pretend to be a fox pretending to be a bear pretending to be a fox

by pennydaniels

Summary:

Ming Fan is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his position as Head Disciple and help his Shizun.

It had all started a little earlier than Ming Fan had first noticed. But how could he be blamed for that? Ultimately it was his good fortune as Head Disciple of Qing Jing Peak (appointed personally by Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu himself) that he wasn’t the kind of person who held too much in his heart or looked too deeply for trouble. He was the type of person that did his work and stuck to his principles and overall kept a healthy sense of self-discipline. Anyone reasonable would agree with that assessment. 

 

As a result the “first sign” he had missed was when Shizun didn’t attend lessons one sunny morning and also didn’t send any kind of message to suggest why he wasn’t present. Ming Fan of course hadn’t missed this sign, he simply hadn’t yet connected it to everything else. There admittedly may even have been earlier happenings that had entirely passed him by when raking his memory. Therefore, this was the earliest sign. 

 

On that picturesque morning there was, as far as Ming Fan knew, no Sect-wide crisis that had drawn Shizun’s attention away, no last minute meetings, no Jianghu disasters. It was a lovely day and on days such as these Shizun enjoyed attending the senior disciples’ poetry lessons and tearing both them and Hallmaster Jing to shreds with his necessary criticisms. It was his habit and a habit that Ming Fan, as his personally appointed Head Disciple, was quite confident Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu enjoyed. 

 

Ming Fan, as Head Disciple, had been asked to check up on Shizun and he had taken on the task with his usual aplomb. Shizun’s home looked normal from the outside, quiet of course, and Ming Fan had announced himself by knocking sharply on the door before retreating off the front porch onto the path. 

 

“Shizun.” He called, mindful to pitch his voice so it was loud enough to carry but not too loud as to be alarming, “This disciple has come to bring you some correspondence.” There was indeed a small pile of letters in his hands, freshly collected, that would buffer this visit. After all he couldn’t very well march in and ask Shizun if he was feeling ill or if he had forgotten the lesson could he? How could he save his master any face acting like that!

 

There was a loud crash from inside the bamboo house in response. Ming Fan startled and then began to count, slowly, to seven. After he had reached nine he decided it was time to risk matters. 

 

“Shizun.” He called, very loudly while walking heavy-footed towards the door, “This disciple is entering to drop off your correspondence.”

 

There was no response and when Ming Fan opened the door and entered the bamboo cottage he found Shizun standing in the middle of the room in his sleep robes with a bronze mirror held in his left hand. Ming Fan restrained a masterful yelp- he was above such petty things! It wasn’t his first time seeing Shizun in a less than dignified state and Shizun always wore extremely proper sleep robes so there really was nothing to comment on. 

 

As always, the best tried and truth method was to soldier on as if everything was entirely ordinary, Shizun was adept at managing his minor and unremarkable qi deviations on his own and Ming Fan would only draw his ire by pointing out stupid things like the fact that he was wearing his sleeping robes late into the morning and had also knocked over a decorative vase. 

 

Shizun’s gaze whipped to him as he entered and his master dropped the mirror on the floor. 

 

“This disciple will tidy for Shizun.” Ming Fan said with mature forbearance. He dropped off the correspondence on Shizun’s desk and went for the vase first, moving slowly and keeping his back bowed in case Shizun would rather order him gone. 

 

“Ming-shixiong-” Shizun started and cut themselves off. 

 

Ming Fan startled at the address. How embarrassing for Shizun to address him that way! Ming Fan would certainly not mention it! As a disciple he knew his duties and was beyond reproach in every way! He would not humiliate his master! 

 

“Ming… Disciple Ming.” Shizun corrected. His voice was slightly shaky but his posture was straight when Ming Fan peeked over as he picked the vase back up and set it to rights. 

 

“Yes Shizun?”

 

“Is Ge- Liu. Liu Qingge. Your martial uncle Liu, is he on Bai Zhan Peak? What is the date? Has he left the Sect?”

 

The questions tripped over each other rather quickly, Ming Fan knew better than to try and straighten it all out out loud. “Yes Shizun, this disciple believes Liu-shishu is on Bai Zhan Peak currently.”

 

Shizun nodded, a very jerky movement, “Could I trouble you to- Disciple Ming should go and fetch him.”

 

Fetch Liu-shishu?! Ming Fan felt that of the tasks Shizun could give him this was a rather hard one. There must be a good reason, Shizun has never invited Liu-shishu to Qing Jing even once before but perhaps… Shizun’s presentation and this request… there must be something big going on! Something dangerous!

 

“Certainly Shizun.” There was no use in asking for more clarification or any sort of reason to accompany the instruction so Ming Fan simply turned and left to go do as instructed. 

 

After all, when Shizun made a request in that way it meant “right now! Go right now!”, so he left the bronze mirror on the floor and started to run once he was out of sight of the bamboo cottage, tripping down the main path to the gate. Thankfully his fellow disciples were all in lessons so there was no useless commentary as he sprinted to the rainbow bridge, nor should there be! The last time Ming Fan had been waylaid on a task due to Hallmaster Song’s meddling Shizun had been so infuriated he’d demoted (former Hallmaster) Song in as little time as it took Ming Fan to finally be allowed to run off and complete his task. 

 

He boarded his sword when he finally reached the gate and took off. It would take… two incense sticks to reach Bai Zhan and then… then he would have to find Peak Lord Liu and deal with those bothersome Bai Zhan disciples… Ming Fan allowed himself a few moments to feel very sorry for himself before he hardened his resolve. He couldn’t fail!

 

*

 

Ming Fan was failing miserably. 

 

“Liu-shishu, this disciple is-”

 

“If Shen Qingqiu wants me to come to Qing Jing he can ask me himself.” Liu-shishu didn’t even look his way as he spoke, resheathing his sword and marching away. 

 

Ming Fan ran to keep up, ready to start tearing at his hair, “This disciple’s master has a serious matter to discuss-”

 

“Then he could have written me a message. Go back and tell him that.” 

 

Without even expending that much effort Liu-shishu had effortlessly outpaced Ming Fan who was already rather winded from having to argue his way onto Bai Zhan and then arguing to be told where the Peak Lord was and then making his request to Liu-shishu and being brushed off this way. 

 

Shizun was going to be furious….

 

Ming Fan swallowed thickly and steeled himself. Ask for a message… yes. Yes he could do that. And Shizun would write the message and not berate Ming Fan and…. 

 

He knew Bai Zhan was the wrong kind of place to droop and therefore promised himself he would take some time to do so later. Much later once this had been sorted out and he was safely tucked away in his room on Qing Jing. 

 

If he was even allowed to go there rather than spending the night kneeling outside of the punishment hall for failing to drag Liu-shishu off Bai Zhan. 

 

Because he had been left entirely alone on his isolated training ground, bracketed by a crater on one side and a boulder three times his height on the other, Ming Fan allowed himself a very short droop. 

 

*

 

“This disciple is useless and… and useless.” Ming Fan stalled for a second word to use and ended up stupidly repeating himself. Thankfully no comment was forthcoming from Shizun. “Liu-shishu said he would not come without a message from Shizun calling for his presence, this disciple explained to him-”

 

“It’s alright.” Shizun, who was still in his sleep robes and who seemed to have rummaged through every drawer in his main room in Ming Fan’s absence, crossed the table to his desk and kneeled, pulling paper and ink closer to himself. 

 

“This disciple will grind your ink!” Ming Fan rushed over, eager to redeem himself.

 

Shizun, who must have actually been in quite a good mood, inclined his head in thanks as Ming Fan prepared his ink. With quick movements he dipped his brush and began to write, Ming Fan helpfully looked away so he couldn’t be said to be snooping as unbecoming for a disciple. 

 

“Shizun, should this disciple arrange one of the pavilions to host Liu-shishu for your meeting?” He wondered, knowing Shizun absolutely would not want him in his Bamboo cottage.

 

Shizun shook his head and completed his missive, folding it neatly and not even stamping it, simply handing it to Ming Fan. 

 

Ming Fan knew a dismissal when he received one so he only bowed and thanked his master before once more sprinting off down to the bridge. This time some of his fellow disciples had left their lessons so he tried to slow his pace when passing them and then sped up once more when out of sight. It wouldn’t do to draw people’s curiosity and gossip and all of that, though likely the fact that he had visited Bai Zhan this morning could already be considered topic enough. Hopefully those Bai Zhan idiots would be too stupid to mention it to anyone off their own peak. 

 

Boarding his sword Ming Fan sent up a quick prayer that this message may be enough, Shizun had been in a good mood but he really didn’t have confidence in that lasting if he came back empty handed twice in a row.

 

*

 

As Liu-shishu read the short message his eyes slowly widened and then set in a scowl fierce enough to unnerve Ming Fan completely. Without another word he boarded his sword and launched off the ground with enough force to blow Ming Fan back slightly. 

 

Oh no. 

 

He would head straight for the Bamboo cottage and Shizun would be unprepared! This was a disaster!

 

Ming Fan immediately boarded his own sword and took off after him, flying low to disguise the rudeness of taking off in the middle of another peak, and chased Liu-shishu back to Qing Jing with no hope that he would actually catch him. He followed that sword path back with dismay as it dipped at Qing Jing right above Shizun’s home. This was terrible!

 

Ming Fan couldn’t land his sword in Shizun’s own garden and therefore took himself down in the nearest empty clearing before putting away his sword and running for the Bamboo house. He was short of breath and had even begun to sweat. This morning was becoming a nightmare!

 

Ming Fan slowed when he reached the house, running the last few steps to the porch, and then walking calmly to the door which was open, having been wrenched right off the hinges to dangle precariously in its tracks. Oh no. 

 

Ming Fan crossed the last few steps, “Shizun,” He called, “This disciple has returned-”

 

Ah! Shizun and Liu-shishu were embracing! They were standing barely a cun apart and Liu-shishu was holding Shizun’s arms! What was this?!

 

“Shizun!” Ming Fan ducked his head into a bow, “This disciple can fetch tea and refreshments?”

 

“Not necessary. Get out.” Liu-shishu’s words were very short. 

 

“Ge- Peak Lord Liu means that we require some privacy for discussions.”

 

“Yes, this disciple shall take his leave.” Was Shizun just about to call Liu-shishu Ge?!

 

Ming Fan backed away in his bow and when he reached the broken door tried to slide it back closed with only a little success. At least it covered the doorway now.

 

Backing away down the path he waited until he was out of the sight of the windows before putting his hands in his hair and staring unseeingly at the ground.

 

*

 

As Head Disciple Ming Fan’s role was varied and wide-reaching. He was involved in almost all daily tasks on the Peak and had some form of management in all areas alongside his lessons and own learning.

 

Above everything else he is Shen Qingqiu’s Head Disciple and that means his role assisting Shizun comes before all other roles. Shizun is not the kind of master that considers his Head Disciple an extension of himself and Ming Fan is not the kind of disciple that has unfettered access to his master’s home and correspondence and is allowed to always speak in his stead. He does speak in his stead when Shizun commands, and reads correspondence when Shizun directs and does anything at Shizun’s explicit request. Shizun does not appreciate disciples who overstep their boundaries. He also does not appreciate disciples who cannot anticipate what he wants and act accordingly. 

 

Ming Fan gives it until the evening and then makes his way back to the Bamboo cottage. Shizun hasn’t called for him, nor anyone else, for the rest of the day and no one on the Peak has yet said anything about seeing Liu-shishu wandering around so it seems that the two of them have only been… sitting in Shizun’s home for the entire day. 

 

Ming Fan, as a proper Head Disciple, does not think about that any more deeply than he needs to. 

