Cat’s Cradle

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/55327399.

Rating: Mature
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category: M/M
Fandom: 人渣反派自救系统 - 墨香铜臭 | The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
- Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Relationships: Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu & Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Luo
Binghe/Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Liu Qingge/Shen Jiu | Original Shen
Qingqiu
Characters: Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu, Luo
Binghe, Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, Shang Qinghua, Mu Qingfang
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Disciple Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Shen Jiu | Original
Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu are Not the Same Person,
Shen Jiu | Original Shen Qingqiu & Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu are
Siblings, but they don’t know yet, Protective Shen Jiu | Original Shen
Qingqiu, White Lotus Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu Identity
Reveal, Oblivious Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, POV Shen Jiu | Original
Shen Qingqiu, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, shen yuan
doesn’t have a system, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse,
Implied/Referenced Sexual Assault, Cat Shen Jiu | Original Shen
Qingqiu, Canon-Typical Violence, Angst, Possessive Behavior, Family
Fluff, but shen jiu is emotionally constipated, Crack Treated Seriously,
Chronically Ill in the Past Life Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu, Unreliable
Narrator, Gray Lotus Luo Binghe, Luo Binghe is a Combination of
Bingge and Bingmei, Mutual Pining, Other Additional Tags to Be Added
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2024-04-19 Updated: 2024-11-07 Words: 121,203 Chapters:
22/?
 Cat’s Cradle
by chiwuri

Summary

Shen Qingqiu finds a sought-after artifact in a mission, one he cannot figure its use out —
that is, until the Qing Jing peak lord finds himself in a cat’s body. Not knowing how to turn
back to his human form and abhorring the thought of any of his martial brothers seeing him
this way, Shen Qingqiu runs to the bamboo groves in hopes of figuring it out by himself, only
to be found by one of his disciples, Shen Yuan, who has no clue the fluffy white cat in front
of him is his dreaded Shizun.

Why Shen Yuan would vent about his life to a cat is beyond Shen Qingqiu’s understanding.
Why Shen Qingqiu would keep coming back to listen is also beyond his understanding.

Notes

hello!! so, perhaps i had this idea at like 2am while browsing the fandom tag and i just HAD
to write it… maybe it’ll be hard to keep up with writing three ongoing fics but well that’s a
problem for future me! for now i’ll endulge you all with therapist cat shen jiu LMAO
i hope you guys enjoy!! any thoughts are appreciated in the comments eheheh <333 also let
me know if there’s any noticeable typos! english isn’t my first language and sometimes a
sentence makes sense in my head but not irl SDANFJKSDG
twt: @nyungseoni
 in which shen qingqiu becomes a cat

Shen Qingqiu sighs as he throws the useless amulet on his table.

This mission had been overwhelmingly disappointing. His disciples had a good grasp on
techniques taught by the peak, yet it was clear as daylight how most of them were utterly
useless when it came to applying said techniques — standing frozen in place with wide-open
eyes would not have changed the fact that a Flesh-Devourer Wolf was charging at them in
full speed. If not for the hassle that carrying the brats to Qian Cao would bring him (and the
look of mild disappointment and sadness from Yue Qingyuan that always made Shen
Qingqiu’s skin crawl), the man would have let the brats figure a way out by themselves.

If he were a good person, Shen Qingqiu would probably feel uneasy about allowing such
dangers to be inflicted on his disciples. Alas, he is anything but good, and the man also
knows it is even more damaging to protect his disciples from every danger they face under
his tutelage rather than allowing them the chance to learn. Life won’t wait for a kind teacher
to protect these brats; it will ravage without mercy and destroy without pity.

(Perhaps it is the only kindness he gives to his disciples, although they will never recognize it
as such.)

Only one of his students reacted fast enough and allowed for the rest of the disciples to
scramble into a coherent formation to fight against the beasts — Ming Fan, his head disciple.
Well, if the head disciple hadn’t been good enough to react in time, then Qing Jing truly
would be a disaster of a peak, but Shen Qingqiu did acknowledge the boy’s skills. While not
naturally talented, Ming Fan was hardworking enough to reach the position of head disciple
on his own, diligently listening to criticism and improving his skills with each passing day.

Shen Qingqiu would always favor those who work for their success rather than those who
rely solely on inherent talent. What use would be a disciple who thinks the world should be
served to them on a platter, one who cannot attempt to imagine having to work for anything
in their lives? Many of the brats in his peak lacked the determination to survive despite the
odds, crying and complaining at the sheer thought of an inconvenience.

None would have survived what Shen Qingqiu had gone through to reach his position.

The man sighs, sitting down to fill out the mission report and send it to Qiong Ding before
Yue Qingyuan could find his way into the bamboo house for ‘official business’. There wasn’t
much to report, truthfully — the amulet the sect had been informed about seemed to barely
react to any energy, no matter how much the peak lord tried to activate it. Whatever the
disappointing outcome of his mission, Shen Qingqiu made sure to start writing as soon as
possible, filling the report with whatever information he deemed worthy just so he can
deprive the sect leader of another excuse to lodge himself inside his bamboo house.

After all, the Qing Jing peak lord knew the man well enough to know he would appear
unannounced (and unwanted) at his doorstep for the most insignificant of reasons, so it
became Shen Qingqiu’s life mission to make it as hard as possible for the sect leader to find
any more excuses. Not that it would change anything, after all. Yue Qingyuan is a
professional at finding excuses for his actions, always resorting to that insufferable sad gaze
whenever it failed to work on Shen Qingqiu who never fell for it. Qi-ge is a liar, always
finding an apology for things he never bothers to explain, always saying he cares when the
only thing he feels is pity.

The brush in his hands breaks — it seems like Shen Qingqiu will have to order another set of
them sooner than expected —, the sturdy wood not being strong enough to withstand his
anger. Shen Qingqiu can’t even bring himself to sigh in annoyance at the inconvenience
caused by himself, already used to it far too well to allow himself to care.

Well, there’s barely any time to spare. Shen Qingqiu grabs another brush and continues to
write the report, deciding to hurry as much as possible to avoid another dreaded visit from the
sect leader. If there was a way for Shen Qingqiu to effectively hide from such visits, to
unexplainably disappear until Yue Qingyuan grew tired of looking for him…

A sudden wave of qi startles Shen Qingqiu, who looks around to find the source, fixing his
eyes on the useless amulet next to him which has started to emit a faint green hue around it.
Before the peak lord can conceal the sudden outburst of qi coming from the unassuming
bronze necklace, a strange itch gathers around his nose and Shen Qingqiu sneezes.

When the peak lord opens his eyes, he instantly knows something is wrong.

There’s something different in his vision. While Shen Qingqiu is not very fond of colorful
decorations in his house, he’s pretty sure the teacup he had been drinking from is supposed to
be blue, not… gray. In fact, most things in his vision seem more muted than usual, shades of
reddish wood transforming into grayish browns and becoming way blurrier than usual. Not to
mention it feels warped, as if he was smaller than he actually is…

Shen Qingqiu looks down at himself, crying in horror as he finds not illustrious robes fit for
someone of his position, but fluffy, well-groomed white fur, and two paws standing on top of
his (now ruined) mission report. He jumps at the sight, not accounting for the fact his new
body is not bipedal, which ends with the peak lord falling down the table and smudging the
floor with his ink-stained paws.

A cat of all creatures…! Shen Qingqiu curses, understanding now why he had felt the sudden
urge to sneeze when trying to deal with the artifact. Truly, his luck must have been lacking in
all departments, to be turned into the only creature he has an allergy to! Of course, Shen
Qingqiu could have cured the allergy after forming his golden core, but that sort of more
meticulous curing of ailments would require the assistance of the Qian Cao peak lord, and
there’s nothing that could make Shen Qingqiu willingly ask the doctor for help, much less
something as insignificant as an allergy — not like they had any cats in Qing Jing until now!

Scrambling to get himself up from the ground, Shen Qingqiu analyzes the situation. It is
surely the amulet that has caused this, no doubt. What could have triggered it, and how could
he turn back to his original form? Firming his four paws on the ground, Shen Qingqiu
breathes in and jumps back on top of the table, letting out a huff of annoyance at the strange
anatomy of a cat.
The amulet is still there, the faint glow of green already gone alongside the previous wave of
qi. Shen Qingqiu freezes for a second, wondering if he would have to be stuck in this body
for any longer than he already has — if any of the other peak lords see him like that, any
begrudging respect they had for him would be immediately gone.

It would be even worse if any of his disciples saw him like this! How could he maintain the
image of a strict teacher if all they see when they look at Shen Qingqiu is a fluffy white cat
with small paws? Ah, he’s doomed. He must find a way to turn back into himself before
anyone can recognize him-

“May this disciple enter, Shizun?” the voice of Ming Fan echoes through the door, his knock
barely loud enough for Shen Qingqiu to notice when lost in his thoughts. The peak lord looks
around him, searching for any hiding spots that might become useful if his head disciple
enters. “…Shizun?”

Shen Qingqiu dashes to the kitchen as he aims for the window next to the counters, knocking
over a few trinkets as he lacks complete control over his new form. He realizes it was the
correct call, as Ming Fan opens the front door while calling for him. Shen Qingqiu hisses as
he jumps through the window, wondering when his head disciple had become so daring as to
enter his house without his permission.

His paws touch against the grass, barely feeling the cold remnants of the morning dew before
Shen Qingqiu sets off once again into the bamboo grove. He must look for a secluded place,
formulate a plan on how to turn himself back, get rid of the damn amulet and pretend like
nothing happened.

To the peak lord’s delight, it seemed like most of his students were occupied enough with
their duties and classes to stroll around the bamboo grove at this hour. From what he could
feel, none of the hallmasters seemed to be present around the area as well, which left Shen
Qingqiu with a space to attempt to turn back to his original form without anyone to bother
him.

Of course, nothing would ever work out the way Shen Qingqiu wants. As soon as he sat
down on a small boulder, a noise echoed through the serene grove, steps approaching the
peak lord’s position quickly. Shen Qingqiu feels himself frozen, wondering if it would be best
to hide from whoever is coming or just pack it out of there. Unfortunately for the peak lord,
he is soon confronted by a face Shen Qingqiu had been trying so hard not to think about.

“I swear, I’d leave the fuck out of this stupid place if I had any better options,” a childlike
voice rang through the peak lord’s ears, who frowned in confusion as he watched his disciple
talk in a manner he had not seen before. “‘Shen-shidi, your shixiongs lack firewood’ my ass!
Like Binghe hasn’t chopped half of the damn forest by now!”

Shen Qingqiu looks in curiosity at the child who has now come into his complete view, who
had seemingly not noticed the cat glaring at him as he complains about life. Truthfully, the
peak lord had tried not to think about his new disciple named Shen Yuan since he had
accepted the child into his peak, and he had only done as such so Yue Qingyuan wouldn’t
snatch the child who looked eerily similar to Shen Qingqiu to play house with. He knew the
sect leader was considering it, from the way he looked down at the child furiously digging
holes with a look of melancholy and hope.

Truthfully, it still made Shen Qingqiu as mad as the day he took Shen Yuan as his disciple.
Shen Qingqiu could hear the sect leader uttering that damned nickname but with the child’s
own name. Seeing that child’s face — full of hopes and dreams for the future, so unlike what
Shen Jiu used to be — only made the peak lord angrier and angrier, so much that he had
barely made any effort to oversee Shen Yuan’s life at the peak after the tea ceremony.

To think that Shen Qingqiu would find him at this moment, of all other times. Surprisingly,
seeing the child this time doesn’t make him angry like before, perhaps due to the shock of
both his situation and the child’s surprisingly foul mouth. There is no mistake, Shen Qingqiu
thinks. He’s a street rat.

“Ugh, I have laundry duty tomorrow… I can’t get a single break!” Shen Yuan whines, his
face filled with annoyance as he talks to the air. Before Shen Qingqiu can decide if he wants
to stay and hear whatever musings the child has or just leave and find another place, Shen
Yuan finally notices his presence, staring at the cat with awe.

Shen Qingqiu and the child then stare at each other for a few seconds, the peak lord’s heart
beating faster than it should as he wonders if his disciple has noticed it is him. Shen Yuan
starts approaching the boulder carefully, a look of glee and wonder on his face as he tries
reaching out for the cat with a hand while simultaneously making a weird noise with his
mouth.

“I’ve never seen a cat on the peak,” Shen Yuan muses to himself, his hand reaching closer
and closer until Shen Qingqiu hits it with his paw as a warning. “Aw, you don’t like being
touched. That’s ok, my previous cat didn’t like it either.”

Shen Qingqiu nods, trying to impose himself as much as possible with this tiny form. Shen
Yuan’s eyes beam with awe as he watches the white cat glare at him. “You’re just as smart as
Wenwen! Such a pity she got run over, I miss her to this day.”

Not ominous at all, Shen Qingqiu grimaces. This child is more interesting than the peak lord
had first assumed, his meek and reserved expression reigning over any other feelings as he
served tea to Shen Qingqiu. Even when watching Shen Yuan’s interactions with other
disciples from afar, the peak lord had assumed this child lacked any courage to do anything
but accept the horrible treatment his martial siblings had given him once they noticed Shen
Qingqiu did not want anything to do with him.

Shen Yuan’s lack of reaction to the mistreatment he started facing only made Shen Qingqiu
angrier. Why wouldn’t he fight back, spit venomous words to his martial siblings who clearly
wouldn’t stop? Had he no pride to protect? Even when at his lowest, Shen Jiu never let his
martial brothers get the last laugh — how could they, when he was the one who ascended to
the position through his hard work alone?

“Ah, I miss a lot of things besides Wenwen,” Shen Yuan mutters, talking to himself more
than to the cat.
Shen Qingqiu looks at the child, his head turned a bit to the side as he prompts the disciple to
continue — might as well listen, since there’s nothing better to do in this form of his. For all
that the peak lord would try to deny, it felt nice to have someone talk to him like a normal
person. Shen Qingqiu could only have that while visiting the brothel, and even that felt
different from… this.

“Oh, do you want me to tell you?” Shen Yuan asks, to which Shen Qingqiu nods. “Well,
firstly, I miss not having as many problems as I do now! I swear, everyone here has a
negative IQ and behave like they haven’t ever thought of using their brains! Isn’t Qing Jing
supposed to be the peak of scholars?! Why do most of these idiots not know what basic logic
is!”

Unfortunately, even as the peak lord, Shen Qingqiu must agree with Shen Yuan, although he’s
not sure what the child means by ‘negative IQ’. While Qing Jing is indeed the peak of
scholars, it does not negate the fact most of his students are brats whose parents have paid for
a position in the peak in the guise of ‘charitable donations’. It has always been this way —
Shen Qingqiu remembers feeling particularly bitter about these kinds of people back in his
disciple days, robbing spots from people who would take their studies seriously.

“Secondly, I miss not being compared to Shen Qingqiu!” Shen Yuan exclaims, and said peak
lord stares at him with a baffled expression. He doesn’t know it’s me, he reminds himself,
watching the child’s face turn into a raging mess. “Why do these idiots think I’m his bastard
son or something? I can’t even decide what’s worse, being sold by your own parents to literal
human traffickers or being Shen Qingqiu’s son!”

Shen Qingqiu feels his own cat mouth opening in shock, processing Shen Yuan’s sudden
words that seem to carry more weight than he intended. To the peak lord’s relief, the disciple
frowns and backtracks his statement. “Yeah, maybe the first is way worse, especially when
you can remember it. I swear, if I ever find those two ever again, I’ll spout the worst insults I
can think of! Who the fuck even sells their five-year-old without any remorse!”

So this child had a similar background to his, ironically enough. While Shen Qingqiu
couldn’t quite remember how he ended up in the slave traders’ hands, it wasn’t unheard of for
people to sell their children to pay off their debts, although it did make the peak lord wonder
how Shen Yuan remembered something like this happening to him in such a young age.

Maybe it was a blessing that Shen Qingqiu didn’t remember, seeing how the child seems
deeply enraged by it.

Well, it would only be one more grievance to add to an extensive pile. Not that it matters
much in the end — Shen Jiu is dead, and so is his past. Still, Shen Qingqiu can’t help but
make a discontent face to the child, still annoyed that this brat dared compare being sold and
being his child. Shen Qingqiu was very aware of his wretched reputation, and he won’t ever
deny he would most likely make for a terrible parent; even he knows he has too many issues
to be able to properly take care of a child.

It still didn’t make it better for Shen Yuan, but Shen Qingqiu could excuse him since he
backtracked on his statement. The child did seem very affected by the fact his parents sold
him, although it seems like something he avoids. Something too hurtful for him to
understand, which makes Shen Qingqiu a bit confused. It is well known that such things
happen, so why does Shen Yuan talk about it as something unthinkable?

“…This became darker than I expected, sorry,” Shen Yuan mutters to him, to which Shen
Qingqiu huffs in amusement. Why are you apologizing to a cat, brat? “I just… well, I really
don’t like being here, but it’s better than before. I can’t even become an invisible NPC
because of this stupid resemblance, and I have to avoid looking smarter than expected for my
age, but it’s overall ok…”

There are many things in Shen Yuan’s sentence that spike the peak lord’s attention. He’s not
sure what an NPC is, but he can assume Shen Yuan doesn’t like the attention he gets from
looking like Shen Qingqiu. Why would he ever avoid looking ‘smart’, though? It would be
something that would bring Shen Yuan positive attention from the hallmasters and might
have even sparked Shen Qingqiu’s interest eventually — had this meeting not happened, of
course.

“You’re an expressive cat, huh,” Shen Yuan giggles, watching the confused expression on the
cat’s face. “I just really don’t want any attention. I’ll just quietly hug the protagonist’s thighs
and leave this place as soon as I can make a living for myself!”

Shen Yuan is the most confusing child Shen Qingqiu has met, by far. Unfortunately, there’s
not much time left for the peak lord to ponder what the child means by ‘hugging the
protagonist’s thighs’, as a presence Shen Qingqiu is awfully used to is felt throughout the
grove. A shiver runs down his spine as his tail spikes in alert, a sign Shen Yuan takes notice
of with furrowed brows as he looks around, eyes perking up with attention as steps make
their way closer to their location.

“Disciple Shen Yuan greets Zhangmen-shibo,” the child says, bowing his head to the sect
leader who appeared without much warning, as usual.

Yue Qingyuan smiles at Shen Yuan, a mix of politeness and those damned feelings showing
so clearly on his face. Shen Qingqiu arches his back at the sect leader, preparing his claws
and letting out a low hiss — even with a body he is not used to, hissing feels as natural as
scowling.

The sect leader notices the aggravated cat next to Shen Yuan, furrowing his brows in
confusion for a moment as he mutters. “Are there any cats in Qing Jing…?” Thankfully, it
does not take long for Yue Qingyuan to notice there’s something different about the well-
groomed white cat in front of him, and the sect leader looks back at Shen Yuan with his usual
polite smile. “Ah, Shen-shizhi. This master is looking for your Shizun, yet I have failed to
locate him. Could you fetch the head disciple for me?”

Shen Yuan grimaces for a moment but quickly nods and gives a little smile to the cat before
setting off to find Ming Fan. Shen Qingqiu cannot deny, for all he complains about Yue
Qingyuan, the man at least has a good eye for noticing abnormal situations — and he also
knows how to keep things private. As soon as Shen Yuan is gone, the sect leader approaches
the cat sitting by the boulder with caution, observing him with a look of curiosity. Shen
Qingqiu feels his tail spike even more, putting himself in a stance to show his displeasement
with the sect leader approaching.
There’s a look of recognition in Yue Qingyuan’s eyes. “…Xiao-Jiu?”

Shen Qingqiu hisses, and that was all the confirmation Yue Qingyuan needed.
 in which shen qingqiu does some ‘research’
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu spends the week paying more attention to Shen Yuan, during which he
finds that what his disciple had said about his skills is true. Therefore, the peak lord
decides to study that peculiar amulet again.

Chapter Notes

hi!! how are yall doing?? 100 KUDOS ON THE FIRST CHAPTER IM
SO0SUIEFYHSDUIS??// thank you all for the comments too!!! maybe we are all
starved for cat!sj… anyways here is the second chapter! i’m already posting it since i
want ppl to have a good expectation of what the fic will be, and i think that can be done
with the first three chapters eheheh a bit ooc shen jiu if you squint, and absolutely
unhinged shen yuan this chapter!
btw! tw for implications of sa and overall child abuse
twt: @nyungseoni

Shen Qingqiu spends the week trying to focus on anything but his encounter with Shen Yuan.

As soon as Mu Qingfang figured a way to turn Shen Qingqiu back to his original form, the
Qing Jing Peak Lord spat back at any attempt at talking about what happened — it was
embarrassing enough that two of his fellow peak lords had seen him in that form, and perhaps
it was even more embarrassing that the solution to turn back into a human was to simply
think really hard about being a human.

Any attempts from Yue Qingyuan to talk were quickly shut down by the Qing Jing Peak
Lord, who promptly shooed both the sect leader and the Qian Cao Peak Lord out of his
bamboo house without hesitation after everything was solved. Shen Qingqiu was allowed to
keep the amulet for research purposes, which he almost regretted asking for after watching
the gaze in the sect leader’s eyes change from utter confusion to an almost playful and
teasing look.

Yue Qingyuan was lucky to leave without any scratches, because Shen Qingqiu had more
important things to think about rather than bother himself with the sect leader. After all, his
‘conversation’ with Shen Yuan left much to think about in his mind, especially after finding
out he had more in common with the child than he had previously assumed. Shen Qingqiu
knew the child wasn’t a pampered young master from the moment he gazed down at the
disheveled robes, his messy and unkempt dark hair with so many knots it made Shen Qingqiu
wonder if anyone had bothered to teach Shen Yuan to brush his hair.

Knowing his background was awfully similar to Shen Qingqiu’s answered the question, but it
also left him with many more unanswered ones. If Shen Yuan was a slave, then how did he
end up in the Cang Qiong selection? No master would allow for their slaves to attend, and
Shen Qingqiu was well aware that if Shen Yuan had run away to attend, someone would have
heard about his presence at Qing Jing and his master would have already demanded him
back.

With his appearance, any bounty hunter would have found Shen Yuan easily — the boy
catches anyone’s attention, even when the semblance to the Qing Jing Peak Lord is not
noticed. As much as Shen Qingqiu hates to admit, the child indeed looks eerily similar to
himself when he was his age, although Shen Yuan seems to have a softer edge to his features
rather than Shen Qingqiu’s arrogant and judging looks.

Shen Yuan looks equally as elegant as the peak lord, but when one would be faced with Shen
Qingqiu’s scrutinizing eyes, they would instead beam at Shen Yuan’s gentle gaze. It makes
Shen Qingqiu feel bitter and angry, to know people are more susceptible to trusting the
serene-looking child and Shen Yuan would be stupid enough to allow them to.

It is all Shen Jiu once wanted — for people to trust his words, to allow his voice to be heard
beyond a mere whisper. The fact that Shen Yuan can have this makes him feel so bitter, so
mad that fate has deemed the child worthy and the peak lord unworthy of it. Yet, Shen
Qingqiu can’t help but feel like if fate had allowed him to, people would have taken
advantage of him nevertheless. He has seen it happen before; the way Qiu Jianluo would look
at Qiu Haitang, only suppressing those disgusting thoughts towards his own young sister
because he had Shen Jiu as a scapegoat, yet the little miss somehow never noticed the malice
underlying that monster’s eyes.

Her eyes gleamed with adoration whenever her older brother appeared and showered her with
gifts and sweet words of praise, the young lady’s naivety not allowing her to see the horrors
lingering under Qiu Jianluo’s gaze. Qiu Haitang was a fool, but she was a fool with a heart
too soft to see the darkness inside her own home, and perhaps it is why Shen Qingqiu spared
her.

What bothers the peak lord is that he can see the same gleam of adoration in Shen Yuan’s
eyes whenever he looks at that little beast hiding in Shen Qingqiu’s peak.

If not for Ning Yingying’s incessant pleas for Shen Qingqiu to accept that beast into his peak,
he would’ve let Luo Binghe rot in the streets for all he cared. The little beast was accepted a
year before Shen Yuan, and even after these two years in which Shen Qingqiu has done all in
his power to run the beast off his peak, the beast has persisted in his decision to stay in Qing
Jing — especially after Shen Yuan arrived and instantly glued himself to Luo Binghe’s side.

Shen Qingqiu has no clue what Shen Yuan sees in that little beast. It bothered him from the
moment he had noticed the child forsake a good social life in the peak in favor of defending
the beast — who was surely capable of defending himself, those dark deep eyes gleaming
with fury whenever his shixiongs attacked him with petty words and harsh treatment. It
wasn’t just Ning Yingying’s damned nickname to the beast that reminded Shen Qingqiu of
Qiu Jianluo, but also the amount of darkness inside that beast’s eyes he willingly repressed
and instead chose to cry crocodile tears to whoever cared to see.

So much potential, and yet the beast chose to slack off and cry whenever called out on his
lack of progress. It infuriates Shen Qingqiu to a degree he rarely feels, to see Luo Binghe
expect his own potential to fill for his lack of effort; Shen Qingqiu had his own potential
battered by the people around him, yet he persevered and brought himself to the position of
Peak Lord through his effort alone, and Luo Binghe chooses to thwart his potential instead.

The fan in his hands creaks as Shen Qingqiu holds it with an iron grip. He breathes in,
deciding to focus his mind on the class he is so gracefully teaching instead. His students have
been on edge more than usual, perhaps because of Shen Qingqiu’s sudden decision to watch
over most of their classes this week; it is not often that the peak lord decides to watch over
classes not taught by himself, as he knows the hallmasters have more than enough knowledge
and teaching experience to deal with the brats by themselves, but Shen Yuan’s words from
their meeting stuck with him.

Indeed, the child was pretending to know less than he does. There are a few areas in which
Shen Yuan seems to have the normal progress curve expected of a disciple his age, mostly in
calligraphy and painting — it is impressive how much the child has difficulties holding a
brush the proper way —, but it is clear he’s far beyond the curve in any other subject. Shen
Yuan has an impressive knowledge when it comes to poetry and any area regarding natural
sciences, yet he visibly holds himself from answering everything correctly.

It is the first guqin class outside of his personal schedule that Shen Qingqiu has decided to
give, very (not) coincidentally being the one Shen Yuan is enrolled in. Senior Xue had looked
at the peak lord as if he had grown two heads when he asked to take over this class for today,
yet said nothing and only gave a brief rundown of the students’ strengths and weaknesses.

The disciples look down at the ground in panic as they avoid making any noise as Shen
Qingqiu puts away his fan and adjusts the guqin on its proper position, looking with a stern
gaze at the classroom of terrified children who attempt to position their own instruments —
some with success, others not so much. Shen Qingqiu pays attention to Shen Yuan with the
side of his eye, not looking directly at the child as to not give away his attention; it works
exactly as Shen Qingqiu expected.

When no one looks, Shen Yuan positions the guqin on the table with ease; it doesn’t take a
genius to know this child has experience playing the instrument. As Shen Qingqiu starts the
class and instructs the disciples to play a tune of a higher difficulty than usually given to their
age, most panic at the music sheets given to them, reading it over and over as they attempt
and fail to replay the tune perfectly. Shen Yuan glances at the sheet and lets out a weak laugh,
so unnoticeable that not even the little beast behind him hears it — but well, the little beast is
not an experienced cultivator with keen senses.

The difference between skill is astounding — while the little beast plays so horribly that Shen
Qingqiu wonders how his ears are not bleeding yet, Shen Yuan seems to take advantage of
the mess around him to allow himself to play well. His skill is not extraordinary by any
means, only comparable to someone with a good grasp on the techniques but not reaching
any professional level yet. Shen Yuan is only twelve, however, and Shen Qingqiu has never
seen a twelve year old who plays as if he has been training for at least a decade.

Once Shen Qingqiu’s gaze moves to Shen Yuan, the child immediately tenses up and he plays
well for roughly five seconds before making his first ‘mistake’. The way his hands move as
he plucks the wrong string is awfully unnatural compared to other disciples making a
mistake, as if they had suddenly forgotten how to function despite playing perfectly just a
second ago — how did no one notice he’s faking it?

“Disciple Shen plays decently, however, he must focus on his hand posture,” Shen Qingqiu
remarks, observing the way Shen Yuan seems to freeze in place as if not expecting the peak
lord to compliment his skills.

Shen Qingqiu raises a brow at the lack of response, which seems to finally bring Shen Yuan’s
attention back as the child bows his head in panic. “T-thanking Shizun for the guidance, this
disciple will work harder!”

A ‘tsk’ echoes through the classroom as the peak lord walks away to check on the other
disciples, letting himself lash more ruthless comments about Luo Binghe’s skills as usual —
as the self-proclaimed friend of Shen Yuan, shouldn’t he at least try to match up to his skills?
Shen Qingqiu is awfully aware of the fact Shen Yuan has been teaching the little beast in his
spare time, as he has observed it a few times from afar when both disciples think he’s not
looking.

Soon enough the class is finished. Shen Qingqiu watches as his students dash out of the
classroom without any grace, scared out of their wits because of the peak lord’s sudden desire
to teach them himself — perhaps Senior Xue has been too indulging if her students cannot
deal with criticism. The peak lord sighs and makes his way back to his bamboo house as soon
as all the brats are gone, watching as the sun starts to set in the horizon.

It’s empty, just as usual. Shen Qingqiu has long grown used to the lifelessness of his house,
its shelves filled with useless trinkets gifted by the sect leader who assumed Shen Qingqiu
wanted them; never once had Yue Qingyuan asked him his preferences, because if he had,
then the sect leader would know Shen Qingqiu would much rather receive something
practical such as a book in any topic he’s interested in rather than his thirtieth tea set made of
uselessly expensive materials.

Well, Shen Qingqiu would rather receive nothing from Yue Qingyuan, but it’s not like he
would listen.

His eyes linger to the table, that damned amulet still on the same spot as before. Shen
Qingqiu hadn’t dared touch it, not because he was afraid of its odd effects — he already knew
how to turn back, so even if he were to turn into a cat again, there would be no issue…

After fighting against his mind for a few minutes, Shen Qingqiu decides to indulge in his
curiosities. It is only for scientific purposes, he reiterates in his mind. Of course such a
prestigious person like Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t do something as silly as turning into a cat to
observe his weirdly amusing disciple who says weirdly amusing things to cats. Shen Qingqiu
is simply testing the amulet!
With agile paws and better control over this new body, Shen Qingqiu sets off to the Qing Jing
library.

As expected, the peak lord finds Shen Yuan curled against a corner of the library, book in
hand as he makes an angry expression at it.

It isn’t uncommon for Qing Jing disciples to visit the library, of course — every academic
venture is encouraged, therefore the library is a place they are expected to become
accustomed to. Other peaks’ disciples also have unrestricted access to the library, although
some only come to cause a ruckus to the Qing Jing disciples. Shen Qingqiu would send those
Bai Zhan brats flying across his peak back to their musty origins if he could, but then their
brute of a Shizun would show up in Shen Qingqiu’s doorstep demanding to know why the
peak lord is abusing Bai Zhan disciples.

It has happened before, unfortunately.

Shen Qingqiu approaches Shen Yuan cautiously, as the child seems too immersed in whatever
he is reading to notice the ball of white fur staring at him. Upon closer inspection, the peak
lord widens his eyes at the yellow cover, his mind swirling with questions — where did Shen
Yuan get one of these books, who gave it to him, and why is he reading such filth when he’s
twelve!

This child cannot be related to him, and whoever claims such should check their eyes for
issues! Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t be caught dead reading things such as this, nor would he be
caught letting any relative of his read it either! For his relief — and amusement — Shen Yuan
doesn’t really seem to be enjoying the book very much; in fact, the disciple seems to be
hating it.

“How is this world just as filled with garbage!” the child roars, his voice mostly quiet
because of the environment but carrying the same rage as if he was screaming. Shen Qingqiu
raises an eyebrow (and wonders how it looks on a cat’s face), watching quietly as Shen Yuan
still doesn’t notice his presence. “I thought Airplane had reached peak trash levels, but this
one may as well compete with that hack author!”

Then why are you reading it? Shen Qingqiu asks in his head, although his biggest curiosity is
Shen Yuan’s peculiar wording. What does he mean by ‘this world’? Shen Qingqiu is
confident the child is not talking about any other realms, since Shen Yuan clearly has no trace
of demonic energy (and he would have been killed on sight when arriving at the peak if that
was the case), but then what is this world he is referring to?

A thought surfaces on Shen Qingqiu’s mind, one he is hesitant to consider, mostly because of
a lack of empirical proof regarding the subject. There are scholars who consider the
possibility of different dimensions and worlds, yet most of their hypotheses always link to the
legendary Xin Mo sword — a sword said to be able to tear across time and space itself,
capable of sending its wielder to any dimension they desire. Problem is, no one has seen Xin
Mo for millenia; therefore, it is nothing more than a myth for all Shen Qingqiu cares.
Shen Yuan clearly doesn’t have any access to said legendary sword, nor does he have
anything abnormal about his energy. Was it simply a child’s creative imagination or perhaps
Shen Yuan is capable of remembering his past lives? It wouldn’t be unheard of, as some
people are cursed by fate and forced to remember lives they will never experience again; it is
said people suffering from such a curse often go mad with grief and sadness over a life long
gone, or their conflicting memories and personalities becoming too much for them to handle.

If that is the case for Shen Yuan… He seems to be accepting his situation well. Shen Qingqiu
keeps the hypothesis in mind, deciding to pay more attention to what the child says just in
case something of interest appears. It is more likely that Shen Yuan is just a creative child,
although the other option would explain his unusual skills for his age.

“Ah, you’re here again!” a voice brings Shen Qingqiu out of his daze, finding himself faced
with two wide eyes and a smile from the child. “I thought I’d never see you again! After I
found Ming Fan and brought him to Yue-shibo, you were gone, so I thought you ran off
because Shibo is scary.”

Hah, Yue Qingyuan is scary? Shen Qingqiu snorts a laugh, looking at Shen Yuan with a
judgmental stare and the child pouts back. “Hey, he’s scarier than it looks. Like, look at that
‘I’m-smiling-but-actually-I’d-like-to-dispose-of-your-body-on-a-ditch’ smile of his! Besides,
Yue-shibo is the strongest cultivator around, so of course it’s normal to be scared!”

Perhaps Shen Yuan has a point. Yue Qingyuan is by far the most diplomatic of all of Cang
Qiong, his position demanding as such from him; however, it does makes Shen Qingqiu
delighted to know he’s not the only one bothered by the sect leader’s polite smile, plastered
onto his face as if no one knows his true feelings. Well, most people don’t, which is why it
works so well — but Shen Qingqiu knows the sect leader too well, and Shen Yuan seems to
have the ability to see beyond the polite smile too.

“Yue-shibo is overall nice, but it kind of bothers me when he’s around,” Shen Yuan lets out,
voice softer than before. Shen Qingqiu bobs his head, prompting the child to continue. “Ah,
it’s just… I know Yue-shibo and Shen Qingqiu had some sort of past together or whatever,
but I have nothing to do with it! Why does he look at me like I’m the most nostalgic and sad
thing he’s ever seen before?!”

Shen Qingqiu decides to ignore the fact Shen Yuan refers to Yue Qingyuan as Shibo but not
to him as Shizun — he’s very pissed off, yes, where are this kid’s manners?! He’s going to
review them when he’s back in his human form —, instead nodding at the child’s statement
as it is something that personally bothers Shen Qingqiu too.

“Those two really need to talk it out! I swear, every time Yue-shibo comes around he’s like,
‘Shen-shizhi, can you help this Shibo of yours to find your Shizun? There are some official
matters this master must discuss with your Shizun’ as if we all don’t know that would’ve
been easily solved by sending a letter! Then after a few minutes, we all hear Shen Qingqiu
screaming at him to get the fuck out and he walks out of the peak looking like a kicked
puppy. It’s like this every single time!” Shen Yuan finishes his rant with a long sigh, and Shen
Qingqiu is relieved that they are in a secluded area of the library and no other disciple has
heard the child’s rant.
Not that Shen Yuan is wrong, in fact, he’s absurdly correct about what goes on every time
Yue Qingyuan shows up — Shen Qingqiu really hopes that Shen Yuan is the only one in this
peak observant enough to have noticed, because if else, then the peak lord might as well
retire from his position in shame. What Shen Yuan doesn’t know is that Shen Qingqiu did try
to talk things out; Yue Qingyuan is the one who refuses to tell him anything.

“You know, Yue-shibo reminds me of my da-ge,” Shen Yuan mutters, his voice carrying
something Shen Qingqiu can recognize easily; grief. “Da-ge used to look at me like that too. I
mean, I guess it was hard to look at a perpetually bedridden child who’s just waiting to die,
but I wish we could’ve had a better relationship before... Ah, whatever, not like I can do
anything about it.”

Shen Yuan had siblings is the first piece of information that hits Shen Qingqiu’s mind. It isn’t
unheard of for parents to sell off all their children at once, so it is plausible that both Shen
Yuan and his siblings ended up in the slave trade; what doesn’t make sense is the fact Shen
Yuan claims he was a bedridden child waiting to die, which would imply he had some sort of
mortal disease before coming to Cang Qiong.

That doesn’t hold up, however. Every disciple goes through a check-up at Qian Cao before
officially joining, in case they might need any permanent medication prescribed to them or
any other ailments to cure before they become a disciple. Shen Yuan’s medical report had
come back fairly normal — a few broken bones before, some previous injuries already
healed, but nothing outstanding or noteworthy. Did the disciple assigned to him oversee
something…?

“Ah, why are you looking at me like that? I’m already fine and I’m surely not going to die
soon,” Shen Yuan laughs, although it sounds more desperate than the child intended, which
rings some alarms in Shen Qinqiu’s mind. If he’s not dying soon, then is he… “Well, I’ll
hopefully not die at all, at least if I get the fuck out of Cang Qiong before it gets razed to the
ground.”

Shen Qingqiu freezes. He replays the child’s phrase in his mind, wondering if he somehow
heard it wrong. In what context would that happen to Cang Qiong, the strongest sect in the
cultivation world? Most importantly, how did Shen Yuan, a twelve year old from the streets,
ever get this very important information, if it is true? Is he somehow involved with a hostile
force that will attack Cang Qiong…?

“No need to look so alarmed, because this Shen Yuan is doing his best to avoid it ever
happening!” the child exclaims, smiling proudly at the cat who is deciding if he should dash
straight to Qiong Ding with this information or sit and hope Shen Yuan accidentally says
something important. “Well, at least I’m trying. Can’t really do much when I’m twelve and
hated by half the peak.”

Would that indicate Shen Yuan knows but is not involved with whoever will inflict such
destruction on Cang Qiong…? It would be hard for anyone inside the peak to have contact
with hostile forces, and it would be even harder for Shen Yuan who clearly has no contacts
outside the peak and has a past such as his. Shen Qingqiu decides he will visit the Warm Red
Pavilion today to gather any potential leads — and to get a well-deserved night of sleep too.
“Bah, how are you clearly a young cat yet worried like an old man? Man, I really need to find
a better bestiary to search for a species of cat as smart as yours…” Shen Yuan mutters the last
part to himself, but Shen Qingqiu catches it with ease due to his enhanced hearing in this
body. “Don’t worry, we can leave Cang Qiong if shit gets irreversible. ‘Rogue cultivator Shen
Yuan and his genius cat’ sounds super badass!”

In a daze, Shen Qingqiu nods while his mind formulates a plan on what to do next. Ideally,
Shen Yuan can’t be alerted that anyone knows of this information, much less that they know
he knows. However, Shen Qingqiu can’t really gather much information from the disciple in
this cat form, as there’s barely any way for him to properly ask questions to Shen Yuan, and
the child might start to suspect he’s not just a cat if Shen Qingqiu starts to write with his
claws.

If Shen Qingqiu shows up in his normal form and just starts asking questions, then his cover
as a cat will be completely gone. He needs to find a way for Shen Yuan to reveal himself to
another person, to show someone he knows something will happen in the future. The peak
lord has an idea, although it is one that will require the help of one of his martial brothers,
unfortunately.

For now, Shen Qingqiu has to lay low and pretend like he doesn’t know anything.

“A-Yuan!” a high pitched voice Shen Qingqiu is used to echoes through the library as a girl
runs in their direction, bringing him out of his thoughts. “I’ve been looking for you
everywhere!”

“Ning-shijie,” Shen Yuan greets, getting up from his sitting position and hiding the damned
yellow cover book behind his back. “Is there anything you need?”

“It’s already time for dinner! You promised me, you and A-Luo would eat together!” Ning
Yingying exclaims, and Shen Qingqiu cannot help but feel shivers as that horrid nickname
makes its way to his ears. Shen Yuan notices and looks down at the cat, with Ning Yingying’s
gaze following soon. “Ah, a cat! I’ve never seen one in the peak before. Where did you find
it, A-Yuan?”

“Ah, I didn’t really find… Wait, are you a male cat? Or…” Shen Yuan says, looking down at
the cat who nods at the correct assumption. Better than having the child check it himself, for
sure! “He just showed up one day.”

“You’re lucky! He seems like a nice cat,” Ning Yingying beams while looking down at Shen
Qingqiu. “What’s his name?”

“…Oh,” Shen Yuan replies, his expression turning embarrassed as he looks back at Ning
Yingying. Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure if he should be worrying about what the child said before
or feel somewhat offended Shen Yuan hasn’t even thought what to call him yet. Well, they
have only met twice, so it makes sense. “I actually didn’t name him yet. I’ll have to think of a
fitting name…”

“A-Yuan will have to think about it later, because A-Luo is already waiting for us!” Ning
Yingying remarks, her hand grabbing Shen Yuan’s wrist, which seems to startle him for a
moment. Shen Qingqiu took some time to get used to the young disciple’s touchiness, yet he
never corrected her on it. Ning Yingying is a child with a good heart, so how could he
dismiss her so ruthlessly? “I’m stealing A-Yuan from you, Mr. Cat! I’ll give him back soon!”

Shen Yuan looks back at the cat with an apologetic look, as if saying ‘I’m sorry, we’ll see
each other later’ — it seems that Shen Qingqiu is not the only one who can speak with his
eyes, after all. While it would be good to try to get more information from Shen Yuan, Shen
Qingqiu needs some time to think thoroughly about what to do with the highly critical
information he had just received.

Shen Qingqiu nods as both disciples set off to the dining hall, leaving the peak lord with a
huge issue to figure out.
 in which shen qingqiu can’t get a single break
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu approaches Mu Qingfang and asks him for help. Liu Qingge starts getting
suspicious of the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s behavior.

Chapter Notes

hi!! so, finally we have more characters appearing (and more catjiu shenanigans because
of course!!) and a lot of shen yuan being the most oblivious person to ever exist!! poor
binghe can’t get a break either i fear t-t
btw thank you all so much for the kind comments and kudos!!! it really makes me happy
to know so many people are enjoying the fic even with almost no chapters out yet
DSKKJFHSDIUFHDSUI we’re all in need of some catjiu shenanigans aren’t we!!
hope u guys enjoy the chapter!!! <333
twt: @nyungseoni

Shen Qingqiu fiddles with the fan in his hands as he awaits for the peak lord meeting to end.

His martial brothers have clearly noticed his odd behavior — perhaps the lack of spiteful
remarks and well-deserved critiques gave it away. Qi Qingqi looked at him as if he had
grown a second head and Liu Qingge glared at him cautiously as if he was in a night hunt
waiting for a beast to show itself. Shang Qinghua meekly tried to look at him a few times,
probably assessing if his shixiong had been replaced by someone else, but his stares quickly
stopped after Shen Qingqiu glared back at the man for a few seconds and the An Ding Peak
Lord squealed and went back to reading his papers.

Yue Qingyuan noticed his odd behavior too, but thankfully refrained from asking anything in
front of the other peak lords — Shen Qingqiu was sure to expect another visit to his bamboo
house later. Both of them know the Qing Jing Peak Lord won’t tell him anything, so why
does the sect leader keep insisting in wasting his time?

He’s going to ask Ming Fan to keep Shen Yuan away from that man’s view, that’s for sure.
His head disciple can be quite brazen when he thinks Shen Qingqiu isn’t looking, but he
never questions his Shizun’s orders nor does he rattle about any ordeals in the peak. Ming
Fan has unfortunately experienced a few of the moments in which Shen Qingqiu loses all
patience with Yue Qingyuan’s antics, so the head disciple shouldn’t have much problem
understanding the orders.
Shen Qingqiu has more to worry about besides Yue Qingyuan snatching Shen Yuan from his
peak, after all. The peak lord has had a few days to think of a coherent plan to deal with the
information given to him by Shen Yuan, and he has arrived at a solid plan that accounts for
some worries regarding the child. Unfortunately, his plan will require the collaboration of Mu
Qingfang and Wei Qingwei, which is why Shen Qingqiu stands waiting for the healer in front
of the building entrance as soon as the meeting is over.

Qi Qingqi and Liu Qingge stare daggers at him before leaving, but Shen Qingqiu doesn’t
send a glare back for once. He has much bigger issues to deal with than to indulge his petty
shidis — and it amuses Shen Qingqiu to see their expressions falling apart as he fails to
respond to them in the way they want him to. Perhaps he should do that more often…

It takes a few minutes for Mu Qingfang to leave the building — Shen Qingqiu assumes he
had to discuss some extra budgeting for his peak with Shang Qinghua, who sprints right out
of the place as soon as he sees the Qing Jing Peak Lord. A spineless rat as usual, Shen
Qingqiu remarks to himself. Mu Qingfang raises a brow for a second as he notices the peak
lord waiting for him, but quickly goes back to his neutral expression as Shen Qingqiu
approaches him.

“What may this shidi help with, Shen-shixiong?” Mu Qingfang asks, tone as polite as usual
even when it is clear he is curious about Shen Qingqiu’s sudden approach.

Both they knew Shen Qingqiu would only willingly approach the Qian Cao Peak Lord if
something has happened, so the Qing Jing Peak Lord doesn’t beat around the bush as he
activates a talisman so no one hears their conversation. “This shixiong requires Mu-shidi’s
assistance for… a suspicion this one holds. It is quite confidential, so this shixiong asks to
meet with Mu-shidi at Qing Jing whenever shidi has time.”

“A suspicion…?” Mu Qingfang mutters, looking at Shen Qingqiu with curiosity and a bit of
worry. “Very well, how could this shidi say no? This one has time this night; is it convenient
for Shen-shixiong?”

“The sooner, the better,” Shen Qingqiu replies, knowing that his choice to include Mu
Qingfang in his plan was the correct one. The Qian Cao Peak Lord is probably the only peak
lord who knows what ‘confidential’ means when it comes to Shen Qingqiu. “This shixiong
will wait for Mu-shidi tonight, then.”

As soon as Mu Qingfang nods his head in confirmation, Shen Qingqiu retrieves back to his
peak, letting out a sigh of relief as soon as he is alone in the vast sky as he flies back to Qing
Jing. The hardest part has been done — without Mu Qingfang, there would be no way of
executing this plan; both due to privacy issues (at least the Qiao Cao Peak Lord takes his
oaths seriously) and the fact he needs someone with medical skills so Shen Yuan falls for the
plan too.

No one bothers Shen Qingqiu as he lands in front of his bamboo house, and the peak lord
prefers it this way — he has much to think about until the night. Ming Fan opens his mouth
to say something, instantly closing it shut as Shen Qingqiu enters the house and closes the
door before the head disciple can bother him with more problems.
 The Qing Jing Peak Lord sits quietly for half a shichen, his mind restlessly thinking about if
he should ask Mu Qingfang for something outside of his plan. It isn’t needed, but it is
something that has been plaguing the peak lord’s mind ever since he first saw Shen Yuan at
the Cang Qiong entrance test. At first, Shen Qingqiu refused to let his mind wander to such
places — logically speaking, looking into what he suspects would only add more problems to
Shen Qingqiu’s pile of issues.

The thing is, there is a genuine chance that Shen Yuan is related to the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

While their family names are only the same by pure coincidence — Shen is a common
surname and is often given to children who grew up in the streets without one —, Shen
Qingqiu cannot ignore the fact their backgrounds are awfully similar; while the peak lord
does not remember his parents or how he ended up in the slave trade, it wouldn’t be
impossible for them to be from the same godforsaken family that was cruel enough to sell
both children.

For him to ask Mu Qingfang for confirmation would mean Shen Qingqiu would have to tell
the rest of the sect about their relation if it turns out to be true, and that might actually be
worse for Shen Yuan. The boy clearly loathes any idea of being related to the Qing Jing Peak
Lord, and why wouldn’t he? With all the rumors bound to him, all the despicable acts his
martial siblings insist he committed even when there is no proof to confirm any ill intentions,
it would only be a matter of time before it bled onto Shen Yuan’s image as well.

A bastard child not recognized by their own father is pitiful, but a close relative claimed by
the Qing Jing Peak Lord who is a disciple of his peak would certainly suffer claims of
favoritism and laziness no matter how much effort he put on. Well, at least it would be better
than people claiming one slept his way to the top, like what happened to Shen Jiu.

Besides, Shen Qingqiu would have to prepare to deal with Yue Qingyuan if it turns out Shen
Yuan is indeed related to him. Actually, the sect leader might be the least of his problems —
how would Shen Qingqiu explain to Cang Qiong of a sudden appearance of a close relative
he had no previous knowledge of, without giving away his origins…?

Shen Qingqiu can feel his head throbbing with an incoming headache at the thought of all
these issues. The peak lord sighs, getting up from his seat and deciding to take a walk around
the bamboo grove for a breath of fresh air — and he may have stored the amulet inside his
qiankun pouch, not that he would need it, of course, it is just in case something happens and
he must use it.

Of course, something does happen.

It hadn’t been five minutes after Shen Qingqiu started taking his leisurely walk around the
grove that the peak lord hears a commotion coming from not too far of his position. Sighing,
the peak lord approaches the source of the noise, knowing it must be another fight between
his disciples over something idiotic; in a peak filled with spoiled young masters, quarrels
over meaningless things can be quite common.

There are about seven disciples just ahead of him, four of them standing tall and circling the
other three. If not for his choice to go take a leisurely walk, no one would’ve walked on this
confrontation — this part of the bamboo grove is far removed from the main path leading to
the main buildings of the peak, and it is mostly used by disciples who wish to train outside
their class hours and do not wish to disturb anyone.

Shen Qingqiu recognizes all of them with a single glance. Ming Fan stands proudly in front
of Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan, a pendant in hands as he looks down with a mocking face at
the little beast and his three closest lackeys circle the group. Ning Yingying stands between
the head disciple and the two youngest disciples, but it is not long before she is pushed to the
side by the little beast who tries to grab the pendant in Ming Fan’s hands — and is
unceremoniously restrained by the lackeys.

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan yelps, trying to stop the older disciples only to be pushed to the side
ruthlessly, causing the child to fall on the ground with a thud. Ning Yingying is frozen in
place, watching the conflict unfold with wide eyes.

“Give it back,” the little beast says, enunciating each word with such rage that it seemed to
startle Ming Fan for a brief second before the head disciple looks down in disgust.

Shen Qingqiu wonders if he should interrupt. He is not visible to the disciples yet, watching
from behind a few bushes and tall stalks of bamboo that conceal his presence to the children;
as a peak lord, it would be ideal to stop his disciples from quarreling in such a way, but he
knows it might infuriate the perpetrators even more if he sides with Shen Yuan and the little
beast.

Honestly, if Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying weren’t there, Shen Qingqiu would’ve already left
long ago. While he doesn’t particularly approve of Ming Fan’s entitled attitude towards
anyone he deems a threat, it isn’t like his actions aren’t helping Shen Qingqiu’s goal of
running Luo Binghe out of the peak as fast as possible. Ning Yingying is usually involved in
such quarrels, but more as an unknowing instigator rather than a malicious participant.

“If you want it back, then I’ll give it back,” Ming Fan replies, and Shen Qingqiu can instantly
tell his head disciple will not give it back to the little beast, at least not in the way Luo
Binghe expects.

Shen Yuan also seems to know that. “What are you even gaining from doing such a thing? Do
you think Ning-shijie will like you more if you bully her friend?!”

Ming Fan is taken aback by Shen Yuan pointing the childishness in his actions, face paling as
he looks back and forth between the pendant and Ning Yingying who agrees with Shen
Yuan’s statement. “Shixiong shouldn’t do mean things to A-Luo and A-Yuan! You’re being a
big meanie!”

“Shimei is too young to understand, but shixiong is just trying to protect you from lowlifes
such as them! You’ll understand me when you’re older!” Ming Fan replies, moving his gaze
to Luo Binghe who glares at the head disciple with anger in his eyes. “You want it back?
Then go get it!”

With that, Ming Fan throws the jade pendant across the grove.
Shen Qingqiu sighs, knowing his head disciple is still a young master who is just getting his
first taste of power over those weaker than him — even with his usefulness and quick
thinking, Ming Fan can be a petty person filled with stupid ideas when it comes to what he’s
feeling. Shen Qingqiu is planning to fix such issues, but only after the head disciple manages
to run Luo Binghe off this peak.

The little beast’s eyes fill with fury and tears at the sight of the pendant flying into the grove,
probably never to be seen again. Ming Fan’s lackeys laugh mockingly at the beast, letting go
of him as the head disciple calls them to leave. Ming Fan should train his senses better, Shen
Qingqiu notices — because not even five seconds after they turn around, Luo Binghe flings
his fist against the back of the head disciple.

Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying gasp, watching in shock as Ming Fan yelps in pain and turns
around to fight the little beast. “How dare you!” Ming Fan exclaims, throwing himself onto
the smaller disciple and punching the beast back.

His lackeys group around Luo Binghe, and Shen Yuan’s expression changes to one of panic
as he tries to push them before they can beat the little beast. His efforts are mostly useless, as
it is clear for anyone that the child cannot compete against four older disciples — especially
with Shen Yuan’s terrible lack of skill when it turns to fighting, as his performance in classes
suggest.

How Shen Yuan survived the streets without learning how to fight is beyond Shen Qingqiu’s
knowledge.

“Give that bastard a beating too!” Ming Fan roars while kicking Luo Binghe, to which two of
his lackeys nod and start moving towards a paralyzed Shen Yuan who stares in fear as he
braces himself for any hits.

Shen Qingqiu has seen enough. The peak lord emerges from the foliage just as the lackeys
are about to land their first hit, stopping immediately as they hear Ning Yingying’s screams
of ‘Shizun! Please stop them!’. Ming Fan freezes for a moment before he turns to face Shen
Qingqiu, bowing his head in respect as the peak lord walks towards the crowd.

“Will someone enlighten this master on what has caused this unsightly mess?” his voice is
sharp as usual, gazing down at the head disciple who tenses up at the tone.

“Of- of course, Shizun! This disciple is simply educating disciples Luo Binghe and Shen
Yuan for their behavior,” Ming Fan replies, voice stuttering as he relays his version.

Shen Qingqiu raises an eyebrow at the reply. “This master is aware disciple Luo Binghe has
attacked first, but this master has yet to understand what disciple Shen Yuan has done to
prompt such a harsh punishment from head disciple Ming Fan.”

Shen Yuan looks at the peak lord with widened eyes, but he’s not Shen Qingqiu’s focus at the
moment. The Qing Jing Peak Lord gazes down at the head disciple, watching fiercely as
Ming Fan pales and stares back at him for a second. Shen Qingqiu’s message is quite simple;
mess all you want with Luo Binghe, but avoid doing the same to Shen Yuan.
“T-this disciple has made a lapse in judgement,” Ming Fan stutters, “Asking Shizun for a
punishment.”

“No need,” Shen Qingqiu replies, raising one of his hands to dismiss Ming Fan and his
lackeys.

They leave faster than the flick of a finger, fleeing to anywhere Shen Qingqiu can’t see them.
The peak lord gazes back at the three disciples in front of him, Luo Binghe still lying on the
ground groaning while Shen Yuan fusses over the little beast’s injuries. Ning Yingying looks
at Shen Qingqiu with an angry face, and the peak lord already knows she is about to throw a
tantrum.

“Shizun! It isn’t fair! Why did Ming-shixiong not get a punishment?” she wails, angrily
gazing at Shen Qingqiu while a few tears start forming in her eyes.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord sighs. “It is not in your place to decide what is and isn’t fair for this
master to do, Ning Yingying.”

The girl tenses up at the use of her full name instead of the softer ‘Ying’er’ used by Shen
Qingqiu most of the time. The peak lord knows the girl didn’t mean to be rude to him — and
most of the times it happens nothing happens, anyways —, but sometimes Ning Yingying can
be quite too much to handle, especially when she starts to argue against his decisions. Shen
Qingqiu was way too lenient with the girl, so it was his fault she behaved this way in the first
place.

Shen Qingqiu’s gaze travels to Shen Yuan, who quickly looks back at the peak lord; it looks
like he wants to say something but is too hesitant to do so. Shen Qingqiu is sure that it isn’t a
thanks — it’s pretty clear Shen Yuan also thinks Ming Fan shouldn’t have gotten just a slap
on the wrist for what he did, but perhaps one day he will understand Shen Qingqiu’s
reasoning.

“Fight back next time, even if you cannot win” Shen Qingqiu says to Shen Yuan, who widens
his eyes in confusion at the words. “Cowering in defeat means forfeiting all your pride.”

The peak lord turns his back and makes his exit before he can see the expression in Shen
Yuan’s face.

Liu Qingge knows Shen Qingqiu is up to something.

The man has been too strange recently, clearly focused on something he does not bother
telling anyone about even during meetings. The Qing Jing Peak Lord had barely reacted
when Qi Qingqi tried to confront him about his latest visit to a brothel, merely gazing down
at his martial sister as if she was nothing more than an ant before turning away and leaving.
Everyone is already aware of the scholar’s aloof attitude, yet never had Liu Qingge seen the
Xian Shu Peak Lord not managing to get a reaction out of that man.
Liu Mingyan complained about how her Shizun wouldn’t stop talking about how Shen
Qingqiu must be up to no good, urging her head disciple to avoid the man at all costs once
again. Liu Qingge agrees with Qi Qingqi’s advice to his sister — Shen Qingqiu is nothing
more than a lecherous young master who has been pampered all his life, therefore could
never be someone fit to be allowed near Liu Qingge’s younger sister.

However, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord cannot deny he’s also curious about whatever got Shen
Qingqiu’s attention to the point his short-temperament had seemingly turned normal; it must
be something nefarious, surely. While the scholar may be theoretically smart, he’s also lazy,
so it was surely nothing relating to the rest of the sect or any mission he has been assigned.

It is said curiosity that leads Liu Qingge across the rainbow bridge and into Qing Jing; he’s
going to confront Shen Qingqiu about his obviously horrendous plans he must be
formulating, and hopefully get a good fight while he’s at it — not that Shen Qingqiu would
ever be able to fight without unfair tricks and immoral ploys, but Liu Qingge hopes that one
day he may get a honorable spar with the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

Multiple Qing Jing disciples run as soon as they see the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, fleeing with
their tails between their legs in case Liu Qingge has brought a few disciples along with him.
He hasn’t, but it is fun to see the scholarly-looking disciples running off to safety because
they know they are no match to his peak.

Focusing on the environment around him, it doesn’t take longer than a few seconds for Liu
Qingge to locate Shen Qingqiu’s position — he’s in the bamboo grove next to his house.
Probably dozing off like the spoiled young master he is, surely — what else would he be
doing in the bamboo grove in the middle of the day?

It does not take long for Liu Qingge to stomp his way to the bamboo grove which is mostly
empty, giving it a serene air to the surroundings. As he walks through the narrow path to the
more secluded area in which Shen Qingqiu currently is, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord furrows his
brows as he feels someone else in the area — must be a disciple, from the low intensity of the
qi emanating just next to Shen Qingqiu’s.

It does not matter which disciple it is, Liu Qingge concludes. They all flee as soon as they see
the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, even more if they know he must be there to confront their Shizun.
Bunch of cowardly brats, he scowls in his mind. As cowardly and lazy as your scum Shizun-

Liu Qingge freezes when he reaches the spot in which Shen Qingqiu is supposed to be,
frowning in confusion as he sees a kid that looks awfully similar to the Qing Jing Peak Lord
— Liu Qingge had heard of Shen Qingqiu’s supposed bastard child who joined Qing Jing, but
he hadn’t seen the kid yet — and a… Cat?

They haven’t noticed him yet, as Liu Qingge stands far away enough for the bamboo stalk to
make it harder to notice his presence. Something pulls him back from talking to the kid and
demanding to know where Shen Qingqiu is — is he hidden somewhere on the grove…? —,
and instead the Bai Zhan Peak Lord observes the mini Shen Qingqiu groan in annoyance,
pouting as he sits on a boulder and the cat sits next to him.
“I swear, he’s the weirdest person ever!” the kid says, and Liu Qingge looks around to see if
he didn’t miss any other person being in the area until he realizes the kid is talking to the cat.
“He ignores me for all this time, lets everyone call me his bastard son even though we both
know we’re probably not related, and then he just shows up out of nowhere and drops some
bullshit advice on me!”

Is the kid not related to Shen Qingqiu? Then why hasn’t the Qing Jing Peak Lord denied the
rumors yet? If that is truly the case, then Shen Qingqiu might more of a scum than Liu
Qingge has realizes — the whole peak talks about his bastard child and it clearly bothers the
kid! Liu Qingge might have been one of the first to accuse Shen Qingqiu of having a bastard,
but he could’ve just denied it instead of giving him a deathly stare and leaving without saying
anything!

The cat meows to the kid who sighs. “He said something about losing your pride when you
don’t fight back. Well, I’d really like fighting back if those idiots wouldn’t pester me even
harder if I did that, and I enjoy being alive, thank you very much! What use is there for pride
when you’re dead?!”

Ignoring the fact that mini Shen Qingqiu is talking to a cat as if it was a human (and the cat
answers back, somehow), Liu Qingge finds himself agreeing with the kid to a certain extent.
While he can’t ever fathom the idea of not fighting back if someone provokes him, the Bai
Zhan Peak Lord understands that things work differently in Qing Jing. They’re not supposed
to be fighting, and if the people that mini Shen Qingqiu is facing are in a higher rank than
him, then they could clearly abuse of that advantage to pester the kid.

There is no use for pride when you are dead, that is true. If mini Shen Qingqiu has to lower
his head to survive, then perhaps it might work better overall… It wouldn’t in Bai Zhan, of
course, but there is some unspoken rules in his peak regarding attacking disciples who are
clearly weaker than yourself — and if someone breaks the rules they are considered ‘fair
game’, meaning rules no longer apply when attacking them.

It does keep his peak in order whenever Liu Qingge is not there, which is quite often.

“I still don’t understand why he showed up, though,” the kid whines, kicking his feet against
the edge of the boulder in annoyance. “Not like he cares about Binghe, that much is obvious
to anyone with a brain — but since when did Shen Qingqiu start giving a shit if those idiots
beat me up without reason?!”

The cat lets out another meow, louder than the previous one and carrying what seems like a
mild annoyance in its tone. Liu Qingge feels like this might be a good time to ask mini Shen
Qingqiu about the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s presence — Liu Qingge feels like he has already
heard way too much and he may feel like he’s intruding on this kid’s privacy.

So, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord adjusts his posture and starts walking towards the kid, who hears
the heavier steps coming his way and turns around in surprise, climbing down from his sitting
spot and standing straight.

“T-this disciple greets Liu-shishu,” mini Shen Qingqiu says, bowing his head before Liu
Qingge has the chance to see his face from a closer spot. At least he has manners… “May this
disciple ask what Shishu may need… Wait, Wanyou, don’t-!”

Before mini Shen Qingqiu can finish his sentence, something flies onto Liu Qingge’s face.
He quickly unsheathes his sword, yet the thing — is it the cat from before-? — hisses and
jumps on the hilt of the sword and onto Liu Qingge’s arm as it bites and scratches without
mercy. He tries to shake the cat off with his vacant arm, only for the animal to instead cling to
his robes, ripping the outer layer apart with ferocity as it climbs way too close to Liu
Qingge’s neck.

Somehow, it seems to predict every move attempted by the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, in a way
only a certain scholar would-

“Shen-!“ Liu Qingge roars, only to find a claw conveniently placed on his julgar vein before
he finishes. He looks down at the damned cat who could very much rip his throat and give
Liu Qingge the humiliation of the century, glancing back at him as if saying ‘say my name
and you’ll see what happens’.

Before Liu Qingge can start processing why the fuck Shen Qingqiu is now a cat and why the
fuck his miniature version was hanging out with his cat-self while the kid badmouths the
peak lord — and even gave Shen Qingqiu’s cat persona a damn name! —, the disciple
kowtows in front of the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, attracting both his and the cat bastard’s
attention.

“Disciple Shen Yuan begs Liu-shishu for forgiveness,” the miniature says, forehead smeared
onto the ground as Liu Qingge stares down at him in confusion. Wait, did the child think he
was scolding him? He does have the same family name as Shen Qingqiu… “Wanyou is
unaccustomed to people he doesn’t know…! It won’t happen again! This disciple will take
any punishment Liu-shishu deems fitting.”

Shen Qingqiu climbs down from his neck — the implication that the Qing Jing Peak Lord has
touched him there is enough to send shivers down Liu Qingge’s spine —, approaching the
kowtowing child and giving him a head bump, which makes the child look up to the cat (and
also Liu Qingge who might as well be hallucinating all of this).

Upon receiving another killing stare from the cat, Liu Qingge straightens his back and looks
back at the miniature Shen Qingqiu. “Uh- This master has deemed that no punishment is
necessary. Disciple Shen Yuan is excused.”

Upon hearing his reply, the disciple — Shen Yuan, was he truly not related to Shen Qingqiu?
— mutters a ‘thank you shishu’ and runs off to whoever knows where, that damned cat
following behind him loyally. Shen Qingiu — it feels so strange to call the man by name
when he looks like that — looks back at him and sticks out his cat tongue to Liu Qingge
before leaving his camp of view.

Liu Qingge flies back to Bai Zhan Peak with an urge to lay down on his bed and hope this is
a bizarre dream his mind conjured.
 in which shen qingqiu can’t have good things for too long
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu is quite proud of his victory, but good things don’t last long — and Shen
Yuan can’t keep his mouth shut.

Chapter Notes

hi!! it seems like i’m on a roll this week, 19k words is a pretty good amount to write
LMAO anyways, we finally have a lbh pov this chapter (and he’s an angsty preteen i
fear)!! i won’t be writing those as often, but i needed to showcase the relationship
between him and sy eheheh i hope u guys enjoy the chapter!!!
twt: @nyungseoni

Shen Qingqiu proudly follows behind Shen Yuan, the blood of the Bai Zhan War God still
fresh on his claws.

There is no need for the Qing Jing Peak Lord to worry about Liu Qingge telling everyone on
the sect about his secret — after all, if the brute starts to gossip about Shen Qingqiu’s past-
time research, then the scholar only needs to mention the Bai Zhan Peak Lord’s humiliating
defeat to a literal cat. While Shen Qingqiu didn’t exactly calculate the fight at all (it was
already too late for it when the peak lord found himself ferociously jumping onto Liu
Qingge’s robes to expel him from the peak and away from Shen Yuan), he did use something
in his advantage.

Liu Qingge is too honorable and noble to hurt a child’s cat in front of said child.

It was a fight Liu Qingge was bound to lose; caught completely off-guard, not only because
of Shen Qingqiu’s sudden attack but also his unusual form. The circumstances were too good
for the Qing Jing Peak Lord to just run off and hope Liu Qingge lost his trail at some point
(Bai Zhan Peak has a very rigorous training in tracking, unfortunately), so even if
unknowingly, it may have been Shen Qingqiu’s only chance to watch the brute’s miserable
face after being defeated by such a ‘lazy scum’ as him.

Poor Shen Yuan had been quite shaken after seeing the cat attacking a peak lord, probably in
worries that his new friend would be taken down for such a behavior — he had even
apologized to Liu Qingge! While it made Shen Qingqiu’s heart oddly warm over the child’s
actions, it also made him absolutely furious; if the Bai Zhan Peak Lord had dared to punish a
Qing Jing disciple over such a trivial matter, then Shen Qingqiu would have personally made
Liu Qingge’s life a living hell in every way possible.

Thankfully, the brute does have a bit of common sense somewhere in that pea-sized brain of
his; excusing Shen Yuan and leaving dazedly after his defeat without another word. Now that
Qing Jing was finally free of that brute’s overwhelming presence, Shen Qingqiu could
continue his leisurely walk alongside Shen Yuan (at least until Mu Qingfang arrives), who
was a bit more talkative than usual today.

“Wanyou, you really shouldn’t do that again!” Shen Yuan exclaims, to which the cat huffs in
annoyance. “Don’t scare my poor little heart like this anymore, I already have way too much
to worry about for a twelve-year-old!”

Shen Yuan had also come up with a name for his ‘cat friend’ — Wan as in scholarly, You as
in friend. Not the most creative name Shen Qingqiu has ever seen, but it was a name he had
no personal issues with. The Qing Jing Peak Lord never took great pride in any of his names
— both Shen Jiu and Shen Qingqiu are names that only help to remind him of the past he
never seems to get rid of.

It feels nice to have someone who doesn’t see him as Shen Qingqiu, Peak Lord of Qing Jing,
but just… a friend.

Well, the fact Shen Yuan is so quick to befriend a cat is somewhat worrisome, but the child
really doesn’t seem to care much about it. From what both Shen Qingqiu has seen and read in
hallmasters’ reports, Shen Yuan is a quiet child around others, avoiding casual conversation
as much as possible with his fellow disciples — which also hasn’t helped the child with his
reputation, leading him to be called ‘entitled’ and ‘snobbish’.

What is so wrong about not liking to talk as much? If any of his disciples had met Shen
Qingqiu in his disciple days, they would have fled in terror at his indisposition to humor
those around him — they should be grateful Shen Yuan is too soft to shoo them off as soon as
they show up. Shen Jiu would have cut off any attempt at casual conversations with a quick
dismissal and some foul words if they dared continue after he has made it clear he doesn’t
want to talk.

It isn’t like Shen Yuan doesn’t like to talk, either. In fact, Shen Yuan talks too much for Shen
Qingqiu’s taste, leaving the peak lord wondering how the child even manages to rant about
any subject without any sign of stopping for hours at a time — it is his martial brothers who
dismiss his personality and judge Shen Yuan for something he isn’t.

While the Qing Jing Peak Lord wouldn’t be caught dead saying this, he does somewhat enjoy
the child’s wild ramblings about whatever attracts his interest in that particular day.

Perhaps it is because Shen Yuan is one of the rare people in his peak with a brain functional
enough to hold an intriguing conversation, unlike the rest of his martial brothers. Shen
Qingqiu already suffers enough to make these brats into scholars worthy of claiming Qing
Jing as their peak, so it is a breath of fresh air to see a disciple who actually wants to learn
about things around him.
“…I’ll admit, you’re like, the most badass cat I’ve ever seen before. You jumped Liu-shishu
with no hesitation!” Shen Yuan exclaims, stopping at the middle of the path as he looks down
at the cat. “And he’s the Bai Zhan War God! Honestly, he isn’t as scary as I first thought —
he’s so pretty too! I thought he would look like those big muscular bodybuilder guys with
tons of scars!”

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t even have the time to appreciate Shen Yuan praising his incredible cat
battle skills before the child goes on a tangent about Liu Qingge of all people. It goes on for
too long for the peak lord’s taste — which would be even a second spent talking about that
brute, of course. Shen Qingqiu tunes out of the abhorrent conversation, only returning his
attention once Shen Yuan seems to be finishing singing his praises to the brute.

“…and his sword is so cool! I really want to see it during battle at some point — ah, I’m not
sure if I’ll be able to,” Shen Yuan sighs, and the sentence peaks Shen Qingqiu’s attention.
Why wouldn’t the child be able to- “I think Shen Qingqiu is supposed to kill him right after
we get back from that skinner demon mission. Man, I really wish I could do something about
that…”

I’m supposed to kill Liu Qingge? Shen Qingqiu widens his eyes, a daze spreading through his
head as Shen Yuan’s words repeat themselves over and over. In what occasion would he ever
be able to do such a thing, or even want to do it? Shen Qingqiu might say express his disdain
for the Bai Zhan Peak Lord quite often — sometimes even screaming he’ll kill him —, but
never once has he ever thought of actually doing such a thing.

For all Shen Qingqiu loathes his martial siblings, he would never go as far as to murder one
of them. The thought of doing such a thing makes him sick — for all they mutually hate each
other, Shen Qingqiu does his best to keep the sect in order, helping his martial brothers even
when they scoff at any attempt by him. He’s Qing Jing’s Peak Lord before anything else, and
even when this place can never be his home, Shen Qingqiu will make sure it stands as
proudly as it did when his Shizun was in charge.

How would Shen Yuan ever think of such a thing happening?

“Wanyou looks worried,” Shen Yuan remarks, to which Shen Qingqiu cannot bring himself to
react to. There’s too much in his head, too many things that don’t make sense, things that
Shen Yuan shouldn’t ever talk about happening. “Please don’t worry about it, I’ll try to think
of something before I arrive from Shuang Hu city. I know I can’t do much about it myself —
even if I somehow manage to make Shen Qingqiu not go to the Lingxi Caves, Liu-shishu will
still have a qi deviation. Ah, I can’t really tell Mu-shishu either, because he’ll ask me how I
know this…”

Something Shen Yuan says makes the pieces in Shen Qingqiu’s brain to connect. The child
has mentioned Shuang Hu city alongside a mission which will happen soon — Shen Yuan
shouldn’t know of this information yet. Not even Ming Fan has been made aware of the
upcoming mission next week, as it is something only Shen Qingqiu and the other peak lords
know. He knows the perpetrator of the deaths in Shuang Hu is a skinner demon too; Shen
Qingqiu had already presumed as such due to the descriptions he had received, but the peak
lord was going there anyway to let his disciples study the case by themselves and deal with
the demon.
Shen Yuan has a way of knowing things before they happen. Would these things be carved in
fate’s stone to happen or is it a malleable future? Most importantly, he doesn’t want people to
know of his abilities — which Shen Qingqiu can assume would be due to the inherent danger
of other people becoming aware of such.

He needs to ask Mu Qingfang about the possibility of Shen Yuan being a seer.

In truth, Shen Qingqiu’s first plan was simple; with the help of Mu Qingfang, he would
pretend to have found something odd about his qi, and then the Qian Cao Peak Lord would
introduce the possibility of Shen Yuan being a seer to the child. Originally, it was meant for
the child to have a safe opportunity to explain his oddities, but that was because Shen
Qingqiu thought there was little to no chance for Shen Yuan to actually be one.

It would explain why there was not a single shred of information regarding anything
happening against Cang Qiong — attack, espionage, sabotage, there is nothing being
whispered behind the curtains of the Warm Red Pavilion as of a few days ago. While multiple
people hold grudges against the sect, not many are strong enough to attack upfront, and the
ones that are need reason to do so; not even the Old Palace Master has anything to blame
Cang Qiong for, and that old bastard sure tries to find anything that might be used against the
sect.

There are a lot of things said by Shen Yuan that wouldn’t make sense if he is a seer, however
— he talks of different worlds and says things of which the peak lord has never heard of, but
seers aren’t supposed to see the future of other worlds too. The probability of the child having
both incredibly rare abilities to see into the future and remember any past lives of his is
simply too low to be considered a plausible option. What in the world is Shen Yuan?

Shen Qingqiu wants to transform back into his human form and shake Shen Yuan by his
shoulders until he says everything. He wants to drag this kid to the bamboo house and keep
him there until he tells Shen Qingqiu exactly what he is, where he is from and what will
happen, even if a truth potion is needed — yet, the peak lord knows this isn’t right, that Shen
Yuan doesn’t mean any harm, that he said such things to a cat of all creatures because of the
fear of something like that happening, but as a peak lord, how can Shen Qingqiu ignore what
he has heard…?

“…I’m sorry for telling Wanyou things that upset him,” Shen Yuan says, kneeling down to
the cat’s level as the child looks down with heavy eyes. “I don’t know why Wanyou is sad,
but I understand the feeling. I’m… I’m also upset and afraid, but if you don’t want to hear
bad things, then I won’t say anything upsetting, okay?”

Silly child, Shen Qingqiu thinks. Even his thoughts don’t have their usual edge this time,
which feels unusual and foreign — everything that has happened recently has been unusual
and foreign to Shen Qingqiu. I was contemplating giving you a truth potion and you’re the
one apologizing.

Shen Qingqiu looks up at the child, noticing how tired Shen Yuan looks. Somehow, it hadn’t
really crossed the peak lord’s mind that the child could be taking his situation worse than he
shows, even though it is something Shen Qingqiu often does himself; the difference is that
Shen Qingqiu doesn’t want to show his worries, and Shen Yuan can’t.
However old Shen Yuan truly is — not that old, from his thought process and mannerisms —,
it would make sense that keeping such a thing to himself drains him and makes him afraid. If
he can truly see the future, then Shen Yuan would carry the burden of changing said future by
himself; if anything goes badly, then the child would blame himself over things that might be
predetermined by fate.

