Chapter Text
"Well I won't put it past myself to classify a man who sold out his husband as dog piss—maybe lower if you bargain."
"Like you don't-"
He doesn't. Wen Kexing, even before he had devoted his whole being to Zhou Zishu, had placed him on a pedestal above gods in heaven.
Yan Wushi shut his lips.
Wen Kexing's triumphant smile faded before it changed back to disgust over the man in purple.
Zhou Zishu focused as he checked Shen Qiao's condition, indeed the poison had left his body and the surge of Zhuyang Ce Qi was overwhelming, but nothing Chengling couldn't handle. Though considering Shen Qiao's fighting style, artistic but lethal, he would rather pit the other against Cao Weining. Maybe they’d learn something valuable from each other.
He purposely blocked the conversation happening at the other table, should his annoyance towards Yan Wushi reach its peak and he challenges the man to a duel. Zhou Zishu would prefer to not make someone a widow under his roof.
Wen Kexing had gotten the ability to read someone's past due to that weird book Chengling found during one of his trips with A-Xiang. The two decided that it would be best to keep it in the armory.
The armory was vast, shelves carved on its endless corridors, walls littered with wooden—and more recently—paper books. Some silk strands with painted or sewn inscription were relocated to a more stable part to maintain their readability. Relocation events like this were never scarce as members of the four seasons manor would travel and come back with copies of books, scrolls, fabrics, and many kinds of literature they obtained. They almost built a small repository outside until Ye Baiyi uncovered an empty small cave inside the armory, again, and Beiyuan reluctantly offered his help to carve shelves and some more space if possible. Yet Wen Kexing determined that the walls aren't sturdy enough to go further and could cause a collapse so they would have to make do for now. They are still considering if carving upwards would be ideal however.
Across their collections are also things their disciples have written, kept in an adjacent part of the armory. Those are studies, biographies, life records, techniques, and some notes. One of them is the Zhuyang Ce. Chengling remembered Tao Hongjing as one of his disciples from not so long ago though hearing about his death wasn't so shocking considering how long it had been. Qi Fengge's death was the one that took A-Xiang aback since she believed the man would at least live past one hundred but that seems to not be the case.
There is where Shen Qiao learned about his master's time in the Four Seasons manor. Qi Fengge had been accepted under A-Xiang's tutelage with Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing overseeing the decision and later training Qi Fengge as well. Qi Fengge was a disciple under the Four Seasons manor for a short three years before expressing his will to return to the central plains. A-Xiang could only throw her signature snarky remarks, saying how she wouldn't care even if Qi Fengge left without a word the next day.
Zhou Zishu however remembered vividly about how his little girl had cried on his shoulders as she ranted about how she'll miss the young man's presence as her disciple.
The week Qi Fengge left, A-Xiang went silent. Weining got worried regarding his wife and took the liberty to make her tapioca congee until A-Xiang would open up. When she does, she cried again and Weining had no qualms about giving his shoulder for his beloved to cry on.
A few decades later Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing visited Xuandu mountain during winter, they offered A-Xiang to come along but she knew the moment she saw that disciple of hers she would cry again and the former too. Thus, she left her parents with a letter, they didn't read it and only smiled as Qi Fengge's tear tracks formed. Wen Kexing provided his embrace as a way to calm the now old man.
That was how Shen Qiao remembered Wen kexing and Zhou Zishu. Though he didn't know their names at the time.
The memory hit him on one relaxing tea break. Yan Wushi was away in the palace fulfilling Puliuru Jian's summon, he should be back before the day ends (Shen Qiao knew his husband will return before dinner because the latter had promised him dinner yesterday. Though he'll never show his excitement for it, Yan Wushi knows anyway). On his second cup of tea, Shen Qiao felt how familiar the taste was. It felt like a cry, like a wail on a winter night. Then he tried to remember if Qi Fengge ever cried, when had his master cried?
He was ten at the time. Qi Fengge had returned from welcoming the guests Shen Qiao had served tea earlier. They were an odd pair, one wore a blue robe with white inner robes, while the other wore a full white ensemble, yet he couldn't help but remark on how otherworldly the two look like. One was a man with a head full of long white hair, his smile sharp, yet tender in a way that made little Qiao shiver. The other one however was warmth in its personified glory, the man was undeniably beautiful with a smile that seems to emulate spring.
Little Qiao was entranced for a minute. He hadn't heard the two's names, but a sense of adoration bloomed in his chest. Later that night when Qi Fengge was checking on each of his disciples, Shen Qiao had noticed the faint tear tracks. Remembering it now traced his memory back to the two guests.
"Old acquaintances A-Qiao, they were old masters, they were kind enough to give this old man a sliver of their knowledge."
"Are they master's master?"
"Not quite, but it wouldn't be beyond it to call them so."
Qi Fengge's eyes crinkled as he smiled. There was a reminiscent of happiness present on his master's face, at the same time a bit of sadness. Was this memory a sad memory or happy one? He’d wondered.
"Kun is a faraway land and they've taken their time to come here," Qi Fengge turned to him. "I've promised them that I would pay a visit, when the time comes, you would need to take care of your shidi. I trust you can take care of that task, right?"
