cultivation. Of course, collecting feathers was his most enthusiastic task. After all, he didn't expect to learn much from these former defeated foes. Living a good life was the main priority.

Every day before dawn, they would rush to the Ancestral Abyss to snatch golden feathers. Then they would go to Zhurong Cave for meditation, using their inner spirit energy to resist the scorching sun of Zhurong Cave and improve their cultivation. After two hours, they would study with the Feathered people on how to control ghosts.

Another two hours were spent in the Arena of Asura, sparring against each other.

Before nightfall, they would go to the Star Gazing Cliff in Peach Blossom Spring to listen to Miss Eighteen explain the "Hundred Ghost Catalog" and "Exorcism Formula."

Of course, Mo Ran's favorite time was listening to scriptures at the Star Gazing Cliff at night, as it was the only lesson that gathered cultivators from three different specialties.

He knew Shi Mo wasn't good at lightness kung fu and worried about him not having enough to eat, so he divided half of the feathers he collected every day for Shi Mo's use. However, aside from this, there was little chance for him to interact more with Shi Mo. Instead, he spent most of his time with Chu Wanning, gradually becoming inseparable.

During this period, Chu Wanning often sat on the bridge railing blowing leaves while Mo Ran sat beside him, propping his chin up and listening to the sunrise and sunset, the clouds rising and falling.

Or Chu Wanning would stand by the river feeding the fish, while Mo Ran stood next to him holding an umbrella, watching the colorful carp leap and the green waves sparkle with golden scales.

When it rained in Peach Blossom Spring, Mo Ran held Chu Wanning's hand, and they strolled together along the old, cracked bluestone path, a paper umbrella held straight above their heads.

When the water accumulated too deeply, Mo Ran would carry his junior brother on his back. The raindrops pattered, and the little guy would lie quietly on his shoulder, seldom speaking.

Occasionally, when Mo Ran's back grew warm with exertion, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Then, his taciturn junior brother would silently wipe them away with a handkerchief. The cloth was clean and simple, with a delicate peony embroidered in one corner. Mo Ran always felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but the fleeting thought was like a light rain falling into a deep pond, impossible to retrieve.

On this day, Chu Wanning rested in the courtyard, and Mo Ran, struck by a whim, untangled his hair and tied it into a high ponytail. As he combed through the hair, Ye Wangxi entered the yard, clutching his left shoulder with a slightly troubled expression.

Mo Ran, sharp-eyed, raised his eyebrows slightly. "Brother Ye is injured?"

"Mm," Ye Wangxi paused, frowning. "Just a minor injury from sparring. It's nothing. But that person was truly lecherous and despicable, deserving of contempt!"

"..."

Mo Ran stammered, hardly believing it. "Someone assaulted you?"

Ye Wangxi glared at him, his gaze sharp and cold. "What are you thinking?"

"Hahaha, just joking." Mo Ran laughed awkwardly, unable to resist his curiosity. "Who are you talking about?"

Ye Wangxi replied, "Who else? It's still that flirtatious fellow from Kunlun's Treading Snow Palace."

At the sound of this description, Mo Ran let out an "Ah," and thought to himself: Could it be him?

Lately, he had often heard the female disciples in Peach Blossom Spring whispering among themselves, constantly mentioning "Eldest Senior Brother" this and "Eldest Senior Brother" that. He could forgive the younger ones, but just the day before, he had seen a middle-aged female cultivator standing by a flower bed, lost in a trance with a dazed look on her face as she murmured, "There isn't a single man in this world who can match Eldest Senior Brother. If he could only truly look at me and speak to me, I would have no regrets even if I fell into hell."

Her infatuated and resentful demeanor had made Mo Ran burst out laughing on the spot. He suspected that the "Eldest Senior Brother" she spoke of was the same person he had in mind, but there were so many cultivators in Peach Blossom Spring, and they didn't interact much. He had only ever heard their names but never seen them in person. Besides, he felt too embarrassed to ask the female disciples for gossip, so he couldn't be sure.

"I was drinking at Spirit Lake Tower in the Western Market today," Ye Wangxi said, "and that bastard happened to be there as well. I saw him with two women in his arms, already quite debauched. But since they seemed to be willing participants, it wasn't any of my business, so I didn't say anything."

Mo Ran agreed, "Indeed."

"Yet later, a female disciple from Solitary Moon Night's sect rushed in, her expression fraught with anxiety as she looked around, clearly searching for someone."

Mo Ran smiled and said, "She's looking for that 'Eldest Senior Brother,' isn't she?"

"You've heard about Eldest Senior Brother too?"

"Haha, if even an upright gentleman like you is aware of his amorous escapades, how could someone like me, who's well-versed in other people's affairs, not know?"

