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“You’re making my head hurt,” Jiang Cheng says.
Jin Ling stops mid-rant to glare at his jiujiu.
“I’m sorry to be an inconvenience and a burden, Jiujiu,” he says, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Hey, no, that’s not what I said.” Jiang Cheng grabs Jin Ling’s arm as he stomps past. “You’re shouting a lot, and you actually smacked me with your hand when you--” Jiang Cheng gestures wildly, narrowly missing Jin Ling in turn -- “you know. So I’m gonna need you to sit, take a breath, tell me what’s wrong and whose legs I need to break.”
“Oh.” Jin Ling drops down into the seat beside Jiang Cheng and puts his head on the table. One breath shudders into two, and now that he’s still, he starts crying.
“Oh, shit, okay, okay.” Jiang Cheng strokes Jin Ling’s back. “Okay, it’s okay.”
“It’s clearly not,” Jin Ling wails.
Jiang Cheng clenches his jaw, but he simply pats Jin Ling’s back until his tears subside.
“Okay.” Jiang Cheng wipes the tears from Jin Ling’s cheeks. “Whose ass do I need to kick?”
“My dad’s?” Jin Ling says, though he immediately back pedals. “Not really! He’s just -- he dropped this bomb shell, Jiujiu. Did you know I have to do a demonstration at the next Jin discussion conference?”
Jiang Cheng blinks at his nephew. “It's time for that already?”
Jin Ling’s expression clouds. “You knew?”
Jiang Cheng nods.
“It’s become more common in recent generations, especially among minor sects, as a way to celebrate historically overlooked cultivation styles as well as, uh, prove legitimacy. Your grandfather started it when Qin Su demanded to be recognized. He thought he could denounce her because she wouldn’t be able to demonstrate an affinity for Jin cultivation techniques. It backfired, though, because her mother made sure she was well trained before letting her anywhere near Jin Guangshan.”
Jin Ling grimaces.
“So I have to suffer because my grandfather was a terrible person?”
“It’s not meant to be a punishment, A-Ling,” Jiang Cheng says. “You’re a good cultivator.”
“But why do I have to be put on display? Like I’m some performing circus animal?”
Jiang Cheng knows better than to argue with someone’s feelings. “You should talk to Huaisang. He had to do something similar.” Jiang Cheng smiles at a memory. “We talked about running away from home to get out of it.”
“Really?”
“Mm hmm. We were gonna live in a cabin in the Canadian wilderness.”
Jin Ling scoffs. “I can’t picture Uncle Huaisang living in a cabin.”
“It was fun to pretend,” Jiang Cheng says. “Anyway, Huaisang debuted a whole new cultivation style than Nies traditionally practiced. He was terrified, but he did an amazing job. Talk to him. He’ll help you with your nerves, and I’ll help you with your presentation if you want.”
“Really?”
“Of course!” Jiang Cheng hugs his nephew. “I’ve got your back, kiddo. And I’ve got a secret weapon.”
“What weapon?”
Jiang Cheng grins. “Massive, sugary coffees. Come on. My treat.”