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Chapter Text

It's only a coincidence that they stumbled upon the scene, coming back from a Night Hunt that had devolved into a supply run when they realized the town they had been sent to houst a particularly strong evil spirit from the shrine it had decided to haunt, managed a mine from where rare ingots grew like fruits on a branch. Now saddled with three carts full of raw metal, Wei Qingwei and his fellow disciples had been forced to return to the sect the slow way, rather than by sword like they first did. He doesn't know if he should be thankful of it when they enter a clearing, only to find the decomposing bodies of An Ding disciples, threwn around the area like dolls by a bored child.

Inspecting the place, the Wan Jiang disciples grimaced at the sight and the smell; still, it was pretty clear it had been pretty much a one-way massacre: the An Ding disciples had tried to flee from the threat, some barely able to reach the tree line before being struck in the back, most scattered around where a cart must have been. A couple had their swords out but they were so full of holes they were basically unrecognizable. Under the bodies, the ground was strangely wet despite having not been any rain for a couple of weeks.

The conclusion they were able to come with was pretty grim and puzzling at the same time: the An Ding disciples had been embushed by someone or something, either a demon or a demonic beast and had tried to flee. The few braver ones had only been able to unsheath their swords before they were struck by some sort of projectile. It had been fast, powerful and without mercy.

And yet there had been a survivor, seeing as the cart was nowhere to be seen, and there was only one set of footprint that didn't match the other disciple's boots that looked fresher then their deaths. It surprising that whomever survived didn't burn the body, or perform the ritual to avoid lingering resentful energies from poisoning the place and spawning ghosts.

Speaking of which, that was probably what had got the disciples: one powerful wind wraith that killed everyone moving and the only survivor being left alive by sheer luck. Then, as cowardly as any other An Ding cultivator, the disciple had ran away with their cargo, foregoing the bodies. Why they didn't contact the sect was up to air, maybe they got too scared and renounced cultivation altogether. Maybe they died further up the road. Maybe they didn't have a clue how to do it (it happened. It's shameful for everyone, but he knew a shixiong that was so out of it he never learned how to send an emergency signal. He died slipping on an ice patch after trying to enter Xian Shu one winter night.)

They decide to burn the bodies after collecting their tags, comforting their nervous horses while passing by the clairing and further up the road. There was a village a few hours away, which would help in gathering informations; after all, someone must have stumbled upon the massacre site and told someone, especially if cultivators were involved.

It's surprising that no one went through this path, seeing how well maintained and large it was -no doubt used for merchants and other big carriages but the lack of use was concerning. The group of Wan Jian cultivators ride in silence, unease sprouting in their stomachs. Wei Qingwei left a hand on his sword in case a demonic beast (or the wraith) appeared unexpectandly.

Nothing jumped at them from the treeline, no bodies were found the further they went up the road... They found nothing but cart tracks as they reached the small town, people bustling around as if nothing was amiss, merchants yelling from their stalls, children running around without care and the general background noise of a healthy city. They got a few curious gazes from the townfolks as they passed through the main road but no one jumped at them in fright, or demanding help from demonic activities.

"We'll go ask near the inns, see if our shidimei came here." Wei Qingwei told his fellow disciples, turning his head left and right to spot the An Ding disciple. They must have come through this town and people must have seen them - after all, a sect uniform was made specifically to be seen and recognized and only rogue (or demonic) cultivators wore more unconspicuous clothing to blend better in a crowd.

"Wait, isn't that him?" A disciple to his left said, pointing to further in the crowd where the powder yellow of an An Ding outer-disciple could be seen. The disciple seemed to be arguing with a vendor, stress evident on his face. "He looks fine."

"Maybe only physically." Wei Qingwei sagely said, going off his horse to reach the An Ding disciple faster. Maybe the disciple ran out of the situation with no wounds on his body, but his psyche could have been hurt all the same. It would be hard to say until he was handed to Cang Qiao.

"-outrageous, this is subpar silk at best, it is not worth 2 silver taels. Maybe if you include a roll of that other one that'll balance the price but-"

"Shidi." Wei Qingwei said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. The An Ding disciple shrieked in terror, curling into a ball on the ground and fat tears painting the dry street with dark splotches.

"I didn't do anything! It's not my fault, I didn't do anything! I couldn't do anything! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

"Shidi, hey Shidi..." Wei Qingwei tried to speak softly, to soothe the poor boy but he was already too far into his own head, getting closer and closer to a panic attack - and a qi deviation, as his roiling Qi indicated.

With a grimace, Wei Qingwei did the only sensible thing he could do: he knocked his little shidi, before he could truly spin himself into a qi deviation, and gently holled him on his shoulders. The merchant was looking worryingly at them, before he pushed two bundles of clothe to him.

"I can't take that." Wei Qingway said, taking his shidi in his arms.

"Please," the merchant insisted, "I know An Ding will pay me back what I'm owed, so it's no skin off my back to give this to you. Plus this little guy was one heck of a haggler, nearly sold my wares at a loss." Well, if the man seemed happy to nearly have been swindled by his tiny shidi, then who was Wei Qingwei to refuse? Plus, it was quite good quality silk, smooth to the touch and an excellent shade of red.