Ye Wangxi glanced at him silently and said, "That Eldest Senior Brother truly is no good. The female cultivator from Solitary Moon Night is searching for him because he had exchanged tokens of affection with her some days ago, promising to become dao companions and never part ways."

Mo Ran chuckled again. "That's something one shouldn't ever hear. I bet Senior Brother has at least seventeen or eighteen such tokens of affection, all the same. He gives one every time he pursues a girl; I doubt even his vows of eternal love vary much."

Chu Wanning, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. He shot a glance at Mo Ran, seemingly displeased. "How would you know?"

Unexpectedly, Ye Wangxi took Mo Ran's side. "Brother Mo is right; it's true. That female cultivator had a secret crush on Senior Brother already. After hearing him say that, she believed him and lost her virginity to him that very night."

Mo Ran winced. "Ouch." He hurried to cover Chu Wanning's ears.

Chu Wanning remained composed. "What are you doing?"

"Kids shouldn't hear this sort of thing; too much exposure isn't good for their cultivation."

Chu Wanning: "…"

After Mo Ran had covered Chu Wanning's ears, his eyes gleamed with anticipation as he asked eagerly, "And then what happened?"

Ye Wangxi was an upright man, so he couldn't have imagined that the despicable Mo Ran was interpreting his indignation as a lurid romance novel. He replied with righteousness, "What else could happen? Of course, Senior Brother didn't want to acknowledge it or get entangled with that female cultivator. When she produced the sword tassel token, he was hugging two other girls, each with a similar tassel. He said he gave them to friends, not just to his dao partners."

"Tsk tsk, that's truly shameless."

"Yes," Ye Wangxi replied. "I couldn't stand it, so I engaged him in debate."

His expression shifted slightly as he spoke. After a moment, he continued, "The debate didn't go well, and it turned into a fight."

Mo Ran smiled. "I see."

But inwardly, he thought: It probably wasn't that simple. If 'Eldest Senior Brother' truly was the person he suspected, then based on that individual's character, they wouldn't resort to violence over such a matter. Perhaps Ye Wangxi was feeling embarrassed and had left out some details.

Since Ye Wangxi didn't wish to elaborate, Mo Ran naturally wouldn't press the issue. He changed the subject. "Then Eldest Senior Brother must be skilled. An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to injure Brother Ye."

This only seemed to frustrate Ye Wangxi more. His dark eyes blazed with anger, like flames spreading across the night sky.

"Good? What's so good about it?" Ye Wangxi snapped indignantly. "With mediocre magic, relying solely on women to fight – what a disgrace!"

"Ah? Hahahaha." Upon hearing this, Mo Ran looked closer and noticed several intermittent bloodstains on Ye Wangxi's cheek in addition to the sword wound on his shoulder. Clearly, they were scratches from a woman's nails. He couldn't help but laugh so hard he stumbled. "Eldest Senior Brother truly lives up to their reputation, hahaha."

Chu Wanning remained silent. Ever since Ye Wangxi mentioned "the debate didn't go well, and it turned into a fight," he seemed lost in deep thought.

Once Ye Wangxi retreated to tend to his wounds, Chu Wanning spoke. "Mo Ran."

Mo Ran playfully smacked his head. "Call me Senior Brother."

"…" Chu Wanning said, "He was referring to Senior Brother Mei Hanxue, right?"

Mo Ran chuckled. "I think so."

Chu Wanning fell silent again, deep in thought.

Suddenly, as if he had figured something out, his eyes widened. "This Ye Wangxi, could it be that he was—"

"Shh! Be quiet!" Mo Ran placed a finger to Chu Wanning's lips to hush him, then crouched down to be on the same level as Chu Wanning and smiled. "What are you thinking at such a young age?"

"…I've heard before that Mei Hanxue is incredibly unreliable, having done all sorts of absurd things. I didn't expect he'd dare to do this to a Confucian Wind Sect disciple…"

Mo Ran laughed casually. "Hahaha, he's quite unreliable, indeed. But we shouldn't meddle in others' affairs. Come, let Senior Brother continue tying your hair. I saw a pretty hairpin on West Street earlier—it wasn't expensive, so I bought it. Let me put it on you and see how it looks."

Just as Mo Ran didn't appreciate Chu Wanning's taste, Chu Wanning also couldn't commend Mo Ran's preferences.

Staring at the flamboyant golden orchid butterfly hairpin shimmering with iridescent hues, Chu Wanning fell silent. "…Are you sure this is for me?"

"Yes, exactly. Children should have golden and red ones. Look, how lively it is."

