Chapter Text
Of all the people deemed agreeable, Shen Qingqiu was far below that list. Nothing was more of an antithesis to Shen Qingqiu than the label “yes man.” He was unbearable and preferred to slander those to filth rather than hint that he agrees with someone. It never helped that, for the most part, he was right. Even if he was wrong, the Sect Leader by his side would never allow anyone to say such things to Shen Qingqiu’s face. That is if Shen Qingqiu himself doesn’t thwart off those cowards himself.
So then… Why?
“This Shixiong understands his treatment towards you in the past and wishes to make amends with you as martial brothers should. We must not be bitter and not allow our rivalry to harm our relationship. We are from the same sect, are we not, Liu-shidi?”
Why has Shen Qingqiu asked to fix their tainted relationship? Why does it seem as though Shen Qingqiu was apologizing? Why, of all the people he has wronged, does he want to fix the relationship with Liu Qingge?
With such a massive turnaround of the character that is this imposter, there were many reasons. Demon possession was the highest contender. It was almost the only explanation for this behavior, but Liu Qingge knew better. Shen Qingqiu could have been poisoned, harassed, threatened, body swapped, or even replaced by someone else. The only thing that Shen Qingqiu could not do is have a change of heart.
Of that, Liu Qingge is sure.
So, of course, he thrashed away from the man that couldn’t be Shen Qingqiu. He hates the revelation that this imposter had saved him from a qi deviation. What would the imposter have gained to disguise himself to be the most hated Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain? If they could pretend to be anyone, wouldn’t Yue Qingyuan be the perfect candidate?
Shen Qingqiu is not the man before him, not the person faltering from a poison in order to save a disciple he despised. The man in Liu Qingge’s arms is in some form of possession, not in the right mind, or an imposter who never knew the body he pretends he has.
Liu Qingge was going to bring Wei Qingwei while Shen Qingqiu rested, but was blocked by both Mu Qingfang and Yue Qingyuan.
“Liu-shidi, Shen-shixiong also suffered from a qi deviation before his seclusion. Perhaps after such a close chance with death, he truly didn’t want to see his Shidi suffer from a similar fate.”
“Besides, we have already checked for possession. There were no results. Don’t try to dissuade Shen-shidi from being kinder towards others.”
Mu Qingfang and Yue Qingyuan tried to convince Liu Qingge that the person lying from a fatal poison is Shen Qingqiu. The imposter must have fooled them with their conventional tests. Liu Qingge itches to grab at Cheng Luan towards a formidable foe that even fooled their Sect Leader.
Liu Qingge asked to watch over “Shen Qingqiu”, which raised suspicion until he amends he wouldn’t do anything spiteful toward the imposter. For all that has happened, Liu Qingge kept his word. Shen Qingqiu woke not too long after, with Liu Qingge quietly viewing him from his bed.
“Liu-shidi?”
“… Why did you save me and your disciple?”
Liu Qingge never heard “Shen Qingqiu” laugh before today. His suspicion grows rapidly at the person before him.
“Isn’t that what any other good Peak Lord should have done?”
“For any other person it is fine. For you to do so, isn’t.”
“Is it so wrong to have a change of heart, Liu-shidi? This lowly one has realized that he wouldn’t want to pass to only cause grief for others and wanted to be forgotten. It is a shame that only chatting with death has caused me to realize this.”
Liu Qingge prickles at how many tones “Shen Qingqiu” used with him, showing a wider variety than disdain and anger. This imposter knows nothing about the man he fakes to be.
“ You rescued a nameless disciple you loathed and nearly lost your life, got poisoned, and damaged your spiritual levels. You should be furious and angry. Yet, you’re not. You even saved your enemy you wished death upon.”
The imposter sighs, beckoning for his disciple. Liu Qingge narrows his eyes towards the way the head disciple clamors to the imposter’s side and cries into his sheets for his Shizun. He long noticed how the nameless disciple had fidgeted outside of the room, only acknowledged by the head disciple demanding him to leave.
While not left completely alone, Liu Qingge stared at the man before him for an explanation. Instead, he is received by a smug line of the lips that nearly boils Liu Qingge’s blood. So he does know how to act like Shen Qingqiu!
