Work Text:
When Linguang Jun fell in love with a man known as Shen Qingqiu, he thought it was an absurd affair and he would get over it. He was a demon. They had their fascinations and obsessions, of course it was nothing new that someone pretty and strong became such an obsession.
Their meeting lasted less than ten minutes, young Shen Qingqiu shoved his nephew, whom he wanted to sell to Huan Hua cultivators, into his hands and told him to fuck off back to the North, uttering a cryptic threat that he would know if little Momo did not return home safely.
Linguang Jun didn't know what the little cultivator cared about Momo's life, but he had to admit.... The narrow waist, the many soft green layers wrapping around the body in a charming, fetching way, and the sharp gaze of eyes similar to ice crystals.... Shen Qingqiu was more than just an ordinary, boring cultivator.
An obsession like others should quickly disappear, a few months away from the human world and it's over.
That didn't happen.
Linguang Jun, humiliated, caught himself trying to find Shen Qingqiu, to track him down, to see him at least for a short while.... And preferably for a long moment, to hear the razor-sharp but strangely sweet voice again. If they fought it would be even better. It would be hot. Maybe he could peel off some of his soft layers from the cultivation master? Maybe he could manage to expose a wrist or an ankle?
Linguang Jun's obsession was not passing.
Worse... his obsession was growing stronger. He challenged the young man to a fight when they met in a remote village. Then again, when they ran into each other at a haunt in some town, another time when they found each other by accident in some forest… And then he broke expectations by offering to let the cultivator watch an autumn festival together in exchange for a small bribe of sweets. Shen Qingqiu hesitated.... And then all evening he picked out more and more candies, cookies and other goodies, until Linguang Jun spent almost half the contents of his purse on all these pleasures.
He had no regrets.
Hell... He was excited, shockingly stimulated. He remembered every little part of the evening when he had the opportunity to see the immortal master eat his bribes.
He began to observe Shen Qingqiu, only to discover with disappointment how much people disregarded the extraordinary gift they had among themselves. The Cang Qiong sect had an incredible strategist who seemed to have a thousand ideas.... Yet Shen Qingqiu was slowly suffocating on his own, sidelined and completely unprotected as rumors and slander grew.
Disappointing.
Someone would think that one of the most powerful sects should realize that having a cunning strategist is what they need most. They seemed not to understand, like foolish children.
Linguang Jun took his chance and quietly showed up at the bamboo house one evening. Shen Qingqiu raised a tired look at him and dismissively greeted him with a wave of his hand as he sat hunched over a mug of alcohol.
His beauty was always stunning, but there was something particularly debauched and heart-melting about his weary eyes and wasted figure. Linguang Jun sat across from him, and the Peak Lord sighed.
"What are you doing this time? And why did you enter my sect?" He asked.
"I admire you," Linguang Jun admitted. "You could be my queen and, along with me, bring the entire North to its knees with your mind," he admitted. "But you are here."
"I am here," admitted Shen Qingqiu. "And what will you do with it?"
"Become my wife." He said without thinking. "I will take you to the North, I will give you everything you desire; I will take you to any place you wish to see; I will have only you, no other wife, concubine or mistress."
"You can have the whole damn harem," he chuckled, but it sounded weak and insincere. "Promise me something else."
"What do you want?"
"You will always stand by my side, even if your fascination passes. You will never starve me or be left in the darkness. You will never let anyone hurt me.... And you will never hurt me yourself."
"Of course." He assured him.
"Good," said Shen Qingqiu, raising a cup to his lips to drink alcohol. "So be it, I will become your wife."
"Let's go-"
"You will come back for me in five days."
"In five days?" He repeated, furrowing his brow.
"It's not a trap," snorted Shen Qingqiu, rolling his eyes. "I have students who are mine. I must fulfill my duty and give them their future."
Linguang Jun hesitated, but vowed to listen, vowing to stand by Shen Qingqiu's side. Even if the sect despised him, even if, after meeting with other lords, he just sat quietly in his hut, trying to sip his despair with alcohol, even if he wanted him all to himself already....
"Five days," he said. "I will prepare the palace for the arrival of my queen."
