Chapter Text
‘Jiejie, please play more!’
‘Ning-jiejie!’
‘Yingying-jiejie!’
‘Since you all asked so enthusiastically…’ Ning Yingying puffed out her chest and spun her flute on one hand. ‘This humble cultivator shall perform another song for you all!’
The street kids cheered, then quietened once they saw her bring the flute to her lips. A high note rose up in the air, like a nightingale’s call-
SMACK!
‘Ow! What? Who-! D-Da-shixiong?!’
Ming Fan towered over her, a face of utmost disdain on his face. ‘We were sent here to investigate demonic activity, exterminate the demons, and collect any useful evidence for Shizun.’
‘Ah, ah! And for Qian Cao!’ Ning Yingying reminded him.
‘Of course. My apologies, I forgot.’ He nodded thoughtfully, then shook his head, pressing the back of his shimei’s head. ‘Don’t change the topic! Listen, you two have been slacking around all day. It must be fun to not do anything. Go on, play around and sulk or whatever, let’s see who comes back to the sect with all the good results.’
Ning Yingying tilted her head and gazed at him. She dismissed the children, promising them another song after she finished her mission. ‘Let’s go get A-Luo,’ she told Ming Fan, tugging his sleeve.
He scoffed. ‘Finally, you came to your senses and now acknowledge what things are of actual worth.’
‘I’m sorry you had to investigate by yourself. Don’t worry, me and A-Luo will accompany you from now on. You won’t feel lonely anymore.’ She smiled gleefully at his red ears.
‘It’s impossible to warm up to him,’ Ming Fan kicked Luo Binghe’s door. ‘Not when he’s acting like this.’
Ning Yingying nudged him aside, knocking on the door herself. ‘Hm? Really? Maybe if he acted more like the admiring, cute, puppy-like little martial brother to you then you would like him more.’
‘What.’
Creak. ‘A-Luo, good morning~’
Luo Binghe stared at them both. His mouth moved. ‘Good morning. Shixiong. Shijie.’
Ming Fan stared at them as if they had gone insane. ‘It’s the evening, what are you talking about?’
‘I was just testing if A-Luo knows what time of day it is,’ explained Ning Yingying, while she tried to grab ahold of Luo Binghe’s hair. ‘Stand still! Let me fix your hair!’
‘Nooooooo…’ He seemed quite pitiful, backing away from his own sect siblings like prey running from predators.
Ming Fan scratched the back of his head. ‘It’s only been 3 days and he’s already acting like this?’
Ning Yingying shook her head, readying each hand with a comb. ‘It’s Shizun withdrawal. More or less influenced by Shizun going on a mission with… Liu-shishu? Alone.’ Her voice switched to a softer, more coaxing tone. ‘A-Luo, listen to me. Sit down on that chair and let me do your hair so that you look at least presentable. Then, we will investigate the demon in the forest even further, get rid of the demon, and complete our mission. After that, we fly back to the sect straight away,’ she dared to venture, ‘Shizun would be there to welcome us- you- back.’
‘Really?’
‘I guarantee.’
Luo Binghe smiled, emitting a radiant light that made Ning Yingying squint. ‘Alright, Shijie, I’ll trust you.’
‘Why didn’t anyone in the village tell us about these- vines?’ lamented Ning Yingying, slicing away some plants with her sword. She couldn’t even fling the disgusting slime off her sword.
‘They did, what are you talking about?’ muttered Ming Fan. He laughed mockingly after a few seconds. ‘Oh, but of course. They only told me, when I actually worked and went around asking them about the forest.’
Ning Yingying sighed. ‘And you couldn’t think of sharing such important information with us…?’
‘Let you two figure it out yourselves. Serves you right for lying about.’
‘Shixiong- Shijie- There’s something over here.’ called Luo Binghe. When they rushed over, he pointed at a spot in the air. ‘Can you see it?’
‘It’s… rippling.’ said Ming Fan in wonder. ‘What are those small sparks in the middle of it?’
‘What? What are you seeing?’ Ning Yingying tilted her head from side to side. ‘...There’s this…’ she sniffed the air, ‘weird smell. It’s like wood burning.’
Ming Fan nodded, signalling them to step back. From his sleeves he took out two fire talismans, and held them to the strange ripple. Instantly, the talismans exploded, turning into streams of water, dripping out of Ming Fan’s hand.