The previous anger and agitation have fizzled out from Shen Qingqiu’s heart; there is no use
for him to feel such a thing now, and he must think clearly to figure out a way to solve the
problem presented to him with the least amount of damage. Shen Qingqiu cannot lie — he’s
nervous and anxious, especially after hearing such things from Shen Yuan, but he suppresses
those feelings deep into his heart as usual. He’s the strategist of Cang Qiong for a reason, his
position as such begrudgingly accepted by his other martial brothers because there is no
denying he is the most capable of carrying such a title.

So, Shen Qingqiu rubs against the child’s hand, letting himself calm down just a tiny bit as he
waits for Mu Qingfang’s arrival.

Luo Binghe doesn’t understand why Shen Yuan is his friend.

Usually, Luo Binghe wouldn’t question anyone who would like to be his friend; he never had
many, as others usually preferred to keep away from him and the wave of bad luck his
presence brings. There is nothing good about him anyway, a dirty and stupid boy who was so
useless he caused his mother to die before he could reach her.

When Ning Yingying pointed to him during the selection exam, Luo Binghe thought he was
finally allowed a tiny bit of luck from the heavens. Shen Qingqiu’s gaze wasn’t kind towards
him, but he indulged Ning Yingying’s wishes to have a shidi anyway; Luo Binghe remembers
thinking this would be what could finally change his life for the better.

Life didn’t get better. It also didn’t change much, in fact. Luo Binghe was still weak and
useless, barely managing to get by in his classes, he was still cold and hungry even when
living in the most prestigious cultivation sect, and he was still getting beaten up regularly.
The only difference was the man he used to look at with admiration even when he scowled
and sneered down at him.

Shizun was never kind, that much Luo Binghe is aware of. From the moment the boy kneeled
in front of him and felt scolding hot tea pouring down his head, Luo Binghe knew Shen
Qingqiu was a difficult man to deal with. He isn’t sure what Shizun doesn’t like in him, and
at first, Luo Binghe desperately tried to change and do better; he trained day and night and
whenever he didn’t have grueling tasks to perform, just so he could get a sliver of praise from
the cold man who stood so proudly in front of everyone.

Never once did he receive a word of praise. Every attempt at impressing Shen Qingqiu
seemed to backfire horribly, leaving Luo Binghe with bruised knees and a bloodied back if
Ming Fan was feeling particularly sadistic that day. He wondered if the problem was him, if
he was simply not fit for Qing Jing — for Cang Qiong. Then, Luo Binghe would remember
his mother’s wishes for him to have a better life and he would find the strength to endure just
a little bit more.

And then Shen Yuan arrived.

Luo Binghe wasn’t sure what to think when he first saw the boy with dirtied robes and a few
bruises on his arms. Other disciples whispered about Shen Yuan looking oddly similar to
Shizun, wondering if he was a long lost relative of the peak lord — but how could he, when
he was so clearly not of noble birth and lacked the grace their Shizun has?

Shen Yuan didn’t look very different from when Luo Binghe had arrived, yet the boy found
himself somewhat afraid of interacting with the other. What if Shen Yuan really was related
to Shizun, what if he was just as cold and aloof as the elegant peak lord? Luo Binghe was
already withstanding as much as he could, he didn’t need anyone else to push him down into
the mud more than he already is.

They barely interacted, with Shen Yuan’s attempts at conversation stopping gradually until he
walked on Luo Binghe getting harassed by his shixiongs. At first, Luo Binghe was sure Shen
Yuan would either ignore all of them and leave without interrupting anything, or he would
join to berate him alongside the others. Never once had Luo Binghe thought Shen Yuan
would instead scream at his shixiongs and tell them to stop bullying someone who hadn’t
done anything.

Shen Yuan then helped Luo Binghe to take care of his wounds and offered to help with
whatever else he might need. They stuck together after the event, with Shen Yuan refusing to
leave Luo Binghe’s side in case someone tried to harass him again.

Not even Ning Yingying had done that for him. She is a sweet person, yes, but Luo Binghe
can’t help but wish she would leave him be instead of lingering around him; for all he feels
guilty to even think such things, Ning Yingying can attract a lot of trouble by herself, and
when Shen Yuan began to join them, the problems also started appearing for him.

It didn’t take long for Shen Yuan to become an outcast after defending Luo Binghe. All the
words of praise for his intelligence and quick wit had instead turned into talks of his dubious
heritage and how he must be Shizun’s unwanted bastard, only accepted into the peak because
Shen Qingqiu was too kind to leave someone of his blood to rot on the streets. Luo Binghe
laughed at the accusations, knowing that Shen Qingqiu was anything but kind. Luo Binghe
got punched a few times for laughing, alongside being accused to insult his Shizun, but it was
worth it.

If Shen Qingqiu was so kind, then he wouldn’t have thrown Shen Yuan to the wolves by not
clarifying their connection, if there even is one. He wouldn’t have ignored the child that, even
bearing such a resemblance, is still one of his disciples. He wouldn’t have let their shixiongs
expel Shen Yuan from the dormitories, telling their shidi to sleep on the woodshed with Luo
Binghe if he likes him that much.

Even after all of that, Shen Yuan still smiled brightly at Luo Binghe and went on countless
rants about wild beasts, plants or whatever peaked his interest. He would cuss and complain
to Binghe whenever their shixiongs gave them more chores than usual, yet he always offered
to take a piece of Binghe’s share of chores so he can finally get some time to study.

Shen Yuan is too kind to be related to Shen Qingqiu, and he’s too kind to be dragged down by
Luo Binghe’s misfortunes. Yet, he can’t find it in himself to push Shen Yuan away — he’s the
first friend Luo Binghe has made in a long time, and Luo Binghe is too greedy to let the only
comfort in his life go. They only have each other to rely on, so Luo Binghe will make sure
Shen Yuan can be as happy as possible in this place.

However, there’s something that is taking Shen Yuan’s attention recently. His shidi said he
found a ‘really cool cat’, and then proceeded to spend a full shichen talking about how he had
never seen a cat as smart as the one he found and wondering what species it could be. Luo
Binghe was mildly interested at first, but then Shen Yuan didn’t see the cat for a few days, so
they both assumed it had fled to another peak.

Until Shen Yuan found the cat after a week while he was reading at the library. Ning
Yingying had seen the cat as well, fussing about how cute and adorable the fluffy creature
was, with both her and Shen Yuan spending the whole dinner talking about good names for a
smart cat. Luo Binghe felt a bit excluded from the conversation, and perhaps he showed it a
bit too much — because right after they arrived at the woodshed, Shen Yuan apologized for
taking Ning Yingying’s attention and not letting Luo Binghe talk more to her.

Luo Binghe was a bit confused by Shen Yuan’s apology. When had he ever expressed a desire
to talk so much to Ning Yingying? He hadn’t even wanted to join her for dinner, but Shen
Yuan had insisted they should all go together and then proceeded to lead Luo Binghe to seat
next to the girl. The face Shen Yuan made when he got up and sat next to his shidi instead
was the funniest, but Luo Binghe tried not to laugh too much because Shen Yuan is quite
thin-faced.

If only things could stay as they were in that moment.

Ming Fan couldn’t get enough of tormenting Luo Binghe, and he was used to the fact the
head disciple absolutely despised him. Luo Binghe didn’t expect Ming Fan to go as far as he
did, to throw the only keepsake left from his mother into the dense bamboo grove and laugh
about it. Luo Binghe lost all his control in that moment, lunging forward the moment the
head disciple turned around, hitting the strongest punch he could in Ming Fan’s back.

If not for Shen Qingqiu suddenly arriving and taking some twisted sort of pity on Shen Yuan,
Luo Binghe isn’t sure what would have happened. They had never fought back, at least not
physically, and the beatings were already painful that way. Luo Binghe cannot help but
wonder if they would have died that day if not for the intervention.

He spent the whole day searching for the pendant alongside Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying.
When night approached, Luo Binghe intended to keep searching, but Shen Yuan convinced
him they could go back during the morning to look for it. It has been a few days and they still
haven’t fount it; Shen Yuan said they need to look more, but Luo Binghe has already lost
hope at this point.

All hope Luo Binghe held for a good future in Qing Jing was lost after the incident.
If this is what it means to be righteous, then what is the difference between being in Cang
Qiong and being in the streets again? Things were worse here; they had to endure everything
with a closed mouth and still sing praises to the sect, so why not run away to wherever fate
takes them?

Luo Binghe mentioned briefly wanting to leave Cang Qiong, to which Shen Yuan panicked in
a way he hadn’t seen his shidi do before. Shen Yuan begged Luo Binghe to wait a little bit
longer, to endure what they are going through because things will get better. Shen Yuan had
said it with such certainty that it made Luo Binghe doubt for a moment, but then he
remembered his shidi can be quite the idealist at times.

He won’t leave, of course. If Shen Yuan won’t come with him, then Luo Binghe will stay.
There is nowhere he would go without his only friend, the only person besides his mother
who stood up for Luo Binghe even when it affected them. He can only pray things will
eventually get better, just as Shen Yuan said, although Luo Binghe is quite certain there is no
future in Cang Qiong.

Some disciples at his side yelp in fear, bringing Luo Binghe’s mind off his thoughts and onto
whatever is happening. It seems like someone else has entered the kitchen, another disciple
Luo Binghe doesn’t see that often and who is not supposed to be on kitchen duty today. He
furrows his brows at the disciple’s panicked expression, pale as if he had seen a ghost.

“Liu-shishu is here!” the disciple exclaims, to which more faces pale at the mention of the
Bai Zhan Peak Lord. “He’s going to the bamboo grove, but I’m not sure if he brought any
disciples with him! Brace yourselves for the worst!”

The bamboo grove- Luo Binghe thinks, his mind racing as he remembers Shen Yuan had
mentioned he was going there to spend his free time since he had been getting less chores
than usual. If the Bai Zhan disciples decide to raid Qing Jing, then he needs to find Shen
Yuan as fast as possible…!

Bai Zhan doesn’t raid often, but when they do, destruction is expected to fall upon anyone in
their path — and ever since Shen Yuan joined Qing Jing, they all roar about who would get to
beat ‘Shen Qingqiu’s bastard’ first. Luo Binghe has conjured a plan with Shen Yuan;
whenever there’s a raid, they run to the edge of Qing Jing’s protection barriers and hide near
a formation of rocks big enough to conceal them. The Bai Zhan disciples rarely go there
anyway, so it works flawlessly every time.

The whole peak is in disarray as disciples brace for a raid, a formation already guarding the
entrance of the rainbow bridge. Luo Binghe runs past all the panicked disciples, hearing a
few shouts of anger as he passes for ‘running away and not protecting Qing Jing’ to which he
pays no mind. Qing Jing can burn for all he cares, but he and Shen Yuan shouldn’t have to
deal with it.

He reaches the bamboo grove in record time, sprinting through the path until he finally spots
Shen Yuan who is sitting on the ground, a blur of white just next to him. Luo Binghe rushes
closer, walking as fast as he can until Shen Yuan looks at his direction and smiles while
waving his hand.
Luo Binghe decides not to ask about Shen Yuan’s drained expression that changed as soon as
he arrived.

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan exclaims, and the white blur next to him moves fast as it hisses — is it
the cat his shidi mentioned? “Wait, Wanyou, don’t attack Binghe too…!”

Luo Binghe frowns at the white cat, confusion spreading in his face as he wonders who the
cat had attacked as well. Hearing Shen Yuan’s voice, the cat scowls and hisses one more time
before turning away and running, its silhouette disappearing quickly as the cat disappears into
the grove. Shen Yuan pouts as he watches the last traces of the cat blend with the
environment, getting up from the ground and turning towards Luo Binghe.

“Sorry, I wanted to introduce you to Wanyou but he’s a bit hostile today,” Shen Yuan sighs,
dusting off his robes as he walks towards Luo Binghe. “What happened? You’re all sweaty
and your hair is all over the place!”

“There might be a Bai Zhan raid,” Luo Binghe replies, his face burning in embarrassment as
Shen Yuan points his state after running so fast. “We should go to our spot soon-”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. Liu-shishu has already left,” Shen Yuan says, interrupting Luo
Binghe who frowns at the fast response. His shidi’s thin face shows itself again as he stutters
before continuing. “I, uh, might have run into him accidentally. I saw him flying back in Bai
Zhan’s direction, so don’t worry.”

Luo Binghe raises an eyebrow at Shen Yuan’s statement, but decides not to press for details.
Everyone knows the Bai Zhan Peak Lord and the Qing Jing Peak Lord have a strong rivalry
going on, so he can imagine it might have been awkward for Shen Yuan to meet Liu Qingge
with all the rumors surrounding his heritage.

“If you say so, Shen-shidi,” Luo Binghe replies, watching as Shen Yuan pouts once again.

“I already told you it’s ok to call me just Shen Yuan!” he complains, although it doesn’t take
longer for his expression to turn soft once again. “I mean, if you want to, of course. If you’re
not comfortable with it, then it’s fine and I won’t complain again.”

Luo Binghe smiles, not having the heart to say he mostly hasn’t called Shen Yuan anything
else because he likes to see the pout forming on his face whenever Binghe calls him Shen-
shidi. There’s also the fact that, deep down, Luo Binghe is still a bit afraid; what if Shen Yuan
finally gets tired of him, what if he leaves to stop being harassed by their shixiongs?

It would be the best option, but Shen Yuan is too kind. Maybe it would be fine to allow
himself this one small indulgence, then.

“If A-Yuan wants it, then who am I to say no?” Luo Binghe struggles to keep himself from
smiling as Shen Yuan’s face becomes red, loving how it’s so easy to make him embarrassed.
“I might not be able to call A-Yuan like this near Shizun. I’d like to keep my head attached to
my body.”
“I can hear him screaming about being proper, ugh,” Shen Yuan whines, to which Luo
Binghe giggles. “Not like Binghe has to worry about it, though. I’m sure Shen Qingqiu’s
interest in my existence is temporary anyways.”

“I hope it is,” he admits, starting to walk alongside the other as they make their way back.
“A-Yuan said he’s not related to Shizun, correct?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure he’s not my father and he’s surely not closely related either,” Shen Yuan
grumbles. “Unless I have a rich uncle I never heard of.”

Luo Binghe knows it is a joke, but Shen Yuan hasn’t really said much about his family. The
only thing about them he ever mentioned is that he won’t be able to see them again, which
left Luo Binghe wondering what could have happened. Shen Yuan arrived at Qing Jing
looking as if he hadn’t eaten a decent meal for quite a while, his robes filled with holes and
some rough patchwork that could barely be seen under all the filth. It was clear he had no
family to support him, but then why couldn’t he see them? From the way he said it, it doesn’t
seem like they are dead.

Did they abandon Shen Yuan? It could be possible, but Luo Binghe doesn’t want to cross any
boundaries so he refrains from asking. If they did abandon him, then they don’t deserve to be
called his family — Luo Binghe has learned family isn’t just who you’re related to once his
mother took him in. She didn’t need to and it would be the better option to not take in another
mouth to feed, but she still did it.

Still, Shen Yuan sounds so sad whenever the topic comes up. Luo Binghe doesn’t like seeing
how his mood drops for the whole day whenever they talk of it, so he has stopped asking so
Shen Yuan won’t feel bad. They already have a lot to worry about as it is, so the best Luo
Binghe can do is to be a good friend to Shen Yuan.

As they walk back in a comfortable silence, Luo Binghe pledges to become someone Shen
Yuan can consider family.
 in which shen qingqiu should get a raise
Chapter Summary

After his conversation with Mu Qingfang, Shen Qingqiu tries to distract himself by
finishing some paperwork — only to be interrupted by Ming Fan and Shen Yuan
suddenly appearing at the bamboo house.

Chapter Notes

hi!! how are you guys doing?? once again i want to thank u all so much for the kind
comments, still baffles me how many ppl are liking the fic!!! so again, thank you all so
much ehehehe <3333
unfortunately there is only mentioned catjiu appearance this time, but well there’s a lot
of other things happening too!!!! next chapter will focus on the skinner demon mission
too, and i’m kinda excited to write about it SIUFHNGSIJFHISDUFH anyways, hope u
guys enjoy the chapter!!
twt: @nyungseoni

Shen Qingqiu feels calmer now that he has a coherent plan.

After two shichen of discussion with Mu Qingfang (and some extra minutes spent convincing
his shidi to not tell anyone about Shen Qingqiu’s suspicions), they had managed to craft a
plan and a few backups in case the first goes awry. It is a matter of sect security, so
everything had to be thought to the utmost attention down to the smallest details. Shen
Qingqiu has already enacted the first part of his side — innocently ‘helping’ Shen Yuan with
a few guqin techniques involving the fusion of qi, and then frowning for a second after
feeling Shen Yuan’s flow of qi.

There wasn’t anything wrong with it; Shen Yuan had a pretty steady flow and there’s nothing
outstanding with his qi at all. However, Shen Qingqiu does need a reason to take the child to
Qian Cao without alerting him that anything is amiss. For all that Shen Qingqiu wants to be
sure that there is no malignant intention within Shen Yuan, they still haven’t checked for
possession or any other demonic influence, so it is a precaution that must be taken.

The peak lord had made sure Shen Yuan saw his frown, turning away from the child as soon
as it was clear he had noticed. It would plant a seed of confusion in the child’s mind, one that
would help Shen Qingqiu’s plan to succeed if everything goes accordingly. Shen Yuan must
think there is something abnormal that Shen Qingqiu is able to feel in him, and then Mu
Qingfang will do the parts regarding coaxing Shen Yuan into telling them what he knows.
Wei Qingwei is also in their plan, albeit unknowingly — he wouldn’t have joined if Shen
Qingqiu had told him to, so he left that part for Mu Qingfang to deal with as he has a much
more amicable relation with the Wan Jian Peak Lord. Shen Qingqiu’s only requirement was
for Wei Qingwei to not be given many details of who exactly they are suspecting and for
what reason; he only needs that man and his sword for a brief moment to make sure Shen
Yuan doesn’t have any demonic influence on his body.

Thankfully, Mu Qingfang didn’t ask much about how Shen Qingqiu managed to get a hold of
such sensible information regarding Shen Yuan, his eyes glancing to the damned amulet from
time to time — at least Mu Qingfang was smart enough to know not to pry. The Qian Cao
Peak Lord also vowed to keep the matter a secret from Yue Qingyuan for the moment being,
so Shen Qingqiu will only have to worry about that later.

Mu Qingfang also answered a few of Shen Qingqiu’s questions regarding Shen Yuan. As the
peak lord had expected, the probability of Shen Yuan being both a seer and capable of
remembering his past lives is so impossibly small they might as well disregard it; it would be
the first case recorded, in fact. Both occurrences are already extremely rare on their own,
with seers being regarded as beings who only appear once in a few centuries and people with
access to their past memories being a tad more common, but only slightly — there are a few
dozen cases recorded so far.

Perhaps Shen Qingqiu has also convinced Mu Qingfang to perform a blood test to confirm or
disprove any possibilities of him and Shen Yuan being related, and maybe Shen Qingqiu has
already formulated how to move things forward for each option.

Shen Qingqiu knows it is selfish, but he can’t help but hope the child is somehow related to
him. Wouldn’t it mean he would have a person who would understand what he has gone
through, what it means to be judged by strangers who never bothered to know you?

It would also make it easier if anyone finds out about Shen Yuan’s abilities. Shen Qingqiu
knows there are many people in the world who would do anything to be able to know the
future ahead of them and would do everything to get their hands in such an ability — but if
Shen Yuan is Shen Qingqiu’s relative, then it would be much more difficult for anyone to
attempt anything against the child, for fear of Cang Qiong’s wrath that would befall them.

Alas, there is still time until the plan can be performed; Shen Qingqiu will first observe how
the child behaves during the mission in Shuang Hu, his reactions regarding the murders and
perhaps the peak lord will directly ask Shen Yuan on his thoughts about it during the
investigation and pass it off as a teaching moment. He will take Shen Yuan to Qian Cao after
they arrive and before he goes meditating in the Ling Xi caves — he has already told Mu
Qingfang of what Shen Yuan had told him about Liu Qingge, without adding the murder part,
of course. Mu Qingfang will provide him with an emergency talisman in case anything does
happen.

Shen Qingqiu wished to stay longer to gather more information from Shen Yuan, but the little
beast just had to show up and ruin everything. The peak lord didn’t attack Luo Binghe only
because Shen Yuan asked him not to, but if he ever walked upon that little beast while the
child is not around, Shen Qingqiu cannot promise to hold back. At least Luo Binghe’s arrival
left Shen Qingqiu with more time to process the influx of information, which the peak lord
tried to ponder upon once he turned back and arrived at the bamboo house.

Upon further thinking about Shen Yuan’s sentence, Shen Qingqiu realized why the child
might have thought of such a thing happening — if his vision of the future is from Shen
Yuan’s point of view, it wouldn’t surprise Shen Qingqiu that he would be accused of murder
if Liu Qingge died during a qi deviation while they are both inside the Ling Xi caves, and
that Shen Yuan would believe it. The child clearly doesn’t have a kind view of him, like most
people, and Shen Qingqiu hasn’t tried to change that either.

It does make Shen Qingqiu bitter in a way different from usual upon realizing his martial
siblings would indeed quickly blame him of such an act.

The peak lord sighs as he looks down at the countless documents he must review, deciding to
take his mind away from the wave of issues that have plagued his life recently. His brush
barely reaches the paper before the door of his bamboo house suddenly shoots open,
grumbling sounds echoing through the room as Shen Qingqiu turns around in alert, only to
find…

Ming Fan and Shen Yuan.

“What is it?” Shen Qingqiu asks, voice sharp as he feels a headache forming in the base of
his temples.

Ming Fan stutters, his grip on Shen Yuan’s robes faltering for a moment under Shen
Qingqiu’s stare. The child is looking down, his face filled with something resembling
resentment and anger. What even could have happened for him to be dragged here by Ming
Fan at this time? It is already time for the disciples to be in their dormitories and preparing to
sleep, after all.

“Pardon the interruption, Shizun, but this disciple has caught disciple Shen Yuan attempting
to steal from the deposits,” Ming Fan says, surprisingly steady for how nervous he looks.

Shen Qingqiu sighs. He doesn’t remember Shen Yuan mentioning any heist plans the last
time he saw him, and the peak lord has no clue what the child would need that was so
unattainable he resorted to stealing. Can’t Shen Yuan stay clear of trouble for once…?

“I see,” the Qing Jing Peak Lord says, standing from his seat after putting away the brush. He
walks in front of both disciples, taking note of how Shen Yuan tenses up but refuses to yield
his resentful face. “Tell me, Shen Yuan. What could this peak not provide to its disciples that
one has resorted to stealing?”

“An actual cultivation manual,” Shen Yuan mutters, his voice barely above a whisper as if he
had said it intending to be a thought in his head.

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t miss the way Ming Fan freezes. The peak lord’s gaze moves to the
head disciple for a second before turning back to Shen Yuan, who seems to have noticed his
accidental reply as his face pales and his hands grip against the hems of his sleeves.
“Does disciple Shen Yuan care to clarify?” Shen Qingqiu asks, and both of them know it is
not an actual question, but a command. After all, if there is something wrong with Shen
Yuan’s manual, it needs to be solved immediately; cultivating in any wrong way can cause
serious issues to the person’s foundation and may even cause death in more serious cases.

Unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu knows too well of the consequences of doing such a thing.

“I- it is not my manual that is wrong,” Shen Yuan stutters, still refusing to look at the peak
lord in front of him. Shen Qingqiu’s eyebrows raise; then why is he stealing- “Luo-shixiong
has been given a faulty manual. This disciple has noticed after taking a brief look at it and
comparing to mine.”

Shen Qingqiu immediately knows Ming Fan is the culprit behind this, as if the head disciple
hadn’t given himself away the moment he walked into the house. The peak lord hadn’t really
given limits to Ming Fan regarding Luo Binghe, but never once had he even implied the head
disciple should do such a thing — it could lead to the little beast’s death and a wave of
accusations upon Shen Qingqiu sabotaging his own disciple.

“And why hasn’t disciple Shen Yuan asked this master for another, or told Luo Binghe to do
as such?”

“…this disciple didn’t want to disturb Shizun,” Shen Yuan grumbles, his statement so
obviously being a lie. He thought Shen Qingqiu told Ming Fan to do it, didn’t he? “I tried to
ask Ming-shixiong to give Luo-shixiong a new one, but he refused.”

Oh, this child never ceases to amaze him. Shen Yuan clearly knows he will get a punishment
for trying to steal, but he’s not going down alone. Shen Qingqiu opens his fan to conceal the
small grin in his face, moving his gaze towards the head disciple who doesn’t even attempt to
deny such allegations as he drops to the floor and bows.

“This useless disciple has made a mistake,” Ming Fan cries out, which does make Shen
Qingqiu a tad annoyed. At least he did admit at once and spared the peak lord from having to
summon Luo Binghe here. “Begging Shizun for a punishment.”

Another sigh comes out of the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s mouth. “Head disciple Ming Fan shall
copy Qing Jing’s rules over a hundred times with no mistakes, and then kneel for two
shichen. Afterwards, you are going to give a real manual to Luo Binghe.”

Ming Fan thanks and nods frantically as he gets out of the floor. Shen Yuan looks absolutely
angered by the choice of punishment, yet says nothing; truthfully, Shen Qingqiu would have
enough to kick Ming Fan out of his peak if he accused the head disciple of purposefully
tampering with Luo Binghe’s manual, but Ming Fan is quite useful overall and if the peak
lord did such a thing, it would inevitably spread to the rest of the sect and drag his already
inexistent reputation even further down.

“While this master understands disciple Shen Yuan’s kind intentions to help his shixiong, it
does not negate the fact that disciple Shen Yuan has attempted to steal from his own peak,”
Shen Qingqiu says, looking down at the child who widens his eyes at the acknowledgement
of his intentions. “Disciple Shen Yuan shall write Qing Jing’s rules fifty times without
mistakes. You both shall start your punishments after morning lessons.”

One look is enough to tell Shen Yuan was expecting way worse than what he received, his
back relaxing just a tiny bit as a sigh of relief leaves his mouth. It would be his first
punishment, truthfully — Shen Yuan doesn’t really cause much trouble that would require
such measures, and his performance is good enough for him to avoid anything in that regard
too.

Shen Qingqiu also hated to think about the existence of the child before meeting him that day,
which probably helped Shen Yuan avoid it until now.

Both Shen Yuan and Ming Fan mutter their acknowledgment of their respective punishments
and leave as soon as Shen Qingqiu waves his hand, finally allowing the peak lord a moment
of quiet he absolutely deserved. He already had enough issues to deal with, couldn’t Ming
Fan grow some common sense for a moment and couldn’t Shen Yuan stop bringing it upon
himself to solve others people’s issues?!

Couldn’t that little beast find a way to get a proper manual without putting Shen Yuan in a
bad situation? Even worse, there’s a very real possibility that Shen Yuan simply took it upon
himself to do it without telling the little beast, because the child is just that much of a fool.

Turning back to the papers in his desk, Shen Qingqiu sighs as he picks up the brush once
again and continues his previous task. His mind isn’t truly free of any lingering thoughts, of
course, but at least he is able to focus enough to finish two piles of documents before
deeming it enough for the day. Going through his schedule for tomorrow, Shen Qingqiu
glances at the empty spot near the end of the afternoon. It should be close to the time Shen
Yuan will most likely be done with his punishment, so maybe Shen Qingqiu could be kind
enough to let the child meet his cat friend after such a grueling afternoon.

Perhaps also so he can listen to more of the child’s musings, but Shen Qingqiu would never
admit that to himself.

Yue Qingyuan leisurely walks across the rainbow bridge leading to Qing Jing.

The peak is much calmer than his own; a serene breeze that echoes delicately though the ears
instead of the bustling sound of disciples running around to complete errands, spread-out
buildings with multiple scenic spots in-between them instead of efficient, concentrated halls
built for maximum speed while traversing them. It is a place of peace and quiet, so unlike the
man who is in charge of it.

For all others who see Shen Qingqiu, he is the definition of the perfect scholar; elegant,
dignified and knowledgeable in all areas, an air of aloofness that makes him just as ethereal
as he is unapproachable. For Yue Qingyuan, however, there is no amount of classy robes and
intricate fans that can make him stop seeing Shen Jiu.
Maybe it’s the sharp, judging look in his eyes; maybe it’s the ever-present scowl that
decorates the peak lord’s face, or maybe it’s the dormant beast in his gaze that is always on
the verge of breaking out and wrecking anyone deemed a threat. Shen Jiu has never left, for
all that Shen Qingqiu tries to bury him under that elegance.

The disciples who see Yue Qingyuan arriving always hesitate before approaching the sect
leader, always attempting to push the task of receiving him to an unfortunate soul who isn’t
quick enough to refuse; it can be quite endearing to see the disciples acting like that, mostly
because it reminds Yue Qingyuan of his own disciple days — well, the good parts of them.

Today’s unfortunate disciple just happens to be Shen Yuan, who doesn’t have the chance to
complain to his martial siblings before he’s pushed in front of them and left alone as the rest
conveniently runs away to ‘finish tasks’. A brief expression of anxiety crosses through Shen
Yuan’s mind, yet it is quickly gone as soon as he turns to face Yue Qingyuan, greeting the
sect leader with a neutral face. There’s a few stains of ink on his sleeves that the child either
didn’t notice or didn’t care to clean.

“Disciple Shen Yuan greets Zhangmen-shibo. May this disciple be of any assistance to
shibo?” Shen Yuan repeats the phrase he always uses whenever he’s stuck with the task of
assisting the sect leader, which Yue Qingyuan suspect his martial siblings have already
noticed the sect leader’s preference for the child who looks so much like Xiao-Jiu-

Yue Qingyuan smiles politely, shaking away any previous thoughts as quickly as they arrived
in his mind. “This master is looking for your Shizun. Can Shen-shizhi guide this master to
Peak Lord Shen’s location?”

Shen Yuan nods, bowing his head before starting to walk at a steady pace towards the
bamboo house. Yue Qingyuan already knew Shen Qingqiu would probably be there at this
time, and he’s also sure that Shen Yuan is aware the sect leader knew it. They walk quietly
without mentioning the fact, as has become routine for whenever Yue Qingyuan visits Qing
Jing.

There are a few things Yue Qingyuan wants to ask Shen Yuan, however. He is a disciple in
Cang Qiong, after all, and it would be good to know if he’s adapting well to the environment.
The sect leader is very aware of Shen Qingqiu’s complicated feelings toward Shen Yuan’s
existence and the rumors that surround the both of them — rumors in which Yue Qingyuan
himself had asked the Qing Jing Peak Lord about, to which Shen Qingqiu snarled an insult at
him for asking.

The only moment in which the sect leader had seen the peak lord and the child together after
the selection was, ironically, when Shen Qingqiu had been inflicted by the amulet found
during a mission assigned to the Qing Jing Peak Lord. Yue Qingyuan had never been so
thankful for his abilities in regards to diplomacy as he saw the white cat next to Shen Yuan,
because it was only due to his experience that the sect leader managed to hold back the yelp
of surprise stuck on his throat that day.

Still, even with Shen Qingqiu seemingly growing an interest in Shen Yuan after the incident
— or at least that is what Yue Qingyuan hopes, since there would be no other reason for Shen
Qingqiu to be so adamant in keeping the amulet after the incident —, Yue Qingyuan wanted
to make sure the child is adapting well. The sect leader knows how difficult it can be for
anyone to be introduced to a different environment, especially for people who weren’t quite
as lucky in life before arriving, as was evident it was also Shen Yuan’s case.

“How is disciple Shen Yuan adapting to Qing Jing Peak?” the sect leader asks, watching as
Shen Yuan whips his head in surprise at the sudden question. Yue Qingyuan holds back a
small laugh.

“This disciple is working hard to reach the standards of such a prestigious sect as Cang
Qiong,” Shen Yuan answers diplomatically, much to Yue Qingyuan’s disappointment.
Sometimes he does forget people are much less inclined to share their actual thoughts to him
due to his position.

“That is very good to know,” Yue Qingyuan replies, hoping his next question will be
answered the way he expects. “Is there any class that peaked Shen-shizhi’s interest more than
others?”

“Spiritual beast anatomy and anything related to demonic beasts!” Shen Yuan exclaims, eyes
shining with excitement as he seemingly forgets his previous hesitance — this bait always
work with children his age, Yue Qingyuan learned. “Also anything about plants and what
they’re used for! History is also so cool and I can’t wait until Yang-shifu starts the module on
the Demon Realm wars that happened during the past century…!”

Yue Qingyuan can’t help but smile warmly at the child ranting about his favorite subjects.
For all Shen Yuan’s physical similarities to Shen Qingqiu, the two cannot be more different
from one another; Shen Yuan is a child full of life and energy, so different from what Shen
Jiu was when he arrived at the sect — it makes the sect leader wonder if this is how Shen Jiu
would grow to be if Yue Qi hadn’t broken his promise.

“This master is glad to know Shen-shizhi enjoys to learn what Qing Jing offers,” Yue
Qingyuan replies. “If Shen-shizhi would like, this master-”

“May this shidi ask why Zhangmen-shixiong is trying to steal this shidi’s disciple?” a sharp
voice cuts through the calm air, making both Yue Qingyuan and Shen Yuan whip their heads
to Shen Qingqiu who stands a few meters in front of them. “Are Zhangmen-shixiong’s own
disciples not enough for him?”

“Qingqiu-shidi,” Yue Qingyuan greets, watching as the peak lord glares down at the sect
leader. Honestly, he hadn’t noticed they were already so close to the bamboo house. “This
shixiong was merely about to offer a few books to Shen-shizhi-”

“Is Qing Jing’s library not the biggest in Cang Qiong?” Shen Qingqiu cuts mid-sentence
again, those green eyes shooting daggers at the sect leader like usual — it feels different this
time, though. The Qing Jing Peak Lord moves his gaze to Shen Yuan, its sharp edge just a bit
subdued. “If disciple Shen Yuan requires any material not available at Qing Jing’s library, he
may request it through the head disciple.”

Ah, Yue Qingyuan understands now. While the sect leader is not sure when Shen Qingqiu had
grown fond of Shen Yuan — although he suspects it might be related to the amulet —, he is
nevertheless glad to see Shen Qingqiu growing out of his first behavior when meeting the
child; Yue Qingyuan was acutely aware his shidi had only claimed Shen Yuan as his disciple
as an attempt to spite the sect leader, which Yue Qingyuan let the Qing Jing Peak Lord do
without complaints.

He did think of accepting Shen Yuan into Qiong Ding the moment he saw the child, and as
ashamed he is to admit it, mostly because of his uncanny resemblance to Xiao-Jiu; the gleam
of determination as Shen Yuan dug even with hands littered with injuries brought back both
warm and bitter memories. Yue Qingyuan knows Shen Yuan is not the child in which Yue Qi
spent his childhood with, yet the sect leader can’t help but feel a deep sorrow whenever
looking at him.

“T-this disciple understands, Shizun,” Shen Yuan replies, face pale as his eyes move
incessantly between the Qing Jing Peak Lord and the sect leader.

“Then you are dismissed — and go change your robes, it is unbecoming of a Qing Jing
disciple to walk around so unkept,” Shen Qingqiu says, to which Shen Yuan looks down at
his robes and notices the ink. He nods frantically and gives a quick glance to Yue Qingyuan
before turning away and walking (maybe running would be more accurate) away. The peak
lord sighs and looks back at the sect leader with annoyance. “What does Zhangmen-shixiong
require from this Qingqiu?”

The sect leader decides not to comment on how Shen Qingqiu’s grip over his fan hardened
once he saw Shen Yuan glancing at Yue Qingyuan, or how the peak lord’s voice was softer
than usual when scolding the child. He smiles lightly, feeling his heart oddly warm at this
strange turn of events. “There are a few documents regarding Qingqiu-shidi’s next mission
that this shixiong has come to deliver.”

“…This shidi thanks Zhangmen-shixiong for his kindness to deliver them personally. Does
Zhangmen-shixiong wish to drink some tea?” Shen Qingqiu’s sarcasm while replying always
breaks Yue Qingyuan’s heart a little bit every time he comes, knowing that his presence is not
really wanted there. Usually he stays nevertheless, enjoying those small moments with his
shidi even when it is filled with sharp remarks and bitter looks.

Today is different than usual, however.

Yue Qingyuan smiles before shaking his head. “There is no need. This shixiong must deal
with a few issues back in Qiong Ding.”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes flash with surprise for a second, the peak lord quickly opening his fan to
conceal his expression. Even if Yue Qingyuan hates the way Shen Qingqiu’s fans always hide
half of his face and make it more difficult to guess what the other is thinking, the sect leader
still gifts as many as he can — even if he doesn’t say it, Yue Qingyuan knows that Shen
Qingqiu prefers receiving the fans over other objects.

“This shidi understands,” Shen Qingqiu replies, fanning himself ever so slightly as he
watches the expression on the sect leader’s face. “This Qingqiu will review the documents,
then.”
There’s no need for him to stay and sour Shen Qingqiu’s mood, to accidentally remind the
peak lord of the broken promise between them like he always does. Yue Qingyuan has long
since accepted they will never go back to what they once were, yet he has never stopped
caring for Shen Jiu. It is the least he can do, after all.

Yue Qingyuan hands over the papers, smiling before saying farewell to the peak lord. Shen
Qingqiu watches as Yue Qingyuan walks away, the lingering weight of his gaze disappearing
as soon as the sect leader is far away enough. Truthfully, there’s no outstanding issue in
Qiong Ding for him to solve now; Yue Qingyuan feels like the emptiness and guilt in his
heart have grown a little smaller after seeing his Xiao-Jiu finally letting someone else in his
life — seeking them out, too. Shen Yuan will bring a good change for Shen Qingqiu, Yue
Qingyuan hopes.

Even if his heart is riddled with sorrow, Yue Qingyuan feels lighter than he has ever been in
all these years.
 in which shen qingqiu remembers he has feelings
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu prepares for the trip to Shuang Hu city. Ming Fan can’t stop his schemes
from backfiring on Shen Qingqiu, as always.

Chapter Notes

hi!!! how are u guys doing? so i wrote this chapter sooner than i thought i would bc i
was just so excited to do it ehehehe finally some angst and some sy background clues
(and some rare empathy coming from sqq)
anyways, i want to thank you guys for the support this fic has been getting!!! thank you
all so much, seriously, i didn’t expect so many ppl would enjoy it CFNDJSKFNSDF but
anyways, hope u guys like this chapter!!!
twt: @nyungseos

Shen Qingqiu overlooks the small crowd of disciples, turning away to enter his carriage after
finishing the headcount.

It is the day of departure for Shuang Hu city. Ming Fan was left in charge of most logistics
and smaller things that did not require Shen Qingqiu’s oversight, while the peak lord studied
the documents given by the sect leader in his last visit. Thinking about it gave him a
headache, the insufferable look of guilt always plastered onto that fool’s face whenever
looking at not only Shen Qingqiu but also Shen Yuan.

It was always clear as day that Yue Qingyuan was using Shen Yuan as some sort of emotional
scapegoat for what Shen Jiu never was — a more kind, warm-hearted, docile version which
only existed in the sect leader’s mind. It was what caused Shen Qingqiu to immediately claim
Shen Yuan as one of his disciples, after all, and it was the reason in which it was so difficult
for the Qing Jing Peak Lord to even look at the child before their accidental meeting in the
bamboo grove.

It took him actually meeting Shen Yuan for Shen Qingqiu to notice how wrong Yue
Qingyuan had been from the beginning — Shen Yuan is not just a quiet child meant to
replace Yue Qi’s Xiao-Jiu, he’s so much more than that; if only Yue Qingyuan ever bothered
to do anything besides gloating in guilt and pity, perhaps he would have noticed it.

The first order given to Ming Fan after Shen Qingqiu returned to the bamboo house with the
documents in hand and fury in his eyes was to explicitly tell Shen Yuan he has all rights to
refuse talking to the sect leader whenever he visits Qing Jing, and if Yue Qingyuan has any
problems with that, then that Shen Yuan should instruct him to go talk about it with Shen
Qingqiu.

Ming Fan was clearly surprised and curious about the decision, but did not utter a single
question; he was already on thin ice with Shen Qingqiu after that stupid stunt he pulled with
the little beast without the peak lord’s knowledge. Shen Qingqiu wishes he could have met
Shen Yuan as his cat friend later, yet he knew better than to interact much with other people
when he’s feeling so infuriated.

A whine of protest brings Shen Qingqiu back from his thoughts, as the peak lord looks
through the window to the source of noise. As expected, it seems like there is some sort of
conflict between Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe and Ming Fan — always those three, somehow —,
and the head disciple looks down at the little beast with a mocking gaze while Shen Yuan
looks awfully annoyed by the situation.

“As I have said, there are no available horses for Luo-shidi. Since your foundation is lacking,
it is also a good opportunity for shidi to practice.” Ming Fan replies, to which Shen Yuan
mutters something under his breath. Luo Binghe looks angry by the obvious set up, and Ming
Fan doesn’t waste the opportunity to taunt the little beast again. “What? What kind of
expression is that? Are you unsatisfied, Luo-shidi?”

“This shidi would not dare,” the little beast replies, eyes gleaming with resentment. Not even
Luo Binghe’s stupidity was big enough to make him believe Qing Jing of all places would
have a shortage of horses, and he knows Shen Qingqiu doesn’t care to stop Ming Fan’s petty
attitude.

A familiar voice is heard as Ning Yingying loudly exclaims. “If there are not enough horses,
then A-Luo can ride with me!”

Shen Qingqiu sighs at the interruption of the girl. Ning Yingying might not know it yet, but
there is no good that will come from her acts of charity towards the little beast — towards
any man, truthfully. She’s too naive to accept it yet, so Shen Qingqiu must cut the root of the
problem before it happens. “Men and woman should not be in contact with each other, and
there is nothing indicating disciple Luo Binghe cannot walk.”

“Then Luo-shixiong can ride with me if that’s the problem!” Shen Yuan chimes in, a smug
look spreading across his face as he looks proud of his reply.

A scowl crosses through the peak lord’s face as he opens his fan, even when not many
disciples would be able to see his expression from the carriage window. Can’t Shen Yuan just
let go of that little beast? Why must he always defend the useless Luo Binghe who only drags
him into more trouble? Shen Qingqiu should make Shen Yuan walk alongside that little beast
for his imprudence, but it would simply strengthen their bond against their oh-so-wicked
Shizun.

“If Shen Yuan is so worried about his shixiong, then he may give his horse to Luo Binghe,”
Shen Qingqiu says, barely containing a grin as the little beast’s face pales at the thought of
his friend having to walk all the way because of him. However, he continues. “Shen Yuan
shall join this master in the carriage.”

Shen Yuan looks as if he might faint of shock, which brings a feeling of smugness to the peak
lord. Luo Binghe is quicker in his reaction than the child, bowing in gratitude to Shen
Qingqiu and giving a worried look to Shen Yuan as the child is brought back from his initial
shock. Shen Yuan mutters his gratitude to the peak lord and makes his way to the carriage
entrance in heavy, slow steps.

As if Shen Qingqiu was some sort of mortal peril to this child and not his Shizun! Most Qing
Jing disciples are fairly scared of Shen Qingqiu, yes; the peak lord has made the conscious
choice to not change the brats’ opinions of him as it makes things easier. If they are afraid of
him, then they will work harder to make sure Shen Qingqiu is not displeased.

It has never bothered him before; in fact, the Qing Jing Peak Lord preferred it this way. Why
does it leave a bitter taste in his mouth when Shen Yuan is the one fearing him, then? Is it the
hesitation as the child sits in the seat in front of the peak lord, or is how the air seems to
become tenser whenever he looks at Shen Yuan?

Not even Ning Yingying rides alongside Shen Qingqiu in the carriage that often. It is clearly
a sign that Shen Yuan is being favored, so why is he acting in such a way? Shen Qingqiu was
benevolent to let this fool inside his carriage, and now he’s going to have to deal with Shen
Yuan’s nervous stare for the rest of the trip when the only thing the peak lord wanted was to
get a little bit of rest before the mission…

Shen Qingqiu sighs once again. This will be a long trip, from the looks of it.

Shuang Hu city isn’t awfully far away from Cang Qiong, so it does not take them long to
arrive.

Shen Yuan flies out of the carriage as soon as the doors are opened, rushing to the little
beast’s side so quickly it makes Shen Qingqiu wonder if he should just let them both walk the
way back. If Shen Yuan keeps his ungrateful behavior that way, then perhaps it wouldn’t be
so awful to let the kid go by his little friend’s side.

No, Shen Qingqiu is not mad that Shen Yuan is so visibly uncomfortable when near the peak
lord. Of course he isn’t! Not that Shen Qingqiu tried to soothe any of the child’s nervousness
during the trip by initiating small talk or giving the child anything but annoyed glares, but it
is Shen Yuan’s fault for not recognizing Shen Qingqiu’s goodwill!

If he wants to be such a brat, then I’ll let him, Shen Qingqiu sneers in his mind. He has very
important things to deal with now rather than worrying about accommodating Shen Yuan’s
soft behavior!

First, they stop by Old Master Chen’s estate, the old man stuck to his awfully young
concubine as he cries for Shen Qingqiu’s help in catching the perpetrator who killed his other
concubine. The peak lord is thankful for his lofty persona at times — because as soon as the
opportunity presents itself, Shen Qingqiu leaves the bulk of the work for Ming Fan to deal
with, he leaves for the courtyard in which the remains of the previous concubine rests.

Even the stench of dead bodies is better than the musk coming from that old bastard and his
clinginess to a concubine clearly much younger than him.

Most of the disciples are already there, studying the remains of the concubine with a
surprisingly good endurance considering most of these brats are too soft for Shen Qingqiu’s
taste — still, they don’t dare come too closer to the body, studying them from afar. Some
make good remarks about the pattern in killings, while some others quietly stare at the body
in fear of saying something wrong; Shen Qingqiu hopes these brats remember they are being
graded for their performance.

An extra body has been found too, although it is one lacking any skin, its presence pointing
so obviously to the work of a Skinner Demon, but Shen Qingqiu won’t tell his disciples just
yet — he wants to talk to Shen Yuan first and see what the child answers.

Shen Yuan is quietly kneeling next to one of the bodies, his eyes observing every detail of the
remains with attention. Shen Qingqiu decides to take his chance, walking next to the child
who is so concentrated he does not notice the peak lord looming behind him.

“What has disciple Shen Yuan gathered from his observations?” Shen Qingqiu asks, watching
amusedly as the child jumps startled by his appearance. Serves him right for being such a bad
traveling companion!

“Shizun!” Shen Yuan yelps before composing himself and looking back at the peak lord.
“This one believes the murders to be the work of a Skinner Demon.”

The disciples in the courtyard squeak in surprise while Shen Qingqiu hums. “And why does
disciple Shen Yuan believe so?”

“Besides the obvious fact that the skin is definitely not attached to the body, there is also a
few other factors that indicate it, like the lacerations on the victim’s thighs — it is a precise
cut,” Shen Qingqiu nods to the child’s sentence, already knowing where he’s going with it.
“Even if the rest of the bodies are not here for this one to confirm a pattern, this one assumes
they have been stabbed on their femural artery, bleeding out from the injury before being
skinned. This is probably not Concubine Xiong’s body; it is only her skin and this is the latest
victim’s body.”

A few disciples protest to Shen Yuan’s claim. “What if it’s just a murderer who likes to skin
their victims and put it back after they died? How do you know for certain it is a demon?”

“Maybe because of the demonic energy emanating from the victim,” Shen Yuan retorts. “It’s
very faint on the skin, but incredibly noticeable on the body itself. If you had actually
examined the bodies from close enough, you would have felt it.”

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t bother to hide the grin of satisfaction across his face this time. He does
not call out Shen Yuan’s mildly rude remarks to his seniors — let it become a lesson for
them, who had been too scared to treat this mission as seriously as they should have. He’s
right in his assessment, after all; besides, Shen Yuan’s remarks gave Shen Qingqiu insight
over the boy’s thought process.

Shen Yuan already knew it was a Skinner Demon, but thankfully the boy is smart; if he had
simply told everyone his ‘theory’ without giving proof of why he thinks that, he would have
been shunned and dismissed quickly. Shen Qingqiu hates to admit as such, but not all of his
disciples are bright enough to deduce that on their own.

Shen Yuan can compensate his annoying softness with his brains, at least.

“Disciple Shen Yuan is correct,” Shen Qingqiu says, watching the rest of the disciples gasp in
shock as Shen Yuan smiles proudly. The peak lord turns to face the disciples. “It is indeed the
work of a Skinner Demon. Disciple Ming Fan will give more information relevant to it once
we arrive at the inn.”

A chant of ‘yes, Shizun’ echoes through the courtyard, and Shen Qingqiu takes it as his cue to
finally leave the premises of Old Master Chen’s main building. Ming Fan already knows to
meet him at the entrance gate of the estate, so there is no need to linger any longer in that
repugnant man’s house. If Cang Qiong wasn’t hired by said man to deal with the demon,
Shen Qingqiu would have gladly let Old Master Chen be skinned by his beloved wolf in
concubine’s clothing.

It wasn’t hard to deduce the third concubine — Die-er, from what that old bastard said —
was the culprit. While Shen Qingqiu did not linger close enough to the woman to properly
sense any demonic energy, only a fool wouldn’t know it upon further inspection of the events
surrounding the estate. All the victims (most of whom were brothel woman who supposedly
didn’t matter enough for the old man to hire Cang Qiong before) were killed within specific
time frames of each other; probably when the skin started to rot while the demon wears it.

The time between the last brothel worker and the first concubine’s death were identical to
those of the previous victims; the Skinner Demon had most likely hopped from body to body
whenever the first signs of decay started to show, and Die-er was its latest victim. Shen
Qingqiu must pass the information along to Ming Fan (who will hopefully have this figured
out before the peak lord needs to explain), so that the head disciple can conjure a plan to trap
the demon without alerting Old Master Chen.

Later they can spin a tragic story about how Die-er was gone for a long time, but they knew
Old Master Chen’s love for her would blind him to the demon wearing her skin. Ugh, Shen
Qingqiu can feel his insides swirling just by thinking of having to say that. He knew better
than anyone else that men like that old bastard are not capable of love; it is why they prey on
young woman in need of a better life.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord is taken out of his thoughts by the sound of chatter, which lets him
compose himself before the disciples arrive alongside Ming Fan. Luo Binghe is, as expected,
annoyingly glued to Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying’s side, although the little beast seems to
be growing closer to his shidi rather than his shijie. Soon enough he will run off to another
peak or out of Cang Qiong altogether, so Shen Qingqiu does not need to worry too much
about it.
“Shizun, the initial investigation has been completed,” Ming Fan says, face visibly tired from
having to deal with the master of the estate. “Old Master Chen has already given this disciple
autopsy reports from specialists, alongside a few more pieces of relevant information. I have
collected his testimony as well.”

“Very well,” Shen Qingqiu replies, fanning himself in boredom. “We may settle for a few
shichen to formulate a plan and rest before capturing the demon. This master assumes the
booking has already been done by Ming Fan, correct?”

“Of course, Shizun,” Ming Fan replies, walking to the inn just next to Old Master Chen’s
estate. Shen Qingqiu follows in a leisurely pace, watching over the disciples as the head
disciple deals with the lodgings. The inn is nothing fancy, but it is more than enough to spend
a few days.

The first sign of trouble appears when, conveniently enough, there’s one less room booked
than necessary. Shen Qingqiu can feel his temples starting to ache as Ming Fan pales and
takes a quick glance towards the peak lord who feels his eyes twitching in annoyance as he
throws a pouch of coins at the receptionist who magically finds a vacant room for Luo
Binghe.

If this were any other day, Shen Qingqiu would’ve let Luo Binghe sleep on whatever hole
that beast managed to find. Today, however, he has already dealt with Shen Yuan’s charitable
nature, and the Qing Jing Peak Lord doesn’t feel like letting the brat sleep outside to learn a
lesson about his foolishness; they are after a demon, one that would certainly take advantage
if it were to find a young cultivator ripe for the taking.

Besides, Shen Yuan has proven his usefulness; Shen Qingqiu once again will be benevolent
enough to spare the child’s little beast of much trouble.

Shen Qingqiu makes his way to his quarters, not paying much attention to the quality of the
lodging — any other day would have the peak lord stop to observe how far he has come,
from sleeping in the streets to being able to spend a fortune in a place he will stay for only a
few nights, yet Shen Qingqiu finds himself too tired today to care. He has Ming Fan’s
documents to revise, after all, and he has to guide the head disciple so he can form a concise
plan to deal with the demon.

A knock is heard. Shen Qingqiu allows entrance, finding Ning Yingying entering the room
instead of Ming Fan. “Shizun, Ying’er is going out to the market! Does Shizun want to come
with me?”

The peak lord smiles at the young girl. If not for the amount of work he must deal with at the
moment, Shen Qingqiu would enjoy taking a stroll around with Ning Yingying; the girl can
be a bit too much at times, but her heart is sweet in its intentions. She is one of the only
people who cared to see Shen Qingqiu beyond the aloof persona he puts up, one of the only
people the peak lord feels at ease while being around.

Unfortunately, there are things Shen Qingqiu must do. “If Ying’er wants to go out, get some
of your martial brothers to accompany you. This master has a few issues to deal with, so I
will give you a few coins to spend instead.”
Ning Yingying pouts for a few seconds before smiling and thanking Shen Qingqiu, happily
making her way to find any shixiong who will accompany her. The peak lord would never let
the young girl out by herself, not when Ning Yingying is so naive to the issues of the world;
it makes Shen Qingqiu nauseous to think how many bastards love to take advantage of young
girls like that.

He had seen it happening often. While during his days scraping for coins as a slave did make
for a bulk of it, there was also things he saw while frequenting the Warm Red Pavilion — too
many young girls who were foolish to trust others and ended up in their position. Shen
Qingqiu did as much as he could to help, often donating a bulk of his salary to the girls so
they can pay off their debts faster, but he knew this was only scratching the surface of the
issue as a whole; while slavery and indebted servitude still exist, these things will keep
happening just as quickly.

Shen Qingqiu pays to free one, two more are bought.

He tried to raise a plan to solve the issue as a whole. It was outlawed, yes, but it still
happened behind the curtains — bribes were given to officials who would in turn deny
anything happening. It did not make to any peak lord meeting, because Yue Qingyuan shut
any attempts from Shen Qingqiu to discuss it with the other peak lords before he had any
chance. We cannot do it now, the sect leader said. Too many people would revolt against this
change, and we already outlawed slavery in Cang Qiong territories and protectorates. I’m
sorry, Xiao-Jiu-

Shen Qingqiu shakes his head in disgust. There is no need to think about it, so he instead
pours his attention onto the documents in front of him. The peak lord calls for Ming Fan soon
after, and spends the rest of the afternoon discussing strategies with the head disciple who is
insightful enough to think for himself before Shen Qingqiu has to point him towards the
correct direction. It is the reason Ming Fan is the head disciple, after all.

The sun is already setting by the time a rushed knock is heard through the room before the
door blasts open and one of the older disciples runs into the room. Shen Qingqiu is about to
scold the disciple, Xue Jingyi, before noticing his state, trembling hands followed by a pale
face and a few tears threatening to fall. Something serious happened, surely.

“Shizun! A strange figure just took Ning-shimei, Luo-shidi and Shen-shidi!” Xue Jingyi cries
as Shen Qingqiu’s heart stops at hearing the sentence. The disciple falls to the ground and
bows. “This useless disciple could not chase after! Please, Shizun must save them!”

Storming out of the room before the disciple stops bowing, Shen Qingqiu ignores the cries of
confusion from Ming Fan as he sends a glare to the head disciple, which he understands
quickly. The peak lord can deal with the disciple later; now he must make his way to the
street market and find the three disciples.

Ning Yingying should not have gone, I shouldn’t have let her, Shen Qingqiu curses himself
while dashing through crowds who look weirdly at the peak lord. Of course she took Shen
Yuan and the little beast with her instead of a shixiong capable of protecting her if need
arises, of course! This is all his fault. Why couldn’t Luo Binghe be the only one taken?
A strong remnant of demonic energy hits Shen Qingqiu as soon as he approaches the market.
He follows it, sprinting through the streets with a hand on Xiu Ya’s hilt and dodging any
bystanders without a second thought. It leads the peak lord to the outskirts of Shuang Hu city,
an area clearly uninhabited by anyone for a long time.

It is emanating from an abandoned house, an entrance gate barely opened when Shen Qingqiu
arrived. It does not take two looks at the dilapidated gate to know it is a poorly made trap,
one which Shen Qingqiu immediately destroys as quietly as possible as he looks for an
entrance inside the house. He jumps to the broken roof in swift steps, concealing his spiritual
energy from anyone to sense so the demon does not notice him.

Shen Qingqiu arrives at what must have previously been a dining room, the vast ambient half
covered by a roof and the other half having already collapsed long ago. He looks down into
the room, holding his breath as he sees the three disciples tied against a wooden pillar and
staring wide-eyed at the figure covered in shadows a few meters from them.

“Cang Qiong Mountain sect is nothing great after all! Three disciples running around
unprotected, so easily taken; the Demon Realm’s rise is just around the corner! Stupid
disciples, even if you break your head open, you won’t be able to guess who I am!” the figure
cackles, its coarse voice making the disciples shiver in fear.

It is the Skinner Demon, Shen Qingqiu notices. The figure is covered by black veils covering
its skin and face, but a quick glance at its uncovered hands show the decaying skin of Die-er.
Shen Qingqiu’s arrival at the estate must have scared the demon who must have already been
in looking for a substitute skin, and the presence of spiritual energy must have staggered the
demon’s attempts at maintaining Die-er’s skin healthy for much longer.

“You’re Die-er,” a familiar voice says with a bored tone, making Shen Qingqiu want to curse
at Shen Yuan’s surge of courage.

“Impossible! How could you guess!” the demon screeches, but thankfully Shen Yuan stays
quiet this time around, even when his eyes tell the peak lord everything the child wants to
say.

It was not that difficult to deduce, but Skinner Demons aren’t exactly known for their
intelligence. It goes on a tangent about its malignant plan and how it was planning to use
Ning Yingying’s skin as her next disguise, which brought a cold anger that washed through
the peak lord’s body as he prepared to strike from above.

Then, Shen Yuan speaks. “That’s a stupid plan!”

The Skinner Demon angrily turns to face the child who puts on a brave front. Luo Binghe
seems about to pass out from stress, and for once, Shen Qingqiu finds something in common
with the little beast. What is Shen Yuan even thinking?

“What does a child know about a great demon’s plans!” the demon walks to face Shen Yuan,
coming too close to him as the child stands still. Something flashes in the demon’s face,
making Shen Qingqiu’s stomach drop. “Hm… Your skin is better than the girl’s. More
plump, softer; ah, it has been so long since I have worn a boy’s skin! Let’s see if the rest is
just as good!”

A claw cuts through Shen Yuan’s robes as Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying scream for the
demon to stop. Shen Qingqiu does not wait any longer; Xiu Ya is unsheathed from its hilt as
the peak lord jumps from the roof straight to the demon’s direction, aiming for its heart. The
Skinner Demon barely manages to miss Xiu Ya’s slash, the skin of its arm detaching from the
body as Shen Qingqiu strikes the demon’s shoulder.

“Xiu Ya Sword, Shen Qingqiu!” it screeches, attempting to claw the peak lord who does not
bother taunting the demon. “Shameless! Attacking from behind, Cang Qiong is full of
schemes!”

His strikes are fast-paced and unforgiving, barely giving the demon any time to hit the peak
lord back. The Skinner Demon struggles to keep its borrowed skin from damage, as parts of it
start falling apart and it screams in anger at the peak lord.

“You cannot defeat me-” it screams, and Shen Qingqiu takes the opportunity to strike his
palm against the demon’s chest, delivering a blow of spiritual power that makes the demon
fly against the walls.

It falls down to the ground unmoving, its body spilling blood through the rotten planks as the
rest of the skin detaches itself. Shen Qingqiu turns away, knowing the demon is completely
dead as the demonic energy in the room dissipates — he must check to see if Ning Yingying
and Shen Yuan are fine. The demon’s strike shouldn’t have hurt the child-

Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure what to say or do when he is faced with the reality in front of him.

Shen Yuan is already unbound — from the looks of it, Luo Binghe managed to get a shard of
glass from whoever knows where —, yet the child remains unmoving as he stares the ground,
hands on the ground in defeat as tears flow through his face. Shen Qingqiu quickly discovers
why — the demon managed to cut through the child’s upper robes, revealing a myriad of
scars and old injuries littered through his chest, arms and back.

For the first time, Shen Qingqiu can feel himself empathizing with the child.

No one ever saw Shen Jiu’s injuries, not even the future peak lord of Qian Cao. It was
something he hid with ferocity, covering layer after layer until nothing could remain from his
past until he cultivated enough to get rid of them. Not even Yue Qingyuan ever saw them,
because Shen Qingqiu knew he couldn’t bear showing them to the now sect leader.

The look in Ning Yingying and Luo Binghe’s eyes as they look at Shen Yuan is enough to
send a shiver down Shen Qingqiu’s spine. Would people look at him that way if they had ever
seen his scars too? The overwhelming pity, sadness, fear; would it have been spared for Shen
Jiu too if his martial siblings had seen it…?

“A-Yuan…?” the little beast mutters, his voice so overwhelmingly sad it makes the peak lord
nauseous enough to ignore the nickname. Luo Binghe tries to reach for Shen Yuan, who
recoils at the touch as more tears roll down.
Taking off his outer layer, Shen Qingqiu rushes to the child’s side and covers him, sending a
deathly glare to Luo Binghe, hissing for the beast to move and leave it to the peak lord before
turning back to Shen Yuan. It doesn’t seem like the child is aware of his surroundings at this
point, and for all that it hurts the peak lord to do, he grabs Shen Yuan’s wrist as gently as he
can to check for any signs of a qi deviation.

“Shizun…?” Ning Yingying whispers, eyes teary as she looks down at her friend.

Shen Qingqiu gives the girl a stern glare. “I need you both to be quiet right now,” he replies,
voice quiet but firm as he focus his stare back at Shen Yuan. It does not look like he will be
able to walk in his state, so the peak lord picks up the child. “I’m dropping you both at the
inn. When we arrive, tell Ming Fan the demon has been dealt with and the disciples shall
return tomorrow.”

Ning Yingying and Luo Binghe nod, following behind in hushed steps as Shen Qingqiu leads
the way to the inn. Shen Yuan is not displaying any other signs of qi deviation, but Shen
Qingqiu knows that there are many other things to worry about — all of which the Qing Jing
Peak Lord is the most under-qualified to deal with, so it is why he will fly the way back to
Cang Qiong so Mu Qingfang can take a look at the child.

Ming Fan can deal with the rest of the disciples easily enough, and it shouldn’t be too
difficult for the head disciple to arrange the trip back to Cang Qiong tomorrow morning. So,
as soon as Ning Yingying and Luo Binghe are left in front of the inn, Shen Qingqiu
unsheathes Xiu Ya and takes off towards Qian Cao with an unresponsive Shen Yuan in arms.

Shen Qingqiu hates how his heart aches so unusually all the way to Cang Qiong.
 in which mu qingfang can’t deal with emotional constipation
Chapter Summary

Mu Qingfang’s night shift is unexpectedly disrupted by Shen Qingqiu. Somehow, Shen

Qingqiu’s odd presence in Qian Cao ends up not being the biggest question Mu
Qingfang is left with.

Chapter Notes

hello!! hope u guys are doing well! here is a chapter longer than usual, because i didn’t
want to go three chapters without catjiu (and i love writing angst too). there’s a lot of
stuff happening and i hope u guys will like it ehehehe a bit of shen yuan lore too, but not
too much!
by the way, thank you guys so much for all those kudos like omfghg 700??????? i’m still
in shock ngl thank u all so much i love y’all !!!!!!

Mu Qingfang starts his nightly shift at the main Qian Cao building not expecting much to
happen.

Truthfully, ‘expecting’ can be a tricky word for someone of his profession — life is as
unexpected as it gets, and that includes whatever injuries people around the peak might suffer
even at such a time. In general, Mu Qingfang considers the night shifts at Qian Cao to be the
more peaceful ones compared to the afternoons or whenever Bai Zhan decides to raid Qing
Jing for the thousandth time during the month, as the doctor mostly deals with patients
already in Qian Cao’s care and things rarely get stressful.

There are a few times a difficult case arrives in the middle of the night; it is why Mu
Qingfang usually lingers around the place if the doctor has already rested enough, helping
whenever he is needed but overall leaving the bulk of the work for his experienced disciples.
So, when his head disciple barges into his office with a panicked face, Mu Qingfang knows it
is serious.

What the doctor did not expect was Shen Qingqiu following just behind the head disciple
with the child they had been discussing about a week ago, the child staring blankly at the wall
with an iron grip against the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s robes that have been wrapped around
him.

As far as Mu Qingfang knew, Shen Qingqiu had left this morning with his disciples for a
mission in a nearby city. The doctor was expecting an influx of Qing Jing disciples after said
mission, as it was not uncommon for a few disciples to get minor injuries during the event; in
fact, their arrival was scheduled to take at least three days after their departure, so whatever
could have happened for Shen Qingqiu to fly all the way back to Cang Qiong with a child in
his arms…?

“Skinner Demon. There’s a small wound on his chest, not deep. He has been like this since
we left,” Shen Qingqiu says, to which Mu Qingfang nods while gesturing for his head
disciple to standby for any orders. It could be many things — shock, qi deviation, maybe
even poison.

The doctor does not comment on the scowl in the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s face as Mu
Qingfang tries to pry the child from his arms — if Shen Qingqiu was also injured, then he
either did not want treatment or would wait until the child is fine. A sigh comes out of the
doctor’s mouth as he guides the other peak lord to a vacant ward in hurried steps.

Shen Qingqiu places the child on the patient’s bed with a gentleness the Qian Cao Peak Lord
was not aware existed inside the man. Whatever questions Mu Qingfang has are left for later
as he rushes to check the child’s qi as soon as Shen Qingqiu moves out of the way, ignoring
the other peak lord’s scrutinizing stare.

The child’s spiritual veins are fine, although there is a certain fluctuation in his flow as soon
as Mu Qingfang touches the child’s wrist. There are no signs of poison either, but it would be
needed to check the injury itself to be sure nothing is out of ordinary. Mu Qingfang recalls
the meeting between him and Shen Qingqiu, remembering the child’s name so he does not
have to ask the already aggravated peak lord. After all, the child seems to be in a state of
shock, perhaps because of being attacked by a demon — it is ideal to deal with such patients
as delicately as possible to avoid any qi deviations, and an angry Shen Qingqiu would not
help things.

“Shen Yuan, I will have to take your upper robes away to take a look at the injury. Is that fine
with you?” Mu Qingfang asks, not exactly sure if the child will answer the question in his
current state.

As expected, Shen Yuan is too lost in his own mind to answer. Mu Qingfang sighs quietly,
deciding it would be better to check for any immediate injuries even without the patient’s
consent. It is not ideal, but in a case such as this, it is better for Mu Qingfang to deal with a
mildly upset Shen Qingqiu — who did bring Shen Yuan here, after all — than to risk a child
getting seriously ill because of a lack of action. So, Mu Qingfang reaches out for the robes as
calmly as possible, until Shen Yuan’s eyes snap back to the doctor in front of him.

The child looks terrified.

Mu Qingfang dodges as Shen Yuan sits upright and crawls desperately to the edge of the bed,
protecting the robes as if his life depended on it while looking around in panic. Eyes are
unfocused, seems to not recognize his surroundings, the doctor remarks in his head. Shen
Qingqiu steps forward in worry, which makes Mu Qingfang hold back a curse as the child
becomes even more distressed by the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s sudden approach.
“I- I won’t do it again, I promise!” Shen Yuan sobs, to which Shen Qingqiu’s face pales as he
retreats his hand carefully.

Mu Qingfang weighs his options at the moment — he can either find a way to de-escalate
Shen Yuan’s upcoming qi deviation or knock the boy out. The first option is the ideal one in
most cases, but it will be difficult to reason with an agitated Shen Yuan who might be
hallucinating; or at least, Mu Qingfang assumes as much from the way Shen Qingqiu looks
taken aback by the child’s reaction. Whatever choice might be the best, Mu Qingfang needs
to decide it quickly.

“Shen Yuan has done nothing wrong,” Mu Qingfang replies, keeping his tone as tender as
possible so the child is not startled any further. He glares at Shen Qingqiu, urging the man to
not interfere and let his shidi deal with the situation.

Shen Yuan shrinks further into himself, glaring at Mu Qingfang like a cornered animal.
“You… you’re trying to get me to say I’m right so Lady Xiang will be more mad,” he retorts,
a sliver of anger showing through his words.

Lady Xiang, the doctor repeats in his mind, trying to recall if he knows anyone with a high
enough title to be called a lady with that name. From the look in Shen Qingqiu’s face, it
seems as if he is not aware of who this lady might be — was Shen Yuan a servant under her
household before coming to Cang Qiong? While there aren’t many disciples coming from
this sort of background, it would not be unheard of; sometimes the parents find a way to
convince their employers to allow their children to attend the selection, and maybe Shen
Yuan was one of the luckier ones to be accepted.

However, Mu Qingfang remembers seeing Shen Yuan for the first time at the annual
selection. In fact, the doctor would argue all peak lords remember the event, as the child’s
uncanny semblance to Shen Qingqiu was enough to bring forth the wildest of rumors
regarding the child’s heritage and Shen Qingqiu’s rotten nature to abandon such a young kid.
One thing the Qian Cao Peak Lord is sure of, however, is that Shen Yuan clearly did not sport
any clothes befitting of any noble house’s servants at the time — that child clearly had to
survive on his own in the streets, so had he escaped to attend?

“No one will be mad at Shen Yuan,” Mu Qingfang replies, conveying his sincerity through
his voice as he has been taught to do with unstable patients. “This one is simply a doctor
worried about Shen Yuan’s injuries-”

“You’re lying! Lady Xiang would never send a doctor to help me!” the child screams, tears
falling rapidly through his face once again as Mu Qingfang prepares one of the needles under
his sleeves in case the situation escalates. Emotions fluctuating quickly, patient refusing to
reason. “And I can’t be back at home because I already died! You’re lying!”

Shen Qingqiu gasps. Mu Qingfang remembers the Qing Jing Peak Lord asking for the
probabilities of Shen Yuan somehow remembering his past lives, because the child had
seemingly told the peak lord — Mu Qingfang will pretend he does not know of Shen
Qingqiu’s part-time adventures with his amulet — that indicated as much to him. To see Shen
Yuan just blurting it out loud what should be a closely-kept secret, however…
It is clear things will only escalate into a full-blown qi deviation at this point.

Shen Yuan barely sees Mu Qingfang moving, only widening his eyes as he catches the doctor
aiming a needle — which he notices too late, as the needle hits the child’s pressure point not
a second later and Shen Yuan falls unconscious. Mu Qingfang lets out a sigh of relief as he
moves the child back into the bed, looking back at Shen Qingqiu to check the other peak
lord’s state.

Has he ever seen Shen Qingqiu looking so… miserable before? The Qing Jing Peak Lord
scowls back at the doctor, although the intensity of his distaste is more subdued than usual.
“If Mu-shidi wishes to ask for details, this master is also unaware of what has… happened to
Shen Yuan. I can only assume.”

Mu Qingfang nods, turning his attention back to the unconscious child. Carefully opening the
robes wrapped around Shen Yuan, the doctor holds a breath as soon as the child’s skin comes
into view. Mu Qingfang has seen many, many scars before, either from disciples who had
been injured in training, missions or who had committed something bad enough to warrant a
harsher punishment.

There is nothing that could justify the amount of scars and old injuries littered throughout this
child’s body.

It must have been the reason why Shen Yuan was so desperately clinging to his robes. Mu
Qingfang hasn’t seen many punishments being conducted, especially physical ones; Qian
Cao is a peak that believes in non-violent intervention if any disciple is found breaking rules
or disobeying orders, and so did his family believe as well. Mu Qingfang knew it was
common for parents to beat their children and for employers to be harsh to those under them,
but never had he seen something so barbaric happening to a child as young as Shen Yuan.

Perhaps Mu Qingfang was sheltered while growing up, yet he cannot help but wonder how
anyone can do such a thing. As he grabs a box of medication and tools to clean the wound,
the doctor ponders if he should coax Shen Qingqiu into allowing Shen Yuan to return weekly;
while the physical wounds will surely heal quickly, it is clear this child has too much weight
on his back for someone his age. It could result in something serious in the future, if not
treated carefully.

The mark on the nape of his neck is enough to tell Mu Qingfang this child did not have an
easy life.

Anything regarding the matters of the heart is not exactly Mu Qingfang’s speciality — he
knows how to deal with such cases, of course, as heart demons can be quite deadly for young
and older cultivators alike —, but it would be irresponsible of him to let something like this
unfold in front of his eyes and not do anything about it. Shen Qingqiu is not the type of
person who would easily accept such a treatment plan for Shen Yuan, however.

Mu Qingfang has noticed Shen Qingqiu’s despise for anything regarding healthcare since his
shixiong joined Cang Qiong. It is clear the Qing Jing Peak Lord despises to be taken care of,
refusing to budge on this matter for as long as Mu Qingfang has known him; perhaps it is a
fear of looking weak, or perhaps no one ever took care of Shen Qingqiu before. Whatever it
is, Mu Qingfang cannot do much besides hoping the other peak lord will finally accept some
help from his martial siblings, and that his distaste for being taken care of will not transfer
over to Shen Yuan.

Turning to put away the box after cleaning the wound, Mu Qingfang watches the Qing Jing
Peak Lord looking at Shen Yuan from afar, not daring to approach. Perhaps it would be ideal
to solve the issue at once. “Shen Yuan is already stabilized. This shidi predicts he will sleep
for a few more hours, and I would recommend for him to stay until early afternoon. This
shidi assumes Shen-shixiong does not necessitate any medical assistance…?”

“Of course not,” the fan opens to cover the peak lord’s face as usual, eyes sharpening
instantaneously. “Are there any specific recommendations for when Shen Yuan returns to
Qing Jing?”

Mu Qingfang breathes in mentally before speaking. “If Shen-shixiong allows, this shidi
would ask for Shen Yuan to return for a weekly check-up at Qian Cao. It might be useful for
Shen-shixiong’s plan.”

That last part was more of an improvised part of Mu Qingfang’s attempt to soothe Shen
Qingqiu, but it also made things overall easier if the Qing Jing Peak Lord decides to continue
with his plan. Mu Qingfang is not sure if it would be ideal to continue so soon after the child
wakes up, but it would all depend on how Shen Yuan will deal with the situation.

Shen Qingqiu’s face scrunches up at the mention of the plan, as if he had just remembered its
existence. “…He was correct on his prediction. It was a Skinner Demon,” Mu Qingfang nods,
trying to recall any other beings with clairvoyant abilities. Nothing would match with Shen
Yuan’s case, at least from what the doctor is aware of. “This shixiong will have to revise the
plan, but it shall stay the same for the moment. These weekly visits might prove useful…”

“Does Shen-shixiong still wish to perform the blood test?” Mu Qingfang asks, watching as
the Qing Jing Peak Lord hesitates for a second before nodding. “Very well. This shidi will
need a blood sample from Shen-shixiong and Shen Yuan, nothing more. However, it would
be… ideal to wait for Shen Yuan to return to a more stable routine before telling any major
information to him.”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord nods, fanning himself as his grip on the fan hardens a bit. Mu
Qingfang is already convinced there is some sort of blood relation between Shen Qingqiu and
Shen Yuan — they are simply too similar to ignore, although it would raise a few questions
about how Shen Yuan ended up in the situation that caused so many old wounds and scars.
Isn’t Shen Qingqiu a young master from a wealthy family?

“Just take whatever you need,” Shen Qingqiu replies, his fan releasing a sharp noise as it
shuts close. “As stated before, this shixiong would greatly appreciate to be present during the
testing. I’d also like to bring someone to confirm the results if any of our dear martial
siblings ask; perhaps Shang Qinghua would be a good fit.”

Mu Qingfang doesn’t miss the way Shen Qingqiu’s nose lightly scrunches up as he talks
about their martial siblings. While the doctor is not completely aware why Shen Qingqiu
loathes most of their martial siblings the way he does — and truthfully, Mu Qingfang has
more to do than to gossip about it —, he cannot blame the Qing Jing Peak Lord for wanting
to bring someone else to testify to whatever results come out. Shang Qinghua is a good
choice, the An Ding Peak Lord’s personality being meek enough for most of their martial
siblings to not doubt his sincerity much.

“This shidi understands,” Mu Qingfang replies, deciding not to pry any further. “Will Shen-
shixiong come tomorrow? It would be ideal for both samples to be taken at a close time.”

Shen Qingqiu hesitates, looking at the door for a few seconds and then at Shen Yuan before
turning his gaze back to the doctor. Opening the fan once again, his eyes move to the child
again. “…This master was considering staying for the night, in case any assistance is
needed.”

