The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

[edit 1]
3rd reread, and it's still as amazing as the first time. Thx Meatbun for all the pain. You're a wizard.

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NEW READERS OF ERHA BEWARE

Format read: paperback
Reading time: 1 day
Tags: wuxia, xianxia, rebirth, translation, trauma, found family, friendship, fantasy, magic, lgbt (bi, m/m)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 1000/10

TW: I don't usually put TW on books, but I think that here it's really warranted.
Torture, non-con and dubious consent, abuse, major and minor death, suicide

Summary
Mo Ran aka Taxian-jun is the leader of the cultivation world and its self-appointed emperor. After the death of his beloved sect brother and one true love, Shi Mei, Mo Ran rises to power by squashing everyone and everything else in his path, including his once favourite shizun, Chu Wanning. Believing that Chu Wanning is the cause of Shi Mei's death, Mo Ran stops at nothing to torture his shizun in an act of retaliation. When Mo Ran dies after this long battle, his resentment is so strong that he finds himself reborn into his 16-year-old body, a year before Shi Mei is fated to die. Determined to avoid the past from happening again, Mo Ran fights to protect Shi Mei and to stop Chu Wanning from committing the worst sin of killing his disciple.

At this moment, all those things had yet to happen. Irrevocable mistakes had not yet been committed, and that person... still lived. There was no need to walk the same cruel path. He could do it over. –Erha, p.35

Review

Mo Ran (Mo Weiyu, Taxian-jun)

If Shi Mei was the pure white moonlight of his heart, then Chu Wanning was the piece of fish bone stuck in his throat. He would pull it out and crush it, or swallow it and let it be dissolved by his stomach acid. In this reborn life, he could forgive anyone. But he would absolutely never forgive Chu Wanning. –Erha, p.106

No, Mo Ran. Think about it. Let go of your vicious hatred and look back properly. He once trained your cultivation and martial arts, trained you in the art of self-defense. He once taught you how to read and write, taught you poetry and painting. He once learned how to cook just for you, even though he was so clumsy and got cuts all over his hands. He once... He once waited every day for you to come home, all alone by himself, from nightfall... till the break of dawn... –Erha, p.25

Chu Wanning (Shizun, Yuheng Elder, Beidou Immortal)

Chu Wanning was aware of the throbbing deep in his own heart and loathed himself all the more for it. He clenched the soft pouch tightly in his hand and slowly closed his eyes. He couldn't accept these feelings, which he had long held toward Mo Ran. His only wish was that he could dig out his own heart and cut out the despicable thoughts inside–tear, rend, and throw them away. –Erha, p.260

Shi Mei (Shi MingJing)

Shi Mei was kind to him, yet he always seemed to maintain a certain indiscernible distance. Shi Mei was right in front of him, but he was also like the illusion of the moon in a mirror, a flower reflected in water, in sight but unattainable. –Erha, p.268

Xue Meng (Xue Ziming, Darling of the Heavens, Phoenix of Sisheng)

Xue Meng was dumbstruck for a moment before he snarled, furious, “What kind of god even are you? If cultivating into an immortal means ending up like you, I won't deign to so much as touch another sword for the rest of my life!” –Erha, p.470

Final Thoughts

Erha

Erha

**

Soft DNF, will come back to this!

The story is really interesting and I think the relationship between Mo Ran and Chu Wanning has real potential to be super sweet and one I keep with me for ages, but I don't think the writing style and the tone are for me. It was funny and easy the first 50 pages or so, but then I just get tired of the “humor” and just want the story to take itself seriously. May pick up the drama (if it ever airs), but as for reading I think I'll leave it at this first book