Needles and Pins Chapter 13

Xue Laohu clutched his head, sighing deeply in frustration, before stumbling right into Li Zhameng. "Shizun!" Li Zhameng murmured, his face tinged with worry as he observed the exhaustion etched on Xue Laohu's face. "Shizun, you've been looking terribly stressed these past few days," he lamented, casting his gaze down. 

Xue Laohu let out an exasperated groan. "Can you tell? I think I'm losing hair!" He tugged irritably at his scalp, his brow furrowing.

Li Zhameng couldn't resist a small, amused shake of his head. "Shizun barely has any hair left; what more could you lose?" His voice was so nonchalant that Xue Laohu nearly staggered back in disbelief.

"Meng Meng!" Xue Laohu began to protest, but before he could say more, Li Zhameng raised a finger and pressed it gently between his Shizun's brows. "If you keep worrying like this," he said softly, "this wrinkle might become permanent."

"Wait— I have a wrinkle?!" Xue Laohu's voice was a mix of horror and astonishment as he rushed to the nearest mirror, anxiously inspecting his face from every angle. "Meng Meng, I'm too young to have a wrinkle!" he nearly wailed.

Li Zhameng's laughter bubbled up as he stepped forward, cupping Xue Laohu's face with gentle hands. "Shizun, please allow this disciple to perform some acupuncture to help ease your worries. You'll feel much lighter, I promise." He met Xue Laohu's gaze with a reassuring smile, his touch calming. 

"I-I'm scared of needles," Xue Laohu stammered, his voice trembling. Memories from the modern world flooded back—a vivid recollection of sitting in a cold, sterile doctor's office, bracing himself for a measly vaccine. He used to get teary-eyed over a simple shot, and now Li Zhameng was suggesting he become a human pincushion? No way.

Li Zhameng's face lit up with an enthusiastic grin. "Shizun, I've been practicing with A-Tuzi. He said I have the steady hands of a coursing river," he proclaimed with pride. Xue Laohu blinked at him, thinking silently, I don't think that's the compliment you think it is.

But before Xue Laohu could protest further, Li Zhameng took his Shizun's arm, dragging him toward his room with surprising resolve. Xue Laohu felt a mix of reluctance and helplessness, casting glances over his shoulder as if looking for an escape.

Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi wandered the halls, he remembered his Shizun's promise to forge spiritual weapons for both him and Li Zhameng—a promise that, to his knowledge, hadn't seen any progress. Curious and eager, he decided to seek his Shizun out and thought of paying him a visit in his room to ask about the weapons. Little did he know, that he was about to stumble into something suggestive. 

Xue Laohu hesitantly pulled down the sleeves of his robe, exposing his pale, bare chest. His skin seemed almost translucent in the dim light, and his breaths were shallow as he tried to steady himself. Li Zhameng's gaze softened as he carefully traced his fingertips along Xue Laohu's chest, pausing now and then as he mentally mapped out the acupoints he'd studied.

"Please... be gentle," Xue Laohu whispered, his voice barely more than a whimper, as Li Zhameng prepared the first needle. But as soon as it pierced his skin, Xue Laohu flinched, a loud, unrestrained moan escaping his lips.

"Ahh, it hurts!" Xue Laohu's body trembled, his fists clenched tightly as each needle made him shudder.

"Shizun, it's only the tip," Li Zhameng sighed, more exasperated than apologetic. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to center himself before leaning in to place another needle. His inexperience showed, each insertion a bit clumsy, making Xue Laohu wince with every jab.

"You're too rough!" Xue Laohu whimpered, feeling the sharp, persistent prick of the needle as Li Zhameng pressed it deeper.

"Shizun is such a baby," Li Zhameng chuckled, amused by his Shizun's sensitivity. "I'm going deeper." His hands moved with newfound confidence, focused on his task.

"Ahhh!" Xue Laohu's cry was almost a wail, his face flushed and eyes watering from the discomfort.

Outside the door, Xue Tuzi came to an abrupt stop. His hand froze just inches from the doorframe as the sounds from within reached his ears. Shizun's whines and cries, mingled with Li Zhameng's sighs and quiet huffs, formed a strangely suggestive symphony. Xue Tuzi felt his heart drop, his face heating as an awkward realization washed over him. He backed away, unsure of what he'd walked into.

