Chapter Text
The next day, Shen Jiu came to the inn with a veiled guilty look as Qiu Haitang looked at him in disbelief.
“What’s wrong with your robe? Is that bloodstain???” Qiu Haitang demanded in a shrill.
“I was not careful when I hunted...” Shen Jiu explained.
“You’re usually more careful,” Qiu Haitang frowned. Usually, Shen Jiu did not even have a stain in his clothes, he was careful and meticulous since he knew if his clothes were too dirty, he would burden Qiu Haitang to wash it. “What did you hunt?” she asked.
“A stag,” a boar, a fanged rabbit that he found by chance, a few foxes. Maybe this wasn’t the right time to present the fox skin he managed to loot to Haitang...
Qiu Haitang scrutinized the bloodstain and sighed, “You have to change your clothes. Luckily we bought three sets of tasteful clothing for you,” she turned gleeful again when she recalled that she could help Shen Jiu to dress up again. “Have you taken a bath?” she asked.
“Not yet,” Shen Jiu shook his head.
“Then, you can take a bath in the inn’s bath,” Qiu Haitang smiled. “Give me all your things,” She held out hands and took everything in Shen Jiu’s hands, putting it down beside her. When she looked through his things, she blinked. “Where’s your money pouch?”
Shen Jiu pursed his lips, “I... ran out of money...”
“You have no money? Why didn’t you tell me?” Qiu Haitang exclaimed as she pulled out her pouch. She blinked, “Wait, didn’t I give you one gold tael yesterday before we part?” Qiu Haitang narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Shen Jiu winced, “I...”
“What?” Qiu Haitang demanded.
Shen Jiu then told her of what he experienced the day before, starting from losing the gold tael for registration and the things after that.
Qiu Haitang stared at him in disbelief, “You paid one gold tael for a competition that you didn’t even get to join?” she wasn’t really mad that he spent it on something he wanted, but to think he didn’t even partake in something he signed himself for? “You gained one hundred silver taels but lost it after betting against a scholar in Go?” this one. Oh, she was angry about this one.
“Yes,” Shen Jiu nodded.
“Xiao Jiu, I can’t believe you. Didn’t I tell you to be careful? To not be enticed by others?? This is why I worry about you so much, you’re so easily swayed and baited into something you would obviously losing in,” Qiu Haitang put her hands on her hips and started her rant.
“I took my eyes off of you not even for a day and you lost one hundred taels in vain! What were you thinking? Haven’t you heard of this action called retreating and admitting a loss? Why you, men, always have to be so prideful when it came to this?!”
“See? You won one hundred silver taels, I applaud you for that, but you lost the same amount in the same day! It’s just like you’ve worked hard for the money but you gave it all away because some pretentious bastard outwitted you and exploited your simple mind! How could I not worry about you all the time!?”
Shen Jiu silently listened to her scoldings whilst keeping his head down, trying to look as guilty as he could to appease the agitated little lady he annoyed.
Eventually, Qiu Haitang spent enough heat to finally make her melt at Shen Jiu’s ‘adorable’ guilty look. “Fine! I’ll let this one off, but remember next time, don’t get fooled or enticed again. Absolutely, okay?”
Shen Jiu nodded. “Sorry about your money...”
Qiu Haitang sighed, “I’m not mad about my money, I’m mad about yours. The one that you’ve gained but lost just as quick.” She gently held Shen Jiu’s hands, “The least I could do is to give you money. I don’t care what you did with them, but I can’t stand you losing what you earned in vain,” she said.
Shen Jiu stared at her and smiled, “Thank you, Haitang. I promise I wouldn’t be so foolish again in the future,” he said sincerely.
“It’s not your fault,” Qiu Haitang said gently before her face darkened. “It’s the person who dared to exploit you who was at fault. If I meet him, I will-“
“I’ll go take a bath now?” Shen Jiu interrupted her.
Qiu Haitang beamed, “Yes, go on. Wait a sec,” she spun around and grabbed her purchase yesterday. “Here, your new set of clothes,” she picked the tasteful turquoise robe set after debating whether Shen Jiu would look better in the turquoise one or the cobalt-coloured one.
“Alright.”
“And return here after that so I could comb your hair and make you more handsome,” Qiu Haitang clapped her hands with a grin on her face.
“Okay...”
Shen Jiu helplessly turned around and headed to the direction of the inn’s bath, however, beneath his helplessness, he felt the neverending warmth for Qiu Haitang’s concern.
“Haitang, I don’t need that,” Shen Jiu said as he held up his hands.
“Why not?” Qiu Haitang whined as she put aside the light green jade hairpin.
“It’s flower hairpin, I don’t think a man should wear that,” Shen Jiu said. “Just let me use this one,” he carefully picked up a silver hairpin with a simple pattern carved into it.”
“It’s a crane bringing a flower with its beak!” Qiu Haitang said, offended. She took the simple hairpin from Shen Jiu’s hand and helped him to put it on. “Fine. You look handsome enough... Are you sure you don’t want me to paint a butterfly on your forehead?”
“No, I’m sure,” Shen Jiu replied. “Enough about me, what about you? You should pretty up yourself,” he changed the subject as he stood up and pushed Qiu Haitang gently to sit down on the make-up desk.
“I already made myself pretty enough,” Qiu Haitang argued with a giggle. “Could you make me look prettier?” she raised her brows playfully.
“As you wish, my lady,” Shen Jiu smiled.
