Chapter Text
Shen Qingqiu stares at the little Midnight Sky Adder comfortably coiled around his arm, basking in the waning sunlight. The snake definitely wasn’t there when he started his meditations.
After the morning’s ordeals, Shen Qingqiu had returned to his room to gather his thoughts.
The demon’s actions were simply too strange for Shen Qingqiu to comprehend. Or perhaps, some small corner of his mind – one that still felt hopeful – whispered, too simple for him wrap his head around.
Zhuzhi-lang had been respectful. He had not probed for information of any kind. He had seemed… pleased to be in Shen Qingqiu’s company, a rarity these days, with his worsening reputation. Zhuzhi-lang had not been offput by Shen Qingqiu’s cold tones and chilly attitude, had looked at him with admiration.
And most importantly, Zhuzhi-lang had nearly killed a man in Shen Qingqiu’s defense. Zhuzhi-lang would have killed that man without a second thought, if Shen Qingqiu hadn’t stopped him. All to protect Shen Qingqiu. How his heart had thumped in that moment. How he had wanted to let Zhuzhi-lang go through with it, a display, all for him.
Perhaps, some other part of him mutters, he was simply always meant for the company of demons, rotten as he is.
The thoughts spun in his head, a cacophony threatening to paint a picture that Shen Qingqiu could not bring himself to accept.
He had settled down in the middle of the room to meditate, hoping to bring his thoughts in order.
There must be some other reason, some other explanation for everything that had happened that morning. There must be, he thought, sinking deep into meditation. Arranging and rearranging the piece, hoping to puzzle out some different image from the one that very clearly wanted to form.
Later, after the sun had worked its way across the sky and started its slow march toward the horizon, he had come back to awareness, still not having reached a clearer answer. And there, around his arm was the Midnight Sky Adder, Xiao-Qi, seemingly dozing peacefully.
He stares at the snake – the one with such a familiar name. Did the demon send the snake after him? If this is a belated attempt at killing him, it is going rather poorly. The snake seems much too comfortable napping around his arm to even attempt to bite him.
Slowly, careful to not startle the deadly creature around his arm, he raises his arm to eye level. When does one get such a wonderful opportunity to observe such a fascinating creature up close?
Dark scales glisten like an oil slick in the light of the setting sun. Shen Qingqiu feels an irresistible urge to touch the snake, to feel the softness of those beautiful scales for himself. The snake had allowed him earlier. Surely… Surely, he can touch once more?
He reaches for its head with his other hand, movements slow and careful.
Perhaps sensing his movements, the snake opens its eyes to stare at him, tongue flicking out to taste the air.
Shen Qingqiu pauses, hand suspended in mid-air, half-way to the snake. It does not move. Only staring at him unblinkingly, calm and relaxed. The snake is not pulling back in wariness, is not coiling itself up to attack. It almost seems to be waiting.
Taking it as permission, Shen Qingqiu continues his approach, gently making contact with the smooth scales covering the top of the snake’s head. It closes its eyes and almost seems to lean into Shen Qingqiu’s hand, seeking more of his touch.
“You remind me of someone,” Shen Qingqiu mutters, running his fingers delicately along Xiao-Qi’s length, “following me around like an abandoned mutt. That idiot…”
Even thinking about Yue Qingyuan… He shakes his head, trying to dislodge these useless thoughts. Yue Qingyuan has moved on, sloughing off the grime of their past, Shen Jiu included. Shen Qingqiu should as well. Forget about Qi-ge, forget about Shen Jiu. Lingering on these things… What is the point?
Xiao-Qi seems to sense something wrong – Shen Qingqiu’s inattention to petting him, most likely – and flicks his tongue out against Shen Qingqiu’s hand, as if demanding more attention.
“Little pest,” Shen Qingqiu whispers, softer than he’s used to, and touches the snake’s head once more, “shouldn’t you be with that demon of yours? Did he send you, then? What are you here for, hm?”
The little snake tilts its head slightly, staring at Shen Qingqiu in what could be confusion, before shaking its head from side to side.
