The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 84: Even If This Seat Kissed You Secretly, You Wouldn't Know

When Chu Wanning woke up, he saw Mo Ran sitting by the table with his cheek in his hand, lost in thought. A speck of light from the lamp illuminated his dark eyes, making them seem hollow.

"..."

Wanting to sit up, but lacking the strength, Chu Wanning gave up.

The snow-colored brocade curtains fluttered gently. He turned onto his side and silently stared at Mo Ran, but the fool was still absorbed in his own thoughts, completely unaware that his master had awakened.

It wasn't his fault. Anyone would be shocked to learn that their lover had a son with another woman.

Was Xia Sini really Chu Wanning's illegitimate child? How could that be... Chu Wanning was so arrogant and picky. Which woman in this world could have captured his heart?

Moreover, if the rumor about the illegitimate child were true, then Chu Wanning must have had the child in his previous life too. They had lived together for so many years, yet Chu Wanning's behavior in both daily life and intimate moments didn't resemble that of a husband at all.

But what about that golden butterfly hairpin? !

Mo Ran bang his forehead on the table in frustration, almost going mad from the confusion.

He was never the brightest, and he struggled with complex thoughts that twisted and turned like tangled threads. The more he pondered, the more his head throbbed, until he finally groaned, burying his face in his arms, completely immobile on the table.

"Mo Ran, what are you doing?"

A voice as exquisite and resonant as shattered Kun Mountain jade echoed through the room, tinged with a hint of hoarseness.

Jumping to his feet, Mo Ran stared in surprise. "Shifu, you're awake?"

"Mm," Chu Wanning coughed softly, lifting his eyelids to look at him. "Is this... Linling Island's inn?"

"Yes, yes it is," Mo Ran replied, standing up and approaching the bedside. Suddenly, he noticed a cut on Chu Wanning's lower lip, and he blushed furiously, remembering how he had momentarily lost control and nearly made a terrible mistake.

Seeing his distracted expression, Chu Wanning asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing," Mo Ran waved his hands dismissively, changing the subject. "Well, Shifu passed out suddenly in the Xuan Yuan Pavilion, so I... cough, brought you here to rest. I found a physician to prescribe medicine, and then..."

He heard you talking in your sleep, remembered past events, and couldn't resist kissing you.

But these words could never be spoken aloud. Mo Ran's voice faded, his gaze becoming unusually flustered, revealing his embarrassment.

Hearing that Mo Ran had sought a physician and observing the strange look on his face, Chu Wanning's heart sank, fearing that Mo Ran already knew about his poisoning and the subsequent shrinking of his body. He unconsciously clenched the blanket and croaked,

"What did the doctor say?"

"The physician said that Master was affected by that divine weapon, which is why you couldn't hold on," Mo Ran hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Master, your spirit nucleus..."

"It's nothing. It's just more fragile than an ordinary person's."

Mo Ran was taken aback. He had been pondering over the scars on Chu Xun and Chu Wanning's chests, speculating that there might be some connection between them. But hearing Chu Wanning's words, it seemed not to be the case. He couldn't help but ask, "How could this happen? Master is so powerful; your spirit nucleus couldn't have been inherently weak. When did this start?"

"It's been a long time since I was injured years ago. It's been like this ever since," Chu Wanning waved his hand indifferently. His concern lay elsewhere—"Did the physician say anything else?"

Shaking his head, Mo Ran replied, "No, nothing else."

In the dim candlelight, Chu Wanning gazed deeply into his eyes and asked, "Then why did you bang your head against the table earlier?"

"..." Mo Ran held back for a while but couldn't contain himself any longer. He decided to come clean and pulled out the golden butterfly hairpin from his sleeve, placing it in the palm of his hand.

"I found this."

"..."

"It's on you."

The golden hairpin shimmered brightly, yet Chu Wanning's heart sank deeper and deeper.

As expected, he had found out. In the end, it was impossible to keep it hidden.

Letting out a soft sigh, they both fell into a long silence, neither of them speaking again. Finally, Chu Wanning closed his eyes, preparing to reveal the truth, but then heard Mo Ran mutter softly, "Shifu, Junior Brother Xia... he's really your son?"

Chu Wanning: "..."

Opening his eyes, the blood that had frozen within him seemed to flow once more. Struggling for words, Chu Wanning silently gazed at the conflicted Mo Weiyu by the bedside, his gaze gradually forming two clear characters in his mind: "Idiot".

"Yes," Chu Wanning said coldly as he lifted his hand, taking back the golden butterfly hairpin before Mo Ran could react. "Didn't I tell you this a long time ago? Why ask again?"

Mo Ran covered his face and said, "I just... wanted to confirm it one more time..."

Despite Chu Wanning acknowledging Xia Sini as his flesh and blood multiple times, Mo Ran still held some doubt. He endured the intense discomfort, secretly resolving that when he met Xia Sini, he would thoroughly interrogate the young man. He wouldn't believe it until he saw a blood test!

After a while, Chu Wanning's strength gradually returned, allowing him to sit up from the bed.