When they finally arrived at the place to register themselves as a candidate, the place was packed. Not a single space was not occupied. Kids and teenagers pushing against each other to resume their way and sign themselves in, a few fights broke out and some ended bloody.
Shen Jiu saw several disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect stationed here and there, several of them were shouting for order, which had little effect at first but it seemed to get better once one of them released a sword aura to threaten the rowdy ones.
When fights broke out, they didn’t even bat an eye and only watched as some kids beat up each other as long as it was a fight with a roughly same-leveled opponent, at least. Shen Jiu saw them stopping a young adult from bullying a sniffling small kid.
“That side is so barbaric,” Qiu Haitang clicked her tongue as she tugged on Shen Jiu’s sleeve, making a face at a certain direction she just gazed on. Several fights broke out there much more frequently than the others.
“It’s their way to show off their dominance,” Shen Jiu said calmly.
“Showing off their dominance? What bastards,” Qiu Haitang said.
“Haitang, you’re saying a coarse word again,” Shen Jiu said helplessly. “They showed off so they could be noted. It could also be another form to say ‘don’t mess with me’ to other candidates.”
“That’s so crass,” Qiu Haitang said.
“It’s better than to leave no impression to some people,” Shen Jiu said and tugged her hand to continue on walking.
They finally reached the front of the queue to sign up where a few students were frantically trying to keep up with the applicants. Shen Jiu tapped the desk lightly to gain the flustered disciple on the desk that tried to make sense of his own workplace.
“Y-Yes, the form is there just fill your- Lingling! Where’s the form from the first wave?”
“What?! It’s not with me! Try Zhang Cheng!”
“I don’t know anything about that! Shang-shixiong, it’s all in your desk.”
Shen Jiu didn’t even bat an eye when he got ignored and took two sheets of paper from the desk and handed them to Qiu Haitang, in return, Qiu Haitang gave him a few taels for the registration fee which Shen Jiu put on the desk. “Excuse me, I put the money here,” he finally spoke up again.
“Yes, thank you,” The disciple reached for the money, giving it a glance to confirm the amount, and smiled up to Shen Jiu for the sake of formality. “Sorry, it’s a bit too packed here.”
Qiu Haitang smiled, “No problem,” she said as she picked the writing equipment on the desk and began to write her and Shen Jiu’s forms. “Done~” Qiu Haitang said after she swiftly filled the form which only consisted their names and age also experience in cultivation which was practically none.
Qiu Haitang handed them to the disciple in charge who received them and reached for two wooden tokens, however, his hand froze before he could reach to the box of wooden tokens when he read the names.
Shen Jiu.
Qiu Haitang.
Shang Qinghua’s eyes almost popped out when he saw the names. He gawked incredulously, looked up at the pair, and then looked back to the names.
“Is there a problem?” Shen Jiu asked as Qiu Haitang freaked out that she did something wrong somehow.
Shang Qinghua shook his head hastily, “N-no!” He said as he reached for the wooden tokens for the applicants and shakily handed them to Qiu Haitang. “W-wait for the test to start,” he said nervously before he began to busy himself again with his work.
Shen Jiu and Qiu Haitang raised their brows but said nothing as they walked away to let the queue resumed back. “What’s wrong with that man?” Qiu Haitang questioned. “He suddenly looked so uneasy.”
“I don’t know,” Shen Jiu said. And frankly, he didn’t really care.
“Seriously, did we manage to get in trouble before the event start?”
“You’re thinking too much,” Shen Jiu assured.
“I hope so. Here, wear your token,” Qiu Haitang said as she helped Shen Jiu to tie his token around his arm.
After waiting around for a bit, with Shen Jiu sitting silently to the side as Qiu Haitang breeze her way to some people’s social circles, a commotion broke out as a few groups of disciples, all dressed differently, dropped into the clearing. Of course, the commotion happened not because of just that. But because of one of those groups were all girls with otherworldly beauty and countenance.
Qiu Haitang was instantly by Shen Jiu’s side, she sounded like she was muffling a scream as she furiously tugged on Shen Jiu’s sleeve, “Xian Shu peak’s fairies!” She exclaimed. “Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu! Look! Xian Shu peak’s female disciples!”
“Yes, I’m looking at them,” Shen Jiu nodded.
“They’re so beautiful,” Qiu Haitang exhaled. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it, I thought I was prepared but nooo- they’re all too beautiful, the standard is too much!” she looked visibly deflated after saying that.
“What do you mean?” Shen Jiu tilted his head.
“I want to go to Xian Shu peak...” Qiu Haitang sighed hopelessly. “Ughh, but looking at those girls... I feel like a speck of dirt looking at celestial beauties...”
Shen Jiu frowned, “You’re beautiful.”
“Yeah, obviously. I know that,” Qiu Haitang rolled her eyes. “I know I’m pretty, that’s a fact. But not... not like them.”
“You’re the most beautiful to me,” Shen Jiu said sincerely.
Qiu Haitang was touched, “Aww, Xiao Jiu, never change.” But then she sighed, “But you’re my brother, your opinion is a bit...”
After that, they were told about the history of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and each trait of the twelve peaks. Shen Jiu was thinking seriously when he heard about the choosing system until Qiu Haitang spoke up.
“Where would you go?” Qiu Haitang asked.
“I don’t know,” Shen Jiu smiled. “Maybe I’ll just see which peaks that would accept me and then choose from there.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, if you’re being so negative like this. What about me?” Qiu Haitang pouted.
