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The Qing Jing Peak Lord was an unpleasant presence. Everyone knew it, everyone agreed. He was no good, hopeless, rotten scum. And yet for some reason, Yue Qingyuan let him get away with it all. He gave unbelievable grace and made countless excuses while Shen Qingqiu just had free reign to do whatever he wanted!
And Liu Qingge was not willing to put up with it any longer. After one of countless remarks too many, he stood with his arms folded before Yue Qingyuan.
“You have to do something about that Shen Qingqiu’s terrible attitude! Nobody can stand to deal with him, and it makes trying to work with Qing Jing Peak at all a nightmare!” He shouted, airing his complaints the way he usually did about the one he hated more than anything.
“Liu-shidi, in order for us all to coexist it is important to show others great patience.” Yue Qingyuan reminded as he usually did, his voice calm but tired.
“Great patience! We’ve all shown him more than enough, and he insists on pushing us further and further! If I may be so impudent, Zhangmen-shixiong, he is pushing you far as well.” Liu Qingge sneers with a thinly veiled disgust. “I can’t promise I won’t begin to start considering how to handle things my way.”
That made Yue Qingyuan’s stomach blossom with panic. It was almost impossible to talk anyone from Bai Zhan Peak out of a violent act once they’d become set on doing it. Much, much less the Peak Lord. His hand met his temple. “Liu-shidi, I understand Shen-shidi is hard to get along with. He has a difficult personality. But as your sect leader, I have to ask you to have faith in me. I will meet with him once more to properly address your concerns, and I will correct his behavior.”
Liu Qingge’s eyes narrowed. This was far from the first time Yue Qingyuan had promised him or others this exact sentence. He clearly had no faith, but his respect for Yue Qingyuan was much higher than his respect for Shen Qingqiu. “One last time. I trust you will actually talk to him and he will actually show a change in his behavior. Otherwise the problem will be corrected, and I will not go through you to do so.”
Yue Qingyuan sighed, his hands folded politely. He would have to get this right this time. Alright, no pressure. “This time is all I will need.”
_______
It was rather late in the evening when Yue Qingyuan was able to find a spare moment to go to the marketplace in search of inspiration to solve the little situation laid out in front of him. In all truth, he had no clue how to best rectify Shen Qingqiu’s behavior without further inflaming their strained relationship. He had talked to him before, given him gifts, bestowed no small amount of favor on him and his disciples- what could he possibly be missing that Shen Qingqiu could need?
Most of the night was spent visiting various bookstores. He thought maybe following Shen Qingqiu’s line of thought by pouring over philosophical and social texts to find an idea on what to do. He would usually read a small amount of one, possibly buy it to avoid wasting the shopkeeper’s time, and move on to the next one. They were all good collections, but they just weren’t quite what he was looking for. He accrued a rather large stack of books that he would surely never read again, and he was only more exhausted and frustrated.
When he reached a darker end of the market, he took a moment to rest. Clearly his misery showed on his face, because a beautiful woman soon showed up at his side. Fragrant smoke curled up from her pipe, a similar scent to what Shen Qingqiu would often return to the sect smelling of in the morning. “Why so glum, my lord?” She was coquettish and buxom, maybe not exactly a brothel lady, but rather adjacent to them.
“I have a bit of a difficult situation. I have a troublesome acquaintance I have to discipline, but I'm not sure what the most effective way to go about it is. I’ve collected all these texts and made no headway.” Yue Qingyuan sighed. The woman cracked a smile that seemed to grow wider and wider as he spoke. “Discipline you say? And you have no ideas on how best to execute?”
Her hands were dragging him into her dark, perfumed shop as she spoke. Yue Qingyuan sputtered, but he didn’t pull away from her. After all, she was just so fast! She sat him down and began to search for something, before placing a rather plain looking book in his hand. It was titled “Our Love in the Garden”, which Yue Qingyuan felt was a rather strange title. While the lady had her back turned to him, he opened the book and flipped through it.
From what he could see, this wasn’t an instructional or philosophy text at all. It was a work of fiction, about two lovers. A yellow book to be exact, Yue Qingyuan had confiscated (read: peeked at) quite a few in his disciple years and he had thought he’d seen it all, but he hadn’t seen anything quite like this. The story surrounded an irritable and troublesome woman who put on a show of being difficult until word of her behavior reached her lover. Once he heard about his lover’s actions, he placed her over their bed and struck her ass until she apologized and thanked him for doing so. After that… you could say they simply did what lovers do.
