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Shen Qingqiu mumbles to himself as he's cutting through the air, wind whipping past him. He loves flying on swords. It's so cool, it almost makes this dumbass mission worth his time. But there is one issue-
"System, what plotline is this? Succubi shouldn't be turning up just yet, should they?" It's a little early into the story for auch a major event!
The familiar Google-like voice sounds far too cheerful as it answers:
[The System is happy to present a special event! Progress further with the story to receive quest hints!]
That's not helpful at all! Just like the blaring announcement this morning wasn't, when the System nearly gave him a heart attack right after waking up! Shen Qingqiu kind of wishes he could hit the interface that flashes so colourfully in his mind, as if to mock him.
If it weren't for these ominous announcements, Shen Qingqiu might have even been happy to go on this mission. The Immortal Alliance Conference is getting closer and closer and he's trying to find a way around the whole pushing the protagonist into the endless Abyss , since, you know, that might be a surefire way to die - so a bit of harmless fun and dumb missions to distract him are welcome.
But this?
The only succubus Shen Qingqiu is aware of is Madam Meiyin, one of the countless future love interests and she definitely shouldn't appear this early in the story. So he's spent the entire time from being rudely woken up to having Liu Qingge kick down his door to being dragged away for this mission worrying .
"Succubi!," he mutters again, frowning. "That can't be right-"
"What are you talking about?" Liu Qingge pulls up right next to him and Shen Qingqiu nearly falls off his sword with a yelp. Only his shidi's fast reaction keeps him alive - one strong hand catches his wrist in a steady grip and pulls him back up until he finds his footing.
Shen Qingqiu glares at Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge barely raises a brow.
"Well?"
"Nothing, nothing." Shen Qingqiu shakes the other man off and squares his shoulders. See, totally unruffled! "This master was merely saying that succubi this close to Cang Qiong Mountain are unusual. We will have to be careful."
Liu Qingge, ever the hot-headed, battle-hungry warrior that he is, rolls his eyes and shrugs off the concern. Right, Shen Qingqiu kind of forgot that careful is not a word that exists in Liu Qingge's vocabulary. (He mentally adds giving up and doctor to that list as well and snickers.)
"Succubi aren't strong," Liu Qingge clarifies and looks genuinely disappointed. "They'll probably run away."
Shen Qingqiu thinks of Liu Qingge crashing one of the cozy dens described in the original novel, sword at the ready and a wild expression on his face. In all honesty, if faced with Bai Zhan's War God in such a state, he'd run too!
"Succubi may not be strong but their poison is," Shen Qingqiu immediately lectures. "Their hiding places are usually, ah… very stimulating . It's in the air and if it doesn't bring down the intruder, they can apply their poison directly." He shoots his shidi a stern look.
"We will have to be careful ," Shen Qingqiu emphasizes but Liu Qingge only rolls his eyes again and increases his speed, pulling past Shen Qingqiu before he looks back and smirks .
Oh, that's a challenge!
Shen Qingqiu races him all the way to their location. He's breathless when they touch down, his face feels like it's on fire and his hair is probably a mess, tangled all over from the wind messing it up. It's honestly exhilarating. Shen Qingqiu grins widely, unable to keep up his cool and aloof Peak lord facade.
Liu Qingge is grinning back at him, when he turns to look. His cheeks are dusted with red and for a moment, Shen Qingqiu finds it hard to breathe.
Liu Qingge is beautiful.
The moment is broken by noises coming from behind them and at once, Liu Qingge snaps back into this War God attitude. Gone is the brilliant smile, replaced with a dark frown. One of his hands rests on Cheng Luan's hilt.
Shen Qingqiu quickly pulls himself back together as well and turns towards the cave entrance behind them. The noise swells into a melody, rhythmic and hypnotic and it doesn't take a genius to figure out who is singing. Shen Qingqiu pulls one of his beloved fans from his sleeve and snaps it open.
"Shidi, please allow me to do the talking. Maybe we can solve this diplomatically."
Liu Qingge looks disappointed once again but doesn't protest and when Shen Qingqiu starts walking slowly towards the cave, he follows half a step behind, his presence solid and soothing.
The cave is dimly lit. Torches are embedded in the wall every couple steps, creating dancing shadows on the stony walls. There's a sweet smell in the air, enticing and light, but it seems to be perfume rather than succubi poison. The tunnel curves once, twice and then opens into a bigger cave - in its middle, Shen Qingqiu spots a table surrounded by various pillows that look temptingly soft to the touch.
