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There are countless legends and utterly mind-boggling rumours circulating about the sect of Mount Qiangqiong.
"It is said that the peak Bai Zhang led by the god of war who descended from the heavens to spearhead a righteous campaign to put an end to the rampages of the demons flooding into the human world."
“It’s all just fairy tales. Who would willingly descend from the heavens? Did you know that the grace and poise of the eternally youthful maidens from the summit of Xian Shu are so breathtaking that when the emperor’s delegation of envoys arrived at the foot of the Cang Qiong Shan, several noble lords fainted the moment they laid eyes on the incomparable beauty of the blooming fairies?”
"More and more imperial scholars are beginning to wear green robes. Rumour has it in the capital that these old codger were so struck by the skill of the new courtiers, who had mastered the teachings of Qing Jing, that they coughed up blood for hours, staining all their golden brocades. Absurd. Isn't it say that the current lord of Qing Jing that he is obsessed with lewd books? What family would entrust such a man with the care of their children?”
“What difference does it make to anyone whether he goes to caress maidens in brothels or polishes his sword in proud solitude on his own bed, if ascending to the pinnacle of scholarship in itself surpasses the tutelage of even the most renowned mortal mentors?”
"Exactly. Even the old herbalists gather in whole caravans, following strikingly handsome young men in mottled brown robes. I’ve heard there’s a belief that once a pharmacist discovered a whole field of thousand-year-old ginseng after chasing a young man in clothes soaked through with old bloodstains. Who in their right mind would believe such a thing?”
“You’d believe just about anything… We’re talking about cultivators! A whole sect of them.”
“In these lands, they claim that all one needs to do is pray properly, and the immortal masters of Cang Qiong will descend from the mountains, saving even the poorest village from misfortune. Enlightened monks cannot boast of such success with the local people.”
“Don’t they have their own sacred mountain with a temple and novices? What deity can masters serve who themselves strive for immortality and ascension? Why would they support their rivals?”
“Pull yourself together. Who are they? Merchants? The righteous paths of cultivators are beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. Would they willingly challenge terrifying monsters if they were like us?”
“True! Everyone knows that their leader, Xuan Su Sword himself, has risked his life time and again to protect the entire mortal world from the evil designs of the Demon Lord himself. Rumour has it that after that battle, a terrible curse fell upon him.Were it not for his noble sacrifice, would ordinary people really be able to live in peace, trade freely and cross provincial borders without fear? What sort of person would be capable of such a thing?"
‘To think that such a selfless and kind-hearted master was doomed to eternal misery…’
‘Demons know nothing of honour! Unable to accept defeat in a fair contest of skill and power, he cast a posthumous curse like the ultimate scoundrel.’
“What sort of curse is this, anyway? Can’t even immortal masters on the very threshold of ascension rid themselves of the harbingers of betrayal and death?”
“They say that Xuan Su’s Sword has suffered for many years from the owl that haunts it. And wherever they appear, misfortune follows. This cannot possibly be an ordinary bird! These accursed creatures are the very embodiment of calamity as it is. And this one is surely even worse. Because of it, such a respected man cannot step beyond the confines of his mountain without fear of bringing drought, death and unquenchable flames of fire upon the lands he treads…"
"I’ve heard that even as a student he made a name for himself by performing selfless deeds, yet now he is forced merely to watch as his sworn brothers and students take on the defence of the lands. The demons power grows day by day; even the most renowned cultivators may die in a brutal battle. How many people dear to his heart will he bury before he sinks into despair?”
“No fewer than the inhabitants of the towns that stand in their way.”
"For us mortals, it is a blessing if even a single thing survives. Not all sects defend their lands with such self-sacrifice. Now, it is only the word of Xuan Su’s sword that guides Cang Qiong down this path. Just imagine. To become a hostage to one’s own virtue… Can one imagine a more tragic fate for such a man?"
…And whilst the Twelve Peaks were spoken of not only with reverence but also with no small amount of doubt regarding the veracity of certain particularly implausible rumors, the leader of the Cang Qiong sect, the Sword Xuan Su, Yue Qingyuan, was spoken of with nothing but respect and sincere regret for the curse that had befallen him following the overthrow of the Heavenly Demon Tianlang-jun.
And this particular topic of idle gossip was stirring not only mortal travellers and merchants wishing to wag their tongues in inns over the strong drink.
"Zhangmen-shixiong, this cannot go on any longer."