‘Da-shixiong! Are you hurt?’ squealed Ning Yingying.
‘I’m fine, it’s just a minor burn,’ he reassured, shaking his hands. ‘I think this is a portal. There’s demonic energy coming from it- and the demon’s trail leads to here. I still can’t put my finger on what demon it is. It’s difficult to narrow down the type.’
‘Do you think we’ve found a new demon species?!’ gasped Ning Yingying. She jumped forwards, trying to look closer.
Ming Fan grabbed her collar and pulled her back. ‘How childish. That would be incredibly unlikely. What do you think all the records in the library are for?’ He paused, thinking about the possibilities. ‘If we do… It’s nothing to be happy about.’
He pointed at Luo Binghe. ‘Just in case we meet a new demon- which is incredibly rare... You. Make sure to note down any characteristics and abilities of the demon. Write it in detail, or Shizun will not be pleased.’ He turned to Ning Yingying. ‘In case something unfortunate happens, you will be the one who goes back to call for backup. Doesn’t matter what we meet.’
Ning Yingying stared at him incredulously. ‘Da-shixiong, are you saying I have to abandon you and A-Luo?’
‘Unless you want to.’ Ming Fan smirked, as if saying “but of course you wouldn’t”. ‘I know what I’m saying, shimei. Of course, this will only be for dire situations. You just have to go and get help, it’s no big deal. Don’t fuss.’
She nodded hesitantly.
‘Let’s go. Stay vigilant.’ They stepped through.
The portal was so cold, Ning Yingying could feel the chill in her bones. It felt wet on her skin, but there was no soak on her robes.
It led them to a ghost town. Not a single soul emerged from the broken roads and dilapidated houses. The musty smell of dust lingered in the air.
‘Oh, it's freezing,’ shivered Ning Yingying. ‘Such a damp and dreary place!’
‘Are there any demon domains which resemble a human environment..?’ Ming Fan bit his lip. Ning Yingying could see him running through the various books he’s read in his mind. ‘Let’s reassess the situation. What do we remember about the mission so far?’
He was looking right at her. ‘Um… The demon has been giving the villagers strange dreams. These dreams are usually about things they don’t want to remember.’
‘These dreams have made a few villagers go… insane.’ Luo Binghe added. ‘And some of them have even lost their ability to think and act like a human being.’
Ning Yingying nodded. ‘Though they are not actively possessed, there are still traces of demonic energy in their blood. By taking some samples of their blood, we matched it with the various residues of demonic Qi scattered around. We followed a trail to the forest which made us end up here.’
Ming Fan blinked slowly, then shrugged, then turned around and began to walk away, signalling for them to follow him.
Ning Yingying giggled at Luo Binghe’s dumbfounded expression. She nudged his arm, ‘He’s impressed that we remember that much. He just doesn’t want to show it. Come on, A-Luo, let’s work together to crack that demeanour of his!’
The young boy seemed almost alarmed. ‘Ning-shijie, he’ll kill us both-!’
‘I’LL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW IF YOU DON’T MOVE THOSE FEET!’
‘The trail ends here.’
The trio stopped at the ruins of a mansion. A sign hung from the front, its ink faded, leaving only the faint characters of “Butterfly”.
‘What kind of building is this?’ Ning Yingying squinted at the intricate carvings of the walls.
‘It’s a brothel. Previously known as the “Butterfly Palace”, it had an incident where a part of the brothel burned down. After rebuilding, it was rebranded to “Red Warm Pavilion”.’
‘Wow, Da-shixiong, how did you know?’
Ming Fan rolled his eyes and ignored her.
‘But why does the brothel look abandoned and destroyed- wasn’t it rebuilt?’ muttered Luo Binghe. ‘If only the brothel burned down, then why has the entire town crumbled to ruins?’
‘This is the result of a demon’s domain,’ explained Ming Fan. He examined the doors closely. ‘Let’s try looking in. Get ready.’ With a swift push, he threw the two doors open and stepped back.
