Chapter Text
A clear golden sun shone over the mountains when Junshang lead the Demon Realm’s final attack. By the next sunrise the war would be over; either the human realm would fall, or all of demonkind would be cast away forever. Red eyes gazed up at a home that never was as for the briefest of moments noise and time were forgotten-
The sky was smokey red, shouts and clashing swords ringing across the mountainside. It was an unchoreographed dance, endless waves of demons rushing against the solid wall of cultivators until it started to fracture, Immortal Masters breaking into clusters in a rush of bloodied blades. In the center of it all stood Junshang, untouched by the surrounding violence and clouded gaze tilted towards the peak lords hovering above the battle.
“This is the end, Shizun.”
The field remained muted, the cultivators above silent as they glared down; smoke and mist swirled between them as rays shone through the craigs above to halo the shadowed figure speaking.
Talons gripped the legendary Xin Mo, rushing in a blur of red as the demon lord launched upon the peak lords flying above. The fighting was mercilessly brief, Junshang emerging from the red mists before each cultivator as they fell, blood spilling from bodies that never had the chance to escape or fight back. Soon the last master stood alone across the battlefield, pale and grinning with bloodied teeth. Xiu Ya pointed, drawn, into a labored breast.
“You never were more than a beast.”
Red stained white silk as the spiritual sword disappeared into her chest.
Inhuman keening rang out, making way for a feral laugh as the only prey worth hunting started to fall. Junshang rushed to catch the human and prolong her suffering. Words rang out, as unintelligible as they were concise, the smokey shadows surrounding them growing stronger until everything but the enraged demon lord and her fallen prey faded from awareness. When Lady Qing Jing fell into bloodied arms, the pressure snapped and the surrounding battle fell into sharp focus.
“You’re not allowed to die until this lord lets you, Shizun.” Their voice was gentle, the unhidden hatred shining through a match to the twist in the cultivator’s weak smile. As the light started to fade from Lady Qing Jing’s eyes, the madness shining through Junshang’s shone brighter. Teeth flashed and soon a bloodied wrist was pressed to the cultivators lips. Junshang braced for a struggle, but the Immoral Master only swallowed with a grin.
“Stupid beast.”
The battlefield glowed a blinding white, the resting spots of the fallen peak lords shooting light through the clearing haze; Junshang gasped as her blood failed, a raspy laugh leaving their shizun’s lips before falling still completely. It was only when her own shizun’s body started to glow that she looked up, noticing the dome of light circling around and pressing closer.
Junshang laughed, knees falling into muddied ground.
The battlefield once again faded, leaving only the beautiful demoness and the mountain digging into Shen Yuan’s back. Across the space, green eyes met red before Junshang gasped and their eyes glazed over completely.
Shen Yuan jolted awake, chilled and disoriented. In the last moments between sleep and wakefulness, before the dream faded from her thoughts, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but ache with the realization that the demon’s eyes looked desperately sad.
Cang Qiong High was a prestigious private school, home to the brightest minds and most distinguished families the mainland had to offer. It could boast not only top-rated faculty, grounds, and provisions, but rich history and connections as well. Shen Yuan, beloved third child of the Shen family, had been guaranteed a spot since conception; this, in Shen Yuan’s humble opinion, only further proved that Luo Binghe was the most precious white lotus to ever live.
Cang Qiong was super exclusive, and yet! Yet! Her Binghe had not only been accepted with full scholarship, but even scored top grades of the whole first-year class! Add on how innocent and helpful she was, super sticky and loyal, and the pure fluffiness of her hair and heart, and Shen Yuan felt nothing but pride in being Binghe’s favourite upperclassman. It was like having a sweet little sheep as a baby sister! Anyone would want to dote on Binghe in her place.
All of this was to say that she had every reason to tenderly kiss Binghe’s forehead good morning while picking her up from school in the family limo. And if how Binghe gave a firm hug and shy nuzzle was any indication, Binghe really needed a reliable big sister to look after her. (Especially when all those unworthy boys would start falling in love, as it was only natural to be in love with someone as precious as her Binghe. Someone had to make sure Binghe got nothing but the best!) Shen Yuan smiled and nuzzled Binghe’s hair back as the white lotus tucked her nose into her neck.
“My Binghe sure is sticky this morning, Did something happen?”
“Mmn,” Binghe pulled back just enough to peer her peach blossom eyes up at Shen Yuan, resting her cheek against the swell of her elder’s breast, “I got 100% on my Chinese literature test yesterday. It’s all thanks to jiejie’s tutoring!”
