The next morning, whole SiSheng Peak gathered to witness Mo Ran's public punishment. Except for Chu Wanning. Yuheng Elder was not usually late. Indeed he was not late, because he did not plan to show up at all. Jielu Elder informed everyone that Chu Wanning had fallen sick after mending the barrier the day before, and was thus unable to attend at the Platform of Sin and Virtue that morning.
Without Chu Wanning around, sycophants all over SiSheng Peak tried their best to beg in Mo Ran's favor, asking Jielu Elder to please lessen the punishment, because Mo Ran had apparently been doing saintly deeds to help his fellow shidis and shixiongs. His merits far exceeded his demerits. Jielu Elder cleared his throat and spoke up.
"Yuheng Elder said that anyone who was willing to speak up for Mo Weiyu is welcome to submit their claims directly at Red Lotus Pavilion."
"…"
Naturally, the price to pay must be less than the gain. The bootlicking disciples were not willing to pay with their lives just to curry favor with Mo Ran. In fact, if ever they wished to commit suicide, they might pick a lot more painless method than stepping into the Red Lotus Hell, let alone speak to Chu Wanning directly. Everyone knew that Yuheng Elder was bad-tempered and ruthless.
And so, Mo Ran received eighty strikes at the Platform of Sin and Virtue without much ado. Additionally, he had to copy the sect rules a hundred times and got house arrest for a month.
What happened with the sick Yuheng Elder? As soon as he woke up, Chu Wanning made his way to the Compendium Pavilion and started to scan through the medicinal books and scrolls containing even the slightest hints of the Eight-Sufferings-Long-Hatred Flower. He sat on the ground, surrounded by scrolls full of ancient texts, re-reading the texts he read in his previous life.
After hours had passed by, Chu Wanning leaned his head against a mountain of books and pondered.
The first stage took around eight years to complete. If Mo Ran just contracted the flower, then if things went the way it did in the previous life, he would be beyond saving by the time he hit twenty-four. No… in Mo Ran's case that was a lot faster, catalyzed by Shi Mei's premature death. That was why it was very important to keep Shi Mei alive till the very end. Mo Ran's true love, Shi Mei…
Chu Wanning sighed softly and closed his eyes. There was a time in his previous life when he had liked Mo Ran. It was a different kind of like between a Shizun and his disciple. Mo Ran had once inhabited that soft place in his heart. They once had gentle moments between them. Chu Wanning could not pinpoint exactly when it all changed. He only realized it after Shi Mei's death. From then on, Chu Wanning knew that Mo Ran blamed him for Shi Mei's death and despised him for it. Did he not hear it enough already? Even during their passionate moments, he kept chanting that one line.
"You killed the person I loved the most. Chu Wanning, I hate you. I hate you!"
What was it like to be embraced by someone who you liked but hated you? Chu Wanning could write a whole book about it. Night after night, it was a torture worse than death.
He did not know how long he fell asleep before someone's gentle voice woke him up.
"Shizun, Shizun…"
Chu Wanning turned his head to look at the person who called him. The pair of phoenix eyes met a set of peach blossom eyes. Shi Mei.
Shi Mei was born with beautiful, gentle features. Even at young age, people could see the kind of beauty he would grow up to be. Additionally his temper was like water, only showing gentle ripples upon large disturbances, the exact opposite of Chu Wanning. This was what Mo Ran's beloved person was like.
"Is Shizun alright? This disciple heard that Shizun was sick, but he did not rest in Red Lotus Pavilion instead."
Chu Wanning rubbed his eyes. Exactly how long had he been cocooned up in Compendium Pavilion anyway? He glanced randomly at the window. Oh, the sun already set. He actually spent the whole day reading.
Shi Mei kindly helped him up and tidied up the books and scrolls.
"I never knew that Shizun is interested in medical books."
Chu Wanning, "En, just a little bit."
As he was putting books away, he came to remember about current life's Mo Ran.
"How is Mo Ran?" he asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Shi Mei's face turned gloomy.
"Mo-shidi is currently recovering from the punishment this morning. He's in a really bad condition, Shizun."
Chu Wanning scoffed.
Only eighty strikes and he was already in a bad condition? What a weakling.
Chu Wanning suddenly felt a little guilty. If he had no recollection about his previous life, would he have punished Mo Ran equally harsh? To be honest, he himself was not sure.
"I came by to bring him some food from Mengpo Hall but he refused to eat."
Chu Wanning sighed.
"He will eat when he gets hungry."
Shi Mei tried again, "The last time Mo-shidi got punished badly, he really liked Shizun's wonton soup…"
"…"
Really? Was Shi Mei really asking him to cook for Mo Weiyu??