Mu Qingfang promises to burn an incense stick to his ascended Shizun for all the years of
intense training of expressions, because it took all the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s will to not show
how baffled he was by Shen Qingqiu’s decision. Never had he seen the Qing Jing Peak Lord
show this much worry for anyone so visibly (Yue Qingyuan surely worried the scholar at
times, but it was more of a mix of anger and worry), much less heard the man offering to stay
the night at Qian Cao.

“This shidi will order for a few accommodations to be brought to Shen-shixiong, then-”

“No need. There is a seat — what else does this master need? I am not injured or impaired,”
Shen Qingqiu retorts, mild annoyance showing through his gaze as Mu Qingfang decides it
might be best to just let the Qing Jing Peak Lord do his own thing.

“Very well. This shidi will return later, then,” Mu Qingfang replies, not taking any more time
before he turns away and leaves the room, walking back to his office as quickly as possible.

A sigh comes out of the doctor’s mouth. Today has been difficult, but tomorrow might be
even worse after the blood test is done. Mu Qingfang already has everything necessary for it,
since Shen Qingqiu had so kindly inquired about the possibility before — and perhaps
threatened the Qian Cao Peak Lord if word were to get out.

Mu Qingfang understands that Shen Qingqiu is a paranoid person, so even when feeling a tad
insulted for the insinuation of a possible lack of professionalism from his part, the doctor
simply nodded as calmly as possible and ordered the materials necessary for the test as soon
as he arrived back in Qian Cao.

Everything should be ready for tomorrow, yet Mu Qingfang cannot help but wonder about
Shen Yuan’s feelings on the matter. Truth be told, the Qian Cao Peak Lord has not seen the
child much before — besides a quick glance at the first check-ups required for disciples,
Shen Yuan rarely ever needed something from Qian Cao. Even if rumors roared through
Cang Qiong that the child was so unwanted by Shen Qingqiu that he let the older disciples
beat him, never once had Shen Yuan appeared for a check up.

Shen Yuan is surely not unwanted by Shen Qingqiu, from what Mu Qingfang has seen.
However, that is not what worries the Qian Cao Peak Lord — Shen Yuan is clearly a child
with a very fragile past, and for all that the doctor hates to admit, being officially related to
Shen Qingqiu would bring many issues to the kid, alongside hideous rumors that would be
sure to follow. Would this really be the best option for this child…?

Mu Qingfang sighs as he closes his office’s door. The Qian Cao Peak Lord can only hope
Shen Qingqiu handles the matter well.

Shen Qingqiu wakes up to a heavy gaze and the sound of a closing door.

It takes a lot not to show he had been startled, especially when the peak lord opens his eyes to
an unfamiliar environment and a pair of dark green eyes staring deep into his soul. Correcting
his posture, Shen Qingqiu looks at the door, watching Mu Qingfang stare back at him for a
second before turning to the bed.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord did not notice himself falling asleep last night, truthfully — in fact,
Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure why he stayed in the first place. Qian Cao is very much prepared to
deal with anything, so there was no need for him to stay beside a sleeping Shen Yuan who
would probably wake up not remembering much of what happened; it would be better if he
did not remember, at least. Yet, it felt wrong to leave Shen Yuan alone after seeing… that.

Would anyone have stayed for you? His mind sneers at himself, to which Shen Qingqiu
knows the answer already. No one would, of course, not even that liar Yue Qingyuan; why
would he? Shen Qingqiu is a shameful reminder of Yue Qingyuan’s less-than-ideal past, one
that he keeps around purely out of guilt and pity for the child he did not save. Would anyone
stay for Shen Yuan if Shen Qingqiu had not?

That little beast would probably find a way to sneak into Qian Cao to cry for forgiveness over
something that was most likely his fault. If he was not such a stupid, brainless beast, then
maybe Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying would have not been kidnapped by the demon. Perhaps
Shen Qingqiu should stay until Shen Yuan is discharged so the little beast does not bother
him…

“Good morning, Shen-shixiong and Shen-shizhi,” Mu Qingfang says, greeting them with a
kind smile that linger a bit more on Shen Qingqiu than he would like. “I am here to collect a
bit of blood from Shen-shizhi, so we can make sure there is nothing undesired left. Is that
fine with Shen-shizhi?”

Mu Qingfang is a better liar than Shen Qingqiu would have first assumed. Shen Yuan looks
from the scholar to the doctor, nodding quickly at the question and sticking his arm out
almost too perfectly for someone who has never been to Qian Cao for anything other than
deliveries and small tasks. Mu Qingfang notices it too, eyes flashing in curiosity for a
moment before his expression goes back to its calm neutral state.

“Ah, so Shen-shizhi is already acquainted with the procedure,” Mu Qingfang remarks, to

which the child pales before nodding nervously.

“Yes- I, uh, this disciple has seen it before,” Shen Yuan replies, almost stumbling over his
words before recollecting himself remarkably well.
Shen Qingqiu can tell there is more to this than Shen Yuan lets out. Didn’t the child say he
had been sickly before? ‘Bedridden’ and ‘waiting to die’ are the main parts of it in which the
Qing Jing Peak Lord remembers. Surely sick enough to need constant care and have various
encounters with doctors.

The peak lord’s mind goes back to last night. Although it makes him nauseous to think about
what Shen Yuan said, there was something that stuck out to Shen Qingqiu yet he did not have
much time to think about — the child screamed about not being able to be home because he
died, as a response to Mu Qingfang telling him about being a doctor. Would that mean Shen
Yuan died of an illness in his previous life…?

There are too many things about Shen Yuan that Shen Qingqiu needs to look into, including
that Lady Xiang mentioned by him. There is no one that the peak lord knows by that name
with a status high enough, but that does not mean the trail has been lost — someone at the
Warm Red Pavilion might know something.

“It is done,” Mu Qingfang says, bringing Shen Qingqiu out of his thoughts as the doctor
places a small textile on Shen Yuan’s forearm. There is a small glass vial in the Qian Cao
Peak Lord’s hands, one he quickly seals as he gives a smile to the child. “Shen Yuan is very
brave for his age. Most disciples start to cry when they see the needle.”

Shen Yuan awkwardly smiles back to the doctor before looking down. Shen Qingqiu scoffs,
wondering why Mu Qingfang tried to coddle this child so much. He is twelve (and perhaps
even older), of course Shen Yuan wouldn’t cry over such a small issue! If the other twelve
year olds cry when faced with such a small procedure, then perhaps they are not fit for Cang
Qiong!

Mu Qingfang puts the vial away inside his sleeve. “There are a few questions this shishu
would like to ask Shen Yuan. Shen-shixiong, would you mind waiting outside for a bit?”

Shen Qingqiu nods, although he would prefer to stay and listen to whatever the child says —
unfortunately, the peak lord is aware his presence might scare Shen Yuan now, and Mu
Qingfang is much more experienced in the ‘gentleness’ area than Shen Qingqiu. Whatever, he
scoffs in his mind. What he won’t tell Shen Qingqiu, Wanyou can listen to.

The door closes with a small thud as Shen Qingqiu waits outside the room. It would be a
good idea to utilize the amulet again, although the peak lord is not sure if he should risk
activating it outside his peak. Mu Qingfang would not do anything to him, of course — the
issue would be anyone seeing the peak lord and recognizing him in his form. Both Yue
Qingyuan and Liu Qingge did not take long to realize the elegant white cat’s true identity,
after all.

But… Shen Yuan looks so tired and melancholic, so it would surely be good for the child’s
mental health to receive a visit from his cat friend… Surely better than bringing Ning
Yingying and Luo Binghe here. Besides, it would be good if Shen Yuan were to conveniently
talk about what is bothering him so Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang can help him better and
continue their plan smoothly.
Is this really about the plan at this point? The question echoes loudly in Shen Qingqiu’s
mind, which the peak lord makes sure to drown in the pile of other feelings he has been
keeping in control for all these years. Shen Qingqiu has long since accepted he needs no one;
much less a child so foolish and stupid in his feelings. Ning Yingying is the only exception he
allows himself, and even the peak lord knows he will have to let go of her soon.

Shen Qingqiu isn’t stupid. He has heard the horrible rumors surrounding his caring nature
towards Ning Yingying, the child he saved from a fate potentially worse than his own by
allowing her to join Qing Jing so young. He knows that, for her own future, Shen Qingqiu
must push himself away and let Ning Yingying traverse her fate by herself — a fate that will
be a thousand times kinder if she is not bound by the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s shadow.

Shen Yuan doesn’t deserve to be bound by it either, and Shen Qingqiu knows that if they are
related, it would inevitably harm the child more than help him. It is so awfully selfish of him
to wish for it, yet Shen Qingqiu cannot help but quietly hope for someone who will carry this
burden with him. Such conflicting feelings that Shen Qingqiu cannot make sense of are meant
to be locked away in the depths of his mind, never to be seen or felt again; it will be the same
for the unanswerable question that is Shen Yuan.

Shaking his head, the peak lord watches the door quietly opening as Mu Qingfang walks out
with a contained expression. The Qian Cao Peak Lord signals to Shen Qingqiu, who follows
him without hesitation. They are soon in the doctor’s private office, its door locked shut as
Mu Qingfang turns to face the other.

“Shen Yuan has not said much,” Mu Qingfang says, to which Shen Qingqiu sighs. “It seems
like he does not remember much after the attack. He asked for his martial sibling’s wellbeing,
and said he got the older injuries while training.”

“He has been here for a year,” Shen Qingqiu scoffs. “Most of those are whip marks, too. Qing
Jing rarely ever uses such an archaic punishment, and I can attest that Shen Yuan has never
been punished in that way during his time as a disciple.”

“So Shen-shixiong has noticed as well,” Mu Qingfang replies, to which Shen Qingqiu
nonchalantly nods. The doctor may assume what he will by that; Shen Qingqiu can never
forget what those dastardly weapons can cause on one’s skin. “It will most likely take long
for Shen Yuan to tell anything to any of us. How does Shen-shixiong wish to proceed?”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord sighs. “This shixiong will look into the lady mentioned. Also…”
Shen Qingqiu hesitates, wondering how he should relay the rest of his phrase. “…I can go
undercover to find more through Shen Yuan. For now, I’d only request Mu-shidi asks Wei-
shidi to come with his sword so we can rule out any demonic influence.”

“This shidi will ask Wei-shixiong to come immediately,” the Qian Cao Peak Lord says,
briefly walking to the door and muttering something to a passing disciple before closing it
and going back to his seat. “It should take roughly an incense stick’s time for him to arrive.
Can this shidi collect Shen-shixiong’s blood in the meantime?”

Shen Qingqiu nods, breathing in deeply before lifting the hems of his sleeve and turning his
forearm in the doctor’s direction. Mu Qingfang’s touch isn’t rough, yet it makes the man
shiver just the same as always. He hates it so much, but even with all his muscles urging the
peak lord to pull back and cover himself again, Shen Qingqiu simply closes his eyes and
endures the agony.

“Done,” Mu Qingfang says, sealing the vial and putting the sample away in his sleeve. “Does
Shen-shixiong wish to go back to Qing Jing or stay while waiting for the results? This shidi
should have everything prepared by nighttime, and Shen Yuan should be discharged after
Wei-shixiong meets him, if everything goes as expected.”

“I’ll stay until Shen Yuan is discharged and then this shixiong will come back at nighttime,”
Shen Qingqiu replies, holding back a sigh of relief as he feels no touch on his skin. “This
shixiong will have to convince Shang-shidi to come along.”

Mu Qingfang lets out a small laugh. “Shen-shixiong will most likely not have many issues
with that.”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord snorts. Mu Qingfang can be fairly decent company when he’s not
trying to convince Shen Qingqiu to show up for a check-up or when Yue Qingyuan isn’t
inviting their shidi over to the bamboo house without his authorization. Unfortunately, Mu
Qingfang is still one of many people in which Shen Qingqiu would prefer to avoid altogether
when not working on matters needing the Qian Cao Peak Lord.

Truthfully, Shen Qingqiu does not care enough to mingle with his martial siblings beyond
work related issues, and that will not be changing any time soon. However, he must keep a
decent relation with Mu Qingfang, especially if Shen Yuan will have to come back to his
peak weekly.

Soon enough, both peak lords are back at Shen Yuan’s room — Mu Qingfang had told Wei
Qingwei to ‘look for him’, as to not reveal the identity of the person they wished to check for
demonic influence. Shen Qingqiu hasn’t really thought of what to do if Hong Jing does react
to Shen Yuan; it is so unlike of the peak lord to not have a plan, even when the answer should
be simple.

If Shen Yuan is a threat, he should be killed. Why does it feel so wrong to think of it, then?

If the child notices the nervousness of the Qing Jing Peak Lord as Mu Qingfang asks
countless questions about his health, then Shen Yuan does not say anything. It feels sickening
to hear his own heart beating so furiously, a sense of dreading from Wei Qingwei’s eventual
arrival that he should not be feeling. Shen Yuan is most likely not a demon, that is certain, but
what if there is some malefic influence in him from an outside source that Shen Qingqiu
could not detect? What should he do, then? Shen Yuan surely isn’t evil, so-

A knock echoes through the room. Mu Qingfang allows entrance to the visitor, and a tall man
enters. Shen Qingqiu quickly looks at Wei Qingwei, searching for the sheath of the spiritual
sword which he finds hanging on the man’s waist.

It does not react.

“Mu-shidi called for this shixiong?” Wei Qingwei asks, looking around the room confusedly
as his eyes go back and forth between Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan. “This master was not
aware Shen-shixiong would be here too. Who is the disciple?”

Mu Qingfang replies before Shen Qingqiu can whack his fan in the man’s stupid head — he
was supposed to pretend to be visiting for a check-up, not giving their plan away…! “Ah,
Wei-shixiong has arrived quite fast. This is Shen Yuan, a disciple from Qing Jing. This shidi
is simply taking a look at him before he can look at the burn Wei-shixiong complained
about.”

Bless Mu Qingfang’s abilities to salvage situations. Wei Qingwei nods, still looking a little
bit too much at Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan. The Qing Jing Peak Lord holds back a scoff
with all his might, as he already knows the Wan Jian Peak Lord must be wondering about
their relation. However, a movement catches the eye of Shen Qingqiu who watches the child
quickly get out of bed to greet the other peak lord.

“Disciple Shen Yuan greets Wei-shishu,” Shen Yuan says, lowering his head and looking at
the ground in a way that makes Shen Qingqiu annoyed.

“What are you greeting him for? Go back to bed, you are supposed to be resting!” Shen
Qingqiu hisses, rushing his steps towards the child who looks surprised by the interruption.

“At least one Shen has the manners,” Wei Qingwei laughs, prompting Shen Qingqiu’s fury
once again before he throws both hands in the air. “I was simply joking, my dear Shen-
shixiong! Your Shizun is correct, boy. Go back to bed and rest — you look like you need it.”

Foolish clown, Shen Qingqiu sneers in his mind. Even worse, Shen Yuan lights up at the Wan
Jian Peak Lord’s answer, smiling weakly at the man before nodding and sitting at the bed. Mu
Qingfang is no better, amusingly smiling at both peak lords as he clearly holds back a laugh
at Shen Qingqiu’s expense. Fools, all of them, Shen Yuan included. If only he knew Wei
Qingwei would not hesitate before slitting his throat if Hong Jing were to react…

That being said, Shen Qingqiu feels his muscles relaxing at the sight of a sheathed,
unchanging Hong Jing.

“This shidi is already done,” Mu Qingfang says to Wei Qingwei, who confusedly nods while
trying to keep up with the excuse given by the doctor. “Shen Yuan is already good to go back
to Qing Jing. As I have explained before, Shen Yuan will return next week for a check-up,
but he is free to continue with his studies as usual.”

Shen Yuan smiles at the doctor. “Thanking Mu-shishu for the care.”

Mu Qingfang smiles at the child before turning away with Wei Qingwei following behind.
Shen Qingqiu tries not to sneer at the Wan Jian Peak Lord giving a small farewell to Shen
Yuan, which he probably fails miserably at since the child’s face immediately goes stiff once
he looks at the Qing Jing Peak Lord. Opening his fan, Shen Qingqiu looks at the child for a
few seconds before speaking.
“We shall go back now. Disciple Shen Yuan can take the rest of the day to rest,” the peak lord
says, opening the door and walking down the hallway as Shen Yuan hurries to meet his pace.

The walk back is awfully quiet. Shen Qingqiu does not try to talk much, and neither does
Shen Yuan. As soon as they arrive, the child excuses himself and starts walking towards the
bamboo grove, a spot Shen Qingqiu was sure Shen Yuan would visit sooner or later. With the
peak emptier than usual, it makes things easier for the Qing Jing Peak Lord — instead of
immediately returning to the bamboo house, which would startle Shen Yuan since they must
take the same path for both locations, Shen Qingqiu decides to wait in one of the teaching
halls.

It is still morning. The disciples will most likely arrive during the afternoon, if Ming Fan
conveniently does not forget to get enough horses again. There is some time left for Luo
Binghe to leave Shen Yuan alone — after all, Shen Qingqiu is sure the little beast will fly to
the child’s side as soon as he arrives and cry in guilt for something that is indeed his fault —,
so perhaps Shen Yuan should get a visit from his beloved cat friend in the meantime.

After waiting for a few minutes, Shen Qingqiu leaves the hall and walks toward the bamboo
grove’s entrance. Shen Yuan always sits by a specific spot, near that boulder so secluded
from the rest of the peak. As soon as Shen Qingqiu is far enough into the grove and sure that
no one will see him, he grabs the amulet from his pouch and activates it.

It gets easier with each time, the way he moves with a strange form becoming more and more
swift. Shen Qingqiu sprints into the bamboo grove, jumping through small boulders and
sprouts of bamboo which have yet to grow with ease as the wind hits his fur in a comforting
way. Shen Qingqiu would prefer dying before admitting it, but he enjoys this form quite a lot;
it feels light, quick, free.

Shen Yuan is not at their usual spot; Shen Qingqiu frowns before his ear catches the sound of
water — there is a small stream near this spot, so perhaps Shen Yuan could be there. Quickly
running through the shabby dirt path, the peak lord finds himself at the stream, locating the
child who sits a few meters away from him.

He’s sitting at the edge between the grass and the muddy dirt, watching the stream so
uncharacteristically quietly, robes dirtied by the mud in the hems that the child seems to not
notice or care. Shen Qingqiu approaches slowly, trying to get a view of the child’s face so he
can get a better grasp at his feelings; soon enough, the cat is just next to Shen Yuan, who
doesn’t notice his arrival as usual. He’s not crying, yet something in his face looks so…
exhausted.

Shen Yuan turns his head, looking at the cat staring at him. “Oh, Wanyou,” he says, voice not
nearly as excited as usual. Still, he smiles weakly at the cat. “I didn’t expect I’d see you
today.”

Shen Qingqiu bops his head to the side before sitting next to the child. Shen Yuan looks at
him, eyes lighting up just a little bit this time. “Wow, I think this is like, the first time you sat
right next to me. Man, I really must be looking like shit today...”
The cat shakes his head furiously, frowning at the child who lets out a weak laugh and goes
back to looking at the stream. Shen Qingqiu waits and waits until Shen Yuan says something,
to finally start his wild rants about how he hates the peak and everyone is so stupid and Shen
Qingqiu is a shit teacher, yet nothing comes out of the child’s mouth as he stares at the
flowing water.

Didn’t he like Wei Qingwei? Can’t he start a rant about how funny he is or how kind Mu
Qingfang is? Can’t he talk about how cool Liu Qingge is, how sweet Luo Binghe is, how
Ning Yingying talks too much but he still enjoys her company? Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t even
mind if Shen Yuan started to complain about his Shizun, he just wants him to say something,
anything.

Why won’t Shen Yuan talk when he needs someone to listen to him the most?

Shen Qingqiu bops his head against the child’s arm. Shen Yuan looks at the cat, giving him a
sad smile that hurts more than it should. “I’m sorry, Wanyou. I’m not sure if I can talk today,
I’m not feeling well. I won’t get mad if you want to leave.”

Shaking his head, Shen Qingqiu breathes in before laying next to the child, dirtying the
pristine white fur without a second thought as Shen Yuan widens his eyes at the cat’s action.
It took a lot of courage to allow himself to be so close to the boy, but Shen Qingqiu finds it
more comforting than terrifying as he is used to with other people. He is a little startled by
the small hand slowly and carefully petting his head, yet the peak lord finds himself relaxed
in a way he had never felt in Qing Jing.

Maybe it was because he was so stressed due to Wei Qingwei’s appearance with the sword, or
perhaps it was because Shen Qingqiu spent most of the night thinking about what happened
to the child and worrying about him before he fell asleep. Shen Yuan is so lucky and he
doesn’t even know; to have people who care about him, people who he can laugh and talk to
without worrying about the repercussions of it.

It was all Shen Jiu ever wanted, yet Shen Qingqiu doesn’t feel angry or bitter by the fact Shen
Yuan has it like the peak lord used to when the child joined the peak. For all reason, Shen
Qingqiu should loathe this child and scream at fate for being so unfair, yet finding more
about Shen Yuan’s life pulled strings in the peak lord’s heart he never knew existed in the
first place. There is no reason to be applied to it; Shen Qingqiu simply feels, and still it does
not scare him the way he expected.

All Shen Qingqiu knows is that there may be no turning back once the blood test is
concluded. Whatever the result, the peak lord does not plan on forgetting Shen Yuan’s
existence and leaving his fate to the wretched world around them; how could he, after all he
has seen and heard from Shen Yuan himself and with a little beast lurking around the child at
all times?

Shen Yuan will be someone who won’t have to go through all Shen Jiu has, and Shen
Qingqiu will see to it.
 in which shen yuan falls victim to cosmic irony
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu drags Shang Qinghua to Qian Cao as a witness. Meanwhile, Luo Binghe
notices there’s something wrong with how Shen Qingqiu has been acting around Shen
Yuan.

Chapter Notes

hello!! how are you guys doing?? i took a bit longer to post this chapter since. well lets
just say there’s a historial flood happening in my state rn and its literal mayhem over
here (like there’s whole cities getting flooded i fear), me n my family r fine but
unfortunately we are housing a few relatives who had their houses flooded so i can only
write during the night (kinda awkward to have ur grandma walking on u writing yaoi
probably), if anyone is interested in sending help there are a few tweets about what’s
going on in rio grande do sul rn and a few donation links! not sure if i can link them here
but i can send stuff if anyone wants to donate!
anyways, thank you guys for the kind comments and kudos!! hope u guys like this
chapter too eheheh <333

Shen Qingqiu arrives at Qian Cao while dragging a stuttering Shan Qinghua by his collar.

Many disciples look at the pair with confusion, their gazes not lingering for long after seeing
the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s sour expression. Qian Cao Peak is fairly peaceful at this time, the
main building’s hallways clear of any injured people waiting for treatment as the sun sets
quickly and the daytime shift disciples start to go back to their dormitories. Perfect timing for
Mu Qingfang to perform the blood test — there is almost zero probability of Yue Qingyuan
or that brute Liu Qingge to hear of Shen Qingqiu brazenly dragging their shidi for unknown
reasons, and even less of a chance of any of them showing up.

“Shen-shixiong, please, I swear I’m the worst pick ever! S-someone like… uh, Zhangmen-
shixiong would be much better than little old me-” the An Ding Peak Lord’s ramblings are
interrupted by a sharp gaze from Shen Qingqiu, who wonders if he should just threaten Shang
Qinghua so he will finally shut up. “…I mean, cut me some slack, Shen-shixiong! This poor
shidi has been dragged out of his house with no explanation!”

“You’re going to find out soon,” Shen Qingqiu mumbles, to which Shang Qinghua’s face
pales by a tone. Why is this rat so nervous?
To Shen Qingqiu’s delight, a trembling Qian Cao disciple appears in front of them, bowing
quickly before telling the peak lords that Mu Qingfang is waiting for them. Shang Qinghua
looks a step away from passing out for unknown reasons, but the Qing Jing Peak Lord
continues to drag the man by the collar all the same. If Shang Qinghua wants to pay sick,
then he can surely withstand being dragged all the way to Mu Qingfang’s office.

Shen Qingqiu opens the office’s door as delicately as possible, throwing the cowardly man
inside before he closes it shut and activates a privacy talisman around the room. Mu
Qingfang turns to face both peak lords, his brows furrowing a bit as he looks to Shang
Qinghua’s pale complexion.

“Welcome, Shen-shixiong and Shang-shixiong. Everything should be ready by now,” Mu

Qingfang says, his eyes moving from each peak lord for a few moments before he continues.
“Shang-shixiong, this shidi assumes you are already aware of what you are here for?”

“This shixiong would surely like to know!” Shang Qinghua exclaims, straightening his back
at a failed attempt at looking respectable. “You see, Mu-shidi, this poor shixiong here was
unceremoniously dragged all the way to Qian Cao without a single explanation! I have so
much paperwork due and now I’m gonna have even more stuff to do-”

“Stop babbling, you’re only here because me and Mu-shidi need an eyewitness,” Shen
Qingqiu hisses, feeling his head throbbing more each second the puny An Ding Peak Lord
tries to open his mouth. “This master needs to… confirm a suspicion regarding a disciple of
mine.”

“Wait, what?” Shang Qinghua exclaims, taking a peek at the vials and the intricate talisman
on Mu Qingfang’s desk. His eyes widen in understanding, although the peak lord is not any
less agitated by the situation. “Is that a…?”

Shen Qingqiu ignores the An Ding Peak Lord’s questions, turning to inspect the items on the
desk. He had not seen an amulet like this before, its lines so intricately drawn with precision
and skill that it makes the Qing Jing Peak Lord wonder how expensive it must have been for
Mu Qingfang to acquire one. The vials of blood next to them are labeled with Shen Qingqiu
and Shen Yuan’s names, alongside a date and time from when they have been collected.

Mu Qingfang turns to face Shen Qingqiu. “It is a very simple procedure. First, Shen-
shixiong’s blood will be placed on top of the talisman, followed by Shen-shizhi’s blood. After
activation, the talisman will glow a certain color; red for no relation, green for parent/child
relation, blue for siblings and yellow for distant relation such as cousins,” Shen Qingqiu nods
at the explanation. Shang Qinghua does the same after a few seconds. “Any questions Shen-
shixiong wants to ask?”

“What is the margin of error?” the Qing Jing Peak Lord asks, glaring at Shang Qinghua who
lets out a choked wheeze at the question.

“Very slim. Shen-shixiong may ask for another test if the results seem improbable to him,”
Mu Qingfang replies, grabbing one of the vials firmly and looking at the Qing Jing Peak
Lord. “May we start?”
Gripping the fan in his hands tightly, Shen Qingqiu nods while keeping his eyes glued to the
talisman in front of him. Shang Qinghua excitedly looks at it too, a strange mixture of
curiosity and dread in the An Ding Peak Lord’s eyes that Shen Qingqiu cannot figure why.
Well, Shang Qinghua may act coy and cowardly most of the times, but there is no one that
likes gossip as much as the mousey peak lord — those nervous eyes that are always looking
for something, that ear always paying attention to what others say.

Mu Qingfang applies the first drop of blood, quickly switching to the other vial as Shen
Yuan’s sample is opened and another drop falls on top of the talisman. Shen Qingqiu is not
sure what he expects — Shen Yuan is not his child, that much is certain; but what if they truly
are not related and Shen Yuan is simply unlucky enough to look so similar to Shen Qingqiu?
Would it be so selfish of him to wish for another person who shares his blood and struggles?

A second passes by as Mu Qingfang activates the talisman. Shen Qingqiu feels as if his throat
has been closed as his eyes fixate on the talisman, his heart beating so wildly in a manner he
had not felt in a long time. Another second passes by, and Shen Qingqiu’s mouth feels so dry
and his fingers itch.

A blue hue fills the room.

“What the fuck…!” Shang Qinghua exclaims, eyes widened in shock at the colorful talisman
that quickly fades after ten seconds. “Since when does he have a brother…?”

Shen Qingqiu is too enthralled in his own thoughts to cuss at the other peak lord, staring
intently at the blood on top of the talisman. Am I happy? Shen Qingqiu asks himself,
knowing that yes, he did wish for this — but to see it proven correct in front of him brought
many other questions he had shamefully not thought of before. Does Shen Yuan want to be
his brother?

The answer should be simple; who wouldn’t want to be the sibling of a peak lord, to have
access to a comfortable life and opportunities that would not have been presented otherwise?
However, Shen Yuan is anything but simple, and Shen Qingqiu has an impression that the
child might not like the news — why would he? Shen Qingqiu has been nothing but a terrible
brother who left a young child to deal with aggression and contempt from his own martial
siblings while turning his eye away from it.

Shen Qingqiu is very aware blood isn’t thicker than water when it comes to relationships; if
he had acted earlier, maybe that little beast wouldn’t be as brazen to approach Shen Yuan, to
bond with the child who probably considers that little beast more of a brother than Shen
Qingqiu will ever be. It is all the peak lord’s fault, in the end, as it always is.

Revealing the cat’s true identity would surely make things even worse; if Shen Yuan doesn’t
hate him already, then he certainly would if he were to find out his horrible Shizun and
brother has been the one listening to all the child’s rants about life and being a little source of
comfort for Shen Yuan while also shunning him publicly as Shen Qingqiu.

“Congratulations, Shen-shixiong. When are you planning to tell Shen-shizhi?” Mu Qingfang

asks, watching intently as the Qing Jing Peak Lord looks up from the talismans to face the
doctor.
“…There are a few preparations this master must make beforehand,” Shen Qingqiu replies,
opening the fan with a snap as he covers as much as possible from his expression. “Shen
Yuan should know before I go into seclusion, if that is what Mu-shidi is worried about.”

Shang Qinghua mutters something under his breath, and Shen Qingqiu does his best not to
react to the ‘poor child’ he manages to hear. The fan in his hands may be about to break into
two, but the peak lord manages to compose himself as best as he can to ignore the An Ding
Peak Lord.

“Very well,” Mu Qingfang replies, taking away the vials of blood and the talisman. “Is Shen-
shixiong aware of Shen Yuan’s circumstances before becoming a disciple? Did your mother
or father ever tell you about his existence?”

“This master has not met any of his parents,” Shen Qingqiu replies in a hiss, hating that
Shang Qinghua is still lingering around them as Mu Qingfang asks these private questions.
“Neither have I heard or considered Shen Yuan’s existence before his arrival.”

Mu Qingfang nods, turning to Shang Qinghua with a polite smile. “Shang-shixiong has
already witnessed the results. May you give this shidi and Shen-shixiong a bit of privacy?”

It does not take a second before Shang Qinghua frantically nods and sprints out of the room,
messily closing the door with a thud as he leves. Shen Qingqiu sighs in relief as he watches
Mu Qingfang’s expression with attention. If the Qian Cao Peak Lord is surprised by the
revelation of Shen Qingqiu not knowing his own parents, then he does not show it on his
face.

“Forgive this shidi for the oversight. There are a few questions that may be important to
proceed as smoothly as possible,” the doctor says, voice so irritatingly calm as he speaks; it
irks Shen Qingqiu to no end, yet he nods while maintaining a neutral expression. “Does
Shen-shixiong know of his parents’ location?”

Shen Qingqiu holds back a sigh of frustration. “As stated before, this shixiong has not met his
parents before, neither do I maintain contact with them. There is no specific place I could
pinpoint as my birthplace, either.”

“…This shidi understands,” Mu Qingfang replies, a polite smile in his face that makes Shen
Qingqiu’s hands itch to wipe it off. He hates it so much — Mu Qingfang now knows more
than he should, and while Shen Qingqiu knew this would happen from the start, it still makes
him so angry and irritated. “Has Shen-shizhi ever told you anything about his parents?”

A suffocating silence surrounds the room as Shen Qingqiu ponders if he should tell Mu
Qingfang of this. Shen Yuan does remember their parents, unfortunately; but telling the
doctor would inevitably open another can of worms that would inevitably come back to haunt
him. Mu Qingfang has already seen the mark, yes, but what would he think if Shen Qingqiu
told him Shen Yuan remembers his parents selling him into slavery?

It is not difficult to make a connection with what Shen Qingqiu has already said, after all.
“If any word of this is even whispered around the peaks, I will personally deal with the
source myself,” Shen Qingqiu sneers, cracking noises coming from his fan as Mu Qingfang
calmly nods. “Shen Yuan claims to remember his parents, who so kindly sold him. The child
said so himself while I was… undercover.”

Mu Qingfang does not say anything, face oddly more expressive than his usual polite and
kind smiles. Shen Qingqiu hates it, the way the Qian Cao’s pity is so strong it may as well be
palpable with how it makes the air so heavy; it’s suffocating and humiliating, to watch as the
subject of pity is not only Shen Yuan but him. Shen Qingqiu will not give any confirmation
regarding his own past — in fact, he already has an idea on how to diffuse any claims from
both his and Shen Yuan’s origins.

It may paint Shen Qingqiu in a bad light, but at least no one will be able to trace him back to
the Qiu estate.

“Do not worry, Shen-shixiong. This shidi would never reveal something so harmful,” Mu
Qingfang replies, pity staining the edge of his tone. “However, there is one thing this shidi
must ask… What does Shen-shixiong plan to do if Shen Yuan’s old… lady comes looking for
him?”

“I dare her to attempt to claim a sibling of a renowned peak lord as her slave,” Shen Qingqiu
replies, breathing in before continuing his sentence. “In any case, this master already thought
of a solution.”

There is little precedent to such cases happening, yet it is something that has been discussed
between nobility before — if a child is taken away against the family’s will and sold into
slavery, then it is the family’s full right to reinstate the child’s status and get rid of the mark
by any means necessary. Shen Qingqiu must spin his tale more vaguely, but still maintain the
basis of it; Shen Yuan has been taken away from his family and they have been reunited by
fate in Qing Jing.

Such a tear-shedding story, truthfully. Because a child from a poor family being sold into
slavery by their own parents so young is not sad enough, Shen Yuan is now a young master
who has been horrifically stolen away from his family so young Shen Qingqiu could not
recognize him at once. There will be many people sniffing into his business afterwards,
perhaps asking why it took so long for Shen Qingqiu to realize, which he will simply claim to
be overwhelmed with grief for a brother he thought was dead all this time and thought Shen
Yuan simply looked like him.

Unfortunately, Shen Qingqiu may have to use Yue Qingyuan so people won’t bother him too
much with questions. He also may have to barricade Qing Jing to avoid the sect leader to
come looking for Shen Yuan, although there will surely be times in which Yue Qingyuan will
conveniently find himself in the same place as Shen Yuan. Shen Qingqiu can try to avoid
contact between them as much as possible, at least.

Mu Qingfang nods with a small smile in his face, the itching in Shen Qingqiu’s fingers
growing with each second the doctor stares so kindly at him — perhaps it is time for the Qing
Jing Peak Lord to leave, lest he be reprimanded by Yue Qingyuan for punching a martial
sibling who isn’t Liu Qingge.
Shen Qingqiu mutters a farewell before turning around and leaving, the fan in his hands
breaking as soon as he’s out of Mu Qingfang’s office.

Luo Binghe knows there’s something going on with Shen Qingqiu.

It has been a week since the mission, a week since both him and Ning Yingying arrived at
Qing Jing frantically looking for anyone who would tell them what happened to Shen Yuan.
A relief spread through Luo Binghe’s body as he heard Shen Yuan had already been
discharged from Qian Cao earlier in the day, and he and Ning Yingying set out looking for
the younger one in the bamboo grove.

They found him near a stream, staring out into the sky while petting the cat he had gotten
attached to. Ning Yingying cried out as she hugged Shen Yuan, tears falling down her face as
she apologized for insisting to go out with them. The cat next to Shen Yuan seemed startled
by her appearance, yet it only started hissing once Luo Binghe approached as well; it did not
take long for the cat to run into the grove and far away from all of them.

Shen Yuan looked so exhausted, so devoid of the life Luo Binghe associates with his shidi.
Maybe it is because Shen Yuan is usually the one comforting Binghe whenever their
shixiongs went too far or when Shen Qingqiu had a shorter temper than usual, but Luo
Binghe found himself frozen in place at the sight — how does he apologize for something so
serious that it could have killed his A-Yuan?

Before Luo Binghe could mutter a single word, Shen Yuan smiled at him as if he already
knew his friend would blame himself for what happened. In the end, it was Binghe crying
against Shen Yuan’s shoulder, being given the comfort he should be giving to the other. He
sobbed until there was no water left in his body to cry, while Shen Yuan did not shed a single
tear.

Shen Qingqiu is right, Luo Binghe thought at that moment. I’m a useless beast who always
drags others down.

Of course, if Shen Yuan ever heard Luo Binghe saying such words, his friend would instead
curse Shen Qingqiu in a way Binghe has rarely seen even between street children fights. Shen
Yuan is too kind to consider that maybe their Shizun is correct, that if not for Luo Binghe’s
inability to protect those he loves, their encounter with the Skinner Demon would have not
happened. Shen Yuan wouldn’t have been so scarred by it and exposed in a way Luo Binghe
knew his friend wishes had never happened.

Shen Yuan’s aversion to showing skin was already well-known to Binghe. At first, he thought
perhaps his friend was simply too shy to show even the slightest hint of his collarbones,
always hurrying Binghe out of their bathing spot so he could wash himself alone. Luo Binghe
never thought much of it; it is Shen Yuan’s choice, after all, and if it makes him more
comfortable, then Luo Binghe would never argue against it.

Never had he thought Shen Yuan was actually trying to hide something under all those layers.
Luo Binghe is used to seeing injuries. He has many scars himself, both from the times trying
to get enough food for his mother and from his current time at Qing Jing. Shen Yuan always
said they are not something to be ashamed of, because Binghe fought very hard to get where
he is; that each scar of his will lead to a brighter future for him. What he saw on Shen Yuan’s
chest and back, however, were no scars brought by Qing Jing punishments, no scars brought
by street fights between children.

Whoever had made those had enjoyed doing as such, filling his A-Yuan with marks he should
never have in the first place. Luo Binghe is no stranger to cruelty, yet he is convinced
someone who does that to anyone cannot have an ounce of humanity in them. Luo Binghe
wants to ask Shen Yuan for more, to be there for his friend in times of need, but Shen Yuan
clearly does not want to talk about it, so Luo Binghe won’t press.

Binghe wishes he could have spent more time with Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying at the
bamboo grove, but Shen Qingqiu arrived quickly to spoil their encounter. Luo Binghe
couldn’t even react at the furious glares from his Shizun to him, since the man was the one
who saved Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying and even brought his shidi back to Cang Qiong.
Shen Qingqiu had all right to be mad at Luo Binghe; his carelessness and uselessness had
almost cost their lives.

“Do you have nothing else to do but bother your martial siblings? This master has heard help
is needed in the stables,” Shen Qingqiu sneers, looking down with venomous eyes as the
intricately handcrafted fan covers the lower part of his face. Luo Binghe looks down.
“Scram!”

Luo Binghe leaves within a few seconds, pacing away from the grove as fast as he can to
avoid any more punishments being added to what Shen Qingqiu must already be planning to
give. As he glances back, Luo Binghe has to keep himself moving as to not stop in utter
shock as he sees the same Shizun who looked at him so hatefully looking at Shen Yuan
with… worry.

Why did Shen Qingqiu become so suddenly interested in Shen Yuan? Luo Binghe was aware
it hadn’t been a simple worry for a disciple in mortal peril, as it became clearer and clearer
that their Shizun had been paying more attention to Shen Yuan for quite a while, perhaps a
few weeks at this point; after all, Shen Qingqiu had never attempted to glance at Shen Yuan’s
direction during his first months on the peak, but then he is suddenly helping him in class and
acting so weird around A-Yuan?

Shen Qingqiu could have told Shen Yuan to walk all the way to Shuang Hu city alongside
Binghe — in fact, that is what he had assumed would happen to his friend for so brazenly
interrupting their Shizun in his decision. Instead, Shen Qingqiu invited A-Yuan to his
carriage and (from what Shen Yuan said after they arrived) didn’t even scold him or do
anything besides staring ‘like a stuck-up bastard’.

It is so awfully clear that Shen Qingqiu has set his sights on the child that looks so much like
him, yet Luo Binghe cannot figure out why. Shen Yuan has been here for almost a year, why
bother to accommodate him now after all has been (not) said and done? Shen Qingqiu’s
weird and sudden interest in his existence did not change the fact Shen Yuan had been
suffering quietly for so long, it did not change the fact they are still so secluded from the rest
of their martial brothers that they must resort to sleeping in a woodshed.

Why did Shen Qingqiu ever bother? Things did not get better — Shen Yuan may not be
getting as beaten up as usual, but he has been more tired, more worried. They still cannot go
anywhere without the strange looks from both their martial brothers and strangers from other
peaks alike, without people whispering behind Shen Yuan’s back about his disputed heritage
as if he cannot hear them.

Shen Qingqiu does so many things Luo Binghe cannot understand and it makes him angry.

When Luo Binghe goes to sleep that night, he notices Shen Yuan is moving a lot more during
the night. Their sleep is not very deep, of course — it is hard to get a decent night of sleep
with a thin blanket and a dirtied ground, but usually life at the peak is so exhausting that both
he and Shen Yuan simply pass out of exhaustion when it is time for them to sleep. However,
Luo Binghe has noticed Shen Yuan has barely slept at all during the week.

Sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night, panting quietly as the blanket is pushed to
his direction as Shen Yuan gets up to take a walk. Luo Binghe is never sure if he should
follow after his friend or not, since it always ends with Shen Yuan smiling tiredly at him and
telling his A-Luo to get a good night of sleep, because ‘he deserves it’.

Luo Binghe wants to say he doesn’t, but he knows Shen Yuan will get angry if he says
something so loathing to himself. How can Luo Binghe believe anything but that, if he
cannot do something as simple as comforting his friend?

Their martial brothers have lessened on their treatment of them, at least. Perhaps out of pity
for Shen Yuan’s fatigued expression, or perhaps due to Shen Qingqiu’s piercing glare
whenever someone dares act rudely to Shen Yuan in front of him. One had tried to do such a
thing in front of their Shizun once, in their beast study classes in which Shen Qingqiu had
been watching from the back of the teaching hall.

Senior Yi had asked Shen Yuan for how he would deal with an approaching Spiritual Six-
legged Brown Bear. Shen Yuan had answered her with a concise and thoughtful answer,
which would be expected of a person as interested in wild beasts as his friend; he would first
indicate he is not a threat to the bear, look as large as possible and avoid running at all costs,
instead leaving the area slowly — Shen Yuan said Spiritual Six-legged Brown Bears are not
harmful to humans, but in the case of an attack, he would play dead and only fight back in the
direst of situations.

Ji Pengxi, one of their shixiongs, interrupted with a snort. “Of course Shen-shidi would run
away, he can’t even fight without having to get rescued!”

Shen Yuan paled, his usual snappy remarks dying before he even opens his mouth; Luo
Binghe pondered how bad the punishment for beating up his shixiong in the middle of class
would be, deciding that perhaps getting a few lashes for punching Ji Pengxi square in the face
would be worth it. However, before Luo Binghe could get up, a blur walks past him and Shen
Yuan to face the older boy.
A snap echoes through the hall as Shen Qingqiu’s fan hits Ji Pengxi’s face.

No one dares make any noise, even Senior Yi staring bewildered at the outburst. Shen
Qingqiu is known to be quite difficult to thread around, yet he only reacts so harshly to
something said by a disciple if it is an insult to himself or if he hears someone spreading any
of the countless rumors about him.

“If disciple Ji Pengxi is so useless as to not only disregard your shidi’s correct answer but to
show such an utter lack of care for those younger and less experienced than him, then perhaps
Qing Jing is not the place for him,” Shen Qingqiu says, his usually impassive voice barely
containing the fury behind it. “In fact, Cang Qiong may be the wrong place for Ji Pengxi. If
he cannot think of protecting his own martial siblings, then how can he think of protecting
the common people?”

Ji Pengxi pales in a way it makes Luo Binghe wonder if he is about to pass out. Luo Binghe
turns to look at Shen Yuan, who seems just as bewildered by the rest at the scene unfolding in
front of them, so Binghe pats a hand at his friend’s shoulder awkwardly as an attempt at
comforting him. Ji Pengxi drops to the floor, kowtowing and crying out apologies to Shen
Qingqiu who looks down at the disciple with disdain, a snarl forming in his face as he faces
Senior Yi.

“See that disciple Ji Pengxi is escorted to the courtyard to kneel until this master tells
someone to fetch him,” Shen Qingqiu says, turning away to leave in a hurry before Senor Yi
can give a verbal confirmation.

It may have been the first time Luo Binghe thought Shen Qingqiu should have punished
someone more after giving a (in his own personal experience) very difficult and painful
punishment, but perhaps he is a bit too biased since only he, Ning Yingying and their Shizun
had seen the aftermath of the attack. Shen Yuan says nothing as Ji Pengxi is dragged out of
the hall, quietly staring into nothing as the class continues.

Next day, it seemed like Ji Pengxi’s demise hadn’t been widespread enough. Perhaps Shen
Yuan has some sort of ability to attract bad luck around him just like Luo Binghe, or maybe
their shixiongs are more stupid than Luo Binghe had antecipated; not even twelve shichen
after the event, someone else thought it would be a good idea to pick a fight with Shen Yuan
in order to try and humiliate him.

“Hah! Look at what I found in Shen-shidi’s belongings!” Zhang Guang, one of Ming Fan’s
close friends — that unfortunately Luo Binghe has met more than he wishes to —, exclaims
loudly to the hall in which most disciples were eating lunch, including Shen Yuan and Luo
Binghe. “Maybe he does take after Shizun! Look at this!”

Shen Yuan instantly pales at the sight of the yellow book in Zhang Guang’s hands, hung high
above his height so everyone in the hall can see it. Murmurs and whispers spread through the
disciples instantly, some looking disgustedly at Shen Yuan and some laughing at the ‘prank’
as they shout embarrassing questions to his friend who seems to contemplate the best course
of action.
Before Luo Binghe can ask Shen Yuan if he wants to leave, his friend gets up from the table
and stomps in Zhang Guang’s direction, to which the older disciple laughs mockingly at Shen
Yuan who tries to pry the book from his hands. Ming Fan looks from his table with a hesitant
expression, probably wondering if he should call Shen Qingqiu or deal with the situation by
himself.

“Who knew our little Shen-shidi was such a pervert!” Zhang Guang exclaims, to which a few
people laugh at his poor attempt at a diss.

“Well, I’m not the one snooping around a younger person’s belongings!” Shen Yuan retorts,
and an echo of ‘ooh’s is heard throughout the hall. “At least I’m trying to advance my literary
skills, which can’t be said for Zhang-shixiong. Ah, maybe that’s why he has caused such a
scene? Does he need this Shen-shidi’s help and was just too shy to ask?”

Zhang Guang turns a shade of red as Shen Yuan makes a not-so-subtle remark about his
grades; it is a well-known fact throughout Qing Jing that Zhang Guang is barely holding onto
a thread in literature classes, to the point that he has to take private lessons from his shixiongs
to barely be considered passable in Senior Kang’s eyes. It is also a very well-known sore spot
for the older boy, as he has (seemingly) had to take the class twice and he might be in deep
trouble if he does not pass this time.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan doesn’t need to put any effort into getting perfect grades in his essays
and dissertations about any text thrown at him.

“You- Don’t you know to respect your shixiongs?!” Zhang Guang shouts, the hall turning
silent as no one seems to know if they should stop this or call for Shen Qingqiu as fast as
possible. “Like you can say anything to me, you unclaimed bastard with a prostitute for a
mother!”

Shouts echo through the hall as most people seem to realize this conversation cannot go
anywhere good — Zhang Guang couldn’t be satisfied with simply implying their Shizun goes
to brothels, he had to spell it out loud for everyone! Shen Yuan having an improper book
would be the least of his problems if Shen Qingqiu ever thought of such slander being spoken
in his own peak-

As if calling for the man himself, an elegant figure walks opens the door to the dining hall
and every person stops talking as Shen Qingqiu walks towards Zhang Guang and Shen Yuan
with a strangely neutral face. That’s when Luo Binghe and the other disciples know Shen
Qingqiu isn’t just annoyed; this man is furious beyond words, his awfully slow pace making
Zhang Guang nervous with each step taken.

“Shizun!” Zhang Guang exclaims, but instead of begging for mercy at their Shizun’s feet, he
stupidly double downs on his attempt at humiliating Shen Yuan. “This disciple found this
shameful book in Shen-shidi’s belongings. As this disciple did not wish to disturb Shizun
with such a improper matter, he has decided to confront Shen-shidi for his depravity. Asking
Shizun to punish Shen-shidi!”

Luo Binghe is convinced Zhang Guang might be irrevocably stupid. He’s not one to call
other people idiots, but his shixiong really deserves it — and everyone in the dining hall
would surely agree. Zhang Guang knew Shen Qingqiu had surely heard the ‘unclaimed
bastard of a prostitute’ part, yet he demands Shen Yuan gets punished before apologizing!

“This master is not aware he has raised a peak of entitled brats,” Shen Qingqiu replies, to
which Zhang Guang finally seems to realize his mistake as sweat starts forming in his
forehead and he opens his mouth. “Disciple Zhang Guang is not to speak until this master
addresses him. Understood?”

Zhang Guang nods, tears already forming in his eyes as he trembles in fear. Shen Qingqiu
turns to face Shen Yuan, who looks down at the ground in both shame and hesitance.
“Disciple Shen Yuan has claimed to have read this book as a means to advance his literary
skills. He can surely give a concise critique if that is the case, correct?”

At first, Luo Binghe is sure this must be Shen Qingqiu’s way of humiliating Shen Yuan for
reading such books. Truthfully, Luo Binghe had never seen Shen Yuan reading said book
before, and never had he imagined his shidi would be into this type of… literature, but Luo
Binghe has also heard some of his shijies like it a lot. Maybe it’s not as bad as people make it
seem?

Shen Yuan straightens his back, a challenging look in his face as he starts talking. “Of course,
Shizun. Firstly, I’d like to point the simplest issue, which would be the prose. Besides the
countless cheesy metaphors that are way too frequent and make the reading experience much
worse, it seems the author has the vocabulary of a toddler if they cannot come up with
anything besides ‘orbs’ to describe eyes. I’d also like to point to the plot, which is so
nonsensical that it makes a Bai Zhan disciple trying to recount a night hunt seem thoughtful.
How does the author even forget the main character’s motivation to go undercover in the
romantic lead’s estate when it was literally their family getting murdered by said romantic
lead! How can you sleep with a man who killed your whole household…! Not to mention
how the main character always faints when it’s super inconvenient for others just so it’s more
dramatic!”

Shen Qingqiu looks down at Shen Yuan with what might be amusement hidden deep into his
eyes. Luo Binghe, alongside Zhang Guang and the rest of the disciples who were just trying
to have lunch before this debacle started stare wide eyed at Shen Yuan who has actually read
the book for literary purposes and not… well, the other reason people read those type of
books.

In the brief pause Shen Yuan makes to recollect his breath during the rant, Shen Qingqiu
closes his fan with a snap. “That is enough. Disciple Shen Yuan has proven his claim to this
master, so he shall only have the book taken with no further punishment.”

Luo Binghe and the other disciples gasp, quickly shutting up as soon as Shen Qingqiu’s gaze
turns into annoyance at the noise. The peak lord turns to face Zhang Guang, who might throw
up from how bad he is trembling and sweating. “Now, disciple Zhang Guang. Have you been
missing all etiquette classes or do you simply not respect this master to make such bold
claims about him?”

“N-no, of course not, Shizun…!” Zhang Guang stutters, and Shen Yuan looks victorious over
their shixiong about to pass out of stress.
“If Qing Jing disciples like to gossip so much, then perhaps this master should make things
clear once and for all,” Shen Qingqiu says, to which Shen Yuan takes his turn to pale at the
statement, while Luo Binghe widens his eyes as his heart beats quickly. “This master had
wished to tell such joyous news in a… better situation, but since most disciples are present,
they he might as well do it now. Shen Yuan is this master’s long lost brother, and only now
this master could confirm the claim before announcing it.”

Luo Binghe feels as if he might pass out too. Whispers and murmurs echo through the hall
once again, which Shen Qingqiu does not interrupt but looks rather satisfied at it. It can’t be,
how can A-Yuan actually be related to Shen Qingqiu…? Why did he only choose to tell them
— and Shen Yuan himself, who has dropped another tone in paleness after the announcement
— only now, after all Shen Yuan had to go through…?

“Shen Yuan has been pried away from his family at a young age, which is why this master
took so long to claim a relation, both out of grief and out of fear for my dear little brother,”
Shen Qingqiu exclaims emotionally, in a way Luo Binghe and most disciples have never
heard the peak lord speaking. It cannot be real, it can’t, Luo Binghe thinks to himself in
panic. Is this why Shizun was acting so weird? “The Heavens have sent my Yuan’er back to
me, at last…!”

Glancing at his friend, Luo Binghe wonders if Shen Yuan is processing the information so
emotionally told by their Shizun or if he is spacing out as he usually does when he’s
overwhelmed. If Shen Yuan is Shen Qingqiu’s brother, then is he the family A-Yuan felt so
sad when talking about his family? But he also claimed to not be related to Shen Qingqiu at
all and abhorred the idea with all his strength, so did he not recognize him?

If Shen Yuan now has a family, then will he not need Luo Binghe anymore…?

Shen Qingqiu glances at Luo Binghe for a second, a warning look in the peak lord’s face that
sends a clear message. Don’t you dare be near my Yuan’er, little beast, Shen Qingqiu’s voice
reverberates in his mind tauntingly. The peak lord then turns his eyes back to Shen Yuan —
who Luo Binghe is sure will either stand still in shock or be so caught up in his thoughts to
not notice the peak lord —, muttering a heartfelt ‘Yuan’er’ loud enough that the disciples
closes to him will hear it before reaching out his arms for a hug.

Shen Qingqiu’s arms instead reach out for a fainting Shen Yuan.
 in which shen yuan deserves a good nap
Chapter Summary

Shen Yuan wakes up in Qian Cao, only to be faced with the most batshit crazy situation
only Airplane could’ve conjured out of his twisted mind.

Chapter Notes

hi!! how are you guys doing?? omg y’all almost 1k kudos LIKE
WHATFDHASYDBFUASHFBOIASF THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!1
can’t believe i have to say this but i might actually take a while to answer all comments
since there’s so many SDBNGFUSFBHYS even if i don’t answer yours, i’m reading
every single one that shows up ok!!! i’m just socially awkward and sometimes i take too
long to actually answer HDUFGISHDFIUSHG BUT SERIOUSLY THANKJ U GUYS
SO MUCH!!!! really love how people seem to like this fic so much!!! i hope u guys like
this chapter too ehehehe first sy pov!!!
twt: @nyungseoni

Shen Yuan feels like his head might split in half as he opens his eyes.

It’s bright, and his eyes hate it. It feels akin to when he used to wake up after a particularly
bad flare-up of his issues, the soft blue walls of the private hospital always bringing him
more headaches than probably intended. There’s no IV drip making his arm itch and his hand
to feel stiff and bloated, no nasogastric tubes irritating the skin around his nostrils and
making Shen Yuan mourn the junk food he could be eating if not for them.

The lack of both horrible sensations should make Shen Yuan feel relaxed, yet they only serve
to make him whip his head around frantically as he looks for anything that could indicate his
current location. Not the hospital, not the woodshed, not the cramped storage room in Lady
Xiang’s private quarters-

Instead, there’s a man in front of him, his blurred silhouette not recognizable enough for Shen
Yuan to instantly realize who it is. As Shen Yuan’s vision gradually adapts to the
environment, his heart drops to the floor as he realizes that is Mu Qingfang who stands in
front of him.

“Ah, Shen Yuan has woken up,” the Qian Cao Peak Lord says, looking at Shen Yuan with
something strange in his eyes. Not anger, not contempt, not annoyance, but something Shen
Yuan had been awfully used to in his past life from both doctors and his family — pity. “Shen
Yuan has been brought to Qian Cao after passing out. Is there any discomfort, pain or
anything unusual Shen Yuan feels after waking up?”

Yes, Shen Yuan wants to answer. He feels uncomfortable and wants to go back to his shabby
woodshed so he can forget both Mu Qingfang’s gaze full of unwanted pity and Shen
Qingqiu’s sudden revelation to all his martial siblings that gradually comes back to haunt
Shen Yuan. He wants to pretend like nothing ever happened as he usually does, he wants to
laugh alongside Binghe as they secretly diss the other disciple’s poems from poetry class, he
wants to sit quietly beside the odd white cat who sometimes shows up at the bamboo grove
and acts funny.

Instead, Shen Yuan shakes his head. “No, Mu-shishu,” he answers, sighing as a wave of pain
spreads through his head once again. Maybe he can get some painkillers for that…? “Just a
light headache. It is nothing serious, shishu needn’t worry…”

“It is this shishu’s job to worry,” Mu Qingfang replies, to which Shen Yuan can’t do much but
begrudgingly agree. “Shen Yuan’s body did not suffer any damage, yet it is not only physical
matters this shishu must worry about. Your Shizun has already informed this master of what
happened, but it would be good for Shen-shizhi to talk about it if he wishes so.”

“So even people in other peaks already know it,” Shen Yuan mutters under his breath,
intending for it to be a thought in his head. He has an habit of speaking his thoughts out loud
since forever, and never once has it proven anything but troublesome to him.

“Not quite. This master has assisted Shen-shixiong in confirming his suspicions,” Mu
Qingfang replies, voice calm and kind as Shen Yuan mentally berates himself for talking so
brashly in front of a peak lord. Mu Qingfang may not be someone who would punish him for
such a thing, but Shen Yuan isn’t sure if being Shen Qingqiu’s brother would actually change
much in that aspect with the Qing Jing Peak Lord himself. “This master can confirm the
claims are accurate, although there are still a few questions only Shen Yuan can answer. Of
course, only when Shen-shizhi feels better.”

Shen Yuan can’t help but let out a quiet scoff. How is he ever supposed to feel better about
the apocalyptic-level threat that has been placed in his hands after today? He is so, so dead if
he ever loses grace with Binghe! His white lotus friend will only stay as such for a few years,
and Shen Yuan is pretty sure he can’t save Binghe from the abyss by himself, even if Shen
Qingqiu somehow actually cares about him.

Hell, if Shen Qingqiu cares about him, things might get even worse! There’s no way he will
let his ‘Yuan’er’ (even thinking about that nickname coming from Shen Qingqiu’s mouth
makes Shen Yuan’s stomach wrap around in panic and bitter memories from his past life) be
around the disciple he hates so bad that he threw the child down into Xianxia hell!

Maybe he and Binghe should have actually left Cang Qiong…

“Mu-shishu can ask this shizhi now if it is convenient,” Shen Yuan replies, deciding to get
over with it as soon as possible. It can’t get worse than this!
Mu Qingfang nods, grabbing a piece of paper and a wooden support that Shen Yuan assumes
must be some sort of ancient clipboard. The question will surely be related to Shen Qingqiu’s
reveal, so Shen Yuan prepares himself mentally to remember the shit people who sadly
birthed him into this infernal world. Honestly, his biological parents here might make into his
‘Top 5 most hated people’ by him, only behind hack author Airplane himself.

“What is the situation between Shen-shizhi and his parents? Does Shen-shizhi maintain
contact with them?” Mu Qingfang asks as Shen Yuan breathes deeply and makes up an
excuse for why he hasn’t seen his parents in five years.

“This shizhi has not seen them since he was around five years old,” he replies, deciding to
play safe in his next answer as he is not sure if Mu Qingfang has seen anything beyond the
scars. “I’m not sure where they may be, if they are alive. This shizhi has lived in the streets
before being accepted into Qing Jing.”

Another nod comes from Mu Qingfang, not a single thing in his face indicating confusion
over Shen Yuan’s answer. After all, he’s not the only disciple coming from the streets —
many street children try to join Cang Qiong as a last resource if they can travel the way to the
peak’s entrance exam in time.

“Have Shen-shizhi’s parents ever mention his older brother? Or perhaps mention any of them
having children with another? It is fine if Shen Yuan cannot answer; it has been a long time,
after all,” Mu Qingfang asks, to which Shen Yuan wonders if it would be weird if he did
remember such specific things about his parents when he hasn’t seen him since he was 5.
Well, he already spawned into the world with a mind of a 21 year old NEET, but Mu
Qingfang doesn’t know that.

A memory sparks in his mind at Mu Qingfang’s question, something that should be

inconsequential overall and one of the main reasons why Shen Yuan thought he couldn’t be
related to Shen Qingqiu besides a very distant relation. See, Shen Yuan’s shit parents weren’t
exactly well off; they usually didn’t starve, but rarely did any of them have any spare money
to buy anything outside of necessities and they sure resented Shen Yuan for being born and
making things worse.

Shen Qingqiu was supposed to be a pampered young master who had been taken in by Qiu
Haitang’s family, so Shen Yuan simply assumed he had been a poor relative who had been
homeless at most — because Shen Yuan knows too well what happened to the ‘other brat’ his
parents talked about. His biological mother had made it very clear that Shen Yuan’s destiny
would be the same if he proved useless in bringing money to the family as soon as he could
work, which he didn’t even get to prove in the first place before being sold.

From what he could gather from drunken rampages and rants, his older brother had been born
completely unwanted and on accident — his biological mother was very young and couldn’t
abort due to her family pressuring her not to. She had fled to another city with her lover, only
to go into labor before actually managing to get rid of the poor child who hadn’t even been
given a name, like Shen Yuan. Creativity surely wasn’t his parent’s strongest skill, since he
was called ‘brat’ and his older brother had been renamed ‘other brat’.
They said the ‘other brat’ had been sold when he was five because he was too fussy and
aggressive. Shen Yuan was the complete opposite, yet he was sold all the same by the two
horrible people who were supposed to care for him.

Shen Yuan also had been an accident, and his mother made sure to tell him that every day —
she got pregnant by accident and tried her best to get rid of Shen Yuan, which unfortunately
for both him and her failed when the village leader heard about her plans. Shen Yuan was
then born into this horrible nightmare straight from Airplane’s sadistic mind, right after he
died cursing said author on web forums.

It must have been karma laughing in his face, honestly. At first, Shen Yuan wasn’t even
aware this was supposed to be PIDW’s world, since he lived in the middle of buttfuck
nowhere, very far away from any cool shit to actually happen to give him any clue. He found
out at age 5, after overhearing two market stall owners talking about a Cang Qiong cultivator
who had bought some supplies from them since it was the closest village to their location.
Something in his brain activated at that, which resulted in him remembering that Cang Qiong
is Luo Binghe’s childhood nightmare sect and thus he’s in PIDW.

It became the reason he was sold, ironically. Shen Yuan perhaps had a very visible mental
breakdown over that and spent days sulking in his bed in both panic, anger and sadness —
and apparently his sulking day limit was 5, because by the sixth, his mother tossed him to a
slave trader who paid her two strings of coins in exchange.

That was enough to keep both his parents afloat without working for roughly two years, but
knowing their love for alcoholic beverages, it probably lasted them much less than that —
after all, he wasn’t the first child they sold, and they weren’t very keen on saving. Shen Yuan
realized he would most likely die without seeing the world he criticized and sort of adored
around him, to be forgotten without ever being given a proper name beyond a number for
easy identification, while his parents would keep on living as if nothing happened.

He doesn’t doubt that, if still alive, they probably call him the ‘second brat’ or something
stupid like that. To think there is a chance that the ‘first brat’ may have been Shen Qingqiu,
however… That brings too many questions about his Shizun that Shen Yuan doesn’t want to
think about.

Noticing his hesitation to answer, Mu Qingfang gives the child a kind smile. “If Shen-shizhi
is worried about Shen-shixiong, this master assures you your Shizun has given you full
permission to recount even things that might… bring his image into question. He has asked
Shen-shizhi to not tell anything to anyone outside of this master for the time being, however.”

Shen Yuan feels his heart stop as he hears the reassurance. It is the only confirmation he
needs to be asserted that he and Shen Qingqiu have more similarities than he had ever
imagined, although it does bring the questions he did not want to think about. If Shen
Qingqiu had been a slave, just like him, why had he been betrothed to Qiu Haitang? Was he
nothing more than a property of the Qiu estate that had been given to the young girl before
he…

There’s no use thinking about it now, Shen Yuan decides. He must focus on what is happening
in front of him. “This shizhi understands. My… parents have mentioned the existence of an
older brother, although this one never personally seen them,” Shen Yuan replies, looking
down at the ground. He doesn’t want to see Mu Qingfang’s face that will surely distort into
unwanted sorrow. “Until now, I guess. This one’s father has been with his mother since the
birth of my older brother, at least from what this one knows. I think they would have
mentioned if any had children out of wedlock.”

That would actually translate more like ‘I think they would’ve fought really hard about it’,
considering his parents did fight about awfully stupid things all the time, so a secret child
would certainly be a point of contempt between them. It still leaves Shen Yuan with the
question of ‘does Mu Qingfang know about the slave part’, which would change the way
Shen Yuan’s retelling would go depending on the answer.

Mu Qingfang writes something down on the paper. “It would be possible for Shen-shizhi and
Shen-shixiong to be born of the same mother, depending on her age. This master assumes she
was not a cultivator, correct?”

“Ah, she wasn’t,” Shen Yuan confirms, thanking the heavens that woman and neither that
man didn’t get the chance to cultivate to immortality to traumatize even more children. “This
shizhi does not remember her exact age, but if not mistaken, it was between thirty five and
forty by the time this one… left.”

The Qian Cao Peak Lord writes something else down. “As this master thought, it would be
possible. Shen-shizhi and Shen-shixiong have a seventeen year-old gap in age,” Shen Yuan
looks up to the doctor in surprise and widens his eyes at the difference, previously unaware
that Shen Qingqiu is that young. Mu Qingfang lets out a light chuckle. “Most disciples are
surprised to hear about it. Shen-shixiong is the youngest of us peak lords, and we ourselves
are not that awfully old either — Shen-shixiong took the position at merely 22 years old, if
this shishu’s mind recalls it well.”

Wow, that must’ve been kinda hard, Shen Yuan thinks to himself. If Shen Yuan couldn’t even
handle talking to more than three people at once when he was 21, imagine being literally
responsible for a whole peak filled with young people — besides that Shen Qingqiu clearly
hates most forms of human interaction, which probably adds another layer of challenge to it.

If they truly had similar lives to each other before coming to Cang Qiong, then Shen Yuan
can’t really blame Shen Qingqiu for not wanting to commute with others like people usually
do. Shen Yuan knows how much life can make you rethink if humanity wouldn’t be better off
extinct, how much it makes you dislike people for the smallest of things in their eyes —
maybe Shen Yuan still holds a grudge against one of his shixiongs he saw throwing away
perfectly fine shoes because they were ‘out of style’.

Still, it doesn’t excuse the fact Shen Qingqiu is an asshole and committing both child
endangerment and abuse. Cang Qiong should be glad there’s no federal government holding
them accountable, because this sect would’ve been gone ages ago if that was the case!

“There is something else this shishu must ask Shen-shizhi,” Mu Qingfang says, bringing
Shen Yuan’s attention back to reality as he watches the doctor hesitantly. “What caused Shen-
shizhi to leave his house so young?”
Shen Yuan feels as if air has left his lungs. His heart races as he thinks of what to answer,
pondering if he should just claim his parents died or something. Wait, no, he already implied
they could be alive. Should he risk saying they abandoned him because there wasn’t enough
money to feed everyone? That sounds better than saying your own parents hated you enough
to sell you for extra booze money, right?

Mu Qingfang writes something down, and it takes everything in Shen Yuan’s soul and being
not to dash out of the room at this man psychoanalyzing him. At least write it when he’s not
watching instead of doing it when Shen Yuan is about to freak out when thinking of what to
do! The Qian Cao Peak Lord looks at him with that kind smile once more, but Shen Yuan can
tell he already has an idea of what might have happened.

“There is no issue if Shen-shizhi does not feel comfortable enough to tell this shishu,” Mu
Qingfang says, voice as calm and approachable as possible. Shen Yuan wants to jump out the
window next to his bed and pack it right away to Qing Jing. “However, this master wants
Shen Yuan to remember something; it does not matter what has happened before, it is Cang
Qiong’s duty to protect its disciples to the fullest extent. Once you have passed through your
tea ceremony, not only you but also your Shizun has made an oath.”

Mu Qingfang knows, Shen Yuan is sure of it.

What if she discovers I’m here? Shen Yuan’s mind screams as he grips the blanket covering
his legs as tightly as he can. Lady Xiang never cared about any of her property on a personal
level, but Shen Yuan knows how possessive she can be. If she finds out he played dead under
her nose for so long, she will undoubtedly go on a manhunt for him, be it Qing Jing Peak
Lord’s little brother or not.

“That is surely enough questioning, Mu-shidi,” a voice too well-known to Shen Yuan says, as
Shen Qingqiu closes the door behind him swiftly as he glares at the Qian Cao Peak Lord.
Great, as if his decaying mental health wasn’t enough, now Shen Yuan has to deal with the
elephant in the room as well…

“Greetings, Shen-shixiong,” Mu Qingfang says, probably already used to Shen Qingqiu’s

aggressive tone. “This master is already finished with the questions. Shen-shizhi did not
suffer any injuries, so Shen-shixiong can take him back to Qing Jing. This master requests for
Shen-shizhi to return in a week, as discussed previously — this week’s appointment can be
considered already done.”

“This shixiong understands,” Shen Qingqiu replies, although he seemingly doesn’t like the
idea much. Shen Yuan doesn’t either, but he doesn’t have much time to complain in his mind
about it before Shen Qingqiu turns to look at him. “This master will take you back to Qing
Jing.”

Shen Yuan feels as if he might be going crazy, and not because Shen Qingqiu offered to take
him back personally, but because his first thought was ‘cool flying sword time!’ instead of
worrying about… literally everything else waiting for him at Qing Jing. That was his second
thought, however, so that must count for something.
He gets out of the bed as quickly as possible to avoid irritating Shen Qingqiu, because
brother or not, Shen Yuan is aware of how thin this man’s patience stretches, even with
people he likes such as Ning Yingying. Just remembering his friend suddenly brought another
can of worms for Shen Yuan to deal with — his brother is apparently a lecher and a
pervert….

Shen Yuan hasn’t seen anything personally, even with rumors already spreading slowly
through the peaks — in fact Shen Qingqiu doesn’t seem to look at Ning Yingying with any
bad intentions at all, even when both think there’s no one looking at them. It reminds Shen
Yuan of the way his older brothers looked at their meimei, not the look of an old dude
preying on a young girl.

One thing is certain, however — Shen Qingqiu does frequent brothels. So, maybe he doesn’t
look at Ning Yingying with malice, but he surely does contribute to the prostitution rings
around Cang Qiong. If he came from the same background as Shen Yuan, why would he do
that when he certainly knows and has probably seen what many of those woman had gone
through before arriving at a brothel?

Shen Qingqiu is too confusing, and Shen Yuan already has enough to deal with in his mind.
The sword flight he usually loves whenever he has the chance of experiencing it goes by too
quickly for Shen Yuan to appreciate the view, as his mind fills with doubt about the correct
steps to take after learning something as important as being the scum villain’s little brother.
Even being Binghe’s friend and no. 1 supporter doesn’t guarantee Shen Yuan’s safety — not
if his brother pushes Binghe into the Endless Abyss like in the original novel!

Besides, for all Shen Yuan dislikes about Cang Qiong, it doesn’t mean he wants to see the
place razed to the ground and everyone here dying. Thinking about it has always been hard,
to differentiate between character and person, and Shen Yuan has been getting worse at
separating his own feelings from the matter with each passing day. How can he, after all?
This is his life now, and the people around him are just as alive as he is.

By the time Shen Qingqiu lands on Qing Jing, it takes Shen Yuan a few seconds to realize
they are in front of the bamboo house. He looks at Shen Qingqiu with a confused expression,
to which the peak lord scoffs before he opens his fan with a snap. “Follow me. We surely
have many things to talk about.”

Maybe it’s the drop in formal speech, or maybe it’s the fact Shen Qingqiu didn’t immediately
disregard Shen Yuan’s existence after confirming their relation — Shen Yuan isn’t stupid, he
knows Shen Qingqiu’s emotional show was only that; a show. Never had his Shizun ever
shown that sort of affection towards him, in fact, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t shown anything
besides contempt for his existence and annoyance.

He follows the peak lord inside the house. Shen Yuan hasn’t been here after the tea ceremony,
besides a few times he had to look for Ning Yingying to make sure she didn’t destroy Shen
Yuan’s study notes accidentally — and that one time Ming Fan dragged him in the middle of
the night because of his attempted theft of a cultivation manual, but that’s something Shen
Yuan doesn’t like remembering. The inside of the bamboo house is not fancy as one would
expect from a peak lord, although there are clearly many expensive things scattered around
decorating shelves and walls — fans, paintings, tea sets, books; it is not displayed in a
manner of ostentation, but rather of indifference.

Shen Qingqiu sits on a chair, and Shen Yuan looks around wondering what to do, ultimately
deciding to kneel on the floor since his Shizun didn’t exactly tell him to sit on the chair
opposite to him. Something flashes through Shen Qingqiu’s eyes as he gazes down to Shen
Yuan, but it is gone before he can assess what it might be. A scowl makes its way to his face
instead.

“Why are you kneeling? Go sit on the chair,” Shen Qingqiu says, clearly displeased by Shen
Yuan’s action. How would he know what to do without instruction?! “What would be of this
master’s image if anyone were to see him sitting on a chair as his brother kneels?”

Ah, so it is about that, Shen Yuan thinks. Makes sense, it would indeed look bad for Shen
Qingqiu, especially if it got to other peaks. Shen Qingqiu already has a shit reputation, which
will only get worse when he kills Liu Qingge — and that should happen in about a few weeks
or months, if Shen Yuan isn’t mistaken. Shen Qingqiu is still going to meditate in seclusion
soon, which brings another problem to Shen Yuan; he will also be known as the brother of a
murderer after that.

Shaking away those thoughts — he can deal with them another time —, Shen Yuan sits on
the chair and looks down to the floor. There’s an uncomfortable silence as both of them do
not speak out, with Shen Yuan wondering what the hell he’s even supposed to say. Thankfully
for him, Shen Qingqiu does the job for him.

“Shen Yuan must surely have many questions,” Shen Qingqiu says, to which Shen Yuan can’t
help but nod. Yes, obviously he has way too many questions and it feels like everything he
thought he knew is collapsing onto itself! “This master will answer what he can. However,
there is one question I must ask you before letting you.”

Shen Yuan looks up in confusion with furrowed brows. Shen Qingqiu’s eyes are gazing down
upon him sharply, although he feels like the sharpness might not be directed at Shen Yuan
himself. “Does your old master know you are alive?”

It feels hard to breathe while trying to rationalize how Shen Qingqiu knows, but Shen Yuan’s
mind quickly gets back to work to try and calm down. If Shen Qingqiu is his older brother
who was also sold, then it wouldn’t be difficult for him to assume Shen Yuan also had been.
To speak with such certainty, however — Shen Yuan is sure the peak lord has seen the brand
on the nape of his neck.

“Ershi is dead,” Shen Yuan replies, to which he sees a glint of relief in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes.
Wouldn’t look good for him to have a slave brother, after all. “Died tragically in a fire, and
Shen Yuan joined Qing Jing a year later.”

Another flick of something passes through Shen Qingqiu’s eyes, more ferocious and wild
than before. Oh, didn’t he burn down the Qiu estate after killing most servants…? Shen Yuan
shivers at the thought of doing the same — his escape was something that only had his past
self as a causality, since he had been lucky enough that a guard forgot to lock the woodshed
outside Lady Xiang’s pavilion and Shen Yuan conveniently had a leftover candle he managed
to ignite. It couldn’t be said he planned it; Shen Yuan saw the opportunity and he knew better
than to wait for a better one.

“Good. So your current name is not the same,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, tapping his fingers
against the wooden chair while letting out a small sigh of relief. “I assume you have already
figured out how we never met, even while being born of the same parents.”

Shen Yuan nods. Another suffocating moment of silence passes without any of them saying
anything, as Shen Yuan lets his mind work around this new realization (and confirmation)
about Shen Qingqiu’s past. It explain many things never told in the novel, but it also leaves
Shen Yuan with many other questions; he isn’t stupid to know there are almost no people
who would treat a slave like a human being, and unless the Qiu’s were a family of good
samaritans, it would not be unreasonable to assume Shen Qingqiu had been through a lot
while living there, even if not directly caused by Qiu Haitang.

What ‘a lot’ would mean in this case is unknown to Shen Yuan, however.

“Does Shen Yuan have any questions he may want to ask?” Shen Qingqiu asks, to which
Shen Yuan ponders for a while.

There are many questions, yes, but honestly — Shen Yuan just feels drained. He wants to go
back to the woodshed and wait for Binghe, to lay down in their shabby blankets and just look
at the wooden ceiling in a comfortable silence. He’s just so exhausted, so tired of finally
relaxing when he thinks everything will be alright for the foreseeable future and then
something insane happens that shakes Shen Yuan’s plans to their core.

