It had been four months since the two of them had come to the Twelve Mountains, and things had-- more or less-- settled into a routine. In the morning, Ming Ran would train... by making breakfast for his shizun and shixiong and overprotective shixiong. It wasn't even a matter of getting up late, he could get up earlier than the rest of them and start warming up only to be stopped by Wei Ning once he came to train. After making breakfast he studied... but not too long because reading a book for too long was too mentally taxing. Gong June would drag him away to tiger peak, or Wen Quinn would bring him to dragon peak, or his big brother would carry him over his shoulder to dog peak where his elder brother would have him sit on a rock in the shade with tea. After he finally made it back from the peak it would be time to train with weapons... except he wasn't allowed to do that either... and by the time the day was over all he had done was clean, meditate, and cook.
Ming Ran signed to Cang Mu as he laid down on his lap. Cang Mu had been the one to steal him away today, though this time it was at his request. He was going to become a housewife at this point! Ming Ran didn't mind the whole housewife thing if it was something you chose to do, but he wanted to experience the hardships of cultivating! He had more freedom with his captors than he did at home, how did that make sense? Ming Ran pouted, causing Cang Mu to chuckle, he ran his fingers through his wife's hair. To be honest, Cang Mu could understand why they were doing this. If his beloved little brother had been kidnapped, dragged all over, then married off to one of his kidnappers, and then miraculously reunited years later, he would probably be doing something similar. Cang Mu tilted his head; no, he would probably train them so that they would never be kidnapped again. He sighed, it didn't help that the chief said he would bring Ming Ran back as a bedwarmer or sell him to a brothel. If Cang Mu hadn't claimed him, Ming Ran could have become just that. While the clan was less likely to put their women in glass cages, they certainly did a lot that made them "barbarians". Ming Ran would have been forced into bed with someone the very night he came of age. When Cang Mu thought of the what-ifs it was impossible to completely disregard the feelings of his siblings. However, Ming Ran did need to be given the freedom to make his own choices... oh, but his "choice" was technically to marry one of the kidnappers... yikes.
Ming Ran continued to vent his frustrations, feeling very aggrieved. His hands were moving quite fast, and made noises with every sign. Finally, he sighed,
It's not like I don't understand why they're being like this, they think I'm married to a barbarian. They probably think I have Stockholm Syndrome, but still, Ming Ran sighed again, why can't they teach me how to protect myself then? Cang Mu grinned, his wife was of the same mind as him.
"A sword is not something that would work for you." Cang Mu pinched his nose, watching his wife's scrunch up his face in annoyance. This was probably the thing he enjoyed most about his wife, he didn't seem like a-- Ming Ran motioned for him to continue. Cang Mu came back to the present, "You need a weapon that suits you. Think of any weapons that you could utilize?"
...
Ming Ran "woke up" later than everyone on purpose today, waiting twenty minutes for their morning exercise to begin. He snuck off the mountain and quickly exited the Thirteen Mountains. There was a town down the way that would be perfect for what he needed today. The town was not anything like a city, but big enough that one could get lost in it if they weren't careful. The buildings were fairly tall and beckoned people closer. Shops had employees outside inviting the passerby into their shop or restaurant, but the marketplace was where Ming Ran gravitated towards. After living with the Honglu Clan for a few years, Ming Ran had become very familiar with open air markets. He enjoyed being able to look at all the stands filled with wares. He also enjoyed being the one to sell them. He had helped set up and sell furs many times. He looked up and down the market and took in the sights and sounds. There was a place selling meat skewers that smelled great. He'd have to remember this place later! He found a nice restaurant to sit down for a spell, and enjoyed a pot of tea. He realized quickly that he was a little out of place in the cultivator sect's uniform. Daoist robes of pure white, a long, light green ribbon tied his hair back, and a silver belt. The only thing that he was missing was a weapon at his side. Ming Ran pouted as he raised his cups to his lips, not for long! He swore to himself.
"Hey there! You alone?" Three young men all surrounded his table, looking down at him. Ming Ran glanced at each of them in turn, confused as to what was happening. He was quite certain that these three were from his sect, weren't they? His eyes landed on the ringleader, Ah, so it's like this... he thought to himself. The ringleader took a seat at his table, pouring himself some of the tea. He spit it right back out.
