Work Text:
Fang Duobing prided himself on being a stalwart disciple of Li Xiangyi. He said so as much when he first met Li Lianhua. He growled it out to Di Feisheng at their first encounter.
Like a rapidly flowing river, time passed, and the more Fang Duobing delved into the life of his unofficial shifu, the more he defended the man's legendary status.
Despite Li Lianhua's pleas to the young man to stop fighting on behalf of Li Xianyi's exaggerated fame, Xiaobao's determination was resolute. He would even reprimand Li Lianhua if he overheard any disrespect towards his shifu. Much to Li Lianhua's dismay and to Di Feisheng's dark amusement.
The situation was exasperating, but a small part of Li Lianhua, if he'd dared to acknowledge it, found Xiaobao's fidelity rather endearing.
Still…
"Xiaobao!" Li Lianhua huffed. Despite the boisterous surroundings of the teahouse, the nearby table of patrons heard his stern voice and paused for a moment.
Li Lianhua tugged at a silver plum trimmed long sleeve, feeling much like he was pulling the leash of a young, unruly Hulijing again. The silk ruffled as Fang Duobing tested his sudden restraints, stopping when one tug almost uprooted Li Lianhua from his stool.
"But—" Fang Duobing protested.
"No. Sit. Finish your tea," Li Lianhua said firmly. He bit back a smile when Xiaobao grudgingly complied because, ah ha, while Li Lianhua did not bear the status of shifu, the brat still listened. With a faint smirk, he congratulated himself with a fresh cup of jasmine blossom tea. When he held up the kettle towards Di Feisheng, the rascal pointedly turned away and tipped his cup to his mouth.
With an angry toss of his mane over a shoulder, Fang Duobing glowered at the table of three merchants too inebriated to notice the death glare cast their way that promised strife to a hundred of their generations.
"…must be cowering in a cave somewhere," one merchant hiccupped.
Another dragged his dirt-smudged sleeve across his mouth as he belched. "…eating lichens like a pig and licking his wounds like a—"
Tea cup to his lips, Li Lianhua reached over with his other hand and snared the inky black brush of Xiaobao's hair just as the brat made to rise again.
Fang Doubing yelped. He dropped back on his stool so hard, the floor underneath their feet thumped.
"Ignore them," Li Lianhua murmured as he sought to achieve a Buddha-like serenity, hoping to calm Xiaobao down. That, or lightning to strike at the brat's feet. Aiya, adorable or not, Xiaobao was exhausting.
"They're narrow-minded simpletons," Xiaobao fumed. His fists struck their table. Their little dishes hopped under the assault.
Di Feisheng deftly picked up the yellow osmanthus cakes before their plunge off the edge of the table. He settled the little dish close to him. He ignored Fang Duobing's pout as he plucked a translucent treat and crammed it into his mouth.
With a sigh, Li Lianhua reclaimed the dish.
"Xiaobao, it has been years. Jianghu spread tales like the wind carries seeds."
"But they're lies—"
Li Lianhua spread his thin arms apart. "Are they? One's truth is always another's lie. We have solved many mysteries that show us this."
Fang Duobing grumbled. He rested his chin on a fist. He brightened at the plate of cakes pushed towards him. As he was about to take one shaped like a lotus, another rude remark floated to his ears. He scowled, lowered his hand, and ignored the cakes.
Li Lianhua shot Di Feisheng a glare. "Say something."
"Why? The miscreants have said plenty," Di Feisheng demurred, smirking as Fang Duobing shot up to his feet again.
Li Lianhua glowered at Lao Di before rising to his feet to stop Xiaobao.