“Your cultivation is going smoothly,” Shen Jiu said. Since they’d been in the Huan Hua Palace before, Qiu Haitang already got a manual from there, even when they (technically, only Shen Jiu was) were banished by Su Xiyan, Qiu Haitang already had her own cultivation manual.
“But my talent is average!”
“Hard work will make up for that,” Shen Jiu said. “You started off pretty young too.”
Qiu Haitang sadly looked at Shen Jiu before she shook her head to get rid of her guilty feeling. “I have my plan, actually. You heard that earlier I wished Xian Shu peak would accept me, right?” she said
“Of course.”
“But the standard is too high. My second choice is Qian Cao peak,” Qiu Haitang said, eyes sparkling as she gazed at Shen Jiu to see his reaction.
Shen Jiu’s eyes softened, “Qian Cao peak? You want to be a physician?” he asked.
“So I could heal and cure you whenever you’re hurt or sick,” Qiu Haitang nodded. “You don’t have to be afraid of the healer fee, I can give you free treatment.”
Shen Jiu blushed in response, Qiu Haitang held in the urge to coo and squeal right there.
‘Never change, Xiao Jiu. Never change,’ Qiu Haitang wished in her mind.
“I see, thank you,” Shen Jiu said. He meant it. When Qi-ge was gone, he thought he would be in a world without light of hope, but this girl just appeared and somehow, Shen Jiu was lucky enough to be noticed by her and earned her shine. She shone so brightly to people around her, even the dirty slave like him. But now, she even did many things all for his sake and with him in her mind.
Shen Jiu didn’t know what would happen to him if he didn’t have Qiu Haitang as the constant source of positivity in his life after Qi-ge.
“But, if Qian Cao peak also doesn’t work out. I think I’ll see where you go,” Qiu Haitang said. “Look, this is the rough map of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. If I also can’t go to the peak you’re going, I could pick the peak where it’s closer to yours.”
“You don’t have to do all of that,” Shen Jiu said. “You can choose whichever you like, I’ll follow you instead.”
“No, no, no, the only reason I’m out here now is to follow you. Not the other way around,” Qiu Haitang argued.
Shen Jiu shook his head in exasperation and opened his mouth to answer her but he was interrupted before he could say anything.
“Aww, such a sweet couple of mandarin ducks,” a voice mocked and any trace of gentleness disappeared from Shen Jiu’s face.
“Haha, ‘I’ll go to Qian Cao so that I can heal you’ this little lady is really know how to flatter a man!”
Qiu Haitang flushed, she knew they were insulting her, “What’s your problem?!” She demanded at the group of boys behind them.
“Ooh, feisty!” The group of boys exclaimed.
“Haitang, ignore them,” Shen Jiu said as he held her back.
One of the boys behind them grinned, “Look, the man is way meeker than the girl. Guess we know who’s in charge in there.”
“No wonder he’ll need a lot of free ‘cure’ and ‘heal’.”
Qiu Haitang glared, “Watch your mouth!”
“Haitang,” Shen Jiu calmed her down. He didn’t want her to get in trouble here.
“Why it the lady getting angry?” One of them smirked. “Not even your man is angry.”
“Yeah, most likely because he knows that’s the truth!” They laughed.
Qiu Haitang was positively seething. No one, and by any means, no one insult Shen Jiu in front of her! “You take that back! He’s way better than any of you, filth, combined!”
Shen Jiu pulled Qiu Haitang hand, “Enough, ignore them,” he said. “That’s just their way to get your attention.”
“Hey, man, where are you taking the pretty lady?” Shen Jiu felt a hand draped on his shoulder. “We’re done talking with her yet.”
“Let go,” Shen Jiu’s voice dropped.
“Hey, come on, we’re still talking. I want to know how exactly she’s planning to assist you.” The boy behind Shen Jiu smirked. “With your low cultivation at this age, she would need a lot of work,” he pointed out. His cultivation was higher than Shen Jiu and he knew just at what stage Shen Jiu was, which was why he ridiculed him.
“Only a pretty face without power, trash like you is everywhere in the town’s brothels.”
Qiu Haitang snapped and glared, “You! Rude bastard,” she growled but she could feel Shen Jiu’s hand squeezing hers to hold her back. “Let go of him!” Qiu Haitang snapped and tried to slap the boy’s hand off of Shen Jiu’s shoulder, however, the boy turned and caught her hand instead.
“Beautiful, you’re the one being rude-“
The boy didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as Shen Jiu released Qiu Haitang’s hand and spun on his heel, his hand shot forward.
“AAAH!!!” The boy staggered back, holding his hands over his eyes. His friends all gaped in disbelief for a second. “My eyes!”
Everyone gazed to see Shen Jiu before the guy, holding two bloody fingers up whilst expressionlessly watching as the boy howled in pain.
“Bai Ze!” the boy’s friends rushed to his aid and were horrified to see blood coming out of their friend’s eye. “You!” they all glared in disbelief at Shen Jiu who cleaned his fingers with a handkerchief before throwing the piece of cloth away like it contained some kind of disease.
“Don’t touch her,” Shen Jiu said calmly, however, everyone who heard it felt like it was a glower of warning. Even Qiu Haitang was surprised at how quick Shen Jiu reacted when she was grabbed, however, she soon snapped out of it and held his arms urgently.
“You poked Bai Ze’s eyes!”
“He had his fair warning,” Shen Jiu said. “Maybe next time he’ll learn to keep his hands to himself.”
“Argh! Get him!” The one named Bai Ze screamed. “Make him pay!”
