The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Chap 120

The morning sun had just broken and the red clouds filled the sky. Although it was still early, a large group of disciples had already gathered outside the Red Lotus Pavilion. They were all dressed in white robes and stood on both sides of the road with their heads lowered.

“Dong — dong — dong —”

The morning bell rang from the Tong Tian Tower. In the distance, a few people were slowly approaching with a coffin. The leaders were Xue Zhengyong and Elder Tanlang. Behind them were Mo Ran and Xue Meng. Shi Mei and a monk in an old kasaya stood on the left and right. They stepped on the slippery limestone road and gradually walked over from the thin fog.

The monk held a lantern in his hand. Although the sky was already bright, the lantern’s radiance did not diminish in the daytime. The golden brilliance was like summer flowers, bright and dazzling.

All the disciples lowered their heads and concentrated on controlling their breathing. They had already heard that Master Huaizui of Wubei Temple had come specially for Elder Yu Heng. They assumed that this ordinary-looking monk was him. For this legendary figure, the younger generation’s reverence suppressed their curiosity. On the long mountain road, no one dared to look carefully. They only heard the sound of a cane and saw a pair of monk’s shoes entwined with hemp grass pass by. The master floated away, leaving everyone standing solemnly.

The coffin was steadily carried. Because it was resurrection and not burial, no one cried. When they reached the Red Lotus Pavilion, Huaizui looked around and said, “Put it beside the lotus pond. There’s plenty of spiritual energy there and it’s easy to cast spells.”

“Okay, we’ll listen to the master!” Xue Zhengyong led the others and placed the ice coffin there. “Master, if there’s anything else you need, just tell me. You saved Yu Heng, which means you saved half of my life. I’ll do my best to help you! ”

“Thank you for your kindness, Master Xue,” Huaizui said, “I don’t have anything to ask for now. If I do in the future, it won’t be too late to tell you.”

“Okay, then don’t be so polite.”

Huaizui put his palms together and bowed to Xue Zhengyong with a faint smile. Then, he turned around and looked at the others. “This humble monk needs five years to bring Elder Chu back to life. In order to avoid disturbances, from today onwards, the Red Lotus Pavilion will be closed to all guests. Five years later, on the day of Elder Chu’s resurrection, it will reopen. ”

Although Xue Meng had already heard about this before, when he heard Huaizui say that Shizun wouldn’t wake up until five years later, he couldn’t help but tear up. He silently lowered his head.

“Benefactors, if you wish to part ways with Elder Chu, please go to the coffin. After today, it will be over a thousand days before we can meet again.”

Everyone went in order.

First, it was Xue Zhengyong and the elders. One by one, they stood in front of the coffin and bid farewell. Xue Zhengyong said, “I hope we can meet again soon.”

Tanlang said, “Wake up early.”

Xuanji said, “I wish you all the best.”

Lucun sighed and said, “I’m a little envious of you. Five years of time is frozen, so you don’t look old anymore.”

The rest of the elders also had their own words. Soon, it was Xue Meng’s turn. Xue Meng wanted to hold it in, but he was used to being impulsive and couldn’t hold it in. In the end, tears fell from his eyes beside Chu Wanning’s coffin.

He wiped his tears vigorously and said with a choked voice, “Shizun, even if you’re not here, I’ll practice my sword well. In the future, I won’t embarrass you at the Spiritual Mountain Conference. When you wake up, I’ll tell you my good ranking. Under my Shizun, there is no disciple who loses in words. ”

Xue Zhengyong walked over and patted him on the shoulder. Xue Meng didn’t hug his father as usual. Instead, he sniffled and stubbornly turned away. He didn’t want to be a hedonistic youth who only relied on his father in front of his Shizun.

Then it was Shi Mei’s turn. Shi Mei’s eyes were also wet. He didn’t say anything. He lowered his head and looked at Chu Wanning for a while, then silently retreated to the side.

After he left, a pale pink begonia flower was gently placed in the coffin. The hand that placed the flower still had the shape of a youth, but it was already very slender.

Mo Ran stood beside the coffin. The wind gently blew across the lake, bringing in the fragrance of lotus flowers. The strands of hair by his forehead were a little messy from the wind, but he raised his hand to tidy up Chu Wanning’s face.

Mo Ran pursed his lips. He seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, he only said softly in a hoarse voice, “I’ll wait for you.”

Wait for you for what?

He didn’t say. He felt that he should want to say wait for you to wake up, but it seemed that this sentence wasn’t enough. It was as if there was no way to express the emotions that filled and squeezed his heart. It was as if there was boiling magma gathering in the bottom of his heart. The magma could not find an accurate exit, so it rampaged in his heart, causing him panic and pain.

He felt that one day, his heart would burst. When that time came, the lava would flow out of control, and he would be melted into ashes in that raging sea.

But now, he still wasn’t sure what this passionate feeling was.

So he only said, “I’ll wait for you.”

The Red Lotus Pavilion finally closed.

An enormous barrier fell. It was like a door that separated life and death, isolating everyone outside.