"My clothes..."

He brushed his lapel and paused, frowning. "Why are they so disheveled?"

Mo Ran: "Cough."

Afraid that he might recall some scattered fragments from before, Mo Ran quickly changed the subject. "Shifu, you must be hungry, right? I've heard this restaurant has excellent dishes, especially their Wensi Tofu. Should we go downstairs and give it a try? My treat."

Chu Wanning shot him a cold glance. "Isn't it still my money you're using?"

Despite his words, he swished his wide sleeves and pushed open the door to descend the stairs.

The cuisine on Linling Island resembled that of Yangzhou, fresh and refined with a sweet taste, which suited Chu Wanning's preferences.

The Xuan Yuan Assembly had already concluded, and most cultivators had set off on their way. They requested a private room, no longer needing to hide their identities under cloaks. After they sat down, the waiter served them two cups of Biluochun tea and presented the menu before retreating.

"Shifu, you may look first."

"You can choose anything you like. I quite enjoy the cuisine from the Jiangnan region," Chu Wanning said, taking a delicate sip of his tea.

However, as soon as the tea touched his lips, he suddenly frowned. "..."

Mo Ran asked, "What's wrong? Did it burn you?"

"... It's nothing. Maybe it's because of the dry weather, my lips feel a bit chapped." As Chu Wanning spoke, he touched the corner of his mouth, feeling somewhat confused.

Strange, when did they split?

"..."

Mo Ran immediately lowered his head guiltily.

It would take some time for the dishes to arrive, so Chu Wanning began discussing the matter of the Xuan Yuan Pavilion with Mo Ran. Neither of them knew who had ultimately won the Divine Weapon, but it didn't really matter. They could always inquire about it later.

As they chatted, the table gradually filled up with an array of exquisite Yangzhou dishes. Chu Wanning felt that asking further wouldn't yield any more information, so he dropped the subject. His gaze swept across the table, pausing for a moment before lifting slightly to meet the somewhat nervous smile of the young man sitting across from him.

Chu Wanning inquired, "Have you been to Jiangnan before?"

Before his reincarnation, Mo Ran had indeed witnessed the scene of apricot blossoms in the misty rain, but he didn't forget that he was currently only seventeen and had been on the Summit of Life and Death for slightly over two years. He promptly shook his head. "I've never been here before."

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelids, his expression serene. His voice was tranquil as he spoke, "But you did order an exquisite feast."

"…!"

Only then did Mo Ran abruptly realize that the dishes on this table were all chosen according to Chu Wanning's preferences. He had originally intended to let him enjoy a good meal to regain his strength, but he had forgotten that he shouldn't be so knowledgeable about Huaiyang cuisine.

"When I was young, I worked as a helper in the kitchen of a music academy. Although I haven't tasted many dishes, I've heard of them."

Chu Wanning didn't delve into the details and simply said, "Let's eat."

In Jiangnan, Linling Island was known for its abundance of aquatic delicacies, served in bamboo baskets, woven reed containers, and willow-branch skewers. Thus, the elmwood four-leg square table was adorned with an array of river and sea treats. Crispy braised eel in sauce, sour and sweet squirrel fish, pipa prawns, chrysanthemum conch, and steamed carp head with fragrant broth delighted all who gathered.

As for fresh vegetables, meats, and desserts, they were prepared with meticulous care, presenting a delightful sight.

The clear-simmered crab roe lion's head, crystal braised pork, chicken broth with shredded dried tofu, soup dumplings, and vegetarian bean curd—each dish was a testament to culinary excellence.

Mo Ran propped his cheek on his hand, watching as the last plate of osmanthus cake was placed on the table. He then stole a glance at Chu Wanning, wondering which of these many dishes he would choose to savor first.

Contemplating for a moment, he secretly made a bet with himself:

It must be crab roe lion's head.

This was Chu Wanning's favorite dish from Yangzhou; as expected, when the dishes were served, his chopsticks inevitably gravitated towards it without surprise.

Mo Ran sighed inwardly. This person was always so predictable, whether it was eating or doing anything – always the same...

Gulp. A plump and adorable lion's head landed in Mo Ran's bowl.

...Change?

Startled, Mo Ran looked up, gradually wearing an expression of astonished delight. "M-Master."

"I've been unwell these past few days, troubling you to take care of me."

Did he hear that correctly?? Mo Ran was even more astonished.

Chu Wanning actually said – troubled you to take care??

This was a phrase he had never said in his previous life!

Seeing the young man across from him slowly turn red, with his brows relaxing and his eyes gradually widening, a single strand of hair on his forehead quivering delicately, Chu Wanning couldn't help feeling a bit at a loss. But his pride still mattered, so Master Chu sipped his tea with an aloof air.

His lips hurt...

In truth, during the time he had spent as Xia Sini by Mo Ran's side, Chu Wanning had already begun to feel a twinge of guilt. In the quiet of the night, he would reflect on how strict and harsh he had been, especially towards Mo Ran. From that point on, he told himself that when he regained his true form, he must not act in such a manner again; he needed to change at least a little.

