Chapter Text
Warmth.
Years ago, Chongyun would have immediately cooled the cup in his hands with his vision. Or even avoided it entirely. It was to protect himself and anyone around him. Now he moves the heat in his hand to spread around his body. The heat doesn’t even pass his bicep before he doesn’t feel it anymore – spread so thin, it can’t affect him.
Now he can enjoy the aroma of Camellia, honey, and... qingxin dew. He takes in the perfume of the tea, letting the warmth into his chest and spreading it around in his body as well. He shivers in delight. Then a sip. A tranquil exhale.
What other basic pleasures had he never experienced until now?
He continues to hold his tea as he looks over the sunset as high as the peak of Mt. Aocong. The sun paints the sky orange but bounces of the pools in yellow. The wind cools his tea and ruffles the neck of his jacket having replaced his apprentice hoodie. The wind continues to twirl higher and higher above him before diving to ghost over the water. The ripples of the Aocong pools touch the stone but never crest over, even as Cloud Retainer lands with a grand entrance.
Another sip, another exhale.
“One is most pleased with your training” Cloud Retainer says, looking down on the young exorcist. Then she turns to her disciple beside him. “Shenhe, Liyue would be blessed if you were to take on more students.” She doesn’t reply. She simply sips her tea and nods in thanks.
“Thank you, Cloud Retainer” Chongyun says as he appreciates her warm gaze. Upon their first, proper meeting as student and (secondary) Master years ago, he was met with a cold shoulder. Or so he thought. Much like his Auntie and Master next to him, she isn’t cold. She is. But not because she’s uncaring, she’s just unemotional.
“You have more than mastered positive energy suppression and release,” Shenhe continues the topic. “Not once did you waver unarmed against pyro whopperflowers” Chongyun nods, thinking about today’s training in Cuijue Slope. Maybe he’ll be tasked with defeating one of the regisvines on also unarmed. It’s no match against him when he has his claymore.
He sips the last of his tea. Its warmth nowhere near as blistering as the plants he subdued today, his bare hands unburnt but still tingling.
Shenhe mulls over her words, something she’s gotten better at over the years. “Monsters are not my concern, however.” Oh? Thinking back, food and drink haven’t overwhelmed in years (maybe given him some trouble, sure) and neither have the summers, hot springs, alcohol, or anything else she’s thrown at him. And if it’s not enemies, then what?
A rattling begins to sound behind them and Cloud Retainer stops Chongyun as he gets up. “One will retrieve tonight’s dinner. Continue your discussion.” They both give her a nod of thanks. Sitting back down, he keeps pondering the question. Maybe she’s going to teach him advanced external energy control? Just rip the spirits out of the people they’re possessing?
“Xiangling said something to me.”
In a quick exhale, Chongyun expels the bubbling yang energy. Breathe in, hold, concentrate, out. Phew. Yikes, he hasn’t had to think that hard about it in a while. He must stay vigilant. Mind be purged, world be saved, etc.
“You lack confidence.”
Thanks, Xiangling!
“Do you agree with that statement?”
Chongyun sets his cup down. “Maybe.”
Cloud Retainer returns and sets down a plethora of plates with noodles, vegetables, and tofu. The young exorcist perks up spotting a familiar recipe of noodles, beets, cabbage, and an herb sauce as a substitute for meat. The adeptal arts are amazing but Cloud Retainer’s take on noodles with mountain delicacies is the best thing he’s learned from her.
“One thinks it may be the case.”
Chongyun freezes as he reaches for his noodles, his ears and face turning pink. The cool mountain breeze doesn’t help his complexion either. Cloud Retainer throws her head back and chortles. He immediately sucks his lips in trying not to laugh on top of being teased before they’ve even had a bite of dinner.
Looking back down, she continues. “Ah, One thinks fondly of when you first arrived to my abode. One sensed trepidation but a will to move forward.” Chongyun relaxes as he passes his Auntie the large bowl of dragon beard noodles which she readily takes. Shenhe gracefully swirls and ladles out a generous helping of noodles and ham into her bowl.
“The opposite of Shenhe,” Cloud Retainer comments as the mentioned freezes for just a moment. “No fear, the fortitude of rock, but no fervor.” Shenhe’s cheeks also redden as she remembers her childhood. How embarrassing for her yet awkward for Chongyun. “Though of course she has made great strides through training.”
