So I've started writing a new SVSSS fanfic. (Don't worry, Belluine isn't abandoned, we'll get back to working on Plasmation soon.) I don't know how much I'll end up writing, but I'm partway through the first chapter, so at minimum the concept is happening.
It's an au where all the cultivators are butterfly fairies (or moth fairies) and all of the demons are hybrids of various butterfly predators. (Birds, lizards, spiders, ect.) Shen Yuan is a transmigrator with Mockingbird traits. Shen Qingqiu has the wings of a Common Jezebel.
When Shen Yuan comes across a grounded Shen Qingqiu, he takes him home to do a wing transplant and nurse him back to health. Shen Qingqiu is certain that he will be killed and eaten, and what actually happens isn't much better. Having his dead comrade's wing attached to his body through some mad scientist experiment is horrifying beyond measure, and even being able to fly again does not negate his newfound trauma.
Oh, did I mention that to Shen Yuan, Shen Qingqiu is about the size of a Barbie doll?
Hehehe đ
Will post here once I actually finish writing the first chapter and get it uploaded! Leave a comment if you want to be notified! đ
It is happening! This is not a drill! First chapter is posted! Ahhhhh!
Link!
Delias Eucharis (The Common Jezebel) is now up on ao3! It took me longer than I expected, but I did it! Please go give it some love, I'll need the motivation to work on the next chapters!
So I've started writing a new SVSSS fanfic. (Don't worry, Belluine isn't abandoned, we'll get back to working on Plasmation soon.) I don't know how much I'll end up writing, but I'm partway through the first chapter, so at minimum the concept is happening.
It's an au where all the cultivators are butterfly fairies (or moth fairies) and all of the demons are hybrids of various butterfly predators. (Birds, lizards, spiders, ect.) Shen Yuan is a transmigrator with Mockingbird traits. Shen Qingqiu has the wings of a Common Jezebel.
When Shen Yuan comes across a grounded Shen Qingqiu, he takes him home to do a wing transplant and nurse him back to health. Shen Qingqiu is certain that he will be killed and eaten, and what actually happens isn't much better. Having his dead comrade's wing attached to his body through some mad scientist experiment is horrifying beyond measure, and even being able to fly again does not negate his newfound trauma.
Oh, did I mention that to Shen Yuan, Shen Qingqiu is about the size of a Barbie doll?
Hehehe đ
Will post here once I actually finish writing the first chapter and get it uploaded! Leave a comment if you want to be notified! đ
Chapter two of Plasmation of Quintessence is posted!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Little sneak peak!
Her name was Wan Qiang.
She was a slender thing compared to Xuan Su, lithe and nimble and incredibly sharp, and she seemed to match the sect leaderâs height beautifully. Unlike Xuan Suâs striking black hilt, her pommel was wrapped in standard leather and was otherwise unadorned. Visually, she was a very plain sword, but Wei Qingwei could see the immense skill that had gone into her creation. He personally liked to put a little flair on his blades, but he could respect a fellow craftsmanâs singlemindedness when it resulted in such an immaculate weapon.
Zhangman-shixiong obviously thought she was perfect. He clearly had not listened to a single thing Wei Qingwei said during their small closing ceremony, not that the Peak Lord blamed him. The man stared at the unsheathed blade like he was entranced, his thumb stroking the humming metal with his mouth caught in a smile that seemed downright giddy.
Wei Qingwei probably would have just sat and stared as well, trying to absorb the fact that their respectable Sect Leader grinned like a silly child when he was happy, but Shen Qingqiu had been waiting in his office when they returned, somehow already aware that the ceremony was complete.
Plasmation noun
1. The act of forming or moulding.
Quintessence noun
1. A pure substance.
2. The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere (alchemy).
3. A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe (physics).
Yue Qingyuan is healed enough to attempt to bond with a new spiritual sword, but Xuan Su has left deep marks in her wake. The powerful blade continues to cause trouble, and in the end, Shen Yuan is forced to make good on his threat.
I am new to the TGCF fandom so sorry if I get anything terribly wrong! Here's a fic idea I had that I may or may not write at some point. If you think it would make a good fic please say so, or this may very well stay in my notes forever.
Black Water and Crimson rain are having a conversation about how Black Water has been pushing off his revenge for decades now because he's gotten attached to Lady Wind Master, even if he won't admit it. Hua Cheng gets him drunk enough to talk about it, and He Xuan admits that he's stalling because revenge against the Water Tyrant is literally his reason for existence and the thing keeping him alive, but he knows that going through with it would hurt Shi Qingxian badly. Hua Cheng is just like, "Who told you the only way to get revenge on someone is to kill them?"