 

“Shizun.” He calls, announcing himself outside of the broken door, “This disciple has returned with the senior disciples’ poetry compositions from this morning, would Shizun want this disciple to drop off the composition for this attention?”

 

There’s the sound of talking inside of the house, discussion of what he’s said. It sounds as though there’s more than two people in there… 

 

“Shizun-”

 

“Leave them outside.” Shizun calls. 

 

Ming Fan blinks, “This disciple shall leave them on the porch.” He puts the scrolls down on the ground and backs up a step, “Does Shizun require this disciple to bring the evening meal?”

 

There’s a long pause followed by more talk from inside. Is that a woman’s voice? Could it be Qi-shigu? But how could she have come without Ming Fan knowing about it…

 

“Yes. Please leave it on the porch when you do.”

 

“Yes Shizun.”

 

There must be a serious issue occurring for Shizun to be having such a secretive and serious meeting with Liu-shishu and… perhaps Qi-Shigu though the voice hadn’t sounded quite like her… not that Ming Fan has had many occasions to hear her speak outside of Peak Lords meetings. 

 

More importantly for the evening’s meal should he prepare enough for three people? Or at least enough for two people… or is that presumptuous, certainly three people would be since Ming Fan isn’t supposed to know there are three people inside. Or maybe he is, and that’s why they had been speaking rather loudly. 

 

Enough for three people then, if Ming Fan sets out enough cutlery for four people on the tray there’s enough plausible deniability to say the kitchens had done it that way and sweep away any accusations of overstepping. 

 

Pleased with his plan, Ming Fan nods to himself and heads off towards the Peak’s kitchen.

 

*

 

The woman is Liu Mingyan. 

 

Ming Fan is presumably not meant to know this but the door is still broken and has tilted off its precarious perch when he returns to drop off the meal. From the gap in the door, as he approaches, he sees Liu-shishu who appears to be pacing and then as he reaches the top of the path a woman appears in the gap, wearing Xian Shu robes with a gossamer veil covering her face. 

 

Liu Mingyan!

 

Ming Fan feels himself blush though of course she hasn’t looked at him. He’s seen Liu Mingyan a few times, at the Peak Lords meetings the Head Disciples are permitted to join and has always felt a little… well, she’s the most beautiful woman in the Jianghu, he certainly isn’t alone in his admiration. 

 

Even the image of her eyes and posture as she walked behind Qi-shigu off Qiong Ding Peak impressed Ming Fan. They’d only spoken once and that was when, as Head Disciples, they’d been ordered to leave the meeting room part way through as the discussion had become more sensitive than they should hear. Along with the rest of his cohort Ming Fan had bowed and saluted and left the room, him second in line as the Head Disciple of the second ranked peak. There had been two disciples between him and Liu Mingyan and once they had left the main meeting hall both had attempted to spark up conversation with her. 

 

Ming Fan, who rather wanted to set himself apart from those small minded folk, had kept walking. When he had reached the gate of Qiong Ding and the rainbow bridge it seemed that Liu Mingyan had shaken off those others and outpaced them, resulting in the two of them leaving Qiong Ding at the same time, albeit in different directions. 

 

“Good day Liu-shimei.” Ming Fan had greeted, saluting with his heart pounding. 

 

Liu Mingyan had bowed and saluted in turn, “Good day Ming-shixiong.”

 

They had then turned and walked in opposite directions, Ming Fan hadn’t looked back even once, even when he knew they were far away enough from each other that she probably wouldn’t notice. 

 

Now she was on Qing Jing Peak, in Shizun’s home and looked to be pacing along with her brother. 

 

“Shizun.” Ming Fan called, because the only thing worse than speaking up was being caught lingering and not speaking up, “This disciple has left the evening meal on the porch. Does Shizun require anything else this evening?”

 

Through the gap in the door Liu Mingyan turned and their eyes met. Ming Fan, caught between trying to decide if acknowledging her or not would be the correct course of action, chose to acknowledge her. It was too impossible otherwise, especially now that they had made eye contact. 

 

He nodded at her through the gap and saluted, though not with as much force as he would have done if they had truly been face to face. 

 

 Liu Mingyan looked back at him and then narrowed her eyes, she didn’t nod back and instead turned her back and walked out of sight. 

 

“That will be all Disciple Ming.” Shizun called. “Many thanks.”

 

Ming Fan was so struck by the dismissal from Liu Mingyan, who had always been perfectly and emotionlessly congenial, that he didn’t have the wherewithal to consider Shizun that had thanked him for the first time until much later. 

 

*

 

The next morning the door was still broken but had been moved with some thought so it now properly covered the open doorway with no gaps. 

 

“Shizun.” Ming Fan called, “This disciple has brought the Hallmaster’s reports, should this disciple leave them on the porch?”

 

There was the sound of a shuffle within the house and then Shizun’s voice rang out, slightly hoarse, “Yes. Thank you, Disciple Ming.”

 

Thanked for a second time in less than a full day. Ming Fan felt rather uncomfortable about it though there was no good reason why. Shizun likely was just trying to save face in front of Liu-shishu and Liu Mingyan, if they were still there. If they were… where had they all slept? Or perhaps they hadn’t slept, both Peak Lords didn’t require it after all. 

 

Ming Fan placed down the reports, “Shizun,” He called, “Would you like this disciple to bring the morning meal?”

 

There was another shuffle and the sound of talking, though Ming Fan couldn’t tell if there were only two or indeed three people.

 

“Yes.” Shizun finally called back. 

 

As there was no criticism forthcoming over Ming Fan’s liberal provision of cutlery the night before he decided four sets were the proper way to go. Maybe there were four people inside in any case, maybe Qi-shigu really was also there! 

 

Task set Ming Fan hurried off, he hadn’t been to any classes yet but that was the way of things when Shizun required his help. Not that Shizun had ever pulled him out of his regular tasks in this particular fashion before but Ming Fan has had periods previously where he would camp (not literally!) himself somewhere near the bamboo house to ensure he could be there at Shizun’s beck and call rather than allow Shizun to have to leave the bamboo house after a bad qi-deviation and lose face. 

 

Like yesterday! Shizun wandering the peak in his sleep robes really should be avoided!

 

“Ming-shixiong!” 

 

“Ning-shimei.” Ming Fan greeted, keeping pace to the kitchens.

“What are you up to?” Ning Yingying asked, when she looked at him that way her eyes looked even bigger and.. Ah! Ming Fan couldn't be thinking this way, he had so much to do!

 

“I’m getting Shizun’s morning meal from the kitchens. Don’t you have sword practice with Hallmaster Qian?”

 

“Mm, Hallmaster Qian cancelled the lesson this morning, they didn’t even say why! So I’m a little bored…”

 

“Cancelled the lesson?!”

 

“Mm, I think it’s because Shizun’s away, they always do that when Shizun’s not on the peak.”

 

“Shizun is on the peak!” Hallmaster Qian! Just wait until Ming Fan reports you to Shizun! 

 

“Really? But I haven’t seen him walking around?”

 

“He’s in the middle of something very important.” Ming Fan explains, "He's in the bamboo house right now.”

 

“Really? Then… does Ming-shixiong need my help with delivering the meal?”

 

A conundrum has presented itself to Ming Fan, a war of such between his enjoyment of spending time with Ning Yingying and his foreknowledge that inviting her help will cause some trouble. 

 

Well… if she doesn’t carry the meal then there’s no danger of her dropping it, right? And once they deliver it it’ll be the two of them alone and they’ll have some free time to themselves to walk back to the main hall and have a chat on the way… 

 

“Yes, this shixiong would be grateful for the help.”

 

“Yay!” Ning Yingying twirls and claps her hands, “Thanking shixiong! I haven’t seen Shizun in ages!”

 

Ming Fan didn’t mention that she may not be seeing Shizun on this occasion either considering the pattern of the past day. No reason to mention that at this junction. 

 

With the meal collected and Ning Yingying happily in the middle of telling some long winded story about seeing a rabbit Ming Fan was given the chance to admire her out of the corner of his eye while they walked. When she laughed she really was so pretty…

 

“Shizun!” Ning Yingying called as soon as the bamboo house was in view, “This Yingying is here to assist Da-shixiong with your meal!”

 

Because Ming Fan’s hands were full with the tray he could only nudge Ning Yingying gently with his elbow, “Don’t run up just yet shimei,” He whispered, “Shizun has been asking me to drop things off on the porch.”

 

“Ooooh, is Shizun not feeling well?”

 

As pretty as she was, she also spoke very loudly… 

 

“Shimei.” Ming Fan whispered, half a very weak admonishment and half a way to cut her off, “Shizun.” He then called, “This disciple has brought the morning meal.”

 

“Thanking Disciple Ming.” Shizun called back which caused Ning Yingying to look, wide-eyed, at Ming Fan. 

 

“Shizun’s in a good mood!” She thankfully mouthed this part, conscious of some things at least. 

 

Ming Fan nodded seriously and the two of them approached the porch together to drop off the tray. Of course that was when disaster struck, Ming Fan really should have predicted this. 

 

Ning Yingying’s foot caught on the top step and she shrieked as she tripped, right into Ming Fan who masterfully tried to keep ahold of the tray while also being tipped to the side. The bowl of soup went flying and Ming Fan sent up a litany of prayers internally as the rest of the dishes wobbled. 

 

“Oh no!” Ning Yingying got up and tried to help him stabilise the tray, but in doing so she tripped over the now empty bowl of soup lying on its side and yelped once more as she crashed right into the broken door and brought it down in its entirety, the last remaining hinge giving up. 

 

“Owww.” She groaned. 

 

Ming Fan put down the tray as quickly as he could, spilling the rice in the process, “Shimei!” He tried to bow, and not look up, as he hurried forward to help her up. “Many apologies Shizun.” He kept his head ducked as he took Ning Yingying by the shoulder, “This disciple is useless and we-”

 

“Owwwwwwww.” Ning Yingying was starting to cry. Disaster! Disaster! Ming Fan was going to die!

 

“Shizun!” She sniffled, rubbing at her eyes, “This disciple is sorry! She didn’t mean to trip and ruin Shizun’s meal and break Shizun’s door and disturb Shizun and-” She dissolved into sobs. 

 

Ming Fan had managed to help her up and pull her back and chanced a look up into the room. 

 

Liu-shishu was there! Ahhh! 

 

Liu-shishu, who was standing in the middle of the room as if he had just come in, had a rather confused expression on his face, Ming Fan didn’t think he’d ever seen that expression on his martial uncle before. 

 

Shizun was sitting off to the side on the low daybed and also had a rather shocked expression on his face. As Ming Fan watched, with the slow creeping dread of an approaching execution, Shizun stood up and began to walk towards them. 

 

Ning Yingying was still sniffling and Ming Fan, gently, pushed her into bowing next to him. 

 

“Are you alright?” Shizun asked, very softly. 

 

That seemed to be Ning Yingying’s limit because she began to cry once more and ran forward to wrap both her arms around Shizun’s waist. 

 

“Shizun!” She wailed, “I’m so sorry! Please don’t be angry at Ming-shixiong, it’s not his fault, I tripped on the step and I really was trying to help and because Hallmaster Qian cancelled the morning lesson I did try and practice on my own but then I saw Ming-shixiong and I’m so sorry I broke your door!”

 

Shizun is standing there with an expression of absolutely incredulous shock on his face, body almost subtly titled away from how Ning Yingying is holding him with both arms raised as if he’s afraid of touching her. It’s very odd. 

 

“Ning-shimei,” Ming Fan chances to intervene, “Don’t bother Shizun, he’s in a meeting with Liu-shishu.”

 

That makes Ning Yingying pause and she looks up and to the side to spot Liu-shihsu. Her eyes widen and she immediately releases Shizun. 

