“Wahaha!” Yanqing squealed, some water spilling out of the buckets he was holding on each of his hands. The lieutenant gritted his teeth as a crooked smile took place in his lips. His gaze was focused on the distance while Jing Yuan walked around him.
“A Cloud Knight must never let slip their weapon, nor let slacken their form," Jing Yuan repeated, probably for the tenth time that afternoon, while watching his apprentice’s limbs tremble under all that struggle.
Yanqing inhaled sharply, squinting his eyes as he tried to maintain his shambling focus. “Y-yehes, general!”
The answer made Jing Yuan chuckle softly and nod, proud of Yanqing’s resolve. However, he still had to make sure that today’s lesson would stick to his apprentice’s mind. “Straighten your back,” the general commanded, using the tip of the wooden sword he was holding to deliver another poke to Yanqing’s side.
“AHAh!”
“And stop wasting water,” the general said, trying to sound angry as he delivered another poke, this time under Yanqing’s arm, somewhere between his armpit and his ribs. Of course, this only lead to another stream of giggles and more splashes of water falling to the ground. “How are we going to water the garden if you spill everything?”
“I-I’m tryhihing, general!” Yanqing groaned, shivering as some of the cold water spilled into his own clothes and stumbling a little before recovering his balance, or at least seeming to.
Yanqing could only blame himself for boasting in front of the general. When he asked for a harder, more intensive training, he expected more series of exercises or new opponents to spar with… not whatever this method that Jing Yuan decided to use was.
The buckets of water weren’t even that heavy anymore and the only thing keeping him from maintaining a good posture was the anticipation, the anxiety that came from not knowing when Jing Yuan would strike - or, better saying, tickle - him next.
Step after step, the general continued to slowly circle him, watching his form with ultimate attention. “Good, you’re learning rapidly, indeed,” Jing Yuan praised under his breath, tapping the back of Yanqing’s ankle with the wooden sword as a sign for him to fix his center of gravity.
“T-thank you, general,” Yanqing stuttered in a hurry, taking another huge gasp for air, “I think I-I’m getting the hand-AHAH!”
The lieutenant laughed, again, as Jing Yuan prodded against his stomach this time. “Your shoulders aren’t aligned. Remember: a Cloud Knight must never let slip their weapon-”
“N-nohoor let slahahacken their form!” The apprentice groaned, his cheeks a little red from all the effort and laughter in this training session.
And just like in any other training session, the longer it went on, the harder it was to achieve his goal. At this point, it would be a matter of seconds for Yanqing to drop one of the buckets - that is if they had any water left by that time.
“Should we take a break?” Jing Yuan suggested, thrusting the wooden sword on the ground as he stood before the lieutenant, a kind and warm smile in his lips.
Normally, Yanqing would still have the energy to run at least ten laps around the training ground. Today, however, Jing Yuan could tell that this new method took a toll on his endurance.
Yanqing sighed, lowering his arms and placing the buckets down shortly before throwing himself back, sitting on the floor. “Y-yes, please, general,” he sighed, lowering his head.
“Very well. Let me prepare some tea, then, we can play a round of Celestial Jade while you recover,” Jing Yuan muttered, noticing that Yanqing didn’t seem frustrated despite the tiredness. Well, maybe this recently-made-up method could, indeed, provide some growth to his apprentice, after all.
A/N: You guys may thank @otomiyaa for bringing this idea up to me, as this was her request while I was asking for suggestions among my friend, ehe
Still, writing anything for these two is always a joyride, specially after the lateest quests hahaha
A little sneak peak to my Yanqing and Jing Yuan tickle fic
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"I- Hehe! I thought this was trahahainhihing!!" A laugh escaped from the young trainee's mouth, youthful giggles making Jing Yuan remember how his own master would tickle him as punishments for doing some things wrong in training.
"Your form was a bit... Slack... Perhaps this can give some correction." With a small smirk, he kept up the soft prodding in Yanqing's ribs, causing the boy to laugh and drop his sword.