Cue pov switch where Shi Qingxian gets bridenapped by Black Water Sinking Ships as revenge against her brother. He Xuan explains the rules of the bridenapping, with Shi Qingxian and his family having a month to break him out of the manor before He Xuan marries the Wind Master and keeps him permanently. The Water Tyrant is fucking terrified, which is exactly what He Xuan wants, and Shi Qingxian is a little frightened at first but quickly figures out that Black Water is like Ming Yi, all sharp on the outside but soft on the inside! The Wind Master does try to escape at first, partially from fear but also because that's the rules of the game! She's got to make He Xuan prove himself! And while the way Black Water said it was meant to imply that keeping her from escaping is to prove his power over her, Shi Qingxian uses it for another test. He Xuan stops her from escaping, but he doesn't hurt her. Isn't cruel with her. Doesn't get upset with her for trying, which she was certain other ghosts would. He's the opposite of rough, despite the demeanor he tries to shroud himself in, and that tells her a lot about him.
Slowly the attempts to escape trickle off as Shi Qingxian puts more of her efforts into befriending and getting to know He Xuan, although her brother's attempts to rescue her never stop. By week two or three Shi Qingxian's only real sticking point is the best friend she has a crush on. She doesn't much mind the whole ghost thing, they really aren't all that different from gods, and she'd managed to get He Xuan to admit he would take her outside of his lair to answer prayers if the marrige went through so she isn't worried about that either. He Xuan is nice when you get to know him, and plenty attractive despite his pale pallor. But what about Ming Yi?
It's getting close to the end of the month when she hesitantly sits He Xuan down and explains that she's in love with another. Although she's also grown to love He Xuan, and she feels horrible having to choose between them. She, very hesitantly, brokers the idea of a threesome. Or maybe a harem? That would be a think a great Ghost King could have, right? He Xuan is grumpy about it but not outright denying her, up until she tells him who it is.
At that point Black Water runs away to go 'blush' somewhere in private. Shi Qingxian was in love with him. Both hims, to the point where he wanted him to be in a threesome with himself. Hua Cheng just laughs at him when he tells him, the bastard, so in the end he has to go back to Shi Qingxian and tell her that he is Ming Yi, so no, he won't be having a harem.
Conversations and marriages are had, and then they live happily ever after, tormenting Shi Wudu from afar. (The man has a full on qi deviation when he receives news of his little sibling's pregnancy.)
Ataraxy noun
1. Ataraxia; freedom from mental disturbance; imperturbability, dogged indifference.
2. State of psychological calm and tranquility, absence of discomfort.
3. Perfect peace of mind or calmness.
Finis noun
1. Of a book or other work: the end.
Shen Qingqiu might be different from what everyone expected him to be âalthough, with so many rumors surrounding his name, it was a wonder anyone could agree on a single thing to expectâ but he was content with his life in a way that felt radical even after all these months. It was a quiet thing, unlike what he had dreamed of as a child. Back then, heâd always thought of grand riches with even grander emotions, believing that if he simply had enough wealth, he could ensure his perpetual happiness.
Now that he was grown, he understood that this was not how such things worked. You could have every luxury in the world and still be miserable. Which only made the peace growing inside him like the fine hairs of a gossamer succulent all the more precious. It coated his fragile insides in a thin sheen, seemingly tenuous and insubstantial at first glance but permeating his life with an irrefragable potency.
True peace was both easier and harder to maintain than he could have ever imagined it to be. It required a rigorous amount of self-discipline, and yet a high level of grace surrounding his own failings. It also relied on people other than himself, which was a concept he would have utterly scorned if you had told him about it a few years ago. Why should his happiness rely on others? But he now does things more for himself than ever before, despite how it might seem contradictory.
He trained the disciples not because he was forced to, or because he was beholden to a higher power that required it of him, but because he had a bet with Liu-shidi that he did not intend to lose. He did not do his paperwork efficiently and impeccably because some master would punish him if he didnât, but because it made Shang-shidi publicly praise his superiority and lessen his whining about all of the paperwork he had to do because of others' incompetence. He did not fulfill all duties of a Peak Lord âincluding going to those miserable meetingsâ because he desperately needed to keep hold of the power he had, but because it made Qi-Ge happy when he was by his side.
All of these things might seem like they were for the sake of others, but they were really for his own sake. These people were his, and if he wanted to share his newfound peace with them, then he would, and there was almost no one in the world who could stop him.Â
He was freer now than he had ever been, back when everything he did was done to keep himself on top. Heâd needed the power heâd managed to grasp because if he didnât have it, then he could be hurt, and yet having that power had never stopped him from hurting. It was only now, when he did not hold his own strength so highly, that he was able to find what he had been looking for.