“Are you asking of this one how experiences shall change people? If anything, wouldn’t it be more of a concern to not be affected by a near-death experience? Is Liu-shidi implying this one should be suspicious of my supposed enemy watching over my health?”
“You-!”
Liu Qingge felt as though his words were turned against him, twisted from his original meaning to point a dagger back to him. His actions finally display the hints of the Shen Qingqiu he knew. He was unable to bark or insult the man as another disciple cried onto the imposter. The very same one that the imposter saved.
He would have tried accusing the man outright, had Mu Qingfang and Yue Qingyuan not rushed in and crowded the one sitting on his bed. While they bemoan and place blame on themselves, Liu Qingge states that the imposter’s condition should stay only between the Peak Lords. Regardless of what he thinks of the fake, the others see it at face value and their honor would be tarnished knowing one of their Peak Lords had an incurable disease.
When it was said how much qi needed to be transferred to the poisoned man, Liu Qingge offered himself. While the other men had been uneasy about the idea, the imposter seemingly preferred him over his other option. This made Liu Qingge confused yet again, as it almost aligned with the image of Shen Qingqiu he had previously.
However, the Shen Qingqiu he knows would never accept help from either and would have preferred losing his life over poison.
“Shen Qingqiu” easily welcomed Liu Qingge into his home for the monthly meridians cleansing, which set Liu Qingge on edge. Perhaps truly alone, he will have to deal with his Shixiong trying to strike at his back again. He’s not sure why he felt disappointed to see the disciple known as Luo Binghe serving him tea.
Liu Qingge ignored the tea and stared down at “Shen Qingqiu”. The man before him gave a huff of laughter before taking a long and graceful sip.
“Liu-shidi likes to get straight to the point, doesn’t he?”
An irritating tick forms.
“Hurry up, I want to get this over with already.”
“As Liu-shidi wishes, I’ll be in your care.”
The other man sighs as he places down the tea, turning around to gain full access to his back. Liu Qingge hesitates at the clear blind spot presented to him. The very same way this entire feud started, uncaring or stupid enough to show towards his greatest enemy. However, Liu Qingge was far more of a righteous man than Shen Qingqiu was - he would never strike at someone else’s back with some sort of fickle trust.
“Liu-shidi? Is there something wrong?”
Liu Qingge blinked. Had he just sat here instead of doing what he was supposed to? Of what he intended to do? Who can blame him!? His long-time rival showed him his back, his one blind spot! The man before set to defy everything that was Shen Qingqiu.
Unbeknownst to him, Liu Qingge nearly shoved the imposter in order to place his hands on his back. The imposter gave a confused grunt but said nothing otherwise. The flow of qi allowed Liu Qingge to realize just how terrible the other’s body’s spiritual veins had become.
Had this all been because of the poison? Does Mu Qingfang know the extent of this? Is monthly meridians cleansing enough to clear this blockage? Are there parts that can be recoverable?
Despite the questions that popped up in his head, Liu Qingge then decided now is the perfect time to interrogate the other man. If he had to, he could keep him still with a hand on the imposter’s shoulder to prevent the other from running away.
“Shen Qingqiu.”
“Yes…?”
“How did you manage to fool everyone, even Zhangmen-shixiong?”
“Aiya… How cruel of you to question a sick man receiving treatment. Has no one taught you any manners?”
“You lack any ghost or demonic qi, so it’s not a possession.”
“…At least the others were subtle with their accusations. How shall I take it that you would rather believe that this one is possessed?”
“You have passed all of their tests?”
“Do you believe that if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been thrown under some mountain to be imprisoned forever? Perhaps Liu-shidi does see me in a better light than this one is led to believe.”
A more fierce irritation hits Liu Qingge.
“As if!”
The connection of qi faded out eventually as Liu Qingge deemed was enough today, socially and objectively. He feels as though if he keeps talking to the imposter, he will be talked around the issue of the fact that he is not Shen Qingqiu.
Liu Qingge leaned away when supposed Shen Qingqiu turned around, a coy smile on his face.
“Would Liu-shidi prefer talking about something more enticing like the monsters you have defeated, instead of the state of this feeble old man?”
Liu Qingge barks out a “no” before rushing to leave this suffocating bamboo house.
