Chapter Text
Qiu Chengrui's last words were: "I want to go home."
Ao Ning holds her hand tight as she takes her last breath and closes her eyes, tears still streaming down her cheeks but no longer warm. She leaves Ao Ning with all his grief and sorrow and leaves with him a name.
He was now known as Ao Guangsiew, head disciple of Qiu Chengrui, the successor of Qing Jing peak.
Ao Guangsiew goes into a decade of seclusion after they returned.
(It had not been pleasant sight, to see a head disciple carry the corpse of his shifu into Qian Cao peak followed by the Bai Zhan peak lord that looked as if something had slapped his soul out of his body. Both splattered with blood of their own and enemies alike.)
LingXi caves had always been cold. He weeps and grieves and plucks on the strings of his guqin untill he barely feels his fingertips. If anyone stayed still enough, they could hear the sadness resonate within the caves.
When it gets too much, Ao Guangsiew clenches a small bottle tight, tighter than he's ever held onto anything. The ashes of his teacher that never got her last wish fulfilled. A bitter taste against his lips.
--
Eventually he had to return. The Qing Jing hall masters greet him regardless of his disheveled, disoriented state, caused from too many years of grieving. He was more fitting to be a walking corpse.
They were patient as they always were. They taught Ao Guangsiew everything a peak lord has to know. They allow Ao Guangsiew into the depths of the peak, into the deep springs where the ancient spirits reside. They let Them recognise Ao Guangsiew as the new peak lord.
When ascension of the current peak lords came around, Ao Guangsiew found himself the only one without a master to congratulate and bid farewell to. As the representative of Qing Jing peak, he had to stand with his martial uncles and aunts as they hand over their peak lord titles one by one, proudly announcing their courtesy names.
Oh, how Ao Guangsiew envied.
He stepped down as the peak lords advanced to the highest halls of the sect, awaiting their ascension in the form of lighting strikes.
The new sect leader, Gu Guanghuan, offers a sympathetic smile, but Ao Guangsiew paid no mind. He idly takes out his guqin from his qiankun pouch, runs his fingers along the polished wood of it as lighting strikes, beginning the trial of ascension.
Dangling from the guqin's side, a familiar bottle. Ao Guangsiew holds the guqin close like it was family. As the ghastly figures of newly ascended peak lords rose to the clouds, Ao Guangsiew whispers, almost unheard by all but a few.
"Shifu."
--
Ao Guangsiew continues his seclusion subtly. He does not leave his peak unless absolutely necessary. Missions were begrudgingly accepted only when his partner peak lord was already dragging him away from his peak. He attends the meetings but barely listens, his notes being read out by the An Ding peak lord, Wei Guanglin.
He would have his guqin on his lap, pluck a few notes, toy with the strings, or stare unfocusedly at it for worrying periods of time.
Bian Guangyu has expressed her concerns for her shixiong once and invited him back to Qian Cao to have a talking session. But they both knew that Ao Guangsiew was only telling Bian Guangyu what she wants to hear. She had watched in disdain as her shixiong left Qian Cao, flying back to his peak alone.
Ao Guangsiew never stood around to look at mere children digging into dirt. He, as idle as ever, plucks out a special song that can only be heard by potential spiritual cultivators. A hall master would help him pick out the ones that perk their heads up at such enchanted music.
(There wasn't a lot either. Ao Guangsiew played a more advanced version of the song that targets people with higher potential than usual. If one's potential is even slightly lower than required, the song will not reach their ears.
It wasn't every year as well. Sometimes when he's feeling particularly depressed, he would not show up at all.)
One year, he had a dream. He dreamt of a small blur of a child in rags, of bruised and bloodied limbs, of eyes that still had the spark of fight in them. Ao Guangsiew wakes up and strides his way down to the floor of the mountain in nothing but his sleep robes and outer robes.
Gu Guanghuan obvious flustered at his shidi's indecent attire. Ignoring their sect leader, Ao Guangsiew scans the ground littered with children digging with all their might. His fingertips perched on the strings of his guqin, silently channeling qi.
The strings vibrate with life as qi runs through them, filling the air with its deep, rich notes. "Upward To the Moon" plays melancholically. The song was beautiful but the peak lords recognised what it does.