That did not mean that it was easy, that he did not have to fight with himself and all of the ingrained instinct to grab hold of a weapon even if it cut him in the process; that deep-seated need to defend himself was still there even when it was no longer needed. He still had bad days, still sometimes felt like he needed to rip his skin off, but the terrible itch came less and less these days. And even when it did come, when he felt like self-destructing from the turmoil within him, he was never alone. Even when no one was there, he knew he was not truly unseen.
There was something paradoxically comforting in knowing that someone more powerful than himself was watching over him. In knowing that he was irrevocably claimed, and yet not kept like a lesser thing would be. So many worries were able to be pushed aside, now that he knew he had people to fall back upon.
Speaking of higher beings he should instinctively fear based on power alone, a gentle knock sounded to get his attention, from the opposite direction from the entrance. Glancing around in confusion for a moment, he found Shen Yuan peeking his head out of his side room, eyeing the room and the front door carefully, as if trying to make sure he wasnât seen. Shen Jiu couldnât help the small smile that graced his lips, happy to see his strange Heavenly Demon again.
âHey there, sorry to barge in on you, I know how much you like your space, but I didnât want to end up seen and causing you trouble. Although, given how happy you look to see me, I suppose you donât mind all that much. Did you miss me?â
Despite not being able to understand a word he said, Shen Jiu basked in the sound of his demonâs voice, smooth and calm and oh so welcoming. Shen Yuan ambled over to his side, taking care not to move too fast and startle him, but not moving overly cautiously either, observing him for a moment before plopping down to sit beside him.
âYou definitely missed me! Youâre the only one, though. I think the other Peak Lords are still too cautious of me to miss me. But they were all doing well when I checked on them, and Mu Qingfang accepted my apology gift! Youâve got a very polite martial sibling! Or maybe his body is still too close to fight or flight, and therefore defaulted to fawn. Wouldnât be strange, given how little he knows of me and how dangerous and frightening I can be.â
A large clawed hand gently and lovingly petted his head, softly at first and then more firmly as he leaned into the touch. An action he once would have seen as demeaning and possessive and terrifying now a delightful comfort. He was beloved. He was valued. He was protected. It was all he had ever wanted in life and more. He could deal with any hardship, as long as he was able to keep this.
âBut Yue Qingyuan seems to be healing well âhopefully, heâll be able to bond with a new sword soonâ and I canât tell whether Liu Qingge wants a friendly spar or if he wants revenge for shoving him into the dirt, but he certainly doesnât seem afraid of me, which is great! But that hack of an author Shang Qinghua! Not only has he been resting just enough to stay technically healthy so that I donât have a reason to kidnap him, but I found out another shitty thing about this shitty world! The stupid idiot went with the tried and true trope of âIt doesnât matter that there are multiple species and cultures that should reasonably have their own language, everyone speaks the same common tongue regardless!â Which, whatever, whatâs more shitty worldbuilding, except! Except I donât speak that language! I am literally the only person in the world who doesnât speak âcommon!â And because there arenât any other languages, there are no convenient language translation artifacts or plants or whatever! Which means I have to learn the hard way! From Airplane! I would give anything to learn from literally anyone else! Heâll probably feed me false information so he can laugh at me when I insult someone!â
Shen Jiu leaned into Shen Yuan as the demon babbled away, occasionally recognising the names of one of his martial siblings, but otherwise completely unaware of what was being said. Based on the cadence, the man was either telling him about his recent adventures or complaining. Maybe both. Probably both.Â
He wondered if it would be nice to be able to understand Shen Yuanâs babblings. Maybe he should put some effort into learning the Heavenly Demonâs language. At this point, it could only bring them closer together if they could understand each other. Once upon a time, it wouldnât have helped, as he was too distrustful of any manâs words. But now, with carefully spun fibers of trust woven into strong cables linking them together, he could trust Shen Yuanâs words just as he had come to trust his actions.
âOh hey, youâre a teacher, arenât you? I wonder if you could teach me? I donât know if that would work, seeing as we donât speak a common language, but thereâs got to be a way! Weâll just have to do things all old-fashioned, like other ancient people would when encountering a new language.â
Shen Yuan suddenly lit up like he had an idea, delicately pushing him away and springing up to dart around the room. He watched with something between bafflement and amusement as Shen Yuan gathered up some paper and ink, which made sense if he wanted to write something down, along with several random objects from around the room, which made absolutely no sense together.
The enthusiastic demon sat down across the table from him, laying out his collection. Other than the paper and ink, there was a fan, a bowl, a teacup, and one of his spare ribbons. He had absolutely no clue what Shen Yuan was doing, but he felt no anxiety about that fact, so he simply leaned back and basked in his own lack of fear.Â
Shen Yuan carefully drew a single character onto the paper, that similar but still different way of writing that Shen Jiu had seen in his bestiary. He then slid the piece of paper towards him, singling out his fan and putting that beside the paper.
âFan,â Shen Yuan said, pointing at the paper and then at the fan.
