The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 7: This Seat Loves Wontons

The scorching sun blazed overhead.

The Summit of Life and Death sprawled over a hundred miles, with corridors stretching endlessly.

As a rising force in the world of cultivation, it was vastly different from the established sects in the Upper Realm, such as the illustrious Confucian Wind Sect of Lin Yi. Their main hall was called "Hall of Six Virtues," hoping that disciples would embody "wisdom, faith, sainthood, righteousness, benevolence, and loyalty." The residential area for disciples was named "Gate of Six Relationships," reminding them to practice "filial piety, friendship, harmony, marriage, responsibility, and compassion" towards one another. The teaching platform was called "Stage of Six Arts," signifying that Confucian Wind Sect disciples should master the "rites, music, archery, chariot driving, calligraphy, and mathematics."

In short, it was sophistication personified.

On the other hand, the Summit of Life and Death, true to its humble origins, had a naming style that left much to be desired. "Pill Heart Hall" and "Virtue and Vice Platform" were relatively better. Perhaps Mo Ran's father and uncle, having not received much education, struggled to come up with more names and began to play around, showcasing their naming talents akin to "Xue Ya."

Consequently, many places in the Summit of Life and Death borrowed names from the Underworld. For instance, the chamber for self-reflection was called the "Yama's Palace." The jade bridge connecting the rest area and the instructional zone was the "Bridge of Helplessness." The cafeteria was known as "Mother Meng's Kitchen," the martial training field as "Blade Mountain and Fire Sea," the forbidden area on the back mountain as "Ghost Room," and so forth.

These were still bearable. In more remote areas, they simply named locations "This is a Mountain," "This is Water," "This is a Pit," as well as the renowned steep cliffs, "Ah Ah Ah" and "Wow Wow Wow."

Of course, the Elders' quarters were no exception, each with their own nicknames.

Chu Wanning, being who he was, preferred solitude and didn't like living among others. His residence was situated on the southern peak of the Edge of Life and Death, concealed within a sea of towering bamboo. In front of his abode was a pond filled with red lotuses that blocked out the sun. Thanks to the abundant spiritual energy there, the pond was adorned year-round with blooming water lilies, as vibrant as crimson clouds.

The disciples secretly referred to this picturesque spot as—

the Red Lotus Hell.

Mo Ran couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

Who could blame them for associating Chu Wanning's perpetually stern expression with a fearsome devil? If a devil lived there, why wouldn't they call it hell?

Xue Meng interrupted his musing. "You still have the nerve to laugh! Quickly finish your breakfast. After that, come with me to the Platform of Virtue and Vice. Master plans to publicly punish you today!"

Mo Ran sighed, running a finger over the whip marks on his face. "Ouch... It hurts."

"You deserve it!"

"Ah, I wonder if Heaven's Inquiry is fixed yet. If not, they'd better not use it on me again; who knows what nonsense I'll blurt out next."

In the face of Mo Ran's genuine concern, Xue Meng's face flushed red with anger. "If you dare to publicly insult or disrespect our Master, I swear I'll tear out your tongue!"

Mo Ran covered his face and waved dismissively, saying in a melancholic tone, "No need for that, no need. If Master ties me up with willow vines again, I'll take my own life right here to prove my innocence."

As dawn arrived, Mo Ran was escorted to the Platform of Virtue and Vice according to tradition. Looking out, he saw a vast sea of navy blue – the disciples of Death and Life Peak all wore their sect uniforms, dark blue garments almost black in hue, adorned with lion-head belts, silver-trimmed gloves, and hems that shimmered in the light.

The rising sun illuminated the Platform, casting a sheen of armor upon the crowd below.

Kneeling on the high platform, Mo Ran listened as the Law Elder read out a long list of accusations before him.

"Yu Heng Elder's disciple, Mo Weiyu, has shown contempt for laws and teachings, neglected the sect rules, and lost all sense of morality. He has violated the fourth, ninth, and fifteenth tenets of our sect. By law, he shall receive eighty strokes of the cane, copy the sect rules a hundred times, and be confined to the premises for a month. Mo Weiyu, do you have any defense?"

Mo Ran glanced at the distant figure in white.

That was the only elder on Death and Life Peak who did not wear the uniform blue robe with silver trim.

