Chapter Text
Yanqing always loved the vibrant and colourful lights that adorned Aurum Alley. As a child, he would stare at them in awe, and although the fascination faded once he got older, he still appreciated the view of shimmering lanterns. It was only a shame that he could never stay under those lights for too long because of just how loud everyone in the alley was.
Even though the people were the foundation of Aurum Alley and the reason why it felt so familiar, one could not deny that the signature loudness was an easy recipe for a headache. The hustle and bustle, coming from the many stalls and shops, could make an unknowing tourist mistake the late evening for a midday. Groups of friends that were finally meeting after a whole week of relentless work, couples on dates or families gathering around the tables with delicious food—aside from the noise, the scene looked very inviting.
However, Yanqing could only look at them with envy. Any relaxation he could have wished for had to be postponed since the Seat of Divine Foresight had to work overtime. Perhaps the general saw how his apprentice was slowly drifting away into sleep's embrace and sent him away to not only get meals, but also to wake up a little.
Yanqing leaned on the nearest wall as he waited for the take-away order to be finished. For a minute he fought against his heavy eyelids, but he gave up sooner rather than later and closed his eyes. His mind was slowly getting used to the general commotion, but the peaceful moment didn't last long because just as his head leaned on the wall behind, an extraordinarily loud laugh broke out of nowhere, startling the boy. An annoyed grimace appeared on his face as he turned around to find the source of the sudden noise. He peeked from around the corner and saw the culprits—four friends drinking at one of the tables and not paying any attention to their surroundings at all.
Nothing could be done about that though. One can either accept that it is simply the charm of Aurum Alley, or find another place to pass the time. However, another thing that cannot be avoided in this place are strangers getting interested in other people's conversations. At last it was curiosity rather than annoyance that made Yanqing come a bit closer and eavesdrop on the group. But as they say—curiosity killed the cat.
"Hey! Don't laugh! I am telling you, he is cultivating an heir! After so many centuries of power, he doesn't want to lose his influence. He may be small now, but the lieutenant will grow up to be the most important pawn in the general's palms!"
Yanqing's eyes went wide open as he heard the man in blue garments speak. He was more than used to overhearing people talk behind his back, but even he was baffled by how outrageous the statement was.
"Stop screaming you fool!" The woman wearing red glasses hissed at the other.
"But he is right! I have heard that lieutenant Yanqing already had an impressive knowledge of swordsmanship before joining the cloud knights. He had to be trained since he was a child! I bet he is some sort of secret weapon, waiting to be used." Added the other, visibly more drunk, man at the table.
Yanqing was already riled up. How dare they insult the general with those scandalous accusations? Insult the man who spent so much time and energy raising him, even though he had no obligation whatsoever to do so. The boy clenched his hands into fists so hard that his knuckles were turning white. Words could not describe how much he wanted to go out there and confront the group, however he knew that the general wouldn't want him to cause a scene, especially if the reason was defending him.
"Regardless of which is closer to the truth, I think we can all agree that he should have been placed in a home with a real family." Remarked the one wearing red glasses. "It's rather sad that the boy will never experience parental love because of the general's selfishness."
"Well we can't really know what their relationship is like—" The shy looking young woman begun to talk just to be abruptly interrupted.
"Don't be naive girl! Just look at them together, it's obvious at first glance that the general is strict with him. He treats the boy like he would any other knight!" The drunkard spoke once again to which the other woman added.
"Yeah, the way they act around each other is way too distant for a family. Moreover, the most affection that the general ever shows towards that lieutenant is after he achieves some kind of victory. It's clear that he sees him as an apprentice and nothing more."
"Can you really call putting a hand on somebody's shoulder affection?" Remarked the man in blue to which laughter erupted from the table once again.
Yanqing clenched his fists even tighter, any more force and his nails, that dug into his skin would draw blood. How could they laugh at the gestures he held so close to his heart? And the way they cut that girl off before she could even finish her sentence… He understood that first and foremost—he was a knight, but was the thought of him being more than just a soldier to Jing Yuan that abstract? His gaze shifted to the ground and bangs hid the colourful lights away from his eyes, leaving them lost in the darkness.
"You know I wonder, putting aside all those crazy theories… Why did he really adopt this boy? Why not give him to a real family and simply become his teacher later on? It seems like less work." Inquired the woman in red glasses.
"Well, who could guess what's going on in our general's head. The lieutenant himself probably doesn't know either." The man in blue answered.
