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[bringingdowndisaster]

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[gentledawn]

"Really?" he leans in closer, horrified. After a few breaths, he shakes his head, frowning.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you think..." no wonder Xue Yang had been defensive! "Xue Yang, you don't have to worry about that sort of thing around me, alright?" he peers at the other boy intently, "I like you. I think you could be very strong with the right teacher. That's all."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang snorts a little again. "Where do you think you are exactly? This part of Kuizhou... it's expected." Had he really known nothing about the place he was visiting?

"I'm not worried. It's no big deal if that's what you wanted." Though he definitely prefers not having to fuck random strangers to get food and a warm place to sleep. It's hard to trust someone who essentially says they want nothing in return for something, though. Maybe it's more about pleasing his Master for Xiao Xingchen.

"How can you tell?" he asks instead.

[gentledawn]

"It shouldn't be." Xingchen hadn't researched this town - he had merely come for supplies! Shuanghua on his back had kept most trouble-makers away from him - and any who wanted to fight were taken care of swiftly.

"You deserve better than that." he continues, rising from the table, "Feel free to use the bath or warm up on..." he was going to say bed, but there are certain connotations to that now.

"It's... Once you're aware of your own core, you will be able to sense others if...if you wish to learn. I thought it a useful skill."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang rolls his eyes. What a typical do-gooder attitude. As if saying shit like that is going to change anything.

A bath sounds nice though... it's been a while since he's been able to have one. During warmer months he can clean off in the river, but when it's cold he usually has to make do with a bucket of water and a wash cloth at best.

"A bath sounds good," he says and stands as well.

He would definitely like to learn some cultivation... he peers a little suspiciously at Xiao Xingchen, but gives a hesitant nod. "Guess I wouldn't mind... learning."

[gentledawn]

"The tub is full in there." Xingchen points to the adjoining room, "Take your time."

He is straightening the room when Xue Yang gives his answer. A surge of warmth fills his chest and he smiles at the other boy warmly. He might be a do-gooder, but he's not a peacock.

"Then come with me. You'll like it."

The air is clean, the water is fresh and the land is pristine.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Getting off the streets of Kuizhou would definitely be an improvement. He hates this shitty town. Should the mountains turn out to be worse... well, he can always leave there too. Hopefully he'll have learnt something useful first.

"Alright," he says casually and without thinking much on it, he starts stripping out of his clothes, showing off a skinny, bruised and scarred body.

[gentledawn]

The casual stripping shocks him and he looks away.

But not quickly enough. He saw the bruises...the scars. Xingchen closes his eyes and tries not to think about what caused those.

Or, rather, who caused those.

"Do you need help? I can wash your hair for you."

[bringingdowndisaster]

It's been a long time since Xue Yang felt any kind of modesty about his own body, which is probably not very surprising.

He raises an eyebrow at the question, but he can't help being a little curious. "Sure. Do what you want," he says as he walks towards the other room.

[gentledawn]

He must be so sore! Xingchen searches his pouch for salves before following Xue Yang. Of course the idea of rubbing them in himself makes him feel very shy.

But if Xue Yang needs him to... He will.

"Let's see..." he loosens the thick black hair from any ties and set them aside. Then he uses a comb to make sure the strands aren't tangled.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang is used to soreness, pain and general discomfort in his body. Maybe apparently having a golden core has helped some with his pain tolerance.

His hair is only done up in a simple ponytail, tied with an equally simple red ribbon. Once his hair is loose it reaches halfway down his back, and yes, it's definitely tangled and knotted in some places.

Once it's been combed through a little, Xue Yang climbs into the tub, letting out a sigh of contentment as he's submerged into warmth.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen can help with that discomfort, little by little. His Master can do more. They just have to reach her.

He smiles to himself at the abundance of hair. Then he follows Xue Yang to the tub and kneels down, using a cup to wet the pretty strands.

"Soaks would be good for you. There's a hot spring on the mountain. I'll show you to it." Xingchen murmurs, using a soft scented soap to clean Xue Yang's hair.