“Smart little creature, aren’t you?” The intelligence isn’t a surprise so much as the snake’s willingness to communicate with him is. “If you understand me, then go back to that demon of yours, hm?” Shen Qingqiu says, still stroking its head softly.
The snake makes for better company than most, really. He might not mind if it decided to stay, but he does not want to deal with that demon coming to look for it. Meditating has helped him clear his thoughts, but he still finds himself unable to reach a reasonable conclusion regarding the demon’s attitude toward him.
Under his hand, Xiao-Qi droops, laying flat against Shen Qingqiu’s arm and looking up at him with large, almost watery eyes – the image of a certain Sect Leader interposes itself over it, pathetic eyes and all. Shen Qingqiu shakes his head sharply against the image. Snakes don’t possess tear ducts; he must be seeing things. Clearly, the day is getting to him.
“Don’t try that with me.” Shen Qingqiu presses down roughly against the snake’s head with a single finger, squishing it against his arm.
As soon as he lets go, Xiao-Qi rears back indignantly with a vicious hiss. But the snake makes no move to attack, despite Shen Qingqiu’s rough handling. What a strange creature.
“Don’t sulk at me, little pest.” He taps the tip of the snake’s snout, gentler, almost affectionate. “Come then,” he extends his hand to the snake, “if you won’t return on your own, I’ll just have to bring back.”
The snake slithers forward slowly and wraps itself around Shen Qingqiu’s arm with clear reluctance. It makes its way to Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder and wraps itself around his neck, hanging limp and desolate.
Shen Qingqiu stands and exits the room. The demon shouldn’t be hard to find. He can simply leave the snake in front of his door and leave before he’s noticed.
He won’t have to think of that strange demon and his strange snake ever again after this.
---
Su Xiyan asks from her seat on the bed, one leg crossed over the other, chin leaning against the palm of her hand, and watches the proceedings with amused interest.
Young Zhuzhi-lang is standing on one side of the room, leaning against the wall as Tianlang-jun paces the short length of it, loudly pondering how to get the plan back on track. Su Xiyan is not entirely sure what happened, but it seems like Zhuzhi-lang missed some essential component of the plan: steal a personal item of Young Master Shen’s so that he might return it at a later date.
“Alright nephew!” Tianlang-jun exclaims, turning back around as he reaches one side of the room, a pleased smile on his face. “The plan is not yet ruined; we will simply have to find a way to slip into Young Master Shen’s rooms in order to steal an item that you might then return to him. This is essential to accomplish the last step and prompt the perfect reunion between you and Young Master Shen!”
Already expecting the answer, Su Xiyan nevertheless speaks up, barely holding back her chuckles.
“And why can’t Zhuzhi-lang go visit Young Master Shen and simply invite him out on an outing?”
“Maiden Su!” Tianlang-jun pivots to face her, false outrage painted across his face. “That wouldn’t do at all! These courtship rituals are extremely precise and demand that the suitor return a personal item to the maiden before he can ask for the maiden’s hand. We must obtain this personal item to ensure that Zhuzhi-lang does not fail!”
“Yes,” she answers, covering her face with one of her hands to conceal her laughter, “of course.”
She isn’t sure if she should pop that bubble of his and offer corrections on his understandings of human courtship rituals. Truthfully, she isn’t even sure whether Tianlang-jun truly believes the ridiculousness he is spouting or whether he is simply enjoying himself too much to stop. However, what she is sure of is that this is much too entertaining for her to interrupt.
“We will need to come up with a plan.” Standing in the middle of the room, Tianlang-jun faces Zhuzhi-lang and Su Xiyan, posing with his hands on his hips. “Fortunately for us all, this lord has read the finest literature in the land and is well-versed in the many different types of plots that might be used to lead Young Master Shen into our Zhuzhi-lang’s arms.”
Face still buried into her hand, Su Xiyan whispers to herself: “Finest literature in the land…” Her laughter increases and she can feel her shoulder shaking uncontrollably.
From somewhere to her right, Zhuzhi-lang approaches her and speaks to her with a hint of worry in his voice.
