Chapter Text
"Right, yeah, sure, Airplane-bro. Sure, he's a disciple of some famous criminal. And there were no signs of any of that when he joined joined one of the most powerful sects in the world. Cheap cookie cutter backstory that just cheapens Cang Qiong Mountain Sect as a whole. Honestly unneeded."
- Peerless Cucumber
A-Yan was waiting outside Liu Qingge’s house as he returned from morning training. Crunching down the path from his peak’s waterfall, Liu Qingge had spotted his sister making herself comfortable on the sun warmed stones early on in his journey down. Even from a distance he could see a brush moving quickly over the scroll on her lap.
Huffing, a wet lock of hair from his face, Liu Qingge quickened his pace.
“Hard at work?” he called over once he was close enough.
She jumped, head jerking up to glare at him like he had purposely snuck up on her.
The scroll was dried with quick burst of qi and rolled up. Something she didn’t want him to read clearly.
Liu Qingge waited for her to rise before opening his door and gesturing her in with a curt nod.
Both moved in silence as they made their way to the main hall. It was in unison that A-Yan set about sorting the tea as Liu Qingge slipped to his private quarters to change into fresh robes.
Both tasks were completed promptly and the siblings soon were able to sit in quiet unison, as their tea warmed their hands.
On their second cup, Liu Qingge broke the silence.
“Have you heard back from father?” He asked gently.
“There has been no response yet.”
“Then the sudden visit is purely for my company?” he teased.
Liu Mingyan took a long drink before resting the cup on her knees.
“Shizun and Mu-shibo have been looking into Shen-shibo further.”
Liu Qingge shook his head.
“They are both so nosey.”
“They now have reason to believe Shen-shibo was recruited into the sect at an immortal alliance conference.” Liu Qingge frowned at this but his sister continued eyeing her tea cup. “Shizun thought you might find it interesting and asked me to ‘let it slip’.”
At that he rolled his eyes.
“I will not tell her you told me so directly. “
“Thank you, Gege.” Her veil might cover her mouth, but Liu Qingge could always tell when she was smirking like that.
There was a silence as Liu Mingyan waited for him to digest this news. Liu Qingge took his time before, arriving at his question.
“They believe Shen Qingqiu was a disciple of another sect?”
“That remains to be seen.” Liu Mingyan paused, tilting her head a little as she considered the line of thought. “Has Shen-shibo ever shown signs of this?”
“No.” At her look, Liu Qingge knew he had answered too quickly. His mind ran over the facts a little too fast and a little too far away to grasp anything.
“The sect doesn’t steal disciples from smaller sects.” He settled on.
Liu Mingyan didn’t look like she believed him but spared him any further questions with a long sip of the tea.
“I take it Qi Qingqi intends to look further into this.” Liu Qingge knew Mu Qingfang would be without asking. That man had acquiesced immediately to Liu Qingge’s regularly sparing with Shen Qingqiu once it was promised that any signs of qi deviation or injury would be reported to the doctor.
“It seems Shizun will be.” Liu Mingyan tapped a nervous finger against the brim of the porcelain. “Would Gege like me to pass on anything that she finds?”
He should do the honourable thing and say no.
He should.
Liu Qingge finished his tea.
“If you must.” He ceded.
“What were you thinking?” Liu Qingge didn’t meet his shizun’s eyes, it was far easier to focus on medical ward’s old bench. Rong-shibo had only just left the room satisfied his Shizhu was, in his words, ‘well enough to make more trouble’.
Once more his shizun addressed his charge, “Were you thinking?”
Liu Qingge didn’t answer.
“Kid.” His shizun crouched to meet his eye level, “Look at me. What was going on in your head?”
He shrugged and toed at the floor. The mud on his face was beginning to dry. It itched.
“Do you even know who you were fighting?” His shizun asked.
“Shen Qingqiu.” Liu Qingge at last spoke, trying to defend himself. “I already fought him before and won.”
“Yeah, you sure did.” His shizun replied mockingly. “And did you know it was going to be him when you turned up for that fight?”
Liu Qingge hadn’t. It showed on his face.
“I’ve beaten everyone but Yue-shixiong” he protested.
“In formal matches.” his Shizun countered. “You blindly walked into a fight with an opponent you did not know, without telling anyone where you were going, armed with nothing but your ego and a training sword.”
“It’s just Shen Qingqiu.”