Why this shidi needed red fabric, he didn't know, but the shade complimented his brown hair well.

--

Two days later, the poor An Ding disciple woke up with a start, sitting up in the cart looking very confused. Wei Qingwei, whose turn it was to drive the cart, turned to look at him with a gentle smile.

"How is shidi doing?"

"Wh- where am I? Wait, are we going back to the sect?"

Wei Qingwei nodded, frowning a little when the disciple looked visibly more and more upset, until tears sprung out of his eyes like a faucet. "You're going back to safety, shidi." He added, gently.

"He's gonna kill me...!" His An Ding shidi started wailing, hiding his face in his knees. Awkwardly, Wei Qingwei leaned into the cart to pat on his back, trying to soothe the sobbing disciple.

"Don't worry, I'm sure your shizun will understand the situation. You did well surviving."

"I won't survive long enough to appreciate it!" The An Ding disciple cried out, louder - he really should ask for his name, it was awkward calling him "An Ding disciple" all the time. Still, he sure was a dramatic one! The An Ding peak lord will surely understand hiding and fleeing from a threat that killed a dozen disciples, a couple of them having formed their golden cores already.

There was still the mystery of the red fabric -but Wei Qinqwei chalked it up quickly as it being the disciple trying to curb his trauma with something familiar. Maybe, hopefully, he wasn't going to get into too much trouble.

Chapter Text

Yue Qingqyuan kept a mesured pace as he walked up to the door, a tray filled with pastries, cups and a full teapot in hands. His shizun had called for refreshments after the An Ding peak lord had come unexpectantly for a meeting and so it was his duty as head disciple to see as his shizun and his guests were not troubled by something as earthly as thirst.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNED MIND?!" His shizun's voice was booming as Yue Qingyuan opened the laquered door, the silencing array being breached for the briefesed moment - of course, Yue Qingyuan didn't let any emotions grace his face even if he grimaced internally from the tone and vulgar language his shifu, the sect leader, was using.

"You're being senile if you even think I will agree to this- this farce!"

Guo Fangyuang calmly thanked Yue Qingyuan for the cup of tea, making a small noise of pleasure seeing the choice of pastries being presented to him. Ran Fangtiang, his shifu, barely acknowledged him, his attention fully on his shidi.

Next to Guo Fangyuang, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere but here and pale as a ghost, was an An Ding disciple that Yue Qingyuan had seen several times before but couldn't place the name.

"I do not see the problem, zanghmen-shixiong. You always preach for our sect to take initiatives but when I do, suddenly it is the worst decision ever taken."

"I do not mind initiatives Guo-shidi." Ran Fangtiang gritted out as Yue Qingyuan sat next to him, face-to-face with the other disciple whom he sent a reassuring smile - and feeling confused as to why he would blanche even more, like he's afraid of him. "But changing your head disciple last minute because one of your runt managed to get engaged out of the blue isn't something I can accept. Bai Qingli is betrothed to the direct nephew of the emperor of the human realm; This one-" he pointed to the disciple, who visibly shrunk at being looked at directly. "only managed to get with a fourth prince! Even less than a spare! And you think this entitles him to the head disciple position?!"

"Ah. How kind of you to only care about the "fourth prince" part and not-"

"Cease!" The sect leader - who always preached Yue Qingyuan to keep a neutral expression on his face - was beet red and nearly frothing at the mouth. "I am only ignoring this part because I do not believe of his prolonged survival. I will not accept this!"

"Oh but shixiong," Guo Fangyuang threw a desabused look to the sect leader. "this has already been acted. I only came here to inform you, not ask for your opinion. Shang Qinghua is my new head disciple and Bai Ruong is soon to be sent to his own fiance - something about a sudden illness."

A shiver ran through Yue Qingyuan's back as he watched, from the corner of his eye, his shifu visibly bite back his words, gritting his teeth in sheer rage. "As you know, Shang-shizi has made a lot of improvements to the sect during his short term as an inner disciple - improvements you are currently enjoying the benefices of. Who cares if he marries a fourth prince or a king: he will become the An Ding peak lord and bring the sect to soaring hights, farther even than Huan Hua. I couldn't bring him to head disciple position without a good match but thankfully, he had more reach than I previously thought initially."

Yue Qingyuan's gaze slid back to the nex head disciple - Shang Qinghua, so that was his name (or rather, his new name). He looked kinda cute in a bulliable way, with brown eyes shining from unshed tears and fluffy brown hair. He didn't look strong but An Ding's cultivation path was more of body strengthening and reinforcment so it didn't matter if he looked fragile.

Rather, he was more surprised high positions could be handed to a disciple if they married well- he felt that defeated the point of cultivating and learning. Shen-shidi would have an aneurysm if he learned of this fact, as he was always working harder and longer than anyone in the sect to justify his shizun's decision in giving him the head disciple position.

