Chapter 78 - My Master Had a Nightmare

That night, Chu Wanning and Mo Ran shared a room. Mo Ran, carefree as always, quickly fell asleep on the floor. However, Chu Wanning found his thoughts wandering, tossing and turning for a long time before he could finally drift off.

With his eyes shut, he seemed to hear the howling of winds blowing snowflakes.

Chu Wanning opened his eyes to find himself kneeling in a snowy field.

...A dream?

But why did it feel so real, as if he had experienced it personally at some point?

It was the depths of winter. The sky was a leaden gray, heavy with clouds that rolled in from distant mountains, stretching across the earth like a veil. Snow piled up to a foot high, covering ankles, and the biting cold even pierced through the thick cloak he wore.

Looking down at his azure fur coat, Chu Wanning noticed intricate silver thread embroidery of scrolling vines. The cloak felt familiar, but the recognition was fleeting and soon slipped away.

"..."

Unsure why he was having such a torturous dream, Chu Wanning attempted to stand, but his body didn't seem to belong to him. He remained kneeling on the ground, covered in frost and with ice crystals forming on his eyelashes, showing no intention of rising.

"Grandmaster Chu, the sun has set. His Majesty won't be seeing you tonight. Let's head back," a quivering elderly voice spoke from behind.

In the dream, the figure didn't turn around. Footsteps sounded from behind, and someone creaked through the snow, holding an umbrella on either side of him.

Chu Wanning heard himself say, "Thank you, Uncle Liu. You're getting on in years, so go rest at the pavilion first. I can still manage."

"Grandmaster..."

The aged voice seemed to want to say more, but Chu Wanning responded, "Let's go back."

The weak voice sighed, and the heavy footsteps shuffled a few steps away before turning back to hold the umbrella over Chu Wanning.

"I'll stay with you, Grandmaster," the old servant said.

In the dream, Chu Wanning felt his eyes close slightly, and he fell silent.

He couldn't help feeling increasingly perplexed. This was truly a bizarre dream. He and the old man were having a conversation that made no sense.

What "Your Majesty," what "Uncle Liu"? This was not the cultivation world he knew; it felt more like an imperial palace's inner chambers.

He strained to peer through this borrowed body, attempting to observe the dreamland through lowered eyelids. It seemed to be the Peak of Life and Death, but there were differences.

The buildings were mostly unchanged, but adorned with many opulent trinkets. Around the courtyard, galleries hung with azure curtains embroidered with stars, tied with auspicious beast-decorated pearl octagonal incense bells. When the wind blew, they chimed softly, as if the sound echoed from the primordial void.

He knelt facing the main hall, where a row of guards stood before it—ones he had never seen before, belonging to some unknown sect.

As night fell, a procession of high-haired palace maids emerged from a side entrance. With slender hands, they lit two bronze standing lamps on either side of the hall. Each lamp was as tall as a person, consisting of nine tiers with forty-nine delicate copper chrysanthemums branching out on each level. The cores of these flowers glowed brightly, casting candlelight that cascaded downward like the glittering stars of the Milky Way, illuminating the area in front of the hall with resplendent brilliance.

After lighting the lamps, the lead palace maid shot Chu Wanning a disdainful glance and sneered mockingly, "In the middle of this freezing night, who are you putting on such a pathetic show for? Your Majesty and Her Highness are enjoying themselves. Even if you kneel until the end of time, no one will pity you."

How audacious!

In all his life, no one had dared to speak to Chu Wanning in such a manner. He seethed with anger, but when he opened his mouth, his voice sounded as usual, yet the words that came out were not under his control.

"I come not to disrupt their pleasure, but on a matter of great importance. Please, inform the lady inside."

"Who do you think you are? Why should I bother to inform them?" the senior maid scoffed. "Your Majesty and Her Highness are at the height of their affection. Who dares to disturb them? If you wish to see His Majesty, then keep kneeling. Perhaps by tomorrow, when he wakes up, he might spare you a glance. Hmph."

The elderly servant behind Chu Wanning could no longer bear to listen and trembled as he spoke, "It's known that your Empress is favored, but do you not see who you're speaking to? Do you have no manners at all?"

"I'm speaking to whom? Who in this Land of Life and Death doesn't know that His Majesty despises him the most? Why should I show respect when talking to him? You old fool, how dare you lecture me!" The senior palace maid’s beautiful eyes widened in anger, "Someone, come!"

"What are you doing? !" The withered old man couldn't help but step forward, hunching his back to shield Chu Wanning.

The palace maid glared at him and cooed, "Put out the two charcoal braziers outside."

"Yes!"

Someone immediately came over and extinguished the braziers in the courtyard.