"Shizun, stay still," Li Zhameng scolded gently, his voice firm yet calming as he focused on his work. Xue Laohu, however, was nearly at his breaking point, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Ugh, I can't… I can't take it anymore!" Xue Laohu grunted, struggling to hold still. "Just pull it out!"

"Shizun, just a little longer," Li Zhameng murmured softly, leaning close to Xue Laohu's ear. His tone was soothing, almost affectionate, hoping to calm his Shizun's frayed nerves. "I'm almost done."

"Ahh, it hurts!" Xue Laohu cried, clenching his fists in helpless frustration.

Just down the hall, Shudu stood with an amused smirk as he observed Xue Tuzi's clenched fists and the pained look in his eyes. "Well, well," he drawled with a wicked grin, "looks like someone's jealous. And yet, here is Grandmaster Xue, savoring another man's touch." He let out a hearty laugh as Xue Tuzi's face reddened with anger.

Clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, Xue Tuzi glared daggers at Shudu. "I didn't think Li Zhameng would be the Grandmaster's type," Shudu sneered, shrugging as he sauntered toward the door, his gaze fixed mockingly on Xue Tuzi.

Xue Tuzi bit his lip, his eyes blazing with barely restrained fury, the mole beneath his lip quivering with the tension. Unable to hold back any longer, he reached up, plucking a fine needle-thread from his hair, his movements swift and precise. Without warning, he lashed out at Shudu, initiating an intense clash just outside Xue Laohu's door.

The corridor echoed with the rapid exchange of blows, kicks, and deflected attacks. Shudu, with his unpredictable, chaotic fighting style, kept Xue Tuzi on his toes, his movements erratic yet skillful. Xue Tuzi, fierce and determined, countered with graceful precision, striking with the agility and focus of a disciplined fighter. They exchanged over a hundred blows, fists meeting in a thunderous clash. But despite his efforts, Xue Tuzi found himself slowly being pushed back, struggling to keep up with Shudu's unpredictable attacks, his brows furrowing as he summoned every ounce of skill to hold his ground.

Xue Laohu's ears perked up at the loud thumps and grunts coming from right outside his door. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face as he thought, Can't they get along for even a single minute? Must they clash every chance they get? He took a deep breath to keep his composure—only to yelp when Li Zhameng pressed a needle in with a bit too much force, snapping his patience.

Groaning, Xue Laohu stood up, needles still sticking from his arms, face, and chest, and marched to the door, kicking it open with a swift, forceful motion. "Enough!" he shouted, his voice ringing down the hall. "Can you two get along just once?!"

Both Xue Tuzi and Shudu froze mid-fight, staring at Xue Laohu in stunned silence. Xue Laohu, bristling with needles, looked like an agitated porcupine, the thin slivers sticking out in every direction, adding an unintended but rather intimidating effect.

Xue Tuzi, who had been convinced he'd interrupted something scandalous between his Shizun and Li Zhameng, immediately stammered out, "Shizun! I—I'm sorry for interrupting, but... those needles… they're in all the wrong places." He pointed at the array of misplaced needles, concern lacing his words. 

Xue Laohu blinked, slowly turning around to glance at Li Zhameng, who stood there with a completely innocent expression, blinking as if he had nothing to do with the chaotic mess.

Seeing his opportunity, Xue Tuzi stepped forward, brushing dust from his clothes from the scuffle he had with Shudu. "Shizun," he said smoothly, "have you made any progress on the spiritual weapons you promised us?" His voice was eager, but a glint of anticipation shone in his eyes as he awaited an answer.

"Eh… not yet," Xue Laohu muttered, scratching his head awkwardly. But the slight shift tugged at the needles in his scalp, and he grimaced in pain. Instantly, Xue Tuzi was at his side, reaching up with gentle hands to carefully remove the needles one by one.

"If Shizun wants a proper acupuncture session, he can always come to this disciple's bed chambers," Xue Tuzi murmured, his voice low and smooth. His doe eyes lingered on Xue Laohu with a hint of intensity, his touch lingering as he plucked the last needle from his Shizun's cheek. Li Zhameng's innocent gaze shifted to a slight frown, while Shudu stood in the background with an annoyed face. 

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Every character is attracted to the Narrator as it is the Narrator who gives the character a chance to shine. It is only natural that they seek his favor.