Chapter Text
Since the supposed Qi deviation, Shen Qingqiu seems almost... Pleasant to be around. That's what everyone thought at first. It didn't take long for them to get embarrassingly smitten by the character development. It was an open secret that many of the Peak Lords and even a few of his students - especially one in particular that snuck his way into Shen Qingqiu's home somehow - are very much desiring those long legs belonging to the Xiu Ya Sword.
Despite his newly acquired calm and slippery demeanor - Shen Qingqiu was often hidden in his bamboo house and hastily avoiding long conversations with his peers - it was always a delight to be graced with those brief moments of gentle talk that almost always ended up showing a crack in his unreachable and stoic facade. Qi Qingqi almost thought she was hallucinating when her shixiong bumped accidentally on her shoulder while walking with a very concentrated expression - and did she imagine a bit of harmless annoyance in his eyes? It was almost like he was pissed about a conversation happening inside his own head - and just turned to her with googly eyes, parted mouth, before coming to his senses. He smiled at her (!!!) and bowed to apologize for his carelessness (!!!!!), showing a bit of a smile. Qi Qingqi was initially stunned, left without words as her usually bitchy shixiong turned and disappeared to God knows where. He's possessed. There's no other explanation. This matter must be brought to Zhangmen-shixiong immediately!
She was absent in a mission for only three months and comes back to THIS. What happened?!
To her surprise, Yue Qingyuan laughed bittersweetly after hearing her theory. What's so funny?
"Qi-shimei, do you not remember the Qi deviation that fell upon Shen-shidi a few months back?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" she mused. "Surely Zhangmen-shixiong has to know a Qi Deviation can't be the cause for someone to become so... different! I'm certain it is possession"
"Shimei, do not fret over this issue anymore", he said with a touch of finality. "This same issue has been reported to me several times before. I was wondering when it would be your turn", he tried to hide a faint smile. "Surely Shen-shidi is indeed a lot more... gentle. Even I was expecting the same as you and your peers. But not long after the Qi-deviation and behavioural changes in Shen-shidi, this master personally escorted Wei-shidi to evaluate with Hong Jing the possibility of a possession."
"And...?"
"Mu-shidi and I believe everything can be blamed to a lack of Shen-shidi's access to some... traumatic memories. Therefore resulting in this change of temperment."
Qi Qingqi was momentarily taken aback with the implication that her hissy and semi-evil shixiong's personality was caused by traumatic experiences. She thought he was evil by birth and endlessly spoiled to end up talking back to even the sect leader - that seamed to know something none of them did. There was a feeling of guilt now that she knew she might have misinterpreted a somehow traumatized person, but also curiosity. She decided not to pry. Not right now at least. She expected to know more about her shixiong considering her peak was basically the central of gossip - she would stab anyone that had the guts to say that out loud! Even tho they wouldn't be exactly wrong.
She would rather think that her peak's specialty was espionage, even tho that was never laid in stone. Still, Zhangmen-shixiong always gave them the more subtle, political e intelligence-gathering type of missions, so it was implied. She would be a poor excuse of a Peak Lord if she did let this new information about her Shen-shixiong go without a little bit of prying. Deciding to start with a casual conversation with the sect's medical specialist Mu Qingfang, she went ahead to Qian Cao Peak, fully understanding that her target wouln't be easily convinced to willingly talk about medical files or anything that would break medical/patient confidentiality. That doesn't mean she wouln't try.
---
Wei Qingwei has an accident in the forges, giving himself a pretty bad chemical burn. Mu Qingfang was currently assessing the wound and mentally preparing the best concoction for said case. That absolutely needed restorative and analgesic properties, ASAP. Wei-shixiong was just letting the doctor know something quite curious. About how Shen-shixiong had approached him a few days before, trying to look casual and asking about said forge. How he said casually and warmingly that Wei-shidi's occupation is very dangerous and that he should have extra care when dealing with such chemicals and the forges... And just like that, he went back to where he came from.
"Is Wei-shixiong implying that this accident was somehow planned and executed by Shen-shixiong?", Mu Qingfang asked incredulously. He and Wei Qingwei were actually quite close, as he liked to think. At least they have frequent casual long conversations in the multiple times Wei Qingwei comes to be patched up. Nothing as bad as the current case. He had a burn that extended to 60% of the corporeal surface, which is quite bad. And if not for the recent modifications in the safety around those very very old forges in Wan Jian Peak - wait, now Mu Qingfang realizes what Wei Qingwei mean by what he said- "... Oh! You meant to say that Shen-shixiong somehow predicted the accident?"
