Chapter Text
When Shen Yuan was younger and thinking of how he’d be the best transmigrator, he had assumed that whatever System he got saddled with would be at least slightly helpful. This one refused to tell him where he was, much less who he was. After the whole “YOU CAN YOU UP, NO CAN NO BB” spiel, he expected to get something to work with but all the System said upon him waking up in the wilderness with dew soaked robes was:
【 The System was successfully connected! Bound Role: Rogue Cultivator. Weapon: rental sword. Starting B-points: 100 】
“What the fuck, what kind of bullshit is this? How are you speaking directly into my brain? Where the fuck am I?!”
【 You triggered the System’s executive command and were bound to the ‘Rogue Cultivator’ account. As the plot progresses, various point types will gradually become available. Please ensure that no score falls below zero, or the System will automatically mete out punishment. 】
“That doesn’t explain where I am!!”
【 It’s up to Host to unlock Rogue Cultivator’s backstory and discover where he is! Good luck Host!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:･ﾟ✧ 】
“You–!!”
Shen Yuan let out a derisive snort, sitting up and looking at the trees around him.
They were… certainly trees. And that seemed to be most of what he could see.
Maybe he should have tried to go outside a bit more in his previous life.
Well there wasn't much he could do about it now, so instead he began to take stock of whatever this ‘rogue cultivator’ had on him. There was an opened pouch sitting close by, as if whoever he was now had been frantically digging in it for something, as evidenced by the slips of paper and what might be sticks of cinnabar. Just beyond the pouch was a rather shabby sword, stuck point first into the dirt.
Beyond that was a small creature that almost looked like a squirrel– except for the lion-like ruff of fur around the creature's neck.
Hm.
Ok. Well. He was in a forest, no people or civilization in sight, with what appeared to be talisman supplies, and a sword. Plus a weird squirrel thing that was staring at him with beady little eyes.
…at least it seemed that the System wasn't lying when it said he was a cultivator. Although… Hesitantly, Shen Yuan tried to feel inside himself for his qi, and found a tracery of warm energy thrumming under his skin. Even if he didn’t know what to do, the body does, and he felt the knowledge of the previous occupant at the edges of his mind in a way that is simultaneously helpful and not.
Cautiously, he reached for the sword and pulled it out of the ground. Sending qi into the blade, he tried to form a sword glare. The blade began to glow with white light, but his moment of elation died as the light flickered in and out, like a loose lightbulb, before fading completely.
Shen Yuan sighed. “Probably because it’s a shitty rental sword. Whatever.”
With at least some idea of how qi worked, he set about packing everything back up into the pouch (which had to be a qiankun pouch with how it all fit) and trying to decide what to do.
“System?”
【The System provides Host with 24-hour service!】
“Do I have any quests or objectives," he asked tentatively.
【Currently, there are no missions available for you. Host should explore and have fun!!! o(≧▽≦)o 】
“That doesn’t–” Huffing out a breath, Shen Yuan kicked a rock and watched it ricochet into the trees.
The system did not respond.
“Stupid, shitty System,” he said, picking a random direction and starting to walk, “absolutely useless piece of junk. Have fun, it says, like that’s going to help me figure out what’s going on–”
His ranting stopped at the sound of sharp crack and his brain suddenly realized it was very quiet in the forest. Compared to when he first woke up, one might say it was even too quiet.
Oh no.
With the trepidation of a city kid suddenly in the wilderness, Shen Yuan looked around as slowly as he could. There were… a lot of trees. He couldn’t see anything and it didn't seem like anything was moving. Shaking his head slightly, he looked around again. Trees, trees, and more trees, with some underbrush interspersed throughout making it even harder to see anything else. He began to turn slowly, looking for…. honestly anything that wasn't green.
When he finally saw a flash of startlingly bright red through the foliage as it caught a rare gleam of sun, he froze, whispering, “What the fuck??!”
Was it some sort of demented cosplayer?? No, this was a xianxia world or something similar so it was probably some sort of beast or demon. In which case, he was screwed and probably about to die, even if he did have cultivation.
It was with a sort of panicked fascination that he watched splashes of red wink through the trees past him. Whatever the creature was, it was huge. Was it taller than him…?
In the next instant, it emerged fully from the trees and he had his answer – fully as tall as he was on all four paws.
“Holy shit,” Shen Yuan whispered. “It's a Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger.”
The Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger was a creature from a trashy web novel he had been reading and it was one of the monsters that had received some flack about the blood properties ripping off of Heavenly Demons. Ok, well he was pretty much the only one giving the author shit for it, but his point still stands!! The blood properties were similar!!! Honestly Shen Yuan wouldn't have been surprised that if anyone other than the protagonist faced it, they would have been infected with blood mites.
Honestly he can't tell if that would be better or worse than what was said about its powers over blood. It had the fascinating property of solidifying on contact with the air, which is how the creatures ended up with an almost complete shell of vibrant red crystal. Shen Yuan just wasn’t sure how such an ostentatious looking creature would ever have come about – you’d think that hack author might have put a line or two in, just to meet his usual ten thousand word update.
The badger was also loud. With every step and shift of fur, the hardened blood clicked and scraped together. Strangely, the sound was almost musical, and Shen Yuan found himself leaning in, trying to make out the scale-like pattern that the ruby fragments formed.
One hand went digging into the qiankun pouch for writing materials, while he watched the beast get closer and closer. His roving hand slowed to a stop as he realized that the creature wasn’t heading past him at all – it was looking at him.
It was only when it opened its mouth that he remembered exactly what the harpy part of the name entailed.
Shen Yuan turned and ran.
Look, he had a healthy respect for all sorts of creatures from worlds like Proud Immortal Demon Way , but that didn’t mean he had to put his currently untested cultivation to the test fighting something that had stumped even the protagonist for a good chapter and a half, ok?? He was not a fighter!! All he wanted to do was watch it and take notes!!
Instead, he was blown off his feet by the screech of the badger, pain lancing through his head from the sound. Shen Yuan staggered to his feet, putting a hand against a tree as he fought a sudden bout of dizziness.
【 -10 B-points! You must work hard, Host!!! ヽ(*。>Д<)o゜】
“Shut up!!!” he gasped as he dashed forward a few feet behind a tree.
There was a moment of silence.
【 Would Host like to purchase a cultivation manual for 80 B-points?】
“That’s an option?!?”
A glowing blue screen appeared in front of him, with the details of the transaction, with two buttons below it to accept or reject it.
【 Answering Host, it was deemed necessary (*^▽^*) 】
“This is highway robbery, you scammy system!!!”
【 (┬┬﹏┬┬) Host doesn’t have to buy it if Host doesn’t want it 】
“No!!!” Shen Yuan yelled, smacking the button to accept. “I want it, buy it!”
There was a ding from the System, and then a book dropped into his hands.
Relief flooded through Shen Yuan. Before he even had a chance to even read the front cover, a massive shadow came barreling at him. His instincts kicked in, and he threw himself back in a large, arching flip. Him! He flipped! As he landed, surprisingly steady on his feet, the beast turned its annoyed snarl his way.
Shit!
What use was a cultivation manual if he couldn’t even read it!?
The monster threw itself towards him again, and he managed another swift leap backwards, his robes barely escaping the reach of its claws. His throat bobbed with a swallow. He needed some way of distracting it, if only to buy himself more time.
Wait, where did he put the sword? He hadn’t seen a sheath earlier but he remembered taking it with him… As he turned to run again, he shoved his hand into the qiankun pouch, groping frantically for the rental sword.
“Please please please oh my god where is it??? ”
By that point he was in past his elbow and still only finding books and quills. A large head appeared on his right and he threw himself away from it, this time leaping over some brush.
As he landed lightly (again, so cool!!!), his knuckles hit something cool and smooth and he grabbed it, not even bothering to look for the handle first. The edge bit into his hand, though he didn’t register the pain as he yanked it free from the bag. He watched, almost as if from an outside perspective, as his own blood leaked down the glinting metal. Claws raked through the air, and met with a loud ting.
