Back on my bullshit, with another Treasures Maker™. But like... make um TANK. Go ALL in. No being coy about it. No holding back. Balls to the wall, batshit insane Treasure Maker.
A real "w-why would you..." Sort of creator. Tentacle with a knife sort of "....wanted to see what would happen." Kind of gal. No one is safe and EVERYONE is nervous. Put the crafting supplies DOWN, shimei! Back AWAY from the crafting rooms! You KNOW you have to be supervised in there!
No one wants another... Incident™! (WE DO NOT SPEAK OF THE INCIDENT™!!!)
Cause like?
They? Had a brother. That brother? Was gross. We love um, but teenagers, man. Violence and boobs. 2 Edgy 4 U media. That sort of shit. It was his bread and butter for like... Puberty.
Not! To say he was a bad kid! God, no! But he WAS basicly soaking in sweat, hormones, and teenage "oh god I'm so horny I couldd die but also AaaaaaAAAAAAA-!!!!" Brain fuckery. Not fun. She survived it, does NOT recommend, but still retains the Sisterly right to ROAST his deeply shit reading tastes (lightly).
After all? Who amongst us? Has not read terrible, terrible Smut based power fantasies? People in glass houses and all that.
.....she DOES wish she, you know, stuck it out. Read that trashfire COMPLETELY. Not just the spark notes, wiki, and that hilarious rant compilation of the Honorable Cucumber Bro (A Legend, we stan. God, what a psycho(affectionate)). But like... not her genre, man. She's an otome nerd. Her Meta knowledge aint worth SHIT.
But! Trying to relate to her brother? Listening to him excitedly talk about the latest chapters and current arcs? DID leave her with SOME knowledge. Enough knowledge.
Specifically?
This world is SHIT to women.
Like? A legit horror reality. Everyone has somehow? Still got that bullshit, purity culture, your honor is stored in your virginal, mint condition, breeding stock hoo-haa. While being surrounded by more natural aphrodisiacs then any Hentai universe could excuse! Like? EXCUSE ME!?
You can't SPIT, without hitting three Fuck Or Die plants and the aphrodisiac poisoning monster that LIVES IN UM!
But we, the WOMAN, would be a whore, should we be struck by the damn near inevitable? Airplane... you sexist HACK! (*Qinghau... feels like he's in danger*)(He swears he DIDNT MEAN IT! He just didn't think of the implications! About A LOT OF SHIT!)
Not to MENTION?
The fucking (quite literally) BODY HORROR fuckboi Protagonist! With his MONSTER DICK! Like? Look... she is a GROWN ASS WOMAN, okay? She KNOWS how sex works! Apparently, she is one of the privileged few in this universe who DOES. And while her little brother and that hack author may buy into the troupe "all women want huuuuuge, big, improbable, monster dicks"?
Ha ha! GOD, No. They do NOT. That is PURELY a male thing! It's a masculinity thing. Some power fantasy, male envy, "look how manly I am" bullshit. WOMEN? Have ORGANS. And while there ARE outliers (gods bless, we salute you. Go for greatness, you mad, mad queens.) MOST of us? Like bits that FIT.
You know... WITHOUT the Protagonist's so called "blood Gu". (Thanks! That's a HORRIFYING THOUGHT! Both on the "what do MEAN he, a non medically trained fuckboi, LITERALLY REARRANGED THEIR INSIDES?" lvl AND on the "WHAT DO YOU MEAN PARASITES IN THE BLOOD‽‽‽" lvl.)
So SI-OC? Rightfully? Wants Mr "All Women Are Belong To Me" NO WHERE near her. The fact that he's a demon? Irrelevant. The fact that he's an unrepentant MONSTER of a man? With a body horror dick? VERY relevant.
BEGONE XANXIA SATAN.
Leave her and her orifices the FUCK ALONE. You psychotic, sect murdering, realities destroying, selfish, narcissistic Fuckboi!
Not that she remembers much of the "cool motive, still murder" Phase of his life. Nor does she care, with how many people he fucks over. She wants to get far, FAR away from that mess. And more SPECIFICALLY? She wants to SURVIVE that mess. Which requires power.
She doesn't HAVE power.
But? She DOES have some Meta knowledge... and a shit ton of patience.
Cause after all, what is better then a protection talisman sewn onto a robe? Ten Thousand Protection Talismans sewn onto a robe, which is only ONE of a SET. And that? She can do.
To hell with pretty embroidery. Flowers and bamboo. Birds in flight. No, with Qi enhanced sight, and steady hands? The finest needle and the strongest, thinnest, thread? Script so tight and small it light grains of rice. Over and over and OVER. Each of her layers, holding thousands upon thousands of words. So small it's near impossible to read.
Which, of course, is to say nothing of the ribbons. Such long HAIR, after all! Only a FOOL wouldn't make USE of that space. Portioning out her head into hundreds of tiny braids, talisman written ribbons woven all the way down.
Every bit and piece of her clothing, a masterwork of steady repetition and patience. A fortress, built brick by brick. Not inconquerable. But strong enough, that even the heavens would strain.
Of course... only so long... as she's WEARING such armor.
Everyone must sleep eventually. Must bathe. You can not wear only one thing FOREVER. And that IS the difference between the strength you create and the strength you simply possess. One of them? Is always with you.
And like? Imagine it.
Big Sister. The penultimate Immovable Object facing off against Bingme's Unstoppable Force. Her DECADES of quite preparation unfurling like the waking of a slumbering GOD. All those traitors to the Sect. Women who BETRAYED their own. Betrayed their bothers and sisters, the CHILDREN they were supposed to guide and teach. For DICK. Having their attacks against her turned back against them.
Lethally.
As the remaining Peak Lords fight, a literal beacon of power. Of Safety. Sweeping through and grabbing survivors. Tossing them into a hidden realm she's literally wearing around her neck. Small but stable, her graduates work in progress. It's sparse in there. More bare earth and barely planted medical plants then anything. A few fruit trees.