Chu Wanning dressed in snowy silk, with a thin veil of silver mist draped over him, like wearing the frost of the heavens. He seemed colder than ice itself. Seated silently, he was somewhat far away, so Mo Ran couldn't clearly see his expression, but he knew it would be as calm and undisturbed as always.

Taking a deep breath, Mo Ran replied, "I have nothing to say in my defense."

The Law Elder followed protocol and asked the disciples below, "If anyone objects to the judgment or wishes to make a statement, now is the time."

The crowd of disciples below exchanged uncertain glances, all at a loss.

None of them had expected Elder Yu Heng, Chu Wanning, to actually place his own disciple on the Platform of Virtue and Vice for public punishment.

In a positive light, this was impartiality; in a negative light, it was heartlessness bordering on demonic.

Chu Wanning, the cold-blooded devil, rested his chin in his hand on the seat, listening as someone suddenly shouted through an amplification spell, "Elder Yu Heng, I wish to plead on behalf of Junior Brother Mo."

"…Plead? On what grounds?"

The disciple must have thought that as the nephew of the Venerated Master, even if Mo Ran had made a mistake, his future would remain bright. Thus, he decided to curry favor with Mo Ran and began spouting nonsense. "Junior Brother Mo may have erred, but he's always been friendly to his fellow disciples and helped the weak. Please, Elder, consider his inherently good nature and show leniency!"

It seemed that more than one disciple was planning to ingratiate themselves with Mo Ran.

Gradually, more voices spoke up in Mo Ran's defense, each with a bizarre excuse. Even Mo Ran himself felt awkward—when had he ever had a "pure heart and concern for the world"? This was a disciplinary hearing, not an awards ceremony!

"Elder Yu Heng, Junior Brother Mo once helped me vanquish demons and protect justice, slaying a troublesome beast. I wish to request recognition of his deeds, to offset his wrongdoing. I hope the Elder will lessen his punishment!"

"Elder Yu Heng, Junior Brother Mo once relieved me from my demonic possession when I was on the verge of going astray. I believe that his mistake this time was simply a momentary lapse in judgment. Please, Elder, show leniency towards Junior Brother Mo!"

"Elder Yu Heng, Junior Brother Mo bestowed upon me spirit pills and medicinal herbs that saved my mother's life. He is inherently a kind-hearted person. I beg you, Elder, to be merciful!"

The last disciple's turn was interrupted, leaving them at a loss for words. Seeing Chu Wanning's icy gaze sweep over, they panicked and blurted out, "Elder Yu Heng, Junior Brother Mo once assisted me in dual cultivation—"

"Ahem." Someone couldn't hold back their laughter.

The disciple's face flushed red as they retreated, embarrassed.

"Yu Heng, calm down, calm down…" The Precepts Elder hurriedly tried to soothe him, sensing the situation turning sour.

Chu Wanning's voice was frigid. "I have never seen such a shameless individual. What is his name? Whose disciple is he?"

The Precepts Elder hesitated slightly before mustering up the courage to whisper, "My humble disciple, Yao Lian."

Chu Wanning raised an eyebrow. "Your disciple? Does he have any dignity?"

The Precepts Elder felt awkward, his old face turning red as he changed the subject. "He has a decent singing voice. He can be of assistance during our rituals."

Chu Wanning harrumphed and turned away, too lazy to engage in further nonsense with this shameless Elder of Discipline.

It was entirely normal for thousands of people on the Summit of Life and Death to have a dozen or so sycophants.

Mo Ran, seeing how convinced those brothers seemed, almost believed it himself. Impressive, impressive. It seemed he wasn't the only one skilled in lying with a straight face – their sect was indeed filled with talent.

After being begged countless times by "Elder Yu Heng, please show mercy," Chu Wanning finally spoke to his disciples.

"Appealing for Mo Weiyu?" He paused. "Very well, all of you come forward."

Confused, they timidly approached.

A golden glow flashed in Chu Wanning's hand, and Tianwen obeyed its master's command, whizzing through the air to bind the dozen or so people together tightly in place.

Not again!