The muscles in his shoulders pulled, and his feet skidded back in the dirt. He stared, bewildered, as he just realized he blocked the blow. Hand still wrapped around the blade, he slid to the side, redirecting the badger’s claws. Shen Yuan took several quick steps back, adjusting his grip to actually hold the hilt.
Think, Shen Yuan, think!
He ran through the list of weaknesses, both remembered and theorized, trying to think even as he kept parrying the badger’s swipes. When the creature opened its mouth again, Shen Yuan raised his hand and sent a qi blast straight down its throat.
In theory, this would have worked beautifully. The blood would have hardened, cutting off airflow and allowing him to get closer and finish it off.
In actuality, the blood turned into several sharp projectiles that shot towards him as the badger screamed.
With a muffled curse, he dove out of the way, sliding beneath its belly. One might think that the underbelly of such a beast would be softer or less protected, but no such luck. Instead he rolled to the side, springing to his feet and sending spiritual power into the rental blade as he swung at the narrow faultline in the beast’s carapace.
The sword flickered, creating only a wisp of power that dissipated before even touching the badger. Following the beast as it turned to try and face him, he poured power into the blade, shoving almost everything he could into it and willing it to form a sword glare.
This time, it worked.
The sword swung, a brilliant line of qi streaming behind it that slammed into the crystals, shattering it and sending fragments everywhere. With a speed he had never had before, Shen Yuan swung the blade back around and shoved it into the narrow gap he had created, even as the blood began to harden. The badger thrashed, blood leaking past the blade and he leapt back several yards, pulling the sword out as he did so.
Panting, he stared at the Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger, watching the blood solidify into a dangling spear as the creature breathed heavily, staggered a few steps, and then fell.
He’d actually done it.
Crouching, Shen Yuan put his head in his hands. Somehow he had managed to get his sword past the shell and close to the heart of the badger. He’d won. He wasn’t going to get eaten by a giant badger.
【 +50 B-points! Good job Host! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧Keep working hard!! 】
“Please,” he gasped out, “shut up.”
Thankfully it did, and he spent a long moment calming down from almost dying, before he looked up to regard the dead thing in front of him.
“You know… even though I wish it hadn’t tried to kill me, since it’s dead I could look around and do a little research. Maybe take some notes.”
Hesitating, he eventually opened up his bag, trying to find something to take notes with. When he eventually dug out an inkstone, ink stick, and what looked to be a partially used notebook, he set about the tedious process of trial and error.
It was about an incense stick later that he sat bolt upright from where he had been drawing the badger, with a sudden burst of panic.
“Oh fuck,” Shen Yuan said with feeling. “I’m in Proud Immortal Demon Way .”
I’m either going to die from one of the countless fuck or die plants or the protagonist is going to find me and kill me for getting in the way or something. FUCK I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM, MAYBE HE HAS A REASON TO KILL ME–
Shen Yuan took a deep breath. He might still have time to plan. He’d finish his notes, try and find his way out of the forest, and hopefully find some sort of lead as to who he was. Giving a decisive nod, he went back to sketching the Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger.
The sun was high in the sky when he finally finished his initial notes on the creature and settled in to try some more detailed drawings of the shell’s scale pattern and claws. In fact, he had just begun to detail the basic sketch of the carapace when someone spoke behind him.
“What are you doing?”
Shen Yuan whirled around, cursing and just managing to catch his brush as he did so. Behind him, standing with a hand on his sword hilt, was a man in blue and white cultivator’s garb, his long hair in a high ponytail. He looked so much like a delicate young master that Shen Yuan had to blink, taking in his ready stance and almost thunderous expression that darkened further as the man saw his face. For a second, Shen Yuan was distracted by the beauty mark just below his left eye.
At least, he was until the man burst out, “Shen Qingqiu?!” taking a firmer grip on his sword.
“What?!” Shen Yuan burst out. “I’m not– Well,” he said thoughtfully and a bit quieter, “I don’t think I am…”
The cultivator stared at him.
Shen Yuan stared back, blinking.
The other man narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Look,” Shen Yuan said and slipped into character. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but– that is, this one doesn’t know why the esteemed cultivator is here, but all this one has been doing is taking notes on the Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger that had been terrorizing these woods.”
“Why do you look like Shen Qingqiu,” he demanded brusquely.
Internally, there were several alarms blaring in Shen Yuan’s mind. Why was this man comparing him to the scum villain?!? He didn’t want to be the scum villain!! Also, why would he not have Xiu Ya if he was the scum villain?!? Make it make sense, random cultivator!!!
Throughout his internal panic, the cultivator continued to stare at him darkly.
What followed was the most stilted conversation Shen Yuan has ever had, even with his previous life as a NEET fuerdai who talked to very few people.
“Esteemed cultivator, please tell me you're joking.”
“Why would I be joking.”
Barely restraining himself from burying his face in his hands, Shen Yuan eventually manages, “Who are you exactly?”
“Liu Qingge.”
“The… the peak lord of Bai Zhan Peak? Of Cang Qiong Mountain??”
Liu fucking Qingge apparently, gives a single grunt of acknowledgement.
Shen Yuan stared at the face that could almost belong to a beautiful woman and waved goodbye to every headcanon he’d had of the War God of Cang Qiong being the epitome of rugged masculinity. How strong were Liu Mingyan's genes, to make her brother this attractive?? No wonder he’d been killed off, he might have distracted readers from the protagonist!
“Who are you?”
“System!”
【 Yes Host?】
“Who did I transmigrate into??”
【 Host has already been informed! Host has the role of “Rogue Cultivator”! (￣y▽,￣)╭ 】
“But what’s his name?!? ”
【 Host must uncover “Rogue Cultivator’s” backstory!!! o(≧∀≦)o】
“You seriously won’t even tell me his name?!?!”
【 Good luck Host!!! *★,°*:.☆(￣▽￣)/$:*.°★* 。】
Screaming internally, Shen Yuan finally said, “Lan… Xing.”
The look Liu Qingge gave him now almost looked murderous. “Lan Xing.”
Deliberately, he put away his writing utensils before looking up and responding calmly, “Yes, that is what I said.”
“Hmm,” was the terse reply, the man’s eyebrows drawing farther down.
Ignoring him, Shen Yuan started organizing the several books and notebooks he’d strewn on the ground around him, tucking them into his qiankun pouch as he went.
His hand stilled as Liu Qingge said, “Come with me.”
What??? Who do you think I am, some young maiden you can spirit away?? Or do you still think I’m the scum villain and want to bring me back to the sect so you can have your way with me??? What is this scenario???
He closed the pouch before looking up again, hands stilling on his folded knees. “Why should I?”
Liu Qingge’s expression turned thunderous. “You won’t come?”
“I didn’t say that, esteemed cultivator. I merely asked why I should come.”
“You should meet with Shen Qingqiu,” was the ground out reply.
“Simply because we look similar? That’s hardly reason enough for me to leave only on your say so.” With that he stood, dusting off his knees and attaching the qiankun pouch to his belt.
“Not similar. Identical,” he said, crossing his arms.
There was a brief moment of time that he thought the system had somehow bluescreened and by extension he had done so as well. Then the shock from such a statement wore off and his mind sprang into motion.
“What, so you assume I am some sort of demon?” For half a moment, Shen Yuan almost wished he had a fan, if only to partially hide his face. Did this guy really have to stare so intently?!
I may look like the scum villain but this is too much!!
A muscle in Liu Qingge’s jaw fluttered as his eyes narrowed. “...it’s possible.”
The man might as well have had his sword drawn by how tense his muscles were, eyes scouring over Shen Yuan. Drawing his shoulders back, Shen Yuan threw him a dry glance and said, “...right. I am just reeking with demonic energy.”
Liu Qingge’s eyebrow twitched. His mouth set into a thin line.
Dread slid like a bead of sweat down Shen Yuan’s spine. His mouth dried. He hoped his face was clean of the panic that twisted his gut. Breathing in a calming breath, he tightened his face and raised a single, daring eyebrow towards the cultivator.
The silence between them was almost palpable.
With a tight exhale, Liu Qingge took half a step towards him. “The others can figure out what is going on.”
Shen Yuan matched the step with his own, retreating. “If you are unable to ‘figure it out’, then why should I come with you?”