"Uhuhunfahahahahair!! Mahahahahaster!!!" Yanqing laughs as the tickles Jing Yuan dished out caused him to drop his form.
Jing Yuan had a small growing smile. His tickling assault and little threat really got through his student.
“Get back here!” Caelus shouted, his eyes locked on his target. “Yanqing!!”
Yanqing dared to peek behind his shoulder, just for a split of a second so he wouldn’t run head first into someone or into something. Caelus looked really angry. “I-I said I’m sorry!” He cried, clenching his fists as he tried to keep up his pace and continue to run as fast as he could - still, did he have any chance against someone powered by a Stellaron?
Was this really so bad? All he did was to talk to Caelus and insist they had a sparring session. Well, yes, he was alone with - and oddly close to - Dan Heng at that time and did ask Yanqing to come back later, but he just wanted to make sure he wouldn’t forget!
It’s not like he wanted to be Caelus’s priority over his own boyfriend, but they always hung together, so what’s the harm in sparring a little and leaving Dan Heng aside?
Well, Yanqing was about to find out how harmful pestering one’s date could be.
“Caelus, l-let’s talk!” Yanqing insisted, nearly tripping over some broken tiles along the way as he continued to be chased around the Xianzhou’s streets. “There is no need to be angry!”
No response came from the other, just the slight impression he was narrowing the distance between them - uh oh, Yanqing thought. In a desperate moment, between all those twists and turns along the way, the lieutenant ran into an alley… with no exit.
A wall?! Who put this wall here?!”
“You!” Caelus nearly roared from the alley’s entrance, an angry smile imprinted on his face, “didn’t you want to spar? Fight me now, Yanqing!”
Yanqing gulped, exchanging quick glances between the wall and the guy. Maybe he could try to climb it? Or ride one of his swords over it? Maybe he could-
“Where do you think you’re going?!” Caelus grinned, pushing Yanqing against the nearby wall and pinning one of his wrists against it.
Yanqing widened his eyes, trying to free his arm while waving the other in front of his chest, hoping to appeal to some of Caelus’s senses. “W-wahait! I dihihidn’t mean to- aHAHHa, C-Cahahaelus!”
“Of all the times you could’ve showed up, did it have to be when we were about to kiss?!” Caelus groaned, letting out all the frustration from his ruined date in a restless, merciless ticklish assault.
His free hand moved from one spot to the other, nimbly avoiding the lieutenant's defenses as he squeezed his hip, then moved up to claw at his side and jumped to prod at his ribs and underarm. “You- you little brat!”
While Caelus’s “insults” didn’t hurt him, Yanqing could already feel a slight cramp against his cheeks and stomach from laughing so hard after running like that. The tiredness from all the effort finally catching up to him at the worst moment possible - just like he did with Caelus, how ironic.
“AHAHA- I-I diHIHInd’t knoHOHOW!” Yanqing giggled desperately, shaking his head and pressing it against the wall.
He managed to get Caelus’s attention, but at what costs?!
A/N: today's story was requested by my very dear @wertzunge! This was such a challenging prompt to match with this duo, but I hope you all can still like the result of my efforts, ehe
A/N: Happy birthday @otomiyaa!!! I'm not really sure if this will be a good gift, but I know you've been feeling in the HSR mood lately so... I hope you like this! ~
Wish you the very best and many, many years!
Summary: Yanqing tries to convince the general to fund him another a new sword.
Word count: 1752 words
“General, I’d like to ask for- no, that’s not going to work,” Yanqing groaned, walking from one side of the room to the other. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest, his foot tapping at the wooden floor while he tried to come up with a better phrasing for his… request.
It wasn’t like it was unreasonable or absurd, Yanqing thought to himself, of course not. He just needed to find the right arguments, but Jing Yuan would understand him. Or so he hoped.
The young swordsman sighed, going through the little script he quickly made up in his mind again. “ahem, general, I want to ask you- I mean, need to… hmm, maybe I should start it in some other way?” He talked to himself out loud, holding his chin while drifting into further contemplation of that matter.
