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It was an unusually hot and unforgiving summer — cruel even under the shade of the thick bamboo groves and the variety of trees surrounding Xian Shu Peak. The sun was relentless — bright, even in the late afternoon it cut like blades against the skin.

The syrupy air was littered with the faint cries of cicadas.

It seemed that the cool promise of autumn was nowhere in sight even at the tail end of summer. Everything felt sluggish, languid.

As such, activity in Xian Shu seemed to slow — slacken slightly from the traitorous summer's heat. Classes become more casual, and activities drawn towards the indoors.

All of this created an unusually barren atmosphere to a peak often known for its music and laughter.

Liu Qingge sat on the stone bench next to a weeping willow in the front reception area behind the first of the many Xian Shu gates, his back ramrod straight, his shoulders drawn back almost stone-like.

The garden was well-manicured. Artfully shaped and elegant, its trees and shrubs were laden with different colourful blooms.

The swordsman's eyes were fixed at the pond before him: deep green with a slow swirl of brocade carp. White amber, tarnished gold, blazing coral were a hypnotic series of motions, flickering in and out like lazy flames.

If it weren't for the slight breeze around him gently brushing against his robes and hair, one could mistake Liu Qingge for a statue, impervious to the curious gazes from the Xian Shu Disciples, new and young to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.

At least… Liu Qingge only appeared to be impervious.

Six months.

It had been roughly six months of this and yet… Liu Qingge could still feel the weight of the hair crown upon his head, pressing down against his skull. The name bestowed to him, still felt unfamiliar to his own tongue, to his own ear. The behaviour of the others around him still uncanny due to his own new role.

The hair crown, the title, the role… all linked to the prestige of being the next Bai Zhan Peak Lord. The honorary title of 'War God' felt like an undeserved honour even to Liu Qingge.

'Qingge'.

His was a courtesy name full of expectations — conveying an easy elegance, a swift and effortless flight, the beginnings of a clear song — An ill-suited name for the person that he currently was.

It was a name that he was supposed to grow into — to transition into like a child with a new set of robes far too large for their frame or an actor of a theatre troupe assigned with a new mask. Liu Qingge wasn't sure how the other Qing generation Peak Lords adjusted to this, or whether they even had much difficulty at all.

The administrative aspect of Peak Lord had always felt like an uncomfortable throne to fill for a warrior — especially when it came to the intricacies of paperwork and bureaucracy.

It was clear that he was far lacking when it came to these tasks required from a Peak Lord — resource management, bureaucracy, the management of actual pupils, and basic accounting to name a few. It was immediately clear after a mere two weeks that his fellow Peak Lords were taking these duties in stride… whereas that sense of management, dealing with disciples and such, was always something that he… lacked — try as he might to grasp at it.

Liu Qingge had found himself struggling to complete a simple scroll handed to him by Shang Shixiong when other Peak Lords turned these in the immediate shichen after receiving them without any severe difficulty.

Six months had passed since the ascension rites of the previous generation.

And yet the more Liu Qingge learned as he tried to become the Bai Zhan Peak Lord that the public expected from him, the less he realised he understood about the actual attributes that made an acceptable Peak Lord.

It was vexing to say the least.

Liu Qingge knew that the first year had always been the hardest, having heard from his own Shizun and his Shishus of the typical complications and snarls. A task of a Peak Lord is no different to a family head or a proprietor of a business, though a bit more complicated.

Especially when it came to handling people and disciples…

Liu Qingge wasn't sure how to begin on the topic of disciples.

"Ah… Peak Lord Liu is here again…" The whisper came from one of the students, new ones either chosen by the Qing Generation or perhaps outer disciples sent by their families to be taught by Qi Qingqi herself.

"Best not bother him, A-Hui. He must be waiting for Shizun," came another voice. "He's always here during this time of the day."

"Huh… so that's the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan?" came another disciple's voice this one, louder than the others, "But he's too young. I thought it would be the other one… Chen something?"

"He was a close contender but I mean —"

"He's a genius, those types tend to be young. He beat Chen Yang didn't he? I mean he did quite a number on— "

"Of course he did, but he wouldn't have done that if he'd—"

"Oh yes… that was an unexpected outcome… how unfortunate that the house of Liu—"

"A-Chun stop that, didn't Shizun say —"

"You knew I didn't mean it that way, I'm just saying that agreeing that he belongs in—"

"Quiet, you three!"

"But Shijie, even you have to admit that he's… kind of…"

A burst of giggles followed after that statement, tinkling like soft wind chimes scattered by a strong gust of the cool summer breeze.

Liu Qingge tried not to take those words of criticism to heart and did his best to loosen his tense shoulders as he looked over the rock fixtures near the small stone waterfall, past the indigo lilies and the shimmering moss green pond.

There was nothing to be gained if he were to challenge these disciples right now. They were too new, too inexperienced to know anything about Cang Qiong — at least not in the way that he and the other Peak Lords did.

Standing so far away, they must have thought that their chat was out of Liu Qingge's earshot and therefore had shared their own unfiltered thoughts, bringing their concerns to light.

What they said was true. Liu Qingge hadn't proven his own effectiveness and reputation yet as a Peak Lord. The 'Youngest of the Qing Generation', the 'Unexpected One who defeated the highly favoured Chen Yang' during the initial selection. He was an unexpected result in the eyes of some — but far from the most unwelcome one — a blazing arrow shooting across the sky, brilliant in its burning, novel in its flight.

No one knew whether the blaze was going to burn on brighter on its own controlled flight or if it would slowly burn out and fizzle away.

He had always been seen as a dark horse, beating unlikely odds and blowing his fellow Bai Zhan Peak disciples out of the water with his sheer cultivation potential upon his recruitment at the early age of eight. He continued to upset the delicate balance of competitors within Bai Zhan Peak, tallies and checks that they had built despite the fact that he had joined in the last batch of disciples — ending up on the roster of candidates at the mere age of sixteen when the list was announced by his Shizun, not as a main candidate, but as a backup.

An understandable position due to Liu Qingge's youth and his family background. It was something he originally didn't want to contest, since being the greatest in swords shouldn't involve complex paperwork and bureaucracy.

And now…

Liu Qingge sat here in Xian Shu. A Peak Lord at the age of twenty-two — younger than his other peers by almost a decade in some cases — with barely anything attributed to his name, his reputation. Now, his gaze was fixed on the waterlilies and the idle swirl of carp, doing his best to focus on that.

He had been a bit early in his visit today since the nighthunt mission had ended rather quickly due to his own interference and as a result —

"What are you four doing out here?" Qi Qingqi's voice rang out from the edge of the garden.

Liu Qingge looked at the source of the noise, catching the disciples' flinches as they noticed the beautiful Xian Shu Peak Lord.

"Shizun…" They greeted in chorus to Qi Qingqi with a respectful bow, sounding somewhat chastened.

There was a sigh from those painted lips, as she waved her embroidered silk fan away from herself with a frown of disapproval. "This one understands that classes are cancelled due to the horrid heat. However, this does not give you the excuse to linger around the hallways like mumbling ghosts when all of you clearly have other matters to attend to."

"Yes, Shizun… this disciple was wrong Shizun," they all said.

"Hmph. Don't let this master catch all of you like this again." Qi Qingqi lectured at them rather noncommittally. "Well… off you go now."

The collection of disciples scattered like a flurry of colourful petals, soft colours disappearing away from the other side of the square courtyard under the shadowed hallways.

Qi Qingqi lets out another huff as she looks over at Liu Qingge. "What are you waiting over there for? Aren't you here for someone important?"

"…I thought men weren't allowed beyond this courtyard."

Qi Qingqi scoffed and gestured a hand at him to wave him over, her silver nail covers glinting in the light. "The rule was made to deter people who don't listen to our demands under threat of Cang Qiong law. You, Qingge, are far from that. As Peak Lord, I now have the ability invite relevant guests regardless of gender into the inner courtyard, you know?" She added with an amused smile. "Besides, it's not like you are able to do anything to those girls with your Shijie by your side — you're just not devious enough."

Liu Qingge paused. "I'm… Thank you?" He said after a moment, choosing not to take offence.

While it's true that he could probably take Qi Qingqi in a fight, it was not like he had any desire to fight her, and certainly not for something as dishonourable as violating the sacred rules of Xian Shu.

Qi Qingqi lets out a soft laugh, though it wasn't unkind. "Come," she beckoned, that amused smile still painted on her peony-coloured lips. "She's been asking for you since this morning."

