Chapter Text
When Jiang Cheng found the wounded pup in the middle of a massive, smoking crater, he thought it dead. Or near dead. The wounds across its back looked too large for its small body and Jiang Cheng thought it better to put it out of its misery than letting it suffer. But when he approached the pup, it growled on unstable legs. He was momentarily surprised by the anger in its eyes.
By its will to live or rather, the will to cause as much chaos before succumbing.
Despite the weak warning, Jiang Cheng approached and knelt by the pup. It swiftly attacked as sharp little teeth clamped down on his reaching hand. He chuckled despite the minor pain.
“Looks like you’re not quite ready to go yet.”
It growled louder, biting down a little harder.
“Alright, alright, message received.” Jiang Cheng cradled the dog to his chest as he stood up. With his hand still held hostage within its teeth, he somehow managed to shrug off and wrapped his outer robe around the pup. Safely tucked within arms, Jiang Cheng summoned Sandu and mounted it.
“Hold on for just a little longer,” Jiang Cheng whispered to the pup, using the hand it was biting to start transferring some qi to heal the minor wounds,
“We’ll be home soon.”
At some point during the flight, the pup had fallen asleep. His hand was still held hostage within its mouth. Jiang Cheng had to give the pup some credit, it had tenacity. It remained asleep as he landed in Lotus Pier, a scattering of greetings from the disciples still out this late at night.
“Have a tub of water and a medical kit brought to my room,” he said to the nearest disciple.
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
“...and a dog brush.”
—
As instructed, the supplies he asked for were waiting in his room. He’d taken a detour to the kitchen for scraps of chicken in case the pup woke up later. Jiang Cheng settled himself next to the supplies, laying the bundled up pup on the floor.
Unwrapping the pup, Jiang Cheng gently examined it. There was dried blood on the pup’s black fur but it seemed the smaller wounds around its snout had healed with barely a scar. The large wounds on its back, perhaps a bigger beast had gotten to the pup, had stopped bleeding but would take much more than qi to heal. Jiang Cheng felt it as he had carried the pup and one wouldn’t be able to tell from the amount of fur, as matted as it was now, that the pup was a bit thin.
Strangely enough, there was a mark on the pup’s forehead. It was a heart split in two. Was it a spiritual dog?
“Have you lived with this all your life?” He asked the sleeping pup as he carefully cleaned and dressed its wounds. If it did…
It was a cruel way of living, knowing it seemed to be branded as unloved.
“That would make the two of us.” The pup remained silent.
Unable to help himself, Jiang Cheng gently brought the pup against his chest, pressing his forehead against the pups’. It’s been so long since there was a dog in Lotus Pier, one that wasn’t Fairy. Nearly twenty-seven years, maybe more.
Jiang Cheng still wasn’t sure if the pup would survive the night. He went through the motions of getting ready for bed, briefly setting the pup down to change into his inner robes. Settling himself into bed, Jiang Cheng laid on his side as he pulled the pup close to his chest. He could feel the small rise and fall of the pup’s breathing. If it died during the night, Jiang Cheng would know immediately.
And if by some miracle the pup lived, perhaps, just this once, he could be a little selfish.
—
Jiang Cheng woke up with the weight of the world pressing into his chest. Opening his eyes, two dark, round eyes stared back at him. The pup sat atop his chest, alert and alive as it watched him. It took a second for Jiang Cheng’s mind to fully grasp what he was looking at. And when he finally registered what he was seeing, he couldn't help the smile on his face.
“I’m glad you survived.” He said.
If his voice sounded hoarse that was fine. Only the pup would know. He carefully sat up, resting against the headboard as he settled the pup onto his lap. It tensed a little, wary eyes watching his hands but it had allowed him to handle it.
“Ah, you’re going to need a name.” He said out loud. The pup’s ear twitched as it looked up at him expectantly. As if to make sure the name Jiang Cheng chose would be the pup’s final decision.
“Smokey?” The pup growled, ears pinned back. Jiang Cheng laughed.
“That’s a clear no. Hmm, how about Forest?”
The pup stopped growling but it still seemed displeased.
“I see. His majesty seems to have high standards.” Jiang Cheng said. At that, the pup’s ears flicked forward and Jiang Cheng spotted its tail wag just a little.
Oh?
“His majesty? Is that what you liked? Your standards are higher than I thought.” The pup huffed and finally looked away, as if embarrassed.
“Apologies,” Jiang Cheng said with a light laugh. “How about a compromise? How does King sound?” The pup seemed to think it over before it eventually let out a gruff bark. So cute!
He ran his fingers through King’s fur, mindful of the healing wounds on its back. Jiang Cheng started to compile a list he would need. Food was no issue and while he had dog supplies hidden away in his room, they would be too old to be useful. He would need new ones.
And perhaps he could commission a clarity bell too. A smaller but functional one. If that were the case, before he went ahead of himself, Jiang Cheng spoke to his pup,
“Welcome to Lotus Pier, King.”