Chapter Text
The second Mo Ran and Chu Wanning approached the stairs leading to the temple, Chu Wanning hopped off of Mo Ran's shoulder. His tails raised imperiously as he headed up the stairs, Mo Ran trailing smugly behind him. But suddenly, Mo Ran called out, “Watch out!”
Too late. Chu Wanning bonked his head against a pillar. He reeled back and shook his head, before glaring at Mo Ran and lashing his tails as if it was somehow the dog's fault.
Instead of reprimands, though, Chu Wanning immediately fled back to his quarters. He trotted with his head held high, a cute attempt to project authority. But he was way too small to look intimidating. Despite himself, Mo Ran found it quite endearing. Chu Wanning had drained himself of energy, so he would definitely have to rest for a few days. Mo Ran shifted uneasily on his feet at the thought. For days, Chu Wanning would be alone in his room and unaware of the surroundings.
Since Mo Ran was quite pensive, he decided that the best thing to do to feel better was go to the courtyard and dig holes. Perhaps he would find something? If not, he could always bury his food in there for later. It was sound logic, of course. So, he bent down, his hands digging into the earth with his claws, and threw the soil behind him between his legs. His tail wagged as he quickly got dirty himself. The hole was quickly becoming really, really big. The scent of dirt made him feel incredibly successful. Soon enough, the hole was big enough to be considered a den – he could crouch and lay down comfortably in there. So, with a final sniff check at the walls to see if anything smelled off, he fully entered his new home. He circled the ground a few times to find the most comfortable position, before he sat his ass down and enjoyed the cool den.
His ear barely twitched in the direction of Xue Meng’s tragic wailing – “What the fuck is this!?” – and he merely enjoyed his nap. Though, he was getting more irritated as Xue Meng loitered outside. Did that pampered cat really not understand when to keep away from someone else’s territory?
Xue Meng peered through the hole, but he only got dirt thrown in his face. He hissed and pulled back, wiping at his face. Mo Ran chuckled in triumph and peered out of the hole. “Get out, Mengmeng. Make your own hole.” Then, he simply skittered back inside.
Xue Meng’s tails fluffed up, his face getting red from anger. “You – !”
Before he could do anything stupid, though, a hand landed on Xue Meng’s shoulder. His head snapped back and saw Shi Mei towering over him with an unreadable expression. Prehaps it was the height or the intensity in Shi Mei’s eyes, but it made Xue Meng feel uneasy, his tails dropping and expression falling as if he was doused with cold water. The pressure of Shi Mei’s hand wasn’t hard, but it felt like a boulder.
Shi Mei stared at the hole for a moment and his face quickly turned into a natural smile. “Mo Ran… you’ll have to cover that hole up later. Come out, you’re dirty.”
Mo Ran poked his head out, and his ears flicked to try and dislodge the dirt from them. He was completely covered in dirt, though, so it was fruitless. Way to go, Shi Mei! Xue Meng finally shut up. He finally exited the hole and shook his whole body, with Xue Meng creating a barrier at the last second so him and Shi Mei wouldn’t get splashed with the soil.
Shi Mei chuckled and extended his hand to Mo Ran. “Let’s take a bath. We can’t have you spreading your precious dirt all over the temple floor, can we?”
A bright smile appeared on Mo Ran’s face, his dimples deep. After the successful mission, he was finally accepted by the temple. Finally, they didn’t see him as a liability, but one of their own. His tail wagged relentlessly as he took Shi Mei’s hand and followed him back to the temple grounds. “Right! I’ll patch the hole up later.”
After the two left, Xue Meng was left alone. His tails lashed behind him, and his ears drew back. First Shizun, and now Shi Mei? What is so special about this damn dog? Ever since that dog came, he felt tense and easily irritated. Why did it feel as if Mo Ran was stealing his important people from him? Even Shi Mei vouched for him. Shizun took care of him. But everyone seemed to forget about Xue Meng himself.
He sighed and turned back, heading towards a nearby river. Perhaps some hunting would clear his mind. His gut felt as if it was always heavy, always feeling uneasy. His steps were heavy and labored as he walked, but they carried him towards the river bank. The rush of the water even managed to give him a small smile. He peered over the water, watching as the carp moved upstream. His pupils dilated, and claws unsheathed as he readied them. Fish were always slippery, but he was quick whenever he hunted, so to him it wasn’t a problem.