The other temptation is sitting right at said table, clad in flowing layers of glittering silk. Madam Meiyin is a striking woman, with a beautiful face and a sensual figure. Her eyes hold a spark of mischief when she looks at them - her gaze flits over Shen Qingqiu quickly before it fixates on Liu Qingge and she sits up straighter.
"Welcome, esteemed cultivators," she greets them in a voice that's almost a purr. "What an honour to host such important guests. They call me Madam Meiyin. Whatever could this humble one do for you?"
Although addressing both of them, Shen Qingqiu gets the feeling that she's mainly focused on Liu Qingge. Her eyes are practically glued to him! (He can't really fault her - Liu Qingge is quite the sight, after all.)
"We have come on behalf of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and a nearby village," Shen Qingqiu says as politely as he can as he goes to sit down across from her. Liu Qingge doesn't even grace her with an answer, just kneels by Shen Qingqiu's side, looking every bit like a guard dog. His dark eyes scan their surroundings while Shen Qingqiu explains their mission and hopes Madam Meiyin will be easy to handle.
"Oh, wouldn't it be a shame if I left? My services are highly sought after," she sing-songs - Shen Qingqiu hides his face behind his fan but Liu Qingge downright snorts at her words. For the first time, her expression turns a little sour.
"My fortune telling abilities are the best you'll ever come across," she insists, eyes fixed on Liu Qingge. "Perhaps the esteemed cultivators would like a demonstration?"
Shen Qingqiu is actually quite curious about her abilities, if he's being honest. But before he can move, Liu Qingge almost shoulders him out of the way and says: "I'll do it."
So straightforward, shidi!
Madam Meiyin looks pleased once more. Her hands trail gently over Liu Qingge's offered arm, manicured nails tracing patterns into his palm. Shen Qingqiu watches with no small amount of fascination as Liu Qingge's brow starts twitching.
"Get on with it," he demands. Madam Meiyin heaves a delicate little sigh.
"Such a beautiful man and yet so impatient," she says quietly. She draws a complicated pattern into the palm of Liu Qingge's hand and Shen Qingqiu leans forward, curious to see what's happening. "You could have anyone you wanted with your looks."
"I don't want anyone," Liu Qingge objects immediately. For some reason, it makes Madam Meiyin smile.
"Ah, of course. Then, would the esteemed Peak Lord of Bai Zhan like a reading on his love life? I can tell you accurately whether or not your chosen person is also your fated one."
Chosen person? Shen Qingqiu blinks at the succubus, then at his shidi. Did he miss something important? Does Liu Qingge have a fiancé!? Why did you not tell your shixiong anything about that!!!
As if reading his thoughts, Liu Qingge scowls and glances at him. "I do not have a fiancé. Or anything like that."
Shen Qingqiu quickly hides behind his fan, feigning indifference. "No need to get all defensive, shidi," he replies easily. Why is he so relieved to hear there's no romantic love interest in Liu Qingge's life??
There's a beat of uncomfortable silence as Shen Qingqiu tries and fails to look away from Liu Qingge, whose dark eyes don't look away from him even once.
In the end, Madam Meiyin breaks the quiet.
"Esteemed cultivators, may I continue?"
Flustered, Shen Qingqiu quickly gestures for her to keep going, resolutely staring at the far end of the cave wall. He's not going to look at Liu Qingge!
Madam Meiyin begins to softly mumble under her breath, words that sound strange and melodic. Shen Qingqiu notices the way her fingertips seem to light up and he can't help but turn his head to look. She's writing something. Her fingers dance over the skin of Liu Qingge's wrist and the soft glow seems to morph into letters.
Suddenly, her other hand shoots out and grabs Shen Qingqiu's wrist as well.
He's too surprised to react, eyes glued to the glow of her hands that seeps into his skin now. It feels warm.
Then she takes her hand away and Shen Qingqiu feels his stomach drop out.
Madam Meiyin's voice seems to come from far, far away; muted, as if they're underwater. Shen Qingqiu hears her talking but his eyes are glued to his wrist. Liu Qingge is written in beautiful handwriting on his skin.
"The name of your fated partner is revealed," Madam Meiyin announces, her voice echoing around the cave. "Congratulations, Peak Lord Liu. Your chosen person is your fated person, it seems."
Shen Qingqiu feels ice cold from head to toe at the words. He turns his head. Liu Qingge's wrist is in plain view - and the name on it is both familiar and strange.
Shen Yuan .
Shen Qingqiu reacts without thinking. He slaps his hand over the name on Liu Qingge's wrist and fires a blast of spiritual energy at Madam Meiyin, sending her backwards in a heap of flowing robes and pillows. "We're done here!," he announces frantically, tugging at Liu Qingge's wrist to get him to his feet. To get him to move.
