Chapter Text
Luo Binghe could only stare into the familiar darkness of the damp woodshed. For the nth time, he was wondering what rules he could have possibly broken for his shizun to harbour such animosity towards his existence.
Suddenly, there were two aggressive bangs on the side of the shed. “Get out! Shizun’s calling you!”
Luo Binghe immediately recognized this voice as Ming Fan, another one of his shizun’s disciples and the one who most often carried out his will.
His Shizun is calling him? Startled, Luo Binghe immediately sat up and rose to open the woodshed’s heavy door. Shielding his eyes for a second to let them adjust from the light, Ming Fan gave him a kick in the back of the knee, causing him to stoop into a kneeling position.
Ming Fan yelled at him again, with a strange expression. “Hurry up already!”
Luo Binghe quickly stood back up and nodded, trying his best to dust off the dirt from his robes as he made his way toward where his Shizun stayed.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Binghe tried to walk in with some level of presentability, not disgrace. Unfortunately, his steps were a little unsteady, no matter how much he tried to keep them smooth.
Nevertheless, he straightened his back and stood with as much confidence as he could muster.
He tentatively spoke to get Shen Qingqiu’s attention: “Shizun.”
Luo Binghe wondered if he once again somehow angered his shizun when he saw the way Shen Qingqiu’s delicate smile fell directly off his lips when he caught sight of the boy standing in his doorway.
Once Luo Binghe realized his Shizun’s attention was on him, he quickly struggled to kneel. He didn’t want to look pathetic, but Ming Fan’s earlier kick, unfortunately, hindered his knee from bending smoothly.
Before he could kneel completely, Shen Qingqiu’s aloof voice reached him. “No need.”
Luo Binghe stood as quickly as his abused body let him and then struggled to catch a small bottle that suddenly flew at him.
Before he had time to examine it, Shen Qingqiu spoke. “This is medicine… Don’t let anyone see; they might think my Qing Jing Peak abuses its disciples.” Shen Qingqiu’s explanation sounded cold and indifferent, however, Luo Binghe had never been socially adept.
Luo Binghe had expected his master had called him for additional “instruction”. He would have never thought he would be offered medicine.
He tried hard not to let his expression change, but in the end, he couldn’t help but let a small smile bloom on his innocent face, and his eyes practically sparkled.
‘Shizun gave me medicine!’
At first, he froze. Then, he respectfully received the small bottle with both hands.
“Thank you for the medicine, Shizun.” Luo Binghe replied politely, trying to let his sincerity be heard through his voice.
When he saw Shen Qingqiu’s gaze turn away, Luo Binghe panicked for a split second, thinking he wasn’t sincere enough or showing gratitude enough for his Shizun’s satisfaction.
He continued speaking, hoping to reassure his Shizun that he was truly grateful. “This disciple will henceforth redouble his efforts and not let Shizun be disappointed.”
“Binghe, how’s your cultivation progress?” To his surprise, his master was inquiring about his cultivation progress, as well as using his name- two things he had never done before.
Luo Binghe’s back shuttered with excitement at the prospect that his Shizun could be starting to pay him some attention. However, pleasure quickly turned to shame.
His smile slightly dimmed. “This disciple is stupid and still… Failed to understand.”
He was not reprimanded as expected, and his master’s next words brought back some of his previous excitement. “Today, this master punished you out of his own impatience. Now that I think about it, you’ve been under me for a while- how old are you this year?”
“This disciple is fourteen,” Luo Binghe immediately replied.
His master’s expression changed ever so slightly hearing Luo Binghe’s reply, and then Luo Binghe was quickly waved away, his Shizun claiming that he “wished to be alone.”
Of course, Luo Binghe complied obediently.
***
“A-Luo, A-Luo, look, there’s a huge ditch in the ground here!” Ning Yingying followed behind Luo Binghe, trying to show what it was that she saw by pointing it out to him.
She was a pretty youth, slightly younger than Luo Binghe, and the only one here at Qing Jing Peak who didn’t either treat him with some level of animosity or plain ignored him. The two youths became good friends.
Naturally, the other male disciples were jealous of that fact. How could Luo Binghe, the most useless and hated disciple on Qing Jing Peak, gain Ning Yingying’s favour? Of course, Ming Fan also had these kinds of sour thoughts, and he didn’t hesitate to act on them.
Luo Binghe glanced over and offered only a half-hearted smile.
But Ning Yingying wanted his attention, and she fumbled around for something to say. “Tell me, A-Luo, which shixiong was practicing their sword glares out here?”
“On Qing Jing Peak, I’m afraid only Shizun has this level of cultivation.” Luo Binghe answered as he picked up an axe and started chopping a tree.
