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To Cang Qiong Sect,
Whom It May Concern,
Greetings,
Please forgive this one for the audacity to get to the point straight away; I have written to inquire as to whether you have a male disciple named Yue Qi, age 14-16. The precise characters for the surname are not certain, but the personal name is confirmed to be written like the number.
If this would be the case, please inform him that any correspondence can be sent to the address included in this letter, and shall be passed along to the intended recipient.
With best regards,
Qiu Haitang
Respectable Qiu-xiaojie,
Thank you for your quick reply. It heartens this one to know someone is looking out for Xiao Jiu.
This humble one would share with you some of the wonders he has come across in his quest for enlightenment. This one presents you with a talisman created by Cang Qiong’s very own Yi Xing Peak, which can be used to create heat without any need for fuel. It will burn in direct proportion to the strength of Qi inserted.
Unfortunately this means it must be activated by someone with spiritual power, but this one understands you are already aware of Shen Jiu’s meagre skills.
Enclosed is a letter to Shen Jiu. This one would thank you once again for giving us the chance to keep in contact.
With best regards,
Yue Qi
Dear Xiao Jiu,
How are you? Are you alright? I am well; I have found a place on Qiong Ding Peak, the first peak. I have been able to catch up with literacy thanks to one of my shijie’s tutoring. Everything’s good here. Shizun says I have talent. It won’t take long before I’m able to come get you. Please hold on. I promise I’ll be there soon.
Tell me if you need anything.
Your Qi-ge.
To Yue Qi,
Thank you for your gift. I have passed it on to my brother. He is most fascinated by it, and will often summon Shen Jiu to activate it for him.
I have enfolded Shen Jiu’s reply to your letter. My brother was most eager to teach him his characters! I don’t think Shen Jiu was that interested in learning, but he put up with it when I told him it meant he could write back himself.
With best regards,
Qiu Haitang
Qi-ge,
I am well. I find small [...] to hide.
Some days bad. Some not a lot.
Give thing was good [...].
Are you good? Say to me.
Come fast soon.
Shen Jiu
Dear Xiao Jiu,
It is so good to hear from you. Miss Qiu said you were learning to write, but that you weren’t that interested. Forgive me for not being able to imagine that; I included some of the worksheets they gave us here. They have explanations in the form of pictures…
Dear Qi-ge,
Thanks. I learn faster.
I have no place to put papers. I send them to you. Tell me if some wrong…
Dear Xiao Jiu,
You are a fast learner indeed! I like the little drawing you made in the corner…
Dear Qi-ge,
I finished the ones you send me already. Send me more?
Also. Tell me more about your stupid shidi…
To Yue Qi,
How strange it is to think that we have been exchanging letters for months, but that I have barely spoken to you. A-Luo asked me -- that would be my brother -- who you were, and I was startled to find I could not answer him beyond your name.
Tell me about yourself, would you? Of course I shall reciprocate; let me start at once.
It is mostly just me, my brother, and my dear friends here. My parents are wonderful people, who have endeavoured to afford me a pleasant childhood. In the last few months, their health has been declining, but A-Luo is keeping watch for any miracle flowers available near us. He is very invested in this, but I feel he has staked his filial pride a bit too much on this. I only wish he’d accept my offered help, but alas. You know how men are.
Our estate is also home to a few servants, but I don’t see them often. My friends -- I mentioned those earlier -- are technically my servants, but it doesn’t feel that way to me. There are the twins, Hong’er and Hua’er, and then A-Hua. Don’t get those two confused!
They are each very near and dear to my heart, but -- and tell no one I said this -- I do have a favourite. A-Hua is gracious, demure, and endlessly clever. She is simply wonderful. This does not mean I love Hua’er and Hong’er any less though! They seem to have a supernatural sense to anticipate my needs.
Write soon, alright? I’m ever so curious about what a real Cultivation Sect is like!