[bringingdowndisaster]

It's definitely weird to be pampered like this. Xue Yang can't help but to distrust it. People just don't... do nice things like these, especially not for someone like him and especially not without expecting something in return. Yet, he can't sense anything but sincerity from Xiao Xingchen.

Maybe it's Baoshan Sanren he should be concerned about...

He turns his head a little to peer at Xiao Xingchen. "Tell me more about your Master," he says.

[gentledawn]

He scrubs the dirt, grime and...is that blood?...from Xue Yang's hair, checking his head for any gashes or sores. While he works, Xingchen smiles down into that cute face, unable to resist. Well if he wants to know more, that's a good sign, right? He has no idea Xue Yang is questioning him and his Master.

"She takes in those with promise and trains them. Master Baoshan is kind, but strict. I suppose taking care of so many is a lot of work. She seems to enjoy it, however." he begins to rinse out the suds, carefully covering Xue Yang's eyes with a hand.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Would it make Xiao Xingchen feel better to know that the blood in Xue Yang's hair isn't his own? .... No, probably not.

"How many of you are there?" he asks as he grabs a wash cloth and starts to scrub the rest of his body. He doesn't even flinch when he rubs over the bruises on his hips and thighs.

[gentledawn]

No, no it wouldn't! Who else is wounded out there? Does he need to run around with a medi-kit?!

"Twenty." Xingchen hisses and tuts, taking another cloth and cleaning some of Xue Yang's cuts gently, "Softly, Xue Yang. Your body is injured."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Don't worry, he's not dead! ...Probably.

Xue Yang chuckles a little. "This is nothing. You should've seen the other guy." The cuts are shallow and mostly healed over since the fight he'd gotten into had happened a couple of days ago.

[gentledawn]

...that isn't reassuring.

"I take it you are accustomed to fighting?" Xingchen dabs at a bruise on Xue Yang's cheek, "I can help you heal quicker. I have a Golden Core too and I can pass energy from mine to yours."

[bringingdowndisaster]

"Mm. Have to be." Fighting over food, or just because some asshole thinks he can impress his friends by getting into it with Xue Yang. Sometimes it's purely self-defense, other times it's to make a point or because someone pissed him off.

"You don't have to do that. It's mostly healed anyway," he says dismissively.

[gentledawn]

Have to be. Xingchen feels saddened by those words. He squeezes the water from Xue Yang's hair and tries to think what to say. Nothing he thinks of sounds good enough.

"I don't have to do anything. But I want to help you feel better." he shifts so Xue Yang can see his face easily, "You'll sleep better if you're not sore."

[bringingdowndisaster]

The insistence makes him feel a little weird inside, but he nods slowly. "Okay then. If you insist."

[gentledawn]

Pleased, Xingchen rests a hand on Xue Yang's chest. His fingers glow white and then a misty blue as he channels healing energy into the other boy. Only when he is satisfied does he pull back and blink at his new friend with a small smile.

"You're very strong."

[bringingdowndisaster]

A warm sensation blooms in his chest as the spiritual energy is transferred into him. He blinks a little when Xiao Xingchen is finished. He does... feel better. The cuts on his chest have healed up completely too.

He gives Xiao Xingchen a slightly wary look."...Thanks."

[gentledawn]

"Soak as long as you like. If you need me, I'll be in the next room." Xingchen strokes over Xue Yang's hair as he stands up. The wary look is cute, but it makes him sad too. What has this poor boy seen and experienced?

Xingchen is certain his Master will love him.

[bringingdowndisaster]

Definitely more than someone his age should have.

He stays in the bath for a while, just soaking and enjoying the warmth. Once Xiao Xingchen leaves he also takes his glove off and lets his broken hand soak as well. It feels incredibly good for those aching joints...

Once done, he gets out of the tub and dries himself off with a towel. After putting his glove back on he returns to Xiao Xingchen, wearing only a towel around his waist.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen is only wearing his under-robe when Xue Yang returns. He smiles a little at the lack of clothes and pulls out a clean sleep robe for his friend.

"Put this on. It will keep you warmer than that towel." he holds out the robe so all Xue Yang has to do is slip his arms into the sleeves, "Do you mind sleeping by me? I can rest on the floor if it's a problem."