Shen Yuan shakes his head. Shen Qingqiu sighs, but doesn’t push the matter any further.

With a flick of his hand, Shen Qingqiu dismisses Shen Yuan who doesn’t take more than a
second to bow and leave the bamboo house as quickly as he can. He can hear his heartbeat in
his ears, the adrenaline from having to face his newfound problems dissipating as his limbs
grow heavy and Shen Yuan feels as if he might as well have been jelly with the way he drags
himself back to the woodshed. Binghe is not there yet, but he will be in a few short hours —
the sun is already setting and their duties usually do not go beyond 9PM most days, at least
when Ming Fan and his minions aren’t feeling like making their lives hell.

Shen Yuan wonders if he should just sleep or attempt to daydream about stupid stuff so he
won’t have to bother with reality. His books are gone — courtesy of Zhang Guang, who Shen
Yuan kind of forgot to ask what happened to him after that fiasco —, and there is little to no
entertainment in the little woodshed besides a few leftover papers from class and a bestiary
Shen Yuan has read a thousand times by this point.

Before he can decide between reading the bestiary once again or napping until Binghe
arrives, Shen Yuan hears a noise outside the woodshed. His blood freezes as he wonders if it
is someone coming to bother him like it used to happen a few months ago, which he quickly
discarts — they probably won’t attempt to mess with him after discovering he’s Shen
Qingqiu’s brother with a tragic past. There’s still a persistent noise outside the woodshed, as
if there’s something walking around it.
Shen Yuan gets up (which he maybe regrets since his muscles start aching) and opens the
door, looking around the surrounding area with confusion only to be met with a fluffy white
ball looking up at him with a surprised expression. Shen Yuan lets out a laugh, which comes
out more tired than he intended to.

“Hi, Wanyou,” Shen Yuan says, watching as the cat hesitates before bowing his head as a
greeting. He has had no luck in finding out which species his smart friend is, but Wanyou’s
surely a spiritual beast of sorts! Only they could be this smart and clearly have some sort of
spiritual energy emanating from it. “Do you want to enter? It’s getting dark outside.”

Wanyou looks at the woodshed weirdly, standing in front of the opened for a few seconds
before opening, almost as if shocked Shen Yuan actually lives there. What a fancy cat, Shen
Yuan laughs to himself. Of course his woodshed is not up to many standards — actually, not
up to livable standards for most people, but Shen Yuan will do with what he has.

“It’s not much, but it’s my home,” Shen Yuan says to the cat looking around the small
woodshed filled with study materials and tattered blankets. He notices Wanyou looking at the
second sleeping spot, to which Shen Yuan smiles. “That’s Binghe’s bed. I tried giving him
my pillow, but he didn’t accept it because ‘Shen Yuan needs it more’… I mean, I do miss
fluffy pillows, but I’ve slept like this for most of this life! This is child’s play.”

Wanyou looks at him with a strange look. Well, that’s normal for the white cat, which
probably has to guess many of the things Shen Yuan says. Even if he understands Shen Yuan
without problem, of course a cat from this world will not understand when Shen Yuan speaks
about things from another place and life — and honestly, it’s hard to explain sometimes.

The cat waves his tail angrily. “Hey, I know you don’t like Binghe, but he’s a pretty sweet
kid. You should give him a chance, I can imagine his pats must be heavenly,” Shen Yuan
says, whining mentally as he has not gotten the chance to get protagonist’s special pets —
Shen Yuan is usually the one petting Binghe’s head, and besides, he would never ask for it!
Binghe needs to keep it for his wives, not for his peak suffering companion who he will
probably kill after he leaves the abyss.

The thought of it makes Shen Yuan’s heart pang with hurt. He’s not sure if there will be much
he can do to avoid such a fate, specially when he has been outed as Shen Qingqiu’s younger
brother, and Luo Binghe isn’t exactly someone very forgiving after the abyss — what if he
decides Shen Yuan is also responsible for not stopping his brother’s horrible treatment of him
after he returns from the abyss?

There’s a fluffy thing rubbing against his leg. Shen Yuan looks down to find Wanyou
awkwardly trying to rub against him like cats usually do, although visibly not knowing how
to do it properly. His heart feels warmer at the motion, as Shen Yuan sits down in his blanket
and pets Wanyou’s head carefully.

“I’m sorry, I had a pretty rough day. Again,” Shen Yuan lets out, observing the cat who looks
up at him and bops his head to the side as if asking him to continue. “I swear, every time I
think I have everything laid out perfectly for the future, something batshit crazy happens as if
I got hit by a wife plot! What the hell does Shen Qingqiu even mean I’m his brother? I mean,
honestly I don’t even mind him that much after realizing he went through a similar situation
as me, but still! What am I supposed to do now that he dropped this absolute nuclear-level
disaster in my hands?!”

Wanyou looks down for a moment before looking up to Shen Yuan once again as the boy
sighs. “I just… Miss not having to worry about my survival literally every moment of my
existence. I think I didn’t really care back then, since, y’know. There was no future to worry
about, and I spent most of my time in the hospital or having other people fussing over me and
planning things for me. Can’t I just get a life with a healthy mix of both?”

The cat bops his head against Shen Yuan’s hand, which brings a small but sincere smile in his
face. Wanyou truly is a godsend — maybe Shen Yuan is treating this cat more like a therapist
rather than an actual cat, but still, he’s the only being that Shen Yuan can just talk hours on
end about everything that goes on and he can’t tell other people. Who knows what would
happen if Shen Yuan’s knowledge of the future is brought onto light?

Shen Yuan has seen too much cruelty during this life to allow himself to trust someone with
this knowledge.

Cang Qiong may be a righteous sect, but it does not mean all its members are acting for the
good of others. Shen Qingqiu is a clear exemple — it’s obvious he hates everything and
anything regarding being a peak lord besides the status and comfort that comes with it,
although he hasn’t exactly conducted any evil cartoon villain plans as of yet. All things
considered, his Shizun isn’t as horrible as Shen Yuan had expected, it’s just that… He’s
horrible enough to Binghe.

Shen Yuan finds himself yawning. Wanyou looks at him in surprise, pointing one of his paws
to the pillow as he looks to him. Shen Yuan laughs softly at the gesture, always finding it so
adorable when Wanyou does these human-like gestures. He must’ve learned from observing
others. “…Maybe I should get a nap. I think I deserve it.”

Wanyou nods furiously, stomping the paw facing the pillow on the ground until Shen Yuan
finally lays down while holding back a laughing fit. It kind of reminds him of his older
brothers and his mother whenever they found him slouching over the computer at 2AM.
Wanyou lays next to him, not exactly touching Shen Yuan but close enough for him to hear a
barely noticeable purr.

Shen Yuan smiles, closing his eyes as sleep comes more easily than he imagined.
 in which shen qingqiu needs anger management classes
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu prepares the peak for the following months he will spend in seclusion,
which includes talking to Shen Yuan.

Chapter Notes

hi!!! how is everyone doing? OMG WE HIT 1K THANK YOU ALL SO

MUCHKIAFHSNIASUFHSUBHISHBASUIFA seriously omg i still can’t believe it!!
thank you all so much for everything, it makes me so happy and inspired to know so
many people are reading something i wrote like omfg imagine 1k ppl in a room LIKE
WTJFNSDIUFGBDSIUFSAG as a gift i have brought: terrible communication skills
from both shens and a LOT of angst!!!!!
hope u guys enjoy the chapter and thank u all again!!!! love u guys fr <3333333
twt: @shiyooji (follow me i’m funny (questionable) and i have cats and regularly post
pics of them)

Shen Qingqiu is not sure how to be a proper sibling.

All he knows about caring comes from his time as a slave, and most of it could be dwindled
down to him beating up other people before they did the same to the ones he cares about,
giving up his portion of food so they do not go hungry, smearing dirt in his face so he looks
more pitiful when crying for money.

There’s nothing of the sort he needs to do in Qing Jing — he is the Xiu Ya Sword, Shen
Qingqiu, and he owns this place. There’s no food to deprive himself of in favor of someone
else’s chance to have a full meal, he can simply order the kitchens to cook until there is
nothing left in the storage. There’s no one Shen Qingqiu needs to beat to protect someone,
only barbed words filled with insults to keep anyone away before they can abandon him.
Shen Qingqiu has everything he always desired as Shen Jiu, countless riches he can throw on
whatever fancies him the most; how can he show his care, then?

Nothing has worked so far with Shen Yuan. The Endless Abyss will freeze over by the time
Shen Qingqiu tries to follow Yue Qingyuan’s technique of gifting uselessly expensive things
so he doesn’t need to actually say anything, and Shen Qingqiu will never subjugate himself to
emulate the behaviors of, say, Ning Yingying or the little beast to try to get closer to Shen
Yuan.
For now, Shen Qingqiu has decided to start simple. After finding out Shen Yuan’s living
conditions — Ming Fan will have to come up with a very good explanation on why they have
allowed their youngest shidi to sleep on the woodshed —, Shen Qingqiu swiftly ordered a
disciple to tell Shen Yuan to move his things to the spare room in the bamboo house
immediately.

It was easy to come up with an excuse, of course. How could Shen Qingqiu let his beloved
younger brother sleep in the crammed dormitories of Qing Jing after being separated for so
long? No disciple would dare mention the woodshed to him, of course, so Shen Qingqiu can
only attempt to amend the issue before it makes its way to the other peaks.

Luo Binghe can keep sleeping there, for all Shen Qingqiu cares. The peak lord had done the
same in his disciple years, so surely the little beast can endure it. The problem is letting the
beast roam around in such an intimate place with Shen Yuan — Shen Qingqiu knows what
beastly eyes like those are capable of when no one is seeing.

It was worth it to see Shen Yuan’s annoyed and sleepy expression as he knocked on the door,
very few belongings on his hands as he greeted Shen Qingqiu who guided the child to the
spare room. Shen Yuan’s gaze softened almost immediately upon seeing a full-sized bed, to
which the child finally remembered to thank the peak lord for the new living quarters.

Shen Qingqiu can excuse a little rudeness — for now. Unfortunately, he did fail to consider
how Shen Yuan would react to such a public and dramatic reveal that even the child was
unaware of, but Shen Qingqiu couldn’t just hear what Zhang Guang said without humiliating
the spoiled brat enough for him to remember for the rest of his life; that is how snobbish
young masters like Zhang Guang learn to know their place. However, hearing Shen Yuan
actually say how it had stressed him had made Shen Qingqiu wish he had stuck with the
original plan.

It was a simple plan, to gather all disciples in the entrance courtyard and make the
announcement. Mu Qingfang was very much against said plan, saying that it would be too
much to make a public announcement, that it wouldn’t give Shen Yuan time to process the
situation properly in a safe environment. Shen Qingqiu, however, needed all his disciples to
be aware of it, to hear it spoken loud and clear — since letting their gossip spread hadn’t
stopped many from trying to bother Shen Yuan again and again.

Besides, Shen Qingqiu could already hear Qi Qingqi’s voice loudly declaring how the Qing
Jing Peak Lord must be ashamed of his little brother if he did not make a public
announcement. It is why he has decided to take Shen Yuan to the next peak meeting he
attends after finishing his seclusion, so it can be clear and visible that any threat to Shen Yuan
is a direct threat to Shen Qingqiu, even if coming from his fellow peak lords.

In any case, Shen Qingqiu must prepare things properly for Shen Yuan to adapt to these
changes as smoothly as possible, since the peak lord will be in seclusion for the next months
— and possibly having to save Liu Qingge’s life at the same time, if Shen Yuan’s predictions
prove themselves accurate. Since the child knew about the Skinner Demon’s existence before
anyone but the Qing Jing Peak Lord and the administrative disciples in Qiong Ding, Shen
Qingqiu’s best option would be to expect something to happen during his stay in the Ling Xi
caves.
Mu Qingfang already provided him with an emergency talisman and has instructed Shen
Qingqiu on what to do if Liu Qingge does go into qi deviation; it will undoubtedly be a
violent and aggressive one, knowing that brute. Shen Qingqiu must hold on as long as
possible until Mu Qingfang arrives and try not to get killed or kill that brute by accident.

To the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s relief, the brute was not the only thing Mu Qingfang wanted to
discuss with him before Shen Qingqiu left. The Qian Cao Peak Lord presented yet another
treatment plan for Shen Yuan, mostly consisting of therapeutic approaches considering the
situation — of course, Shen Qingqiu made Mu Qingfang swear he would be the only one
allowed to take Shen Yuan as a patient, both because of the secrecy they must keep due to the
child’s unconventional abilities and because Shen Qingqiu simply won’t allow for anyone
less experienced than the Qian Cao Peak Lord himself to treat him.

After all, Shen Qingqiu had gotten a sort of confirmation from Shen Yuan himself about his
previous life — and from the way the child spoke about it, Shen Qingqiu would assume he
only remembers a single life before this one instead of multiple. Mu Qingfang agreed when
Shen Qingqiu recalled what he had heard, writing down a few notes in an extensive scroll the
peak lord assumes must be Shen Yuan’s medical records and annotations. Shen Yuan will
keep going to Qian Cao for weekly appointments, which Shen Qingqiu has made sure to let
Ming Fan know the child is not to miss a single one.

Now, they must wait until Shen Yuan becomes comfortable enough to share anything with
Mu Qingfang. It hurts to admit it, but Shen Qingqiu knows his absence might help the child
to adapt better and deal with his emotions. Shen Yuan will surely get sad his cat friend won’t
be appearing as often, but Shen Qingqiu has come up with a plan to ease the child’s
suspicions if he ever comes to question where his cat friend has gone.

Ming Fan has gotten a bit confused on why his Shizun instructed him on what to say if Shen
Yuan inquires about a missing cat. Thankfully, his head disciple is smart enough to know
when not to ask, even when Ming Fan clearly has notices the few odd white furs throughout
the bamboo house that make Shen Qingqiu’s nose itch horribly and sometimes even cause
him to sneeze.

Shen Qingqiu sighs, finishing the remaining paperwork and sorting it so Ming Fan can focus
more of his time in taking care of the disciple’s progress and maintaining stability in Qing
Jing. Tomorrow is the day the Qing Jing Peak Lord enters the Ling Xi caves, and considering
Yue Qingyuan hasn’t showed up to fawn in guilt over Shen Yuan yet, Shen Qingqiu is sure to
expect a visit either today or just before he enters the caves, as usual.

Shen Yuan only stayed for breakfast because Shen Qingqiu ordered it to be brought before
the child had the time to finish getting ready and leaving to eat with the other disciples. It was
a silent and awkward ordeal, with Shen Yuan quietly sighing and muttering something about
the little beast’s cooking being better. It was quite entertaining (and endearing, but Shen
Qingqiu would never admit that out loud) to see the child’s habit of thinking out loud, with
Shen Qingqiu keeping his face as neutral as possible to not scare the child by giving an
unwanted opinion on his thoughts, which Shen Qingqiu really wanted to do when hearing the
little beast’s name.
After all, Mu Qingfang had instructed him on ideal ways of making Shen Yuan more
comfortable per Shen Qingqiu’s request (and another threat if word of it were to spread), and
while the peak lord found himself mildly annoyed at most instructions — no, Shen Qingqiu
will not give verbal encouragement to Shen Yuan, that’s… too much for the peak lord —, he
hadn’t had much choice but to begrudgingly agree with Mu Qingfang’s advice to avoid
giving sharp replies to Shen Yuan. Controlling his tone could be exceedingly difficult at
times, so Shen Qingqiu has resorted to not speaking as much and instead trying to show
support through actions.

Only if Shen Yuan wasn’t so difficult…!

Shen Qingqiu cannot even find it in himself to complain too much — after all, he and Shen
Yuan are more similar than he had ever predicted. The sheer delight Shen Qingqiu had felt
when Shen Yuan told him he had burned his mistress’ house as well, the shameful glee to
know that Shen Yuan may be the only person in this world who would actually understand all
Shen Jiu had been through.

Deep down, Shen Qingqiu knew he should be horrified about the child’s similar experiences.
However, neither Shen Qingqiu or Shen Jiu were ever good, and neither did he ever claim to
be. Shen Qingqiu knows it all too well his delight is fruit of a greedy desire to finally have
someone like him, someone who won’t abandon him like Yue Qi did — someone who
understands Shen Jiu on a personal level, who has lived through what scarred Shen Jiu to
become the wretched person he is today.

Of course, Shen Yuan is different. Instead of being corrupted into someone with no faith in
the world around him, the child somehow managed to make the best out of his situation —
the same hope that made Shen Qingqiu turn his face in disgust when first seeing Shen Yuan
has now become the thing he wishes to keep intact. Unfortunately, Shen Yuan’s lack of hatred
for the world has rendered him a bit kinder than he should, and perhaps also too naive to the
dangers lurking just beside him, but Shen Qingqiu can deal with those by himself.

Perhaps Shen Yuan can become what Shen Jiu could never be.

A knock on the door shakes the thoughts away from Shen Qingqiu’s mind, making the peak
lord turn his head away from the documents on the table as he gives permission for whoever
is outside to enter his house. An irritated sigh comes out of the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s mouth
as he gets up from his seat, turning to face the door in which he is certain Yue Qingyuan
would be entering now, only to be faced with an odd and also unwelcome surprise.

“S-shen-shixiong!” Shang Qinghua greets, bowing his head lightly as he looks around the
bamboo house as if looking for something. “How is shixiong doing? Going into seclusion
soon, right?”

Shen Qingqiu raises a brow at the other peak lord. “What has brought Shang-shidi here?’

“Straight to the point, damn,” Shang Qinghua mutters as if no one would hear, to which the
Qing Jing Peak Lord annoyedly sighs. “This shidi was only curious about Shen-shixiong’s
little brother, that’s all! It’s the talk of the sect, you know? A dramatic reunion between
siblings tragically separated so young-!”
A sharp look from Shen Qingqiu is enough to make Shang Qinghua squeal middle sentence
before he starts his useless rants about Shen Yuan of all people. Shen Qingqiu has no use
knowing gossip coming from his own martial siblings who either hate or fear him, much less
of a puny rat such as Shang Qinghua. Besides, Shen Qingqiu can’t help but always feel like
something is up about the An Ding Peak Lord, the way the man is oddly knowledgeable
about basically everything around him yet acts as if he was nothing more than a stupid
coward.

“Did you come all the way to Qing Jing only to bother this master with useless gossip?” Shen
Qingqiu replies, watching as Shang Qinghua pales and shakes his head frantically as he
spews out excuses that the peak lord will not bother himself listening to. “If Shang-shidi
really wishes to know, Shen Yuan is doing perfectly fine with this master. Now you can go
back to An Ding to spread more nonsense to Qi Qingqi in your tea meetings.”

“What- N-no, Shen-shixiong, this shidi would never!” Shang Qinghua replies, to which Shen
Qingqiu gives him another glare as the An Ding Peak Lord squeaks in defeat. “Ok, maybe I
did tell Qi Qingqi some things, but she had asked and Shen-shixiong knows how Qi-shimei is
scary! One hit and this poor shidi would be dead!”

Shen Qingqiu sighs as he feels a headache forming. “Whatever suits Shang-shidi’s excuse
better,” he mutters, watching as Shang Qinghua quiets down in fear. “If Shang-shidi wished
to meet Shen Yuan, then I’ll unfortunately have to turn shidi away. Shen Yuan is in class and
surely must have better things to do afterwards as well.”

“So cold, ugh. What a tsundere,” Shang Qinghua mutters, to which Shen Qingqiu furrows his
brows. Whatever that means, it cannot be good if it’s coming from someone like the An Ding
Peak Lord. “Well, this shidi will make his way back then. Many documents to deal with, you
see…! Bye, Shen-shixiong!”

With that, Shang Qinghua sprints out of the bamboo house so quickly he forgets to close the
door. Shen Qingqiu mentally groans as he closes it and goes back to his documents, trying his
best to finish it quickly in time for dinner — he’s not sure if Shen Yuan will bother coming
back for the meal, but Ming Fan can go fetch him in any case. There are a few things that
must be discussed before Shen Qingqiu goes into the caves, things that the peak lord himself
must tell the child just to be sure Shen Yuan will stay out of trouble during these months.

There shouldn’t be much to truly worry about, as far as Shen Qingqiu can tell — in any case,
he has already requested for Mu Qingfang to look into any records from Qian Cao regarding
fires breaking out in noble residences. It would be truly bold for this previous mistress of the
child to come knocking on Cang Qiong’s doorstep demanding the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s
younger brother, but Shen Qingqiu cannot ignore the possibility of a smear campaign in both
his and Shen Yuan’s name if this mistress finds out about Shen Yuan’s relation to him.

The ideal step would be to inform Yue Qingyuan of such a possibility — and probably inform
the sect leader about everything else too —, but how can Shen Qingqiu leave Shen Yuan’s
safety in the hands of an oath-breaker like Yue Qingyuan? He knows too well where the
man’s allegiances lay, and he knows the sect would always come before anything else to Yue
Qingyuan; if not, then why hadn’t he ever bothered to deny the disgusting rumors regarding
Shen Qingqiu?
Yue Qingyuan knows it is easier to let Shen Qingqiu take the fall instead of the whole of
Cang Qiong, after all.

Between angry thoughts and bitter memories, Shen Qingqiu finishes the rest of the document
pile without noticing time going by; when he looks to the window, the sun is already slowly
setting through the peaks as the disciple’s chatter grows louder in the distance. Shen Qingqiu
opens the door and calls upon the closest disciple, ordering the child to fetch Shen Yuan and
order dinner to be brought to the bamboo house.

Shen Qingqiu wishes he could go for a visit to the Warm Red Pavilion, yet with Shen Yuan
moving to the bamboo house so suddenly it would be ideal for the peak lord to stay and delay
his visit for after he leaves seclusion. It was harder to fall asleep yesterday — after all, even if
Shen Yuan is his brother, Shen Qingqiu was too used to being completely alone in the
bamboo house during the night, so the peak lord ended up spending most of the night
annoyedly trying to fall asleep only to find himself awakening as soon as sleep showed itself
in his body.

There’s a knock on the door, to which Shen Qingqiu mutters an authorization to entrance.
Shen Yuan opens the door carefully, his eyes meeting Shen Qingqiu for a moment before they
go back to gaze upon the wooden floor as if it is the most interesting thing in the whole
house. Shen Qingqiu lets out a sigh.

“There’s no need for you to ask for permission to enter your own house,” Shen Qingqiu
nonchalantly says, looking back at one of the documents before putting it away on the
bundle.

“Apologizing to Shizun for disturbing him,” Shen Yuan replies, still looking at the ground in
a manner that makes Shen Qingqiu annoyed. They are brothers, why is Shen Yuan acting as if
Shen Qingqiu will have his head for any transgressions?!

Nothing except a tired sigh leaves Shen Qingqiu’s mouth as he checks the bundle once more
before leaving it organized on top of his table for Ming Fan. There are many things bothering
him more than usual today — maybe the fact he barely got any decent sleep in quite some
time and Shang Qinghua’s odd visit had left him on edge —, and now Shen Qingqiu has
found yet another thing that hits his nerves; Shen Yuan’s skittishness even when the peak lord
has tried to make it clear that he doesn’t loathe Shen Yuan.

“Get ready for dinner,” Shen Qingqiu orders, watching as Shen Yuan quickly nods and starts
walking towards the spare room. “There are a few things we must talk about before I go into
seclusion.”

Well, Shen Qingqiu tries, but he’s sure he’s failing miserably at his attempts at soothing Shen
Yuan’s nerves because the child basically sprints to his room nervously after the last
sentence. Perhaps he did sound too harsh or authoritarian when ordering the child to get
ready, but how can he not? Shen Qingqiu is a peak lord above everything else, and want it or
not, it seeps into other aspects of his life and personality.

The food arrives as soon as Shen Yuan’s door opens and the child arrives in clean robes,
approaching the dining table hesitantly as if Shen Qingqiu was some sort of monster waiting
to strike this poor child for incorrect table manners. He is, but that can wait until Shen Yuan
gets more comfortable with the situation and Mu Qingfang makes some progress with his
treatment plan.

Dinner is nothing out of ordinary today; a few dishes are spread out through the table, all
equally uninteresting and bland as usual per Qing Jing tradition. Shen Qingqiu usually does
not mind the blandness a lot — after all, he knows that it is better to eat bland but nutritious
food rather than scraping for rests on back alleys. His stomach is also a glutton, so Shen
Qingqiu prefers not to indulge it too much before it grows restless.

Both of them eat silently as Shen Qingqiu occasionally glances over to Shen Yuan, who is so
rigid in his movements that it makes him look as if he’s being forced to eat rather than
actually enjoying it. There’s too much Shen Qingqiu must work on before Shen Yan starts
getting less uneasy around him, and the peak lord must keep his patience under control to not
scare the child away.

Some poor disciple takes away the finished dishes with trembling hands as Shen Yuan looks
down at the table; it must be as interesting as the floor, Shen Qingqiu sneers in his mind.
There are a few seconds of silence before the peak lord decides to get it over with before he
loses his patience.

“As Shen Yuan knows, this master will go into seclusion tomorrow,” Shen Qingqiu says,
watching as Shen Yuan looks at him for a brief second before nodding and going back to his
staring contest against the table. Patience, the peak lord chants in his mind. “This master has
already left instructions to head disciple Ming Fan. If Shen Yuan necessitates anything, do
not hesitate asking Ming Fan or a hallmaster for it, and if there are any medical emergencies,
Shen Yuan is to directly report to the Qian Cao Peak Lord. If anyone bothers you, call for
Ming Fan and he shall deal with them. Understood?”

“This disciple understands,” Shen Yuan replies, looking somewhat confused at some of the
instructions before something (that Shen Qingqiu doesn’t want to believe is disappointment,
even if it looks like it) flashes through his eyes and the child looks down again.

“Is there something Shen Yuan wishes to say?” Shen Qingqiu finds himself saying, letting his
irritated tone show through his voice as he watches Shen Yuan shrink into himself a little.
Great, he managed to fuck any progress up.

“N-no, nothing,” Shen Yuan replies, stuttering over his words as he grimly looks down. Oh,
is it about Liu Qingge…? “I mean, uh, this disciple simply wants to wish Shizun a good and
safe seclusion and that it goes smoothly without any… Issues. Which wouldn’t happen, of
course, but if it does, then this disciple just wants Shizun to not- I mean, to stay safe.”

Shen Qingqiu holds back a laugh as he opens his fan to conceal any traces of amusement in
his face. Perhaps he should help Shen Yuan train his deception a bit better when he comes
back from seclusion, because if this child had said this to any other person that wasn’t aware
of Shen Yuan’s ability, it would surely cause many troubles for him and perhaps even a
questioning if said to another peak lord. For now, however, Shen Qingqiu gazes at Shen Yuan
for a few seconds before nodding calmly.
No, Shen Qingqiu will not admit that maybe his heart feels a little warmer than usual over
Shen Yuan’s attempt at warning him.

“This master will remember Shen Yuan’s words,” Shen Qingqiu replies, watching as the child
lets out a small sigh of relief. The peak lord can ignore how he was so sure the child was
about to say Shen Qingqiu shouldn’t murder anyone in his seclusion, but at least Shen Yuan
managed to have sense enough not to say that. “This master is planning to bring emergency
talismans with him. Shen Yuan may have heard of this master’s… tendency to have qi
deviations. It is not something this master usually brings with him, but the circumstances
have changed quite a bit since my last trip to the caves.”

It hurt to actually have to say such a weakness of his out loud, but it may be the only way to
soothe Shen Yuan’s worries over having a murderer for a brother. Besides, Shen Qingqiu is
trying to make it as clear as verbally possible to this child that he cares enough about having
a brother not to risk dying over in the caves out of his pride, but all that the peak lord can do
is hope Shen Yuan actually understands the meaning behind his words.

Something in Shen Yuan’s eyes changes, as his previous gloom look is exchanged for a
mixture of realization and expectation. Shen Qingqiu unfortunately cannot read the child’s
mind (as much as he wants to), but he does not doubt that Shen Yuan has only now
considered the possibility that Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t necessarily want to murder Liu
Qingge. Shen Qingqiu holds back a sigh, deciding it will be better to focus on anything but
the fact his own younger brother would assume the worst from him if he had not said that.

“Then this disciple is sure Shizun’s seclusion will go well,” Shen Yuan replies, the relief
visible in his tone and the stiffness in his muscles a bit less perceptible. It’s still progress,
even if less than what Shen Qingqiu wished for.

“Are there any other things Shen Yuan wishes to say? Any questions?” Shen Qingqiu asks,
waiting to see if the child would be willing to share any doubts about the months Shen
Qingqiu will be absent from the peak.

Shen Yuan shakes his head, opening his mouth to answer but stopping as a knock echoes
through the bamboo house. Shen Qingqiu looks to the door, feeling an anger building up
inside of him as he feels a familiar presence just outside his door. Holding back any sour
expression from showing in his face, the peak lord walks to the entrance himself.

Of course he is greeted with Yue Qingyuan’s face as soon as the door opens.

“Qingqiu-shidi. Apologies for the time, but this shixiong wished to visit shidi before his
seclusion,” Yue Qingyuan says, that guilty smile of his making Shen Qingqiu’s hand twitch in
annoyance as the sect leader’s eyes gaze inside the bamboo house. “Ah, Shen-shizhi is here
too-”

“What do you really want?” Shen Qingqiu cuts the sect leader’s speech, letting the anger be
evident in his face as Yue Qingyuan looks down in hesitance for a moment. “Can’t you see
you’re interrupting? Me and your dear Shen-shizhi were having a great time before you
showed up.”
Shen Yuan keeps himself on the chair, so stiff he may as well be a statue. Of course, Yue
Qingyuan would show up as soon as Shen Qingqiu had finally made some progress, only to
immediately stomp on it with his stupid remorseful look and pitiful smile. Shen Qingqiu is
well aware Shen Yuan will be a bit taken aback by seeing his Shizun speaking like this to the
sect leader, but Shen Qingqiu needs to make sure Yue Qingyuan won’t bother the child with
his guilt-induced sympathy while the Qing Jing Peak Lord is away.

“This one simply wished to see how Shen-shizhi is adapting, and also to make sure Xiao-
Jiu-”

“Don’t you dare speak that name!” Shen Qingqiu yells, fury staining his voice as he glares
deep into the sect leader’s eyes. “What, do you also want to give your Xiao-Yuan a promise to
break as well?! Wasn’t one sibling enough for you? Leave Shen Yuan alone and go weep
your pity away somewhere else!”

Both Yue Qingyuan and Shen Yuan stare quietly at the Qing Jing Peak Lord, although the
child’s gaze looks more confused and curious than anything else. Shen Qingqiu knows Shen
Yuan has noticed something has happened between him and the sect leader — after all, the
child had complained to his cat friend about the awkwardness he felt around Yue Qingyuan
before —, but it is clear the child did not know how exactly it related to him.

Shen Yuan doesn’t need to know what Yue Qingyuan did — or better, did not do —, all that
he needs to know is that the sect leader is a liar and an oathbreaker Shen Yuan shouldn’t trust
under any circumstances. Yue Qingyuan may try to relieve his guilt over his broken promise
all he wants, Shen Qingqiu will not accept the sect leader’s presence near Shen Yuan; Shen
Qingqiu even prefers if the sect leader stops saying sorry and just say he’s ashamed of Shen
Jiu’s existence that threatens his position like he always meant to.

“Xiao… Qingqiu-shidi,” Yue Qingyuan mutters, opening his mouth to say words that never
come out. Instead, Shen Qingqiu is once again let down by the sect leader who simply looks
down in shame. “I’m sorry, Qingqiu-shidi.”

Such words he has heard so many times only make the flames in Shen Qingqiu’s heart grow
stronger with anger. “Fuck you and your useless apologies! Just leave us alone, is it that hard
to understand?”

Yue Qingyuan looks lifeless as he slowly nods and turns away, but Shen Qingqiu is too
enraged to care about the sect leader’s sad face and to feel anything but pure anger in his
heart. He shuts the door close with a bang, gripping the fan in his hands as if his life
depended on it; Yue Qingyuan is gone, Shen Yuan is still sitting there looking like a terrified
kid who just witnessed a serious fight for the first time in his life.

Shen Qingqiu knows himself well enough to know there’s a real possibility he might discount
his anger on Shen Yuan. So, the peak lord puts on the most neutral face he can after letting
out a shaky sigh. “Any questions Shen Yuan has remaining can be asked tomorrow. This
master will retire for the night.”

The peak lord can see Shen Yuan nodding hesitantly from the corner of his eye, to which
Shen Qingqiu spares no time before walking away to his room as quickly as possible. It is
better to let the rage out in the countless stupid and useless trinkets gifted by that liar rather
than giving Shen Yuan a reason to be scared of his own brother, at least any more than Shen
Qingqiu has already given the child.

Porcelain falls broken to the floor as the door closes shut, and Shen Qingqiu smashes both
Yue Qi’s guilt and Shen Jiu’s anger until there’s nothing left.
 in which mu qingfang also deserves a raise + paid vacation
Chapter Summary

Mu Qingfang is left in charge of Shen Yuan’s wellbeing during Shen Qingqiu’s

seclusion. It takes a few months and countless books on the study of the mind, but the
Qian Cao Peak Lord makes some progress.

Chapter Notes

hi!!! how are you guys? i wanted to post this chapter much earlier, but every time i’ve
been kinda sick the past few days and felt like throwing up every time i started to write
LMAO anyways, finally managed to do it!!! kind of an odd chapter since it is 100%
mqf’s pov but i thought it fit what i wanted to show better.
anyways, hope u guys enjoy the chapter!!! thank you all for the kind comments, i might
take a while to answer but i see all of them!!!! i AM watching you.
twt @shiyooji (i posted sqq fanart if anyone wants to see… wink wink)

Mu Qingfang puts away the book in his hands, quietly sighing as he signals for his disciple to
allow Shen Yuan to enter.

The Qian Cao Peak Lord has had much more difficult cases before, no doubt; as the most
qualified physician in the peaks — and even in the cultivation world, as some of his patients
would claim —, Mu Qingfang was no stranger to complicated cases that required him to put
aside some time to study their intricacies with more care. After all, a doctor’s knowledge
must always keep going, always up to date on the latest research and techniques by other
members of the community.

That being said, Mu Qingfang found himself having to order more and more books and
papers on heart demons than he has ever done before. It was a scarce subject to begin with, as
most health practices on the topic are still considered somewhat taboo for both the cultivation
and mortal world; most argue a man cannot be strong if he cannot fight his own demons by
himself, and woman are often relegated to being called ‘hysterical’ if acting outside the
societal norm.

Qian Cao’s curriculum was mostly focused on how to deal with the aftermaths of any issues
caused by heart demons, not to act before they can flourish. Of course, that’s not the only
thing Mu Qingfang and Shen Qingqiu are trying to do, as the issue brought by the Qing Jing
Peak Lord regarding Shen Yuan’s apparent ability to predict the future would certainly
qualify as high-priority if the sect’s safety is involved.
Shen Qingqiu has already gone into seclusion for roughly two months, and the emergency
talisman attached to Mu Qingfang’s sleeve has yet to activate. Liu Qingge had entered his
seclusion a few weeks before the Qing Jing Peak Lord, and Mu Qingfang had not seen any
signs of anything wrong with the Bai Zhan Peak Lord — but if Shen Yuan’s prediction about
the Skinner Demon was correct, then there would be a real possibility of his other prediction
also turning out to be true.

It left a few questions in Mu Qingfang’s mind, however. Did Shen Yuan’s prediction of Cang
Qiong’s destruction include Liu Qingge’s death also predicted by him? If so, it would make it
a little more plausible (although still unlikely) for the event to cause such a devastating
outcome; Bai Zhan is the front line of defense, the one keeping Cang Qiong protected from
most dangers before they can be classified as such. If Liu Qingge, the man leading all those
disciples, was not in the picture and the defenses were left to the rest of the sect to deal with,
it would surely give an advantage to whoever fought against Cang Qiong.

Mu Qingfang hasn’t brought up the topic of seers to Shen Yuan yet; the child clearly needed
more time to adapt to the changes in his life before the Qian Cao Peak lord shook its
foundations once more. Shen Qingqiu had already been too brash in his impulsive revelation,
so much that it caused Shen Yuan to faint on the spot and earned the Qing Jing Peak Lord an
earful from Mu Qingfang once the scholar recounted what happened.

Shen Qingqiu clearly does not understand why Mu Qingfang asks for him to be patient with
the child, at least not beyond a logical explanation that it may cause Shen Yuan a qi deviation
if he’s constantly under stress and most likely feeling isolated from his peers due to his new
status as a peak lord’s sibling. Shen Qingqiu seems to view such worries as stupid and
childish, at least from what Mu Qingfang could interpret in the scholar’s words and body
language.

It makes Mu Qingfang both annoyed and somewhat worried for the Qing Jing Peak Lord.
After all, Shen Qingqiu may never say it out loud, but it is clear that he has been through a lot
just like Shen Yuan has — and perhaps it is where the odd protectiveness came from,
alongside the constant qi deviation episodes the man suffers from. Mu Qingfang is only
called when the situation is dire enough for Yue Qingyuan to ignore Shen Qingqiu’s wishes,
but the doctor is aware the Qing Jing Peak Lord must suffer from way more qi deviations
than the ones Mu Qingfang is aware of.

Shen Qingqiu has a serious problem with trusting others, and Mu Qingfang fears it might be
something related to the sect leader. Whatever it is, the Qian Cao Peak Lord cannot pry or
speculate beyond wild guesses; it would be disrespectful to both Yue Qingyuan and Shen
Qingqiu if he were to assume more than what is allowed for him and their martial siblings to
know.

A knock is heard through the office, to which Mu Qingfang allows entrance to the child
standing outside. He shakes off any lingering thoughts, deciding to focus on the very
important task he will have today — bring up the seer topic for the first time. Shen Yuan has
adapted well to his new reality these past few months, and he’s starting to open more to Mu
Qingfang’s attempts at getting him to talk about his feelings. They even managed to talk
about Shen Qingqiu without Shen Yuan changing the subject for longer than a few measly
minutes, which was much better than the child’s first refusal to even talk about it.

“Disciple Shen Yuan greets Mu-shishu,” the child says, bowing his head and cusping his fists
before the Qian Cao Peak Lord nods with a calm smile in his face.

“Welcome, Shen-shizhi,” Mu Qingfang greets back, feeling a tad proud as he notices how the
child looks much less tense than the first sessions. Truthfully, the Qian Cao Peak Lord had
been a bit hesitant about how he would implement the therapeutic techniques as he had never
done it before, but to see it working with each passing week brought the peak lord a sense of
relief. “How has your week been?”

It is a simple question, but one that is perfect to get any topics lingering in Shen Yuan’s mind
to show up. From those, Mu Qingfang can inquire about small bits of the child’s behavior, at
least until it becomes too personal for Shen Yuan and he starts visibly shuffling around in
discomfort at the thought of answering — and that is Mu Qingfang’s cue to change the
subject and help the child get more comfortable over bringing the topics by himself.

“It was… Ok, I guess. I mean, there was one thing that happened, actually,” Shen Yuan
replies, his eyes looking down. Mu Qingfang nods, prompting the child to continue. “I told
shishu about the cat in Qing Jing, right?”

Oh, Mu Qingfang thinks. Maintaining the most neutral look he can, the peak lord nods to
Shen Yuan’s question as he tries to come up with a way to console the child about his cat that
absolutely isn’t Shen Qingqiu and that has been missing for the past few weeks, completely
unrelated from the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s seclusion. “Yes, Shen-shizhi has told this master of
the cat. Did something happen to him?”

“Ah, that’s the thing, I’m not sure,” Shen Yuan replies, a frown forming in his face. “Ming F-
I mean, Ming-shixiong told me the cat had gone to Xian Shu Peak. I can’t go there to look for
him, of course, so I asked Ning-shijie if she could do it for me, but she said Ming-shixiong
didn’t allow her because Shizun didn’t want her to go there.”

Mu Qingfang isn’t sure the last time he felt so nervous outside of life-threatening situations
and emergencies. Shen Yuan is noticing something is amiss, and Shen Qingqiu will certainly
be beyond pissed if the child figures out his cat identity — besides the fact it will surely set
back any progress made by Mu Qingfang…

“Perhaps your Shizun is hesitant to let your shijie go due to his feud with Peak Lord Qi,” Mu
Qingfang replies, maintaining his face as calm and normal as possible. It is a plausible
explanation, so Shen Yuan should have no issues believing in it. “Peak Lord Qi was
interested on taking your shijie as a disciple before Peak Lord Shen took her instead; your
Shizun never liked to let Peak Lord Qi around her for longer than necessary.”

“Ah, that is true,” Shen Yuan replies, calmly nodding for a second before his face twists into
a frown again. “But then how would Ming-shixiong know Wanyou is in Xian Shu Peak? He
rarely goes there, and surely doesn’t stay long enough to see anything.”
Oddly accurate perception must run in the Shens blood, Mu Qingfang bemoans in his head.
The Qing Jing head disciple is allowed into Xian Shu, but only for official duties that usually
do not last that long to begin with; Qi Qingqi always made sure to run any males off her peak
after they are done with whatever they came there for.

There’s still another excuse Mu Qingfang can make use of, thankfully. “It is possible your
shixiong heard it from the Xian Shu head disciple during a meeting. There are quite a few of
them, so perhaps he has overheard something about your… friend while attending one.”

Shen Yuan widens his eyes and nods with understanding, and at the same time, Mu Qingfang
lets out a mental sigh of relief as he has dodged the most lethal hit that Shen Qingqiu could
have given him. The topic of Shen Yuan’s cat friend — the doctor always has to control
himself to not laughing at the mention of Shen Qingqiu’s new nickname, Wanyou — usually
does not come up, as the child only mentioned the cat briefly during the first sessions and
then less as the months passed with Shen Qingqiu in seclusion.

It was far from Shen Yuan forgetting about his unconventional friend, no; he doesn’t talk
about it because it makes him sad.

“That does make sense… Thank you for telling me this, Mu-shishu,” Shen Yuan replies,
smiling politely before his face goes back to worry and sadness. “…But why would Wanyou
leave so suddenly? Did he grow tired of Qing Jing and me?”

The last sentence sounded more as if Shen Yuan had spoken it accidentally, most likely
intending for it to stay in the depths of his mind instead of letting Mu Qingfang hear it. The
peak lord had noticed the child’s tendency to speak his thoughts, which was both useful and
worrisome in its own way — while these thoughts were the ones carrying Shen Yuan’s actual
feelings, they proved to be difficult for the doctor to tackle with the child; Shen Yuan would
instantly close himself off to any attempts at talking about said feelings.

“Sometimes even animals need a change of scenery and new experiences from time to time,”
Mu Qingfang replies, observing the child’s expression for any negative emotions; Shen Yuan
simply nods quietly after a few seconds, so the peak lord continues. “It does not mean your
friend has forgotten you; maybe he simply needs some time for himself before coming back
to you. If Shen-shizhi were to take a vacation without his friends, would he suddenly forget
about their existence during it?”

“Of course not!” the child exclaims. “I mean, not that I’d want to go anywhere without
Binghe, but if I had to, then he’d be the person I will always think about! Ning-shijie too, of
course,” Shen Yuan continues, eyes gleaming with happiness as he talks about one of his
closest friends — Luo Binghe, the child Shen Qingqiu seems to have a seething hatred for no
apparent reason, yet Shen Yuan has clung onto his shixiong so much it may as well be the
topic of half of what the child talks about.

“Shen-shizhi understands this master’s point, then,” the peak lord says, as Shen Yuan quickly
nods with more enthusiasm than before. Well, at least one issue had been avoided for now;
Mu Qingfang can breathe a sigh of relief and avoid Shen Qingqiu’s wrath for the moment.
“Has Shen-shizhi enjoyed time around his shixiong and shijie recently?”
As if completely forgetting their previous topic, Shen Yuan’s face twists into a small pout of
annoyance. Mu Qingfang has utilized this technique with perfection since he started to notice
the child’s odd attachment to his shixiong, an easy way to distract from any uncomfortable or
difficult topics for Shen Yuan that the child is overly eager to indulge Mu Qingfang with long
dialogues about his beloved friend.

Honestly, Luo Binghe may as well be Shen Yuan’s favorite topic by a long shot.

Shen Yuan talks about the other disciple for a few minutes without pause, while Mu Qingfang
simply nods at appropriate times and interferes with simple questions to keep the topic going.
The peak lord needs to let Shen Yuan talk comfortably for some time before he brings up the
topic he has been hesitantly wondering how to approach, one that will surely set back some
progress depending on how Shen Yuan reacts to it.

“…I wanted to visit the mooncake festival in Baijiang City with Binghe, but Ming-shixiong
only gave me and Ning-shijie a pass! He said Binghe would have to go on a night hunt and
wouldn’t be here until after the festival,” Shen Yuan sighs at the end of his sentence,
muttering a curse towards Shen Qingqiu under his breath that Mu Qingfang pretends not to
hear. “I didn’t want to go just with her, but I also don’t want to make Ning-shijie sad…”

“Why doesn’t Shen-shizhi want to go with his shijie?” Mu Qingfang asks, watching as the
child’s face becomes embarrassingly red, which causes the peak lord to frown slightly.

“It’s not that I don’t- Mu-shishu may not have seen Binghe a lot, but shishu must understand
he is a strong, intelligent, charming, pretty man,” Shen Yuan mutters, as if the topic isn’t
something he likes to bring up but he does it anyway. Progress, Mu Qingfang sighs in relief.
“And of course, he and Ning-shijie will marry someday, because they like each other! I don’t
want to create conflict by being too close to his future wife…”

Mu Qingfang isn’t sure what he expected the child to say, but this was certainly not it. The
peak lord knows how children around Shen Yuan’s age can have distorted views of love that
turn out to be more idealistic rather than true, but Shen Yuan is clearly a child with
knowledge beyond his years and overall mature views on life — which both Mu Qingfang
and Shen Qingqiu think may be related to their hypothesis of Shen Yuan being able to
remember his past life.

Why does Shen Yuan talk so confidently about his shixiong and shijie’s future marriage? Was
it something he also predicted?

“Does Shen-shizhi like his shijie the same way?” Mu Qingfang decides to ask, trying to
understand Shen Yuan’s reasoning as best as possible.

“No, no! Bleh, I can’t even think about me and Ning-shijie being together,” Shen Yuan
replies frantically, his nostrils slightly raised out of disgust towards the thought. “I just value
my friendship with Binghe and I don’t want him to get sad I went with Ning-shijie instead of
letting him go with her, Mu-shishu!”

From what I’ve seen and heard of this Luo Binghe, I think he’d be sad you didn’t go with him,
Mu Qingfang thinks, but some things are better left unsaid. “This master understands, then.
Still, Shen-shizhi should not be hesitant to enjoy time with his shijie; would Luo-shizhi prefer
you both have some fun or would he rather you both stay doing nothing during the festival
for his sake?”

Shen Yuan looks down for a moment, thinking about what the peak lord said before he
slowly nods. “…He would prefer if he went out and had fun, even if he can’t go,” the child
mutters, looking up to Mu Qingfang with understanding. “Thank you for the words, shishu,
you’re really good at being a psychologist.”

Mu Qingfang hesitates for a second before answering; he can infer what the word means, of
course, but never once has he heard such a title directly referencing someone who works
specifically with the study of the mind. Was it somehow common in Shen Yuan’s previous
life? Shen Qingqiu told him of what he had heard before going into seclusion, of how Shen
Yuan most likely did not live for long in his first life before dying, probably because of some
illness — which also explained how oddly used the child had been to every procedure
performed by the peak lord.

Blood drawing isn’t meant to be something widely available to the general population. It is a
technique mostly used by Qian Cao and very few smaller sects focused on healing, and even
then, it is not used often unless a large amount of blood is needed or there’s something to be
analyzed in said blood. Yet, Shen Yuan stretched his arm towards Mu Qingfang almost too
perfectly, as if it had been a reaction from someone who has done it many times before.

“This shishu appreciates Shen-shizhi’s words,” the peak lord replies, taking a quick look at
the water clock placed to the side of the room to check how much time they have left. Half an
incense’s stick, which should be enough. “Before this master dismisses Shen-shizhi for the
day, there is something he must discuss with shizhi.”

Shen Yuan straightens his back, instantly tensing up at the words as the child looks nervously
towards the peak lord. Mu Qingfang has prepared his speech multiple times before bringing it
up, of course, but the Qian Cao Peak Lord cannot help but feel a tad uneasy as well; after all,
it is upon Mu Qingfang to define how this conversation will go and how to proceed with
Shen Yuan’s case forward.

“This master has noticed something odd with Shen-shizhi’s flow of qi,” Mu Qingfang recites
the words in his mind perfectly, going with the excuse crafted by him and Shen Qingqiu.
“Upon further research, this master has decided to bring the subject to Shen-shizhi for the
sake of his safety and comfort. Shen Yuan, are you aware of what a ‘seer’ is?”

The color in the child’s face disappears as Shen Yuan widens his eyes in panic. He opens his
mouth, yet nothing comes out and the child opts to nod hesitantly as Mu Qingfang observes
his reaction carefully. “This master will not press Shen-shizhi for any immediate answers, but
shizhi should be aware that this master is asking not as the Qian Cao Peak Lord, but as a
physician who must look after others’ health. Whatever the answer may be, Shen Yuan will
not be in any trouble or danger for it.”

Shen Yuan grips the hems of his sleeves as if his life depended on it, looking around the room
frantically for a moment before settling his gaze on the ground. Mu Qingfang can see the
hesitation in his eyes, his feet tapping nervously against the wooden floor as the child thinks;
truthfully, the peak lord is not expecting Shen Yuan to immediately reveal what must be his
biggest secret, what he hopes is that Shen Yuan can be aware no one will hurt or take
advantage of his abilities.

“It’s… It’s not like that,” Shen Yuan whispers, voice barely audible but loud enough for Mu
Qingfang to be able to understand.

Mu Qingfang is aware that Shen Yuan isn’t a seer — or at least, isn’t just a seer —, and to
hear some sort of confirmation was already more progress than the peak lord had anticipated.
The child hadn’t even attempted to outright deny that he has abilities, but he will most likely
not specify anything beyond that.

“Shen-shizhi doesn’t have to say anything if he does not wish to. This master only asks that
shizhi thinks about his words; Shen-shizhi will not be treated differently or exploited for any
abilities he may have, and it shall stay a secret to his fellow martial siblings if that is what
Shen-shizhi wishes,” Mu Qingfang says, maintaining his tone as soft and kind as possible.
“Shen-shizhi is dismissed to go back to Qing Jing to reflect if that is what he wants to do.”

Within a few seconds, Shen Yuan gets up and nervously bows as a goodbye before leaving
the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s office in a hurry. Mu Qingfang sighs tiredly, hoping things will
work out and Shen Yuan will say something before Shen Qingqiu comes back from his
seclusion — unfortunately, the Qing Jing Peak Lord has a very thin patience that may only
make things worse.

Almost as if the Heavens had decided to pull a prank on Mu Qingfang, the emergency
talisman under the peak lord’s sleeve starts to flash brightly not even ten minutes after Shen
Yuan leaves. The Qian Cao Peak Lord does not hesitate to burst the doors of his office open
as he dashes to the courtyard, sword in hands as disciples open a space for the peak lord to
traverse easily. His disciples know that, if not specifically called upon, they mustn’t interfere;
they only look with panic in their eyes as Mu Qingfang quickly props his sword for flight and
takes off in a hurry.

The flight to the spiritual caves does not take long; a few Qiong Ding disciples try to ask Mu
Qingfang of his business there, but none attempt to follow after the Qian Cao Peak Lord as he
dashes through them easily, walking inside the caves with urgency as he tears the flashing
talisman and it disintegrates.

If Liu Qingge is indeed having a qi deviation as predicted by Shen Yuan, then flashing lights
would only turn his attention towards Mu Qingfang earlier than wanted. After all, Liu Qingge
rarely if ever has any deviations, but it would only make sense for his to be a dangerous one
to deal with — even during a qi deviation, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord would still be a terrifying
adversary to anyone.

A few steps into the cave, Mu Qingfang is hit by an aggressive wave of qi alongside a strong
killing intent, which the doctor follows in a hurry until he finds himself just outside one of
the chambers in Ling Xi. Mu Qingfang’s eyes follow as Shen Qingqiu dodges attack after
attack, skillfully moving through the chamber as Cheng Luan swings wildly in Liu Qingge’s
hands.
Shen Yuan was correct in his prediction.

There’s no question that the Bai Zhan Peak Lord is not himself at the moment, his
movements rash and aggressive in a way different from his usual attacks. Still, Liu Qingge is
as fast as ever as he chases down Shen Qingqiu, aiming for the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s vital
spots as he glares murderously towards the other man. Cheng Luan flies across the chamber
in a flash, hitting Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder as the man lets out a groan.

Mu Qingfang’s hands are faster than Liu Qingge’s killing intent; the Qian Cao Peak Lord
aims a needle at the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, guiding it with precision as it strikes Liu Qingge’s
pressure points just before he reaches Shen Qingqiu who is pinned against the wall by Cheng
Luan. As the Bai Zhan Peak Lord falls to the floor, Mu Qingfang rushes to stabilize the man
before things get out of control.

The doctor hears a single groan behind him, not turning to check as he must instead focus on
Liu Qingge to make sure the man in front of him doesn’t die. Mu Qingfang hears the clinking
of a sword as it falls to the ground and Shen Qingqiu approaches near them, his pace
significantly slower than usual as he looks down at the doctor silently. Mu Qingfang will treat
Shen Qingqiu as soon as Liu Qingge is stable enough, because he knows the Qing Jing Peak
Lord will take any opportunity to run away and heal on his own if Mu Qingfang does not
interfere.

Liu Qingge’s expression softens from murderous rage to a more neutral state as time passes
and Mu Qingfang stabilizes the deviation, although it takes a tad longer for the Bai Zhan
Peak Lord to truly regain consciousness. As soon as he does, however, his eyes snap open
and travel from Mu Qingfang to Shen Qingqiu, his mouth opening briefly as he vomits blood
before speaking.

“Shen… what have you done to me,” the Bai Zhan Peak Lord says, to which Shen Qingqiu
sneers in anger and Mu Qingfang cannot blame the man for doing as such.

The Qian Cao Peak Lord interferes before both peak lords can start bickering. “Shen-
shixiong called for this shidi since Liu-shixiong had a qi deviation. Liu-shixioing should be
thanking Shen-shixiong instead of accusing him; if not for him calling for this shidi, one of
you would certainly be dead by this point.”

The look in Liu Qingge’s face would be amusing if not for the situation they found
themselves in; a mixture of disbelief and horror at the thought that Shen Qingqiu of all people
had saved his life. The Bai Zhan Peak Lord stares bewildered at the scholar, opening his
mouth and closing it a few times as nothing comes out of it. The empathy Mu Qingfang felt
for Shen Qingqiu due to him being unfairly accused of such a thing did not last for too long,
because of course the Qing Jing Peak Lord couldn’t leave the situation be.

“Cat got your tongue, Liu-shidi?” Shen Qingqiu taunts, a proud grin over his face as Liu
Qingge widens his eyes.

“That was… that was really you,” Liu Qingge mutters in shock, coughing more blood as his
eyes spark with outrage all of a sudden. Mu Qingfang doesn’t have the time to wonder when
the Bai Zhan Peak Lord had seen the scholar’s other form before he starts yelling. “You…!
What were you doing hovering around your own disciple in such a form, have you no
shame?!”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes narrow in hatred at the other peak lord, words filled with fury as he
snarls. “Imply anything else about my conduct around my own little brother and I will have
your head decorating the entrance of my house…!”

Mu Qingfang knows he must intervene to avoid Shen Qingqiu murdering Liu Qingge after all
this effort to keep the man alive, yet it may serve the Bai Zhan Peak Lord to have some truth
spoken back at him. Honestly, Mu Qingfang never got involved whenever the Qing Jing Peak
Lord got into quarrels with their martial siblings, and he never cared enough to do so; but
after observing the man from a closer perspective, Mu Qingfang can understand why Shen
Qingqiu so often gets mad at their martial siblings.

It can be quite discouraging to get along with everyone if their first thoughts of you are
always negative — but at the same time, Shen Qingqiu clearly doesn’t try to disprove any
rumors or spread any good actions he may have done for the sake of the sect, so wouldn’t it
be a problem originating from both sides?

Liu Qingge widens his eyes once again, his fiery temperament extinguished by the shame
written across his face as he looks down. “That kid is your brother…?”

Mu Qingfang decides now is the best time to intervene. “Yes, Shen-shizhi is Shen-shixiong’s
brother and this shidi has confirmed it through blood testing. Liu-shixiong may not have
know yet since the announcement happened during his seclusion.”

It may have been the first time Mu Qingfang has seen Liu Qingge looking so embarrassed
about his actions, enough for the man to mutter a small apology towards Shen Qingqiu who
keeps the scowl in his face as he turns around without any other word and leaves the
chamber. Mu Qingfang isn’t sure who he’s more irritated with — Liu Qingge who can’t stop
provoking their shixiong or Shen Qingqiu who left without letting the doctor heal his
shoulder torn by Cheng Luan.

A sigh leaves the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s mouth for the hundredth time during the day. He
leaves Shen Qingqiu be, knowing that chasing after the scholar would only cause the anger to
be directed towards himself; there’s still some things to heal in Liu Qingge’s body as well, so
Mu Qingfang simply continues as the Bai Zhan Peak Lord stares down at the ground with a
dazzled look in his eyes. Well, it will at least serve as a lesson for Liu Qingge to think before
speaking.

Without the sense of urgency, Mu Qingfang lets his mind wonder about what could have
happened if he had arrived too late. If not for Shen Yuan, the Qian Cao Peak Lord would
have never thought of such a thing happening — Liu Qingge is not one prone to deviations
and Mu Qingfang can’t even remember if he had ever seen the Bai Zhan Peak Lord during
one —, and Shen Qingqiu has a foundation too unstable to safely deal with such a deviation
on his own.

Either one of them would die or both would be left dead for another unfortunate person to
find them whoever knows how long after if not for the child, who Shen Qingqiu quietly
implied had tried to warn the scholar the night before he entered the caves. Mu Qingfang
couldn’t help but showing the surprise in his face as the Qing Jing Peak Lord relayed that to
the doctor as they stood in front of the Ling Xi caves entrance, as Shen Yuan hadn’t tried to
warn any of the peak lords so far; he had only told Shen Qingqiu unknowingly through the
peak lord’s unconventional disguise.

Shen Yuan may never know he has just saved a peak lord’s life, and maybe Shen Qingqiu
will never tell him — but Mu Qingfang will not forget it.
 in which luo binghe really wants to jump ming fan
Chapter Summary

Luo Binghe is sent to a night hunt right before the Mid-Autumn festival, which he
planned to go with Shen Yuan (and Ning Yingying who had invited herself).

Chapter Notes

hi! how is everyone doing?? thanks for everyone who sent wishes for my health, i’ve
been feeling a little better now! anyways, here’s a new chapter just before the demon
invasion (which will happen next chapter LOL brace yourselves), more of a laid-back
chapter and more fluffy overall! hope you guys enjoy eheheh
twt shiyooji

Luo Binghe has to fight every fiber in his being not to punch Ming Fan.

He knows it is not the head disciple’s fault, per se — it is surely upon Shen Qingqiu’s orders
before their Shizun left for seclusion that Ming Fan keeps sending Luo Binghe to go on night
hunts lasting from a few days to weeks, but still, Ming Fan clearly enjoys watching Luo
Binghe seethe in quiet anger. He’s not sure why the head disciple always hated him so much,
and maybe there’s no reason; whatever it is, Luo Binghe doesn’t bother pretending he likes
Ming Fan like he used to a few months ago.

“Can’t Ming-shixiong put this shidi in another night hunt? I already had plans for the
upcoming festival-” Luo Binghe says as calmly as possible, trying to keep his neutral face
even when the head disciple cuts him mid-sentence.

“What, now Luo-shidi also wants to talk back in addition to slacking off because of
festivities?” Ming Fan replies, a taunting tone in the edge of his voice as he looks to the boy
in annoyance. “This shixiong already wrote your name down for the next night hunt. You
should be grateful to have an opportunity to better your lacking skills!”

Luo Binghe bites the inside of his mouth to avoid cursing at the head disciple looking at him
mockingly. He had been getting much better than he used to, especially after being given a
new cultivation manual ‘better fit for him’ — Binghe will not deny that there are still doubts
in his mind regarding his first manual’s… authenticity, but he immediately put those down
once Shen Yuan insisted Luo Binghe is just too special and good for normal manuals.
Not that he believes it, but hearing Shen Yuan saying it felt too good for Luo Binghe to argue
back.

“…Thanking shixiong for the opportunity,” Luo Binghe mutters, turning away before he can
see the look of victory on Ming Fan’s face. There’s nothing Binghe can do, after all — if he
must go to the night hunt, then he will go.

The last hunt had already caused him to miss A-Yuan’s birthday, with Luo Binghe coming
back to Qing Jing after weeks of being out in the wild with a few Bai Zhan and Qiong Ding
disciples; Shen Yuan told him it was no issue that he would miss the date, but Luo Binghe
couldn’t just let it go without at least bringing something special back from the trip, which
ended with him spending an extra week hunting down an Iron-Scaled Predator Spider for its
fangs, which apparently held high spiritual energy — and could sell for a great coin, or so
Shen Yuan said.

Shen Yuan’s face of surprise and happiness was enough to convince Luo Binghe that the
effort had been worth it. Something as this new hunt, however, wouldn’t give Binghe the
opportunity to go with Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying to the festival; if he’s not here
physically, then how can he go? Maybe if he convinced the other disciples he’s going with to
let him return earlier, but that wouldn’t be guaranteed to work…

At least he had managed to convince Shen Yuan to go, even if it meant Luo Binghe wouldn’t
be there. It took a few days of effort to make his friend promise him that he would not miss
out on something he wanted just because Binghe wouldn’t be there, and a few extra days to
ensure Shen Yuan that Luo Binghe wouldn’t be sad if Ning Yingying went with him.

Even if Binghe wouldn’t be able to enjoy the festival, it didn’t mean his friends shouldn’t just
because their Shizun hates him.

Why was Shen Qingqiu so intent on sending Luo Binghe as far away from Shen Yuan as
possible? The Qing Jing Peak Lord’s hatred for him was always something confusing and
terrifying, like something Binghe could not change no matter what he did or didn’t do —
every attempt at getting his Shizun to like him only backfired, and he knows it will continue
being like this after the peak lord is back from seclusion.

At least he had allowed Shen Yuan to sleep inside the bamboo house, but not even that was
enough for Luo Binghe to be convinced that Shen Qingqiu truly cares about Shen Yuan. Why
only act now, when his A-Yuan has already been ostracized by most of their martial siblings
and they only respect him out of fear after the reveal? Why make such a scandal to tell Shen
Yuan something so important, why couldn’t Shen Qingqiu just do it privately instead of
letting A-Yuan faint out of nervousness?

It was clear Shen Yuan didn’t feel comfortable near Shen Qingqiu as well; when Luo Binghe
finally managed to get out of his chores that had seemed to multiply in number to talk to his
friend, Shen Yuan fidgeted nervously around the subject as if afraid to speak of it, instead
changing topics to whatever Luo Binghe did during the day and making plans on how to
sneak him inside the bamboo house that night.
Luo Binghe always felt a little nervous whenever Shen Yuan insisted on sneaking him in, but
Ming Fan hadn’t caught on yet and Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t either — or at least that is what
Shen Yuan said when he presented Binghe with his first successful amulet, crafted to disperse
any traces of Binghe’s qi left in his room if Shen Qingqiu suddenly comes back.

The time it took for Shen Yuan to craft that amulet (even if weak and laughable when
compared to any from their seniors) was evident in his growing eye bags and sleepy gaze,
which made Luo Binghe feel a bit guilty. He can deal with sleeping in the woodshed, and he
would gladly do so if it would keep Shen Yuan out of trouble, but he just wouldn’t budge on
the matter.

Luo Binghe just sighed quietly in worry and complimented Shen Yuan’s craft with all his
heart — after all, it was still impressive for someone his age; his A-Yuan truly must be a
genius if he can do so many things while only being a year younger than him! If only Shen
Yuan would use his abilities to focus on anything that wouldn’t land him in trouble with Shen
Qingqiu…

A-Yuan’s mind is always somewhere so far away, filled with ideas and worries that Binghe
can’t understand.

Shen Yuan had been somewhat distracted ever since that day in the dining hall. Whenever
Luo Binghe attempted to comment on something during class with the other, Shen Yuan
would absently nod and go back to his thoughts — it was common for it to happen to a
certain degree, but not most of the time; it seemed that A-Yuan hadn’t even noticed the
amount of people that had started loitering around him, including other peak lords.

Luo Binghe has no idea why Shang Qinghua seems so intent on following Shen Yuan around,
and it has become apparent it is more than sheer curiosity for Shen Qingqiu’s younger brother
after the third time Luo Binghe caught the An Ding Peak Lord sneaking in with his disciples
to deliver supplies. Shang Qinghua had never done that before — in fact, Luo Binghe
couldn’t even tell who the man was at first glance because he was rarely seen around Qing
Jing, only recognizing him due to his small hair crown and robes.

Shang Qinghua usually lingers without saying much to Shen Yuan; even Ming Fan seems to
have been weirded out by the An Ding Peak Lord looking around the entrance of the bamboo
house as if waiting for Shen Yuan. One small inquiry is usually enough to set the peak lord
running away with excuses, but it still leaves Luo Binghe nervous to not know what the An
Ding Peak Lord wants with Shen Yuan.

When asked about it, Shen Yuan furrowed his brows in confusion, as if not even
remembering who the An Ding Peak Lord is supposed to be, before his face distorts into
disgust for a split second. Shen Yuan says to not have encountered the peak lord outside of
Qing Jing, which was enough to make Luo Binghe a little bit more calm about the ordeal.

Luo Binghe told A-Yuan to be careful around the An Ding Peak Lord before leaving —
unfortunately, if not told, Shen Yuan would probably go back to not noticing it, and Ming Fan
isn’t trustworthy enough to keep him safe. Shen Yuan laughed and said he would try, quickly
changing the subject as he threw in multiple snacks he snuck from the bamboo house inside
Binghe’s pouch.
Shen Yuan was called to go by Ming Fan, which the boy did begrudgingly but not before
waving goodbye to Binghe who giggled at the motion. He hasn’t seen anyone but Shen Yuan
doing that, and at first, Luo Binghe thought the other was trying to call for him when seeing
the gesture for the first time — until Shen Yuan shyly explained it is a gesture from his
hometown to greet and say goodbye to others.

Sometimes Luo Binghe can’t understand Shen Yuan, but every odd gesture and phrase feel
endearing to him nonetheless.

Soon after A-Yuan had left with Ming Fan, Luo Binghe felt a presence near him again;
wondering if it was the head disciple wanting to pester him a last time before he left, Luo
Binghe turned away from the supplies and his horse to instead find himself face to face with
the Qian Cao Peak Lord.

“Disciple Luo greets Mu-shishu,” Luo Binghe said, bowing his head and cusping his fists
respectfully towards the peak lord. “Is there anything this humble disciple can help shishu
with?”

Mu Qingfang looked down at him for a few seconds, all of which Luo Binghe wishes he
could look at the man to try and figure out what he’s thinking. He knows Shen Yuan goes
once a week to talk to the Qian Cao Peak Lord, although Luo Binghe couldn’t really
understand why Shen Yuan would go there only to stay in Mu Qingfang’s office to talk to
him for half a shichen — A-Yuan had told him it was some sort of verbal medical treatment,
one that makes Luo Binghe doubt its authenticity when he saw Shen Yuan coming back from
there paler than a piece of paper and refusing to tell him what’s wrong just a few days ago.

“This master would like to ask something regarding disciple Shen Yuan,” Mu Qingfang says,
his eyes watching Luo Binghe carefully for his reaction. The boy straightens his back and
looks back at the peak lord with hesitation. “Shen-shizhi always talks about Luo-shizhi very
highly, so this master assumed disciple Luo would be the best choice for his question. That is,
if Luo-shizhi wants to answer.”

Luo Binghe hopes Mu Qingfang did not see the small blush that came over his cheeks as the
Qian Cao Peak Lord recalled Shen Yuan talking very highly of him. The boy looks to the
ground for a moment, wondering if he should indulge whatever question Mu Qingfang has
regarding Shen Yuan — Luo Binghe knows he has to answer, since how can he say no to a
peak lord, but it doesn’t mean his answer should be sincere, right?

“This shizhi will do his best to answer whatever Mu-shishu asks,” Luo Binghe replies,
deciding to play along for the moment so he can see what happens.

“Very well,” Mu Qingfang replies. “Has Luo-shizhi noticed something different with Shen-
shizhi recently? Perhaps strange warnings or advice; something out of ordinary that Luo-
shizhi could not find explanations for.”

…That’s a third of what Shen Yuan says on a normal day, Luo Binghe wants to answer, but he
knows better than to do so. A-Yuan says things he cannot understand very often, and most are
regarding Binghe himself — for some reason, Shen Yuan is certain Luo Binghe will grow to
have multiple wives who all love and appreciate him.
Upon further thinking, there’s something that comes to Binghe’s mind. Shen Yuan has been
awfully persistent on Binghe learning how to dodge attacks, in case he has to fight against an
opponent much bigger and stronger than him — Luo Binghe indulged Shen Yuan’s wishes
and trained thrice as hard the past few months, mostly because it clearly made his friend
happy to see Binghe getting better at fighting.

Maybe that would be the kind of information Mu Qingfang is looking for, but Luo Binghe
doesn’t trust the Qian Cao Peak Lord yet. “This shizhi cannot recall anything out of the
ordinary. Apologies to Mu-shishu for this shizhi’s failure.”

Mu Qingfang nods after a few seconds of silence. “No need for apologies. Thanking Luo-
shizhi for the assistence.”

With that, the Qian Cao Peak Lord turns away and leaves. Luo Binghe is left staring at the
peak lord’s previous position, wondering why he needed to ask such a strange question to
Binghe. Shen Yuan seemed more hesitant of going to his weekly appointments at Qian Cao,
forgoing his usual whines over having to walk all the way over there and instead looking as if
dreading his next visit whenever it is brought up; whatever Mu Qingfang had said or done to
his A-Yuan, Luo Binghe won’t give the peak lord an easy answer if he ever comes back to
ask again.

Upon hearing the leaving call, Luo Binghe breathes in and out, deciding to forget about the
Qian Cao Peak Lord and instead focus on the hunt so he can return to Cang Qiong faster. He
already missed A-Yuan’s birthday; he will do his best to not miss the festival that Shen Yuan
had been so excited to go with him.

Mounting on the horse with ease, Luo Binghe follows behind the group in silence.

Luo Binghe feels like turning away and going back each second during the hunt, but he
manages to avoid doing as such.

If any other disciples noticed his annoyed temperament, no comments were made on it. Luo
Binghe traveled as fast as allowed by the Qiong Ding disciple leading the hunt, often times
pushing everyone to pack their things as soon as possible so they can arrive faster. Since most
disciples in this hunt were around his own age, many did not have their swords yet — Luo
Binghe included. Traveling by horse is surely faster than by feet, but it still wouldn’t be
enough for the boy to be able to return in time if the original time frame for the hunt stays the
same.

When they finally arrived, Luo Binghe was quick to present a strategy and convince the other
disciples to follow it — after all, as a Qing Jing disciple, that task was his to come up with
and present to the Qiong Ding disciple, who would give his authorization and oversee the
proceedings as the leader. Since the beasts they were hunting were not as dangerous to deal
with, only Luo Binghe and a Bai Zhan disciple, Wen Jiang, were dispatched to deal with it;
the Qiong Ding leader would stay nearby to deal with any arising issues and the Qian Cao
disciple accompanying them would fetch plants to bring back.
The beasts weren’t difficult to deal with; three Barb-Tailed Spiritual Boars, which were
quickly killed by Luo Binghe and Wen Jiang who only had to keep their tails intact for their
medicinal and spiritual properties. The Bai Zhan disciple seemed to have noticed Luo
Binghe’s hurry, yet chose to say nothing; both disciples slashed through the beasts in a
coordinated ambush that took less than three minutes to complete.

After checking if any of the boars was still alive, Luo Binghe and Wen Jiang carried the
corpses back to their camp and started to separate useful pieces from unneeded ones;
skinning the boars was both disgusting and somewhat annoying, as it took longer than Luo
Binghe wished for it to. None of the disciples said anything, each doing their duties as quietly
as possible to not bother the other.

Luo Binghe sighs in relief as he finishes skinning the first boar and reaches for the second,
only to be interrupted by Wen Jiang who speaks up without turning his eyes away from the
animal he has not finished skinning yet. “I can do the rest. Go do whatever it is that left you
in such a hurry.”

Raising a brow at the Bai Zhan disciple, Luo Binghe decides to play it safe. “Even if it means
going back earlier?”

“Honestly, I don’t care where you go or what you do, and neither does anyone here,” Wen
Jiang replies, to which the Qiong Ding disciple nods from his spot near the campfire. “You
already did your part. Just be there when we arrive at Cang Qiong.”

Perhaps the Heavens had finally pitied Luo Binghe and have given him something, as the boy
cannot detect a trace of malice or underlying threat under the other disciple’s faces. It does
not look like when Ming Fan lets Binghe do something he knows will cause the boy trouble,
instead looking more as if they truly did not care what Luo Binghe did after he was done with
his task.

“Why?” Luo Binghe asks, truly confused about why the group would even gain from letting
him go early.

Wen Jiang sighs with annoyance. “Just see it as a gift for being the least insufferable Qing
Jing disciple I’ve met. Now go before someone changes their mind and try not to die on the
way back.”

Deciding to follow the other disciple’s words, Luo Binghe gathers the few supplies given to
him, checking his pouch one last time before bowing in gratitude to the other disciples and
mounting his horse, who had thankfully rested well enough during their time hunting and
skinning the beasts. Holding the reins with care, Luo Binghe sets off without looking back.

The festival is the day after tomorrow, and Binghe has enough to feed himself and the horse,
but only enough coins to stay in an inn for one night. Sleeping outside would be undesirable,
as the boy knows too well that many bandits would not hesitate to kill him for his wares if
they found him; he will go as far as possible while the sun is still out, which would probably
be for about a shichen and a half, then he will get a room and let his horse rest so they can
arrive in Baijiang City as quickly as possible.
It will be a rushed trip, but Luo Binghe is certain he will be able to arrive.

The streets are already filled with people by the time Luo Binghe arrives in Baijiang City.

Only half a shichen until the festival starts, but he’s made it. Luo Binghe had to spend most
of his time either ensuring the horse was fed and had rested enough, or painstakingly praying
that the speed in which he traveled would be fast enough for him to arrive. His five hours of
sleep during the first night could barely be counted as rest for the boy, as he spent most of the
night anxiously turning around wondering if sleep really was that necessary.

The second night was harder. As there was no money to spare for a room in a safe inn, Luo
Binghe decided to set up some basic arrays to make sure no one would sneak up on his
exhausted body and murder him for his scraps — a simple detection array was enough to
keep him alerted if anyone approached, at least. Thankfully, the night had gone by without
the need for Luo Binghe to fight off any beasts or thieves, and the boy set off towards his
destination as soon as the sun rose.

Luo Binghe felt more tired than ever, his limbs aching from all the time spent riding and his
back screaming for some decent sleep, but the boy still used that half shichen until the
festival to make sure he was moderately clean and that the horse would have a place to stay
— which he paid using his last coins, so that meant no food outside of his rations — and by
the time Luo Binghe was done, more and more people had arrived and started making their
way towards the town square. So, the boy decided to follow after them in hopes of finding
Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying in the crowd.

Getting to the town square from the outskirts was harder than it looked — as the name
implied, the town was placed just before a gorge, with a small but powerful stream that
flowed right between the middle of it. As the terrain was mountainous and Luo Binghe had
the most unfortunate leg ache from the trip, it turned out to be more excruciating than the boy
had anticipated, but at last, he found himself standing in front of the town square’s main
entrance.

While the rest of the streets were very much decorated in par for the large festival, the town
square had been garnished with all sorts of fitting decorations — strings upon strings of
lanterns illuminating the whole square in a warm light, all with unique but concise designs
that matched the festival’s grandeur, and a tall paper statue of a rabbit glowing brightly in the
middle. Various food stalls had been placed all around, many selling all sorts of festival
snacks that made Luo Binghe’s stomach ache with sadness at his lack of money.

It wasn’t the first time Luo Binghe had attended the Mid-Autumn festival, but it was surely
one of the few times the boy could say he looked forward to it — after all, most of the times
he had attended were either in the absence of his mother, who rarely got a leave from her
work, and while he lived in the streets. Just one time had his mother been able to attend with
him, and Luo Binghe can say with confidence it had been one of the most precious days in
his life.
Would mom be proud of me now? The boy cannot help but wonder. Luo Binghe was nothing
more than a failure, a stupid child who managed to let the only keepsake she worked so long
to buy be taken away from him, thrown into those treacherous bamboo stalks never to be
seen again — and deep down in his heart, Luo Binghe knew his mother would not be mad at
him for it if they were ever to meet again, be it on Naihe Bridge or another life; she would pat
her hand against his head and tell Binghe that it’s fine.