Liu Qingge believed that, in the end, it was most reasonable to leave before accusing “Shen Qingqiu” of any other ideas. Not only would it ask of him to personally know Shen Qingqiu, but the man shows how easily evasive he is towards certain questions and redirects the words reminiscent of how much it infuriated him from the Shen Qingqiu he knew.
However, with the meridians cleansing, a new piece of information was found. Shen Qingqiu never let anyone know the state of his spiritual veins, only known to Mu Qingfang. He wasn’t able to get the full picture, but it explains his hesitance on letting anyone else do the meridian's cleansing for the imposter. To think that Zhangmen-shixiong might know nothing of Shen Qingqiu’s spiritual veins…
Liu Qingge didn’t think too much of it at first, assuming that he never knew Shen Qingqiu’s qi well because he was his enemy. However, the fact that Mu Qingfang kept much of Shen Qingqiu’s information tighter than towards the other Peak Lords, felt off. When he tried to remember the Shen Qingqiu he loathed— as productive as it is destructive to his psyche — he came to the conclusion that Shen Qingqiu was never close to anyone.
Shen Qingqiu barely met Mu Qingfang, so Liu Qingge felt it was logical to assume he wouldn’t go to any other Peak Lord about his problem. The only thing that Mu Qingfang assured Liu Qingge was the importance of him keeping track of his monthly visits and that not everything could be repaired.
Liu Qingge didn’t know how to feel about that. Shen Qingqiu felt as though he would simply live on out of spite instead of anything. Liu Qingge wanted to tell Mu Qingfang no and fly over to the imposter to push him to his limits to recover.
…That’s counter-productive.
He wants to find out any reason for why there’s a fake instead of the cruel and sinister Shen Qingqiu. He should care less about the imposter, about Shen Qingqiu. Why does it seem as though he’s the only one who cares if someone is pretending to be the second-in-command Peak Lord?!
Maybe it was all an elaborate play. The imposter knew the situation well and that little to no one would deter him away if he passed a few tests. Perhaps this was Shen Qingqiu’s plan to drive Liu Qingge into madness and die knowing his last thought was about him, and how he desperately wished he knew why he wanted to know the fake for who he was.
…This is all too complicated for himself alone!
Despite his struggle, Liu Qingge searched for other possibilities. The idea of body-swapping could have been easily solved had Liu Qingge known Shen Qingqiu’s qi before the meridians cleansing to notice any changes. However, if Mu Qingfang never brought it up, that possibility could be dismissed.
Not only that, but the only poison present was that of No Cure. Another possibility dismissed. Were the only other logical conclusions harassment, threats, or replacement? Who would dare harass Shen Qingqiu, the cruelest man of the Peak Lords? Is there even someone who could intimidate him?
…Perhaps he should also cross those possibilities out…
But Liu Qingge is stuck on the idea of a replacement! How could he prove such a thing if the imposter still has that excuse that the qi deviation caused him to change greatly!? Is it possible to use how little he changed himself as an argument? It is a possibility.
However, being a replacement must mean that the imposter has an objective to complete. Is it the downfall of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect? Are there people he’s talking to outside and has to communicate with? Would there be evidence for that? Liu Qingge believes he would have to listen to the man when he believes he is alone to catch him… How else would others believe him?!
Liu Qingge doesn’t want to think that he’d have to get to know the imposter pretending to be Shen Qingqiu… But this is his duty, to protect the Sect.
Liu Qingge tailed Shen Qingqiu from a distance, where he was walking over towards the rainbow bridge after one of the Peak Lord meetings that ended up uneventful. Shang Qinghua ran after “Shen Qingqiu”, already shaking before the other noticed him.
“S-Shen-shixiong!! How a-are you today?”
“Hmm, fine.”
“Fine is great, fine is wonderful! Now, erm, can this humble one ask just one q-question?”
“Is this how a Peak Lord talks with another? Do you have no honor in your position? You’ve already asked a question.”
Liu Qingge stared at the situation with wide eyes at the interaction between Shen Qingqiu and Shang Qinghua. Has Shen Qingqiu finally returned? He probably killed and disposed of the body of the imposter himself, knowing the man.
“S-sorry! Begging for this one’s forgiveness! Erm, can I ask the question though?”
