Chapter Text
Liu Qingge heard that Shen Qingqiu was back.
After almost three years of disappearance, dropping all his responsibilities and abandoning the sect, Shen Qingqiu was finally back.
Liu Qingge was self-aware enough to realize that he wasn’t a great teacher, and the majority of day-to-day operations on Bai Zhan were either non-existent or carried out by his adult disciples. But, even if Liu Qingge left the sect for weeks on end on missions, he always came back at least once a month, often more. And he sent messengers back frequently.
No one ever had to question if he was still alive or not.
(They absolutely did, but no one ever mentioned such things to the Bai Zhan War God.)
And never, absolutely never, had Liu Qingge been responsible for making the sect leader, Yue Qingyuan, sad with his absence.
Liu Qingge scowled and flew even faster towards Qing Jing.
Shen Qingqiu was back, and Liu Qingge was going to give him a piece of his mind. To make sure Shen Qingqiu knew exactly how irresponsible and careless he was.
A quick flight over Qing Jing revealed Shen Qingqiu wasn’t there. There were no flashes of green among the trees, and the bamboo house was dark.
Liu Qingge grumbled and headed towards the next peaks. Shen Qingqiu must have business with another peak lord that held him up before going to his own peak.
If Shen Qingqiu knew what was good for him, he’d be at Qiong Ding peak, apologizing to Yue Qingyuan.
Of course, though, Shen Qingqiu wasn’t, and Liu Qingge spotted his distinct jade green robes among the building of Qian Cao.
Had he been hurt?
Liu Qingge frowned.
The only thing that would make Yue Qingyuan more distraught than Shen Qingqiu’s absence would be if Shen Qingqiu was hurt.
Why did that despicable man take everything for granted and drag others down with him?
Liu Qingge redoubled his efforts and sped towards Shen Qingqiu.
It was easy enough to throw himself off his sword as he neared the other man, landing easily on the ground and recalling Cheng Luan. Qian Cao disciples ran around, and Liu Qingge could hear a few of them grumbling. He ignored it per usual.
“Shen Qingqiu!” he called out, though the other man’s attention was already on him.
Shen Qingqiu watched as Liu Qingge stomped over. He had a fan open, hiding half of his face, and waved it lazily.
“Liu-shidi,” he drawled. “What a delight it is to see you so soon upon my return.”
Liu Qingge scowled.
“You’re finally back.”
“And you sound so pleased to see me.”
Liu Qingge crossed his arms and scowled harder.
“You think you can do whatever you want, Shen Qingqiu,” he snarled. “Leaving the sect! Abandoning your duties!”
Shen Qingqiu watched him lazily, not riling up as he used to in response to Liu Qingge. It made Liu Qingge pause.
Shen Qingqiu raised a sharp eyebrow.
“Like you?”
“What?”
“The War Brute of Bai Zhan is always off on some mission or another,” Shen Qingqiu explained, staring directly at Liu Qingge. “Never trains his disciples. Leaves the work of running his peak to those below him. No one knows where he is half the time.”
Shen Qingqiu snapped his fan shut and glared.
“When I left, I gave plenty of notice to Yue Qingyuan, I organized the work for my teachers and head disciple, I made sure budgets, lessons, and emergency precautions were in place for my students.” Shen Qingqiu sneered. “So, remind me, which of us is abandoning our sect?”
Liu Qingge simmered in his accusation.
“You!” He bit out, ready to fight back.
But was cut off.
“It’s obvious he’s projecting his own internal inadequacies.”
Liu Qingge growled, about to reach for Cheng Luan and actually fight, but then stopped himself.
Shen Qingqiu’s fan was closed, leaving his face clear, and he had definitely not opened his mouth.
“Those who project their own failures onto others are most unpleasant.”
No, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t spoken at all.
And the voice was tiny, a little high pitched, almost as if it were a child’s.
As soon as Liu Qingge had the thought, Shen Qingqiu’s robes rustled, and a small boy stepped out from behind him.
It was truly a failing on Liu Qingge’s part that he hadn’t noticed the boy’s presence before. He had been too absorbed with Shen Qingqiu to care about his surroundings.
“What is this?” Liu Qingge asked, pointing at the child.
The small child dressed robes that were a clearly a pair with Shen Qingqiu’s. The small child whose eyes were the same, sharp almond shape as Shen Qingqiu’s. The small child who, in its entirely, looked like a smaller version of Shen Qingqiu, down to the fierce glare.
“A child, Liu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu answered. “I would have thought you’d seen one before.”
The small child snapped open a fan, in the exact same way Shen Qingqiu did.
Liu Qingge stared at it.
“Why is it here?”
“It has a name, Peak Lord Liu,” the small child said primly. “This one is Shen Yuan.”
“My son,” Shen Qingqiu added.
Son.
Son?
“Son??” Liu Qingge asked.
Both father and son scoffed.
“You were only gone for three years!” Liu Qingge exclaimed. He pointed at the child – Shen Yuan – again. “This one’s obviously older than that!”
“Keen observational skills, Liu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu replied.
“Since when have you had a child?”
“For as long as I’ve had him.”
“How did you get him?
“I birthed him myself.”
Liu Qingge spluttered.
Shen Yuan snickered.
“Really, Liu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu pressed, “are my personal affairs so important to you now?”
“It’s a child!” Liu Qingge attempted to defend himself, once again pointing at Shen Yuan.
How one could leave for three years and come back with a whole child was astounding. And there were plenty of kids on the peak. Why did Shen Qingqiu need to leave to get one?
Liu Qingge did not understand the situation, and there were a million questions running through his mind.
“Shen-shixiong,” a new voice cut-in.
Liu Qingge looked up, once again completely unaware of his surroundings. Mu Qingfang stood a few paces away from them.
“I’m ready for Shen Yuan’s examination.”
Mu Qingfang did not look at all surprised by the mini-Shen Qingqiu.
Is this why Shen Qingqiu came to Qian Cao first instead of Qing Jing?
“Is there something wrong with it?” Liu Qingge asked them both.
“He,” Shen Qingqiu emphasized, “has a name.”
Liu Qingge rolled his eyes. Was that really what was important right now?
“Is there something wrong with Shen Yuan?” he asked again.
Shen Qingqiu closed his eyes for a brief moment, touching the tip of his fan to his forehead.
“You truly are hopeless, Liu-shidi.” He shook his head, then turned toward Mu Qingfang with a swish of robes. “Come, Yuan’er.”
The little boy followed after his father, shooting Liu Qingge a glare as they walked with Mu Qingfang into the healer’s hall.
Liu Qingge watched them go helplessly, still utterly confused.
Shen Qingqiu brought back a child. Shen Qingqiu had a child. And that child was probably dying.
Someone had to tell Yue Qingyuan.
Liu Qingge threw out Cheng Luan, jumped on, and shot off towards Qiong Ding.