 

“Apologies for disturbing Shizun!” She nods furiously, “This disciple will fix the door and bring you and Liu-shishu another meal!”

 

“Don’t fix the door.” Liu-shishu suddenly says, “We’ll do that.”

 

“Yes.” Ning Yingying salutes and then immediately turns to leave, grabbing Ming Fan and towing him along with her. They stop for a few moments to pick up the tray and the soup bowl before escaping back down the path. Getting away like this with no punishment? Shizun must really be in a great mood! Or maybe it was because Liu-shishu was there…

 

“Ming-shixiong!” Ning Yingying exclaims before dropping her voice once they’re out of sight of the bamboo house, “Why is Liu-shishu here so early in the morning?”

 

“He’s meeting Shizun, I think. They were in the bamboo house all of yesterday together as well-”

 

“Did he sleep over??”

 

“I think so.” Ming Fan responds, “Or maybe he went back to his peak and came back this morning?”

 

“Was he wearing those clothes yesterday?”

 

Ming Fan really tried to remember, he thinks so? Or at least very similar? “Maybe.”

 

“Ming Fan!” Ning Yingying clutches his arm and shakes it, causing the dishes on the tray to rattle alarmingly, “Liu-shishu spent the night!”

 

“Yes?”

 

She skips off as if she has too much energy for her body before running back, “Ming Fan!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You’re a boy, so you don’t understand it.” Is her final sage word, “But this is so….. Ah!”

 

Ming Fan doesn’t know what she’s thinking but he considers mentioning seeing Liu Mingyan there too last night before deciding against it. It would likely only bring trouble and rumours and since he’s the only person who had seen here that would fall entirely on his head. Unfortunately Ning-shimei is not someone who can keep the information to herself. 

 

He still hasn’t had time to think about why she would even be here? Obviously accompanying her brother, and she hadn’t been there this morning so she must have gone back to Xian Shu but why would she have been on Qing Jing at all and so hostile as well… 

 

She better not be trying to take Ming Fan’s position! What if Shizun is feeling out transferring her to Qing Jing?! What if there was something that happened on Xian Shu and now she has to switch peaks and her brother is petitioning for her and- no! This cannot happen! 

 

Liu Mingyan is on plain facts superior to Ming Fan; better family, better cultivation, most beautiful woman in the Jianghu, spotless reputation, peerless manners, as pure as jade and chaste as frost and something something! Ming Fan has heard it all before, who in the Sect hasn’t? And she has Liu-shishu as her older brother so there’d be some benefits for the intra-sect relationship too… 

 

“Ming-shixiong? Are you okay? Why have you stopped walking? And you look very pale!”

 

Ming Fan cannot let this happen!

 

“Ning-shimei… do you think Shizun was acting oddly today?”

 

“Mm, yes. Very much! He was even wearing his robes wrong but that’s to be expected when Liu-shishu has slept over.”

 

Ming Fan doesn’t understand the correlation between those two things. 

 

“But do you think he seemed particularly displeased with this disciple’s performance?”

 

“Mm? No? I don’t think so. He actually seemed happy, don’t you think?”

 

Happy because he’s about to poach one of the most promising disciples of their generation to replace Ming Fan?!

 

“Don’t worry Ming-shixiong, I think Shizun’s condition is… hehe.” She trails off into a giggle, “As long as Liu-shishu stays I think Shizun will continue to be just as pleased!”

 

Ming Fan doesn’t have the time and energy to parse through that statement or what has Ning-shimei so excited. Not when there’s so much at stake!

 

*

 

With the morning meal safely delivered, Ning-shimei had bowed out at this point giggling about how she didn’t want to cause any more interruptions, Ming Fan took some time to pace back and forth in an empty clearing. Liu Mingyan was back, he could hear a female voice from inside when he delivered the meal and knew without a doubt that it was her. 

 

So either she had never left or had come back this morning. But how could Qi-shigu approve of her star disciple running off to Qing Jing every day? Maybe if Ming Fan let slip to Xian Shu what was happening she would put a stop to it? But no, that would only drop him in a nest of ants with Shizun who had likely already thought of this possibility and planned for it. 

 

Gods what was he going to do?!

 

“Ming-shixiong?”

 

Ming Fan did his best not to startle. “You!”

 

“This disciple has completed his chores.” Luo Binghe cupped his hands and bowed, “Does shixiong have any further tasks for this one?”

 

Ming Fan hadn’t even seen him in what felt like days. He couldn’t even remember what chores he was supposed to be completing. But if there was anyone on Qing Jing he could get to do a little snooping…

 

“Yes, Luo-shidi needs to go to Xian Shu peak and find out what is happening to Liu Mingyan and absolutely do not let anyone know that it is this shixiong asking!”

 

Luo Binghe looked extraordinarily confused which made sense. Ming Fan was now desperate enough to try and sweeten the deal, with the way things were going he wasn’t even confident enough about his standing with Shizun to use their master to threaten Luo Binghe, this was unsanctioned after all. 

 

“If you succeed then this shixiong will ensure you can have Cheng Li’s room in the disciple’s dorms.”

 

Cheng Li had left the sect around a month ago and his room had been left empty ever since. Ming Fan knew other disciples had begun to jockey slightly to decide who would be able to get an upgrade and have it to themselves, however he had final say. 

 

Luo Binghe was staring at him, eyes wide, “Shixiong?”

 

“I will! Just find out what’s going on with Liu Mingyan.”

 

Luo Binghe nodded slowly and saluted, “This shidi will go and do just that.”

 

Without another word he was gone. Ming Fan worried for a few moments over whether or not that was a stupid thing to have done before determining that no, even if Luo Binghe later tried to say it was Ming Fan giving him the command no one would believe him anyway. 

 

*

 

An excruciating half a day passed while Ming Fan tried to manage matters since Shizun seemed to have vanished from Peak life entirely. It seemed that Ning-shimei’s assumption that Shizun was away wasn’t entirely unfounded, she certainly wasn’t the only person  to express that opinion. Hallmaster Qian was acting up in Shizun’s absence, Hallmaster Jing was being… Hallmaster Jing, and Hallmaster Sheng had decided to go into seclusion now that Shizun wasn’t there to say otherwise. 

 

As Ming Fan ran to and fro he had the uncharitable thought that Liu Mingyan couldn’t survive as Head Disciple of his peak! As if a pampered fairy from Xian Shu knew how to deal with all these tricky people. And Liu Mingyan was used to being treated well, how would she withstand the worst of Shizun’s temper or the unreasonable demands from Qing Jing’s shidi (and single shimei) let alone the Hallmasters? 

 

Members of Qing Jing had a reputation for being spoiled and Ming Fan did acknowledge that there was some of that, though one harsh word from Shizun was enough to humble even the most narcissistic of the bunch. Still, how would Liu Mingyan be able to maintain dominance in the group? She couldn’t rely on her talent, strength, family, looks or temperament forever!

 

He had just delivered a midday meal to Shizun and picked up the past day and a half’s worth of dirty dishes and cutlery when Luo Binghe found him on the way back to the kitchens. This time he had been invited inside the house, past the broken door, and was confronted with the sight of Liu Mingyan, Liu-shishu and Shizun sitting around the low table together. It really did nothing positive for Ming Fan’s mood, especially coupled with the oddly deferential way Shizun was treating Liu Mingyan who seemed to be holding the seat of pride in whatever discussion they were having. 

 

What was so good about Liu Mingyan?? Apart from the obvious of course. Ultimately how could Ming Fan hope to compete…

 

“Shixiong!”

 

“Ah!” Ming Fan dropped the third tray and Luo Binghe, for the first time in his whole useless life, did something useful and ran forward to help him catch it. 

 

Ming Fan nodded in approval but he still felt rather frazzled and at this stage likely nothing but getting Liu Mingyan off Qing Jing would help. 

 

“Well?” He asked Luo Binghe as the other fell into step beside him back to the kitchens. 

 

“There’s been some form of family emergency in the Liu clan.” Luo Binghe explains, thankfully actually having managed to get some information, “Liu Qingge went to Xian Shu Peak yesterday morning and collected Liu Mingyan, they’ve both left Cang Qiong. I heard that Lady Liu is very ill.”

 

What a bald faced lie! 

 

“They’re both away right now?”

 

“Mm, that’s what everyone on Xian Shu believes.”

 

Then why in the seven hells were both of them sitting in the bamboo house??

 

“You didn’t hear anything else?”

 

“No shixiong, that was the story and no one thinks it’s all that odd. Qi Qingqi was apparently a little annoyed Liu Qingge came and took Liu Mingyan away so quickly and hasn’t tried to send any updates, but it’s Liu Qingge so that’s to be expected.”

 

There was much for Ming Fan to consider. Namely that this seemed to be a larger conspiracy than he had first thought and even more troubling that Liu-shishu who had a reputation for being upright and straightforward was obviously involved in this deception. Something odd was afoot..

 

“Ming-shixiong seems to be very concerned about Liu-shimei?”

 

“Yes of course.” He had to be! Or his position would be swiped right out from under him!

 

“Liu-shimei is very popular…”

 

Was he now trying to rub it in Ming Fan’s face?!

 

“Perfect cultivation, family background, looks and character.” Ming Fan grit his teeth, “Who could criticise her?”

 

He would! He would find something to make Shizun see that she wasn’t the right choice for Head Disciple and that Ming Fan clearly was!

 

Luo Binghe seemed to be done with saying useless things and walked in silence beside Ming Fan back to the kitchens. 

 

“Keep listening out for any further updates.” Ming Fan commanded after they had dropped the dishes off, "Especially if anyone has anything bad to say about her, make a note of who they are and let me know.”

 

In the copse of trees they had stopped in the shadows gave Luo Binghe’s features gained a slightly indistinct quality, making him look a lot more serious than the snivelling wretch that usually haunted the outskirts of their peak, but Ming Fan could see his clear nod. “This shidi will do what he can to assist shixiong.”

 

“Great. I’ll let the other disciples know Cheng Li’s room is yours too.” Ming Fan added, mindful of keeping Luo Binghe, who seemed to be his primary asset when it came to ferreting information off Xian Shu, onside. 

 

“Thanking shixiong.” Luo Binghe cupped his hands and bowed before leaving. 

 

Well, despite how awful Luo Binghe was Ming Fan couldn’t lie and say he didn’t know when to be useful. 

 

*

 

When Ming Fan dropped off the evening meal he was once more invited inside and forced to serve Liu Mingyan (serve her first!) where she sat at Shizun's right side. Shizun was also still wearing the wrong robes, the ties were sloppily done and the under-layer looked to be his sleep robe that he had now been wearing for two days. Ming Fan couldn’t stand this! Whatever odd influence the Liu siblings had on Shizun that had created this situation needed to stop! 

 

“Disciple Ming.” Shizun addressed after he had poured everyone’s tea. 

 

“Yes Shizun.”

 

“Hallmaster… Gong, you mentioned he cancelled lessons?”

 

There was no Hallmaster Gong. 

 

“That was Hallmaster Qian Shizun.”

 

“Yes. What was happening there?”

 

What kind of question was that? Especially in front of outsiders. Ming Fan darted a look at Liu-shishu and Liu Mingyan- the former looking stony faced and uninterested and the latter looking rather aggressive, eyes glinting above her veil. Was this meant to be a dig that Ming Fan couldn’t manage his duties??

 

“It’s nothing Shizun.” Ming Fan stood back and clasped his hands behind his back, “This disciple can write Shizun a short report, he does not want to disturb Shizun’s meeting with these petty matters.”

 

There was a long pause where for some terrible reason Shizun looked to Liu Mingyan who inclined her head before he agreed. 

 

Ming Fan just about made it out of sight before he dropped to his knees in despair. 