Speaking of which, he'd better start having good relations with his new shidi - he truly didn't want to alienate the one that will manage the whole sect's finances like his shifu did, as that truly would be a mistake that would make the rest of his stay as sect leader a political and financial nightmare.

"Congratulation on becoming head disciple, shidi." He said with a large smile, earning himself - to his confusion - blubbers and tears.

Ah. Off to a great start with his new shidi, wasn't he.

Chapter Text

Qi Qingqi doesn't hate boys. She doesn't like them either but this is more because they tended to act in a way that made her skin crawl, always veeing for her or her martial sisters attention - and sometimes not in the most respectful of ways. Most of the other head disciples are fine to interact with but others...

She looks at Shen Qingqiu and barely contains her sneer as he haughtily fanned himself, presenting the image of a noble brat that was far above everyone else. It was really creepy how he seemed to only be pleasant to female disciples and combined with how he's regularly seen at brothels... No one can blame her for being a tad too precautious interacting with him. People like him looooved to show their "good nature" by imposing their wealth upon more fragile people and make them "owe them", thus leading for the offender to take advantage of their apparent debt and-

"Hmm. Shimei?" Broken out of her internal tirade, Qi Qingqi turned around to see the newest addition to their group, a meek looking disciple that had replaced the more enjoyable Bai Qing- Ruong unexpectandly. She had no idea why but she was particularly miffed. Bai Ruong had been alright for a man and he had enough backbone to look her in the eyes. Unlike this one.

"Yes...?"

"Ah- Shang Qinghua... The new head disciple, hahahhh. I, huh, wanted to ask you something because, well, you're my only hope at this point, everyone else was predictably unhelpful and you know what they say, a woman's sensibility is often better than anyth-"

"Get on with it." She cut him off, more sharply than she wanted to. Bai Ruong would have said what he wanted without circling around the subject for hours.

"Right, right... Would you know what is best to offer to one's betrothed? I tried several things but the result is... unconclusive."

Well, she was known to be a great gift-giver, it wasn't a stretch other people would want help from her. "Who's the betrothed?" She asked, wanting to know what she would have to work with.

"A dem- I mean hahahahahh! A really taciturne and imposing fiancé! Not much of a talker but really beautiful and with huge ti- no wait great assets."

Ah.

Men.

All the same, weren't say. To say her opinion on her new shixiong plumetted would be an understatement. Poor girl, to think she ended up with a man who thought of nothing but her body... "What did you try?" She still asks, because she's a professional and alienating a shixiong, even if he deserved to be taught a little lesson, would hinder inter-peak relationship. And she had too much of them strained, as her shizun said.

"Oh hmm. Food items? A pretty statue I found in storage. A comfortable mattress with duvet and pillows. I got hit every single time I presented anything to them." He looked pitiful. Ah! Of course a woman wouldn't feel like he was serious if that was all he could do! Food? What if what he offered made her sick, or wasn't palatable to her in the first place? A random trinket found in one of An Ding's storage room? Knowing what trash usually found its way into An Ding from other peak's missions and disappeared under tons of dust, she winced at the thoughtlessness of it.

For the mattress and such.. This was a blatant invitation to activities and if he had an ounce of braincells, he'd know this wasn't something to gift to anyone, especially not so soon in their relationship. Ugh, poor girl.

"Shixiong." She said instead of anything else that was currently on her mind. "Generally, it is best to gift clothes, or jewelry. The more expensive the better, in fact." When it cost more, it was generally better quality - and anyone deserved to have something that would last and be proud to show off, not something carelessly bought. "Some people also like to know whether their fiancé is capable, you might want to hunt a beast for its fur. Make it a coat, gloves or something but the most dangerous, the more you'll be sure it'll be accepted."

Shang Qinghua looked quite pale after she finished her piece, sweating and trembling. About to pass out, it seemed. Uugh. Weak.

"The most dangerous I know of?" He asked with a tiny voice, refusing to look her in the eyes. Hmm, seeing he was from An Ding, then he maybe thought of hunting some Moss-Horned Pumas or something - dangerous enough to inspire respect, but definitely in the range of his abilities.

"Yes shixiong. Otherwise, how will they know you are serious?"

Shang Qinghua looked positively horrified and, once more, Qi Qingqi regretted Bai Ruong had been demoted for that. She was tempted to say something else but the An Ding head disciple scurried away, fleeing from the room. Hmpf. But oh well, no skin off her back if he ended up offensing his future wife.

(Shang Qinghua appeared at a head disciple meeting, months later, limping and with bone deep exhaustion. Qi Qingqi could only roll her eyes at the sight: there was no doubt he had fumbled pretty hard with his gift and his fiancée (or fiancée's family) dealt with the humiliation of a boy's pathetic attempt. Perhaps she should be more empathetic, but... no. She couldn't always hold his hands, he had to take care of his problems on his own.)

Chapter Text

"I beg your pardon, shixiong?" Mu Qingfang looked at his fellow peak lord - newly minted, both still buzzing from the change in rank and responbilities ( and the loss of their teacher, of being left all alone in charge of hundreds if not thousands of cultivators from all ages...). Shang Qinghua looked rather frazzled and beet red from embarrasment.