Five days later, Linguang Jun appeared on Qing Jing, expecting to be ambushed. Shen Qingqiu was waiting for him at his home, where he met him last time. This time his hair was impeccably combed and he was wearing neat, bright robes embroidered with birds with wings spread wide.
"You have arrived," said a bewildered Master Shen. The surprise in his eyes was priceless, but at the same time a little painful.
"You waited," he remarked, smiling gallantly. "My queen," he extended his hand.
Shen Qingqiu reached up and grasped his hand. His fingers were rough from prints, but very slender. His grip intensified as Linguang Jun opened a portal to take him North.
***
Linguang Jun was excited. Shen Qingqiu let him dress in beautiful, expensive robes with the warmest, softest furs, and braid his hair, placing precious stones in it. The cultivator looked like he was born in the Demonic North, really. If it weren't for the fact that he had typically human energy and no fangs or claws, he might have passed for the daughter of some distant tribe in the eyes of people around. Linguang Jun kept this to himself, happily showing the man around the palace where he resided. He spoke of a future wedding ceremony, and Shen Qingqiu listened to him with interest, only to firmly refuse whenever he heard a plan that did not suit him. For example: he did not protest against serving some of the human meat dishes, but expressed a categorical demand that it should belong to men - not women, not children. This was quite stunning.
"Do you really not mind?"
"The demons of the North are known to devour humans hunted in their territory." Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. "The taste of humans is disgusting, but it's the custom of this land."
Linguang Jun lifted his queen with delight, and Shen Qingqiu screamed and hit him over the head with a fan in protest.
It was worth it.
Shen Qingqiu was a bit stunned when, after a brief tour of the palace, Linguang Jun led him a second time to the chambers for him. This... These really were entire chambers created to make him feel comfortable. The demon had taken care to place in them rare, human-safe plants that could survive in the Northern Kingdom, bookshelves, a bed separated by a tall, beautiful screen, and a closet full of robes in the cut he liked. Did the man remember what he was wearing during the festival, when he put away the overly extravagant robes of the Peak Lord in his purse? Really?
But most important… he came.
Linguang Jun had come for him, as he had promised, and besides, he had carved out a space in his house for him. Shen Qingqiu did not really expect this. He thought it might be an ambush, a way to trap Xiu Ya Sword for a show for the demons to boost prestige, but....
"Master Shen?" Someone knocked on the door, and then a young female voice sounded. "Master Shen, this Purple Nails reports to serve you. Is there anything I can do?"
She did not enter.
She waited.
Shen Qingqiu took a moment to cool down before slowly ordering her to enter.
The girl was some kind of demonic insect, but he didn't know the kind, she didn't look like any demon he knew of. She probably came from a mixing of kinds. She had skin covered with a thin layer resembling beetle armor, but undoubtedly much thicker. He couldn't say too much about her appearance, but he thought she was probably beautiful by demon standards. She was surrounded by an easygoing, warm aura.
"Purple Nails is delighted to meet Master Shen," she communicated happily. "Linguang Jun told me to fulfill all your requests, Master."
"All of them?" He repeated.
"Yes."
"What if I wanted to kill someone? Destroy something?" He asked cautiously.
"Purple Nails will try to meet the Master's expectations to be helpful. I will only not provide assistance in the event of the eventuality that harm is to befall Linguang Jun," she explained.
He blinked.
Oh. That was... A lot of power. Although she was simply a servant handed over to him, but still....
"Does Purple Nails have time to have tea with this Master and tell him about the North?"
"Purple Nails will do so with pleasure!" She assured him.
He spent the next three hours in pleasant conversation, questioning the girl, who unabashedly told him everything, and there was a nice smell in the air of excellent tea, which was undoubtedly stolen from the human realm. His future husband provided him with a marvelous tea set made of excellent materials and covered with symmetrical patterns in the furnishings of his chambers. He liked it.
By the time he discovered how the warm spring in the side room worked, he knew enough about midnight and the political situation to start planning for the future. First and foremost his own, but also that of Linguang Jun. Since the man wanted to make him his queen and had already made some promises to him, he decided to drag the demon with him to the top as long as everything was as it should be. To be accepted, listened to and protected was not asking too much at all. It wasn't even a request for him to be the only one at Linguang Jun's side forever more.
