Chapter 9: This Venerable One Is Not an Actor

Chu Wannin's tastes were, in short, terrible. Dry, tedious, utterly despair-inducing. For example: all the crappy books he'd stuffed on this shelf!

A Catalog of Ancient Barriers, An Illustrated Archive of Unusual Flora, Zither Arrangements of Linyi Rufeng Sect, Plant Collections. There were only a few books that counted as acceptable reading material, like A Regional Travel Guide to Sichuan and Sichuan Recipes.

Mo Ran picked a few of the newer-looking books, ones that Chu Wanning likely wouldn't read often, and doodled a bunch of porn on the pages.

Heh, there are at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand books here, he thought to himself as he drew. Who knows how long it'll take Chu Wanning to discover that a few have been modified into forbidden literature?

By then there would be no way to tell who had done it, and Chu Wanning would be left seething. Mo Ran really was so unbelievably clever.

As he thought about this, Mo Ran couldn't help but snicker, and he hugged the books in glee.

Mo Ran vandalized more than a dozen books without stopping, letting his imagination run wild and unrestrained. All kinds of erotic scenes manifested under his hand. His brushstrokes were alluring and elegant, the fabrics now clinging to the figures as if just rising out of water, then sweeping as if wind-blown. It was all too easy to imagine what rumors would spread if someone were to borrow a book from the Yuheng Elder and just so happened to pick one of these.

"The Yuheng Elder is truly a two-faced beast, to insert erotic illustrations of men and women between the pages of The Art of Meditation!"

"The Yuheng Elder is a fraudulent master who hides comics of homosexual obscenity in his sword technique manuals!"

"'Beidou Immortal,' my ass! He's literally a beast in human clothing!"

The more Mo Ran thought about it, the funnier it became. At length he was rolling on the floor with laughter, holding his stomach and kicking his legs in delight. He was so absorbed that he didn't even notice when someone appeared at the library doors.

And so, the sight that greeted Shi Mei as he approached was that of Mo Ran rolling in a pile of books, laughing as if he had gone mad.

"A-Ran, what are you doing?"

Startled, Mo Ran sat up in a hurry, frantically covering all the lewd drawings and putting on a more presentable face. "W-wiping the floor."

Shi Mei held back a laugh. "With your clothes?"

"Ahem, I couldn't find a cleaning rag. Anyway, moving on—what are you doing here so late, Shi Mei?"

"I couldn't find you in your room, so I asked around and was told that you were at Shizun's place." Shi Mei stepped inside the library and helped Mo Ran clean up the books scattered across the floor, a gentle smile on his lips. "There wasn't anything else that needed doing, so I came to see you."

Mo Ran was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. He pursed his lips; for some reason, his usual smooth charm was nowhere to be found, and he couldn't actually think of what to say at that moment.

"Then…um…then please have a seat!" Mo Ran spun excitedly in place, then said, a little nervously, "I-I'll go get some tea for you!"

"No need, I snuck in here. There'll be trouble if Shizun finds out."

"I guess…" Mo Ran scratched his head. Chu Wanning, that freak! I'll topple him sooner or later and get Shi Mei out from under his thumb!

"You probably haven't eaten yet, right? I brought you dinner."

Mo Ran's eyes lit up. "Wontons?"

"Pfft, you're really not tired of them, huh? The Red Lotus Pavilion is a bit far away, and I was afraid the wontons would be stuck together by the time I got here, so I didn't bring any. Here, see if this stir-fry is to your taste."

Shi Mei opened the container he'd brought, revealing the red-colored dishes inside. Plates of shunfeng pig ear salad, savory shredded yuxiang pork, diced kungpao chicken, smashed cucumber salad, and a bowl of rice.

"Ah, you added peppers this time?"

"Only a little, so you don't go into withdrawal," Shi Mei said, smiling. They both loved spicy foods, so of course he understood the concept of "no spice, no joy." "But your wounds haven't fully healed, so I only put in a little bit, just to add some flavor. It's better than not having even a hint of red."

Mo Ran chewed on his chopsticks happily, his dimples sweet as honey in the candlelight. "Ah! I'm going to cry with gratitude!"

