Other then noticing that Kui could command the rowdy bunch, what caught Shi's attention was the mention of a 'little general'. From Shi's knowledge, he had never once been called 'little general'. General sure, but not little general. 

The Shima of the past was a forgetton prince, and to survive he had joined the military far from the palace and worked his way up to being a general. However, he truly underestimated the hearts of humans and how easily manipulated it could be. 

Anyway, it's in the past. Let it stay there.

Focusing on the present, there is mutiple reasons as to why he was being called 'little general', but the most important point is that these people recognize him. At the least they know that he was once a general, which in fact was a bit too much information for Shi's liking. 

As Shi thought of this, a dangerous glint seemed to have flashed through his eyes before finally being swallowed up by cold indifference. His eyes like a frozen black sea where shadows lurk underneath.

"Shi." Shi flinched before immediately shifting his gaze straight to Kui. As Shi looked into the solemn eyes of Kui that had a hint of danger, Shi couldn't stop his body from flinching away as if burnt. His body heating up as Shi felt like his body was being scorched and invaded from head to toe.

With his thoughts in disarray, Shi had failed to notice the leaving of one of the men. 

Kui turned his flame like eyes back towards Shi after talking to the man that left, before enunciating clearly, "Leave."

A dull pain began to surge through Shi's body due to how rigid and stiff he was. Of course, with how tangled up his brain was currently, he failed to notice such a thing like pain. All that his mind could focus on was Kui's gaze.

Rigidly, Shi looked up at Kui, only then did he notice that everyone besided them had left. Shi slowly blinked dazedly before feeling warmth on his cheek. Meeting Kui's warm gaze, only then did Shi's body begin to relax. 

"Did they make you uncomfortable? Sitting so stiff like that, is your body okay?" Kui asked as his calloused hands tentatively rubbed Shi's cheek before falling down to his shoulder, massaging it in comfort.

Only when Kui mentioned it did Shi feel the dull ache of his body. Of course, this pain was nothing compared to the pain he had suffered before, but for some reason Shi couldn't help but feel aggrieved. Maybe it was because Kui had treated Shi too kindly to the point of pampering, or maybe it was because Shi thought of Kui as his redemption, but either way this feeling scared Shi. 

But this fear only served to increase the feeling of aggrievement, making Shi's slowly relaxing body tense up again. Not being able to handle the constant strain of his already weak body, a burst of pain shot forth from his spine all the way to his head. 

Kui looked on with worry being showed blantly within his eyes. Feeling how Shi's relaxing body began to tense once again, Kui didn't know how to comfort him and could only pat his shoulder before carefully and slowly sliding down to pat and stroke Shi's back in a coaxing manner. 

With Kui's silent comforting, Shi finally managed to calmed down enough to answer Kui's long awaited question. "I'm fine, just hurts a bit. Who where they?"

Kui continued to stroke Shi's back as he answered plainly, "My subordinates."

Shi gave him a meaningful glance as he pursed his lips. Seeing this, Kui couldn't help but laugh as he brought his hand back to Shi's cheek to rub playfully.

Shi really couldn't understand the joys of petting someone as mangled as himself, however for once Shi couldn't help but indulge himself and allow Kui to continue to pet and stroke him. 

Without the both of them realizing it, it had become a new day. 

***

Author dearest has something to say!

Author dearest wanted to so badily name this chapter, 'The Morning After'.

Also, Kui gets to eat Shi's tofu, hurray! \(^♡^)/