Qiu Haitang
Dear Qi-ge,
Qiu Haitang told me she was going to write to you. No doubt she’ll tell you a lot of things, but barely any of those will be useful. So let me explain things as well.
The Qiu household consists of only four family members -- Qiu Haitang, her older brother Qiu Jianluo, and their two parents. The rest have died from suspicious accidents, all within the last ten years. Qiu Jianluo, out of the goodness of his heart, has publicly promised to care for his sister when his parents can’t anymore, so I imagine those two will die soon too -- good fucking riddance.
They have about thirty slaves, not counting me. Three of those work for Qiu Haitang. She has given them flower names, and thinks they are grateful for that. She didn’t consider how the names of two of them would shorten to the same sound; now everyone has to borrow her affectionate nicknames if you want anyone to know who you’re talking about. You won’t hear unkind words from me -- Qiu Jianluo would definitely find out if I were to ever utter them out loud -- but know I am thinking them. Often.
She reminds me of you, sometimes. She always thinks the best of people, even when she really shouldn’t. Be assured, however, that not even at your most stupid have you been so blind to
Qiu Jianluo, he… He is cruel not someone to deny. Nobody does. Not even me. Especially not me.
I don't want to talk about him. Tell me more about Cang Qiong Sect. Is Mu Huan still searching for test subjects? How many disciples has he run off now? You said you were working on something with Qi Shiying, tell me more.
Come quick,
Shen Jiu
Respectable Qiu-xiaojie,
If it pleases you, it would be my honour for us to form a friendship.
Do not worry, I shall tell no one. I am rather good at keeping secrets, if I must say so myself. As for me; I do not have any family of my own, though I have long cared for Xiao Jiu with the same fervency as if he were my little brother.
My martial siblings more than make up for it. There is Huang Ai, my shijie, who always has a helping hand for the younger disciples. Fu Bao is a little younger than me, but they have been on Qiong Ding for far longer. They have such a talent for talismans that Shizun is considering relinquishing them to Yi Xing Peak. Then there is Zu Chun, my shixiong who is fascinated by…
To Qiu Haitang,
That tale is such a peculiar one that it almost must be fake, if it were not so strange that surely no one could make it up. You have a real gift for storytelling.
You were right; Fu Bao seems to have adjusted within record time, and is climbing the ranks so rapidly that surely they must be aiming for the role of Peak Lord, or at least Head Researcher…
Qiu Haitang,
That is an interesting line of questioning. Your tutor did not consider one thing, though -- no trait exists in a vacuum. What one person might call callous disregard, would another see as a strong will to survive. A skill at avoiding conflict might prevent a war, or it could leave one unwilling to stand up for one's fellow man.
And so too, one’s inability to see the darker side of life might make one blind to serious harm happening in one’s victinity -- to people one says they care about -- but it could also lead to impossible kindnesses such as offering to pass on letters to a mere slave…
To Yue Qi,
I do not know what you are insinuating. Our servants are treated perfectly well. They are never excessively punished, even though we would be in our right to. When they are hurt and unable to work for a short while, they still have (free!) room and board -- unlike if we had simply hired people from the outside, who would have been left to the streets if they could not work.
I treat my girls well; for certain, they're better off with me than any other Master. They're my dear friends; they love me, and I them. Sometimes, when we are at the market, I give them some money to buy something sweet for themselves. How could you call that treatment cruel?
And Xiao Jiu -- Xiao Jiu! Brother looks at him the same way he looks at me. To imply that he could harm him is simply outrageous.
Do not forget yourself.
Qiu Haitang.
Qi-ge,
You were really on to something when you sent Qiu Haitang that gift at the beginning of it all. I always knew you’d be stupid good at diplomacy and subtle shit like that.
Qiu Jianluo is still as obsessed with that talisman as the day he got it. He has invited some friends over to gawk at it once again. You’d think the novelty would have worn off by now, but no.
I’m not complaining though, even though it might sound like it. Can’t have your little slave in visibly bad conditions when people are visiting; even though everyone is aware what happens behind closed doors, that simply isn’t to even be hinted at in polite company.