"Must I repeat myself, shidi?" He whimpered, eyes darting everywhere except on him.

"If you want this one to help, then yes."

"Aaah... Well... you know that I'm married?"

"You have mentionned it once or twice, yes." Mu Qingfang nodded. He still doesn't know how he feel about An Ding cultivators being married left and right to bolster Cang Qiong's vast network [of merchants] but he could tell these "transactions" were never made unwillingly. If not with love involved, at least there was mutual respect.

"Well... One day when we were still head disciples, I had difficulties... making sure my then-fiancé knew I was serious and willing. Qi shimei gave me some good advices and - well some stuff they did were part of cultural differences we ironed out between us butnevermindthat! - and we...

"Let's just say our first time was miserable, it had hurt and a nose was broken..."

Mu Qingfang internally sighed at that, knowing most disciples (and masters) were majoritarily celibate and were offended at the mere mention of partaking in the pleasures of the flesh - never mind that a lot of them ended up needing qi regulation in the form of intercourses due to the very nature of most pollens and venoms around.

"But now we want to try again!" Mu Qingfang's internal sigh became stronger, at the thought of his shixiong's spouse being so turned off by their first time they waited a couple of years to try having sex again. "And father-in-law is very demanding of an heir, so if you have something that can boost that side..."

"Eating healthy is mostly recommended, with various dishes made with fresh ingredients. Otherwise, may I recommend foreplay and preparation?"

"Prep... Oh! The lube! Holy shit, that's right we forgot the lube. Damn, curse younger me, you're telling me we would have been more huh active if I hadn't forgot about the lube?"

"Yes, shixiong." Mu Qingfang sighed, showing the patience of a saint. "Oil and time are absoltely key if you don't want to hurt your partner. Yellow books are not the best way to get this sort of knowledge! You should know better."

"Oh." Shang Qinghua made a strange face at that, one Mu Qingfang was unable to decypher properly before it was gone. "You're right. I should. Hahaha, how embarrassing, it does bite me in the ass after all."

"Shixiong?"

"Nah, nothing. Just the rambling of an overworked peak lord, you know how it is."

"Shixiong, we just got our position, I do not see how it is related." He did know, but, not unlike Wei-shixiong, Mu Qingfang enjoyed prodding at their nervous martial brother - to a reasonnable degree.

"Oh, haha, you're so funny shidi. I thought we were going to be best buds and have our secret 'overworked peak lord' handshake but I see I was wrong aaaall along. I feel so betrayed! Friendship ended with Mu Qingfang, now Yue Qingyuan in my best friend."

"Shixiong, be serious," Mu Qingfang tutted him as he tried to flee, "we all know Wei-shixiong is your favorite." Some may argue this statement to be false, but what a sleep-deprived Shang Qinghua didn't remember, one would not dare broach the subject. "And use protection." He adds to receive an outraged squawk, chuckling to himself as he finally let his silly shixiong go. He may have sent that to tease him, but he truly wished to be able to meet Shang Qinghua's children one of these days. With such a father, they would assuredly become little menaces and he couldn't wait to place bets with Wei Qingwei on who would become doting uncles/aunts first.

Chapter Text

Liu Qingge feel the pinprick of a gaze on him as he wishes goodbye to Liu Mingyang and he turns around to see Shang Qinghua, idling on the side of the construction site of a new training hall - one that he had finally managed to get to be built, after hours of nagging his martial brother. Shang Qinghua looked pensive, fingers twirling a charcoal stick and turning his fingers black.

"Shang Qinghua." He called out, making the An Ding peak lord jump out of his skin and snap his focus entierely on him.

"Sorry shidi," Shang Qinghua chuckled, approaching him so he wouldn't have to raise his voice to talk, "but seeing you and Liu-shizi so amicable to each other made me wish my eldests were the same. Thank god Xiao-Hua is too young to join them in tearing each other's throat."

"Teenagers." Liu Qingge shook his head, remembering how difficult Mingyang had been when she reached that age, and how he had been with his cousins - and admittedly, his martial siblings. "Why don't you separate them, or exhaust them so they don't have the strength to go at each other?"

"I tried! They're impossible to tire out since they started to use their qi! They can go on days long hunts and come back fresh like the snow and start biting each other again for dominance, or whatever. Demons, I swear..."

Liu Qingge chuckled, shaking his head a little. Shang Qinghua was always dramatic like that when it came to his family and sometimes a bit uncomfortable when he added his wife to the name dropping (she sounded like a true warrior and did not deserve to be compared to demons or demonic beasts, cold behavior aside) but he could gloss over it since the love for his family always shone through in the end. "But oh well, in the end, the elders are happy to tear at each other's throat to decide which of the twins get to be the heir, the twins don't seem to take that seriously and frankly don't care for the position, xiao-Dui is studying to be the heir and xiao-Hua is still in her biting stage.

"All in all, I can't quite complain, heh? I've heard the daughter of the most influencal clan in the south is ripping scalps when she's upset. I'm so glad neither Xiao-Shan or Xiao-Beng were into it."