 

*

 

After a fitful night of sleep Ming Fan woke up to find Luo Binghe outside his door. He had never been gladder to have his Head Disciple accommodation until now, he wasn’t in a fit state to be seen by anyone. 

 

“What is it?” Ming Fan asked. 

 

“Shixiong, this disciple has heard something further.”

 

Ming Fan looked around quickly and then beckoned Luo Binghe into his room. “Come inside to speak.”

 

Luo Binghe nods and comes inside, looking around with obvious interest.

 

“Liu Mingyan was acting oddly before her brother picked her up.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“She apparently went missing for several hours that morning and when she was located she started an argument with Qi Qingqi.”

 

“What about?”

 

“This disciple is not sure.”

 

Damn, that would have been useful to know… did she offend her own Shizun and then call her brother for help and then he thought that Shizun would be able to help take her in… 

 

But then why did Shizun contact Liu-shishu first yesterday morning? If only Ming Fan knew what that note said!

 

“Shixiong? Are you feeling alright?”

 

“Yes fine! I just… Luo Binghe! Today you will go and deal with Hallmaster Qian.”

 

“Hallmaster Qian?”

 

“Yes, he’s been canceling lessons since he knows Shizun isn’t around to keep an eye on him. You need to go and make sure he teaches the younger disciple’s literature class.”

 

“Ming-shixiong-”

 

“Here.” Ming Fan went to his drawer and pulled out one of his jade seals signifying his authority as Head Disciple. “Take this and go and make sure he does what he should or Shizun will demote him off the mountain faster than he can say “No!” when he comes back!”

 

“Where has Shizun gone?” Luo Binghe asks, taking the seal in his hands. 

 

“Hm?”

 

“Shixiong said when Shizun comes back, has Shizun gone somewhere?”

 

“No! Of course not, he’s just busy with important Sect matters. But don’t tell Hallmaster Qian that. Just go!”

 

Luo Binghe salutes and then leaves Ming Fan alone, which is good because he needs some time alone to prepare himself for a new day of going to the bamboo house, seeing Liu Mingyan, watching the way Shizun approves of Liu Mingyan and having Liu Mingyan glare at him all while Liu-shishu watches the whole thing critically. 

 

Liu-shishu and Shizun’s relationship suddenly taking a turn towards extraordinary camaraderie while they’ve been called enemies for years is also… strange, but Ming Fan considers it the least of his worries at this junction. Besides, he’s always thought that matters weren’t really quite as bad as everyone else painted them to be, after all he’d seen clearly for so many years Shizun’s attitude towards Yue-Zhangmen- with Liu-shishu it was much milder. There were degrees to dislike and Shizun embodied them all. Who was going to appreciate that if Ming Fan lost his role?!

 

Straightening his robes and ensuring his seal is hanging from a place of prominence at his belt Ming Fan braves a new day of torture. 

 

The path to the bamboo house is quiet, the Peak is beautiful as always, and Ming Fan is praying fervently to all gods that are still listening to him for Shizun not to forget the years of loyalty and competence that Ming Fan has shown. Yes yes, Liu Mingyan seemed all well and good but it would take her time to adjust to a new way of life on Qing Jing and to adjust to assisting Shizun the way he appreciated and needed, why throw away something tried and true for any shiny new upgrade?

 

Reaching the porch Ming Fan took a deep breath, “This disciple greets Shizun,” He called, “Does Shizun require this disciple to fetch and deliver the morning meal?”

 

There was a long period of silence. 

 

“Shizun.” He tried again. 

 

Silence once more. 

 

If Ming Fan wasn’t caught in the middle of whatever conspiracy had pressed Shizun into confinement in the bamboo house with both Liu siblings he would have walked away and given it an incense stick before returning. Shizun could also sometimes be found at this hour at his private training grounds but he did not appreciate interruption there. Ming Fan dithered for a moment on the porch and then took a risk. 

 

“Shizun, this disciple will enter to collect last night’s dishes.” 

 

He pushed the sagging, and even more damaged looking, door to the side, trying his best not to let it crash to the ground and moving it back into the position it was in when he arrived once he had entered. 

 

Shizun’s home was a mess!

 

Ming Fan felt rather a sensation of despair. There were papers everywhere and the floor was dirty from the past two days with no attention, some of Shizun’s artefacts were off the shelves and all the curtains had been drawn with the windows closed, giving the air inside a stale quality.

 

“Shizun,” Ming Fan called, “This disciple will tidy up briefly before taking the dishes.”

 

The bamboo cottage was, in Ming Fan’s opinion, one of the most enviable places in the whole Sect. The arrangement was good, decorations splendid and Shizun’s own tastes shone through at every junction. To see it in such disarray when Shizun usually took such care to keep everything in good order was alarming. Had Shizun really had a mild qi-deviation like Ming Fan first assumed and the Liu siblings weren’t conscious of that, even taking advantage of his confusion? He’d always known Liu-shishu to be upright and moral but taking into account the concealment and outright lies over him and Liu Mingyan being in the Sect… there had to be something going on here.

 

He picks up some of the loose papers off the floor, not glancing at their contents, and arranges them into a neat pile to be placed upon the low table. Then he goes to clean up more generally, feeding some qi into the cleaning talismans and picking up the books that have fallen off Shizun’s shelves and that vase which was once more on the floor. 

 

All of that done he goes to pick up the emptied dishes. When considering the matter… Ming Fan should really leave through the broken door but he thinks about how he’d have to move the door again and move it back once done and how much trouble that is… There also doesn’t appear to be anyone in the house and there shouldn’t be any problem with him leaving out the side door out of the kitchen. Shizun usually doesn’t mind that at all. 

 

Decided, Ming Fan takes the familiar path out of the front room, past the side storage room and to the attached kitchen. Shizun’s bedroom door is closed tightly and he wonders if there’s anyone inside. Shizun certainly wouldn’t sleep through Ming Fan banging around his front room but Shizun hasn’t quite been himself recently… 

 

Taking the doorway to the kitchen Ming Fan exits out the side door, leaving him at the edge of Shizun’s back garden. 

 

“-the moment you need me, use it to call me back.”

 

That was Liu-shishu. Were they all out here instead? Ming Fan shifts slightly around the corner so he can glance to where the back porch is, just to confirm if Liu Mingyan is out there too. 

 

She’s not. It’s only Shizun and Liu-shishu are standing in the back garden together, Liu-shishu has a very serious look on his face and is holding Shizun’s arm tightly.  

 

“I understand.”

 

“If anything happens,” Liu-shishu stresses before making a noise of agitation, “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here.”

 

Leaving Shizun on Qing Jing Peak? What would be wrong with that?

 

“It’s alright, it’s the best option. The faster we solve this, the faster things will go back to normal.”

 

Resolve what? Was it the qi deviation? Was Shizun’s qi-deviation somehow much worse or had lingering effects and Liu-shishu was helping him… helping him with what? Helping him cure it? But why all the secrecy and caution? 

 

Liu-shishu just shakes his head, “If anything happens go to Bai Zhan and use my residence, you know how the wards operate.”

 

There was no danger on Qing Jing! How could Shizun stand Liu-shishu saying something like that? 

 

“It’s alright Gege, I’ll be fine.”

 

Gege?!

 

“This is worse for him in any case.” Shizun says, “You could do to be more compassionate Ge.” There’s a teasing quality to Shizun’s voice that Ming Fan has never heard before which is very… disconcerting, and furthermore who on earth are they talking about? Who is this “him” that everything is worse for? 

 

“Once I have confirmation he didn’t cause this.” Liu-shishu shook his head, “Forget it. Just don’t be too friendly.”

 

Cause what?! Cause the qi deviation? Did someone sabotage Shizun?? 

 

“Don’t worry.” 

 

And then Liu-shishu and Shizun are sincerely embracing, holding each other and squeezing tightly. 

 

“Use the talisman if you need me.” Liu-shishu insists when they separate. 

 

“Mm, good luck Gege.”

 

Liu-shishu boards his sword without another word and leaves. 

 

Ming Fan also takes the moment to quickly slip away, tray held carefully so the dishes don’t rattle as he escapes. 

 

What was that?!

 

Are Shizun and Liu-shishu… involved? But if they were… no they couldn’t be. Or were they? But then from when? How did Ming Fan not know? Who else serves by Shizun’s side so closely but him, and Liu-shishu never visited and Shizun didn’t go to Bai Zhan, they didn’t exchange letters or any missives between themselves. If they were having some kind of… relationship how did they keep it so quiet?

 

But that was certainly the acting of two people who have perhaps been intimate for some time, or at least were very comfortable with each other. How could this have all developed? Only a few months ago Shizun made a disparaging comment about having to see Liu-shishu at a Peak Lord’s meeting while Ming Fan was within earshot and now this… 

 

Is this a good thing? Ming Fan has to consider that very carefully. He considers it as he walks to the kitchens and drops off the dishes. He considers it as he walks to the mail room and picks up Shizun’s correspondence (the return letters proving that Shizun is continuing with his duties). He considers it as he passes the disciples dormitories and makes sure no one is hanging around when they should be in lessons. He considers it as he makes his way back to the bamboo house while simultaneously mourning his non-attendance at this morning’s sword practice. He’ll have to make up for it later lest he lose all his skills and all but let Liu Mingyan beat him into the mud. Knowing her skill… it would be light work for her to defeat him and then as she stands above him, sword in hand while Ming Fan is laid out on the ground, Shizun will start to clap and congratulate her and strip Ming Fan of his position and Liu-shishu will approve of the whole arrangement and all of Ming Fan’s petty detractors on the Peak will laugh behind their hands and-

 

He’s just approaching the fork in the path when Chan-shidi and Wong-shidi run up to him. “Da-shixiong!”

 

Oh no what now?!

 

“What is it?”

 

“Luo Binghe stole your jade seal and tried to use it against Hallmaster Qian! But don’t worry Da-shixiong, he’s about to get the beating of a lifetime!”

 

Ming Fan threw his hands up, “Where are they?!”

 

“At the punishment hall-”

 

Ming Fan sets off running and at the sound of footsteps behind him has to conclude that Chan and Wong-shidi have both decided to tag along. 

 

“Stop!” Ming Fan yells, unfortunately using the last of his breath, as he exits the path to the punishment hall, “Hallmaster Qian!”

 

Luo Binghe, who looks perfectly fine, if in the middle of a long and winding lecture by Hallmaster Qian who has an unfortunate tendency towards that kind of thing, looks up when he appears dogged by the ever persistent company Chan and Wong. 

 

“Disciple Ming, ah very good you’re here. Disciple Luo’s audacity in taking your own seal-”

 

Ming Fan hates the fact that he’s out of breath, it’s so undignified at this moment!

 

“I gave it to him.” He says with as much gravitas as he can muster, “I was delegating my authority.”

 

Hallmaster Qian raises an eyebrow, “Delegating your authority? Disciple Ming, what are you saying? Did you have any premonition that Disciple Luo would immediately come and begin to try and berate me under your authority-”

 

“I did.” Ming Fan has regained his breath at this point and straightens his posture. 

 

Hallmaster Qian’s eyes narrow, “What does Disciple Ming mean by that?”

 

“This Head Disciple was informed that Hallmaster Qian has been cancelling lessons in the past few days,” Ming Fan narrows his own eyes, “This Head Disciple requested his junior disciple to go and ensure this was a temporary affliction and that Hallmaster Qian was in good health and prepared to carry out his duties today.”

 

Hallmaster Qian’s congenial expression drops as Ming Fan knew it would, “Where is it your place to question this master’s handling of their own matters?”

 

“It is my place as Head Disciple of Qing Jing Peak, appointed by Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu to act as his authority in his stead and ensure all matters on Qing Jing were running smoothly.” Ming Fan bites back, determined not to give a single inch. Maybe Liu Mingyan was chasing him and his position down but for now this was the state of things and he was the authority! 