Liu Qingge walked past the beautifully arranged rock sculptures and manicured trees, crossed under the arch of the intricately carved moon gate, and strode under the cover of the shadowed eaves the stone corridors offered, as Qi Qingqi led them towards the inner courtyard.

It consisted of some artfully grown trees and an even larger manmade pond set in the centre, taking most of the space in this wide area, so large that it could be described as a lake.

This lake, perhaps connected with the pond from the courtyard before — was also filled with the same indigo and purple waterlilies and swirling with and brocade carp —similar to what Liu Qingge had just departed from with the Xian Shu Peak Lord —Just more…. watery.

But instead of another bubbling waterfall feature in this courtyard, there were four wooden bridges, leading towards a water pavilion in the middle of the lake. The tall wooden water pavilion was shaded with a combination of thin bamboo blinds and gossamer cloth.

Liu Qingge had never entered this section of the Xian Shu before; it somewhat reminded him the old water gardens from the Liu estate —

"She's just inside," Qi Qingqi instructed as she made to step across the bridge.

Having paused a moment to take in the sights, Liu Qingge quietly followed her.

But just before he was able to cross the middle of the bridge, he heard a shuffle and an eager patter of footsteps.

Liu Qingge stopped.

A short blur of purple burst through the gossamer blinds, skipped down the pavilion steps past Qi Qingqi without pause and hurtled towards Liu Qingge, crashing against his torso.

Liu Qingge instinctively caught her. "Hello, you," he smiled.

"Ge!" Liu Mingyan giggled, a wide smile on her tiny face. "Ge! You're here! I thought you'd return tomorrow!"

"I'm here," Liu Qingge agreed.

Liu Mingyan's nose immediately wrinkled, "You smell of medicine. Did you get injured again?"

"Just mere scrapes," Liu Qingge answered, thinking of the hard bristles of the Two-Headed Poison-Breath Boar.

"A-Yan," Qi Qingqi began, letting out a sigh as she did so. "Tackling Peak Lord Liu is fine because I know your brother can take it," Qi Qingqiu began, "But to run in long skirts like that, at least lift them up lest you trip and hurt yourself."

"Sorry, Shizun." Liu Qingge could hear his sister's smile in his embrace. "Mingyan will remember next time."

"Yan-er should. " Liu Qingge told her, a slight smile quirked upon his lips. "Qi Shijie worries about you."

"Oh… Sorry, Shizun." Liu Mingyan answered, this time more sincere.

"It's alright, it's nothing as serious as your brother makes it out to be," Qi Qingqi quipped.

"Mn." Liu Mingyan answered. She then pulled back to look at Liu Qingge, her wide eyes expectant. "But… ge smells of a lot of heavy medicine…. Is ge really okay?" She asked, voice wavery.

"I'll soon be as right as rain," Liu Qingge responded quickly, "Mu Shidi helped patch me up. His medicines have always been on the stronger side. Cultivation will take care of the rest."

"Oh." Liu Mingyan looked all over Liu Qingge, though her little frown didn't quite disappear. "I wish ge didn't have to get hurt like this."

"Mingyan…"

"I think in times like these, Mingyan needs to trust in her gege." Qi Qingqi spoke gently, "Your ge is an incredible warrior. No one in Cang Qiong — I'd wager some good money that those outside of Cang Qiong too — can beat him in a fair fight."

"Really?"

"Of course really!" Qi Qingqi answered with a confident smile, "He knows what he's doing and it's because of him that missions run faster for the rest of us on Cang Qiong despite being a bit understaffed at the moment."

"Shijie…" Liu Qingge began, suddenly filled with unexpected emotion.

"Shije trusts Shidi to know the pointy end of the sword from the handle."

"…Thank you for your trust." Liu Qingge deadpanned, any remaining spark in his eyes faded at the last of her words. Though, he could feel the hints of a smile forming at the ends of his lips.

"Ge is that powerful? Mingyan knows he's strong already but…"

"He sure is!" Qi Qingqi laughed. "We can talk more about this but… Let's get out of the sun, shall we? It's only going to get hotter if we linger outside. This master doesn't want Mingyan to get sunburnt."

"Okay." Mingyan looked to Liu Qingge. "… Ge?"

"Hm?"

"Mingyan wants to get strong." Liu Mingyan's eyes were bright, her gaze determined, "If Mingyan gets strong, then ge wouldn't have to do those missions alone…"

"Mingyan is already doing what she can." Liu Qingge gently pet Liu Mingyan's hair as he followed Qi Qingqi into the water pavilion with his sister in his arms.

In a soothing motion, he ran his hand against the soft, glossy surface of Liu Mingyan's hair. "Pressuring yourself to do more won't yield good results. You're getting stronger by the day… and by the looks of it… taller too."

"Gege can tell?" Liu Mingyan asked as she looked up at him again, her dark eyes, wide and wondrous.

"Mn. By your jumps," The swordsman answered softly as he lifted Liu Mingyan up further to a sturdier position in one arm so he could lift the gossamer curtains with his now free hand. "So there's no need for Mingyan to try even harder to get stronger."

It'd be great if Liu Mingyan didn't involve herself with the thought of missions — at least until the next decade if Liu Qingge could help it.

Liu Qingge stepped inside the cool shade the pavilion offered, his eyes adjusting to the sudden shadows.

The interior of the pavilion was within Liu Qingge's expectations: furnished with tables and backless stools carved of dark wood, their seats covered with colourful silk cushions.

The table had books and a calligraphy set.

"I thought Mingyan was finished with her lesson." Liu Qingge said as he gently moved to let his baby sister down.

Liu Mingyan let him. "Ge… Mingyan is already eight! This means that Mingyan is already an official student of Qi— I mean, Shizun now," she declared rather proudly as she planted her tiny hands against her waist. "Which means Mingyan now has homework!"

"That's very responsible of you." Liu Qingge smiled.

"Mingyan thought if Mingyan gets it done before ge comes to visit me, then I can play with ge for longer." Liu Mingyan concluded, before frowning, "Only… ge came early today."

"Oh." Liu Qingge couldn't stop the smile from gracing his features as he reached out and poked Liu Mingyan on her cheek — soft, like mantou, "Would you rather I come in a shichen later?"

"Ge!" Liu Mingyan pouted, "That's not what I meant."

"I mean… you don't have to do this work right away, Mingyan." Qi Qingqi quickly said, clearly trying not to break into laughter.

"But…" Liu Mingyan paused, her expression conflicted.

"I won't go away, Mingyan. I'm sorry for teasing you." Liu Qingge relented, "I could stay with you until you finish and then play after?"

"Won't gege get bored?" Liu Mingyan asked.

"Of course not, " Liu Qingge reassured her. "I can find something to busy myself with."

"If not, I can always play a round of chess with your ge," Qi Qingqi suggested.

"Request denied."

"Hey!"

He accompanied Liu Mingyan as promised, watching over her as she completed her calligraphy homework with idle fascination before taking out Cheng Luan to maintain and clean.

Luckily, the blade didn't reek of monsters or show a visible stain of monster blood. Liu Qingge had cleaned that initial grime off after the fight as was customary, but he hadn't the time to work on maintaining Cheng Luan properly.

As Liu Qingge cleaned the blade, he continued to observe his little sister.

It didn't take a genius to see that Liu Mingyan was doing so much better than ten months ago when Liu Qingge brought her to Qian Cao Peak.

Liu Mingyan was no longer scared of her own shadow, no longer flinching at the uniformed disciples. She had even gotten along with many other Cang Qiong sect members aside from Qi Qingqi herself, managing to even charm the previous generation of Peak Lords before their ascensions.

Naturally, Liu Mingyan was a little sad to see all of them ascend…. but…

At least this time she didn't have to face it alone.

Liu Qingge wasn't there with her when the Liu clan fell to pieces under the machinations of the other thirteen branch families.

It was a common tale of decline: with the previous Matriarch Liu Huiying dead and no official successor named, their parents had made do with what they had in order to settle the different demands from the other branch members of the Liu household. By then, the family fortune amassed by them from their ancestors had long declined — squandered away by the extravagant lifestyle many of the Liu family members had expected and grown used to.

Liu Huiying had only been holding the family together through sheer willpower and determination, motivated to see the Lius through the financial troubles they had with tighter regulations and a closer eye on their expenditures.