"If they are, send them to me and I'll set them straight. Get all your kids to visit. I think I speak for all peak lords when I say we want to finally meet your kids. Stop hiding them from us."

"hahahahaa, shidi. That's... a good idea! I'll talk to my honoured father-in-law, he's the one that has final say on the kids despite not caring about his household" he mutters, nearly too low to catch.

"If he says no one more time, I'll go and beat him up. You're the father, your position should have more weight in the household, especially when it concerns your kids. You're a peak lord, despite it all."

"Shidi, that's very kind of you but the way you phrased it kinda stings..." Shang Qinghua whined, clutching at his chest as if his words had truly hurt him (spreading charcoal all over his outer-robes) but Liu Qingge knew more: despite the man's pathetic and somewhat shameful behavior, Shang Qinghua had a thicker hide than any of them, able to handle the worst insults without flinching much.

Sometimes, he swore he let Shen Qingqiu badmouth him on purpose as their bonding time and he'd seen the way the mousy peak lord's eyes had shone through the insults. Freak behavior. But when Shen Qingqiu was busy being venimous to Shang Qinghua, he wasn't bothering anyone else - and truly it made Shang Qinghua happy in a way Liu Qingge couldn't understand. "Anyway, I'll see to have them visit? One day. At the soonest auspicious date?"

Which meant probably never, Liu Qigge surmissed as he frowned a little, knowing this was how Shang Qinghua promised without promising anything. He'd have to talk with their martial siblings and stage an intervention, if Shang Qinghua's spouse family kept forbidding his children to visit their father at the sect. No matter they were taught cultivation, Liu Qingge really wanted to be able to teach them a few sword moves. And he knew the rest of the peak lords were the same - after all, Shang Qinghua was the only one with children out of all twelve of them.

"See to it." He answered, already planning to badger him several times a month if he didn't see hair nor tail from these children.

He was going to meet his martial nephews and niece, and nothing will stop him.

Chapter Text

"So far it's a draw, immortal master Shen." Sha Hualing crooned, twirling her braids around her fingers as the defeated Liu Mingyang bowed in shame before him, limping back into the crowd of disciples that had gathered behind him. "One point for you, one point for us. The last fight is going to be so informative to watch, with such a high stake, wouldn't you think so?"

Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth, glaring daggers at her but he couldn't deny they were at an impasse. He didn't know where most adults of Qiong Ding were, but all he had to send against the demons were mere disciples. "So?" He still goaded, unable to let himself be seen as weak. "Even if one of our famed flower faeries was still a budding talent doesn't mean we'll let another loss bersmirch Qiong Ding peak and our sect as a whole. Send your fighter, you will see how we teach a lesson, here."

"Ooh, immortal master Shen, no need to defend yourself to hardily. But since you're so sure of yourself, then let the last opponent on your side be of your peak. That would be fair, none of your disciple would dare to shame you, right?"

Irritated, Shen Qingqiu could only accept those terms. Alas, he wouldn't dare throw Ning Yingying into battle but he had no one else strong enough except-

"Luo Binghe, go fight." He announced, seeing the teenager startle at being called out, sending watery eyes his way but Shen Qingqiu wasn't going to budge - the kid's foundation was irritably strong despite his lack of care for training and it would buy him enough time to think of some plan to get rid of the demons. And if the brute was to leave the Ling Xi caves soon enough... Better throw that idea away, Liu Qingge had always been unreliable.

"Yes shizun." The boy said, nervous and shaking - which ellicited a laugh from the demons. How dare he send someone so pathetic, they must be thinking and he loated the idea just as much! Ning Yinying was whimpering at his side, possibly upset he had sent out her friend.

"Oooh, how adorable. He looks so cute and tender, so squishy." Sha Hualing cooed, before turning her head to the other massive demon at her side - elder One Arm bitterly sending daggers his way.

"I'll go." A voice as soft as frost (and as cold) sounded just as she opened her mouth, her face instantly twisting into displeasure. From behind elder One Arm, another teenager appeared, wearing the colors and furs of a Northern Demon. Why he would be associating himself with Southern Demons was beyond him but it meant nothing good.

"Of course, your highness." Sha Hualing said with a sweetly venomous voice. She then chuckled. "Luo Binghe and Mo Bingshan. Who's to win between an icy river and an iceberg? You must find this very poetic, immortal master Shen."

"Enough." Mo Bingshan said - and this was no mere ice demon then, but someone from the Mo clan, royalty. Whether from the main branch or from a side branch he didn't know, but this could cause a lot of trouble if he wasn't careful. The teenager unclasped his cape, throwing it in Sha Hualing's face before stepping in the "arena". Taller than Luo Binghe by a full head, he cut an impressive figure for a young demon. "We're here to fight, not chat."

There was a short moment where both opponents were gauging each other before the young Mo demon threw himself at Luo Binghe, sharp clawed hands ready to strike. Luo Binghe is faster than his otherwise clumsy streak let it because he's able to block the claws with his training sword and slash back, his forms messy but purposeful. For this, Shen Qingqiu would drill into this little beast's head how to properly hold a weapon but he was managing fine for now.