A-Qiao nodded, Qi Fengge smiled and patted his head before leaving the room and let the child succumb to slumber.
That was all Shen Qiao remembered about the night. The first—and last—time he'd seen Qi
Fengge cry. Just as quickly his mind went to the promise his master had made, yet for all his life he's never heard of Kun.
Yu Shengyan was practicing his sword art when Shen Qiao reluctantly called on him. Yu Shengyan traveled more than him so he might know where this Kun is.
"Yu Shengyan."
"Oh? Yes master Shen?"
"Do you perhaps know a place called Kun?"
"Huh? Uhh..." Yu Shengyan gingerly scratched the back of his head. He'd been to many
places over the years, the smallest of towns, the most remote of villages, but when Shen Qiao mentioned Kun there was nothing in his head.
"Umm... pardon me master Shen but, I don't think I've ever heard of such a place." Yu Shengyan nervously giggled. "But- but, I can look for some information if you want to know! I'll get to it right away!"
"Ah! There's no need, thank you for your answer."
Shen Qiao felt bad for interrupting Shengyan's training but at least he got a little bit of clue now. If Yu Shengyan had never been to Kun, then there's a large chance Yan Wushi doesn't know the place either, or if he did, he simply avoided it. Which raises more questions than it answers.
That night Yan Wushi did return before dinner and plopped his much larger frame to Shen Qiao's embrace, mumbling about how tiring and boring the palace is without his A-Qiao beside him.
"Everyone pisses me off."
Shen Qiao knows that's not true. It's just his husband being clingy, exaggerating his tiredness (Though later Yan Wushi would counter his own statement as they lay in bed).
The dinner starts normal, though the thought occupies Shen Qiao's mind he supposes he can discuss it with Yan Wushi later. But of course, Yan Wushi had gotten extremely good at reading him so he asked first.
"I remembered something this afternoon, something about the past." "Oh?"
"Qi Fengge had a couple of acquaintances, he said they were his master's but not quite,"
Another detail struck Shen Qiao. "They were really young however," He realizes, maybe not even past their thirties.
"Master said they came from Kun. I asked Yu Shengyan earlier if he knew where that place could be but he said he didn't know. I figured that maybe asking you would help but If Yu Shengyan has never heard of the place… then there's a chance you wouldn't too, and if you did you simply never mention it for whatever reasons."
Yan Wushi knew the implications behind those words. Yet he couldn't hide his frown because Kun?
Shen Qiao watches his husband's riddled expression, as expected it was the former. "You've never heard of Kun before?"
Yan Wushi shook his head. "If a place like Kun exists then I would at least have sent Yu Shengyan or Bian Yanmei to check. But I'm afraid this venerable husband of yours has reached a dead end."
The Daoist sighed.
"Why didn't you ask my disciple to look for it then?"
"Yu Shengyan was in the middle of training, moreover you gave him a goal and a bottleneck deadline. I can't just push him to a bidding of my own."
"My A-Qiao is so considerate, would be better if he thought the same about this venerable husband of his." Yan Wushi giggled. Seeing the Daoist's face contort to one of embarrassment, how the soft pink blush spread around his face made him smile. His husband was adorable indeed.
The next day he relieved some of his resources to find out information regarding Kun. If he's never heard of such a place then it won't be impossible for there to not be any or even only scarce information about the place's whereabouts.
True to his prediction, the earliest information they could get was a month later in the form of an old, faded map. Even for him this was a little peculiar.
"Forgive me master, I was only able to obtain this now. The palace scholars directed me to the old library and the search was quite difficult."
Meaning Bian Yanmei had to resort to manual sorting. The old library was for old records, some of which had old letters dating back to the first dynasties. Not many cared for it either, so a complete record would be difficult to find there. Maybe even this fragile sheet of paper that Bian Yanmei has to hand in a wooden box and wrapped in silk was already a fortune.
Yan Wushi handled the map with care. There are still distinct indications of a mountain range and roads. Some of the town names were obscured by time and only a few he could read clearly. Yan Wushi carefully copied the map to a different, fresher sheet of paper. He may need to have this transferred to a bamboo scroll if Shen Qiao wanted to visit there often in case he got infatuated with the place.
Soon he figured out that Kun shared a road with Yue. A small town largely neglected by the emperors. Yue, from what little he'd known, was mostly stable. The officials were committed to their duties so it made sense why emperors would turn a blind eye to it. Still, an unchecked influence could cause a rebellion, but Yue persisted to be loyal.
The circumstances made him frown. The map, as he copied it, revealed a few old places, some of them were only recorded by tales he'd heard the children of the city told. Changming mountain, Qinya valley, the last one struck him as there was a tale about how the ruler of
Qingya was a demon, defeated after falling down a cliff and his lover followed suit. The two died in each other’s arms falling down a cliff.
Something told him that these two and the place he was aiming for had a connection. Yan Wushi scratched his chin. A sparrow flew outside his room and broke his trance.
Putting the matter aside, he finished copying the map and headed to Xuandu mountain. When Shen Qiao saw what Yan Wushi gave him he was grateful, placed a kiss on the older's cheek and muttered a "thank you" in a tone so sweet Yan Wushi felt as if his heart would burst.
They set off a week later.
A sparrow flew overhead.