And it did work during her reign as the matriarch. Her power was such that she was able maintain the prestige in the Liu household to those outside the family. The fact that she was impartial, as strict as she was fair to everyone… had made her a beloved figure around the estate

But now with her gone…

"Mingyan thinks that Mingyan is done." Liu Mingyan set her calligraphy brush down and looked over at the practice characters she had written with a frown; her characters, while still a little imbalanced, were painstakingly neat — like the tracks of a small sparrow on a field of freshly fallen snow.

"Well done." Liu Qingge congratulated her as he looked over at the letter forms,"Nicely written."

Liu Mingyan beamed at him. "So that means ge can play with me now right?" She looked at Qi Qingqi with pleading eyes.

"Of course you can." Qi Qingqi smiled, "do stay within the Xian Shu walls though! Remember, Mingyan is still a Xian Shu student and still has to abide by the rules here." The last part had been directed to Liu Qingge specifically.

"I won't, not in this deadly weather." Liu Qingge looked over at Qi Qingqi. "She can't even ride a sword yet."

"Not true!" Liu Mingyan protested, shaking her head as she did so, "Ge took me to Cang Qiong by sword before."

"That… was an emergency." Liu Qingge hesitated, his expression faltering slightly at the memory of her clutching against his lapels, her knuckles white, while the rest was drenched in red and reeking of iron, "It's not really safe for Mingyan."

"Oh." Mingyan quieted for a moment. "Well…Cang Qiong is nicer than Nainai's[1] house and the outside anyways, it's really bright out."

"Mingyan…" Liu Qingge frowned. But Qi Qingqi only shook her head at Liu Qingge.

He dropped the matter.

"Would Mingyan like to play inside then?" Liu Qingge tried again. "We can play a round of weiqi, cards or mushe [2] in the shaded courtyard."

"Wait… do we even have space in the courtyard for mushe amongst the gardens?" The Xian Shu Peak Lord said.

"You do, you just have too many gardens." Liu Qingge replied with an amused tone.

"I— you know what, I'm not going to even respond to that." Qi Qingqi crossed her arms. "A-Yan, your ge is trying to bully me!" She whined with a mock pout. "Comfort me, A-Yan! Liu Shidi is sooooo mean!"

It had the intended effect, Liu Mingyan laughed at their antics.

"Ge! Don't be mean to Shizun!" She giggled. "Mingyan was thinking that maybe we can play some card games together. That way we can all play a lot with each other and everyone can have their turn! "

"Ooh! Good idea A-Yan! I'm sure that we'll enjoy that very much!"

They ended up playing a series of matches with Liu Mingyan's other Shijies.

Liu Qingge didn't play too seriously, opting to watch all of them instead. He also kept his strength in check using his non-dominant hand when serving his cards onto the table surface as to not damage the wooden antique and earn Qi Qingqi's (well-deserved) ire.

It was too early to go back under Mu Shidi's care right now.

The point wasn't to win the game; it was to amuse Liu Mingyan and spend time with her.

And spend time he did. This particular card game was a rather slow one with players taking turns guessing each other's cards and making conversation with their opponents and the other players to do so.

Not wanting to keep the rest of the Xian Shu disciples intimidated by his presence, Liu Qingge kept his words to a careful minimum and his expressions in check. He didn't want Liu Mingyan to be viewed differently than the other disciples in Xian Shu just because they were related — at least more differently than how they talked about him with these rumours floating around.

Talking about Liu Qingge was fine, but he wouldn't want that to spread to Liu Mingyan herself.

But it seemed like the hypervigilance in his approach had a bit of an opposite effect, making these disciples not want to engage with Liu Qingge as another player, opting instead to play with the others, including Liu Mingyan.

…

While the method wasn't the most ideal, it seemed like Liu Mingyan was still included in the games as a side effect. She played with her Shijies, joking and laughing with them as they teased Qi Qingqi about her ill-fated cards.

Liu Qingge didn't mind this treatment. Instead he watched over Liu Mingyan , as she outguessed her Shijie's card numbers with a satisfied expression. The way she openly interacted with all of them was such a contrast from the first day she landed in Cang Qiong removed from that miserable and shadowy manor.

After the Liu Matriarch's death, the festering rot she tried to stave off became all that more prominent. It continued to grow rapidly, until culminating into a final massacre of the main clan.

At least it would have been a complete massacre if Liu Qingge hadn't flown to the Liu manor after he caught wind of the rotten plot. He remembered flying towards the estate in order to intervene, Bai Zhan Peak protocols be damned.

Long story short, Liu Qingge managed to get Liu Mingyan out of the situation, fending the others off as he flew away on Cheng Luan taking Liu Mingyan back to Cang Qiong with him straight to Qian Cao peak to where Mu Qingfang was.

It was clear that that experience had shaken her — not that Liu Qingge blamed her — she had been reluctant to leave Qian Cao Peak for the longest time, scared of her own shadow. Hesitant any time Liu Qingge, Mu Qingfang, or Qi Qingqi attempted to leave the room.

"Ge! Did you see that?" Liu Mingyan gasped as Liu Qingge felt her tug at his sleeve, pulling him away from his thoughts. "Look! Mingyan managed to get the two peony fishes!" She showed the cards to him with a proud smile. "This means Mingyan has won this round!"

"Congratulations. You played well." Liu Qingge reached out and gave Liu Mingyan a gentle pat on her head earning another giggle from her.

"Ge should catch up soon! Ge can do it! Don't be like Shizun and fall for Wanzhu's card trap."

"Stinky Mingyan…" Qi Qingqi laughed her tone affectionate despite the nickname. She then dramatically sighed, "Everyone's so fickle these days. Even my disciples are turning against me!"

"Hm…" Liu Qingge hummed, amused at the Peak Lord's lament, "You shouldn't blame your skill issues onto others."

"Liu Qingge! Today is the day that I'll beat you! Just you wait."

"I'd like to see you try."

The group played several more rounds of cards before the disciples had to disband for evening chores. They bid the three of them goodbye rather regretfully after Qi Qingqi announced that it was near the end of their resting period.

"Now, it's about time I see you off too." Qi Qingqi put her hands on her hips. "If we had gone on playing who knows when you'll leave? I still have some paperwork to attend to."

"Mn. Then I won't bother you any longer." Liu Qingge nodded before he looked at his sister. "I need to talk to Mu Qingfang about something…"

He should get his wound dressings changed.

"Ge is leaving?" Her expression was that of curiosity.

"Mn." He nodded.

"Oh! Then! Wait here for a moment!" Liu Mingyan suddenly shot up from her seat. "I need to give something to ge!"

"Something?" But Liu Mingyan had already run off. Her shoes echoed against the stone floor of the pavilion as she zipped away and further into the Xian Shu grounds.

"Mingyan! Your skirt!" Qi Qingqi called, "Don't forget to pull up the front when you run! Don't trip!"

"Okay, Shizun!" Liu Mingyan's voice faded behind the courtyard, leaving the two of them sitting in the pavilion, facing each other.

By now the sun had started to set; its golden light turned a warm flame orange, painting long shadows across the pavilion, dim and diffused by the gossamer curtains.

The air had only started to cool.

"So… How's Bai Zhan doing since the last monthly meeting, Shidi?" Qi Qingqi suddenly spoke, "I know we see each other every day, but you hardly mention your own peak affairs anymore."

"There's nothing of note." Liu Qingge answered.

"Come now, you know what I mean." Qi Qingqi frowned. "You're running that peak alone with hardly any help from other people! And what's more? You're not even taking any inner disciples, yet despite all the challengers you've received!"

"They're not up to my expectations." Liu Qingge answered, looking away from her.

"Well they won't be if you never even try to look for those qualities within the current candidates."

"They've given me duel requests," Liu Qingge told her. "I've followed through. None of them had shown any potential."

"Alright… if you say so." Qi Qingqi sighed, clearly unconvinced.

"There are more important things right now." Liu Qingge clarified, "I can hardly think about taking a disciple when there are still larger missions to be run. It's not time yet."

Traditionally, Bai Zhan peak tended to take their inner disciples a bit later than the other peaks both because of their selection process, and because the rest of the peaks would usually take in new disciples first in order to rebuild some stability among Cang Qiong sect's numbers. Meanwhile the Bai Zhan Peak Lord handles the more difficult and specific mission requests that cropped up during this transition period.

Those disciples that the previous Bai Zhan peak masters took in before that period tend to get in their way of missions.