“Just Shen Qi- Okay, that…. is an entirely different issue. I am not getting into that kid’s problems right now.” His shizun flicked him in the forehead. “My current problem is that you. Did. Not. Think. Being a great warrior isn’t relying on brute strength, you can ask your Feng-shishu where that gets you. You need to think before you act. Liu Qingge, look at me.”
He finally raised his eyes to look at his Shizun. He looked worried…. Why?
“There is no honour in dying from stupidity. Remember that.”
“Yes, Shizun.”
“Good, now promise me no more fighting with that Shen Qingqiu. He ain’t worth the risk.”
Picking at the dirt under his fingernails, Liu Qingge nodded slowly.
Qing Jing peak’s training ground rang out with the clash of a pair of swords.
Shen Qingqiu pushed back from the locked blades and dodged the thrust Liu Qingge sent Shen Qingqiu’s way. He frowned as Shen Qingqiu gracefully sidestepped it and the returning slash that followed quickly after.
Liu Qingge had never been able to keep his promise to Peaklord Miao. He had never understood the need to, and now it was far too late to ask the man himself. A-Yan’s visit nearly two months ago had been began the slow drag of memories into his dreams and with them more questions.
Do you even know who you were fighting?
Shen-shibo was recruited into the sect at an immortal alliance conference.
He ain’t worth the risk.
Shen Qingqiu sharply ducked to avoid a blow that could have been parried. Liu Qingge grit his teeth at Liu Mingyan’s words still circling his mind.
His eyes ran over the man’s form, tracking his movements and how he fought. Shen Qingqiu never went with the most straightforward approach. He was always finding a new angle to strike from. It was like he was set on avoiding any and all predictability to his moves. And if doing so put him off form or out of stance? So be it apparently.
This removed all stability from his fighting technique. Liu Qingge could see flashes of Qing Jing peak’s style. Of the stilted stance to stance fighting from that first interpeak contest. But everything else in between was this free-flowing mess that cowered from each blow.
They believe Shen Qingqiu was a disciple of another sect?
He should have been making use of Xiu Ya’s extra chi of reach but no, instead the man slinked out of each offensive in a way that frustrated a part of Liu Qingge’s brain. But none of these oddities felt cohesive in the way you would expect even the cultivation of a minor sect’s disciple’s to be. They just felt wrong? Poor attempts at something or the results of faulty training that were only made up for by his shixiong’s quick reflexes.
Blocking a sudden slash, Liu Qingge frowned.
How had this man survived his attack in the caves with this poor a technique? How had he stopped him?
He had been too far away.
Shaking that line of questioning from his head, Liu Qingge moved in for another hit that was also avoided. Done with fighting a ghost of an opponent, Liu Qingge stepped out of the fight and called for a break.
“Goodness, is the war god getting tired?” The fan from those very same caves snapped open and covered the lower section of Shen Qingqiu’s face. It seemed to be his preferred fan, or at least it was when Liu Qingge visited.
“No.” Liu Qingge replied, eyeing his opponent’s stance. “But you are.”
Shen Qingqiu visibly bristled despite his sweat soaked hair line and heavy breathing.
“This master is nothing of the sort.” He lied but still took the damp cloth Liu Qingge offered him.
“This one’s mistake, Shixiong.”
The glare he received quirked his mouth up a notch.
“Shut up.” Shen Qingqiu grumbled.
Liu Qingge let his opponent rest an incense stick or so.
“Shixiong is dodging every hit.” He observed as neutrally as possible.
“Would Shidi prefer me to stand still instead?” was snapped back. “You will have to stop being so predictable if you wish to land a blow.”
“You could parry.”
“And feel that parry for the next month, given the strength of Liu-shidi’s blows.” So dramatic. He was pulling his strikes and Shen Qingqiu was still a cultivator. He might be weak, but he wasn’t that weak.
“Get stronger.” He chirped back.
Liu Qingge stepped out of reach just before Shen Qingqiu’s kick landed. This man and his shitty temper.
“And faster.” Liu Qingge added, knowing he was not helping one bit. His mouth slid up further into a smirk as his Shixiong’s eyebrow twitched.
“Your break is over.” Shen Qingqiu declared with the snap of his fan closing, drawing his sword once more.
“Qingge! Hey, kid. You with me? Who are you looking for?”
Liu Qingge’s focus snapped back to his Shizun.