"Ugh! What is this crap?" he put down the tea cup, "What? You can't afford anything better?" Ming Ran shrugged and took another sip, gracefully. The young man leaned forward and asked, "So, what is someone like you doing with a bastard like that?" Ming Ran continued to sip his tea, letting the young man continue on. "I mean, someone with your pedigree could be with someone of higher standing. If women aren't your thing, fine, but you need a real man. Ming Ran shook his head, clearly some people were unable to self-evaluate. The young man didn't seem to notice, listing out all of his good points. Ming Ran would have left already if he weren't waiting for someone... "Hey! Are you listening to me?!" the young man gripped his chin hard. There was a sudden flash and the young man was thrown aside, bouncing into the street like a rubber ball.
"How dare you touch my wife." Cang Mu's low voice growled out every syllable. Ming Ran got up and trotted over to his husband.
You're here! he signed happily. Cang Mu pulled him close and laid a kiss on his forehead.
"I'm here. Did you wait long?" Ming Ran shook his head,
No, I'm fine. he smiled up at him. Cang Mu cupped his wife's chin, gently. He kissed his chin, and then brushed passed his lips slightly. Gentle, like a feather. Ming Ran shuddered, a blush spreading across his face. Cang Mu deepened the kiss, taking Ming Ran's breath away. His tongue forced its way inside his mouth and brushed past everything before wrestling with Ming Ran's tongue. Ming Ran allowed him to do as he pleased, unable to think any further than the present. His legs went weak, and he felt a little light headed. When the kiss ended, Cang Mu nibbled on his bottom lip a bit before pulling away.
"So... how much longer were you planning on watching?" he asked, confusing Ming Ran a little. Disoriented, he looked around, realizing that they were in public! In the middle of the street! He buried his face in Cang Mu's shoulder. This terrible opportunist! Ming Ran wanted to cry.
"Jiang Mu, how shameless can you be?" the young man cried out. Ming Ran looked up at his husband? Jiang..? Jiang? As in... that Jiang?! Ming Ran had known that Cang Mu was originally from the empire, but his husband always made it sound like the family wasn't powerful or important at all!! The Jiang Family was very powerful. If one was to rank the households it would be like this:
1. Fa Household
2. Gong Household
3. Ming Household
4. Khan Household
5. Jiang Household
Like the Fa family, the Jiang family also was a high minister to the Emperor, and had just as much power as the Fa family. The only thing that was keeping them in check was the fact that the eldest son had way to many scandals (this was the reason the Khan family outranked them, they had cleaned up many-- if not all-- of the messes caused by the Jiang Household), the second daughter eloped with a barbarian, and lastly, the lack of an heir. The Jiang Household had a great many wives, which is how the household had so many alliances with other prominent families. Kind of impossible not to support your in-laws! Still, who would have thought that Cang Mu was a Jiang all along?! And he didn't tell him?! Ming Ran pouted, there's too much he didn't know. Was it because he wasn't really Cang Mu's wife? He wasn't trustworthy? He was supporting his plans, wasn't he?
Cang Mu felt a little threatened by the looks his wife was giving him, what was he going to have to do this time to make it up to his wife? Still, watching his pathetic half-brother flirt with his wife... maybe it was time he made his decision on how this partnership would proceed...
"You think you can provide for a Ming with shoddy tea and poor techniques? Maybe he doesn't know, but I could provide him only the best and more! You're nothing to me!" Cang Mu was brought back from his thoughts, realizing that the fool was still talking. Did he just say poor techniques? He looked at Ming Ran waiting for him to back him up, only to be spurned. Hmph! How would I know about your techniques? We haven't consummated anything! Ming Ran pouted for probably the fifth time today. Cang Mu pulled Ming Ran closer, feeling possessiveness take over. This only provoked his brother more. Finally Ming Ran couldn't stand it anymore, this had gone on long enough!
I'm sorry, but who are you? Ming Ran signed. The young man paused, unable to understand the gestures. He stared dumbly at Ming Ran, You've been talking a lot about your accomplishments, and your worth, and your pedigree, but you can't understand me. Cang Mu is the only one who has ever given me a real way to express myself. He may not of the skill you spoke about, but at least bedroom activities aren't the only thing he's good for. Cang Mu let out snort, feeling a mix of shame and pride at this statement. As for his technique, he would just have to show his wife exactly what kind of technique he was missing out on!