Mo Bingshan's moves were heavy, half feral but calculated. It led Luo Binghe in a circle around the arena for the sole purpose of tiring him out. It would be fascinating to watch if it weren't one of his own disciple, even if he could care less fot this particular one - the shame of a disciple of his peak losing in front of a demon and the Qiong Ding plaque being stolen was making him grit his teeth in advance. He may have sent Luo Binghe to fight but he had no hope for him, except to hold out long enough for reinforcments to come.

A sudden chill made Shen Qingqiu frown as the air around them became colder, enough for their breath to began to show. It had been slow but it was finally here, the Mo clan's most pernicious advantage: area control. If Luo Binghe wasn't careful, he would fall right into the trap laid by his adversary, as snow was slowly starting to gather, kept to just the rough circle of the arena in an impressive act of budding mastery for an ice demon that hadn't yet reached adulthood.

With a move that was more instinct and luck than true training, Luo Binghe twisted out of the way of a thin ice spear that suddenly sprouted from the ground with all intent to skewer him. More appeared, making Luo Binghe struggle to avoid in time and keep his balance, one spear clipping him on the side - a small wound, too shallow to be concerning and yet the first blood of this fight.

This was no fair play, but a predator playing with his prey - and Luo Binghe might have realized he was in more danger than he thought as he sprung back to the attack with renewed vigor, finally forcing the young ice demon on the defensive. With moves that were obviously Qing Jing mixed with other peak's moves - was that a Xian Shu twirl? Where and when did the brat managed to learn that?! Did he copy Liu Mingyan's moves from earlier just by watching her?

Stuck in this seething train of thought, Shen Qingqiu barely reacted when small, cold finger curling around his own - and for a moment he thought it would be Ning Yingying seeking comfort at seeing her friend in danger but she was further on his left, right into his peripheral vision (clutching both her hands to her chest); letting his gaze slide down to his side, Shen Qingqiu barely managed to conceal his surprise at seeing a fucking toddler hanging off of him.

Well, toddler might be exagerated as the child looked about nine (but demons did grow differently from humans, so truly, what did he know?). Nonetheless, it was standing next to him, clinging to him with apparently no caution at all, focused entierely on the fight in front of them.

From the cut of the clothes and the shine of the fabric - so similar to Mo Bingshan's own - Shen Qingqiu could infer she was a Mo noble too, but why the hell would an invasion force bring a child with them?! Why would Mo Bingshan let his - his what, sister? cousin? smack dab in the middle of a cultivator group and hanging off of a peak lord?

As questions twirled into his head and indecision made him freeze, the child looked up at him and smiled, showing her far too sharp teeth (and the adorable gaps between them) as well as the peak lord token she was currently using as a chew-toy.

One less mystery to solve, he now knew how such a large invading force managed to get inside of Cang Qiong without setting off any alarms.

Still, how did she get her grubby little hands on a peak lord's token? With measured hands, Shen Qingqiu gently grabbed the jade pendant, making a disgusted face at the sheen of saliva coating it before his eyes focused on the design carved into it.

"Xiao-Hua has taken to stealing my token. She liked gnawing on it when she was teething and she unfortunately kept the habit. The stealing was because I refused to hand it to her once so she took the matter into her own hands. Hahaha, can you believe it? She's so adorable."

"Oh, Shang-shidi. You're going to have a lot to explain." He lightly said, bending down to hold Xiao-Hua - his martial niece and a half-demon - in his arms, lending her the token again as she made grabby hand motions toward it, stuffing it in her mouth as soon as her pudgy fingers closed around it. Like that, with her cheeks puffing out from the qi-reinforced jade, she looked starkingly like Shang Qinghua... The other Mo brat as well, that unruly mass of hair and that irritating twist of the mouth screamed his mousy martial sibling...

Shen Qingqiu should have felt vindicated in his previous accusations of colluding with demons since his shidi survived that mission in his disciple days, but this seemed more than just that, and just as complicated. Without hearing it from him directly (assuming he wouldn't lie), he would end up endangering children and incuring the wrath of the Northern Demons. Knowing how much trouble they already were for Huan Hua, he wasn't going to let their ire fall on them.

An anguished cry from Ning Yingying brought his attention back to the fight just in time to see Luo Binghe fall right on his back, struggling to get back on his feet just as five shimmering swords (rough from lack of mastery over it, but still impressive looking) formed above him, ready to skewer him.

Now, Shen Qingqiu didn't like that boy, but it didn't mean he wanted him to die - or to have people see him die. But just as he got ready to jump into the fray and separate the two, a huge shadow formed right behind Mu Bingshan and out came one of the most intimidating demon he'd ever seen. Xiao-Hua in his arms started to wiggle and squeel in glee, grabbing at his hair while pointing at the newcomer and if Shen Qingqiu hadn't wanted to garner the ire of who was absolutely Mo father, then he'd have let go of her without hesitation.

With one powerful move, Mo father slapped the back of his son's head, sending him carenning forward right on top of Luo Binghe, slamming forehead against jaw and that ellicited a wince from everyone around, seeing the both of them writhe on the floor and holding their injured head.