A swipe of the hand was all the warning that Shen Qingqiu gave before he smacked Shang Qinghua openly with the fan.
“Ack-! S-Shen-shixiong!! Would you like to settle the balance for your peak? B-because if not- I definitely can-!”
“Fine. I will do them myself.”
“…You… You will?”
A glare made Shang Qinghua bob his head before fleeing away from the scene with the little dignity left. “Shen Qingqiu” sighed to himself, muttering to himself about something about “OOC” and being unlike a story plotline.
…Did the imposter see all sorts of books he can read? What could he mean about a plotline after their discussion about the financial balance he usually left for Shang Qinghua? Not only that but was OOC code for something that Liu Qingge was completely unaware of? He knew a couple of codewords used in order to not bring too much attention, but isn’t something like that a little too obviously a code?
The imposter was still in fact, not Shen Qingqiu, for when he turned, his lips turned upward seeing Liu Qingge. An unsettling chill ran down Liu Qingge’s spine. He doesn’t like how this imposter looks at him.
“Ah, if it isn’t Liu-shidi! Greetings, greetings! Does Liu-shidi have some time to spare-”
“No!”
And once again, Liu Qingge flew away back to his peak with the unfortunate realization that the imposter is capable of acting as Shen Qingqiu, most likely how he’s able to fool everyone.
He took notes of his findings, including the words “O.O.C” and story plotlines. Maybe he should go ask his sister about certain plotlines, referencing a specific story that he’s clearly unaware of. Perhaps something both the imposter and Shen Qingqiu have in common is their interest in reading multiple books with multiple meanings.
Liu Qingge hid his presence as he walked up close to the bamboo house, hoping to catch the imposter off guard and find out about his motivations and accomplices. He hears the imposter talking to himself, surprised that he voices out his thoughts without a filter.
“Damn it all! They never talked about all the papers I had to grade! How the hell am I supposed to know what shit the peak is spending?? Is it technically scamming if I also put things I personally bought? No, no, fuck them, I am rewriting all their endings! I deserve it!”
Liu Qingge… had a lot of questions about what the imposter meant. Regardless, this is evidence! Of all Peak Lords, Shen Qingqiu would have a better track of the spending and wouldn’t complain, in theory, about the paperwork he enforces on his students.
However, something interesting was “rewriting all their endings”, for that could mean a multitude of things. This implies that the imposter either knows what will happen, or that he can tell the future. Liu Qingge doesn’t know which one is worse, even without the implication that it is within the imposter’s hand. He almost missed the next words.
“And what kind of traitor would make themselves so obvious, really?! Wasn’t Shang Qinghua less obvious than this?? Why can he be O.O.C but I couldn’t?! I should squash that spy before he can summon those demons.”
Liu Qingge raised his eyebrows high at the accusation. Shang Qinghua seemed far too incompetent for anyone to consider a spy… And if he was, shouldn’t he be on the same side as this imposter? Why would the imposter be so willing to aid in Cang Qiong removing a traitor instead of aiding said traitor? Were they from opposing factions? But that would be stupid too, who would go against each other when Cang Qiong is greater than the both of them?
Maybe O.O.C was a term for traitor… It seems likely since he only heard that phrase when the imposter talked about Shang Qinghua, who he wholeheartedly believed to be a danger to the Sect. If the imposter is right and wants to get rid of him, then wouldn’t that be the best situation?
But none of this discloses the imposter’s motivation!! Why would an imposter care for the well-being of the Sect he infiltrated in?! None of this makes any sense!!
“What?! Why did the penalty increase?! Wasn’t it only 500 points before? When did it double?! You hack of a System, wanting me to fail and earn the protagonist’s ire!!”
Liu Qingge shook his head and caught the argument the imposter started having with the air. He does have accomplices! Are they telepathic or using a special technique? It would be hard to trace those working with the imposter, but Liu Qingge is sure he can find them.
However, the imposter talked about points and penalties. Was the imposter actually the one being threatened to act as Shen Qingqiu instead of Shen Qingqiu being harassed by the outside? Why did these points matter so much to him anyway?
Not only that, but he mentioned the protagonist as though he’s talking about a story again… Do his accomplices believe that his mission is as simple as a story written on pages? Is one of their code names or titles called System?