"Hm. That may be," Qi Qingqi agreed, "But you do have to at least consider the thought, especially now that most of the Peak Lords have accepted disciples… Even that grouchy sourpuss Shen Qingqiu of all people — Did you know he'd just accepted his first inner disciple?

"He did?" Liu Qingge raised an eyebrow.

Of all the people to be the next person to accept a inner disciple, Liu Qingge didn't think it would be that hypocritical bastard.

"He did." Qi Qingqi confirmed. "I think his name was… Ping…. Fan? Ping something, was it?" She mused. "I know! Right?! I was shocked too!"she added, breaking her serene Peak Lord composure.

Liu Qingge's look must have betrayed his own rather uncharitable thoughts on the matter.

Qi Qingqi cleared her throat, returning back to her previous manner and continued, "I'd thought that our studious Mu Shidi would be the first one to accept inner disciples, what with you coming back to Cang Qiong so often with injuries…" Her eyes flicked away from Liu Qingge's face, towards his robes, his various layers concealing the healing injuries from the mission earlier; her expression was one of silent curiosity.

Liu Qingge let the invisible question hang in the air. It hadn't hurt. It wasn't anything too unbearable and he'd rather not point it out and concern her, or worse have it slip out of her that he was injured… not that he thinks she would.

Liu Qingge could only hope that Liu Mingyan didn't notice the extent of it. They looked worse than they actually were.

"He'll need whole personal squad to attend to our peak of Bai Zhan I wager," Qi Qingqi continued with a teasing tone a knowing look. "Unless…" She trailed off.

"Nonsense." Liu Qingge avoided her look.

Qi Qingqi only laughed.

"The second annual selection trials will be in a few month's time." She said, "Who knows? You might be able to find a few good kids to accept into Bai Zhan."

"Hm."

A moment passed before that strange creeping feeling returned to Liu Qingge in their shared silence.

"…. How are you able to manage all of this?" Liu Qingge finally spoke his main concern.

"Of what?"

"Never mind." She had always been quick on her feet with social situations, clever with her way in words. Properly trained in formal affairs and affairs of ritual and ceremony as the other Xian Shu Peak Lords had been before her, it was likely that she hadn't struggled with Peak Lord duties as much as Liu Qingge himself did with his own shortcomings.

Any one of his fellow Bai Zhan graduates would have been more qualified than Liu Qingge to handle his position as leader, it was just that—

"I did struggle at first." Qi Qingqi spoke after a moment as if reading his thoughts. "Even with everything my Shizun did, everything she prepared me for… it was still different when I became the Peak Lord of Xian Shu." Her voice was quiet, no longer in that bubbly tone she usually employed. "You struggled. It's the same with the other Peak Lords too, I wager."

A feeling of cold shame filled him.

Of course they must have all struggled. It was wrong to assume otherwise. They were all new despite all the guidance they received from their respective mentors.

"But that's why you've got to talk to us more often." Qi Qingqi continued, "How are Mu Shidi and I supposed to help you if we don't even know where the issues lie? Hm? Being hesitant and considerate in the fear of burdening other people will only rebound harder in the end."

"I'm not scared."

"Qingge…." She sighed, "We're all family now. All of us." Qi Qingqi's grey eyes were fixed on him, gravely sincere. "I'm not saying to start getting buddy-buddy with the likes of Shen Qingqiu or immediately start learning accounting from Shang Qinghua, but it's okay to tell us your struggles… you've already got Mingyan—"

Liu Qingge held his hand up in warning.

He could sense Liu Mingyan's nearby presence. The familiar qi signature, warm and soft, suffusing out like a radiant mote of light even from behind the courtyard.

Qi Qingqi let out a sigh. "Don't think you're getting away from this talk," she muttered.

"Mn. I know I'm not… just… not in front of Mingyan." Liu Qingge murmured. It would be bad if Liu Mingyan were to take his own inadequacies to heart, already worrying about the swordsman's injuries from his missions at her young age.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Qi Qingqi rolled her eyes. "I don't want to make her needlessly worry either."

"Hm…" Liu Qingge could sense Liu Mingyan running closer towards them, her footsteps echoing against the stone floor in the far distance. "What's she so excited about?" He asked instead, changing the subject as he looked at the other pavilion exit where Liu Mingyan had left before.

"Well, you're about to find out." Qi Qingqi answered with an unneeded cryptic tone.

"Very helpful," Liu Qingge snorted as he looked over the water garden, observing the landscape in this new light.

"Thank you, I try." Qi Qingqi fluttered her fan.

"You're not going to tell me?"

"Why should I? It just spoils the spirit of a surprise." She answered nonchalantly as she continued to wave that fan. "Though I think you'll like this one."

Liu Qingge wasn't sure how to respond to Qi Qingqi and the instinctual trepidation he had with that tone of hers, knowing how much of a prankster she could be back in their disciple years.

It shouldn't be a prank since it concerns Liu Mingyan… would it?

Liu Qingge didn't need to answer. He could already hear the small footsteps racing across the wooden floorboards of the bridge and then—

"I'm back, ge!" Liu Mingyan cried out. There was another rustle of gossamer cloth curtains she sprinted towards them, skirt wound up in one hand past her ankles, and a long object wrapped in cloth clutched under her other arm. Her little cheeks were flushed from the run, her expression triumphant.

"Welcome back, Yan-er." Liu Qingge stated, unable to help his own forming smile.

"Oh my goodness. Did you run all the way, back and forth?" Qi Qingqi asked her eyes wide, "Here, have a seat."

But Liu Mingyan shook her head. "Mingyan was so distracted by the card game that Mingyan forgot to give this to ge. Mingyan wants to do it before she forgets again." Liu Mingyan grinned as she walks forward presenting the wrapped item to Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge accepted the wrapped bundle curiously "What is this?"

"Ge should open it!" Liu Mingyan beamed.

"Then…"

"Oh, don't be so polite!" Qi Qingqi sighed pointing her fan at Liu Qingge. "The two of you are siblings, not strangers! Just open it."

Liu Qingge opened the wrapped cloth bundle.

Inside was a scroll of heavy purple silk fabric of woven jacquard— almost as if—

Liu Qingge slowly unfurled the scroll.

It was a painting.

A painting with the branches of a tree dotted with flower blossoms and a single sparrow.

In the bottom right corner was a signature, 'Liu Mingyan, age 8.'

"A bird-and-flower painting…" His fingers gently ghosted over the lopsided sparrow, over its chubby cheeks and its speckled feathers.

Liu Qingge looked up from the scroll in his hands. "Yan-er…." He began quietly, " you drew this?"

"I did!" Liu Mingyan nodded proudly. "We had painting class earlier… but Mingyan didn't want to tell ge about it because Mingyan wanted it to be a surprise for ge!"

"For me?" Liu Qingge repeated, unable to do much else than to remain still, suddenly heavy with emotion for his sister.

"This painting that I drew is the best one, so Mingyan is giving it to ge!" Liu Mingyan finished resolutely. "It's still not as good as the original one Mingyan studied from though."

The both of them were raised surrounded by such fine things, so it was natural for her to spot such differences.

Someone like Shen Qingqiu or an art critic might have minded but—

Liu Qingge set the painting aside and pulled Liu Mingyan into a hug, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

—Someone else would have minded these, pointed out errors across the white canvas. The brushstrokes were a bit too wide in parts, a bit too narrow in some, the branches jittery in the wind, the ink muddied slightly from a bit too much handling despite Liu Mingyan's obvious care but—

"Ge?"

—But the painting was painted with spirit, the plumage of the bird clear in the brushwork, slightly rumpled but careful — a painting made with effort… and love.

"Thank you." Liu Qingge managed, his voice somewhat muffled against her violet-scented hair, against her small form, her arms barely able to wrap around him.

"Aw… ge, you're welcome!" Liu Qingge could feel her small hands against his back, petting him gently.

He tried not to shake in this embrace, slowly taking in a deep breath.

A painting made by Liu Mingyan.

For him.

"Thank you," Liu Qingge repeated hugging her close. "It's marvellous." He wished that he had better words to convey those feelings of his, yet glad that he had none to spare her from the weight of it all.

"Yan-er, Thank you so much."

Liu Qingge hung the bird-and-flower painting in front of the work desk in his study.

The painting remained on the wall, serving as the only decoration he had in the forlorn-looking place, devoid of anything else decorative.

For the longest it stood alone, only for it to later be joined by the Snow Silk Nettle Tree, and later the miniature, but fragrant Sunset Magnolias (both essential for remedies for basic wound treatments and detoxification, mild and sweet in fragrance). Both were gifts from Mu Qingfang in an attempt to stave off the drain of medical resources spent on the Peak Lord.