His three friends’ faces darkened. Shen Jiu pushed Qiu Haitang further away behind him to get her away from the impending fight.
“What’s going on there!?”
They all paused as two senior disciples of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect rushed into the scene, grim-faced.
“It’s him! He poked our friends’ eyes!”
“They started it first!” Qiu Haitang jumped to defend Shen Jiu.
One of the senior disciples went and checked Bai Ze, “It might get infected if left alone like this.”
“It’s his fault!”
“Enough!” The senior disciple ordered. “Instead of searching for help, you all wanted to start another fight. What are you thinking!? Shidi, alert someone from Qian Cao peak, we’re having a patient.”
“Yes, shixiong!”
The senior stood up and looked at Shen Jiu who did not say anything since he arrived here, “This gongzi is truly ruthless. I don’t see any other damage on him aside for the eyes,” meaning, Shen Jiu had targetted the eyes since the beginning. A dirty way to fight.
Shen Jiu put his hands inside his wide sleeves and courteously nodded, “Perhaps, he should keep his eyes to himself when it came to other people’s woman companion.”
The senior disciple shook his head as he gazed at the girl beside Shen Jiu and roughly knew what happened. Ai, women really bring disaster, he sighed, luckily there weren’t any woman in Ku Xing peak despite all of his brothers’ complaints about not having the drive without the opposite gender’s presence to encourage them.
“The way of fighting of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect is to fight honorably and fairly, your way is too ruthless,” he said.
“I’ll be honorable to those who are honorable,” Shen Jiu did not want to argue, but he also didn’t want to apologize or promise anything he didn’t want to keep.
The senior disciple shook his head as he pulled Bai Ze up, “I can’t correct your way since you’re not a part of my Sect yet, but be more restrained next time,” he said one last time before pulling the boy who was in the risk of getting blind away.
The other three from the group followed the senior disciple, one of them glared at Shen Jiu and hissed, “You’ll pay for this.”
Shen Jiu tilted his head boredly and looked away as if they didn’t worth his attention. They seethed but couldn’t do anything as they followed to where their friend would get treatment.
Murmurs started after the senior disciple left, the violent exchange earlier hadn’t gone unnoticed in the middle of dense crowd, after all. Some people openly disapproved of Shen Jiu’s ruthless and dirty method, one boy clad in white shook his head with obvious disdain as he looked away. For a woman and doing so with dirty and vicious tricks, not only dishonorable but also disrespectful to the woman he was protecting.
Shen Jiu didn’t care about the surroundings as he looked at Qiu Haitang, “Are you okay?”
Qiu Haitang clenched her hands, “Fine. But what did you do just now?” she hissed. “You can’t just poke someone eyes out!” she pulled Shen Jiu on and said in a very low voice.
Shen Jiu, who didn’t react to the public opinion around him, lowered his head in guilt when he heard Qiu Haitang’s scolding, “I’m sor-“
“Not when everybody is watching!” Qiu Haitang continued with the low voice which can only be heard by the two of them. “Have some sort of manner, you don’t want to get bashed by others when you did that in public.”
Shen Jiu blinked, his guilt disappeared in a flash now that he learned Qiu Haitang didn’t care about him poking that kid’s eyes, but was disturbed because he did that in public. “He touched you,” Shen Jiu said simply.
“Yes, but I can push him off myself,” Qiu Haitang sighed helplessly. “You don’t have to go overboard like that, now those people might come back for you. What will happen then?”
Shen Jiu still kept his calm expression, “You don’t have to worry,” as long as Qiu Haitang was safe, Shen Jiu didn’t care.
“No! This is a problem, Xiao Jiu. What if you got bullied? They have so many advantages,” Qiu Haitang said urgently. If that happened, then, she... She would have to plan a relocation again and bring Shen Jiu with her. Maybe being a nun was not so bad...
Shen Jiu patted her shoulder, “It’s going to be alright. Believe me, I’ll become strong enough that even if they come at me together, I can defeat them all.”
“But their cultivation...”
“Didn’t you say it yourself that my talent is really great?” Shen Jiu said and Qiu Haitang faltered. “Relax, Haitang,” he assured.
“Alright...” Qiu Haitang nodded.
“We are here!” The senior disciple which led the group said with a booming voice. “I’ll see some of you within the sect if you passed,” he winked and walked away.
Shen Jiu looked around, as were the others. Most of them had a look of confusion in their faces as they looked around the pit they were in. Calling it a pit was a bit degrading, the place was vast to be able to contain them. The place didn’t look anything fancy just... a pit with some rocks and mostly soil under their feet. Not even a weed grew here.
Shen Jiu blinked. He didn’t understand. Where was the talent test? In Huan Hua Palace, they tested the candidates by their talent, if their talent and age were acceptable, they would be accepted.
There were several disciples in the pit, they seemed to be discussing something before one of them stepped up and raised her voice, “The first test is to test your ability and endurance,” she said. “You all are going to show your prowess by digging the soil in this place.”
Silence fell for two solid seconds before the participants all broke into murmurs and disbelieving mumbles.
“This is to test out your power and talent. Now, before any of you could whine about the method, this is one of the traditional methods that the honorable peak lords had picked for years,” the girl said.
“The judgment will be passed by the honorable peak lords. No one will be wronged and no one will be overlooked,” a new voice said, continuing after the girl. The disciples who were stationed in the front shifted and respectfully bowed to a new person that had decided to appear.
