Chapter 22 - The problem with raising a child

Wei Xiao went with Qin Zuijia, who was carrying Xiao Ling, to a small cottage close to Bai Chenle's home. Bai Chele's home was in the perimeter of Forbidden peak, and he usually invites Aoki Enyo to chat with him. Aoki doesn't mind his company and enjoys the tea brewed by the golems made by Bai Chenle.

When Wei Xiao and Qin Zuijia entered their new home, someone knocked on the door.

Aoki Enyo entered with a disciple.

Aoki Enyo has pure ivory black hair hich was tied with a white ribbon. He wore a customary black and blue robe with wind patterns embroidered on the shoulders. He had delicate features without looking frail. He had peach blossom eyes and long lashes, his lips were peachy and glossy. He had broad shoulders and thin waist. He has perfect posture like that of the military. And his overall aura was the same as a God.

If Wei Xiao were to explain the man he saw right in front of him, the only words that he could say was 'perfect'. Aoki Enyo was like a cherry blossom in bloom where the wind would kiss each and every petal. Or like a four leaf clover, hard to find, but worth looking for. He was beautiful to an extent that he's unattainable. But Wei Xiao didn't really want to chase after him.

"May I ask for your name?" Aoku Enyo sat on the long chair opposite to Wei Xiao and Qin Zuijia. His voice was calm yet cold, making one feel a cool breeze pass by.

"We're Bai Chenle's nephews." Qin Zuijia said with a smile. "I am Bai BingYu, this is my brother Bai Bojue, and our littlest brother Bai Ling." He pointed at Wei Xiao and Xiao Ling.

Aoki Enyo nodded. "I am the peak master of Forbidden peak. This is my eldest disciple Marlon." He pointed to the man who looks a bit like he's already in his forties.

Qin Zuijia nodded. "Pleased to meet you."

"As do I." Aoki Enyo nodded.

Xiao Ling was looking straight at Aoki Enyo. He thought that he saw a fairy for a moment and couldn't help but walk towards him. He grabbed Aoki Enyo's robes and tugged it.

Aoki Enyo turned to the child and their eyes met.

Xiao Ling smiled and took out an osmanthus cake from his bosoms. He held the osmanthus cake with both hands and extended it to Aoki Enyo "Xiao Ling gives pretty brother." His smile widened and his eyes turned to slits.

Aoki Enyo was stunned. He found that the little baby was extremely adorable to the point of wanting to smother them with love. He felt his heart soften with the baby's little expression and unconsciously smiled. He took the osmanthus cake from Xiao Ling and looked at it for a minute. He turned his gaze back to the child and said. "Thank you."

Xiao Ling giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheeks. "Xiao Ling likes pretty brother."

Aoki Enyo blushed. No one has kissed his cheeks before, it was a novel experience, and he somewhat enjoyed it.

Qin Zuijia chuckles. Xiao Ling has the habit of kissing his cheeks as well to express his thanks. As a child, Xiao Ling still has a lot to learn. He can't go around kissing people's cheeks just to thank them, he could learn other ways to say his thanks, and Qin Zuijia would be there to guide him.

Aoki Enyo was staring at Xiao Ling and his eyes widened. "Xiao Ling has a mark."

Wei Xiao and Qin Zuijia turn to look at Aoki Enyo. "What?"

Aoki Enyo returned back to his cold attitude and turned to the two. "Xiao Ling's brows was glowing. I couldn't check what color was it, but I can tell that he has a mark."

Wei Xiao looked at Qin Zuijia, and Qin Zuijia looked at him. Qin Zuijia felt giddy in finding another Mage in their family. With Xiao Ling as a mage, he could teach him a little about what he knows and how he could increase his power.

Wei Xiao, however, was surprised. Both he and his brother were martial artists and his brother's wife was a healer. No one from their family has a mark on their souls. This was an unexpected thing, but it wasn't bad. Wei Xiao saw that Qin Zuijia's eyes were shining with anticipation for the future and he couldn't help but feel the same way.

Aoki Enyo was feeling warm on the inside and wanted the boy to be his disciple in the future. He could tell that Xiao Ling would be great in the coming years. "When he turns six, would you mind if I became his teacher?"

Qin Zuijia smiled. "That wouldn't be bad." He turned to Wei Xiao and nudged him on the side. "Xiao Ling would learn from someone who's made a name for himself!"

Wei Xiao nodded. His face expressionless.

Qin Zuijia laughs.

______________________

After the visit, Qin Zuijia made tea for Wei Xiao and took out some biscuits for Xiao Ling. Aoki Enyo left to do work and his disciple followed suit. Xiao Ling has been eyeing the door like a hawk, waiting for Enyo's return.

"When will pretty brother come back?" Xiao Ling shook Wei Xiao's legs. Xiao Ling brows were furrowed in distress. He wanted the pretty brother to stay just like how his pretty uncle was with his all the time.

"Pretty brother has a lot of work, he won't be coming too often." Qin Zuijia patted Xiao Ling's head and lifted the child up. He planted several kisses to appease the child, but Xiao Ling was still looking worried. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Ling shook his head and flailed his legs, asking to be brought down. He ran straight to the bedroom and pushed the door closed.

