Ning, the Peacock's Devoded Servant

Shen took the small panda with him. Of course, that was an extra mouth to feed. An extra mouth that ate A LOT.

Shen went through a lot of problem to feed that little pipsqueak, and eventually to clothe him, once he went around into wearing clothes.

However, he would not be doing that for free.

If the panda was eating from Shen's food, then he might as well start working for it.

As soon as the panda was strong enough to start ding chores, Shen made sure to give the panda something to do to occupy his time. Be it washing his robe, cleaning his tools, or even fetching him water. The only important thing was for the panda to understand that he needed to work for the right of eating and having a shelter. Anything that kept him from becoming a slacker who would eventually grow into a parasite depending on Shen to stay alive.

Shen was very firm with the boy. However, the panda, unlike his wolves, was cute enough to deserve the occasional kindness, like an extra ration during lunch, some fluffy pillows for his bed, or even a "thank you" when he did some task for Shen.

They say that a little kindness goes a long way. That certainly proved to be true to the panda, whom Shen had come to name Ning. He grew up as a lowly servant, and was treated as such. Still, the occasional kindness Shen showed to him, one that he never showed to the wolves, made Ning grow up feeling like he was special in the eyes of Lord Shen. Feeling like the lord truly cared for him deep down.

This messed up sense of love and kindness grew into Ning, and made him start to want to serve Shen to the best of his abilities. It was no longer about earning the privileges he had by having food and clothes to wear, but about showing his lord how grateful he was for his kindness and his "love".

To show Shen just how much he loved him.

What started out as a childish admiration grew into platonic adoration. Then, it eventually grew, and turned into devotion.

And, eventually, this turned into something else.

As Ning grew more mature, he looked at the peacock. Elegant, but powerful. Merciless, but eventually kind to the panda. More intelligent than any other person Ning interacted with (which were basically the wolves), and with a grandiose vision for all of China’s future.

After twenty years servicing him and staying by his side, Ning really couldn't help but fall in love...