Chapter Text
Despite being a man himself, Shen Qingqiu quickly learned to be repulsed by the male touch. Qiu Jianluo, Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, all were nothing but scum abusers, oath-breaking liars, and arrogant, muscle-headed fools.
It was no man that brought reprieve to his darkest hours, but the touch of a woman. He survived on whatever affection Qiu Haitang could spare him, whatever pity old ladies would give him, and whatever kindness passing ladies could share.
Thus, despite naming Ming Fan as his head disciple, Ning Yingying and her shimeis and shijies would always be his favorite disciples.
In their limpid eyes he found no lust, no treachery, no disdain. It soothed him to for once not be hated.
Personally, he saw his behavior to be quite subtle. And it was, but eventually the more perceptive residents of Cang Qiong began to notice habits and patterns.
One day Qi Qingqi noticed how his female disciples followed him around like a trail of ducklings waddling after their mother, which was then followed by the realization that aside from Xuan Shu, Qing Jing was home to the highest number of female disciples.
In fact it might as well have been a second Xuan Shu, she thought wryly, as she watched the girls settle around him for their music lesson. It was a too-beautiful scene that she didn’t want to interrupt, but no matter, she could ask him her questions another day.
Ming Fan and his shidis realized that no matter how badly their martial sisters messed up, their Shizun would never punish them with more than a few strict words and copying texts. They shivered to think of what he would do to them if they had made the same mistakes.
Yue Qingyuan realized how guarded Xiao Jiu was around other men when he saw him relaxedly taking tea with a pair of female guests from prominent and wealthy families. The ease of his posture and the absence of Xiu Ya practically screamed in his face.
It took a good while, but all of Cang Qiong finally came to the conclusion that this prickly grump really just… hated men?
“Ridiculous. He’s a man himself isn’t he?” Liu Qingge scoffed, his brows furrowed.
“That doesn’t change the fact that he clearly despises anyone with a phall-” Yue Qingyuan coughed loudly, cutting off Zui Xian’s peak lord.
“Perhaps despises isn’t quite the right word. Shen-shidi has almost always been… civil with his martial brothers,” He reasoned. Surely Xiao Jiu couldn’t hate men, right? Otherwise how could he bear to live in such a male-dominated sect?
“Civil! You should have seen the time he had to come to my Ku Xing Peak! He looked like he wanted to throw up the moment he stepped inside!” Exclaimed the peak lord of the uncoincidentally all male peak.
“And haven’t you seen how he surrounds himself with his female disciples?” Adds Qi Qingqi “If it weren’t for Shen-shixiong himself I might have mistaken Qing Jing for Xuan Shu.”
They all paused and thought for a moment at that. Qing Jing did have a very feminine feel in comparison to the testosterone filled Bai Zhan or Qiong Ding.
“Still, I think we’re jumping to conclusions. Whether or not Shen-shidi favors his female disciples is none of our concern,” Yue Qingyuan said decisively. A few other peak lords nodded in agreement, but Qi Qingqi and the rest looked sceptical.
“On the contrary, this may be more concerning than it seems. If we’ve all noticed… this, then surely there must be something behind it. How can we call ourselves martial brothers and sister if we ignore something that may be bringing great suffering to Shen-shixiong,” Said Mu Qingfang.
“But… what could possibly make Shen-shixiong hate men so much?” Asked Shang Qinghua.
Now that is something Yue Qingyuan would like to know, he thought, as a cold feeling settled into his chest.
***
Luo Binghe thought, that aside from his hateful shixiongs and frigid Shizun, that Qing Jing was a wonderful place. It was beautiful, peaceful, and his shijies were some of the kindest people he’d ever met- especially Ning Yingying.
“A-Luo!” She called out excitedly as she ran towards him, flute in hand. It was obvious that she’d just returned from her music lesson.
“Look what Shizun taught me!” He set down the heavy laundry basket that he was holding and brought his Shijie over to the shade so that they could sit.
“Ah, a new song?”
“Mhm! Shizun played it for us and it was so beautiful!” She sighed dreamily, “I wish that I could be half as good as he is.”
“But Ning-shijie’s playing is already the best out of all the other disciples!” He said, wondering just how good his Shizun had to be to warrant such high praise. Though he didn’t doubt that he must be a legendary master. Those long, elegant fingers, his faint pink lips pressed to the dark flute…
He could feel a flush growing on his face but luckily Ning Yingying didn’t seem to notice as she started to play.
It was a light, happy tune, perfect for a beautiful spring day such as this one. The flutter of notes were so perfectly wrought that he wondered if Shizun wrote it himself.
And then their Shizun spotted them.
His eyes furrowed when he saw the two sitting beneath the shade of the ancient tree, a basket of laundry sat abandoned not too far off.
“The lazy beast,” He muttered. It had been a spur of the moment decision to take in Luo Binghe. Really he had only intended to take a look at whatever female disciples Qi Qingqi wouldn’t claim and then perhaps scout for some passable talents. He already had enough brats on his hands.
Damn that Liu Qingge . He would throw Luo Binghe off to Bai Zhan if not for his pride.
He didn't trust him with his female disciples. They adored him too much and he wouldn’t stand having them become a part of a collection- or even worse, used and thrown away.
“Ying’er, why aren’t you with your martial sisters?” He asked, startling the two out of their conversation.
“Shizun!” She greeted, the two standing up to properly show respect.
“I was just practicing the song that you taught us. A-Luo was helping me!” Internally, he sighed.
“This beast? He wouldn’t be able to tell a good song from a bad. Not to mention, it’s improper for you two to be alone like this. Go find your martial sisters if you want help practicing,” He said firmly before turning his gaze to Luo Binghe.
“And you,” All warmth gone from his voice, “I did not bring you here to sit around and listen to music all day. Don’t let it be said that my disciples are all lazy, unrefined slobs.” Luo Binghe immediately nodded and went to pick up the laundry basket.
“But Shizun-” Ning Yingying began to protest.
“Ying’er, enough.” Finally she quieted, Luo Binghe already scurrying off somewhere. He felt the beginnings of a headache. This beast would be more of a pain than he had anticipated.
***
“Ming Fan, enter.”
His head disciple stepped into his study, cupping his hands into a proper salute.
“Ming Fan, did you give Luo Binghe his cultivation manual as I instructed?” He sees him hesitate for a fraction of a second but thinks nothing of it. Aside from himself, it seems as if Ming Fan hates Luo Binghe the most.
“Yes Shizun, this disciple did.” He nods in satisfaction.
“It will be enough that you keep him out of my sight and away from your martial sisters, but otherwise don’t waste your time. Focus on your cultivation and do not disgrace Qing Jing. Am I understood?” Really he’d rather he never saw that beast again, but hating him would take so much effort and he only had so much disgust to spare.
“Yes, Shizun.”
Pleased, he dismissed him. At the very least, he could depend on Ming Fan doing as he instructed.
***
Perhaps he should have known that all men, even the disciples that he had taught, would eventually disappoint him in some way or another.