Mu Qingfang held the boy's boney wrist like the child was made of paper. With Shen Qingqiu sitting right next to his brother and glaring daggers at him Mu Qingfang wouldn't date do otherwise.
"Do you remember being inside the crystal?" Mu Qingfang asked. "Or is it just a jump from before to now?"
The boy frowned. "It was like I was sleeping, and dreaming. I'd kinda wake up a little sometimes and know time was passing, but I couldn't wake up all the way."
Shen Qingqiu ran a soothing hand through the little boy's hair.
"Well your meridians are fine, you could use some food but that's easily fixed... I'd like to speak with your brother for a bit, if I have someone bring in a tub would you like to take a bath? We'd put up a curtain so you'd have privacy but wouldn't be alone.
The little boy bit his lip and held the wrist Mu Qingfang had just let go of to his chest. He looked up at his brother - who was still glaring at Mu Qingfang- before nodding once.
The boy-Shen Yuan-warmed up once the bath was set up, smiling and asking Shen Qingqiu what all the various soaps were for. Shen Qingqiu side eyed him for the flea repellent soap but Mu Qingfang was just being safe not judgemental. He'd had to de- bug his fair share of disciples.
Once Shen Yuan was in the tub he and Shen Qingqiu retreated across the room out of the child's earshot.
"What is it?" Shen Qingqiu snapped. Someone was extra snippy today.
"There's nothing of serious concern in his spiritual veins but I'd like to keep monitoring him for a while to make sure nothing comes up as he adjusts- and he shouldn't be cultivating for a while, though he's a little young for that anyway," Mu Qingfang said .
"You aren't keeping him here."
Mu Qingfang nodded. He'd been expecting that. " That's fine," he said. "You should be able to monitor his meridians for me well enough. You two are twins?"
"Then it's better you monitor his meridians anyway."
Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes at Mu Qingfang. "Why?"
"Your meridians, despite whatever changes living has done, share the same identical bases. There's evidence circulating qi between twins is more therapeutic and easier on your systems."
"Fine," Shen Qingqiu said. "I'll do it."
Shen Qingqiu turned on his heels and went to help his brother in the bath.
Mu Qingfang decided not to press his luck and left the room- where he nearly ran into Yue Qingyuan. Mu Qingfang took one look at him and suppressed a groan.
"Mu- Shidi," Yue Qingyuan said. "How is he?"
"Zhangmen-shixiong....they are both fine, and are not to be disturbed."
Liu Qingge wasn't sure what to think of the changes that had happened after that last explosive Peak Lord meeting.
The little street rat that had appeared when that crystal broke was gone, transforming overnight into a fine little lordling, a miniature mirror version of his brother.
They went everywhere together, Shen Qingqiu often carrying the little boy so they could whisper in each other's ears. When he was being carried the boy was in charge of the fan, holding it over Shen Qingqiu's or both their faces as necessary.
Overall Liu Qingge was tempted to call the changes positive. Shen Qingqiu seemed ... Not nicer, but less interested in picking fights, and he had not left the mountain to go down to the brothels since his brother's arrival.
That said Shen Qingqiu was somehow more annoying despite being better behaved.
He had caught the pair near the gates of Bai Zhan the other day, and when he'd asked what Shen Qingqiu was plotting the man had rolled his eyes at him and said he was "just showing Gege which brutes to avoid."
When Liu Qingge demanded he answer that insult with a fight he had just gotten a pair of near identical scoffs.
"Why'd you jump right to fighting?"the little Shen asked. "You should have just insulted us back and then we'd call you dumb and leave. It's not like we're trying to steal your corner spot or something important."
"Peak Lord Liu is sensitive," Shen Qingqiu said snidely. "He can't handle people being mean to him without trying to fight them "
The little boy Shen Qingqiu insisted on calling Gege gave him a pitying look before the pair walked off, leaving him alone and... Ashamed, for some reason.
Wei Qingwei couldn't help but smile at the tiny little Shen that opened the Bamboo House door.
"Delivery for Peak Lord Shen," he said brightly.
The sourpuss himself appeared behind the little boy.
"Running errands now are you Wei-shidi?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
"Xiu Ya needs these sword oils." Wei Qingwei said, handing the package over. "And I maybe wanted to check on how you two are doing."
"We're fine." Shen Qingqiu said immediately.
"Wei-shidi..." The mini Shen said contemplatively. "Are you the Wan Jian Peak Lord?"
"Yes." Wei Qingwei said. He winked at the little boy.
Wei Qingwei grinned. "Once your cultivation is strong enough I would be honored to provide young Lord Shen with a sword."
The boy giggled. "I'm not a lord!"
"Yes you are," Shen Qingqiu said. "Thank you Wei Qingwei, you can go now."
"Bye Peak Lord Wei!" The little boy said.
Wei Qingwei pressed his luck. "If you get your didi's permission I might have some knives you can use until you're big enough for a sword."
"You don't need a knife!" Shen Qingqiu said.
"But didi! What if I need to shank someone?"
Wei Qingwei lost his composure and laughed. "Yes Qingqiu, what if he needs to shank someone?"
Shen Qingqiu shut the door in his face, but Wei Qingwei noticed he was smiling when he did.