“Congrats, Binghe! I knew you could do it! Is there anything you want as a reward, to celebrate?”
Binghe burrowed deeper into Shen Yuan’s chest before settling back as the limo started to move, reaching into her school bag as she did.
“Actually, Yuan-jie, I was thinking… maybe you could have lunch with me in the hidden garden instead of with your classmates? I even cooked you lunch myself, to thank you for helping me study!”
Her smile was too dazzling to look at, ah! Shen Yuan was going blind, too pure, too pure! How was her little sheep so cute?!
“Binghe, of course! Who could possibly say no to you?” Shen Yuan patted the youngers head as she preened.
When they finally reached the school, Binghe hopped out of the car to run around and open Shen Youan’s door, hand extended to guide her outside. And if their hands remained clasped until they reached Binghe’s homeroom, it only went to show the depths of their sisterly affection. But unfortunately, such times cannot last long before unwanted pests start buzzing around.
“Hey. Yuanyuan! Oh dearest and favouritest fan, can I join in on your date here? You’ve been ignoring my messages all weekend! You even blocked me on wechat!” The feral hamster in human skin clutched Shen Yuan’s free arm, tugging it to direct Shen Yuan’s attention to her overdone pout. Shen Yuan glanced at the chubby girl, frowning. Shang Quinghua was certainly no Binghe, but Shen Yuan still had to admit she was cute; shame her personality ruined it.
At least the annoyance would get bored eventually, and no one who wrote such cliche reverse-harem romance novels deserved getting acknowledged. Those OCs were somehow both OP af and constantly in need of saving, and clearly they only needed rescue because otherwise there would be no positive redeeming points to the otherwise manipulative and domineering male leads. If Binghe ever read trash like that, Shen Yuan dreads to think what would happen to her impressionable mind! It was unthinkable! And clearly even Binghe herself could pick up on the bad vibes, what with how she was glaring at the classmate-cum-trash author.
“Come along Binghe, don't waste your time on this idiot.” Shen Yuan shook off Shang Quinghua, ignoring Binghe’s smug look even as she applauded Binghes taste internally, as they reached Binghe’s class and dropped her off for Yingying to take care of. Promising to meet for lunch, Binghe reluctantly waved her off for class.
Shen Yuan hurried off to her own class, righteously ignoring Shang Quinghua’s existence as she rattled off pitiful nonsense beside her. Sometimes Shen Yuan wondered why she still was friends with the other girl, especially considering that she had more sane friends beside her. Bounding gracefully through the door, Shen Yuan stopped besides the class beauty Liu Quigge’s desk. Ahhh, she was so lucky to have such a good friend to rely on. Surely all the boys were jealous!
“Morning, Quigge-xuejie! You look great today, did you try some new makeup? Do something with your hair?”
Shen Yuan held back a smirk as liu Quigge glared up with a red face (and how did she manage to make such an annoyedly embarrassed expression so gorgeous? If Shen Yuan’s chest was fluttery, it was clearly jealousy. Share your beauty skills with the rest of us, girlfriend!)
“You know I don’t wear makeup, Shen Yuan.”
“Oh! Well, then it’s natural for such a cool and talented girl like Quigge to look pretty normally, then.”
Quigge spluttered as Shen Yuan smugly turned around, proud of how she was able to uplift her fellow girls. Just as she sat down the homeroom teacher entered, silencing the room and Shen Yuan’s thoughts on the subject.
Local History was one of Shen Yuan’s favorite subjects. And how could it not be? Although they only covered it a few days a year in history class, it was cool . Not only was there an old taoist temple in the Cang Qiong Mountains, but it apparently used to be inhabited by Real! Life! Cultivators!! Like sure, it was probably exaggerated depictions of what actually happened, but still! How cool!
So far they’d learned about the founding of the sect, how the cultivators help sponsor and create their city, and all the sect’s values and specializations (magical arrays?? cursed artifacts?? swordfighting?!?!!?? ). Today, they were going to learn about its fall. Surely it would be like something out of a webnovel!
Teacher Chu stood before the class, historical artwork in hand.
“As you all know, Cang Qiong was once home to the world’s greatest cultivation sect. But did you know that this world was not only home to cultivators, but evil demons as well? Dark, primal creatures that preyed on humans and threatened the balance of the world; it was only brave taoists like those of Cang Qiong that could hold back their greedy natures. These demons no longer exist, and we have the fall of Cang Qiong to thank for that. Today, we are going to learn about their sacrifice that saved us all…”
Shen Yuan gripped her pen tightly as the tale continued, enthralled. She had never heard it before, she was certain, so why? Why was it so familiar?