 

Hallmaster Qian stares at him and Ming Fan stares back. He’s going to hold his position the way Shizun would and ensure this individual doesn’t think they can get away with insulting Shizun’s authority any longer and then when Shizun is acting more like himself Ming Fan will report all of this difficulty and Shizun will sweep in and kick Hallmaster Qian off the mountain with nothing more than a well placed word!

 

Hallmaster Qian seems to be weighing these options and evidently decides that self-preservation against the looming threat of Shen Qingqiu is the smartest way to manage matters. 

 

“This Master was under the mistaken impression that Disciple Luo had committed theft. This master apologises to Disciple Luo for the error.” Hallmaster Qian doesn’t look at Ming Fan as he hands back his jade seal to Luo Binghe, “This master shall take their leave.”

 

Ming Fan doesn’t bow nor salute them as they leave and neither do they acknowledge him. Petty wretch!

 

Once Hallmaster Qian is long gone, Disciples Chan and Wong run up from where they had been watching the show. 

 

“Wow! Da-shixiong you really had a go at them! You looked so fierce!”

 

Ming Fan turns his attention to Luo Binghe who is still kneeling. 

 

“You idiot!” He yells, “How did it all get to this point?! Didn’t I give you one simple task, how did you get accused of theft and dragged down for punishment in less than a shichen?! Give that back.” He snatches the jade seal back, “And get up, we’ve wasted too much of the day already and I was planning on practising sword forms but the class is likely over and it’s almost time for Shizun’s midday meal!” Ming Fan throws his hands up in despair before stalking off, Disciples Chan, Wong and now Luo following along. 

 

“Hallmaster Qian can be tricky.” Disciple Wong allows and the look he gives Luo Binghe is almost congenial.

 

“Remember when Lin-shixiong tried to correct an error in the lecture and Hallmaster Qian made him kneel outside for three shichen?” Disciple Chan adds with enthusiasm. 

 

“Yeah but Lin-shixiong shouldn’t have done it like that, what Hallmaster doesn’t get offended with that kind of thing?” Disciple Wong counters. 

 

“Lin-shixiong can be a little awkward.” Disciple Chan qualifies, “It’s a bit much to correct the lecture, but that’s just the way he is! He looked so lost when Hallmaster Qian got angry too.”

 

The two of them then cackle together like there really is a good joke in that rather than what had been another headache. Disciple Lin’s family were noble of a higher category than Ming Fan’s even and as awkward and good tempered Disciple Lin was, once his family heard of the punishment they had written letter after letter to Shizun. 

 

“This disciple apologises for causing more trouble.” Luo Binghe ventures, having outpaced the other two to walk at Ming Fan’s side, “Is there anything else Da-shixiong needs this one’s assistance with?”

 

“No, just go to your lessons, I’ll find you if there’s anything else.” Like taking a quick trip to Xian Shu to see if Liu Mingyan had returned in her brother’s absence. Otherwise she was just staying in the bamboo house alone with Shizun which was… unacceptable from many angles though Ming Fan was worried about one in particular. 

 

“Thanking Ming-shixiong.”

 

“And go get yourself some new robes.” Ming Fan suddenly thought of saying. Luo Binghe couldn’t wander off to Xian Shu looking this much of a wreck, Liu Mingyan would win instantly for having the more well-presented junior disciples! The comparison between Luo Binghe right now and the average Xian Shu disciple was excruciating!

 

The scruffy Luo Binghe in question looked a little confused. 

 

“You two.” Ming Fan called to Wong-shidi and Chan-shidi who were now ribbing at each other in an undignified manner behind them, “Go and take Luo-shidi to the supplies pavilion and make sure he gets some new robes.”

 

Disciple Chan saluted, “Of course Da-shixiong, are we excused from qin practice then?”

 

“Yes for now, but it’s hardly going to take you the whole day is it?”

 

The look Disciple Chan gave him indicated that it really was very much going to take him the whole day and nothing less. Disciple Wong shook his head where he was standing to the left of him and indicated to Ming Fan that he would try and keep them all on track. 

 

Forget it! Ming Fan had other far more important things to worry about! 

 

“Just don’t cause me any more trouble.” He warned before they parted ways on the path. 

 

Now freshly alone once more all the considering he had been doing earlier came back with full force. Was Liu-shishu and Shizun’s relationship a good thing? 

 

Ming Fan really didn’t know. 

 

On one hand if Liu-shishu really liked Ming Fan that would be an obvious point in his favour, but presumably his shishu’s lot would be thrown behind Liu Mingyan if anything. But on the other hand Liu-shishu was known as the type that despised easy promotions, though how well Ming Fan knew his character was another thing altogether, especially when he was clearly taking part in this… odd series of events. 

 

Shizun was not the kind of person who would promote Liu Mingyan to such an important position simply because his partner told him to. That would be an insult to his intelligence and his own sovereignty of his peak. If everyone was simply selecting Head Disciples based on who they were connected to, the Sect would fall to pieces! 

 

Ming Fan was hardly the most talented or most well-connected person on Qing Jing, but he was who his Shizun had chosen and he carried out his duties with that to bear- Shen Qingqiu’s personal stamp of approval. If Shizun begrudgingly chose someone just because he had been asked to then wasn’t he asking for this authority to be disrespected? Wasn’t he asking for his choice to denigrate their position as it meant as little as the payment of Shizun’s integrity? How could that all be allowed to happen? 

 

If Shizun and Liu-shishu were together… then the rest of the Sect would know that they were not really discordant and Shizun wouldn’t be lumped with so much of the criticism for their fractious relationship. That would be a good thing because others would speak better of his master. Anything that strengthened Shizun’s position was also good because it strengthened Ming Fan’s position in turn. 

 

Ming Fan actually, if pressed, had to admit that he rather admired Liu-shishu. In the same vein as (unfortunately) Liu Mingyan, there was really nothing to criticise and the way Liu-shishu wielded his sword was the thing of legend. If Liu-shishu began to hang around Qing Jing peak and Shizun could convince him to take on some of the disciple’s training sessions then that would really be brilliant. Objectively Shizun and Liu-shishu also made a rather well matched pair- their specialisms were complimentary and when they stood next to each other they didn’t look at all discordant. Shizun wasn’t a soft touch but neither was Liu-shishu and both of them were known to have bad tempers, they would be able to weather each other. 

 

Ming Fan, unlike his younger brother who had recently married, was not all that experienced when it came to relationships. Why would he be? Immortal cultivators didn’t have to worry about those petty things although Ming Fan did privately think it might be quite nice to be married. Especially to a beautiful cultivator who would be able to compliment him absolutely. 

 

Or even to be cultivation partners with a complimentary and beautiful cultivator, the thought made him blush but it was absolutely legitimate as a cultivator to engage in those practices! To be cultivation partners with someone like… Liu Mingyan (to pluck a completely random name out of the ether for example) would be an extraordinary experience. Ming Fan’s cultivation would likely ascend by at least five levels if he dual cultivated with her- that was a comment he had heard other disciples around the mountain make and considering her talent how could it not be true? 

 

He began to involuntarily imagine being in bed with Liu Mingyan and had to slap himself in the face to regain some equilibrium. Ridiculous thoughts! He’d been skinned alive for them! 

 

At the porch of the bamboo house once more, and knowing it’s too late for breakfast and too early for the midday meal, he takes the correspondence tucked into his belt out and tries to pretend he hadn’t been thinking anything that he had been thinking and his mind is blank and-

 

Ming Fan quickly slaps himself in the face once more before freezing at the thought that anyone could have seen it, next he’ll be demoted for being mentally unstable!

 

“Shizun,” He calls, “This disciple has brought your correspondence, should this disciple leave it on the porch?”

 

No response. 

 

Ming Fan, somewhat at one of his wits’ end but unwilling to admit it, climbs the porch and knocks on the broken door. “Shizun, this disciple has brought your correspondence.” He repeats. 

 

No response. 

 

Ming Fan isn’t going to leave Shizun’s letters on the floor for anyone to pick up if his master isn’t in his home. The smarter thing would be to leave and try again later, but Ming Fan finds himself knocking on the door one last time, a little harder. Just once more he tells himself, then he’ll go. 

 

“Shizun.” He calls, voice trailing off as his final (light) knock spells a death knell for the door which collapses back once more, opening that hole into the house. 

 

“Shizun, this disciple apologises.” Ming Fan narrates as he hastily tucks the correspondence away and moves to right the impossible door. Why can’t it just be replaced? Next time he sees Shizun he’ll ask if he should put a request in to An Ding for a repair job. Why hadn’t Shizun already asked?

 

He’s in the middle of hefting the stupid thing sideways and trying, as best he can, to slide it back onto its broken tracks when Liu Mingyan walks into the front room. 

 

Ming Fan stares at her, the door held in his shaky grip, and Liu Mingyan stares back. 

 

She’s not wearing her veil. Ming Fan can see everything, the entirety of her uncovered face and she’s so… beautiful. That’s really the only word for it- her nose, lips, cheeks, chin, the way her mouth moves- twisting into an expression of displeasure as he stares. Every rumour is qualified immediately- Liu Mingyan is the most beautiful woman in the entire world let alone the Jianghu. Heaven and Earth have nothing else to recommend, this woman carries it all. 

 

It’s a frightening beauty in truth and Ming Fan is frightened by it. There’s nothing approachable about Liu Mingyan’s beauty, nothing that encourages engagement or comment. Compliments certainly but what compliment is there but beautiful? Her features are so perfect that there’s nothing to recommend one over the other. 

 

“Liu-shimei.” His mouth feels dry. “I was just fixing the door.”

 

She doesn’t respond, just continues to glare at him. He was so arrested by her face that his enmity towards her felt far away. Wasn’t she his competition? Didn’t he want her out of Shizun’s house, off his peak, out of the Sect preferably where she could no longer threaten his position? Why was he suddenly unable to say any of that- to look Liu Mingyan in her perfect face and say “go back to Xian Shu where you belong!”?

 

Putting aside the extraordinary fact that she’s even here. Liu Mingyan, hanging around Shen Qingqiu’s personal residence like she has some ownership over it with her veil off…. It’s not right. None of this feels right. 

 

Her very presence lends the air an almost syrupy quality, as if time has slowed to allow Ming Fan more space with which to appreciate her. He’s almost willing to accept her staying, accept her taking his position, accept all of it if she would only allow him to continue to gaze upon her- but no that’s such a stupid thing to say. It’s the face of one woman, extraordinary or not she’s still human, the same as Ming Fan. Perhaps she’s better than him in every way, but don’t they hold equivalent positions? And Ming Fan of a Peak that outranks hers as well. Surely the gap between them can’t be quite this large?

 

“Didn’t you say you were delivering correspondence?” Liu Mingyan suddenly speaks and she holds out her hand, “Give it to me.”

 

Ming Fan almost startles but he doesn’t drop the door, nor does he speak immediately. He needs to organise himself, organise his thoughts, before he does something regrettable. He needs to be like Shizun and think before he speaks. 

 

Ming Fan carefully puts the door back down and turns to face Liu Mingyan once more, tucking his hands behind his back. She’s watching him, still glaring, and drawn her hand back towards herself. 

 

“The correspondence is intended for my Shizun.” Ming Fan says, “This disciple would be remiss if he handed it to anyone else.”

 

Liu Mingyan stares at him, mouth twisting downwards, “I can pass it to your Shizun if you’re concerned.”

 

“Thanking Liu-shimei but this disciple will wait until his Shizun is available.”

 

They stand there at a stalemate. Liu Mingyan’s face doesn’t get any less perfect the more time Ming Fan spends faced by it and he in no way is becoming inoculated against the vision. 