With hesitation, he put on a down-soft sleeping robe and lay down among the unimaginably precious and soft furs that kept him comfortable and warm.
He was in a demon's palace in the far North.... In the chambers he had secured with additional talismans (although he had managed to observe many elaborate spells the previous day) and with Xiu Ya by his side he slept comfortably as he had rarely done in his life so far. In these chambers he sensed no presence nearby, neither men nor women, it was just comfortable and quiet.
In the morning, he found a gift from Linguang Jun. The demon had not left it in the chambers, and so he had not entered into them without permission. He sent the gift in the hands of Purple Nails, and she waited outside the chambers for permission to enter and deliver it even if Shen Qingqiu took an hour to get out of bed, wash and dress presentably.
She didn't say a word about his procrastination or vanity.
"Lianguan Jun sent an artifact," she communicated, lifting up a pillow on which rested an object that looked like an elegant pendant with a carefully carved jade in the center. "This will enable Master Shen to accept the North's temperatures more easily," she explained. "If I may suggest... If Master Shen wanted to effortlessly accept life in the North in the future, it would be beneficial to adapt with artifacts or acquire the blood of Linguang Jun or someone from the Mobei Jun' family. Their blood has specific properties."
"I understand," he said with some hesitation. "This... Big information."
"Purple Nails thought it might be important! Purple Nails received Linguang Jun's blood as a child when he took her from the starving South!" She explained hastily, bowing low.
"Hm," Shen Qingqiu mused, stroking the winter artifact with his fingers before placing it around his neck.
Shen Qingqiu met with Linguang Jun, and the demon greeted him with a murmur of satisfaction.
"Would you like to accompany me for a walk?" He asked. "The palace has unique ice gardens. I'm sure some of the plants will delight you. Many of them human cultivators have never acquired, at most they have vaguely described their appearance or where they met them."
Shen Qingqiu was indeed curious, so he hesitantly accepted his future husband's arm and let him lead the way.
He took advantage of his upbeat mood, preparing for an important conversation.
"Linguang Jun, your nephew lives in your palace, right?"
"Yes." The demon looked displeased.
"Let me meet him."
"Master Shen?" The man stopped at an exceptionally large, light purple fern and looked at Shen Qingqiu.
"I'm planning your takeover of the North," he burbled and covered his face to hide a slight blush. "I want to meet your nephew to decide whether I intend to use him or kill him."
Although he said he had not made up his mind, Shen Qingqiu suspected that the boy would have to be killed soon. But he wanted to be sure.
***
Linguang Jun did not hesitate to bring his nephew to meet Shen Qingqiu. He was willing to sell the child to cultivators beforehand, so potentially handing him over to death didn't seem scary at all, although.... Although somewhere deep down he supposed that Shen Qingqiu couldn't really kill the child.
Little Momo looked at the frigid cultivator with wary eyes as the three of them found themselves in one of the quiet, seldom-used chambers ideal for business meetings, small family meals and other such, formal, mess. Linguang Jun's ancestors were good with politics, and so was he.... But his contacts weakened a bit after Tianlang Jun was sealed.
"Momo," Linguang Jun grunted. "Meet Shen Qingqiu. Our wedding will be soon."
The boy hesitated, looked at Linguang Jun for a moment, then at Shen Qingqiu. Recognition appeared in his eyes, followed by a kind of relief.
"Linguang Jun, can you leave us?" The cultivator asked, and he didn't mind. He slowly backed away, leaving his nephew and partner alone.
Shen Qingqiu tilted his head slightly, looking at little Momo.
"We met earlier when your uncle was in the process of trying to teach you how to use your powers in.... Not in a very thoughtful way," he spoke up, indicating encouragingly with his hand for Momo to sit at the table. He remained calm and patient as he poured the boy and himself a cool blue tea brewed from special health herbs from the North. "I think you know this best, but your uncle is a fool when he feels too many things at once," he said thoughtfully. "Hatred for his brother, love for his nephew, longing for his former beloved.... The burden of being the other, not enough."
The boy listened in silence.
"You are a good child, aren't you, Momo? You wish all your problems would disappear so that your uncle could love you and find time to train you like other older demons train their young," as he spoke, he lifted a cup to his lips to drink.