But? It's beyond the reach of these invaders. And unless Luo Binghe kills her? Gets past her every defense and prys the anchor from her cold dead hands? Then they are safe. For now.
The sect may be lost. At least in terms of buildings, land. But it's PEOPLE? The important part? Not so long as she lives. The selfish dramas of demons and men are none of her concern. She has students, children, and the injured to protect.
And obviously, this makes her a target. She's shining like a God damn mini sun. It's not subtle. But the sect is burning, there's demons everywhere, she kinda expected that. At least she gets to kill a few of those traitorous "wives" on her way out.
(They betrayed their sisters. Their students. Their FRIENDS! This was their FUCKING HOME!! If they thought the Sect unforgivable? They should have LEFT. Not attacked as children fled for their lives. Cultivators are meant to kill monsters, not BECOME them.)
She takes them, her copies of as much of the libraries as she could manage on her own (it's not enough. Forgive her. She had to prioritize.) and heads for the border of the map. As fast as Cultivation can travel.
Did the Realms truely merge? Or did this portion collapse together? If they fly far enough, will they find the edge? And should it ALL have collapsed... he's not explored it yet. They have time to rebuild. Heal. Train and grow stronger..
All is not lost. Not yet.
Besides...
Who's to say that Fuckboi is the only Protagonist in this world? The only child of the Heavens? Maybe there are other gods. Maybe... maybe those gods are pissed. At the presumption. The arrogance. Maybe... just maybe, those gods will help. Who can say? It's never been done.
But is that not the duty of a righteous cultivator? To do what is right? To fight against monsters? What greater monster is there then this? The child not embraced by the village, will come to burn it down. But Luo Binghe? He has decided to burn the WORLD to ashes. And such madness must be stopped.
It doesn't matter how it began. They're gonna end it.
Ngl, I'm kinda really big on "Accidentally Fixing Things While I Was Off, Minding My Business/Indulging My Hyper Fixation"
With a side of "huh, why do I hear jaws music?" *Og!Protagonist Approach-ith*
Cause like? Who WOULDN'T want to play around with QI? Talismans? Get REAL deep into the esoteric Cultivation Lore??! What do you MEAN "boring", native to this universe!? This shit is MAGIC! We're literally playing with MAGIC here! I can write squiggles on a peice of paper and BEND REALITY! Concentrate REAL hard and have the universe around me just... shrug and OBEY!!!
That's SO COOL!
Sweet backflips and flying swords! Mythic animals! Forget being a wizard, this is WAY better! *cackles in glee*
Imagine if a SI-OC aims for a Peak that was never even brought up in Cannon! The Talismans and Artifacts (don't get them started. Yes, it's both two seperate fields. But somehow ALSO a spectrum? And can be both at once, depending on the age of the object? No one else is quite sure...) Peak. She finds her people.
First you study the general, then you specialize.
Everyone there can info-dump for HOURS on their niche field of study! Lots of cross Peak cooperation! Half of them are never ON Peak because they can't MOVE their objects of interest! Gotta study them at location! Which, yes, includes hidden realms! AND THE CREATION OF THEM.
Their last Peak lord? Fuckin DIED to Tianlang-jun's sealing. Their CURRENT Shizun? Hates the Old Palace Master with the fury of ten thousand suns. Bastard just... just DUMPED a project like "seal a Heavenly Fucking Demon Emperor" on everybody LAST MINUTE. And WIPED OUT an ENTIRE GENERATION of Masters.
If ANY of them work with ANYONE from Hau Haun? They are DEAD to him.
DEAD.
So like.... fuck those guys. It's the formal stance of her Peak. Fuck those guys forever. *spits*
Oc agrees. Cause wtf. That sounds like it was unreasonable and deeply fucked up. And that kid of demon? SUPER dangerous! Good thing there aren't any more of them! She says... having never read the book. Either one. Granted, things KINDA sound familiar? In that her brother used to talk about a series from overseas he was slowly moogle translating to read.
But like? It's the Multiverse. Not impossible odds. Maybe her soul just clung to a Cultivation Universe that VAGUELY sounded familiar, over the countless that DID NOT. Not like she knows how Reincarnation works...
Anyway~ Back to her projects!
She's industrious AF. Exceeds her Talisman goals. Constantly. Which means she gets to keep or sell the extra (it's motivation to work hard). She likes to give some to people who look like they need um. Like that miserable kid on Qing Jing. She sees him every time she stops by to hit up their, frankly, Gucci Library. VERY fancy.
Here, kid, have some warming and protection talismans. Perimeter alert ones. Kinda weird you go through so many, but meh, I don't know your life. Want one of my practice Qiankun pouches? It's ugly af. But since our peak makes them, I gotta practice.
The kid gives her snacks. They're pretty good, not gonna lie.
He IS... kinda creepy though. Very "you should skip school tomorrow" quite kid with too intense eye contact. You... uh... you GOOD, kiddo? Wanna talk? Should... should she, like, do something about this, or.....
No, no! He insists. With the flattest, fakest smile she's ever seen outside of a Serial Killer. He's Fine™! No need to worry about HIM!
......okay, but, see, when you SAY shit like that....
Creepy™ "probably gonna murder everyone on Qing Jing" kid aside? She has a GOAL! Wants to make a MEDICAL Hidden Realm! Yeah, that's right!! See, you can dictate the "rules" of reality (somewhat) inside the Realm you create, right? SO! It occurred to her! She should make a Realm?
That DOES NOT ALLOW QI DEVIATIONS!
Something that forces the Qi inside one's body to smooth and heal! Calm and rich! Like Ling Xi caves but for healing instead of breakthroughs! It could be a lifesaving realm, where one goes to ride out a Qi Deviation or face their heart demons! In an environment that will not ALLOW them to fatally spiral!