"Scram." Mo-father growled at Sha Hualing and her merry band of demons and the stupid girl must have thought to talk back to him in some way - until a vast array of sharp black sword formed in the air right in front of her and her group, effectively culling her rebelling streak right in the egg.

"That's not the end of it!" She settles for, turning back and running away as fast as she could, the rest of the demons following quickly behind her and the poor sods unlucky enough to be too slow being skewered instantly by the swords.

"Mo Bingshan." Mo father said, turning back to him but looking no less incensed. "Care to explain why this one found you at the head of an invasion force attacking your father's sect?"

"Answering honored father," the adolescent said with a growl in his throat. "It's A-ling's fault, she taunted us and called us wussies for not asserting ourselves before you."

"Silence!" Mo-father barked at him, making most of the disciples cower further behind Shen Qingqiu (and how did they think they would be protected, huddled like chicks behind him?) "You bring shame to Qinghua."

"Speaking of which," Shen Qingqiu interjected, steeling himself under the artic gaze of Mo-father. "This lord is sure my shidi would have not agreed for such barbarous presentations. He speaks so highly of you, he would be beside himself knowing his children lanched an attack on his own sect."

"En." Mo-father nodded, apparently fine with Shen Qingqiu holding his daugther, preferring staying beside his son - possibly in case of a sudden bout of escapism from the twin. Luo Binghe was back on his feet and looking absolutely pissed off, holding is sleeve to his bloody nose. "I will see that you are fairly compensated for the damages."

"Good." Shen Qingqiu nodded, suddenly feeling glad Liu Qingge didn't appear out of nowhere to oust the demons off of the peak. "Now that this matter is settled, this lord wishes to invite you to stay the night at our sect - Shang-shidi is set to come back from his meeting with Zao Hua Monastery tomorrow. It would make a pleasant surprise for him to know his family came to see him at his sect. And us peak lords have been waiting years to finally meet his family."

Mo-father acquiesced and Shen Qingqiu sighed internally - he'd have to make a lot of damage control before allowing his martial siblings to meet Shang Qinghua's family. Most of them would not take well having demons running around the sect, even more so after being invaded by a large group of them, unrelated as they were to Shang Qinghua.

Shen Qingqiu also had to send a letter to Yue Qingyuan to warn him about it, all the while making sure Shang Qinghua wasn't in the known of the content as he wouldn't put it past his mousy sect sibling to run for the hill if he knew his secret had been vented for everyone to see.

"Where are your brothers?" Mo-father asked his son, who sulkily answered.

"The big library there." Pointing to where Qing Jing peak was.

Fuck. That.

If any of these brats damaged a single one of his books, he'd make them regret it, martial family or not.

Chapter Text

"In my defense, I wasn't even hiding it?" Shang Qinghua said under the gaze of his eleven martial siblings, Mobei-Jun sitting somewhat bored at his side and Mo Xuehua walking around them with the Very Important mission of finding the peak lord token most satisfying to bite, since she understood that everyone in the room had one, not just her baba. Clever girl.

The other kids had been given some leeway as the peak lords decided (smartly) that having three bored teenagers while they tried to solve what they apparently thought was one of them colluding with demons, was a Very Bad Idea. Mo Xuedui had holed himself inside of Qing Jing's library again and both of the twins were running mostly free on Bai Zhan, figthing Liu Qingge's disciples - and hopefully that'll tire them out enough they would all have a peaceful evening.

"Really, with how much I've been talking about them, I thought you knew!"

"Shidi," Yue Qingyuan sighed, the perfect image of a disappointed big brother. "You making off-hand comments about your family and us meeting very demonic individuals is different. I'm sure you're aware of the tense relationship cultivators and demons have."

Shang Qinghua blinked owlishly at him, his brain trying to understand what the fuck was actually going on. "With all due respect, Yue-shixiong, you were there when Ran-shibo yelled at shizun about why I was made head disciple. They talked about it in length."

"Shidi," Yue Qingyuan shook his head, "they never explicitly mentionned "demon" in front of me. They did talk in length about his status as fourth prince, but nothing else."

"I am Mobei-Wang, now." Mobei interjected, his eyes following Xiao-Hua as she showed no interest in Qi Qingqi's token. She ducked under the table, escaping their gaze.

"Congratulation." Yue Qingyuan smiled, the edges a little tight.

"Wait wait wait." Shang Qinghua threw his hands in front of him, mind reeling. "Is that why everyone is always uncomfortable when I talk about my family?! Because you all assumed I married a human and I was, what, making "haha I hate my wife" jokes?!"

"Yes." Wei Qingwei bluntly said, receiving an elbow to the side for his lack of tact. "We thought it was a popular way of talking about one's spouse on An Ding."