It was the wrong thing to say. Liu Qingge’s face darkened. He took another half step forward, which Shen Yuan echoed. His mind became a blaring mess of half formed ideas, but all he could think was, why didn't I read the cultivation manual instead of taking notes?!?!
There was a long beat of stillness, before Liu Qingge burst into action, leaping towards him.
Shen Yuan yelped and shot backwards, trying to avoid the other man.
“Is this really necessary? It shouldn't be that-” He cut off with a squawk as the cultivator got a firm grip on his forearm. “Okay, okay, I'll come with you!!”
Liu Qingge’s expression eased somewhat, as did his hand, as he gave a grunt of acknowledgement.
“Do you have a sword?”
Eloquently, Shen Yuan said, “What?”
This got him another glare and a terse, “A sword. Do you have one?”
“Oh,” he said, flustered. “Yes, of course. If the esteemed cultivator could let go of my arm for a moment…?” He asked with a raise of his brows.
Both of their eyes fell to the hold. Liu Qingge frowned. He was really unfairly beautiful, even with a scowl. He was like masterwork blade, dangerous yet breathtaking.
It’s not as if you can’t catch me if I run!! We’ve already proven that much!
Having to come to the same conclusion, Liu Qingge let go. He stepped back and waited.
Shen Yuan waited, as well.
The two stared at another for an uncomfortable amount of time.
“Well?” Liu Qingge asked.
Fuck! Shen Yuan yanked open his qiankun pouch and started rifling around in it once more. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Liu Qingge’s expression fall. A blush threatened Shen Yuan. By pure determination, he squashed it down. What sort of cultivator kept their sword in a bag? He managed to fish it out, this time managing not to cut his hand. Oh! Yeah!! He cut his hand earlier!
Liu Qingge’s eyes narrowed on the wound.
Thankfully, he didn’t say anything about it. Or at least, it would have been good if not for the fact that then the two of them stood around doing nothing for a good minute or two.
What exactly are you thinking is going to happen here, good sir?? I don’t want any trouble actually!!
“Are you going to get on?”
Shen Yuan stared at him and then his brain finally caught up to the situation – Liu Qingge was trying to get both of them on swords and flying to Cang Qiong Mountain or wherever. There was just one problem.
I have no idea how to ride on a sword!!! Fuck!!
For a moment, he considered the problem, before trying to infuse some qi into the sword and tossing it towards the ground.
The silence after it landed was so thick you could have cut it with a sword – assuming that you hadn’t just tossed it on the ground. Shen Yuan could feel the judgement radiating off the other man and for a brief moment he wished that he could die again if only so he didn’t have to thoroughly embarrass himself in front of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect’s War God.
Because there was no mercy in this world, Liu Qingge asked, “Are you going to pick that up?”
He had half a thought to say no and walk away, but at this point that would be even more embarrassing. Inwardly cursing, Shen Yuan bent down and picked up the sword.
Brusquely, Liu Qingge performed a sword seal (fuck how did I forget about sword seals??? ) and set Cheng Luan hover a few inches above the ground. Before Shen Yuan could try for himself, the other man grabbed his rental sword and swiftly deposited it back in the qiankun pouch. Then he stepped on top of his waiting sword and swept Shen Yuan up after him like a misbehaving child.
The air left him in a rush as the ground shrank away at alarming speed. He stared hopelessly after it, but Liu Qingge’s arm was a tight band around his waist.
When he managed to get his breath back, he said, “Did you really need to drag me off without asking?”
“You were taking too long,” was the terse reply.
As expected of the War God of Bai Zhan! He waits for no man!
…I really wish he would have though!!!
Notes:
I have no guarantees about how often thus will update but like..... maaaaaaybe every other week, depending on how much the brain and writing fight lol
Anyways next chap is NOT from shen yuan's pov >:D
Chapter Text
Shen Jiu had hated far too many people and far too many things. His hatred was an ember, birthed alongside him, that lived inside his soul. There had once been someone who could calm that ember into the whisper of a glowing coal. Today however, that ember was a burning inferno. Shen Qingqiu still hated far too many people and far too many things. And it seemed as if every single person wanted to throw in a bit of tinder to stoke the flame.
His disciples all flattened themselves around him, waiting with bated breath for his ire. Shen Qingqiu flicked his fan in front of his face, and a few of the cowering students flinched at the snap. It only annoyed him more. As if he ever raised his own hand against any one of them – at least not without reason. Their reaction to seeing him was instantaneous: fearful supplication. It made him think, What have you done now?!
A headache began to ring in the back of his skull. It was a quiet, incessant thing. He knew he shouldn’t have gone out the previous night; it had been too soon since his last excursion out of the peaks. He was no longer a youth who could so easily skirt out from underneath the noses of others. Now he had many more eyes on him. The scent of perfume still wafted around his robes, and it should be a meager comfort and instead it only strengthened the pounding in his skull.
“What is it?” Shen Qingqiu asked, and he just barely stopped himself from rubbing his temples. His eyes drew across the bent backs of his disciples.
“These disciples have failed you,” one brave soul called out.
After an irritating stretch of time, Shen Qingqiu found out exactly how they had all failed him. During his absence, the little beasts of the Bai Zhan Peak had decided to flood over and “train” with his students. That “training” led to someone – specifically, the student who currently had his forehead glued to the ground – getting thrown through a door and successfully obliterating it. Property damage was not entirely unheard of when the two peaks rubbed elbows. It was the fact that the door that was completely smashed was one that led straight into his own residence. His fan trembled ever so slightly in his hand as he stared into his own rooms. His private rooms.
Silence stretched between him and the quivering students as he fought to reign in a scream. His first instincts were to hiss and spit at any who were near him, but he had already lost some face in his absence overnight. His fan snapped closed. The disciples sank further.
“Laps,” Shen Qingqiu said, forcing his voice into a cool, even tone. “Start with ten.” Without hesitation, they all rushed off. It would give him enough time to think of something proper to do with them, other than giving in to his baser instincts and beating the shit out of them. It would also give him time to properly attend to himself, and to get the cheap smell of perfume off his robes-
“Shen-shixiong?” The voice was like shattering glass.
Shen Qingqiu thought he had done a decent job of smoothing over the planes of his face, but as he turned to Shang Qinghua the man barely withheld a flinch. His shidi reminded Shen Qingqiu of a bug that liked to scurry away once the candle was lit. It was irritating. After so many years of smoothing over his hatred, he should be better at it than he was right now. “Yes?” A gentleman should probably offer more than a single fury-bitten word. Shen Qingqiu did not have the patience. He had a broken door, a terrible night’s rest, and slightly rumpled robes. He entertained the idea of grabbing Shang Qinghua by the scruff and tossing him off the side of the mountain.
As if reading his mind, Shang Qinghua threw up his hands. “There’s…. Well. You see, something’s…”
Spit it out. “Shang-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu said his name in a calm, near soothing tone. Somehow it did nothing to help Shang Qinghua’s face from twisting into a wince.
“Wait!” He cried. “You should just go to Yue Qingyuan.”
Shen Qingqiu smiled.
Eyes widening, Shang Qinghua took half a step back. “It’s urgent.”
Urgent? Shen Qingqiu flicked his eyes over to his broken door. If it were so urgent, then why was this bug crawling on his doorstep? If it was Yue Qingyuan wanting to remind Shen Qingqiu once more about the reputation of Qing Jing Peak and its lord, or about his cultivation-
Shang Qinghua had reached out a hand towards him. He stopped dead, with just a meager hair’s width between the two of them. All the color flooded from his face. “Shen-shixiong. We shouldn’t waste any more time.”
Waste time? You’re wasting mine! Shen Qingqiu tried to keep a grimace off his face. It wasn’t as if Shang Qinghua was well known for his heroics and calm demeanor. The slightest whiff of trouble often had the man screaming out for help and rushing to go find cover. “Urgent” could be anywhere from Yue Qingyuan looking for a lecture to one of the mountain peaks collapsing! Though, if it were the latter, Shang Qinghua probably would have long since fled the peaks altogether. Breathing out a sharp breath, Shen Qingqiu stepped towards the remnants of his door. His jaw tightened. It would at least take a day to get it either fixed or replaced. He wondered if there was any chance at fixing it. Just as he started to set aside the scraps, he heard Shang Qinghua fidget behind him with a desperate sound hiccuping from the back of his throat.