It took Shen Jiu a moment to understand, to realize what Shen Yuan was showing him, but when it hit him he sat up straight and eyed the set up in front of him.Â
â...fan,â He mimicked, pointing at the fan.
Shen Yuan lit up like a child given candy, nodding his head. Shen Jiu felt like he knew what was going on, but he wasnât fully certain, not yet. But it wasnât something difficult to test. Picking up the brush, he drew out the more complicated but somewhat similar character for âfan,â absentmindedly wondering if their written languages had come from the same parent language.
âFan,â He said clearly, pointing to the fan and to the written word for fan.
âFan!â Shen Yuan chirped, his strange accent saturating the word but not making it unintelligible.
They repeated the process for all of the items, writing out each word and sharing their languageâs word for it. It was an archaic way of teaching a language, but it was straightforward, and they quickly progressed to speaking a word to the other and having them choose the correct object.
It was merely the beginning of what was sure to be a long and tedious process, yet each success gave him a bright and buoyant feeling, exacerbated by Shen Yuanâs obvious excitement and blinding smiles. It was a simple, uncomplicated happiness, and while he knew it wouldnât last forever, he would savor every moment of it.
Cycloidal adjective
1. Curved like a cycloid path.
2. Pertaining to or resembling a cycloid, or a circle.
Palaver noun
1. Prolonged, idle, and tedious discussion.
2. A meeting at which there is much talk; a debate; a moot.
The next Peak Lord meeting was⌠interesting, to say the least. Liu Qingge didnât always attend them, given he was often not at the Sect for months at a time, but even he knew that this was not the norm.
Yue Qingyuan was well enough to be leading the meeting, but he was still weaker than the average cultivator, and instead of sitting straight-backed like he normally did, he was reclining against his chair.Â
Shen Qingqiu was curled up in his chair like a child, chin on his knees as he watched Wei Qingwei with sharp eyes. The man sitting next to the Qing Jing Peak Lord was clearly uncomfortable with the suspicious scrutiny, but he seemed to have taken it upon himself to move slowly and act as unaggressively as possible; whether he knew what he was doing or not, it was undoubtedly a smart move.
Mu Qingfang was clearly still exhausted, despite being on medical leave and spending quite a bit of his time sleeping, forehead resting against his arms on the table as he waited for the meeting to start. Thankfully, seeing the healer so disheveled was such a strange sight that none of them bothered him.
Shang Qinghua seemed⌠pretty normal, actually. He was harried and scrambling to get his things in order, but that was normal for him. He had certainly been the one to adjust to all this the fastest, and Liu Qingge was somewhat suspicious of his demonic connections. But, well, a lot of them had a demonic connection now, in more ways than one, so it wasnât really his place to shame him for it unless he was endangering the Sect.
The rest of the Peak Lords were all side-eyeing their fellowâs strange behavior, clearly unnerved by such out-of-character demeanor. Liu Qingge nearly scoffed at them and their inability to adapt to change. Expected change at that, given nobody could be expected to stay the same after being held captive in the Endless Abyss for any extended length of time. Were they or were they not Peak Lords? The unsubtle staring was unbecoming of them. At least the Beast Peak Lord watched from the corner of his eye while pretending to be occupied with his tea.
The eleventh Peak Lord arrived last, and with that, the meeting began.
Yue Qingyuan tried to sit up, only for Shen Qingqiu to snap his fan at him, making the man lean back again. The Sect Leader cleared his throat and ignored how half the table was staring incredulously.
âThis emergency Peak Lord Meeting is now in session. We will be discussing recent events and their effect on our Sect. Shang-shidi, would you like to start us off?â
âAh, yes, of course! There is now one official alliance between An Ding Peak and the King of the Northern Demon Realm, and one unofficial alliance between Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and the Heavenly Demon of the Abyss. This one will be assisting Mobei-Jun with the logistics of his kingdom in return for his help with travel into and out of the Endless Abyss, and Shen Yuan was persuaded to release all of the cultivators he accumulated during our attempts at retrieving Shen Qingqiu after multiple reassurances that said humans would not be harmed by the move and information about an artifact allowing independent travel into and out of the Abyss.â
Yue Qingyuan nodded at the rapid-fire report, opening his mouth to move on, but Qi Qingqi spoke before he could.
âYou call begrudgingly releasing multiple captured Peak Lords an âunofficial allianceâ?! And what do you mean the beast can get out of the Abyss?!â
âAh, Qi-Shimei, thereâs no need to be so harsh,â Yue Qingyuan said with his usual calm composure, but Liu Qingge could see the small cracks in the edges of his polite mask.
It was still a strange thing for him to see, to understand. Heâd never hidden himself away like that in front of others. Had never needed to. Another thing Shen Qingqiu would probably call him privileged for.