Liu Qingge frowned. He was never made to consider so many factors in this deeply threaded mission, it was originally reserved for Shen Qingqiu. Perhaps such is why the second in command has been replaced.
Seeing that the imposter only grumbled to himself afterward, Liu Qingge stalled before knocking down the door to the bamboo house to clear the imposter’s meridians and leaving after quickly refusing to talk with the imposter.
The man that greeted the disciples with a smile was not Shen Qingqiu. Liu Qingge never realized that such behavior was so stark compared to the real Shen Qingqiu. Naturally, he would have dismissed the lack of attention and harsh discipline the other had towards his disciples, for Liu Qingge was no better than his own. However, the imposter gave them smiles and encouraged them to discuss and think about convoluted answers instead of one definitive answer.
The man before the enchanted disciples crinkled his eyes - a smile appears behind a well-placed fan as the disciples think critically and become more creative with their words, their problem solving with the seemingly simple question.
“How does one escape a fire?”
The disciples do not answer immediately, instead, they ask questions about the situation instead. The imposter nods encouragingly as more questions flew his way. The situation finally seeped out of their false master, and that’s when they finally came up with answers to the question.
Some disciples needed guidance for brash or harmful answers, which the imposter readily gave. Each answer becomes more and more creative, the silence of the teacher as he thinks through processes he himself hasn’t thought of, before readily nodding and affirming their answers.
Liu Qingge has never seen Shen Qingqiu’s face so serene and proud aimed at someone other than himself. He grits his teeth as his chest aches from an old wound that the real Shen Qingqiu aimed for. A fire nearly forms as he is ready to fight the imposter, only simmering down with the excitement of the disciples.
Liu Qingge felt defeated.
If he were to find evidence to everyone that the Shen Qingqiu before them is false, would they even listen? Who would even want the real Shen Qingqiu back? Liu Qingge didn’t, but Liu Qingge doesn’t want an imposter amongst them. Would the entirety of their Sect simply accept a false Peak Lord because he is kinder and seemingly wants to help their Sect?
If Liu Qingge was replaced with an imposter kinder and stronger than him, would they too not look or accept the evidence for him?
…
Somewhere along the way, Liu Qingge has decided to find the truth no matter what, for the sake of justice if not anything else.
“Liu-shidi? Have you been waiting long?”
Liu Qingge blinked and realized that the imposter leaned in Liu Qingge’s space, tilting his head as his fan rested on his chin. He backs away quickly and the old wound aches again.
“Indecent!”
“Ehh… Liu-shidi cannot possibly be that much of a prude.”
Shen Qingqiu straightened himself, opening his fan with a flick of the wrist.
“Pardon for this one taking Liu-shidi’s time. Is it for the meridians cleansing?”
“What else would I come here for!”
“Hmm… To perhaps accompany this lonely Shixiong?”
A smile crept its way to the imposter's face, peeking out from the fan covering his lower face.
“As if, hurry up.”
Liu Qingge turns around and starts walking towards the bamboo house. The imposter follows him from behind, with Liu Qingge’s senses heightened in case he decides to attack.
But he never does, instead, he idly talks to Liu Qingge. As though they’re not rivals, as though Liu Qingge hasn’t interrogated him the first time.
“To think that my Shidi would have the gall to tell this Shixiong to hurry along his own peak! You really should visit one of my classes for that manner of yours.”
Liu Qingge paused a step, then started to walk even faster.
“H-hey! Don’t suddenly speed up! It’s not my fault you came here early. What’s with that anyway?”
“I came back from a mission.”
“…Certainly Liu-shidi knows what rest is, right?”
“I’m going off to another, now is the time for your meridians cleansing.”
The imposter sighs to himself, muttering about the lack of existing breaks for the gifted. Liu Qingge clicks his tongue. Of all people, Shen Qingqiu would know how hard he works for his position, even if he diminishes it often. At least he had the decency to use that trait of Liu Qingge to insult him.
“Well, this one is grateful for not being ignored. Thank you.”
Liu Qingge swears that stick or rock or whatever it was, popped out of nowhere to spite him, to make sure he makes a fool of the imposter and underestimates him. He trips over the cursed object, only fumbling slightly with imbalance before keeping his stride.
