76 Massage (1/2)
In Xiao Fang's grandmother's quarters, Xiao Fang was brewing tea as his grandmother was reading through a few scrolls. From time to time, she would curiously look up to see how he was doing.
'He's pretty good,' she thought.
She didn't think he would make the tea himself, she just assumed he would get a female disciple to do it.
As he gracefully stirred the pot, the flowery aroma slowly permeated the room, already making his grandmother feel a bit more relaxed.
He eventually poured the tea into two golden teacups, giving one to her and leaving one for himself.
”I'm impressed. Not many men know how to brew tea like you. Aren't you afraid what people might think if they knew?”
”Should I? As grandfather used to say, 'Care about what people think and you'll always be their prisoner'.”
”Ho ho, even when he's not around he's still lecturing me. Don't think you can change your grandmother's mind so easily. There are certain things only women should do, just as there are certain things only a men should do.”
Xiao Fang laughed.
”Grandmother, surely you don't believe that. If you did, then someone as beautiful as you would never have become a swordsman,” he said before taking a sip of his tea.
She smiled at his words, because he managed to compliment her while pointing out her hypocrisy.
”Calling you're grandmother beautiful, I must be lucky to have a grandson like you.”
She took a sip of her tea then nodded as she put it down.
”Very good.”
”I'm glad you enjoy it. With grandmother's permission, I'd like to do something else for you.”
”Oh? There's more?”
Xiao Fang walked behind her then lightly massage her neck and shoulders over her clothes.
”First tea then a massage. I suppose I should be telling people that I have 2 granddaughters from now on.” She joked.
Xiao Fang stopped massaging her.
”Perhaps you'd like the taste of my sword instead,” he smiled mysteriously.
”Ah, don't stop. I was only joking,” she said, urging him to continue the massage.
He started massaging her shoulders again.
”We have a lot to do, so let's get started.” Xiao Fang said.
She took another sip of her tea, then replied,
”Mn, let's begin.”
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Xiao Fang and his grandmother spent the next few hours jotting down ideas.
When it was dark, his grandmother left to meet the Elders and Xiao Fang went home.
He was only able to massage her neck and shoulders through her robes that day, but his mother warned him to be patient, so he didn't want to push it.
On the way home, Xiao Fang was approached by a tall man carrying a woman over his shoulder.
”Hu Ning, you look well. I take it that you were able to resolve the matter without any problems.”
”Despite that, you were still able to bring her to me in one piece, for that I'm grateful.”
”No need to be grateful. It was my pleasure to be of assistance.”
”...”
”...”
”Hu Ning... you don't need to be dismissed by me to leave. Could it be that there's something else you'd like to say?”
”Li Lian declared that anyone that could leave a scratch on her would be personally rewarded by you. There is something I want.”
”She-”, Xiao Fang felt like vomiting blood.
”Ah, it appears that you didn't know about it,” Hu Ning could tell from his reaction.
”I didn't... Could this wait? There's somewhere I need to be. How about I meet you outside of your residence tomorrow morning?”
”Thank you, Xiao Fang, I'll see you tomorrow morning then,” he bowed then left.
Xiao Fang frowned. He made an excuse because he didn't want to grant a favour to someone who might be from a rivalling sect. He needed to speak to Li Lian first to confirm his identity.
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Later that night.
Li Lian slowly woke up and found herself laying next to a sleeping Xiao Fang.
Her eyes brightened up. They've been apart for more than 2 months, but it felt like an eternity to her. She didn't want to wake him up, but she could resist the urge to shake him a little to see if he was really asleep. Though she didn't shake him hard, it was still enough to wake him up.