"It has to be hard for him, having that vague idea of what the general thinks of him. I wonder if he has ever been confused about their relationship." She added, not really expecting an answer and the joyful atmosphere was replaced with a moment of somber silence.
Yanqing sighed and let his arms fall limply in a gesture of defeat. Even if he was to go up there and confront them, what could he say? The general never offered an answer to any question regarding his relationship with Yanqing, so they weren't wrong to claim that he himself didn't know what the general thought. The boy shook his head to stop the unwanted questions from plaguing his thoughts again. After all, he had pondered about them enough in the past.
Just as he decided to ignore the group and their foolishness, he heard words that touched a fragile part of his heart. An unprotected area that bled at even the most feeble of touches.
"Oh come on, don't bring the vibe down! That boy is not stupid, he knows it better than us. He is a soldier, not a son." Said one of the men. Afterwards the group swiftly switched the topic and renewed their conversation as if nothing ever happened.
But Yanqing could not pretend it was nothing. Not when his stomach twisted at the drunkard's words and heart bled as if stabbed.
In that moment he wanted nothing more than to hide from the world and from those unwarranted emotions that took control over his body.
The emotions that he didn't even understand. He suspected for a long time that he was just a soldier in the grand scheme of Jing Yuan's mind, so why did it bother him now? Perhaps not knowing for sure was a blessing in disguise. The confusion of whether Jing Yuan saw him as a son or as a knight gave room for both possibilities, gave hope that it could be the first and not the latter. Meanwhile a straight confirmation cut deeper than the sharpest of blades.
The boy forced himself to walk back to where he previously stood, his gaze was still locked on the ground. His jaw was clenched and teeth were grinding against each other. The pavement, and its many patterns, started to become increasingly more blurred. Yanqing quickly wiped his wet eyes before the tears could fall down his face and embarrass him publicly.
Just like before, he leaned on a wall. A heavy sigh escaped his lungs as he tried to get his emotions in check. The general would always tell him not to listen to rumours or the public's opinion… But what should he do when those same rumours mirrored what he pondered about for years and confirmed his own conclusion?
To think he could ever be worthy of being called a son of someone as great as general Jing Yuan…
"How ridiculous," he whispered to himself.
Every minute of waiting after that felt like an eternity. Although it may sound strange, he couldn't wait to go back to the Seat and continue filling out reports, sorting through the piles of papers on Jing Yuan's desk or doing anything really. As long as there were no people who would be sticking their noses into somebody's else business he would be content.
"Order 16 ready!" Finally he heard the shopkeeper's shout and lazily pushed himself away from the wall. Luckily for him the woman was in a rush, so he could avoid the small talk.
The road back went by in a flash. Before Yanqing realised, he was already standing in front of the door to the Seat of Divine Foresight. The previous enthusiasm about returning disappeared almost completely when he realised that entering that room meant facing the general, and facing the general meant that anything the boy wanted to hide would be quickly uncovered. Yanqing almost wanted to slap himself in the face for being so affected by those few words. It's merely the resurfacing truth that he had faced many times over the years. He should get over it by now.
Yanqing lingered near the door and weighed his options. Telling the truth was off the table for obvious reasons—he would make a fool out of himself for ever even considering he could be more than an apprentice. Half truth could work though, he could admit overhearing some rumours about himself and leave the specifics unsaid. But then the general would give him that sad smile he could not stand. There was also the late hour, and the fact that he woke up earlier then usual, that could work to his advantage.
Finally, the boy adjusted the bag with food orders in his hand and opened the door to the office. Jing Yuan's and Qingzu's gaze immediately turned towards Yanqing when he entered the room. Yutie probably did the same, but his helmet successfully covered any movement. The two smiled at the boy and begun sliding papers away to make room for the food. Their moves were slow and a bit sloppy from the exhaustion.
"Look who finally decided to show up. I was starting to fear I'd starve before you came back." Qingzu said, quickly taking one of the boxes and then continued with an even more humorous tone. "We begun thinking you abandoned us and went home!"
"Oh come on! I only thought about doing it few times on the way here." He joked back to which Qingzu, whose mouth was already filled with food, gave him a judgemental stare.
After some time with nobody talking, Yanqing became almost certain that he managed to elude the general's keen gaze and wouldn't have to use any of his explanations at all, but that proved to be nothing if not wishful thinking. Before he could take first bite, a question was thrown into the air.