The imposter laughed at him. Liu Qingge would have used that as an excuse to fight the other normally, but the laugh was not rude. But Liu Qingge wished it was because he doesn’t understand why the old wound hurts so much or why the sun aims directly at his face and ruins the composure he normally has against his scars and the weather.
He doesn’t understand why the face the imposter looks at the disciples comes to him. Liu Qingge breaks down the door immediately, not caring for the chiding from the other and the soft glare for the destruction before their meridians cleansing.
For once, Liu Qingge is conflicted about interrogating him this time. Not only was there a huge possibility that it would all be worthless, but the imposter never gave Liu Qingge these old wounds. Not yet, at least.
Instead, they sat in silence for the entire time until Liu Qingge finished.
“Would Liu-shidi like to stay for tea and possibly fix the door he rudely broke down?”
Liu Qingge stares at the vacant door frame.
“Charge the expenses to Bai Zhan. Goodbye.”
Liu Qingge doesn’t understand the unsteady pleased feeling forming in his chest as he notices the visibly raised eyebrows of the imposter. The fan hides everything as the imposter bids him farewell. He curses himself for not asking a single question. How fickle can his justice be?
Shen Qingqiu never said yes to Yue Qingyuan. No to his gifts, no to his visits, no towards his words, and no to his company. And yet, the imposter finally says yes to Yue Qingyuan. Liu Qingge hates that he even witnessed it, but was happy for their Sect Leader - he seemed more radiant than usual.
He never knew what they ended up talking about, for he was not invited. Liu Qingge also finds it invasive to ask about it towards his Sect Leader, for he wouldn’t want someone asking, even if he ended up answering if it was information he could give away. He also believes that there wouldn’t be much to talk about with the Sect Leader, for they mostly talk about work and the idea of bonding that always ended in poor execution.
During another meridian cleansing, where he can easily trap the imposter to answer his questions, he asks.
“What do you and Zhangmen-shixiong talk about?”
“Aiya… Is Liu-shidi finally curious about this Shixiong’s life? And what’s with calling him your Shixiong but not this one?”
“Fine, don’t tell me.”
“Who am I to dissuade you to ask about me? Hmm… I believe we mostly talk about the wellness of the Sect, my Peak, the disciples, and my recovery. Very much of small talk and little of anything else.”
Liu Qingge expected that but was disappointed. The imposter could easily not give the full truth, but he cannot extract it unless through brute force. Wouldn’t Yue Qingyuan want to talk about anything else besides business towards Shen Qingqiu??
“That’s it?”
“Hmm, just about. Do you talk with Zhangmen-shixiong?”
“For missions and reports.”
“I figured just as much. Well, at least that isn’t stressful.”
Liu Qingge frowned; it very much was for him.
“Not everyone likes writing reports.”
The imposter laughs.
“I doubt there’s a Peak Lord who looks forward to it.”
Liu Qingge missed it the first time, but now the imposter started talking to him informally. The lack of response at the realization must have made the imposter nervous, for he gave a shaky laugh.
“Ahaha… I may be the Peak Lord of Fine Arts, but that doesn’t mean I should like everything that comes with the job. Surely Liu-shidi understands?”
Liu Qingge gives a thoughtful hum. Is this a route he can take, simply allowing for the other to lower his guard and spill his secrets to him? To finally know that Shen Qingqiu’s replacement is in fact, false? Perhaps Liu Qingge can find out what happened to the real Shen Qingqiu and give proper justice.
It sickens his stomach, but he bites down the taste of metal. This might be his only chance to understand what the hell the imposter is trying to achieve.
Liu Qingge seemed to have walked past the tight walls the imposter created with the persona of Shen Qingqiu, as he readily smiles at him in greeting and offers tea lightly, no matter how many times Liu Qingge says no. However, with his piss poor investigation and progress recently, he felt more frustrated that he still hasn’t gained justice yet.
Today is the day that Liu Qingge asks and hopes that the imposter doesn’t lie or talk around the issue before he pushes Liu Qingge out of his comfort zone. He has to do this, for justice and peace.
“What is your motivation?”
“Hm? What for?”
“All of this, I know you’re not Shen Qingqiu. You’ve either fooled everyone or charmed them to not care about the results. But you haven’t fooled me.”
