Chapter Text
Shen Qingqiu jolts awake to the invasive feeling of an outsider's qi threading through his spiritual system.
He doesn't jerk away.
Before, he would've instantly pulled back.
Before, he would've cursed and hissed as decades old panic threatened to overtake his rational mind.
Before, he would've spit blood at the invasion of uninvited guests in his home, regardless of their intent.
Now, though—in the after—Shen Qingqiu merely tenses up at being touched. He doesn't speak, doesn't yell, doesn't threaten. He doesn't do much of anything but force open his heavy eyes to warily evaluate the martial sibling at his bedside.
Dressed in his typical white and brown Qian Cao robes, adorned with golden embroidery along the high collar and cuffs of the wide sleeves befitting his station as Peak Lord, Mu Qingfang kneels with two fingers firmly pressed to the inside of Shen Qingqiu's wrist. The top half of his dark hair is secured in a high bun with a golden guan, with small braids neatly flowing down behind each ear and standing out against the smooth curtain of the loose lower half of the silky strands.
His handsome face is solemn, betraying his clear focus and dedication to his profession as a healer—even when his patient is scum like Shen Qingqiu.
When he notices Shen Qingqiu has woken, Mu Qingfang clears his throat, furrowing his brow but not releasing his careful hold on Shen Qingqiu's wrist. For the first time that he'll actually admit (even if only in the privacy of his own mind) Shen Qingqiu feels his heart squeeze painfully at the glaring lack of affection his shidi offers him. He knows that we're it any of their martial siblings in Shen Qingqiu's place, Mu Qingfang would plaster on an easy smile.
But that kind of care has never been Shen Qingqiu's to claim.
He averts his eyes, no longer able to conceal his emotions as easily, and his hand twitches for a fan to hide behind.
"Mu-shidi," greets Shen Qingqiu, voice thankfully even but still rough from disuse.
Mu Qingfang does not respond with a greeting of his own. Instead, as if expecting to be reprimanded for his aid, he says, "Apologies, Shen-shixiong. I'll only be a moment longer." He sighs, visibly looking over Shen Qingqiu. "Does Shen-shixiong recall what happened?"
Carefully, Shen Qingqiu replies, "This master experienced a qi deviation."
His shidi nods. "Yes, and you've been asleep with a high fever for the last three days. After your head disciple retrieved me, I managed to arrive in time to prevent the qi deviation from taking your life, but I was unable to get your fever down enough to wake you until now. Any sooner and the delirium from the fever likely would've sent you into another deviation. I've been returning daily to Qing Jing to cleanse your meridians, but you've largely been in the care of Zhangmen-shixiong."
Shen Qingqiu can't stop the way his lip curls.
Even with his new outlook, the thought of Qi-ge's betrayal still manages to enrage him.