Qin Zuijia was distressed for the little guy, but if Xiao Ling refused to talk, what could he do? The child wanted to be his pretty brother, but Enyo was busy with work and might not be able to see him for some time. Qin Zuijia slumped down the chair, sitting next to Wei Xiao. He sighed and looked at the man sitting next to him.

Wei Xiao was sipping tea when he saw Qin Zuijia's gaze land on him. He wanted to rap the other's head for asking him for help about a problem he knew nothing of. Parenting was his brother's field, he hasn't even like any girl yet, yet this person's asking him to know what to do with a child.

"Let him cry himself, he'd understand that not everything can be given to him when he's older." Wei Xiao said. He felt that that was the best thing he could say at a time like this. Children need to be taught a valuable lesson that could save them from internal struggles in the future. Xiao Ling was still a child, he needed to understand this much earlier.

Qin Zuijia frowned. Although he knew nothing of raising children or pacifying a baby who was only 2 at the moment, he knew that Xiao Ling needed guidance, proper guidance, that would let him understand Wei Xiao's points. Wei Xiao's point was correct, but his means of teaching children isn't. How would Xiao Ling know what to learn if he himself was still a baby and was given everything he wanted since young.

"I'll go talk to him." Qin Zuijia said, resolutely.

Wei Xiao just looked at him, as if uninterested, but deep down his heart was pounding. Has his eyes always had that glimmer?

___________________

Xiao Ling, on the other side of the room, was sulking in a corner, both his eyes were red. He just wanted to see the pretty brother more often, why can't he see him. Pretty Uncle's always with him and takes care of him, how come the Pretty brother wont come see him, why does he have to be busy. Xiao Ling was confused about the difference between the two people, he didn't understand how great Enyo's position is in the sect and won't always come to see him. Enyo would visit, but won't always be by his side unlike Qin Zuijia.

As a child, Xiao Ling has his side of selfishness and stubbornness. What he wants he gets, what he likes should be received on a silver platter. He was smart for a child since his parents always talk about a lot of adult things to him (Not that kind), and his uncle taught him the basics of cultivation and how to circulate Qi, though he still doesn't get how to do it, he knows Wei Xiao's words by heart. But Xiao Ling is still a child, he has his own likes and dislikes. He was confused and thought that it was unfair that pretty brother wouldn't come see him.

Qin Zuijia felt the gloominess of the child. He had already forgotten what he was like as a child, nor can he remember the first time he became selfish. He doesn't remember what he did whenever he couldn't get what he wanted, but he had seen people take care of their children before, but he still doesn't know how to talk to children who are sulking because someone left for important matter.

Qin Zuijia knocked on the door and pushed it open. Xiao Ling was sitting on the corner, hugging his knees while hiding his face. Qin Zuijia felt his heart ache. He had seen Xiao Ling's laughing face, surprised face, and that one time he was shocked by Wei Xiao breaking a table, but the kid now was far more gloomy than that. Qin Zuijia crouches down and places a hand on Xiao Ling's back. He didn't speak, nor did he try to force the kid to be happy.

Xiao Ling felt the hand on his back and looked up. He saw the smiling yet distressed look on Qin Zuijia's face. He too felt his heart ache. His pretty uncle was sad, he could tell, even if he tried to put a smile on his face, he was still sad. Xiao Ling's eyes misted and he wrapped his arms around Qin Zuijia. The child begun to cry. With the warm touch of someone he felt close to, his pure and innocent emotions released.

Qin Zuijia's aches loosen up. He stood from where he was crouching and walked to the bed. He placed Xiao Ling on the bed and he sat next to him. "Pretty brother might not be able to come see you often, but pretty uncle is still here." He caressed Xiao Ling's cheeks and wiped his tears away. He placed a kiss on his forehead and waited until he fell asleep.

At this moment, Wei Xiao entered the room and found the scene harmonious and warm, like a melody that would never leave. His brows relaxed and his lips tilted to a smile. "You're good at pacifying children. Why don't you get yourself one?" It was meant to be a joke. Who doesn't know in the whole cultivation world that Qin Zuijia was a cut-sleeve. He had once dated a man a year younger than he is, but when said man reached a marrying age, he chose a woman to give birth to his future offspring.

Qin Zuijia found this laughable. He knew that it was a joke, but his eyes still twitched. "Why don't you? You're old enough to marry."

Wei Xiao Shrugged. "I have Xiao Ling to take care of."

Qin Zuijia paused. His eyes twitched further. He grabbed a pillow and threw(Note: I really wanted to say 'Yeet', but no.) them at Wei Xiao. "You threw all the work at me. How can you say you have Xiao Ling to take care of?"

Wei Xiao smiled. "Think of it as a punishment."

Qin Zuijia subconsciously shivered. He rarely sees Wei Xiao smile. It was both novel and frightening, making his whole body shake. He gulped three times before the overwhelming fear in his chest subsided.

Qin Zuijia nodded at Wei Xiao and covered Xiao Ling with a quilt.