“Maiden Su, are you—”
“First,” Tianlang-jun speaks over him, seemingly unbothered by whatever seems to have bothered Zhuzhi-lang, “we will unleash a stampede of beasts of all kinds upon the unsuspecting town, just as Young Master Shen is out on his errands. The young master will be distracted with fending off the beasts and heroically protecting the townspeople. Using this distraction, this lord can approach him while disguised—”
“With the same mustache and beard as earlier?” Su Xiyan interjects, finally looking back up with a wide grin. She can feel how flushed her face must be from trying so hard to hold back her laughter. From the corner of her eyes, she sees Zhuzhi-lang throwing another worried glance in her direction. What a nice young man, she thinks as she smiles at him, trying to wave off his concerns.
“Yes, of course!” Tianlang-jun nods with unfounded confidence, a light teasing smile on his face. “This lord has been assured by a most trustworthy merchant that these items are of the highest quality available.”
He very clearly knows exactly what effect these items produce, put together, and very clearly does not care. Or rather, enjoys it. The resulting effect is the point, evidently.
“Of course, of course.” Su Xiyan nods along with him, trying to keep a straight face. The twitch of her lips the only thing betraying her. “Carry on then, what does Junshang intend to do once he’s approached Young Master Shen in his… disguise?”
“With Young Master Shen distracted and this lord properly disguised, it will be a simple affair to take something of the young master’s and leave again before he realizes anything is amiss!”
“An astounding plan.” She says with a solemn nod.
Tianlang-jun perks up at her approval, only to immediately deflate as she continues, somewhat reluctantly. This would have been entertaining to witness, if nothing else.
“Unfortunately, this one cannot allow Junshang to unleash a stampede of beasts in the middle of the town. Innocent townspeople will be caught in the middle of things.”
“Maiden Su! Sacrifices must be made in the name of young love!” Tianlang-jun tries to entreat with her. “You would deprive our Zhuzhi-lang of his fated encounter to save the lives of a few townspeople?”
What a ridiculous, dramatic man.
“Yes.” Su Xiyan smiles at him, strangely fond.
Tianlang-jun sighs, drooping slightly at his plan being rejected so soundly.
“Well, if Maiden Su has decreed so, then it shall be so.” He seems to think for a moment before his face lights up again. “Then, we will lure Shen Qingqiu to the nearest Heart Devouring Eternal Peach Blossom—”
“Those are native to the demon realm.” She can’t resist specifying.
“—to the nearest flowering peach tree, then! As peach blossom petals fall and swirl around Shen Qingqiu, obstructing his vision in a sea of light pink, Zhuzhi-lang will approach, naught but a shadow among the blooms.” He sweeps a hand dramatically through the air. “Before Young Master Shen can react, my dear nephew will swoop in and steal a memento, leaving a permanent impression upon Young Master Shen’s heart.”
Su Xiyan has to cover up another laughing fit and asks: “Did you get that from your… fine literature?”
“Yes! Has Maiden Su heard of this one?” Tianlang-jun replies enthusiastically. “It is the central plot of ‘Upon the Peach Blossom’. It is the touching story of the reunion between two star-crossed lovers under a peach tree. The same peach tree under which they had planned to meet in order to run away together more than a decade prior.” The back of his hand comes up against his forehead in an exaggerated show of emotion. “Alas, the young man, branded a criminal, is caught and shipped off to distant lands. He returns, with a criminal’s brand on his face and hides within the peach tree, unwilling to show his face—”
As Tianlang-jun starts recounting the entire story of ‘Upon the Peach Blossom’, Su Xiyan finds herself surprisingly invested in the misadventures and misunderstandings of the main couple. In their longing for each other despite being less than a li apart. They must find each other again, she knows, that is the way these stories go. And yet… her heart clenches when the young man reveals his face to his beloved, fearing rejection. She wants to see that reunion under the peach tree in full bloom, petals falling across the young couple as they fall into each other’s arms.
Eventually, Zhuzhi-lang is the one who brings them back to reality.
“Junshang, there are no trees in bloom at this time of the year, will we wait until the next blooming season to enact the third part of the plan?” He asks, tone completely earnest.