“No one.” His shizun gave his disciple a long look then slowly folded one arm over the other and leant back on the main pole of the tent. All the disciples Cang Qiong Mountain Sect had selected to compete in the Immortal Alliance Conference were crowded in together. All noisily preparing as they were registered to compete and assigned a starting location in the arena.
Miao Gangjian maintained his gaze and Liu Qingge eventually crumbled.
“Shen Qingqiu. This one wanted to know which area he was being sent to so I could avoid him.”
His Shizun’s quiet smugness faltered for a moment before he laughed.
“Ah. I see. Well, you don’t need to worry. He isn’t competing.”
Isn’t comp-
“Why?” Liu Qingge asked, brow furrowed. “Even he should have passed the screening…”
Cang Qiong Mountain Sect required its disciples to meet an internal set of standards before being allowed to put themselves forward for the Immortal Alliance Conference. These were that the disciple should possess a spirit sword, their Peaklord believe they have skill with it, and that they have competed no more than twice before.
Easy qualifications for Liu Qingge. And what should have been an easy for ‘The Xiu Ya Sword’ who was already permitted to go out on solo missions. Then why?
“Yeah, probably would have.” His shizun mumbled with a shrug giving no explanation. “But he isn’t here so focus on what you will be facing out there. If you put in a good showing on that ranking board, I will consider letting you go off mountain with the hunting parties.”
Liu Qingge took his time and nodded his understanding. Even then his eyes kept flicking to the green of Qing Jing Peak’s robes.
He did well. Fifth out of everyone present and first among those from Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. His shizun was proud, his fellow disciples jealous. But Shen Qingqiu’s absence stayed with him.
They had returned to the mountain for a week when he had a chance seek out his Shixiong. By that point, most of the succeeding disciples had been chosen. As such, meetings outside of the formal Peaklord meetings had been arranged for them to in his shizun’s words ‘learn to put up with each other’.
In a rare fit of luck, Shen Qingqiu was actually on the mountain for this one. Liu Qingge took a seat right next to him, ignoring the implied seating order at these meetings.
Shen Qingqiu glared disgust at him from behind his fan for the offence before averting his eyes.
“This one heard Liu-shidi managed to meet Miao-shibo’s expectations at the Immortal Alliance Conference.” The fan fluttered slowly. “Well done.”
“You did not compete.” He said bluntly by passing the overly sweet mockery in Shen Qingqiu’s voice.
Shen Qingqiu stared at him for a moment. “Why would this Shixiong?” The man sneered.
“To bring honour to your peak.” Liu Qingge said. Shen Qingqiu looked at him as if he was a fool.
“There is no honour is such ridiculousness.” The man bit out with venom. In the background, Wei Qingwei and Chen Qingda’s own conversation paused.
“No honour!?” Liu Qingge scoffed. “How can you say that?”
“Unlike Liu-shidi, this Shixiong just has better uses of his time than silly competitions.” Shen Qingqiu said firmly.
Liu Qingge’s temper flared.
Both of them were confined to their peaks for the following fight.
Another dream of memories.
Liu Qingge pushed them from his mind as he bathed. The bruises from the spar the day before had long since faded overnight, but even now one still remained. Tracing fingers over his stomach, the faint tint of a handprint could barely be made out. It had been eleven months and still if he looked, he could find that mark on his skin.
A shudder wracked him body, sharp enough that he cut the soak short.
Cheng Luan under his feet, he made it to Qian Cao peak in plenty of time. A disciple guided him to Mu Qingfang’s office to wait while the man finished up his other duties. Mu Qingfang himself arrived not long before a disciple carrying a tray of fresh tea and snacks stuffed full of medicinal herbs.
Liu Qingge was convinced to take a cup while Mu Qingfang took his pulse. Once the man was assured of his health, only then did he take an alarmingly green bean roll and pour his own cup of tea.
“How can this one help, Liu-shidi?”
“You have been looking into Shen Qingqiu’s past.”
Mu Qingfang paused mid sip, then sighed.
“Yes, this one has.”
“Qi Qingqi too.” Liu Qingge said. It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.”
“You think he was from another sect?”
“There is not enough evidence for that.” Mu Qingfang dismissed with a wave. “Liu Qingge, can this one ask why you are here?”
“Why are you so fixated on Shen Qingqiu?”
The doctor regarded him for a moment.
“Because this one is… missing vital information regarding Shen-shixiong’s condition.”
“Missing?” Liu Qingge pressed.
“There are other oddities as well but I can only speculate without clear information. This one hopes that by learning our Shixiong’s past, he might be able to better treat his current condition.”