With his back turned, Shen Qingqiu dared to roll his eyes. Before the other could say anything more, he asked, “What is it that is so urgent?”
“Well,” Shang Qinghua started, “y-you see-” He started wringing his hands. “Something’s come up, concerning the safety of… th-the- well. The peaks. And we need your…” He wiped a hand through the air, as if grasping for the right term, “expertise on how best suited to handle it!” He straightened, as if happy with his ass-kissing word vomit.
Shen Qingqiu stopped messing with the broken door and turned with a thin smile. “My expertise?”
“Your expertise!” Shang Qinghua nodded, eagerly. “This is a highly delicate matter, and only you can solve it!”
Shen Qingqiu was certain a blood vessel in his eye popped. “Only me?”
“....yes?” Shang Qinghua said, though it sounded far more like a question.
“Ah.” Shen Qingqiu dipped his head in a nod. “Very well then.”
Relieved, Shang Qinghua nearly sank to the ground.
“Let Zhangmen-shixiong know I will stop by sometime tomorrow,” Shen Qingqiu said with a dip of his head, and then escaped into the bamboo house. Behind him, he heard a strangled cry. He ignored it, and pressed fingers against his temple. His headache continued to pulse. “If your eyes are functioning, you can see that I have more pressing matters-”
Something cracked as Shang Qinghua stumbled into the house after him. He threw out his hands. “No, no, no, no – please! This one really thinks that this is a… delicate situation best suited to Shen-shixiong. There is a… visitor to the sect who appears to know you. Very well.”
Shen Qingqiu gripped his fan so hard that it creaked in protest, seeing his cowardly shidi cringe a bit at the sound. Surprisingly, he hadn’t given up yet. He found it rather odd that the story had changed. First it was a matter of safety, and now it was someone who knew him well? At that point, despite his anger, he found himself mildly suspicious. “What is this person’s name?”
A quiet, thoughtful sound rang in Shang Qinghua’s throat. “...he calls himself Lan Xing.”
Eyes narrowing, Shen Qingqiu studied the pull of Shang Qinghua’s mouth. His eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. “You don’t believe that is his name.”
Shang Qinghua almost looked like he wanted to say more. Instead, his lips flattened, and he nodded.
“I am not familiar with any Lan Xing,” Shen Qingqiu said. “Did this visitor speak of me?”
“Shen-shixiong-” Shang Qinghua struggled over his own words. In a rush of fabric, he threw himself down to the ground and snapped his arms around Shen Qingqiu’s thighs, much to his own horror. “Please!” Shang Qinghua begged. “Please, please, please, please, please!” He begged.
It did nothing for Shen Qingqiu’s headache. It turned into a massive spike of pain that stole his eyesight for a second, and he almost thought he blacked out. Instead, he cried out, “Fine!”
Shang Qinghua, in the middle of belting out his pleas, choked to a stop. “Really?!”
“If only so you shut up,” he bit out. “And get your idiot disciples to fix my door. Today.”
Shang Qinghua nodded his head frantically. “Yes! It’s done! Done!”
Unable to stop himself, Shen Qingqiu shoved him off with his foot. With a flourishing sweep, he turned to head further into his bamboo house. “Wait here.” Though the matter at hand was said to be “urgent,” Shen Qingqiu took his time. Fresh robes and a quick burst of qi to clean him did nothing for the anger that threatened to choke him. He did not want to be pestered any more than he already had been today, and it was just the morning! By the time he made his way back out, Shang Qinghua had nearly worn a groove in the ground from his pacing. He murmured underneath his breath, fussing up his hair and biting his nails.
Too annoyed to even pick that apart, Shen Qingqiu swept past him. He heard a startled sound behind him as the other rushed to catch up.
In little to no time, Shen Qingqiu was striding through a semi-crowded hallway on Qiong Ding Peak. He could feel the scowl creeping onto his face at the impending meeting with that imbecile , Yue Qingyuan, even as he tried to school his expression into something more neutral.
A few of the other peak lords dotted the hall. As he approached, their quiet murmurings silenced. His jaw ached as he clenched his teeth. He didn’t even attempt a smile, his narrowed gaze darting across their expressions. His anger begged for someone to say something. Anything. He wanted to snap at someone – anyone – for gawking at him like he was some street performer; or worse, a slave.
No one dared. He stepped up to the door to the sect leader’s office and threw it open without knocking.
“What exactly,” he said icily, “is so urgent–”
The conversation within the room died instantly. Yue Qingyuan was already halfway up, a mix of concern and bewilderment flashing in his eyes. By one of the windows, Liu Qingge stood with his arms crossed. One of his hands had slid almost unconsciously to the hilt of his sword.
Not that Shen Qingqiu saw any of this.
Sat on the far side of the room was a ghost. It had to be a ghost, or a poor reflection of the past. Shen Qingqiu had half a thought that he had had a qi deviation. Every single thought silenced at once. Memories crashed through him. He was a child, racing through the streets. Panic licked at his heels. It had been his fault. His fault. He remembered screaming a name, over and over again. Running until his legs gave out. Searching long after his feet bled.
His fault, but all he could say to the apparition in front of him was a strangled, “... didi? ”
You could have heard a pin drop.
Shen Shi1 – it had to be his Shen Shi, no matter what that rat shidi of his had said about Lan Xing – stared at him in startled confusion.
Shen Qingqiu’s hands were shaking. The fan in his hand only exaggerated it. His breath seized. On the other side of the room, he refused to look at anyone else. “Out!” He cried, throwing his hand towards the door.
Shen Shi was the only one who moved to leave. A quiet shrill of panic laced up Shen Qingqiu’s spine and he threw out a hand to stop him. “No! Not you.” He swallowed. “Everyone else, out. ”
Yue Qingyuan stared at him. “Xiao-Jiu–”
“Do not call me that name!” Shen Qingqiu hissed.
There was a long moment of stupefied silence.
“We cannot be certain that this is–” Yue Qingyuan started and Shen Qingqiu cut him off viciously.
“I said get out.”
The muscles in Yue Qingyuan’s face shuddered before falling into calm complacence. He took a slow, steadying breath, as if calming a screaming child, and said, “Let me at least protect you in this.”
“Protect me?” Shen Qingqiu let out a disdainful laugh. “You, whose word is worth so much. Remind me of all that your promises have amounted to, hm? That’s right. Your word, your promises, have amounted to nothing. Twice.”
His hatred lived inside of him, coiling around like a snake that had snatched its prey. He almost relished in the grief visible on the other man’s face. Yue Qingyuan started to reply, yet no sound escaped his lips. His expression froze.
“Twice?” Shen Shi asked. His voice was so small.
The rage in Shen Qingqiu’s chest quieted, if only for a moment. He flexed his hands.
On the other side of the room, Liu Qingge finally made a move. He slipped out the door with half a glance at Shen Qingqiu, who ignored him. The others in the hall started to shift uneasily. He felt all of their eyes on his back, and straightened ever so slightly. He stared down Yue Qingyuan defiantly.
“I will stay,” Yue Qingyuan said, leaving no room for argument.
Shen Qingqiu scowled, gritting out, “Fine,” before forcefully closing the door behind him. For good measure, he took out a privacy talisman and attached it to the door, activating it with a small burst of qi.
No one said anything. Shen Qingqiu thought he should say something. His mind was a mess. Memories replayed like quiet echoes. Ones that he had long since buried – ones that haunted him over and over again. He itched to cross the room and take Shen Shi’s face in his hands, to see if he was real. To make sure that he was alright. His throat clogged with unexpected emotion, and he squashed it down.
“You’re not Lan Xing,” Shen Qingqiu finally said. His throat was so tangled that the words came out far too thick.
Yue Qingyuan tried to smother his concern. He failed.
“...no,” Shen Shi said, slowly. He sat with poise, though his eyes flashed back and forth between them. His hands were tight knots in his lap.