Shi Mei suppressed a laugh. "The food will be cold by the time you're done sniffling. You can cry after you've eaten."

Mo Ran cheered and dug in, chopsticks flying with impressive speed. He always ate like a starving dog; Chu Wanning hated the unseemly way he went at it, but Shi Mei wouldn't mind. Shi Mei was always so caring, laughing and telling him to eat slower while offering him a cup of tea.

Before long, the plates were empty. Mo Ran patted his full belly with a contented sigh, eyes happily closed. "That hit the spot…"

"Which tastes better, the wontons or these dishes?" Shi Mei asked, voice casual.

When it came to food, Mo Ran was dedicated in the same way he was to his first love. He tilted his head, clear black eyes soft and fixed on Shi Mei as he grinned. "Wontons."

Shimei said nothing and shook his head, smiling. After a moment, he continued, "A-Ran, let me help you change your bandages and reapply the medicine."

The medicinal salve had been made by Madam Wang. She had once been a disciple of the medical sect Guyueye; while her martial aptitude was low and she disliked fighting, she was fond of the medicinal arts. Sisheng Peak had an herbal medicine garden, and she had personally planted many precious herbs there, so the sect's supply of remedies never ran low.

Mo Ran took off his top and sat, facing away from Shi Mei. The scars on his back still faintly hurt, but as Shi Mei's warm fingers carefully spread and rubbed in the ointment, he gradually forgot the pain, and instead his thoughts began to stray in a frisky direction.

"All done." Shi Mei wrapped new bandages around Mo Ran and carefully tied them off. "You can put your clothes back on now."

Mo Ran turned his head around to peek at Shi Mei. Under the dim yellow light of the candles, Shi Mei's skin was snowy pale. Mo Ran's desire flared even more, his throat going dry. He really didn't want to get dressed, but after a moment of hesitation, he lowered his head and quickly draped his outer robe back over his shoulders. "Shi Mei."

"Mm?"

It was just the two of them in this library, secluded and hidden. The atmosphere was quite good. Mo Ran at first wanted to recite some earthshakingly romantic lines of poetry, but unfortunately, he was the kind of illiterate who could name his own ruling era something akin to "Cock." He stumbled over his words for a good while until his face turned red, and he only managed to choke out three words: "You're really nice."

"Don't mention it. It's just a matter of course."

"I'm also going to be really nice to you." Mo Ran carefully controlled his tone to be calm, but his palms were sweating nonstop, betraying the stormy waves in his heart. "When I become strong, I won't let anyone bully you. Not even Shizun."

Shi Mei didn't know why Mo Ran was saying these things out of the blue. He hesitated for a moment, but still softly replied, "All right, then. I'll be counting on A-Ran from now on."

"Mm-hmm…" Mo Ran mumbled his response but grew increasingly fidgety under Shi Mei's expressive gaze. He didn't dare to keep looking and so lowered his head. He was always meticulously careful toward this person—and determined in his dedication.

"Ah, Shizun asked you to clean all these books? And catalogue them overnight too?"

Mo Ran absolutely had to save face in front of the person he liked. "It's not that bad. I can do it, I've just gotta pick up the pace a little."

"Let me help," said Shi Mei.

"No way. If Shizun finds out, he'll punish you too," Mo Ran said resolutely. "It's getting late. You should go back and get some rest; we have class tomorrow morning."

Shi Mei tugged his hand, laughing softly. "Don't worry, he won't notice. We'll be super quiet—"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence before an ice-cold voice interrupted. "And what exactly are you going to do super quietly?"

While they weren't paying attention, Chu Wanning had come out of the machinery workshop. His expression was frigid, and his phoenix eyes were filled with endless frost. He stared at them from where he stood at the door to the library, wearing a thin layer of white robes, no emotion on his face. For a moment, his gaze paused on their clasped hands before moving away. "Shi Mingjing, Mo Weiyu, you've got some nerve."

Shi Mei's face paled instantly, and he abruptly let go of Mo Ran's hand. "Shizun…" he said in a small voice.

Mo Ran also recognized that the situation was bad and lowered his head. "Shizun."