(Or so Liu Qingge had thought.)

The painting of the little sparrow served as a valuable reminder for Liu Qingge's persistence as a Peak Lord at all.

He had only contested the senior prime candidate for the sake of Liu Mingyan in order to give her a secure position now that the two of them were without a family. He had aimed for the position of peak lord for the stability it offered just in case his sister needed Liu Qingge's own protection — something that had grown increasingly rare lately now that she had grown up and come to her own personhood.

It was good that Liu Mingyan had grown up. but…

It would be a lie if Liu Qingge said he didn't miss the way he could just easily swing his little sister up and plop her on top of his shoulders, or the way he could just scoop her up into his arms singlehandedly.

(He still could. But it would be improper and awkward for everyone involved. Furthermore, Liu Qingge was sure that Liu Mingyan would absolutely not enjoy being embarrassed like that.)

Liu Qingge still remembered Liu Mingyan's bright smile when she handed her first painting to him that day, the memory fresh in his mind even as time flowed on. The memory ingrained within him even if it was a just a single moment, a dewdrop in the flowing river of memories.

A dewdrop to a river and a river to oceans. As ice froze and broke throughout the various winters, as various springs passed fading into their inevitable autumns…

The passage of time was unstoppable.

Time had seen to Liu Qingge and the painting — a strange guardian of his quiet home on top of Bai Zhan. It silently watched over the peak lord's agonized groans as he slogged through endless reams of paperwork, silently guarded his office over those five years of absence, and silently lingered as he resumed his Peak Lord obligations after the second war against the demons passed and so on into the next spring.

By then, Liu Mingyan had grown into an outstanding woman, a peerless individual of her own right: a talented musician and poet. She was a master of the literary arts, highly praised by her fellow Xian Shu disciples, unshaken by the events of the second demon war, and emerging from it with a request for courting from a certain Sha clan Demon Saintess to boot.

All this had been good news for Liu Qingge. Liu Mingyan was now a powerful cultivator with a source of income of her own unbound by the strict rules of any family. The news of her being courted by a Demon Saintess killed off any persistent marriage offers and those egotistical types who thought themselves more exceptional. The other Lius now had no other excuse to use to bring Liu Mingyan or Liu Qingge back to their family for the prestige associated with their names.

It was the best outcome Liu Qingge could hope for. And the sparrow painting had played no small part, being a reminder to what he was persisting for even if Liu Qingge did take a rather indirect route to his goal.

Perhaps the sparrow would have continued to remain in front of Liu Qingge's desk, undisturbed on its perch resting on that faded branch glancing off to the far distance, if it weren't for the event that happened two weeks after Liu Mingyan's twenty-eighth birthday.

Liu Qingge had been wrapping up a practice session with his disciples, finishing the lesson off with a final round of sparring matches before their afternoon break when he sensed her presence from the clearing.

"Yixuan." Liu Qingge began as he watched his only inner disciple perk up at his words.

"Shizun?"

"Take over for a moment."

"Yes, Shizun." Yang Yixuan nodded, his expression determined as he stepped towards the training field to instruct the remaining pupils.

Liu Qingge walked towards the landing area, away from the clearing of the practice grounds. Even from there, Liu Qingge could hear Yang Yixuan's voice, steady and clear as he announced the beginning of the sparring session.

He turned the last corner, exiting the bamboo thicket and saw her.

Liu Mingyan was already sheathing Sui Se.

"Ge."

"Yan-er… what brings you here?" Liu Qingge asked quietly, curious about his sister's sudden appearance on Bai Zhan.

Didn't she mention that Xian Shu would be having a tea ceremony and autumn poetry reading this afternoon?

"Shizun wants to inquire about some mission details." Liu Mingyan answered. "The one set to start next week between Xian Shu and Bai Zhan. The scope has changed."

Liu Qingge raised an eyebrow but Liu Mingyan didn't elaborate. Whatever that change was, it sounded confidential. "In that case, let's continue inside the study."

Liu Mingyan nodded and led the way — more than familiar with all locations in Bai Zhan peak.

Liu Qingge followed after.

"Have you been well?" Liu Qingge asked as they strode towards his abode. His sister seemed well — healthy and without any injuries, her eyes clear and bright, her strides even, but even still… "It has been a while."

"Indeed. I'm sorry I missed our tea session the day before, ge."

"It is of no concern." He reassured her. It couldn't be helped, Liu Mingyan had been busy with her head disciple tasks. And as much as Qi Qingqi had been understanding, she still had a peak to run; it wouldn't do for her to favour the two of them over her actual tasks. "We can always have tea later— perhaps… even today if you're willing."

"I do have some time to spare." Liu Mingyan nodded, "Shizun won't be expecting me until the start of the ceremony since I won't be leading this time."

"Then we'll have tea." Liu Qingge decided quietly as they crossed the bamboo bridge towards the gates of his house.

They entered through the simple swinging wooden gates.

"I haven't prepared any sweets this time." Liu Qingge stated.

"Just tea is alright." Liu Mingyan smiled as she turned to look at him, "Mingyan is just glad to see ge well."

"I am well." Liu Qingge affirmed. "There's no need for concern."

Liu Mingyan frowned, crossing her arms and looking rather vexed. It was easy to see that she was pouting underneath her veil. "Might Mingyan remind ge that it was he who said that he was 'well' when he came back from the nine-headed serpent hunt? Or that time when ge boldly declared that the sword wound from Luo Binghe was just a 'minor scrape' two weeks ago? Of course I'd be concerned, ge!"

Liu Qingge had no good answer for her. That duel with the half demon was a particularly close one. And that scrape had partially been an accident on both counts — an even match gone too heated.

At least it wasn't as bad as those five years — not that Liu Mingyan needed to know the sordid details of his extensive injuries during that.

"I'm really alright." Liu Qingge insisted as he walked forwards leading her past the simple stepping stone and the single willow tree. They went past the front door, past the stone table and bench piled with herbs and—

"Oh. Shishu." Liu Mingyan blinked at the sight of Mu Qingfang standing in the room. "Hello."

"Greetings, Liu Shizi [3]." Mu Qingfang greeted her, facing away from his work from the small portable stove he had set up just next to the stone table, a warm expression gracing his handsome face. He straightened up from his initial crouched position. "It's good to see you. Here to visit Qingge?"

"Shizun sent me to inquire about mission details. Though, yes… Mingyan is also staying for tea… if Shishu doesn't mind, this one would love for Shishu to join us."

"Thank you for the wonderful offer." Mu Qingfang smiled. "I would love to join you later, but I must finish this batch of medicine for the remaining Bai Zhan disciples first."

"They can wait for their tonics and supplements. You've been at it the whole morning." Liu Qingge replied, moving closer towards the kind Daifu [4], pulling him into a gentle hug, and bending down slightly to bury his face against the other's soft hair.

He inhaled the familiar scent — chrysanthemum, star anise, and ginseng. Earthy, warm.

Like home.

"Qingge…" Mu Qingfang's protests were soft, flustered.

But he didn't push the swordsman away.

"It won't do for you to work so hard." Liu Qingge frowned as he slowly broke away from the hug he had imposed.

Glancing towards Liu's sister, Mu Qingfang cleared his throat, the flush high upon his cheeks, disheartening beyond his single silver monocle. "I can assure Shixiong that I'm working well within my pace. " He answered, his words belying his soft tone. "Carry on, I shall be with the two of you in a moment."

Liu Mingyan smiled at the older man. "Of course, Shishu…"

"Oh, Qingge, a moment if you would." Mu Qingfang spoke up. "It's about A- Tai."

Liu Qingge raised an eyebrow at the sudden mention of Mu Qingfang's inner disciple. He looked at Liu Mingyan.

"I'll wait for ge inside the study." Liu Mingyan nodded.

"Thank you."

Liu Mingyan disappeared behind the door closing it shut behind her.

"What about him?" Liu Qingge looked over at the Daifu, curious at the sudden change of subject.

He remembered the kid, petite, bespectacled, and well mannered in speech, though a bit stuttery in front of Liu Qingge. He wasn't sure if the boy's manner was due to the boy's nervousness or if it was because the people on Bai Zhan were truly scary for him.

"Does Qingge remember the last joint class we held?"

"I do remember. What of it?" He remembered the productive workshop. A good refresher for effective first aid, there was no doubt that the disciples of Bai Zhan had learned a lot from it.