Chu Wanning thought to himself that although this palace maid had a sharp tongue, she wasn't foolish. With the biting cold and frozen ground, she didn't need to directly confront the other party, risking criticism. By simply extinguishing the two braziers, the courtyard would be as cold as an ice cave, and even the strongest physique wouldn't endure the night.

As the night deepened, the grand feast inside the hall was warm like spring, filled with continuous melodies of flutes and strings.

Chu Wanning remained kneeling, his legs and feet already numb.

"Grandmaster... return...”

The old servant's voice was tinged with sobs.

"Return, Your Excellency. Your health is of utmost importance. You know His Majesty's disposition. If you were to catch a chill, he likely wouldn't send a physician. Please take care of yourself."

Chu Wanning spoke softly, "This broken body is of little consequence. If my sacrifice can halt his advance on the Treading Snow Palace in Kunlun, then my death would be no loss."

"Grandmaster! Why... why must you suffer so?"

In the dream, Chu Wanning was already extremely weak. He coughed a few times, but his gaze remained clear. "All that has transpired today is my fault. I... cough, cough."

Before he could finish his words, another violent fit of coughing shook him, leaving a bitter sweetness in his throat. When he lowered his sleeve, he saw his hands stained with blood, a vivid and disturbing sight.

"Grandmaster Chu!"

"I..."

Chu Wanning wanted to say more, but darkness overtook his vision, and he could no longer hold on, collapsing amidst the swirling snow.

Amidst the chaos in his ears, it was as if war had suddenly erupted or that he was separated from a tumultuous sea by layers of curtains, muffling the surrounding commotion.

He could only faintly hear the old servant's panicked cries, fragments of words drifting into his ears.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty—please, I beg of you..."

"Grandmaster Chu, Grandmaster Chu is almost at the end. I implore you to see him just once. This old servant is willing to give up my life in exchange—"

The surroundings gradually descended into chaos, footsteps echoing and lanterns illuminating the area brightly.

The drumming and sweet melodies of women's singing abruptly ceased. It seemed that the palace gates had swung wide open, releasing a rich fragrance and warmth from within. Chu Wanning felt someone lift him up, carrying him into the warm chamber. A large hand brushed against his forehead, withdrawing sharply as if pricked by a needle after just a brief touch.

Immediately, a familiar deep male voice roared dangerously.

"Why didn't you report this to me?"

There was no response.

The man suddenly flew into a rage, and with a crash, it seemed as though he had slammed into something heavy. He bellowed furiously, his words laced with the fury of thunder.

"Are you rebelling against me? He is the master of the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, my own master! He's kneeling right here, yet not one of you bothered to inform me? Why didn't you report it to me!!"

With a thud, someone knelt down, trembling violently. It was the arrogant grand palace maid from before.

"I beg for mercy, Your Majesty. I saw that you and Her Highness were having a good time, so I didn't dare to disturb you..."

The man paced back and forth several times, but his anger only intensified. His black robe with golden trim fluttered like a dark cloud on the ground. Finally, he stopped, his voice distorted to its limits.

"He's in poor health and fears the cold. You didn't come to inform me, making him wait in the snow. And you... You even extinguished the charcoal fire in the courtyard..."

His voice trembled with fury, and after taking a deep breath, he growled a sentence through gritted teeth.

Though the words weren't loud, the killing intent they conveyed sent chills down one's spine.

"You wanted him to die."

The palace maid's face paled with fear, and she repeatedly slammed her head against the ground until her forehead turned purple. With quivering lips, she cried out, "No! No! How dare I have such thoughts? Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you're mistaken!"

"Drag her away. Sentence her to the extreme punishment at the Platform of Good and Evil."

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty—"

That shrill voice was like blood-red nails scratching across an earlobe. The dream began to tremble and crumble under her piercing scream, as the surroundings disintegrated like snowflakes.

"I spared no effort to pull him back from the gates of hell. No one but I is allowed to harm even a single strand of his hair..."

The hoarse voice was cold and deep, but its extreme chill gave birth to a bizarre madness.

Chu Wanning sensed the person drawing near and stopping right before him.

A hand clasped his chin.

He blinked hazily, attempting to discern the figure's face amidst the dazzling light and shadows. Through the blur, he made out a vague countenance with jet-black eyebrows and deep eyes, a straight nose, and eyes as dark as black silk, with a faint hint of purple shimmering in the candlelight.

"...Mo Ran?"

"Shifu!"

The voice suddenly became clear.

Chu Wanning snapped open his eyes, realizing he was still lying in the inn room. The sky was still dark, and a solitary flame flickered in the candlestick.

Mo Ran sat on the edge of the bed, one hand resting on Chu Wanning's forehead and the other supporting his body, looking at him with concern.