Of course, his first thought was to blushingly explain to the shopkeeper that she’d gravely misunderstood, but every time he looked up at her his eyes inevitably snapped back to the book. What he’d read was strange, it was unusual and sensual. He would be lying if he said he didn’t feel something when he thought of the description of the woman before and after the session described, high and haughty until her lover brought her down. It made him think of a certain someone. It made his lower stomach burn.
He didn’t know how much money he threw at her, probably enough for three books, but he ran out of that shop like it was on fire.
_______
Try as he might, Yue Qingyuan could never quite get the image of what he’d read out of his head. It distracted him in meetings, his mind wandered to it mid conversation, and it was driving him crazy. In his head he could already hear Mu Qingfang warning him about the effects of excessive lust on one’s cultivation.
Even worse, he could tell Liu Qingge was getting impatient. His eyes would wander over to Yue Qingyuan’s every time Shen Qingqiu made a snide remark. Yue Qingyuan didn’t avert his gaze, he would simply sigh and nod. He hoped Liu Qingge could just hold out for a little longer. This would be difficult, it would be unpleasant, but it was for Shen Qingqiu’s sake. For his own good.
Yue Qingyuan knew he had strange feelings surrounding what he’d read in the yellow book he bought. He’d shoved it in the top dresser of his nightstand and done his best to ignore it. It was about three nights after he bought it that this became impossible. The book once again ended up in his hand, his eyes pouring over every word that dim light danced on.
He wanted to say he was reluctant to consider it erotic. It was rather… violent. Having someone lay over the bed while you hit them repeatedly, this person you love, and making them cry and apologize. That went against everything he’d considered love to be, that if you love someone you don’t hurt them.
So why was it so tantalizing? The thought of being over someone, whispering to them that you will guide them to the proper way of being as you punish their wrongdoing. The thought of hearing them weakly whimper and cry as they arch their hips up into your movements. Yue Qingyuan truly couldn’t get those words and pictures out of his head.
So tonight, he did his best to soothe his frenzy. His cock was heavy in his hand as he lazily stroked it, his breath coming out as slow groans. It wasn’t often that he did so, but it wasn’t rare either. He pumped his hips gently while rubbing his fingers down the vein. He was a little rougher as he fondled his balls. He was imagining a smaller hand, one that surely wouldn’t be gentle. He shook his head, those thoughts were too improper.
The thought of the book, however. He sped up ever so slightly as he imagined the look of a pale ass and thighs turning red with every strike. Of tears welling up in eyes, gorgeous dark eyes. Soft pink lips bitten red and swollen with whimpers and cries barely held back. His hand moved with a fervor he’d never experienced before. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to see someone under him like that. He wanted to see someone specific under him like that.
He wondered what those cries would sound like, he wondered if maybe he’d put up a little bit of a fight. He wondered if he would maybe have to tie up those hands with soft silk to keep him from trying to hide from the pain. He wanted him to feel it and feel it all. He wondered if those teary eyes would look up at him and—
“I’m sorry Qi-ge. This one thanks you for your correction.”
He was spilling his essence over his bare hand with a barely muffled groan before he knew it. The guilt immediately began creeping in. What was wrong with him? This discipline, he had to do it to correct Shen Qingqiu’s behavior! It was what a proper sect leader should do. So why was he here, finding this kind of interest in it? It was perverse. But, it wasn’t like that was going to change it.
Quietly, he placed the yellow book back in his drawer. Wiping his hand clean, he lay back on the bed and sighed. What was he going to do with himself?
In his brain, he could hear Liu Qingge’s words. “Otherwise the problem will be corrected, and I will not go through you to do so.” It was unfortunate, but perhaps like his own teacher before him, he will have to use a little bit of violence to maintain peace and order. After all, to protect Shen Qingqiu, there was nothing he wouldn’t do, including using a firm approach. This was for his own good, for the good of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect as a whole.