Liu Qingge frowned. “The qi deviations.”
“Yes.” Mu Qingfang swirled his tea slowly. “Does Liu Qingge understand this one’s reasons?”
He could but investigating like this…
“Shen-shixiong will not take well to going behind his back.”
“Does Liu-shidi believe Shen-shixiong will tell this one if asked directly?”
That was an easy question with a frustratingly obvious answer, still Liu Qingge rejected it. “Have you even tried?” he asked.
The doctor shock his head and sighed like Liu Qingge was being ridiculous. “I am willing to bear the consequences of my actions, after they have helped our shixiong.”
Liu Qingge grit his teeth and stiffly rose. “ Even if it means he will never trust you again?” Mu Qingfang’s expression did not change.
“If Liu-shidi wishes to confront Qi-shimei, this one recommends he do it before she leaves.”
Liu Qingge’s brow furrowed in confusion at the sharp shift in conversation.
“She’s leaving?”
“Zhangmen-shixiong has given her permission to join himself and Wei-shixiong at the annual preliminary meeting for the organising the Immortal Alliance Conference.”
“… Does he know her intentions?”
“This one can’t think why Zhangmen -shixiong would.” Liu Qingge’s fist tightened. “Are you going to divulge them?”
“Will you stop me if I do?” He asked tersely.
Mu Qingfang sighed.
“No. I will be disappointed, but I won’t stop you, Liu-shidi. I don’t think I physically could.”
Liu Qingge’s fingers fell out the fist and hung loose by his side.
That’s right. Out of their generation only Yue Qingyuan could stop him.
Or that’s how it used to be.
His arm gave a phantom ache as he left Qian Cao behind.
Carriages and carts were already leaving Ma Jiu’s stables as he arrived. Was he too late?
Scanning around for a trace of purple silks, he was instead blinded by a flash of pure white.
Blinking dots from his vision, Shen Qingqiu rushed past him atop Xiu Ya, a thunderous look upon his features. Liu Qingge followed the man’s path back up the mountain towards An Ding for a moment before remembering his mission. Running down the main path, he crested the hill as Qi Qingqi’s horse train left the peak.
Yue Qingyuan stood next to the last carriage. He looked strange in Qiong Qing Peak’s official white and silver uniform instead of his normal black Xuanduan. Going by the man’s face, it wasn’t hard to imagine what had just gone down.
The sad smile resting there tried to squirm into bemused look as Liu Qingge skid down the rest of the slope to greet him.
“Zhangmen-shixiong.” Liu Qingge said with a salute.
“Shidi was nearly too late to see this one off.”
“Yes.” Something in Liu Qingge’s body language made Yue Qingyuan bemused smile evaporated into a more curated one.
“Would shidi like to join this shixiong in the carriage for a moment?” He offered with a gesture of his sleeve. Liu Qingge took it with a nod.
The door closed and a silencing talisman was placed on it.
“Speak freely, shidi.”
“Qi Qingqi is attending the conference to look deeper into Shen Qingqiu’s past.”
Yue Qingyuan opened his mouth, closed it and then mouthed something Liu Qingge didn’t catch.
It took a moment for him to compose himself.
“Thank you for letting me know, Liu-shidi.” He readjusted his robes. “This shixiong will handle it from here.”
Liu Qingge grunted in acknowledgement before considering for a moment.
“…Is there something in Shen-shixiong’s past that should remain hidden?”
“Why would, Liu-shidi believe such a thing?”
Liu Qingge observed Yue Qingyuan for a moment before answering slowly.
“I recalled something my Shizun said a long time ago.”
Yue Qingyuan only smiled sadly and shock his head.
“Many of the previous generation did not approve of Shen Qingqiu but…for as long as this Yue has known him,” Yue Qingyuan met Liu Qingge’s eyes, ”Qingqiu-shidi has always made the choice that leads to the most right and noble outcome, even when it cannot be achieved by noble means or will bring him great harm.”
Cang Qiong Mountain Sect was far bigger than then Liu Mingdao had expected.
He had known in a vague way that it would be as a mountain range. There was a mountain range near his home. He just hadn’t realised how different the size of mountains could be.
His mother held his hand as they moved with the crowd towards the canyon that formed between the two largest peaks. Craning his head up, Liu Mingdao couldn’t even see the summit of the lowest one.
“Focus.” His mother cautioned, tugging him out the way of someone heading the other way.