He watched for a while, wanting to decide on whichwas the plumpest fish to catch. They all looked too good, and it felt like his pride would finally bounce back, as if this low-level paranoia that had haunted him was finally going to leave.
A few paces away from him, on the other side of the river bank, a fox swam out of the water with a big blue and green fish. Xue Meng’s gut clenched, an instinctive envy curling within him. That’s MY fish! The carp’s scales were an unusual color, and it only made Xue Meng want it more. His tail bristled like a bottlebrush, and his ears flattened. He leaped over the water, scaring the fox, his hand snatching the fish out of the animal’s mouth with a vicious hiss that sent the fox packing.
When Xue Meng finally got his prize, he licked his lips in anticipation. But the fish suddenly started flopping, and it slipped out of his grasp and into the water! Another carp, this one with blue and red scales, seemingly waited for the other to fall into the water, before they both swam away.
Xue Meng’s mouth gaped as he stared, before he cried out, “My fish!”
Empty handed and tail moving like an angry metronome, Xue Meng did his walk of shame back to the temple.
When night rolled around, Mo Ran was still haunted by his dream, unable to find any sleep in his little hut. Since when had he become so… accustomed to this temple? He really needed to leave, to get his independence. He couldn’t just sit around with these prissy cats, could he?
He felt this nagging feeling, probably something from the Bond. He hadn’t seen Chu Wanning ever since they parted in the morning. Where was he? What was he doing? Mo Ran was restless, and sat up, leaving his hut.
He walked through the dark and quiet temple, since most of the cats were asleep. His feet compelled him to walk, he had no choice. He had no choice but to stop before Chu Wanning’s window. He had no choice but to peer through it.
Chu Wanning’s tiny furry body was wrapped into a ball, sleeping on a tall shelf. But he didn’t look like he was relaxed. His feet kicked periodically in his sleep, a few huffs escaping him. The tails twitched behind him, sometimes lashing, sometimes still.
What is he dreaming about? Was it about that abbot? About his wish to save the mortals? Or… about something related to his tail? Mo Ran’s eyes couldn’t look away from Chu Wanning’s body.
What am I doing? I’m becoming so stupid. He tried to remember his street smarts, the way he would growl at dogs and humans alike, trying to summon something akin to that. He tried to summon his resentment, remembering the indignity of how Chu Wanning chained him, used him.
But he felt that he couldn’t simply step away. Chu Wanning looked completely spent and alone. If some bad influence tried to come in the night to steal him away, nobody would notice until the morning. Mo Ran knew wolves, they wouldn’t take their time during a feast. His tail stood alert and rigid behind him, and something gnawed at him.
It’s the Bond. The Bond. Nothing else. That cat… he’s… Mo Ran’s thoughts scattered, as if a fog had clouded his thoughts. What was Chu Wanning? His captor or his savior?
Mo Ran went to the door of Chu Wanning’s room, and sat down, his back turned. He didn’t know what was happening to him, but he felt that Chu Wanning really didn’t practice good security at all. That cat really was careless. Did he want intruders?
His eyes watched the surroundings carefully, ears peeled as well. A stillness had settled in his posture, alert. This moment, somehow, felt right. As if he was made for it. As if his entire purpose was for this. He didn’t need sleep right now. He didn’t need food either. He would simply… watch.
In the morning, Chu Wanning stepped out of his room, finally regaining his human form again. His core still felt somewhat empty, and it was starting to become a serious problem for him. How could he protect his temple if he was constantly weak?
He walked, deep in thought of how to get his strength back. What was he to do? His eyes were unseeing, but when he saw Mo Ran walking from around the corner, he stopped.
But Mo Ran… was pulling up his pants and fastening them. Chu Wanning got an eyeful of something intimidating hanging between Mo Ran’s pants. B-big! His brain short circuited. For a moment, he could only see what was hidden under the dark curls at Mo Ran’s navel. Then, an explosive hiss left him, “SHAMELESS!”