 

She’s your competition. Ming Fan reminds himself fiercely. Everything you worked for, every you ever wanted, it could be taken by her! Don’t lose sight of that! 

 

Ming Fan respected his Shizun greatly, in fact he’d go further and say that he liked serving Shen Qingqiu, that he liked Shen Qingqiu himself and wanted Shen Qingqiu as his Shizun over any other master in Cang Qiong or even the other Great Sects. If matters really went horribly awry he supposed he could always join another Sect, he had the qualifications to be an appealing prospect, or if a fallout with Shen Qingqiu truly took place and he was badmouthed throughout the Jianghu he could still go home to his natal family and live out the rest of his days in relative peace and comfort. 

 

But how could he do that? Everything Cang Qiong was, everything Qing Jing was, cultivation and the heights to which Ming Fan could ascend- all of it was within touching distance and when his Shizun gave him that infrequent look of approval Ming Fan felt his fingers brush against it. The politics of the Sect, the skills he had honed, the smaller, softer and less thrilling life that awaited at the base of the mountain… 

 

Ming Fan wasn’t a born cultivator like Liu Mingyan but he still wanted it! He wanted all of it! 

 

“Then is Disciple Ming going to fetch the midday meal?” Liu Mingyan asks, she taps the index finger of her left hand against her right arm where she now has her arms crossed. 

 

“Should my Shizun ask for the meal to be served.”

 

“You certainly enjoy some barking after your “Shizun”.” 

 

Ming Fan stiffens in outrage. “This disciple is Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu’s disciple,” He spits back, “This disciple does not follow commands issued by other members of the Sect without his teacher’s direct approval.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes! Is this the kind of attitude you show your own Shizun?” Liu Mingyan is the rudest most irreverent person Ming Fan has ever met, even knowing she has shortcomings doesn’t make him feel much better in the moment. 

 

Liu Mingyan looks at him in silence for a long while longer and then turns away and walks over to Shizun’s shelf, pulling down a book and opening it. 

 

“Those are my Shizun’s books.” Ming Fan protests, “You shouldn’t-”

 

“I’m sure your Shizun will take no issue with me looking at anything I choose.”

 

Ming Fan clenches his fists. Is she saying that because of Shizun’s relationship with Liu-shishu? Or whatever odd hold she seems to have exerted over Shizun, over the bamboo house. 

 

“Where is my Shizun?” He finds himself asking, walking closer to her, “Is he alright?”

 

Her gaze slides over to him and there’s something in those beautiful eyes that feels oddly familiar, Ming Fan wonders suddenly what she would look like making that expression with her veil on or rather with her mouth covered by a fan- like the way Shizun often does. 

 

“Haven’t you been serving him all these days?” Liu Mingyan closes and replaces the book, “Shouldn’t you know?”

 

Ming Fan swallows, “This disciple has not seen his master since this morning, seeing Liu-shimei alone in the bamboo house is naturally… in any case my Shizun-”

 

“Naturally?”

 

Ming Fan has lost the thread with her interruption. “Excuse me?”

 

“You said naturally and then stopped, seeing Liu-shimei alone in the bamboo house is naturally..?” She narrows her eyes at him, “Well?”

 

Can she really be ignorant to the implication? Or is Ming Fan being baited? But how can he be baited when it’s plain fact, plain optics. 

 

“Well naturally Liu-shimei is not a disciple of this peak.” Ming Fan starts, “So her being here would raise obvious questions.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Yes, especially if she is alone in my Shizun’s residence when he is away, people would naturally wonder what she was doing here.”

 

Liu Mingyan turns away once more and walks over to Shizun’s desk. It only has a few rudimentary things on it, his study being where he conducts the bulk of his work, not the front room. She opens the top drawer and pulls out a fan, one of Shizun’s fans. 

 

“Hey, don’t-”

 

With a flick of her wrist she opens the fan and shades half of her face, the image of her analogous to having her veil back is not at all comforting to Ming Fan. 

 

“Then why has Ming Fan not raised any of his concerns? To the Sect Leader perhaps, that Shen Qingqiu might be committing immoral acts in-”

 

“If anyone is at risk it’s my Shizun from you!” Ming Fan has lost his temper and he points at Liu Mingyan with a shaking finger. It’s unbearable- watching her walk around like she owns the bamboo house, watching her touch all of Shizun’s things and make such horrible insinuations about him, “I don’t know what you’re doing here, what you’ve been doing here for the past few days, but if anyone is at risk it’s my Shizun from you and your brother!”

 

Liu Mingyan stops fanning herself, instead just holding the paper screen before her like a shield. The fan is one of Shizun’s least used; a cheap thing Ning Yingying had bought for him as a souvenir the last time they left the mountain on a nighthunt. Ming Fan has also gifted his Shizun several fans- writing instructions to his family on his master’s tastes with care so they can have the most attractive options delivered for him. 

 

Ming Fan moves closer, not too close, but close enough that he’s now between Liu Mingyan and the exit. “Why are you here?” He asks.

 

Liu Mingyan continues to glare at him over the cover of the fan, her peerlessly beautiful eyes are glittering, something about it looks so-

 

“Disciple Ming should go.” She finally says and without another word she slips past him and towards the hallway, “If you have questions your Shizun would be best placed to answer them.”

 

“Hey-”

 

But she’s gone, slipping through the door into Shizun’s bedroom while Ming Fan stands there, stomach and heart roiling on the choppy sea that are his outrage and horror. How dare she-

 

What the hell is going on here?!

 

In an effort to preserve some dignity he flees the bamboo house and runs down the path, as fast as he can to get away from all that. Shizun! Shizun, this disciple is going to help you! Ming Fan doesn’t know how but he has to do it! He has to do something! 

 

He bumps into Ning Yingying coming up the path and she laughs when she sees him, “Shixiong!” She calls, “Ming-shixiong where are you running to?”

 

“Ning-shimei.” Horrifically he feels his nose start to burn. Oh no! Oh no this is terrible!

 

“Shixiong! What’s wrong?” She looks stricken by whatever expression he’s making, “Should I go fetch someone-”

 

“No! No just- just-” He stumbles over his words and his lip wobbles as he attempts to control his expression, that small thing taking enough of his energy that he can’t fight the way Ning Yingying loops her arm through his and begins to tug him off the path through the bamboo forest.

 

“I know where to go if you need to be sad.” She says sagely, “Don’t worry, this shimei won’t tell anyone.”

 

Ming Fan stumbles along behind her as she drags him through the peak to the wood shed. “In here Shixiong.” She opens the door and pushes him inside before shutting the door behind him. 

 

The air in here is cooler and smells pleasantly of freshly chopped wood. It’s darker too but there’s still light coming in through the slats in the walls. 

 

“There.” Ning Yingying pushes him to sit down on the floor and then sits down cross-legged next to him, “If you want to cry now then go ahead! Don’t worry I won’t tell anyone!”

 

Her face is entirely guileless, her bright expression encouraging and warm. Don’t worry, that expression says, I won’t think any less of you if you cry!

 

Somehow, oddly, all of this has cured the worst of his sudden bout of emotions. 

 

“I think I’ll be okay shimei, thank you.”

 

“Are you sure? Crying sometimes makes me feel a lot better, not always but sometimes. This might be one of those times.”

 

“I don’t need to cry.” Ming Fan tries to explain, “I was just… I’m really worried about Shizun.” Ming Fan confesses, feeling awful for just saying that. Talking about his master this way… how can he save Shizun any face? How can he be so loose lipped? But Ning-shimei is his junior disciple and while she’s not particularly circumspect she cares about Shizun too so surely it would be alright to speak to her. 

 

“Because of Liu-shishu?”

 

“Shizun has been acting oddly for the past few days, I can’t presume why but everything with Liu-shishu is odd…”

 

“I don’t know shixiong, it might just be the way that Shizun acts when he has feelings for-”

 

“But how did it happen so quickly? Ning-shimei, we see Shizun almost every day, I have never seen Liu-shishu on the peak before nor any sign that anyone else was staying in the Bamboo house but suddenly out of nowhere Liu-shishu is staying over for days at a time? And not just him too-”

 

“Someone else?” Ning Yingying blinked, “Who else has been staying over with Shizun?”

 

Ming Fan wrestles over it but ultimately the whole encounter with Liu Mingyan is so fresh and terrible he feels a gagging compulsion to tell her, to tell anyone, “Liu Mingyan. She’s been here the whole time as well, I’ve seen her a few times and she’s just walking around Shizun’s house like she owns it- touching his books and using his fans and asking me to fetch things.”

 

“What?!” Ning Yingying’s jaw has dropped open, “Ming Fan I don’t believe you.”

 

“It’s the truth, I promise! I argued with her just now before I saw you. She was alone in the bamboo house and she asked me to hand Shizun’s correspondence to her and she was acting so… odd! And then she walked away straight into Shizun’s bedroom!”

 

“What?!”

 

“Exactly! And Ning-shimei, the bamboo house is a mess! And Shizun was still wearing the wrong robes when I last saw him and Liu Qingge has left now, I saw him leave! So it’s just her and Shizun alone together!”

 

“But I don’t understand,” Ning Yingying looked just as distressingly confused as Ming Fan felt, it was highly vindicating, “Why is she here? And alone too… it doesn’t make any sense, not even if Shizun is with Liu-shishu.”

 

“Yes! That’s what I think! And apparently Qi-shigu thinks that both Liu Mingyan and Liu Qingge have been back at their natal clan this entire time! Everyone apart from us doesn’t know!”

 

Ning Yingying covers her mouth, “Do you… what do you think is happening? They can’t be… hurting Shizun can they? Shizun would never allow that, would he?”

 

“I don't know... but we can’t let anyone know! Ning-shimei we absolutely cannot let anyone know about this!”

 

“But I-”

 

“It would ruin Shizun’s reputation and Qi-shigu would say all kinds of horrible things!”

 

“Fine, okay I won't say anything.”

 

The both of them sit in silence for a little while longer. 

 

“What can we do then?” Ning Yingying asks in a small voice.

 

“We just have to try and get Shizun alone and speak to him and make sure he’s okay.” That was the only next step that Ming Fan has managed to develop, there’s really not much more to his plan than that. 

 

“Alright, that’s a good idea.” Ning Yingying leans her head on his shoulder and despite how nice it feels, the moment is too serious for Ming Fan to really appreciate it. 

 

*

 

The two of them have just made their way back onto the main path and have decided to strike while the iron is hot and go to the bamboo house now when Lin-shidi comes hurrying up the path. 

 

“Oh there you are!” He salutes Ming Fan quickly and then nods at Ning Yingying, “Ning-shimei.” His full attention then goes to Ming Fan, “Da-shixiong, the Sect Leader is here to visit Shizun.”

 

The Sect Leader?! Now?!

 

“Shizun isn’t well.” Ming Fan immediately says, “Where is the Sect Leader?”

 

Shizun didn’t want to see the Sect Leader on a typical day let alone now when he was so vulnerable and there was so much strangeness around. The last thing anyone needed was Liu Mingyan suddenly popping up or Liu Qingge flying back in and everything becoming absolutely unmanageable.

 

“Wong-shidi has escorted him to a visitor’s pavilion and served tea.”

 

“Alright, I’ll go and tell him Shizun isn’t receiving visitors.” Ming Fan straightens the front of his robes and tries to smooth down his hair too.

 

“You’ve got some sticking out there.” Lim-shixiong tries to helpfully comment, “Just at the back.”

 

“Is it okay now?”

 

“Not really.”

 

“Is it too awful to see the Sect Leader?” Ming Fan bites out.

 

“No I wouldn’t say so.”

 

“Alright, Ning-shimei I’ll meet you later?”