"Did anything unexpected happen when you were gone?" Jing Yuan's tone was levelled, a stranger would not see anything unusual in it, but Yanqing already knew that this casual conversation is just a cover for a fierce battle of minds.
"Not really, why?" The strategy of playing dumb was the only way out he could think of in the moment. He cursed himself for letting his mind rest rather than coming up with a better explanation.
"It's the look in your eyes, you seem more tired than before. Or maybe my mind is playing tricks on me…" The general's voice seemed innocent.
Too innocent for what he was saying. Placing his own mind's capability in question? Yanqing begun loosing faith in victory. The battle of words continued and he had to be extremely careful with his next strike, any slip up now would mean a certain defeat.
"Seeing all of the people relaxing in the Aurum Alley while having to go back to work must have left a strain on me." He said with a small smile and grabbed a piece of meat with his chopsticks—every move meticulously calculated beforehand.
The answer wasn't ideal, however it was too late for the 'half truth' option after he had already claimed nothing had happened. It would immutably lead to the general being suspicious about why he didn't admit it from the start, which in turn would raise more questions and before long he would be forced to go for the 'off the table' option. And that meant something worse than losing.
"Hmm…" That gentle sound coming from the general made Yanqing's skin crawl, it was like an omen of a certain defeat. No one should be swayed by that almost casual tone of Jing Yuan's voice—that quiet murmur was comparable to being hit by the full might of the Lightning Lord. "Well then, I hope the food will restore some of that lost energy."
"Yeah, me too." Yanqing already knew he was doomed. This round might have ended in his favour, but the rematch will knock him out.
He let his shoulders sink and almost let out a sigh before remembering the close proximity of the ever-perceptive general. Starting from that moment, Yanqing's every move would be studied carefully up until the final clash would take place. In terms that normal people could understand: Jing Yuan will return to the topic in a few days with impenetrable defences and get all the answers he desires. At least the boy wasn't in immediate danger yet.
The rest of the meal passed in rather comfortable silence, broken only by sporadic remarks on the food. Aside from the occasional glances Jing Yuan would send Yanqing's way, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Everything about the dinner felt domestic, which made Yanqing wonder how differently such a late evening would look like in so-called "real" family. Though the thought was promptly dispelled, he could not help but be mad at himself for letting words of a stranger mess with his head.
Even if Yanqing had wanted to reminisce about it more, there was no time for that. He barely managed to chew the last bite of his food, when the clicking of Qingzu's heels drew closer. Suddenly, the already empty packaging was swept away from under his nose and replaced with a pile of papers. The boy looked up at Qingzu's towering silhouette with puppy eyes.
"Don't try that with me. That cute face of yours may work on Jing Yuan, but I'm immune to your sneaky tactics." Qingzu ignored Yanqing's pouting lips and continued before he could get a word in. "There have been numerous complaints about a certain area in the mountains of Fyxestroll Garden. Look through reports from this week's patrols and see if you can spot anything noteworthy."
"Ugh… Can't I just go there tomorrow? Reading through all of these will take hours!" Yanqing whined while slouching on his chair. "Maybe I could go get some sleep, wake up early and deal with the abominations or whatever it is. Sounds like a good plan to me."
"You don't even know what you would be fighting against, yet you are sure of victory. Dangerous presumption." The general joined their conversation causing Yanqing's expression to become even more sour.
"No more excuses! Besides, the team for an expedition there has already been assembled. All that is left for us to do is narrowing the location down to a specific area, tell them what they should expect and decide whether any reinforcement would be needed."
Yanqing sat up higher in the chair, albeit not without more whining, and begun reading the first page. Then second… then third, then fourth, and fifth, and tenth, twentieth, thirtieth and Aeons know how many more. He lost count at thirty-eighth. At least the work wasn't going to waste since the document with his notes was slowly but surely filling up with information.
A clear pattern plagued every other report: weird presence lingering in the air, feeling of being weighed down by the power of the Abundance and being unable to pinpoint where it was coming from. At some point all the pages seemed to be exactly the same, as if cloud knights were getting lazy and copying each others reports, which was obviously not the case. Only after taking into account some of the statements from passersby, Yanqing managed to limit the search site to minimum.