“Such bold accusations… Has this Shixiong not already cleared his name?”
Liu Qingge felt his muscles tense, he was already being pushed away and his question was evaded.
“Why?”
The silence is deafening. The imposter is out of Liu Qingge’s reach. He doesn’t even turn to talk to him.
“Why what? Why should a Peak Lord care for his Sect, his disciples, his Shidi? Am I never allowed to change for the better?”
The imposter sounded hurt, as though the last question was his only tether to this reality. Liu Qingge notices the tremble at the other’s shoulder. trying to hide but cannot fully from the emotion or frustration alone.
“Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t want to change for the better.”
“Says who, you?”
The imposter talked coldly, reminiscent of the old Shen Qingqiu. In the same tone that would have boiled and steamed his anger to an all high, but at that moment, Liu Qingge felt a cold chill down his spine. He knows he’s pushing the man who only showed him kindness - but he’s an imposter. He cannot be Shen Qingqiu.
“You don’t know anything, Liu-shidi. Why should I expect that you would even know how I feel when you believed that I would have wanted to kill you instead?”
Liu Qingge has to push on, or else he has achieved nothing. He holds onto a string of his own reasoning as he takes a step forward.
“You said O.O.C., is that code for something? That Shang Qinghua is a traitor?”
The imposter turned around with wide eyes, undeniably surprised to hear the words come out of Liu Qingge’s mouth, as he wrongly believed he didn’t know.
“…What did you say…?”
“You know what they mean. Tell me. Tell me the ‘system’ that you work for.”
The imposter trembles, no, tremors over towards Liu Qingge. Shaky hands rest on Liu Qingge’s shoulder, he’s gasping as though he’s losing air. The hands were wet with sweat as they pressed against Liu Qingge’s mouth and pushed against him.
“Shut up, shut up!”
His voice shakes too as though he’s in pain. Liu Qingge isn’t sure if this is a play, but before he could decide, a cough and thump of something hit the ground.
“Shut up. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
The imposter moves his hands to grab at Liu Qingge’s arm when he finally sees the splatter of blood staining the wooden floor and their shoes. The speckles of it were ruining the ends of their robes.
“My motivation, you said? I want to change my destiny, to protect this Sect from a terrible fate! Saving you from a qi deviation is included, no matter how we felt about each other.”
Liu Qingge didn’t push the imposter away, but he didn’t aid in his trembling state either. He was unsure of how to feel about any of this, losing grasp of the only thread he had to continue and reason all of this. He is not capable of something like this! But…but….
“How am I supposed to believe the words that you say?”
“If you’re worried about me lying, the rest of the Peak Lords have already tested me with a truth serum.”
No one told Liu Qingge this. Finally holding onto a thread, he grabs at the imposter’s arms instead, steadying him and gripping for the answer he finally wanted.
“What did they ask?”
“If I’m the real Shen Qingqiu.”
Liu Qingge blinked slowly as the answer absorbed through his mind. He knows the answer, the imposter wouldn’t be standing here before him otherwise, but he still asks anyway.
“And?”
“I am.”
This wasn’t the answer that he wanted. This answer explains nothing, shows nothing, influences nothing. Why? Why is this the answer? He can’t reason that Shen Qingqiu hasn’t been in the right mind, it has been months since the qi deviation. All his other reasonings were easily thrown away and it’s obvious now that Shen Qingqiu is weak, he is warm, he is soft, and he is fragile .
The qi deviation really did change him this much? Was it far worse than what Liu Qingge experienced back in the spiritual caves? The others are smarter than him, they would have asked far more questions and come to the same conclusion that took him months.
The man before him really is Shen Qingqiu, and he really did change for the better because of a life-altering event where he was alone. Liu Qingge hated that he didn't listen, that he didn’t give Shen Qingqiu the chance he deserves, and that all the facts shown to him were believed to be false.
Liu Qingge let go of Shen Qingqiu.
“Ask Zhangmen-shixiong for this month’s meridians cleansing instead. Right now, go to bed… Sorry.”
Liu Qingge couldn’t face the disservice or fathom the expression the other made towards him as he left wordlessly from the bamboo house. He has caused a great injustice toward Shen Qingqiu because of his biased beliefs. He wouldn’t be surprised if the other would never want to see him again.
