Work Text:
“They were enemies!?”
“Yeah, you didn’t know? The tale is so famous all over the Jianghu!”
In the midnight of the lunar year calendar, two freshmen of Xuandu Mountain disciples were on duty for guarding the outer gate of the inside buildings of the mountain.
Xuandu Mountain is divided into several sections according to the ranks of the living residents.[1] The outer buildings were the living places for the outer disciples, who currently do not have any personal elders teaching them directly. The outer buildings were also for the servants and attendants of Xuandu Mountain’s inner buildings. They were also disciples of Xuandu Mountain; however, they usually did not focus on swordsmanship, but in art and paperwork instead.
Outer disciples usually participate in the lectures taught by their senior brothers; while the personal disciples of the Xuandu Mountain’s elders lived in the middle part of Xuandu Mountain, deeper than the outer buildings.
The most profound buildings deep in Xuandu Mountain are where the elders and the sect leader lived, with the personal disciples under the sect leader directly also resided.
While the outer disciples lived in buildings more exterior than the middle and deepest buildings of Xuandu Mountain, they were not outlined and were routinely given the task to guard the gate to Xuandu Pavilion.
Once a month, all the disciples would also gather and discussed about Dao, martial arts, and swordsmanship. Yuan Ying was the one who made this suggestion, to make sure that all people living in Xuandu Mountain were not treated according to ranks, but rather as families who protect each other.
One of the disciples, who had asked the question, inquired again.
“How come our sect leader can become friends again with that person after being traded for a mere old sword? If it was me, I would not want to interact with such a demonic person ever again!”
The disciple’s friend who was on duty with him sighed, “Right? I still cannot interpret how deep our Zhangjiao’s kindness is. He is just too kind-hearted and gentle— he can even forgive such a devious enemy from one of the strongest demonic sects, Huanyue sect!”
“I’m glad I entered Xuandu Mountain… Even though I’ve never seen the face of the sect leader and his nemesis as we have just entered the sect last week, even hearing such a story can motivate me to also pursue my Dao like the Zhangjiao!”
“I agree with you. Our Zhangjiao is the former strongest martial artist in the world’s disciple—Qi Fengge’s disciple. And he even has such a virtue—no one can compare to him!”
The two disciples kept chatting as the moon brightened the night.
“Then, exactly how did it go?”
“At that time, our Zhangjiao was wounded internally, and even lost his martial arts. I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to endure such a treatment from a human once called his ‘friend’… Anyway, our Zhangjiao not only managed to bring the fight with the former sect leader of Hehuan Sect— Sang Jingxing into a draw, but at this time he regained his eyesight back! He was blind before and could only fight with blurriness all over, but perhaps this fight was a blessing in disguise. Even though he nearly died, he managed to regain his martial arts again using the Zhuyang Ce.”
“Our poor sect leader… then, what happened with this vile person called Yan Wushi of the Huanyue Sect?”
Just as the two disciples were talking, a person taller than both tumbled over.
The two disciples were so surprised that a person in the middle of the night walked over them. They unsheathed their swords immediately and looked at the person more clearly.
Just as they looked over, the moonlight that had disappeared for a while behind the clouds made its appearance and lighted over the person. Looking closely, there was a white streak of hair on his temples. However, he was a very handsome and charismatic man, with an otherworldly ambition of aura surrounding him.
Although, the person’s chest was clearly opened wide for the two of them to see— after all, the person was only wearing a lavender purple inside robe for the purpose of sleeping.
The sight was, indeed, too tantalizing.
“W-who is this person!?”
“Careful, shidi, he might be dangerous!”
Dedication and diligence were the principles of Xuandu Mountain, and the newly entered disciples dared not neglect their task to guard.
Technically, disciples from the same generation didn’t need to call each other shixiong and shidi even though the other was older, but those two disciples had been close for a very long time, and they called each other with so.
Just as the older disciple was guarding the other, the mysterious man in purple suddenly yawned.
The two disciples were bewildered.
They were hesitant to attack the person as this was only their second time being tasked for guarding the gate— they had no experience killing a person whatsoever; and even though the person in front of them definitely did not look like a gentleman, they did not sense any dangerous or killing intent from him.
Although there was something about the person that made them hesitant to approach.
Just as the older disciple who was protecting the other one was thinking about what to do next, the man in purple gave a smile that did not seem like a smile.
“New ones?”
The person’s voice was so low-pitched and cold, aligning with his alluring bleak appearance.
The disciples raised their eyebrows.
This person… is not just any ordinary one!
But ‘new ones’… must be referring to them?