Behind the doors was not a destroyed place, but it showed a scene which was quite the opposite. Lanterns and streamers hung from the ceiling, while vivid curtains draped across wooden pillars and arches. Dancers, adorned in their alluring dresses dyed with vibrant shades of colours, danced and twirled while surrounded by wealthy, cheering patrons. Hearty laughter and the clinking of porcelain mingled with the elegant guzheng and cheerful flute, creating a harmonious blend of music.
‘Shixiong, there is…’ began Luo Binghe, but his voice was drowned out by the sudden uproar of laughter from a few men inside the brothel.
‘What?’ Ming Fan tightened his grip on his sword with both eyes wide. ‘Did I…’
Ning Yingying felt her heart thump in her chest. ‘How come there are people here? There were no sounds or lights from outside.’
The others turned sharply to her. ‘What on earth are you talking about? Ning Yingying, are you hearing yourself?’ said Ming Fan, his voice dipping low at the end.
‘What are you talking about?’ huffed Ning Yingying. ‘Can’t you hear them? Don’t you see the lanterns hanging?’ She walked up the steps and reached out a shaky hand.
‘Shijie,’ whispered Luo Binghe, a note of fear in his voice, ‘There’s nothing there. Nothing but ruins and dust.’
‘What?’
Ming Fan seemed genuinely concerned. ‘Xiao-shimei, there's really nothing like that.’
Ning Yingying clicked her tongue and looked back at the lively scene. She walked up the steps and reached out a shaky hand. The curtains covering the entrance were made from moth silk- soft and satisfying to the touch.. Behind them, the people were undisturbed by her close presence. It felt as if she were trying to intrude upon a painting. ‘They’re real. I can touch the curtain.’
There was a loud slam- she whipped her head around- just in time to see Ming Fan and Luo Binghe's shocked faces before they were cut off by a pair of red doors.
‘Da-shixiong! A-Luo!’ She reached out to the doors, but a wave of people were entering, and she instinctively stepped back. It was then Ning Yingying realised: The patrons were going right through her body.
Past the people, she could take a peek of the outside. To her surprise, a parade was being carried out. Lanterns swung from the parade-goers hands in a rhythm as they sang and danced together.
Ning Yingying turned around- a heavy scent hit her- she winced- it was a strong and intense incense, a sharp contrast to what Mu-shishu lit on Qian Cao. There was also the sickening smell of wine, which made her head pang and her eyes water (a short time on Ku Xian peak showed her that).
She loitered around the entrance and observed the scene inside the brothel. There was nothing too significant she could infer; Ning Yingying was rather bewildered. She noticed a group of patrons and courtesans huddling in front of an elevated stage. I should go see– it’s better than waiting for something to happen, at least. Once she had strutted straight to the front, Ning Yingying could properly marvel at the exquisite silk and wood that made up the stage. The artisans seemed to blow life into every carving and every thread.
From behind the curtains emerged a beautiful woman. She bowed, a professional, welcoming smile adorned on her heavily powdered face. ‘In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight, the Butterfly Palace is honoured to serve our generous patrons with a performance by our beloved geji– Ning Quan!’
The geji revealed herself from behind the screen, dressed in layers of flowy clothes in shades of bright orange and dark green; an embroidery of osmanthuses trailed from the side of her skirt and settled into a serene picture of flowers amidst clouds. Her slightly loose sash and delicate collarbones were decorated with various jade and gold jewellery. With each gentle step, her exquisite and sophisticated hair accessories glinted in the soft lights from the lanterns.
Contrary to the luxury she donned, Ning Quan had little makeup on– her soft doe eyes, orange-golden like the setting sun were plenty enough to enchant people.
She made her way to the front of the stage and bowed with a soft smile on her face. From her sleeve Ning Quan took out a simple bamboo flute, only decorated by a pink flower tassel.
She brought the instruments to her lips and began to play. From the first note, Ning Yingying had recognised the song.
This wasn’t a song she had learnt– it was something that was already in her heart for as long as she could remember. Despite never having heard it from anyone, it was the first song Ning Yingying played on her flute.
She looked around, the music feeling like soothing hands around her heart. The patrons and workers were silent with wonder, their eyes fixed on Ning Quan. Every one of her movements– from the woman tilting her head slightly to her delicate fingers moving across the holes– seemed to exude magic which enchanted everyone in the brothel.
She was, truly, a fairy.