As soon as all official business had been settled, and Shang Qinghua had almost crawled under the table, pretending to be daed, just to spare himself yet another row over the budget review, Qi Qingqi decided at last to voice her protest, which had been hidden for far too long under the guise of observing the situation.And since words alone were never enough, she rose from her seat and gave the table a loud slap with her palm, causing it to creak pitifully. In eagerness to attract attention she nearly knocked over the remaining tea, which was saved just in time by Mu Qingfang, who was sitting beside her. And however unseemly such a gesture might be for a lady of her standing, it achieved its purpose.
Everyone who had drifted into a daze during the last few hours of tedious discussion woke up instantly.
"Qi-shimei needs to clarify what she means. This master fears he does not understand," Yue Qingyuan smiled absently, closing his eyes and bowing his head humbly, as if ashamed of his ignorance before his juniors in rank.
As if. Qi Qingqi narrowed her eyes in furious disapproval. They’d known each other for years; did Yue Qingyuan really think she didn’t know what his "I’m not going to discuss this, go to hell" face looked like?
"No clarification is needed. This shimei is certain that everyone here..." She swept her gaze pointedly around the assembly hall, paying particular attention to Fu Qingyu fingering his prayer beads, Liu Qingge frowning furiously, and Shen Qingqu blinking in confusion from behind his fan, in search of support "…understand perfectly well what this is about. Or does Zhangmen-shixiong deny that talk of the curse that has fallen upon him and the bird that portends death is growing louder by the day?"
Qi Qingqi noticed how Shen Qingqiu perked up, shifting in his seat and sitting up straight. Excellent. As deputy head of the sect, he simply had to be alert to the danger that might lie behind such disturbing omens. Even the appearance of ordinary owls portended trouble. And although this one isn’t particularly large, the sheer abundance of cursed energy takes your breath away the moment you meet its gaze. Of course, it’s no match for Yue-shixiong, but the fact that he hasn’t taken a single step to get rid of it so far is suspicious…
Especially when people in all the nearby towns keep chattering as if this disgrace has been going on for years! Which, of course, cannot be true. Since when have mortals become more observant than cultivators? The disciples only began whispering about the ‘terrifying bird’ quite recently. They’ve been gossiping even longer about the mysterious, graceful silhouette spotted at night in the windows of Yue-shixiong’s chambers.
And were it not for this utterly absurd threat to their reputation, which appeared out of nowhere, Qi Qingqi would have found out everything about Zhangmen-shixiong’s alleged lover…
"Formally, based on existing observations, this is not just any bird, but a previously unknown or thought-to-be-extinct subspecies of demonic mist owls, which…"
Fine. Shen Qingqiu is useless. On the other hand, why did she even decide she could count on the support of a bookworm who barely ever leaves his own home?
"It doesn’t matter what sort of bird it is," He let out a stifled sigh from behind the fan, sounding thoroughly indignant, but that is beside the point now. "That bird isn't just an owl. Perhaps a demon in disguise. And who knows how long it has been watching Zhangmen-shixiong. According to information received by this shijie, it has been seen more than once at the windows of his study. Just think, the disciples are constantly looking around and peering into the darkness, like skittish rabbits…"
"Hmm. If they’re afraid of an ordinary bird, they lack discipline." Liu Qingge frowned even more deeply, making a remark that was completely useless to her plan this time.
Gods, absolutely brilliant. Why on earth has this blockhead decided to pay attention to the disciples right now, rather than a potential fight with a demon who seems to have taken the sect’s territory as their own hunting grounds? Did he even hear what she said, or has the clang of swords completely destroyed his ability to comprehend human speech? The mention of the disciples was meant to appeal to Yue- shixiong’s caring nature, not this nonsense.
"This one’s already said it’s not just any ordinary bird…" Shen Qingqiu didn’t make the task any easier, waving his fan indignantly.
"…And amongst mortals," She raised her voice, trying to inject even more urgency into it, once again emphasising the gravity of the matter that her completely senseless brothers-in-arms continued to deny "…Rumours are spreading that Zhangmen-shixiong is cursed and cannot leave the mountain. How will this reflect on us when the other great sects learn that we cannot deal with some petty demon on our own territory?"
"Ah… Qi-shimei, perhaps, have misunderstood the situation."