It was finally lunchtime, which meant it was finally time for her darling Binghe! A handmade lunch in their hidden garden, ah, what had Shen Yuan done in a past life to bless her with such a sweet little sister?! Whatever it was, she was more than happy to take advantage.
Shen Yuan rushed to the secluded courtyard, humming a tune from some fantasy donghua to herself as she admired the scenery. Flowers blooming in the trees, birds chirping, a gentle breeze; surely there was no better time for a picnic. It was perfect .
At least until a boom sounded from the direction of the courtyard, breeze stilling and birds falling silent. How strange!
If she was in a novel, that boom would surely lead to something dangerous. Horror monsters, terrorists, the mafia out to kidnap young mistresses like herself! Shen Yuan wasn’t a fool, she wanted nothing to do with this! But… what if Binghe was there? What if her innocent, harmless, vulnerable little sheep was in danger?!
Shen Yuan bolted.
Binghe, Binghe, please be safe…! The young heiress’s chest heaved as she ran through the academy’s expansive bamboo forest, ignoring her own rabbiting heart as she rushed towards the ominous sounds. Steeling herself, she paused to look inside the garden.
Inside the otherwise empty clearing, a writing mass of blood and shadows lay in the static stillness. Shit. Shit shit shit, what was this?! Did she suddenly transmigrate, maybe enter a parallel magic world in her highschool? Or… did demons come back?! Thank goodness Binghe hadn’t gotten there yet, the situation looked dangerous! Hopefully her little sheep would hear the destruction and stay away.
Letting out a breath, Shen Yuan took a step back away from the garden clearing. For a moment everything was calm, everything silent but the faint shrieks and wails from the frothing mass before her. She took another step back.
A twig snapped.
The creature convoluted, smooth and shuttering as a mass of eyes rose from within itself to stare in her direction. Before Shen Yuan could so much as blink, an inky tentacle flashed out to wrap around her calf, winding upwards as another encircled her waist and lifted her closer. How rude! Hadn’t this monster ever heard of personal space?! It was even crawling up her thigh with it’s (admittedly cool, actually, a creature like this would certainly spice up certain trash writing) eye-filled blood appendage, this was highly inappropriate! If it was going to kill her, at least be respectful about it!
As Shen Yuan opened her mouth the lecture the demon, a slashing light cut through the tentacles softly binding her. The moment she started to fall, muscular arms wrapped around to gently set her on the ground.
“How are you here?”
Shen Yuan blinked at the smooth voice, turning towards a familiar but beautiful woman; silky hair, the face of a goddess, and a short hanfu of blue and white with silver details matching her bright eyes. She was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Shen Yuan blushed, embarrassed for having to be rescued.
“I… lunch?”
Snapping her mouth shut, Shen Yuan pursed her lips, flustered at the confusing situation. What was she supposed to say, ah? Shen yuan belonged here, the real question was ‘how did blood tentacle thing get here’! Why were you questioning her ?!
The beauty humphed, picking up her sword (!!!! how cool!!) and attacking the monster again. As she fought, a cute girl in a poofy yellow hanfu with fur-lined accessories jumped out and shot at the demon with a pen wand as another girl in purple attacked with a pair of ribbons. The monster shrieked, jumping up and running (gliding? glooping? Shen Yuan had no idea how to describe it, except perhaps to say it looked like what slime running up a wall would look like in stop motion animation. Or something. She critiqued writing, that doesn’t mean she’s a writer herself, okay?) before quickly lashing out to cut the arm of the yellow-dressed girl and speeding off into the distance. The girls jumped onto their swords and rushed after it.
Only once Shen Yuan was the only one in the garden did life return, the floating haitang blossoms resuming their gentle fall. By the time all the frozen petals finished their descent, Shen Yuan heard a bright voice coming louder.
“Shen-jie, Shen-jie! Did you wait long?”
The moment Binghe’s bright smile came into sight, all of Shen Yuan’s confusion and tenseness faded as she focused on more important matters. Unable to hold back, she patted the little sheep’s curls.
“Not at all, though I’m happy you’re here. Anyone would be willing to wait forever for a chance at Binghe’s cooking and company, after all.”
They grasped hands, sitting on a small bench beneath the sweet-smelling blossoms.
“As long as Shen-jie wants me, anyone else’s care is pointless. I want to keep cooking for jiejie forever.”