Cloud Retainer nudges the plate of cold noodles towards Chongyun. “Continue to train, young one, and you may also bring One a new student in the future. One has high hopes for any pupil of Shenhe’s.”
Chongyun looks around and wonders if this is the closest his Auntie regularly has to a family dinner. Embarrassing stories of the past and unsolicited words of wisdom, check. All that’s left is...
“And of the future, when should One expect you to begin a family, Chongyun? It is most common at your age, is it not?” Rex Lapis damnit. His mother asked him the same thing a few nights ago.
Stirring his noodles as he calms his nerves, he replies “W-well... I was hoping to become a better exorcist first. That’s um, that kind of thing is... something I’m not prioritizing... yet.” Yet. Not ever actually but yet was for the sake of his mother and now Cloud Retainer, he guesses.
Cloud Retainer plates some purified herbs for herself and some rice. She mixes them with a spoon held in her claw. Chongyun does his best not to stare. “A wise judgement. But do not dally.” Sure, sure. He nods and gives her a simple, “I understand.”
Chongyun does a double take as Shenhe ladles her third bowl of noodles, two empty bowls stacked next to her. She adds, “Is it because you lack confidence?” Archons, please. Why is this happening?
Breathe in, yang energy out. He shudders as he feels like vapor escapes his body. “W-well, n-no. Not... really.”
“Not really? So somewhat?” Shenhe keeps nudging.
Chongyun swallows. Well, it’s not like he hasn’t thought about a spouse but a family? That’s... “Well, more like,” he takes a mouthful of noodles to buy himself some time or hopefully have another topic come up instead. And by the blessings of the Archons, one does come up.
Cloud Retainer turns her head to her own pupil instead. “And yourself?”
A simple “No.” as Shenhe also enjoys a cartoonishly large mouthful of noodles. Chongyun slows down his chewing to a snail’s pace. They both chew for minutes as Cloud Retainer looks between the two.
Chongyun tenses as he heats up. He steals a quick glance to his Auntie as he feels his yang energy building up. Is she ebbing hers into him?!?! He sneaks his left hand under the table to concentrate the yang energy to spread throughout his body with hand signs. He can’t take a deep breath if he’s trying to chew indefinitely so he’ll suppress it. This is nothing compared to the training she’s subjected him to throughout the years.
And Shenhe swallows first, letting out an irritated sigh disguised as a long breath. Cloud Retainer looks at her expectantly. Fine, let’s test your yang suppression.
“What about Xingqiu?”
Chongyun starts thumping his chest with a closed fist, trying not to die from the lack of air or the embarrassment. He fights the noodles to go down. Cloud Retainer’s interest is piqued so she pours him a glass of water. “Yes, yes, tell One about the Guhua swordsman. Hydro and cryo are a powerful combination.”
“Wh-what about him?” Chongyun wheezes as he gasps for air. When he gets enough, he downs the entire glass of water and the adeptus in front of the two exorcists pours him another glass.
“I’m told you two are romantic,” Shenhe shoots him a piercing gaze. She places tofu and onions on her plate then a few on his. Her chopsticks tapping harshly against his plate communicates what she won’t say. She will not lose this battle.
Chongyun eats his food obediently. After swallowing, he says matter-of-factly, “No.” I won’t lose either.
“Shame, he’ll be married off to a daughter of a prestigious family then” she says coolly.
Chongyun’s chopsticks drop his noodles. Married off? No, he’s... he’s good at turning those down. “N-no. I, he... he only wants to marry out of love.” What sort of person is that? Smart? Funny? Nothing like him...
“Ah! How times have changed!” Cloud Retainer chortles again. “Peaceful times are short-lived. Marry for love quickly, Chongyun.” He nods and picks his noodles back up. They eat quietly in the tranquility of the sunset below the mountains.
Oh thank Archons, they’re focusing on the food n- “Chongyun,” Shenhe interrupts the silence. Damn.
“We’ll start training on manifesting positive energy soon.”
Oh? Suppress, release, now manifest? Chongyun nods and continues to eat his food, thinking about his training and not what kind of person Xingqiu would fall in love with.