He only spoke one line, then paid her no heed. His focus was entirely on his actions as he raised and lowered the axe, chopping in earnest.
These trees were neither thin nor weak, and the axe was half-rusted. At this time, Luo Binghe was only fourteen years old, so chopping was tremendously taxing. Soon, sweat poured down his face.
Ning Yingying sat on an old log, watching him with her face propped in her hands. After a while, she was bored and wheedled. “A-Luo, A-Luo, play with me!”
“I can’t.” Luo Binghe didn’t even have time to wipe away his sweat; he continued to swing the axe as he spoke. “Our shixiong told me that after I finish chopping today’s wood, I have to carry the water. If I finish chopping quickly, I can clear out some time to meditate.”
“Our shixiong is really awful! Always making you do this and that. It looks like they’re bullying you on purpose.” Ning Yingying pouted.”Humph, I’ll go back and tell Shizun. Once I do, they won’t dare bully you anymore.”
Luo Binghe only shook his head at Ning Yingying. “Absolutely don’t. I don’t want to trouble Shizun with these small matters. Our shixiong don’t mean any harm, they just see that I’m young and want to give me more chances to train.”
Ning Yingying chattered on, and Luo Binghe eventually finished chopping his quota of wood. Putting the axe away, he found a random patch of relatively clean ground and sat down cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, Luo Binghe heard the sound of another set of jumbled footsteps.
Ming Fan stepped out into the clearing, leading several low-ranked disciples. Upon seeing Ning Yingying, he delightedly strode up and grabbed her hand. “Xiao-shimei! Xiao-shimei, I finally found you. How could you come to a place like this without saying anything? The back side of the mountain is so large- what if some dangerous beast or poisonous snake leapt out? Come, shixiong has something fun to show you.”
Naturally, Ming Fan saw Luo Binghe sitting nearby, but he ignored him as if he was nothing but air.
However, Luo Binghe, being very well-mannered, opened his eyes and spoke. “Shixiong.”
“I’m not afraid of poisonous snakes or dangerous beasts,” Ning Yingying giggled. “Besides, isn’t A-Luo with me?”
Ming fan swept his gaze towards Luo Binghe, squinted, and scoffed.
In the end, Ning Yingying had a young girl’s disposition, completely unable to read the room. “What fun things does Shixiong have?” She asked, head tilted. “Hurry up and show me.”
Ming Fan became all smiles. He unfasted a deep green jade ornament from his waist and held it in front of her. “Shimei, my family just came to visit, and they brought me lots of high-quality and interesting little trinkets. I thought this one was particularly pretty; I’ll give it to you!”
Ning Yingying took it from him and examined it closely in the sunlight shining through the leaves.
“Well? Do you like it?” Ming Fan asked eagerly.
Ning Yingying had absolutely no idea what was high quality and what wasn’t. After looking nonchalantly at it for a while, she tossed the jade ornament back.
Ming Fan’s smile froze on his face.
“What? This colour is so ugly. The one A-Luo has is prettier.” Ning Yingying said carelessly as she wrinkled her nose.
Not only did Ming Fan look unhappy, but Luo Binghe, who’d wisely been pretending not to exist, trembled lightly as his eyes snapped open.
“Does Shidi also wear this kind of thing?” Ming Fan spat through gritted teeth.
Luo Binghe hesitated slightly. He hadn’t managed to answer when Ning Yingying barged in.
“Of course he does. Every day, he wears it close to his neck. It’s his treasure. He refuses to even let me look at it.”
Although Luo Binghe was usually so composed, at this point his expression also changed. How could he not worry? Although he didn’t mind his Shixiong giving him challenging tasks or teaching him lessons, the jade pendant that his late mother gave him was truly his only treasure.
He unconsciously clutched the goddess of mercy Guanyin pendant around his neck, hidden beneath his clothes.
Ning Yingying absolutely hadn’t considered the consequences of her words as she said them. She’d only been thinking of how she always saw Luo Binghe wearing that jade Guanyin close to his skin, never parting with it.
Girls in particular invariably wanted to get their hands on the things their crushes treasured, which they hoped would confer upon them the satisfaction of being in a “special position.”
But Luo Binghe simply refused to give her that recognition. Displeased, she’d brought it up in this half-sweet, half-brazen manner.
It was only natural that Luo Binghe refused. His washerwoman mother had spent almost her entire life savings to finally, with great difficulty, give him the consecrated protective charm she wanted for him. It was the only bit of warmth in Luo Binghe’s dark world, always by his side. How could he hand it up to someone else?