"Could he?" Asked little Momo naively, with faint hope, because just as Shen Qingqiu had predicted after Purple Nails' confessions, the boy was a bit like Xiao Jiu, but with more desperation, because he really wanted and needed his beloved uncle back with him.
"You see... If we could remove your father, and Linguang Jun won the title of Mobei Jun, you would no longer be an obstacle in his way. He could still love you as before."
Little Momo stared at Shen Qingqiu.
"Would... Do you know, because he loves you?"
Shen Qingqiu dipped noncommittally because he didn't actually know. He could only have been the target of demonic obsession, he wouldn't mind as long as his future husband kept his promises.
As they drank tea in silence, Shen Qingqiu continued to watch little Momo.
If Momo were a human, telling him directly what Shen Qingqiu said would be reckless and too brutal. But the boy was not human. He was a demon and lived in an environment that pressured him from all sides. Assassinations and murders were happening every now and then, and the one person whose opinion he cared about and believed in had recently become insecure. Little Momo pathetically hoped that Linguang Jun wanted to hand him over to the people through some misunderstanding or other mistake.... And the lightest chance to correct that mistake, whatever it was, would be enough for the kid to do anything.... Shen Qingqiu put down his tea.
"For now," he spoke up. "I'll be the one to help you train. In the meantime, we'll take care of other problems on our way, understand?"
Momo nodded slowly, clearly searching for words for a moment, then finally spoke up clumsily.
"Will you be my aunt now?"
"Something like that," Shen Qingqiu admitted. "We'll meet tomorrow an hour after sunrise in your uncle's courtyard, it's comfortable and spacious there."
And he didn't intend to invite the child to the courtyard adjacent to his own chambers, or to the training field.
He had to be careful, he didn't have a vow or any other guarantee yet.
He touched his fingers to the necklace involuntarily before ending his meeting with little Momo. He needed to talk to Linguang Jun and figure out what to do next. And also sensitize him to try to develop his nephew's desperate attachment.
Linguang Jun has agreed to test a plan related to manipulating Momo.
This was not the only plan that Shen Qingqiu was developing - others simply required more time and a longer presence in the North.
***
Linguang Jun's first name was Mo Baichen. And his future husband asked that Shen Qingqiu use it at will.
***
Shen Qingqiu supervised the meditations and physical training of his partner's nephew. While he manipulated little Momo to have his loyalty, the palace servants happily nodded to each other and exchanged opinions on how well a "motherly" hand would do for the demon prince. And how well the relationship affects Linguang Jun.
***
Preparations for the wedding were underway, and Mo Baichen asked Shen Qingqiu for his opinions on every topic. Decorations, flowers, types of food (including human food and meat from humans), types of wine, guest list, places for guests.... Mo Baichen seemed to enjoy every minute of listening to Shen Qingqiu complain about nonsense, nonsense demons, nonsense etiquette, and so on, the man definitely beaming with joy as he received fan blows. Demon hated to have anyone interrupt their wedding discussions.
***
Mo Baichen looked like an idiot, and most of the time he was, but he kept an eye on Shen Qingqiu as he weakened from an impending breakthrough in his cultivation and was stuck in bed for several days. The demon carelessly stayed in his chambers, brought sweets for him from the human world and slept next to him on the edge of the bed. Shen Qingqiu involuntarily noticed that the presence of the demon laid in bed beside him, pleasantly cool and stable, in some strange way made it easier for him to sleep, although by all logic it should have been the other way around. People close to him at times when he was supposed to be sleeping were always overwhelmed and frightened him.
For the first time in his life, his breakthrough was almost painless, bringing mostly a strange warmth where some of his meridians came to life and got back on track, and otherwise calm.
***
Bride kidnapping was really popular in the demon kingdom.
Shen Qingqiu didn't count exactly how many times it was attempted, but he shortened twelve different assailants by their heads, Mo Baichen got rid of almost seven, and little Momo looked like he was about to cry, because he also killed one assailant himself, and his uncle praised him.
Little Momo grew well, almost clinging to Shen Qingqiu's sleeve despite the pity-free training he received. It was a bit comical. Little Momo was almost 17 years old, not 4!