âHarsh?!â Qi Qingqi scoffed, but Yue Qingyuan cut her off before she could continue.
âShen Yuan, despite his eccentricities, does not mean Cang Qiong, or humans as a whole, any harm. According to Shen-shidi âwith my own observations collaborating accordinglyâ the closest term we have to describe Shen Yuan is a Beast Tamer. It just so happens that a Heavenly Demon so deep in the Abyss has no reason to see a cultivator any differently than the other creatures of the depths.â
Liu Qingge saw the Beast Taming Peak Lord perk up at the description, a curious gleam in his eye. It was the most interested heâd seen the man be in a Peak Lord meeting, once more eyeing Shen Qingqiu now with a new understanding.
âAs for him being out of the Abyss, we doubt he will cause much problems. He expressed a desire to explore more of the world and the plants and animals of other environments, and given he has no ill will towards humans nor a strong hunting instinct, it is unlikely he will attack anyone unless attacked first.â
âSo weâre really going to just⌠ignore the entire Heavenly Demon set loose upon the world?â Wei Qingwei asked, seeming a bit perplexed.
Liu Qingge didnât blame him. He would be upset and confused to receive news like this, to be told there was a possible enemy they werenât going to be fighting. But he knew better now. Even if they tried to fight Shen Yuan, it wouldnât do them any good. They probably wouldnât get killed, but they could easily end up captured. And while that might not be as bad a fate as being captured by other demons would be, it was still a⌠denudating process.Â
Shen Yuan was not afraid to do what he needed to in order to tame the humans under his care, to teach them a kind of domesticated, docile behavior that Liu Qingge wasnât quite sure how he felt about. It wasnât like it had done him harm, nor had it prevented him from fighting and cultivating as needed, but just a few days had been enough to shift something inside him, and he wasnât sure he liked how easily Shen Yuan could change him.
If it was so easy for him to change them for the better, how simple would it be for him to change them for the worse?
âYes, Wei-shidi, that is exactly what we are going to do,â Shen-shixiong said, voice a bit flat but clearly devoid of the usual poison coating his tongue, âWe are going to leave him be to do as he pleases, which will probably be cooing and babbling over some random being, and hope no other cultivators decide to target him.â
Qi Qingqi scoffed, but even she looked unnerved by a Shen Qingqiu without his preemptive bite.
âWhat, donât want someone to hurt your little demon friend?â
Shen Qingqiu laughed. It was loud and not quite happy, grating a bit against Liu Qinggeâs eardrums.
âHurt him? Half the time, I doubt he can be hurt. He has enough raw power to flatten this mountain if he got his hands on a half-decent sword that wouldnât shatter the moment he tried to use it. Do you think I am alive because I fought him? No, I am alive because he didnât care how I fought, what wounds I gave him, how deep they went. I simply donât want to find out if his seemingly endless patience actually has limits.â
A cold silence fell over the room, those who had never interacted with Shen Yuan looking scared, while the ones who had looked slightly uncomfortable. Shen Yuan certainly had the potential to be a formidable foe and a terrifying enemy, but Liu Qingge felt it was easy to forget that when you were actually interacting with the man.
It was harder to remember now that they were apart, when thoughts strayed easily to his power and how it could be wielded, but when one was actually in the room with him, it was often hard to imagine such violence from him. He was just so strange and a bit awkward at times. Not in terms of movement, for he moved with near-constant grace, but in the way he talked âeven when no one could understand himâ and the way he flailed his hands around in sweeping gestures as he spoke, and the way he fluttered around trying to be helpful without being overly domineering.Â
Shen Yuanâs harmlessness came from his personality, from his gentle charm, none of which could easily be communicated to others. They could only see a dangerous creature, like a hunter that only saw a beast's claws and not whether it was violent. Still, he could try to give some comfort, even if only to the ones who knew what Shen Yuan was like.
âShen Yuan was careful with me, when we fought. I saw it as a disgraceful move, at the time, but looking back, it wasnât difficult to tell that he was trying to wear me down enough to subdue me without harm. Even if he is attacked, I have no doubt that he will show similar prudence. Especially now that he can simply teleport away from the situation.â
The tension choking the room loosened, and Yue Qingyuan gave him a somewhat genuine smile. Liu Qingge knew it held sincerity because it showed the slightest hint of the Sect Leaderâs teeth, and the warmth of it reached up to tint his eyes.
âThank you Liu-shidi, well said. Now, does anyone else have anything to say, or can some of us go take a nap?â
âUgh, yes please,â Mu-shidi groaned into the table, rubbing his head in an indication of a headache, and Liu Qingge awkwardly reached over to rub the manâs back.Â
It wasnât a motion he was terribly familiar with when it came to his martial siblings, but heâd comforted his sister a few times when she was younger, and it wasnât all that different.