"I... how..."

For a moment, he was disoriented. The dream he just had felt so real that it took him a while to regain his composure.

"You were having a nightmare and shaking," Mo Ran said, pulling the thin blanket over Chu Wanning. "You looked so cold, I thought you might have a fever, but thankfully you don't."

Chu Wanning hummed in response, turning his head to gaze at the slightly open window. Outside, the sky was still a heavy shade of grayish-black, indicating that the night was still young.

"I had a dream where it was snowing heavily," he murmured before falling silent.

Sitting up, Chu Wanning buried his face in his hands, pausing for a moment before sighing. "I suppose I'm just exhausted."

"Let me make a ginger tea for Master," Mo Ran said, worriedly observing Chu Wanning's pale complexion. "Master, you look terrible."

"..."

Seeing Chu Wanning remain silent, Mo Ran sighed and, without thinking much, instinctively pressed his forehead against the cold, sweaty one of his master's.

"I'll take your silence as consent."

Chu Wanning was slightly startled by this sudden intimacy and subconsciously leaned back. "Mm."

Like in his previous life, Mo Ran, still half-asleep, absentmindedly tousled Chu Wanning's hair before donning his coat and heading downstairs to use the kitchen. In no time, he returned with a birchwood tray.

Mo Ran wasn't an unfeeling person. Chu Wanning had rushed to Peach Blossom Spring to save him and protected him ever since. No matter how much resentment he had held against this man, at this moment, he was genuinely grateful.

On the tray was a steaming pot of ginger tea, along with a small jar of black sugar from the Tujia ethnic group. He remembered that Chu Wanning disliked spicy food but had a preference for sweet flavors.

In addition to the ginger tea, he had also asked the kitchen for a plain steamed bun. The bun was sliced thinly, soaked in fresh milk, then fried until crispy. A dusting of sugar on top made it a simple yet delicious snack.

Chu Wanning sipped his ginger tea slowly, his complexion gradually regaining its color. With fingers as pale as porcelain, he picked up a slice of the fragrant bun and examined it for a while before asking, "What is this?"

"I whipped it up randomly. I haven't named it yet," Mo Ran scratched his head. "Master, give it a try. It's sweet."

Although Chu Wanning disliked deep-fried foods and their greasiness, upon hearing the word "sweet", he hesitated for a moment before taking a piece to his lips and taking a bite.

"Mm..."

"Is it tasty?" Mo Ran asked tentatively.

Chu Wanning glanced at him but didn't respond. He picked up another piece and slowly savored it with his ginger tea.

The pot of tea and plate of snacks were soon emptied. The nightmare dissipated like smoke and snow in this warmth. Chu Wanning yawned and lay back down on the bed. "I'm going to sleep."

"Wait a moment," Mo Ran suddenly said, reaching out to wipe a crumb from the corner of Chu Wanning's mouth. "Some residue from the snack."

"..."

Seeing the young man before him laugh so openly, Chu Wanning couldn't help feeling his ears grow warm. He turned his head and grunted noncommittally, ignoring Mo Ran after that.

Mo Ran cleared away the dishes and went downstairs to return them. When he came back upstairs, he saw Chu Wanning sleeping with his face towards the wall, unsure if he was truly asleep.

Moving closer, Mo Ran gently lowered the gauze curtain. Suddenly, he heard Chu Wanning say, "It's cooler at night. Don't sleep on the floor."

"Well then..."

With his long eyelashes lowered, Chu Wanning yearned for him to stay by his side but found himself unable to utter the words "sleep beside me." His ears burned with embarrassment as he struggled with his thoughts.

He was torn between concern for Mo Ran, not wanting him to sleep on the floor, and his affection for him, unwilling to let him leave. Yet, his pride was too fragile; he knew that if he asked, Mo Ran would surely decline, leaving him utterly humiliated. The mere thought of it filled him with sorrow.

It was easier when he was Xia Sini, when he could act more impulsively as a child.

But today, Mo Ran had treated him kindly, even remembering that he preferred black sugar in his ginger tea. Could he dare to believe that Mo Ran cared about him to some extent?

This thought caused a warmth to spread through Chu Wanning's chest, muddling his mind, and before he knew it, the words slipped out.

"Come up and sleep."

"I'll check if the neighbors have quieted down. If they have, I'll return to my room."

They spoke almost in unison. Upon finishing his sentence, Mo Ran realized what Chu Wanning had said and widened his eyes slightly.

"That would be ideal."

Chu Wanning agreed almost without hesitation, as if he was hastily trying to cover up his previous statement.

"Go back."

"Shifu…."

"I'm tired. Leave now."