Of course, she needs to find a whole bunch of rare and soothing legendary flowers to plant. Trees, too. A couple rare beasts, known for their intensely soothing auras. Just... REALLY stack the odds. THEN off course, she'll have to lay the ground work of the realm itself. Find a good place to PUT it!
Maybe Qian Cao Peak? Or could she connect it to to the Ling Xi to take advantage of the natural Qi and protection the mountain itself gives? She would need permission either way... she should draft a consultation request...
All this? As the immortal conference gets closer and closer. Fate LOOMS.
Only to slide wildly off the rails, as she get approved by THE SECT LEADER to make her "Anti-Qi-Deviation Realm" in the Ling Xi Caves as her final project. Her Master Work as an Inner Disciple, as it were, Proof of studies and skill. All HE saw was "anti-Qi-deviation" and thought "this could totally help Xiao-Jiu". Immediately gave the go ahead.
(And as for Lui Qinggi? This is NOT a new idea of hers. She'd long gotten Mu Qingfang on board. What luck, for EVERONE involved, he was in the caves that day. Once again looking for a good place to anchor the realm, for a maximum effect to ease of access ratio.)
She anchors the Realm. Starts planting like mad. Transferring her legendary Soothing Plants and Soothing Trees. Constructing a few buildings in accordance to the feng shui MASTER she hunted down and consulted. Requests Shen-shibo himself come and be in charge of paintings and other decorations, as he IS the master of the scholars peak.
(And most at risk of a Lords or a Qi Deviation. So would be a splendid test case.)
(Is what she does not say...)
(But they are both aware of anyway.)
And? Shen Jiu? Has... never felt so calm and safe in his LIFE. Unnatural! Doesn't like it. Disgusting. What coddling nonsense! He's never going... going... to go... *stands at the entrance and glares, like the realm personally offended him* *carefully inches back inside like an abused cat*
He stops paying attention to his peak almost immediately. Yes, he does his job. But... his brain is no longer wrapped up in it. Obsessive over it. Constantly comparing and jealous and spiteful. Don't get him wrong! He's still a petty, spiteful, bitch of a man. But...
True, restful sleep? Changes a man. The complete lack of constant minor Qi Deviations, like mini-seizures, in the night. Throughout the day. Constantly wearing him down, tearing him down. Exhausting him and hurting. That... gentleness. Calm. Escape from pain, which he has lived with for so, so long.
What was he doing? Comparing himself to brats?
Being jealous of and competitive of tiny little IDIOTS. They're morons! He's a Peak Lord. He's WON.
He starts ignoring Bingge. Noticing things he'd overlooked before, in his exhaustion. Like the fact that his daughter is, apparently, very susceptible to rumor mongering and not AWARE she is just and ONLY his daughter. (Ying-er, sweetie, Baba loves you... but sometimes you make him very tired...) (also it will be a cold day in hell, when he allows to to marry that little cretin. Chose better.)
Oc? Getting SLOSHED with Mu-shibo! WOOOOO~☆ we DID IT!!! The Realm was a SUCCESS! We're GENIUSES! We can't wait to see how this develops!!! *celebrating noises*
Immortal Conference, happens. SI-OC? Just graduated. Missed it. Meh... it should be fine. Still... here, kiddos. Her backlog of Talismans and pouches. Never know when that might be useful! Oh, hey, Creepy I mean, that Kid from Qing Jing who thankfully hasn't killed anybody yet! Still got the Weirdly Intense Eye Contact, I see! You all packed?
....that's... a little light.
Here, Talismans and Pouches, just like the kids from her Peak. Stay safe, okay? There's food and water in there. Medicine too. Some emergency blankets. Flares and stuff. Don't hesitate to use um. They are made to be used. Everybody be good!
And remember! This conference isn't worth your life!
[♡Luo Binghe Will Remember This♡]
W...why do I hear jaws music? Hello? Helloooo?
Cause like? Shen Jiu? Doesn't throw him in. He's too busy saving students he Actually Cares About. You know... like a RESPONSIBLE Peak Lord. But does that STOP fate? Ha! No. Down Binghe goes! With a bunch of pouches he begged of Talisman Peak disciples who were dropping out. Since... they didn't need them... *puppy dog eyes* c-could he steal borrow them?
He ends up in the Abyss with a small warehouse of supplies. Which is GREAT! Will get him through this hellscape!
Assuming he can protect it.
Every meal. Every night of sleep where he DOESNT have to twitch at every sound, thanks to the talisman arrays. Every drop of clean water. Scrap of medicine. It's a reminder of the One(1) Sister who was nice to him at no cost. Didn't want to fuck him, use him, in some way. Have him a part, like some sort of emotional crutch. Was just... kind. For the sake of kindness.
Saw him, not the mask he wore, and recognized he'd be strong. (Why else would she look so wary?) And he wants and wants and Wants AND WANTS.
Aren't I strong, now, Shixiong? Aren't you so very proud of me? Look how powerful Luo Binghe has become! I came back for you. Brought back the things you gave me. A little stained, but that's okay. We can make new ones. Can finally move on. No more Cang Qiong. Isn't it great? Tell me it's GREAT, Shixiong.
Please stop running. Or I'll have to burn the mountain down.
But, like, to become the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan Peak? You have to kill the last one?
That or they hand it too you, say "done now, good luck" and ascend. Leaving you to defend yourself from all comers until it's decided "yeah, they probably ARE the strongest. We accept this."
So like? I can't get out of my head? That "Act Of Loyalty, I Am On Technicality" sort of scene? You know the one. Where an SI-OC, who goes "fuck being a fairy, I wanna be swol. Plus, that's og Qinghua, so this is probably the PIDM timeline. Motherfuckers, I wanna LIVE." And joins the fighty-boy Peak of punching-ness.