“Yue-shixiong,” The girl said, practically leading the others as they all greeted the new arrival.
Yue Qingyuan smiled, “Sorry I’m a bit late,” he said.
“No worries, Yue-shixiong. Please,” The girl stepped back to give Yue Qingyuan the spotlight.
Shen Jiu furrowed his brows when he couldn’t hear further instruction. From his place, he couldn’t see what was happening at the front at all.
“What’s going on?” some people at the back also began to get restless.
Shen Jiu crossed his arms, impatiently waiting.
“Even if you don’t have any cultivation, you can still dig into the soil. Don’t be disheartened even though you’re not going as fast as the one who had cultivated, if you’re truly talented, your brilliance will shine either way,” Yue Qingyuan continued with an encouragement.
“That’s so sweet,” Qiu Haitang murmured when she heard that. She didn’t know who this man with smooth handsome voice was but she liked him already.
“Remember, you can only dig the soil with empty hands,” Yue Qingyuan continued and several immediately started exclaimed under their breath in complain.
Qiu Haitang’s eyes twitched and she looked down on her own pair of hands. Determination shone in her eyes as she clenched her hands that had long stopped being delicate and fair thanks to her menial job when she was travelling around with Shen Jiu. ‘I can do it. I’ll dig with all my power!’ She thought passionately.
“Using any kind of spirit item is forbidden, but you can use your spirit qi,” Yue Qingyuan continued. “And there’s some little gifts waiting underneath this ground,” he finished.
Everyone’s eyes immediately lit up in interest.
“Fair warning, it’s not gonna be easy to find them,” Yue Qingyuan said again and their interest surged up again. Everyone didn’t know what this little gifts, but they knew it would worth their time, some believed it was some kind of spirit item, others disregarded the idea and thought that it mostly like a trophy and whoever got that would be admitted into the Sect without much troubles.
“You hear that?” Qiu Haitang jumped from Shen Jiu’s side. “There is something below. I wonder what it is...”
“Most probably an average thing that acted as a mark to mark anyone who dug it up,” Shen Jiu said.
“What?” Qiu Haitang blinked.
“I mean, anyone who could dig them up would probably end up getting more attention from the peak lords,” Shen Jiu said as his eyes trailed up slightly. Above the pit, there was only one person standing and it was the one that always seemed so busy, Shen Jiu heard that he was An Ding peak’s peak lord, it seemed like other peak lords had yet to arrive.
Shen Jiu didn’t need to wait long, only a mere few seconds after he wondered about the other peak lords, several lights flashed by almost blindingly and landed on the platform above. One, two, three, four peak lords had arrived. Everyone looked up to the peak lords on the platform in amazement and admiration.
“There, the only peak lady. I can’t see her face from this distance but why do I feel like a speck of dirt compared to her?” Qiu Haitang said self-depreciatingly. Will she be able to get noticed? How to stay pretty whilst digging up dirt? Wait, no! ‘Focus Qiu Haitang! Stop dreaming and start working!’
The Sect Head looked down on the participants below and lightly nodded to his direct disciple. Yue Qingyuan, who was waiting for his Shifu’s sign, turned and raised his arm, “Start!” he loudly announced and everyone scattered.
Shen Jiu waited till the crowd was loose enough so he could search for a space for two whilst comforting Qiu Haitang, “It’s okay, your level of beauty is not counted based on the peak lady’s taste.”
“It is! Don’t you see those girls? They’re the fairest flowers in the field, no wonder so many men drolled at the mention of Xian Shu peak,” She, of course, had heard of Xian Shu peak way before she even started traveling with Shen Jiu. It could be said, Xian Shu peak’s fame bypassed any peak in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect in the outside world.
“It’s not nice to be too obsessed with something, Haitang,” Shen Jiu said with a smile.
“I’m not obsessed, stop it,” Qiu Haitang said. “I’m just lamenting how many girls in this world that could make me feel like a dirt.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Thanks, but as I said, your compliment is...” Qiu Haitang sighed. She felt happy, of course, but when she thought that Shen Jiu was most-likely her half-brother, it just didn’t feel quite as boosting as when unrelated men doing it.
The crowd was finally loose enough to let Shen Jiu breath freely, Shen Jiu’s eyes immediately shifted to search for a space, “Don’t you want to go to Qian Cao peak?” he asked. He wondered a bit about it, he could try his luck and apply there if Qiu Haitang was there also. He would feel way more secure if she was near.
“Yes, I didn’t forget that. There’s also a big chance I won’t be able to get in there. They also have their own conditions,” Qiu Haitang said.
“Haitang, calm down,” Shen Jiu smiled in amusement at the girl’s worry. He continued to look around, “I’m sure you could...” Shen Jiu’s voice died down when his gaze abruptly shifted to the group of official disciples from the Sect.
Clad in elegant black robe, some of his long hair was gathered up and held up with a hairpin and jade crown, he was in the middle of the other disciples, talking amiably with them all. The smile on his face triggered something deep within Shen Jiu.
Shen Jiu knew that smile.
No, not just simply knowing. He was familiar with that smile, that gentle face, which was always filled with compassion and gentleness, had changed a lot over the years but Shen Jiu recognized him. He knew that man in the elegant black robe.
“-don’t think it’s wood either. Xiao Jiu? Xiao Jiu?” Qiu Haitang blinked when she realized her companion was not responding nor seeming to listen at that. “Hey, did you hear me?” she draped her hand on his shoulder and Shen Jiu flinched.
Flinched.