The “no” sounded too close to a question. Shen Qingqiu frowned. As a child, Shen Shi had once always held back his emotions, and tried to smother them down beneath a wobbly smile. His tears he hid, and his anger he only rarely gave into. Shen Qingqiu wondered if after all this time, Shen Shi had mastered the ability to hide it all. Did he hate him? Did he blame him?
He should.
Shen Qingqiu blamed himself. He hated–
“Liu Qingge said he found you with a beast…?” Yue Qingyuan attempted to move the conversation along.
Shen Shi gave him a glance. The two of them must have covered this before. “Yes. A Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger. He found me when I was… taking notes on the creature.”
Involuntarily, Shen Qingqiu twitched. He ached to go over to him to make sure he was alright. He forced himself to stay by the door, eyes sweeping over his brother’s travel-worn robes. There was a vague feeling of homesickness. It twisted his insides. Even when they were younger, his brother had always had a great fascination in beasts and other creatures.
“...what brought you to the forest?” Yue Qingyuan tried, again, to push the conversation along.
At this, his brother looked almost… afraid. Possibly it was just nerves, but then Shen Shi said, with a self-deprecating laugh, “I… I’m afraid I don’t really remember.”
“Don’t remember?” Shen Qingqiu asked, fear and anger crawling up his throat. What had happened to his brother to make him forget?
He hadn’t realized that he started to cross the room until Yue Qingyuan’s hand stopped him.
“What all do you not remember?” Yue Qingyuan asked. His tone was carefully guarded.
Shen Shi couldn’t hide the flicker of panic now, gaze darting between the two. “I–” He stopped, composing himself before saying, “The first thing this one remembers is waking up earlier in the day with supplies scattered around him. This one packed his belongings and was going to make for a nearby village or town to see where he was when this one encountered the badger and was… distracted for a time–” His voice cut off.
There Shen Qingqiu was, already placing a hand to his wrist while the other fretted over his head, looking for any injuries. Through the thread of qi he fed into his brother’s spiritual veins, he felt…
His hand spasmed.
“You had a qi deviation?” he asked sharply.
His brother looked up at him, shocked at both his sudden proximity and his question. “That… would make sense.”
“What were you doing out in the woods alone if you were going to have a qi deviation?”
His brother gave him an aggrieved look at that, saying, “It’s not like I went there to try and have a qi deviation!”
“Mu Qingfang will look at you,” Shen Qingqiu stated with a sharp tsk. “Your spiritual veins are a mess.” A bolt of fear lanced through him. His brother had been missing for years. Years. For over a decade he had searched as far as he dared, with the barest thread of hope that his brother was still alive. And he was right there. Right there. And- And he could have lost his brother for good. He never would have known. If he was just as prone to qi deviations as Shen Qingqiu–
He shoved the fear away. There wasn’t time for that now. Shen Qingqiu had already strode across the room. Before he could rip off the privacy seal, Yue Qingyuan was right there. He held a hand up. “Please,” he lowered his voice. Shen Qingqiu wished his face was more foreign than it was. He wished he didn’t see an echo of the child that he used to run with. He wished that the man in front of him wasn’t so like the one that used to share scraps and keep him safe. He had grown now into someone with a softly stern face. It was almost handsome. “Do you not think that this is… a little convenient?”
Anger boiled in Shen Qingqiu. “You think I wouldn’t know my own brother?” He snapped.
“I think you are too close to this.”
The fact that Yue Qingyuan could say that, much less say it while looking as if he cared, as if he was concerned –
Every single breath turned into acid. Fury was a poison, rooting into his veins. Shen Qingiqu couldn’t stop his face from twisting into a snarl, spitting out, “I suppose you are an expert on leaving people behind–”
There was a flurry of movement behind him as Shen Shi shot up from his chair, face pale.
“That’s enough!” His eyes darted between them. A memory flashed in the back of Shen Qingqiu’s mind. He saw every time he had argued with another child on the street in front of his brother, remembered every time his didi had tried to step in and calm things, how he had always worried about Shen Jiu getting himself into trouble.
It was like seeing a ghost, except he had touched him, held his wrist, felt his pulse–
And then Shen Shi was beside him, one tentative hand on his shoulder and a shaky tendril of qi wending into Shen Qingqiu’s spiritual veins and slowly cycling through.
“I understand that you want to exercise caution in this situation, Sect Leader Yue, and I am more than happy to submit to any tests, but it might be best to do so at another time.” An almost unnoticeable pause as his brother’s gaze flicked to his face, saying, “My– I believe we are all rather overwrought at the moment and should maybe reconvene tomorrow, when there is perhaps less chance of qi deviations all around.” Shen Shi gave a strained smile to Yue Qingyuan, who pasted on a bland smile of his own that made Shen Qingqiu want to punch him.
The sect leader said, “Of course. I can escort you to Qing Jing Peak.” His face was a well-practiced mask of gentility.
“No,” Shen Qingqiu bit out. “You will not.”
Another concerned glance from his brother, adding, “I believe that may be a bad idea at this time. Shen– My… brother may have been correct that Peak Lord Mu or someone from Qian Cao would be helpful.”
He sounded so hesitant, so unsure calling Shen Qingqiu his brother. It took everything in him to not bundle his didi close to him, to crack open his ribs and tuck him right beside his heart – he had always been the best part of Shen Jiu.
Instead, he allowed himself to sneer at Yue Qingyuan. “Am I allowed to leave, Zhangmen-shixiong?”
Part of him delighted in the almost imperceptible tightening in the other man’s face, as he replied, “Of course, Qingqiu-shidi.” Then Yue Qingyuan’s eyes slid to Shen Shi and he said, “I will come by tomorrow to continue this discussion however.”
“Of course,” his brother interjected before Shen Qingqiu could say anything.
With a parting glare to the sect leader, he ripped the talisman off the door and grabbed Shen Shi’s elbow, escorting him down the hallway.
Vipers, the lot of them. He knew they were just as bad as he was – they simply hid their gossiping and opinions behind closed doors. They could stare all they liked, however – Shen Qingqiu wasn’t going to let them even touch his brother.
After all, his brother was finally home.
Notes:
>:3 teehee?
anyways tentative every other week update schedule, but we don't have that much written ahead so who knows! But thank you to everyone who has commented or left kudos!!! We are back with Shen Yuan next time... I'm sure he's having a normal one
Footnotes
1 Shi ( 十 ) - Chinese for ten return to text ↩
Chapter Text
Shen Yuan was in a daze. Or experiencing a qi deviation. Or both? Perhaps the badger had won after all and he was laying in a pool of his own blood. Rogue cultivator!? He screamed inwardly at the System. ROGUE!? CULTIVATOR!?!
【Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations! Good things must be said three times! Key information about ‘Rogue Cultivator’ discovered! o(≧∀≦)o Updated Character Information: Shen Jiu’s missing twin brother, originally known as Shen Shi】
What do you mean ‘previously known as?!?!?!?’ System??? System get back here!!!
By the time Shen Qingqiu (the scum villain?!?!?!) had manhandled him into the Bamboo House, Shen Yuan felt as if his soul was attempting to escape from his body. Shen Qingqiu deposited him on a seat, and held out a finger in front of his nose. “Don’t move.”
It wasn’t as if Shen Yuan was going to disappear. Where would he go!?
His “brother” disappeared outside the still open door and Shen Yuan stared after him. What… was happening??!?!? Wasn’t Shen Qingqiu supposed to be the worst of scum??? Why was he being nice??
Well. Sort of nice. Nicer than a scum villain should be, anyways, especially to a random man who looked like his apparently long lost twin brother… who never made it into the main story… or anywhere that would have been of use to Shen Yuan. Why couldn’t that hack author have mentioned this??? Giving some context to the scum villain wouldn’t be the end of the world!! He would have liked to know more about why the man was an asshole all the time, even if it probably wouldn’t have excused his actions. Well, it definitely wouldn’t have excused his actions.
Shen Yuan had been one of the avid commenters that cried for the scum villain to be castrated after all!
And now he was concerned for Shen Yuan’s well being?!