He nodded and began to pay attention to where they were going. There were so many people. Most of them children far bigger and older than Liu Mingdao. That didn’t matter. His brother was taller and older than him too and Liu Mingdao was still the far better fighter.
Liu Minghai had said so himself as he saw Liu Mingdao and his mother off. His father had merely grunted at the remark, as the first wife hurriedly guided Lie Minghai back into the compound.
Liu Mingdao wasn’t going to lose to any of them. Especially that one. Here was a crowd around a boy at least twice Liu Mingdao’s height. He was basically a man! A stern but gentle face as he strode forward. A giant but, Liu Mingdao noted glancing down, not one wearing any shoes. Did he leave them at home? That was stupid. The kids following him didn’t seem to have any shoes either. Their feet would end up sore.
As everyone moved forward, the crowd grew in size. Cultivators flew overhead, ordering people to clear the way. The tall boy and his group continued moving as Liu Mingdao’s mother scooped him up to follow. They came to the edge of the crowd and Liu Mingdao could see a wide flat bare valley. Every few chi a child was digging. One of the cultivators was directing the incoming children where they were to go.
Soon it was Liu Mingdao’s turn, his mother set him down and when he tried to move forward did not follow with him. Confused, Liu Mingdao tugged at her hand.
“No, my child. I can’t come with you.” She pulled him into her arms and whispered in his ear. “Peaklord Ti knows you are coming, so just stay put until then.”
He hummed his understanding, stepping back into a small salute before letting himself be guided away.
He had to focus. He had to make his family proud. He was going to be the strongest.
Kneeling in the dirt he repeated those three things over and over again to himself.
“Uh, kid?” Liu Mingdao looked up at the cultivator who had shown him where to kneel. “You have to dig a hole.”
Liu Mingdao looked around, everyone was digging with their hands. Even the tall boy. He was carving out a very deep hole, mud speckled over his determined face.
Liu Mingdao wasn’t going to lose to him.
He stared at his hands for a moment, at his still growing pudgy little fingers. He was going to be stronger than them all.
Forming a fist, he thrust it into the earth. It hurt a lot more than punching his tutor’s hand had. Pulling out his first fist full of dirt, he did it again and again.
Soon he had the beginnings of a hole. Looking over, the tall boy’s was still bigger than his own.
Liu Mingdao hmphed and kept digging. He wasn’t going to be beaten by a boy with no shoes!
His small fingers and trimmed nails did not help him as he clawed out lumps of dirt. He eventually dug deep enough that the dirt under his knees kept shifting and tumbling in. So now in between removing lumps of dirt he was having to slap at the edge nearest himself least he fall and ruin his hard work.
The world narrowed to just himself and his hole. Nothing else mattered. He was down up to beyond his elbows when a shadow stepped over him and said something. Liu Mingdao didn’t care, he had a hole to dig, and he’d do it without the sun’s light if need be.
The figure causing the shadow spoke again, and when Liu Mingdao merely removed another chunk of dirt, let out a laugh.
His next punch into the earth missed as the ground vanished out from under him. From this angle, Liu Mingdao became aware of a few things. Firstly, the figure was a tall broad shouldered young man dressed in black. He wasn’t ugly, just not handsome the way Liu Mingdao’s own father was. His face was closer to the tough look of his family guard with a strange air to his eyes that didn’t match his youthful features. Secondly, that this man was holding him aloft by the back of his robes and laughing. He had halted Liu Mingdao’s digging to laugh at him.
Even an opponent as large as this would not stop Liu Mingdao, so he took hold of the hand holding him up and using that as an anchor point kicked out at the laughing man’s face. His first kick stopped the laughter, the second and third were only met with confusion, his fourth was stopped by the man’s other hand and how he was being held switched from a grip on the collar of his robes to being dangled by his ankle. Liu Mingdao kept kicking even with the position change.
“What the hell kid!? Do you want to be my disciple or not!?”
Wait was this man-
“Peaklord Ti?”
“NO!??” The man bellowed utter confusion crossing his face. Behind both of them someone else began to laugh. The source of this laughter was a far shorter man in pale green.
“It is not funny.” Grumbled the man holding him.
The man in green apparently disagreed as he continued laughing until he had to wipe tears from his eyes. “I take it, young one, you would be the Liu Clan’s Master Mingdao?”
Liu Mingdao had stopped kicking by this point and nodded slowly, his world still upside down.