***
"Master Shen... A-Jiu," Mo Baichen sighed, stroking his cheek. He had a satisfied, though tired, smile on his face.
"Let's go to your chambers?" He suggested. "I have done all my duties," he added obediently.
Shen Qingqiu said nothing to this, allowing a strong arm to embrace him at the waist. His acceptance of Mo Baichen's touch was cautious, almost shy, as he feared the comfort the demon provided him as much as he craved it. The fool was too perceptive. He had so many chances, but instead of relieving his sometimes noticeable excitement, he simply lay down with Shen Qingqiu in bed, clasped him to his broad chest, and they were silent, curled up together.
"I can't wait for you to be my wife," the ice demon would occasionally speak in silence.
This time they also simply sank into bed together, between blankets and furs, and Shen Qingqiu hid his face, red with embarrassment, in the ice demon's cool neck. The man purred contentedly like a big cat, lazily stroking his back.
"You should fuck me," muttered Shen Qingqiu in exasperation just because he didn't understand, but needed to understand. He hoped that perhaps provocation... "Why are you so... So sticky?"
"You hate men," remarked Mo Baichen just like that. "I don't want to rush things."
"And that's it? I hate men, so you limit yourself to hugging?"
"A-Jiu shouldn't be lost just because someone notices your needs and respects them." The demon pulled him closer to himself, as if he wanted their bodies to merge into one. "I am a demon, but not a mindless beast. I want to make you happy, my queen, not hurt and insecure."
Why did Mo Baichen have to be so good at feelings sometimes?
Who taught this obsessive beast such a thing?
Shen Qingqiu had no confidence in how his voice would sound after his partner's shockingly intelligent words. He closed his eyes and simply remained curled up in the elder's arms, breathing in the refreshing cool scent of his body.
***
Mo Baichen in his obsession and love almost burned with emotion when Purple Nails and little Momo brought Shen Qingqiu, clad in the finest robes scarlet like fresh blood, into the ceremony hall. Witnesses were waiting, mostly high-ranking demons, as well as members of the Mo clan. They looked greedily and distrustfully at the man who stood by Linguang Jun, and then proceeded with the traditional wedding rituals of the North. As they shed blood, filling their goblets with it, Shen Qingqiu picked up the vessel that Linguang Jun handed to him.... And then, without a shadow of uncertainty, he put the vessel to his lips and drank the thick demonic blood in a stranglehold.
Entering the clan of the North rulers, no matter whether others accepted it or not, the cultivator became Mo Jiu, Mo Qingqiu. Mo Baichen initially dreaded this stage, but got over it, and A-Jiu looked strangely as if the name change had taken a bit of the numerous burdens he had endured in silence.
They moved from the ceremony hall to the banquet hall. Food and drinks were already waiting. Linguang Jun kept his wife by his side, fearing a bit of trickery from the guests. Just a little. The night was still young, but he was sure he had seen Purple Nails discreetly thwart at least three assassination attempts.
While he was distracted by his thoughts, one of the older relatives offered Mo Qingqiu a piece of human meat, looking at him with triumph.
Mo Qingqiu, highly resistant to intimidation, looked directly into the demon's eyes as he placed the piece of meat in his mouth.
Mo Baichen didn't even know how to begin as he tried to determine whether it was impressive, shocking, or just fucking exciting.
He liked it when older relatives fell into their traps.
"It's new for me to eat it baked," chuckled his partner. "I suggest tasting it raw, preferably while it's still warm."
They stayed in the banquet hall for almost half of their big evening, with Linguang Jun letting Mo Qingqiu intimidate the Mo clan elders and sharply, without a shadow of naiveté, overcoming the taunts of other kinds of demonic guests.
Mo Qingqiu's silver tongue was precise and razor-sharp, and his mind could not be clouded even by alcohol. Maybe this time he used his cultivation to clear alcohol from himself?
The wedding night was slow, with Mo Baichen caressing Mo Qingqiu with his hands and mouth, taking care of him for hours before moving on to using his cock. Stunned by the sensations, Mo Qingqiu vaguely remembered anything but whispers and touch. He woke up with his body a bit numb and tired, but his husband held him close to him, wrapped protectively in soft, fluffy fur with a lovely, soft grimace on his sleeping face.