Is one of like... five girls.
Total. (And three are teachers)
Only? She's kinda worried about Mr Crazy Eyes over on Qing Jing, with his fake ass smiles and his cuddling up to every girl with any degree of power. Manipulative little, dream-demon havin, heavenly demon blooded, yandere ass, little SHIT. Doesn't trust it! No sir, not one bit! That's the smile of a psychopath!
Only person who MIGHT be able to kick his ass? Her Shizun. Maybe the Sect Leader. But THAT dude is emotionally compromised. And everything gets messy over, you know, the whole "murder of her Shizun" thing. Which? Dude! Way to respect their culture, assholes.
And she GETS that her Peak mates don't like Shen-shibo, but REALLY?! They'd spit on GENERATIONS of tradition? Just like that? Shizun would spit blood. Kick their disloyal asses RIGHT off his peak! Even if Shen-shibo DID kill him! That just means Shen-shibo is now the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan and has to leave Qing Jing! Pick a successor for his old Peak.
There are rules for that exact situation! It's like none of you READ them!
But... and this is important, she would prefer to HAVE a fully fledged War God ON HAND when the Crazy Egg pops. Plus fewer "crimes" to accuse their highly skill and ruthless strategist of. They'll kinda need him. And, you know, INNOCENT? Which is kinda important??? Supposedly.
So, if she remembers correctly, she packs a overstocked "in case of everything" med kit... and waits. Trains like lives depend on it. Just barely gets her sword by the time her Shizun goes into seclusion. Breaks... SO many rules (just, SO MANY. She could legit get kicked out for this. Not to mention DIE, since the QI in there is no joke.) to follow Shen-shibo in to the caves, while that barriers are down.
Did she have to look up the EXACT dimensions of the barriers? Yes. Fly low to avoid being seen and then scale the cliff by hand? Also yes. It's a hole in security. She'll tell them about it after, assuming she doesn't die.
Everyone thinks she's on a night hunt with someone. Learning experience and such. They don't DO coddling and aren't the sort to do "nasty tricks" like faking records. Especially since the punishments are brutal. She's gonna pay and pay HARD for this. Especially if she fails.
Because honestly? If she FAILS? She might as well take the fall for Shen-shibo and tell him to kill her. Because there's no shot, people won't believe she didn't sneak in to dishonorably assassinate her Shizun while he meditated. Which! Incidentally, is one of the FEW ways that DO disqualify a Become Peak Lord kill. Ya gotta fight an aware opponent. Not necessarily sane. Just... aware of you.
So she waits. Tries to meditate and not be crushed by the overwhelming pressure of the caves. Eats a snack. Listens for her Shizun to start to be... distressed? In someway? She's not yet certain how. Just that the book said he dies here. And... there! Noise!
As a Disciple, she's not exactly as fast as a Peak Lord. So she arrives after Shen-shibo. Which is a GOOD thing. Since she would have been slaughtered instantly. Oh fuck. He's Qi deviating. Badly.
She throws herself into the fray. Like a tiny bird, harrying the edges as Shen-shibo takes the brunt of things. Distract her Shizun. Who would normally, never fall for such a tactic... but, well, with his mind in chaos? More mad beast then seasoned battle master? His attention is easily split. And he goes down HARD.
Her med-kit is all but flung into Shen-shibo's hands. He's the adult here, for all she's lived before. For all she has some idea of what to do. He is the scholar, lord of the scholars peak. The medicine will be better put to use under his hands. And? It is.
Wounds close, bodies mostly stabilize. But... her Shizun is slipping away. His Qi is still Deviating. Wobbling like an unsteady top. He needs a shock to force him awake, to force his system to regulate. He needs... to for someone to stop then restart his heart.
He's already not breathing on his own, it's just Shen-shibo. Who can't keep this up much longer.
Anything is worth trying, if the alternative is certain death. She tries. Feels like a chainsaw trying to perform surgery on a grape. But...? Somehow? Dispite the pained wheeze. It works.
Dispite TECHNICALLY killing her Shizun... she's saved him! He's ALIVE!!! Ha ha! ALIVE! Oh thank the heavens!
Alive. Stirring, blinking, first in confusion, then to clear his vision. Assessing the situation he's found himself. Recognizing his fellow peak lord... and a Disciple of his. That DEFINITELY should not be here.
She is seized by the front of the uniform, dragged down, and ordered to explain herself. Oh shit. Right. Two peak lords. Both aware she's in the caves, where she SHOULD NOT BE, as only the Sect Leader can give people permission to enter.
Which they both know, he damn well did not.
Honesty time! She had a really, REALLY bad feeling. Nightmares about something going wrong and you dying in here. Shen-shibo getting blamed. No one respect Bai Zhan tradition and instead treating it like some sort of murder. The mountain burning. Same dream over and over. I can show you the exploit I found in the caves defenses? If you want to throw me out of the sect, I am prepared for that. At least your alive.
.....no. No, they're going to the Sect Leader. She is going to explain to the Peak Lord of the warding/talisman peak how she got around their defenses, so it can be patched. And then the SECT leader will decide her punishment.
Which? Delays him. Because D:> Xiao-Jiu! Oh no, you're hurt! (Yeah, thanks, we're ALSO here, my guy.)
And like? It's not as though they don't have a divination peak. It's a simple enough test. "Would that have happened?" They now test for, asking specifically. (Which, the more specific you are, the easy it is to divine.) Aaaaaaand?? OH yeah. Definitely. Congrats on not dying, Lui-shixiong! You've avoided a pretty major death point!
Is this kid sensitive to the future? Her Shizun asks, awkward as fuck. Should he, like, send her for classes or...
*tests*
Nah. Just A, singular, Future. Pretty awful one though. Most likely some ascendant Ancestor was trying to send her a warning. It happens time to time. Some of what she knows might continue to be useful, but the more knowledge she uses and changes, the less useful it will become. As it should be.