From then on, the fragrance of the summer lotus and the silence of the winter snow. For a full five years, no one else could enjoy the scenery in the pavilion.

Bamboo leaves rustled, begonia flowers fell, stretching from the outside of the Red Lotus Pavilion to the front of the mountain gate. All the disciples knelt down. Mo Ran, Xue Meng, and Shi Mei knelt at the very front of this endless river.

Xue Zhengyong’s voice shook the forest and stopped the clouds. “Farewell, Elder Yu Heng is in seclusion.”

All the disciples bowed their heads and said in low voices, “Farewell, Elder Yu Heng is in seclusion.”

The voices of thousands of people converged into a stream, suddenly exploding in this smoky peak of life and death. It startled the crows, causing them to cry out in disgust. They circled the treetops but didn’t dare to approach. The rumbling voices were like muffled thunder, crushing the rolling clouds and piercing the heavens.

“Farewell, Shizun is in seclusion.” Mo Ran said softly.

He kowtowed.

Guarding the Monarch for five years.

After Yu Heng was in seclusion, his three direct disciples weren’t willing to temporarily be under the tutelage of the other elders. They cultivated bitterly on their own.

Shi Mei and Xue Meng stayed on the mountain because of their aptitudes and mantras, while Mo Ran chose to go on a long journey.

However, the reason why he made this choice was not only because he was suited for training, but also because he had been reborn. Many things were different from the past. Putting aside the changes on Chu Wanning’s side, what he was most worried about was the fake Gouchen.

He had a faint guess that the person hiding behind the scenes might have been reborn as well. After all, this person’s mastery of the exquisite chess game could be said to be eighty to ninety percent. In his previous life, until he committed suicide, there wasn’t a second person in the world who could use this forbidden technique to such an extent.

Investigating the person’s identity wasn’t his forte. After the battle at Colorful Butterfly Town, the entire cultivation world was watching carefully, waiting for the Old Glutton in the dark to reveal his fox tail. This matter didn’t require him to interfere too much.

Mo Ran knew that he wasn’t smart, but his spiritual energy was dense and his cultivation talent was amazing. Since there was destined to be another battle in the future, what he could do was to quickly return to the powerful strength he had before his rebirth.

In his previous life, he was the destroyer.

In this life, he wanted to be the protector.

Not long after Chu Wanning went into seclusion, Mo Ran stood in front of the mountain gate of the Peak of Life and Death.

He carried a backpack and was about to leave.

There weren’t many people who came to send him off. They were Xue Zhengyong, Madam Wang, and Shi Mei.

Xue Zhengyong patted his shoulder and said awkwardly, “Meng ‘er didn’t come, he said …”

Mo Ran smiled, “He said he wanted to practice his sword in the forest and didn’t have time to send me off?”

“…” Xue Zhengyong was even more embarrassed. He couldn’t help but scold, “That little rascal is really insensible!”

Mo Ran smiled, “He wants to be the champion in the Soul Mountain Conference, so it’s natural for him to practice diligently. We’ll have to rely on him to save face for Master. ”

Xue Zhengyong looked at Mo Ran hesitantly and said, “The Soul Mountain Conference is the pinnacle of the competition for orthodox immortal techniques. Ran ‘er is going to travel the world this time. Although he’ll have a lot of strength, I’m afraid the conference won’t recognize the mixed martial arts of the three religions and nine sects. If we miss it because of this, it’ll be a pity. ”

Mo Ran said, “My cousin is there.”

“Don’t you want to get a ranking?”

Mo Ran really laughed this time.

Ranking?

In his previous life, because he did something wrong at the Soul Mountain Conference, he was punished with confinement and didn’t attend. He had resentment in his heart. But now, it seemed that this small matter was nothing. He was a person who had experienced many life-and-death separations. In the flood of calamities, he was unwilling to accept it to desire, from desire to resentment, from resentment to relief, and from relief to guilt.

Now, what Mo Ran wanted was no longer good wine and beautiful women, worshiping for thousands of generations, revenge, resentment, and the thrill of killing.

He had seen the endless prosperity of the clouds and was already tired of it. He didn’t want to go back. He only felt that it was very cold there, and no one was by his side.

They were all people who had been Emperor Ta. They had once called the wind and called the rain at the peak of Mount Tai and seen all the flowers in the world. They didn’t care about the applause and cheers of the Soul Mountain.

As for the ranking …

Whoever wanted to be ranked could be ranked.

“I still want to do something else.” Mo Ran laughed. “Xue Meng is a young master. A young master has a young master’s way of living, but I’m a ruffian. A ruffian has his days.”

Madam Wang couldn’t help but pity him. “Silly child, what are you saying? You and Meng ‘er are the same. There’s no difference between a young master and a ruffian.”

Mo Ran laughed, but there was some bitterness.

Born rich and born lowly, even if he was lucky enough to reach the peak of life and death, he had spent the previous ten years muddling along. How could it be the same?

But seeing Madam Wang’s gentle and caring expression, he naturally couldn’t say anything. He nodded and said, “Auntie is right. I didn’t say it well.”