When Xuan Ji came to Peach Blossom Spring, Chu Wanning coughed for a while before mustering the courage to ask how he could make his disciple less fearful of him.

Xuan Ji was taken aback for a moment before responding, "Firstly, you need to express your love and care for your disciple appropriately."

Expressing love and care...

Chu Wanning thought about how Mo Ran might have never tasted crab roe lion's head before, so he spoke softly, describing it in detail, "Steamed crab roe lion's head is made from finely minced premium pork belly mixed with shrimp roe, crab meat, and crab yolks, forming plump, round balls. After shaping the well-balanced mixture into lion's heads, they're simmered in clear broth with floating green vegetables. Served in a red clay pot, the dish has a very appealing appearance."

"..."

Mo Ran was stunned.

Eating is eating, why recite a cookbook?

Yet, Chu Wanning felt that this was his patient introduction, a form of care for his disciple. As a result, throughout the meal, Mo Ran tasted every dish, and listened to a barrage of dish summaries that sounded as if they were recited straight from the "Jiang Huai Food Chronicles."

If not for Chu Wanning's deep and alluring voice, Mo Ran might have flipped the table and left.

"Hey, did you hear? The final item at the Xuan Yuan Pavilion auction was snatched up by someone from the Confucian Wind Sect of Lin Yi!"

The private rooms were separated by bamboo screens, and the voices from the neighboring room were loud enough to be heard clearly by Mo Ran and his company without any obstruction.

Chu Wanning abruptly halted his description of the "Crystal Braised Pork," exchanging a glance with Mo Ran before they both focused, straining their ears to listen.

A burly man's voice boomed, "How could you not have heard? It's a Divine Weapon, right? Sold for three hundred million gold coins on the spot. Oh my, that's an astronomical sum; I've never seen so much money in my life."

"Look at your aspirations. Don't you know that, besides this Divine Weapon, the Confucian Wind Sect also spent fifty million on a Butterfly Bone Beauty Couch?"

"Goodness, isn't the Butterfly Bone Beauty Couch used for either raw consumption or dual cultivation? For the largest sect in the world to openly engage in such disgraceful cultivation practices is utterly unacceptable!"

"Brother Su, you're mistaken. The Butterfly Bone Beauty Couch is a legitimate cultivation method, not a forbidden technique. Although the couch resembles us, it is not an ordinary human. It's similar to consuming immortal fruits to aid in advancement; there's nothing wrong with that."

"Hmph, I cannot agree with that..."

The other one chuckled softly. "It seems the one who bought the Beauty's Seat is a reclusive young disciple from the Confucian Wind Sect named Ye Something of the Past. They say he looks quite presentable, but I never would have guessed he's someone who relies on women to advance his cultivation. Looks like the Confucian Wind Sect is approaching its twilight years."

Someone nearby chuckled and said, "What's the big deal? Everyone has a fondness for beauty."

The neighboring people were engrossed in an ethical debate, which was not worth listening to further.

Chu Wanning softly repeated, "The Divine Weapon was purchased by the Confucian Wind Sect?"

"It sounds like that's the case."

Chu Wanning couldn't help but show concern. "This is troublesome. If we follow up on this matter, we'll inevitably have to investigate the Confucian Wind Sect."

Upon hearing this, Mo Ran recalled and softly exclaimed, "Oh, so Master was originally from the Confucian Wind Sect."

"Mm-hmm."

"Are you not keen on returning?"

Speaking of returning to the Confucian Wind Sect, Chu Wanning's expression turned weary, a crease forming between his brows as he said, "Though this sect is renowned in the Upper cultivation world, I once..."

His words were interrupted by a sudden commotion in the hall. A voice boomed, "Madam, I'll give you five hundred gold coins to clear the place out immediately! Chase all these guests away! Our young master wants to have the place to himself today!"

The author wishes to clarify: "Bamboo baskets for crabs, bamboo cages for shrimps, willow branches for fish." This description originates from the collection of Zheng Banqiao. As it's not a widely known phrase, I want to avoid any misunderstandings by stating that it's not an original creation and providing its source.

Here are the characters' favorite and least favorite foods:

Chu Wanning

Favorite: Crab roe lion's head meatballs, Lotus flower pastries

Dislike: Spicy hot pot

Mo Ran

Favorite: Red oil dumplings

Dislike: Salty tofu pudding

Xue Meng

Favorite: Spicy Hot Pot

Dislikes: Salty Tofu Flower

Shi Mo

Favorite: Sliced Noodles with Sauce

Dislikes: Sugar-Cane Haws on a Stick

Ye Wangxi

Favorite: Sweet and Sour Carp

Dislikes: Pancakes Stuffed with Scallions

Mei Hanxue

Favorite: Folded-Ear Root

Dislike: Pork (Well, that's quite halal)

The Confucian Wind Sect's young master will appear in the next chapter

Favorite: All kinds of meat, especially pork (not so good, not very halal)

Dislike: Wensi Tofu

So hungry... I'm off now.