Yanqing looked at what used to be a big pile of papers, now reduced to merely five reports. After so much work, even he could admit a break was necessary. Just a minute to look around and let his eyes rest, then he'd be ready to go. And when his eyelids demanded being closed, or when his head felt too heavy to keep up, who was he to fight with it? Soon enough his face found a comfortable place to rest on his arm and the boy closed his eyes. It was just for a minute either way.
"And people call me Dozing General. It's clear that Dozing Lieutenant should be more popular." Jing Yuan whispered to Qingzu after ten minutes have passed since the one minute break.
"Like father, like son." She chuckled and after a lack of acknowledgement added, "Right?"
"Mhm," he muffled back. Neither confirming nor denying.
The atmosphere thickened. Qingzu wanted to press further but knew the general well enough to decide against doing so. It wasn't a secret, for those who knew Jing Yuan personally, that ever since the beginning of Yanqing's apprenticeship the two began drifting apart. She had wondered whether the distance is only being kept up at work, but judging by the interaction from seconds ago—it was present at home too.
Curiosity was eating her alive. She could not understand why things have changed so drastically between the two. The view of Jing Yuan's face lightening whenever he saw the boy back when he was merely a toddler was still fresh in her mind. It also wasn't hard to recall the shock she felt when she saw them together for the first time, barely believing that this full of life adult was the same stoic general she worked with for years. There had been many more charming scenes she witnessed starring the two of them in lead roles and for some reason she thought that the serene period of Yanqing's childhood would never end.
Qingzu watched with her own eyes as the boy went from sitting in Jing Yuan's lap and drawing with crayons to standing proudly by the general's side as a retainer. The change in their relationship had been happening subtly enough that she didn't even notice when "dad" got replaced by "general." She wanted to understand and perhaps even help in bringing back what once used to be, however she knew it was not her place to pry. If only the general would lift that mask of stoicism once in a while and let people know what he feels and thinks…
"Alright, I believe that's enough for today. If we stay any longer, I'll be the only one awake and therefore lose the title of Dozing. It's a very precious title." Only when the general spoke up did Qingzu realise she was close to falling asleep as well.
"We most definitely can't let that happen." She said lazily and begun gathering her things.
In the meantime, Jing Yuan strolled towards the sleeping boy, finding himself unable to hold back the tender smile from appearing on his face at the heartwarming sight. He gently brushed Yanqing's pale hair away from his face and soon after, lowered himself to be on the boy's level.
"Yanqing," he said softly. "It's time to go home."
However, the boy had little interest in what was being said to him. He buried his face further into his crossed arms, thereby earning himself a chuckle from the man standing next to him. Jing Yuan put his hand firmly on the boy's shoulder and shook him a little.
"Mimi will be mad at us if we take any longer," he added.
Yanqing opened his eyes slightly and looked at the general with confusion painted all over his face, his lost gaze wandered for a while before a glimpse of realisation joined in. Within seconds his eyes went wide open and he shot out of his seat.
"I wasn't sleeping!" Though his sluggish voice suggested otherwise. Both Qingzu and Jing Yuan wanted to laugh at his antics but managed to hold it in.
"Of course you weren't, Dozing Lieutenant. And I believe you went through every report while not sleeping?" Qingzu teased him to which Yanqing offered a nervous laugh.
"Five left actually…" He sighed while sitting back down.
"I see you have the most important parts written down, I will take care of the rest tomorrow morning." Jing Yuan offered. Yanqing had already opened his mouth to refuse, but the man snatched the remaining pages and stopped him before he could get a word out. "Shhh! Sleep is calling for me, I wasn't lucky enough to get a nap like you did. We better head home before you have to carry me there yourself."
"General! How could you hold it against me? I swear I closed my eyes for just a minute." An entertained smile crept onto the general's lips when he heard Yanqing's flabbergasted shouts.
"It was an awfully long minute." Jing Yuan continued teasing the boy even as they were leaving the office.
Qingzu strolled alongside them for a while after leaving the building, up until their roads split up. She looked back as the pair was walking into the far distance, towards the undisturbed silence of their home. Yanqing's ponytail was swinging in the air while he talked enthusiastically, as for the topic she could no longer hear. Jing Yuan's stable silhouette didn't say much, but in was easy for her to conjecture that a signature warm smile was present on his lips as he listened to the other.
Lanterns illuminated the path before them and Qingzu was sure that as long as they didn't let the darkness sway them, they'd find a way to overcome whatever caused the distance to form in the first place. She only hoped it would happen sooner rather than later.