"Are you fu-freaking serious?!" He said, louder, because he still couldn't compute anything that was going on. For more than twenty years he's been talking about Mobei and his kids and just now, because they met everyone, they staged an intervention about his supposed mysoginy?! "You do realize An Ding is the peak with the most interracial marriages, right? Most of the time its for connection, sure, but we're very strict about who marries with whom and our divorce rate is actually going down because they quickly learned that pissing off your An Ding spouse will quickly lead you to either financial ruin or social doom so-"

"Shidi." Yue Qingyuan cut him off with a raise of his hand, he and the rest of the peak lords looking both confused and aggravated. He could imagine their train of thought, of not only having their fellow peak lord colluding with demons, but the whole of An Ding peak doing the same. Seriously! Did they never wondered where some of their supplies came from?! "You must understand that-"

"No." Shen Qingqiu cut him with a sharp gesture, peak lord token held tight in his hand and held high. Following shortly, a piercing wail made Shang Qinghua internally groan.

"Shen Qingqiu!" Qi Qingqi slammed her fist on the table. "Have you no shame?!" She turned to Liu Qingge for support and looked a bit flubbered seeing he didn't jump at their shixiong's throat for making a child cry.

"Cease this instant." Shen Qingqiu said with the same tone he used to discipline his more rowdy disciples. "Such fake tears do not work on me."

Seeing she couldn't make use of any feeling of guilt from him, Xiao-Hua stopped crying as suddenly as she started before growling at him - sounding like a kitten - before she shadow hopped right on top of Mobei-jun, pulling at his hair. With the patience and experience of a father of four, Mobei-jun picked her up by the ankle, letting her dangle upside-down. She shrieked and wriggled, then giggled as Mobei-Jun gave her a shake.

On the other side of the table, looking slightly jealous, Liu Qingge nodded, finally answering Qi Qingqi's silent question. "Mingyang was the same. Mo Xuehua is testing if cheap tears will make people cave to her when said no to. Unfortunately, she used it against Shen Qingqiu."

"Shang-shidi's tears are more genuine. Shidi, see as to teach Mo Xuehua properly. You're shaming the sect."

"Shen-shidi." Yue Qingyuan sighed gently, "I don't think this is the moment for this conversation. Shang-shidi, you do understand the position of Qang Ciong when it comes to yours and your peak's... marital habits."

"Yue-shixiong, most respectuously: this has been happening on An Ding since the third generation of peak lords. Do you know how much trade has improved, how much supplies we bring from the demonic realm each month because of our relationships with the suppliers?

"Sure, most marriages happen with demons at the border of both realms, but this is how we get plants, ores and beast parts with minimal cost and minimal losses. Last year's shipment of Crimson Wailing Iron was brought thanks to my head disciple marrying into the Volcanic Mole Bear clan in the Southeast. Shen-shixiong's shizun bought wood coming exclusively from the western part of the demon realm and three of Guo-shizun's martial siblings married in this region.

"One of the rules though is that An Ding cultivators must not share anything that could be used against the sect with malicious intents. Transgressors are harshly punished." Shang Qinghua shivered, knowing this could have been him he he had been forced to spy on the sect by the feu the System. "Soooo... now that everything has been explained and we're all chill about it, we're done with this meeting, right?"

"No." Liu Qingge said, leaning forward as Mo Xuehua was trying to jump high enough to pull on his ponytail. "I'm still mad at you."

"Whyyyy, shidi?" Shang Qinghua whined, earning himself a look of pity from his husband. No help from his side, it seemed, as if he said to deal with his own mess. Mess he didn't know was here!

"Half-demon or not, you should have brought them earlier. You've taunted us with your stories for fifteen years." Liu Qingge snatched Mo Xuehua by the collar of her robe, holding her like a kitten to her delight. Mu Qingfang seemed a little nervous at the obvious manhandling of a child, but demons, even half, were fucking sturdy.

"When my husband was young," Shang Qinghua started, getting a nod of approval from Mobei-Jun. "he found himself in life-threatening situations thanks to a family member, where he was unable to flee or protect himself, even getting badly hurt a couple of times. We didn't want that for our kids and were waiting for them to have a good grasp on their shadow stepping. The twins have barely mastered their powers, Mo Xuedui is still unable to use them to travel and, well, Mo Xuehua is way too young to let out of sight for now despite how adept she is.

"I'm just disappointed they took the first occasion they found, along with my stolen token to trespass in the sect and make a mess. I'll make sure to punish them properly."

"Thank you shidi." Yue Qingyuan seemed relieved everything was resolved for now, sending a quick look at Shen Qingqiu who seemed somewhat appeased. Not entierely, because that man was and will always be a Bitch(tm) but enough that he wasn't going to tear into anyone yet. "If no one has anything to add, we will be concluding this meeting and going back to our own peaks. Mobei-Wang, please accept our apologies for this tardy welcome, we hope nothing will trouble your stay."

"Thank you." Mobei-Jun said, getting up. "Peak Lord Shen, I shall take your half-demon brat from your peak, Mo Binghan and he's duel having been interrupted. Good day."

Silence hung in the air at Mobei-Jun's departure with Xiao-Hua's high pitched "bubye!" as she tried to climb Yue Qingyuan, and Shang Qinghua could only face palm at this truly unsubtle and detached reveal.

"My what?!"