Mo Ran was on the verge of despair. The sight of Tianwen made his legs weak. He really had no idea where Chu Wanning had obtained such a monstrous weapon. It was a blessing that he hadn't married in his previous life; any girl who had married him would have either been whipped to death or questioned to death.

Mockery flickered in Chu Wanning's eyes as he asked one of them, "Did Mo Ran ever help you vanquish demons and uphold justice?"

The disciple couldn't withstand the torment of Heaven's Inquiry and immediately wailed, "No! No!"

He then asked another, "Did Mo Ran help you overcome demonic possession?"

"Ahh!! No! Never!"

"Did Mo Ran give you spiritual elixirs?"

"Ahh-! Save me! No, no, no! I made it up! It was all made up by me!"

Chu Wanning released his binds, but immediately followed up with a fierce swipe, sparks flying as the Heavenly Inquiry was abruptly unleashed, lashing brutally across the backs of the lying disciples.

In an instant, screams echoed relentlessly, accompanied by splatters of blood.

With knitted brows, Chu Wanning sternly demanded, "What are you shouting for? Kneel down for me! Discipline Enforcer!"

"Present."

"Subject me to the punishment!"

"Yes!"

Yet, instead of gaining any benefits, each of them was punished with ten strokes of the cane for deceitful conduct, plus an additional harsh lash from Elder Yu Heng's willow whip.

That night, Mo Ran lay on his bed. Despite having been treated with medicine, his back was still covered in overlapping wounds that made it impossible for him to even turn over. Tears welled up in his eyes as he sniffled in pain.

He was adorable, curled up like a beaten-up furball, but his thoughts were anything but innocent.

Clutching the bedding and biting into the sheet, he imagined it was Chu Wanning, that grandson of his, that he was biting, kicking, and tearing at!

His only comfort was Shi Mo visiting him with some dumplings he had made himself. Under the gaze of those tender, compassionate eyes, Mo Ran's tears fell even more fiercely.

He didn't care about the saying that real men don't cry easily; he would be as clingy as he pleased with the one he liked.

"So painful, huh? Can you even get up?" Shi Mo sighed as he sat by the bed. "Master... he was too ruthless. Just look at how badly he beat you... Some of those wounds are still bleeding."

Hearing Shi Mo's concern, a warm sensation began to rise in Mo Ran's chest. He lifted his bright eyes from under the covers and blinked.

"Shi Mo, if you care about me this much, I-I won't feel the pain anymore."

Sighing, Shi Mo looked at Mo Ran with a mixture of helplessness and concern under the candlelight. His enchanting eyes shimmered like gentle spring water.

Feeling a soft touch in his heart, Mo Ran obediently replied, "Never again. I swear."

"But when have you ever kept your promises?" Despite his words, Shi Mo finally smiled. "The dumplings have cooled down. Can you sit up? If not, lie down, and I'll feed you."

Mo Ran had already started to sit up but immediately flopped back down at Shi Mo's words as if paralyzed.

Shi Mo: "..."

In both his past and present lives, Mo Ran had always loved the dumplings made by Shi Mo the most. The thin wrappers were as delicate as smoke, while the fillings were tender like solidified cream. Each dumpling was plump, slippery, and fragrant, melting in the mouth and leaving a lingering aroma.

The soup, in particular, was rich and creamy, dyed milky white, adorned with bright green scallions and tender yellow egg shreds. Topped with a spoonful of chili oil stir-fried with minced garlic, it could warm a person's heart for a lifetime.

With great care, Shi Mo fed him spoon by spoon, talking to him as he did. "There's no chili oil today. Your injuries are severe; spicy food won't aid your recovery. Just have the bone broth."

Mo Ran gazed at him, unable to look away, and said with a smile, "Everything you make is delicious, whether it's spicy or not."

"Such sweet words," Shi Mo smiled, picking up a poached egg floating in the soup. "Here, have this runny one, I know you like it."

Mo Ran chuckled, a tuft of unruly hair on his forehead standing upright like a bloom. "Shi Mo."

"What's up?"

"Nothing much, just calling your name."

"..."

His silly strand of hair swayed back and forth.

"Shi Mo."

Shi Mo tried to hold back his laughter. "Just calling my name, huh?"

"Mm-hmm, just calling you, makes me feel so happy."