"Yes, well, during the lesson it seemed that A-Tai had noticed—"

"GE!" came the scream.

Liu Mingyan's. Inside the house.

"Mingyan!" Liu Qingge busted through the wooden door, Cheng Luan drawn at the ready.

The front entrance was empty. So was the hall.

The study! She had told him that she'd be there.

Liu Qingge's footsteps thumped across the wooden floorboards as he made his way.

Liu Mingyan stood in the study, her face white.

"Mingyan!" Liu Qingge called, sword at the ready.

"Ge…" Liu Mingyan's voice was shaky, her eyes wide at his appearance. "Ge, your sword!"

"Are you okay?" Liu Qingge could hear Mu Qingfang behind him at the ready, needles drawn and his stance open to attack.

"What? No! Ge! Put your sword away! I'm okay." Liu Mingyan's flush got even redder — she was flustered, her eyes wide, her arms held up to show that she was indeed unharmed. "Don't destroy the house!"

Liu Qingge paused.

There were no other presences other than the three of them around the vicinity — at least not ones that he could immediately sense.

"Then what is it that startled you so?"He lowered Cheng Luan, his tone still worried.

Liu Mingyan flushed even redder.

"I just—it's…." Liu Mingyan struggled. "Why did you still keep it?"

"Huh?"

She pointed across the room, at the wall just beside Liu Qingge.

He looked over where she was pointing at.

The painting.

He stepped forward, Cheng Luan in hand, followed by Mu Qingfang.

There were no abnormal signatures of energy in the painting.

"What's wrong with the painting?"

Liu Qingge paused and looked back at Liu Mingyan who was now beet red.

She muttered something unintelligible.

"Qingge… it's alright… there's no one else here..." Mu Qingfang spoke, his tone soothing.

Liu Qingge made himself relax and then sheathed Cheng Luan with a deep breath.

"Mingyan?" Liu Qingge asked as he slowly approached her.

"Why do you still have it?" Liu Mingyan's voice was small.

Oh.

Something from the painting must have shocked her.

"The painting?" Liu Qingge asked, "You gave it to me. Of course I kept it."

Liu Mingyan's eyes widened. "But it's so faded, and old… ge… a painting like this, it is not acceptable as a decoration for your study?"

"Why not?" Liu Qingge asked, "I like it."

Liu Mingyan blinked at his statement.

"But… ge… I could paint so much better now… it's so — " She hesitated. "—amateurish, surely even you could see that objectively!" She added, waving a hand towards it. "I'm not asking you to throw it away, but as an official Peak Lord you do need better art than this."

"This is good art," Liu Qingge insisted, his tone firm, stubborn. "I like your work."

"Then… if I paint a better replacement and—and gift it to ge, would ge hang it on his wall?" Liu Mingyan asked, her tone increasingly agitated.

"Of course" Liu Qingge answered, knowing this was a surefire action for him.

"Then…" She looked over at the painting, studying the little bird and the careful brushwork of the petals, her dark eyes determined and clear. "I'll paint something much better so that ge can have something that actually befits ge!" She announced.

"Only if you want to."

"Oh I do." Liu Mingyan insisted as she straightened up slightly, "Just you wait, ge! Mingyan will paint something that will definitely knock ge's socks off!"

She exited the study and walked across the hall, leaving the house under a moment's breath.

The wooden door shut with an audible slam in her rushed motions.

And then just a moment later, her presence was gone.

She must have taken off with Shui Se in his front yard.

Mu Qingfang looked at Liu Qingge, "Wasn't she supposed to inquire about mission details?"

Liu Qingge just shrugged.

Someone from Xian Shu did show up the next day, but it wasn't Liu Mingyan.

Following proper protocol when around other Xian Shu ladies as an unmarried bachelor, Liu Qingge conducted their business outside over the stone table, just in front of the Peak Lord's house.

"How is Liu Mingyan?" Liu Qingge asked, as he returned from his study and handed the appropriate information to the Xian Shu disciple.

"Answering Shishu," the younger girl began, "Liu Shijie has been busy the Xian Shu archives, studying extant works of art. "

"Ah." So, she really was determined to make her promise a reality.

Well… she did seem determined in her convictions when she made her declaration in his study.

"Did…. something happen? Is this some detail about the mission?" The disciple asked, her tone worried.

"No." Liu Qingge answered, shaking his head. "There's no need to worry. Will the mission record copies be all that you need?" Liu Qingge reminded her.

"Oh. Yes! thank you so much Shishu!" The disciple said as she got up from her seat, "This disciple will be going now."

"Understood." Liu Qingge nodded. "I shall have my inner disciple escort you to the landing area." He gestured over to Yang Yixuan who bowed at his order.

"Thanking Shishu." The disciple spoke again before she followed Yang Yixuan.

They disappeared from the groves.

Liu Qingge watched the clearing a little bit longer before he returned back to his house.

"Qingge?" Mu Qingfang's voice called across the living area, light and inquisitive.

"I've finished with the Xian Shu disciple." Liu Qingge announced as he walked towards the dining table — full of neatly labelled paper packets, supplements for all Bai Zhan disciples, customised to their physical conditions and constitution. "Do you need any help with the packing?"

"Hm, I'll need you to dice up some of this crimson arrowroot for me. Half a finger nail's width will do." Mu Qingfang answered. "Mingyan couldn't make it?" he asked.

"The disciple mentioned that Mingyan was busy." Liu Qingge answered as he got to work with the arrowroot, his hands familiar with such knifework, "Said that she was studying classical artworks."

Mu Qingfang let out a soft hum.

Liu Qingge continued to chop the roots of the herb.

"You know… you two are pretty similar in this regard."

"How so?" Liu Qingge asked, pausing his work, curious about Mu Qingfang's statement.

"Her determination." Mu Qingfang answered. "It's the same focus you have." He set another folded packet aside before he started on the next one, tipping a spoon full of freshly crushed herbs onto the brass scales. "She must have gotten it from you."

"Perhaps." Liu Qingge answered. "I still don't understand why she would be so embarrassed about it." He added, "It's still a good painting. "

"It is." Mu Qingfang agreed as he set aside the brass spoon and looked up at the swordsman, taking off his gloves, slowly reaching out for Liu Qingge. "You clearly treasured her work."

"Mn." Liu Qingge answered following those elegant fingers, slightly callused and stained. "I just hope that she sees it so."

"I'm sure sure she'll come around eventually." Mu Qingfang said gently as he slowly pulled the swordsman into a kiss.

Liu Qingge was the first to exit the meeting hall after the stressful affair ended.

Well, the first aside from Shang Qinghua with his borrowed shadow teleportation activity, and Shen Qingqiu, with Luo Binghe just waiting outside the window of the meeting hall.

He had much on his mind — mainly about Liu Mingyan.

The fact that she was in the meeting didn't really help him concentrate on the contents within it. Liu Mingyan had started shadowing Qi Qingqi's meetings along with another fellow Xian Shu disciple the way Yang Yixuan was doing with Liu Qingge himself.

It wasn't like he could bring up the issue during the monthly meeting either since it was a personal matter irrelevant to monthly expenditures and the allotted budgets.

Hence he waited for Liu Mingyan just a bit farther from the exit of the meeting room.

Liu Qingge had already told Yang Yixuan to return with the Qian Cao disciples and Mu Qingfang to oversee and transport the Celestial Antler Beasts they had requested for the month to the respective storage areas — important ingredients for various advanced medicines for nurturing a golden core.

Qi Qingqi appeared after a few moments followed by her two disciples and Wei Qingwei, heavy in conversation about the ethics and the possibility of installing a Xian Shu Guardian defence system for the peak.

Liu Mingyan spotted Liu Qingge after a moment. She stepped forward slightly and whispered something to Qi Qingqi.

There was a short exchange of words before Liu Mingyan bowed away and rushed towards Liu Qingge, a sharp, determined look in her eyes, dark and glinting like obsidian glass.

"Yan-er…" Liu Qingge began.

"Ge, please take this." Liu Mingyan took a bundle from her qiankun pouch and shoved it at him.

Liu Qingge accepted the bundle, "Yan-er have you been getting enough sleep? You were…. rather distracted in the meeting." More so than Liu Qingge was anyways. And though cultivators only need minimal food and sleep thanks to their cores, there was something concerning about her.

