Hua Xianle

Chapter 33:

After a few more days in the Healer’s Pavilion, and under Wen Qing's care, Hua Ying was finally allowed to go back to class. That meant that it was time for his parents to return to their duties in their respective domains. Now that they knew their son was safe and sound, they were comfortable enough to do so. Hua Ying, of course, wasn’t exactly happy with the idea.

"But why do you have to leave!” Hua Ying wailed, clinging to his Baba’s leg while pouting and doing his best imitation of Jiaohua’s puppy dog eyes. “I don't want you to leave! Don’t go!!"

"A-Ying, for Dianxia's sake, you're not a child anymore," Hua Cheng admonished while rolling his eye and crouching down to face his son.

“What happened to me being your baby until the end of time?” Hua Ying argued, glaring at his A-Die

“Now, now, A-Ying,” Xie Lian said softly, acting as the mediator that he naturally was. “You know your father and I have been putting off our duties long enough as is. We need to return to our realms, but if you like, we can leave Shuãng here to accompany you in our stead.”

The suggestion made Hua Ying perk up for a moment, but he sagged almost immediately after. “Baba, he can’t stay. There are rules against keeping pets in Cloud Recesses. Jin-Xiong wasn’t allowed to keep his dog, so Shuãng wouldn’t-”

“Shuãng can stay.”

The Hua Family all turned to see Lan Wangji standing behind them, facing the front gate. The fond look he was giving Hua Ying made the boy blush hard.

“Lan Zhan, are you sure? I thought pets were forbidden. Won’t you get in trouble for letting me break the rules?”

“Not breaking the rules,” Lan Zhan corrected, gently shaking his head. “Shuãng is a spirit animal, not a pet.”

“I mean, technically true, but still…”

“Already asked the guest disciples, and Muqin and Fuqin. Everyone said it was okay. Hua Ying just needs to make sure Shuãng does not cause trouble or break anything, and that he only attacks when there is extreme danger.”

Hua Ying let out a happy noise, releasing his Baba’s leg so he could go over and hug his Zhiji. The boy held firm under the force of the hug, having long since gotten used to the young Hua’s affection.

“Alright then! If it’s really okay, then I want Shuãng here by this afternoon!”

“We’ll have the guards deliver him promptly,” Xie Lian assured his son, ushering his son to come over. The boy disentangled himself from his zhiji and hugged his Baba, receiving a kiss on the forehead as he did. “But in return, you make sure he stays with you and keeps something like this from happening again. I don’t need a scare like this again…”

“I agree,” Hua Cheng spoke up, coming to join the hug. He gave the boy a kiss, then turned to Lan Wangji and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m trusting you to keep our son safe. Prove that you are worthy of him.”

“Mn,” Lan Zhan nodded with a serious expression. “Will protect Hua Ying.”

The family said their farewells, then Xie Lian and Hua Cheng made their way out of sight, vanishing into a swarm of wraith butterflies.

…

Later that afternoon, everyone stood in awe as a massive white tiger walked into Cloud Recesses. It was a majestic creature, one that could put the Emperor to shame. Their shock was redoubled when it walked right up to where Hua Ying was sitting under a tree, immediately giving the boy an affectionate lick across his face.

“Whoa…” Nie Huaisang, who was sitting with Hua Ying under the tree, gasped in amazement. “Is that you, Shuãng? When did you get so big? Hua-Xiong, what have you been feeding him?”