Entirely absorbed in the story as Su Xiyan and Tianlang-jun are, they groan as one, a sound filled with disappointment.
“Ah! How unfortunate!” Tianlang-jun recovers quickly. “We would not want Young Master Shen to forget the previous encounters. The courtship rituals would have to be re-initiated.” He hums to himself in thought. “Alright then, this lord has a new plan! On a softly moonlit night, when Young Master Shen is out on a walk—”
Su Xiyan hears a vague noise by the door, little more than a light scrape. Instantly on alert, she extends her senses toward the door, trying to determine if someone might be listening in on them. Eyes closed and deeply focused, she can just barely sense the slightly tainted spiritual energy, right in front of their door. Unmoving.
She smiles to herself.
Things may yet work out for young Zhuzhi-lang after all.
Tianlang-jun, meanwhile, is still extolling the virtues of his new plan.
“—the mysterious masked figure will kiss him and take a small trinket as a reminder of their encounter. Entranced, the young master will watch our masked Zhuzhi-lang escape with his little memento. When Zhuzhi-lang returns the trinket, Young Master Shen will remember that masked figure and their romantic moonlit encounter and swoon directly into his arms.”
He finishes with a dramatic flourish of his arm, then looks to the room at large, awaiting their commentary. A performer with a dedicated audience.
“Junshang… um… this one does not think I should kiss Young Master Shen?” Zhuzhi-lang blushes a deep red as he says the word ‘kiss’. “Um… Young Master Shen seems to enjoy his personal space and this one does not believe he would appreciate an unprompted kiss.”
Su Xiyan smiles to herself. So much more respectable than many of the young man she has known in her life. All those self-entitled young masters who think their wealth allows them to do whatever they want to. Hopefully, Shen Qingqiu will appreciate this proper young man.
“Young Master Shen might also be more alarmed than entranced at seeing an unknown figure in a mask in the middle of the night.” She adds with amusement. “If the goal is to woo him,” she continues with a sidelong look at the door, where the tainted spiritual energy still lingers, “it would be best to not put him on his guard.”
“Ah! Surrounded by such rational-minded people! Where is your sense of romance,” Tianlang-jun throws a reproachful look in Su Xiyan’s direction, “Maiden Su?” Then toward Zhuzhi-lang who ducks his head in embarrassment. “Nephew? We cannot simply walk up to Young Master Shen and pickpocket a trinket!”
“Um, Junshang—”
“Nephew, this is your chance to win him over! Your opportunity to leave a lasting impression on Young Master Shen! Trust in your dear Uncle, once you have returned the item, he will fall into your arms with gratitude and you will be able to sweep him off into the sunset! This lord has seen it happen many times in the past.”
“In your fine literature, of course.” Su Xiyan says, standing up and walking to the door with soft steps, careful to not scare off their little eavesdropper. Young Master Shen is certainly talented for his age, but Su Xiyan has had much more practice, especially with her mischievous disciples.
“Of course.” Tianlang-jun’s eyes follow her, glinting with amusement. It seems he is aware as well. What a ridiculous man.
She places a hand on the door handle with a conspiring little smile back toward Tianlang-jun. Zhuzhi-lang watches them both with confusion, but does not move from his place to the side.
“And what do you think, Young Master Shen?” She whips the door open.
In front of their door, blushing furiously, stands Shen Qingqiu. A pitch-black snake is wrapped around his neck, tight enough to enjoy the man’s warmth, but loose enough to not obstruct his breathing. One of Shen Qingqiu’s hands is on the snake itself, unconsciously petting it, as if trying to draw strength from the touch.
He rears back from the wide-open door and the smirking Huan Hua Head Disciple in front of him.
“You—You—” Shen Qingqiu seems to be at a loss for words.
“Young Master Shen!”
Zhuzhi-lang hurries over, a small, nearly giddy smile on his face, crossing the room in a few quick steps. Su Xiyan hastily steps out of the way and back into the room.