Holy shit he can't breathe. They have to get out of here, right now-
What follows is utter chaos.
Madam Meiyin scrambles away amidst the sparks of spiritual energy and sword flashes, but not before releasing a horde of succubi who keep Shen Qingqiu and Liu Qingge busy for quite a while.
Shen Qingqiu doesn't know how he ends up outside again, sitting on the floor in a truly undignified heap of limbs and robes but here he is. Night has fallen and the air is crisp and cool but he barely registers it. His mind races.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, Liu Qingge has his name on his wrist! His real name, his Before name-
Shen Qingqiu is just waiting for a blaring System alert telling him he failed before he keels over. The System threatened before to send him back to his old world if he fails but he died there , he can't go back-
"Hey," Liu Qingge says. His voice cuts through the rising panic and Shen Qingqiu looks up.
His face is softer than Shen Qingqiu has ever seen it before. His eyes also look far more worried than anything Shen Qingqiu has ever seen so far. He feels the urge to cry and hastily wipes his sleeve across his face.
His eyes fall back to the name on his wrist.
He freezes.
Liu Qingge reaches out before he can hide his wrist away; his fingers (long and strong and slightly rough) are incredibly gentle as they wrap around Shen Qingqiu's wrist.
"Shen Yuan," he calls quietly and it's the best and yet the worst sound Shen Qingqiu has ever heard. Liu Qingge sounds mildly surprised. "I always thought your personal name was Shen Jiu ."
"It's… complicated," Shen Qingqiu manages, his voice far weaker than he'd like. Gods , he's shaking. "I'm afraid I cannot tell Liu-shidi the full story."
Liu Qingge nods immediately.
Really , shidi? You're just gonna accept it like that, no questions asked?
"Liu-shidi doesn't have any questions?," Shen Qingqiu asks because he can't believe that Liu Qingge is just going to be content without an explanation. Liu Qingge, to his surprise, shrugs and says: "Don't you have questions?"
Does he? Shen Qingqiu is so completely out of his depth with the turn of events that his head is spinning, to be honest. He also has about a million different questions but he doesn't dare ask.
Madam Meiyin said that Liu Qingge's chosen person is his fated person as well. Shen Qingqiu has read his fair share of online fanfiction to put two and two together and realize that he is the person in question - as if the matching names on their wrists aren't a dead giveaway too.
But how . He'd never noticed any change in Liu Qingge's behavior towards him. Nothing that would've implied a… romantic interest , so to say. They hang out. Liu Qingge brings him gifts. Shen Qingqiu feels quite at ease when they're together and okay , maybe he is crushing a little on Liu Qingge as well but come on ! Who wouldn't?!
"I'm not good with words," Liu Qingge says, his voice interrupting the whirlwind of Shen Qingqiu's messy thoughts. He's very close and it probably should make Shen Qingqiu very nervous, but for some reason it doesn't. He just feels… safe.
"Shen Qingqiu. Shen Yuan. " The way Liu Qingge says his name steals the breath right from Shen Qingqiu. He can't look away from those serious, dark eyes, solely focused on him. "I don't care about your name. Shen Jiu or Shen Yuan, it doesn't matter to me. You're you . And I want to court you."
Liu Qingge actually blushes as he says it and Shen Qingqiu feels breathless.
"I've wanted to court you for a while. I didn't know how to ask."
He tugs on Shen Qingqiu's arm, still securely in his hold. He kisses his own name written in black ink on Shen Qingqiu's wrist, his lips like a brand against soft skin.
Shen Qingqiu definitely has stopped breathing, blood rushing in his ears at a near deafening volume. He doesn't know how to respond. Liu Qingge must read it on his face, because he lets go and withdraws slightly, as if to give him space. (It only makes Shen Qingqiu feel unbearably cold.)
"You don't need to decide right away," Liu Qingge adds after a moment, ever the warrior soldering on. His eyes show nothing but honesty. He must feel equally as steamrolled by everything that has happened as Shen Qingqiu does but somehow, he deals better with it.
Shen Qingqiu looks at him, really looks at him. This man that he saved himself, this impossible warrior, this stubborn War God. He looks at Liu Qingge and thinks about courtship and only panics for a brief second.
They could try, right? They could try.
And they can attempt to untangle the rest of the mess some other time. Together.
"Okay. Court me," Shen Qingqiu blurts out, because of course he has to ruin such a big moment with such a messy way of answering.
To his relief, Liu Qingge smiles as if he's just been given the greatest gift and it feels only slightly earth shattering when their hands find each other and their fingers tangle together.