“Ah! Such a sweet girl, you’ll make a boy very very happy one day.”
“Maybe,” Binghe looked aside, blush matching the petals haloing her wild curls, “but all I need to be happy is you, Shen-jie.”
Shen Yuan smiled. Ah! She really would miss her white lotus when she eventually spends more time with boys. Not that just any boys would do! As Binghe’s honorary big sister, Shen Yuan had to make sure any future boyfriend would be up to standard. No stinky boy would be worthy of her Binghe, but Shen Yuan would try her best to make sure they’s at least be tolerable.
And if Binghe’s future boyfriend doesn’t treat her like the goddess made flesh she is, Shen Yuan’s arms would always be open to provide sisterly support. Binghe would always have her, even when she eventually no longer needs her old shen-jie for-
Binghe’s hand gently brushed her cheekbone, freezing Shen Yuan’s thoughts.
“There was a petal… it makes sense that even flowers cannot stay away from Shen-jie’s beauty.” Binghe smiled, cheeks flushed from the spring breeze.
“Now, is jiejie hungry? Here, here, please have some food. I made it just for jiejie!” Picking up a choice piece of beef with her chopsticks, Binghe lifted it towards Shen Yuan’s readily opened lips.
Delicious.
Letting out a soft moan, Shen Yuan smiled at the nervously shuffling Binghe as she swallowed.
“My Binghe is so talented.”
Heart soft, Shen Yuan opened her mouth for another bite.
“Shen Yuan.”
Liu Qingge’s sonorous monotone distracted Shen Yuan from her phone, her head jerking up. The class beauty loomed above her, Sheng Qinghua by her side, as classes ended for the evening.
“Qingge!” Shen Yuan grinned. Her liu-xuejie was a pleasure as always, blushing as Yuan beamed up at her. She stood still with awkward stubbornness, silver gaze clear and familiar.
“Shen Yuan, you… should come with me. After class.”
“Aah, Qingge, are you asking me on a date? You know I love you (as a friend), but we’re straight!” Shen Yuan teased, reveling in how red rushed up her friend’s chest and face, spluttering violently. She was so fun to fluster! Truly, how could anyone bore of teasing dear Qingge to trip over herself?
“Melon-jie, sorry to disappoint but you’re wrong on both counts,” Shang Quinghua grasped Shen Yuan’s arms as she was resolutely ignored, dragging the fuderai up and attempting to guide her out the door, “there’s something we aaallllll need to talk about.”
About to huff and pull away, Shen Yuan startled as Liu Qingge grabbed her other arm and commandeered her out the door. Both ignored her startled yelping as Shen Yuan dociley followed along to the Liu Family car amidst her protests.
The ride was awkward, feeling both a minute and an hour long as Shen Yuan was held close by her two friends to prevent escape. When the car finally stopped, Shen Yuan held in a sigh of relief. Surely this was the end of their weird behavior, right? Her day was weird enough, so her thoughtful friend Qingge was just letting her visit the Liu estate to unwind, surely!
And then they dragged her outside to a quiet street on the outskirts of town, walking towards an old teahouse.
The building was archaic, looking as if it was as old as the supposed Canq Qiong sect of legend it was built at the foot of. Low tables, open windows allowing in the fresh mountain air, and hanfu-clad hostesses attending an quiet lack of patrons led to a sense of timelessness. Shen Yuan was led to a private room on the mezzanine, coming face to face with a small assortment of girls around her age or slightly older than herself.
The door slid shut behind her, latch clicking to fill the silent room.
Shen Yuan stood awkwardly as Shang Quinghua and Liu Qingge took two unoccupied seats at the u-shaped table. Gulping, her eyes darted between the frankly unfairly beautiful group of women (and what was this, a girl idol group? Wait, actually, maybe it was- was she getting scouted or something?! She may be a half-decent dancer able to carry a tune, but she wasn’t good enough for this, ah! Shen Yuan was a fangirl, behind the camera, not in front !)
Aside from the two who brought her here, there was an enviably curvaceous upperclassman in purple looking at Shen Yuan in unguarded amusement, an unassuming beauty exuding a peaceful and trustworthy aura who looked like she needed a month of sleep, a softly smiling uni student at the head of the table [do not think about her boobs do NOT think about her big badonkers DO NOT-], and, most pressingly, an elegant and icy beauty glaring at Shen Yuan with an evaluative gaze that clearly found her wanting. They were all discomfitingly familiar.
So, they must be Cang Qiong High alumni! Maybe this was a Cang Qiong Idol group?!