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

Reluctant as he was, upon deeper reflection, this seemed to be the first time Mo Ran had ever given him something. Thus, Chu Wanning held his tongue, allowing Mo Ran to fasten the hairpin at the top of his ponytail. The golden orchid and butterfly shimmered vibrantly against Mo Ran's black tresses.

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelashes.

Suddenly, he found it rather nice.

This color, this Mo Ran, and this version of himself—none of it would exist once he regained his original body.

This butterfly seemed to have flown straight out of a dream.

Like fleeting white clouds and swiftly passing days, half a year had passed in the Peach Blossom Paradise.

According to Miss Eighteen, after this period, everyone would have to undergo tests set by the Feathered People to assess their progress in cultivation.

"This is the first trial that all of you will be undertaking since arriving here," said Eighteen during the gathering. "The trials are divided into three perilous realms, tailored to each individual's unique cultivation method. Guardians enter the 'Blood River Realm,' Healers enter the 'Great Compassion Realm,' and Aggressors enter the 'Asura Realm.'"

"These three realms are virtual landscapes reconstructed from memories dating back hundreds of years when the Ghost Realm invaded the human world. You will face no real danger within them. Once you resolve the crises within, you will return to Peach Blossom Haven."

"Each trial allows only two participants at a time, meaning that you may choose to challenge it alone or invite one companion. The order of the trials will be announced by the Celestial Envoys."

After the meeting dispersed, the trials began in earnest. Mo Ran had no idea how the Guardians and Healers were faring, but for the Aggressors, they had already tested six or seven people, all of whom had performed admirably. It seemed this trial wasn't overly difficult.

A few days later, it was Mo Ran's turn.

Eighteen oversaw the Aggressor cultivators, and she smiled slightly as she asked, "Does Lord Mo require a companion for this journey?"

Mo Ran pondered for a moment. "If I choose someone to accompany me, will they be exempt from the trial?"

"Certainly."

"In that case, I'll take my junior disciple with me." Mo Ran pointed at Chu Wanning. "He's young, and I won't be at ease leaving him on his own."

Under the bright moon, they followed Eighteen to the entrance of a dark cave, its mouth shrouded in a thin veil of golden-red mist.

Eighteen said, "Please listen carefully, Immortals. The Realm of Asura recreates the disastrous first breach of the Ghost Realm two hundred years ago. Back then, due to the delayed repair of the barrier, a large number of vengeful spirits and ghosts escaped to the mortal world, causing countless atrocities. This illusory realm is modeled after the memories of a survivor from Lin'an at that time. The moment you step into the cave, you will be transported to war-torn Lin'an two hundred years ago. If you slay the ghost king leading the troops, the illusion will break on its own."

Mo Ran glanced at Chu Wanning and then smiled at Eighteen. "Sister Fairy, I don't mind since I have thick skin, but my junior disciple is only six years old. If these weapons are ruthless and accidentally hurt him..."

"You don't need to worry," Eighteen replied. "No weapon in the illusory realm can truly harm either of you. If you sustain injuries, spiritual energy will automatically mark them. If it hits a vital spot, it means you've been severely injured or killed, resulting in failure of the challenge."

Mo Ran was relieved and clapped his hands, laughing. "I see. Sister Fairy, you've thought of everything. Thank you very much."

With his concerns alleviated, Mo Ran entered the cave alongside Chu Wanning for the trial. The cave was pitch black, and as soon as they stepped inside, they felt a sudden sense of weightlessness. Blurred images of colorful lights flashed before their eyes, followed by an endless stream of distorted human faces flowing beneath them like a river.

When the two landed on solid ground, they found themselves teleported to ancient Lin'an, standing at the entrance of an old road outside the city. It was midday, with the blazing sun casting a pungent stench of blood into the air.

The ancient city of Lin'an, where a hundred ghosts roamed the night two hundred years ago, unfolded before Mo Ran and Chu Wanning like a scorched scroll amidst the thick stench, slowly and tragically revealing its tale.

Author's Note:

Scene: "Different Choices in the Feathered Illusion Realm"

What outcome will the duo dungeon with Mo Ran and Chu Wanning bring?

No milk, failed attempt.

What is the outcome when Mo Ran and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

No chance, the author forbids it.

What is the outcome when Mo Ran and Xue Meng go on a two-player dungeon together?

They argue until they end up competing in front of the boss to see who can sever their meridians faster.

What is the outcome when Xue Meng and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

Standard setup, they can win.

What is the outcome when Xue Meng and their Master go on a two-player dungeon together?

Failed attempt, one DPS is constantly cheering the other DPS on from the sidelines.

What is the outcome when the Master and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

The boss met its end at the hands of the unleashed Mo Ran, thus eliminating the existence of this particular dungeon.