"No, no... At least I don't believe so. I was just taken aback by the fact that he cared enough to say something." he responded with a pensive look on his face. "Everytime he went to Wan Jian to accompany the disciples ready to pull the swords he just kept distance and didn't bother to engage in conversation. Not even with his own disciples... Mu-shidi, I can't believe I'm saying this, but since his Qi-deviation I can't help but think Shen-shixiong is... I don't know, endearing?"
"Well, I'm glad he did say something, otherwise your case would be a lot more sinister. It would scare to death this poor doctor." Mu Qingfang had a worried (maybe terrified) look on his face. "But I have to agree with Wei-shixiong. He doesn't play hard to get anymore when it comes to his routine check-ups. And he even thanks me everytime..." Now Mu Qingfang had an almost dreamy expression, like the simple acknowledgment of his care was enough to make his week. Even more so when it came from his (former?) prickly shixiong.
"Hahahaha! What's with the smile, shidi? Should I be jealous? I always thank you for your care and services, don't I?" Wei Qingwei was beaming.
"Don't be ridiculous!", the poor doctor barked at the teasing of his flirty shixiong, while being unable to hide a blushing face. Now he wishes he had a fan like Shen-shixiong to hide his silly infatuation.
Their obvious flirting was the cue for Qi Qingqi to make her presence known, as she cleared her throat to the soon-to-be couple. Mu Qingfang stiffened immediately, as Wei Qingwei kept his smile in his nonchalant face. He was always the shameless one of the two.
Usually, Qi Qingqi would love to see scenes like that develop just to go back running to Xian Shu Peak to slip everything to Liu Mingyan and the rest of her disciples. They would all swoon, gasp or make high pitched sounds when they heard new developments on the WeiMu situation. But she came today with a mission. She had some much more jucier news!
“To what do we owe the pleasure, Qi-shimei?”, Wei Qingwei tried his best to hide the frustration on having his courtship briskly interrupted - he still had many lines to fluster that cute caring shidi of his.
“This master is here for her routine check-up…”, Qi Qingqi said, knowing it was a shitty lie. And her martial siblings knew it too, but thankfully ignoring it. “I couldn’t help but overhear the matter. I am also curious about Shen-shixiong’s sudden change of behaviour.”, she decided being forward could bring her more results.
“Well, it is the gossip of the moment.”, Wei Qingwei looked pensive, looking nowhere in particular, with a hand supporting his chin. “If I hadn’t checked him personally for possession, I would actually be scared… But I can’t deny I’m quite fond of this new change of events. I heard he’s no longer ignoring Zhangmen-shixong as much, he’s not being so bitchy anymore… Actually, he’s being quite sweet!”
“I was also suspicious of Shen-shixiong in the beginning. I’ve never heard of said effects after a Qi-deviation.”, Mu Qingfang chimed in. “He’s gaining popularity fast with his disciples even. Taking the time to personally tutor them… I know I had quite a few female Qing Jing disciples trying to steal some rare ingredients that I assume was to produce a love potion.”
“Well, that’s new. Didn’t he abuse his disciples? At least that’s the common knowledge”, Qi Qingqi probed.
“I don’t like that specific assumption”, Mu Qingfang turned his face in disagreement - was she too straight forward? - “I’ve never personally treated any Qing Jing disciples with signs of physical mistreat.”
“But not all mistreatments are physical. What if he terrorizes his disciples?”, Qi Qingqi couldn’t stop her mouth.
“And why would you assume that without evidence, Qi-shimei?”, Mu Qingfang was now unable to hide his judgement.
Qi Qingqi actually felt ashamed after being scolded by the most compassionate of her martial siblings. Maybe she was being too biased? It never occurred to her that she might just be wrong in this matter. The rumors were all over. But indeed she was yet to hear a disciple of Qing Jing coming forward to testify the veracity of the abuse. If that was a false rumor, then what else did she wrongly assume of her shixiong?
Just as she was reflecting on herself, someone else decided to join the already crowded room.
Shen Qingqiu himself.
—
Shen Qingqiu was baffled at the audacity of some of his disciples to keep the bullying against Luo Binghe.
He was able to put a leash on Ming Fan, but it was still a long way to effectively protect his precious white lotus disciple from the jealousy of his peers. Specially after Binghe was invited to move in to the spare room of the bamboo house, being selected as a direct disciple of his shizun. He anticipated some jealousy, but physical disagreements were getting out of hand.