The six girls stared at Shen Yuan in tense silence.
“I still think this is a bad idea,” Liu Qingge spoke with a frown, hands clenched into fists, “Shen Yuan is too soft, she’ll only get herself and us hurt.”
Well excuse me! Shen Yuan internally humphed, pouting at the supposed friend doubting her ability to take care of herself. Sure, she sometimes forgot to eat, and yes, she often ended up in dangerous situations, but that was hardly her fault! What was Shen Yuan supposed to do, not rescue the drowning kitten in the river? So what if it was in the middle of winter, that’s all the more reason for her actions to be reasonable!
The cold beauty scoffed, unimpressed gaze shifting from Shen Yuan to Liu Qingge.
“And what choice do we have, brute? Even if she is woefully under qualified- which is in fact clearly the case- it’s not like we can just go forward without a Lady Qing Jing. If she acts a fool and dies, then that’s just a sacrifice for the greater good of subduing that beast.”
“Shen Jiu! Just because you got injured doesn’t mean it’s okay if the same happens to her, you-”
“Ah, of course, we all know you only care about the thrill of the fight instead of our actual mission-”
“At least I take my role as a Peak Lord seriously-”
“Now now, you two. Liu-shidi, Xiao-Jiu. I’m sure Lady Shen here is confused enough, no need to get into a fight now.”
All eyes zeroed into where Shen Yuan stood awkwardly in the doorway.
Shen Yuan gulped, biting her lip nervously.
“Lady Shen, do you remember what happened in the garden earlier today?” The leader gazed at her with heavy steadiness, “that creature you saw was a Demon. And we’re the ones who protect the world from those demons. Us Peak Lords are the only ones able to perceive them…. until you.” She pulled out a huge sword, and Shen Yuan froze as conflicting instincts welled up inside her.
On one hand, cool sword! She really wanted to see it, maybe even swing it around a bit; on the other…. being approached by drawn sword after seeing something she wasn’t supposed to! She was too young to die! She knows she found out about this big secret, but she promises not to tell anyone! No need to silence her permanently, really! Tears spilling in her mind, Shen Yuan shot a glare at the so-called friends who betrayed her. If she’s going to die, at lease make them stew in guilt over it!
“Haha… sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shen Yuan stepped back to press against the door, subtly feeling around to the handle, “I only had lunch with- GASP!” Pointing behind them, Shen Yuan widened her eyes. “Look, a monster!” Without waiting for a response to her clever distraction, she darted through the doorframe.
Before she could even get completely though the door, an elegant hand grasped her wrist.
“Stop wasting our time and just explain already, Zhangmen-shixong.”
Shen Yuan was forcibly turned around into an open seat facing the all but the icy beauty whose sharp fingernails dug into shoulders as she was held into the seat.
“What that sentimental fool is trying to say is, that creature in the garden can only be seen by those blessed with spiritual power. And since you were able to see them, it means you’ve been chosen by a spiritual sword to join the fight in destroying Demonkind.” The smooth voice scoffed, dripping venom, “Not that you’ll actually be able to help. I have no idea what Xiu Ya sees in you, but unfortunately there’s nothing to be done about it.”
A cold weight was placed around Shen Yuan’s neck while the grip on the shoulders became untethered. Shen Yuan squirmed, smiling nervously.
“Haha, it sounds like you just said Demons are real, and I’m supposed to fight them. You are talking about something else, right? I’d expect this from hamster bastard, but I never took Qingge for someone into LARPing, ha….”
Six pairs of eyes stared back, projecting a mix of concern, disdain, amusement, and pity.
Shen Yuan’s stomach dropped.
Two hours later and the situation made even less sense than the first time they explained it. Like, okay, it was cool. REALLY cool. Demons, cultivators, legends come to life, and reincarnation; it was awesome! But why was she involved with something like this, seeming like it came straight out of a webnovel?! She may as well have died by Truck-kun and reincarnated as some scum villain to be guided by an annoying SYSTEM, for how much sense this made!
Yes, there was the ‘actual’ explanation. The Peak Lords of legend who died in the ritual to defeat Junshang were reincarnated in order to take the Demon Lord down once and for all; in this new life the hero of Qing Jing and Junshang’s old Shizun, Shen Jiu, was secretly injured by a slow-acting poison that made them choose to either permanently sever her cultivation or have her continue to fight until not only her core but her very soul shattered irrevocably; the Xiu Ya sword, wanting to save it’s wielder’s soul, forcibly separated and searched for the best-fit of Shen Jiu’s original direct bloodline to pass on the mantle of Lady Qing Jing…. which happened to be Shen Yuan.
