Nezha's arms were stuffed full, more than he could carry in both hands. The Wind-Fire Wheels still spun beneath his feet, nearly tripping him.
"Master—"
"Shut up."
Taiyi cut him off, then pulled a Jade Talisman from his sleeve and tucked it into Nezha's collar.
"A Message Talisman. Crush it if you run into anything you can't handle. And this—"
He bent down and dragged a bulging bundle out of the cave, slinging it over Nezha's shoulder.
"Rations. Eat them on the road."
Nezha looked down at the treasures in his arms, then at the bundle on his shoulder that nearly weighed him flat, and sniffled.
"Master, are you moving house?"
"I'm afraid you'll die!"
Taiyi was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. With his hands on his hips, the flesh on his round face quivered with emotion.
Nezha put away the treasures, then stretched out his arms and wrapped them around Taiyi's plump waist, burying his face in his soft belly.
Five years.
This fat old man had taught him spells, cooked for him, gotten up in the middle of the night to tuck him in, and though Nezha often angered him enough to stomp his feet, he had never truly laid a hand on him.
Compared to Li Jing, Master was more like a father to him.
Nezha's warm breath tickled Taiyi's belly. The scolding that had reached his lips caught in his throat. His chubby hand hovered for a long while before finally settling gently atop Nezha's head, his rough thumb brushing over the boy's soft cowlick.
Taiyi's lips moved. He had wanted to say something like, "Take the Heaven-Mixing Ribbon and Universe Ring with you, and make me proud out there," but in the end, it turned into nothing but a sigh.