Saving my hide even when you aren’t here next to me. Good thing. Qiu Jianluo has been in an awful mood to match Qiu Haitang’s. What did you even write in your last letter?
Did you know
Was this gift meant to
I wish I could use it to burn his face off
Be careful,
Shen Jiu
Respectable Qiu-xiaojie,
Please forgive this lowly one, I did not mean to imply distasteful things were happening behind your back.
I beg you to not let this misstep reflect on Shen Jiu, and fully acknowledge this was a mistake on my part. Though I do not deserve it, I beg you to pass my letter on to Xiao Jiu just the same, and let any retribution fall on me instead.
With best regards,
Yue Qi
Yue Qi,
It’s fine. Give me some time to get my thoughts in order; I’ll pass on your letters as per usual.
With best regards,
Qiu Haitang
Qi-ge,
Shit’s fucking weird here.
Qiu Haitang keeps staring at me? Seriously. I’m sitting in her room right now -- of course I am, where else would I write -- and she keeps looking out of the corner of her eyes. I think she thinks she is being sneaky.
Anyways. Qiu Jianluo’s friends have left, but his bad mood hasn’t left with them, so it’s not like I can leave her room. My pinky has healed well enough -- thank you for the ointment you sent -- but I don’t want to chance it another time. He asked me to accompany him to the town, so I’m hoping if I can write a letter long enough, he’ll have left by the time I’m done.
Qiu Haitang is still staring. I think I’ll mention A-Hua has been looking a little pale, and might like an opportunity to go out into the sunlight. Qiu Haitang has been weird about our health lately, no doubt she’ll jump on the chance to fret a little more…
Dear Xiao Jiu,
I’m glad it helped. Tell me the second you need any more; I know you can’t keep a stack in case it gets discovered, but I asked Fu Qingzhuan -- that’s Fu Bao, but they got formally appointed successor a few days ago -- if they have any left over talismans that might be able to hide small objects. They’re rather busy, but I’m going to bug them in the name of maintaining Peak relations. Shizun won’t mind.
Qiu Haitang; does it look like she is stewing in anger? Should I be sending another apology? I thought that might be too much, that she needs space right now, but what if my previous apology didn’t sound sincere enough?
Stay safe,
Yue Qi
Qi-ge,
The elder Qiu died yesterday. I think another apology will just take space that she needs to grieve. Give it a rest, maybe she’ll have forgotten by the time everything’s over.
Qiu Jianluo looks very willing to be a pillar of support for her as she grieves. He’s in such a great mood he spent the morning humming. It’s vaguely very disturbing.
I don’t think I have anything to worry about for the next few days.
Shen Jiu
To Yue Qi,
To begin with, apologies for not writing sooner. With everything that has been going on, it honestly slipped my mind. What you said, however, has not. In fact, these past few months very few other thoughts have managed to cross my mind.
Despite how well I treat Xiao Jiu, somehow he still had such a look of panic when he begged me to let him keep writing to you. You feared the same thing. Why? Have I done something to make people think
I don’t hurt my girls. I’ve never even wanted to. You’d think that would mean everything is fine, but…
I ask A-Hua to play with me, and she does. I ask her to stay away from me, and she does. If I don’t initiate the conversation, she stays silent. She seems determined to do nothing I haven’t audibly approved of her doing. I must admit, it has begun to grate on me. Surely she must know I would never torment her if she denied one of my requests?
... She must, right?
She doesn’t trust me, it seems, and the longer I think about it, the harder it gets to blame her for it.
Xiao Jiu’s pinky is crooked. I am certain it wasn’t when we bought him. Hong’er walked with a limp three weeks ago, the kindly old cook flinched when I silently walked up behind him, and I think the brown staining the back of the gardener’s shirt might not be dirt.
I’m probably just imagining things. I must have made something up to distract myself from my grief. But what if I’m not? I don’t want to believe something is wrong.
