Chapter Text
Returning home had been a doozy.
A qi deviation sent him back, just like how he came in the first place. It made sense, though, since there was nothing after the main story for him to do. Sure, there was the simple and straightfoward solution of just making better friends with the Peak Lords, but Shen Yuan had pressed the return home button as soon as it came up, not sparing any moments to rethink otherwise.
The qi deviation it sent him in was incredibly painful. His memory faded from then on, only recalling the stressed callings of his former brothers and Luo BingHe - those guilty cries would haunt Shen Yuan for a few months, but he could atleast reckon he'd get over it relatively soon.
You could ask, "Why isn't Shen Yuan affected by the 5 years he's spent with them?" The answer is a no-brainer. No matter the affections, he never left the thought that they were just fictional characters behind. Also, provided the fact that time moved a lot faster for him, skipping cutscenes being his forté.
Shen Yuan spent an accumulative 6 months and 23 days in Proud Immortal Demon Way.
Consequences came with overstaying your presence. Shen Yuan didn't belong in Proud Immortal Demon Way, even if others begged to differ, he didn't deserve what was so rightfully Xiao Jiu's - All he could hope is that the original goods had at least returned to the Sun and Moon Dew body.
Shen Yuan awoke in a hospital, unsurprisingly surrounded by nobody when he did. He supposed the nurses felt pity for his lack of visitors, and rested a few pots of flowers on the extendable desk of his hospital bed, sweets and similar sorts on the small coffee table by the windowside.
The gesture was appreciated, and he thanked every nurse and doctor that came to check in on him for the next two months he stayed there for after-care.
They wished Shen Yuan a swift recovery from his short coma as he returned to his mediocre villa his parents had thoughtfully rented for him. The fact that the villa was not sold yet was surprising, but he shoved it off his back, believing his parents simply forgot his villa was still a thing.
Nothing was out of place since the last time he was here. Not so much a mess, but it seemed such a way when his bamboo abode was left dustless via Luo BingHe's adamant dirt-destroying personality.
The TV adjacent to the sofa next to the large window to their right was cased in dust. Shen Yuan didn't know if it was a good or bad thing that his bedroom was untouched. Had his family even bothered to come by when he was taken to the hospital? How was he found out anyway? He had it firm that his original body was probably dead anyways.
The contents in his fridge changed. He doesn't remember ever buying various types of inextinguishable goods, but then again he cant really remember anything pre-transmigration - until he sees a note left by his 17 year old sister next to the multiple bottles of water.
'I don't know when you'll wake up, but the doctors said they found some recent unusual activity in your brain since last week. I bought these on January 2nd, so happy late New Years? Sorry if I wasn't there when you woke up, mom and dad made me go abroad to America for college.'
'If you are reading this, make sure to hit up my phone! I really do miss you, even if you were some weird loner with no girlfriend.'
- Forever your sis, Shen Yuan 2
What.. A thoughtful note. At least regarding everything apart from the last section of it. That, he'll make sure his sister pays repentance for - after he thanks her, at least.
Shen Yuan finds his phone next to his desk's counter, uncharged and dead from months of disuse. He apologizes to his phone and plugs it in, the horrid screen of death popping up like a big fat fuck you. It's been so long since he's last used technology, he almost embarrasses himself when he forgets how to turn on his monitor.
When opening the lock screen, Shen Yuan wonders if time travel is possible yet so he could go back and punch the ever-loving shit out of pre-transmigrated Shen Yuan. What the hell does, "best girl" refer to as a password hint?! Get a fucking life!!
Of course, he couldn't recall his computer's password. Everything in Proud Immortal Demon Way pushed such trivial nonsense out of his mind, but now when he needs the knowledge the most it bends him over and fu-
Maybe he shouldn't use vulgar analogies like that.
Hold on! This is the modern world, not the ancient era of PIDW. Such vulgarities are allowed! He curses Airplane Bro for his change in character; fuck your mother, fuck your father, fuck your sister, fuck your grandmother, fu-
Fuck who, again? Agh, whatever! This isn't a time where he can waste such precious necessities and throw it all away, when he needs to figure out who the hell best girl might be?
Liu MingYan comes to mind. Her name doesn't work.
Sha HuaLing doesn't work either..
Nor does Ning YingYing..
Or Qi QingQi..
He doesn't even attempt the Huan Hua Palace bitch.
None of them work!! Shen Yuan sighs heavily, resting his forehead into the palm of his hands. Bastard Airplane Bro.. You ruined his life!!
His self loathing stops when he hears squealing from outside of his window. He wonders t o himself if he should care, but his curioisty gets the best of him and he leaves the comfort of his 200 dollar gamer chair to peer through the window.
A giraffe or a rhinoceros would've been more believable in his eyes than what he actually finds - Who he didn't expect to see, at all, is the legendary Peak Master, Yue QingYuan surrounded by females asking for his email.
The poor man's confused expression at least amused Shen Yuan for the time being, relinquishing him of his earlier frustrations. He supposes that helping his former Peak Master out for his momentary entertainment wouldn't hurt him.
Shen Yuan walks over to his balcony's sliding door, unlocking it and sliding it farthest to the right. He steps out of the door, clad in a white t-shirt and shorts. Listening in on the conversation further amuses his devilish side, finding it that not only can Yue QingYuan not understand their advances, their Chinese sounds broken and informal. Like a completely different language!
His misery shouldn't be this comedic to Shen Yuan, but it still is.
'Ah! We're so sorry for my friend's behaviour.. This is the first time she's ever seen an in-person cosplay! You see, she's always wanted to cosplay but she never had the time.'
Yue QingYuan curls his eyebrows and nods.
Oh.
My.
Fucking Christ.
Cosplay!!! They think Yue QingYuan is cosplaying!! Shen Yuan grasps at the edges of his railing, successfully containing his laughter after all of his time as the stern Shen QingQiu. Continuing to lean forward Shen Yuan now teeters on the tip of his sandals, hoping to atleast contain a semblance of the original Shen QingQiu - such a man wouldn't yell outlandishly at other people without grace.
Such a man would also not teeter on the tip of his sandals, or wear a t-shirt or shorts.
But Shen Yuan isn't Shen QingQiu, so he slips back to the heels of his feet and stands firmly by the railside.
He considers walking down to retreive Yue QingYuan, but he doesn't feel like walking after his mobile rehabilitation and muscle practice. Hands firm, Shen Yuan reaches for a fan to elegantly cover his face.
Ah. Shen Yuan doesn't own a fan. Whatnot, he can buy one later. For now he must focus on saving Yue QingYuan from his soon demise.
"Zhangmen-Shixiong." Shen Yuan considers calling the poor man by Qi-Ge, but such informalities seem far too cruel to bestow.
Said Zhangmen whiffs his head, thankful to finally understand another person in this unfimiliar cultivation-lacking place. His permanent smile shifts, his expression turning solemn and shocked.
He must've recognized Shen Yuan. Shen QingQiu.
"...Shen-Shidi?"
Shen Yuan nods, smileless, and tells Yue QingYuan to stay where he is. Shen Yuan turns on his heels and closes the balcony door, reaching for his jacket, and makes his way downstairs.