The roar of clapping snapped Ning Yingying out of her reverie. Ning Quan had already disappeared from the stage, leaving a warm and profound air in her wake.
A sudden thought struck the young girl's mind- What if Ning Quan was the demon?
Excitement sparking within her, Ning Yingying leapt on the stage, just barely catching sight of the woman turning around a corner. She gave chase through various hallways, until the geiji led her to a pair of large sliding doors decorated with peonies.
People were talking inside.
When the doors opened, Ning Yingying quickly sneaked in, ready to be faced with any danger that might jump out at her. Instead, a familiar scent greeted her– a sweet, calming smell that reminded her of a cool breeze which danced through Qing Jing's bamboo forest. There were also less vibrant colours and fancy displays among the few people here.
A few courtesans were relaxing around a luohan, surrounded by soft-looking pillows, talking to a young man. He had a small smile on his face, his posture casual as he listened intently to what the ladies around him had to say.
Somehow, Ning Yingying found that smile rather intimate. The young man had phoenix eyes coloured emerald-green. She felt that he would usually have a sharp gaze, but she recalled how those eyes would look at her with a gentle gaze, much like how he was observing the courtesans.
Puzzle pieces clicked in her brain.
‘Baba?’
‘Quan-jie, that performance was truly beautiful,’ said the young man, sitting up straighter to welcome the woman. ‘Why, your playing could rival the gods.’
Ning Quan giggled softly, coming over to sit with her peers. ‘Oh, Jiu-er, you are being too kind. I am nothing but a simple courtesan, how could I ever compare to anyone in the Heavens? I can't even match your fellow disciples, geniuses upon the peak of scholars and musicians.’
So he is from Qing Jing… Ning Yingying swallowed. This was, without a doubt, a younger, not yet peak lord Shen Qingqiu (or was he Shen Jiu?) that she was watching.
Shen Jiu scoffed and waved his hand with distaste.’Them? A number of them are still struggling to read their music sheets, even after a year. If they were to be blessed with a glimpse of your playing, they would all bow and call you Shifu.’
This made the courtesans burst into laughter, one even playfully pinching Shen Jiu's cheek. ‘Jiu'er, that isn't a way to talk about your peers, now!’
Ning Yingying allowed herself to giggle a little, despite the nagging feeling that she was intruding on something private of Shen Qingqiu.
What was he doing here? Why was he so familiar with the courtesans? Are they friends? Who else knows about this? Is this what started the lecher rumour? Well, they're all wrong! Baba is just relaxing, that's all!
A pronounced hush over the noise made Ning Yingying snap out of her thoughts. Everyone was staring at Ning Quan in astonishment, while the woman was kneeling in front of Shen Jiu, who was trying to make her stand back up.
‘Jiejie, whatever do you mean?’ asked another courtesan, leaning to gently hold Ning Quan's arm.
‘Quan-jie…?’ Shen Jiu was at a loss for words, his hands still outstretched towards her.
Ning Quan looked down, one hand coming to rub her stomach. ‘In three months, he will return from his expedition to claim me as his wife. This child is his. ‘Yan-xiansheng doesn't want any children… But-but I can't bear to let her go.’
She looked up at Shen Jiu with a forced smile which quivered on the corner of her lips. ‘She will be greeting the world soon. I won't be able to care for her for long. That is why I want to ask you to be her guardian. Her father was a powerful cultivator– the doctor said her spiritual roots were promising– wouldn't my darling become strong like her father?’
She glanced apologetically at the other courtesans for a moment, eyes teary with sorrow. ‘As much as I love this place and my sisters here, I do not want my child to grow up in a brothel...’ The other courtesans returned her look with understanding smiles and words of affirmation.
In a desperate attempt, she grabbed onto Shen Jiu's sleeve. ‘Jiu'er, please. I can only depend on you to give her the future she deserves.’
The shock already off his face, Shen Jiu gently answered, ‘Quan-jie, I-I promise I will think carefully about it.’
An older courtesan kneeled and held Ning Quan with a loving tenderness. ‘All right Quan, let Jiu'er think it over. Why don't you tell us some things about the child? What is her name?’
Ning Quan was silent for a moment. ‘My baby… Yingying.’
Ning Yingying felt her mouth drop and her back hit the wall.
‘Her name shall be Ning Yingying.’