“Wait, shit. Was this one of your ones?” At the realisation of his identify, Liu Mingdao was carefully lowered to the ground to allow him to stand upright once more.
The man in green crouched to his level and greeted him with a soft smile. He smelt of lotus flowers, Liu Mingdao noted, eyeing the ornated silver crown in the man’s brown hair.
“Hello young one, this master is Peaklord Ti. Your mother had told me of your arrival, but it seems this master was too late in finding you. Young master, my shidi has taken a liking to you. Would you do him the honour of becoming his disciple?”
“Hey! I don’t want your scraps!”
“Miao-shidi had picked the child out before he knew of my involvement with him. Surely you would not abandon your claim, just by my arrival?”
“Tch!”
“What say you child? What do you wish to do? Why did you come to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect?”
Liu Mingdao thought and scrubbed at the drying mud he could finally feel on his forehead. Belatedly he realised his hands were still covered in mud and he had only made it worse.
“I want to be the strongest.” He said at last. Peaklord Ti smile softened further and a hand gentle smoothed back the hair that come undone from its tie.
“Shidi. This master retracts any claim to the boy. Take him if you wish.” Peaklord Ti rose stepping back, humming a tune under his breath. The first man scowled at him before returning his attention to Liu Mingdao.
“The strongest, huh? My peak is that one over here.” He pointedto the side with his chin. ”If you really want to be the strongest, kid, then climb it and this master will train you. Don’t expect it to be easy though, or that your fancy family title will save your arse. Got it?”
Liu Mingdao looked to where the man had pointed. There was a path up the side of the mountain that was being guarded by disciples in black robes. It was a steep shale cliff that continued up out of view.
If he wanted to be strongest, he just had to go up there?
Glancing back, the tall boy, he’d been looking to best was being addressed by another tall man wearing a silver crown. The man was dressed in flowing white robes with a stern eyes and a sneer as he gestured for the boy to follow.
Liu Mingdao watched him go before turning back to the man in black, snapping out a salute and heading for the path.
Behind he heard Peaklord Ti and his shidi exchange words.
“You sure about this?”
“Oh please, like this master would ever take on a disciple as feral as that boy.”
Like anything he wasn’t meant to hear, Liu Mingdao ignored it and kept walking.
Liu Qingge was awoken by loud knocking.
Memories sloshed around his head for a moment before the waking world settled into place.
There was another loud knock.
Pulling on fresh robes, he hauled himself out of bed.
Mu Qingfang stood on the other side of the door ready to knock again.
Liu Qingge blinked slowly at him.
“This one has been thinking on what Shidi said.” The doctor began before fully taking in Liu Qingge’s appearance. “Uh?”
“It’s early.” Liu Qingge mumbled out.
“This one … hadn’t noticed . He hasn’t slept.”
“Bad.” Liu Qingge scolded rubbing his eyes to remove some of the remaining tiredness.
“Beside the point,” Liu Qingge raised an eyebrow at the doctor for that. “You were right.”
“Okay.”
“About Shen-shixiong.” Mu Qingfang clarified.
“Yes.”
“Yeahhhhh…..”
Liu Qingge waited for Mu Qingfang to continue.
“Would Liu-shidi be willing to accompany this one to check on Shen-shixiong this morning?”
Liu Qingge stared at Mu Qingfang until his eyes gave another slow sticky blink. “After breakfast.” He decided turning on his heel to head further into his house.
“That is perfectly reasonable.” Called Mu Qingfang from the door. “Should this one come in or … ?”
“Stay. I will be out soon.”
He didn’t take long to wash his face, and properly see to his appearance, capturing Mu Qingfang by the sleeve on his way down towards the mess hall. The doctor let himself be dragged along.
The cooks had only just arrived from Zui Xian but the Peaklords were quickly portioned out fresh rice and broth. The early hour meant they took their meal undisturbed in the corner of hall, with some of his disciples only just waddling in dressed in sleeping robes as they finished.
Seeing their Peaklord and the head doctor of the sect, a few wisely turned around at the door. The rest did their best to draw as little attention to themselves as possible.
Food consumed, Liu Qingge was now much more ready to handle what the day threw at him.
“Does Shen Qingqiu know you will be visiting him this morning?” He asked, setting down his chopsticks.
“Not as such.” So, that was a no. “But this doctor has his concerns about Shen-shixiong’s health and wished to check all was well.”
“Because of the fight with Yue Qingyuan two days ago?”