Like she always did.

His heart stings at the though, and the boy shakes his head to distract himself from the
thoughts. There’s no use thinking about it when Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying should arrive
soon, and it would be even worse if Luo Binghe were to show up with a sad face in front of
his friends in what is supposed to be a happy occasion. So, Luo Binghe quietly locks away
any bad feelings deep in his heart and keeps a look at the main entrance.

A flick of light green and yellow catches his eyes, a familiar face coming into view as both
Shen Yuan and Ning Yingying walk to the main square as they chatter with lanterns in their
hands. Luo Binghe feels his heart racing as he hides behind a group of people talking, quietly
sneaking behind the two younger disciples with a mischievous grin in his face before he pats
Shen Yuan’s shoulder.

“Sorry, we aren’t interested in matchmaking… Wait, what-” Shen Yuan absently replies
before his eyes widen in surprise. “Binghe! No way, that’s actually you…!”

“Last time I checked I’m still me,” Luo Binghe jokes, watching as Ning Yingying turns
abruptly to look at him in surprise.

“A-Luo! Weren’t you in a night hunt?” Ning Yingying asks, to which Luo Binghe nods.
“Wasn’t it far away? How did A-Luo get here?”

Shen Yuan looks with suspicion at him, his gaze already telling Luo Binghe everything he
needed to know. “Don’t tell me you actually came by yourself,” the younger says, his eyes
filling with an agitated concern as Luo Binghe nods and something hits the top of his head-
Where did Shen Yuan get that fan from-! “Luo! Binghe! I swear to the Heavens, do something
so dangerous and reckless again and I won’t talk to you for a week! Do you know how many
horrible things could have happened if anyone decided to target you?”

There’s a light thud of the fan against Luo Binghe’s head each time Shen Yuan raised his
voice at the end of his sentences, but the eldest wasn’t courageous enough to tell A-Yuan it
didn’t actually hurt — it felt more like having a bunny tapping against his head angrily, and if
Luo Binghe ever told him that, then Shen Yuan would make sure to hit as hard as possible
next time.

Nevertheless, Luo Binghe whines in (pretend) pain as he looks to the boy with the best puppy
eyes he can. “This A-Luo is sorry! I won’t disappoint A-Yuan again, promise!”

Shen Yuan’s gaze softens as he pouts. “It’s not disappointment, it’s worry. Binghe is strong
and capable but it doesn’t mean he should throw himself into danger, ok?”
Luo Binghe has to search his brain for the meaning of ‘ok’, one of Shen Yuan’s odd words he
speaks every so often, and the eldest is almost sure it’s supposed to mean something like
‘understood’. It does make his heart ache that he made A-Yuan worry, so he sincerely nods at
the other’s request. “I understand. This A-Luo won’t be doing it again if it makes A-Yuan
worry.”

The fan hits his head lightly again. “Me worrying isn’t the issue! A-Luo should care more
about his own safety and not just because me or Ning-shijie would get worried!”

Oh, Ning Yingying is here too, right? Luo Binghe takes a glance at the girl who nods in
agreement, pouting slightly as Binghe apologizes again in hopes of appeasing his friends. He
understands where Shen Yuan is coming from, but Luo Binghe cannot help but silently
wonder if he’s capable of thinking that way. Luo Binghe has always worried about others
before himself — it is just the way he is and the way life has taught him to protect the others
he loves.

“Enough apologizing! Let’s go enjoy the festival!” Ning Yingying exclaims as soon as Luo
Binghe stops talking, shoving her lantern towards him and grabbing both his and A-Yuan’s
hands as she drags them to the food stalls and shops.

They pass through many shops, occasionally stopping as Ning Yingying looks through the
wares and sometimes buys a few trinkets to take back to Qing Jing. Luo Binghe wishes he
had enough money to buy at least a small mooncake for both of his friends, but without any
family to send anything beyond what allowed to him during hunts, there’s nothing much Luo
Binghe can call ‘his’.

At some point, Shen Yuan excuses himself to look for something. Luo Binghe asks if he
needs any help or company, but Shen Yuan shakes his head as he tells Binghe to stay with
Ning Yingying and that he’ll be right back. It has been quite some time since Binghe has
stayed all by himself with Ning Yingying, and he can’t really say he’s particularly interested
in it.

“A-Luo, A-Luo! You should buy something to gift to A-Yuan before he returns!” Ning
Yingying exclaims, to which Luo Binghe sighs with sadness.

“Sorry, Ning-shijie, but I don’t have money now,” he replies, looking at the food stalls filled
with mooncakes and osmanthus cakes. “I’ll just do it next year…”

Ning Yingying frowns for a moment before she grabs the lantern in Luo Binghe’s hands and
turns to the food vendor, pointing a finger at a mooncake with a flower pattern on it. She
speaks before Luo Binghe can stop her. “Sir, I want that one!”

The girl quickly pays for the food and gives it to Luo Binghe, who looks puzzled at Ning
Yingying who smiles at him. She then places one finger in her lips and makes a ‘shh’ sound,
winking at the boy who confusedly opens his mouth to protest but is interrupted before he
can say anything, as Shen Yuan approaches them with something behind his back.

“I’m back!” Shen Yuan announces, looking towards Luo Binghe for a second before his eyes
flutter to his hands and the flower-patterned mooncake. “Ah, did A-Luo get something for
Ning-shijie? Did I interrupt something? Ah, I’m so sorry if I did, I’ll go back-”

“Wait, no!” Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying exclaim at the same time, resulting in Shen Yuan
turning his head back to face them with a confused look. Ning Yingying pushes Binghe with
her elbow and the boy almost chokes on air as he breathes in before speaking. “I- I bought
this for A-Yuan!”

The look in Shen Yuan’s face is something between awe and utter shock, his eyes going from
the mooncake to Luo Binghe and then to Ning Yingying as his face grows redder with each
second. Luo Binghe isn’t sure why Shen Yuan keeps thinking he wants to gift things to Ning-
shijie and spend time with her, but never to him — is he still having those weird ideas about
Luo Binghe marrying Ning Yingying?! He thought Shen Yuan was already over that…!

“…For me?” Shen Yuan says, eyes widened as Luo Binghe reaches his hand with the
mooncake to hand it to his friend. Shen Yuan turns his face with embarrassment as he shoves
something into Binghe’s hands so quickly he can barely tell what it is. “Thanks- I also got
something for you…!”

The mooncake is taken from his hands and Binghe can finally take a proper look at whatever
has been shoved into his face and hands; it is a lantern, one in the format of a fish with bright
colors who seems to be in the position of diving. Luo Binghe feels his heart warming at the
gesture, smiling softly at the lantern as he looks towards Shen Yuan who quietly eats the
mooncake while looking at the ground.

“You two are so weird!” Ning Yingying says, whining as she buys a mooncake for herself
and an extra one for Binghe, giving it to him who accepts with a quick nod. Her face turns
into a pout but she says nothing more.

The three of them eat in moderate silence, deciding to walk around the square once more as
they focus on their mooncakes. Luo Binghe can’t help but keep looking at the lantern in his
hands, heart filling with happiness and warmth as he looks at the gift. Things are so peaceful,
so nice — Luo Binghe wishes everyday could be like this.

Of course, things don’t stay peaceful for very long. As soon as Ning Yingying excuses herself
to go look around, Luo Binghe thinks he will finally have some time for himself and Shen
Yuan — they can talk about the beasts Luo Binghe found and Shen Yuan can go on his
knowledgeable rants about the flora and fauna like he always do. Instead, their conversation
keeps getting interrupted by many, many girls who starts approaching Luo Binghe with stupid
gifts.

By the time Luo Binghe can get to the actual beast-slaying part of his story, his hands are
already full with small trinkets and he has way too many mooncakes than he could possibly
eat — not even giving them a serious face is enough to dissuade them from approaching; in
fact, it attracts more of them! Why can’t they leave Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan in peace…!

“We should go to a matchmaking masquerade,” Shen Yuan says, to which Luo Binghe
furiously shakes his head against. “But you’d get like, so many handkerchiefs! Binghe will
have many wives in the future with his popularity!”
“I don’t want to have many wives! That sounds expensive and bothersome, and I already told
A-Yuan that,” Luo Binghe replies, whining at his friend’s sudden comment that hadn’t
resurfaced for months at this point. “After all, I already have the one person I need! Why
would I need any wife?”

“But Ning-shijie can still become your wife even if she’s already here,” Shen Yuan replies
confused, furrowing his brows as if he really cannot consider the possibility this isn’t about
Ning-shijie. “A-Luo will surely change his mind someday, mark my words!”

Luo Binghe huffs in annoyance as he continues walking, stuffing one of the mooncakes in his
mouth so he doesn’t have to talk. Why can’t Shen Yuan stop bringing that up? Luo Binghe
prefers throwing himself off a cliff before marrying Ning-shijie! Well, maybe not throw
himself off a cliff, but he’s just not interested in her at all, at least not in the way Shen Yuan
thinks he is!

They walk through the streets as Luo Binghe keeps eating the mooncakes and handing some
off to Shen Yuan so he won’t talk about Ning Yingying again. It works, as the younger’s eyes
gleam with hunger as he eats without giving it much thought — Shen Yuan is both the
simplest and the most confusing person Luo Binghe has ever met, honestly.

At some point, they make their way to a bridge, some people passing through it or looking at
the lanterns from away, but not too many that it would be crowded. Shen Yuan stops to look
at the scenery, so Luo Binghe does the same — and for all that he tries to be annoyed with
Shen Yuan, he can’t do it for longer than an incense stick’s time.

Even if both are not eating anything at the moment, there’s a calming silence between them
as the lantern lights reflect against the water and the wind blows gently at their robes. They
watch as the lanterns rise to the sky, shining as if they were also stars ascending to meet their
own; Luo Binghe isn’t someone who is at peace very often, but he can confidently say that
his heart is calm as he looks towards A-Yuan who stares with awe at the sky.

Luo Binghe does not care if Shen Qingqiu wants to drive them apart. Let his Shizun try, ban
him from the peak altogether if it comes to it — the only thing Luo Binghe feels proud about
himself is his perseverance. He has finally found someone who cares about him despite his
shortcomings, someone who has set aside their own comfort just to make sure Luo Binghe
wouldn’t be alone; how can he ever forget it?

Under the lantern lights, Luo Binghe quietly promises to protect and make sure A-Yuan is
happy until the day Luo Binghe ceases to live.
 in which shen qingqiu is not allowed to be happy for longer than
ten minutes
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu leaves the Lingxi caves only to find a demonic invasion happening.

Chapter Notes

hi everyone!! how are you all doing? hope you guys are ok eheheh anyways, here’s the
chapter everyone was waiting for!!! hope u guys enjoy it ehehe
twt: @shiyooji

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Shen Qingqiu feels refreshed as he climbs down from the stone bed, body as light as a feather
as he walks towards the caves’ exit.

He does not bother warning Liu Qingge; that brute can go have another qi deviation after
Shen Qingqiu leaves for all he cares, although the Qing Jing Peak Lord would prefer the man
avoids dying due to the amount of trouble both he and Mu Qingfang had to go through to
keep Liu Qingge alive. While the wound in his shoulder is long gone from months spent in
seclusion and healing himself, the irritation is still burning anew in Shen Qingqiu’s heart.

All that effort to not kill the brute on accident and the man accuses Shen Qingqiu of
something nefarious the moment he opened his eyes! Of course the Qing Jing Peak Lord
knew that most (if not all) of his martial siblings would rather suspect him of wrongdoings
than dealing with the reality that their vision of Shen Qingqiu may not be as accurate, but to
see it playing in front of him in such a dire situation felt disheartening in a way not felt before
by the peak lord.

It only served to prove Shen Qingqiu’s point — no one can be trusted, not even his martial
siblings. Mu Qingfang may pretend to be neutral as much as he wants, Shen Qingqiu will
never give the other peak lord anything more than a sliver of trust to handle Shen Yuan’s
case; the first misstep by the Qian Cao Peak Lord would also be his last, although the Qing
Jing Peak Lord has the impression Mu Qingfang is already walking through eggshells as to
avoid his anger.

If it is Shen Qingqiu’s ire that keeps others in check, then he shall keep displaying it.
There are so many things he must do when arriving at Qing Jing, and for once, having to
check on the disciples’ progress would be the least of Shen Qingqiu’s issues — now he must
make sure Shen Yuan is properly respected not only by his martial siblings but also the rest of
the cultivation world; Shen Qingqiu can already imagine the Old Palace Master must be
digging incessantly for any dirt he can find.

Truthfully, if not for the prediction of Liu Qingge’s death, Shen Qingqiu would not have
spent all these months in seclusion, at least not before cementing Shen Yuan’s status as his
sibling so he wouldn’t have to resort to trusting Yue Qingyuan with dealing with any issues
that may arise. Unfortunately, Shen Yuan was indeed correct in his prediction, and
unknowingly saved a peak lord’s life — and Shen Qingqiu’s already terrible reputation.

Now there was a clear confirmation outside of the Skinner Demon incident that Shen Yuan
can predict the future, although still through a focused view and not an omniscient one —
after all, Shen Qingqiu did take notice of how easy it would have been to accidentally kill the
brute during his deviation. Would Shen Yuan’s visions change alongside the present?

Shen Qingqiu planned to go straight to Qian Cao after leaving, yet he did not expect to be
greeted with the smell of smoke and a visible fire going on in Qiong Ding. Any plans to go
back are immediately thrown aside as the peak lord hears faint shouts, to which Shen Qingqiu
grabs Xiu Ya’s hilt with caution, almost unleashing it as a presence approaches — which he
quickly identifies as a Qiong Ding disciple.

“Shen-shishu…! You’ve finally come out! Please help us, the Demon Realm’s people have
attacked Qiong Ding!” the disciple cries, hands trembling as he looks towards Shen Qingqiu
with hope. The Qing Jing Peak Lord feels his stomach drop at the sudden situation in front of
him, but keeps a calm and collected outside.

“Where is the sect leader?” Shen Qingqiu asks sharply, looking to the fire in the distance and
trying to access its size.

“Shizun went down the mountain to do something,” the disciple replies, to which Shen
Qingqiu quietly seethes in rage at the revelation. He’s almost sure Yue Qingyuan didn’t
bother keeping the minimum number of peak lords present during his absence, because how
else would this be happening? “If it wasn’t for this, the Demon Realm’s people wouldn’t take
the opportunity to attack us!”

“How many are here? How long since they have arrived?” Shen Qingqiu interrupts to ask,
not bothering to hear the disciple’s hidden praise for Yue Qingyuan and instead focusing on
practical things.

“T-this disciple does not know how many, but they have arrived not long ago,” the disciple
chokes out, to which the Qing Jing Peak Lord sneers and starts walking towards the entrance
of Qiong Ding. “W-wait! Shishu, they’re also trying to break the Rainbow Bridge!”

It is all Shen Qingqiu needs to know to fasten his pace towards the commotion — of course
they would target the Rainbow Bridge, to cut off most help from other peaks and leave Qiong
Ding completely vulnerable. The disciple follows behind Shen Qingqiu akin to a fly, yet the
peak master pays no mind to the trembling disciple and instead starts focusing on how to deal
with the situation efficiently.

Finally arriving at the entrance, Shen Qingqiu finds a chaotic scene around him — Qiong
Ding’s guards encircling and suppressing any demons trying to pass, only for their line to
break as another falls to the ground unmoving and the demons cheer in victory and run into
the peak unleashing their fury. Screams echo through the peak as disciples run everywhere to
keep themselves safe, some hiding inside halls as their strongest ones fight. Shen Qingqiu
must act now, kill whoever is leading these demons and run them off-

“Shizun!” a familiar voice shouts, and Shen Qingqiu turns to find Ming Fan guiding the Qing
Jing disciples inside the audience hall. What is he doing here- “Demon girl! My Shizun is
already here, go and dare to be arrogant now!”

Shutting Ming Fan down with a gaze, Shen Qingqiu steps into full view with hands wrapped
around Xiu Ya’s hilt to assess who this demon girl may be. There is the possibility his
presence will be enough to scare her off, depending if her brains are stronger than her ego —
however, there is also the possibility she may continue the attack in hopes of having the glory
of defeating a peak lord to her name.

A young girl comes into view, one with a style Shen Qingqiu is almost certain must mean she
comes from the southern demon tribes, with the way all the bolts of red veils that wrap
around her body without any space for modesty and the silver rings that hang from her wrists
and ankles, her feet bare of any shoes and instead adorning more jewelry. It doesn’t take
much for Shen Qingqiu to recognize who this young demon girl might be — who else would
be bold enough to invade the most prominent cultivation sect in the human realm, if not a
young demon looking to cement her position and popularity as a demon saint?

The girl raises a hand to signal to the demons as Shen Qingqiu looks down at her. The
fighting ceasses immediately as the young demon batters her eyelashes meekly at the peak
lord. “My purpose coming up the mountain was not to fight, but to compare and compete
skills with Cang Qiong Montain sect’s many talents. You see, my family was curious and
simply wanted to exchange pointers to see what would happen.”

Ah, now you play coy when the situation isn’t looking good for you, Shen Qingqiu sneers in
his mind as he opens his fan with a snap. Had the young girl gotten anyone else like that
brainless brute instead of Shen Qingqiu, she may have managed to sway the situation in her
favor; however, the Qing Jing Peak Lord is used to this sort of game — and not once has he
left a debate against an opponent defeated.

Some disciples start peeking through the audience hall’s entrance to take a look at the
situation, and it takes all in Shen Qingqiu’s mind not to scream in fury as he sees a familiar
face in the middle of the Qing Jing disciples who had been caught in the attack. What in the
world is Shen Yuan even doing here? Why did Ming Fan allow him to approach such a
dangerous situation, and why is the little beast right next to him looking worriedly at Shen
Yuan?

Shen Qingqiu snaps his eyes back to the demon saintess. “You say your reason is merely to
experience Cang Qiong’s countless talents, yet you decide to approach us while our sect
leader is gone. How exactly did our Rainbow Bridges interrupt your goal? What would be the
use to wound and kill our own if you’re looking for a skill exchange?” the demon girl bites
her lips as she thinks of what to say, and Shen Qingqiu continues. “This master has not seen
such a way to exchange pointers before, so perhaps demon saintess Sha Hualing would like
to explain?”

The glory of being known by name due to her feats doesn’t stay in Sha Hualing’s face for
long. The demon girl softens her expression and lets her shoulders drop, passing an image of
an innocent girl who cannot bring any trouble — a technique Shen Qingqiu is very used to, as
it was one he used often during his days on the streets.

“This master must be Elder ‘Xiu Ya Sword’ Shen Qingqiu who is known throughout the
realms,” Sha Hualing meekly says, to which the peak lord curtly nods. “This Ling’er is young
and has failed to control her subordinates. If she has offended you, may this immortal master
be compassionate and forgiving towards this Ling’er.”

Then just pack your things and go back, Shen Qingqiu wants to say, but he knows it would be
a poor tactical choice. After all, Sha Hualing does have the upper hand for the moment — her
demons have managed to wound and kill enough to frighten the disciples, even if Shen
Qingqiu is already here; their moral is already shaken and the peak lord doesn’t want to risk
an actual fight.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord takes another quick glance towards Shen Yuan, noticing how odd
the child’s expression looks; it isn’t the child simply being frightened by the fighting, no, he
looks absolutely distraught by the destruction and death around them, his eyes not moving
from the dead bodies splattered around the courtyard.

Something’s wrong. Just compared by the expression in his martial siblings’ faces, it doesn’t
take long to notice Shen Yuan is far more affected by the attack than the others. There is no
face that doesn’t look gloomy, of course, but no one looks devastated the same way the child
does. Did Shen Yuan predict this as well and failed to stop it…?

Shen Qingqiu must get rid of these demons, and fast. “Can the saintess say her judgement
now?”

It takes all strength in Shen Qingqiu’s body not to cut Sha Hualing’s head off as he hears her
next words. “Although my family is weak right now, it is only because you have so many
people. That’s why Ling’er doesn’t dare make an unfair judgement.”

The fan in his hands flaps with grace as the peak lord waves it indifferently, looking down at
the demon girl in an attempt to give her one last warning. Get out of here, now. “Oh? What
would it take for the saintess to make her judgement, then?”

Sha Hualing smiles as she twirls a lock of hair in her fingers. “Why don’t we each choose
three representatives and hold three matches here right now?”

Looking around the area to search for suitable representatives, Shen Qingqiu curses internally
as he notices he either doesn’t know many of the Qiong Ding disciples’ fighting prowess or
his own Qing Jing disciples are mainly the younger, less experienced batch instead of the
ones with ample knowledge and techniques useful against the demons Sha Hualing has
brought. He must make this work, however, so the peak lord nods in acceptance to the
saintess’ challenge.

Sha Hualing walks to a few of her subordinates — high ranked ones, from what Shen
Qingqiu can tell —, picking an elder that most would underestimate if chosen to fight against
him. Although the demon lacks an arm, it is clear his style of fighting has adapted to
accommodate his disability and he has fought like this for a long time; the stump on the
elder’s body has been healed for a long time, and the demon is smart enough to balance the
extra weight of carrying his weapon as to not give his opponent an easy advantage.

Shen Qingqiu turns to face Ming Fan, who stands a few meter away from him. Upon calling
the head disciple closer, the peak lord leans closer to whisper. “Get the fastest disciple we
have to go call Liu Qingge, he’s in the caves. Instruct them to knock a few times on the wall
and explain the situation to him.”

Ming Fan nods, quickly turning away to search for the best candidate for the task. Shen
Qingqiu feels himself relaxing just a bit, knowing that, in the worst case, he must simply stall
until the brute arrives and scares off the saintess. There are three matches, so if he picks the
first and keeps it going on for as long as he can…

“This master shall participate in the first round,” Shen Qingqiu announces, watching the
disciples scattered through the area start cheering and taunting the demons with threats of
how the peak lord would end their best warriors. It made his ego swell a bit with pride, of
course, yet the peak lord kept an impassive expression in contrast to the demon who looks at
him daringly.

A fight starts before the weapons are even drawn, after all.

Sha Hualing nods and pushes the elder to an open spot on the ground. Shen Qingqiu
approaches without care, looking the elder up and down until he spoke. “You only have one
arm. Would it truly be an honest victory if this master won like this?”

The elder raises his brow. “Oh? Then what do you want to do? I can cut them off for you, if
that’s what the immortal master wants!”

Shen Qingqiu snorts, opening the fan in his hands with a snap and fanning himself calmly.
“No need. This master won’t need a single hand.”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord can see the disciples’ wide opened eyes, staring at him as if he had
just grown two heads. Truthfully, Shen Qingqiu could have opted for a tactic not meant for
him to show off, but this was not only his ego speaking; it was meant to be a statement. To
the demons, to the disciples, to anyone who bothers seeing — Shen Qingqiu is not someone
to be trifled with.

Let it make waves through the cultivation world. After all, his reputation is mostly connected
to his skills in the four arts and his scandalous rumors, not as someone who can easily win a
fight without moving a finger. Even as Cang Qiong sect’s strategist, his skill is undermined
by his own martial siblings, who prefer to claim the victory for themselves rather than
admitting Shen Qingqiu was the one who moved the pieces to make it possible. It was fine to
be underestimated before — let fools be fools —, since he had no need or desire to protect
anyone; even if he somehow wanted to, all his martial siblings are very much capable in their
own way.

Now, however, Shen Yuan is here; even if the child becomes a capable fighter when he grows
up, Shen Yuan’s issue is that he’s too much of a soft-hearted fool to truly deal with serious
issues. Sometimes, it only takes a single knife to the back — one misstep and everything you
love is gone. Shen Qingqiu has already learned his lesson on trusting people, yet he has a
feeling Shen Yuan is the sort of person who never gives up in this aspect, letting people walk
over him over and over again until someone else intervenes.

Shen Qingqiu can do the bulk of the work, then.

Sha Hualing snorts at the peak lord’s comment to the elder demon. “Since it is Elder Shen’s
wish, then let’s start!”

Booing echoes through the peak as disciples notice Sha Hualing’s snobbish attitude, yet Shen
Qingqiu pays no mind to either side. He plays with the paper fan in his hands, calmly fanning
himself as the one-handed demon throws his dao at the peak lord. The blade whistles past
Shen Qingqiu, who dodges it with ease as he jumps gracefully to another location, snorting at
the elder’s attempt.

Xiu Ya leaves its sheath with ease, dancing through the air as Shen Qingqiu continues
fanning himself as he secretly forms a sword seal in his hands to manipulate the blade. To the
untrained eye, Shen Qingqiu truly did not need a single hand to fight, although the peak lord
notices a few disciples excitedly analyzing his technique to try and do it themselves — if it
served as a class for those Qiong Ding young masters, then let it be.

The sword shines brightly, making the elder demon squint his eyes in pain. To compensate
for his lack of vision, the demon strikes his dao in multiple attacks, forming an unorganized
sequence that made it laughably easy for Shen Qingqiu to dodge as he manipulated Xiu Ya to
clash against the elder’s dao. It was a performance above all, the brilliance and beauty of Xiu
Ya striking against the elder’s rusty blade as Shen Qingqiu’s robes danced around with the
wind, following their master as he quickly switches positions.

For all that Shen Qingqiu wanted to keep the theatrics going, he knew better than anyone that
he must seize the easy win now rather than later. Liu Qingge should be arriving soon, surely
— after all, the caves aren’t that far away and the brute can be irritatingly fast, so it should
be fine if Shen Qingqiu ended the charade and took his win.

The elder falls in defeat as Shen Qingqiu manipulates Xiu Ya back into its sheath.

From the side of his eye, the peak lord can see both Shen Yuan and the little beast looking in
awe at him, eyes widened at Shen Qingqiu’s skill that, truth be said, his disciples can barely
see by themselves in such a way. After all, spars in Qing Jing usually do not include Shen
Qingqiu’s participation — his peak is not Bai Zhan! —, so let it be a showcase for both his
little brother and that dastardly little beast of what the peak lord is capable of.
Sha Hualing nervously approaches Shen Qingqiu, her eyes following as the peak lord does
not move from the fighting spot. “Elder Shen, if only one person is fighting, then there
wouldn’t be any meaning to exchange pointers, right? This Ling’er will be the representative
for the second trial.”

If he could, the Qing Jing Peak Lord would simply fight the demon saintess herself, but he
will indulge her wishes for now. Liu Qingge should be arriving anytime soon, after all. Shen
Qingqiu turns to the crowd of disciples. “You all heard her. Who is willing to take the
responsibility?”

There’s silence for a few seconds. Shen Qingqiu searches the crowd with his eyes, analyzing
who could be the best choice to fight against Sha Hualing. As a saintess, she should be a
formidable opponent — after all, even the courtesans at the Warm Red Pavilion had gotten
whispers about the demon girl and her feats, surely a demonstration of her skills if it had
spread to the Human Realm as well. For a moment, Shen Qingqiu thinks no one will step up;
that is, until a veiled figure emerges from the crowd.

“This disciple wishes to participate,” Liu Mingyan says, bowing her head respectfully
towards Shen Qingqiu who quickly nods. The brute’s sister should be a good choice — she is
head disciple of Xian Shu, after all.

Sha Hualing smiles innocently, greeting the veiled disciple as Shen Qingqiu moves away
from the fighting spot and instead walks towards the Qing Jing disciples, watching as Shen
Yuan tenses up and pales as the peak lord approaches. Instead of making his way next to the
child, Shen Qingqiu moves to stand next to Ming Fan — after all, it does not take a genius to
know he and the child who oddly looks like him may be related and therefore Shen Yuan is
great hostage material.

The fight starts without delays. Both young girls dance through the field with their swords,
attacks kept to a minimum as they dodged and observed each other’s movements with
attention. For all Shen Qingqiu loathes about Qi Qingqi, he cannot deny his martial sister
knows how to train her disciples; even with Liu Mingyan’s young age and her lack of a
personal spiritual sword, the Xian Shu head disciple was clearly not only capable in fighting
but also in strategy, differently from her brother.

It was a beautiful fight to observe, yet Shen Qingqiu’s mind could not do anything besides
wonder where in the realms Liu Qingge is. It has been at least half a stick of incense’s time
since Shen Qingqiu sent a disciple, how is the Bai Zhan Peak Lord taking so long? Could this
brute not afford to hurry even when his sect is being invaded?

At some point, Liu Mingyan falls to the ground in defeat. Sha Hualing’s demons cheer in the
background, screaming curses and taunts at the Cang Qiong disciples who look nervously at
Shen Qingqiu who is a stress away from just slicing Sha Hualing’s head off. Liu Mingyan
limps towards the Qing Jing Peak Lord, lowering her head in shame as he looks down at her.

“This disciple has lost and disgraced Cang Qiong, requesting Shen-shibo to punish this
disciple,” Liu Mingyan says, in a display of humility that would surely gather praise from
their martial siblings. As if Shen Qingqiu can even do anything without earning Liu Qingge
and Qi Qingqi’s ire!
“The shame of defeat is enough,” the Qing Jing Peak Lord replies, looking away from the
Xian Shu head disciple without a second thought as he looks around the crowd for a good
candidate for the third round. Winning would already be difficult, although not impossible;
Shen Qingqiu needs someone who can stall for as long as possible until that brute finally
arrives…!

Sha Hualing twirls her finger around a lock of hair as she looks confidently at the peak lord.
“The third trial will determine the victory! Elder Shen should choose carefully.”

Shen Qingqiu pays no mind to the demon saintess, looking through the crowd and trying to
recall who has the best endurance in the peak. Ming Fan is out of question as he would surely
get too nervous from the pressure, Ning Yingying is too brash and careless in her approaches,
Ji Pengxi is a spoiled moron who can’t even draw properly, Chen Jiayi is only in the peak
because his parents paid for him not to be expelled, Shen Yuan is out of question…

The peak lord feels his eyes stopping at the little beast next to Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe would
unironically be a great choice — perhaps all those runs around the peak and hours kneeling
on the courtyard would finally pay off. The little beast is the definition of persistence and
endurance, so he should last at least half an incense stick’s time…

Shen Yuan will absolutely get mad, Shen Qingqiu knows, but it is quite literally the best
option at the moment — while Luo Binghe gets beaten down by Sha Hualing’s demon, Shen
Qingqiu will make a plan on how to run these ruffians off Qiong Ding even if Liu Qingge
fails to show up. He has worked with much less time before, so it should be doable.

“This master has already chosen a person,” Shen Qingqiu remarks, turning his face away
before he can see the panic in Shen Yuan’s face. It is for the good of the sect, he reminds
himself. Sha Hualing raises a brow, looking to the disciples with curiosity.

“If Elder Shen has already chosen, then this Ling’er will give everyone a warning first,” the
demon saintess says with delight as a giant elder demon stomps his way towards the fighting
area, wearing a thorny armor and carrying an iron sledgehammer. “The spikes on Elder Sky
Hammer’s armor are covered with my family’s strong poison. This kind of poison has no
effect on a demon, but if a human is pierced, there is no cure.”

There’s an instant booing from the crowd of disciples, who yell at the injustice and advantage
to the demon’s side. Shen Qingqiu conceals any nervousness that may show in his
expression, simply looking down at the elder’s poison-coated armor as if it was mildly
interesting — if he feigns confidence, it may make Elder Sky Hammer nervous that Shen
Qingqiu has some trick up his sleeve, when in reality the peak lord is quietly praying to the
heavens and cursing Liu Qingge with all his being.

Before the disciples can ruffle the demons any longer, Shen Qingqiu speaks up. “Very well.
Luo Binghe, come here.”

The Qing Jing disciples suddenly start shouting, starting an uproar over their Shizun’s
apparently horrible choice. Shen Qingqiu can’t even blame them — after seeing that giant
demon spiked with venom, how could they believe Luo Binghe is capable of winning such an
unfair fight? Only Shen Qingqiu knows Luo Binghe is not meant to win, after all; that little
beast better dodge and withstand long enough for Liu Qingge to arrive or for Shen Qingqiu’s
newfound plan to work.

Ming Fan approaches him with worry. “Shizun… Sending out Luo-shidi may not be the most
suitable choice?”

“Don’t you trust this master’s choice?” Shen Qingqiu replies, covering his lower face with
the fan as he whispers to Ming Fan. “Start orienting everyone into a battle formation as
quietly as possible. We should be able to funnel them out if things get dire.”

Ming Fan nods, quietly retreating with a hopeful look in his eyes. Shen Qingqiu knows there
is a very high possibility he will have to fight the demons with what he has; if Luo Binghe is
about to lose, Shen Qingqiu will attack, Liu Qingge arriving or not. The peak lord watches as
the little beast consoles Ning Yingying who cries hysterically, making Shen Qingqiu’s heart
rip apart just a little bit.

To his surprise, however, Shen Yuan doesn’t cry in despair or scream in anger at the peak
lord; no, the look in his face is nothing short of confidence and certainty his friend will win.
This sparks a new hope in Shen Qingqiu’s heart — had Shen Yuan predicted the little beast’s
win?

Luo Binghe walks towards Shen Qingqiu as if waiting for his death sentence. The look in the
little beast’s eyes is a mixture of fear and hatred, showing his true colors for the first time.
Shen Qingqiu snorts quietly, holding one of his hand on the beast’s shoulder before he walks
towards the fighting area. “Dodge and deflect from attacks for as long as you can. I’ll be in
trouble with Shen Yuan if you die.”

Something sparks in Luo Binghe’s eyes as Shen Qingqiu speaks. While the resentment is still
very much present in his gaze, it seems as if things have finally clicked inside the little
beast’s minds — Shen Qingqiu is not mindlessly sending him there to die, which it on itself
would be a laughable idea. It would bring untold shame to Cang Qiong if one of their own
peak lords did something as barbaric as that, and even worse, it would bring a disappointed
look from Yue Qingyuan that makes Shen Qingqiu shiver just from thinking of it.

Elder Sky Hammer looks down at the beast, very obviously underestimating any skills Luo
Binghe may have due to his scrawny appearance and skinny figure. Black wisps of demonic
energy sparkled from the elder’s body, adding to its intimidating image and giving one last
warning to the beast before the elder struck down his hammer, not giving Luo Binghe the
time to strike before he had to move.

Luo Binghe has a good agility, that much Shen Qingqiu is willing to admit. The beast jumps
from spot to spot without any time to stop, sweat dripping down his face yet his body
showing no signs of over-exhaustion at all; even if he does not land a single hit, Shen
Qingqiu can already see the battle formation slowly forming as Ming Fan instructs people in
each side of the place. Sha Hualing has not caught on yet, so Shen Qingqiu is certain his plan
will succeed.

His own position is great as well; one dash and he can at least take an arm off the saintess.
Boosting Cang Qiong’s morale and possibly causing a retreat if Sha Hualing isn’t stupid, as
much as possible to avoid bloodshed on Cang Qiong’s side. Liu Qingge can go fuck himself
if he can’t even make it in time, Shen Qingqiu himself is enough to lead them all to victory.

Someone speaks in a whisper near the Qing Jing disciples. “Isn’t this a sure loss… What is
there to compete?”

A familiar voice speaks out with certainty. “Binghe will win!”

Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure if he wants to kill whoever whispered that or if he wants to kill Shen
Yuan before. Sha Hualing looks at the source of the voice, frowning her brows as her eyes go
back and forth from Shen Yuan to Shen Qingqiu before they widen in understanding —
Heavens, now she probably knows there is some sort of connection between them, if she
hasn’t heard of the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s lost sibling herself before coming. At least Luo
Binghe seems to have heard his friend’s answer, a fire of courage engulfing his eyes as he
carefully watches the elder about to strike once again.

The unthinkable happens. Luo Binghe dodges just as the sledgehammer falls, aiming his
palm towards the only spot not covered by armor besides Elder Sky Hammer’s fists — the
elder’s face. A screech echoes through the peak as the sledgehammer falls off the elder’s
hand and he kneels in pain; Luo Binghe widens his eyes at the realization.

Luo Binghe won.

The crowd of disciples burst into cheers at the victory, finally being able to drive out the
demons without any extra bloodshed. Shen Qingqiu feels somewhat dazed from the sudden
turn of events; he had not considered that Luo Binghe could have won, but now that the little
beast did, it made everything so much easier. No need for Liu Qingge as well, which was
another bonus — how did everything go so well for once?

Sha Hualing stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking. “Cang Qiong Mountain sect
truly is as talented as expected, for such a young hero to come out. Ling’er really admires.”

There’s no admiration in the demon saintess’ voice, that much is clear. Shen Qingqiu fans
himself again as he looks towards the saintess. “Most indeed. Now that the saintess has
fulfilled her purpose, may she kindly withdraw her family?”

It is clear Sha Hualing is beyond angry, her hands gripping on the red veil as her expression
fluctuates between pure ire and embarrassment. Instead of answering Shen Qingqiu at once
and retrieving her band of ruffians, the demon saintess turns towards Elder Sky Hammer and
viciously slaps her hand across his face. “To lose to such a young disciple in such an ugly
manner! You’ve lost face for all demons!”

Elder Sky Hammer looked somewhat pitiful for a demon, although Shen Qingqiu did not
spare a drop of empathy for the elder. After all, it was clear what would happen after Sha
Hualing left — the elder would surely be killed for such a shame he brought upon them.
“This one is incompetent! Asking the saintess to punish!”

“Discipline your subordinates somewhere else; Qiong Ding Peak is not a place for this,”
Shen Qingqiu remarks, looking down at the demon girl who hits the elder one more time
before turning towards the peak lord with a smile in her face.

“Elder Shen’s words are correct. This Ling’er was simply disappointed to see such waste
under her command in contrast to Elder Shen’s talented disciples,” Sha Hualing replies,
blinking her eyes innocently at the peak lord who mentally rolls his eyes. The saintess then
turns towards the elder again. “It is one thing for Elder Du Bi to lose to Elder Shen. For you
to also lose a trial… Do you really need me to say it? You can see to it yourself.”

The color in Shen Qingqiu’s face goes away as soon as he watches the elder’s eyes snapping
towards the circle of disciples in which Luo Binghe was talking to. It is less than a second
before Elder Sky Hammer sprints towards the group, his sledgehammer up in the sky ready to
strike as he aims for Luo Binghe with ferocity. No, no, Shen Yuan is there…!

Shen Qingqiu feels his body moving without noticing. Thankfully, disciples call out and
scream at the fast approaching elder, giving enough time for both Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe
to barely dodge the attack, rolling to the side as the sledgehammer hits the ground with a
sickening thud. Elder Sky Hammer throws himself at Luo Binghe once again as Shen Yuan
reaches his hand to push the little beast away.

A sword cuts through the elder demon’s neck, instantly decapitating the elder. The area is
filled with killing intent as Liu Qingge kicks Elder Sky Hammer’s head, letting it roll towards
Sha Hualing who pales at the sight of the Bai Zhan War God. Shen Qingqiu is not sure if he’s
angry or glad (or both) at the brute, and he can sort those feelings out later.

Sha Hualing screams clear and loud to her subordinates. “Retreat! Today was my
miscalculation, let’s go!”

Liu Qingge flies back into the sky, coordinating an attack of sword energies that rain down
the demons and pierce through their skin. To Shen Qingqiu’s dismay, Sha Hualing had
proved herself both shameless and resourceful, using the veils that previously covered her
body to protect herself from the attack as she fled down the mountain.

Shen Qingqiu turns to finally face Shen Yuan and the little beast. The peak lord feels his heart
dropping as he watches the child’s quickly paling face as he tries to comfort the little beast
who cries next to him. Shen Qingqiu cannot tear his eyes away from the torn sleeves of Shen
Yuan’s robes, a small pool of blood forming on the fabric alongside a barely noticeable
demonic energy oozing from the wound.

Perhaps it was fate once again mocking Shen Jiu, as he found himself rushing to the child’s
side the same moment Shen Yuan’s knees give in and he collapses. Shen Qingqiu manages to
catch the child by mere seconds, forgetting all his previous wishes to scream at the child for
his foolishness as he watches the sheer look of desperation and fear in Shen Yuan’s eyes.

“I don’t wanna die,” he chokes out, speaking more to himself rather than Shen Qingqiu. “Not
this way again…”

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t cry. He can do that later, when he’s sure Shen Yuan will be fine. He
needs to focus on making sure the child can last all the way to Qian Cao. “You won’t die, I
promise you that.”
 Shen Jiu wishes his voice sounded more confident that moment.

Qiong Ding is eerily silent as Shen Qingqiu places his palm on Shen Yuan’s back, trying to
send as much qi as he can, only to find himself gasping as a mouthful of blood comes out of
the child’s mouth. There’s no time to ponder over anything, yet the peak lord cannot help but
listen to the child’s murmurings. “Maybe I deserve this… I should’ve told…”

Shen Yuan closes his eyes and Shen Qingqiu frantically tries to sense any signs of life. A sigh
of relief comes out of the peak lord as he notices the child is only unconscious, the blockade
of the poison still forming itself as it spreads through the child’s body. The demons had to be
bluffing, there must be a cure, and if there isn’t, Mu Qingfang will find one, surely…!

This cannot be happening, Shen Qingqiu screams in his mind. No, fate cannot be this
merciless to finally give the one thing Shen Qingqiu had been wishing for all this time to
simply take it away from him like this…! Was Yue Qi’s betrayal not enough? Qiu Jianluo’s
cruelty, Wu Yanzi’s wickedness, his martial siblings’ repulsion, was it all truly not enough…?

Liu Qingge flies down to the ground, furrowing his brows at the situation but refraining from
saying or asking anything as he observes the feral look in the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s eyes. If
the brute had arrived earlier, this would not have happened…! Shen Qingqiu gives a single
look of pure hatred towards the Bai Zhan Peak Lord and the little beast before scooping the
child up in his arms as Xiu Ya unsheathes itself once again.

Shen Qingqiu flies towards Qian Cao with an unconscious Shen Yuan in arms without
looking back once.

Chapter End Notes

by the way, i was feeling kinda inspired to draw so i decided to draw shen yuan and
binghe just hanging out LMAO kind of a rough sketch but well!

Here!!!!
 in which shen qingqiu should get therapy
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure when or if Shen Yuan will wake up.

Chapter Notes

hi! how is everyone doing? this chapter is a bit longer than usual (almost hit 8k but it’s
like almost 4am here i fear) and there’s a lot of angst eheheh btw! if anyone is feeling
like helping ya girl out i just opened art commissions on my twitter account!!! i would
appreciate if y’all can check it out, even if just to give it a like or rt eheheh <333 it’s
here !!
anyways, hope u guys enjoy the chapter!!!

Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure if he’s ever felt this way before.

Fear was something always present during his life; Shen Jiu knew it more than happiness or
relief. Whenever he had to find ways to get more more to fill both his and Yue Qi’s quota for
the day so they could avoid punishments, whenever a buyer looked at both him and Qi-ge a
little longer than he should have, when Shen Jiu found himself being dragged to the Qiu
estate and having his legs broken — and for all Shen Qingqiu hates to remember it, when that
liar Yue Qi whispered that he would be back for Shen Jiu, the first thing he felt was fear for
what could happen to his Qi-ge if Qiu Jianluo found them out.

It was a feeling Shen Qingqiu did not need to worry about — after all, what is there to fear
when he’s one of the most esteemed cultivators in the realm, when there are so many riches
in his name he could simply buy his safety? Most of what he felt as Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu
was not fear but anger; a burning hatred for all that never attempted to believe him, those
who never tried to understand his side as if he was once again a dirty rat not meant to be
heard.

Fear makes Shen Qingqiu feel like Shen Jiu again, and he hates it.

Mu Qingfang asked no questions beyond the necessary as Shen Qingqiu handed Shen Yuan
over to the Qian Cao Peak Lord. The Qing Jing Peak Lord could only watch as the doctor
called upon countless of his best disciples to assist him in his efforts to stall the poison as best
as they could, cutting off a layer of the contaminated skin and destroying any lingering
remains of poison that may have been in Shen Yuan’s robes.
The Qian Cao Peak Lord spent the whole night making sure Shen Yuan’s blood did not
coagulate and neither did his qi. Shen Qingqiu watched from the sidelines, afraid of looking
away even for a second and find a dead Shen Yuan laying in that bed. He refused any medical
help from Qian Cao disciples, along with food and offers for a private room if the peak lord
so wished.

Shen Qingqiu could tell Mu Qingfang was not feeling completely confident that Shen Yuan
would be able to walk out of this alive, as it showed so masterfully concealed in the Qian Cao
Peak Lord’s face. The night went on with multiple scares as Shen Qingqiu stood in the corner
of the room unmoving, mind filled with thoughts he could not make sense of.

By the time the sun rose, things did not look much better. Mu Qingfang managed to organize
a rotation of disciples to keep both Shen Yuan’s blood and qi flowing as smoothly as possible
while the doctor fetched all sorts of ingredients to grind them into medicine. Another disciple
had been called to work on the wound from both the scratch that caused Shen Yuan to
contract the poison and the skin scraping Mu Qingfang had to perform to avoid more of it
spreading, although there was no way to completely heal the open wound at the moment
since the child’s body would not be able to withstand it.

Someone offered breakfast to Shen Qingqiu, who wordlessly refused it as he started at the
unconscious child. Mu Qingfang did not press the peak lord either, knowing there were much
more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. Shen Qingqiu does not bother wondering
about Qing Jing either; he knows Ming Fan will deal with whatever necessary while the peak
lord is not back, and the head disciple knows better than to ask for his return.

Hours go by without much change. Mu Qingfang and his disciples cannot leave Shen Yuan’s
body by itself for longer than a few minutes before the poison begins to spread itself again,
and Shen Qingqiu is starting to feel hopeless. Would everything truly end like this…?

It is around noon when Yue Qingyuan arrives, as if he truly could sniff Shen Qingqiu’s
misery.

“S-shen-shibo, Zhangmen-shibo is waiting for you outside the room,” a disciple meekly says,
as if knowing the fury Shen Qingqiu would be about to unleash around the place.

It takes less than a second for the Qing Jing Peak Lord to feel his despair turning into
unrivaled fury. Before Mu Qingfang can try and calm him down, Shen Qingqiu storms out of
the room with quick steps, turning to face the sect leader with anger he had not felt towards
the liar since he had arrived at Cang Qiong.

“Qingqiu-shidi…” Yue Qingyuan says, a tint of mourn and pity in his voice. Shen Qingqiu
does not give the sect leader time to continue his apologies before he starts screaming at the
man.

“You dare show your face here!” Shen Qingqiu yells, not feeling the pang of hurt the peak
lord usually feels whenever the sect leader makes a hurt expression. “After all the times I told
you why we should have a fixed number of peak lords on the peak at all times, you have
decided to let countless disciples and guards die instead of listening to me!”
Yue Qingyuan opens his mouth and the Qing Jing Peak Lord already knows what will come
out of it. “I’m sorry-”

A fiery anger bursts out as Shen Qingqiu ruthlessly grabs the sect leader’s collar, gasps
echoing through the hallway as Qian Cao disciples watch the scene unleashing in front of
them. “If you’re so sorry, go apologize to the child dying in the room next to you because of
your incompetence!”

The look in Yue Qingyuan’s face is nothing short of pure heartbreak, his eyes going from
Shen Qingqiu to the door behind the peak lord as they gradually become reddened. A scoff
comes out of the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s mouth, sounding more akin to a gasp rather than the
mockery he intended it to be. Silence fills the room as Shen Qingqiu lets go of the sect
leader’s robes and instead lets his hands fall to the sides of his body aimlessly.

“Would it have killed you to listen to me for once, Yue Qingyuan?” Shen Qingqiu says,
hating the way his voice falters so unlike himself. “Is this enough for you to listen now? Even
if he survives, there is no doubt he will have his cultivation ruined for life; that miserable
saintess herself said there is no cure, and I can see the way Mu Qingfang looks at my Yuan’er
as if he’s already a corpse...!”

Shen Qingqiu knows he is presenting himself in a way unfitting for his position, around so
many disciples who dare not whisper and gossip in front of him, probably deciding to do it
later when they are out of the peak lord’s earshot. His hair is disheveled and his clothes are
wrinkly in a way the peak lord would have never allowed himself to go out in such a manner,
yet Shen Qingqiu finds himself lacking the will to do something about it. It wouldn’t change
anything about the fact Shen Yuan is dying and it is all his martial siblings’ fault.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord knows he did everything he could at the moment, dealing with the
sudden demon invasion as smoothly as possible for the situation; what makes the peak lord
boil in anger is the fact that everything could have been easily avoided if his martial siblings
actually listened to him for once.

What use is Shen Qingqiu’s title of Cang Qiong’s strategist if no one bothers to do what he
suggests?

“Xiao-Jiu…” the sect leader whispers, watching with horror and guilt in his face as
something warm falls down Shen Qingqiu’s cheeks. The peak lord has no strength to rebate
the loathed nickname. “I- This useless shixiong will do anything, please, just say it and I’ll do
it-”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Shen Qingqiu bitterly laughs, wiping away the few stray tears that
happened to fall. “You could bring me that vixen’s head adorned with jade and craft another
useless fan using her skin and it would still not change the fact my brother is dying!”

Yue Qingyuan shrinks back in shame and hurt, opening his mouth multiple times yet nothing
comes out. Shen Qingqiu has only pushed the sect leader so far in a fight once, right after
arriving at Cang Qiong; most times, the Qing Jing Peak Lord decided to end any discussions
before Yue Qingyuan’s guilt-ridden face became too much for him to handle. This time,
however, there are no feelings the peak lord chose to hold back, unleashing all the years of
resentment towards both the sect leader and all of their martial siblings like an avalanche
wrecking anything in its path.

Before Yue Qingyuan can say anything, Shen Qingqiu decides to run off the sect leader
before Mu Qingfang has the chance to intervene with the argument. “Go back to Qiong Ding
and do not dare show your face here again; if I see you loitering around my brother’s demise,
I will not hold back.”

A nod is all the sect leader manages to show before Shen Qingqiu turns around and enters the
room once again, closing the door as delicately as possible to not interrupt the work being
done by the Qian Cao disciples. Mu Qingfang shoots a look at the Qing Jing Peak Lord, most
likely assessing Shen Qingqiu for any signs of an impending qi deviation — even if there
were any, Shen Qingqiu would prefer hiding away until it stopped as usual rather than taking
the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s time that could be used healing Shen Yuan or looking for a cure.

The rest of the day goes by the same way, as does the night — no signs of improvement but
no signs of further deterioration either. Mu Qingfang and his disciples still have to keep their
eyes at Shen Yuan all the time, keeping a strict schedule of medications for each passing
shichen; Shen Qingqiu takes notice of every expression on the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s face,
frantically looking for any signs of relief or hopelessness that may indicate what Shen
Qingqiu should expect.

Both peak lords do not talk to each other much, keeping the deafening silence every moment
that passes by. Shen Qingqiu can get any details later, when Shen Yuan is better; for now, the
Qing Jing Peak Lord can only assume the poison may be acting as strongly as it is because of
the child’s lack of a golden core, as he has only joined Qing Jing and started cultivating fairly
recently. After all, Shen Yuan is only 13 — even if he had contracted any other sort of
disease, it would have been hard for his body to fight it off on its own.

Shen Qingqiu knows Shen Yuan will never be able to live to his full potential after this.
Truly, it must have been the Heavens mocking both of them — the only person who could
have had the life Shen Qingqiu was never allowed to, the only person the peak lord was
willing to protect to make sure he could reach the heights he himself never could… Only for
Shen Yuan to end up worse than he ever has. It would be a miracle for him to survive;
another miracle if he manages to cultivate to core foundation stage, and yet another miracle if
Shen Yuan actually manages to form a golden core eventually.

When would the Heavens deem their suffering as enough?

Their second day in Qian Cao shows no change in Shen Yuan’s condition either. Mu
Qingfang does not look hopeless yet — his disciples, however, are already starting to eye
both Shen Yuan and Shen Qingqiu with a disgusting look of pity that makes the peak lord
want to run these brats off the room if not for their crucial role in the child’s treatment.

Three days is reasonable, Shen Qingqiu tries to convince himself. After all, Shen Yuan is
young and this poison is strong enough to impair even cultivators at times, from what Mu
Qingfang told the disciples who inquired about it — so, if Shen Yuan is still alive even after
24 shichen with the poison in his body, then things must surely be going well. Perhaps the
third day will bring forth change, Shen Qingqiu hopes.
Yue Qingyuan heeded to Shen Qingqiu’s warning and did not show his face again, as neither
did any of their martial siblings, not even Liu Qingge — honestly, the Qing Jing Peak Lord
thinks it may be for the best if the brute does not visit, as Shen Qingqiu is not sure if he could
keep himself from attacking the Bai Zhan Peak Lord on sight. While the main guilt laid on
Yue Qingyuan ignoring all of Shen Qingqiu’s warnings about sect security, Liu Qingge had
also taken his sweet time to grace everyone with his presence; if he had arrived even half an
incense stick’s time before, things would have gone so differently…

Shen Qingqiu feels a tap on his shoulder, looking up to see a Qian Cao disciple. The peak
lord raises a brow as to inquire what the disciple may need, to which the young girl
straightens her back before speaking. “Shen-shibo, this disciple has brought lunch.”

Taking a quick look at the disciple’s hands, Shen Qingqiu looks at the bowl of congee with a
lack of interest, wondering if he should simply refuse as usual for the last few days. When
was the last meal he had eaten? It had to be before he went into seclusion, before all the mess
that caused Shen Yuan to be in this state. There’s a slight pang in the peak lord’s stomach,
most likely his gluttonous side speaking; taking another look at the bowl, Shen Qingqiu
glances at Mu Qingfang.

As if understanding without any words, Mu Qingfang nods calmly, quietly reaffirming that
things should be fine for the duration of time the peak lord needs to eat — the rotation of
disciples has been working well, so Shen Yuan should be fine for the next few minutes. Shen
Qingqiu breathes in and out, nodding towards the disciple who bows her head and starts
walking towards the hallway.

Shen Qingqiu follows behind, taking a last look at Shen Yuan’s unconscious body before
leaving the room. He follows the disciple to a room in a nearby ward, one not fancily
decorated but still more than enough for one to eat a meal — from the looks of it, Shen
Qingqiu assumes it must be used as some sort of resting place for disciples between shifts.
He quietly thanks the disciple, who bows at him and leaves the room, leaving Shen Qingqiu
alone to sit down. The peak lord looks at the bland congee with chicken and ginger for a few
seconds before allowing himself to indulge.

It is not a flavorful meal, tasting as bland as Qing Jing’s usual food; at least Shen Qingqiu can
understand why a place such as Qian Cao would not care about the food’s taste, rather
focusing on simple but fulfilling and nutritious meals for those under their care. Shen
Qingqiu eats hurriedly, letting go of most etiquette he usually follows while eating at the
bamboo house — no one is looking and the peak lord must go back as soon as he can, after
all.

After finishing, the peak lord leaves the empty bowl for the disciple to collect and walks back
towards Shen Yuan’s room in a fast pace; nothing should have happened, of course, and
someone would have called him if it were the case, but it felt safer to be back as soon as
possible. Multiple Qian Cao disciples bow in respect to the peak lord, yet none dare to say
anything.

As soon as Shen Qingqiu takes a sharp turn towards the hallway connecting Shen Yuan’s
ward to the main Qian Cao building, a familiar face and disheveled curly hair is spotted by
the peak lord’s quick eyes. Truthfully, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t bothered to think about Luo
Binghe the past few days — his main worries were Shen Yuan making out alive and Yue
Qingyuan showing up again to ruin everything —, and the first thing that comes to the Qing
Jing Peak Lord’s mind is resentment.

Why couldn’t it have been you? Shen Qingqiu seethes in his mind, looking towards the
fourteen year-old beast who hasn’t even noticed the peak lord glaring at him, looking down
with a look of sadness towards the floor that only makes Shen Qingqiu angrier and angrier.
The hit was meant for Luo Binghe; why did the beast not take it as intended and instead
ruined Shen Yuan’s prospects for the rest of his life?

It is always Luo Binghe. He’s the one who took advantage of Shen Yuan’s kindness and
foolishness, he’s the one who endangered both the child and Ning Yingying instead of
protecting them against the Skinner Demon, he’s the one who Shen Yuan sacrificed his own
health in order to protect, he’s the one whose eyes always linger against that child like those
of a dormant beast, just like what Qiu Jianluo used to look towards Qiu Haitang-

Shen Qingqiu finds his hands wrapped around the little beast’s neck, holding the disgusting
man with an iron grip against the wall as Luo Binghe gaps in pain and looks in terror at the
peak lord, tears quickly flowing down his cheeks which only serve to fuel Shen Qingqiu’s
wrath. His hands squeeze hard enough for his breath to pass through shallowly, hard enough
to make it feel as if it burns.

“You did this to him,” Shen Qingqiu hisses, his hands itching for him to squeeze harder until
the beast is dead. “Why couldn’t you take the hit meant for you? Why couldn’t you just die
quietly and let my Yuan’er have the life I never had…!”

Luo Binghe cries, gasping for air yet again as scrambled words come out of his mouth.
“Shizun… is right…”

“At least you’re aware enough to know,” the peak lord replies with disdain, feeling his hands
acting faster than his mind as he presses harder against the beast’s neck.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord hears faint noises behind him, his ears buzzing with ire as he looks
straight into the little beast’s eyes, wondering why all that wasted potential was given to Luo
Binghe; since he does not bother to further his potential by himself, then why couldn’t he
have died smashed under that demon’s sledgehammer like it was meant to be?

“Shen-shixiong, let go of the disciple now,” a familiar voice firmly speaks behind Shen
Qingqiu, who glances at the Qian Cao Peak Lord from the corner of his eyes. “Or else I will
have to sedate shixiong.”

Shen Qingqiu knows Mu Qingfang well to be aware the Qian Cao Peak Lord is not bluffing,
and would be most indeed capable of sedating even another peak lord with ease if needed.
Taking a last look at Luo Binghe’s swollen face full of tears, the peak lord drops the child
without care, watching as the beast falls to the ground and coughs in an attempt to regain his
breath. Shen Qingqiu stays still in his place, hands gripping against the hems of his robes as
his ears keep buzzing and something heavy falls down his cheek.
Mu Qingfang turned out to be a liar as well; the last thing Shen Qingqiu remembers before
blacking out is the pinch of a needle against his nape.

Shen Qingqiu wakes with a budding headache and the view of the same wooden ceiling he
had been staying under for days.

The peak lord refuses any help offered by disciples, sitting up by himself as he looks for Shen
Yuan’s bed. To Shen Qingqiu’s surprise, there is no one circulating the child’s qi at the
moment, and while his heart freezes at the sight, the peak lord quickly notices the slow but
steady rise of Shen Yuan’s chest. A sigh of relief leaves Shen Qingqiu’s mouth, the headache
increasing in intensity as the peak lord allows himself to relax.

Mu Qingfang enters the room shortly after, another senior disciple of Qian Cao following
behind the doctor as he calmly looks towards Shen Qingqiu and gives the man another one of
his false smiles. Shen Qingqiu isn’t stupid to not know why he had woken up in such a way
— he most likely had a qi deviation during his attempt at strangling the little beast.

“How is Shen-shixiong feeling?” Mu Qingfang asks, bringing Shen Qingqiu’s mind back to
the countless times the doctor had been called against his will to check on him.

“This master is fine,” Shen Qingqiu replies without hesitation, deciding to not mention the
headache so he can avoid another check-up by the man. There’s bigger problems than his
headache that the peak lord is already used to getting, after all. “How is Shen Yuan?”

Another smile shows in the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s tired face, one filled with relief. “Shen-
shizhi’s body seems to be dealing better with the poison; he has gone without needing to have
any blockades cleared for roughly a shichen today. This shidi assumes Shen-shizhi should
awake in a week or so if his recuperation continues steady.”

Shen Qingqiu nods in understanding, feeling his heart just a little lighter after hearing the
news. A shichen without having to circulate was better than Shen Yuan not being able to
withstand more than a few minutes, clearly indicating things were getting better — even if
agonizingly slowly. Shen Yuan would be able to live, and that is all Shen Qingqiu needs
now.

“There is something else this shidi needs to discuss with Shen-shixiong,” Mu Qingfang says,
voice stern as Shen Qingqiu roughly knows what will follow. “It may be more beneficial for
Shen-shixiong’s health if he were to return to Qing Jing Peak after visitation hours-”

“That is out of question,” Shen Qingqiu replies sharply, breathing in and out as to not become
angrier than necessary and prove Mu Qingfang’s point by accident. “This master’s peak is
able to run without him for now. I am perfectly fine here and would appreciate to have the
authorization to watch over my brother’s recuperation.”

Mu Qingfang quietly nods after a few seconds of hesitation, deciding to not press the matter
any further. After all, why should Shen Qingqiu return now? Things should be getting better
gradually, therefore less chances of the Qing Jing Peak Lord having another qi deviation —
after all, Yue Qingyuan shouldn’t be showing his face any time soon, and Luo Binghe will
probably cry on Ning Yingying’s shoulder for the remainder of Shen Yuan’s stay in Qian
Cao.

Even if Shen Qingqiu feels his heart clench in fear every time he looks at Shen Yuan’s
deathly pale complexion, the peak lord knows he would not be at peace if he were to simply
go back to life as usual. How could he, after all? Things stopped being normal the moment he
accidentally met Shen Yuan that fateful day at the bamboo grove, so how can Shen Qingqiu
simply abandon this child in this state?

Shen Qingqiu stays by the child’s bedside all day and night long, watching the rise and fall of
his chest with a tinge of hope in the peak lord’s heart.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord’s attention is interrupted by the sudden flashing of the talismans
stuck next to Shen Yuan’s bed. Snapping his eyes open, Shen Qingqiu looks at the child in
alert, noticing a decay in his complexion and his breath becoming more and more shallow.
Before Shen Qingqiu can yell for Mu Qingfang or any disciple passing by, the Qian Cao Peak
Lord runs into the room with a focused frown in face, multiple disciples following behind as
the doctor barks orders and places his hands on Shen Yuan’s chest.

It is clear in Mu Qingfang’s face that this should not be happening, and it isn’t something the
doctor was expecting — it only serves to make Shen Qingqiu feel the dread inside him grow
with each passing second, stomach twisting at how lifeless Shen Yuan looks. This cannot be
how it ends, right? There’s many things both him and Shen Yuan need to settle between them
— all the misunderstandings that Shen Qingqiu was so afraid to address, that he had
shamefully hidden behind a facade of indifference because he did not know what else to do.

Mu Qingfang continues to handle the situation for what feels like years. The sun quickly sets
and rises again without Shen Qingqiu noticing, not moving a single muscle in fear that this
may be the last time he sees Shen Yuan — all these years that Shen Jiu had gone without
needing anyone, only for someone who is the same as he to disrupt his life without mercy to
then leave so abruptly and ruthlessly?

By the time the situation is stabilized, Mu Qingfang and his disciples look exhausted — it is
rare for Shen Qingqiu to see the Qian Cao Peak Lord looking so tired, which leaves the Qing
Jing Peak Lord even more terrified of what may happen. There has to be a way to solve or
control the poison, surely; should he order Ming Fan to bring every book regarding the
subject that they can find…?

The Qian Cao Peak Lord turns to face Shen Qingqiu, a grim expression in his face that makes
him want to rip his own heart off with how it beats so fast. Shen Qingqiu knows what Mu
Qingfang will say, he knows it too well what the doctor means when he makes such a face —
he has seen it directed towards other people related to patients whose recover was not going
as expected.

Still, it hits as hard as if Shen Qingqiu had not been waiting for it. “Shen-shixiong, this
master will have to be honest with you. There is a possibility Shen-shizhi will not be able to
make it with the way his body is reacting to the poison-”
“Then you will find a way he does!” Shen Qingqiu cries, eyes snapping from the doctor to the
child back and forth. “I do not care if it is impossible, you will make it possible! Gather all
professionals you can find, spend all of my personal stipend if you need; I promised him he
wouldn’t die…!”

“Shen-shixiong…” Mu Qingfang replies, voice so filled with the pity that makes Shen
Qingqiu’s insides crawl and twist. “This shidi is doing everything possible; sometimes,
however, it is beyond our means to interfere with the Heaven’s will…”

“And we dare call ourselves the greatest sect in the Jianghu?” the peak lord replies, voice
dripping with venom as he clenches his hands and lets his fingernails cut against his palm.
“You lot cannot even listen to your strategist, and now you’re telling me you can’t save a
child tangled in this wretched sect’s mistakes?!”

Shen Qingqiu moves without noticing, lunging forward at the Qian Cao Peak Lord who
dodges the incoming attack. There’s only anger and fury inside Shen Qingqiu, allowing the
resentment from all the years spent miserably at Cang Qiong all for the promise of a better,
more dignified life — and because even when Yue Qi felt ashamed of him, Shen Jiu couldn’t
just let go of the only person he used to love. Shen Qingqiu toiled away crafting the nobler,
aloof person he became known as; all for a sect that never recognized him as one of their
own, and now wanted to take away the only good thing that happened to him in this place.

Once again, Shen Qingqiu feels a pinch against his nape before he falls unconscious.

By the time Shen Qingqiu awakens from his sedation, the sun has set and risen again.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord wants to be angry at Mu Qingfang, yet he cannot find the strength
to feel anything but numbness. His limbs feel heavy akin to when he woke up after a beating
from Qiu Jianluo, without the aching pain that was sure to follow after each step; Shen
Qingqiu hasn’t felt this type of exhaustion entrenched deep into his bones for years. His ire is
enough to keep the peak lord moving most of the times, but what can he do when it has all
but exhausted into a pile of ash?

Mu Qingfang shoots him a stare that does not linger for long, quickly focusing on the
unconscious child lying on the bed next to the peak lord. Shen Qingqiu feels a tiny relief as
he sees that Shen Yuan is still alive, his complexion sickly as before but better than what it
had been the previous. He had promised Shen Yuan that he would make it out alive, even if
the child may not have heard it — Shen Qingqiu cannot break the promise he made to this
child like Yue Qi did to him.

Another day goes by, time flying past Shen Qingqiu so quickly for the peak lord who does
not bother with it. While both he and Mu Qingfang have not exchanged many words yet
again, the Qing Jing Peak Lord notices that things seem to be getting better, at least if he were
to tell from the number of minutes that turn into a full shichen that Shen Yuan manages to go
without needing to circulate his qi. Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure if he should let the hope deep-
rooted in his heart bloom; what if the child’s health suddenly declines once again?
It is nighttime once again when Mu Qingfang approaches the peak lord again; Shen Qingqiu
feels his blood freezing at first, yet the look in the doctor’s face is the opposite of what it had
been during their last conversation regarding Shen Yuan. Mu Qingfang still appears tired, but
this time there’s a tint of relief in his expression, his brows slightly less frowned as they had
been the past few days and a semblance of a smile appearing.

“This shidi is glad to relay that Shen-shizhi has been recovering steadily,” the Qian Cao Peak
Lord says, hope apparent in his voice as Shen Qingqiu lets out a sigh of relief he did not
know he held. “Shen-shizhi’s body has managed to handle the poison on its own for roughly
two shichen before it started to stagnate his blood and qi. This shidi expects it will handle
about three shichen by tomorrow afternoon, and eventually a full day in a few days.”

Shen Qingqiu feels as if a weight had been taken away from his body, relief flooding his
heart as the peak lord looks towards the child. If Mu Qingfang, who had told him just a few
days ago that Shen Qingqiu should brace for the worst, is now telling him that recovery is
possible and should happen in a few days, then would it be alright for the peak lord to hope?
Shen Qingqiu knows that Shen Yuan will most likely not be able to cultivate at the same pace
of his colleagues, besides having to deal with the symptoms of the poison — the peak lord
makes a mental note to gather more information on it —, but Shen Yuan will live, and that’s
all Shen Qingqiu wants at the moment.

Something the child had said comes back to the peak lord’s mind. Shen Yuan mentioned
having been a sickly child in his previous life, apparently dying from illness as well; Shen
Yuan looked terrified as he muttered he did not want to die ‘that’ way again — had he died so
painfully in his previous life…?

The Qing Jing Peak Lord knows he cannot do much before the child decides to tell him the
truth, there is no way of consoling someone about something you’re not supposed to know —
and Shen Qingqiu cannot bring himself to reveal Wanyou’s true identity to the child either.
The peak lord is not sure if it is something he can ever tell Shen Yuan about, not when it
could shatter all semblance of trust that they scarcely hold; Shen Qingqiu is too selfish to do
what he knows is the right thing.

Perhaps Mu Qingfang can help Shen Yuan with those feelings, but that will be an issue for
much later, once the child wakes up and recovers enough physically. Shen Qingqiu is not one
to believe in methods of treatment such as the ones proposed by the Qian Cao Peak Lord —
after all, Shen Qingqiu never had anyone to listen to him and he turned out fine! —, but he
will not oppose it if it proves helpful with Shen Yuan’s case.

“This shixiong thanks Mu-shidi for his hard work,” Shen Qingqiu says, deciding not to bring
up his words from before — not like Mu Qingfang needs an apology over the truth.

The Qian Cao Peak Lord smiles calmly at the other. “There is one thing this shidi would ask
of Shen-shixiong since he is staying alongside Shen-shizhi for most of the day,” Shen
Qingqiu furrows his brows at the doctor’s request, prompting Mu Qingfang to continue. “It
would be beneficial if Shen-shixiong could talk a bit to Shen-shizhi while he is unconscious.
It can be about anything, even if it is something trivial like the weather.”
“Excuse me?” Shen Qingqiu exclaims, confusion clear in his voice as he looks towards Mu
Qingfang as if he just grew a second head. “What use is there to it? This shixiong is fairly
certain unconscious people cannot hear or make sense of anything spoken to them.”

Shen Qingqiu is sure Mu Qingfang looks at him with amusement for a split second. “Yes,
they cannot hear it. However, there have been studies showing that it may help the patient to
regain their consciousness faster as it stimulates their senses, so this shidi assumed Shen-
shixiong may want to try it out…”

It still sounded strange to Shen Qingqiu — speaking to someone who will not answer back,
would that not be foolish? —, but if Mu Qingfang thinks it may help Shen Yuan wake up,
then it could not hurt to try, right? The reasoning behind it seems logical; perhaps it could
work…?

The peak lord nods in agreement. The ward they are staying at is fairly isolated from the
usual influx of Qian Cao patients, so privacy should not be an issue; after all, it is not like
Shen Qingqiu would say anything compromising, he simply needs to talk about anything
from what he understood from Mu Qingfang’s explanation.

So, as soon as the Qian Cao Peak Lord leaves and only Shen Qingqiu is left behind, the peak
lord sits beside the child and ponders. Small talk had never been his speciality, usually
turning out to be a source of stress to the peak lord who constantly needed to use flowery
words to navigate conversations meant to bring him down or humiliate him — small talk is
something Shen Qingqiu uses to insult others, not to… Talk to others.

It starts with simple things, Shen Qingqiu relaying how the saintess had been chased off the
mountain and half her demons died during Liu Qingge’s attack. Shen Qingqiu just knows the
child would boast about that brute’s flashy attacks for hours on end if he were talking to
Wanyou — and once again the peak lord finds himself craving things to go back to normal,
even if it meant having to hear the child talking about the people Shen Qingqiu loathes the
most.

Shen Qingqiu finds it is easier than it seems to just… talk. The Qing Jing Peak Lord only
stops when he finds himself with a hoarse throat or whenever a Qian Cao disciple shows up
to circle the child’s qi, which gradually decrease in frequency as the child’s body grows
accustomed to its condition. Shen Qingqiu feels more and more relieved with each day,
watching as the color in Shen Yuan’s face comes back bit by bit and his breathing becomes
more stable.

He never talks about personal affairs or anything related to Wanyou, deciding to focus on
trivial affairs and recounting interesting beasts he had fought during night hunts as a disciple;
Shen Yuan seemed to be interested in the subject, from what Shen Qingqiu could remember
watching over the classes both as a teacher and an observer.

It is the eleventh day after the invasion that Mu Qingfang tells Shen Qingqiu that he expects
Shen Yuan to awaken soon, since his body had adapted to the poison well enough to last eight
shichen without any stagnation in his blood; once he woke up, Mu Qingfang would evaluate
the best course of long-term treatment and prescribe the necessary medication.
Shen Qingqiu cannot describe the feeling in his chest — he’s nervous, yet it feels oddly
relieving and warm at the same time. It is akin to when he suddenly found Yue Qi at the
Immortal Alliance Conference; someone who had been so sure had died, because how else
would he not have come back to Shen Jiu? It was the solace of knowing his only friend was
alive, one that did not last for long as it soon dawned on Shen Jiu why Yue Qi had not
returned for him once he saw the noble life led by Yue Qingyuan.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord shakes away any thoughts about the sect leader, focusing on the
good things in front of him instead. Shen Qingqiu spends the day talking once again, later
deciding to eat some dinner and spend the night meditating so he can be alert if anything
happens — after all, Mu Qingfang did say Shen Yuan could wake up at any moment.

By the time morning comes by, Shen Qingqiu nervously accepts breakfast from a Qian Cao
disciple and waits for the time Mu Qingfang will come to check on Shen Yuan. Once the
Qian Cao Peak Lord quietly opens the door to Shen Yuan’s room, Shen Qingqiu wordlessly
greets the doctor with a head nod as he watches the other placing two fingers upon the child’s
wrist.

“It seems the poison has settled,” Mu Qingfang announces, earning a sigh of relief from the
Qing Jing Peak Lord. An odd, strong energy is felt by the peak lord, one familiar to him yet
he cannot pinpoint the source before the Qian Cao Peak Lord continues to speak. “This shidi
will start making the medication for today-”

A groan catches both peak lords’ attention, who turns their heads to look at the child. Shen
Qingqiu feels as if his heart might explode if it beats any faster, a sense of both dread and
anticipation that overcomes the peak lord as watches Shen Yuan’s brows furrow and the
corner of his mouth turning before the child gradually opens his eyes, blinking slowly for a
few seconds with an expression of discomfort.

Shen Yuan looks at both peak lords with a mixture of confusion and grogginess before
settling his gaze on Shen Qingqiu. “…Er-ge? Why are you cosplaying…”

Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure what to answer — what does Shen Yuan mean by second brother? Is
it the second brother he had in his previous life? What does the child mean by cosplay? Shen
Qingqiu wants to ask all those questions, but Mu Qingfang shoots him a glare before the peak
lord can open his mouth to say anything.

“Shen-shizhi is currently at Qian Cao, recuperating from an injury,” Mu Qingfang calmly

says, already used to dealing with confused patients.

The look in Shen Yuan’s face goes from confusion to realization in mere seconds as the
child’s eyes widen and another range of emotions starts showing as Shen Yuan remembers
what happened. Shen Qingqiu knows those too well — fear, anxiety, terror, guilt. The Qing
Jing Peak Lord looks towards Mu Qingfang, unsure of what to do or say.

Perhaps it was because both him and Mu Qingfang did not expect the action, or maybe it was
because they themselves were too focused on what to say to calm the child down. Before any
of the peak lords can do anything, the child throws himself out of bed and onto the floor, a
blur of white robes flowing towards the ground as Shen Yuan kowtows in front of the peak
lords.

“I’m sorry…!” the child sobs, tears dropping on the wooden floor as Shen Qingqiu stays
paralyzed in place. “I- I knew it would happen, but I didn’t know it would be that day- I
thought she would leave and no one would die…!”

Shen Qingqiu feels lost, not knowing what to say or do. He had wanted Shen Yuan to confess
his abilities on his own, but not like this — not when he thinks he is responsible for others
dying, not when he seemingly cares more about others rather than himself who had escaped
death by a sheer miracle. Shen Qingqiu feels useless knowing that whatever he says will most
likely make the situation even worse, knowing how the child normally reacts to his presence
alone; but what else can he do…?

“It is not Shen-shizhi’s fault that a demon has attacked the sect, even if he knew of it,” Mu
Qingfang says, voice careful as he tries to calm the situation down. “It would only bring
suspicion upon Shen-shizhi if he told someone. This master cannot blame shizhi for acting
carefully.”

Shen Yuan’s head does not leave the floor. “Mu-shishu already knew I can predict- and I- I
was too afraid to tell,” he sobs, stuttering between words as more tears fall. “I was afraid and
they died because of it-!”

A cough accompanied by blood interrupts Shen Yuan, who raises his head and looks terrified
by it. Mu Qingfang moves quickly, touching one of the child’s shoulders sternly. “Shen-
shizhi can continue talking after this shishu makes sure nothing is wrong, understood?”

The child weakly nods, looking at the blood in his hands dazedly. Shen Qingqiu looks
towards Mu Qingfang, who signals towards the door with a serious look — the peak lord
hates that he needs to leave before even speaking to Shen Yuan, but he can understand that
the child might get too nervous with two peak lords around. Shen Qingqiu will come back as
soon as he’s authorized, and after he deals with the strong yang energy just outside the door.

