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Seeing his shizun in the underworld had nearly doubled over Chu Wanning in sheer terror, thinking the man also died despite his efforts to save him.
Before he could make a fool out of himself and rush over to his shizun and make a fuss, he thankfully notices the lantern he was holding.
Chu Wanning breathes out a quiet sigh of relief, recognizing the lantern from his time in Wubei under Master Huaizui.
Briefly, he wonders who was important enough to his shizun that he’d come all the way here, despite the fatal risks he could face himself.
He knows it wasn’t his shixiong, nor was it the Sect Leader, since Chu Wanning had seen them when he brought Mo Ran back up to Sisheng before he died.
He can’t recall any of the other Elders that Mo Ran could be close enough with to go through this elaborate ritual for.
Chu Wanning deliberates whether to greet his shizun. He tells himself it’s because he just wants to make sure his shizun was fine and really was alive, despite his presence here.
Though internally, he knows it’s because of how shamefully he still yearns for his shizun’s attention and care, despite the way he knows the man disliked him.
But he didn’t want to waste his shizun’s undoubtedly precious time, and he’s already made his peace with the last time he saw his shizun
To be able to see his face one more time in the underworld was already too good a kindness from the gods.
Still, Chu Wanning can’t resist stealthily following his shizun. Surely it couldn’t hurt, wanting to savor the final time he gets to see his shizun healthy and well, unlike the last time Chu Wanning saw him.
Perhaps he could even muster up his courage and ask him if he needed help finding the soul he’s looking for, and maybe Chu Wanning can steal a little time with him. Even if his shizun refuses, Chu Wanning could still bask in his presence, even just for a few moments.
It was a bit mortifying, skulking after his shizun like a stray cat hoping for scraps of food, but it was just him who was aware of what he was doing, so Chu Wanning swallows back his shame and covertly follows his shizun.
—
Stupid, why was Chu Wanning so stupid?
How could he have missed the guards trailing after him? Whatever, it was too late now. He’d hiss and kick up a fuss, but he’d just serve to embarrass himself in public.
He thinks he recognizes them as the Fourth Ghost King’s subjects, who’s known to be a lecher and a pervert that confines souls of beauties in his away castle.
Chu Wanning wants to scream at their faces and ask them if they were blind, have you seen who you’re picking up?
Well, on their head be it once the Fourth Ghost King takes one look at Chu Wanning and yells at them for their incompetence, picking up someone as ugly as him.
“Aren’t you an obedient little thing?” one of the guards croons, holding Chu Wanning’s cheeks between his fingers, forcing him to look up, “If the Fourth Ghost King doesn’t want you, maybe he’d let me have you instead.”
White hot rage fills him, but he’s left unable to do anything, restrained by a guard on each of his side and on his knees. If only he had Tianwen…If only he had his cultivation, they wouldn’t be able to even lay a finger on him—
A whip in the shape of a willow vine cracks through the air, pulsating red. Immediately, the guards’ souls shatter and scatter across the air.
Chu Wanning’s heart leaps to his throat, recognizing his shizun’s holy weapon. He turns to look up, and sees his shizun’s face contorted into one of pure fury—an expression that even Chu Wanning has never seen on his face.
Fondness courses through him, how his shizun always stood for justice, and would save someone already dead even when it might hinder the reason he’s down here in the first place.
The moment they lock eyes, his shizun’s jaw drops, emotions flashing through his face inscrutable to Chu Wanning.
Embarrassed at having been caught defenseless, like he’s somehow forgotten all his shizun’s teachings, Chu Wanning goes to speak first, “Thank you for saving me, shizun. I apologize for needing your intervention in the first place, my cultivation’s gone.”
“A-Ning,” Chu Wanning hears his shizun gasp out, before he’s kneeling in front of Chu Wanning with a loud thump that makes him wince in sympathy, “Did they touch you anywhere? How fucking dare those bastards, I should have made it more painful for them—”
“I’m fine, shizun,” Chu Wanning interrupts, a bit bewildered by the reaction. He makes no move to push away his shizun’s hands fussing over him, however.
Though he thinks it makes sense still, since his righteous shizun would never let an injustice go, no matter if it was towards someone like him.
“Would…” Chu Wanning tries to muster up the courage to ask, seizing the opportunity to shamelessly spend time with his shizun, “Would shizun like my help? I can help you look for the one you came here for. I won’t get in your way, I promise.”
His shizun openly gapes at him, no sound coming out of his mouth, though it opens and closes a few times.
Chu Wanning can feel his face flame up in embarrassment, his shizun must be shocked at his audacity to be so clingy, even after Chu Wanning’s already waylaid him from his goal when he must be on a time limit.
“Sorry,” Chu Wanning mumbles, looking down to hide the stinging red in his eyes, “I-I’ll just go, sorry for interrupting—”
Before he knows it, he’s being crushed into the tightest embrace he’s ever been held with, his shizun’s grip so tight it was nearly painful.
“A-Ning,” he hears his shizun choke out, his voice breaking, “A-Ning. Shizun came here for you. I came here to bring you back.”
“Oh. Why?” Chu Wanning blurts out unthinkingly, before realizing how ungrateful he sounds, “N-Not that I’m not grateful, shizun. Just. I’m no one important…I’m not even a senior disciple yet—”
His shizun pulls away from the embrace, and immediately Chu Wanning mourns the comforting warmth of his shizun’s hold.
Large hands cup his face and tilts his head up, and he sees he’s shizun’s tear-stained face with tears still streaming down his face. The sight tugs on his heart, having never seen his shizun look so heartbroken and distraught, and Chu Wanning didn’t know what to do or to say to make it better—
“You’re important to me. A-Ning is very important to shizun,” his shizun says between hiccuping tones, “I’m sorry, shizun’s so sorry for everything, A-Ning. Please, give me the chance to make it up to you, okay?”
A hand runs through his hair in a soothing way, and his heart pounds against his chest, confusion and hope warring within him.
Unable to say anything, overwhelmed by his emotions paralyzing him, Chu Wanning nods mutely in assent and lets his shizun guide him somewhere more discreet.