 

She nods enthusiastically, a determined glint in her eyes that’s usually a bad sign, “See you later shixiong.”

 

But Ming Fan can’t spend too much longer here, not when he has to chase the Sect Leader off first. 

 

*

 

A half shichen later finds Ming Fan sprinting back up the path to the bamboo house, cursing the Sect Leader internally. What did Yue-Zhangmen mean by saying he would wait a little longer to see if Qingqiu-shidi’s mind changed about receiving him?? Was he planning to wait in the visitor’s pavillion all night??

 

The sun has long crested the highest point in the sky and Ming Fan is beginning to sweat with the continuous stress of the past day. It feels like a constant cycle of terror, of concern and anger and fear all the way back around again. 

 

He reaches the porch and doesn’t wait to catch his breath, especially as the closer he gets the more distinct an alarming crashing banging cacophony from inside the home becomes. What’s happening in there?? 

 

Ming Fan takes the steps in one leap and pushes aside the ruined door, long splintered past easy recognition.

 

“Get away from my Shizun!” Ning Yingying is shouting. 

 

Oh no!

 

“Shimei!” Ming Fan runs through the front room, following the noise to Shizun’s bedroom where he finds Liu Mingyan holding Shizun’s sword while Shizun sits on the bed. Ning-shimei is holding her own practice sword aloft and threatening Liu Mingyan liberally with it. 

 

“Get your hands off my Shizun’s sword!” Ming Fan jumps right in, unsheathing his own sword, “How dare you?!”

 

“She’s going to kill Shizun.” Ning Yingying shouts, glaring at Liu Mingyan, “Look at her!”

 

“Don’t do this Liu Mingyan.” Ming Fan moves closer to her, “Think about what you’re doing!”

 

 Liu Mingyan, baffling, tilts her head in response as if she’s confused though her expression doesn’t change. She does lower Shizun’s sword. 

 

“The both of you,” Shizun finally speaks up, shuffling off the bed to stand. He’s still wearing the same sleep robes from that morning with a new outer robe loosely tied over the top. “You can calm down, it’s alright. She- Liu… shizi, is not trying to hurt me. I simply allowed her to… borrow my sword, for training.”

 

Ming Fan and Ning Yingying share a look. 

 

“Shizun,” Ming Fan says seriously, lowering his sword but not resheathing it, “We need to speak to you. Alone.” He shoots Liu Mingyan, that witch!, a glare.

 

“Mm.” Ning Yingying agrees at his side. 

 

Shizun, infuriatingly, glances at Liu Mingyan who doesn’t look back. 

 

“Alright.” Shizun says, “But please wait for me in the main room.”

 

“If you don’t come out quickly we’ll come back and look for you.” Ning Yingying says with the tone of a threat. 

 

Shizun nods in rather too compliant and agreeable an attitude for the person they know. 

 

Ming Fan finds his attention preoccupied by Liu Mingyan who is watching the whole thing with a sharp expression. The way she handles Xiu Ya as well… this is Shizun’s spiritual weapon and yet Liu Mingyan’s fingers wrap around the hilt in almost the exact same way Shizun’s do… Now that his mind makes that connection it’s as though… the way Liu Mingyan is standing, the way she’s looking at them, her expression… 

 

Ming Fan doesn’t even know what he’s thinking, it’s a puzzle with pieces that refuse to connect and he can’t struggle with it any longer. 

 

Once he and Ning Yingying are in the front room alone he asks the first few of his questions, “Why are you here? Are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine, I came and thought I’d see if Shizun was around to speak to him, I was trying to wait for you first though. Ming-shixiong… the door is still broken.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“I was waiting for a while, but I could hear things from inside, banging and then someone shouting. And I was worried so I went in.”

 

“And it was like what I came into?”

 

“En. Ming Fan… something is wrong. I think maybe Shizun’s been cursed.”

 

“Cursed.”

 

“He’s not acting like Shizun.” Ning Yingying looks up at him with serious eyes, “Liu Mingyan is acting more like Shizun than Shizun is.”

 

An odd laugh burbles its way out of Ming Fan’s mouth, “Shimei-”

 

“Hello.” Shizun interrupts, entering the room and giving both of them a soft smile, “This master is grateful to have two such caring disciples.”

 

Ning-shimei is right, this isn’t Shizun at all. 

 

“Shizun, we’re worried about you. Please allow us to call for Mu-shishu, or at least a physician from Qian Cao to visit.”

 

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

 

Well, that’s rather more typical for Shizun than anything else that’s been going on. 

 

“Shizun,” Ming Fan looks around and leans in a little closer, “If you need us to get rid of Liu Mingyan or to chase away Liu-shishu or anything, you don’t even have to say, just blink twice and we’ll do it!”

 

Ning Yingying nods enthusiastically at his side. 

 

Shizun stares at them and an extraordinary expression crosses his face, there’s almost awe there and what else Ming Fan has never seen before and can't recognise.  

 

“Thanking Disciple Ming and Disciple Ning.” Shizun says, and his mouth is smiling without a hint of his usual irony, without a hint of the usual way he looks at the world like it’s all some grand cosmic joke that only he can see- before the cold fury comes back in those brief moments Ming Fan can see how human their Shizun is under the immortality. If something was humorous that was only because it was forcibly extracting joy from someone else- life was a scale and Shizun could see the balance, he laughed because he knew what others were losing for him to do so. 

 

Here and now Shizun only looks happy without anything else underneath. 

 

Maybe he’s been possessed. Ming Fan wonders. Maybe it’s a demon wearing his skin. Only a demon would never have made it past the wards at the gate of the Sect let alone to gate to Qing Jing. 

 

“Shizun,” A final test, “The Sect leader is waiting at a visitors pavilion, he wants to meet you. This disciple told him you weren’t taking visitors.”

 

Shizun’s eyes widened briefly before his expression settled, “No, that is correct, I am not taking visitors at the moment.”

 

“Thanking Shizun, I will inform the Sect Leader.”

 

There was no annoyance there, what did that mean?

 

“My disciples are dismissed for now, there is nothing else this master requires. Please do not worry.”

 

Properly dismissed, not even able to linger in the margins, Ming Fan and Ning Yingying troop out together.

 

“A-Fan.” Ning Yingying’s voice is very quiet, “I don’t want to leave.”

 

“Neither do I.”

 

“I… I’m going to stay here.” She finally says, sitting down on the ground just off the main path, “I’m going to wait here and make sure nothing happens.”

 

“Ning-shimei…” Ming Fan sighs, “We were dismissed, if you’re going to wait, do it over there where you’re hidden by the trees.” He points, “I’ll go and pass on Shizun’s message to Yue-zhangmen and then I’ll come back and join you.”

 

She nods, full of fiery determination, before they part ways with Ming Fan heading down into the peak proper to reject the sect leader. 

 

“Da-shixiong.” Luo Binghe finds him as he’s approaching the visitor’s pavilion, “This disciple has found out some new information!”

 

Exhausted Ming Fan can only nod barely, “I have to get rid of Yue-Zhangmen first.”

 

“This disciple can do that.” Luo Binghe offers immediately.

 

“I don’t trust you, the last task I gave you was such a disaster-”

 

“This disciple can do it.” Luo Binghe insists, “Allow this one to redeem himself.”

 

It’s a bad idea but everything is such a mess that Ming Fan just nods, pressing a hand to his forehead, “Fine. But if you mess this up I’ll have you expelled from the Sect.”

 

Luo Binghe just nods and bounds off. 

 

Slightly curious and not at all confident Ming Fan trails behind him and approaches the pavilion just in time to hear the end of whatever conversation took place. 

 

“This Master is very gratified to see Disciple Luo doing so well.” 

 

“Mm, this disciple has been treated very well.”

 

“That is good to hear.” 

 

Ming Fan ducks to the side as Yue-Zhangmen’s intimidating form exits the visitors pavilion, Luo Binghe by his side. 

 

“Ming-shizi,” Yue-zhangmen smiles warmly at him, “This Master is sorry to have missed your Shizun but is pleased to hear he is in good health.”

 

Ming Fan nods. 

 

“This Master has passed a gift for your Shizun to Disciple Luo.” Yue-Zhangmen levels them both with one last smile, “This Master shall now take his leave, good evening to you both.”

 

Ming Fan bows and salutes as the Sect Leader leaves before turning to Luo Binghe, “So you’re not completely useless.”

 

Luo Binghe grins brightly. Ming Fan doesn’t think he’s ever seen the other boy smile before. 

 

“Does Da-shixiong need anything else?”

 

“Not right now, but I have somewhere to be so tell me quickly, what did you hear about Liu Mingyan?”

 

“She had a qi-deviation a few days ago, that’s what led to her argument with Qi Qingqi, she wasn’t acting like herself because she qi-deviated.”

 

“Anything else?”

“Her shimei assumed the qi-deviation was because she heard the bad news about her family but she didn’t know for certain.” Luo Binghe shot him a look, “I hope Liu-shimei is okay.” He offers. 

 

Who cares if she’s okay?! She’s evil is what she is! A demoness! 

 

“Fine.” Not an entirely useless update but not all that useful to tell the truth. Looking over at Luo Binghe who has been somewhat useful the past few days and also who looks a lot more tolerable now that his robes aren’t dirty and he’s not a snivelling wreck Ming Fan sighs internally, “Look, Shizun doesn’t like you but if you focus on your lessons and stop causing trouble then he wouldn’t punish you so much.” It’s a little misleading in truth, the correlation of troublemaking to punishment when it came to Luo Binghe wasn't just a straight line, but he would certainly do himself a favour by staying out of sight and out of mind, “And stop being so inappropriate with Ning-shimei, she’s a girl and you shouldn’t be alone with her all the time! Shizun hates that kind of inappropriateness the most!”

 

Luo Binghe looks at him and truthfully Shizun has disliked many of his disciples, Ming Fan has seen it over the years. In fact Ming Fan would say the number of disciples Shizun likes, or rather tolerates, are dwarfed by the number he dislikes. However the disciples that experience the worst of Shizun’s disapproval tend to leave the Sect rather than suffer on like Luo Binghe has been doing. 

 

“Thanking shixiong for the guidance.”

 

“Just don’t cause trouble, Shizun hates troublesome people the most. Stay out of his way and focus on bringing acclaim to our peak, but not so much that you end up with too much attention on yourself.”

 

Luo Binghe blinks at him but nods slowly, “Thanking shixiong for the guidance.”

 

“If it’s really intolerable then you can always move Sects.” Ming Fan suggests, “You wouldn’t be the first.”

 

“Move from Cang Qiong?”

 

“Mm, Shizun is a hard master, quite a few disciples over the years have left.”

 

Luo Binghe seems to consider it. 

 

“Could I ask shixiong about that in the future?”

 

“Maybe.” Ming Fan allows, “For now just go to dinner and stay out of trouble.”

 

“Yes shixiong! And here, Yue-zhangmen’s gift for Shizun.”

 

Ah yes he’d almost forgotten. Judging by the shape of the package it’s likely another tea set. What makes Yue-Zhangmen think Shizun will appreciate this one any more than all the others? 

 

Trekking back to the bamboo house Ming Fan feels rather exhausted and with the tea set in his hands he can hardly rub his eyes the way he wants. So annoying… 

 

“Shixiong!”

 

“Shimei.” He walks over to where Ning Yingying's sitting down, camped out in the bamboo forest with a clear view of Shizun’s home. “Everything’s okay?”

 

“Mm, so far. Here, sit down.” She pats the spot next to her and he all but collapses, the box rattling in his hands. “Hm, new gift from Yue-Zhangmen for Shizun?”

 

“How did you guess?”