No, I don’t want to believe I have missed something being wrong for so long.
Tell me I’m being crazy. Lie to me if you have to.
Anticipating your response,
Qiu Haitang
To Qiu Haitang,
I would never be so crass as to tell you what to feel or think. If I could only say one thing, it would be: you have never seemed unintelligent. Trust yourself.
With best regards,
Yue Qi
Dear Xiao Jiu,
You are looking at the very next Sect Leader. Well, you aren’t, you’re actually looking at my letter, but I trust you get the point.
This might sound like a good thing, but it’s honestly not. I was getting so close to convincing my Shizun to let me off the mountain, despite me being a very fresh disciple, and this set all my efforts back to the very start. Paradoxically, while this is an acknowledgement of my strength, I suddenly require a lot more protection.
I’m top of the class in diplomacy, and yet it’s somehow still not enough to get someone on my side, to help me get you out of there.
Xiao Jiu, sometimes they seem so very backwards here. They say things like "Responsibility while wielding our considerable power is required for the continuing peace," and "It won’t do to set a precedent for the sake of a mere child." What use is power if you can't use it to protect those who don't have it? Why would you have a sword, and yet never draw it?
When I’m Sect Leader, I want to make sure that something like this never happens again. That not a single child’s suffering will continue when I can prevent it.
With love,
Yue Qingyuan
Qi-ge,
Yue Qingyuan,
Qi-ge,
Congratulations. And after less than two years! What spell did you use to enthral your teachers? You must teach it to me when we meet again, so I might convince them to let this humble slave stay with such a prestigious disciple. Though I suppose it won’t be like they could stop you, no? Then again, they managed to keep you from me for all this time too.
Meanwhile, I am achieving great things as well. Why, it was only yesterday that I managed to clean the west-side guest room despite having only two functioning limbs! What an accomplishment, truly.
Fuck, that sounds bitter. I promise I’m not.
… I hope you still know me well enough to know that’s a lie.
Don’t blame yourself. I know you would have come by now if it were possible. No, don’t take this as a sign to try and sneak out again. Don’t ruin this for yourself.
I wish you were here. I'm glad you aren't.
I’ll see you,
Shen Jiu
Yue Qingyuan,
So it turns out that yes, everything is indeed very messed up here. Who could have guessed! Not me, clearly, which I can only attribute to being a willfully blind, idiotic,
Yue Qingyuan,
I straight-up asked A-Hua what was going on. She is a thousand times braver than me, and without hesitation tore away the last bit of film over my eyes. Yue Qi, excuse my language, but fuck is it worse than I thought.
I wish to apologise to her, to bare my soul for her to see and let my shoulders bow under my regret. And though my inaction is a crime, I can not, for that would lay the responsibility of easing my heart at her feet. She does not deserve that burden, when I was the one
Yue Qingyuan,
I hate this, I really do.
I want to be kind. I want to be sweet, and nice, and gentle, and I don't want anyone to be in pain. What does it mean when kindness hurts? How can I
Yue Qingyuan,
Thank you for your advice.
It turns out things might indeed be darker than I ever could have thought. I am dealing well. Nothing is wrong, except where everything is wrong and people are hurting and Yue Qi, I don’t know what to
Yue Qingyuan,
Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as Head Disciple! I’m glad to see that your hard work has been recognized.
You will carry the responsibility well, I imagine.
With best regards,
Qiu Haitang
Qi-ge,
So Qiu Haitang’s finally gone mad.
Oh well, it was only a matter of time. At least she seems to have snapped in the complete opposite direction from her brother, which is good, because I don’t think anyone here could survive two Qiu Jianluo’s, least of all me.
Her newfound protectiveness is putting you to shame. Well, I say that now, but I still remember what you did when the tall fucker’s brother was visiting. She’s almost as bad as you were back then.