Just how hard could it be?!
Yanqing had went through the same lines at least 10 times in the last hour, explaining to his imaginary picture of Jing Yuan how important it was for him, as the Cloud Knight Lieutenant, to keep an updated arsenal and, above that, the benefits that acquiring the newly-released sword - the Sunset Pierce - would bring to his training and development as a whole.
Of course, it would cost a bit more money that he currently had in hands, but as his mentor, it fell on Jing Yuan’s responsibilities to help him fund that sword. Right, Yanqing nodded to himself, this made sense, yes.
Still, why did it feel so hard to find the right words to talk to the actual general?
No, he could make it. The first defeat is the one that comes from within your own mind, Yanqing reminded himself. He could do it, he just needed to prepare himself a bit more and Jing Yuan would, surely, agree to fund his reasonable request.
Taking a deep breath, the lieutenant slapped his own cheeks before stare into an empty corner of the room - now full of determination. “General,” he started, fixing his posture and holding one hand behind his back while gesturing with the other - just like Jing Yuan himself would do during his speeches, “I’m sure you’re aware of the approach of the Luminary Wardance Ceremony-”
“Yes, I am,” Jing Yuan mused with a smile on his face while making Yanqing squeal and jump like a scaredy cat. The general chuckled, continuing to slowly walk into his office. “What’s the matter about it?”
“G-General, I- ahm, I wasn’t expecting you… to be back… so soon…” He stuttered, his voice only going quieter and quieter as all his planning was turned into shambles before his very own eyes.
Jing Yuan cocked his head, watching his apprentice with curiosity, “the meeting didn’t take as long as it usually does this time. Anyway, I heard you calling me. I suppose there is something that needs my attention?”
“No- I mean, yes, there… is,” Yanqing nodded, coughing to fix up his voice tone and try to look more presentable - and convincing - before the general and, hopefully, future sponsor. “I’d like to talk to you about the preparations for the Wardance.”
“I’m listening,” Jing Yuan smiled, amusing himself with how Yanqing spoke.The lieutenant nodded, continuing with his report while taking random steps around the office.He already had Jing Yuan’s attention and a good excuse to bring up his personal collection arsenal. He could do it!
“To have a better performance and proper execution of my techniques - which will be representing not only your teachings, but the whole Luofu - I believe we should…”
“We should..?” Jing Yuan continued, taking his seat in the office and resting his elbow on the chair’s armrest.
“R-review my current equipment. After all, I-I can’t fight with swords in a poor state, yes?” Yanqing stopped, looking at his general with expectant eyes. As approval sparked up in Jing Yuan’s face, the lieutenant took it as a sign for him to go on with his rambling reporting. “So, knowing you have a tight schedule and other important affairs to take care of, I went ahead and checked the condition of the swords in the inventory myself.”
“Oh, how productive. And what are your conclusions?” Jing Yuan asked and leaned back in his seat. He could already see where this was going, but he’d still like to hear the arguments Yanqing made up this time.
“O-of course, ahem, most of the swords are in good - i-if not excellent - condition, but-”
“But?” Jing Yuan almost gasped, feigning surprise, “did you encounter a problem within your arsenal?”
“I-it’s not really a problem, but… one of the swords isn’t in as good condition as the other five…”
“So?”
“So, well…” Yanqing stopped in front of Jing Yuan, taking one last deep breath to gather enough courage to utter his request, “Ineedmoneytobuyanewswordandreplaceit!”
Jing Yuan blinked, stunned. He shook his head, chuckling, “I beg your pardon, lieutenant Yanqing. What did you say? I couldn’t understand it.”
Ugh!
“I… need- I mean, I’d like to ask- no, I’d like to count on you funding its replacement.”
There it is, Jing Yuan thought. The general closed his eyes and hummed softly, pretending to be deeply contemplating Yanqing’s request. If he wasn’t exactly sure, but he could swear he “funded” a new sword not long ago and, honestly, couldn’t help but doubt about the actual needs of a replacement. Wasn’t Yanqing’s room filled with dozens of swords already?