"...Alright then, Shifu, get some rest early."

The young man left, the door creaking open and then closing once more.

In the vast darkness, Chu Wanning opened his eyes, his heart pounding rapidly, his palms damp with sweat. He couldn't help feeling embarrassed about his earlier loss of composure.

Being alone for too long truly made him this way. The slightest bit of care and concern from others would make him believe it to be a rare display of warmth.

Just like a fool.

Frustrated, he rolled over, burying his face into the pillow, sinking into a deep self-loathing. He knew that Mo Ran had feelings for Shi Mingjing, that their relationship was merely one of distant politeness between master and disciple. But...

The figure from the dream seemed to materialize vividly before his eyes once more.

The same features, only appearing older than Mo Ran is now.

His gaze, when he looked at him, was wayward and obsessive, his pupils so deep they defied being seen through.

With a creak, the door opened again.

Chu Wanning froze instantly, his spine taut like an arrow pulled to its fullest stretch on a bow.

Someone walked to the bed, standing silently for a moment before sitting down by the bedside. The returning figure carried with it a distinct scent of fabric.

"Shifu, have you fallen asleep?"

There was no response.

Mo Ran continued speaking as if talking about everyday matters, his voice calm and composed. "The neighbors are still making a ruckus." He chuckled softly, leaning over to rest his cheek on one hand, lying down beside Chu Wanning. His gaze swept over the man's back, which had clearly tensed up even more.

"Does Shifu's invitation for me to sleep here still stand?"

"..."

"Master is always so indifferent. If you don't respond, I'll take it as your consent."

"Hmph."

Hearing a faint, cold snort from the depths of the bed, Mo Ran's eyes curved, his dark purple irises shimmering with amusement.

If doting on Shi Mo had become a habit, teasing his Master was a game he never grew tired of.

As for his feelings towards Chu Wanning, Mo Ran had never been able to clearly define them. He would often feel an itch in his heart whenever he saw this person, longing to bare his fangs and pounce, nibbling until he provoked laughter or tears—though most of these were merely Mo Ran's one-sided fantasies.

Yet, any hint of emotional fluctuation on that icy, serene face, caused by himself, would send Mo Ran into a state of heightened excitement.

"Master."

"Mm."

"Nothing, I just wanted to call your name."

"..."

"Master."

"Speak if you have something to say, or get lost if you don't."

"Ahahaha." Mo Ran chuckled, then suddenly thought of something, and playfully yet sincerely asked, "I was just pondering how Junior Brother Xia reminds me so much of Master. Master, could he possibly be your son?"

"...................................."

Chu Wanning, having experienced a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the night, was still in a foul mood. Hearing Mo Ran's attempt at humor, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"Psst, I was just joking with Master, no need to take it—"

"Yes," Chu Wanning replied coldly, "He is my son."

Mo Ran still had a grin on his face: "Oh, I knew it! So he's your son—wait!!! SON??!!"

Struck as if by lightning, Mo Ran's eyes widened in shock, his mouth hanging agape in disbelief.

"Son? Son, you say?"

"Mm-hmm." Chu Wanning turned to face Mo Ran solemnly, his expression stern and unyielding, leaving no doubt in Mo Ran's mind.

He had made too many mistakes tonight, which might raise suspicion. Since Mo Ran was playing along with this joke, he might as well take advantage of the chaos to mislead him—there was no way he could let Mo Ran discover his affection for him.

With that thought, Chu Wanning regained his composure coldly and said menacingly, "Xia Sini is my illegitimate son, a secret even he himself is unaware of. Now, only Heaven, Earth, you, and I know. If a third person finds out, I'll personally end your miserable life."

Mo Ran: "..................................."

Author's Note: Sheep QAQ It's really chilly lately, everyone stay warm!

Let's see how our characters keep warm...

Mo Ran 0.5: Chu Wanning, come here and hold me for a while.

Chu Wanning: Don't you have an empress?

Mo Ran 0.5: Fetch someone, we're going to blow up the empress.

Chu Wanning: ...

Mo Ran 0.5: Now it's just you. Come warm this seat for me.

Chu Wanning: You heartless demonic fiend, get lost!

Mo Ran 1.0: It's so cold. I want to warm up, but nobody cares... Guess I'll just have more hot water then.

Feeding Fish 2.0: It's alright, I can endure.

Xue Meng: Cold? That's non-existent; I'm young and full of vitality.

Shi Mo: It's so cold... Young Master Ran, make sure you bundle up, okay? Huh...

Chu Wanning commented, "This person is dreadfully afraid of the cold, burrowed in their blankets and refusing to come out." ... Talking about lower cultivation realm heating systems, what a fraud, shameless indeed!