As expected, Shen Qingqiu is met with the last person he wanted to see in the moment —
besides Luo Binghe and Yue Qingyuan. Liu Qingge stands still just outside the room, face
pale and eyes widened as he holds something covered by a fabric stained with blood. Shen
Qingqiu ponders for a second if he should just find a way to kill Liu Qingge before he rattles
about what he eavesdropped to Yue Qingyuan.

“I- I did not mean to eavesdrop,” the brute stutters, earning a glance of surprise and doubt
from the Qing Jing Peak Lord. Liu Qingge stuttering in embarrassment is something Shen
Qingqiu never expected to hear in his life, much less to see the brute be so ashamed of
hearing something by accident.

Shen Qingqiu glares coldly at the Bai Zhan Peak Lord. “Then, are you meaning to tell
Zhangmen-shixiong or will you do it by accident?”

“What? No,” Liu Qingge exclaims, looking down at the bag in his hand and then back at
Shen Qingqiu. “If you do not want me to, I will not. I have a life debt I intend to pay back.”
A bitter laugh comes out of Shen Qingqiu’s mouth. “What great retribution you have made,
to be so late that it caused the one who actually saved your life to almost die,” Liu Qingge
looks at the other with widened eyes that turn to face towards the door as Shen Qingqiu
snarls. “If not for my brother’s abilities, you would have been left dead inside that cave until
some unfortunate soul found your rotting corpse, and that is how you thank him!”

The Bai Zhan Peak Lord silently looks down, face oddly expressive for the usual stone
expression carried by him; good, Shen Qingqiu thinks. Liu Qingge should feel the
consequences of his actions, how much it had cost Shen Yuan because the brute could not
bother to arrive faster. Shen Qingqiu knew that the fault was not only the brute’s, but of Cang
Qiong as a whole — and the Qing Jing Peak Lord vows to make sure everyone involved
knows it.

“I’m sorry,” Liu Qingge says, causing the Qing Jing Peak Lord to look startled at the brute.
Somehow, the apology seems genuine; this may be the first time Shen Qingqiu sees such a
thing. “I will do everything possible to repay both you and your brother. I… brought this for
him.”

Shen Qingqiu looks down at the bloodied bag in the Bai Zhan Peak Lord’s hands, eyes
widening in disbelief. The brute truly cannot have a brain! “…A dead animal?”

“It is a spiritual beast,” Liu Qingge replies, not understanding Shen Qingqiu’s disbelief. “The
liver has good proprieties for your brother’s recovery.”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord feels a headache forming on his temples, deciding not to argue with
the brute who clearly will not understand what’s so odd about gifting someone a bloodied
dead beast. Shen Qingqiu simply sighs and nods, grabbing the sack from Liu Qingge’s hands
without even attempting to take a look at what might be inside. Honestly, it impresses the
peak lord that the brute has not delivered the beast without any sort of covering or wrapping
— although that might be because Qian Cao would not have allowed him to enter if that was
the case.

Liu Qingge turns around before Shen Qingqiu can decide if he should thank the brute,
leaving the peak lord alone in the hallway holding the bag while trying not to dirty his robes.
The Qing Jing Peak Lord calls for a Qian Cao disciple, throwing the sack in their hands and
giving instructions to cook the liver. If he can use the brute’s guilt for Shen Yuan’s gain, then
Shen Qingqiu will gladly do it.

Mu Qingfang eventually calls for Shen Qingqiu to enter again, which the peak lord does
without hesitation. Shen Yuan’s face is puffy and red, but the child looks calmer than before
— and most importantly, not about to endanger his health. The look in Shen Yuan’s face is
still somber, not only from guilt but tiredness; Shen Qingqiu knows the news of the child’s
new health issues most likely play a part in it.

There may be countless challenges to face in the near future, yet Shen Qingqiu can only feel
glad Shen Yuan is alive.
 in which shen yuan turns emo
Chapter Summary

Shen Yuan wakes up and is faced with more emotions to deal with than he wished for.

Chapter Notes

hi!! how is everyone doing? this took longer than i wanted it to, but here is a new
chapter ehehe a lot of angst again!!! and more perspective on sy’s side of things since it
was much needed… anyways hope u guys enjoy it!!!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Shen Yuan isn’t sure what to feel once Shen Qingqiu leaves the room and Mu Qingfang
closes the door.

He knows Mu Qingfang most likely only said those kind words before to soothe him enough
so Shen Yuan could spill out what he actually knows, because there is no doubt it is solely his
fault — if he hadn’t been such a spineless coward, no one would have died during Sha
Hualing’s invasion. It is as simple as that, and Mu Qingfang attempting to sugarcoat the truth
in order to make Shen Yuan feel better about himself only made the boy feel guiltier.

Shen Yuan had been naive enough to assume there had been no casualties while reading the
novel; after all, the only issue that had arisen was Ning Yingying injuring herself while trying
to save Luo Binghe and even that had been milder than what the protagonist himself had
gone through before — a few scratches that made Luo Binghe promise to Ning Yingying that
he would never let her get injured ever again, classic stallion protagonist shenanigans.

Had all those deaths been avoided in the original, or did the author not bother to mention
anything beyond a single line that Shen Yuan could have easily skimmed over in his quest to
avoid over-the-top descriptions of Sha Hualing’s body and Liu Mingyan’s mysterious boob
physics? Shen Yuan thought that at most, there could be a few unmentioned injured disciples,
since a demon invasion was not something to laugh over; never had he considered that
casualties could very well happen, that human life is as fickle as it had been in Shen Yuan’s
previous world.

For all the boy wants to deny, he knows he must stop looking at these people like just another
cannon fodder simply meant to die. These are people just like Shen Yuan, living blissfully
unaware of the horrors they will face when Luo Binghe enacts his revenge — they are all
people who feel and hurt just like Shen Yuan, and the boy cannot detach himself from the
reality he is living any more.

So how could Shen Yuan be so careless?

Truthfully, Shen Yuan had been afraid of revealing anything to Mu Qingfang, even if the
Qian Cao Peak Lord clearly knew something was up with him; if he had known it could show
within his qi, then Shen Yuan would have never allowed himself to be treated — he wasn’t
stupid enough to think everyone else would believe his ‘predictions’ of the future, and even if
they did, he would have to dodge the Luo Binghe shaped bullet as if his life depended on it
(which it might as well do).

What if he said anything that indicated Luo Binghe’s true heritage by accident? It was clear
that Shen Qingqiu hated the other for whatever incomprehensible reason the peak lord
conjured in his mind, and that is when Luo Binghe is the most inoffensive white lotus Shen
Yuan has ever seen in his life — what would Shen Qingqiu and the rest of the peak lords do if
they ever found out there has been a half Heavenly Demon under their noses for all this time,
a son of the Heavenly Demon they themselves had sealed just a decade and half ago?

Shen Yuan can’t simply put Luo Binghe in danger like that. He may be the protagonist, but
that does not mean he needs to suffer for things beyond his reach — Luo Binghe is just a
child that needs care like everyone else, and if Shen Yuan can avoid it, he will never fall into
the Endless Abyss to become the blackened protagonist Shen Yuan had read thousands of
chapters about.

So, when Mu Qingfang had first implied that he knew Shen Yuan was different (a seer, which
made the boy laugh in despair as he wondered if it would be best to pretend to be one), Shen
Yuan thought he may be able to do or come up with something before Shen Qingqiu returns
— after all, he’s not above using his newfound sibling privileges to avoid Mu Qingfang
pressing further into the matter, but that can only happen while Shen Qingqiu was in
seclusion and unable to hear about the situation.

The boy contemplated running away without leaving a trace behind, but quickly discarded
the idea — it may have worked before the shitstorm that was being revealed to be Shen
Qingqiu’s long lost brother, but if he suddenly disappeared without explanation, it would only
be a matter of time before half of Cang Qiong went looking everywhere for him.

Not like I can do anything like that anymore, the child bitterly reminds himself as he watches
the blood-stained robes being tossed away to a disciple.

Mu Qingfang look at him in a way it makes Shen Yuan feel as if he is back at the hospital,
watching the doctors who whispered to each other with looks of pity towards him, as if Shen
Yuan wasn’t aware he would most likely never live beyond his twenties. He knew from the
moment his mother entered the hospital room with puffy eyes and stuffed nose, following
behind the doctor like a lost sheep; from the moment Shen Yuan watched his parents pulling
his siblings aside to explain the situation, hearing his meimei crying hysterically as the
doctors explained her Yuan-ge may not have much time left as his brothers quietly grieved
for someone who was still alive.
“This shishu needs to talk to Shen-shizhi about something serious,” Mu Qingfang says
carefully, eyes watching over any reactions (or lack of) that may show in the boy’s face. “We
can talk about the invasion later, but Shen-shizhi should know he is not in any trouble,
understood?”

Shen Yuan nods, although his mind screams in disagreement. He should be in trouble — he
could have avoided all those deaths, yet he cowardly did not. Perhaps it was only fair he got
such an incurable disease while trying to save the only person who would certainly not die —
and even with all those bitter feelings, Shen Yuan does not feel any regret for throwing
himself in front of Binghe.

“Shen-shizhi has come into contact with a strong poison during the invasion,” the Qian Cao
Peak Lord says, eyebrows furrowing just slightly as he watches Shen Yuan’s expression
somberly closing, in contrast to his previous fit. “There is no known cure yet, but Shen-shizhi
can be assured that this master is currently looking for anything that may help-”

“How long do I have?” Shen Yuan interrupts, throat hoarse and tasting metallic as he blurts
out the question at once in hopes to stop the peak lord from growing his hopes too high. Shen
Yuan has been through it once; the doctors promising that they will try did not change the
fact he died miserably anyway.

Why sugarcoat something as simple and unforgiving as death?

A flash of expression passes through Mu Qingfang’s face before it morphs back into its calm
facade. “A whole life, if the disease is managed carefully. It will be difficult, but it may be
possible for Shen-shizhi to form a golden core eventually; once it is formed, most symptoms
can be suppressed outside of eventual flare-ups.”

Shen Yuan furrows his brows, looking for any signal of hesitation or uncertainty in the Qian
Cao Peak Lord’s face. Mu Qingfang does not strike him as someone who would lie, and so
far, the peak lord has followed ethical codes even better than most doctors in Shen Yuan’s
previous world — still, the boy did not want to raise his hopes just to have them crushed by
reality later on. After all, Shen Yuan knows he won’t be getting the cure; neither would he be
so entitled to ask for it once Binghe comes back from the Endless Abyss.

It would be a miracle if his little bun didn’t want to murder both Shen Yuan and Shen
Qingqiu by then, after all.

The boy feels his heart ache at the thought, but shakes any lingering sadness towards the
future away for the moment. “…Will I really be able to form a golden core?”

“This master will not deny it will be a challenging task,” Mu Qingfang replies. “With proper
guidance and care, it should be possible; however, it may take a decade or two until Shen-
shizhi reaches such a milestone.”

Good thing Shen Qingqiu has the best job-issued health insurance plan in the world, Shen
Yuan attempts to joke in his head in an effort to put away as many unwanted feelings as he
can. Er-ge and his mother hated whenever he did it (meimei sometimes laughed at it,
however), yet Shen Yuan couldn’t help but laugh away at anything that may hurt him if he
thinks too deeply about it. The one time he actually tried to work through his feelings ended
in a rebellious strike that resulted in three months under observation in the hospital after a
week refusing to take meds; Shen Yuan isn’t planning on work through his emotions at any
point.

“This disciple will do his best,” Shen Yuan diplomatically answers, not sure if he wants the
conversation to be over or to try and atone for his faults once again. Rarely will anyone put
blame on a sickly child for anything, Shen Yuan learned in his previous life; even when he
spent a few thousand yuan on his father’s credit card after he had clearly said no, the only
thing Shen Yuan got was a disappointed sigh and a change of subject.

There’s a few seconds of silence before Mu Qingfang speaks again. “A schedule will be
given to your Shizun once Shen-shizhi goes back to Qing Jing. For now, shizhi will stay
under observation in case any backlash from the poison happens.”

Shen Yuan nods, already imagining Shen Qingqiu is most likely the strict type when it comes
to keeping up medical schedules — after all, his Shizun surprisingly doesn’t seem to
completely hate him, and it would look bad for him and Mu Qingfang if his brother died due
to medical negligence. It seemed like the peak lord had at least stayed over occasionally,
since Shen Qingqiu was present once Shen Yuan woke up and he had embarrassingly
mistaken the peak lord for his Er-ge.

The semblance between Shen Qingqiu and his Er-ge is dauntingly high — both their
appearance and temperament, unfortunately —, but Shen Yuan does not want to delve into
the implications of that. It is easier to see Shen Qingqiu as the scum villain who abused Luo
Binghe instead of connecting him to a figure from his past life; it will be easier once Luo
Binghe comes back for his revenge that will surely occur, even if Shen Yuan hugs his thighs
as strongly as possible.

Why wouldn’t Luo Binghe want to get his revenge, after all? Even if Shen Qingqiu hasn’t
pushed him into the abyss yet, the peak lord has surely been the shittiest teacher to his friend;
that not counting all the things Shen Yuan knows Luo Binghe keeps from him and Ning
Yingying in an attempt to make them worry less. Shen Yuan can’t find it in himself to blame
Luo Binghe if he eventually seeks vengeance — hasn’t Shen Yuan already failed him by not
managing to stop it?

“This master would recommend for Shen-shizhi to stay on bed rest for the time being,” Mu
Qingfang says, bringing the boy out of his thoughts as he stares at the peak lord for a second
before looking down. Honestly, Shen Yuan couldn’t throw himself onto the ground again
even if he wanted to, not with the way his joints ache and his breath feels short since he woke
up. “It is Shen-shizhi’s choice if he wishes to speak about the previous incident; this master
neither your Shizun will force Shen-shizhi to say anything before he is ready.”

Shen Yuan holds back a snort at the mention of Shen Qingqiu — like hell that he isn’t going
to press Shen Yuan about the matter after they go back. It might be better to solve the issue
once and for all, accept that he’s probably gonna have a meeting with the sect leader over his
very convenient foretelling skills and expected to provide relevant information; Yue-shibo
doesn’t seem like a bad person, but Shen Yuan knows that for someone in his position,
having someone who can ‘predict’ the future would be the most valuable asset, especially
after an event such as Sha Hualing’s invasion.

His times under Lady Xiang taught him how quickly morality becomes an afterthought if
turning a blind eye will benefit a person; how many times had Shen Yuan personally seen
Huan Hua officials who were aware of what happened inside that mansion, yet blissfully
turned their attentions away once Master Ye slipped them a pouch full of coins?

How many times had other righteous cultivators passed through Shen Yuan as he kneeled
quietly in Lady Xiang’s courtyard, his bloodied back exposed for all to see and laugh at?

It is useless to stall the conversation any longer. Maybe Mu Qingfang wouldn’t force him to
say anything, but someone else might. “This disciple prefers to do so now.”

“Does Shen-shizhi want to call his Shizun back into the room?” Mu Qingfang asks, to which
Shen Yuan nonchalantly nods.

The Qian Cao Peak Lord calls for Shen Qingqiu, who enters the room almost immediately
after Mu Qingfang closes his mouth. Shen Yuan feels his eyes widening as he notices how
unusual the Qing Jing Peak Lord looks — if he squints, there may even be a few wrinkles in
his robes and his hair piece looks just slightly more to the left than it should be, besides the
huge eye bags under Shen Qingqiu’s eyes that make him look even grumpier than usual.

Has Shen Yuan ever seen the Qing Jing Peak Lord like this before…?

“Shen-shixiong,” Mu Qingfang greets, receiving a small head nod in reciprocation from the
other peak lord. Shen Yuan takes notice of how Shen Qingqiu’s eyes fixate on him, their edge
growing softer as the peak lord’s shoulders relax just a tiny bit. The Qian Cao Peak Lord
turns back to face the boy with a calm smile in face. “Shen-shizhi may start speaking
whenever he feels comfortable.”

Shen Yuan nods, biting the inside of his mouth as he wonders how to even start. He’s aware
that this world surely has different definitions of what ‘crazy’ may be, yet he cannot help but
fear that his story may be outside of this world’s normal. Shen Yuan hadn’t managed to get
the time nor the possibility of exploring cases similar to his that may have happened, since
most books in Qing Jing’s library did not talk about transmigration or other worlds beyond
hypothesis, and it wasn’t like he could just walk into the forbidden section without good
reason.

There are ways of proving a person is speaking the truth, like truth potions — Shen Yuan
wouldn’t enjoy having to take one at all, since it would be impossible to not talk about Luo
Binghe’s true heritage if the topic somehow came up, so he will do his best to avoid it. For
now, the boy can only hope both Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang will believe his words.

“This disciple is not a seer,” Shen Yuan starts, deciding to get the main issue out of his way
first and foremost. His heart beats faster than it ever has as both peak lords stare at him
without moving, their expressions hard to read. “I… Come from another world. I died in my
previous life and woke up as a newborn, although I was not aware it was a different world at
the time due to my limitations. I simply thought I happened to be reborn in the past of my
world, somehow.”

Mu Qingfang nods, clearly focused on each word Shen Yuan speaks, although the boy finds
that neither peak lords look particularly impressed by his confession. Was Shen Yuan that
obvious or was it somehow common in this world? He’s almost sure that there is no mention
of transmigrators in the original novel — at least none in Luo Binghe’s massive harem. “Why
would Shen-shizhi assume he had been reborn in the past?”

Oh, Shen Yuan sighs in his mind. While the setting of PIDW resembles Ancient China for
modern people like him, this is simply the world everyone in it has been used to — the
present. How does he even begin explaining modernity to two immortal masters who have
never seen anything resembling a phone in their lives?

“Uh, well- My world had a period of fast innovations that started roughly 300 years ago from
the date I was born. There were a lot of global wars that forced every nation to innovate
quicker than the rest for the sake of survival, so that was a big factor as well,” Shen Yuan
replies, watching as a glint of curiosity shines through both peak lord’s eyes. “Since there are
no Immortals nor Demons in my world, we had to create technologies to keep up with the
pace.”

“No Immortals nor Demons,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, voice filled with fascination at the
reveal. “This master assumes there is no cultivation, then?”

“Correct,” Shen Yuan replies. “Since this one lived in a secluded village until five years of
age, I was not aware cultivation was a thing at all until I heard a few merchants talking about
Cang Qiong, which I remembered the name from my previous life.”

“Why did Shen-shizhi know Cang Qiong if his world did not have Immortals or cultivation?”
Mu Qingfang asks, and Shen Yuan gulps as he rehearses the excuse he had created since the
topic of ‘seers’ was first brought up by the Qian Cao Peak Lord.

“I happened to read the works of a seer during my first life,” Shen Yuan speaks out, gritting
through his teeth at the mention of the ‘seer’. If one day he finds that hack author, Shen Yuan
is going to make sure Airplane knows how much he hates him and his stupid novel. “A part
of it was about Cang Qiong, although it was considerably small when compared to the rest of
the predictions. I did not plan on coming to Cang Qiong at first, and thought to simply enter a
smaller sect to not get involved in any issues — but well, I decided to participate in the
selection and got accepted.”

Shen Qingqiu lets out a sigh of relief at the last sentence, making the boy furrow his eyes a
bit. It was still hard to understand what exactly Shen Qingqiu wanted from him — after all,
the peak lord couldn’t even stand looking at his face without making an expression of disgust
and leaving in hurried steps, but now he suddenly is interested in Shen Yuan after learning
they are siblings?

“If this master may ask,” Mu Qingfang speaks, making Shen Yuan turn his gaze towards him
with confusion. “How did Shen-shizhi die in his first life?”
Eyes widening at the question, Shen Yuan stares bewildered at the peak lord — not because it
was an insensitive question, since it was bound to be asked sooner or later; but because the
boy had expected they would want to ask about Cang Qiong’s future first. Shen Qingqiu turns
his face towards Mu Qingfang, an angry scowl in his face as he opens his mouth to reprimand
the other.

Shen Yuan replies to the question faster than Shen Qingqiu can intervene, feeling the
bitterness of his voice as he speaks. “This one died of a terminal illness.”

Silence follows as the boy breathes in and out, trying not to tackle the huge elephant in the
room that is cosmic irony. The only thing that kept Shen Yuan going since leaving that
wretched house was the desire to be able to live, to see and experience things he had never
been able to in his previous life — for all that he hated that hack author, the world of PIDW
always struck Shen Yuan as so magical and real, and it was no different once the boy got to
see a glimpse of it.

Only for it to be taken away from him due to a choice of his own fault.

“…There is no need for either Shizun or Shishu to worry about this one. I’m already used to
health procedures and I will follow them diligently,” Shen Yuan replies with a low voice.
“There is no cure, anyway. It is a fitting payment for what I have done, so I’m not as angry as
I would have been otherwise.”

“What are you talking about?” Shen Qingqiu interrupts, looking down with ire in his eyes,
which somehow does not seem directed towards Shen Yuan. “It is not your fault and it will
never be. If it weren’t for the sect leader always turning deaf whenever I suggest preventive
matters for cases such as invasion, those demons would have never managed to get close to
Cang Qiong! It is Cang Qiong as a whole who is at fault, not a thirteen year old kid who no
one would have believed if he spoke of it!”

For all the harshness that Shen Qingqiu’s reply carries, Shen Yuan can’t help but notice the
sheer resentment hidden behind the peak lord’s anger as he speaks. Shen Qingqiu had tried to
enact preventive measures before…? When the invasion had happened during the novel, the
Qing Jing Peak Lord was ostracized for not only previously killing his martial brother who
would have dealt with it easily, but also for not being able to drive the demons away earlier.
Liu Qingge had appeared this time, however- Which meant that not only he was alive, but
Shen Qingqiu managed to deal with the situation as best as he could for the moment.

Why would Yue Qingyuan not listen to their strategist? Shen Yuan always knew that they had
something going on, but he had assumed that the lack of consistent logic throughout Cang
Qiong sect and their strategies was Shen Qingqiu’s fault, not Yue Qingyuan’s — and from the
tone the Qing Jing Peak Lord spoke about the sect leader, it may not have been the first time
such a thing has happened.

Still, Shen Yuan can’t simply shed himself from any guilt. He could have done something,
yet he didn’t — both because of his naivety and the fact he did not hear about Liu Qingge’s
death, which made him assume the invasion could only happen much later since there were
no specified dates in the novel. “…This one should have told Mu-shishu before, but I didn’t.”
“No one blames Shen-shizhi for being afraid of what may have happened,” Mu Qingfang
replies, stern expression in face. “Trust is something one must give when they are ready, and
this master does not blame Shen-shizhi for not being able to do so. Even if shizhi had told
this master before, there is little he can do without raising suspicion — and considering both
Peak Lord Shen and Peak Lord Liu had been in seclusion as well, there would be little this
master could do without concrete proof an invasion may happen.”

Shen Yuan lowers his head, trying to decide if he should accept Mu Qingfang’s words instead
of labeling them as an attempt to calm him out of pity. What the Qian Cao Peak Lord said
does make sense, yes, but it is hard to simply accept that there was nothing he could have
done to avoid the invasion, or at least alleviate the situation; was it truly just meant to
happen, no matter what anyone did?

If what both peak lords said was true, then it painted a new perspective on Shen Qingqiu’s
position in the peak. He’s the second in command, said to influence Yue Qingyuan to get
anything he wants, yet no one listens to his suggestions? When Shen Yuan first arrived at the
peak, it became clear to him why Shen Qingqiu is the peak lord — besides his immense talent
in all the four arts, the man is quick to adapt to whatever situation he may be facing, no
matter if he has an advantage or not; if there is none, Shen Qingqiu carefully crafts one to fit
whatever he may need it for, be it trivial or not.

Yet, why was Shen Qingqiu so thoughtless in the novel? His actions were described as
treacherous and cunning, coming up with strategies that were easily dismantled with a few
minutes of thinking from Luo Binghe’s part. He acted rashly without reason, letting himself
be held in the water prison even when he knew Luo Binghe or the Old Palace Master would
surely do something to him — was it out of arrogance that the charges would be dropped or
was it an attempt to give his sect more time to sort the issue out?

“Your shishu is correct,” Shen Qingqiu says with a scowl in his face. “Without concrete
evidence of an invasion, it would be difficult for this master to bring the matter up as well.
Cang Qiong is supposed to be difficult to invade even without any peak lords present —
however, if someone from the inside were to tinker with the protection arrays, it would be
much easier for demons to approach unnoticed, which is what this master suspects
happened.”

Mu Qingfang turns to look at Shen Qingqiu, an alarmed expression in his face. “It does
explain how this shidi had not been alerted until seeing the smoke. Has Shen-shixiong
brought that possibility to Zhangmen-shixiong…?”

“Oh, is shidi under the impression this shixiong hasn’t tried before?” Shen Qingqiu sneers, a
pang of hurt flashing through his eyes as he speaks. “Unfortunately, Zhangmen-shixiong
dismissed my worries as this master unfortunately had no clear culprit yet.”

“It’s Shang Qinghua,” Shen Yuan blurts out, watching as both peak lords turn to look at him
with widened eyes and pale complexions.

There’s a flash of doubt in Mu Qingfang’s eyes, one that is not as present in Shen Qingqiu’s.
Shen Yuan wonders if he should have spoken up — Shang Qinghua is, after all, a peak lord
himself, and to make such a claim without any proof would be enough to get Shen Yuan
kicked out from Cang Qiong if anyone else had heard it. However, he knows it is true; Shang
Qinghua is the spy who helped bring forth the destruction of Cang Qiong Mountain sect.

Shen Qingqiu activates a privacy talisman around them.

“…Shen-shizhi surely understands those are very serious allegations,” Mu Qingfang says,
voice low as he stares into the boy’s eyes. “Is this something shizhi had read in the works of
the seer he has previously mentioned?”

Shen Yuan nods. “Shang-shishu is a spy for the current ruler of the northern demon realms,
Mobei-jun,” maybe if Shen Yuan exposes the rat for his crimes, then Cang Qiong will not be
defeated as easily, correct? “This disciple is not sure if Shang-shishu has been involved in
this invasion, since the relations between North and South are tense at best; unless Sha
Hualing had some sort of leverage over Mobei-jun, it would be most likely that Shang-shishu
did not help.”

This might have been the most stressed Shen Yuan has seen the Qian Cao Peak Lord get, as
the doctor looks deep in thought while Shen Qingqiu looks torn between furious and proud;
Shen Yuan can assume the furious part would be towards Shang Qinghua, but he’s not as sure
about the proud one. Maybe Shen Qingqiu had assumed it could have been the An Ding Peak
Lord before?

“I knew that rat was up to something,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, tapping his fan against his
palm with light pressure as he thinks. “That overly meek attitude always felt off.”

Shen Yuan stops himself from frowning at the description given by Shen Qingqiu — that
doesn’t seem to fit what had been written in the novel. Shang Qinghua is supposed to be a
vicious, manipulative bastard who saw himself as too good for Cang Qiong, which may
indicate the meek attitude as being an act, yet Shen Yuan is pretty sure the An Ding Peak
Lord had only been described as amicable and perhaps unremarkable during Luo Binghe’s
disciple days.

Maybe it was because the novel was told from Luo Binghe’s point of view…? Perhaps Shang
Qinghua came off as fairly normal to him. Once Shen Yuan is discharged from Qian Cao, he
very much plans to find a way to talk to Shang Qinghua on his own, get some useful insight
on what he is like — without Shen Qingqiu’s knowledge, hopefully. Something inside the
boy tells him the peak lord would not allow him to do such a thing, even if it were to bring
information that may be necessary.

There’s still a way to change things, after all. If Liu Qingge is alive, then it meant that
somehow Shen Yuan had managed to change what was meant to happen — all that without
having to outright say it! He had to give some credit to Shen Qingqiu; it was probably those
emergency talismans that saved Liu Qingge’s life. If the Bai Zhan Peak Lord is alive, then
Liu Mingyan would not have a reason to wish revenge upon Cang Qiong, and having the
literal Bai Zhan War God helping defend the sect during Luo Binghe’s attack could be their
salvation, or it could at least help them buy some time.

Unfortunately, Shen Yuan hadn’t really managed to take a proper look at the Bai Zhan Peak
Lord after he left seclusion to fight against Sha Hualing and her demons; the only thing he
saw was Elder Sky Hammer’s head rolling through the ground and a few flashes before his
arm started to hurt so much it felt like it burned, which then extended to his blood and left
Shen Yuan unable to see the action. He did not have much time to think about the fact Liu
Qingge was somehow alive, since Shen Yuan was pretty convinced he was about to become
Luo Binghe’s tragic childhood friend who died saving him.

It does answer Shen Yuan’s previous musings about Shen Qingqiu — he did not take
advantage of Liu Qingge’s qi deviation to kill him. Was it the same in the novel or did Shen
Yuan somehow activate basic empathy skills inside the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s heart?

A knock echoes through the room, startling the boy and taking the peak lords away from their
thoughts. Shen Qingqiu deactivates the privacy talisman as Mu Qingfang allows entrance to
whoever stands outside; which turned out to be a Qian Cao disciple carrying a bowl of stew
with some pieces of meat floating on top. The smell, while not the most pleasant Shen Yuan
has ever experienced, does dissipate the remaining adrenaline from all that had happened so
far, bringing forth a pang in the boy’s stomach and a familiar ache all over his body.

Without-a-cure really wasn’t a joke, especially to a thirteen year old body without a golden
core. Shen Yuan hated to say it, but his body would most likely get used to the general
unpleasantness of the disease quite fast — after all, he already had a lifetime’s experience
with shit illnesses and knew how to ignore the symptoms to the best of his capability.

All Shen Yuan could do is mourn the healthy body he once had.

“It seems like the brute’s gift has been cooked,” Shen Qingqiu remarks, bringing the attention
of Mu Qingfang and Shen Yuan towards him. The Qing Jing Peak Lord snorts with
amusement at the plate as he looks towards the boy. “Your sensible Liu-shishu has gifted you
a spiritual beast which he claims to be able to help with your recovery. Unfortunately, he
forgot to remove the carcass and only bring the actual useful part, which is why it has taken
so long to cook it.”

Shen Yuan looks between the peak lord and the stew with a bewildered look, wondering if
Shen Qingqiu’s comment was an attempt to cheer him up. It was funny to imagine the sight,
yes, but Shen Yuan could only feel relief at the verbal confirmation that Liu Qingge was
indeed alive and even gifted him something — probably out of pity, yes, but it still made
Shen Yuan feel just a tiny bit better about the whole situation. “This disciple will write a
letter thanking Liu-shishu, then-”

“Shen-shizhi needn’t worry about such things now,” Mu Qingfang says, a little bit of color
back to his face as he recollected himself once the Qian Cao disciple entered the room.
“Focus solely on your recovery for the moment; Peak Lord Liu is surely aware Shen-shizhi is
not in the best shape to thank him. This master would recommend for shizhi to eat calmly,
since he has slept for around eleven days and his stomach might react harshly.”

Eleven days?! Shen Yuan widens his eyes at the revelation, finally understanding why his
muscles felt so weird even when laying down. He had been in a coma in his previous life as
well, although it was just a few days shorter than this one — eight days that made him wake
up feeling as if he had been brought back from the dead. Xianxia medicine truly is impressive
if they managed to keep him alive without a ventilator or an IV drip sending medicine into
his blood stream.

Nodding his head with hesitation, Shen Yuan turns his attention to the bowl placed in the
bedrest, sighing mentally as he starts eating it. It doesn’t taste excellent, but it is better than
some hospital food he had unfortunately had the displeasure of eating before. Shen Yuan eats
in careful amounts, feeling the stew dropping to his stomach like a rock — probably because
he hadn’t eaten for eleven days.

Mu Qingfang and Shen Qingqiu excuse themselves for a moment as Shen Yuan eats, finally
giving him some breathing space. As the boy slowly eats mildly bitter stew, he cannot help
but wonder how Luo Binghe is doing. Knowing his friend, he would certainly try to visit as
soon as he can — which may be a challenge if Shen Qingqiu hasn’t allowed visitations.
Perhaps if Shen Yuan brings it up with Mu Qingfang, the Qian Cao Peak Lord may feel
enough pity to allow Binghe’s visitation; it used to work when Shen Yuan had just gotten
admitted into the hospital and his friend still cared enough to visit.

After all, Shen Yuan knows Binghe might be beating himself over something that is not his
fault; unfortunately, his little white lotus does have the tendency to think everything is his
fault somehow, which probably wasn’t helped by his rough childhood and Shen Qingqiu
being his Shizun. At least when Shen Yuan is around, Shen Qingqiu may avoid making such
comments, so it would be ideal to glue himself to Luo Binghe’s side once he’s out of Qian
Cao and to hug the protagonists thighs once again. He will give Binghe all the head pats he
wants (yet never asks for, even when it’s obvious he wants them), and continue sneaking
extra supplies from the bamboo hut for his friend.

It’s the minimum Shen Yuan can do for Luo Binghe, after failing him so shamefully and not
managing to stop the injustices he faces at Qing Jing. Shen Yuan will try his best to do as
such once he is back to the peak, but Shen Qingqiu is a hard person to deal with — and Shen
Yuan can’t do much when his hatred for Luo Binghe comes from seemingly nowhere but
envy over a literal child.

By the time the sun sets, Shen Yuan has already thrown up his meal and perhaps his meds as
well, which Mu Qingfang thankfully did not look as bothered by it as he simply grinds more
herbs and gives it to the boy again. Truthfully, the only thing that kept Shen Yuan from
showing the symptoms while talking to the peak lords was the sheer amount of adrenaline in
his body, and perhaps the anxiety that came with literally revealing he came from another
world without giving away the fact this world is from a 18+ power fantasy novel with the
most stallion of protagonists Shen Yuan has ever seen before.

Now that Shen Yuan could relax, so did his body — and honestly, he had forgotten how shitty
it felt to actually be sick again. It was humiliating to not be strong enough to keep himself
from throwing up on the ground or on a poor disciple’s robes, to feel something as light as
mild stew hit your digestive system so hard you may as well have eaten a greasy burger with
fries for the same effect. Shen Yuan was used to it in his previous life, as he had gone through
days just like this over and over again, being left with no one but a nurse who certainly didn’t
think he would make it for tomorrow and maybe a doctor, if things got bad enough.
 Shen Yuan was used to being alone, and he would not really hold it against Shen Qingqiu if
the peak lord decided to go back and only visit occasionally. He surely had much more
important things to do than to watch a kid throwing up blood and barely digested pieces of
meat. Shen Yuan’s own mother and father eventually stopped visiting as often; why would
the scum villain be different?

Shen Qingqiu, however, had not left the room for a single moment — even managing to look
agitated once Mu Qingfang has to ask for more wet towels since a fever had also managed to
break out after Shen Yuan threw up. No words were spoken between him and his new
brother, but Shen Yuan could recognize the look in the peak lord’s eyes; concern.

Maybe Shen Qingqiu isn’t so heartless, Shen Yuan thinks as he lays with the cold towel on
his forehead. The boy pretends not to notice the peak lord who keeps peeking at him from
time to time, knowing that it would only cause Shen Qingqiu to quickly divert his eyes back
to the documents in his hands that had been delivered by a disciple earlier. Shen Yuan even
finds himself giggling as he compares the peak lord to those tsundere characters he used to
read about, which earns him an odd look from Shen Qingqiu who frowns his eyebrows but
ultimately goes back to his work without asking anything.

With a heart lighter than he had woken up with, Shen Yuan lets himself fall asleep,
unknowing of the chaotic mess he would be pulled into.

Chapter End Notes

if anyone is interested in seeing it, i drew some catjiu and disciple!sy art! unfortunately i
didn’t manage to embed the image (once again), so here it is!!!
 in which luo binghe fights his inner demons (in a homosexual
way)
Chapter Summary

Luo Binghe wakes up in a strange dreamscape and ends up finding Shen Yuan there as
well.

Chapter Notes

hello! omg y’all i’m so sorry for the long wait a LOT has happened to me unfortunately
(my body is currently trying to kill me and me n my mom think my grandma hexed us),
and i’m kinda having to investigate a disease and hopefully not die or end up in the
hospital bc of my fuckass liver so y’all can probably see how that may have affected my
writing schedule LOL besides that everything is… fine i guess?
well anyways here is another chapter <<<3 hope you guys enjoy AND THANK YOU
FOR 2K KUDOS OMFG SJKDBFGDJKSFHBDSFHBS SKDJIUHF I LOVE YOU
ALL SO MUCH!!

twt. @shiyooji (sometimes i post fanart)

Luo Binghe spends his days kneeling at the Discipline Hall ever since the attack.

Shen Qingqiu was, once again, correct in his anger — wasn’t his wretched Shizun always
right about it? Just as it had been Luo Binghe’s fault for not being able to protect Shen Yuan
and Ning Yingying during the Skinner Demon incident, it had once again been his fault that
Shen Yuan took the hit that had been meant for Luo Binghe; if only he hadn’t stupid enough
to lower his guard right after the fight had finished, to so selfishly indulge in the compliments
and glory given by his fellow martial siblings and A-Yuan, then nothing would have
happened.

It happened in a flash, and even attempting to recall anything from that moment proved
difficult for Luo Binghe. He heard Shen Qingqiu screaming — or had it been the other
disciples? —, which caused both Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan to barely dodge the attack, the
feeling of A-Yuan’s hand grabbing his robes so fiercely in an attempt to push Binghe out of
the way still present as the boy kneeled for what felt like eternity.

No one had given out this punishment to him; Shen Qingqiu would surely inflict hell
whenever he came back, yet Luo Binghe cannot help but feel as if he deserves it. It is the
reason why the boy kneeled on the courtyard for hours on end, only leaving at the end of the
day or whenever Ning Yingying managed to convince Ming Fan to drag Luo Binghe out of
there. Even the head disciple looked somewhat concerned as he dragged the boy out of the
Discipline Hall’s courtyard for the eighth day in a row, not a word spoken as Ming Fan
silently hands Luo Binghe his dinner once they arrive at the dining hall.

Before Ning Yingying spots Luo Binghe inside the crowded hall, Ming Fan looks down at the
boy with a puzzled look for a few seconds before speaking up. “Shen-shidi has reportedly
awakened. It would be ideal if Luo-shidi refrained from self-inflicted punishments to avoid
any misunderstandings.”

Not giving Luo Binghe any time to process the information enough to answer, Ming Fan
quickly walks away from the boy without looking back. There are many overlapping feelings
inside the boy’s heart — relief, fear, guilt; Shen Yuan had awakened, swapping Luo Binghe’s
biggest fear of his friend’s death with something new. What if A-Yuan didn’t want to be
around Luo Binghe anymore? For all that had happened, he couldn’t blame Shen Yuan if he
did not wish to be his friend anymore; all of A-Yuan’s kindness towards Luo Binghe had
been repaid by his incapability of protecting and defending his only friend.

Ning Yingying’s worried questions felt akin to background noise as Luo Binghe quietly ate
his dinner, trying his best to avoid crying in front of all their martial siblings as he thought of
Shen Yuan. All the strange worried stares towards him only proved more and more
overwhelming, yet Luo Binghe could only gulp and keep the tears at bay until he reached the
woodshed.

All emotions that Luo Binghe tried to avoid had piled up and slipped from his grasp the
second he entered the woodshed; while he now had a comfortable bedroll and decent pillows,
the woodshed somehow felt colder than it had ever been when Shen Yuan shared it with him.
Sob after sob escape from Luo Binghe’s mouth as the boy cover himself with the blanket
gifted to him by his friend — A-Yuan had put himself at the risk of being punished just so
Luo Binghe could be comfortable, and the boy paid his friend back by failing him so
miserably.

That night, Luo Binghe finds that not even in his dreams could he avoid endangering Shen
Yuan.

At first, it was only Luo Binghe who stood confusedly at the center of a sprawling mess of
nothingness. The boy looked around with agitation, wondering if this was simply the most
bizarre lucid dream he has ever had or if it was something else. Upon noticing it wasn’t a
simple dream, Luo Binghe decided to examine the place he found himself at, walking further
and further away from the inicial spot in which he had started at.

The more Luo Binghe walked, the more he became unsure if there was anything in this place
at all. It was like a white void, his shouts not even echoing through the seemingly vast space
that somehow never ended — Luo Binghe felt like he had been walking for at least thirty
minutes before he finally heard something other than his own steps.

A faint voice, so sweet and luring like a siren calling upon him. Luo Binghe knew that,
logically speaking, following said noise would be the worst choice to make — after all, he
still had no clue where he was and what was happening, and such a compelling pull towards
the source could very well turn to be something dangerous; but what else could Luo Binghe
do?

Only when the soft voice turned into clear and familiar murmurings that Luo Binghe finally
realized who it was.

“A-Yuan!” Luo Binghe screams, dashing towards the foggy figure standing so far away from
him. The silhouette raises its head abruptly, as if it had been startled by the call, and starts
looking around in confusion as the fog clears and Luo Binghe manages to reach his friend.

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan exclaims, widening his eyes as Luo Binghe quickly embraces him so
suddenly it makes both boys almost fall to the ground. As if unleashing thousands of feelings
at once, the boy starts sobbing against his friend’s robes, causing Shen Yuan to give him a
worried look. “Did something happen? Is Binghe hurt-”

A whimper is all that comes out of the boy as he cries and cries, hugging the other with a
strong grip as guilt overflows his heart. Even if this were to turn out to be a trap or a figment
of his imagination, Luo Binghe needs to let it out — after all, it is the least he can do for Shen
Yuan, who would still have a hard time after awakening because of the poison. “I’m- I’m so
sorry!”

“What is there for Binghe to be sorry for…? Oh,” Shen Yuan replies, his voice dropping
silent as he firmly holds Luo Binghe’s shoulders and gives him a serious stare. For a second,
the boy is sure his friend is indeed mad at him, about to blame him for everything that
happened; that is, until Shen Yuan continue speaking with venom dripping through his words.
“Did Shen Qingqiu say anything stupid to you?”

Luo Binghe opens and closes his mouth, trying to find the right words to answer with. Should
he admit what happened between him and the Qing Jing Peak Lord or should he lie…? From
the look in A-Yuan’s face, Luo Binghe knows this must indeed be his friend and not just a
figment of his mind, the all-knowing stare that is perfect down to the anger seething through
his friend’s dark green eyes — there is no way Luo Binghe’s mind could replicate it so
perfectly.

Before the boy manages to find a suitable answer, Shen Yuan sneers as he looks to the side
for a second. “Ugh, of course he did. I swear, I’m going to curse at him so hard when I wake
up! Bet it would look real bad if he punish a poor, sickly child so he won’t be able to do
anything about it!”

“A-Yuan shouldn’t do it, please!” Luo Binghe exclaims, a pathetic sob coming out
unwillingly as the boy tries to wipe his face free of tears. “Shizun… did not do anything too
bad. It’ll be fine, and A-Yuan can’t stress himself when he’s sick!”

After all, Luo Binghe knows Shen Yuan would absolutely act on his words just from the way
his face gleams with a mischievous anticipation as he speaks. While Shen Qingqiu may not
punish him for it, it wouldn’t mean that their Shizun wouldn’t find a way to make his A-Yuan
pay for it — Luo Binghe will never buy Shen Qingqiu’s tearful claim of brotherly love for
Shen Yuan who he had only ever stared with contempt and disgust until recently. If Shen
Qingqiu loses his sudden interest for Shen Yuan, then things would go back as they were
before, and while Luo Binghe had been fine with the idea before, things are different now.

For all that it loathes Luo Binghe to think, Shen Qingqiu is able to protect Shen Yuan much
better than Luo Binghe can at the moment — no one will ever mess with the Qing Jing Peak
Lord’s beloved sibling, and their Shizun is smart enough to know it would drag his already
horrible reputation even further into the mud if he were to mistreat or neglect his recently
claimed brother. Even if it is out of worry for his image, Shen Qingqiu will make Shen
Yuan’s life much better and safer; something Luo Binghe has not been able to do at all.

“…If Binghe says so,” Shen Yuan replies with hesitance, clearly not believing his friend’s
claims regarding Shen Qingqiu. There’s little time for Luo Binghe to fret over the other
ending up in a fight with their Shizun before Shen Yuan continues to speak as if nothing had
happened. “Oh, by the way. I think we’re in a dream realm?”

“What?!” Luo Binghe exclaims, widening his eyes as the tears stop falling at the sudden
remark. He looks around the barren nothingness with panic before looking back at Shen Yuan
who looks oddly unbothered — if not a bit confused — by the situation. “Why does A-Yuan
think so?”

Shen Yuan nervously fidgets with the hems of his robes as he stutters. “I- I read about it
before! And if you really try to feel it, there’s a bit of demonic qi around the edges…!”

Luo Binghe frowns as he tries to focus on their surroundings, which the boy had been too
agitated to do before. As Shen Yuan had said, there was just a tiny bit of demonic qi flowing
around the edges of the dreamscape, although Luo Binghe is sure he would not have felt it if
he hadn’t been told before. If a demon with such abilities truly went after him and A-Yuan,
then it must be one very good at its craft for their presence to go by unnoticed.

“Demons are truly poisonous at heart,” Luo Binghe mutters, hatefully spitting out the words
which causes Shen Yuan to shake his head in disagreement.

“It wouldn’t be right to imply all demons are horrible,” Shen Yuan retorts, to which Luo
Binghe furrows his brows in confusion. “Would you say all humans are good, then? I’m
pretty sure some of our shixiongs would be classified as demons if we went by simple ‘good’
and ‘evil’ definitions!”

“…That’s true,” Luo Binghe replies, trying to hold back a small giggle at the comparison. A-
Yuan must truly be a saint if he cannot let resentment take over even when they’re being
attacked by a demon!

“Not that this one is the best-meaning of all demons,” Shen Yuan whines as he looks around
the place. “Dream Demons usually feed off their victim’s emotions through the dreamscapes,
which is… Well, kinda shitty.”

“What can we do to get out?” Luo Binghe asks, feeling glad that his friend spent so much of
his time looking through all sorts of books in Qing Jing’s library. If it hadn’t been the case,
then they would have surely never identified it!
“Well, it does seem to be a fairly strong illusion. I’m pretty sure we’d get stuck here forever
if we broke its core,” Shen Yuan mutters, looking around the nothingness with little worry.
Luo Binghe widens his eyes in panic at his friend’s words, but the other quickly continues to
talk once he notices Binghe’s terror. “However…! If we break through the enchantment, we
should be able to get out — I think we’ll find the first attacks once we walk for a bit.”

Luo Binghe hesitantly nods, following along Shen Yuan who brazenly grabs his hand and
starts pacing towards a group of strange clouds that have suddenly appeared in the horizon.
Luo Binghe feels his ears flushing with heat as he struggles to keep his heartbeat steady,
differently from Shen Yuan who seems completely oblivious to what his simple action had
caused. For all it annoys Binghe from time to time, he cannot deny that A-Yuan’s
obliviousness can be listed as one of his friend’s countless charms that made him settle so
easily on Luo Binghe’s heart.

As they get closer to the clouds, their forms start shaping into a more coherent and detailed
scenery that felt chillingly familiar to Luo Binghe. They stood in front of the same city gates
the boy found himself thoughtlessly wandering right after his mother had died, begging for
the smallest sign of compassion and pity from those inside the city. The tall wooden gates
open even without any guards, leading the way inside the streets that brought so much
suffering to Luo Binghe.

Noticing the expression on his face, Shen Yuan squishes Luo Binghe’s hand softly, giving
him a gentle smile as the boy breathes in deeply and walks further inside the illusion. There
are countless people walking around, yet none seem to have faces and their voices are
nothing more than a vague mash of senseless words; the streets, however, look so detailed it
makes Luo Binghe wonder if truly is just a dream.

“It must be your dreamscape,” Shen Yuan says, his wording implying it as a deduction yet his
expression not giving an ounce of surprise. “Binghe needs to be careful; dream demons
attack the weakest and most vulnerable parts of one’s heart. Not to worry, I’ll be by your
side!”

Although the final sentence by Shen Yuan helped warm Luo Binghe’s heart a bit, something
still made him confused. “But if it is my dreamscape, how are you here?”

“Oh- Well, I actually don’t know either,” Shen Yuan replies, muttering something about Ning
Yingying under his breath. “From what I’ve previously read, you may have brought my soul
here with you by accident when you got attacked? I’m not sure why me specifically, but
nevertheless, this Shen Yuan will help Binghe get through this!”

Guilt sweeps through Luo Binghe once again as his nose starts itching and his eyes start
burning; he truly could not do anything right even when asleep, bringing Shen Yuan into a
dangerous situation once again. Shen Qingqiu was right, Luo Binghe is a useless beast that
can’t do anything correctly and only brings others down-

Another squish to his hand brings Luo Binghe back from his thoughts, finding Shen Yuan
looking at him with a worried yet comprehensive stare. His friend then smiles softly, no
words spoken yet conveying everything Luo Binghe needed to hear at the moment — A-
Yuan always knows him so well, even better than Luo Binghe himself knew. With a new
burst of determination to solve this newfound danger in front of them, the boy breathes in
once again and steps into the crowded streets without fear, not letting go of Shen Yuan’s hand
for even a second as they delve deeper into the dream city.

As they keep walking without a specific direction, Luo Binghe’s eyes sweep over the crowd
as his body freezes. Had he seen it wrong? All the other people in his dreamscape clearly
have no faces, nothing more than a messy blur over what should have been their features; not
for a few people walking and laughing arrogantly a few paces in front of them.

Shen Yuan quickly notices Luo Binghe’s uneasiness. “What’s wrong? Did you see
something?”

“There’s some people with faces there,” Luo Binghe mutters, his heart already knowing who
it might be. How could he forget the faces of those who had tormented him as they had?

“We need to follow them,” Shen Yuan says. “It will be the only way to leave the
dreamscape.”

Luo Binghe nods, sighing quietly as he quickly paces towards the teenagers who are now
walking inside an alleyway. Shen Yuan quietly follows behind the boy, not letting go of his
hand for a second as the scene in front of them starts unfolding exactly as Luo Binghe
remembered — their mocking laughs, the smell of rotting meat coming from the leftover
trash next to the tallest teenager, a few worried whispers coming from adults walking past the
alleyway that ultimately decide to leave Luo Binghe to fend off against people much older
than him who were keen on finishing his misery that day.

“You bastard dared to come to my turf to steal my job!” one of them yells, kicking the
younger version of Luo Binghe who already laid on the ground with his hands protecting his
head. “You really want to die this time, pathetic dog?!”

Unruly curly hair covers up most of the younger Luo Binghe’s face, the dirt and grime
sticking on it even as one of the teens grabs a lock with his hand and forcefully raises the
child’s face to look at the others. Luo Binghe finds himself reaching out in panic, trying to
interfere with the memory unfolding in front of him so Shen Yuan doesn’t need to see this
pathetic and weak side of him for any longer. None of the teenagers notice the approaching
hand that passes through their bodies as if it was air.

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan yells, holding his friend’s hand with strength as he pulls the other back.
“Don’t touch it! It is the Dream Demon’s trap! Reacting to it strongly will only hurt you!”

Before Luo Binghe can process the words said by his friend, the illusion around them
dissipates like flowing water as another scenery he knows too well starts to materialize
around them. The air is cold and frigid, unforgiving breezes seeping into the broken cottage’s
wooden walls as if they were nothing but paper. A dim oil lamp illuminates the scene,
lighting the bed next to it exactly like Luo Binghe remembered it.

“Mama,” Luo Binghe whispers, watching the woman who laid on the bed trying to support
herself on the table next to it with her hands to sit up, only for her weak body to fail her.
Dread and guilt flows freely through Luo Binghe’s heart, only contained by the constant
warmth of Shen Yuan’s hand gripping him like an anchor.

A small figure runs into the cottage, quickly helping the woman support herself enough to at
least sit upright. The jade pendant on the younger boy’s neck is another reminder of Luo
Binghe failing his mother even after her death, amplified by the way the fragile woman looks
at it with a faint smile before coughing.

The younger Luo Binghe worriedly furrows his brows at the woman. “Mother, why do you
want to get up again? Didn’t you say you’d get better if you rested?”

“Lying down doesn’t get anything done,” his mother says, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. “It
would be better to get up and get the clothes washed.”

“I’ve already finished mother’s work!” Little Luo Binghe eagerly replies. “Mother, lie down
and I’ll stew your medicine. Eat medicine, then your body will get better and you will be able
to work!”

Mother smiles at the younger version of himself, a look of melancholy only visible deep into
her eyes as she pats his head with care. This time, Luo Binghe notices how her eyes are
slightly redder than usual, contrasting so harshly against the deathly pale shade of her skin.
“Binghe is really obedient.”

Younger Luo Binghe smiles happily, his eyes forming a smile of their own as the woman
continues to pat him. “What does mother want to eat?”

“Right now, I have less and less appetite,” his mother replies quietly. “The young master of
our estate had a bit of white congee recently. I’m inclined to have a try, but I don’t know if
the kitchens will have any leftovers.”

“I’ll go ask for mother!” his younger version exclaims eagerly. Luo Binghe wants to curse,
scream, cry — why did he so foolishly leave his mother behind while looking for something
he could have done quickly by himself? He knew the kitchen staff would give him a hard
time and delay his return, yet he went anyway as if that time would be any different.

“Just asking is fine. If there is nothing left, Binghe can make any regular light and watery
dish,” mother replies while coughing lightly, which only seems to startle little Luo Binghe
even more as the child quickly runs out of the cottage to go ask for the leftover congee.

Mother grabs a needle and thread from under her pillow, continuing to embroider a small
handkerchief as her hands tremble. The lights start to dim as Luo Binghe’s feelings spiral out
of control, his hands letting go of Shen Yuan and instead reaching out for his dying mother he
so naively left behind— perhaps this time he can save her, he can come back earlier, he can
call for help, anything…!

Shen Yuan is saying something, yet Luo Binghe cannot bother to understand it. There is only
resentment, anger, guilt; why is he so useless, always hurting others and being too late to save
them? If mother hadn’t taken him in, she wouldn’t have to cut her meals in half so she could
feed him, she wouldn’t have to work overtime to make sure they would both survive, she
wouldn’t have fallen so ill that not even the most expensive medicine they could afford
barely did anything but prolong her misery.

The scene abruptly changes. In front of him stands Shen Qingqiu, looking down on a younger
version of him with nothing but disgust in his eyes as the tea cup in his hands is turned on
Luo Binghe’s head, scalding tea dripping down his hair and face alongside tears — it must
have only taken a look for a man as intelligent and cunning as Shen Qingqiu to notice how
utterly useless a beast like Luo Binghe is.

Memories distort and change as Luo Binghe feels the resentment in his heart spiraling out of
control. Ming Fan and his lackeys laugh as they push Luo Binghe on a patch of mud, as the
boy tries to lift a rusty axe even when all his muscles are sore from doing chores all day and
his back aches from the lashes Shen Qingqiu had given him for breaking his favorite flute, as
the hallmasters look down at Luo Binghe with mild disappointment as he once again cannot
make it in time to class because of his chores.

Laughs echo in his head, Ming Fan hurls another insult with ease, Shen Qingqiu murderously
glares at him one final time before flying off with Shen Yuan’s bloodied body. Luo Binghe
cannot feel the tears falling from his eyes as he holds his hands against his ears, making the
laughter and screams only louder as he curls into himself — so stupid, so useless, so beastly.

Warmth envelops his body as arms wrap around his back, hands holding against him tightly
as a calm voice echoes against the noise. The anger in Luo Binghe starts to dissipate, his
mind focusing on the melodic whispers that eventually overcome the laughs and insults, not
stopping even when a loud shattering noise is heard across the scene, all the previous
darkness and smoke from the demon attack on Qiong Ding being replaced by the same bright
nothingness from before.

Luo Binghe opens his eyes, looking down to find hands wrapping against his chest and a
pressure against his back. A sob comes out as the boy pathetically tries to stop crying. “I’m-
I’m sorry, it’s all my fault…!”

“It was never Binghe’s fault,” Shen Yuan replies softly, a tinge of melancholy seeping
through his words. “You always did your best, and whoever can’t see that must be stupid —
Binghe is the strongest person I know, someone who keeps going on even when all the odds
are against him. This Shen Yuan really admires that about Binghe.”

Another strained sob comes out of Luo Binghe’s mouth against all his will, more and more
tears falling as he turns around and hugs against Shen Yuan’s chest. A hand pats his hair
gently, soft encouraging whispers against his ears as Luo Binghe allows himself to listen and
calm down, letting his friend’s words seep freely into his heart. What had he ever done to
deserve such a light in his life that is A-Yuan?

An annoyed voice cuts through the empty dreamscape. “Are you brats finally done?”

Both boys turn around to face the sudden new presence, finding nothing or no one around. It
was as if the voice had spoken out of thin air, which could only mean one thing — this must
be whoever trapped both him and Shen Yuan inside Luo Binghe’s dreamscape. They had
already broken through the enchantment, right? So why was the demon showing up now?
“Hey, curly-haired brat, come over. Let this old man take a look at what kind of accomplished
youth managed to break through this elder’s enchantment,” the voice speaks once again,
making Luo Binghe look at Shen Yuan with uncertainty.

Shen Yuan nods encouragingly, prompting Luo Binghe to go. The boy hesitantly lets go of
his friend and walks a few steps forward, looking around in confusion as no one shows up to
look at him. Doesn’t this demon at least have the decency of showing a form when talking to
another person? “Breaking through the elder’s enchantment wasn’t only this one’s
achievement. Elder needs to credit Shen Yuan’s efforts too.”

A snort echoes through the dreamscape and Shen Yuan chokes at the statement, his face
turning red at Luo Binghe’s boldness even when they are at the dream demon’s mercy. The
voice once again speaks, this time more as if it was muttering to itself. “Kids these days,
disrespecting their elders just to impress their beloveds…”

It happens in a moment. Shen Yuan yelps in pain and suddenly collapses, with Luo Binghe
barely managing to catch the other in time before he fell to the floor of nothingness. The boy
looks at the other worryingly, dread spreading through his body as he looks to Shen Yuan
who seems to be deep asleep. “What have you done?!”

“Bah, calm down! Your childhood sweetheart is only sleeping,” the demon replies, finally
materializing in front of Luo Binghe in the form of an old man, his lower body covered by a
dark fog oozing of demonic energy. “A dream within a dream, one could say.”

The explanation makes Luo Binghe calm down just a bit, although the boy still does not let
go of Shen Yuan’s sleeping body, looking up at the demon in front of him with contempt.
“What does elder want from this one?”

“Straight to the point,” the dream demon mutters with annoyance. “There is something
extraordinary within you, sealed so deep within you that not even the strongest cultivators
have noticed a thing; the seal is becoming weaker, however. This elder Meng Mo can teach
you how to suppress the demonic energy within you and teach you even more things.”

“Demonic energy…?” Luo Binghe exclaims, shock spreading through his body as if he had
been splashed by a bucket of freezing water. “You mean this seal inside is related to demons?
And you want me to cultivate in the demonic path?”

Would that mean… there is something inherently demonic about Luo Binghe’s existence that
it had to be sealed away so he could live amongst humans? If anyone found it — if Shen
Qingqiu found it — Luo Binghe is certain he would be killed on the spot, no questions asked,
or hunted down by the whole cultivation world if he managed to somehow avoid instant
death. Would Cang Qiong sect think he is a spy for demons…?

“Exactly,” the elder replies eagerly. “You shall be able to cultivate at a pace a thousand times
faster than righteous cultivators and stand above a million of them, to grow so strong not
even that Shizun of yours could defeat you!”

“I can’t,” Luo Binghe chokes out, fear of what Shen Qingqiu may do if he ever finds out that
he’s practicing demonic cultivation.
“Brat, if you’re not willing to learn, I’m afraid you won’t be able to suppress that demonic
energy for long,” Meng Mo replies, sending shivers down the boy’s spine. “Right now, it is
hidden deeply within you and it can’t be seen nor felt. However, this old man can feel the seal
is becoming weaker, and it will certainly break if not managed — what do you prefer, a
bunch of demon slayers out to kill you, including that Shizun of yours, or having so much
power that you will be able to easily get both you and that friend of yours away from your
Shizun?”

Although Luo Binghe knows the demon is playing against his deepest fears right after seeing
his worst memories, it does not change the fact that Meng Mo is correct. After all, Luo
Binghe always knew from the start that Shen Qingqiu isn’t kind, and not even a person like
Shen Yuan can change the fact that their Shizun is simply cruel by nature — what will
happen to A-Yuan when Shen Qingqiu gets tired of playing doting older brother for whatever
reasons he may be doing now?

“Elder surely wouldn’t offer such an opportunity without receiving anything back,” Luo
Binghe lets out after a few seconds of silence, noticing how Meng Mo is startled but quickly
composes himself. “Could it be that elder isn’t as strong as portrayed? Being nothing more
than a parasite hopping around people’s dreams to not get caught must take some energy,
after all. Is it a host that elder Meng Mo wants?”

It was a blind guess, but it seems as if it had hit Meng Mo right where it should have. The
demon pales for a moment yet does not portray any anger as he sighs. “It would seem that
even a brat like you has enough knowledge to know what this elder is suffering through. Do
not think of yourself that highly, however! This elder can pick many other promising young
people like you to offer tutelage in exchange of hosting, so this elder recommends thinking
seriously about the opportunity.”

Shen Yuan will surely be impressed when Luo Binghe recalls the meeting! The thought of his
friend once again brings worry to the boy, although it is a different kind of worry. Shen Yuan
may have spoken kindly of demons before, but it does not mean he would simply accept Luo
Binghe’s hidden origins — perhaps it would be best to keep it hidden for the moment, since
Luo Binghe could also accidentally implicate Shen Yuan if anyone on Cang Qiong found out
about it.

“Bah, even in such a situation you are focusing on your sweetheart friend!” Meng Mo sighs,
his face lighting up as he smiles. “You know, with enough practice, even a brat like you could
easily look through your darling friend’s dreams — this elder must say they are one of the
most interesting and confusing ones he has seen in quite some time…”

“I’d never look into A-Yuan’s dreams without his consent!” Luo Binghe angrily exclaims,
glaring at the demon as if his stare could kill him. It does make the boy curious of what Meng
Mo could mean by ‘interesting and confusing’, but he would never mess with Shen Yuan’s
mind like that! “And neither will you if you want me as a host and disciple!”

Meng Mo looks at Luo Binghe with a startled expression for a few seconds, looking at the
boy with shock before recomposing himself. Luo Binghe felt a tinge of pride at somehow
intimidating a demon only by looking at it — or was Meng Mo just that desperate to find a
host? —, yet the boy could not dwell on the feeling for long before a laughter suddenly
echoes through the empty dreamscape.

“Ah, kids these days!” Meng Mo exclaims as Luo Binghe feels his limbs growing heavier
and his surroundings suddenly became blurry. Before the boy can say or do anything, his
eyelids suddenly become too heavy to keep open and the dreamscape around him suddenly
goes dark.

Luo Binghe closes his eyes as his consciousness fades away.

 in which shen qingqiu has his weekly anger outburst
Chapter Summary

a disciple of qian cao notices something odd with shen yuan during the night.
meanwhile, shen qingqiu receives a letter he had been waiting for a long time.

Chapter Notes

hello!! how are you all doing? sorry for the long wait, my life has been a MESS istg but
tldr; no one knows what sort of disease i have, ill have to do a liver biopsy and i got
diagnosed for autism! and i found out i had 200 bucks on an obscure bank acc i didn’t
remember about that got sent by a big company on accident (and i discovered it on my
bday!)
well anyways, i hope u guys enjoy this chapter!!!! more lore dumping eheheh
twt @shiyooji (follow me i’m funny)

Shen Qingqiu reads over the piece of paper in his hands once again before he sighs.

This night hadn’t been easy — whilst both the Qing Jing Peak Lord and Mu Qingfang
somewhat imagined that Shen Yuan’s fever could become more bothersome if it were to
reappear in the middle of the night, none of them ever expected that the source of their
problems would be entirely foreign and unknown; it was only by sheer coincidence that one
of Mu Qingfang’s senior disciples noticed a very faint demonic qi enveloping the child like a
blanket during their nightly rotations.

Mu Qingfang arrived within minutes, assessing the situation to be completely sure it couldn’t
be Without-a-cure acting up once again. Strangely enough, the Qian Cao Peak Lord found the
demonic qi to be of a different origin altogether, seeming to affect Shen Yuan’s mind whilst
he slept, leaving the child deep into a slumber no one could wake him from. Shen Qingqiu
didn’t hesitate to call the Qiang Bi Peak Lord, Lin Qinghao, who promptly arrived just as the
demon seemingly hopped away from Shen Yuan’s mind.

All evidence pointed the peak lords to a dream demon, a fairly powerful one if it could
infiltrate Cang Qiong sect without activating any of its wards — which Lin Qinghao double-
checked to be sure were working as intended. All further attempts at tracing its current host
led to a dead end, not even the Qiang Bi Peak Lord’s talismans managing to catch the demon
before it seemingly disappeared into thin air.
Upon questioning, Shen Yuan claimed not to remember much and then promptly went back
to sleep since Mu Qingfang proclaimed the child was cleared of any immediate danger and
that the dream demon would most likely not return since it had sensed the peak lord’s
presence, but the Qian Cao Peak Lord decided to stay nearby in case of any emergency. It left
Shen Qingqiu with the task of alerting Yue Qingyuan about the possible presence of a demon
within their sect, loitering around unknowing disciples’ dreams for all they could know.

Shen Qingqiu begrudgingly flew to Qiong Ding Peak, since he unfortunately was the most
apt person to describe the issue properly as he had been a first-hand witness to the demon’s
presence. It took a great deal of patience from the Qing Jing Peak Lord to ignore the sect
leader’s constant guilt-ridden stares and slight stutter whenever he accidentally slipped that
damned nickname into a sentence instead of the proper and preferred way of address, yet
Shen Qingqiu held his anger back again and again.

With the sect already on high alert due to the previous demon invasion led by Sha Hualing, it
took less than half a shichen for Yue Qingyuan to send out three search groups to search for
the demon all over the twelve peaks; all of Cang Qiong’s most skilled spiritual cultivators
were sent to check for even the faintest sign of the demon’s presence, yet nothing could be
found even in peaks like Bai Zhan, full of brats with too much brawn and no brain who
would be none the wiser to a dream demon invading their mind.

By the time morning came, it became clear the demon had fled the moment its presence had
been noticed. Shen Qingqiu breathed a sigh of relief once he had been informed of it —
whilst the Qing Jing Peak Lord could not lower his guard by any means, at least he could
continue to focus on watching over Shen Yuan’s recovery and finishing the tall pile of
documents requiring his oversight, sent by Ming Fan.

Until one of his hallmasters, Yi Rongxue, walks into the Qian Cao room in hesitant steps.
Looking at the delicately folded paper in her hands, Shen Qingqiu feels a wave of both relief
and a newfound anxiety washing down on his body, not even the scent of cheap flowery
fragrance emanating from the letter being enough to get a reaction the peak lord as it usually
does.

“Shen-dashixiong,” Yi Rongxue greets, bowing her head slightly as she conceals the
disapproving expression threatening to show in her face. “A few… ladies have asked for this
to be delivered as urgently as possible.”

The urge to scowl at Yi Rongxue is barely contained as Shen Qingqiu curtly nods and grabs
the paper, ultimately deciding to ignore the hallmaster’s obvious contempt for the Warm Red
Paviliom courtesans. He knew that his shimei saw them as nothing more than deplorable
women who sold themselves for money, as most noble people in Cang Qiong did; perhaps
even Qi Qingqi, under all that facade of righteousness pity she showers onto the concept of
poor courtesans being preyed upon by the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

If Qi Qingqi cared so much about them, then why hadn’t she or any of her peak’s fairies ever
bothered to lend a helping hand to the courtesans? Every attempt made by Madam Wang to
ask for help from Xian Shu Peak, foolishly assuming the woman-only peak would empathize
with their requests whenever a courtesan went mysteriously missing or whenever the madam
found a young girl needing for refuge, only for them to be snickered at once the little
immortal fairies saw who dared asked for their help?

It was how Ning Yingying ended in Shen Qingqiu’s care, initially left to rot in a brothel until
Qi Qingqi decided Shen Qingqiu isn’t apt to care for the girl and started to bother him
incessantly for a transference, even going as far as to allow such horrid rumors to spread
through the peaks regarding his care for the child he had taken in.

All nobles are the same, in the end. Shen Qingqiu quickly dismisses Yi Rongxue before he
says something he shouldn’t, deciding to open the fragrant piece of paper once and for all —
if they had sent something for him so openly, it must be important. Was it an urgent piece of
information that they needed to relay, or did Madam Wang need help…?

‘Feng Niao has a vacant session in her schedule tonight. It shall certainly be up to the
esteemed master’s taste.’

Shen Qingqiu snorts, now understanding Yi Rongxue’s reaction. Of course, for his
hallmasters who weren’t acquainted with the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s true exchanges with the
Warm Red Pavilion ladies, how could this piece of paper seem like anything but a depraved
master getting informed on a favored courtesan’s free schedule?

Whilst most of the anxiety from before had washed away by the knowledge that nothing
serious had happened to Madam Wang or any of the girls, Shen Qingqiu did feel uneasiness
settling on his stomach as he knows what the paper must be relating to. Since neither him or
any of the pavilion girls were witless, they had come up with a set of codes if any
information needed to be relayed through writing — this way, no trace could be linked to
Shen Qingqiu or the pavilion if the wrong person gets their hands on his correspondence.

Feng Niao — hummingbird, which would be a strange name for a person, but not such a
strange name for a courtesan — means requested information; if there is a vacant session for
the same day, it would mean that the courtesans have managed to gather important
information that should be of immediate use to Shen Qingqiu.

There’s only one thing the Qing Jing Peak Lord had requested to be looked into with the
utmost urgency recently. Shen Qingqiu’s breath stops for a seconds as he wonders if the
pavilion girls managed to get most of what he requested; if the note told him that it would be
up to his taste, then did it mean they had a clear indication of whoever this Lady Xiang could
be?

A small groan grabs the peak lord’s attention. Shen Yuan moves around in the bed for a few
moments before yawning and raising his head.

“Feels like a truck ran over me,” the child quietly murmurs to himself as he rubs his eyes
lazily. Then, Shen Yuan notices Shen Qingqiu’s presence in the room and awkwardly bows
his head. “Good morning, Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu considers asking what a truck might be, but ultimately decides not to. “Good
morning. Peak Lord Mu should be arriving shortly to assess any lingering effects the demon
may have caused. Does Shen Yuan feel anything of note?”
The child shakes his head, his brows furrowing as he assesses Shen Qingqiu’s expression —
almost as if he isn’t sure that the peak lord can genuinely worry about anyone other than
himself. Shen Qingqiu wants to bitterly laugh at it, until he reminds himself that there is no
way the child could know of the countless nights spent meditating over Shen Yuan’s bedside.

At the same time he wants to lash out and call Shen Yuan ungrateful, Shen Qingqiu cannot
pretend as if he is a person whose worry is visible in his actions. Of course Shen Yuan is
apprehensive of him; what else does the peak lord know what to do besides scowl and belittle
anyone who dares come close? Any acts of goodness always stem from a filthy, selfish
reason — who wouldn’t be apprehensive of such a person?

The sigh on the tip of Shen Qingqiu’s tongue never leaves his mouth. Thankfully, before
Shen Qingqiu has to think of what to say or if he should fetch a disciple to bring breakfast, a
polite knock is heard throughout the room and the door opens shortly afterwards.

Mu Qingfang enters the room in calm steps, a paper and a brush in hands as he gently smiles
towards the child. Shen Qingqiu still isn’t completely sure how to feel about the Qian Cao
Peak Lord, but it does leave the scholar more at ease knowing that he does not need to rely
solely on Yue Qingyuan’s guilt if he were to need anyone to watch over Shen Yuan.

“Greetings, Shen-shixiong and Shen-shizhi,” Mu Qingfang says, receiving a short nod from
Shen Qingqiu and a small smile from Shen Yuan. “Has Shen-shizhi rested well?”

“Yes, Mu-shishu,” Shen Yuan replies, straightening his back as he sits on the bed as if trying
to look more presentable.

Mu Qingfang writes something down, causing the child to glare at the brush with annoyance.
At least they had something else in common, Shen Qingqiu thought — outside of the many
reasons why the peak lord prefers not coming to Qian Cao (or any doctor), one of them is
certainly how agonizing it felt to have someone analyze even the tiniest details of one’s
speech. He has seen a few medical records for specific missions, and some of the
observations could border at humiliating at best and horribly offensive at worst.

A hum comes out of the doctor’s mouth. “There was no remaining demonic qi during the last
check, and it seems like the demon did not do any damage. Does shizhi feel any side effects
from the demon’s attack?”

Shen Yuan quickly shakes his head to deny, his eyes averting to anywhere in the room but the
two peak lords. “No, nothing! I don’t even remember what I dreamt about!”

Shen Qingqiu thinks not even the best teachers could make this child able to lie in a
convincing manner. The peak lord looks at Mu Qingfang for a moment, the doctor giving a
knowing stare back but refraining from saying anything besides a low hum to Shen Yuan’s
answer. Is there anything they can do about the child not wanting to tell them about whatever
he dreamt, anyway?

Nothing seems to make sense regarding the attack, at least knowing that said dream demon
must be a master in its area from the way it was able to mask its existence for so long. Shen
Yuan is, quite literally, the worst pick any demon that feeds off qi could make; only an
amateur or infant demon would make such a mistake, which was certainly not the case if said
demon had intruded inside of Cang Qiong’s protective barriers for whoever knows how long
— which would mean that Shen Yuan was either accidentally pulled into an attack on another
person’s dreamscape or that he had been used as a host only for the demon to hop into
another more promising cultivator.

There is no way of knowing it if Shen Yuan refuses to tell them the truth.

An idea pops in Shen Qingqiu’s mind. It is risky, and perhaps he would have to severely
wound his own ego for it to work, but it could help both him and Mu Qingfang to find out if
Shen Yuan is having any sort of side effect or emotional turmoil over the dream demon’s
attack.

Perhaps tomorrow, Shen Qingqiu thinks to himself. There’s already something he must do
tonight.

Another knock echoes through the room, and not long after, the door swings open. Shen
Qingqiu blinks twice to make sure he is seeing the person in front of him correctly, barely
managing to contain himself from killing off the little rat in front of them.

Shang Qinghua nervously greets both peak lords and takes a quick peek at Shen Yuan, who
looks at the An Ding Peak Lord with nothing but unfiltered disgust in his face, as did Shen
Qingqiu. The rat shudders, clutching the paperwork on his hands and looks towards Mu
Qingfang, who had thankfully kept an unwavering polite face.

“Ah, it has been so long, Mu-shidi! Well, at least three weeks since the last monthly meeting,
and at least a few months for Shen-shixiong, ahaha,” Shang Qinghua awkwardly laughs, eyes
darting between the senior and junior Shens. “Sorry for intruding, I’m only here to deliver a
few documents to Shen-shixiong from his head disciple, so I guess I’m already leaving!”

“Ming Fan sent you here?” Shen Qingqiu furrows his brows, scrutinizing the An Ding Peak
Lord’s reasoning as visibly as he could. Shang Qinghua shifts the weight of his body from
one knee to the other, barely able to contain his shaking hands. Shen Qingqiu smiles at the
rat’s nervousness in his mind. “An Ding must not have much to do nowadays, if its Peak
Lord is being sent as an errand boy for my head disciple…”

“Aiya, such a terrifying shixiong…” Shang Qinghua whines quietly, apparently not noticing
he had spoken it out loud. “I must admit then, perhaps this shidi was a little curious about the
new addition to the Shen family — it has been the talk of the sect ever since Shen-shixiong
announced it to his disciples, you know! The elusive little Shen, who caused all peak lords
and head disciples from other peaks to be turned away at Qing Jing’s entrance, how can I not
be curious?”

Shen Yuan stares confusedly at the An Ding Peak Lord, unaware of how far the gossip had
spread even after all those months. Shen Qingqiu breathes in and out, trying his best not to
get rid of Shang Qinghua and do everyone in the sect a favor; he should have banned the little
rat from his peak as well, but in his ignorance about Shang Qinghua’s true intentions, he had
allowed the spy to enter Qing Jing if it was for business-related issues.
“Well, you have seen me, so you can go now,” Shen Yuan replies, narrowing his eyes in
annoyance. Shen Qingqiu can let the rudeness towards a senior pass this time, as it does
amuse him greatly to see the An Ding Peak Lord completely baffled at seeing a child
blatantly disrespecting him.

“…Ah, yes, I just remembered I have tons of inventories to go through! Bye!” Shang
Qinghua exclaims, messily placing the papers from Ming Fan in a side table before he hastily
bows, muttering incoherent things to himself on his way out.

