The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 157 - Like a Cat

.

Wuxian was laying on his side, watching Healer Shi clean up the golden needles. They just finished a healing session and for once, Wuxian did not fall asleep during the process. He watched her silently and when she was done he whispered: "Can I plan your wedding?"

Shi almost dropped the pile of cups she was organizing. She turned and looked at him in surprise: "What?"

Wuxian blinks tiredly at her: "You said I have a few more sessions left.. So may I plan your wedding.. Please?"

Shi laughs awkwardly and turns around to fidget with the stuff on her shelf: "Who said anything about a wedding?"

Wuxian huffs: "Don't play coy. I know that you promised to consider marriage after I finish my treatment."

Shi turns to stare at Wuxian: "Shouldn't I be planning my own wedding?"

Wuxian pouts: "but I wanna do it.."

Shi walks over and sits next to him. She smooths his hair back: "I don't know what will happen in the future. If Zewu Jun and I decide to get married, I will consider your offer."

Wuxian blinks innocently at her: "But Zewu Jun planned my bonding ceremony. It's only fair that I reciprocate. Besides, I really really want to plan a wedding.."

Shi chuckles at his cute pleading face and nods: "Alright. Rest and get well and when the time comes, I will put my foot down and demand that my little rabbit plans my wedding."

Wuxian smiles happily then closes his eyes when fatigue finally wins. He whispers: "You will not regret it, little turtle."

Shi continued to smooth his hair back, feeling grateful that this small man was the reason she finally found a family again. She added an extra blanket on Wuxian as he slept and nodded to Wen Ning, who was standing at the corner as always, as she made her way out.

Wuxian was abruptly awakened by his son a few hours later. Sizhui barged into the healing room and shook his father urgently: "Father! You have to come! NOW!"

Wuxian was disoriented for a few seconds. He tried to stand but found his feet were weak. Wen Ning grabbed his arm and heaved him on his back as Sizhui ran out and they followed. Halfway there, Wuxian's brain finally caught up and he whispered to Wen Ning: "What's going on?"

Sizhui yelled back as he continued to run: "Jingyi challenged the Slayer and they're battling each other. I tried to stop them but they wouldn't listen to me. Lan Jinhai is going to kill Jingyi if you don't stop them!"

Wuxian sighs loudly and when they reached the training grounds, he found a large group of disciples crowding the center where Jingyi was attacking Jinhai with his invisible sword. Jinhai seemed unbothered. He wasn't even using a weapon, just his hands to deflect and some talismans to provoke the young man.

Wuxian taps Wen Ning's back when they reach the edge of the battle field and Wen Ning sets him down. Taiho runs towards him and says: "We tried to talk Jingyi out of it. He didn't listen."

Wuxian watches the clearly uneven match and glares at Taiho: "Who started this?"

Taiho purses his lips, uncomfortable with snitching on his brother. Wuxian grabs his robes and pulls him close as he starts to get angry: "ANSWER ME!"

Taiho flinches: "Jingyi wanted to try his new first-class weapon on someone who's worthy. He said that he needed to get stronger so he doesn't disappoint you."

Wuxian groans and jumps into action. He runs between the two as they approach each other for another blow and instinctively snaps his ring finger as Da Ziran transforms into a large Bison. She blocks Jinhai's attack and throws Jingyi across the training grounds. Everyone in sight was frozen in place as Wuxian screamed in anger: "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? WE DON'T ATTACK ONE ANOTHER LIKE THIS!"

Wuxian takes a few deep breaths to calm himself and releases his spell, allowing the ring to remove the power to pause everyone around. Jingyi rubs his aching butt and grumbles his way towards Wuxian while Jinhai looks amazed at the smaller man. He has never seen Wuxian in action.. He was kinda impressed.

Da Ziran returns to her original form and wraps around the still fuming Wuxian. Jinhai says: "The brat wanted to fight."

Wuxian points his finger accusingly at him: "You're older and stronger than him. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

Jinhai shrugs: "I've never turned down a challenge before."

Wuxian groans and turns to glare at Jingyi, who at least had the decency to look guilty: "Have you lost what little you have in your brain?"

Jingyi went into defence: "I wanted to see how strong he is.."

Wuxian points back at where Jinhai was standing: "HE KILLED MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU HAVE EVER MET IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE! You haven't even killed a fly yet! What made you even consider such a STUPID IDEA?"

Wuxian's breath hitches and he feels the world around him fade a little. Someone catches him before he hits the ground. It takes a few seconds for things to right themselves and when his senses finally returned to normal, he found himself confused.

Jinhai was patting his head like he was a cat and he opened his eyes to frown at the man. Wuxian's younger disciples were also standing around him, looking at the odd scene in a mix of worry and bewilderment.

Wuxian whispers at the man petting him: "What are you doing?"

Jinhai's hand pauses mid pat and he cocks his head: "Isn't this what people do to comfort one another?"

Wuxian feels a laugh bubble up and he swallows hard to contain it: "Not really."

Jinhai looks embarrassed and gently sets Wuxian off of his lap and onto the ground then makes a run for it.

Everyone looked at the retreating back of the man who killed so many and yet turned red at the slight show of affection. Jingyi kneels near Wuxian and says in a low voice: "I didn't mean to anger you, Master Wei."

Wuxian sighs tiredly and reaches out to pull Jingyi into an embrace: "I lost one of you.. I cannot bear to lose another.." After a few seconds of comfort, Wuxian turns the hug into a nuggy. He tells the struggling boy in his clutches: "Do something stupid one more time and I will tie you up and hang you naked in the middle of Gusu City!"

Jingyi tries to free himself: "WHAT? NO! NO NO NO!"

Wuxian lets go when he sees Wangji rushing towards them. He glares at his disciples before Wangji reaches a hearing distance: "Snitch and I will make you all regret it."

The kids didn't even wait to see what happened. They all scattered into different directions, afraid of the odd and colorful punishment their teacher might cook up when they eventually talk.

Wuxian smiles to himself. Even if life outside of Cloud Recesses demands blood from him, at least this place will forever be.. home.

.