Ming Fan, both angry and jealous, advanced a few steps. “Luo-shidi, you sure are stuck-up, refusing to show Ning Yingying-shimei your pendant.” He snarled. “If this keeps up when we face strong enemies in the future, will you refuse to even lend a hand?!”
Ning Yingying cut in to stop Ming Fan.
“It’s fine if he doesn’t want to. Shixiong, don’t bully him!” Ning Yingying hadn’t thought things would turn out like this, and she anxiously stamped her feet.
How could Luo Binghe best Ming Fan at this point? Not to mention a group of junior disciples who were Ming Fan’s lackeys were also ganging up on him.
In a moment, that jade Guanyin fell from Luo Binghe’s neck into Ming Fan’s hands. Ming Fan raised it to look, and then laughed loudly.
“Why… Why are you laughing?” Ning Yingying said, confused.
Luo Binghe grits his teeth, feeling himself start to lose his reason.
“I thought it had to be some kind of rare treasure, for him to protect it so fiercely. Shimei, guess what it is?” Ming Fan tossed the jade pendant into Ning Yingying’s hands, positively gleeful as he chuckled. “It’s a counterfeit…”
“Counterfeit?” Ning Yingying asked. “What’s that?”
“Give it back.” Luo Binghe enunciated each word, no longer able to quell his rage. His fists slowly clenched, a treacherous undercurrent surging in the depths of his eyes.
For an entire year, his mother had scrimped and saved on food and utilities, but because she lacked experience, a con man had tricked her into paying a high price for a fake charm. Heartbroken after this, her body had steadily deteriorated. Luo Binghe would undoubtedly be unable to forget this pain for the rest of his life. Thus, this was the one insult that Luo Binghe could never tolerate.
“You want it back, I’ll give it back. Who knows which street stall this cheap thing was purchased from?” Ming Fan plucked the pendant from Ning Yingying’s hands, disgust in his tone. “I'm afraid giving it to shimei would dirty her hands.”
So he said, but he had not the slightest intention of returning it.
Luo Binghe’s face was tight. Suddenly, he struck out with both fists, hitting a couple of low-ranked disciples restraining him.
Enraged as he was, his blows were not directed by technique; they were random strikes fueled by the anger within. At first, he managed to cow these low-ranked disciples, but they quickly realized that in truth he was incredibly weak and that only his demeanour was impressive.
Also, Ming Fan was snarling at them. “What are you standing there for? He dared to attack his shixiong- teach him what it means to respect seniority!”
At this, they regained their courage and surrounded Luo Binghe, clobbering him.
Ning Yingying was scared stiff, her pitiful brain capacity still not understanding how things had progressed to this state. “Shixiong!” She cried. “How could you do this?! Hurry up and tell them to stop or- or I’ll never talk to you ever again!”
“Shimei, don’t be angry,” Ming Fan said in a panic. “I’ll tell them to stop hitting this guy, okay?”
He was distracted. Before he finished speaking, Luo Binghe broke free from the many arms and legs entangling him- and sent a fist into Ming Fan’s nose.
A wind wail. Two twin streams of fresh blood jetted from Ming Fan’s nostrils.
Although she had been about to burst into tears, at the sight of this, Ning Yingying couldn’t help but let out a stifled laugh.
Before this point, Ming Fan might feasibly let Luo Binghe go, but now that he’d been humiliated in front of his crush, he couldn’t back down, no matter what.
The two boys twisted into a fighting heap, but no matter how exceptional Luo BInghe’s talent was, he was still young, and he hadn’t been cultivating with proper instruction. It was, for the most part, a one-sided beatdown. Yet Luo Binghe remained silent, teeth clenched.
Suddenly, something shot toward Ming Fan extremely rapidly, and Ming Fan’s long and horrible scream split the air.
Luo Binghe had suffered quote few punches and kicks, but suddenly it was Ming Fan who staggered backward. Luo Binghe looked up. Fresh blood dripped from his forehead past his eyes, but he hadn’t expected Ming Fan to stretch out his hand, his palm covered in blood.
Ming Fan stared in disbelief. “You dare to use a knife?”
Due to its fierceness, Ning Yingying hadn’t risked coming close to their fight, but now she hurried to throw herself between the two. “No, no A-Luo didn’t use a knife. It wasn’t him!”
Luo Binghe also had no idea what had happened. He closed his mouth tightly and tried to clean the blood from his face.
“Did you see clearly? Was he holding a knife?” Ming Fan interrogated the other disciples as blood seeped out of his back- like he’d been cut with the edge of a sword.
The disciples looked at each other in complete disarray, some shaking their heads, some nodding.