She’s being clever about it too -- at least for her standards. Earlier this week, when Qiu Jianluo called me to him, she decided that right now was the perfect time to show her brother this new drawing she’d made, but oh no, she’d left the window open, Xiao Jiu, could you…? The drawing was clearly slapped together within a minute or so; that, or she sucks way more than I thought she did.
And last evening, when Qiu Jianluo was starting to look a little too agitated, she declared that I should sleep in her room. No, not like that. Hong’er and Hua’er were there too, though only because A-Hua reminded Qiu Haitang what it would have looked like otherwise.
Besides, that wouldn't be an issue no matter how you look at it. For all her recent perceptiveness, I don’t think Qiu Haitang has figured out yet why her eyes linger on A-Hua thrice as long as they do on us.
Good. I think she’d implode under the stress if she knew that right now.
We’ll see how this continues. I don’t have high hopes for her keeping up this behaviour -- I don’t think she has the strength to keep her guard up for long -- but who knows. She’s already surprised me before.
Write soon,
Shen Jiu
To Qiu Haitang,
Thank you. I am being very sincere when I say that your recent actions have brung me some measure of peace about the state of things.
Though I will not rest before I have gotten Xiao Jiu out of there -- and let’s be clear about that now, I wish for nothing else -- it eases my heart a little to know that he has gained an ally in that house.
Please inform me if you require any material goods to aid you in this venture,
Yue Qingyuan
Yue Qingyuan,
I feel like it has been ages since I’ve written, though rationally, I know it hasn’t been that long. My days are simply spent doing a lot… more than before.
I won’t insult us both by pretending I’m not aware that Shen Jiu has informed you about, well, everything. Though I have kept my silent promise of not opening any letters not meant for me, it’s rather obvious by the way he keeps bending protectively over the writing desk. Though I previously saw that as amusing, now it has taken on a more sinister shade in my mind. Most things have.
He has been testing me, I think. I want to believe he has stopped hiding his injuries because he trusts me now, but… It’s Xiao Jiu. Of course things aren’t that simple. Oh well. Even if he is doing this for -- I don’t know, to get a reaction? To confront me with my mistakes? To take advantage of my pity?
It doesn’t really matter, does it? Because he still trusts me to react in a way that won’t make things worse for him. That’s something, even if it isn’t much.
It is not only Shen Jiu that has been behaving in such a manner. My girls are doing the same, A-Hua taking the lead. My heart beats a little faster every time she does something “wrong,” when she looks at me with such a daring look in her eyes, protecting Hong’er and Hua’er in case this will be the time I react explosively --
She has always been beautiful, but this
But listen to me prattle on about myself for so long. How have you been? Have you made sure not to overwork yourself? I hear constantly about whatever great advancements you have made recently -- Shen Jiu brags about you, did you know? -- but it’s important to pace yourself. You probably know that already, having made it this far, but it bears repeating.
How easy for me to say that, when I’m not the one
Take care,
Qiu Haitang
Yue Qingyuan,
Thank you. That was kind of you to say.
You are a little too optimistic, though. Despite my best efforts, I have not been able to rest with any ease. Every time I think that this is it, this time I’ve eliminated the last of the cruelty happening in this household, I am sadly surprised once again. It’s exhausting.
I know I’m doing all I can, and yet… It’s simply not enough. I don’t think anything I can do is enough -- I am trying to mop up the puddles while the river is still sweeping through my living room. It feels useless. Maybe it is.
Maybe nothing good can ever happen as long as we live in a home where the walls are stained with blood.
Yue Qingyuan, you are already skilled in so many things; is the hiring process counted among that? If your studies have covered that, let me give you a -- completely hypothetical -- opportunity to practise.
A middle-aged woman, no family, with great skill at cooking for great numbers. An old man, hair beginning to grey, who can make even the most frustrating of flowers flourish. A girl only a few years older than me, no especially marketable skills save a passion for needlework, but quick to learn and fully literate.
Say they needed to find a place for employment, ideally far away from here. No prefered location has been mentioned, and money for travelling will be provided. Where would you appoint them?