Shen Qingqiu glances over the papers, recognizing them as a few poetry and calligraphy
exercises he had asked Ming Fan for earlier. There are still two shichen until he should leave
for the Warm Red Pavilion, and the amount sent by his head disciple should be enough to
keep Shen Yuan occupied for the time being — and even tomorrow morning, if Shen Qingqiu
isn’t back by the time he wakes up.

“…He’s weird,” Shen Yuan mutters, looking down at his lap as he furrows his brows, as if
trying to remember something.

“How so?” Shen Qingqiu inquires, although he can understand how anyone might think the
An Ding Peak Lord would be more respectable than Shang Qinghua is.

“He was described very differently in the… prediction,” the child says with a pensive tone.
“The An Ding Peak Lord wasn’t described a lot, but it was written that his reasons for
betraying the sect was his arrogance and hatred for his sect siblings who treated him as an
inferior, in spite of how his work sort of keeps Cang Qiong from collapsing in financial ruin.
He thought he was destined to accomplish much more, so it is why he decided to work with
Mobei-jun as his spy.”

Mu Qingfang, as well as Shen Qingqiu, is a tad confused by the description. “There is not a
single instance this master could describe Shang-shixiong’s behavior to be like that, or
anything less than amicable; was the prediction Shen-shizhi read completely objective in its
statements?”

Shen Qingqiu interrupts before Shen Yuan can answer. “Or was it through someone’s point of
view?”

Shen Yuan takes a sharp breath as the Qing Jing Peak Lord poses his question, his eyes
slightly widening as his face pales. It must be another thing he is hiding, but for what reason
is what makes Shen Qingqiu confused — the child must assume that revealing it will put the
person in danger, which could be true depending on how much danger this person will bring
to the sect.

Annoyance creeps through Shen Qingqiu’s body. Why is the child so adamant in keeping
things away from him even when both Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang already know his
biggest secret he had been trying to keep? That alone had taken months to get the child to
talk, and it only happened because of circumstances they could not have predicted.

It wouldn’t be impossible to assume the person is someone whom Shen Yuan is close to, but
knowing the child’s foolishness, it may as well be someone he doesn’t like or care for — he
had only given away Shang Qinghua’s name since the An Ding Peak Lord is selling internal
information to the demons, which obviously had already caused enough troubles.

How many more months, years until Shen Yuan decides to tell them another piece of
incredibly important information?

“Shen-shixiong, may we talk outside?” Mu Qingfang quietly asks, shifting Shen Qingqiu’s
stare from the child to the other peak lord.

Begrudgingly, the Qing Jing Peak Lord accepts with a nod. Shen Yuan’s sigh of relief does
not escape Shen Qingqiu’s earshot, but he decides to indulge whatever foolish excuse Mu
Qingfang will come up with to let the child off the hook.

The door behind both peak lords closes with a soft thud. Shen Qingqiu turns to face Mu
Qingfang, crossing his arms as he narrows his eyes and waits. The Qian Cao Peak Lord
quietly sighs as he looks towards the other. “Shen-shixiong, it would be ideal for you to wait
until you start asking such questions. With cases such as Shen-shizhi’s, you must be patient
and wait until the child opens up-”

“He’s clearly hiding something important,” Shen Qingqiu retorts with a scowl on his face. “It
could be related to the sect’s security, how can we wait any more time after what has already
happened?”

Many things do not add up in Shen Yuan’s story, only a vague shape of the full situation that
is surrounded by concealed truths and small lies so easily debunked; there’s much, much
more to it than first presented, and Shen Qingqiu does not intend waiting until another
shameless demon waltz into Cang Qiong for the child to completely reveal what he knows.

“Shixiong, it may benefit you remembering that Shen-shizhi is very young, even with two
lives to count,” Mu Qingfang replies with a stern tone. “And grieving over something he has
seemingly lost in both lives. This is not the moment to ask questions which may worsen the
situation-”

“Life will not wait for that child to get better before it strikes once again!” It did not wait for
me, Shen Jiu’s mind continues. “If there is a way to prevent it, then why would we ever throw
it away for the sake of emotions?”

Mu Qingfang does not reply. Instead, the Qian Cao Peak Lord looks at Shen Qingqiu, the
silence of his voice being replaced by the loud, thunderous pity in his eyes that make Shen
Qingqiu’s skin crawl worse than any insult could. In the midst of his own frustration and
resentfulness, the Qing Jing Peak Lord turns in the opposite direction and storms off through
the hallway, ignoring the stares from disciples that only serve to fuel his feelings.

Leaping onto Xiu Ya’s blade, Shen Qingqiu sets off from Qian Cao’s courtyard and into the
vast expanse of Cang Qiong’s mountain range, passing through fog and cloud alike as his
mind buzzes with anger. All of them are hopeful fools, from Shen Yuan who thinks he can
solve all issues by himself to Mu Qingfang who believes life works akin to a medical
textbook, from Shang Qinghua who thought demons would appreciate his cowardice to Yue
Qingyuan who thought Shen Jiu could ever be happy in this godforsaken sect.
Landing on an empty alleyway, Shen Qingqiu sheathes Xiu Ya and starts walking without
much thought. Merchants do not try to convince the peak lord to buy their wares and keep
their distance upon noticing the scowl plastered in his face, civilians make way and whisper
as Shen Qingqiu storms in the direction of the only place that has provided him with comfort
for all these years.

Shen Qingqiu looks up to the lavish two-story building, all its curtains drawn as the
courtesans prepare themselves for the upcoming night of work. Breathing in and out in an
attempt to calm himself down, the peak lord knocks on the door with a steady rhythm.

A few whispers emerge from behind the door, lasting for a few seconds before it goes silent
and door unlocks with a click. Shen Qingqiu can’t help the small raise of the corner of his
lips as the warm light from inside the establishment illuminates his skin and a young woman
comes into his view.

“A-Jiu! Aiya, how long!” Zhou Yuxuan widens her eyes, a smile quickly forming in her face
as she further opens the door to allow the peak lord in. “Come in, come in! We have so much
to talk about!”

Shen Qingqiu nods, entering the building and allowing his muscles to relax just a little bit
with the sweet scent of jasmine coming from the incenses. He quite enjoys it, a comfort in
which he also can only indulge in when visiting the Warm Red Pavilion — as jasmine
incenses had become synonymous with brothels due to their cheaper prices compared to the
premium hui orchid incenses which nobles adored to bask their houses in.

He had once made the mistake of burning said incense in his office while trying to focus on
paperwork, and somehow such an inconspicuous action had reached Qi Qingqi’s ears; who
then went on to proclaim Shen Qingqiu had become so accustomed to his lecherous nights on
the brothel that he had brought some of their incense to his own peak.

It was one of the most ridiculous and stupid things Shen Qingqiu had heard someone say
about himself, yet everyone in that damn sect had treated it as if it was the highest truth, to
the point Yue Qingyuan himself decided it was appropriate to gift him a set of high-quality
jasmine incense just a few days later.

“The girls are getting ready for work,” Zhou Yuxuan says, guiding the peak lord to the
backrooms of the brothel. “A-Jiu has arrived early today. Has something happened?”

Shen Qingqiu sighs. “When does it not?”

Zhou Yuxuan laughs, giving the peak lord a sincere smile. “I’m assuming you’ll want Rong-
jie to accompany you tonight?”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord nods, already looking forward to the first night of fulfilling sleep he
will have in literal months. Whilst he had ‘slept’ — if being knocked out by Mu Qingfang
could count as such —, it was only the Warm Red Pavilion that could provide him with an
actual decent night of rest; Shen Qingqiu could fall asleep to the sound of a soft guzheng
melody from one of the girls he himself had taught.
It was, perhaps, the only moment Shen Qingqiu felt proud as a teacher; to see such skills
being used to make someone’s life better, to give them more prospects outside of the
wretched life awaiting for them if they stay in the brothel forever.

“Someone has come to visit!” Zhou Yuxuan exclaims as she opens the door leading to the
room in which most courtesans were currently gathering and helping each other with makeup
and clothes.

Gasps echo through the room, and it doesn’t take long before all of them are gathered around
Shen Qingqiu. The peak lord feels his heart warming, a soft smile making its way to his face
without his knowledge. It had been so long since he had last seen them, not only because of
Shen Yuan but also due to his time in the Ling Xi caves.

Even so, it felt just as familiar as it always did.

“A-Jiu! What took you so long? Did those morons not allow you to come again?” Li Hengyi,
one of the younger courtesans, asks in an exacerbated tone.

“Don’t you remember A-Jiu telling us about that isolation thing he was going to do for a few
months?” another young courtesan, Bai Qiao, retorts in a scolding manner. “Aiya, you only
remember to bring your head out of bed because it is attached to your body, if not you’d
forget it as you do for everything!”

“Don’t be so mean to Yi-jie!” Li Hengxi, who is Li Hengyi’s twin sister, exclaims.

As the girls banter loudly, Shen Qingqiu finds himself feeling as if a missing piece of him
had just returned, even if such feeling could only last for a few hours. After all, once he
returned to Cang Qiong, Shen Qingqiu would have to leave behind this little piece of himself,
not only for his protection but for the courtesans as well.

Nevertheless, Shen Qingqiu lets himself wonder if this is what family feels like.

“Stop fighting like children!” a familiar voice echoes through the room, the girls instantly
stopping all arguments as Madam Wang enters the room with a scroll and envelope in hands.
“All of you except Yan Luqi, back to work. Tonight will be busy.”

Most whine but quickly go back to dressing themselves up, only one of the girls joining Shen
Qingqiu and Madam Wang who signals for the peak lord to follow her. He cannot help but
look at the scrolls in the madam’s hands, noticing the bright, obnoxious Huan Hua Palace
seal on them — of course that old geezer had to be somehow involved. It may not be the Old
Palace Master himself, but knowing Huan Hua, nothing good could come out of it.

Madam Wang guides them to an empty room, a steaming pot of tea already placed at the
table. Shen Qingqiu sits alongside the two woman, his heart beating faster than usual at the
sight of the information about to be presented — those scrolls will determine how to proceed
regarding Shen Yuan’s previous mistress, and something in the peak lord’s gut tells him it
will be harder than he previously anticipated.

As usual, Shen Qingqiu activates a privacy talisman as soon as he is fully seated.

“This might be what Master Shen has been looking for,” Madam Wang says, placing the
scrolls on top of the table. “For a deceased slave, the information has been quite difficult to
acquire — even Yan Luqi took longer than usual to convince that foolish young official from
Huan Hua.”

Shen Qingqiu opens the first scroll, hands steady even when his mind rushes to make a
thousand different assumptions and theories. Report on the Ye estate fire, the first line says.
The junior officer in charge of it was no one known to Shen Qingqiu, most likely one of the
old geezer’s disciples who was sent to deal with the issue.

“Jin-xiansheng was strangely reluctant to talk about this Ye family,” Yan Luqi says, bringing
Shen Qingqiu’s attention to her. “Something about being great contributors to Huan Hua, if
I’m not mistaken. Said he could get in trouble if anyone found out.”

A frown forms on the peak lord’s face. “This must have been a recent contribution, then. This
master does not recall any Ye family related to Huan Hua.”

“Somewhat recent, from what I could gather. There’s more information on the Ye’s inside the
third scroll,” Yan Luqi replies as she sips her tea.

Shen Qingqiu continues to read the first scroll reporting on the fire. The fact such a report
exists is already strange, as most small fires such as the one described on it are dealt with
internally — from what he can read, only a small part of the estate’s living quarters had been
affected. As the peak lord’s eyes read over the content, Shen Qingqiu feels his heart freeze as
he finally finds what he had been looking for.

One casualty, a slave by the name of Ershi, aged 10. Body has possibly been burned to ashes,
no bones found.

There’s no feeling of relief at finally figuring out where Shen Yuan had come from. Instead,
Shen Qingqiu cannot help but feeling dread pooling up in his stomach — which only
intensifies as soon as the Qing Jing Peak Lord opens the second scroll.

Report on Young Lady’s Ye investigation request, conducted by Senior Disciple Ma Zhihao;

Starting on the sixteenth day of the third month, an investigation has been conducted upon
Young Lady Ye’s request, of which has been paid in advance (ten gold coins), to find a
possible runaway slave of the Ye estate. Subject has disappeared after a fire and declared
dead, no remains found. Young Lady Ye believes the slave (numbered twenty) to be alive due
to the lack of evidence confirming his death. A thorough search for the subject has been
conducted, which has resulted in no significant progress as of far. Subject, if still alive, is
supposed to be around eleven years of age, possibly going by another name. Searches around
the town of Shangguang have not resulted in any leads, and residents do not recall seeing
anyone with the subject’s description — searches in Hua Yue city have not brought any
results either. Subject may have left Huan Hua territory.

Shen Qingqiu scrambles for the last scroll, the only not containing Huan Hua’s seal. Madam
Wang and Yan Luqi watch the peak lord read over the contents with urgency, quietly waiting
for him to finish to answer any questions remaining.
It has been written by Yan Luqi, her handwriting so recognizable to Shen Qingqiu that he can
tell it apart without the need for a seal of identification. The scroll contains information on
the Ye family, detailing their location, members of the family, number of servants currently
under their estate, a few trade deals and their main source of income.

The list of family members is pathetically small, with only five names listed — Ye Wenbo,
the patriarch, deceased; First Wife Yi, deceased; Concubine Lan, deceased; Concubine He,
current status unknown; and finally, Ye Siyu, firstborn daughter, current matriarch.

Given name: Xiang.

“This Ye Siyu has been the matriarch for how long?” Shen Qingqiu inquires upon finishing.
The situation is worse than he could have anticipated — Ye Siyu is certainly the young lady
mentioned in the investigation conducted by Huan Hua, who has been looking for Shen Yuan
as recently as two years ago.

“For about ten months,” Yan Luqi answers. “As there were no living male heirs, the estate
was left for Ye Siyu upon Ye Wenbo’s death, upon his request. She currently leads their qi
imbued fragrance business and has been making progress with expanding the business
outside of Huan Hua territory. It seems they have some exclusive trade deals for specific
fragrances with Huan Hua Palace, however.”

Shen Qingqiu frowns. “Qi imbued fragrances?”

“The town of Shangguang is known for their vast fields of Moonlight Violets, which are used
as the main ingredients for the fragrances sold by the Ye family,” Madam Wang says while
sipping her tea. Shen Qingqiu decides to ask Mu Qingfang about it later, as the doctor may
have heard of it. “It seems the business was started by Ye Wenbo and his first wife, but the
technique used for said fragrances is still unknown. A trade secret, one could say.”

Nodding in understanding, Shen Qingqiu stares at the cup of tea in front of him, the steam of
the liquid already gone long ago. He needs more time to formulate a cohesive plan of how to
proceed, especially with the new information presented — while the Ye’s are only a merchant
family in the eyes of other nobles, they hold considerable sway and power from what the
report has stated, especially if they could throw away so much money away to look for a
runaway slave.

Why had Ye Siyu requested an investigation? After all, Shen Qingqiu knows how replaceable
slaves are seen, and the death of a ten-year-old slave should not have peaked the young lady’s
interest at all. The family estate inventory had listed more than thirty slaves, not to count the
servants — what had made Ye Siyu so invested to figure out if Shen Yuan had truly died or
not?

Was it the anger of possibly being tricked by a lowly slave who had managed to escape? It is
a possibility, but without more information on Ye Siyu herself, Shen Qingqiu can’t do much
besides craft hypothesis on whatever her motives may have been. However, one thing is
certain — if the current matriarch has been the one to leave such scars in a child’s back,
having such a sway on Huan Hua will only bring problems to both Shen Yuan and Cang
Qiong as a whole.
Shen Qingqiu must find a way to disguise Shen Yuan’s true origins, lest the Old Palace
Master hears about it and decides to dig further. Most Qing Jing disciples already know Shen
Yuan had a rough life before arriving at the peak, but not the extent of it. There’s no way to
safely remove the brand in the child’s nape either, considering his current health situation —
Shen Qingqiu himself knows how hard it is to fully remove such a scar, to the point his is
only partially removed, just enough not to be recognizable.

A sigh comes out of the peak lord’s mouth. Depending on how dire the situation becomes, he
may have to inform Yue Qingyuan of it.

“Thank you for the information,” Shen Qingqiu says, looking at both Madam Wang and Yan
Luqi with gratefulness. “It is sufficient for now. This master hopes it was not too bothersome
to acquire.”

Yan Luqi snorts. “A-Jiu knows how men work. Give them some big, teary eyes, a sob story
and a good time in bed and they’ll give you anything. Oh, and also sing their praises so
highly for their benevolence, of course.”

Shen Qingqiu lets out a small laugh, knowing firsthand how people from Huan Hua Palace
work. The peak lord grabs the scrolls and stores them inside his qiankun pouch, mentally
sighing about what awaits both him and Shen Yuan in the future — Shen Qingqiu needs to
plan his next moves correctly, to avoid the potential catastrophe that could come if anyone
were to make the connection between the deceased Ershi and Shen Yuan.

It should be fine inside of Cang Qiong territory; Shen Yuan has wandered through Shuang Hu
city a few times before, and from what Shen Qingqiu has gathered before going into
seclusion, most people in the city know the child as a Cang Qiong disciple and nothing more.
If Shen Qingqiu keeps an eye out for both Ye Siyu’s movements and Huan Hua officials,
things should be fine for the moment.

As if sensing the peak lord’s emotions, Madam Wang speaks up. “Would Master Shen like to
retire to his accommodations? It is quite early, but this one could make an exception for our
greatest patron.”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord nods. “It would be greatly appreciated. Is Chen Rong available?”

“We have cleared her schedule tonight,” Madam Wang says, smiling playfully as if she had
expected the question. “Yan Luqi will be calling for her soon. Her guzheng should already be
placed inside your room.”

Shen Qingqiu feels his heart just a little lighter. While he knows that of course his
preferences would be remembered by the courtesans after being a client at the Warm Red
Pavilion for so long, it still makes the peak lord feel as if he belongs. These people, looked
down by all of society, are the only ones who treat Shen Qingqiu like a person instead of a
canvas to project their desires onto.

There is no scholar, no lecher, no vain young master; it is only Shen Jiu who they see.
Walking up the stairs leading to the second floor, Shen Qingqiu finds himself longing for the
bed more than he had anticipated. His last visit had been way before going into seclusion,
about a week or so before he announced Shen Yuan as his brother; he couldn’t even confirm
the news to his sisters since it would surely spread like wildfire if Shen Qingqiu chose to go
to the Warm Red Pavilion right after such an event.

It will undoubtedly spread that he has come to the pavilion whilst Shen Yuan is at Qian Cao,
of course — for those fools he have as martial siblings would never consider he may not be
coming here for anything other than depraved intentions. Shen Qingqiu does not care what
they will say this time; the information just given to him will help tremendously on how to
prevent and prepare for future issues.

For now, Shen Qingqiu can only gather as much energy for the few days until his next visit.

It is not long after Shen Qingqiu enters the room that Chen Rong arrives; she gives the peak
lord a gentle smile, recognizing the tiredness in his face as a cue that tonight he’s not feeling
like talking. Shen Qingqiu puts away his outer robes and countless layers of fabric, lying on
the soft bed as Chen Rong adjusts the guzheng.

Perhaps they could talk more in-depth about things once Shen Qingqiu has more of the
situation under control. There’s so much to tell, so much he wants to hear their opinions on
— and perhaps indulge in a little bashing of his martial siblings as usual. For now, however,
Shen Qingqiu must first rest enough to go straight back to intense work after this night of
sleep.

Under the dim candlelight and jasmine scent, Shen Jiu lets himself rest as the soft melody of
the guzheng soothes his mind.
 in which shen qingqiu ft. liu qingge unknowingly become BL
inspo
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu goes back to Cang Qiong with a clearer head. Before going to Qian Cao,
the peak lord stops at Qing Jing to fetch a little something.

Chapter Notes

hello! how is everyone doing? we have finally hit 100k words!!!!! can’t believe this
milestone, its actually my first time maintaining a fic for so long it reaches this word
count ehehe it’s all thanks to u guys supporting the fic so much!!! couldn’t have done it
without y’all <333 so here is a lil catjiu moment as a gift!
wanted to say smth cool like ‘i actually wrote this in the hospital’ but i actually couldn’t
bc liver biopsy does hurt like a bitch i fear… so the only insane author thing i have to
say today is that my dad almost died during last weekend bc he choked on food but my
mom did that heimlich maneuver so thankfully he’s fine now <3
hope u guys enjoy the chapter <333
twt: shiyooji (i swear im cool please

Shen Qingqiu returns to Qing Jing before the sun has fully risen.

Unfortunately, there is not much time left for him to relay the countless things that have
happened since his last visit to his sisters; for all that the peak lord wishes he could spend
hours upon hours gossiping about what has happened and answering the questions that would
surely arise out of Shen Yuan’s current situation, Shen Qingqiu knows that, if he wants his
plans for the day to work out properly, he should first stop by the bamboo house to fetch the
only thing he cannot ask for anyone else to do for him.

The sky is a mixture of lilac and orange, painting the silhouette of Cang Qiong mountain and
its peaks so beautifully it makes Shen Qingqiu consider whether to pick his drawing tools as
well. Whilst the peak lord does not have any inherent passion for the arts, it still helps him
ease his mind whenever he is left alone with his brushes and a clear vision of what he wants
to create — much more enjoyable than the occasional commission for an influential noble
with enough coin.

Passing through the wards protecting Qing Jing, the peak lord scoffs upon landing near his
bamboo house; even so close to sunrise, there were barely any disciples he could see from the
sky. Such lack of discipline would have to be solved after Shen Yuan is discharged, and a
stern talk with Ming Fan and his lack of authoritarian presence would also have to be
conducted.

Opening the bamboo house’s door, Shen Qingqiu finds it exactly as he had left it before
seclusion — not a spec of dust on the countless shelves, his calligraphy brushes carefully
placed on the top corner of the desk. Going straight for one of the bookshelves, Shen Qingqiu
quickly spots the place in which he had stored the amulet, deactivating the intricate
concealing talisman he had placed inside the book he had hidden it.

The issue of having to hide the artifact only came once Shen Qingqiu realized it would be
awfully stupid of him to bring it to the Lingxi caves, especially if Liu Qingge would have a qi
deviation. It had first activated whilst Shen Qingqiu was having some fluctuations with his qi,
or so did Mu Qingfang theorize — since both of them did not know whether it would
completely bound to the Qing Jing Peak Lord or allow other people to activate it, Shen
Qingqiu decided it would be safer to leave it at the bamboo house.

It would have been amusing to see the dreaded Bai Zhan War God as a cat, but Mu Qingfang
had to disrupt Shen Qingqiu’s fun by informing him it could potentially have side effects if
activated mid-qi deviation. Since the whole point of staying in seclusion was for the sake of
not letting Liu Qingge die, the Qing Jing Peak Lord had to play it safe.

Securing the cool bronze artifact under many layers of clothing, Shen Qingqiu finds himself
hesitating to leave. He has grabbed what he has been looking for, and whatever other
materials he may need for other issues could be brought to Qian Cao by Ming Fan — yet his
heart feels uneasy as he looks towards the long corridor leading to the side room.

It is futile to look. Yet, Shen Qingqiu walks in quiet steps to the front of the wooden door all
the same.

The first thing the peak lord can say about the room is that it’s unorganized — not in a messy,
dirty way, but as if everything from trinkets to books to materials had chaotically found their
way to its perfect spot. A short pile of bestiaries used in a few classes was stacked upon the
table, each book a few centimeters off from connecting its edges in an orderly fashion.
Calligraphy brushes hastily put away without much thought, an ink stone next to them.

A little sculpture of what seems to be a boar with horns, small residues of wood sticking from
the chipped spots as a testament of the amateurish skill. On top of the bed, a strange sort of
embroidered fabric sits seemingly unfinished. It is made of thicker threads of cotton, thicker
than what Shen Qingqiu has seen before (were they custom made?), with a hand-sized
wooden stick containing a hook at its end right next to the handwork.

On the bedside table lays a tassel with crude handiwork that reeks of Luo Binghe.

For all its mess, the room feels more comfortable than Shen Qingqiu’s. Unlike his own room,
it feels more than just a space used for sleeping — a place that reflects its owner so clearly,
like a part of Shen Yuan blended into the whole ambient without his presence being needed
for it to be noticed.
Shen Jiu adores and loathes the way Shen Yuan is so different from him, even with such
similar upbringings.

Sighing deeply, the peak lord turns around and closes the door to the side room, walking
down the hallway in rushed steps. There is no use in lingering for any longer, as his presence
in the peak would quickly be noticed if any disciple other than Ming Fan was to see him.

The bamboo house’s door closes shut with a soft thud. Shen Qingqiu hops on Xiu Ya’s
shining blade and quickly sets off for Qian Cao Peak. The sun rises slowly but steadily, its
previous orange hue turning into its normal brightness dissipated through the blue sky as
birds start chirping to indicate the start of the day. By this hour, Mu Qingfang should already
be around the central building of his peak, so Shen Qingqiu could simply wait around before
conducting his plan.

As the Qing Jing Peak Lord lands swiftly on Qian Cao’s main entrance, he nods back to a
few senior Qian Cao disciples in a rare gesture of courtesy. He climbs through the stone steps
leading to the peak’s main hall with a leisurely pace, enjoying the cool morning breeze for the
first time in forever; there’s no need to rush now, with Shen Yuan finally stable enough to
stay awaken and an essential part of the mystery surrounding that kid’s origins finally
uncovered.

Upon reading the documents given by Madam Wang and Yan Luqi again, this time with a
clearer and focused head, Shen Qingqiu found himself sighing in relief at the lack of recent
movement from Ye Siyu. There is no feasible way she could know the child is the Qing Jing
Peak Lord’s brother, even through Huan Hua’s spy network — the description given by the
young lady regarding the missing slave was vague at best, and Shen Yuan hadn’t come into
contact with anyone from either Huan Hua or the Ye family’s town of residence.

Even with the report raising the possibility of the slave running away from Huan Hua
territory, the town of Shangguang just so happened to be near the border of two major sects
— Cang Qiong Mountain and Zhao Hua Monastary. Both of which do not have any formal
laws regarding runaway slaves, unlike Huan Hua Palace and a few smaller sects near it.

No inquiries had been made about it, as far as Shen Qingqiu is aware. Checking more in
depth would require Yue Qingyuan’s help, which the Qing Jing Peak Lord would prefer
keeping to a minimum amount (if not non-existent). The thought of having to rely on Yue
Qingyuan’s grace was disgusting and insulting enough to send chills through Shen Qingqiu’s
body, and it would continue being a last-resort resource until the day of his ascension.

With his body rested enough, Shen Qingqiu could take the bulk of the work now.

Both the tiredness and distress from yesterday night were already replaced by a mild feeling
of relief, which Shen Qingqiu hated admitting it was the most relaxed he had felt during all
these months. Having a good night’s sleep in months surely does wonders for one’s body,
ridding the Qing Jing Peak Lord from his snappier than usual behavior and the mental fog
that seemed to hinder his ability to think as fast as he would like.

Entering the vast main hall with quick steps, Shen Qingqiu ends up being ushered into a
special waiting room once he requests to talk to Mu Qingfang. The act on itself wasn’t much
strange, considering that the Qian Cao Peak Lord obviously would not be available at all
times of the day and Shen Qingqiu wasn’t as entitled as some would prefer to believe — what
was strange was that he wasn’t the only peak lord waiting to talk to Mu Qingfang.

Upon seeing Qi Qingqi’s signature lilac robes, Shen Qingqiu cannot help but to let out a
silent scoff at the other peak lord’s presence. It was already rare to find other peak lords if not
looking specifically for them, much less to accidentally run into the one that hates him the
most at such an early time of the day while at another lord’s peak.

The Xian Shu Peak Lord looks towards the other as the door opens, not bothering to conceal
the expression of disgust plastered onto her face. By her side stands her head disciple, Liu
Mingyan, who politely nods towards Shen Qingqiu with a neutral face, unlike her master who
didn’t even bother greeting him.

Sighing mentally, Shen Qingqiu decides to simply greet the other peak lord lest he be called
unmannered — even though it should be Qi Qingqi greeting him first. “Greetings to Qi-
shimei. This one is truly delighted at such a coincidental meeting and glad to see shimei at
Cang Qiong.”

“You…” the Xian Shu Peak Lord mutters with anger under her breath, fully aware that Shen
Qingqiu was referencing her not being at Cang Qiong during Sha Hualing’s invasion. “This
shimei is very delighted as well. Is shixiong here to visit the little Shen or for a venereal
disease screening?”

The fan in his hands closes with a loud clack. It takes a lot to maintain composure. “Do not
dare drag my little brother’s name through your venomous mouth, shimei.”

“Now shixiong is bold enough to claim he cares for that unfortunate child?” Qi Qingqi taunts,
a self-satisfied smile spreading across her face. Liu Mingyan shifts uncomfortably from
behind her shifu. “As if shixiong wasn’t heading for the whorehouse yesterday while poor
little Shen is infected with a deadly poison! Yes, what good care and consideration Shen-
shixiong shows!”

“If you lot had listened to me, then he wouldn’t have been infected in the first place!” Shen
Qingqiu exclaims outraged, his tone raising without the peak lord noticing. Qi Qingqi
watches with careful eyes.

She’s testing the waters, Shen Qingqiu notices. It does not help diminish the anger burning
inside his chest, on the contrary, it only helps fuel it to the point the peak lord knows his qi is
destabilizing quickly. The turquoise-colored fan in his hands has already started cracking
with the force exerted by Shen Qingqiu in order not to throw it right onto Qi Qingqi’s hollow,
empty head.

Liu Mingyan is nervously looking from one peak lord to the other, shoulders tensed as the
Xian Shu Head Disciple wonders what to do. There’s some sort of guilt inside the younger
Liu’s eyes, one that has appeared upon the mention of the invasion. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t
care about the girl’s guilt, for that it is a failure of the sect first and foremost, then Luo
Binghe’s for not taking the hit meant for him and then Liu Qingge’s for showing up so late.
Before Shen Qingqiu can calculate if it would be worth having to withstand Yue Qingyuan’s
disappointed gaze and Qian Cao’s repair bill or letting Qi Qingqi walk away unscathed, a
voice speaks up from behind the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

“Shen… shixiong is right, Qi-shimei,” Liu Qingge says, causing Shen Qingqiu to turn around
in shock to stare at the brute. “It’s not your place to determine if he cares for his brother, too.”

Qi Qingqi looks at Liu Qingge as if he has suddenly grown a second head. “He literally
started it…! Liu-shidi, has this scum blackmailed you?!”

Shen Qingqiu scoffs in disgust, suddenly wishing he hadn’t just broken his fan so he could
hide the small tint of red that has somehow made its way to his cheeks. It must be anger, he
presumes.

“What? No,” Liu Qingge exclaims with confusion. Liu Mingyan’s eyes dart from her brother
to Shen Qingqiu so fast it makes the peak lord question what is so interesting about the Bai
Zhan Peak Lord not being a brainless brute for once. “Regardless if Shen Qing- Shixiong
started it, it is still wrong for Qi-shimei to go so low.”

It is almost endearing how the brute has to remind himself to refer properly to Shen Qingqiu,
if one ignores how Liu Qingge should have done that from the moment they first met. In any
case, if it causes Qi Qingqi discomfort, then Shen Qingqiu is willing to let it slide for just a
little longer.

The Xian Shu Peak Lord looks as if she has been slapped in the face, her eyes widened and
mouth agape as she stares bewildered at both peak lords. Shen Qingqiu can basically see the
overtime her brain must be doing to justify how the so-called scum had managed to turn such
a righteous person as Liu Qingge to his side.

“Mingyan, bring Wang Yao back to Xian Shu once she’s discharged,” Qi Qingqi suddenly
announces with a dazed expression, stepping towards the door so quickly she does not even
turn to address her head disciple. “There’s an appointment I suddenly forgot about, farewell!”

Shen Qingqiu does not need to follow Qi Qingqi to know she must be heading to An Ding
right now, looking for all sorts of gossip Shang Qinghua could provide her regarding Liu
Qingge and Shen Qingqiu. Giving the other’s fading silhouette a last scoff, the Qing Jing
Peak Lord sighs and turns his head to face the brute, quietly watching as Liu Mingyan’s usual
elegant expression shifts under her veil as she watches the two peak lords. How are both
siblings so… weird, Shen Qingqiu muses to himself.

“I thought she had no appointments today…” Liu Qingge mutters to himself, seemingly not
aware it was an excuse. The Qing Jing Peak Lord wants to laugh at the brute’s stupidity, but
holds back as a retribution for his previous help and simply stares at the other who suddenly
seems to remember something. “Ah, I brought something that might be of use to you.”

Watching as the Bai Zhan Peak Lord grabs something from his sleeve, Shen Qingqiu cannot
help but feel a little bit of dread at the brute’s sudden actions. As if he had predicted the
absurdity that would follow, Liu Qingge pulls out a medium-sized carcass from the pouch as
if it was a simple piece of paper; blood immediately splatters through the squeaky-clean
wooden floors of the Qian Cao waiting room and Shen Qingqiu barely dodges the droplets
threatening to smear his robes.

Liu Mingyan sighs with predicted disappointment, her shoulders flopping down. “Oh,
gege…”

“I swear to the heavens, you must have nothing inside that empty thing you call a head!”
Shen Qingqiu screeches, pulling the hems of his multiple layers as far away from the blood
and grime from the dead beast as possible, along with covering his nose and mouth to avoid
the horrid smell coming from it. “Couldn’t you at least wrap it with some fabric of sorts like
last time?!”

“Like last time…?” Liu Mingyan mutters to herself with a strange look. She then raises her
head, veil moving as the corner of her eyes move upwards. “Apologizing to Shen-shibo in
my gege’s name, he is still inexperienced with such things! This disciple will surely teach
him the proper way!”

As soon as Shen Qingqiu opens his mouth to ask what the younger Liu even means by that, a
Qian Cao disciple opens the door to call for the Xian Shu Head Disciple — not without
squealing in surprise at the mess caused by Liu Qingge, of course. Liu Mingyan quickly
bows in farewell to both peak lords, leaving the room with a faint hue of pink across the
visible parts of her cheekbones.

Liu Qingge looks as equally confused by his sister’s behavior as Shen Qingqiu does. “I…
will remember to wrap it next time, then.”

Sighing at the sight of the bloodied carcass, Shen Qingqiu decides to simply nod instead of
asking what the brute means by next time. “This shixiong appreciates the thought, but I
cannot carry a carcass around with me. Could Liu-shidi kindly give it to a disciple?”

The Bai Zhan Peak Lord nods, not arguing any further as Shen Qingqiu would have expected.
To his surprise, the Qing Jing Peak Lord felt less at edge than he did right after Qi Qingqi had
left the room, to the point he could say he may not have to deal with a qi deviation as he
feared he would have to. Liu Qingge had somehow managed to de-escalate the situation
along with making Shen Qingqiu temporarily forget about his anger.

If not for the clear smell of death coming from the carcass, Shen Qingqiu would have
assumed he is hallucinating.

Did the brute truly mean what he had said a few days prior? That he intended to repay Shen
Qingqiu for saving his life — when would the brute consider the life debt paid? Would things
simply go back to as they were before, to Liu Qingge relentlessly picking fights with the
Qing Jing Peak Lord over the stupidest things that weren’t even true at times?

It is Shen Jiu’s nature to be suspicious. Liu Qingge is a simple-minded brute, yes, but he is a
man nevertheless — with the same capacity for destruction and betrayal that any man
possesses.
“Why did Liu-shidi speak in defense of this one?” Shen Qingqiu questions, watching the
other peak lord with sharp eyes looking for any sign of repulsion. “What Qi-shimei said
about my presence at the Warm Red Pavilion yesterday is true; this one assumes Liu-shidi
must not have heard any gossip before coming.”

Go on, say I’m a lecher, say I’m dishonorable, a sheltered young master, just as usual. Speak
it loud and clear, as you always do, Liu-shidi.

“I did not hear it before coming,” Liu Qingge admits, looking away from the Qing Jing Peak
Lord for a moment. “It doesn’t have anything to do with you caring for your brother or not.
One thing does not negate the other.”

“These may be the wisest words I’ve ever heard coming from you, Liu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu
replies, a little surprised at the brute’s sudden use of his thinking capabilities. It hadn’t
happened before, at least to him. “Still, this master was under the presumption that Liu-shidi
did not associate with such scum as me. Wouldn’t look very honorable for the esteemed Bai
Zhan War God, correct?”

Just point that damn sword at me like you always do at the slightest provocation.

“I- you-” the brute stumbles over his words, which were clearly never his forte, his face
growing redder with annoyance. Suddenly, Liu Qingge widens his eyes slightly, as if some
higher knowledge had been bestowed upon him. Tucking the beast inside his qiankun poach
once again, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord turns to leave, but not before looking at Shen Qingqiu as
if he had just figured everything out. “You will not provoke me out of paying the debt I owe
to you, Shen Qingqiu! I will keep my word as intended!”

With that, Liu Qingge strolled out the room, closing the door behind him with a small thud.

Shen Qingqiu stares at the closed door, blinking a few times just to be sure he hasn’t
imagined the past few minutes. His hands reach for the fan, instead finding the cracked wood
that would be of no use for the peak lord. Somehow, Liu Qingge hadn’t fallen for the trick
Shen Qingqiu has been using since their disciple days, to anger the Bai Zhan brute so badly
he would have no words and would simply draw his sword and pester Shen Qingqiu for a
duel or stomp away from the scene looking as if his veins are about to burst out of ire.

Such an unusual change of events, one that the Qing Jing Peak Lord isn’t sure how to tackle.
While it would be ideal to have anyone but Yue Qingyuan to serve as a reliable ally for Shen
Qingqiu, Liu Qingge was honestly one of the last people he expected would be eligible for
the task. It is easier to work with someone as simple-minded as the brute — not much nuance
in his actions, shows any distaste very clearly —, yet Shen Qingqiu still cannot help but feel
hesitant about it.

Another sigh comes out of the peak lord’s mouth as he evades the pool of drying blood on the
ground and makes his way to one of the many seats in the room. Would it be worth it to have
Liu Qingge around?

The Qing Jing Peak Lord turns his head around at the sound of the door opening shortly after
it had closed, revealing two Qian Cao disciples — one who must be the head disciple and
another who carries a few cleaning supplies alongside a sullen gaze towards the now dry
blood on the floor.

Song Lian, the head disciple, politely smiles at the peak lord before speaking. “Shizun has
called for Shen-shibo to be brought the office. May this disciple lead the way?”

Shen Qingqiu nods, getting up from the seat and following behind the young woman.
Truthfully, the peak lord hadn’t paid her much attention before, especially during Shen
Yuan’s stay at the peak; from a glance, however, he could recognize Song Lian as one of the
disciples guiding the other disciples whenever Mu Qingfang was not available. Before that,
he had only seen her at the few rare occasions in which Shen Qingqiu had been forced to get
medical care, and the peak lord can say with certainty neither him nor the head disciple
wished to be there whenever that happened.

The young woman is easier to read, probably because of her experience that is still growing
day by day — perhaps someday she will master a physician’s polished expression, but the
day was still to come. Ironically, Song Lian’s mild nose scrunch and eye twitch whenever
Shen Qingqiu scowled at whichever Qian Cao disciple tried approaching him made the peak
lord feel more at ease than Mu Qingfang’s unwavering calm expression.

Quietly, the peak lord and the head disciple walk until they reach the broad wooden doors
Shen Qingqiu had grown awfully used to. Song Lian bows and quickly paces back to
whatever ward she had a shift on, leaving the Qing Jing Peak Lord alone as he knocks and
walks into the office.

“Welcome, Shen-shixiong,” the doctor greets, signaling to the small table on the center of the
room. “Would shixiong like some tea?”

“No need,” Shen Qingqiu replies, sitting down and reaching for one document inside his
qiankun pouch. The Qian Cao Peak Lord looks mildly confused by the action but quickly
follows the other and sits down.

Mu Qingfang says nothing regarding their last talk and simply reaches for the paper, to Shen
Qingqiu’s relief. It is not something the peak lord would enjoy having to talk about again,
knowing that the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s approach to the situation would not change. The only
thing Shen Qingqiu can do is pray that Shen Yuan opens up once he sees his beloved friend
after all these months.

Furrowing his brows at first, Mu Qingfang’s expression goes from mild confusion to
understanding as he finishes reading. “Shen-shixiong is certain this is the lady mentioned by
Shen-shizhi?”

“This master is sure it is,” he replies, letting the other peak lord read over the content for a
while longer. It was the document containing the Ye family’s information, since Shen
Qingqiu would never trust anyone but himself with the documents referencing Shen Yuan as
a slave. He would have to memorize it before burning them and any copy still in Huan Hua
Palace’s hands. “This one is curious to hear if Mu-shidi has ever heard of the fragrances
crafted by the Ye family.”
The Qian Cao Peak Lord sighs after a few seconds of thinking. “Not much. This shidi has
heard of them before, but found the description to be too… unrealistic of what any fragrance
containing qi may offer, no matter how refined said qi could be — especially at the price
offered.”

Shen Qingqiu smiles internally. He knew there was something strange with it. “Apparently,
they are good enough for Huan Hua to have struck a deal with the Ye family for special trade
deals exclusive to them.”

“…Unless this Ye family has pioneered a technique and kept it under wraps, this shidi
sincerely thinks normal methods and techniques could not produce noticeable effects,
especially to be used by such a large sect as Huan Hua Palace,” Mu Qingfang says, looking at
the other peak lord for a few seconds before he hesitantly continues. “Does Shen-shixiong
suspect something unlawful is happening for the production of such fragrances?”

Nodding while retracting the document on the table, Shen Qingqiu feels a strange mixture of
relief and uneasiness at what he may find. The peak lord is no stranger to demonic
cultivation, of course — his years under the tutelage of Wu Yanzi were engraved onto his
mind and meridians, no matter how much Shen Qingqiu tried to forget it.

“It is indeed what this shixiong suspects,” Shen Qingqiu replies as he places the papers back
inside his sleeve. “Would Mu-shidi lend this shixiong a hand if I brought a sample of the
fragrances?”

Mu Qingfang stares at the other peak lord with hesitation. “…Is Zhangmen-shixiong aware of
this?”

Holding back the urge to roll his eyes, Shen Qingqiu breathes in mentally as he shakes his
head. It is plausible that Mu Qingfang would ask such a question, of course — any misstep
and this issue could lead to all-time high tensions between Cang Qiong Mountain and Huan
Hua Palace. It would be ideal for Yue Qingyuan to be aware, but the man has proved himself
too worried in avoiding any further tension between sects for Shen Qingqiu to be able to
bring forth his suspicions without solid proof.

However, it isn’t just about Cang Qiong or Huan Hua anymore. Shen Qingqiu needs leverage
to keep the young Ye matriarch in check, set up his pieces before the enemy arrives with its
full force; the Old Palace Master would never waste a chance of dragging Cang Qiong down
if he were to find out Shen Yuan’s (and, subsequently, Shen Jiu’s) origins.

How fast would it be until he figured Yue Qingyuan’s buried past as well?

“Not until this master has solid proof of illegal, or at the very least, imoral activity,” Shen
Qingqiu replies.

A sigh leaves the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s mouth, silence lingering over the ambient for a
moment before he speaks. “This shidi shall help with whatever needed, then.”

Letting out a small breath of relief at the acceptance, Shen Qingqiu starts planning for his
next moves. With Mu Qingfang’s assistance assured, one of the biggest issues is now solved,
leaving the peak lord with another equally important thing to deal with: getting samples of
both fragrances sold by the Ye family. One of them should not be hard to get at all, as it was
commercialized on Shangguang Town’s main market, but the other one would be trickier —
only Huan Hua Palace or the Ye estate’s alchemy workshop would have it.

“This shixiong sincerely thanks Mu-shidi,” the Qing Jing Peak Lord replies with a small head
bow, glad that he did not need to spend hours or even days trying to convince the other like it
is usually required for the rest of their martial siblings.

Shen Qingqiu looks at the water clock placed on the corner of the office, wondering if he
should ask Mu Qingfang for an ideal time to talk to Shen Yuan whilst… undercover. It would
be ideal to do it now, so the peak lord at least has the time to plan it out better — perhaps the
kid could be awake now too. Shen Qingqiu’s hand instinctively looks for a fan, failing to find
anything but air on the spot reserved for it.

Clicking his tongue out of annoyance, Shen Qingqiu conjures the most neutral look he can
manage. “One more thing before I go back. When would it be an ideal time for this master
to… disguise himself?”

The Qing Jing Peak Lord shortly contemplates murder once he sees the doctor visibly
holding back an amused expression. “Ah, Shen-shixiong is in luck then. Head Disciple Song
should be assisting Shen-shizhi with taking a small walk around the inner courtyard of his
ward. Would shixiong like for this shidi to recall the head disciple for a little more privacy?”

I swear to the heavens, I’ll never leave this man alone if I ever find any embarrassing secrets
he may be hiding, Shen Qingqiu promises in his mind. Mu Qingfang isn’t as easy to
embarrass like Liu Qingge, who seems to crumble at the slightest hint of a tease. Strangely,
Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t say he’s angry at the Qian Cao Peak Lord for the teasing.

One may describe it as amicable banter, even.

“…It would be appreciated,” Shen Qingqiu concedes, muttering the sentence under his
breath.

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t stay much longer to see the Qian Cao Peak Lord let out the laugh he
was surely holding in, deciding to leave the office before losing any more face. The Qing
Jing Peak Lord walks in rushed steps towards the direction of Shen Yuan’s ward, the cool
bronze of the amulet pressing against his skin as his heart beats a little faster than usual.

He’s nervous. Shen Qingqiu hates it, even when he knows there are many valid reasons for
him to be anxious — it has been long since he has transformed into such a form, and how can
the peak lord know what the child will be telling him today? Will Shen Yuan have any
suspicions about Wanyou’s disappearance? Shen Qingqiu did not have the time nor the
mentality to talk about such issues with Mu Qingfang after Sha Hualing’s attack, but perhaps
his initial plan using Ming Fan had worked, after all.

As the peak lord walks through hallways that get emptier with each door he passes by, he
eventually passes by Song Lian, who rushes in the opposite direction of the child’s room. Mu
Qingfang must have recalled her once Shen Qingqiu left, which would mean Shen Yuan is
currently alone, supposedly at the inner courtyard — and since the whole ward was one
meant for peak lords and high-ranking patients, it would be completely empty for the
moment.

Only an incense’s time is needed, surely. More would most likely be riskier, as the chance of
a disciple passing by to check on Shen Yuan would increase, perhaps even one skilled enough
to notice something amiss with the cat.

Standing in front of the entrance door, Shen Qingqiu observes the surrounding area to find
the best spot to activate the amulet. The hallway is too risky, and he isn’t sure if a cat’s form
would be the most ideal to push the heavy wooden doors — so it would be better to go
outside, maybe jump his way through the roofs and into the inner courtyard?

An idea pops up on the peak lord’s mind. Walking towards a small storage room, Shen
Qingqiu looks around before opening the door, only entering once he is sure no one is there.
Inside, there are a few crates and shelves full of medicinal herbs, cleaning supplies and
everything a physician may need — all of which are stacked so neatly in front of an open
window leading to the outside.

Breathing in and out, the peak lord grips the amulet under his robes.

Immediately upon opening his eyes, Shen Qingqiu looks up to the window now many times
higher up than his current height, shifting his eyes to the crates in front of it. Jumping is easy
enough, as the peak lord quickly finds himself facing the open window that blows a cold
breeze onto his snout. Without a second thought, he jumps through it.

A strange feeling of calm spreads through Shen Qingqiu’s form upon landing. It had been so
long since he had used the amulet he had almost forgotten how nice it felt, soft paws touching
upon stone and grass while the wind blows through the long white fur of his form. Shen
Qingqiu looks around the ambient, relieved to see that not even low-ranking disciples are
currently hanging around the walls of Shen Yuan’s ward — this would be easier than when
the peak lord has to transform inside his own peak.

Looking up towards the stone walls and black tiles, Shen Qingqiu knows he can’t jump to its
height from the ground; conveniently enough, a moderately tall peach tree stands just next to
one of the lowest points of the wall. Smiling internally, the peak lord sprints towards the tree
without hesitation, gaining enough velocity to jump towards a sturdy branch, securing
himself on it with sharp claws.

The jump from the branch to the roof is lengthier than Shen Qingqiu wished for it to be, but it
is his best option if he wishes to enter the inner courtyard without alerting Shen Yuan in his
human form. Breathing in and out for a few seconds, the Qing Jing Peak Lord looks towards
the black tiles with determination and leaps forward.

His forelimbs land without much issue, but his back paws struggle with the tile’s slippery
surface. Shen Qingqiu may have accidentally knocked one or two tiles during the process of
making sure he wasn’t going to fall, but that was a problem for Mu Qingfang (and that
traitorous bastard Shang Qinghua) to deal with.
Shen Qingqiu walks around the roof until he finds the place he was looking for — and to his
relief, he finds Shen Yuan without much difficulty. The child sits quietly on a stone bench, a
book in hands and two wooden crutches resting next to him. Shen Yuan’s hair is tied up with
a simple ribbon in a way that would never be allowed in Qing Jing, with so many hair strands
sticking out that the child would certainly be told to tie it again before entering class.

It is now, Shen Qingqiu thinks to himself as he mentally breathes in for the thousandth time
in the day. The peak lord jumps down from the roof, landing a few meters away from the
child who jumps in his seat, startled by the sudden movement. Shen Yuan’s expression
quickly goes from surprise to joy, which does brings a little warmth to the peak lord’s heart,
for all he wants to deny it.

“Wanyou! It’s really you, right?” the child asks, voice full of enthusiasm at the cat’s
appearance.

Shen Qingqiu nods, watching with amusement as Shen Yuan puts down his book and slides a
bit to the left, leaving enough space for the cat to sit down on the bench. Deciding to indulge
the child, the peak lord walks towards the stone bench and jumps next to Shen Yuan, who
smiles so brightly in a way Shen Qingqiu hadn’t seen for such a long time.

“How did you find me here? Were you in Qian Cao all this time?” Shen Yuan asks, to which
Shen Qingqiu isn’t sure if he should nod or shake his head. It would be best to keep his
original story of going to Xian Shu, so he eventually shakes his head, which causes Shen
Yuan to widen his eyes. “Then did you come here all the way from Xian Shu?”

Nodding to the question, Shen Qingqiu prays the child will not find such a notion too absurd
for a cat to manage. In all honesty, it would be between extremely challenging to impossible
for a small animal to make its way from a peak to the other without any issues, not to
mention the possibility of becoming pray to a loose beast from Yan Shou Peak.

“Did you come to see me?” the child asks, to which the other nods quickly. A smile spreads
through Shen Yuan’s face. “I missed Wanyou so much! So much has happened since last time
I’ve seen you- wait, I think I was still living in the woodshed…”

A grimace spreads through Shen Qingqiu’s face as he is reminded of the woodshed. Shen
Yuan apparently finds it funny, as the child laughs heartily at the cat’s expression. “I know, it
was… shabby, but I actually got a pretty good upgrade after that night! Guess being a peak
lord’s sibling does have some benefits in the end…”

Shen Qingqiu feels his heart freeze at the child’s sudden sullen tone. It couldn’t be that
horrible to be his sibling, right? Shen Qingqiu is pretty sure he has been showing that he
cares for Shen Yuan, because why would he even bother to stay beside the child for all these
nights if he did not care?

Shen Yuan seems to notice the cat’s odd expression, sighing as he places his hand on his chin.
“Ah, sorry for the moody reply. It’s just… he reminds me of my brother, and thinking about it
makes me sad.”
He reminds me of my brother, it replays on the peak lord’s mind over and over again. Shen
Qingqiu knows what this is supposed to mean, of course, but the mere implication of what it
could mean is enough to make the peak lord feel as if his mind is scrambling to maintain its
sanity. Shen Yuan had mistaken him for this brother before, which was something Shen
Qingqiu was already trying not to wonder too much about — it could lead to thoughts the
peak lord knows would be dangerous to himself.

“Hao-ge was always difficult to read,” Shen Yuan continues, a melancholic tone to his voice
as he speaks. “A third of what he said would be the most foul and creative insults he could
come up with. Sometimes it felt like he wanted to beat the crap out of me for the littlest
issues, yet he would always be the first to show up whenever I had to be hospitalized. Once I
woke up from a short coma to him snoring on the hospital couch, actually.”

A quiet laugh comes out of the child’s mouth, yet Shen Qingqiu barely hears it. His mind is
instead focused on the fondness of Shen Yuan’s words, how he can feel the child truly cares
and misses this brother of another world. Would Shen Qingqiu ever be able to replace such a
figure, would it be too selfish to hope for it? Deep down, he knows the answer.

“At the same time I wish I could go back, I also like it here,” Shen Yuan continues, talking to
himself rather than the cat next to him. “There are many things I haven’t seen yet. It’ll be
more difficult with this shitty wife-plot disease, but at least Mu-shishu sounds confident that
I’ll live, which is a step-up from my previous life. Still sucks to feel like this again, but it
could be worse.”

Looking up to the child’s face, Shen Qingqiu tries to convey any sort of comfort as best as
possible, bopping his head against the child’s arm. Shen Yuan looks towards the cat with a
soft expression, a smile blossoming on his face once again.

“If I ignore the Without-a-cure issue, things have actually been weirdly good,” Shen Yuan
says. “Ming Fan has been less insufferable towards Binghe, no one makes me take extra
chores, and Liu-shishu is somehow alive!”

Shen Qingqiu can’t help but internally snicker at the child’s remark about Liu Qingge. Shen
Yuan takes notice of the cat’s behavior and pouts. “I still don’t get why Wanyou attacked Liu-
shishu that day. He seems like a pretty cool dude, actually! Wanyou should’ve seen my face
when I head Shizun say the Bai Zhan War God of all people gifted me a spiritual beast for my
recovery! I even think he hunted it himself, which is like, so badass to say out loud-!”

The child continues to yap about the brute, talking about how he wished he could have seen
Liu Qingge’s attack during Sha Hualing’s invasion. Shen Qingqiu, for once, doesn’t feel
bothered to hear the child continuously talk about it (only a tad bored, if he’s being
completely honest).

At least Shen Yuan looks happy when talking about it.

“…I overheard one of the disciples here talking about how they could see the sword glares all
the way from Qian Cao! I bet Sha Hualing got the scare of her life after that one,” the child
exclaims, mimicking what must have been the sword glares with his fingers. The peak lord
huffs in amusement. “Also, why was Shen Qingqiu hiding his skills for all this time?! He
absolutely beat that old demon to pieces and didn’t even break a sweat, it was so cool! Why
can’t he do that more often?!”

Shen Qingqiu smiles proudly in his mind, bopping his head to demonstrate curiosity to Shen
Yuan in his cat form. The child gets the hint and continues his praises in more detail.
“Wanyou should have seen it! He did some cool xianxia tricks and even used Qing Jing’s
technique with the leaves — aiya, I really need to learn that one… Anyways, Sha Hualing
even looked as if she was internally freaking out when the elder demon fell!”

It was worth it to listen to Shen Yuan babbling about the brute, after all. Shen Qingqiu will
make sure to demonstrate his vast array of skills more often when the child goes back to Qing
Jing.

“Still, Sha Hualing definitely took notice of Binghe’s charming beauty and his OP
skills,”Shen Yuan sighs, making Shen Qingqiu confused and unsure of where Shen Yuan got
that from. If Sha Hualing took notice of something, it was Shen Yuan’s existence and value as
hostage material. “Aiya, why did Wanyou make such a face? It is only destiny. Sha Hualing
is like the seductive, sexy brazen waifu Airplane added for spicy scenes and intrigue! Of
course she would take notice of Binghe’s greatness once she saw him!”

Shen Qingqiu’s mood goes down instantly. Couldn’t Shen Yuan just continue to talk about
how nice the fight looked?

Swatting his paw at the child’s arm, Shen Qingqiu hisses at a low tone as a warning that he
absolutely doesn’t want to hear about Sha Hualing being seductive or whatever a waifu is,
and he wishes to hear even less about the little beast’s great skills only visible to Shen Yuan’s
eyes. The only thing Shen Qingqiu has gathered from this conversation is that he had been
absolutely correct to doubt Luo Binghe, as it seems that the little beast is somehow destined
to be seduced by the Demon Saintess.

“Ouch, stop! Wanyou is going to break my arm if he keeps going!” Shen Yuan whines,
clearly exaggerating the force in which the cat was hitting him. Shen Qingqiu does puts an
end to his little outburst, however. “I’m like a fragile glass maiden now, so Wanyou can’t
bully me anymore — I swear, this Without-a-cure bullshit is some next-level wife plot pulled
straight out of Airplane’s ass… That demon with a hammer wasn’t even supposed to have it
coated with poison in the first place! It wasn’t mentioned at all!”

Initially baffled at the child’s foul mouth towards this unknown Airplane individual and
struggling to understand half of the sentence, Shen Qingqiu feels his body freeze as he listens
to Shen Yuan’s final complaint. So, the prophecy in which Shen Yuan had read did not
include Elder Sky Hammer having his weapon coated with Without-a-cure, but it surely did
include Luo Binghe fighting the demon, if the child’s confidence in the little beast’s win
counted as confirmation.

Something had drastically changed the progression of events. It couldn’t be Liu Qingge
surviving, as Sha Hualing had most likely planned her invasion for months before it
happened and there was no way she could know of anything happening inside the Ling Xi
caves. Shen Yuan nor the little beast were destined to be poisoned, no one was — so what
could have triggered such a thing?
“Even worse is to know that shitty, lazy name is wrong too!” Shen Yuan dramatically
exclaims, bringing Shen Qingqiu’s attention once again. Before the cat can attempt to inquire
about what the child is talking about, the other continues. “Without-a-cure my ass! If
Airplane was going to name it with his eyes closed, then he may as well have named it
Papapa-with-Heavenly-Demon-cures-it! Stupid author, what the hell am I supposed to do
then? I’m not a harem beauty waiting to be deflowered, am I just supposed to live with it
forever?!”

The peak lord may as well have been slapped in the face. Staring at Shen Yuan with wide
eyes, Shen Qingqiu wonders if he did not simply hallucinate the whole conversation. Yet, as
the cat looks back to the child who now stares worriedly at him, waving his hand and saying
things Shen Qingqiu can’t bring himself to pay attention to, the peak lord immediately sprints
towards the main room and jumps out the first window he sees, ignoring Shen Yuan’s yelp of
surprise and questions.

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t spare a single second after turning back, stomping his way straight to
Mu Qingfang’s office to demand another cure.
 in which shen yuan did judge a book by its cover
Chapter Summary

Shen Yuan spends his days in Qian Cao in boredom. However, on his last day, he strikes
an interesting conversation with Shen Qingqiu.

Chapter Notes

hi everyone! how are y’all doing?

thank you all for the kind comments ehehe <3 i’m thankfully feeling fine, and writing
always made me feel a little better about stuff going on in my life! thankfully i have tons
of time to write since i had to drop out of this uni semester due to my liver LOL
anyways, here is another chapter! a little shorter than i expected but tbh 4k words is
already a lot… anyways more shen bros dynamic! hope u guys enjoy it <333
twt @shiyooji (i draw sometimes!)

Shen Yuan isn’t sure whether Shen Qingqiu is angry or embarrassed.

Honestly, he isn’t even sure what caused the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s foul humor in the first
place; Shen Yuan had expected the other to have already let go of his questioning-gone-
wrong due to Mu Qingfang pulling him out the room to ‘talk’. In fact, he hadn’t been
questioned about anything since then, not by either Qing Jing’s or Qian Cao’s peak lord.
Either way, it had been days since it happened, so why can’t Shen Qingqiu go back to his
(already awful) normal self?!

Was Shen Qingqiu that majorly pissed off that Shen Yuan was hiding something? It is
understandable, yes, but he’s sort of doing it for everyone’s wellbeing! Shen Qingqiu may not
be the worst brother to walk down the Human Realm, but he surely is one of the worst
Shizuns in power fantasy stallion novel’s vast catalogue of shit mentors — if he kicks a child
down Xianxia hell for reasons of not liking said child and finally getting a good excuse to
attempt murder, what would happen if Shen Yuan revealed Luo Binghe is actually the one
responsible for Cang Qiong’s future fall?

He hadn’t even revealed that detail yet! If Shen Yuan accidentally revealed that Cang Qiong
is destined to be razed to the ground, it would inevitably be brought over to Yue Qingyuan,
with good reason — and things would get even worse for Binghe, who hasn’t even done
anything wrong and wouldn’t have done anything in the first place if Shen Qingqiu wasn’t
such an asshole.
The revenge plot was something Shen Yuan looked forward to when reading PIDW for the
first time. Reading through countless chapters of Luo Binghe fighting for his life, surviving
against all odds so he can prove to Shen Qingqiu that he isn’t a disgusting beast as he likes to
taunt so often — it felt raw, personal, it made one cheer for the protagonist to get justice,
even if done by his own hands; to find why Shen Qingqiu had been treating a child so
terribly, to reveal all the small hits and subtext during the peak lord’s interaction with
everyone around him.

And then Airplane decided to lower Shen Qingqiu’s IQ to the negatives once Luo Binghe got
out of the abyss.

Shen Yuan vividly remembers being so angry while writing his review of Shen Qingqiu’s
trial chapter that it cracked his phone’s protection screen from the sheer force. It was obvious
the Old Palace Master wasn’t doing it all for ‘justice’ and ‘fairness’, and Shen Qingqiu surely
knew it! Yet, he spent the whole trial without saying a single word besides admitting to
massacring the Qiu household.

The man could very easily dig his way out of the mess, yet he didn’t for whoever knows what
reasons! Wasn’t he supposed to be the Peak Lord of Qing Jing, the sect’s strategist?! It
couldn’t be guilt that made him admit to the charges, so Shen Yuan had to chalk it up to
Airplane’s lazy writing.

Even worse, the buzz around the trial and Shen Qingqiu’s eventual limbless state quickly
faded as Airplane continued introducing more and more beauties to add into Luo Binghe’s
harem — it felt as if Airplane had planned the story until Binghe left the abyss, and the rest
was a rough draft filled with spicy scenes for easy clicks. A true clout seeker through and
throughout!

Then comes the other reason why Shen Yuan can’t really explain much to either Shen
Qingqiu or Mu Qingfang: how does one explain that someone’s existence is based on a
badly-written yellow book?

While it is a real world in which even the most nameless of extras have complex personalities
and personal life stories, it does not negate the fact it was a 18+ stallion novel in Shen Yuan’s
world. It doesn’t change the fact that Shen Yuan knows exactly what will happen to Shen
Qingqiu and all the people in which he has grown attached to after living in Cang Qiong for
two years, and that bringing said information forwards could cause more harm than good.

Sighing as he looks to the peak lord quietly grading assignments on a nearby seat, Shen Yuan
lets go of the herbology book one of the Qian Cao senior disciples lended him, leaving it be
on top of the bedside table. He had planned to read at least half of it in the inner courtyard,
but Wanyou’s sudden appearance (and escape) had sort of disrupted Shen Yuan’s
concentration and will to read the rest.

There’s just too much in Shen Yuan’s head, unfortunately, and Wanyou’s weird reaction isn’t
helping him either. He had already opened himself up about Hao-ge, which is a topic he had
been avoiding with all his might ever since arriving at Qing Jing, and didn’t particularly
expect the cat to react badly to anything said, really. Maybe Wanyou is some sort of spiritual
beast that really hates Heavenly Demons?
Could it be the reason why Wanyou hates Binghe so badly?!

It would be good if Shen Yuan avoided mentioning either Heavenly Demons or Binghe to the
cat, then (much less both at the same time) — perhaps it is something intrinsic to spiritual
beasts like Wanyou, like reacting upon the slightest sign of a predator. Either way, Shen Yuan
will do his best not to upset Wanyou again.

“Is there something wrong?” Shen Qingqiu asks, making Shen Yuan snap out of his thoughts
as he glances over to the peak lord in confusion.

“It’s nothing, this one is just thinking,” Shen Yuan replies, to which the peak lord quietly
hums and goes back to his work. Should he try to make small talk…?

After all, they are brothers, even if Shen Yuan really wishes it wasn’t the case. Shen Qingqiu
is too complicated, difficult to read, and everything about him reminds Shen Yuan of
moments he can never have back. The best he can do is distance himself from the situation,
joke to himself until he forgets, to pretend as if Shen Qingqiu is nothing more than a shitty
teacher and a scum, and pray that Luo Binghe somehow doesn’t fall into the Abyss and
comes back with nothing but revenge in his heart.

But Shen Yuan knows Shen Qingqiu is more than just scum, even if his actions are
irrevocably shitty. Perhaps it is with this questioning in mind that Shen Yuan speaks up,
unknowingly letting the peak lord know one of the questions that has been plaguing him
recently. “Why did you go to the brothel that day?”

Shen Qingqiu’s writing hand abruptly stops, brush still hovering in the air as the peak lord
freezes, a sour expression in his face. Shen Yuan immediately feels sweat forming on his
forehead at the insane fuck-up he had just done — maybe he should avoid thinking
altogether, if this is what happens when he does it!

How could he not ask it, though, when he can hear the Qian Cao disciples whispering about it
even when he’s around?

“Why does Shen Yuan feel entitled enough to question this master’s whereabouts?” Shen
Qingqiu replies, his tone cold and similar to when he is about to hand out the most
excruciating amount of laps around the peak. However, to Shen Yuan’s confusion, the peak
lord visibly breathes in and out, his face back to a neutral expression. “If you want to know it
so badly, then answer me. What does one do at such an establishment?”

A reddened blush spreads through Shen Yuan’s face. This has to be some sort of humiliation
technique! “Uh, to… Mingle with the ladies?”

“Besides that,” the Qing Jing Peak Lord says, visibly amused at Shen Yuan’s embarrassment.
It truly was a question meant to humiliate him! Where is Mu Qingfang when he is needed the
most?!

“To entertain oneself….?” Shen Yuan continues, to which the peak lord raises a brow.
Something else, then?! “To… drink?”
Shen Qingqiu nods, causing Shen Yuan to let out a sigh of relief. However, the peak lord
wasn’t done with it yet. “What happens when a person drinks too much?”

“You can get tipsy…?” he answers, and the Qing Jing Peak Lord rests his head on his chin,
raising his brows again as to signal the other to continue. Shen Qingqiu must be a sadist,
Shen Yuan concludes. “You can feel less burdened? Uh, also more free, or at least that’s what
others told me. More open and less worried?”

A hum comes out of the peak lord’s mouth. “And what happens when someone is ‘more open
and less worried’?”

“You feel better?” Shen Yuan says, receiving another eyebrow raise. Can’t they just stop with
this embarrassing questioning?! “You care less about things, and you can display emotions
more easily?”

“It makes for a great place for one to talk, doesn’t it?”Shen Qingqiu remarks. Something akin
to a smile is forming in Shen Qingqiu’s face, and if Shen Yuan squints, he can even say it
looks like the peak lord is proud. “Last question. Who frequents high-profile brothels?”

“Rich, important people,” Shen Yuan exclaims, eyes widening as he finally understands what
the peak lord was trying to get to with this series of strange, humiliating questions. Shen
Qingqiu finally smiles, a grin of satisfaction spreading across the other’s face. “Wait, so you
don’t go there for papapapa?!”

“Shameless brat,” Shen Qingqiu complains under his breath, still loud enough for Shen Yuan
to hear. The peak lord seems to contemplate whether to whack his fan directly on top of Shen
Yuan’s head, his fingers twitching against the wood as his face seems slightly flushed, but
ultimately decides against it. Oh heavens, he genuinely doesn’t go there for papapa! “Either
way, whatever this master does or does not do is irrelevant. Does Shen Yuan understand why
I have asked such questions?”

Shen Yuan thinks he may have understood the reason, but the whole exchange has just left
him with even more questions. Shen Qingqiu clearly tried to guide him to reach the
conclusion that there’s more to a brothel than just prostitution, which wasn’t something Shen
Yuan had really thought about before — it would be a great place to gather information,
especially if Shen Qingqiu is acquainted with the courtesans and they are willing to share it
with him.

He knows how people behave next to servants and slaves. Some nobles are smarter than
others in regards to that, but most truly seem to regard anyone in a position of servitude as
nothing more than an object, a commodity that has no thoughts or importance. Why would it
be any different for courtesans, who are already seen as lowly people who offer themselves
just for money?

Once upon a time, Shen Yuan used to think the same. He didn’t understand why someone
would do such a thing like selling your own body, why people wouldn’t choose any other job,
a more ‘honorable’ job. It was awfully hypocritical of him, especially when considering he
didn’t even have a job before his second life, yet it was simply something so far out of his
reality that Shen Yuan hadn’t bothered thinking about it.
Only in this life did Shen Yuan see with his own eyes that it was never a matter of choice. His
thoughts quickly changed on the subject after being awakened in the middle of the night by
the screams of the first girl he saw being sold to a brothel.

The point is, for all those influential nobles think, courtesans are not people. It doesn’t matter
if they hear things they shouldn’t — what can they do about it, anyways? Some even
willingly let things slip up in front of servants, to see if they will snitch on them in a twisted
test of loyalty. What loyalty can an object have, anyways?

“…I understand,” Shen Yuan replies after a few seconds of silence. Being reminded of the
reality he himself has been subjected to can be depressing at times, but the curiosity
regarding Shen Qingqiu is enough to keep his feelings at bay. “There’s only one thing this
one does not understand. Why doesn’t Shizun explain the full reason to others?”

Shen Qingqiu gazes into the wall for a moment before looking back at him. “Would you
believe anyone who told you they go to a brothel to talk to prostitutes and sleep?”

“No,” Shen Yuan immediately answers.

“It would simply be unproductive to bother,” the peak lord answers, which somehow makes
Shen Yuan feel a little sad for him. Airplane, why couldn’t you have showed more of Shen
Qingqiu’s depth so Shen Yuan knows how to deal with the situation?! This is uncharted
territory! “In any case, my reputation has brought a few unexpected benefits. After all, no one
questions what a lecher does at a brothel, correct?”

Nodding to the peak lord’s words, Shen Yuan still can’t help but feel a little saddened by the
exchange. Even Yue Qingyuan seems to believe in Shen Qingqiu’s reputation, and that man is
the one who most likes the Qing Jing Peak Lord in this mountain, by far! Ning Yingying is a
close second, but she doesn’t seem to believe the rumors of their Shizun’s depravity, so at
least it isn’t as bad as it could be.

The conversation dies off after that, but the mood around the room is not as awkward as Shen
Yuan would have usually expected. Shen Qingqiu goes back to grading the assignments and
Shen Yuan tries his very best to read the book given to him, which ends up failing miserably
as he finds himself unable to focus.

What Shen Qingqiu said/implied to him quite literally changes everything.

Shen Yuan has a new plan, although he must work more on the intricacies of it. Overall, it is
simple! Now that he knows Shen Qingqiu isn’t a completely unredeemable asshole who takes
advantage of woman (thought he is actively participating in child endangerment, as is half of
Cang Qiong), Shen Yuan must find a way to reverse the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s trashy
reputation from creepy, abusive scum to misunderstood and mysterious beauty!

It shouldn’t be too difficult, or so he thinks. Plant a few seeds of doubt in key individuals (aka
Xian Shu fairies), who will then spread gossip and speculation about Shen Qingqiu’s hidden
virtues. Maybe Shen Yuan can spin his difficult behavior as something cheesy like ‘the thorns
that protect the rose from harm’ or something similar…
If Shen Qingqiu gains a good reputation, then it would be much more difficult for his
credibility to be questioned once Qiu Haitang shows up. Shen Yuan will maintain his main
plan of avoiding Binghe’s fall into the Abyss, so changing Shen Qingqiu’s reputation would
serve more as a backup plan in case things go awry.

A knock to the door brings Shen Yuan out of his thoughts, book still opened in his hands as
he failed to read anything on the page. Shen Qingqiu mutters a small authorization for
entrance and looks up from his work as the door opens; Mu Qingfang enters the room, three
lengthy scrolls nested under his arm. Already familiar with this sort of situation, a spark of
hope ignites inside Shen Yuan’s heart.

“Good afternoon to Shen-shixiong and Shen-shizhi,” the Qian Cao Peak Lord greets with a
smile on his face, as usual. Both Shens give a quick greeting to Mu Qingfang, who stops in
front of Shen Qingqiu and hands him the scrolls, alongside a pouch. “This master brings
good news today. Shen-shizhi is already stable enough to be discharged, although he should
refrain from physical tasks for at least two months. Inside the scrolls are all medicine
prescribed and detailed instructions on preparation and handling, and inside the pouch are the
necessary herbs for the month.”

Shen Qingqiu puts away the pouch and takes a quick look through the extensive list. “This
shixiong understands. However, I have a question — how should the qi circulation be
performed? Should this master bring Shen Yuan to Qian Cao for it?”

“Ah, it is something this shidi was about to discuss with Shen-shixiong,” Mu Qingfang
replies, his smile becoming just slightly strained as he looks to the other peak lord. “It can be
performed at Qian Cao, but it would most likely be inconvenient for both Shixiong and
Shizhi since it will be initially performed once a week. So, this master thinks it will be more
adequate if an arrangement is made for a… suited individual to make weekly visits to Qing
Jing for such purpose-”

“What does Mu-shidi mean by suited individual? Is this master not skilled enough?” Shen
Qingqiu asks, his voice barely passing as a calm question instead of a hiss.

Oh Heavens, no one is insulting you, please let go of your glass-like ego…! Shen Yuan wants
to say, but the exclamation stays inside his head. However, Shen Yuan can’t deny that he’s
also a bit confused regarding what Mu Qingfang is saying; he may not like all of his martial
siblings that much, but surely there must be someone skilled enough to circle Shen Yuan’s qi
sometimes.

“It is not what this shidi is saying,” Mu Qingfang replies with a calm and patient voice that
Shen Yuan has no clue how the doctor manages to maintain when dealing with Shen Qingqiu
of all people. “This master has noticed that Shen-shixiong and Shen-shizhi’s qi is very similar
to one another, which would make the procedure much less effective than if it were
performed by, say, an individual with abundant yang energy…”

“Who?” Shen Qingqiu sharply inquires, an eyebrow raising as he inclines his head to the
side.
“This shidi has two people in mind,” Mu Qingfang continues, his smile straining further as he
waits a few seconds to continue. Shen Yuan already knows from the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s
hesitation that Shen Qingqiu will not be enjoying either option. “Either Zhangmen-shixiong
or Liu-shixiong are best fit for it.”

Shen Qingqiu immediately speaks out. “Absolutely not! Is there no one else?”

“Shen-shixiong, you surely understand that Shen-shizhi’s condition is less than ideal,” Mu
Qingfang says, looking directly towards the other peak lord who refuses to look the other in
the eye, instead looking towards the ground. Shen Yuan would have felt kind of annoyed
about the lack of his inclusion in the discussion if he wasn’t busy freaking out over the two
options as well. “Both Zhangmen-shixiong and Liu-shixiong are exceptionally well-trained
cultivators that would be able to help Shen-shizhi circulate his qi with great results…”

“Is there truly no one else?” Shen Qingqiu sighs, nervously tapping his finger against the
wooden chair. “Can’t Mu-shidi do it?”

“This shidi is shamefully not as apt for the task as Zhangmen-shixiong or Liu-shixiong, and
would do it gladly if it was possible,” the Qian Cao Peak Lord replies, which Shen Yuan
presumes it translates roughly as ‘I’d do it if it meant you wouldn’t complain about it’, “This
shidi presumed Shen-shixiong wouldn’t approve of the third best choice, which is why I left
out Qi-shijie-”

It is difficult not to laugh at Shen Qingqiu’s utter face of disgust upon Qi Qingqi being
mentioned, but Shen Yuan manages to keep his expression in check.

“…The brute is the best choice, then,” Shen Qingqiu mutters after a few moments of silence,
to which Mu Qingfang quietly lets out a sigh of relief and nods in agreement. “This master
will arrange the most ideal time with Liu-shidi.”

Liu-shidi… is Liu Qingge… Shen Yuan screams internally, his head not wrapping around the
idea that the literal Bai Zhan War God of all people will be the one helping him, who is the
sibling of Liu Qingge’s most hated rival! The plot has strayed far enough that Shen Yuan has
no idea what to expect of such an encounter — first of all, Liu Qingge was supposed to be
dead by this point, but something happened and he’s now alive.

At least Shen Qingqiu didn’t murder him, which makes Shen Yuan’s plan of revamping the
peak lord’s reputation much easier!

“This shidi shall explain the procedure to Liu-shixiong beforehand, then,” the Qian Cao Peak
Lord replies, finally turning to face Shen Yuan. “If there is any discomfort or pain, Shen-
shizhi is to immediately report it to his Shizun, understood?”

Shen Yuan nods, a small smile forming in his face. He’s finally going back to Qing Jing and
finally seeing Binghe after all this time! “This disciple understands and also wishes to thank
Mu-shishu for the care.”

Mu Qingfang smiles back, this time an actual smile instead of his usual undisturbed
expression that seems to be molded into his face. The doctor shakes his head lightly as he
answers. “It is this shishu’s duty, but shizhi’s words are appreciated. Wishing a smooth return
to Qing Jing for both shixiong and shizhi.”