Best-fit, ah? What about her exactly is qualified in this?! Shen Yuan knows how to critique and analyze webnovel tropes, not live them out! She can’t expect real life to follow plot convention, ok, her power is useless here!
But also… it did sound really cool. But dangerous. But cool…. Aaah, no use worrying! If this was going to happen, she may as well embody the badass girlboss her role requires. Shen Yuan took a sip of fresh tea; it was quite good. No wonder they chose this old tea shop.
“Okay! So Jiu-jie here had her core shattered, and her sword chose me to battle with?”
What is she, Pikachu? Shen Yuan, I choose you!
Shen Jiu glanced to the side as Yue Qingyuan nodded. Shen Yuan ignored her fellow Shen, gripping the pendant necklace around her neck which she could use to draw the legendary sword. Which was cool, mind you! Even if she was jealous that everyone else could draw their sword from their chest instead of some random necklace. Way to remind her that she’s just some cheap replacement, guys!
“And since this necklace contains Xiu Ya, it’s attuned to me and stores the spiritual power for me to borrow, since I’m mortal, and can’t transform on my own.” Meaning she was a freaking magical girl, right? She even got a cute frilly lolita-esque magic hanfu! This was fine. Shen Yuan was fine. She’d read plenty of manga like this! She was an expert! She could totally do this!
Fuck, no she couldn’t.
“Well!” Shen Yuan stood up, nodding, “surely you don’t need me for anything else. I’ll just gooo…”
Liu Qingge, and the now-named Qi Qingqi grabbed her arms, shoving her into her seat again. Qingge grunted, softening her ever-firm grip.
“I’ll teach you to fight.”
So dependable! Her arms would be perfect for swinging around a sword, already being a martial master with such strong and defined muscles. Qingge was surely an expert! So it was probably alright if a beautiful and reliable girl like Qingge taught her…
“Okay.”
Ignoring the assembled girls sighs of relief, and Qinghua and Qingqi’s snickers, Shen Yuan let her friend drag her back out the teahouse to the Liu Family Car bound for the Liu Estate.
Too caught up in her musings, Shen Yuan failed to notice the onyx eyes peering out at them over the corner.
As cool as sword fighting and monster battles sounded in theory, there was an unforgivable drawback Shen Yuan never allowed herself to consider- less Binghe time. How was she supposed to keep doing daily sword training when it conflicted with her regularly-scheduled Bunhe Tutor Time?! If fighting well wasn’t so important, not even the sheer badassness of Qingge’s rippling muscles and glistening skin would be able to keep her committed to it! Ah, if only she could just smoosh her bun to her chest and promise to never let go. She could almost imagine how cute her little lotus would be, shyly nuzzling her cheek into Shen Yuan’s chest and clinging tight in an eager hug.
Yes, this magical girl business was far more perilous than expected indeed.
This all means that on the first Saturday of her new routine- a day of the week which had for at least a year been un-interrupted Binghe Day, where they would spend the whole day studying, cooking lunch, and exchanging much-needed familiar attention that her Binghe was starved of in an unloving foster home. Even sice, they wouldn’t cancel their weekly bonding times for anything! Shen Yuan’s heart was heavy as she messaged Binghe saying that she couldn’t have her over today.
It was cruel, unfair, immoral! But the Peak Lords assured her it was necessary. So, painful or not, it must be done.
Minutes after the message was sent, leaving Shen Yuan resolutely ignoring her phone in fear of getting- or not getting- a response, the Peak Lord’s concerns were proven right. Demonic energy strong enough for even the newly-awakened Shen Yuan to sense exploded from the poorer outskirts of town. Everything fell still as a muted shimmering quality encased the frozen landscape.
It was time for her first real battle!
Taking a deep breath, Shen Yuan grasped Xiu Ya hanging around her neck and let the spiritual energy flow through her. Moments later she was enshrined in light, feeling weightless and dressed in a short frilly hanfu of soft green and warm cream, pearl white embroidery flowing across the gown and pairing with the detail of Xiu Ya’s chain as well as the ribs of a battle fan at her waist. Taking a deep breath, she drew Xiu Ya from the pendant and dashed out towards the site of demonic energy.
Jumping into the air and landing lightly of her sword, Shen Yuan soared across the rooftops, quickly joined by Mu Qingfang and Liu Qingge as they headed towards the gathering of shadows pulsing in the horizon; it also happened to be in the direction of Binghe’s neighborhood.
