Work Text:
Since The Sect Leader Nie has been recovering from his qi deviation under the order of the great and benevolent Zewu-Jun so much work must be left alone for months. Even with Nie Fu'ren's capable multitasking skill many things could have only been finished by The Sect Leader himself. Thus, the rare sight of Chifeng-Zun spending more time in his office rather than in the training ground has been a regular occurrence in The Unclean Realm.
Sometimes, he would even spend his entire day there, even skipping meals. Everyone that has met him could see that the Sect Leader Nie is overworked and exhausted. His still healing physique and newly healed temperament being the cherry on top, resulting in the perfect concoction for a very easy to anger Sect Leader that would snap at every little thing, Huaisang being the poor soul bearing most of it.
His attention has been focused on the pile of work he has zero pleasure in doing. Currently he solely belongs to them, spending more time with brushes rather than with his blade, the clan leader had spent weeks sitting on his chair with an upright posture, surrounded by scrolls, in his study that no one dared to step foot in. Because rumors have it, the temperamentally fragile Sect Leader would throw his Baxia at anyone who dared to open even just a crack of the door.
But when Nie Fu'ren, the wife of Nie Mingjue, had heard such a rumor she chuckled at herself to see if her husband is truly the bloodthirsty, ruthless monster people claim him to be. As soon as it was nightfall in The Unclean Realm she went to find her missing husband in this killer study his disciples have been rumoring about. As soon as she got to the door, she moved it aside to reveal the not so graceful sect leader, he was hunched in his seat with frowned brows completed with a serious expression plastered on his face.
She bowed before him “Sect Leader Nie.” keeping her head down before looking up to see if he would return the gesture… nothing. He was still sitting there, writing, as if he was nothing more than a moving statue. Well at least she wasn't greeted with Baxia, she chuckled at the thought before walking in closer to the Sect Leader. “Chifeng-Zun.” She tried again… and still nothing, perhaps it was because she was in his peripheral vision, and so she moved to put herself right in front of his face, surely the Sect Leader must have noticed her by now, so she placed her head right next to his ear and before he could react she whispered “da-ge, has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look?” She smiled playfully.
"No, no one except you” he said bluntly, perhaps Nie Mingjue was too tired to fight her, that she could go off from, but he didn't even look up to reply. She shook her head in annoyance before sitting down in front of him, her lips falling into a flat line, "Wow... Truly, you are the great and mighty Sect Leader Nie, you won't even get embarrassed after being called beautiful for the first time, hm?” He huffed a short chuckle as the frown disappeared from his face, replaced with a half smile and doting eyes, looking at his wife. Ah, finally, a reaction. “I’m only allowing it because it's you.” He placed his brush down, finally distracted.
"Chifeng-Zun, did you even realize what you said, hm…?” She said dumbfounded at his response, Mingjue isn’t the kind to just agree with compliments that aren’t quote en quote masculine. Attempting to break the delirium he’s in she moved her thumb to his philtrum caressing his mustache, cupping his cheek. “When's the last time you took a break?" Mingjue shook his head, disapproving of his wife’s antics, then grabbed her arm away as a protest “I need to work, you of all people know that. Also, what did you say? Did you call me cute?” He raised his eyebrow genuinely curious, his attention beginning to defer from his work. “I called you beautiful.” He released her hand, staring right into her eyes. There he is. “Am I wrong? Or perhaps you prefer cute?” she challenged, feeling her smile slowly creeping back.
“Well…” He cleared his throat to collect himself.
“Nevermind that, why are you here so late?”
“Would you rather me leave?-”
“No.”
He stopped himself, lowering his gaze, realizing he responded too quickly. Thankfully, Nie Fu’ren is a merciful wife; she sat still and smiled, choosing not to embarrass her tired Sect Leader further.
“I received a letter from Zewu-Jun today…” she scooted in closer, placing an opened letter on the table “He’s asking about you, apparently he wrote to you thrice and never received a response.” Mingjue replied with a hum, his eyes moving off from her to look at the letter.
