A gentle and comforting touch (Feixiao x OC)

Chapter 2: How to Catch the Attention of an Arbiter-General.

Notes: How many of you like women who take the initiative? This has nothing to do with the chapter (at least not this one), but I'm curious to know if any of my followers are into that.

Oh, who am I kidding? WE ALL LIKE THAT.

0O0O

Feixiao vividly remembers the day she met him.

Years ago:

"Why is Jiaoqiu so interested in taking on a disciple?" Moze asked without looking at his General. He was leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

Feixiao took a small sip of her tea, sitting comfortably in a chair at a small establishment that sold tea. It wasn't her favorite drink—she could understand why many enjoyed it, but she would have preferred wine right now. Moze wasn't the type to let his guard down often, especially with the war against the abominations seemingly intensifying. That's why he chose to remain standing, alert for any potential threat.

The Yaoqing General shrugged. "You know how he is. He feels his time as a doctor is coming to an end and that it's time to pass his knowledge on to someone younger."

"But he still looks young."

Feixiao laughed. "Maybe on the outside, but inside, he feels like an old man eager to retire. When I first met him, I was barely out of adolescence—just an impulsive soldier eager to head to the battlefield and slay monsters. And he was that typical grumpy doctor who insisted his patients stay in bed."

"So, he's older than you?"

Feixiao nodded, her gaze fixed on the contents of her tea, as if it were a magical pool showing her fragments of the past. "He worked during Yueyu's reign, a time almost no one remembers anymore, except those who survived it. Even those who do remember feel it was ages ago—I'm no exception."

She looked up at the sky. "In terms of long-lived races, he's already considered an elder. Outwardly young, but his soul has aged. He sees us—you and me—as young adults with bright futures ahead, which is why he's searching for someone who can take his place when the time comes."

Moze hummed thoughtfully. "I thought he was doing it to ensure his cooking recipes didn't get lost."

Feixiao smirked. "Oh, that too. I'm pretty sure he's determined to preserve his culinary techniques at all costs."

Feixiao's fox-like ears twitched instinctively at the sound of approaching footsteps. The first thing she saw was Jiaoqiu arriving with his usual smile plastered on his face.

"Did you have any luck?" Feixiao asked, taking another sip of her tea.

"You could say that. I think I've finally found the right one, or at least someone with great potential," Jiaoqiu replied, his tone revealing his satisfaction with the discovery.

Feixiao raised an eyebrow at this. "Oh, really? And who might that be?" It was intriguing to learn who Jiaoqiu had chosen as an apprentice. Neither she nor Moze needed to be geniuses to know that impressing one of the best doctors of his time wouldn't be easy.

Jiaoqiu's smile seemed to grow wider. "I'm glad you asked." Just as he said this, Feixiao's ears picked up the sound of hurried footsteps approaching again.