“ Shit! ”
Shang Qinghua lowered and picked up the overflowing amount of scrolls he was holding. Liu Qingge only briefly glanced at the appearance of Shang Qinghua and his foreign language. However, he notices from the corner of his eye that Shen Qingqiu looked as though he was struck by lightning.
The quick steps of the supposed aloof Peak Lord rushed to Shang Qinghua’s form over the ground and wordlessly dragged him away from the scene, the scrolls sprawled on the floor completely neglected.
That was far too suspicious for it to not mean anything. The interaction suddenly made Liu Qingge remember that some of his questions were never answered and that they didn’t make sense with Shen Qingqiu’s narrative. Guilt and the old wound twisted painfully at not trusting Shen Qingqiu yet again, but this time he’ll take the chance to try and understand instead. There’s a reason and now he’s not ignorant because of old bias.
After he picked up the scrolls and placed them on the table, he followed after the strange two Peak Lords. Liu Qingge didn’t think that Shen Qingqiu would have taken him to the bamboo house, yet his presence was very much noticeable along with Shang Qinghua’s. Shang Qinghua was too scared to give out any proper information when Liu Qingge previously interrogated him about anything, seemingly just scared that Liu Qingge was within his vicinity. What could Shen Qingqiu possibly do that would be more effective?
“You know, change the plot so everyone around us doesn’t die just because of one demon as predicted! Everyone seems so nice and I’d like to be able to live peacefully, you know!”
Liu Qingge missed part of the conversation, for it seemed to be in the middle of an argument, or an explanation? A demon causing everyone in the Sect to die, even their all-powerful Sect Leader? Was it someone more powerful than Tianlang-jun?
Not only that but “as predicted”? Do both Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu know about this prediction and are trying to prevent it? Was the System a fortune-teller all along? But that doesn’t explain why Shen Qingqiu was a traitor, unless for not sharing that he also knew?
Ugh, this really is a lot of issues that aren’t direct to the point.
“Dude, you’re the scum villain. Don’t you think that’s a little hard to achieve when everyone hates you or is suspicious of you?”
“You don’t think I don’t know that!?”
“Sorry, sorry! But I mean, be a little more realistic?”
“What the fuck, aren’t you going to help? Unless you want to die like in your shitty book.”
“Of course not Bro! But, like, YOU are the most hated, shouldn’t you take your time to like, I don’t know, accept the fact you’ll die a painful death?”
Liu Qingge became still. How was anyone going to deal with or accept the fact they’ll not only die but painfully at that? Had Liu Qingge been asked that question, he would have shouted no and pummeled whoever would imply that he would take such a fate lying down. He nearly marched over to smack Shang Qinghua on the head before he stopped himself after hearing the gentle voice of Shen Qingqiu.
“…Is it wrong to want to live a little longer?”
Liu Qingge still believed no. The pain in his palm made him realize how tightly he clenched his fists.
Shang Qinghua laughed nervously.
“If you can change everything for the better… but it seems as though you’re more interested in Liu Qingge. Do you like him or something?”
Liu Qingge knew the answer, for who can like someone like Liu Qingge with what he pulled when he last talked to Shen Qingqiu?
“…Yes, and if I do?”
Liu Qingge’s mind blanked. Why did Shen Qingqiu say yes? He should have said no.
Maybe Liu Qingge should learn from Shen Qingqiu and be more agreeable.
The next day, Liu Qingge comes over to cleanse Shen Qingqiu’s meridians. Despite the other’s surprise, Shen Qingqiu allowed him into the bamboo house. As they had long repeated, they sat in silence the entire time Liu Qingge passed his qi. Surprisingly and unconsciously hoping so, Shen Qingqiu turned towards Liu Qingge when he finished and gave him a small smile, and repeated the same words.
“Would Liu-shidi like to stay for tea?”
Liu Qingge takes some time to respond, wondering about Shen Qingqiu’s next reaction.
“Mn.”
Shen Qingqiu dropped the fan in his hand completely as his mouth hung wide open. He coughs vigorously before ushering Liu Qingge to settle down as he brews the tea, readily asking and talking about the hunts Liu Qingge has been on.
Liu Qingge tried his best to describe his most recent mission.