“……the what?”
“The fight? At Ma Jiu Peak?”
“Well, that just gives this one another reason.” Said the doctor tensely, raising form his seat.
Liu Qingge followed suit and waited until they were crossing out of Bai Zhan peak before he asked, “What was Mu Qingfang’s reason before?”
“My reason for what?” Asked the doctor. He was walking quite quickly, attention focus solely forward.
“To visit Shen-shixiong.”
“Oh. Uh, This one had reason to believe he would be upset with Zhangemen-shixiong attending the immortal alliance conference.”
The immortal alliance conference?
“Why?” Liu Qingge asked brows furrowed.
Mu Qingfang glanced at a passing disciple, who wisely quickened their pace. “I will explain once we arrive.”
They talked very little as they passed through Wan Jian Peak and took the bridge over to the crossroads of Bian Jie, Xian Shu and Si Chou peaks. They took turn to climb up towards the later before moving on towards Qing Jing peak.
Despite today being the Dragon Boat festival, nominally a day off, Qing Jing’s classes were already underway. Disciples buzzed around the mess hall. Some read through long scrolls, some had instruments and a group of five were feverishly finishing their paintings in between mouthfuls of rice. Exhaustion suggested, they had been working on them since the day before.
Mu Qingfang tutted under his breath at the sight but kept moving. Liu Qingge did not point out the hypocrisy. They passed over the bridge and by the office hall. Liu Qingge felt more than saw a few hallmasters take note of them as they passed. There was some rapid discussion behind them, and then some shoving as one ran further into the building.
Liu Qingge was now a fairly regular face on the peak. His visits had never warranted that behaviour before. A hunch formed in the back of his mind as he followed Mu Qingfang towards the Bamboo Hut.
Two boys stood in front of it speaking in hushed tones.
“What if he noticed?”
“Did shidi use the silencing talisman this one gave him?”
“Yes.” replied the smaller of the pair, still sounding unsure.
“Did Luo-shidi give shizun a reason to check on him last night?”
“No.”
“Then we are fine.” Reassured the boy that Liu Qingge recognised as Shen Qingqiu’s head disciple. “You were back before dawn so he would not have a way to know. “
“But what if he does?”
“Shizhi, can this doctor help you?” The smaller boy whined.
Both boys froze up.
“Greeting Mu-shishu!” The elder one said quickly dropping into a salute.
“At ease Ming-shizhi. This one and Liu-shidi are here to see your Shizun. Would you be so good to announce us?”
Head Disciple Ming hesitated mouth fluttering around uselessly.
Mu Qingfang tilted his head a little at the hesitation.
The boy was saved from having to answer by a group of three hallmasters jogging up the path behind them.
“Peaklords!”
The front runner called out. A second hallmaster followed her, ignored the Peaklords and slipped down beside the two boys.
“Disciple Ming, Disciple Luo go to your classes right now. Don’t you dare be late. “
Neither disciple made any objections as they were quickly escorted out of sight.
“Peaklord Mu. Peaklord Liu” Greeted the first Hallmaster. The third Hallmaster catching his breath behind her.
“Hallmaster, this doctor was just wishing to visit his Shixiong, but it seems he can be of assistance?”
“I, um, no. I mean yes. I, this Hallmaster, um.” The first Hallmaster looked to her gasping companion for support.
Man behind her finally straightened up. “Peaklord Shen is not here.” He got out, breathing calming down with a firm cough.
“Then where may this one find him?” Mu Qingfang asked.
The man opened his mouth to answer and was interrupted by the first Hallmaster. “This one is sure he will be back by this afternoon.”
“Back from where?”
Liu Qingge wasn’t sure if it was the faces the hallmasters made in response or just the delay of all the information piecing itself together in his mind.
“He’s at that brothel again, isn’t he?” He said, voice devoid of emotion. The woman went to object but was beat out by the man just gruffly admitting “Yeah.”
“Jiang-shidi!”
“They would have figured it out eventually.” He got a scolding look for his excuses.
Mu Qingfang had his head in his hands.
The male hall master shrugged. “Well, at least we know where he’s gone to sulk.”
Or at least where he had been heading. “I will bring him back.” Said Liu Qingge, having made up his mind.
“Liu-shidi.” Mu Qingfang said warily. “Are you certain you know where he is?”
“I will bring him back.” Liu Qingge repeated with a nod.
“Safe travels then, shidi.”