Reluctant as he was, Chu Wanning still went with Shi Mei to the kitchen and prepared some wontons for Mo Ran. Chu Wanning did not do it often. In fact, in previous life, after Mo Ran ruthlessly threw his last wontons on the ground, he never again made anything for him, or anyone. Mo Ran, he… in his eyes, Chu Wanning would never be as good as Shi Mei.
Chu Wanning placed the freshly made wonton soup in a thick bowl and handed it to Shi Mei. The delicate youth did not move from his spot.
"Does Shizun not want to come with me? I am sure Mo-shidi would be happy if Shizun comes to visit him.."
Chu Wanning shook his head.
"Never tell him that I am the one who made this wonton soup. It is better if he keeps believing that you made it."
In fact, having Shi Mei deliver the soup to Mo Ran would strengthen their bond and create more beautiful memories for Mo Ran to latch upon. After all, under the influence of the Hatred Flower, Mo Ran even forgot about his own mother but never about his Shi Mei.
Shi Mei left with the wonton soup. Chu Wanning watched him leave with some heartache gnawing at his soul. Would it not be great if he was less a coward and delivered the soup himself? But no, Chu Wanning had thin skin. He could not afford having Mo Ran reject him again. Not in this lifetime.
During his house arrest, Mo Ran had to accept tasks from all over SiSheng Peak. These tasks were mainly cleaning tasks. Clean the dishes, clean the statues, scrub the floors… all the boorish tasks that no one would do willingly. In this sense, Yanluo Hall was highly efficient. As soon as someone was punished for house arrest, news were sent all over SiSheng Peak, allowing each and every individual to summon the punished disciple to help with anything. Despite his tendency to break rules, whole SiSheng Peak agreed that Mo Ran was a truly gifted individual. A strong, young, handsome man who was good in kitchen. He received summons after summons since day one and had had to drag his butt from one place to another to do chores. Only one place had not requested his attendance so far : the Red Lotus Hell. Mo Ran was deeply grateful for that. In fact, ever since he was reborn and received punishment from Chu Wanning on that day, he had not met up with his Shizun privately at all. In fact, his Shizun had been quite busy with himself. Other than showing up in classes and practice field to train his disciples, he had not spent time with his three disciples at all.
One day Xue Meng and Shi Mei went to visit their Shizun. They found Chu Wanning in the middle of his bed chamber, sorting out items. Although Xue Meng knew how messy Chu Wanning could be when he was in the middle of his engineering frenzy, he was still appaled at how messy the bed chamber was.
"Shizun," he whined, "You really should clean up this place."
Chu Wanning snapped at him, "What do you think I am doing?"
Xue Meng immediately shut up. Shi Mei was the more sensible person in the room. He said nothing and started to help Chu Wanning clean up the room. Xue Meng followed suit and the three people worked in silence.
An hour passed just like that. Suddenly Chu Wanning knitted his brows and clutched at his chest. His face was pale and he started to sweat a lot. Xue Meng had the habit to sneak peeks at his Shizun a lot, hence he was the first to notice that something was amiss.
"Shizun?? What's wrong?"
Hearing him shouting, Shi Mei also turned around and rushed to Chu Wanning's side.
Chu Wanning waved his hand at his two disciples to make light of the situation.
"Nothing. Maybe just a little tired."
He did not look like he was just "a little tired" at all. Xue Meng helped him up and coaxed, "Shizun, what about some fresh air? You should rest a bit."
Chu Wanning shook his head. He wanted to finish the Holy Night Guardian soon. He just had to draw the final draft and it was ready to release. The sooner he's done, the better for the common folk.
"Then why not ask Mo Ran come in to help cleaning the place? After it's done, then Shizun can continue working."
It was not a bad idea at all.
But then Shi Mei gently objected, "Shizun, Mo-shidi has not fully recovered from his injuries. I fear that heavy lifting will not help him recover as quickly…"
Chu Wanning did not even miss a beat before answering, "Then you help him."
"…"
In any case, having Shi Mei and Mo Ran spend more time together was beneficial. Chu Wanning turned at Xue Meng.
"Xue Meng, I need to meditate. Accompany me."
"…"
Of course, those two needed to be alone to boot. Heh. Chu Wanning was enraged with himself. Forget that he had feelings for Mo Ran once, Chu Wanning was not particularly a fan to romance. Now he had stooped so low as to play matchmaker for these two disciples in order to save the world. The purpose of his rebirth had greatly been diminished to such trivialities. He flicked his sleeve angrily and left with Xue Meng in tow. Shi Mei was dumbfounded. Did he say something to incur his Shizun's wrath?