The disciple who was being protected suddenly realized—the person in dark purple robe was not an intruder at all, but someone from Xuandu Pavillion who just tumbled over the gate!
…And the man even held a head-pillow in his arms…!
This venerable person… is one of the elder!?
The disciples realized this fact and put down their swords.
“U-um… senior? Are you alright? What are you doing in the middle of the night?”
The inquisitive disciple took over the initiative to ask the unknown ‘elder’.
The man looked over, and tilted his head like an innocent child, “Why, does this venerable one not look fine?”
The younger disciple did not know why but his heart raced as the handsome person moved closer.
The disciples were so scared but before they could react, the venerable man asked delightfully, “This venerable one would like to hear more of the infamous tale you were discussing… Continue.”
“Huh?”
The disciples could not help but appeared shocked.
This elder was hearing them all this time? While holding a pillow like hearing a bed-time story…?
The disciples did not know why, but they somewhat felt they could not disobey the ‘elder’. The disciples took the initiative to bring a chair for the ‘elder’ to sit down.
“Please, do not be offended, senior. We are two of the newest disciples who have entered Xuandu Mountain, and this is only our second time guarding the gate to Xuandu Pavillion. Please forgive us if we have offended you.”
The man chuckled, “Hmph. This is your second time? Then you need to learn more. Something like guarding the gate should have been imprinted clearly in your mind during your first time being tasked. This venerable one only took the duty as a guard once back then years ago and was not even surprised when enemies came. This venerable one beat them all.”
The disciples stared at each other.
“Senior is… correct. We are inexperienced and need to learn more from the senior.”
The man gave them a laugh yet again, “Now, continue the story.”
“Y-Yes.”
The disciple who had been telling the tale all this time continued, “After our Zhangjiao survived the battle with Sang Jingxing, he brought our Da-shixiong[2] who he had picked up as they saved each other. He did not intend to take Da-shixiong as his personal disciple, but due to the circumstances with Bixia sect, he took Da-shixiong as his first personal disciple.”
The other disciple smiled as he imagined the scene, “Da-shixiong is so lucky to have met our Zhangjiao…”
“Right! Then, not long after that, this bastard called Yan Wushi was hunted by martial experts of the world. They agreed with the one-time treaty to hunt this man down, as Yan Wushi was one common obstacle for them— and if he could be rid sooner, the better. Yan Wushi ended up fighting them and was nearly killed. Our gracious Zhangjiao, who had heard the news along the way, ran over to save this venerable person and prevented the last blow of dealing to Yan Wushi. He arrived on time, when Yan Wushi was heavily injured.
Yan Wushi was searched all over the Jianghu to be killed. Our Zhangjiao hid him as he helped treating his injuries, giving him medicine, and helped him until he recovered.”
The other disciple awed, before began sobbing, “Our sect leader is so kind-hearted… just how deep is this Yan Wushi’s fortune to be entangled with our Zhangjiao! Even though he traded him for a mere old sword, our Zhangjiao could still save Yan Wushi like he should as a friend!”
“Yes, our Zhangjiao is so good…!”
“You are right, A-Qiao is the best in life…”
“!?”
The man in purple, who had always been silent all over the time, listening while putting his finger on his chin, suddenly talked.
“This… um, senior…”
“Are you closely acquainted with Shen-zhangjiao?”
Calling Xuandu Mountain’s sect leader with such a close and affectionate nickname ‘A-Qiao’, this senior must be close to the Zhangjiao?
“Hm? Yes, of course, this venerable one is close to A-Qiao. Very close. My relationship with A-Qiao is very intimate, way deeper than anyone could imagine…”
The man gave them a smirk as his eyes slightly curled upward, as if indicating something else by his words.
“What does senior think of the sect leader?” The braver disciple questioned.
The man chuckled, laughing lightly before giving them a gentle and warm smile not matching with his aura, “A-Qiao is foolish. He was so foolish to be deceived just because this demonic sect leader saved him after he was injured by an unjust fight. But even so, A-Qiao is the most considerate and kindest person in the world.”
The disciples looked at each other, astonished.
Turns out, the senior is already very familiar with the story…
“Then, could senior tell us what happened next?”
“Of course, this venerable one knows all about the tale. After that, there was the political action with the previous Zhou Dynasty, where A-Qiao is forced to participate due to his courteous and just heart for not wanting to make conflicts and make innocent people suffer. This Yan Wushi also accompanied him, and along the way after this incident, A-Qiao met with his shidi who told him about the circumstances in Xuandu Mountain.