Mo Ran jolted, finally noticing Chu Wanning. His own ears drew back, and he looked chastised. Chu Wanning pointed at him accusingly, the tips of his fluffy ears suddenly red. “Mo Ran! You’re still a beast! Were you… were you…” He choked on his words. Relieving yourself??
Chu Wanning’s eyes then went to the disturbed earth in the courtyard that Mo Ran and Shi Mei together tried to cover up the hole with. His expression grew colder as he glared at Mo Ran. “Statue cleaning. Now.”
Mo Ran couldn’t even argue or be defiant. He really was just pissing right on the walls of Chu Wanning’s quarters. But how could one blame him for marking territory? Whether he liked it or not, he still lived here. It was just his instincts. Humans never made too big of a fuss when he was peeing around, so why is Chu Wanning so dramatic about it?
But still, Chu Wanning’s eyes made Mo Ran’s face flush with shame. He nodded, his shoulder’s slumping pathetically. His tail drooped like a kicked pup as he turned around and went to the main building. “Yes, Shizun…”
Chu Wanning’s expression didn’t falter, but the tips of his ears were red, even as they drew back. He had only seen the base, yet it was as thick as his forearm. Chu Wanning looked down at himself, suddenly finding himself weirdly small. But then, he shook his head. Inappropriate thoughts had no place in his head. Mo Ran was supposed to be his charge, yet he couldn’t get him in order. That was a more important problem, not Mo Ran’s generous anatomy.
He decided to go and consult texts. His mind felt completely blocked. He couldn’t figure out how to fix the issue with his weak demonic core. He entered the library deep inside the main temple, passing by Mo Ran dejectedly cleaning.
The library was small and cramped, but at least it was neat and taken care of. The shelves were lined with old scrolls and books, each sorted from many punishments of the disobedient cats. Chu Wanning looked for a book, one that was obscured by the others, not reached for often. He sat down on the single chair in the library, and set the book on the small and weathered desk. ‘Rare abnormalities of the Demon Core’.
He flipped it open, starting to look through it. Some sections didn’t apply to him at all, as the symptoms weren’t what he was feeling. He recalled how he often felt: core felt unstable and easily emptied; he would be forcibly turned into his beast form after the core was empty; his limbs would feel weak and old scars would hurt more; he bruised and bled easily and the injuries took longer to heal.
Then, he found the section that described his symptoms. He confirmed that this was what he was dealing with, before continuing onto the part that described treatment. ‘… The unstable core often stems from unbalanced energies. A demon with too much Yin energy will feel burdened and weak, easily depleted. Likewise, a demon with too much Yang will feel restless and agitated, with violent intrusive thoughts and mood swings.’
‘Treatment of such a condition requires balancing the two energies. Infusing the demon with the opposite essence will help with the symptoms. The energy must be taken regularly, every three to four days.’
A feeling of dread tightened in Chu Wanning as his eyes traced the text. Where is this going? Essence?
‘A demon with too much Yin requires Yang and vice versa. Too much of the opposite problem could cause more damage than good. As such, the dose must be perfectly portioned. Common remedies include semen of a demon with Yang, or slick of a demon with Yin.’
Chu Wanning’s eyes widened, fingers tightening around the book so hard it almost ripped. ‘The best way to deal with an unstable core is dual cultivation.’
Chu Wanning threw the book like it was cursed, but it opened exactly onto a diagram of the aforementioned dual cultivation. He kicked the book away, his chest heaving. “Insolent writer! Who made this!?”
This had to have been a joke. Perhaps he should burn the book instead. This thing was clearly incorrect and degenerate. But Chu Wanning’s traitorous thoughts conjured images of what he saw in Mo Ran’s pants, the thing that looked like a complete weapon.
His hands went to his head, a deep blush spreading across his face. “Dual cultivation…” he muttered to himself quietly. Mo Ran really was haunting him at this point. He was a (captive) disciple! How could he do something like that with him?
With a frustrated feline grown, Chu Wanning exited the library, deliberately giving Mo Ran a wide berth. Mo Ran had noticed Chu Wanning’s shout, and looked up from the statue. “Insolent writer?” he whispered the question to himself. He steered clear of Chu Wanning, though. He looked particularly angry now. He looked back at his statue, cleaning a part that was already shining.