_______
Shen Qingqiu’s arms were folded as he scowled in the chair across from the sect leader. He didn’t appreciate being summoned anywhere after dinner and Yue Qingyuan surely knew this, yet here the two of them were anyway. The moon was bright in the sky and it filtered in through the window of the sect leader’s office, illuminating what the lamps failed to reach. His hand tapped his fan to his palm irritably as he stared Yue Qingyuan down.
The sect leader wasn’t phased. He told himself that he was beyond used to Shen Qingqiu’s constant foul mood by now, and it wouldn’t affect what he was there to do. Hopefully his memory of the night before when he was panting like a dog in his bed wouldn’t affect it either.
“Zhangmen-shixiong, is there a reason you have summoned me? It is rather late, so do attempt to be finished with this quickly.” Shen Qingqiu did his absolute best to keep his tone civil, despite the hatefulness simmering just below his voice that he usually kept reserved for Yue Qingyuan.
“Qingqiu-shidi, I'm sure you are aware of why you’re here. It’s not the first time after all.”
Shen Qingqiu scoffed. “Of course it isn’t the first time! But it is the first time you’ve summoned me after the sun has set! No matter what that brute has complained to you about, both our time is still valuable!” His voice was almost whiny, clearly bitter with a twinge of exhaustion that did indeed almost make Yue Qingyuan want to reschedule. Almost.
“Apologies, Qingqiu-shidi. But you will find that I have chosen this hour to save you the most face I can.” Yue Qingyuan attempts to explain.
Now, Shen Qingqiu simply furrows his brow in confusion. “What could you possibly be talking about?!” How could he lose face? It would simply be more of the usual, a gentle request for Shen Qingqiu to be a little kinder. Of course he would ignore it, and they would do it all over again a couple weeks later.
Yue Qingyuan took a deep breath in. The time was now, and there was no backing out. This was for Shen Qingqiu’s sake, this is what he’s clearly needed since nothing else has worked. And while he hated taking such humiliating and harsh steps to correct his dear Xiao-Jiu, what must be done must be done. His tone was sweet and apologetic as he laid out the situation for the other.
“Qingqiu-shidi, your demeanor has caused great frustration to our martial siblings as well as yourself every single time we have gathered together. This is a problem that persists despite my best efforts to get through to you verbally. Your tension with Liu-shidi does not make for a productive relationship between your two peaks, and it decays the relationship between us all as peak lords. As you must understand, as the sect leader I can ignore this no longer. Drastic action must be taken, and I will take it tonight.”
Yue Qingyuan did his best to tell himself that the strange feeling pooling in his abdomen was simply nervousness, or maybe stress over what he was about to do. Despite it being a rather cool night, his body buzzed with warmth. Shen Qingqiu’s face twisted into a sneer that the flickering lamplight danced off of.
“Oh, Zhangmen-shixiong wants to take action against me? What will he do? Suspend me from my position? Banish me? Throw me to the wolves to fend for myself once more?” He spat, knowing exactly which words would sting the worst as he began his usual tongue lashing of his old companion.
Yue Qingyuan bit back a small chuckle in response despite the fact that Shen Qingqiu’s attack had indeed hit its mark. His Xiao-Jiu was still so dramatic even after all this time. “This sect leader hasn’t thought up anything so harsh.” He pushed his chair back to give himself plenty of room. Just his body, in the chair, in the room.
“But this sect leader does order Qingqiu-shidi to strip to his inner robes and lay himself over his knee.”
That wiped the smirk clean off Shen Qingqiu’s face. His hand stilled the fan in his hand as his eyes went wide. Yue Qingyuan took the opportunity to lean over and pluck it right out of his grasp. “And you won’t need this.”
“You! You…!” Shen Qingqiu sputtered. He was truly incensed as his face already burned with embarrassment at the mere picture of the scenario painted in his mind. “Have you lost your mind! This shidi is the head of Qing Jing Peak! An esteemed cultivator! Not a petulant child to be thrashed when it throws a tantrum!”
Yue Qingyuan admired the tassel in the fan that he was now holding, what lovely quality. The wood was well selected, and it seemed it would hold up to quite a bit of force. “Is that so? Forgive this one, with the way shidi acts at times, it can be rather hard to tell.”
Shen Qingqiu was red as wedding robes, spitting like boiling water. “How dare you! How dare you!!!”