None of the uninformed Peak Lords looked pleased that the meeting was ending so soon, with little to nothing being changed because of it, but Liu Qingge certainly didnât mind getting on with his day. The Sect Leader dismissed them, and they awkwardly shuffled off, whispering to each other. Qi Qingqi stood by his chair expectantly, clearly wanting to talk with him, but his eyes were on the Beast Peak Lord approaching Shen Qingqiu.
The man wasnât one for socializing and didnât generally talk to people. Liu Qingge got the impression that he didnât really know how. But now he sidled up to the second-highest Peak Lord on the mountain, head tilted to the side and eyes on the floor as he slowly approached and stopped a few paces away.
Shen Qingqiu watched with narrowed eyes, tracing the other manâs body as he observed his now completely still stance. Slowly, his tense shoulders loosened slightly, and he tilted his head to the side. The other Peak Lord seemed to take this as permission to sit down in Wei Qingweiâs empty chair, keeping his body angled away from Shen Qingqiu and his hands facing upward limply on his knees.
It wasnât hard to see that the manâs body language was obviously and almost exaggeratedly deferential, sending the message that he was not a threat with every muscle in his body, but Liu Qingge wondered if he would be able to see it if he wasnât looking for it. Humans communicated with body language, but not as blatantly as animals did, and he wouldnât be surprised if his Qi-shimei was struggling to parse the interaction happening before them.
Shen Qingqiu shuffled into a slightly more open position, still curled up but not quite so tight and defensive, eyeing his fellow Peak Lord with a curious gaze.
âDoes Shidi have something he wishes to ask this master?â He asked, voice guarded but not quite reaching hostility.
âIf Shen Qingqiu would be willing, this one would like to learn more about the behaviors of the Heavenly Demon and their effects.â
The Beast Peak Lordâs voice was soft and calm, steady in a way that was good for dealing with wild animals, and apparently, wild Shen Qingqiuâs. Liu Qingge turned his attention away once it was clear that his Shixiong was merely making a new friend, eyeing the nearly asleep Mu Qingfang next to him.
âAh, Liu-shidi,â Shang Qinghua called quietly, grabbing his attention, âThis one can stay here and keep watch while Liu Qingge takes Mu Qingfang back to his Peak. It is unlikely that the Sect Leader will leave without Shen Qingqiu, and it looks like he may be a while.â
Liu Qingge nodded, both in acknowledgment and thanks, considering the Qian Cao Peak Lord for a moment before simply scooping him up. Mu Qingfang groaned and muttered a mild protest, but did not fight his hold. Qi Qingqi squawked and hurried after him as he made for the door, calling after him even though he was clearly busy.
âLiu Qingge! Just what are you doing?!â
He turned to give her an incredulous eyebrow raise, âBringing Mu Qingfang back to his Peak to ensure he rests. Qi-shimei was standing right there when this was discussed.â
Qi Qingqi spluttered, âThat doesnât mean you just pick the man up and carry him away!â
Liu Qingge tilted his head, unknowingly in an extremely similar way to how Shen Qingqiu had only moments prior, âWhy not?â
The Peak Lord did not seem to know what to do with that response, so Liu Qingge took his leave. He was not looking forward to his next visit with his sister. Qi Qingqi could be a bloodhound when it came to gossip, and this entire situation was certainly a breeding ground for such things. He sighed, but put it out of his mind. He could deal with such exhausting things later, once he ensured both of the still recovering Peak Lords actually got some rest instead of trying to work.
Liu Qingge hadnât intended to sign up for this, probably wouldnât have done so if he had been asked outright, but he found himself thinking he should have been completing such duties all along. They were a martial family, were they not? Should they not be taking care of each other, making sure they all rested and were not in distress?
He would have to find time to work the unaware Peak Lords into his schedule. With the way Shen Yuan ended up needing to fix something with every Peak Lord he came across, it wouldnât be surprising if each one of them had some issue or struggle they were hiding.
He may be more experienced in fighting than caretaking, but that didnât mean he was incapable. He would do better. He swore it.
Elucidation noun
1. An act of explaining that serves to clear up and cast light on.
2. An interpretation that removes obstacles to understanding.
Ineluctable adjective
1. Impossible to avoid or escape; inescapable, irresistible.
2. Something that cannot be stopped, escaped, or ignored.
Yue Qingyuan awoke slowly, comforted by the warm weight of sleeping bodies around him, but also a bit achy and kind of wishing he could stretch. He opened his eyes to find that the sun had already risen a good while ago, and he was not the first one awake. Liu Qingge was lying beside him, awake and alert but unmoving. It only took a moment to see that this was because Xiao-Jiu was curled up into the manâs shoulder. He was glad the warrior knew enough not to disturb him. If Xiao-Jiu wished to sleep in, then he would.