Thanks in advance,
Qiu Haitang
To Qiu Haitang,
That is a fascinating thought experiment. I’d say that the Liu family might have room for a gardener, as they are thinking of expanding their gardens. Too, they are expecting another child, and rumours go that it’ll be a girl. They might be in need of a nanny. I included their address -- for the sake of being thorough in my homework, of course.
As for the cook, here at Cang Qiong Sect we could always use more kitchen servants. There are quite a lot of mouths to feed, after all, and not nearly enough hands to make it easy.
I don’t suppose that you might be able to send along someone else in all the confusion? Like, say, someone who we both care about a great deal?
The best of luck with your venture,
Yue Qingyuan
Dear Xiao Jiu,
I know Xiao Jiu said not to worry, but how can I not?
I am progressing fast. Shizun took me to get acquainted with all the other peaks; that is, the only two that I have never seen before. Ku Xing, because the Peak Lord has finally emerged from his seclusion -- three years, Xiao Jiu! How he does it, I don’t know -- and Wan Jian, which I really should have visited sooner, but simply never had the opportunity before. It’s impressive, all the power that they manage to compress into such insignificant-seeming swords. I wonder
It likely won’t be long now before I am finally released from Qiong Ding to come and get you. I beat my final shixiong today -- surely that is enough proof that nobody will manage to ambush me when I’m gone from the safety of our Sect?
Stay safe,
Your Qi-ge
Yue Qingyuan,
Thank you for your advice. Contact has been made with the Liu family -- in theory, naturally.
And oh, I wish things could be that easy, but alas. My brother has his favourites, and does not seem eager to let them go, whether they be toys or people. Please believe that I have tried before, and that it resulted in carnage did not end well.
Most people have been removed from our estate by now; I have had to convince Yu Chao to give me some last-minute cooking lessons before she left in order for me to help fill the niches that have been -- unavoidably -- created. I make a mean egg fried rice now!
A-Hua has chosen to stay with me. I am very glad for her presence, for the strength and backbone which she has found in the past months has quickly become something which I rely on. She is so beautiful like this, with clenched fists and fire in her eyes.
I will never tell her that, of course. I remember what you have told me of how hard it may be to deny them even when she is now -- hopefully -- free from any expectations.
Perhaps you could speak with her about that, when we meet you. Because we will, I assure you that. Xiao Jiu has been antsy to see you again, having lost all his patience now that the end might be in sight. The feeling has been strangely infectious. I only wish
Take care,
Qiu Haitang
Yue Qingyuan,
Apologies for not waiting for a reply to my previous letter before taking my brush in hand again, but this is urgent.
You have spoken before of lessons in diplomacy; how can I deny an order a request from someone I unfortunately care about deeply, without saying the word no?
I fear he will not take it well when I tell him I do not want to marry Xiao Jiu. He is like a little brother to me! A-Luo didn’t understand at first that I see that as something preventing me from having romantic feelings.
Yue Qi, I worry. He looks at me in such a way -- [an inkblot covers the next few words]
Please answer soon,
Qiu Haitang
Qi-ge,
Qiu Jianluo has been frantic, practically clawing at the walls. I think he’s finally grasped that Haitang has been setting everything up for herself to leave too. I have not left Haitang’s room in thirty hours, but this is obviously not sustainable.
I don’t know what he’s going to try to do. Though I have almost nothing to do but write, the words refuse to leave my brush. By the time your letter will have arrived, we’ll hopefully know what his plan is going to be. I’ll finish the letter then.
Okay! Okay. Maybe my handwriting sucks, but I have to get this down before Haitang is finished with her own letter.
Qiu Jianluo’s gone mad(-der), and not in the surprisingly positive way Qiu Haitang did. Qi-ge, what the fuck? You’ll probably have read Haitang’s letter by now, but if not, you should do so. I have no fucking clue how to put everything, so I’ll let her go through the trouble of explaining.