Chu Wanning stepped into the library, ignoring Mo Ran to look down instead at Shi Mei, who was kneeling on the floor. "There are barriers set throughout the Red Lotus Pavilion," he said coolly. "Did you really think I wouldn't know if someone came in unannounced?"

Shi Mei lowered his head to the floor, frightened. "This disciple was wrong."

Mo Ran panicked. "Shizun, Shi Mei just came by to help me change my bandages. He was just about to leave. Please don't scold him."

Shi Mei also panicked. "Shizun, this has nothing to do with Mo-shidi. This disciple was wrong and is willing to accept his punishment."

Chu Wanning was silent as his face started to turn blue. He'd barely even said anything, and already these two were hurrying to cover for one another, as if he was some kind of scourge against whom they had to band together. Chu Wanning remained silent for a while, suppressing the twitch of his eyebrows with some difficulty. "Such compassion between fellow disciples—how touching," he said in a detached manner. "Looks like I'm the villain here, then."

"Shizun…" said Mo Ran.

"Don't speak to me." Chu Wanning shook out his wide sleeves, unwilling to keep talking.

Mo Ran wasn't sure why he was so mad. Perhaps it was because his shizun had always hated people being touchy-feely in front of him. The specific kind of touchy-feely was irrelevant; all of it sullied his eyes.

All three of them were silent for a long while.

Suddenly, Chu Wanning turned to depart.

The rims of Shi Mei's eyes were red as he looked up, helpless and confused. "Shizun?"

"Copy the sect rules ten times. You may leave."

Shi Mei lowered his gaze, paused for a moment, and softly replied, "Understood."

Mo Ran remained kneeling in the same spot.

Shi Mei stood up, glanced at Mo Ran, and hesitated. After a long while, he knelt back down to plead with Chu Wanning. "Shizun, Mo-shidi's injuries have only just healed. It might be bold of this disciple to ask, but please go easy on him."

Chu Wanning stood alone under the lantern's flickering candlelight and didn't respond. After a while and without warning, he turned his head toward them, sharp eyebrows lifted and eyes scorching, an angry rebuke on his lips. "Aren't you just full of nonsense. Why are you still here?"

Chu Wanning was remarkably handsome but completely lacking in gentleness, and he was even scarier when mad. Shi Mei shuddered fearfully and quickly left with a bow to avoid further provoking their shizun and bringing Mo Ran even more trouble.

With only the two of them left in the library, Mo Ran sighed to himself. "Shizun, this disciple was wrong. This disciple will continue the cataloguing this instant."

Unexpectedly, Chu Wanning spoke without even turning his head, "You can go back if you're tired."

Mo Ran's head snapped up.

"I won't keep you," Chu Wanning continued icily.

Why would he let me off this easily? It must be a trap! Thinking himself clever, Mo Ran said, "I'm not leaving."

Chu Wanning paused, then smiled coldly. "Fine. Suit yourself."

With that, he swept his sleeves, turned, and left.

Mo Ran was stunned.

It hadn't been a trap? He'd thought for sure that Chu Wanning had been ready to give him another round of lashings with that willow vine.

It took Mo Ran well into the night before he was done. Yawning, he headed out of the library. Despite the late hour, a low yellow light could still be seen from Chu Wanning's bedroom.

Eh? That pesky demon hadn't yet gone to bed?

Mo Ran went over to bid Chu Wanning goodnight before leaving. Once inside, he realized that Chu Wanning had already fallen asleep, it was just that the forgetful man had neglected to put out the candles before going to bed.

Or maybe he'd passed out from exhaustion in the middle of making something. Mo Ran figured that this was probably what had happened, once he saw the prototype Holy Night Guardian pieced together by the bedside, the metal gloves that Chu Wanning hadn't taken off, and the half piece of mechanical clasp tightly gripped in his hand.

Chu Wanning wasn't so harsh and frigid when asleep. He was curled up on the bed, which was stacked with machine parts, saws, and axes. There were too many things spread out everywhere and not much space left to accommodate a person, and so he was huddled tightly in on himself, body balled up and long lashes lowered. The sight was unexpectedly lonesome.

Mo Ran stared at him blankly for a moment. Exactly what…had Chu Wanning been so angry about today? Was it just because Shi Mei had trespassed on the Red Lotus Pavilion and tried to help Mo Ran organize the books?