He wondered what point they were in the PIDW timeline. Was he in danger of Luo Binghe’s return? Would he become a human stick, or just cannon fodder for Luo Binghe’s revenge?
“Uh, shizun?”
Shen Yuan jerked to look at the still open door (did Shen Qingqiu just… not close the door??) to see a kid in what he assumed to be Qing Jing disciple’s robes peering in. The look on his face was as bewildered as Shen Yuan’s own. Here was his master wearing strange clothing! Inwardly, Shen Yuan cried, I’m not the scum villain!! “Uh,” Shen Yuan said, eloquently. He was doing mental gymnastics on how he should try and respond to this youth.
“You’re not…” The youth ventured, looking guarded and uncertain.
“No,” Shen Yuan said, and blurted, “This one is his brother.” Apparently!?
He heard a collected gasp of what might have been an entire train of disciples outside.
The youth stared at him, pale with his mouth in the shape of an ‘o’.
Shen Yuan stared back at him.
“...”
“Do you… need something?”
“We’ll… ask Shizun later,” the disciple said before turning tail and scampering off.
There was a quiet argument outside and one head managed to peek around the doorframe before getting dragged away with a piteous, “Shixiong… I just wanted to see him! Once!”
As the sound of the gaggle of disciples faded, Shen Yuan stared at the still open door. Did no one have manners around here?? You’d think the peak focused on the Four Arts would be more aware of decorum, much less basic manners??
“Shen-shibo…?”
Oh god, there was another person here. This time it was a rather unfortunate looking cannon fodder from An Ding, judging from the yellow robes peering in the door.
“No,” Shen Yuan said quickly.
“Oh,” said the now even more unfortunate An Ding kid.
They stared at each other for several moments.
“Do you need something…?”
“Well,” he said, uncertainly, “We’re supposed to talk to Shen-shibo about repairing the door…?”
Shen Yuan blinked. Well, that explained why no one was closing the door when they left. “Shen Qingqiu isn’t here right now?”
The kid stared at him. “Oh.”
Silence stretched out between them.
“You should probably… work on fixing it?”
“We, ah… we need to discuss some details with him first?”
If anyone asked Shen Yuan if he felt relief upon finally hearing Shen Qingqiu again, he would vehemently deny it, but when he heard the cutting voice of the scrum villain, he bit back tears. “And what, exactly, needs to be clarified? It’s a door. It opens. It closes. Replace it.”
The An Ding youth jumped and whipped around, “Shen-shibo!”
As they discussed the “details” about the door, a new face stepped into the Bamboo House. Shen Yuan’s stomach tightened with unease, despite the calm and kind smile that this individual wore. By the color of his robes, and his demeanor, Shen Yuan guessed, “Mu Qingfang?”
Mu Qingfang smiled brightly. “Hello, Shen Yuan.”
What.
What!?
System, I thought my role was Shen Shi, why is he calling me Shen Yuan?!??! That’s my name!!
【 ¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯ 】
It was then that Shen Yuan realized Mu Qingfang had been talking and was now staring at him expectantly. “What?” he said weakly.
Before he could respond, Shen Qingqiu entered, taking in the situation at a glance. “Shen Yuan, Mu Qingfang is here to assess your meridians because of your qi deviation–” Cutting off mid-sentence, he suddenly looked hesitant, then said, “I… had heard you began going by Shen Yuan several years back. If that is incorrect…”
The problem is that it’s TOO correct! What the fuck?! Shen Yuan swallowed. “I…”
Then the strangest thing happened. Shen Qingqiu’s harsh, cold expression melted into something that was… gentle?? “You don’t remember.” His hands twitched at his sides, and he turned his face away as Mu Qingfang glanced at him curiously. “When… you do, we can…” His face grew cold and he glared at the other peak lord. “Will he get his memories back?”
Mu Qingfang’s smile didn’t waver. “I will need to do some tests first, but it is rare that memories are unable to be recovered in time.” He nodded to Shen Yuan, still standing a respectful distance away.
Even the scum villain can't scare you?! As expected of the Qian Cao peak lord!
“Shen Yuan, if I may see your wrist?”
At Mu Qingfang's question, Shen Yuan nodded and offered up a wrist. The exam that followed was less invasive than any he'd had before, but the sensation of the other’s qi sliding through his veins in a warm, soothing pulse was vastly different from Shen Qingqiu's qi. His brother's qi felt like cool, almost cold, water.
Honestly he was more distracted by the An Ding disciples as they went about replacing the door and how Shen Qingqiu kept shooting them cold looks when the youths made even slightly too much noise.
I know your personality is pretty much just ‘be a bitch to everyone,’ but please calm down!! I don't want to die!!!
When Mu Qingfang finally stepped back, both brothers looked at him: one with curiosity and the other with almost disguised fear and longing.
“The qi deviation was obviously quite bad, considering the fact that Shen Yuan is missing memories, but his spiritual veins are in a much better state than I might have expected. I would like to keep him under observation for a few days and have others circulate qi with him. There are also some medications I would recommend for a few days after such a severe deviation.
“As for the missing memories… As I said before, many cultivators who lose memories during a qi deviation are able to recover them. But it is not a fast process, nor an easy one.” He leveled a steady look at both of them. Shen Qingqiu looked away, fan creaking slightly in his grip. “There are a few techniques that might be able to aid in the recovery of memories, but otherwise we will simply have to wait and see.”
“Thanking Mu-shidi for his care,” Shen Qingqiu said, voice icy smooth. “Send any medicines to my head disciple, and she will make the necessary arrangements.”
“Of course, Shen-shixiong,” the doctor said with a slight bow.
Wait, “she?” Ming Fan isn't the head disciple?? But… does that mean this is before Luo Binghe even shows up?!?!?
“Shen Yuan, this one is honored to have made your acquaintance.”
At his second small bow, Shen Yuan clumsily moved to mimic him. He stopped rather suddenly as a fan rapped sharply on his arm.
“That is not necessary. Mu-shidi was just doing his job,” Shen Qingqiu said, eyes narrowed as he watched Mu Qingfang.
The doctor was still smiling kindly at the peak lord (honestly kudos to him, his smile looked much less weird than Yue Qingyuan's), even as the scum villain apparently tried to eviscerate him with his eyes.
“If that is all, Mu-shidi,” Shen Qingqiu said, voice as warm as the Northern Desert, “then this master has several pressing matters to attend to.”
Like what?!?!? Eviscerating me?!?!?! Mu Qingfang please don’t leave me with the scum villain!!
Mu Qingfan dipped his head in calm understanding. His eyes caught Shen Yuan’s, and he winked as if he were silently cheering him on. Then he left out of the brand new door.
Throat tight, Shen Yuan shrank farther into his seat.
With an irritated breath, Shen Qingqiu attended to the An Ding disciples outside. Voices spilled into the Bamboo House, all muffled from Shen Yuan’s own racing thoughts. Not before long, the door shut and Shen Yuan was left alone with the very same character he had raged about for hours on the internet.
Shen Qingqiu watched him. The expression on his face was a mask that was slipping free with every passing moment, exposing an expression that Shen Yuan would never have thought the muscles in Shen Qingqiu’s face had ever experienced before: concern. It was the type of deep, heart wrenching concern that Shen Yuan was used to seeing. The type of concern that came from watching someone you love fall apart piece by piece, and there was absolutely nothing you could do about it. It was an expression he was intimately familiar with – on the faces of his family.
A little unfair that he finally kicked the bucket, only to be a burden on someone else’s heart, villain or not.
With a steadying breath, Shen Qingqiu quietly said, “First, a bath. I will find you some robes.”
“I… probably have some,” Shen Yuan protested meekly.
Shen Qingqiu made a point of dragging a cutting glare down Shen Yuan’s current set. He didn’t even grant Shen Yuan the dignity of responding to him, instead stepping away to go make preparations for a bath.
Alone in the room again, Shen Yuan dropped his face into his hands and mentally screamed. Was he going to have to pretend to be the scum villain's brother?? Would he be able to get his memories - well, PIDW Shen Yuan's memories - if he wasn't this other person?!?