A-Qiao had incurred the wrath of the master of Kunye, and Yan Wushi had known that Hulugu was searching A-Qiao to kill him. Thus, he sent a letter to Hulugu quietly, with A-Qiao not knowing the matter, to let A-Qiao settle the matter with his sect once and for all.”
The disciples were both surprised.
The man in lavender cloth chuckled, “A-Qiao is so full of love and tenderness that he could not bear to hurt even grass and trees, yet alone humans. Even though Yan Wushi was his former enemy, A-Qiao had developed something more than just a ‘hate and distrust’ bond with him. This demonic sect leader knew it all and came to realize that the one that was foolish all this time was himself all along.
The venerable one confessed his love for A-Qiao along the way, and as A-Qiao had settled the internal problems in Xuandu Mountain, the demonic sect leader went to fight Hulugu.
A-Qiao at that time… pfft, as this venerable one nearly went to the underworld due to his heavy blow from Hulugu—he cried for me. A-Qiao confessed his love for this venerable one.”
The disciples stopped blinking.
They could not understand the last words that had just entered their ears.
However, before they could react, a voice brought their consciousness back to reality.
“Yan Wushi! What ridiculous things were you spouting just now!?”
A man with a heavenly aura—a gentle and cordial demeanour exposed from the way he walked, who wore an azure-coloured robe, appeared from behind them.
“A-Qiao, you have finally come for this venerable one!”
“???”
The disciples looked at each other again.
“A-Qiao, this venerable one has been missing your warmth so much…”
The man in purple approached the azure-robed man who was switching his face to red and blue and sighed all over. Yan Wushi suddenly looked back, “New ones, why are you just standing there and not greeting your Zhangjiao properly?”
The disciples were shocked and immediately bowed, “S-Shen-Zhangjiao! Please, forgive these disciples! We have just entered the sect one week ago; this is our second time guarding the gate to Xuandu Pavillion— yet we did not recognize Zhangjiao and… sect leader Yan…
We deserve to be punished!”
Shen Qiao looked over them calmly and smiled amiably, “No need.”
Yan Wushi looked over lazily, “Yawn~ A-Qiao, look, this venerable one is so sleepy, and the wind outside here is too cold… It’s time to go back, hm?”
Yan Wushi embraced Shen Qiao tightly in his chest, holding his pillow with his right hand, “A-Qiao, please don’t be mad anymore. This venerable one has already repented for his mistake yesterday… This venerable self could not sleep outside for two days straight. Forgive me, alright?”
Yan Wushi pecked a kiss to Shen Qiao’s forehead.
Shen Qiao’s ears and cheeks immediately reddened like a tomato.
“Silence, you shameless man!”
Shen Qiao took the pillow in Yan Wushi’s hand and threw it over his face.
“…”
The disciples went silent over the scene.
Of course, Yan Wushi was not a man to be hurt all over by a thrown pillow. Instead, he felt the act of attacking using pillow throw was too adorable for his Shen Qiao.
Especially when he thought that the pillow was an indirect kiss thrown by Shen Qiao to Yan Wushi himself…
Yan Wushi chuckled.
“A-Qiao~ This venerable one is already aged. He can’t sleep without roof anymore. Our compassionate Zhangjiao is so tolerant and forgiveful, surely, he couldn’t bear seeing this venerable old man to sleep outside, correct? Don’t the both of you think so too?”
Yan Wushi casted a cunning side sight to the disciples.
…Is the senior asking for affirmation? Help!?
But the disciples were too scared to answer as they looked over the sight of their sect leader hitting the older man’s chest with reddened ears and nape, like a sulking wife…
Shen Qiao thought for a moment, how dare you used the word of age as weakness towards me!
“Yan Wushi, speak one more word and you will sleep outside again tomorrow!”
“A-Qiao, why are you so mad, I wonder? What this venerable one said to the new juniors are all the truth; you forbid this venerable one from speaking lies and nonsense, so he just obeyed his wife’s words. It was the truth that you did not accept my love right away; but the way that you cried for my sake when I fought Hulugu and when you were under this venerable one in bed… Just make this venerable one’s heart melt with warmth all over. My A-Qiao is just too adorable.”
Both the disciples covered their faces while their ears reddened.
“You…! That matter and this one are different! I would not allow you to enter Xuandu Pavillion due to yesterday—”
Shen Qiao gasped.
Did he just step into the wrong mine?