 

She giggles, holding a hand up to her mouth and her eyes curling into crescents. Ming Fan feels some of his stress and annoyance drip away at the sight, there are really far worse places to be than here on a warm evening. 

 

“So,” He tries to sit properly and then is so tired he ends up leaning back, bending his knees and propping his elbows up like a vagrant, “Are we just going to wait here?”

 

“Mm, yes.” Ning Yingying stares forward into the slowly falling gloom.

 

“What if one of the Hallmasters checks the dorms and we’re not there?”

 

“You’re the one that does that A-Fan, and besides I don’t think Shizun will care if they do report us. Anyways, we’re doing something important.”

 

In the circumstances Ming Fan would have to agree. 

 

Night creeps in quickly and Ming Fan is so sleepy it outpaces his hunger. Ning Yingying’s stomach grumbles a little but she waves off any suggestion that she go and eat even if she can come back. “This is important A-Fan, and besides I want to do this. It makes me feel good.”

 

He can’t argue with her on that so they simply sit side by side, not even trading silly smalltalk, and watch Shizun’s home through the night. At a certain point his eyelids begin to droop and he lists to the side until he’s leaning on Ning Yingying’s shoulder. When he looks up at her he finds her eyes are closed too. They’re both useless. 

 

But he falls asleep anyway. 

Ming Fan startles away with a gasp, Ning Yingying making a questioning noise beside him, and as he casts his eyes around looking for what woke him Liu Qingge lands with a crash in Shizun’s front garden and hurries into the bamboo house, kicking the broken door to final pieces as he does. 

 

That must have been how it broke the first time. 

 

“Is that Liu-shishu?” Ning Yingying whispers. 

 

“Mm.” He confirms. 

 

“I brought it, you-” The rest of what Liu Qingge is saying becomes indistinct as he retreats further into the bamboo house but in short succession the lamps are lit and they can see a warm glow in the bedroom windows. 

 

There’s a loud crash and a flash of light and both of them freeze at the sight. 

 

“Shixiong?”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Together, holding onto each other’s hands with their swords held in the other, they approach the bamboo house. The empty doorway is a gaping maw and Ning Yingying squeezes his hand. 

 

There they stand, waiting. Waiting for some sign. Waiting for anything that will give them the excuse they need to run inside and save their Shizun though their Shizun, their Shizun as they know him, would never need saving. 

 

There’s a noise from inside the house, the chatter of three voices and shuffling sounds. Ning Yingying and Ming Fan share a look. 

 

“Shizun.” Ming Fan chances, calling out, “This disciple and Ning-shimei are here, we heard a noise. Is everything well?”

 

Ning Yingying squeezes his hand once more, expression tight and grave. 

 

“My disciples are so audacious.” Through the crepuscular gloom out comes striding Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu, his eyes are narrowed in irritation and though his robes are badly tied and his hair is sloppily done the very way he holds himself makes up for any and all carelessness. “What do you two of you think you’re doing coming here at this hour? Who taught you to be so bold? Ming Fan! I should have you whipped for daring to drag your shimei into-”

 

“Shizun!” Ning Yingying bounds forward and Ming Fan can’t help but do the same. 

 

It’s Shizun! Shizun’s back! 

 

“Shizun!” Ming Fan stops himself from grabbing his master like Ning Yingying has done. Instead he bows deeply, “Shizun, this disciple is very glad to see that you are well. Very very glad.”

 

When he looks up the expression on Shizun’s face is the closest it’ll come to approval, something wry and ironic but almost pleased, almost humorous, almost satisfied- qualified by the fact that Shen Qingqiu is a man who stands tall and sees far, and who can be content with the world they live in once you’ve seen it all. 

 

“Alright, enough of this.” He detangles Ning Yingying from himself, “Disgracing yourselves this way, how can this master call you his disciples if you conduct yourselves in such a shameful fashion?”

 

Ning Yingying giggled as though she was being complimented rather than scolded. 

 

“Oh!” Ming Fan had almost forgotten and knows if he doesn’t do it now he really will forget forever.  He runs off the porch back to where he and Ning Yingying had been hiding and grabs Yue-Zhangmen’s gift, “Shizun,” He says, panting as he jogs back, “Yue-Zhangmen visited and dropped this off for Shizun.”

 

Shizun raises an eyebrow but leans forward and opens the box to find a crystalline tea set- smashed beyond repair. 

 

Ming Fan stares down at it in dismay and Ning Yingying’s eyes are wide but contrary to all expectations Shizun simply raises a hand to his mouth and begins to laugh, softly as first and then gathering force as he continues until all Ming Fan can do in his exhausted hysteria is laugh alongside him. 

 

*

“What in the Heavens?!” Ming Fan approaches the front path of Shizun’s home with some dismay, there’s blood soaked into the stone and the whole area smells awful. Probably courtesy of the carcass of the Black Silver Tipped Flying Boa which is half resting on Shizun’s front porch, its long sinuous body curling step by step down to the ground below. Oh gods, the blood will take at least a whole day to scrub out of the wood! 

 

“What are you doing here?” Shizun emerged from his home, snapping open his fan, and Ming Fan looked to the side, following his line of sight, to find Liu Qingge standing by the tip of the beast’s large unfurled wing with his arms crossed. Blown away with the last of the strangeness is Shizun and Liu Qingge's intimate relationship, Ming Fan is too good of a Head Disciple to speculate but he thinks that they must have hit a "rough patch" and this is Liu Qingge's time to win Shizun back. 

 

“This is for you.” His martial uncle gestures to the carcass, “The scales can be used to further cultivation, the broth from the bones also has healing properties.”

 

Shizun’s eyes narrow over his fan, “Why?”

 

“You know why.” Liu-shishu looks away as if in frustration and then sighs, running a hand over the top of his head, “I want to thank you.”

 

Shizun stares at him 

 

Liu-shishu stares back. 

 

“Ming Fan.” His Shizun suddenly addresses him, whip-quick. 

 

Ming Fan hurries forward, “Yes Shizun?”

 

“Have the beast taken to the kitchens and butchered. Choose what disciples you would like to help.”

 

“Yes Shizun.” 

 

“So you’re accepting it?” Liu-shishu presses. 

 

“Get off my Qing Jing Peak.” Is Shizun’s response before he turns and slams the door of his home shut behind him. 

 

Liu-shishu huffs out a breath. “Hey,” He suddenly says, “You, Disciple… Qing San.”

 

“Disciple Ming Fan.” Ming Fan corrects and then reluctantly salutes, “Greeting to Liu-shishu.”

 

“Your Shizun,” Liu Qingge considers the closed door of the bamboo house, “What does he like?”

 

“Ah?” Ming Fan blinks, “My Shizun… he likes fans?” It comes out sounding like something more of a question than an answer and he regrets giving it as soon as he has. 

 

“Hmph. By the way Mingyan wanted me to give this to you.” Liu Qingge strides over and hands Ming Fan a soft embroidered pouch, “As an apology for how she acted when she was last here, she wasn’t herself.”

 

Ming Fan looks down at the pouch, it’s a soft yellow with careful embroidery depicting delicate bamboo stalks decorated by green leaves acting as a serene backdrop to a single swaying orchid. It’s very well done, is there anything Liu Mingyan can be said to be untalented at? How frustrating. 

 

“Thank you.” He tucks the pouch away carefully for further diligent and thorough examination later when he’s alone in his own room. 

 

Liu Mingyan had left that night Shizun returned and hasn’t set foot back to Qing Jing Peak since. According to Luo Binghe the Liu siblings have returned to their everyday routines, their few days away barely a blip to the Sect as a whole. 

 

“This disciple is glad to hear that she is now… herself.”  

 

Liu-shishu nods once more and then turns on his heel boarding his sword but then hovering for a brief moment. He looks back down at Ming Fan, brow furrowing, and sweeps his glance over the Boa’s carcass, the blood stains on the stone path and then the front door of the bamboo house. 

 

In the next moment he’s gone, too quickly for Ming Fan to track with his eyes. 

 

Now that he's gone... “Shizun,” Ming Fan calls, approaching the porch, “This disciple has brought your correspondence, would Shizun like this disciple to bring it inside?”

 

The door slides open as if in response. “No,” Shizun descends from his home, sidestepping the boa neatly, robes resplendent in the sunlight, silk glimmering like oil on water, “This Master has matters to attend to on his peak.” He marches away and then looks back at Ming Fan with an expression that he clearly intends him to keep pace. 

 

Once Ming Fan has fallen into proper step, Shizun pulls out his fan and flicks it open with a bare movement of his wrist, “This Master is unhappy to hear of the trouble Hallmaster Qian has been causing my Qing Jing while this Master’s attention was taken by other important tasks, it seems that a visit will need to be paid. Ming Fan will accompany this Master.”

 

Ming Fan stares at the back of his Shizun’s head, at that long familiar sweep of hair and the gleaming crown that tops it, not a single thing out of place. He feels his nose almost begin to burn. 

 

“Of course Shizun.” He agrees as he follows his master down the familiar sun-dappled path- the morning promising good though not necessarily peaceful times ahead. But how can Ming Fan dare to argue? The life he enjoys and endures, suffers through and luxuriates within, the privileges and pain that his role saddles him with- a role he has chosen and will choose a thousand times over no matter where it may lead him. He was afraid when he was first appointed Head Disciple, afraid of failing but also afraid of waking up one morning and hating it because even if he did hate it he would never be able to let it go- afraid then of nothing but a shadow of the future. 

 

If his role as Head Disciple is made up of distinct elements; the power and status it affords him, the stress of appeasing his Shizun and rising to his expectations, the training of managing the many unwieldy elements that make up this life and cultivation, then is it possible to peel each off into their separate segments and enjoy or hate each in turn without it spoiling the whole? Not every day is good but not every day is bad either. Ming Fan lives sometimes with the feeling that his heart is going to beat out of his chest, with the feeling that his position will be yanked out from under him like sword flight gone awry, with the dread that he may have to hang his head in shame and flee the Sect after one mistake too many. 

 

Can he count his achievements as they come and take the ones past as trophies or is the future the only point of reference? As immortals there is naturally longevity, the body captured in amber at one distinct point, so will the fear ever end; the fear that Ming Fan will one day wake up in a world where he doesn’t want this any longer? 

 

Perhaps one day the fear will end, it ebbs and flows as it is, driven away by his shidimei’s (often dubious) assistance and Shizun’s infrequent approval, but until that happens will he simply have to learn to live with it and all it represents? His role feels too big for him sometimes, too deep and wide and heavy to carry as he drags it and himself along- tripping into every new day, every small victory that never feels earned the way it should, every failure that feels far too consequential. 

 

“Ming Fan? What are you dawdling for?”

 

“Apologies to Shizun!” Ming Fan speeds up his pace and leaves the last kernel of uncertainty behind on that blood-stained sun-soaked stone path. 

Notes:

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the transition into spring (or autumn wherever you are!). This is really a fairly silly fic in the sense that very little of the "action" is happening where Ming Fan is. But I was thinking about how for most stories by the end for side characters it must feel like nothing happens most of the time and all the revelations happen out of nowhere, but actually how can that be true? Ultimately I think that's what makes SVSSS (and MXTX's other works) so fun, all the side characters seem to have so much going on on their own haha. I started writing this story from Liu Mingyan's perspective (heart of the action!) but then hit a wall, I was trying to refit the story and somehow doing it from Ming Fan's perspective made sense! So this is one of the many B plots chugging along while the A plot rotates in the bamboo house. If anyone has any thoughts on the A plot feel free to share them haha, I'm interested to see what people think!

Please don't hesitate to let me know if you spot any spelling/grammar errors or if there are any tags/warnings you'd like me to add! And also if you have any questions!

As always thank you so so much for reading and I really hope you enjoyed!

(Btw the title is from twenty-three by IU!)