"Upward To the Moon" was not to weed out potential cultivators, but to bring out more of one's qi.
"Ao shidi.. are you alright?" Gu Guanghuan asked worriedly when a hall master frantically (finally) came running with a thick coat to drape over Ao Guangsiew's shoulders. Ao Guangsiew was still staring faraway, unhearing of the sect leader's concern. Gu Guanghuan had no choice but to turn his head as well, trying to find what had caught his shidi's attention so raptly.
A tiny child's head had poked up from the others around him who were still busy digging. Eyes starstruck with wonder.
"Ao shixiong, shall this.." The hall master panted, still trying to catch her breath.
It wasn't necessary, but Ao Guangsiew steps near the ledge and leaps off, sauntering down the dirt covered stairs. The hall master had a heart attack.
"Ao shixiong! Ao shixiong, please! Let this Yuxiao go fetch the boy for you," she scrambles after the tiny peak lord with a guqin that looks comically big compared to him.
Ao Guangsiew stops in front of the child. Rags, bruises, eyes of rich brown that almost looked fiery. The wood of his guqin was warm against his skin. He stretches out one hand.
"Come with me."
--
The snotty brat's name was Si. Just Si. Number four. Ao Guangsiew looks at him and pursed his lips. He doubts but just a second before he sniffed. "Your name is now Ao Si. Yuxiao, please give him the tea pot."
The hall master hesitated. "Ao shixiong, what about I teach this child to brew tea first? In a week, we can return here to let him brew and serve shixiong tea."
"No. Good tea or not, this master will not mind. Go ahead."
Yuxiao sets down the tea set in front of the child. "Do your best," she encouraged.
Ao Guangsiew did not expect a lot from a slave boy. He would not mind if the tea tasted absolutely revolting. However the boy looked refined enough brewing the tea, looks like he had been a servant slave more than anything else. When the cup is presented and the tea entered his mouth, Ao Guangsiew could not help but gag.
The liquid borderlines between bad and terrible. Ao Guangsiew had no words to express it, so he waves Yuxiao closer. She politely takes the teapot from Ao Si and pours herself a cup.
She spits it out. "Oh dear," she murmured. "Oh dear, we have to work on your tea."
Even so, since Ao Guangsiew had swallowed his tea anyways, Ao Si was officially a Qing Jing disciple. As Yuxiao led Ao Si away, Ao Guangsiew overhears her greeting the peak lords of two peaks.
Ma Guangjie, peak lord of Wan Jian, all but barges in. He holds his sword high in the air as if waiting for it to unsheathe at the sight of the Qing Jing peak lord. Jin Guangxi trails in behind him, greeting Ao Guangsiew softly.
"This shidi suspects that Ao shixiong has been possessed!" Ma Guangjie shuffles closer to him. "Do not move shixiong, this shidi will now wave this sword around you a few times."
"No need. Guangsiew is not possessed."
Jin Guangxi takes a seat, prayer beads in hand. "Shixiong's behaviour today had had us worried, Bian shimei wanted to check on shixiong, but she has quite a lot in her hands. So we came in her stead."
"Ma shixiong, that is enough." He chided gently. The Wan Jian peak lord looked disappointed that his shixiong was not possessed. Ao Guangsiew was unimpressed. Before anyone can warn him, Ma Guangjie plops down onto a seat and takes a sip of the tea left out by Ao Si.
"Ma shidi.." the Wan Jian peak lord choked ungracefully, coughing his lungs out. Ao Guangsiew sniffs, "this is why you don't come in and do as you please."
Ignoring the terrible choking going on, Jin Guangxi smiles and dives straight into the point.
"Ao shixiong, may this shidi ask why shixiong had played Upward To the Moon instead of the usual?"
"Jin shidi, Guangsiew had a dream. Or perhaps.. a prophecy."
The Ku Xing peak lord stopped fiddling with his beads for a moment. It took a moment for him to resume with the fiddling. "Dare this shidi ask So shixiong to elaborate?"
"I dreamt of a future peak lord who is not me.."
