It’s late afternoon when Sizhui hears a familiar voice carrying from the path leading to the Cloud Recesses and he doesn’t even try to keep a smile from his face. He shares an amused glance with Jingyi and winces slightly when Senior Wei’s voice rises into a shriek as he berates his recalcitrant donkey of something. Little Apple replies with a wheezing bray that scares a flock of birds into flight.
”Teacher Lan is going to be thrilled,” Jingyi murmurs.
Sizhui sighs but says nothing. There’s no point in chiding Jingyi anyway. And it’s not like Teacher Lan is here to hear the words himself—the whole Cloud Recesses knows Senior Wei is due back today, and people have taken appropriate precautions. Namely, a-die has stocked up Emperor’s Smile and chili oil, Uncle has spent the previous week meditating, and Grand-uncle entered seclusion this morning. The elders and junior disciples wait with feelings of dread and joy, respectively.
”A-Yuan!” Senior Wei exclaims the moment he emerges from behind the trees, waving wildly. ”And Jingyi! How lovely to see you both! Have you been waiting for long?”
”We’re on guard duty,” Jingyi retorts. ”But also, yes.”
Senior Wei laughs so hard that his eyes crinkle up, making Jingyi beam in return. Sizhui watches them with a warm, aching feeling in his chest and meets Senior Wei’s smile with his own. ”How were your travels, Senior Wei?”
”Aiyah, what’s with the Senior Wei stuff?” he retorts, wagging a finger. ”Didn’t I birth you from my own body?”
”Of course, baba,” Sizhui says obediently. The aching in his chest flares and recedes, leaving behind a glowing warmth that spreads from his chest to his whole body. He watches for a moment as Seni—baba bickers with Jingyi, both enjoying themselves immensely, before turning his attention to Little Apple.
The donkey stands with an all-suffering air, leaning not-so-subtly away from baba. Sizhui shakes his head and takes the reins, gently nudging baba and Jingyi to move along, and starts leading Little Apple toward the stables.
”Wait, A-Yuan!”
Sizhui pauses and turns to look at baba. ”Yes?”
Baba huffs. ”You don’t have to, radish. I can take her to the stablessaish!” he yelps as Little Apple snaps at his hand reaching for the reins. ”You ungrateful beast! A demon! That’s what you are! I don’t know why I put up with you—”
Smothering a laugh, Sizhui inclines his head at Jingyi. ”Go with Jingyi, baba. He’s dying to tell you about a talisman incident on a night-hunt two weeks ago. I’ll take care of Little Apple.”
Something about baba’s eyes turns serious. ”Are you sure? You don’t have to—” He stops when Sizhui quirks a brow. ”Ah, I can see you’re as much of a bully as your a-die,” he laments. ”Fine. I can see when I’m not wanted.”
”Indeed,” Sizhui says. ”Is there anything in the saddlebags I should be aware of? Cursed items? Warding talismans?”
Baba shakes his head. ”No. Just scrolls and spices and—” he hesitates as a blush rises to his cheeks. ”Um, maybe don’t open any qiankun bags?”
”I will bring everything, unopened, to the Jingshi later,” Sizhui promises.
”Will you stay for dinner?” baba asks. ”You don’t have to, obviously, but I’d love to have you and I’m sure Lan Zhan—”
”Yes, I’ll stay for dinner,” Sizhui reassures.
Baba nods several times. ”Good, good. Well. I’ll be off with Jingyi then.” He reaches out to cup his cheek, and when Sizhui leans into it, he brushes a thumb along Sizhui’s forehead ribbon.
Behind him, Jingyi makes cooing smushy faces.
”Well, how have your travels been?” Sizhui asks Little Apple as he leads her to the stable. There’s a dedicated stall for her, with fragrant hay on the floor, grains in one bucket and fresh water in another, and an ornate plaque with her name written on it, courtesy of Jingyi. Little Apple knows her way to her stall and walks in without Sizhui’s guidance, inspects the hay and checks the offerings left for her, and then brays loudly.
”Yes, I know there’s a woeful lack of apples,” Sizhui says. ”But I’ll need to take care of your things and brush you down first.”
Little Apple nibbles at his neck to let him know what she thinks of his priorities but resigns herself to his ministrations with a grumpy air. Sizhui quite likes these moments as he finds brushing her almost meditative. He’s also well aware that only he and a-die find it so, as Little Apple tends to bite everyone else.
He unpacks her saddlebags (and carefully doesn’t think about the souvenirs that can make baba blush) and then inspects her saddle blanket for the need of repairs. Her bridle and reins are in good condition but some of the bells are dented and not chiming properly anymore. Sizhui makes a mental note to search for new bells and ornaments in Caiyi later. Bronze, he thinks.
Little Apple nips his shoulder, reminding him of her needs.
”Yes, yes,” Sizhui laughs, scratching her forehead. ”You’ll get your apples, don’t fuss.” He reaches into his sleeve and takes out an apple, huffing at the donkey’s eagerness. ”Here you go.”
As Little Apple chews her treat, Sizhui tidies up and sets her equipment in its proper places. ”I’m glad baba has you,” he says. ”He needs someone to look after him on his travels.”
Little Apple shows him her teeth.
”No need for that,” Sizhui chides and taps her lightly on the nose. ”You know he cares about you.” The donkey snorts and Sizhui could swear she also rolls her eyes. Truly a worthy companion for baba.
He takes two more apples from his sleeve, places them in her bucket of grains and, with a last, fond pat on her side, leaves the stall.