Qiu Haitang immediately withdrew, eyes wide in a moment of surprise mixed with worry. “What happens?” she asked gently. Shen Jiu never flinched away from her touch ever since he got used to her presence and got rid of his shyness towards her back in her family’s manor.
Shen Jiu rarely flinched under her touch. The first time he flinched away was after he killed Qiu Jianluo when Qiu Haitang tried to get him to explain everything clearly to her who had known the bits and pieces. The second time was when Shen Jiu was forced to kill an innocent by that trash Wu Yanzi. And then, whenever he just experienced a nightmare.
Shen Jiu stepped back, his head was lowered in a manner that she never saw ever since they left flame and ashes in their trails. His bangs, which Qiu Haitang had trimmed adoringly on their journey to Tian Gong Mountain Range, fell covering his expression.
Shen Jiu shifted back one step, and then another, then another. Qiu Haitang watched with bewilderment and concern. “Xiao Jiu, what’s wrong?”
“I have to go,” Shen Jiu said, his voice was shaking slightly. “We,” he bit his lips, no, no, he couldn’t be selfish to Qiu Haitang, she had dreams, pure and respectable dream. He wanted to see her succeed. But...
It was him, wasn’t it...?
He was here. Alive. Healthy. Happy...
Shen Jiu’s body quivered as a wave of emotions overwhelmed him, there was happiness, there was fury, there was a disappointment, anger, relief, longing. All this time, whenever Shen Jiu felt overwhelmed by emotions, he’d lash out. But right now, he was too overwhelmed to even react.
“I have to go,” Shen Jiu turned around and started running through the throng of people.
Qiu Haitang’s eyes went wide, “Xiao Jiu! Wait!” she reached but failed to grab him before he started running. She chased after him, “Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu! Where are you going?!” Qiu Haitang called out.
Yue Qingyuan turned to look when he heard a girl screaming out a familiar name, he shifted, his eyes scanned the crowd and easily found two people going to a completely different way from the others. Outside. They were heading outside.
“Huh, someone’s giving up already?” One of his juniors said with a bored and mildly surprised tone.
“That’s a record time,” Another nodded.
“Did they even try?” Another one questioned.
Yue Qingyuan squinted his eyes, a bit concerned and interested.
On the other side, Qiu Haitang finally caught up with Shen Jiu who stumbled over air a few times in his absentminded state. Qiu Haitang grabbed his arm and forcefully turned him around to face her, “Xiao Jiu, what’s wrong with you?!” She demanded, but her tone died down when she saw how pale Shen Jiu looked. “Xiao Jiu...?”
However, for the first time in forever, Shen Jiu’s attention was not on Qiu Haitang. In his paranoia and anxiety, his eyes flicked towards the direction where Yue Qingyuan was.
Their eyes met and Yue Qingyuan’s eyes widened.
Shen Jiu hastily averted his gaze, cursing up heaven. Was that disgust in Yue Qi’s eyes? Shock that he didn’t expect Shen Jiu to be here? Ill feeling because he didn’t want Shen Jiu to be here? Shen Jiu didn’t know. He didn’t want to look at that face to find out.
He took Qiu Haitang’s hand in his, “We have to go,” he said urgently and Qiu Haitang gaped at him. The guilt almost eating him, he got them kicked out from Huan Hua Palace, now because of him again they had to forsake Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.
“Xiao Jiu!” Yue Qingyuan yelled out as he left his post and ran towards the leaving Shen Jiu. That was Shen Jiu! His Xiao Jiu! His Xiao Jiu is here, alive and well!
Shen Jiu froze, Qiu Haitang turned her head to see who just called her Xiao Jiu. Shen Jiu gritted his teeth and pulled Qiu Haitang along to quickly scram out of this place.
“Xiao Jiu, is he calling out for you?” Qiu Haitang stumbled to keep up with Shen Jiu.
“No. No, of course no...” Shen Jiu said through gritted teeth.
“Xiao Jiu, wait! It’s me!” Yue Qingyuan pushed through the candidates, trying to reach Shen Jiu. “Xiao Jiu!” he called out desperately and grabbed Shen Jiu’s wrist, turning him to face him.
Slap!
Shen Jiu slapped Yue Qingyuan’s hand away, Yue Qingyuan stared back, shocked. Not only Yue Qingyuan even Qiu Haitang and some others around them, who were watching, were just as surprised.
Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it! He chased after Shen Jiu, what should he do now? Pretended to not know him? Useless. Useless. Stupid! Shen Jiu clenched Qiu Haitang’s hand as a reassurance to himself, he needed to calm down, he began to feel light-headed.
Yue Qingyuan paused. He gazed deeply at Shen Jiu and hesitantly opened his mouth again, “You’re here...” For some reason, Yue Qingyuan’s stupid mouth could only utter those useless lame words. “I was so worried, I’ve been searching for you everywhere.”
Resentment surfaced in Shen Jiu’s heart. Lie. How could you lie like that? With your eyes open and looking so sincere, since when you learned how to lie?
Qiu Haitang stepped in front of Shen Jiu, clearly noticing how overwhelmed Shen Jiu looked. She gazed up at Yue Qingyuan fearlessly and asked, “Who are you?”
Yue Qingyuan blinked, he then studied Qiu Haitang’s face, when he couldn’t seem to recognize her, his gaze trailed to their connected hands. Yue Qingyuan’s heart felt like it was being stabbed by a dozen needles, he smiled, “I’m... Yue Qi, Shen Jiu’s old friend.”