Until that moment, Qi Qingqi had only imagined just how irritating Yue Qingyuan’s polite, apologetic expression could be. Watching from the sidelines as all their opponents arguments crumbled against him had always been thrilling. But to become victim of it herself? Simply unthinkable! His whole demeanour and tone seemed to imply that it was she who was behaving unreasonably, and that he was too embarrassed to correct her.
What is this if not shameless insolence? How could she have ever considered Zhangmen-shixiong a decent person?
"With all due respect, Zhangmen-shixiong," the voice of Mu-shidi, who had suddenly decided to intervene in the conversation, sounded so firm that Qi Qingqi was involuntarily distracted from her indignation. "But this shidi is inclined to support Qi-shijie on this matter. Lately, he has noticed that there have been changes in shixiong’s cultivation. This shidi fears that the cause might be an unknown entity which, it is said, has attached itself to shixiong. And since shixun did not deem it necessary to visit Qian Cao for an examination, this shidi can only speculate as to whether the observed changes and the constant presence of cursed energy might have had a negative effect on the stability of his qi."
May the gods bless Mu-shidi’s good sense. Now, even if Yue-shixiong, for some reason still completely beyond her comprehension, decides to continue pretending that he sees no problem with the damned demonic beast pursuing him, she will have a chance to call on everyone to resolve the issue swiftly. After all, how can that stupid bird fly freely between the peaks and gaze at Qi Qingqi from the branches by the window of Yue Qingyuan’s study, as if, of the two of them, she is the one who doesn’t belong there?
Although she wonders why Liu Qingge still seems to have paid no attention to this thing. She suspects he simply doesn’t linger in the sect long enough to notice and destroy the feathered nuisance, but they are only making the situation worse! How would the other sects view them if it came to light that one of the strongest spellcasters of their generation, the God of War Bai Zhan himself, was so absent-minded that he hadn’t noticed a demon right under his nose?
Or perhaps the demonic bird is intelligent enough to deliberately hide when it senses his power? As much as Qi Qingqi loathes to admit it, Liu Qingge's overwhelming superiority is obvious when he does not conceal his spiritual presence.
"This master assures, Mu-shidi and Qi-shimei have nothing to worry about." Yue-shixiong's smile twists as obvious vexation seeps through his polite mask.
And if Yue Qingyuan had even a sliver of a chance to soften this thoroughly unpleasant conversation before, it has now vanished without a trace.
Qi Qingqi tries to suppress a triumphant smirk, sensing Mu Qingfang's presence sharpen. And in response to it, Wei Qingwei tenses as well, like a loyal hound ready to give chase at its master's signal. Fu Qingyu's indifference to everything that is happening certainly baffles her, and Shen Qingqiu, continuing to mumble nonsense into his fan, is outright irritating, but that no longer matters. However strange the silence of the monk — who perfectly well understands the full danger of such ominous signs — may be, Mu-shidi's support outweighs it all.
Even Zhangmen-shixiong will not be able to escape accountability when the stubbornness of a healer capable of handling Liu Qingge — a man with the temperament of a three-headed donkey honey-badger in mating season — enters the fray.
"In that case, perhaps Yue-shixiong will show leniency to his unreasonable and ignorant shidi and explain which among the infinite multitude of important reasons — surely far too complex for his understanding — could have led to such an astonishing and utterly unconscionable neglect of his own health and cultivation stability in favor of a beast that may pose a danger not only to him but also to the disciples? Yue-shixiong, this worthless shidi is forced to beg for an answer."
"Oh gods -oh gods-oh-gods..." Shang Qinghua's disjointed lament, his face buried in his hands as he slid even further under the table, could have replaced the ominous howl of the wind in the hanging silence.
Qi Qingqi covered her lips with her sleeve, trying not to betray just how much she was enjoying this. Even in her boldest assumptions, she had never gone so far as to imagine a completely enraged Mu Qingfang.
"Indeed..." Wei Qingwei, as if he had only been waiting for Mu-shidi to finish speaking, demonstratively folded his arms across his chest, not taking his eyes off Yue Qingyuan's face. As if building a wall, promising to block all exits should he refuse. The hesitant affirmations that followed and Shen Qingqiu's quiet "what is even going on" filled the awkward pause more than they had any influence on Yue-shixiong.
Who, as if they were still discussing unbearably tedious budget reports, made no attempt to hide an openly weary sigh.