*demon attack just outside*
*like five different Peak Lords turn to look out the window, incredulously*
Oh, uh, by the way? That's gonna happen? Didn't want to SAY that, when I was already in trouble, cause... well, there was no way to bring it up without sounding like I was involved somehow. But... yeah. Baby demon saintess. Big guy's armor is covered in without-a-cure. I think someone sabatouged our defenses? *offended Talisman Peak noises*
Cause like? Imagine THAT stomp down. Ha! We've come to beat yo-! Why do I hear boss music? *door open, just under half the peak Lords stroll out, including the REALLY strong ones* w-weren't you supposed to be off peak?
Weren't YOU supposed to be in the Demon realm?
........I can explain?
*terrified demon screaming*
And like? Later? Tianlang-jun gets out. His son is a crazy little shit. They are fighting each other and also the world. Said world? Having a BAD time. This is EXCLUSIVELY the old palace Master's fault. Maybe the Qui's. Shen-shibo may be a bitch, but he would have been far LESS violent and ptsd ridden of a bitch, if not for them. Honestly he never should have been put in charge of small children. But we are WELL PAST THAT.
Tianlang-jun? Possibly because he's both messy like that and enjoys reading terrible literature, has demanded a Peak Lord as a concubine. In return? He'll ally against his son. He's heard they got a fighting peak, heard the lord is real pretty. *deliberately being an ass* oh~! Or maybe the Fairy? Your choice. *being an ass intensifies*
By then? SI-OC is an inner Disciple. Has never forgotten that... technically, since she DID stop her Shizun's heart? She DID kill him. After fighting him. In the presence of another Peak Lord, which counts as Witness. And he WAS definitely unfit for Role at the time, due to the Qi Deviation, so having help of another Peak Lord to take him down WAS allowed by the official Rules...
So like... technically? SI-OC is Bai Zhan's Peak Lord. She's just not acting like it... or claiming it... or doing any of the paper work. But, you know, Technically™. So when that letter comes in? And the arguments break out?
Their Sect NEEDS her Shizun. And there IS a precedent for successors handing the title back, before the ascending Lord can actually... you know, fuck off and ascend. Happened all of ONCE, but still! That counts! So... she accepts.
What.
Says her Shizun, in that "I better have heard you wrong" tone of voice. But no, sorry Shizun. Shen-shibo? Do you remember the Rules of Bai Zhan I showed you? When you demanded to know what I had been talking about. (Because you hate not knowing things. Because ignorance leads to danger, to people taking advantage of you.) He... does...
Oc can literally SEE the moment the exact chain of events clicks together behind his eyes. The rules and memories coming together. He looks at her with... a certain sort of... almost respect. Calls her a foolish child, in a soft voice, reserved for the soon to be dead. Because they both know nothing will change what must be done.
Someone has to die.
And they can't afford to lose her Shizun.
Her smile is a bitter thing. Resolute. Who knows, Shen-shibo, maybe she can get close enough to explode him. Take out a few critical bits of his command. A final fuck you.
Shizun? Vehemently against this. Absolutely the fuck not. He'll go. Fuck this. No student of his!
Yeah? Well, as Peak Lord, you'd have to kill me, Shizun. I stopped your heart. You were dead. Just because I immediately brought you back, doesn't change the fact that I completed the hand over. It's mine by right. I've just been letting you run it.
So step aside.
You can have it back when I go.
Tianlang-jun? Obviously, finds this hilarious. Oh YOUR the Peak Lord, are you? Do you think he's stupid? No. Just dangerously unhinged. She? Gets to be dragged around to look at whatever catches his interest. Treated like the off-brand barbie he didn't want, because he wanted a REAL barbie, mom! (But, fine, I guess, I'll play with it. Uuugh.)(She's not even a war god!)
Probably manages, in a random raid, to save Qinghua-shibo. Shortly before his "death by choking via emotionally incompetent ice cube" event. Dude's not looking so hot. Exhausted, bruised, shaking. He betrayed the sect for never respecting him, for the chance at some for of a better life, and... all it got him was abuse. Fear, treachery and death. Cold that never quite leaves his bones.
He's so tired.
Then so random Bai Zhan disciple? That remembers him? Still CARES enough about him? Comes along and gets him out? Fuck it. He's switched sides before. What's one more time? At least there's warm soup. Soft blankets. She's not asking anything or warping into his room at all hours to make demands. He can just... sit. And shake and shake and shake.
Stare at nothing. Let his head be empty for once.
He's so tired.
So of course, Mobei-jun? Mad that his treacherous chew toy boyfriend got stolen away. Binghe? Mad that ANYTHING is going right for his former sect. And surely, he just needs to MEET this woman. She'll fall in line. Just like every other woman has. Love him. Just like every other woman.
Except, nope! It's the Bai Zhan girl who never invaded their peak. Who avoided him. Who treats him like a mad dog, now. And there is Mobei-juns chew toy! Right beside Tianlang-jun. And it's war. And people die. That fucking sword plays hot potato a bit.
She finally gets her hands on it.
And it is every horrible intrusive thought she's ever had. Every dark impulse. Like bile of the soul. She feels like a GOD. Hates it instantly. But also knows exactly what she planned to do with it. No more Abyss. The Abyss? Not strong enough. No. No she BRACES. Runs straight for the ONLY heavenly demon not bat shit and has HIM brace as hard as he can as well. Feels bones threatening to snap like things.
Then? As they all lunge for her?
Swing~
VOID. Straight to a black hole's pull.
Good luck getting it back from THERE fuckers! Even if it can or can't be destroyed? It'll SURE AS SHIT BE UNREACHABLE. Which black hole was that? Who knows! What universe? Good question!! She lets go immediately, letting the damn thing get sucked in, causing the rift to immediately close, as nothing it powering it. Odds are now damn near impossible on finding that sucker!! No more cursed sword for ANY of you!