Qiu Haitang’s brows jumped and she gasped, clearly recognizing the name of Shen Jiu’s long-time friend that had escaped with a promise that Shen Jiu still held dear till this day. Qiu Haitang studied him, when she gazed at how well he looked, Qiu Haitang understood Shen Jiu’s reaction perfectly.
This guy...
Qiu Haitang bit her lips and gazed back at Shen Jiu. She wasn’t a part of their problem, but she couldn’t leave Shen Jiu alone. “Xiao Jiu-“
“Let’s go,” Shen Jiu said.
“Wait! Xiao Jiu,” Yue Qingyuan tried to grab Shen Jiu’s hand again to stop him but Shen Jiu dodged and glared at Yue Qingyuan.
“What?” The sheer of anger in Shen Jiu’s voice was enough to shock Qiu Haitang. If this kept on, Shen Jiu would lash out for sure, he couldn’t do that, not when Qiu Haitang was here. Not in public like this.
“I...” Yue Qingyuan faltered. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Lie.
“A-are you okay? It’s been a long time, how are you doing?” Yue Qingyuan stepped closer again and Shen Jiu took another step back.
“Xiao Jiu...?” Qiu Haitang said in concern.
Calm down, calm down. Haitang is here, his sun in cold winter, his flower in spring, his tender rain in hot summer, his calming breeze in autumn- Shen Jiu regulated his breath.
Yue Qingyuan scanned the surrounding and saw many people, both participants and disciples, were looking at them like some kind of a spectacle. “Let’s talk later, Xiao Jiu...?” he asked unsurely.
“No need, we’re leaving,” Shen Jiu declared.
“Wait,” Yue Qingyuan reached out but Shen Jiu already pulled Qiu Haitang along to run to the exit. Yue Qingyuan was about to follow him when he heard someone calling his name.
“Yue-shixiong, is everything alright?” The head disciple of Xian Shu peak, Qi Qingqi, asked as she stopped before Yue Qingyuan.
“No, no, it’s fine. Qi-shimei, can you replace me for a while, I’ll make it up to you later,” Yue Qingyuan said, his eyes only briefly flicked towards Qi Qingqi.
“What? Of course, but-“ before Qi Qingqi could answer, Yue Qingyuan already took off. She closed her mouth and furrowed her brows, what was wrong with Yue Qingyuan? Who were those people that talked to him just now to make him lose his composure like that?
“What’s going on over there?” Zui Xian peak’s peak lord mentioned as he squinted his eyes towards a mild commotion.
“Isn’t that Yue-shizi?” Xian Shu peak’s peak lady mentioned, being naturally sober than the drunkard who pretended he wasn’t wasted the night before, she could naturally see better what happened there.
The Sect Head, Wang Qingzhao, frowned.
“Did you tell him to pick a new junior or something, Zhangmen-shixiong?” Qian Cao peak’s peak lord inquired.
“No. He would discuss that with me first,” Wang Qingzhao said. “Must be a personal problem.”
Flash!
Two beams of light flashed and landed on the platform, fashionably late. Now if only the other five could come before it ended, that would be great.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Zhangmen-shixiong,” Wan Jian peak’s peak lord apologized sheepishly as he hurried to bow down in greeting.
“I had some things that needed my attention. Apologies for my tardiness,” Qing Jing peak’s peak lord, Jing Qingan, said calmly as he opened his folding fan and fanned himself lightly.
“It’s okay,” Wang Qingzhao nodded at the both of them.
“What did we miss?” The energetic peak lord of Wan Jian peak asked as he walked to stand beside them.
“We just got started, nothing is missed yet.”
“We’re just talking about Zhangmen-shixiong’s succeeding disciple having a personal problem,” Zui Xian peak lord said bluntly. Everyone paused and shot exasperated glances at him.
“Ignore him,” The only peak lady said.
“Why? What’s wrong with Yue-shizi?” Wan Jian peak lord asked.
“A part of some kind of commotion,” Qian Cao peak lord replied, pointedly looking at the said martial nephew down there.
“Are we going to let that be, Zhangmen-shixiong?” An Ding peak lord asked unsurely.
“Let Qingyuan solve it himself,” Wang Qingzhao said.
Jing Qingan squinted his eyes and scrutinized the slight commotion caused by his martial nephew.
“That kid over there is not bad.”
“Oh, truly one in thousands, indeed.”
“I’d like that girl. Shijie, is she in your criteria? Can I take her?”
“Not pretty enough, take her.” The peak lords began to discuss about the kids below, taking their attention away from the small commotion caused by a younger generation, also giving their Sect Head some face since it was his disciple who was a part of the commotion.
“Right, Jing-shixiong, do you see your yesterday’s candidate? Where is he?” Wan Jian peak’s peak lord, Duan Qingjin, asked.
“On the way out to the exit,” Jing Qingan answered.
“What?” Everyone glanced at Jing Qingan.
“He’s running away,” Jing Qingan pointed with his finger and the others followed his finger to see. “Zhangmen-shixiong, what does your disciple do to make my handpicked disciple ran away?” he turned to his senior and asked bluntly as everyone looked at him in astonishment.
“Xiao Jiu!” Yue Qingyuan called out as he chased after Shen Jiu. “Xiao Jiu, please wait!”
Qiu Haitang looked back from her shoulder, her eyes shone in both distress for Shen Jiu and pity for Yue Qingyuan. “Xiao Jiu, maybe you should hear him out,” she said.