"Oh…" She blinked, those dark circles faint under her large brown eyes. "Oh no no. Mingyan is okay. " She shook her head, "Mingyan was just preoccupied by the data compilation last night… and the night before…" She bit back a soft yawn.

"Perhaps you should take a rest after this… if you can." Liu Qingge spoke worried at her state. "I don't want you to fall ill."

Liu Mingyan shook her head again. "Ge should open the box once he gets home," she insisted, "you better do as you promised and hang this on your wall instead of the other one."

"A painting?" Liu Qingge asked quietly.

From their conversation two months ago?

Liu Mingyan nodded, "Mingyan did say she would paint something befitting for ge."

"On top of your Xian Shu work?" Liu Qingge asked.

Did Liu Mingyan agonise over the painting that much?

"Ge, don't look at me like that." Liu Mingyan dismissed those thoughts away with a flick of her fingers, as if reading the swordsman's mind, "Mingyan is actually proud of this one and Mingyan wants ge to have it."

Liu Qingge held the box tighter in his hand.

They couldn't hug. Not on Qiong Ding like this, it would be improper conduct.

"Mingyan…" Liu Qingge began instead, "you've worked yourself too hard. Rest if you can."

He rests a hand on her shoulder in a gentle pat.

Liu Mingyan's expression brightened, even Liu Qingge could tell that she was smiling under the veil. "Then ge should take care of the painting."

"I will." Liu Qingge answered quietly; it wasn't even a question if he would. "Get some rest, then?"

"Alright. Mingyan will see ge later." She nodded. "Would the same date and time next month for tea work for ge?"

"Mn." Liu Qingge nodded.

Liu Mingyan gave him a formal bow as required when backing away from a Peak Lord. She then turned around and made her way back to Qi Qingqi, resuming her place beside the other direct disciple.

"Are you sure you want to throw the painting away?" Mu Qingfang's voice was quiet even as he approached behind Liu Qingge.

"Hm?" Liu Qingge turned to look at the Daifu, "I thought you went on ahead with your disciples." He stepped a bit closer to Mu Qingfang, relaxing.

"And leave Qingge behind?" Mu Qingfang asked, frowning slightly at the thought. "That doesn't sound right. I was talking to Zhangmen Shixiong earlier."

"Ah." Liu Qingge watched as Liu Mingyan and the other disciple was guided by Qi Qingqi towards the exit of the meeting tower where the sword landing platform was set. "About the the Bai Yuan trading company and their demands?"

"Mm… It's more or less solved." Mu Qingfang hummed, his hands reaching out to brush away Liu Qingge's bangs, gently tucking it behind his ear. His careful fingers lingered against it.

They felt warm.

"But is Qingge really throwing it away?" Mu Qingfang asked quietly, "That sounds like such a shame. Qingge even went through pains to replace the mounting of the scroll."

"You heard that?" Liu Qingge asked slowly winding his arms around the Daifu.

"Mn… Not everything of course, only the tail end of the conversation," the Daifu answered.

"Hm." Liu Qingge hummed as he opened the lid of the box and gently unfurled the painted scroll inside.

Liu Qingge was greeted with a canopy of red plum blossoms — an assortment of the vibrant blush blooming from the centre of the bud, their petals delicate and light — fragrant even in its imagery, resilient even under the layer of light snow.

He unrolled more of the scroll to reveal a series of branches, sprawling across the page elegantly. The dark wood painted under the light blanket of snow — defined in a single textured stroke, brief in its mark, transient in its existence, yet immortalized on the silk canvas.

The surface of the snow looked cold to the touch, pristine, undisturbed, a pure absence of ink.

A small humble sparrow — tea brown and white in plumage , its wings tipped in black — was detailed in mid-flight, swooping downwards gracefully. Its beady eyes were bright, its beak singing a soundless song silent to everyone else, clear to its heart.

On the lower half of the painting was another sparrow perched on a separate branch, covered with snow and frost, its red plum blossoms more detailed as it was brought closer to Liu Qingge in the foreground.

All of this, the snow, the birds, the blossoms were brought forth with a masterful wash of light grey in the background: a beautiful fade, bringing the forms of the painting's subjects to light.

It was in short, a masterful and impressive piece of work.

"Mingyan has gotten so good at painting." Liu Qingge murmured as he looked over at the two sparrows, at the branching details of the flora, delicate yet balanced.

"She's very skilled." Mu Qingfang agreed, his tone in awe as Liu Qingge carefully rolled the painting away, mindful of his own fingers as he did so. "She must have worked hard on this. it would be a shame to not display this at home, Qingge."

"Mn." Liu Qingge thought for a moment.

"What are you going to do with the other painting?"

"Well…" Liu Qingge began, a hint of a smile beginning at the corner of his lips, "I never did promise to take the first painting down, did I?"

Liu Qingge was peeling Agate Tangerines on the garden bench beside Mu Qingfang when he sensed the disturbance on Bai Zhan peak.

Agate Tangerines rinds, according to Mu Qingfang, were pretty useful in moving qi stagnation, while its fruits can be eaten fresh to boost immunity.

Sensing the nature of this… somewhat familiar energy, Liu Qingge set aside the half-peeled tangerine on the plate for Mu Qingfang and looked over at the front yard.

Cold winter air swirled around them, rustling over the naked branches, shaking off the frost-laden bamboo, sending sheets of snow down the vicinity of the house.

And then came a swirl of red plum blossoms — foreign to Liu Qingge's garden — and a rustle of translucent red silk.

Two pairs of feet landed on the white blanket of snow in the front yard.

The Sha clan's brand of teleportation magic.

Liu Qingge got up from his seat and approached Sha Hualing and Liu Mingyan.

"Ge."

"Mingyan." Liu Qingge nodded at his sister, noting Sha Hualing's hand around her waist, careful and tender. He looked over at the other woman, unsure what to say, "… Lady Sha."

"Aiyo, you don't have to be so stiff with me!" Sha Hualing waved. "Didn't I say the sooner we get over this tension, the better it is for A-Yan? I am a demon saintess of my word, you know?"

"Hm."

"Are you doubting me?"

"Not particularly. But I'm also not convinced." Liu Qingge snorted as he watched the scandalized expression upon Sha Hualing play out with amusement.

"Ge, don't bully A-Ling…" Liu Mingyan pouted.

"I'm not." Liu Qingge looked at his sister, and then back at Sha Hualing, "I had expected Mingyan for tea…. but I should have known that we'd be expecting you too. Apologies."

The Demon Saintess had appeared in front of Cang Qiong's doorsteps three days ago. She had then gone to Xian Shu Peak without much so much as a ceremonial greeting to Qiong Ding peak before she spontaneously announced her brief stay to the rest of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect with Qi Qingqi.

How could Liu Qingge have forgotten?

"Hm. No harm done." Sha Hualing sniffed, somewhat mollified by Liu Qingge's statement. She looked over Liu Qingge's shoulder. "Hello Mu Daifu."

"Greetings Lady Sha." Mu Qingfang nodded. "Here for the tea gathering?"

"Oh please, both of you, just Hualing or A-Ling is fine. I don't really care much for formalities." Sha Hualing waved, "What are you two doing outside in the cold? Don't humans usually prefer to stay inside?"

"This one is just drying some ingredients for medicine now that there's a clear afternoon." Mu Qingfang said. "Qingge has kindly offered to help me process some of the ingredients."

"Tangerine peels?" Sha Hualing questioned.

"Mn, Agate Tangerines." Liu Qingge confirmed.

"The rest of the Tangerines can wait later, the drying rack is mostly full anyway." Mu Qingfang hummed, "Qingge may like the cold, but it's best for all of us to head inside. Too much cold wind will do us no good."

They headed inside Liu Qingge's house — Suddenly smaller than Liu Qingge realised now that there were four people in the same living area, crowded around a simple square table.

"You three talk, I'll go make the tea." Mu Qingfang murmured.

"Are you sure?" Liu Qingge asked.

"Of course." Mu Qingfang confirmed.

Liu Qingge felt a brush on his temple, a gentle kiss, oddly warm against his skin.

"You should catch up with your sister," he murmured, "I should still have some dried tangerine peels from last year left in the cabinets. I'll be right back."

Mu Qingfang walked away after that, leaving Liu Qingge with his two guests, flushing slightly from the Daifu's… boldness.

"Wow." Sha Hualing began, "I'm sorry, but how did you manage to pull a guy like that? He's seriously a keeper."

"Hualing!" Liu Mingyan flushed.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"It's okay ge. You don't need to know." Liu Mingyan answered quickly.