“Qingg- I mean, Lady Bai Zhan! Are the civilians going to be safe?”
Liu Qingge only grunted.
“Not to worry. When demons emerge, the surrounding space and time pauses. Any damage done will instantly revert itself once the universe resumes as normal.” Sighing with fond exasperation at his shidi’s gruff temperament, Qingfang spoke up.
The warrior scowled as she was talked over, looking away with a flush.
“Worry about yourself, Qing Jing” Shen Yuan opened her mouth to protest, but Liu Qingge continued to speak, “Just forget about that underclassman of yours for a minute and focus on the battle so you don’t slow us all down. We won’t be able to fight our best if you get hurt.”
Shen Yuan pouted, but something in her chest loosened with warmth. Binghe was safe. And Qingge was, in her usual tsuntsun way, simply worrying about her. Everything would be fine, as long as those two would be able to manage.
Soon they appeared at the site of the darkness, where roiling demonic energy emerged from a abandoned temple a short ways into the mountain forest. Hovering above the empty temple were the other peak lords, hair and robes fluttering softly from internal energy as they observed below.
The temple was simple, hidden on an overgrown path behind some trees and clearly not being formally cared for. Even in its best of days it would have been modest, its ancient structure more reminiscent of a glorified hut or shed than the nearby Cang Qiong’s more grandiose and refined buildings. But best of days it was not, with a crumbling stone courtyard whose cracks filled with weeds hoping for a humble chance of life and ivy growing along the walls of the singular enclosed room whose doors stood cracked open.
And yet, despite the darkness clouding the courtyard Shen Yuan felt that at least someone must honour the forgotten god. A sweet smell of tanghulu wafted from within the enclosed doorway, a fitting offering for such an unassuming altar.
Whoever left it was now gone, and in their place was a mass of shadows hiding in the dusty corners.
The peak lords were contemplatively silent as they observed the opaque darkness below. Shen Yuan, uncertain, glanced at her teammates. One moment she was staring at the white and blue robes upon Liu Qingge’s strong and steady back- the next she was staring below her skirt as Xiu Ya was yanked down by something darting out in her distraction.
“Qingge-!” Shen Yuan yelped as she reached out, her friend reaching back to catch her, but the shadow was quicker and pulled her towards a particularly dark mass of shadows below a temple awning.
This was her first fight, give her some time to learn, alright?! It’s not fair to get targeted just because she’s new! Scowling, Shen Yuan clumsily formed a sword seal and slashed the dark tendril grasping her before she could get engulfed.
Ha! Shen Yuan could fight, see? She had a cool spiritual sword, and she could actually use it!
Grinning, she slashed downward again and used the expelled force to push herself back, launching backwards to right herself and land on her feet in the courtyard as the shimmering sword glare dispersed the gathering shadows.
This was actually kind of cool! Look how badass! Shen Yuan was just like one of those heroines who kicked ass, took names, and was loved and admired by all but still cool and confident enough to turn down all the men and choose to focus on sisterly bonds instead. Just like in the tv dramas! She internally shed a proud tear, impressed by her own noble disposition.
Then, as Qi Qingqi and Liu Qingge landed behind her in the courtyard, dozens of shadow creatures from across the temple garden attacked in a coordinated effort to disarm the new arrivals. The demons were different than the one from lunch before, humanoid creatures made of smoke, shadow, and blood; all that shown beside the dark red iridescence was bottomless eyes and the sharpness of claws, horns, and teeth. Some even had tails, wings, and other odd appendages! At times, it even looked like hundreds of eyes were bubbling up beneath the oil-slick blood, and if fighting wasn’t so important, Shen Yuan really really wanted a closer look! But alas, not today.
Shen Yuan slashed and spun, often finding herself back to back with her teammates as she tried out all the new moves Qingge taught her. A swipe of a sword here, a blast of wind from her fan there, it was all so awesome! A shadow tried to dart away but Shen Yuan was faster, jumping over a broken stone slab and cutting it down cleanly. As she landed, her food slipped on a broken piece of the stone; as she tripped, another demon shot out with clawed hands aiming for Shen Yuan’s head. As she ducked down to avoid the strike, another clawed arm came out and scratched along her cheek. Shen Yuan cut the creature with a hiss, ignoring the sting of blood welling across her soft skin.
“Qing Jing, are you alright?!” Mu Qingfang jumped down, pulling out her gold and ivory healing bell.
“Mm, it’s just a scratch! Lady Qian Cao worries too much.”
Qingfang frowned, reaching out to grab her face.