Ya'll can die mad about it!
Bunghe? Indeed, mad about it. Tianlang-jun? Actually kinda impressed. Huh. Something NEW! After all this time! Who would'a thought? And his own nephew helped her! Betrayal! :D *laughs* guess he'll just have to find a different method to achieve his goals. Oh well.
Cause when you're that powerful? What's one little sword? A few decades of your eternal life? (Assuming you're free and NOT trapped under a mountain, in incredible pain.)
Just? Let the Bai Zhan girly pull a "I'M Spartacus!" Much to the horror of her Shizun, an honorable man. Send the whole ass peak into a spiral of "nooooo! Our Shemei/Favorite Disciple! Those horrible demons! They're probably TORTURING HEEEEEER!" *smash cut to Tianlang-jun forcing his new reading buddy to read terrible smut with him and eat junk food, entirely platonicly*
He would do it. You know he would. Tianlang-jun is a scene chewing, melodramatic asshole. For funsies. He would TOTALLY imply the were fucking. That he, villainously, like a villian, was seducing his young bride and doing terrible things to her, like straight out of one of his more dramatic porno books.
Straight to Lui Qingqe's Face.
You know, just to watch him turn funny colors, in incoherent WRATH. Maybe lunge over the table to try and murder him! Oooh~ that would be fun~! C'mon~ you know you want too! *poke, poke*
All while, one? He never has and never will touch the young lady (without explicit consent). And two? It doesn't even sound like her. Which he would notice, if he wasn't consumed by protective fatherly concern. A wilting flower, she is not. Pretty sure the kid not only bites, but has stolen at least half his knives. He'd be a pin cushion, if he tried anything. Honestly... *eyeroll*
With Talismans, what's the difference between a veil and a helmet with built in gasmask?
Not a damn thing!
Read a one shot, where Shang Qinghua had to wear a veil for plot reasons. And? My brain started to kick in. The world they live in? Is chock FULL of bullshit Aphrodisiacs. Powders and pollens that are fuck or die. Which? One: what happens if you get hit when NO ONE IS AROUND.
And TWO(‽‽‽): The VERY REAL and tragic reality? Is that NOT everyone who stumbles upon one of those poisons? Is gonna be a hot single in your area. TODDLERS like to wander off and pick up The Pretty Flower™ or Poke The Weird Animal™.
They are GOING to get poisoned. It is GOING it hit them harder and faster them an adult, because of their size. And they are GOING to die. There will be little to nothing you can do.
Hell, MOST children are basicly dead upon infection. Assuming it truely is a "Or Die" variety, instead of a "or suffer greatly". The fact that veils aren't STANDARD for prepubesant children? If only to improve their chances of survival? WILDLY irresponsible.
That Veil could be the only difference between a face full of deadly pollen and an inconvenient afternoon in the decontamination baths. With a side of ruined veil. And! Would you RATHER? Lose a pretty bit of fabric? Than, oh, YOUR LIFE!?
Irresponsible!!!
The Mortality and Morbidity rates must be STAGERING. For fucks sake! COVER UP! Nature is deadly! Trust NOTHING! Twenty layers and leave room for the chaperones! HOW ARE ANY OF YOU MOTHER FUCKER STILL ALI-!!!
Which! Brings me! To my New SI-OC~☆ 🎉🎉🎉
She spent her whole first life RUSHING. Go, go, GO! No time for hobbies. No time for frivolous social events. No time for proper rest. Nothing. She died exhausted. Hated it. Regretted it. Was she GOOD at it? Beside the point. (Yes.) She never wants to rush, rush, RUSH, again.
Naturally, she ends up in a family that wants to marry her off as a business arrangement. Lots of work in her future. Expected to be the THIRD wife. Ha ha... how about "NO."
See, her First Father? Always taught her? "They can't MAKE you don't anything. You ALWAYS have a choice. It's just a matter of if you're willing to pay the price for that choice." And? Yeah. Fuck these guys. They wanted Filial Piety? They should have given her someone WORTHY of such loyalty. A FAMILY to be loyal TOO.
Off she goes~ with her shit shoved in a bag she made literally right in front of them, while they weren't paying attention.
Wearing a veil. Not to "hide her identy" or anything. Or "protect her beautiful face" or whatever. But, because? It keeps dust and Suspect Powders out of her face. Coupled with a hat? And she's quite protected from the sun! Nice~
She gets to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. "Climb the mountain" etc. "Dig a hole". Ppphff. Look at all these idiots and their No Gloves havin asses. Where's your water and support bandages, idiots? You even lift bro?? Did you even ASK workers on the way here about the best way to dig? Bet you didn't.
Work Smart, not hard. Ya Casuals.
(Never Fuckin Again.)
And because I LOVE the PIDM universe? And all the ways it could have gone of the rails with different Transmigrators? It is OG!Shang Qinghua who is standing there, bored and long suffering, when he... "oh~? Oh HO~?" *goes from ( -_-) to ( ◇.◇)* like? What's this~?
Snarky and silently judgemental? Smarter then she let's on? Clearly hiding great talent behind an unassuming appearance? (Projection? Whaaaat? Noooo....) It's like a mini-him.
.......that one. He wants THAT one.
And for once, he's willing to fight about it.
Everyone else chosen by An Ding is like "... oh. Okay, I guess." But SI-OC? *Violent Flashback to The War Her Days Of Endless Work* *squints suspiciously at the An Ding Lord* "mother fucker, you have five seconds to give me a good reason not to run for the hills and try my luck at a different Sect"
"One, I would catch you. I'm far faster. And Two... we have first dibs on all the good shit the Sect gets. Plus Talismans. You can study literally anything you damn well please, unlike the other Peaks."