Ming Fan was a pampered and spoiled young master, and he had never suffered this level of physical pain. The sight of his hand covered with blood sent panic surging through his heart. The puzzling thing was that there was no evidence of a weapon either on the ground or on Luo Binghe’s slender person. It couldn’t have vanished into thin air, right?
Ming Fan pointed to Luo Binghe and yelled, “Get him!”
The gang of disciples heard the order and tackled Luo Binghe. Suddenly, numerous disciples were splattered with blood. They anxiously gathered around Ming Fan, no longer daring to gang up on Luo BInghe.
“Shixiong! What’s going on?!”
“Shixiong, I’ve also been cut!”
Ming Fan’s face was green and white. Only after a long moment did he yell, “Let’s go!”
Leading his group of lackeys, all covering their backs and holding their arms, he frantically withdrew. They truly came like the wind and left like it too.
Only Ning Yingying remained, standing there dumbly for a while. Then she shouted, “A-Luo, were you the one who sent them running just now?”
Luo Binghe shook his head, his expression gloomy. He stood up, straightening with great difficulty. Then, he bent down again with a tense look, searching the ground for something, turning over fallen leaves, dry twigs, and mud this way and that, all over again.
Desperation and helplessness began to well up in his gut, afraid that he had lost his pendant forever.
Ning Yingying didn’t dare speak. After all, she had caused this entire affair. If not for her big mouth, Luo Binghe would never have suffered a beating- and on top of that, he’d lost his precious pendant for no good reason. She swiftly began to help Luo Binghe search.
They remained empty-handed, even as it became dark. Luo Binghe stood dumbly in place, staring at the mess of the ground. They had overturned every spec of dirt in sight, but still, they hadn’t found it.
“A-Luo, if we can’t find it, let’s just let it be,” said Ning Yingying, a little frightened to see him so dazed and out of his mind. She took his hand. “I’m sorry, I’ll buy you another one later, all right?”
Luo Binghe paid her no heed. He slowly withdrew his hand and walked to the forest’s edge, head lowered. Ning Yingying hurried after him.
***
Luo Binghe hurried back and forth, around the carriage. Of course, like always, he was tasked with the troublesome and miscellaneous tasks that no one else wanted to do.
Just then, Luo Binghe hauled the last item into the carriage- a white jade chessboard was mandatory luggage on all of Shen Qingqiu’s trips. He raised his head to see Shen QIngqiu observing him with a complicated expression. Respectfully, he said, “Shizun.”
The injuries Luo Binghe had received from Shen Qingqiu’s discipline were just about healed. The bruises on his face had vanished, and one could finally clearly see what he looked like. Even though he was young, his features were still soft and immature, no degree of youth could conceal the handsome grace within him. On top of that, he walked with such a shining air. Who would ever guess this was Qing Jing Peak’s most miserable flower bud, which had been ravaged by wind and rain for many years.
Although Luo Binghe was doing the rough work of moving luggage and equipment, his attitude was meticulous. It was hard not to be moved by his honest and focused bearing.
After staring at Luo Binghe for a moment, Shen Qingqiu made an “oh” sound, then pulled back his fan, dropping the curtains.
Seeing this, Luo Binghe felt silly that he had gotten so ahead of himself last week as to think his Shizun was finally becoming interested in him. He would have to work harder and become strong to impress his master.
Looking around now that he was done with his work, Luo Binghe slightly frowned when he noticed there were only 9 horses. After all, there were 10 disciples.
To no one’s surprise, Ming Fan’s gleeful voice cut through the noise outside: “Actually, we’re short on horses, so we have no choice but to inconvenience Shidi this time. Although Shidi’s foundation is poor- it’s perfect- you can take this time to train.”
When Luo Binghe’s frown didn’t ease up, Ming Fan suddenly became irritated. “What? What sort of expression is that? You dissatisfied?”
Luo Binghe didn’t want to harbour negative feelings towards his Shixiong, but he couldn’t help but feel that Ming Fan was rather good at being dislikable.
“I wouldn't dare,” said Luo Binghe evenly, neither haughty nor humble.
At this point, a young girl’s bell-like laugh cut through the air. Ning Yingying had arrived. “Shixiong, what are you talking about?”
Ning Yingying was a powerful catalyst in the continued worsening of Ming Fan’s and Luo Binghe’s relationship. Whenever she appeared, Luo Binghe was in for no shortage of suffering.
Out of the corner of his eye, Luo Binghe saw Shen Qingqiu lift the curtains a little to see what the ruckus was about. He felt guilty that he was inconveniencing his Shizun, and could only hope his master wasn’t too upset.