“The busy Sect Leader Lan made time to write to your wife, worrying about you.” She emphasized. “There are even rumors amongst your disciples that your patience has run so thin that anyone who’d dare to enter your study would be cut up by Baxia.” He let out a low chuckle upon hearing the rumor, “don’t you think it’s time to rest?” Even when her voice stayed in a stern demeanor, her touch became softer as she ran her hand, moving his messy braids away from his face, successfully caressing him this time.
Her scent has always been his undoing, got him drunk faster and better than any bottle of liquor could. And now that her wrist is so close to him, he could really drown in her signature scent of incense and liquid amber. His body betrayed him, making him lean into her touch. He became too tired to put up a front and too indulgent for her to even fight his own urges.
In the end, he still managed to regain his composure and ended it with a sigh at her, slowly moving her hand away. “I have work.” “I have to work.” He corrected, accidentally saying it too sternly, perhaps it was directed to himself, no. Even if it was directed to himself, she too took offence. Very unlike her usual patient self.
She sighed and clicked her tongue, upon feeling nothing but the cold and empty void in her hand. Everyone in the cultivation world has been busy since the Sun Shot Campaign and with it the downfall of the Wen Clan. But for the Nie Clan specifically, it has been extra hard; they're the only ones left with an injured but not dead Sect Leader.
As harsh as it sounds, it’s much easier to have a dead Sect Leader than an injured one. But she never thought about it that way. Ever since Nie Mingjue got injured by that bastard Wen Ruohan, she too has been doing her absolute best to keep everything in order. She too is tired, and above all else, she’s the one who misses her husband the most. Unlike the rest of the cultivation world missing Chifeng-Zun’s integrity and command, she misses her da-ge, her kind, sometimes awkward, and doting husband. This was the first private conversation since the campaign. So it was unsurprising that she turned bitter.
"As stubborn as you'll ever be I see… very well then, if the Sect Leader Nie chooses to work himself to death, who am I to intervene... I shall excuse myself then." She stood up to bow, before her wrist was pulled back down with a strong grip, leaving her to stand on one knee. He hates it when she’s suddenly back to using his honorific, and he hates it even more when she leaves bitter. “Wait…” he sighed, still sounding stern even when there’s a slight crack of regret in it. “What?” She almost hissed, her gaze narrowing as if she’s been sharpening it specifically for him.
He felt an uncomfortable ache as he saw her look, he knew he was being uncooperative. He knew he was making her job as the wife of the Sect Leader harder, as it was her duty to keep the Sect Leader in good health. But he was also too stubborn to ever admit that, and so he too turned bitter. “You’re exaggerating. Writing using a brush, putting ink on paper has never killed anyone.” He rebutted coldly.
…
Snap goes the thread.
"Exaggerating!?"
"Nie Mingjue, how great and righteous you are!”
“Choosing the people and the cultivation world over yourself, we all should give you applause!”
"But let me remind you that no amount of power or money could ever buy health. To help save the world you also need to rest, but of course you are far too strong and powerful!”
The room died after she finished yelling, not even the crickets dared to disturb the leaders of Qinghe Nie. While Mingjue was still processing what was happening, she on the other hand was too tired to keep this up all night and was finally ready to swallow her pride and retire since she never really got used to yelling at him in the first place.
“I am exaggerating. As you said. My Apologies Clan Leader. I am leaving."
In a step Mingjue caught up with her and went for her wrist yet again, he took it into his hand much more firmly than before. The emptiness was already so obvious when she turned around, he’d be completely aware how alone he is if she leaves now. He needs her to be here with him. He grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him. “Stay.”