The other awake person in the room was, surprisingly, Shang Qinghua. The squirrelly Peak Lord was quietly working at the desk in the room, some food and tea set beside him. He gave him a small, quiet smile when he caught him looking, apparently having snuck in during the early hours to work and prepare for their waking. And possibly to guard them. Either way, Yue Qingyuan appreciated it.
Mu-shidi was also still asleep, slumbering on top of him without a care for the sunlight streaming onto his face. The light further highlighted the pale pallor of his skin, and while Yue Qingyuan knew that the man would be fine, Shen Yuan would undoubtedly take care of him, he still couldnât help but worry.
After debating with himself for a while, he decided to see if he could gently nudge the man awake. Clearly, he needed rest, but it would also be good for him to get some food and drink in him as well. Mu Qingfang could go back to sleep afterwards, if he was still tired enough to sleep. Things like explanations could wait, but it wouldnât be wise to skip meals while unknown problems were wreaking havoc on his body.
âMu-shidi,â He called as he carefully roused the man.
His poor martial sibling groaned as he slowly dragged his way into wakefulness, blinking senselessly and squinting in the morning light. Yue Qingyuan watched as his face first took on a look of attempted focus, before he suddenly lurched in a full-body flinch, face scrunching up and eyes wide in shock. He quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, breathing shakily as he screwed his eyes closed and let his forehead rest against Yue Qingyuanâs breastbone.
He winced slightly at the jostling and at his martial siblingâs distress, gently running a hand along the manâs back and brushing his hair back from where it had fallen into disarray.
âJust breathe, Mu-shidi, all is well. Iâve got you, everything is alright.â
Thankfully, the man did seem to calm down, although despite the scare, a level of exhaustion hung over him like a cloud. Shang Qinghua appeared at their side with a cup of tea in hand, helping Mu Qingfang to sit up and ensuring his hands could support the cup without shaking.
âHere, this will help settle your stomach. Shidi should try to drink and eat something, just in case he falls back asleep.â
Yue Qingyuan was glad the other man seemed to have similar thoughts to him, and took the initiative in helping the still dazed Mu Qingfang drink his tea. They waited for the man to drink a few sips before gently shifting him off the bed, Shang-shidi helping to steady him when he nearly tripped. It was clear that the Peak Lord was not yet truly awake, and Yue Qingyuan tried not to let that worry him more.
Slowly, the last of them awoke with an adorably grumpy glare at the sunlight, and they made their way over to the little area Shang Qinghua had set up. It was embarrassing to have to be helped over to the cushion, but he knew it was better than straining in an attempt to support himself.
Breakfast was a largely silent affair, and by the time they were done, Mu Qingfang seemed to have a bit more life to him. He still looked immeasurably exhausted, but he was present with them in a way he hadnât been half an incense stick prior.
âMu Qingfang,â Xiao-Jiu called, voice not quite soft but certainly far from his usual venomous bite, âDo you want explanations now, while we are all present, or would it be better for you to sleep more first? It will do no good for you to receive information you cannot retain.â
Mu Qingfang blinked a few times, his mind certainly working slower than usual, but after a moment, he nodded and spoke.
âI believe I am awake enough for whatever explanation you have to give me.â
And what an explanation it was. Where would they even begin? There was so much, and Yue Qingyuan only had a loose grasp on more than half of it.
âTo begin, I know you have little reason to believe me, but I wish to reiterate that Shen Yuan does not mean the Sect nor its inhabitants any harm,â Xiao-Jiu said to the rightfully wary Mu Qingfang.
âThat is certainly an interesting stance to take, given he broke onto my Peak and has dosed at least two Peak Lords with subjugative blood parasites.â
âItâs actually five of us now,â Shang Qinghua said flippantly, munching on some melon seeds, âWhat Iâm curious about is what youâve been hiding that he felt the need to instill them in you.â
Mu Qingfang bristled slightly, looking a bit confused and a bit offended, âExcuse me?!â
âWe told you, Shen Yuan is like a beast tamer,â Liu Qingge said plainly, âHe uses his blood like an animal healer uses drugs on their creatures when they are sick. He only would have given you any if he needed to use them to heal you or otherwise prevent you from coming to harm.â
Mu Qingfang stared for a long moment before sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose. It was clear that he was struggling to process what he was being told, and Yue Qingyuan did not blame him.
âThis one felt fine up until Shen Yuan started messing around with his mind. Regardless of my own situation, are you really trying to tell me that this isnât a setup? He has power over all of the major powerhouses in the sect, has disconnected the Sect Leader from his sword so that he would be incapable of fighting him even if he broke free from his influence, and has made blood thralls of nearly half the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect Peak Lords. If that isnât a blatant attempt to take over, or at the very least cripple one of the major cultivation sects, then I donât know what is.â
Unfortunately, Mu-shidi made very good points. Yue Qingyuan knew that his assumptions were wrong, but they were not difficult conclusions to come to. And while he should at the very least correct his own part in things, he found his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth, throat choking on the words he still couldnât bring himself to say.