Ning Yingying then excitedly waved her hand. “A-Luo, not enough horses? Come ride with me!”
Before Luo Binghe could reply, he heard Shen Qingqiu speak instead.
“Yingying, don’t make a fuss. Men and women shouldn’t be too intimate. No matter how close you are with your shidi, there ought to be limits. Ming Fan, we're dawdling. Why haven’t we set out yet?”
Luo Binghe felt slightly downcast, thinking his Shizun must be siding with Ming Fan and not letting him tag along on a horse. Ming Fan smirked and hastily urged the group to depart.
As they departed, Luo Binghe had no choice but to follow along at the back of the group, at times walking, at times running. From time to time, horses encircled him, purposely kicking up clouds of dust until he was filthy and caked with it.
Having attempted to dissuade them several times to no avail, Ning Yingying finally realized her interference only made things worse. She anxiously urged her horse toward the carriage and called out. “Shizun! The Shixiong, look at them!”
“What about them?” Their teacher, Shen Qingqiu asked placidly.
“They’re bullying someone so viciously, yet you’re not telling them off,” She said, defiantly, her voice carrying the strength of her indignation. “If they keep on like this- Shizun, what are you teaching your disciples to become?!”
Even though she was directly tattling on them, Ming Fan and his lackeys didn’t feel any pressure at all. They were all used to Shen Qingqiu permitting their actions, no matter how uncivil.
The harsher their bullying of Luo Binghe, the happier they made their teacher. Why would they exercise restraint?
Ming Fan was the happiest of all. He was so sure that on that day at the back of the mountain, Luo Binghe had used some manner of sorcery he’d learned from who-knows-where. Today, Shizun was here, and he’d be crushed!
Shen Qingqiu made an “oh” sound. Then, he spoke a single line: “Luo Binghe, come here.”
Luo Binghe’s expression went blank. He felt shame for once again angering his teacher. Accustomed to his call, he gave his quiet assent and walked over.
At first, everyone was still riding high on schadenfreude, thinking that Shen Qingqiu was calling Luo Binghe over to grab him by the ear and discipline him.
What happened next shattered their entire worldview.
Shen Qingqiu use his fan to lift the curtains, then jerked his chin at Luo Binghe before shooting a place at the carriage interior. Even though he didn’t speak, the meaning couldn’t have been clearer.
“A-Luo, hurry and get on!” Ning Yingying said happily. “Shizun is letting you ride with him!”
Like! Thunder! On! A! Clear! Day!
If they hadn’t known their master so well for so long, Ming Fan and his fellows would have suspected that Shen Qingqiu had been possessed by a demon.
Luo Binghe had also frozen in astonishment, but his reaction was nevertheless swift. He paused for only a second before saying, “Many thanks to Shizun.”
When he stepped into the carriage, even conscientious, and sat straight-backed in a corner, his mind was racing. What did this mean? His hands and feet remained tucked in like he was afraid his patched clothes would dirty the interior.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Shen Qingqiu burst out laughing.
Moments before, Shen Qingqiu had been quietly sitting in the carriage, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed in a trance. When Luo Binghe heard him laugh, he couldn’t resist stealing a glance at him.
‘What did Shizun find so funny?’
It would be a lie to say that Luo Binghe wasn’t surprised. Even though he’d always revered Shen Qingqiu, he had no illusions about how his master treated and looked at him.
At first, he’d thought that if Shen Qingqiu asked him to get in the carriage, there must be something even more terrible waiting for him within, and he had mentally prepared himself for it. He hadn’t expected Shen Qingqiu to not bother with him at all, instead focusing only on himself as he began to meditate.
Luo Binghe thought for a moment. It seemed to him that he had never been this close to his teacher before and had never had an opportunity to carefully examine Shen Qingqiu like this.
Appearance-wise, you couldn’t complain about him. Perhaps Shen Qingqiu couldn’t qualify as supremely beautiful, but he was certainly good-looking and you wouldn’t tired of looking at him. The profile of his face, in the three-quarter view, seemed to have been carved by creeks and mountain springs, and when fixed in a cold scowl, it became gentle and bright.
As soon as Shen Qingqiu opened his eyes, he found Luo Binghe staring at him. Luo Binghe had been caught red-handed, and right as he was struck, lost as to what to do, Shen Qingqiu smiled at him.
Luo Binghe felt like he’d been pricked by a small, fine thorn. He quickly averted his gaze and became increasingly awkward, unsure of what he was feeling.
Shortly after, Shen Qingqiu’s smile abruptly fell off his face, and his expression once again became cold and uncaring.