Hmmmm, she DOES like the idea of Talismans.... *squints suspiciously* you're on thin ice, bribery man. Your convincing arguments will only get you so far, if the work conditions are shit.
And Shang Qinghua is like? "Aw. Is Baby. I bet it bites. You'd rob me blind in the night and run for the hills, wouldn't you~? Wouldn't you~☆? Oh my gods. Is THIS what my Shizun felt? No wonder he put up with me."
Unfortunately...the food is AMAZING. Great perks all around. Because no one respects them, they take the GOOD shit without remorse. Fuck those guys. The work? Lots of hurry up and wait. Plenty of time to study (when CERTAIN Peak Lords aren't TRASHING THEIR PEAKS).
And SI-OC? Finds that traditional meditation doesn't work at first. She's too used to the "YOU HAVE TO BE BUSY" mindset. But? A project? That works! And Talismans can be sown into clothes. It's slow work. Gotta get it just right. Lots of calculations. Lots of paints them on the cloth with specific inks, then sewing with specific threads. Sometimes washing, sometimes not. Occasionally there's beading.
Slow and steady.
From her veils to her inner robes, on out. Using An Ding connections to track down experienced master crafts men, just to trade them her work for some of theirs. Cultivator made Qiankun pouches in sleeves, protections from this and that. Expensive stuff, for an average man. But off course, only the best, for his daughter who is to be wed. And of COURSE, she would supply the materials for him to work with! She understands his time and talent is a valuable thing.
She also sends a wedding gift. Amazing how far being polite and thoughtful can get you. The jewelry is magnificent. Her arrays? Perfectly transcribed. She is a fancy looking TANK and she loves it.
And, yes, as a Disciple, she can only wear so much of her slowly growing hoard of "I AM The Danger apperal". But does that STOP her? Fuck no. Cause what are you gonna do? Police her underwear? Huh? Gonna tell her she can't wear that many underlayers? HUH?
She looks like a gauzy little fairy. Ribbons braided in her hair (they are talisman arrays, each and every one of them). Gauzy three layer veil fluttering delicately in the breeze (it is embroidered within an inch of its life. Hair thin, spider silk, talisman arrays on every millimeter available). Delicate underlayers peaking put at the neck and sleeves, like a flowers bloom (Arrays. It's all coated in arrays. Death to all who would dare, covered by a single over robe).
All topped with tinkling little jewelry.
(Focal anchors. Because some arrays are simply to strong for cloth)
As in with Nature... the brighter and More Lovely? The higher the chance it'll kill you. Especially in this world. And An Ding colors are bright indeed~☆. She's the Peak Lords lil Cabbage. When it all goes to shit? (As he always half assumes it will.) He's planning on picking her up like a sack of potatoes and booking it. Instead of his ORIGINAL plan... of just straight up booking it.
\( ^-^)/ yay! Family! Team "fuck them guys. We out!"
She teaches PIDM Binghe the valuable life lesson of "fuck this guy... I'm out". Cause like? Have you considered? NOT sitting there and taking it? He sucks. To you specifically. This is clearly toxic and not your responsibility to fix. Come to An Ding. Or literally ANY OTHER PEAK. Or a different Sect! You don't owe him SHIT.
And like? Fuck it. You look like that Su Xiyan lady. Maybe Hua Huang will take you in? She was a rock star there. (She says, as though she doesn't know)
Cue said sect Actively On Fire barely five years later when Creepy does as Creepy do. Cue Binghe prob hunting down and releasing Tianlang-jun. Cue "if it weren't for my Shemei, your mountain would be ash" letter sent to the sect leader.
And like? Cue Mobei-jun clearly waffling between "do I want to Kill this threat... or [REDACTED IN DEMONIC] him. He's not loyal to ME... but he's clearly capable. He has a daughter now. I thought he was inherently treacherous. Was going to kill him for that. But if he's just some weirdly Human flavor of Demonic Treacherous? That's... kinda hot. Look how LOYAL he is to his kid. I want that."
5d chess out here in the northern court. As this man tries to parent Qinghua's not-child and he desperately resists the urge to finally stab him.
Just? Everything's a mess and she will NEVER get the peace n quite she longed for. Cheated! Scammed! She should have head west til she hit ocean then boarded a BOAT! This is BULLSHIT D:<
But I haven't abandoned my other babies! I am just Cursed™ by the cruel and fickle Idea Fairy!
A (Divine? They are unsure!) Spirit Beast SI-OC!
She wakes up. Very Shiny. Oh hey... I can float! ....kinda? Wibble wobble floaty baby. Smol mlem, tiny paws. VERY fluffy. Critically though? Very, VERY sharp teeth. Can bite through steel and stone teeth. DANGER baby.
Wherems't the FUCK am I?
Information pops into her head. Just... wasn't there... now it is? Like? SPECIFICALLY where she is. Down to the EXACT tree branch. Huh... well that's not normal. Hey, Brain Siri? The Fuck?
..........Okay, too vague. Trying again.
WHY am I here? "Reincarnation" wow. Helpful. What a ten out of ten, helpful response. She NEVER would have guessed that! Grumpy SI-OC is Grumpy. She ain't got no thumbs. Okay, WHY is she a... cat? Glowy? Antlered... wing... thing? A whatever she is! Why?
"A life well lived. This is a reward."
Hmmmm.... doubt, but okay, she guesses. Then? Something finally registers. In that long ass list? Of "Here Is The EXACT Place You Are"? She got the distinct vibe... whiff... thingy? The BRAIN THING or whatever, of her secret favorite Trash Novel! Has she been FUCKIN ISEKAI'D‽‽
"Technically, she's been reincarnated, but yes."
( ˶°-°) !! #panic
Quick! Wobble fly! Wobble fly like your LIFE DEPENDED ON IT! Her horrible, horrible, trash son might be being ABUSED! Hold on Binghe! Mama's coming! She promises! Hugs and no hell pocket dimensions for you! Therapy! Frank discussion about consent and reasonable harem sizes! AaaaaaAAAAAAA-!!!!!!