“I understand, lieutenant Yanqing,” Jing Yuan sighed, peeking at the boy’s reaction through half closed eyes, “I agree with your line of thought. It’s, indeed, important to make sure all the equipment is in good shape before the Wardance.”
“R-really?!- ahem, I-I’m glad you do, general,” he nodded, trying to contain his excitement and stop a silly smile from spreading on his face, “about the value-”
“But,” Jing Yuan interrupted him, lifting a finger in the air, “I’d like to test you. Your resolve on this matter, to be precise. If you fulfill my expectations, then I’ll ‘fund’ the replacement.”
“S-surely, general. It’s… a reasonable condition, yes,” Yanqing nodded and watched carefully as Jing Yuan got up from his seat and walked around the room, stopping in front of one of the shelves.
Jing Yuan hovered his hands over a couple items before grabbing a Devastator Glaive - one of the standard weapons of the Cloud Knights. As he walked towards Yanqing with the weapon in hand, the lieutenant couldn’t help but wonder what kind of test the general had come up with. A spar? A mission?
“I want you to hold the glaive,” Jing Yuan ordered, handing the weapon to his apprentice who eagerly took it and held it close to his chest.
“L-like this?”
“Not quite,” Jing Yuan chuckled, grabbing the weapon on the spot between Yanqing’s hands and lifting it above the boy’s head, “up here. Yes, this should suffice. Now, ready for the test?”
Yanqing was a bit confused, truth to be told. What did holding a glaive had to do with his new sword? How could this be a test of anything?
“You need to hold the glaive above your head for… a minute. If you can do so, I’ll pay- ah, pardon me, fund your sword replacement. Understood?”
“Yes, general,” Yanqing nodded again, clenching his hands around the glaive’s pole. His training used to include ten thousand sword’s swings, this was a piece of cake. “Whenever you are read-AH!”
Before he could even finish his line, Yanqing was caught off guard by a finger swiping down his armpit. “G-general?”
“Don’t worry, I already set the timer,” Jing Yuan chuckle, reaching out to Yanqing again and wiggling his finger over the exposed spot again, “remember, you can’t drop the glaive or lower your arms.”
“B-but- aHAHaha, g-geheneral this is- hehehey!” Yanqing whined through shy giggles, stomping his feet and twisting left and right - nearly knocking a few things down - as he tried to evade the tickling. This was the test?!
Jing Yuan couldn’t help but to laugh along. “You didn’t complain when I explained the terms, what’s the matter now?” He teased, admiring the way Yanqing battled against his body’s reflexes and tried to stick to the rules. “If you can’t ‘protect’ a simple glaive, I don’t think I can trust you with a new sword.”
“I-I cahAHAhan, i-it juhuhust tihihickles!” Yanqing protested, pressing his face into his arm while trying to contain the smile in his lips. “H-how muhuhuch time leheheft?!”
“It’s been barely 20 seconds. We can stop if you feel like giving up,” Jing Yuan said as if trying to comfort his student, but his hands continued to tickle those unprotected armpits and ribs - not with his life, but rather his wallet on the line.
“NOHohohoh! I cahahan’t do it!” The boy nearly roared while more panicked giggles poured from his lips. Despite trying to keep his arms stretched out above his head, Yanqing couldn’t help but to arch his back and move around in vain attempts to make Jing Yuan’s assault tickle any less.
30, 40, 45… the seconds went by one after the other and Yanqing was already feeling like he would collapse at any moment. His arms threatened to falter, with his elbows trembling and the glaive’s pole already pressing against the top of his head. Still, he was so close, just a little more..!
“EHEhe- g-gehEHenerahal!! Tihihime’s uhuhup!” Yanqing giggled, his voice probably being heard on the other side of the Seat of Divine Foresight’s hall. “St-stohohop it!”
“Oh, has it been a minute already?” Jing Yuan mused, poking Yanqing one last time before checking the little timer. “A minute and ten seconds, indeed. You even overdid it, lieutenant. I’m proud of you.”