“This one is glad to see Young Master Shen again.” He then seems to finally notice the snake around Shen Qingqiu’s neck. “Young Master Shen has found Xiao-Qi! Thanking Young Master Shen,” he says with a little bow, extending an arm toward the snake, “did Xiao-Qi decide to find you on his own?”
The snake seems to entirely ignore Zhuzhi-lang’s extended arm, curling itself around Shen Qingqiu’s neck so it faces away. Absent-mindedly, Shen Qingqiu’s hand adjusts around the snake’s side, still gently cradling it.
Zhuzhi-lang laughs slightly, immediately drawing his arm back. “It seems Xiao-Qi prefers Young Master Shen’s company to mine. This one is glad Xiao-Qi—”
“Is that what this was all about?” Shen Qingqiu spits out, seemingly unable to stop himself. “Some pathetic attempts to—to win my affections? The demonic beast earlier today, the… the insistence on an escort back to my inn? Whatever you all were plotting in here?”
Zhuzhi-lang nods slightly, looking down at his feet and wringing his hands together.
Over Zhuzhi-lang’s bowed head, Shen Qingqiu narrows his eyes at the strange sight of the demon and the Huan Hua cultivator, perfectly content to be in the same room together. She can see him tense up, ready to flee if the situation turns sour.
“No ulterior motives?” The snake grows more agitated in reaction to Shen Qingqiu’s visibly rising anxiety, unwinding itself with languid motions to hiss a warning to the people in their vicinity.
“None on my part, at least, Young Master Shen.” Su Xiyan shrugs, keeping her stance carefully relaxed. “And having spent the day with these two strange demons, I can say that there don’t seem to be any ulterior motives on their ends either. That one likes his fine literature,” she can’t help but snort slightly as she says the words, “too much to be interested in ulterior motives. Beyond those related to romantic endeavors, of course.”
“And what fine literature it is, Maiden Su! Humans have truly come up with the finest literature in the land.” Tianlang-jun nods with great enthusiasm, ignoring the rest.
Shen Qingqiu stares at them for a moment longer before roughly tugging the surprised snake from his neck and shoving it into Zhuzhi-lang’s hands.
“Whatever, take your little minion and get out of my face.” He says, already turning away to leave.
“Wait, Young Master Shen!”
Shen Qingqiu freezes in place, back to them.
Zhuzhi-lang fumbles with the angry snake that has been thrust into his hands. It tries to bite him in its anger and Zhuzhi-lang absent-mindedly fends off its vicious-looking fangs.
“Please, would Young Master Shen allow this one to treat him to a meal at the teahouse down the street? As thanks for returning Xiao-Qi!”
“Do whatever you want.” Shen Qingqiu throws over his shoulder, tone entirely dismissive. And yet, he continues to stand there, unmoving. Giving Zhuzhi-lang an opportunity to follow.
Zhuzhi-lang’s face brightens and, gathering the furious snake in his arms, hurries forward to join Shen Qingqiu. Once he reaches Shen Qingqiu’s side, he shyly offers the now much calmer snake back to him, though he remains at a perfectly respectable distance from Shen Qingqiu. Without a word, Shen Qingqiu allows the happy snake to coil back around his shoulders.
Together, they walk away, presumably heading for the teahouse.
Left behind in the room, Tianlang-jun stares after them with a pleased smile. Su Xiyan finds herself surprised to realize that she is also smiling, just as pleased, happy to watch them go together and hopeful that things will turn out well.
“What did I tell you, Maiden Su?” Tianlang-jun smirks, ridiculously proud of himself. “Returning a personal item to the maiden is a sure way to be asked out for a meal.”
Returning a personal item—? Oh!
“This was lucky happenstance, not any of your planning, you ridiculous man.” Su Xiyan shakes her head in mild exasperation, a light smile tugging at her lips against her will.
He smiles in return, bright and unashamed.
“Shall we go see how this outing goes? This one would love to know how everything ends, after all!” He extends a hand in her direction, inviting her along.
“Ridiculous, dramatic man.” She takes his hand and follows him out.
Her heart thumps loudly in her chest.
She can’t wait to see what sort of ridiculousness awaits them.