That was enough for him.
He was content. More than he thought he ever would be.
***
Little Momo was faithful and eager to confide in Mo Qingqiu. A certain shadow of his uncle's approval, given for following Mo Qingqiu obediently and being willing to protect him, made the boy grow like a weed.
Literally.
"I don't understand why you're coming to me with this," he informed, furrowing his brow as he looked at the demon kneeling in front of his chair.
Mo Baichen clearly knew something, because he remained calm beside him, looking down at his nephew.
"In the Master-Aunt sect, it is the Master who gives adult names to a part of his disciples… if they need it, right?" Momo articulated stiffly, awkwardly.
"And what about this?"
"This humble demon is asking for Master-Aunt to give him an adult name."
"I'm sure your parents already had a plan-" he began.
"No," the boy clawed at the ice beneath his feet. "They... He... focused on the fact that I should take the title of Mobei Jun. Master-Aunt, this demon is asking.... Give me my own name."
Mo Qingqiu wasn't ready to interfere with something so intimate, but he swallowed his saliva hard and mused.
If he had to name his little Ning Yingying he would simply find her something sweet and innocent, for kids like Ming Fan who stayed in the sect and didn't go back to their families, he would take and carve out some dorky, heroic names or whatever, something that wouldn't embarrass his peak but would give them a sense of being accepted by their Master even if they were alone in the world. He would base the name of the head disciple on the generational name chosen by the others, and give it to him in a private ceremony, along with robes and hair guan as the first marks of his status (presumably the disciple he chose simply didn't have the funds, even with his pocket money, to present himself as such right away... He himself didn't have them, although he saved every coin from Shizun and Shishu, he would never have presented himself properly as a head disciple if he hadn't secretly made extra funds by creating talismans for simple people and so on. His Shizun, always affectionate and caring, probably knew what she was doing, and yet when she gave him his name and robes, she gently placed her hand on his head and blessed him, wishing him luck). Perhaps... Perhaps Momo deserved better than the average Ming Fan.... He gave Momo much more attention than he ever did for Ming Fan, didn't he?
"I... This Master wants you to come see him again tonight in blue chamber"
And then he retreated to his chambers and shouted helplessly into his pillow to take a hand while Mo Baichen prepared tea with an amused smile on his lips.
He chose Mo Zhuanxing and gave Momo a new, excellent quality dagger so that he could hide it in his clothes if he was ever unable to use his powers.
Mo Zhuanxing.
He hoped that the boy would really be the beginning of change in the North.
He intended to make sure of that. The last hour of Mo Baichen's elder brother was approaching, and those who could stand in his husband's way to power were disappearing or starting to get sick around him. Mo Qingqiu was not leaving his future to something like luck.
***
Years later:
"Master, Mobei Jun," Mo Zhuanxing bowed before the thrones of Mo Qingqiu and his uncle.
"What news do you bring from the human realm?"
"There is an heir to Tianlang Jun," he reported. "He's half human, but it's been a year since I left him in the Abyss, and he's still alive. He could be useful to temper the South."
"Do you know what his name is?" Mo Qingqiu furrowed his brow.
He only knew one half demon, although the last time he saw him, the idiot didn't even know that his physical cultivation was different from the spiritual cultivation of the people around him and had to be trained differently until he got a long, physically tiring lecture from Mu Qingfang for risking his health by trying to use his military sister's manual. Fortunately, the qi deviation was minor, and the kid survived. He was an idiot, but he was not bad against the brutes of Bai Zhan.
He had a strange feeling.
"Luo Binghe."
Mo Qingqiu felt a strange tension, stress creasing his meridians and sharpening his instincts. His hand reflexively found Mo Baichen's hand, and his husband wordlessly squeezed it gently to reassure him.
"Mo Zhuanxing, be very careful around Luo Binghe," he said slowly. "Start by instilling in him the rules of the demonic realm. I don't want him to think of trying to kill you for not taking him out of the Abyss or some other crap."
The demon blinked, but then nodded.
"This one will do his best." He declared before bowing again and walking away.
A pensive Mo Qingqiu held his husband's hand for many more minutes, wandering in thought. Satisfied with their contact, Mo Baichen simply let it be.