âMu-shidi would be correct if he were speaking about any other man,â Xiao-Jiu said, something almost fond in his voice, âBut trust this masterâs several months of observation when he says that Shen Yuan is nothing like any other man. He does not think like them, nor act like them. I tested him over and over, biting and running and stabbing, yet he never once hurt me outside of what was necessary to heal me. He used his blood all of three times after I unknowingly put it in my body: once to heal my wounds, once to heal my cultivation, and once to keep me from touching a flower that would have killed me. He has never cared about controlling me beyond keeping me from harming myself, nor does he seem to give two shits about cultivation hierarchy. It never mattered whether I was a Peak Lord or the lowest disciple; he treats me with respect all the same. Of course, he would give a similar amount of respect to a mouse that crossed his path, but that does not negate his pure, unselfish nature.â
It took a moment of processing, but Mu Qingfang seemed to get at least something from Xiao-Jiuâs rant. Still, he turned questioning eyes on Yue Qingyuan, and once more his throat closed up. His eyes flitted away, embarrassed at his own weakness, further choking him. The great and righteous Sect Leader, brought low by a few measly words.
âAh, the Sect Leaderâs situation was unfortunate, for certain. His bond with Xuan Su was parasitic and predatory in nature, due to their forced bonding during his discipleship, and Shen Yuan refused to leave such a bond in place. Also, he left a note saying that if something happens with Xuan Su again, heâs taking her to find out if spiritual swords can be turned into demonic ones.â
Yue Qingyuan couldnât help but pale at the very thought of that much power in a demonic sword. His pallor was not helped by the thought that Shen Yuan was clearly not happy about his foolish attempt to reconnect with her. He had seen anger in his face for the first time yesterday, and he was not eager to have the experience repeated.
âHis actual quote was âto see if a spiritual sword can be bitched down,â but Iâm not translating that in a room full of righteous cultivators when they wonât even get the reference.â
He glanced at Shang-shidi as he muttered in the Heavenly Demonâs language under his breath, but ultimately decided not to comment.Â
Liu Qingge cleared his throat, âIt wouldnât matter much if Shen Yuan was malicious. Thereâs nothing any of us could do about it, with the amount of power he has, so wouldnât it just be better to assume he has the good intentions he seems to have? Assuming bad intentions wonât help us any, so why bother?â
Shang Qinghua nodded, âLiu-shidi has a point! Shen Yuan beat the War God in one-on-one combat without a sword. The only other person I know of with that kind of power was Yue Qingyuan with Xuan Su, and even then, it wouldnât have been an easy victory. And that was all before he gained the ability to teleport at will. We should all be very thankful that Shen Yuan is just a very strange guy instead of, well, any normal demon.â
An even heavier silence this time. Yue Qingyuan had known how dangerous Shen Yuan was from the beginning, but every time it got pointed out to him how much worse things could be, a little knot tightened in his stomach. Xiao-Jiu put a hand on his clenched fist, squeezing until he took a breath and relaxed enough to squeeze back.Â
He was certainly very grateful for Shen Yuanâs benevolence and prayed that such kindness would remain.
âAhah, wow, that wasnât at all encouraging, huh?!â Shang Qinghua tittered nervously, âUm, well, if you want more proof that Shen Yuan isnât gonna, like, destroy the world or anything, then it might be interesting to learn that he actually always had a way out of the Abyss!â
Xiao-Jiuâs head snapped up, âWhat?!â
âAh, but thatâs the thing, Shixiong! The only way for him to leave the Endless Abyss before Mobei-Jun found him was a path of cruelty and debauchery. He preferred to remain trapped down there than to take a way out that would have harmed others, even if it would have made him even more powerful if he had done so.â
A more thoughtful silence, less tense than before but still a bit awkward.
âSoâŚâ Mu Qingfang began, âWhen you say that he truly means no harmâŚâ
âWe speak the truth,â Xiao-Jiu insisted, âMu Qingfang does not need to worry about the Sect's safety, nor his own. Although it may be wise to warn you about Shen Yuanâs⌠peculiarities. He is different from general demon-kind in other ways than just his strange softness.â
Mu Qingfang hummed tiredly, sipping at his tea, âThis one is listening.â
Yue Qingfang smiled, happy to see his martial siblings getting along so nicely. Not that long ago it had been nothing but a dream for Xiao-Jiu to interact with any of them with anything more than scoffs and a viperâs tongue. Even if Shen Yuan had some kind of plan for the wider cultivation world, Yue Qingyuan would be grateful to him for this.