Ao Guangsiew lowered his eyes, absentmindedly tracing the carving of his guqin. Jin Guangxi catches on splendidly as he always did so.
"It is that child?"
Ao Guangsiew made a noise of confirmation. Ma Guangjie slides up next to him with a big gasp, "perhaps Ao shixiong is reading too deep? I feel that shixiong can definitely do better than that kiddo."
"Even a child with potential does not react to Upward To the Moon because their qi is not strong enough. But he heard it clearly."
Jin Guangxi took a deep breath. A peculiar case, the child must've had at least a lick of cultivation before this. Ma Guangjie, on the other hand - simple man he is, bless his heart - just thought the kid was impressive.
"I believe this must be shifu's way of telling me something important." Ao Guangsiew grips his guqin tight again.
Jin Guangxi frowns at the mention of Qiu Chengrui. It seems that his shixiong has yet to put down the sudden death of his master. Although he does not say anything, Jin Guangxi sends silent prayers to his shixiong.
--
Wen Guanglei have never seen his shixiong look so interested.
(He leaves his peak unattended to pursue beasts of all sorts, bringing his hunts back to cook and serve to his favourite guinea pig shixiong. But he doesn't see the man often, so he makes sure to work hard to get the juiciest cuts to compensate for it)
He sneaks up on the Qing Jing peak lord, planning to surprise him when he takes a look over his shoulder and watch in disbelief as a small Qing Jing disciple (the one that Ao Guangsiew had rushed down for) topple a Bai Zhan disciple face first into the ground.
"What."
"Guangsiew hopes that Wen shidi has not brought back any fatty meats again."
"These fatty meats are good for you. That aside, what the hell is happening here?"
"Ao Si is pummeling one of your little monkeys into the ground." Ao Guangsiew said like he was commenting on a show.
"Ao Si?"
"He did not have a surname, and Guangsiew was admittedly, lazy to think of a better one. But now that I've witnessed what he can do, this Guangsiew might as well name him my son."
Wen Guanglei had no more face left as his second disciple suffers the same fate, thrown like a wet sack onto the ground. Before the third could sneak attack Ao Guangsiew's disciple from the back, the Qing Jing peak lord huffed and walked up to them.
"Enough."
At the sight of the small peak lord, Ao Si immediately stopped his fists and retreated, bowing respectfully. "Shifu. Peak lord Wen." The three disciples quickly scrambled to Wen Guanglei, all kinds of excuses on the tip of their tongues, low-key sneering at Ao Si. Ultimately, they were just waiting for the slave boy to get punished for uncouth behaviour unsuited for a Qing Jing disciple.
If this happened any sooner, Ao Guangsiew might've taken those little monkeys' words and punished Ao Si for his actions, start doubting the dream he's had that day he held out his hand for the boy to take.
But years ago, Ao Si had come back a month after the disastrous tea serving and took a kneel, expressing his want of another chance to serve Ao Guangsiew tea. The tea this time was far from the best, but it definitely had a better taste, even when Ao Guangsiew can see some undissolved sugar at the bottom. The boy started to spew about his life before entering the sect, how he was grateful to Ao Guangsiew for choosing him, and.. how he pledged loyalty to him for the rest of his life.
(Ao Guangsiew had all but nodded. He did not expect a former slave to trust him so quickly. To be pledged loyalty to.. Ao Guangsiew had this feeling that while this time, it wasn't something bad, but sooner or later, his nonchalance will come and bite him in the ass.)
Ao Guangsiew believed him. Ao Si will not lie, at least not to him.
"Disciple Ao, do tell this master what happened."
One of Wen Guanglei's little monkeys squeaked, but was paid no mind to. Ao Si bowed again, "answering shifu, this disciple was cleaning up the woodshed when he saw these three.. sneaking around. He confronted them and they got aggressive."
"What was their purpose for sneaking around?"
"This disciple does not know, but he has came across more than a dozen of bamboo had been cut down with unsuitable equipment."
Ao Guangsiew could care less about the bamboo - there was more than enough bamboo for the cut down ones to be replaced. But the unsuitable equipment part made him grimace, lucky these monkeys, the ones they cut down did not try to maim them. Qing Jing's bamboo has been around for so long that some even harbour spiritual energy, and if they feel that they've been disrespected in any way, they can easily retaliate and even kill.
