Crescent Moon Markings (MDZS/Inuyasha)

9

Nie Zimo rarely interacted with cultivators outside of his sect. This wasn't due to being self centered and arrogant, he was busy elevating his cultivation, training his disciples, and raising his sons. He preferred to personally watch and train his cultivators than to simply oust them to his teachers. This way, he got to know every single one of his disciples and their personal journeys in becoming a cultivator. He enjoyed speaking to them more than the politics in the gentry. He was never one to fake a smile nor placate hurt feelings.

Although the reputation of his sect gave him leeway in being less than polite. His disciples were already seen as muscle heads who were not scholars, lacking the intelligence to spend time learning other topics. The assumption was a disservice to all the different young people who grew up under his banner. There were some who were more inclined towards books while others jumped to train with the sword. At the end of the day, talent persevered in his rough terrain, through any means possible.

From the looks of his youngest son, A-Sang would be more artistic in his endeavors. There was nothing wrong with this. Nie Zimo remembered his late wife kept battle fans in her belongings, unused due to feeling safe in Qinghe's walls. A-Sang might use them one day, if he was ever so inclined to request them. Despite A-Jue's pestering, A-Sang would sooner run away from the sword than join in through force. It was better to ease him into the idea of strengthening his body than to insist on picking up the saber.

Others might find his stance as weak, placating, almost disregarding a good son for his fleeting wants. Nie Zimo saw the fascination A-Sang had for artistic endeavors and it wasn't only because his late wife introduced him to the concept. He painted alongside his second wife, A-Han, with the biggest smile on his face. The sight brought back memories of his first wife, A-Yi, training alongside A-Jue.

Nie Zimo seemed to pick wives who bonded deeply with their sons. A great aspect to have in a mother who loved their child. Their hobbies became an essential aspect of their sons' lives, a cherished memory for them to hold close to their hearts.

Which was why Nie Zimo wasn't surprised when he received word of A-Sang being lost in the marketplace because of paints. Although A-Sang had a collection of paints in his mother's room, he might not have wanted to use them yet. Which was why he bought an entire new collection while he was in town. He expected A-Sang to wander off, he didn't expect A-Jue to not notice. Maybe it was a bad idea for A-Jue to keep an eye on his brother when he was supposed to be listening to his seniors. A misstep on Nie Zimo's part, but A-Jue couldn't blame A-Sang for being distracted or blame himself.

This whole situation ended well. A-Sang was found by Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren's boy and the couple even fed his son. They kept him entertained and comfortable, sending word to Qinghe Nie for his retrieval. Nie Zimo trusted the pair to keep his son safe until A-Sang was back home. All he needed to do was send A-Jue and some disciples to retrieve A-Sang and the Wei family. He needed to thank them in person, after all.

A-Jue stood in front of his desk, bowing deeply, and sounded regretful when he told him. "Father, this one apologizes for not noticing A-Sang was gone. It's just....Senior Wu was giving me valuable advice that I–"

Raising his hand, Nie Zimo said. "I've been lenient due to our grieving period. I wouldn't have punished you harshly, but remember, A-Jue, A-Sang is younger than you." A-Jue straightened himself up, his shoulders hunched in shame as he listened to him. "You were to keep an eye on him, maybe even had one of the seniors carry him if checking on him was that difficult."

If possible, A-Jue hunched even more into himself. It was possible the idea of A-Sang being carried didn't occur to him. The boy wouldn't have been able to keep up with older teens on foot, but his son and disciples learned their lesson. They wouldn't make the same mistake twice.