Shi Mo was taken aback for a moment, then gently stroked Mo Ran's forehead. "This silly kid, you're not feverish, are you?"

Mo Ran chuckled softly and rolled onto his side, gazing at Shi Mo with bright, starlit eyes.

"It would be wonderful to have Si Mei's wontons every day."

It was not a lie.

After Shi Mo's death, Mo Ran had often longed to taste his dragon claw dumplings again, but that flavor was now forever lost.

Back then, Chu Wanning had not yet completely severed ties with him. Perhaps out of guilt, seeing Mo Ran kneeling in front of Shi Mo's coffin in a daze, Chu Wanning quietly went to the kitchen to knead dough, prepare fillings, and carefully wrap a few wontons. However, before he could finish, Mo Ran discovered him. Grief-stricken by the loss of his beloved, Mo Ran couldn't tolerate it. He felt that Chu Wanning's actions were mocking him, imitating Shi Mo clumsily, deliberately hurting him.

Si Mei was dead, and Chu Wanning could have saved him but chose not to. Yet afterward, he wanted to make wontons for Mo Ran as if it could somehow console him. Did he really think that would make Mo Ran happy?

Storming into the kitchen, he knocked over all the utensils, sending plump jade-like wontons scattering across the floor.

He yelled at Chu Wanning, "Who do you think you are? You're worthy of using what he used? Worthy of cooking what he cooked? Si Mei is dead, are you satisfied now? Do you have to drive all your disciples to their deaths or madness before you're content? Chu Wanning! No one else in this world can replicate that bowl of wontons. No matter how much you imitate, you'll never be like him!"

Now, as he ate, he felt both joy and melancholy. As he slowly finished the bowl, his smile remained, but his eyes grew moist. Fortunately, the dim candlelight hid the subtle emotions on his face from Shi Mo.

Mo Ran said, "Si Mei."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Shi Mo was taken aback for a moment before he smiled gently. "It's just a bowl of wontons. No need to be so polite with me. If you like them, I'll make them for you often."

Mo Ran wanted to say it wasn't just about the wontons.

He also wanted to thank Shi Mo for valuing him in both his past and present lives, for not looking down on his humble origins or the ruthless fourteen years he spent clawing his way up.

He also wanted to thank Shi Mo for reminding him in his rebirth, preventing him from killing Rong Jiu and repeating his past mistakes.

Fortunately, in this life, he had been reborn before Shi Mo's death. He would protect Shi Mo with all his might. If anything happened to Shi Mo, and that cold-hearted devil Chu Wanning refused to save him, Mo Ran would step in.

But how could he express these words?

In the end, Mo Ran finished the soup down to the last drop, leaving not even a single scallion behind. He licked his lips, his dimples deepening, looking adorably like a fluffy kitten.

"Will there be more tomorrow?"

Shi Mo couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't you want to switch it up? Aren't you tired of it?"

"I could eat it every day without getting bored. I just worry that you'll find me annoying."

Shi Mo shook his head and smiled. "I'm not sure if we have enough flour left. If not, we won't be able to make them. If that's the case, how about some sweetened egg soup? You like that too."

"Sure, sure. Anything you make is great."

Mo Ran felt as if flowers were blooming and birds singing in his heart; he was so happy he could roll around in bed.

Look at how capable Shi Mo is! Chu Wanning, go ahead and scold me! After all, I still have a handsome man taking care of me in bed. Heh heh heh!

As he thought of his master, the tenderness he had just felt was replaced with a surge of anger.

Mo Ran started picking at the cracks in the bed frame again, grumbling to himself. What nonsense is this about Yu Heng at night or the Celestial Venerated of the Northern Dipper? It's all bullshit!

Chu Wanning, just you wait and see what happens in this lifetime!

Author's Note: Shi Mo makes wontons.

Ink Feeds Fish: Eat, eat, eat!

Master's Steamed Bun Wraps

Ink Feeds Fish: Toss, toss, toss!

At the Peak of Life and Death, Ink Feeds Fish is wasting food and labor. Is this the loss of humanity or the decline of morality? Stay tuned for today's episode of "Legal Forum."

The real reason:

Master's cooking is so unpalatable that, as a disciple, Ink Feeds Fish has developed a deep distrust in the safety of Master's various culinary creations.