Did the system just… wipe all trace of the guy who died? Did he only have access to some muscle memory, like in the fight with the badger??
The floor creaked, and Shen Yuan snapped to straighten his spine. There was no one else in the room. He stopped himself from tapping on the table, and found himself jealous of Shen Qingqiu’s fan. It would be nice to have something to hide behind. Time lazed by, and the silence did not do anything for Shen Yuan’s thoughts or anxiety.
By the time Shen Qingqiu returned, he had managed to assemble absolutely everything he knew about the scum villain. It was a pitiful amount. Sure, he knew some things in depth. He knew a lot about how the man had treated Luo Binghe, not to mention Ning Yingying. On top of that there were the allegations during Binghe's smear campaign against him, including his murder of the Qiu estate and his engagement to Qiu Haitang – not to mention his long-standing association with brothels.
“Come,” Shen Qingqiu ordered.
Ah, nothing like being bossed around by the scum villain!
Shen Yuan pushed to his feet and let his supposed brother guide him to the baths. He felt a little out of his depth — modern baths were much different than this!! Ancient xianxia worlds didn't have shampoo and conditioner, much less running water. Oh god, if the bath was cold he was running away. He was too much of a NEET to have cold baths; Shen Yuan would rather die in the wilderness. He survived for… ok, well he survived for maybe an hour or two on his own, but he did kill a Blood-Shelled Harpy Badger so that had to count for something.
Steam clogged the room as soon as he stepped inside, and Shen Yuan nearly cried from relief. Hot water!! For a few dreadful seconds, Shen Yuan thought Shen Qingqiu might stay.
Instead, the scum villain pointed towards a towel, and a neatly folded pile of robes. “You’ll fit in mine.”
They stood at odds, staring at one another.
Shen Yuan bit back the urge to say, “Cool.” He barely managed a nod instead.
The staring continued.
I won’t drown!! Now scoot!
Shen Qingqiu, horrifyingly, seemed able to read his expression. He left without another word.
With the door now closed, Shen Yuan struggled out of his robes and went to take a bath.
He emerged from the room quite a bit later, having had to fight with the numerous layers that Shen Qingqiu had left him. All in all, Shen Yuan thought he had done a pretty good job of pretending he knew how to put them on. But also!!! Why were there so many layers!! Who needs six layers of robes?!? How do these people not sweat to death?!?!?
Shen Qingqiu however, took one look at him and closed his eyes, using one hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Absolutely not.”
“What?”
“No. Get back in there,” the scum villain said, and manhandled him back into the bathing room.
“Hey!! Let go!”
“You look like you got dunked into a river and were then dressed by a drunk blind man with one working hand.”
Okay. Harsh. Shen Yuan’s jaw tightened, mortified as the scum villain managed to efficiently drag him back into the bathroom. That’s a trained cultivator for you. As Shen Qingqiu started undoing all of Shen Yuan’s hard work with the robes, Shen Yuan reached his breaking point. “ Stop!”
Something about the tone of his voice made Shen Qingqiu snap his hands back as if he had accidentally jostled a broken limb. His face was a very careful mask. There was a dark storm in his eyes, and Shen Yuan found himself yearning to ask, What is it you think you know?
Shen Qingqiu suddenly spoke, “Your robes are a mess. Your hair is a mess. I can only hope you’ve managed to properly wash yourself-”
“I know how to wash myself!” Shen Yuan cried.
With an irritated grunt, Shen Qingqiu grabbed a handful of Shen Yuan’s dripping, wet hair. “What is this!?”
“Hair,” Shen Yuan snapped back. “ My hair.”
Oh.
He just snapped at the scum villain.
Shen Qingqiu’s smile grew cold.
SHIT.
【 Accept a System tip on relevant hygiene care in this setting? 】
… THAT WAS AN OPTION!?!
“You will get in the tub,” Shen Qingqiu said, voice icy.
Shen Yuan moved.
A hand caught his arm and Shen Qingqiu bit out, “Take off the outer robes first!”
Right. Right.
With a frustrated huff, Shen Yuan was shoved behind a screen with a terse, “If it's too hard for you to comprehend how to fold the robes, just drape them over the screen. Either way, take them off, and then get in the tub.”
“Fine,” he said, yanking the robes off. For a long moment Shen Yuan considered tossing the robes onto the floor, just to be petty. Instead, he sighed and folded them into a haphazard pile before peering around the screen to look for Shen Qingqiu.
The other man had taken off his top few layers and set them aside, tying up his sleeves to keep them out of the way and sorting through a handful of containers that were placed close to the tub.
Ok, maybe I should have looked closer at the jars.
Without looking up, Shen Qingqiu said, “Get into the tub Shen Yuan, we don’t have all day.”
After a moment of hesitation, he grabbed the innermost robe and shrugged it on before heading towards the bath. The scum villain didn’t look at him until he was settled into the tub, knees pulled up to his chest and inner robe carefully set nearby.
“Tilt your head back,” Shen Qingqiu said quietly.
Cautiously, Shen Yuan does so. He’s met with a light touch on his forehead, one hand covering his eyes as the other pours water onto his hair. The touch was gentle and kind, even if Shen Qingqiu’s voice was… not. Not that it was necessarily harsh. Not in the way it was when he spoke to Yue Qingyuan.
Fingers worked through his hair, piece by piece, the steps spoken matter-of-factly as he pointed to each jar and why he used them.
Shen Yuan almost felt… pampered.
The last time anyone had ever touched his hair in such a way…
It was too long ago to even remember.
Anyways!!!
With his hair now properly washed, Shen Qingqiu stood and stepped away to re-dress himself. “Go dry off and dress, then we can finish.”
Shen Yuan got out of the tub cautiously, keeping his no-longer dripping hair out of the water before picking up his robe and ducking behind the screen to do as he was told. This time when he emerged from behind the screen, the scum villain was back to his usual immaculate self. The man's lips thinned as he saw the state of Shen Yuan's robes though.
“Did the qi deviation make you forget how to tie your own robes?” Shen Qingqiu swept across the floor towards him and he took a step back, raising his hands.
“No!! You just wear too many!”
One elegant brow was raised as Shen Qingqiu gave him yet another scathing look. “Sorry that I’m not a barbarian.”
Shen Yuan almost squawked in indignation. “It's not like I'm going outside after this though? It's fine!”
The other eyebrow shot up. “Jumping to conclusions already?”
“I- Well… yes?”
“Don't,” the scum villain said drily and reached for his robes.
“Hey!” Shen Yuan objected, trying to bat the other man's hands away. “I can do it!!”
“Much like you could wash your hair?” He said, deftly knocking Shen Yuan's flailing hands aside.
“Yes! …wait! No, I mean-”
“Exactly. Now shut up and let me work.”
Face burning with mortification, Shen Yuan let the other man pull apart his… alright, he can admit that he didn't look as polished or put together as Shen Qingqiu. But really, who needs this many layers?!? Why are robes so complicated?!?
To his surprise, once again, Shen Qingqiu walked him through the proper steps. It was only now that Shen Yuan understood how this guy managed to land himself into the role of a peak lord. When the last layer was secured, the harsh expression on Shen Qingqiu’s face softened ever so slightly. He kept messing with Shen Yuan’s robes, smoothing out wrinkles, as if looking for an excuse to stay near.
It made Shen Yuan’s throat tighten. The gesture reminded him of his sister, somehow always scooting just an inch closer whenever he wasn’t looking until she could rest her head against him as he read.
Odd, to see Shen Qingqiu in such a way.
Clearing his throat, the scum villain motioned with a flick of his hand. “Come.”
Yes, Master Scum. This lowly Shen is at your beck and call!
In short order he was settled at what appeared to be a vanity, with Shen Qingqiu behind him, comb in hand. Long hair needed a lot of maintenance that the Original Goods had been slacking on, but that the peak lord considered necessary. The rhythmic tugs on his scalp started to lull him into a slightly sleepy state. Once his hair was a sheet of shining ebon, Shen Yuan was tugged to his feet and dragged to the next round of torture.