That man chased them so desperately, there should be a good reason for it. He better be.
Shen Jiu didn’t respond to her, simply gritting his teeth as he kept on walking.
“Xiao Jiu, wait!” Yue Qingyuan said desperately, trying to get Shen Jiu to stop with his plea.
“Xiao Jiu,” Qiu Haitang called.
“I need to talk to you!” Yue Qingyuan said. “We need to talk, Xiao-“
“About what?!” Shen Jiu snapped and whirled around, glaring furiously at Yue Qingyuan. “There’s nothing to be talked about, leave us alone!” He yelled as he pulled Qiu Haitang behind him.
Yue Qingyuan froze in surprise, “... I’m sorry,” he started. He could never say enough about how sorry he was for being such a reckless fool that got Shen Jiu into such a torture. “Can we talk?”
“No,” Shen Jiu hissed.
“I’ve been searching for you everywhere-“
“I don’t care!”
“Xiao Jiu,” Qiu Haitang suddenly spoke up, interrupting Shen Jiu from yelling at Yue Qingyuan more. “I... I think you guys need to talk... alone?” she said, unsure.
Shen Jiu grabbed her hand, shaking his head, “No,” he said. “Don’t leave. There’s nothing to say.”
Yue Qingyuan looked at them both and felt at a loss, he wasn’t sure about what to say with the furious Shen Jiu especially with a spectator with them. “I... I didn’t expect you’ll come to Cang Qiong,” he started.
Shen Jiu snapped to glare at him, “What? Disappointed that your slave acquaintance is around?” he hissed. “You don’t have to worry, I will leave. No dirt on your name and you can continue living with your fellow entitled rich kids without worrying your past is going to be revealed.”
“No, I never think I like that. I’ve been searching for you, Xiao Jiu,” Yue Qingyuan said. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“You already have everything here, why would you bother with a dumb former slave?” Shen Jiu laughed mockingly. “To be honest, I can’t bitch about it. That’s the only logical choice, right? Dump your trash to where it belongs. I wouldn’t bother to return for me too.”
Qiu Haitang stared at Shen Jiu in shock, her eyes teared up. Was that what Shen Jiu think of himself? How could she never know this?
“That’s not true, Xiao Jiu. You’re my friend and will always be my friend,” and even more, even though it was only on Yue Qingyuan’s part.
“Friend?” Shen Jiu spat out. “I thought you died!” Shen Jiu finally snapped.
Yue Qingyuan jolted in surprise.
“I thought you died in a ditch somewhere, you fucker! A whole year forsaken to search for your remains, even a little bit of rumor about you drove me crazy!” Shen Jiu clenched his fist. “I searched all over the place, hoping you fell into a hole somewhere, crippled somewhere, having a family and disabled somewhere, failing somewhere because of your foolishness. Even if I have fallen so low and disgraced, I can only hope you're not ruining your life for my ruined one!”
Shen Jiu felt his chest burned, it hurt so much, he needed to breathe properly.
“But what did I find?! You’re actually living your best life!” Shen Jiu laughed in mockery. “What more can I do to add to your perfect life? I applaud you, Yue Qi. Your skill of decision making is getting better, you actually decided to mind yourself and ditch the useless one now. If only you learned it way earlier,” and then Yue Qi would never care about that useless bratty slave who was about to get trampled, and then Shen Jiu would never have to help.
And Yue Qi might never even care about Shen Jiu in the first place.
And Shen Jiu might have died a long time ago without Yue Qi’s care and support.
And then, Qiu Haitang might never have to lose her family and everyone would live happily without Shen Jiu destroying the picture.
Yue Qingyuan flinched, his face burned in shame and his heart wallow in guilt, “I’m sorry...” he looked at Shen Jiu’s eyes, “It was all my fault. I was foolish, an idiot. I didn’t think of the consequence, simply believing my sense of justice and acted as I please, unaware that it might not affect only me but people around me too.”
Yue Qingyuan put a hand over his chest.
“I made you suffer because of the consequence of my action. But believe me, I’ve never stopped searching for you. There’s never a slight intention to abandon you in my mind, I owe you my life-“
“Which is better if I died, you won’t owe anyone anything.”
“Xiao Jiu,” both Yue Qingyuan and Qiu Haitang responded, obviously upset.
Yue Qingyuan bit his lips, “I... I went back to the Qiu’s... You’re not there and everything is already burned down. I can’t find any trace of you...” he said.
Shen Jiu’s cold eyes went even colder, he squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears. “Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up!!! SHUT UP!” he yelled. The fire appeared behind his eyes. Hot and unforgiving, hungry and overbearing. Qiu Jianluo’s last words. The screams of all the women that woke up without a husband. Children crying as their mothers reared them to safety, having been woken up before the fire got to burn them alive.
Wu Yanzi’s delighted laughter.
A bloody sword in his hand.
Blood in his hands.
Qiu Haitang crying in his arms.
Bloody arms that were splattered with the blood of her own family members. He wanted to cry seeing her cry, he wanted to scream seeing her pain.
Qiu Haitang cried, slightly burned delicate hands traced countless scars beneath Shen Jiu’s torn clothes, horror kept creeping in as she looked how far the scars and bruises had gone underneath.
Her grief, sorrow, resentment, disappointment, and fury mixed into one giant mess of emotion as she wailed to the heavens.
Innocence broken.
Shen Jiu kept his arms rigidly around her, guarding while not touching her. He closed his eyes, listening to her cries.
‘Qi-ge, it’s too late...’