Except? Hold the phone. WHOMS'T THE FUCK? Is that DISGUSTING feeling man, deliberately trying to fuck up that child's spiritual veins? Can't he see that boy is in excruciating pain!? D:< Death from ABOOOOOVE!!! *echoing feline yowl*
Which? Is how Shen Jiu? Mere MOMENTS? Before his spiritual veins can take no more and fracture forever? Is saved. By... a flying... glowing? Kitten deer? With wings. It goes STRAIGHT for his Master's face. Draws blood. Is clearly trying to maul him to death.
And after what the man just tried to DO to him? He makes a split second decision to thrown in on the cat's side.
Except... they are a baby and a starved teenager. Against an adult Demon Cultivator. He's turning the tide. Quickly. But! SI-OC has the power of God and anime Brain Siri on her side! Is there anything she Can do? She asks. Anyone nearby who can HELP?
.....actually? Yes.
Guess who's visiting his cultivator girlfriend? Because these are public roads? And he's a fuckin Heavenly Demon with an impossibly good sense of hearing?
Tianlang-jun, Demon Emperor, Lord and undisputed master of the South... hears a tiny little voice, with a desperate and squeaky lil voice, scream for his help.
By Name.
He appears out of fuckin NOWHERE. To stomp this human like the ANT he is. Hello~ Children! You called this old man? ^-^ probably holding the fucker up by the neck as he's talking. Like? Aaaw. Look, Nephew! A feral, bite-y child! Su Xiyan would love one of those! He's just like her! *Shen Jiu, terrified but refusing to cower, tries to stab the Literal Emperor Of All Demons*
It's like a hissing baby cat.
He decides to take his New (Pet?) Human Child (no ^-^ not asking~) to Su Xiyan. Look! He rescued it! :D reward him with kisses! *shen jui slowly turns to stare incredulously at the cat that saved him* (look, she panicked okay!? They were LOSING! At least now we're alive! And no one can touch you!)
And like? By the time they get there? Shen Jiu already has like... the next 50 years of human/demon political relations planned out and is scheming to get FULL access to this man's library. Give. He WANTS it. Shen Jiu is go get Yue Qi, who's prayers while trapped in seclusion sent the cat (yeah, she completely ratted his ass out. Besides, can the PROVE she's lying?), take over the Demon court, and then have everything they could ever want. Forever.
It's adorable. Tianlang-jun thinks his scheming lil murder face is so cute! And? Aaaw~ did you poison my noodles? Precocious lil brat~☆! *obnoxious cooing noises* *shen jiu tries to stab him with his chop sticks*
But! That all stops? When Shen "I have suffered Pervs and know what they look like" Jiu gets ONE(1) look at the Palace Master talking to Su Xiyan and? *deafening mental alarms*
It's? Kinda? Obvious. When both the Spirit Beast and his lil stabby child? Break off mid-sentence to just... stare murder. Hackles raised. Only getting more murderous the longer they watch his love's "honorable elder" talk to her. Huh.... so that's NOT normal? It's something I should... look in to? Fatally perhaps?
The man is stuck, in pain, but he is a full blooded Heavenly "Not Even The God's Could Kill Us" Demon. So? His death is slow. A chipping away of ten million life points, one by one. Effective, yes, BUT...?
Only so long as he's IN the Seal... right?
His power is locked away. Stopped. In a "pinned down and AOE" Sort of way. Because anything DIRECTLY effecting? His body will laugh derisively at, then fuckin EAT.
But! He can't HEAL inside that Seal. So the chip effect IS gonna take him out. Eventually.
Is it Cruel? Very. But it's effective.
However!!!
According to Shen Yuan? Luo Binghe has been able to heal from lost limbs, in PIDM. From, we can only assume, getting stabbed through vital organs. All while being? HALF his father's blood... and a FUCKING BABY in comparison to experience.
Tianlang-jun has been rocking around for A WHILE.
Theoretically?
You COULD...? Cut him in half.
He'd fuckin walk it off. I'm completely serious. After all, so long as his HEAD and preferably his heart were in tact? Meh. It'll SUCK... but he just needs food, rest, and A LOT of QI.
Now, I'm not saying it'd be as "lol, you thought that'd WORK?" As it normally would be. He's been fucked up pretty bad. His health is delicate right now. (For the given quality of that) But like?
Collect the blood he IS bleeding. Put it under stasis, in a demonic Qi rich environment. Prep a medical bay of sorts. Bring him MEDICINE while he's IN the seal to boost him. Good ol clean water, food, and keep him up to date on the plan etc.
Then get HIS help? To cut him in half. As close to the crush point as possible! The trapped him under a mountain. Yes. His power doesn't work. EXTERNALLY. But can it work INTERNALLY? Can he prepare, mentally, for it to START working? Keep his blood from LEAVING the half that contains his brain?
Don't fall asleep, you Majesty. You need to make your own circulatory system until your lower half heals enough to have veins again.
And "oh no! The seal won't let us carry him out!"? Pssssh. You are like BABIES.
Side Step that Fucker! Who ever said we were going through the front door? We make our own rules in THIS house!
Get in the Qiankun pouch, your Majesty!
The we either run like we totally just alerted those gold wearing bastards to our jail break (cause we probably did) OR we go through the teleport method of your choice! To the medical bay. Where Tianlang-jun gets a nice, emergency, talismans(sry, I know you hate them and probably now have trauma) cleaning, and gets lovingly dumped into the blood tub.
Of blood! You know... HIS blood. The blood we saved (and Qi soaked) from him!
Have some steak. Looooots of steak, your Majesty. Mmm, those muscles repairing red meats! Bone too. Qi for days. No, no, you sit your ass back down! Healing first. THEN vengance!