Out in the main room, a spread of food waited for them on the low table. Shen Yuan chose a seat, and the scum villain settled into a seat across from him. The two considered another. Shen Yuan found himself inexplicably nervous. Am I going to eat wrong, too!?! He decided not to wait, and somewhat cautiously began to put food into his bowl.
Shen Qingqiu watched him like a hawk eyeing a particularly tasty mouse and Shen Yuan paused, hand hovering in the air.
“Am I doing something wrong or are you just going to stare at me for the whole meal?”
With a humph, Shen Qingqiu gathered his own food. He eyed Shen Yuan’s bowl. “You should eat more than that.”
Shen Yuan’s jaw tightened.
Their meal passed in relative silence, with Shen Yuan counting every slow passing second. He felt Shen Qingqiu’s eyes like a heavy weight on his shoulders. It was stifling. Despite Shen Qingqiu’s insistence, Shen Yuan did not want to eat any more. The food was passable, but extremely bland. Honestly it reminded him of hospital fare, with the cook’s aversion to any sort of seasoning.
He felt a muscle tighten in his jaw and looked up to see Shen Qingqiu still watching him closely.
Setting his chopsticks down with a decisive click, Shen Yuan said, “Can you stop?”
The scum villain set his own chopsticks down, the silence of the gesture almost sending a shiver down Shen Yuan’s spine. “Stop what, exactly?”
“Stop– stop looking at me like that!”
For the briefest moment, Shen Qingqiu's face was eerily blank. Then he said quietly, but with a thread of anger, “Stop looking at you like what?”
Shen Yuan’s breath hitched. Like them! Like his family. The way their eyes followed him, like the barest breath of air might break him. His fingers curled into tight knots on his lap. He grit out, “Like… that stupid expression!”
Annoyance flared in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes. “Stupid?” he echoed.
For once, Shen Yuan’s frustration was greater than his fear. “Stop looking at me like I’m going to break!”
“You had a qi deviation!” Shen Qingqiu’s voice rose, matching his own.
“So what?! I’m fine now!”
“Fine?!” Shen Qingqiu threw his hands down on the table and shot up. “ Fine?! Shen Shi! You didn’t even know how to tie your damn robes!”
“Shut up about the robes!” Shen Yuan cried, rising to his feet as well.
“How am I supposed to react when my brother-“
“I don’t even know you!” Shen Yuan shouted.
“You-“ Shen Qingqiu’s voice wavered. It was a crack in his mask, this glistening vulnerability in his eyes that flashed for a second. The mask slammed back into place, his face harsh and cold.
Oh, but Shen Yuan saw it. Guilt festered like a poison in his lungs. He breathed in a thin breath, forcing the frustration out of his voice. “I’m sorry. I…”
The scum villain flinched. “Stop.”
“Shen Qingqiu,” Shen Yuan pressed, his throat tight. “I don’t remember anything. Not you. Not who I am. Not even my own name. How am I supposed to-“
“Stop!” Shen Qingqiu cried.
“What if Yue Qingyuan was right? What if I’m not-“
“ Di…” Shen Qingqiu’s voice quieted.
Every single protest died at that single, quiet plea. Shen Yuan stared down at his feet, shame crashing through him. He wasn’t the scum villain’s brother. Whoever that person was, he was gone. And he would be gone forever. Shen Yuan could not be that person-
【 Character reminder available! 】
Shut up!!
【…is Host sure he wouldn’t like a character reminder? (˘･_･˘) 】
Character reminder? What’s that?
【Host appears to be in need of a reminder of important character information! []~(￣▽￣)~ *】
For a moment, Shen Yuan wished he could throw the System window into the wall.
Fine, what’s the information?
【Character information reminder: ‘Rogue Cultivator’ is Shen Qingqiu’s brother, Shen Shi! (p≧w≦q) 】
…that ISN’T HELPFUL!!
【Host… (┬┬﹏┬┬) 】
Shen Yuan forcefully closed out of the System window. Okay. So maybe the body he transmigrated into was Shen Qingqiu’s long lost twin brother. That didn’t mean that Shen Yuan was his long lost brother though. He was just unlucky enough to be found, even though he wasn't the person that was looked for.
“Sorry,” he said again, uselessly. “I'm sorry, I–” Looking at the floor, Shen Yuan wrapped his arms around himself.
On the other side of the room, Shen Qingqiu sighed. He stepped around the table and reached out as if to place a hand on Shen Yuan. He stopped. “Don’t you understand?” he asked. “I don’t need you to act one way or another, Shi-di.” The scum villain’s cold eyes lifted to Shen Yuan’s. They were almost gentle. “Having you alive and safe is enough.”
Startled, Shen Yuan nearly gaped at his brother. This was the scum villain?!
“I… just want to make sure you are alright,” Shen Qingqiu pressed. He crossed his arms and frowned. “So you will allow me to…”
“Fret?” Shen Yuan asked, dryly.
Shen Qingqiu shot him a warning glance. “ ... yes.”
Hesitantly, Shen Yuan shifted his feet uncomfortably.
A sigh escaped Shen Qingqiu and he shook his head, “And I will… consider that there will be some… adjustments for you. So don’t apologize.”
Adjustments…? How about some boundaries!!
“Now,” Shen Qingqiu said as he took half a step back. “Let’s sit down and finish dinner.”
Shen Yuan paused. “I am full.”
The scum villain narrowed a vicious glance down at his food. He raised a single eyebrow. “No. You’re not.”
“Pretty sure I’d know if I’m full,” Shen Yuan said, voice tight as he held back his frustration.
“Well, you’re incorrect,” Shen Qingqiu bit back.
Shen Yuan was about to snap, until he saw the slightest quirk on Shen Qingqiu’s mouth. He was smiling???? Hello?? Was that even allowed?!?!?!?
“Eat more,” Shen Qingqiu said, and he settled back down in his seat.
Shen Yuan swept back his robes in a dramatic flourish, and plopped down. He deliberately plucked up his chopsticks, found the smallest vegetable, and popped it into his mouth. After he chewed and swallowed, he raised his own eyebrow in a mocking front to Shen Qingqiu’s own expression. “There. I ate more.”
Shen Qingqiu gave him an icy smile.
Which… Shen Yuan saw that there was no real animosity behind it. Instead, he could see a hint of mirth in the scum villain’s eyes. He did not know what to do with that at all .
“I see,” Shen Qingqiu said, in the same deadly quiet tone as his er-ge did when meimei was being a brat–
Shen Yuan wrenched his mind back to the present.
“So you prefer to look scruffy and underfed?”
“I'm sorry not all of us can pull off the untouchable immortal shtick, ge. ” Then he realized what he'd said and froze.
So did Shen Qingqiu. Then one side of his mouth quirked up ever so slightly. “You have my face,” the scum villain reminded him.
“Unfortunately,” Shen Yuan muttered.
An undignified snort escaped Shen Qingqiu, and this time Shen Yuan froze in surprise. The mirth in the scum villain’s eyes was brighter now. For the rest of the meal (it was the rest of Shen Qingqiu’s meal, Shen Yuan did not eat another bite) they shot playful jabs back and forth at one another. Shen Yuan would like to say that he responded experimentally, but to say he put any real thought into it would be generous.
It was… nice.
At least until Shen Yuan yawned. Shen Qingqiu rose in a flourish of robes, marking the end of his own meal. He placed everything back onto trays, refusing Shen Yuan’s help, and set them somewhere for someone else to deal with. Or at least Shen Yuan assumed so. His mind was fuzzy enough to stop paying attention.
“Come, it’s time to retire for the night.”
Yes, Master Scum! Please, continue to order around this lowly Shen!!
With another yawn, Shen Yuan hid an eyeroll and nodded. He had no fight left in him. He rose to his feet and swept wrinkles out of his robes. A thought occurred to him, and his eyebrows sank together in thought.
Where would he sleep?
Would Shen Qingqiu put him with the disciples?
Hopefully the Scum Villain wouldn’t just kick him outside!!
The dregs of his mind managed to scrounge up an old memory: the side room to the Bamboo House. Hopefully the Scum Villain would be okay with him taking that over…?
Before Shen Yuan could say anything, Shen Qingqiu made an affirming noise with a nod.
Then he said, “You will take my bed.”