Yue Qingyuan was secretly already beyond worked up. It was usually after their five civil sentences devolved into bitter hostility on Shen Qingqiu’s end that he would have to just walk off, not expressing any frustration that built up inside him. After all this time, he finally could do something about it. Appeasing Liu Qingge was certainly an upside, but it surely wasn’t about that anymore and he knew it.
“Qingqiu-shidi, you have the option to choose how this is done. We can resolve this here, with your cooperation, or this can be done in a manner much more inconvenient for us both.”
Which Shen Qingqiu did indeed choose, at least at first. Storming to the door, he tried his hardest to yank it open- only to find that it wouldn’t budge. It couldn’t be locked, could it? Yue Qingyuan didn’t lock the door when he entered after him. He looked down at the door and noticed a golden ring circling the knob. A security talisman, the very one that Shen Qingqiu used himself to lock his own doors. Well played.
“You are absolutely shameless!” He stormed right up to Yue Qingyuan with all the anger he could barely contain. Yue Qingyuan didn't move a single inch. Shen Qingqiu stood unmoving for a long moment, narrow eyes and clenched jaw. His hand swiftly threw off his topmost forest green layer. Yue Qingyuan ran a finger along the fan.
“More.”
The lighter green-white robes fell on top of them. He was left in his white inner robes finally. They were pulled tight enough that the contours of hidden collarbones and shapely hips were visible. Even as it was all only enough to tease, it was a beautiful treat for the eyes. Shen Qingqiu’s arms folded over his chest.
“Well? What could you possibly have planned that would require something so untoward?”
Yue Qingyuan grabbed Shen Qingqiu by one tiny wrist and pulled him down in one swift action. His chest and abdomen fit perfectly in the larger man’s lap, and he prayed his shidi wouldn’t notice that he was already starting to get interested in the scene before him. As Shen Qingqiu moved an arm to try to push himself back up, Yue Qingyuan grabbed his other wrist and pinned it against the one he was already holding. Both his wrists fit in one single hand. It was all too easy to hold him in place and pull out immortal binding cables, wrapping them firmly around both those warm, warm wrists. Shen Qingqiu was very warm to be such a cold man.
“Shidi, I understand that this may not make any sense to you. But we have reached this point due to your own behavior. But that’s no matter, this sect leader will help you improve.” Yue Qingyuan’s voice held his solid tone, but his words were gentle as ever. “I will gently strike you for a period of time, and then you will apologize and thank me for my correction. This is what you’ve needed for a long while, and I will be the one to give it to you.”
Shen Qingqiu resorted to the last defense he had, kicking his feet hard to try to move himself off. “This, this is… all of this because of that brute! Do you not see how insane this is?!”
Yue Qingyuan harshly pushes his legs back down, moving him up so that his ass was on top of his thighs. He travels one hand up his bound arms to keep his chest down. “Behave or I will make you behave, Xiao-Jiu.”
“Don’t call me that.” Shen Qingqiu hissed. Yue Qingyuan grabbed him by the back of his head and pulled his head up by his hair so he could see his face when he said “You are not the one in charge here. Not tonight.” Shen Qingqiu grit his teeth and glared, but did not argue. Yue Qingyuan released him.
“This is not about Liu-shidi alone, and you know it. This is about your attitude as a whole. You are ill mannered, hostile, and just plain difficult. You’re plenty smart enough to understand that this is to the detriment of not only our relations as Peak Lords, but to yourself as well. It should go without saying that the sect leader cannot let this be.”
In one swift movement, Shen Qingqiu’s pants were around his knees, the soft skin of his ass exposed to the air and Yue Qingyuan’s hand rested on his lower back right above it. Shen Qingqiu’s head snapped around so hard it wouldn’t be a stretch to worry that he’d break his neck, glaring with a venom that Yue Qingyuan hadn’t seen before, but was immune to in the way one was immune to poison that they regularly consumed small doses of.
Just as he’d been dreaming of, Yue Qingyuan brought his hand down on that flesh, and the sound rang throughout the room. Shen Qingqiu made a small noise of pain and surprise. His legs once again raised, almost as if to protect his vulnerable backside from another hit. Just as before, Yue Qingyuan pushed them back down.
“Xiao-Jiu, the more you struggle, the harsher this will have to be. Behave yourself for both our sakes, for I won’t do this if you don’t give me a reason.”