Madam Wang smiled and shook her head. She gave him a small pouch with Du Ruohua embroidered on it. She said, “You’re traveling outside and there’s no one to take care of you. Take this pouch. There’s a lot of medicine in it. It’s all made by me. It’s better than what you can buy in a normal shop. Keep it carefully and don’t drop it. ”

Mo Ran was very grateful. “Thank you very much, Auntie.”

Shi Mei said, “I don’t have anything else to give you. I only have this jade pendant. Wear it. It’s used to nourish your spiritual core.”

Mo Ran took it and looked at it. Indeed, the white jade was like congealed fat and was warm to the touch. It was actually an extremely rare item. He hurriedly stuffed the jade pendant back into Shi Mei’s hand. “I can’t take this away. It’s too precious. Moreover, my spiritual core is of the fire element. If I have to nourish it … I’m afraid I’ll suffer from qigong deviation. ”

Shi Mei laughed. “What nonsense. How can you suffer from qigong deviation?”

“I’m not taking it.” Mo Ran was very insistent. “Your body is weak. It’ll be better for you to wear it yourself.”

“But I asked someone to buy it for you at the Xuanyuan Gathering …”

When Mo Ran heard him say this, he felt very warm, but more than that, he felt distressed. “The items at the Xuanyuan Gathering all have sky-high prices. I really don’t have much use for this jade pendant. However, it’s very good for you. Shi Mei, I appreciate your kindness, but you should keep this item for yourself. Remember to wear it every day to nourish your spiritual energy. ”

Shi Mei still wanted to say something, but Mo Ran had already untied the string of the jade pendant and helped him wear it.

“It looks pretty good.” He said this with a smile. He raised his hand and patted Shi Mei’s shoulder. “It’s much more suitable for you to wear than for me. I’m such a rough person. I’m afraid that I’ll break something in less than two days. ”

“Ran ‘er is right. Although this jade pendant can be worn by anyone, it’s still most comfortable for people with water spiritual cores. Mu ‘er, keep it for yourself. ”

Since Madam Wang had spoken, Shi Mei naturally listened to her. He nodded and said to Mo Ran, “Then take care of yourself.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll write to you often.”

Parting was imminent. Shi Mei was a little sad, but when he heard him say this, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Only Shizun can understand the words you write.”

At the mention of Chu Wanning, Mo Ran didn’t know what to feel in his heart.

The bone-deep hatred had dissipated, but the guilt was still there. It was like a scar that was forming a scab. His entire heart was aching and itching.

With that in mind, he went down the mountain alone.

“One, two, three … …”

He lowered his head. As he walked, he silently counted in his heart.

“One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three … …”

When he reached the foot of the mountain, he couldn’t help but turn back and look at the cloud-shrouded peak of life and death. The continuous stone steps seemed to have no end. He muttered, “Three thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.”

As he walked, he counted.

This was the number of steps that led to the mountain gate. The number of steps that Chu Wanning had carried him on his back that day.

He felt that he would never forget Chu Wanning’s pair of hands for the rest of his life. They were cold, full of bloodstains, and damaged.

Whether a person was good or evil, it was often not his nature to be so. Everyone was like a field, some people were lucky, what fell between the ridges were rice and wheat seedlings. When autumn came, the five grains would be plentiful, the rice would be fragrant, everything was good, everything was praiseworthy.

But there were still fields that didn’t have such good luck. What was planted in the soil were poppy seeds. When the spring breeze blew, it gave birth to blissful sins. The entire field was covered in golden-red filthy blood. People resented it, spat at it, feared it. They all lived a drunken life in its stench, rotting into dregs.

In the end, righteous and benevolent people gathered together and threw a fire into the field. In the twisted rising smoke, they said that he was a hotbed of karma. They said that he was a malicious spirit and a demon. They said that he ate people without spitting out the bones. They said that he deserved to die and had no conscience.

He painfully twitched and groaned in the fire. The poppy seeds quickly curled up and turned into the smelly soil.

But he was once a good field. He also once longed for rain and sunshine.

Who was the one who planted the first seed of darkness? Later on, the evil became a disaster and couldn’t be stopped.

This field was gentle and brilliant. After the fire was lit, it turned into ashes.

It was abandoned.

No one wanted it anymore. He was an abandoned old land.

So he never thought that there would be a person who would come into his life and give him another chance to plow the soil and start all over again.

Chu Wanning.

He would only meet him five years later. Today was the first day of those five years.

He suddenly realized that he had begun to miss Chu Wanning’s face. It was stern, angry, gentle, solemn, and upright.

Mo Ran slowly closed his eyes.

He carefully recalled his past and present life. How many past events were scattered by the wind and snow. He gradually realized that the incident of the World of Spirits and Souls was actually the biggest watershed in his life.

In his past life, he loved someone deeply.

Later on, that person sacrificed her life, and he went to hell.

In this life, there was another person who loved him.

Later on, that person sacrificed her life and sent him back to the human world.