Mo Ran approached the bed and rolled his eyes. He leaned down near Chu Wanning's ear and, in a very, very quiet voice, experimentally called out, "Shizun?"

"Mm…" Chu Wanning let out a mumbled groan and hugged the cold machine parts in his arms even more tightly to himself. He was in a deep slumber, his breaths even. The sharp metal glove still on his hand lay next to his face, looking quite like the claws of a cat or leopard.

Realizing that he probably wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Mo Ran felt a jolt in his heart and narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips curving into a mischievous grin. He hovered over Chu Wanning's ear and said in a low, testing voice, "Shizun, wake up."

Nothing.

"Shizun?"

Nothing.

"Chu Wanning?"

Still nothing.

"Heh, he's really asleep." Mo Ran was delighted. He propped his arm up next to the pillow and looked at him with a grin. "Perfect. I'll take this chance to settle the score with you."

Unaware that someone wanted to settle a score with him, Chu Wanning remained fast asleep, handsome features appearing quite peaceful.

Mo Ran assumed an imposing posture. Unfortunately, he'd grown up in a pleasure house and didn't have much in the way of a formal education. He had instead been more influenced by street arguments and folktales. The phrases he cobbled together were thus especially lame and laughable.

"O bold and wicked member of the Chu clan, you duplicitous traitor, you impudent… You… Hmm, you…"

He scratched his head, having run out of phrases. Even when he'd become emperor, the insults that had come out of his mouth had been either "this bitch" or "that bastard." But these words seemed ill-fitting for Chu Wanning.

He racked his brain for a good long while before remembering something the girls back at the pleasure house used to say. Although he wasn't too sure what it meant, it seemed okay enough. And so he furrowed his brow into a fearsome frown and said sharply: "You fickle, ungrateful, despicable little trollop, do you acknowledge your misdeeds?"

Chu Wanning didn't respond.

"If you don't speak, this venerable one shall consider it a confession!"

Chu Wanning let out another mumble, perhaps disturbed by the noise, but he remained fast asleep, cradling the machine components.

"Your transgressions are grave. According to the law, this venerable one sentences you…hm…sentences you to Mouth Punishment! Liu-gong!"

The familiar name slipped easily out of Mo Ran's mouth. It was only after he said it that he realized that "Liu-gong" was a person from his past life, who was now long gone.

Mo Ran contemplated this for a moment before he decided to act out the missing part himself. So, he responded in an obsequious tone, "Your Imperial Majesty, your old servant is present."

Then he cleared his throat and said solemnly, "Carry out the punishment right away."

"As you command, Your Imperial Majesty."

All right, enough with the formalities. Mo Ran flexed his fingers and began to "carry out the punishment" of Chu Wanning.

This so-called Mouth Punishment didn't actually exist; Mo Ran had made it up on the spot. And how would this improvised punishment be carried out?

The once-tyrant emperor Mo Ran solemnly cleared his throat again. His gaze wintry and wicked, he slowly pressed in close to that face, which looked as frigid as a clear spring in a snowy valley, and gradually drew near that pair of pale lips. And then…

Mo Ran stopped. Glaring at Chu Wanning, he cursed, enunciating each word slowly: "Chu Wanning, fuck you and your peerless pettiness."

Pah. Pah.

Two slaps in the air.

Heh heh, punishment complete! Fuck yeah!

Mo Ran was in the midst of rejoicing when he felt a sudden prickle on his neck and a change in the atmosphere. He jerked his gaze down only to be met by a pair of lofty and forbidding phoenix eyes.

Mo Ran couldn't speak.

Chu Wanning's voice was clear like the shattering of jade and as cold as an icy lake, equal parts elegant and chilling. "What are you doing?"

"This venerable one…puh. Your old serv…puh, puh, puh!"

Fortunately, Mo Ran had spoken softly; though Chu Wanning was frowning a little, he seemed to not have heard clearly. Struck by an idea, Mo Ran reached out and slapped the air near Chu Wanning's face two more times.

Faced with his shizun's darkening expression, the once-Emperor of the Mortal Realm gave him a mollifying grin. "Th-this disciple was killing mosquitoes for Shizun."