"But—"

"It's really okay, ge." Liu Mingyan insisted, "It's just demon slang. Don't think too much of it."

"Ah." There was clearly more judgment from that strange undertone Sha Hualing's words carried, but it didn't seem malicious.

Liu Qingge let the words go.

"Boo. You're no fun." Sha Hualing pouted, "What's the point of hanging out if there aren't amusing topics to talk about?"

"W-well… there's still much to catch up on I'm sure." Liu Mingyan stuttered, looking away from Sha Hualing, flustered at her curious gaze. "Disciple talk, hobbies, books one had read during the time apart."

"Hm. If Mingyan says so." Sha Hualing said with a strangely knowing smile on her scarlet-painted lips, "Books, huh?"

"Oh, don't you start on me too…" Liu Mingyan groaned, clearly a minor argument they had with each other.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Sha Hualing blinked, her dark lashes fluttering like the wings of an exotic butterfly, "I was just saying that I read this amazing essay written by an esteemed philosopher — it was translated rather poorly in the demon language so I'm glad that I got to behold the real thing." Sha Hualing's tone was saccharine.

But before Liu Mingyan could reply. Mu Qingfang came back with a tea tray, the pot of water steaming at the ready along with a plate stacked high with pressed osmanthus cakes.

They finished the tea and the osmanthus cakes rather quickly between the four of them, briefly chatting with each other.

That was until Liu Qingge heard a tap at the windowsill.

Liu Qingge walked towards the window and cautiously opened the window to see a messenger bird.

"I'll take this." Liu Qingge said as he offered his bracer forward for the bird to hop on and closed the wooden windowframe.

He headed back to his study and took the message scroll out of the bamboo tube that was strapped to the bird's back, reading the contents within.

"Ge?" Liu Mingyan called.

Liu Qingge looked up from the scroll to see his sister and Sha Hualing at the door way.

They filed in.

"Another bird came in," Liu Mingyan reported, her eyes fixed on the scroll in Liu Qingge's hands. "Looks like this one is from Tianyi Pavillon. Should I let it wait while you deal with this? It doesn't look too urgent."

"Hm. Let it wait."

"Huh… I understand this one that Liu Mingyan painted — I mean she worked through so many versions of that to get it— but… what's this?" Sha Hualing asked pointing.

Liu Qingge looked over to where she was standing, just beside the new painting facing—

"Oh that?"

"Ge… No…" Liu Mingyan's face went pale, her voice as faint as the whispers of a ghost, her dark eyes wide.

"It's the first gift Liu Mingyan ever gave to me in Cang Qiong."

" Ge-eeee……" Liu Mingyan's face was now red. "You promised to put that old thing away once I painted something new for you."

"I agreed to no such promise." Liu Qingge stated. "I simply agreed that I would hang Mingyan's creations on my wall."

"By Liu Mingyan… age eight…." Sha Hualing read out loud, deciphering the sun-faded and worn signature as she did so.

Liu Mingyan's expression was indescribable. "Hualing…"

"I still remember the day she gifted that one to me." Liu Qingge couldn't help the small smile and a feeling of amusement at his sister's own mortification. "She was very adorable."

"Aw… who knew you were the sentimental sort." Sha Hualing laughed softly, like little bells. "That's…. kind of sweet actually…"

"Hualing! Not you too!" Liu Mingyan squeaked.

"What do you mean 'me too'? What's wrong with the painting?" Sha Hualing answered innocently. "I think it's cute as hell. "

"Mn. These are things worth keeping." Liu Qingge nodded.

Liu Mingyan shot a glare over at Liu Qingge, "why didn't you at least put it away for the visit?"

"There wasn't any need to." Liu Qingge answered.

"But the ink's faded. It might as well be a blank and aged canvas at this rate!" Liu Mingyan's voice was somewhat distressed as clear mortification steeped into her voice.

"Even if it's faded I can still remember the details of the painting." Liu Qingge replied, that smile still there as he continued on."I genuinely enjoy your artwork."

"I— you—" Liu Mingyan's face looked almost purple.

Sha Hualing's laughter devolved into giggles, tinkling like chiming jade as she crossed the study and pulled Liu Mingyan into a hug. "Aiya! A-Yan has always been so incredibly talented, always clever with her hands."

"A-Ling don't encourage him, you're supposed to be on my side…."

"Your side? There's sides to this discussion?" Sha Hualing blinked, "Come on, A-Yan… I may be far from an art critic and not the scholarly sort but even I think the painting's wonderful. Your brother clearly loves you — let's wait in the living area, ah? Let him finish his business and perhaps we can talk about this later…." The assurances trailed off as Liu Mingyan was steered away by Sha Hualing.

Smiling, Liu Qingge returned back to the paper scroll in his hands.

Tea between the four of them lasted for another half shichen after Liu Qingge sent the birds away with their respective messages, but by then the atmosphere had become more casual and relaxed between the four of them as they talked of matters of demons and monsters over more tea.

Liu Qingge suspected that the conversation would have run longer if it weren't for the fact that the gates of Xian Shu would close soon due to the waning daylight. But nonetheless, they escorted Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing towards the front yard where the Demon Saintess had originally teleported from.

"It was wonderful having tea with you, Liu ge," Sha Hualing grinned, "It was a really enlightening experience."

"Hm. Truly?"

"Absolutely. I do enjoy stories about little Mingyan, she sounds positively adorable." Sha Hualing grinned.

"Hualing!"

"What? It's true though, you sounded super adorable. There's nothing to be ashamed of."

"Why did I think that this was a good idea…" Liu Mingyan mumbled her voice barely a mortified whisper.

Liu Qingge can hear Mu Qingfang's laughter expertly disguised as a light cough, clearly amused by the interaction.

"Anyway! We should spar sometime later!" Sha Hualing says brightly. "I've never truly fought the great War God of Bai Zhan Peak yet."

"I'm not going to say no to a good spar." Liu Qingge answered as he looks over at his sister and noticed a strange but determined expression on her otherwise flushed visage. "Mingyan?"

"If I paint ge more works…. ge will hang them on the wall right?" She asked, her tone somewhat stilted.

"Of course." Liu Qingge answered.

"So if Mingyan paints enough paintings. Then ge will have no choice but to retire the oldest painting from his wall collection," Liu Mingyan concluded.

"I cannot confirm or deny this." Liu Qingge answered amused at this sudden line of thought.

"…Then expect a masterful art piece within a few months." Liu Mingyan said, her expression resolute. She jabbed a finger at Liu Qingge's sternum, her dark eyes blazing as bright as two northern stars. "Just watch ge, I'll make it happen."

"I'll eagerly await for that day to come." Liu Qingge answered easily, his expression still calm.

Sha Hualing giggled at this exchange, "Aiyo, A-Yan, let's not keep your Shizun waiting~"

The two of them disappeared in another swish of red silk and red plum blossoms.

"I've never seen Liu Shizi so flustered," Mu Qingfang commented.

"As have I." Liu Qingge agreed smiling as he thought about the conversation around the table between the four of them just moments ago. "Though I must admit, it's nice seeing her less… restrained and with passion like this…" He trailed off for a moment in thought. "… as silly and strange as it sounds, I'm glad that the painting can serve to reignite her passion for art… it has been a while since she painted anything despite the fact that she clearly took enjoyment from creating them…." He leaned closer to Mu Qingfang, burying his head against the crook of the Daifu's neck.

"Yes, she used to paint more for her Xian Shu classes, didn't she?"

"Mn."

They lingered in the snow for a little longer.

"I hope that Hualing can be that for her too… remind her of the brilliant things in life… the people she cares about…. the people worth fighting for," he murmured against soft skin.

"She's… changed — the Demon Saintess." Mu Qingfang says quietly, "I still remember when she attacked our sect… I don't miss that."

"Mn. Funny how love does that to a demon. At least she treats Mingyan right." They might tease and poke fun at each other, but when it comes down to it, Liu Qingge still noticed the small things, the way Hualing soothed Liu Mingyan, the way she unquestioningly put her first, "That's all I could ask for as a brother.."

Liu Qingge felt Mu Qingfang's arms surround him, the familiar woodsy scent of ginger and star anise engulfing him in this gentle embrace with a hint of bamboo and pine, bright against the cold chill.

He closed his eyes.

"You're never going to set that painting away," Mu Qingfang said in sudden realisation, "Are you?"

Liu Qingge huffed out a soft laugh. "Of course not."

fin