(That's why Qing Jing peak had something called "bamboo harvesting" in their manuals. Cutting down spiritual bamboo should only be done with spiritual weapons and good technique.)
Wen Guanglei knew this too. That was why he glared at his disciples when Ao Guangsiew addressed them. They were now looking quite scared in front of the blank faced peak lord. "What were you three doing in my peak."
Su Yang had always been the fastest (and smartest) one. He quickly fell to his knees, "this shizi realized his mistakes. Please punish." Seeing their shixiong kneel, the other two scrambled to mirror his posture.
Ao Guangsiew let out a small "mn", head bobbing up and down a few times. He was impressed that Wen Guanglei's little monkeys had common sense. "I will leave your punishment with Wen shidi."
There shouldn't be anything more. Ao Guangsiew was about to turn to leave but then changed his mind.
"Ao Si."
"Yes, shifu?"
"This master appoints you as head disciple."
Big question marks appear behind the Bai Zhan peak lord and disciples. Even Ao Si looked bewildered. Ao Guangsiew bought a finger to his lips, thinking for a bit more before nodding, "yes. This master is certain in his decision."
"As head disciple, Ao Si is to help this master with errands and lessons. He can also help this master drive away unwanted guests from the peak."
The unwanted guests being his martial siblings that barges into his baMboo house unannounced to draw him on missions these trouble picking brats of Bai Zhan. Wen shidi ought to discipline them.
Ao Si quickly bowed again. "This disciple will do his best to not disappoint shifu!"
(Wen Guanglei slapped himself and shook his head. He drags the three back by their ears, don't ask him how he did that. He sits down in his abode at Bai Zhan, relaxed in his chair before springing up in realization. Where did the fatty meats go?!)
--
Ao Guangsiew expressed his disinterest in ascending. A part of him still mourns for his shifu who never lived to ascend. Other than a nameplate to mark her existence and contribution to the sect, the item on the ascension altar was still of the peak lord before Qiu Chengrui.
She never got to ascend.
Wen Guanglei look horrified by this, moreso than the others. He's been Ao Guangsiew's best friend for a long time, ever since they've met at the head disciple meetings and went on their first mission as head disciples together.
(Bai Zhan head disciple Wen Guanglei puts his chin on top of Ao Guangsiew's head, snickering at his tiny martial brother. He feels Ao Guangsiew tilt his head upwards, then he abruptly raises his hand with two fingers outstretched like he was about to poke Wen Guanglei's eyes out.
Wen Guanglei immediately drew back with wide eyes. They looked at each other, before Ao Guangsiew smiled and laughed at him. He clicked his tongue and pounced onto the tiny boy, throwing an arm around his small shoulders.)
It wasn't brought up again, but it certainly did put a strain in Ao Guangsiew's relationship with the other peak lords.
(Someone in the 4th dimension facepalmed watching this. Aiyah Guangsiew bro, why do you do this to yourself? They had to do something about this.)
Before ascension, each peak lord must accompany their head disciple by meditating together in the place where the ancient spirits of their peak dwelled. Ao Guangsiew carefully climbs down the slippery stairs to the spring depths of Qing Jing, with Ao Si following behind him.
Qing Jing's meditation method was soaking in the springs. The goal was to feel at ease - at home - and become one with Qing Jing.
Ao Guangsiew had only been here twice. How lonely it had been, chest deep into the water, feeling the cold seep into his body. His tears caused ripples in the calm water, although the salt had been purified as soon as it hits the surface.
(He's became peak lord crying and alone, so terribly alone.)
As they settled themselves in the crystal waters, Ao Si, about to be Ao Anru, smiles sadly at his master.
"This disciple does not mean to cross the line, but he's heard about shifu's wishes of not ascending?"
"This master.. is certain that no one is waiting for me up there."
The water still reflected as beautifully as Ao Guangsiew remembered. If he reached out his hands, it would look like the stars were in them. He tilts his head to take a last good look at Ao Si.