Yan Wushi smiled cunningly, “Oh please, A-Qiao… This venerable one has realized his mistake. If you were talking about those kiss smudges and evidence from our previous passionate night that I have marked all over your body, this venerable one has already apologized. It’s true that this venerable one caused you to wear bandages all over your exposed body parts that could not be hidden underneath the robe, but it was only because you were too sexy when being impaled by this venerable—”
Shen Qiao could no longer hold back his embarrassment and immediately attacked Yan Wushi with his palm using his qinggong.
Yan Wushi laughed while he dodged, and in an instant, they have exchanged several moves.
“A-Qiao, this venerable one has apologized, and he even promoted great heroic story of your past, so this venerable one deserved a praise, right?”
“Shut up!”
“A-Qiao~ this venerable one really could not sleep outside without you anymore, please let your husband be back in your bed, hm?”
Shen Qiao kept attacking while Yan Wushi kept dodging, the sight funny as Yan Wushi did so while holding a sleeping pillow in his hand.
They were in a stalemate, yet Yan Wushi kept curling his lips.
The disciples were baffled, also panicked as to whether they should interfere with the fight and stop them.
But with their strength, they would not even be able to reach both the sect leaders’ fingertips as their qinggong were just too fast…
“A-Qiao, I will let you use my chest as sleeping pillow whenever you want after our exercise, so don’t be mad anymore, alright?”
The two’s movements did not stop.
“A-Qiao, this venerable one will carry you princess-style whenever you were too tired, and he would massage your waist until you feel fine, hm?”
Hearing Yan Wushi’s suggestive words, Shen Qiao just wanted to pick this slippery snake into a hole and bury it alive!
“A-Qiao~ Learn to be more patient, alright? This is already your third time kicking this venerable one to sleep outside…”
The disciples widened their eyes.
So this is a daily… fight, between the pair of lovebirds.
Although the venerable one was like a wolf instead of a bird.
“Yan Wushi, you dare!”
After minutes of fighting and dodging, Yan Wushi smirked and used the pillow as a defence tool against Shen Qiao’s palm attack, and the pillow ripped with the cloth scattering all over.
It should be a ridiculous sight, but Shen Qiao being covered by ripping cloth made him look like an angel instead.
“A-Qiao, look… you messed my pillow. This venerable one could no longer rest; at this state this venerable one will die from the lack of sleep. Let’s go back, hm?”
Yan Wushi took advantage of Shen Qiao’s surprise from the ripped pillow and pecked a kiss on his hair.
Shen Qiao gritted his teeth and pushed Yan Wushi away.
Yan Wushi staggered backwards a few steps, but he smiled even more.
His A-Qiao is just too cute…
The more Shen Qiao retaliated against him, the more Yan Wushi just wanted to wreck Shen Qiao.
Shen Qiao sighed, breathing air deeply while looking away from Yan Wushi, “…Go back first.”
His ears were bright red, as if blood had all risen there.
Yan Wushi moved forward and embraced Shen Qiao again, “Alright, my husband is just the kindest and the best.”
Yan Wushi whispered silently, “…A-Yan has repented.”
Shen Qiao did not answer him as Yan Wushi moved away and began to walk to the direction of Xuandu Pavillion.
He had glimpsed clearly of Shen Qiao’s blushed nape.
The disciples who had been watching were standing still all the time, stiff all over.
“Dear juniors, I hope you are not bothered tonight by sect leader Yan. He is just… a very reckless person. This Daoist only wishes you are not scared by him.”
The disciples looked at each other before nodding, “Sect leader does not need to worry. We understand…”
Shen Qiao sighed, “And do not need to take his words seriously… Whatever a man he might be, he is part of Xuandu Mountain now. Treat him respectfully as you treat me as the sect leader.”
The disciple who was older immediately understood right away.
Love is so blind…
The disciples nodded. The younger one swallowed his spit as he was too curious and finally let a question out, “Then Zhangjiao… are you in love with him, truly as he says? Even though he has been your nemesis previously?”
Shen Qiao looked at him and smiled, “I and sect leader Yan have experienced near-death experiences and rescuing each other together. My feelings for him are deeper than all the rumours out there in the Jianghu.”
Shen Qiao looked back at the way Yan Wushi walked and directed his eyesight to the disciples again, “This Daoist needs to go back now. I apologize for the ruckus tonight, along with sect leader Yan. Thank you for your hard work.”
Shen Qiao walked away after greeting the juniors.
The disciples looked at his direction until Shen Qiao disappeared into the night.
…What had they just witnessed?
“Shixiong, if I am not wrong, Shen-Zhangjiao and sect leader Yan…”
The older disciple responded, “You don’t need to ask more, they are a pair of husband and wife, and they just had a pillow fight!”
***