He brings his hand down once more to the same reaction. The noise is beyond heavenly coming from Shen Qingqiu’s throat. The warm flesh below his palm gets warmer ever so slightly. The pink flush that blossomed across was the shade of peach flowers. He could absolutely die happily with this image as the last thing he’d see. The even closer proximity to the other teased his senses with the scent of tea leaves and ink. Shen Qingqiu was both beneath his hand and all around him.
His hand was stiff and unyielding as he rained down blow after blow on Shen Qingqiu’s delicate skin. He was very equal with his placement, going from his lower back all the way to his mid thigh. Shen Qingqiu was very careful not to shout or gasp too loudly, but it would’ve been impossible to hide the sounds he was making. Those low, pained, sounds that just served to make the hardness he’d been dutifully ignoring since this scene between them began even stiffer.
And strangely enough, even though he wouldn’t dare look, it almost felt like Shen Qingqiu was getting hard as well. Unless he had another fan on him, this was the only possible explanation for a firm length against Yue Qingyuan’s thigh. Even though his mouth had been spitting every insult in the world at the thought of this very situation, now that it was happening he seemed to be into it as well.
Until Yue Qingyuan hit the sensitive spot right at the top of the valley of those two mounds and made his body jerk upwards with a hiss. Yue Qingyuan tsked.
“Xiao-Jiu, what did I tell you would happen if you didn’t remain still and orderly?” He asked, rather rhetorically. He already knew what he would do in this situation, and before Shen Qingqiu could even begin to explain, the cold stiff wood of his own fan cracked against his ass.
This time, he couldn’t help the cry he let out. “Ah! Ah.. Z-Zhangmen-sh-sh-shixiong, please..”
Almost soothingly, Yue Qingyuan rubbed his hand up and down Shen Qingqiu’s slender back. And then he struck him yet again. The wood truly was of impeccable quality, better than he had initially thought, and not a single splinter could be found even as he brought it down again and again. And if his hand did a good job at turning that white into peach flower pink, then the fan turned it sunset red.
Even more, he was shocked to find confirmation that Shen Qingqiu did indeed find the same interest in this action that he did. He was rock hard, and every strike made his body jolt forward a little, accidentally stroking his now weeping cock against the sect leader’s clothed thighs. He wasn’t making noises so openly anymore, his lips bitten until they were swollen and blissfully irritated. When they did slip out, they were equal parts moans and whimpers to cries of pain. It made Yue Qingyuan’s own cock throb with want.
This scene before him was just like what he’d imagined Shen Qingqiu would look like when this all came to be. Actually, it was far better. The view just encouraged him along, and as he looked down at Shen Qingqiu’s bruised and raw behind, he had a thought, a thought he pursued when he snapped the fan open with a crack.
Gently, Yue Qingyuan located where Shen Qingqiu seemed the most irritated- where he’d hit him the most- and softly ghosted the slats of the open fan across that area. It was a teasing motion, a gossamer of a touch, and it still pulled a delicious whine from Shen Qingqiu’s lips. He repeated it about three more times before closing the fan with the flick of a wrist and bringing it right back down again.
Right after he did so, he was treated to the most alluring vision he could ever have dreamed of. Shen Qingqiu turned his head over his shoulder, and he was a mess. His face was bright red and his eyelids were drooping, tears streaming down his face to match every little noise he’d made. And from the wet patch on Yue Qingyuan’s robe, his cock was weeping just as much as his eyes. It was a deeply pitiful sight, but he merely reminded himself that this was all for his own good in the long run. He is giving Shen Qingqiu what he needs.
“Xiao-Jiu, if you were always so nice and compliant as you are right now, we wouldn’t have to do this. This sect leader is very happy with you right now.” Shen Qingqiu’s only response was a weak sob. Genuinely soothingly, Yue Qingyuan ran a hand up his back yet again. Shen Qingqiu was so small his single hand took up half of his back. Still his Xiao-Jiu after all this time.
He opened the fan one more time to run it over that flushed skin once more before beginning his strikes back again. “We’re almost done here, just keep being good for me.” His hits were the hardest they’d been yet, pushing Shen Qingqiu’s hips farther up his thighs and stroking that stiffness even further. Yue Qingyuan felt he now understood what he’d read, mixing his pain with his pleasure, that was the key. And if his moans were anything to go by, Shen Qingqiu loved it.