He's truly blossomed from a snotty little brat to a handsome man, years of not-so-friendly spars with Bai Zhan monkeys had muscled him up, but not to a point he was bulky. Looks aside, his cultivation has improved vastly over the span of decades, surpassing even Yuxiao and the other hall masters. He truly became someone Ao Guangsiew would look and proudly call him his head disciple.
"Shifu, as a lowly slave before.. A-Si cannot express his gratitude enough for shifu. One does not simply have a chance of freedom, let alone become a peak lord. A-Si does not care if shifu ascends or becomes a rogue cultivator, because shifu will always be A-Si's peak lord of Qing Jing. No matter what happens in the future, A-Si will always be waiting for shifu, and will welcome shifu back with open arms."
Ao Guangsiew smiled at this. "Anru had pledged loyalty to me a month after entering the sect, silly boy. This master will never forget."
The tension on his shoulders that he hasn't noticed before left. They both finally settled calmly, feeling the cold drift into their bodies. Ao Guangsiew looks fondly at his concentrating disciple and goes into a meditative state himself.
It was a familiar setting. He dreams of the spiritual bamboo of Qing Jing, the gentle breeze rustling their leaves.
He walks along the gravel road towards the bamboo house. In front of the house was not Ao Anru as he's expected, but a beautiful man with a high hair crown, hair harshly pulled back into a half done hairstyle. What dawns on him was the piercing phoenix eyes, brilliant green peeking out just above a paper fan painted with soft greens of bamboo.
A man all too familiar. All too alike Qiu Chengrui.
Ao Guangsiew snaps out of his meditative state, the tears already reached his eyes and the water wrinkles terribly, disturbed by his sudden surge of emotions. He spent his last moments as the Qing Jing peak lord weeping as well, but this time, Ao Anru waddles across the springs to comfort him.
--
There was an altar where ascended peak lords left an item most valuable to them. In Qing Jing's place was a jade pin that had been there for two whole generations. Gu Guanghuan mourns the fact that it would be the same jade pin for another generation.
There was still time before they officially give their heirs their courtesy names and await the ascension trial.
Only, Ao Guangsiew strides into the hall and makes his way straight towards the altar without hesitation. Trailing behind him an obviously excited Yuxiao and a smiling head disciple. He wears the vibrant green of Qing Jing that he's never worn before, hair braided simply yet beautifully. In his arms, his guqin polished to the nines.
Gu Guanghuan follows them inside. He sees the flicker of emotion on his shidi's face as he grabs the jade pin and hands it to Yuxiao, before flicking his robes and kneeling.
"Ao shixiong, let this Yuxiao recite the ritual for you."
Gu Guanghuan's chest stutters a shock. What could have possibly.. he cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Ao shidi.. wishes to ascend?"
Ao Guangsiew turns to him. For once, his shidi did not seem to be plagued with the past. His eyes were brighter, lighter, the long lost glow returned at last.
"Guangsiew had a prophecy. He believes that shifu.. and all of Qing Jing, will be alright."
Gu Guanghuan smiles proudly, the warmth swelled in his chest. He stretched out his hand for the jade pin, which Yuxiao happily gives.
"Guanghuan will recite the ritual for Guangsiew."
"Please do, Zhangmen shixiong."
The ritual was not hard to do, Gu Guanghuan talks proudly of his shidi's hard work and achievements, and wishes that his ascension will do good to both heavens and Cang Qiong. Finally, he recited the three bows.
"One bow to the heavens.
Second bow to the ancestors and spirits of Cang Qiong.
Last bow to the life that will be left behind."
Ao Guangsiew slowly lifted himself off the floor. His hands gripped the guqin gingerly, eyes tracing the bottle of ashes hanging from end. "Shifu, please condone this unfilial disciple." Ao Guangsiew puts the instrument onto the altar. If he's lingered a bit before stepping back, no one commented.
Wen Guanglei rushed at his shixiong after knowing that he's ascending along with the others. He holds Ao Guangsiew's hand tight as they gave their disciples their new names and titles, and does not let go even as they ascend to the highest hall, awaiting their ascension trial.
--
"I want to go home."
"Shifu, A-Ning will wait for you. When the time comes, let's go home together."
--