“You never know what poisons these demons posses. Here, let me-”
The doors slammed open with a crack, the demons suddenly receding deep into the shadows of the temple.
“Oh my, what do we have here? Some righteous cultivators attacking these poor demons who were peacefully coming to pay their respects, perhaps? How typical of you.”
Out of the shadows stepped the most beautiful woman Shne Yuan had ever seen- no, most beautiful person that must have ever existed .
Soft creamy skin, voluminous curls, and perfectly proportionate features accentuated by the short black robes and high socks leaving a perfect balance of exposed and teasing sweetness and modesty (it’s called the absolute territory for a reason!) She looked like a dream, exactly like-
Junshang stepped forward, heels clacking on the stone floors. As the assembled peak lords glared, her pouty lips pulled into a grin.
“So what do you have to say for yourselves, hm?”
“Innocent demons?! You dare say such, after outright attacking us?!” Liu Qingge pulled Shen Yuan behind her protectively, pure hostility alighting her face as she held her sword out in anger.
“Ah, but would the great Xiu Ya sword truly count as innocent? You surely know Shizun as well as I,” Junshang prowled further, scarlett eyes slowly trailing behind Qingge to where Shen Yuan’s form stood in dazed silence, “I’m sure my demons were in fear for their lives just from her presence alone-”
Red eyes met green, and for a moment they were just as frozen and timeless as the world around them. ‘Beautiful…’
Shen Yuan knew this person. Knew her from a faded dream, knew her from her fantasies, and yet a part of her wanted to know her even better. Such presence! Clearly this demon was far more powerful than any other, as to be expected of the final boss! Perhaps she even had some succubus heritage, nothing else would make sense otherwise. Even her fangs were pretty between red lips as she gasped, and if a straight girl like Shen yuan was getting distracted by it then surely no one living or dead could possibly be immune!
Eyes flashing, Junshang shivered before slipping into an easy grin.
“Oh, my apologies. It seems we injured the wrong person today. Do allow this lord to make up for it.”
One moment Shen Yuan was behind Qingge, and the next she was across the courtyard, chin firmly but tenderly gripped by black-clawed hands. Terrified, butterflies erupted in the pit of Shen Yuan’s stomach.
Junshang leaned forward, before slowly licking up the blood dripping down Shen Yuan’s cheek, moaning shamelessly at the taste. Shameless! Shen Yuan shivered as the demon purred in satisfaction, crimson eyes shining as if she wanted to eat her whole.
“Well, at least if I have to fight such self-righteous cultivators they brought something sweet with them this time.” Junshang spoke softly into Shen Yuan’s skin, moist breath dancing across the rapidly-healing cut.
A sword cut through the air, causing Junshang to embrace the newly-awakened cultivator and jump out of the way as Liu Qingge attacked with a plum-bright face. Smirking, she pulled Shen Yuan’s face deeper into her chest.
“Shameless! Let go of Lady Qing Jing!”
“Are you going to make me, Liu- shi-shu ?”
Liu Qingge growled, and Shen Yuan was definitely not thinking about Junshang’s badonkers, no she wasn’t thinking about them at all! And if she was, well, it’s only natural to be jealous of how big and bouncy and soft they were smooshed up against her face. Shen Yuan only had A-cups, she was allowed to think about boobs as much as she wanted! Men liked boobs, she liked men, so boobs were important! And Junshang had really, really nice boobs. Even as they were suffocating her! Any man alive would like Junshangs boobs very much, would be blessed even to look at them! So, if Shen Yuan’s stomach was tight and tingly with jealousy as she was smooshed into such a perfect pair of melons, well, it was only natural!!
And the way Shen Yuan was being held so tenderly, Junshang’s claws gently tracing her spine as the other hand directed a demonic sword to keep back the other Peak Lords, clearly it was just to get the newbies guard down and was hardly worth consideration. Very clever, Junshang, truly unparalleled strategy!
Another angry yell sounded, and Shen Yuan found herself shoved back towards the other Peak Lords as as silver blue blur shot past.
Junshang only laughed at Liu Qingge’s attack, jumping away to stand atop the temple roof.
“Well it looks like I’m outnumbered today. I guess I’ll just have to play some more next time. Do give my greeting to Shizun for me.” Winking at Shen Yuan, the shadows flared and all the demonic presence had disappeared.
The cultivators stood, dumbfounded, as birdsong suddenly filled the courtyard.
Shrugging, Shang Qinghua rose her brows.
“So, no more demons. Mission success?”
Mission Success.