“And don’t you, ever, call me Clan Leader, when I’m alone with you.” His eyes darkened, staring right down at her. He knew he’d be unable to win against her wits so he chose to resort to what he's better at instead. It appears that their combined exhaustion over the weeks had really taken a toll on both of them. His tolerance for her has completely been used up, just like that. But unfortunately so has her’s for him. “Why shouldn’t I!? Look at how you’re acting, like you’re invincible. You still act like this when you’re alone just with me, even after claiming that you love me so much that you’d be able to let yourself be vulnerable! But no! You still chose to act high and mighty. How righteous you are, O’ Great Clan Leader Nie.”
“You dare to speak to me like this.”
“You need to remember your place.” He sneered, pulling her closer.
“I remember my place.”
“It’s you who have crossed far past your’s. Clan Leader Nie.”
She stared right back at him. She fears not Nie Mingjue. “Enough.” He ordered. Despite shuddering at the tightened grip she ignored her own body warning her as she pushed her face forward, placing it right in front of him. He stayed silent and continued staring through her darting gaze, feeling the frozen chill as if they were daggers, piercing through them. He dared himself too, breathing right in front of her, but as soon as he smelled recurring liquid amber he found himself in an entirely different battlefield. The clan leader suddenly remembered the forgotten fights he had lost to his own urge to melt down in her hands.
And lucky for Nie Fu’ren, they’re so close that they are able to hear each other's heartbeat, and she could see even the slightest shift in his eyes.
She backed away from his face after seeing the softness in his eyes, and his slightly parted lips, his breathing becoming much more obvious. Oh, how she loves him so. She sighed helplessly at herself before choosing to be bold with her actions. It’s time to bring the Clan Leader to bed. She moved her arms, ignoring his grip, to only reach his neck, and then to his jaw, caressing him gently. “Why the sudden change in demeanor, Clan Leader?” she taunts, knowing that she has no contest when it comes to testing his limits.
“Do not call me that.” He muttered, this time really losing his composure as he closed his eyes, leaning into her once more.
“What do you want to be called then, hm?” She whispered, not even trying to mask her intentions, there was no innocence in her tone, other than the somehow misleading return of the same smile she had when she walked in the room. She knew, she trusted, that he wouldn't dare to do anything to harm her and boldly took a satisfying nibble out of his helix. His eyes snapped back open, in awe of her audacity.
In reality both of them knew what honorific he’d rather she use, and both of them knew what her intentions really were, despite that, Nie Mingjue found himself clenching his jaw, doing his best not to react and to stay calm, trying to find an escape out of this mess. But after what she did, after how she looks at him now. Every attempt is a futile one. “You know well what I want to hear.” He breathed.
“I don’t.” She stared, feeling the release of her wrists, ignoring the red mark he had left. “Command me, as you like to. What must I call you, Clan Leader Nie?”
“Stop it.” He caught her hand, the one about to undo his hairpiece, but her tone, her gaze, all of it is so dizzying, he really doesn't know what to do at this point. “I can’t say it. Don’t make me say it.”
“Beg then.”
She is a merciful wife after all.
Mingjue felt his heart sink. She could not be asking this of him, but when he was about to protest, he instead whimpered a breath once she successfully went for his hair this time. He felt its weight even out, falling to the back of his head, relieving him of a constant pressure that had come numb, after that nothing would come out of his mouth except exhales he had lost control over as he felt the gentle and soft hand running through his hair, then to his neck.
He was high. He could not think. He couldn’t even open his eyes to meet her. His breath was no longer the only thing he’s losing control over. At this point nothing he said or did was under his own command anymore. He doesn’t even know what he said. All he can feel is her and she feels too much. It’s all too much.
“ Please… ”
His voice was barely audible, anyone, no matter how close, would have missed it if they weren’t listening carefully, but oh how soft he sounded. How unlike a Nie he sounded. How pathetic and weak he sounded. Only she can make him betray everything he believed in like this. Maybe, just once in his life, he’d be willing to bow.
“What was that you said? I couldn’t hear you clan leader. Come now, say it one more time for me, Mingjue.”
But of course, that wasn’t enough. When it comes to her husband, she only knows to stop until he breaks. Until he’s beyond his limit.
But he cannot bear another round of this bullshit.