Said bullies were properly scolded and punished, being now servants to An Ding’s disciples to do whatever chores needed to be done. That will show them! Besides, they are idiots for not realizing that actually living under the same roof with Binghe made it easy to see anything wrong with his mind and - partially - his body.
Poor thing, was covered in bruises that the bullies didn’t even have the intelligence to try to hide. He had another thing to worry about, besides the bullying, and it was the quality of the teachings in his peak. They were supposed to be smart strategists!
But that’s a problem for later. Right now, Shen Qingqiu has bigger problems to solve.
“Binghe.”
Luo Binghe stiffened to the call of his name, but nonetheless turned to his shizun, finding a surprisingly warm and concerned gaze coming from the immortal’s face. He never noticed before how handsome and ethereal his man was. A little hair almost blocking the view in those deep green eyes. He was never close enough to realize how his shizun’s lashes were long and beautiful, framing perfectly his beautiful almond-shaped eyes. He noticed he was staring with his mouth open and immediately answered the siren’s call. “Shizun. What can this disciple help with?”
“Binghe…”, Shen Qingqiu warmed his gaze even more, giving Luo Binghe the chills in his underbelly. “Why didn’t you tell this master about those bruises of yours before?”
Binghe was baffled. Before shizun’s Qi-deviation, he was the one inflicting them. But now he was worried about them. Binghe never felt so warm and protected before. He’s mentally praying that this, THIS, shizun of his never turns back from what he once was.
He didn’t even notice his eyes becoming wet, with stubborn tears refusing to fall. This fact didn’t escape Shen Qingqiu’s gaze, tho. Binghe was baffled when he realized beautiful, long arms embracing him in a completely safe little space. “You’ve been through a lot, Binghe. Please count on this master to keep you safe.”
That was it. He couldn’t hold his tears anymore. Before he noticed, he had his arms around shizun’s neck, while crying like a toddler. Once he realized, tho, he hastily putted himself together, giving his shizun a proper distance and suppressing his tears. “This disciple is sorry, Shizun! I will gladly accept any punishment shizun thinks is appropriate!”
That only made Shen Qingqiu’s eyes sadder. He once again shortened the distance between him and Binghe, “What punishment, Binghe? The only ones deserving punishments are the ones that hurt my precious disciple. And that’s been taken care of.”
Binghe feels a weird, new kind of pain in his chest.
—
Shen Qingqiu greeted his martial siblings present in the clinic, all of them focusing on the clingy disciple holding onto his robes like his master was the very picture of a god of protection.
“Mu-shidi, I’m sorry to interrupt your matters once again.”, Shen Qingqiu gave Mu Qingfang a very respectful bow before explaining his sudden appearance. “This shixiong humbly requests your expertise. My disciple has been attacked by his shixiongs and this master is worried for his well-being.”
Wei Qingwei huffed happily. Mu Qingfang immediately went to the rescue, examining Luo Binghe’s afflictions. But Qi Qingqi was simply baffled! What was she witnessing? She couldn’t even hide the shock as she evaluated her wrongness in many matters. Luckily, no one saw that ridiculous display. Shen-shixiong was too busy fretting over his disciple. Just… What?
She quickly recomposed herself. What started as a mere curiosity was now an unbearable need to know more. “Shen-shixiong… Would you be amenable to a gathering in Xian Shu Peak? I would love your company for tea.”
Even Mu Qingfang and Wei Qingwei were staring at her with a loss for words.
Shen Qingqiu was no better. “Wha- Is Qi-shimei… What?”
“This shimei would love to chat with shixiong. Please?”
“Shimei, I thought I was… banned… from your peak.”
“Well, you’ve unbanned, I suppose.”, Qi Qingqi spoke hesitantly, but curiosity got the best of her. “Can I count on your presence? I really would like to improve our relationship. We’re martial siblings after all.”
Shen Qingiu also knew this was a silly excuse. What did she actually want from him? Did she realize he was not the OG? “I- Yes, of course…”. Shen Qingqiu thought it would be better to go and find out. “I’ll be there.”
“Wonderful! I’ll send a disciple with the details.”, Qi Qingqi was weirdly happy about this. And what was that super cute hesitation in shixiong’s voice? She was half expecting him to jump at the offer just to see the beautiful fairies she hides on her peak. Maybe she’s been wrong about the leacher related rumors as well? Hum, she only heard it from Liu-shixiong’s mouth. She learned enough today to give Shen Qingqiu the benefit of the doubt, since he never answered to those rumors.
She was feeling unusually happy about the prospect! She had so much to do! Back to Xian Shu Peak to prepare!