“H-hahh… d-don’t tease me like t-this again, please,” Yanqing wheezed, using the glaive’s pole to support himself and keep his body on his feet. Despite the tinglish feeling still running over his body, the sense of achievement was the actual reason behind his smile at that moment. “S-so, can I count on your funding?”
“You earned it, it’s only fair,” Jing Yuan chuckled, ruffling the boy’s hair, “you may contact the smith in charge of the project and send me the receipt, ok?”
“T-Thank you, general!” Yanqing beamed, hurrying to the shelf to retrieve the weapon used in his trial, “I won’t disappoint you!”
You never do, Jing Yuan thought… Now, how should he explain the new expenses to Fu Xuan? Sigh, this was a problem for another time…
A/N: Happy birthday @wertzunge!! It is your bday here in my timezone, so I will consider I managed to deliver it in time. I wasn't sure who you'd like to see in this fic, so I decided to go for your team's current DPS and the one you are aiming for, hehe ~
Summary: Yanqing hears about a secret training technique and decides to ask one of his master's friends - Dan Heng - for aid.
Word count: 1276 words
Dan Heng fell silent. He blinked once, twice, considering the possibility that he heard it wrong. Yes, that was probably the case. “S-sorry, I think I misheard you. Could you repeat it, Yanqing?”
“Ahm, can you show me the Vidyadharas’ Special Training? I-I totally understand if it’s something you are not supposed to pass down to outsiders, mr. Dan Heng, but-”
“No no, that’s not the problem…” Dan Heng interrupted, trying to ease the teen that looked always so tense around him - probably thanks to the nature of their previous encounters. Dan Heng looked away, as if pondering Yanqing’s requests, but, in reality, he was actually trying to figure out what the swordsman was talking about.
Vidyadharas’ Special Training..?
He had read a lot about the things Dan Feng was supposed to pass down to him - but didn’t - and that wording didn’t ring a bell at all. Could he have let something slip past him during his stay at the Xianzhou Luofu?
On the outside, it was almost as clear as water to Yanqing that there was something wrong. Could his request be that troublesome? “I thought about asking you about this training technique because you and mr. Caelus were talking about it the other day- ah, I-I mean, not that I eavesdropped on you two, just that-”
“Wait, the one I talked about with Caelus?” Dan Heng stopped, seeing a hint in those words. “You mean when we were heading to the Exalting Sanctum?”
“Yes, that one,” Yanqing nodded, not able to help but to let his expectation grow a little more. If he could understand the basics of that training, he would be able to improve his own skills and, after all, learning from the Vidyadharas’ High Elder didn’t sound bad at all.
However, the real meaning of that conversation was going in the opposite direction of Yanqing’s expectations. If Dan Heng recalled correctly, that was nothing but one of Caelus’s jokes. While practicing the cloudhymn magic, Dan Heng would often stress himself with failed attempts of performing some tricks and, to ease his anger, Caelus would try to distract him and make him smile again.
This, of course, also led to situations where Dan Heng would be trying to focus and Caelus would keep poking his sides and scribbling over the back window in his clothes, all under the allegations that it was part of some kind of “special training” he heard from other vidyadharas.
Now, this stupid joke had gone completely out of hand and Dan Heng needed to decide whether he was willing to expose such details of his relationship with Caelus to Yanqing or… if he was going to embrace it and play along the innocent little lie.
“Yanqing, I need to tell you something about this ‘special training’ thing,” Dan Heng sighed, taking a deep breath as he stirred the thoughts inside his head.
“What… is it?” Yanqing mumbled full of curiosity, not sure if he should expect a negative or positive answer to his request.
Dan Heng smiled softly, looking around the training grounds to make sure they were by themselves there and, much to their look, they were, indeed, by themselves. “This is something Caelus discovered when he was… helping me during these past days,” Dan Heng said, feeling a knot of his throat when he spoke about Caelus fooling around that way. “It’s actually a way to help you clear your mind, nothing of a big deal.”