I don’t think it’ll come to you as a surprise that neither of us want this. I don’t know what to do. Do we just get married to avoid his wrath, then pretend it never happened when we get out? What if he tries to ensure we actually take part in the wedding night? Depending on how public he makes it, he could
Haitang’s done
Be fast,
Shen Jiu
Qiu Haitang, Xiao Jiu
Hopefully by the time this letter reaches the both of you, my words will be unnecessary.
Don’t say yes, don’t say no. Stall for time; I think I have found a way to make sure I have the power that they won’t be able to keep me here if I were to get caught sneaking off. I’ll be there soon, I hope.
Xiao Jiu, remember where we last saw each other? I’ll try to be there in the evening, two days’ time. No, wait, I forgot I’ll be faster than a letter, if all goes right. Xiao Jiu can laugh at me for this mistake when we see each other again.
Everything will be alright.
Wish me luck,
Yue Qi
Yue Qingyuan,
Surprise! Xiao Jiu and I are coming to check up on you. We’ll be at Cang Qiong Sect within twenty-one days, if all goes right. A lot has happened since you were meant to arrive. Not enough to distract Xiao Jiu though, and he has been overcome with worry -- though I haven’t been much better -- so since we have nothing holding us back anymore, we’ve decided to simply go to you instead. I’ve included a letter to your Shizun, please pass it along so they know to expect our visit.
A-Hua has decided she’ll come with me, and I couldn’t be more glad. She’s really flourished without me thoughtlessly stifling her growth, and walks around with greater confidence than I ever could. I hope you’ll welcome her; I desperately want my dearest people to like each other.
I’ve left some of my ‘distant family’ behind to deal with the estate; twin girls, initimately familiar with what my role in the family is. Word is that they came to visit after they heard the news about my brother’s tragic demise. And if nobody is able to recognise my dearest second cousins as my former servants, simply because they never cared to look at their faces long enough when they were still the mere help, then well, that’s really their fault, isn’t it?
And yes, you read that right. A-Luo is --
Apologies if I’ll get a little gloomy here; it’s only been a week since the accident, and I don’t know who to talk to about this but you. Honestly, I hope I can get my feelings all straightened out before you can ask me about them in person.
The mood at my home has been… Everyone is secretly very glad that my brother’s dead, and some hide it better than others. I can’t blame them very much -- not knowing what he was like to anyone but me -- but he’s still my brother. I hate him, and love him even more, and above all, am selfishly glad I won’t have to deal with his cruelty anymore.
Does that make me as bad as him? That I really don’t care that much that he’s dead? I lay awake and think about a world in which he had been just that little more careful with his experiments, and can’t help but think it would be a worse one.
Three weeks. Then we can meet face to face, and you’ll say something that will make me understand myself a little better, like you have done so many times before. And I’ll protest a bit, but think about it for a while, and then have to tell you you were right.
I wonder, will you be smug about that in person in a way that you aren’t in your letters?
I can’t wait to figure that out.
Until then,
Qiu Haitang
Qi-ge,
You certainly weren’t faster than that letter. I’ll still laugh at you though.
But ah, Qi-ge, you’re so irresponsible. I had to burn down the house to get us out of this!
That is a bit of an exaggeration. I actually only burned down one room; though anyone who’s curious will discover that Qiu Jianluo foolishly tried to combine Cultivator’s Artefacts, and accidentally overloaded the heating talisman you sent me. What a shame. So sad. We’ll all mourn an appropriate amount of time.
Don’t worry, I have an alibi. A-Hua was with me the whole time.
… Seriously though. I’m worried. It’s not like you to promise something and then not follow through. Be delayed a bit, sure, but not like this.
Haitang and I will be arriving in three week’s time. You better commandeer one of one Zhi Jue’s special hawks to intercept us with a letter before that though. I’m gonna be really mad if you’re dead something’s wrong.
I’ll see you soon,
Shen Jiu