With that, Mu Qingfang turns around and leaves. Shen Yuan is left with both elation at the
fact he will finally go back to Qing Jing and a little bit of fear — Shen Qingqiu surely won’t
bother Binghe much about what happened, since it wasn’t his fault at all, right? Perhaps it
would be good if Shen Yuan glued himself to Binghe’s thighs once again…

There’s too much to think about, so Shen Yuan decides to wait until he’s back inside his room
to internally freak out over the future.

Shen Qingqiu sighs as he puts away the scrolls, tucking them inside his sleeve. He then looks
towards the window, radiant rays of sunshine passing through and a soft breeze coming
through it. “I suppose it is best to return while the sun is still out. Does Shen Yuan need any
assistance?”

“Ah, no, I’m fine,” Shen Yuan replies, reaching for a set of outer robes by the bedside. Shen
Qingqiu nods and starts collecting both his and Shen Yuan’s belongings, shoving them inside
his qiankun pouch.

Putting his outer robes on turns to be a challenge on itself, but at least Shen Qingqiu doesn’t
complain about the countless wrinkles in the fabric or how untidy his whole appearance is.
Shen Yuan ties his hair in a simple manner, leaving most of it down to cover the nape of his
neck as usual.

Getting up is also hard, but at least Qian Cao was nice enough to give him a pair of crutches
so Shen Yuan can walk by himself. Small distances are overall fine without them, but any
more effort needed makes his legs start aching like hell. It feels similar to when he had flare-
ups back in his first life, leaving his lower muscles feeling like jelly whenever he tried to
stand up — well, at least Shen Yuan is already a pro at moving around with either crutches or
wheelchairs.

The first seconds of standing up are accompanied by a wave of dizziness, one that Shen Yuan
stubbornly overcomes as Shen Qingqiu watches from the door. Before the peak lord can
decide if he should help him out or not, Shen Yuan grabs the wooden crutches and makes his
way towards the door, deciding it would be infinitely less embarrassing to hop his way next
to the literal Qing Jing Peak Lord instead of relying on him for help. Shen Yuan may have a
complex about needing other people’s help, and he’s not willing to work on it. He can
manage on his own just fine!

Once they reach the entrance courtyard, Shen Qingqiu unsheathes Xiu Ya, the shining blade
hovering just above the ground. Shen Yuan understands why the sword has been named as
such — the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s sword may as well be shown next to the word elegance on
a dictionary and everyone would immediately understand why.

It fits Shen Qingqiu’s aloof and untouchable image perfectly, even his sword looks as if it
would sneer if any underserving person looked at it!
At the same time the image of an untouchable master fits Shen Qingqiu perfectly, Shen Yuan
has learned he must see beyond that if he wishes to understand his new brother. Perhaps
being the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s brother isn’t the worst thing ever, after all.

Shen Yuan steadies himself on the ground before handing his crutches to Shen Qingqiu, who
stores them inside his pouch. The peak lord hops on the sword and reaches out his hand to
help Shen Yuan position himself. “If you feel unwell at any point, tell me.”

Nodding to Shen Qingqiu’s words, Shen Yuan takes a last look at Qian Cao’s main hall
before Xiu Ya swiftly takes off into the sky.
 in which luo binghe is the homosexual inner demon
Chapter Summary

Luo Binghe sneaks into the bamboo house as soon as Shen Qingqiu leaves for a sudden
meeting, knowing it may be the only way to meet Shen Yuan without the peak lord’s
interference.

Chapter Notes

hello!! sorry for the super long wait, i fear the ao3 author disease has struck me again,
and this time my grandpa almost died again, and then i had pneumonia out of
nowhere??? it was bad enough for a piece of my lungs to collapse too LMAO but i’m
better now and most importantly i have no fadigue!! then my computer broke and i had
to get a new one which wasn’t fun but hey at least i finished the chapter now!
anyways, i’m finally done w the chapter, and i hope u guys enjoy it a lot!!! thank you all
for the kind comments and kudos, and please don’t mind if i take too long to answer T-T
twt. @shiyooji (i’m taking art comms if anyone is interested!)

Luo Binghe knows this will be the only chance he will have to see Shen Yuan without Shen
Qingqiu’s interference for the foreseeable future.

Truthfully, neither him nor Ming Fan (who begrudgingly agreed to help, to Luo Binghe’s
surprise,) knew that there would be a sudden peak lord meeting in which Shen Qingqiu was
obligated to join; apparently, neither did the Qing Jing Peak Lord, who left with the sourest
expression upon hearing it from the poor Qiong Ding disciple who had been tasked with
telling the scholar.

Shen Yuan had just arrived back at Qing Jing, after all. Luo Binghe did not have the
opportunity to greet his friend yet, feeling both too scared of Shen Qingqiu’s potential wrath
and Shen Yuan’s refusal. Luo Binghe knew his friend was too kind to ever rush him out, even
if deserved, yet the crippling anxiety of seeing Shen Yuan’s bright eyes shift towards
resentment was enough to make the half-demon feel hesitant.

Luo Binghe had failed Shen Yuan once again. Not only had he allowed his friend to take the
hit meant for him, but Luo Binghe himself was of the same disgusting nature of those who
attacked Cang Qiong, of the ones who took away so many lives with a smile in their faces
and cheers in their tongues.
It took a few days for Luo Binghe to truly realize what Meng Mo meant. The boy knew what
having demonic energy meant, he wasn’t stupid, but only once the annoying demon looked
more in-depth into Luo Binghe’s energy and reiterated his findings that the boy truly let
reality sink in.

If Cang Qiong even imagined a demon living between their own, Luo Binghe would be
stricken down without a second thought. He knew his life depended on keeping his heritage
as tightly sealed as it has been for so long, and that even a small mishap could cost Luo
Binghe everything. Shen Qingqiu would slash Xiu Ya down his chest without hesitation,
perhaps even taking some twisted sort of joy upon finding Luo Binghe truly was the beast the
Qing Jing Peak Lord insisted him to be — a beast unworthy of simply breathing near him and
Shen Yuan.

What would Shen Yuan think of Luo Binghe if he finds out? Would he be disgusted, ashamed
to have called himself a friend of such a filthy creature? Would Shen Yuan direct the face of
hatred reserved only for the most disgusting of their shixiong towards Luo Binghe, the nasty
snarl that resembled Shen Qingqiu’s so closely?

(Luo Binghe knows deep inside Shen Yuan would never do such a thing, yet his fears
screeched louder than his reason.)

Perhaps said fears were the reason Luo Binghe found himself at the bamboo house’s storage
room window, breathing in deeply before gulping his anxiety down and jumping inside the
cramped room. Ming Fan does not even bother saying goodbye, muttering something under
his breath about having to get rid of traces later as he sprints back to the central area of Qing
Jing.

Shen Qingqiu should be away for at least a shichen, if not more — both Luo Binghe and
Ming Fan assumed the sudden meeting could only be regarding Sha Hualing’s invasion, since
the peak lord had just arrived back at Qing Jing and made himself available for any issues. It
was enough for Luo Binghe to make sure Shen Yuan is fine, and more than enough time to
temporarily fill the guilt and shame he feels for not being able to stay by his friend’s side.

Dusting off his disciple robes, Luo Binghe breathes in deeply before having enough courage
to open the door leading to the bamboo’s house hallway. He’s not really sure where Shen
Yuan could be at this time, but Ming Fan told him that Shen Yuan was mostly staying at his
room for now due to mobility issues — which made Luo Binghe’s heart twist in guilt at the
mere implication that his friend wasn’t able to move around as usual.

Quietly pacing towards the bedroom, Luo Binghe wonders how things will go. The last time
they had seen each other was inside his dream realm, and whilst Shen Yuan had been
adamant that Luo Binghe was not to blame for anything that had happened, the situation was
very different now. Would Shen Yuan inquire about what Meng Mo wanted to talk about with
Binghe? And if so, how could he even answer such inquiry?

Brat, stop worrying so much about it, you could tell that fool you’ve massacred a whole
village and he would still praise you, Meng Mo’s voice echoes through his mind, causing a
mild feeling of irritation at the elder’s sudden appearance. Luo Binghe still hadn’t gotten used
to the fact there was a literal demon living in his mind and reading his every thought, but at
least Meng Mo usually had the decency to not give his opinion needlessly.

Shen Yuan isn’t a fool, Luo Binghe retorts. Step by step, he comes closer to the door, a sense
of anxiety and dread following closely.

Meng Mo cackles at the reply. Whatever you say, the elder demon laughs. Perhaps you are
correct, after all. Your friend seems to know more than he lets on — ah, how this elder would
love to take another peek inside that boy’s strange mind…

Don’t you dare! Luo Binghe exclaims, to which the elder demon sighs in disappointment and
quickly goes quiet, presumably resting until the next interesting thing happens. Meng Mo is
the fool, not Shen Yuan! The elder was somewhat correct in his assessment, yet Luo Binghe
couldn’t help but feel Meng Mo was exaggerating just to make him feel nervous.

Of course Shen Yuan knows a lot more than he lets on — his friend is smart and gifted
enough as a tactician not to share his thoughts without being sure. They are in Qing Jing
Peak, and as such it is good that Shen Yuan is like this — although there is always the deep-
rooted fear that others may see Shen Yuan as a threat to their position and try to drag his
reputation down.

Luo Binghe knows his friend is too nice to use his newfound position to gain favor inside the
peak, since it is something that Shen Yuan has shown adversity to — he didn’t even want to
be Shen Qingqiu’s sibling in the first place! The problem is other people using his naivety to
drag him down or use his connection to Shen Qingqiu to try and assert themselves.

Luo Binghe will do his best to keep power-hungry people away from his friend.

With a newfound warm feeling in his heart, enough of the boy’s anxiety is subdued for him to
reach out towards the door, only a shaky breath coming out of his mouth as Luo Binghe
gathers all the strength in his body to overcome his nervousness. He knocks on the door with
care, noticing the faint light coming from inside, which would mean Shen Yuan is awake.

“Dashixiong doesn’t need to knock so politely, just enter,” Shen Yuan’s voice speaks through
the door, boredom tainting it.

Luo Binghe ignores his rapidly beating heart and simply opens the door with no hesitation,
knowing that he would end up running away if he hesitated for too long. Shen Yuan doesn’t
look up at first, seemingly expecting Ming Fan to walk in, but as soon as the other notices the
difference in the silhouette shape, his eyes snap upwards and widen as soon as he sees Luo
Binghe.

As if time had stopped, the next second passes by too slowly for Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan’s
face still too shocked for the boy to be able to recognize any other emotion. Would it be
anticipation, anger, disgust, anxiety? Even with their meeting inside Luo Binghe’s
dreamscape, what if Shen Yuan suddenly changed his opinion? What if Shen Qingqiu found a
way to convince his friend that he is a filthy beast?
For all Luo Binghe knows his presence only brings misery and misfortune, he cannot help but
feel desperate at the thought of losing the second person who has ever stood by his side, even
with all of Luo Binghe’s faults.

Like a beast, he cannot help but selfishly desire Shen Yuan’s presence, even knowing that it
would be better for his friend to leave him and have an easy, safe life without Luo Binghe. It
makes Luo Binghe feel ashamed of himself, to want someone simply for his own comfort and
happiness, disregarding what may be best for the other.

Yet, the joyful smile that forms in Shen Yuan’s face upon seeing Luo Binghe is enough for
the half-demon to brush away the shame as warmth spreads through his heart.

“Binghe!” Shen Yuan exclaims, raising his torso from his previous slouched position in bed,
a book in hands as he brightly smiles. He then taps the empty space next to him in the bed
with his palm, indicating for Luo Binghe to sit there.

Before the boy can ask himself why Shen Yuan hasn’t gotten up as usual — his friend always
seems to have difficulty in staying still, pacing around and jumping everywhere he went —,
Luo Binghe can see the answer right next to the bed. A pair of wooden crutches, resting
against the wooden frame of the bed, clearly placed in a place that would be easy for Shen
Yuan to reach if he were to need it.

Luo Binghe’s heart drops at the realization, yet he quickly conceals his expression as to not
make his friend uncomfortable. He’s pretty sure Shen Yuan is taking it hard as well, so there
is no need to make it harder — Luo Binghe will have to gulp down the wave of guilt that has
found its way back to his heart once again. Following Shen Yuan’s instructions, the half-
demon sits next to him, a shy smile in his face as he wonders what to say.

“Is A-Yuan feeling well?” Luo Binghe asks, deciding to tackle the subject once and for all.
Shen Yuan frowns in confusion for a moment, so the other continues. “That dream demon —
he hasn’t hurt A-Yuan, right? Are you feeling anything abnormal?”

You brat, I already told you I did nothing to the kid! Bah, youngsters these days… Meng Mo
complains inside his mind, to which Luo Binghe immediately ignores and focuses his
attention back to Shen Yuan, who chuckles at the question and shakes his head in negation.

“I just slept for a while, or at least that’s what Mu-shishu told me,” Shen Yuan replies, to
which Luo Binghe widens his eyes in sudden fear, with Meng Mo letting out an exclamation
of irritation at the new information that at least one peak lord knew about it. Shen Yuan
quickly continues after noticing Luo Binghe’s frightened expression. “It seems like there was
some demonic qi around my body, and unfortunately someone noticed — but not to worry!
This Shen Yuan played dumb very perfectly and said I knew and saw nothing, so they think
the demon used my body to hop around to another person. As long as Binghe doesn’t say
anything, no one should know!”

Letting out a mental sigh of relief, Luo Binghe nods to the information, lowering his head in
guilt as Shen Yuan has once again helped him even after all of this, tears forming in his eyes.
He can’t help but voice out his feelings, even if it was something he wished to avoid. “This
useless Binghe is sorry… Because of him, A-Yuan has suffered needlessly. If I knew A-Yuan
would be dragged inside my dream realm, this Binghe would’ve stayed awake for weeks if
necessary.”

Dramatic brat, you would’ve fallen asleep on this elder’s first try! Meng Mo exclaims loudly
in his head. Luo Binghe ignores it.

Shen Yuan’s face twists into mild panic as he tries to console Luo Binghe, ultimately settling
for head pats and a hug. “It’s not Binghe’s fault and it will never be! There was no way of
knowing I’d be pulled into your dream realm — honestly, I never even expected it!”

Something about the way Shen Yuan says it makes Luo Binghe slightly frown, his expression
of confusion concealed by the fact his face rested against Shen Yuan’s robes. It could be one
of his friend’s countless oddities, like the weird words he occasionally uses (that sound so
foreign to Luo Binghe’s ear), yet the half-demon can’t help but wonder. Why would Shen
Yuan ever expect such an attack to even happen in the first place?

You really sure you don’t want this elder checking inside your friend’s head to figure it out,
brat? Meng Mo asks, to which Luo Binghe quickly answers with a sharp ‘no’ and mentally
shakes away his thoughts. Even if Shen Yuan is hiding something, he would never do it to
hurt Luo Binghe.

“If A-Yuan says so,” Luo Binghe replies, sniffling as the tears stop falling. He doesn’t let go
of his friend’s embrace.

“Enough of me for now — is Binghe fine? Did that Meng Mo do anything to you?” Shen
Yuan asks, so blissfully unaware of said dream demon cursing him out inside of Binghe’s
mind. One threat of expelling the demon from Luo Binghe is enough to shut him up.

“That demon elder’s strength must have been lacking, since I was expelled from the dream
realm shortly after A-Yuan,” Luo Binghe says, already having tuned down any of Meng Mo’s
possible complains by threatening him. Shen Yuan snorts at the reply and nods, yet the half-
demon cannot help but ask about something he had been wondering ever since waking up
from the dream realm. “Did A-Yuan encounter anything inside the dream within a dream…?”

There’s a few seconds of hesitation before Shen Yuan answers. Luo Binghe considers letting
go of the embrace to look at his friend’s expression, but eventually decides against it.
“Nothing much, I barely remember it! A-Luo shouldn’t worry.”

Knowing how his time at the dream realm had gone, Luo Binghe is fairly sure Shen Yuan
must have seen something that upset him. Perhaps he should attempt questioning Meng Mo
about it later.

“Demons are truly venomous beings,” Luo Binghe mutters against the soft fabric of his
friend’s robes, a pang of hurt inside his heart.

“Binghe shouldn’t say such things,” Shen Yuan replies, letting go of the embrace and placing
one of his hands on top of Luo Binghe’s shoulder. His face is more serious than usual, which
sends a chill down the half-demon’s heart at the fear of his friend somehow knowing.
“Demons are not too different from humans; both are just trying to survive in their
environments. They have the same capacity of righteousness and evil as humans do.”

A quiet warmth finds its way to Luo Binghe’s heart upon hearing Shen Yuan’s words. Still, it
leaves the half-demon worried knowing Shen Yuan’s kind stance towards demons — not only
will he be ostracized from the cultivation world if his words are heard by anyone but Luo
Binghe, but it could also bring forward dangerous reactions from their own martial siblings.

It would be better if Shen Yuan hated Luo Binghe’s kind, yet he knows his friend wouldn’t
care about such a thing in anyone he meets. Whilst the half-demon feels an urge to tell his A-
Yuan about his heritage, Luo Binghe knows it will only endanger both him and Shen Yuan if
it somehow reaches anyone else’s ears.

“A-Yuan is too nice,” Luo Binghe mutters, smiling quietly at the other.

Shen Yuan’s serious face twists into an annoyed huff. “No, I just have a brain and basic
morals! Not my issue if others lack such things.”

“…And what does A-Yuan thinks about demonic cultivation?” The question slips out of Luo
Binghe’s mouth before the boy can realize.

Meng Mo is back with the cursing spree and calling him by multiple insults, but Luo Binghe
is too nervous about Shen Yuan getting suspicious about the questions to care about the elder
demon screaming into his mind. The other furrows his brows and looks down for a moment,
contemplating his answer before looking up once again.

“I guess it would depend on the situation,” Shen Yuan replies with a neutral tone. “Some
people learn such techniques for shitty purposes, but others learn it simply out of a need to
survive. It wouldn’t be fair to clump both situations together and say all demonic cultivators
are evil or something like that.”

Luo Binghe nods, deciding not to say anything else in case he lets something else slip out.
Instead, he decides to embrace Shen Yuan again, resting his head against his friend’s shoulder
as lightly as he can, his arms wrapping against the other’s body. His A-Yuan seems to be
startled by the sudden action, but quickly embraces Luo Binghe back and gives the half-
demon a few head pats.

Whilst he does not know when Shen Qingqiu will be coming back from the meeting, Luo
Binghe finds himself oddly calm even with the threat of the Qing Jing Peak Lord suddenly
appearing. After all, he has all he needs — the confirmation that Shen Yuan won’t hate him
for his wretched heritage.

Not even a thousand strikes from Shen Qingqiu could ever take away the happiness in Luo
Binghe’s heart as he allows himself to relax under Shen Yuan’s embrace.

Liu Qingge feels oddly uneasy as he approaches Qing Jing’s infamous bamboo house.
It is not the uneasiness of an approaching beast, hidden away from his filed of view but close
enough for his senses to pick up on it; it is not the uneasiness of knowing something was
wrong, but not know what. Liu Qingge is sure he has not felt this type of uneasiness before,
and therefore, is unsure how to act on it.

Perhaps he should have accepted Mingyan’s offer to accompany him to Qing Jing. Whilst Liu
Qingge is, admittedly, uninterested in understanding his own emotions and reactions outside
of the context of a fight, Liu Mingyan could be described as the opposite — his sister likes to
observe others and understand their reactions not only to use against them in a fight, but also
to know how to handle her social affairs better.

Utterly tiresome and less effective than slashing, in Liu Qingge’s opinion. Still, he can’t
really solve his uneasiness by slashing through the bamboo grove in front of him, and
somehow, he feels even less inclined to do so knowing that Shen Qingqiu would be
incredibly pissed off about it.

It feels weird to know that, not even a month or so ago, Liu Qingge would have felt instant
glee at the sheer thought of Shen Qingqiu being utterly annoyed by something he did. How
could so much have changed in such a short period of time?

Liu Qingge knows that much, of course. Having his life saved by Shen Qingqiu may have
been the last thing he had expected in his whole existence, and would continue to believe so
even after his ascension if not for that fateful day — it shattered most of the beliefs he held
about the Qing Jing Peak Lord, beliefs in which Liu Qingge found himself carefully re-
analyzing once he returned to Bai Zhan once Mu Qingfang cleared him of any major health
issues.

Why would Shen Qingqiu go to such lengths to save him, after all? At first, Liu Qingge
thought it had been a simple coincidence — wrong time, wrong place, and a conveniently
placed emergency talisman alerting Mu Qingfang. He thought Shen Qingqiu found himself in
a situation he had no choice but to save him, which is why he had done so.

Then, Liu Qingge overheard the mini Shen Qingqiu, and things started making an odd
amount of sense.

After all, Shen Qingqiu’s quick reaction time to everything happening had been odd in itself,
since Liu Qingge never had a qi deviation before. Perhaps it was the fact he had never
experienced it himself that let it simmer for so long, bursting out with an abnormal intensity
that left slash markings and crumbled walls all around the Lingxi caves — it was too late
once Liu Qingge noticed something was wrong, and somehow, Shen Qingqiu arrived just in
time to save his life.

Liu Qingge doesn’t remember much of the ordeal. What he knows is that he got the worst
earful from Mu Qingfang he had ever gotten (even worse than when he accidentally got
poisoned by three different poisons in one mission), and an official rest order straight from
Zhangmen-shixiong once the demon invasion was done with.

It strangely makes Liu Qingge feel weird whenever he thinks about the demon saintess’
invasion. At first, he thought it was a group of demons brazen enough to overestimate their
own skills, with them being quickly driven out once Liu Qingge got to the scene. He
remembers being slightly annoyed at Shen Qingqiu, who had not managed to deal with the
demons in a timely fashion.

And then Liu Qingge saw the mini Shen Qingqiu collapsing out of nowhere, only to look up
and see the Qing Jing Peak Lord looking at him as if Liu Qingge had just killed the child.
After learning how long it had actually taken from the time Shen Qingqiu had sent someone
to call for him and the time Liu Qingge finally got the message, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord
understood Shen Qingqiu’s stare.

A sigh comes out of Liu Qingge’s mouth. Perhaps he should ask Mingyan what he should do
about such feelings and how to proceed with Shen Qingqiu and his miniature version.

Liu Qingge hadn’t been present at the peak lord meeting that had happened two days ago, but
he heard many things about what happened in it; Shen Qingqiu spent the whole meeting
belittling every single peak lord for their failure to protect the sect, even lashing out at Yue
Qingyuan much more personally than usual. Mingyan said Qi Qingqi came back looking
defeated, retelling the whole event with a somber voice.

Mingyan even said there were tears in Yue Qingyuan’s eyes, but Liu Qingge knows his sister
has a tendency to dramatize such things, so he is not sure whether it is true or not. In any
case, it is clear that Shen Qingqiu stomped on the morale and ego of every peak lord present,
with very plausible reason. It was, shamefully, a failure of Cang Qiong first and foremost.

Remembering how Shen Qingqiu had tried to come up with a solution for exactly the sort of
situation that happened, Liu Qingge can’t help but feel ashamed of himself for brushing off
the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s suggestions, just because it sounded like too much caution. Who
would dare attack Cang Qiong, after all?

A sigh comes out of the peak lord’s mouth, the eagerness to slash through the bamboo stalks
coming back with a vengeance.

Soon enough, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord is in front of the bamboo house’s door, and there is no
time left to wonder about such things. He knocks once, and it does not take long for a
nervous-looking teenager to open the door and bow respectfully towards Liu Qingge. The
peak lord is almost sure it must be Qing Jing’s head disciple, the kid always following behind
Shen Qingqiu like a dog eager to impress its owner.

“This disciple greets Liu-shishu,” the head disciple (whose name Liu Qingge cannot
remember at all) says, bowing his head so low it makes the peak lord feel something’s weird.
As far as he remembers, Qing Jing’s head disciple had always been arrogant enough to do the
bare minimum when it came to respecting Liu Qingge. “S-shizun and Shen-shidi shall arrive
soon. Liu-shushi may make himself as comfortable as possible as this disciple fetches some
tea…”

There’s barely any time for Liu Qingge to come up with a response outside of a quick nod,
since the head disciple decides to run off to the bamboo house’s kitchen as soon as his
sentence is finished. The Bai Zhan Peak Lord stands in confusion for a moment, looking to
the oddly simple yet elegant entrance room in front of him.
As far as Liu Qingge can remember, there was only one time he had been inside the bamboo
house, and that was when Shen Anwei was still the Qing Jing Peak Lord. It had been one of
the many times he and Shen Qingqiu (who at the time went by his given name, Jiu) started a
tussle that turned into more of a battle as Bai Zhan disciples started joining in alongside other
Qing Jing disciples.

Shen Anwei was an elegant, charming man. A little annoying and a bit of a know-it-all, as his
Shizun used to say, but overall not as insufferable as Shen Qingqiu turned out to be. Liu
Qingge thought the scholar would give him an useless earful about turning Qing Jing into a
battleground, which would ultimately end with Liu Qingge going back to Bai Zhan with a
headache and an awaiting punishment from his Shizun, yet the former Qing Jing Peak Lord
simply sat and looked at both him and Shen Jiu for an uncomfortable amount of time, not a
word coming out of his mouth.

To this day, Liu Qingge isn’t sure what was the point of it. After days of thinking about it, the
only conclusion he could come up with was that it was some sort of weird test for Shen Jiu,
and even that didn’t make much sense overall. If they were going to be punished, then why
didn’t Shen Anwei simply pick up the disciplinary whip and get it over with?

The only thing Liu Qingge vividly remembers about the ordeal is that Shen Qingqiu looked
absolutely terrified, for some reason. At that time, the scholar was not named head disciple
yet — he had been at Cang Qiong for less than a year, and his fights with Liu Qingge had
only recently begun. It was the first time they had escalated so drastically, so perhaps Shen
Qingqiu was afraid of being kicked out of the peak?

Whatever it was, Liu Qingge quickly forgot about it after a few days had passed. Six months
after, Shen Qingqiu was named the head disciple of Qing Jing, so Liu Qingge can only
assume the scholar managed to pass whatever test Shen Anwei had set up.

The sound of porcelain touching against the wooden table brings Liu Qingge out of his
thoughts. Barely sparing the head disciple a glance, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord gives the teen a
curt nod and takes a sip of the tea, grimacing a bit at the overly sweet taste accompanying it.

Another noise echoes through the living room. The head disciple looks up, quickly bowing
his head nervously. “Shizun, Shen-shidi!”

“Liu-shidi has arrived sooner than this one expected,” Shen Qingqiu says, his voice sounding
less annoyed than usual. Behind him is the mini Shen, walking with the help of crutches with
surprising ease.

Liu Qingge gives the other peak lord a nod, not really sure what to say. Thankfully, the mini
Shen (didn’t Mu Qingfang say his name is Shen Yuan?) slightly bows his head and starts
talking. “Greetings to Liu-shishu- This disciple wants to thank shishu for the accepting to
help this humble one…!”

The kid’s words come out a little scrambled, as if he had rehearsed them yet forgotten them
right before speaking. Liu Qingge understands why the mini Shen could be nervous — after
all, not only is he another high-ranking peak lord, but he and Shen Qingqiu have a very
notorious and public feud.
“It is no issue,” Liu Qingge replies, eyes flickering from the child’s nervous expression to
Shen Qingqiu’s mildly annoyed face.

“I told you to not thank the brute,” Shen Qingqiu mutters to the kid, who rolls his eyes not
even a second after the Qing Jing Peak Lord averts his vision towards Liu Qingge, who has to
do his best to not let out a small wheeze out of shock. It feels amusing to see someone so
similar in appearance to the scholar act so differently from him. “Do any harm to the child,
even accidental, and I’ll kill you without hesitation.”

“Shizun!” both the mini Shen and the head disciple exclaim, their faces pale at the sudden
declaration.

The phrase that would previously bring untold fury and ire to Liu Qingge now made him feel
oddly sympathetic towards Shen Qingqiu of all people — Liu Qingge does have a younger
sibling too, so he understands what the Qing Jing Peak Lord must feel. Thankfully, Mu
Qingfang had made sure to train Liu Qingge as perfectly as possible to deal with the kid’s
blockage, so Liu Qingge felt confident enough to help out.

“Understood,” Liu Qingge replies, averting his eyes towards the seat in front of him, but not
early enough to miss Shen Qingqiu’s face of absolute bafflement, followed by the sound of
his signature fan opening. Was it not the reaction he expected?

“…Sit on the cushion in front of your shishu, with your back facing him,” Shen Qingqiu says
to Shen Yuan, who nervously nods and starts making his way towards the seat.

Before Liu Qingge can offer to help the kid to sit down — which surely should be a hard
task, considering he’s using crutches to move around —, Shen Yuan steadies himself with the
use of the tea table next to them and sits down with ease, skillfully placing the crutches by his
side on the ground. Liu Qingge can’t help but be confused; how did this kid even learn how
to move around in such a condition so fast? From what he remembers, the mini Shen was
perfectly fine when the peak lord saw him before the invasion.

Just thinking about it is enough to make Liu Qingge internally grimace. It was the first time
Shen Qingqiu ever defeated him, but only because he used such a dirty trick that Liu Qingge
could have never guessed! How could he have expected the damn cat to be the Qing Jing
Peak Lord of all people?!

Breathing in and out, Liu Qingge brushes away the incident towards the farthest corner of his
mind. Now, he must focus and follow Mu Qingfang’s instructions as perfectly as possible,
and also take notice of the blockage’s intensity so he can report it to the Qian Cao Peak Lord
after.

Placing his hands on the child’s back, Liu Qingge starts the cleansing. From the moment his
qi starts circling the child’s spiritual veins, the Bai Zhan Peak Lord knows it will be no easy
task — honestly, it might take longer than what Mu Qingfang first expected, which had been
an incense stick’s time. It is easy to tell the kid’s meridians are in tatters, and Liu Qingge now
understands even better why Shen Qingqiu threatened him earlier.
It would be easy to fuck it up, but Liu Qingge has confidence on his skills. One by one, he
smooths all the areas with the utmost care, dealing with the forming blockages that stick to
Shen Yuan’s spiritual veins. It feels similar to cleaning spilled ink — if not done correctly,
one could smudge it even further and make things worse, damaging the material underneath.
It will surely take much longer than what anyone expected, but the peak lord doesn’t care
much about it.

Liu Qingge has a life debt to pay to both Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan, and he intends to
keep his word on it.

By the time Liu Qingge is done, he’s sure at least a shichen has passed. Shen Qingqiu sits
closely by, his gaze focused on the procedure and nothing else, immediately getting up as
soon as Shen Yuan opens his eyes. Liu Qingge lets out a sigh of relief and gets up from his
seat, looking down at the child and wondering if he should help him get up.

Before Liu Qingge can decide on an action, Shen Qingqiu makes his way to the child’s side
and starts incessantly asking questions. “How does Shen Yuan feel? Is there any problem?”

“Ah, no, I’m actually feeling pretty well,” Shen Yuan replies, stretching his arms with
amazement. The child then turns to Liu Qingge, quickly getting up without any help and
bowing towards the peak lord, an expression of excitement in his face. “Thanking Liu-shishu
for the help!”

“Don’t go around exerting yourself already,” Shen Qingqiu scolds, to which the child
gleefully ignores the peak lord and starts walking around without his crutches, seemingly
testing the limits of his strength. The Qing Jing Peak Lord sighs and turns to face Liu Qingge,
who feels as if he has just seen himself and Mingyan bickering over things. Siblings act like
siblings no matter who they are, apparently. “…This shixiong must admit Liu-shidi has
shown more competence than expected.”

“Mu-shidi trained me for a few days,” Liu Qingge says, feeling an odd sensation after hearing
Shen Qingqiu’s… compliment?

Mingyan should know more about understanding Shen Qingqiu. Liu Qingge should really
visit her afterwards.

With a clack, the light green fan opens and covers the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s face. The action
used to annoy Liu Qingge, as he deemed it cowardly of Shen Qingqiu to conceal his
expression so he could have an advantage over others. Now, however, it feels as if the scholar
is hiding his expression because he doesn’t know how to proceed.

“…This shixiong thanks Liu-shidi for the assistance,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, averting his
eyes towards the wall, a slight flush visible just above his fan.

Liu Qingge furrows his brows in confusion at the action and the redness. Is Shen Qingqiu
having a fever or something? “It is only my duty, of course.”

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan stares at both peak lords as if he had just seen the most unbelievable
thing in front of him. Liu Qingge can’t even blame the kid — even the Bai Zhan Peak Lord is
very much confused about the improvement in his relationship with Shen Qingqiu.

Before the Bai Zhan Peak Lord can find anything to say, Shen Qingqiu quickly leads him to
the door, saying that he has to deal with some paperwork and Liu Qingge should get going,
and the child starts making a weird waving motion with his hand towards the peak lord. The
bamboo house’s door closes with a swift move, leaving Liu Qingge standing outside, a bit
bewildered by the sudden events.

Flying towards Xian Shu in a daze, Liu Qingge hopes Mingyan can help explain what is
going on with Shen Qingqiu.
 in which shen qingqiu unlocks the ability to joke
Chapter Summary

Shen Yuan decides to test his strength by running around and climbing trees after Liu
Qingge leaves. Shen Qingqiu briefly indulges the child.

Chapter Notes

hello!! how is everyone doing?? sorry for the long wait, i guess my life isn’t any less
chaotic unfortunately… doctor basically told me to wait until my next life threatening

extra hard to write😭

event to get a diagnosis and start treatment AND fatigue has struck me again so it was
but i have prevailed over the brain fog!!!
so, here is another chapter <33 BTW 3K KUDOS WHAT THE HELL THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!1 istg thank you all so much for the support, it really makes me
happy to see people enjoying the fic and it helps me keep going with all that has been
going on <3 so here is some shen siblings fluff as a gift!
again, thank you all so much for supporting the fic!!! ily all!!! <33
twt (and bluesky too ig) @shiyooji

Shen Qingqiu briefly considers letting Shen Yuan run around like an idiot until he inevitably
breaks a bone or ruptures a tendon.

With an annoyed sigh making its way out of his mouth, the peak lord tries his best to avoid
simply hissing at the child, who is running around as if he isn’t infected with Without-a-cure.
Shen Qingqiu can’t lie to himself; he knows that if he were to turn around and leave the child
to his own (very irresponsible) devices, the possibility of Shen Yuan’s health suddenly
declining due to a stupid injury wouldn’t leave the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s mind for the rest of
the day.

Besides, standing in the middle of the courtyard doing nothing is making Shen Qingqiu think
about Liu Qingge’s weird behavior more than he should, so it is time for the Qing Jing Peak
Lord to find something to busy himself with.

Placing down the fan hovering over his features for over a incense stick’s time — the child
would simply not stop looking at Shen Qingqiu’s reddened face, which the peak lord himself
felt somewhat confused over —, Shen Qingqiu walks towards Shen Yuan, who stares at the
courtyard tree with a look that the peak lord knows will result in utter chaos if he does not
interfere now.
Grabbing the child by the back of his robes, Shen Qingqiu lets out another annoyed sigh as
Shen Yuan yelps in surprise. “Enough playtime for you. There are mountains of documents
this sudden energy of yours could be used on.“

“What do you mean by playtime? I’m not a kid who needs to play!” Shen Yuan whines as he
begrudgingly follows the other, only furthering Shen Qingqiu’s conviction that he is, indeed,
a child. “I’m probably the same age as you!”

“Is that so?” Shen Qingqiu asks, mildly curious about the subject. Had he or Mu Qingfang
ever asked much about Shen Yuan’s previous life?

Whilst Shen Qingqiu had wanted to ask Shen Yuan about it as they spent long days in Qian
Cao doing nothing of great importance, Mu Qingfang had advised it would be best to wait
until the child is healed enough and less anguished over Sha Hualing’s invasion. They had
only asked basic questions upon Shen Yuan’s confession, and it had been in Shen Qingqiu’s
mind to ask the child about it sometime once they were back at the bamboo house.

Perhaps the time had finally come.

“Of course!” Shen Yuan replies confidently. “21 plus 13 is 34, so I’m actually older than
you!”

Unexpectedly, what was initially meant to be a chuckle turns into a laughter that erupts out of
Shen Qingqiu’s mouth, both to his and Shen Yuan’s surprise. The peak lord notices the
child’s bewildered stare at what must be his first time seeing Shen Qingqiu laughing, yet
surprisingly, Shen Qingqiu doesn’t feel like snapping back to his usual facade.

“Without a doubt, only someone at the pinnacle of maturity would say such a thing,” Shen
Qingqiu replies, watching with amusement as the child realizes he’s being teased. “Truly an
elder. Shall I call you Lao Yuan from now on?”

Somehow, his teasing and joking come out much more naturally than Shen Qingqiu would
have ever expected; the only sort of humorous remarks the peak lord ever makes are scathing,
mocking quips, always meant to infuriate whoever they are directed at. There was no one to
act playful with, so Shen Qingqiu simply never thought much of it.

Shen Yuan pouts, turning his head towards the opposite direction in a true display of maturity.
“…Just Shen Yuan is fine.”

Another question appears in Shen Qingqiu’s mind, one that he had been wondering about
ever since he found of Shen Yuan’s actual origins. The peak lord hesitates for a moment,
wondering if it would not make the child feel awkward or saddened if he were to ask about it;
in the end, Shen Qingqiu’s curiosity wins.

“What has made you choose this name?” Shen Qingqiu asks, carefully watching as the
child’s face contorts into a faint sadness, staying in silence as he looks down to the ground.

Before the peak lord can retract his question, Shen Yuan turns to the other, his expression
covered by an awkward smile. “Because that is the name I have always gone by.”
Shen Qingqiu doesn’t know what to say, opting for silence instead. Names are something that
Shen Qingqiu logically understood the emotional importance of, yet never experienced such
emotions himself — for the only thing names represent to him is a reminder that he is forever
bound. He had been named Jiu because he was the ninth slave sold to the traffickers; he had
been named Qingqiu as a test of loyalty towards Cang Qiong.

There was nothing emotional or beautiful about both names; they were simply reminders of
the chains he could never escape.

If Shen Yuan had told him this a year ago, Shen Qingqiu would have seethed in anger and
frustration. He would have taken it as a mockery of what Shen Jiu and Shen Qingqiu could
never be, the things he never had yet Shen Yuan somehow did — things he had never been
given the mere opportunity to have.

How drastically have things changed since then, that Shen Qingqiu now feels comfort over
the fact that someone cared enough to give Shen Yuan a name.

Knowing that the child would be still uncomfortable to share more than he already had, Shen
Qingqiu decides to change the subject as he takes out Shen Yuan’s crutches from his pouch.
“Ming Fan should bring dinner soon. Until then, Shen Yuan may entertain himself in
however manner he sees fit — indoors, of course.”

Another whine comes out of the child’s mouth, along with some complaints about having to
go back so soon under his breath that Shen Qingqiu pretends not to hear. All that matters is
that the child’s mood is back to normal, so Shen Qingqiu can continue trying to be patient
and waiting until Shen Yuan decides to open up.

Dealing with the child has proven to be a challenge that often tires the peak lord in ways he
hadn’t experienced in years; how long had it been since the last time he actively tried to have
a better relationship with someone?

Shaking his head at the thought, Shen Qingqiu sighs and sets his focus on making sure Shen
Yuan doesn’t stumble or fall over himself while getting inside. It is useless to think of what
Shen Qingqiu will never have back, faint memories that are the only thing in which keep the
Qing Jing Peak Lord in the wretched place that is Cang Qiong Mountain sect.

What would life be if Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan simply left? The question had been
hovering over the peak lord’s mind ever since the child had awakened after the invasion,
creating unnecessary hesitation in his mind. Shen Qingqiu knows that his best option is to
stay in Cang Qiong as Yue Qingyuan’s second-in-command, as it would be the only option
that provides both comfort and security for Shen Yuan — although it inadvertently creates
risks on its own.

Assassination attempts are not as common during times of peace, and most are quickly
thwarted by the intricate web of security placed by Shen Qingqiu over all his years in Cang
Qiong; by the time someone attempts anything, be it to him or any other of his martial
siblings, Shen Qingqiu has heard of it days, if not weeks before it happens.
Weeding out any possibilities is what Shen Qingqiu does best, and he is not afraid of crushing
anyone under his heel to insure Cang Qiong’s safety.

Still, the thought of how life could be if none of that was a problem ended up crossing the
Qing Jing Peak Lord’s mind. Would they live in a small, isolated estate surrounded by nature,
or would they live in the bustling streets of a lively city? Would life be any different, would it
be any better?

Shen Qingqiu does not like to think of such unreachable things. There is no place in the
world that would allow both him and the child to live peacefully, not with all the baggage
they carry in their backs and nape of their necks. Cang Qiong would not last a single week
without Shen Qingqiu, and he isn’t someone who breaks his promises so easily like Yue
Qingyuan.

Finally reaching the door leading to the inside of the bamboo house, Shen Qingqiu quietly
observes Shen Yuan rushing back to his room, most likely remembering the piles of
documents the peak lord had mentioned and running back to safety before Shen Qingqiu
changed his mind about his free time.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord sighs upon hearing the sound of the closing door, deciding to revise
the mission reports sent by older disciples just this morning, at least until Ming Fan arrives
with their dinner. Shen Qingqiu has been dealing with all paperwork possible in preparation
for his upcoming ‘mission’ in Shangguang city, of which he has not informed Yue Qingyuan
of yet — the last peak lord meeting was supposed to be the place in which Shen Qingqiu
brought it up, but said meeting turned into a screaming match moments after he arrived.

Simply thinking about it makes Shen Qingqiu boil with anger. The audacity his martial
siblings had, to attempt to lecture and belittle him regarding the losses suffered during the
invasion by the demon’s saintess. Meanwhile, Yue Qingyuan silently observed, lowering his
head as if suddenly too ashamed to intervene.

Nothing Shen Qingqiu said during the meeting was a lie, and his martial siblings knew it too.
The peak lord made sure to point all their failures, from the lackluster answer from other
peaks during the invasion to the fact that, even if their respective peak lords had been
unavailable at the time, how come none of their head disciples or hallmasters try to provide
aid quickly?

Shang Qinghua, the treacherous rat, tried to argue that it was simply too dangerous, since the
rainbow bridge had been broken. Shen Qingqiu had to hold himself back at the irony of the
traitor arguing that an invasion that he most likely helped with was too dangerous for others
to lend their help, so the peak lords instead opted for the obvious response; every single
disciple is trained on sword flight, so why could no peaks send their most trained disciples
over by flight?

They were already being invaded; wouldn’t it be more dangerous to wait until the demons
overwhelmed Qiong Ding?

There was little to no attempt to blame Shen Qingqiu for what happened after the peak lord
said that. He spat every truth he had held back for years, berating every peak lord for their
failings — and the peak lord did not avoid talking about the uncomfortable reality that they
all faced, especially the ones who had been wounded during the attack.

Shen Yuan didn’t have to be mentioned; most peak lords already knew of it and had started
showing a little bit of shame. So, Shen Qingqiu decided to bring up the countless disciples,
guards and staff that had suffered from injuries during the invasion, with a few even
necessitating to amputate a limb if there was no way to heal it — only by mentioning it could
Shen Qingqiu make the empty-headed lords listen.

Shen Qingqiu did not look towards Yue Qingyuan once after he finished his rant. All peak
lords looked sullen and ashamed, as they should be; in the end, it took less than a incense
stick’s time for Shen Qingqiu’s security revisions to be approved by all, no objections raised.

Why must it take avoidable casualties and a child’s health forever compromised for Shen
Qingqiu to be taken seriously?

At least Shen Yuan seemed to be taking the disease better than before — or at least appeared
to do so. Shen Qingqiu is only able to rely on Ming Fan’s nervous reports and his own
observations, as the peak lord did not have any time left to appear as Wanyou and try his luck
to hear the child’s complaints or sudden revelations that should have absolutely been told to a
responsible adult way before he told a cat.

Yes, Shen Qingqiu is still horrified just thinking about their last meeting. The peak lord isn’t
sure if he’s angry that Shen Yuan didn’t tell him the very important fact that Without-a-cure
does have a cure, or if he’s angry that the cure is… What the child alleged it to be.

Although feeling frustrated upon hearing the information, after a long and thorough
conversation with Mu Qingfang, Shen Qingqiu’s brain finally awakened from the shock and
started connecting things. Both peak lords already suspected the ‘prediction’ Shen Yuan had
read in his previous was simply a book; the way the child cut himself mid-sentence whenever
the words ‘prediction’ and ‘seer’ had to come out of his mouth was clearly him trying not to
say something else.

His meeting with Shen Yuan as Wanyou just proved that theory. Shen Qingqiu can only piece
together a few things, which leave the picture blurrier than he wished for — it was certainly a
book, written by this ‘Airplane’ person, who Shen Yuan considers a bad author. It was written
through someone’s point of view, most likely a protagonist, which Shen Yuan is very much
not mentioning at all.

Shen Qingqiu tried not thinking too much about it in a personal level, as the idea of his life
being nothing more than a story felt like a sick joke; had all his suffering been for the
entertainment of others, or did it still mean something even if it was written down and shared
for others to read?

However, Shen Qingqiu must also think of it like a book if he wishes to find out what he
needs. There is no time left for existential crisis when he is the one who must solve all
problems lining up in front of him, from Shen Yuan’s illness to Cang Qiong’s demise.
By the mention of Without-a-cure and the unfortunate cure, then it would indicate something
related to the poison happens in said book, and it is somehow cured after having intimacy
with a Heavenly Demon — one who has a harem, if Shen Yuan’s whining actually references
such a thing.

The problem is knowing who the Heavenly Demon is. As far as the Jianghu is concerned, all
Heavenly Demons have been killed since Tianlang-jun’s sealing; the previous ruler is not
dead, but might as well be considering it is quite impossible for Tianlang-jun to get out of
Bailu mountain. It would leave Zhuzhi-lang, Tianlang-jun’s general, who has been presumed
dead due to his extensive injuries in the battle, although no one has seen the corpse.

As far as Shen Qingqiu is aware, those were the two last Heavenly Demons on the Three
Realms, at least during the time of Tianlang-jun’s visit to the Human Realm. All of the ruler’s
siblings had been long dead due to infighting, with the only offspring who survived being
Zhuzhi-lang — who is only half Heavenly Demon, so was most likely not considered a
threat.

It would mean either Zhuzhi-lang is still alive, or Tianlang-jun somehow will manage to
escape from under Bailu mountain. Both options are extremely catastrophic, and it feels even
worse to know they might be the only clue Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang have on how to
cure Shen Yuan.

In any case, Shen Qingqiu should thread carefully. If Tianlang-jun manages to escape, there
is no doubt that he will take revenge for what happened; only a fool would think the Huan
Hua Palace Master actually told the truth when convincing the sects to craft an ambush
against the Heavenly Demon. Would he be the one to attack Cang Qiong?

It was a silent agreement between most cultivators; Huan Hua Palace’s story about Su Xiyan
had always been doubtful at best and unbelievable at worst, and the fact the promising Huan
Hua head disciple completely disappeared right after Tianlang-jun’s sealing did not help their
story.

Su Xiyan seemingly went into seclusion due to her feeling ashamed of falling for a demon’s
tricks, which Shen Qingqiu knows to be bullshit. He had only met the previous Huan Hua
head disciple once, during his first appearance at the Immortal Alliance Conference (as a
Qing Jing disciple), yet Shen Qingqiu could tell even from a brief meeting she was not the
type of person to hide their head in shame.

A sigh comes out of Shen Qingqiu’s mouth, the documents in front of him still unread.
Information regarding Su Xiyan and her relation to Tianlang-jun was almost impossible to
get, so Shen Qingqiu eventually stopped looking for it. The old geezer had enough atrocities
to his back that Shen Qingqiu could find more tangible proof for, which he had been doing
for the past few years as a precaution. The process was slow due to the Old Palace Master’s
high profile and status, with Shen Qingqiu having to pause his searches whenever the old
man got suspicious, so he did not have anything presentable yet.

With Madam Wang’s report on Ye Siyu, a new opportunity to bring down the old man had
presented itself; if there was truly something unorthodox with the fragrances sold by the Ye
family, then it would immediately implicate the Old Palace Master, as he has private dealings
with the family — and with the importance of finding something to stop both Ye Siyu and the
old geezer before they can do anything, Shen Qingqiu decided to go to Shangguang city
himself.

He still has to talk with Yue Qingyuan about it, without giving the sect leader much
information of what he truly intends to do, of course. Hopefully, the oathbreaker feels guilty
enough after being screamed at for a whole shichen and will approve Shen Qingqiu’s mission
without much fuss.

Ming Fan arrives with dinner just in time for Shen Qingqiu to push away the feelings of
resentment and sadness that start to build up.

A sigh comes out of the peak lord’s mouth as he eyes the documents one more time before
leaving his desk and making his way towards the dining table. Ming Fan bows and quickly
sprints to fetch Shen Yuan as Shen Qingqiu sits down and looks towards the dishes — roasted
pork loin with honey. More extravagant than usual for Qing Jing’s usual blandness; Shen
Qingqiu assumes the chef must be feeling creative today.

The smell is also good, making Shen Qingqiu briefly consider if he should ask Qin Zhipeng
to keep the creativity flowing for just a few more days. Perhaps Shen Yuan won’t complain
under his breath about the lack of seasoning and diversity in the dishes today.

Ming Fan and Shen Yuan make their way to the dining table, the older disciple following
behind quietly as the child grins from ear to ear. Was Shen Yuan the one who talked to the
kitchens regarding the meals?

Shen Yuan eagerly sits down, quickly eyeing the food in front of him with hunger visible in
his eyes. Ming Fan quietly excuses himself, leaving the bamboo house in a hurry to have his
own dinner in the cafeteria shared by most disciples. Shen Qingqiu feels as if something is
amiss, yet he cannot put his finger exactly on why that would be.

“Shizun,” Shen Yuan greets, smiling softly towards the peak lord, to which Shen Qingqiu
nods in acknowledgement.

It still feels a tad foreign to do something like smiling honestly when talking to another
person, and Shen Qingqiu admits he needs to train it if he ever intends on doing anything but
nodding. As strange as it sounds, Shen Qingqiu is not really used to such a thing — it was
already a rarity during his times as a street beggar, to the point Yue Qi could probably count
on his hands the times he has seen Shen Qingqiu smile truthfully.

If Yue Qingyuan even cares to remember their times in the streets, that is.

“There is no need to call me ‘Shizun’ when you are in your own home,” Shen Qingqiu says,
forcing himself to spit out the words before he hesitates. It feels odd trying to be close to
someone; even worse when he knows that he will be misinterpreted if his intentions are not
stated clearly, as Shen Yuan did have a pretty bad view of him not too long ago.

The child widens his eyes, mouth agape at the sudden request. Shen Qingqiu briefly
considers retracting it, but thankfully Shen Yuan speaks. “But- But what do I call you
then…?”

“It is up for you to decide,” Shen Qingqiu replies, begging the heavens that the child can
come up with something on his own and he won’t have to suggest anything.

“…Qingqiu-ge?” Shen Yuan hesitantly says, to which Shen Qingqiu grimaces at. The child
shakes his head in disgust. “Yeah, that sounds weird. I can’t call you Da-ge either, since that’s
what I called my other brother…”

Shen Qingqiu nods, relieved that Shen Yuan doesn’t look too sad thinking about his other
family this time. He knows it is immature of him to feel this way, but Shen Qingqiu simply
cannot ignore the pang of jealousy that comes whenever the child talks about the family of
his previous life. Shen Yuan liked them because they were his family from the start; Shen
Qingqiu did not have that privilege, and his only experiences of family are stealing so they
wouldn’t starve and taking the brunt of punishment whenever the slave traders were more
irritated than usual.

It makes Shen Qingqiu feel angry, even when he knows there’s nothing he can do about that.
The world is unfair, and it has always been that way towards Shen Jiu.

Still, he pushes down those thoughts. “Shen Yuan may use my given name, if he wants.”

Shen Yuan looks up, nodding at the other. “…Then, Jiu-ge it is.”

Shen Jiu involuntarily smiles, feeling oddly pleased at the new way of address. It feels less
awkward than Shen Yuan’s stiff ‘Shizun’, although still something that Shen Qingqiu would
have to get used to with time. It feels foreign, yes, but in a sort of way that doesn’t make the
peak lord feel uncomfortable.

Pleased with the progress they had made, Shen Qingqiu finally picks a portion of the roasted
pork in front of him and allows himself to enjoy it. To the peak lord’s surprise, it is much
better than he had expected — truthfully, he may even call the flavor heavenly, at least in
comparison to the usual Qing Jing meal. Where did Qin Zhipeng get these sudden skills?

The child also starts to eat, quietly exclaiming as he eats the meal. Shen Qingqiu is not
complaining about the sudden jump in quality to the food, but something feels odd about
everything; Shen Yuan keeps eyeing him every few seconds, as if trying to gauge his reaction
to the food. Shen Qingqiu knows the child didn’t cook it, and surely Ming Fan didn’t either
— the kid’s cooking skills are barely above passable, in contrast to his tea brewing skills.

After a few minutes of Shen Yuan sneakily trying to see if Shen Qingqiu was enjoying the
meal, the peak lord decides to break the silence. “Is there something Shen Yuan wants to
say?”

“Does… Jiu-ge like the meal?” Shen Yuan asks, a big smile plastered on his face.

“It is acceptable,” Shen Qingqiu replies, furrowing his brows as the child’s smile turns into a
grin. “Why does Shen Yuan ask?”
“Then would Jiu-ge agree to have the person who cooked it make our meals from now on?”
Shen Yuan asks, to which Shen Qingqiu starts feeling uneasy. Did Shen Yuan somehow
convince someone like Liu Qingge to cook a meal for them or what…? “Luo-shixiong is the
best cook I’ve ever met! Please, I swear he will do his best-“

“Absolutely not,” Shen Qingqiu cuts through the chid’s ramblings, feeling his mood instantly
sour at the mention of the little beast. The peak lord pushes the bowl in front of him, getting
up from his seat as irritation spreads through his body. “I’ve finished. Shen Yuan may eat the
rest by himself.”

It is better to return to his room before Shen Qingqiu says something he will regret later.
Things have been progressing perfectly; why did Shen Yuan need to bring up the little beast
right when they were enjoying a peaceful meal, right when it was the first time in which
anyone had called him in such a way?

Shen Qingqiu can’t help but feel betrayed. Shen Yuan had clearly set up the whole thing,
probably with Ming Fan’s help, considering how the older disciple rushed out of the bamboo
house unlike most days. To ruin such a perfect moment just for the sake of Luo Binghe, how
could Shen Yuan be such a fool?

“Why do you hate him so much?!” Shen Yuan angrily asks, causing Shen Qingqiu to stop in
place, his back still turned away from the child. “Binghe hasn’t done anything! He tries so
hard to please you, and you only treat him like garbage for no reason-!”

“Why would I like a beast such as disciple Luo?” Shen Qingqiu replies with his own
question, not turning to look Shen Yuan in the eyes.

He needs no reason; Luo Binghe is a beast hiding in plain sight, fooling those stupid enough
to believe his pitiful farce. Shen Qingqiu has seen countless men like this before, and he
knows those shining big eyes would shine the brightest when seeing blood — beasts like Luo
Binghe only know how to take, devour until there is nothing but the shell of a person left.

“What beast? All that he does is work hard and suffer unreasonable punishment, and even
then, A-Luo keeps trying to make you not hate him!”

A-Luo, A-Luo, the nickname echoes in Shen Jiu’s mind. Like a melody that will haunt him to
the day of his death, be it from Qiu Haitang, Ning Yingying or Shen Yuan’s mouth. There
will not be a day in which the ghost of that man does not haunt him, perhaps in revenge for
the havoc Shen Jiu caused whilst killing him; there will not be a day in which Shen Jiu will
be able to run away from Qiu Jianluo.

Not even death will free you, beast.

There is no holding back as Shen Qingqiu turns around and slams his fan against the wooden
table, breaking the wood of both with the impact. Shen Yuan shrinks back with widened eyes,
face paling as his eyes look towards Shen Qingqiu’s face.

A drop of blood falls on the table. “Don’t call the beast that,” Shen Qingqiu hisses, ignoring
his shaking hands that grip tightly against the broken fan. “That disgusting creature will be
your downfall- I should kill him before anything happens, there’s still time…”

“No, don’t…” Shen Yuan starts to say, his voice barely above a whisper as his eyes dart
around the room before looking towards Shen Qingqiu again. “Maybe… Maybe we should
get Ming-shixiong here, or someone else…”

“I can see it in his eyes,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, flashes of that lustful, disgusting gaze
appearing in his mind. “Once your guard is down, he will do something!”

“He won’t do anything to me!” Shen Yuan exclaims, his voice so similar to hers.

Shen Qingqiu feels his vision blurring, a cool drop falling on his cheek. Even if he is crying,
he cannot let go now- everything will happen once again if Shen Jiu doesn’t do anything, all
the pain and suffering he had taken in Qiu Haitang’s place would be for nothing. There’s still
time for them to run away, travel so far from the wretched Qiu estate that no one would be
able to ever find them again. Why won’t she listen?

Would Shen Jiu be forever chained to Qiu Jianluo’s cruelty? He knows it is a question of time
before the Qiu heir’s desires are no longer satisfied by breaking Shen Jiu piece by piece, so
they must find a way out before the inevitable happens. Why won’t Haitang ever believe that
her sweet, kind brother isn’t what he appears to be?

Another drop falls on Shen Jiu’s robes, staining the rough cotton uniform red.
 in which shen yuan discovers hidden plots
Chapter Summary

Shen Qingqiu has a qi deviation and Shen Yuan has to figure out a way to get help
before Shen Qingqiu dies.

Chapter Notes

hello! how is everyone doing?? sorry for the small delay in chapters (again ik) i’ve been
dealing with a lot of stress lately and fatigue too unfortunately (and doctors who swear
women can only have stress related diseases lol) but now everything is… the same but it

for an entrance exam which is next month so i gotta lock in 😭

could be worse! hopefully i’ll be able to update this month again, but i’m also studying

in any case, thank you all for the sweet comments (ILL ANSWER THEM I SWEAR)
and i hope you guys enjoy the fic!!
twt and bluesky @shiyooji

Shen Yuan is, to put it frankly, scared as fuck and unsure of what to do.

He knew Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t take well to his proposal at having Luo Binghe cook for
them, but Shen Yuan had hoped a little nagging and convincing would be enough to make the
Qing Jing Peak Lord accept the idea, even if only for the sake of avoiding a fight. Shen
Qingqiu, to his credit, had been trying a lot more to get along with Shen Yuan ever since their
talk during his stay at Qian Cao, showing sides of himself that make Shen Yuan want to kill
that hack author painfully and slowly for making Shen Qingqiu so misunderstood!

It was clear to Shen Yuan that Shen Qingqiu had to make an enormous amount of effort to do
something as simple as sharing his thoughts, which made Shen Yuan feel a little sad for him
— after all, he does have a clue of where the issue may have begun, and how going back to
allowing yourself to express your thoughts and opinions once again after living as a slave is
quite hard; Shen Yuan himself took a while to revert back to ‘normal’, at least in the eyes of
others.

There is no normal after experiencing what Shen Jiu and Shen Yuan did, but it is possible to
come just a little close to it.

That being said, Shen Yuan feels like a fool for not paying attention to how Shen Qingqiu
reacts to things. He thought the peak lord just disliked everything relating to Luo Binghe out
of jealousy for his potential — PIDW made it seem like that was the case, but now Shen
Yuan knows he can’t trust Airplane when it comes to Shen Qingqiu’s true feelings and
reasons.

Shen Qingqiu isn’t jealous of Luo Binghe. He’s afraid.

Looking up to the peak lord’s bloodied eyes, Shen Yuan tries to think of ways to solve the
situation he’s found himself in. He hasn’t seen many qi deviations before, much less
something as severe as what is happening to Shen Qingqiu, but there were a few classes
during his first year in Qing Jing Peak on what to do in case of a qi deviation. First is to stay
as calm as possible if the subject is not violent — try and talk them back to reality.

With his heart pounding like crazy, Shen Yuan gulps and tries not to tremble. “We- we’re safe
here. He won’t do anything…”

Shen Qingqiu does not say anything, tears of blood dropping from his eyes as he stares with a
desolate face towards the child. Somehow, the peak lord looks as if he was expecting such an
answer, and his hands start to tremble more as Shen Yuan frantically attempts to think of
something to calm him down, his mind failing him once again as another wet drop falls in his
robes.

There’s so much blood. From the wooden floor to the table to the once pristine robes, it is all
stained. Shen Yuan’s stomach turns at the notion, and he tries to shake his thoughts off of it.
For now, he must endure it and focus on helping Shen Qingqiu.

“…If Haitang ever heard what he says, Haitang would know,” Shen Qingqiu quietly mutters
before looking towards the child with a desperate gaze, causing Shen Yuan to widen his eyes
in surprise at the name. He’s hallucinating, I need to call someone- “Haitang must believe
this lowly slave this time! The young master… He’s not who you believe him to be!”

The young master… Qiu Haitang’s brother? Shen Yuan wonders, his trail of thought quickly
fizzling out as Shen Qingqiu suddenly falls to the ground.

Scrambling towards the fallen man — and perhaps falling from the chair himself —, Shen
Yuan takes notice that Shen Qingqiu is not unconscious. It is no reason for relief, however, as
the peak lord seems to be going through something similar to a panic attack, sobs erupting
from the usually stoic man’s mouth.

Shen Yuan must find someone, immediately. Ming Fan should be all the way down in the
dining hall, alongside most disciples and hallmasters; so screaming for help is out of the
table. Cursing internally, Shen Yuan tries to think of any way to contact someone, until his
eyes widen as he remembers the emergency talismans Mu Qingfang had given him.

They should be inside his pouch, which Shen Yuan reaches for in a hurry. Scrambling
through useless clutter and wrapped candies he perhaps convinced Ming Fan to steal for him,
Shen Yuan lets out a sigh of relief as his fingers touch against the paper. Taking one of the
talismans and hiding it under his sleeve, Shen Yuan breathes in and attempts to send a small
spark of qi to activate it.
It makes the child feel nauseous to be able to feel the qi struggling to find its way, but he
persists through the unpleasant feeling. Thankfully, Liu Qingge had done a pretty good job
before, which translated into Shen Yuan managing to activate the talisman after half a minute
of trying.

It lights up, which makes Shen Yuan quickly hide it again in fear of agitating Shen Qingqiu
any more.

Now he should just wait until Mu Qingfang arrives and make sure Shen Qingqiu doesn’t die
in the meantime. Not nerve-wracking at all, of course! The problem is that Shen Yuan isn’t
really sure how to keep things in control, mostly because he has no idea what actually caused
the qi deviation in the first place; the trigger seemed to be calling Luo Binghe A-Luo, at least
based on the peak lord’s immediate reaction to the nickname.

It is connected to Qiu Haitang’s brother, without a doubt. However, without knowing exactly
what the dead heir did to Shen Qingqiu, Shen Yuan could accidentally worsen the qi
deviation by saying the wrong thing, which he has no way of knowing what it would be since
Airplane decided to turn Shen Qingqiu into a 2d villain before his background was explored.

Looking at the shaking man in front of him, Shen Yuan breathes in and tries to remain as
calm as possible. He must play it safe. “I believe what Shen Jiu says,” he quietly replies,
deciding to call the peak lord by his given name since he isn’t sure what Qiu Haitang called
him.

“Haitang… Haitang believes me?” Shen Qingqiu rises his head, his clothes even more
bloodied than before. Shen Yuan prays Mu Qingfang will arrive soon. “Haitang must
believe… Qiu Jianluo is a beast. We must get out of here before anything happens to
Haitang…!”

Qiu Jianluo. Shen Yuan has an idea of why Luo Binghe’s nickname displeases Shen Qingqiu
so.

Shen Yuan nods, his heart pounding against his chest as the child tries his best to hold back
his anxiety. More tears fall from Shen Qingqiu’s eyes, although his expression looks more
shocked rather than desperate like before. It isn’t difficult to imagine why; Shen Yuan is
pretty sure Shen Qingqiu’s trial that lead him to being permanently stuck in Huan Hua’s
Water Prison focused mostly on the Qiu estate massacre, with Qiu Haitang’s testimony being
given the spotlight over all else.

From what Shen Yuan remembers of the novel, Qiu Haitang seemed to be completely under
the impression that her brother did nothing wrong and was killed unprovoked by Shen Jiu.
Even if Shen Jiu tried to allude to anything, it is clear that Qiu Haitang either did not listen or
directly denied such allegations of whatever the Qiu heir had done to him.

Still, how does it correlate to Luo Binghe? Shen Yuan can understand the nickname being
distressing to Shen Qingqiu, but he calls Binghe a beast the same way he calls Qiu Jianluo,
from the snarl in his face to the tone in his voice. Shen Yuan knows trauma doesn’t always
make complete sense, but there still should be some — as far as he’s aware, Luo Binghe isn’t
supposed to look like Qiu Haitang’s brother, not even remotely.
A bead of sweat dripping from his forehead, Shen Yuan breathes in and tries to focus. He can
think about it later; Mu Qingfang should be here soon.

“I believe Shen Jiu, of course, but we cannot leave right now,” Shen Yuan replies, wondering
what to say next. They cannot leave, as Shen Qingqiu could attack someone in this state. It
wouldn’t be a good idea to delve deeper into whatever happened to Shen Jiu, since it could
agitate him further; perhaps he should try some calming exercises…?

As Shen Yuan opens his mouth to speak again, the door suddenly flings open, splinters of
wood flying through the room. A flood of relief rushes through the child’s body as he looks
towards the Qian Cao Peak Lord, who had most likely rushed all the way to Qing Jing by
sword, as his clothes and hair are the most unkept Shen Yuan has seen so far.

Shen Qingqiu, however, is shaken by the sudden appearance. Picking one of the broken
pieces of porcelain that used to be a bowl, the peak lord lunges forward, aiming for Mu
Qingfang’s throat.

Mu Qingfang quickly dodges the attack, visibly assessing the situation as the Qian Cao Peak
Lord glances over Shen Yuan to check for injuries and focuses back towards Shen Qingqiu
just as fast. Shen Yuan watches with a pale face as Shen Qingqiu clearly aims for a kill, his
eyes filled with fury towards the Qian Cao Peak Lord. If he’s hallucinating, then who is he
seeing in Mu Qingfang’s place?

Shen Yuan knows, yet it feels difficult to digest it.

As Mu Qingfang’s grabs the hand in which Shen Qingqiu holds the piece of glass and quickly
reaches the other towards the other’s nape with a needle in hands, a scream comes out of the
peak lord’s mouth. “Let go… Don’t touch me!”

“Shen-shixiong, you are having a qi deviation,” Mu Qingfang says, his voice as calm as
always as he keeps holding Shen Qingqiu’s wrist. Shen Yuan notices the other peak lord’s
body isn’t moving, although his face still does. “Do you know where you are?”

“What are you doing to me?” Shen Qingqiu asks, terror seeping through his expression as he
unsuccessfully tries to move. The peak lord looks towards Shen Yuan with pleading eyes.
“Haitang, run!”

“Shen-shixiong, this is only a measure to make sure you won’t hurt yourself. We are in Cang
Qiong sect, and you are having a qi deviation that could be lethal if you do not calm down,”
Mu Qingfang continues in a serene voice, which seems to not change much in Shen Qingqiu,
whose only reaction is widening his eyes at the mention of Cang Qiong.

“Cang Qiong…” Shen Qingqiu whispers with hurt, his voice getting lower as his eyelids
struggle to stay open. “Yue Qi… he didn’t come back…”

Yue Qi, as in seven. It doesn’t take long for Shen Yuan to realize who it is.

Whilst Shen Yuan is surprised to figure out Yue Qingyuan had been a slave as well, it seems
obvious in retrospect. It is common knowledge that he and Shen Qingqiu have known each
other since childhood, since it is all everyone can talk about whenever the sect leader shows
up in Qing Jing. Shen Yuan had assumed Shen Qingqiu had a fight with Yue Qingyuan or
something that lead to their strained relationship, but hearing the peak lord talk about it in
such pained words makes it clear what happened.

It also explains why Shen Qingqiu had been so explosive that one time Yue Qingyuan
showed up out of nowhere during their dinner. If Shen Yuan recalls it well, Shen Qingqiu
screamed something about breaking promises — so, Yue Qi promised to come back for Shen
Jiu, presumably in the Qiu estate.

Why had he not come back for Shen Qingqiu…?

With a heavy heart, Shen Yuan can only look as Shen Qingqiu’s eyes gradually close and the
peak lord falls limp in the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s arms. Mu Qingfang lets out a tired sigh and
continues holding his wrist, most likely dealing with the damage caused by the qi deviation.
It is clear in the doctor’s expression that he is troubled by what Shen Qingqiu said.

“Shen-shixiong arrived at 16… so Zhangmen-shixiong was…” Mu Qingfang mutters, his

complexion suddenly paling. “Oh Heavens…”

Shen Yuan furrows his brows in worry, a tad nervous about what could have caused Mu
Qingfang to break his usual serene facade. From the look in the Qian Cao Peak Lord’s face, it
couldn’t be good at all — did something happen to Yue Qingyuan during his disciple years,
before Shen Qingqiu arrived?

There are so many questions Shen Yuan wants to make, but he knows it would be crossing
the line to ask Mu Qingfang about the sect leader. Is there any other place he could figure it
out, or was there any way to ask someone who had been there?

Sighing, Mu Qingfang takes a quick look towards Shen Yuan as he places Shen Qingqiu in
his arms. “This shishu will be back soon to check on Shen-shizhi.”

Shen Yuan nods, watching as the Qian Cao Peak Lord carries the other to his room. Shen
Yuan assumes Mu Qingfang had to deal with situations similar to this before, which would
explain how he knows where Shen Qingqiu’s room is. An uncomfortable silence echoes
through the child’s ears as he looks around the mess left, blood smeared through the floor and
his clothes alike.

Bile rises against his throat, yet it never leaves. Mu Qingfang is still in the room right next to
here — and the last thing Shen Yuan wants now is to deal with someone else fussing
unnecessarily over him. It usually leads to questions, which Shen Yuan does not want to think
about or verbalize the answers to any time soon.

As the rush of adrenaline leaves his body, Shen Yuan feels so, so tired — there’s so much in
his head that it feels like it will explode. A pang in his chest is the reminder of all he has
seen, the implications of whatever had happened at the Qiu estate that could cause Shen
Qingqiu to be so scared rushing through his mind without stop.
There is no guarantee that their lives in their respective estates were the same — besides the
brutality and cruelty one must endure daily in their position, of course. Shen Yuan knows
there are people who go through hell on earth in the hands of their masters, and he has seen it
firsthand; he only happened to spike Lady Xiang’s interest enough to be spared from some
horrors, atrocities that others in the Ye estate did not escape easily.

Lady Xiang, for all her cruelty, was somewhat predictable whenever punishing someone. The
means in which it was conducted were not, but most who happened to catch her ire would not
survive for long; as soon as the Lady became bored, she would simply jump to her next
victim and leave the previous one to die. There was use in being hopeful, in begging the Lady
for mercy, because your end would undoubtedly be the same as everyone else — and,
ironically, it was the lack of hope that caused Lady Xiang to set her eyes on Shen Yuan.

At least there was no pretense with Lady Xiang — she made no attempt to pretend she
considered Shen Yuan a little more of an equal than other slaves, which seems to be different
from what happened with Shen Jiu. For what reason had the Young Master Qiu even bothered
to betroth Qiu Haitang and Shen Jiu, if the latter would be abused as if nothing had changed?

Besides, it is clear something happened to Yue Qingyuan that caused him to not go back for
Shen Jiu, as the sect leader clearly feels guilty about it that would not be possible if he had
simply abandoned Shen Jiu without a second thought. There’s so much happening that Shen
Yuan had never expected to, not when the original novel barely mentioned a fraction of it.

Shen Yuan isn’t sure how long he can keep thinking of everything as a simple,
straightforward novel. If it is a novel, then everything, even his pain, are simply words in a
paper; a story to entertain another for pure shock value. How else is Shen Yuan supposed to
maintain his sanity, if not like this?

“Shen-shizhi?” Mu Qingfang’s voice echoes through the room, startling Shen Yuan who
raises his head. “Is shizhi feeling alright?”

Feeling the wet trails in his face, Shen Yuan quickly rubs his hands against his eyes before
looking back. “Yes, I’m not injured. Thanking Mu-shishu for his assistance.”

There’s silence for a few seconds as Mu Qingfang simply stares quietly at him. His
expression is not as light as usual, but it is better than it was before. Ultimately, the Qian Cao
Peak Lord reaches for something inside his sleeve, activating a talisman that Shen Yuan can
only assume must be to communicate back with Qian Cao Peak.

“Another disciple shall arrive soon to clean,” Mu Qingfang says, approaching the child.
“Does Shen-shizhi allow this shishu to check the state of your spiritual veins?”

Sighing, Shen Yuan nods. He is a sick person again, after all, and Mu Qingfang probably
wants to check if Liu Qingge did a good job earlier. The child reaches out his wrist,
shuddering at the sudden cool touch — even after those weeks in Qian Cao, it still felt odd
whenever he had to undergo these exams. They are different from what he’s used to, and
while he does not necessarily enjoy it, it certainly feels better than being stuck with a catheter
in his arm 24/7.
A hum comes out of the doctor’s mouth. “It seems like your Liu-shishu has done a great job.
Still, this shishu asks that Shen-shizhi does not exert himself and makes sure to rest
properly.”

Shen Yuan nods, quietly thanking the Qian Cao Peak Lord once more. Mu Qingfang does not
say anything, only looking down at the child with that sympathetic and pitiful look of his that
Shen Yuan has grown somewhat accustomed to. Honestly, he can’t even care that much about
it now — the only thing Shen Yuan wants to do is go back to his room, change his blood-
smeared clothes and sleep.

Thankfully, Mu Qingfang leaves not long after, telling Shen Yuan that another Qian Cao
disciple will make sure Shen Qingqiu is stable during the night and that the Qing Jing
hallmasters would be alerted to what has happened. After the door shuts close and the doctor
is gone, Shen Yuan drags himself to his room, his limbs feeling as if they suddenly weighted
a ton more.

Quickly undressing and throwing his clothes to the side, he doesn’t bother activating the
warming talisman inside the wooden tub; the only thing Shen Yuan wants right now is to get
rid of the stench of blood as quickly as possible. He scrubs until skin turns red, using all
soaps and herbs he can find to get rid of the smell — that coppery, metallic scent that seems
to stick to wherever it is present.

It has been a while since Shen Yuan had to deal with it. The invasion led by Sha Hualing had
left a lot of bloodshed in its wake, and whilst the mental toll of seeing it did accompany Shen
Yuan, he hadn’t had to deal with cleaning himself due to the whole Without-a-cure debacle.
Once he woke up in Qian Cao, someone else had already done that for him — there was
nothing but the scent of fresh herbs and flowers left in the patient room.

The water turns pink, similar to the irritated skin due to his incessant scrubbing. Sighing,
Shen Yuan knows there’s nothing much he can clean, and that he will most likely get an
earful from both Mu Qingfang and Shen Qingqiu if he injures himself this way. Drying
himself as quickly as possible, Shen Yuan leaves the bathroom as soon as he dresses himself
in his inner robes.

There’s some noises coming from the entrance, which Shen Yuan know must be the
unfortunate disciple that got tasked with cleaning. If it were any other situation, Shen Yuan
would have greeted them just to be polite; this time, however, he knows he cannot afford to
look at the blood smears again.

It’s not that he has a phobia; honestly, Shen Yuan doesn’t care if he sees a little bit of blood in
someone’s injuries, or if one of his shixiong scrape their knees, or if Luo Binghe needs
tending to a wound (if it is small, of course). He just doesn’t like seeing large amounts of
blood, and he hates the smell and memories it always brings him.

Once his sister had babbled about smells being able to remind people of experiences that
marked them, because she had heard about it in class. Shen Yuan remembers joking that
smelling her made him of trash, which made her bicker in return and it ended with his
maimed holding his limited edition Luo Binghe figure hostage until Shen Yuan admitted he
smells like crab-flavored Lays.
Thinking about it makes his heart pang with grief. Not even happy memories can make Shen
Yuan feel anything but bittersweet.

The door closes with a thud behind him as Shen Yuan enters the room, walking straight to his
bed. There’s nothing he can do but sleep, hopefully quickly enough that he won’t have to deal
with the flashes of his time at the Ye estate or Shen Qingqiu’s bloodied eyes. Hopefully the
tiredness will make him sleep quickly enough for him not to think about everything that he
has seen and discovered, at least for now. If Shen Yuan doesn’t think, then he won’t feel, and
he can keep his usual perfect performance to not lose his sanity.

Shen Yuan falls into a sleep that is neither restful nor peaceful.
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