“Oh, I see… a-and what is it?” Yanqing continued, imagining some kind of ancient meditation technique that would have him sitting under a waterfall or something like that. However, Dan Heng’s only instructions were to turn around and take a deep breath.
“Mhm, just like that,” Dan Heng couldn’t help but smile a little - even if he felt a little bad for taking advantage of Yanqing’s innocence. “Are you sure you want to go on with it?” He asked, giving the swordsman one last chance to deny it, but…
“Yes, I’m ready, mr. Dan Heng!” Yanqing boasted, placing his hands over his hips in a confident pose. Well, he asked for it, after all.
Dan Heng wasn’t sure why he decided to do this kind of mischief - maybe he was, indeed, spending too much time with Caelus - but since this seemed like an opportunity to improve his relation with the general’s lieutenant. With some extra care, Dan Heng’s hands slowly approached Yanqing and, soon, started kneading and prodding at his ribs.
“A-ah!” A sharp, surprised gasp escaped the teen’s lips. “M-Mr. Dan H-Heng, ahah… t-this feels a bihihit- eheh… f-funny…” Yanqing barely managed to voice his concern and giggles already threatened from pouring from his lips. The swordsman’s body trembled as he tried to hold his pose, but the urge of pressing down his arms was growing bigger and bigger.
“I agree with you, it does feel a little off,” Dan Heng chuckled softly, reminiscing the feeling of when he was on the receiving end of this special training - not to mention the embarrassment of having Caelus teasing as well. “But that’s a good sign, it seems it’s working.”
“W-wohohorking?” Yanqing giggled, pressing his eyes shut as he felt the corner of his lips curling up into a smile when Dan Heng started to poke his sides. “B-but- agh, hahah, mr. D-Dahahan Heng!”
“Is something wrong?” Dan Heng feigned ignorance as he lowered his right hand and pinched Yanqing’s hip, making the latter almost fall to his knees. “Tell me if it’s too much, you shouldn’t overdo it,” Dan Heng warned, keeping his calm and serious tone, but glad Yanqing wasn’t turning around and, therefore, wasn’t able to see the smirk on his face.
“It tihihickles! AhahAHaha, I c-cahahan’t!” Yanqing laughed, falling into Dan Heng’s touches as he struggled to keep himself standing in place. While the High Elder prevented the swordsman from falling, having Yanqing leaning into him like that certainly did make it easier for Dan Heng to tickle him.
“Huh? But you are doing it just fine,” Dan Heng continued, dragging his nails around Yanqing’s stomach and making the teen kick his legs in a fit of laughter. “You can’t focus on anything else right now, can you? Your mind is clear as a calm lake right now.”
“Y-yehehes, but- ahHAHAhah, w-wahahait!”
“However, if you are still troubled by needless thoughts, maybe I’m not doing it properly. I could request Caelus to-”
“NOHohoh! No neehehed to!” Yanqing laughed, grabbing Dan Heng’s wrists as he tried to push his hands away from his middle.
Dan Heng smiled, taking it as a sign that the lieutenant had enough and giving him the desired break. Taking a seat in the patch of grass by Yanqing’s side, Dan Heng gave him a couple of seconds to catch up his breath. He should, after all, tell him the truth.
“Sorry, I just-”
“Ahah, I g-get it now… heh,” Yanqing chuckled, crossing his legs one over the other. “I always thought the general was just messing with me when he tickled me during our training sessions.”
“W-what?” Dan Heng’s jaw dropped slightly as he didn’t have the chance to explain himself before Yanqing jumped into another conclusion.
“But I see now it was a way to help me regain my focus and clear my mind!” Yanqing beamed, already with his energy back at 101%. “Thanks, mr. Dan Heng!” He said, bowing politely before taking a leave from the training ground.
Barely seconds after Yanqing left, Dan Heng chuckled, shaking his head as he tried to recover from what had happened in a simple matter of seconds. “You owe me one, general, hah…”