But this was still a punishment, and so it was important that he finished it right. As soon as he noticed Shen Qingqiu begin to move his hips on his own, he knew it was time to bring this to an end. With the end of the fan, he gave one final hit to Shen Qingqiu’s ass and then set it aside. He used his hands, one on the shoulder blades and one on the back of his thighs to hold him in place until he was sure his peak had faded away. Shen Qingqiu made his frustration very clear before his body relaxed.
“Qingqiu-shidi, are you alright?” Yue Qingyuan inquired, his voice now devoid of the rough tone it had had since they began.
He got no response for a long moment. The silence was stifling. He was just about to ask again when a voice stripped of all its pride responded. “All is well, Zhangmen-shixiong.” But he still remained laying over his lap, limp and unmoving. Yue Qingyuan’s hand moved to stroke the hair he’d previously pulled. He used his free hand to untie the immortal binding cables.
After a moment, Shen Qingqiu rose to his feet. He bent over to pick up his robes, putting Yue Qingyuan’s work on full display. He did not speak as he put his robes back on, a little bit crooked in some places, and fixed his hair with his hand. Yue Qingyuan handed the folding fan back to Shen Qingqiu, who looked at the object for a second.
Yue Qingyuan sat in wait, but he moved his hand to cover the mess on his robes. It was going to be a pain to figure out how to leave that room without anyone noticing.
Shen Qingqiu held both his hands out in front of him and bowed deeply, hissing in pain as he did so. His face still held that lovely flush and his eyes were still wet. “This unruly disciple apologizes sincerely for the trouble he has caused his sect leader and fellow Peak Lords. He would like to thank this sect leader for his correction.”
Yue Qingyuan was pleased. This night had gone better than he could ever have dreamed. He smiled. He handed the fan on his desk back to its owner. “Keep what we have done in your mind, and do show me improvement. Otherwise I may have to revisit and possibly continue this manner of instruction. Thank you, Qingqiu-shidi. You are dismissed.”
Shen Qingqiu bowed once more, and then turned around and left. The second he was out of earshot, Yue Qingyuan took out his cock and stroked it hard. The image he had just had sprawled across him was more arousing than any image he could’ve possibly thought up himself. He was so worked up that he was cumming in seconds. It took everything in him not to make a single sound.
He saw Shen Qingqiu in a whole different light now.
_______
Liu Qingge was in the worst mood any of the Peak Lords had ever seen him in. He glared at anyone who looked in his way and every single discussion with him rapidly devolved into shouting from his end. And of course, it went without saying that Shen Qingqiu was the cause.
His animosity toward Liu Qingge had only grown like a budding tree, and every time they crossed paths they almost immediately came to blows. It was getting to the point where any time the two of them were found in the same room, the other people in the room would immediately clear out. And now, it was exclusively Shen Qingqiu that was the clear aggressor! What a truly unpleasant pair!
Liu Qingge slams his hand down on Yue Qingyuan’s desk. “Zhangmen-shxiong, I don’t understand. You said you were going to intervene, that you were going to talk to him. He’s only gotten worse! It’s like he’s going out of his way to pick a fight with me!”
Yue Qingyuan’s own words immediately slapped him across the face. “Otherwise I may have to revisit and possibly continue this manner of instruction.” Ah. Perhaps he had only made the issue worse. He swallowed hard. “Liu-shidi, I apologize. I am trying to come to an understanding with Shen-shidi-”
Liu Qingge grit his teeth. “An understanding! That wretch couldn’t comprehend anything in a civil manner if he tried for the rest of his life!” Yue Qingyuan tried to fight down the thought of how hypocritical such a statement was.
But he didn’t have the time to think about much else before Shen Qingqiu conveniently passed by his window, scowling at Liu Qingge. The Bai Zhan War God was out of the office in a split second, screaming all the way. Yue Qingyuan was on his tails, futilely trying to diffuse his temper. Perhaps his solution for the itch in the back of his mind had truly deteriorated the situation that started all this to a new low. It seems more discipline was in order for the rotten Qing Jing Peak Lord. Perhaps he’d been too gentle the first time around.
But as Cheng Luan and Xiu Ya left their sheaths, it was clear that that would simply have to wait.