"Very well, this master... understands that a misunderstanding has arisen." And before Mu Qingfang could, judging by the deepening frown on his face, describe in full detail exactly what he thought of that statement, Yue Qingyuan continued, "This one apologizes. He had no intention of disturbing his shidi and shimei. There is no cause for alarm. Xiao Jiu..."
Qi Qingqi nearly choked on air. And Shang Qinghua, on the other side of the table, let out an openly strangled wheeze. Had Yue-shixiong really gone so far as to give that damn bird a name?!
"...simply enjoys watching this master work; he poses absolutely no threat."
Before he could continue, the pre-sunset shadows, as if alive, began to dart wildly across the hall. Liu Qingge immediately leapt onto the table, paying not a drop of attention to the cup that crunched under his boot, and pointed his sword toward the corner, barely lit by the light falling from the single talisman-protected window. Qi Qingqi shifted her grip on the ribbon loosely wrapped around her elbow, feeling rather than seeing Mu Qingfang draw his needles.
There, from the shadows bleeding into one another with crimson streaks, a shapeless figure slowly rises. Anxious curses sweep through the hall as spiritual steel leaves its scabbards. One breath, and the figure gains the sharp, predatory features of a demon that has taken human form but never shed its bestial traits. The feathers on its wings catch the glow of the approaching sunset. Its claws have vanished into long, ornament-embroidered sleeves. The ends of the broad sash wrapped around its shoulders sway upon its chest, mimicking the shadows that continue to writhe. Long skirts conceal its legs. For all the humanity of its attire, the symbol blazing between its brows clearly betrays how deceptive it all is.
Black eyes, flickering with a venomous light, sweep indifferently over the drawn swords and come to rest on Yue Qingyuan, who has risen from his seat far too calmly.
No one had any doubt left who stood before them.
The bird they had spoken of truly turned out to be a demon. Powerful cursed energy pulses through the shadows, yet it seems not to linger on the demon itself. Qi Qingqi lacks the deep understanding of such intricacies to grasp precisely what is wrong with it, but she knows for certain that something is wrong. And she does not like it.
"Please, lower your swords. Xiao Jiu will not harm anyone." Even the Buddha himself might envy the serene smile on Yue-shixiong's face.
Qi Qingqi had never wanted so badly to strike someone.
"Qi-ge… called This?" the demon's voice sounds hoarse, as if long unused. A strange accent draws out the words. If not for the rasping distortion, it might have sounded melodious.
"You…" Liu Qingge suddenly flinches and stares at the demon with wide-open eyes, sharply lowering Cheng Luan, which had already been poised to attack despite Yue Qingyuan's request.
"Ah, this one sorry, Xiao Jiu," Zhangmen-shixiong approaches the demon without a shred of hesitation, his hands still folded in his sleeves as though on a damned stroll. "This one did not wish to interrupt anything."
"Zhangmen-shixiong, perhaps shouldn't act…" Shen Qingqiu's voice manages to break through the indignant outcries before Shang Qinghua grabs him, hurriedly whispering something in his ear. It is absolutely useless to expect any rational or timely actions from that pair once they start behaving this way.
But at such a critical moment!..
"If Qi-ge calls, This will come." In reply, there is only a quiet rasp and a blink.
"How…"
She had already begun to speak when Mu-shidi's stern and tense voice sharply cut her off.
"Would Yue-shixiong not care to finally explain what is going on? As far as this shidi's observations go, he is not poisoned."
Qi Qingqi turns toward Mu Qingfang, instantly noticing the absence of several needles in his hand. When had he managed to use?..
"Of course, Mu-shidi, this master was just about to do so." Yue Qingyuan stops beside the demon. And the demon, simply unthinkably, merely tilts his head to the side, never taking his eyes off him, just like a real bird. "Shimei, shidi, allow to introduce — this is Shen Jiu." He pronounces the name as though it alone could explain all the laws of the universe. And Qi Qingqi sees how the greater part of the hall begins to sincerely doubt Mu-shidi's statement about the absence of poison, a sentiment she fully shares. "We grew up together. Although back then we did not know where the paths of life would lead us. However, this shixiong assures you once more, Xiao Jiu will not harm anyone without a good reason."
Why does "without a reason" sound more threatening than reassuring coming from his lips?
"If Qi-ge says so," the demon… Shen Jiu rolls his eyes and emits a chirring sound that, under other circumstances, might have been taken for mockery.
If before, Yue-shixiong's smile had perfectly mirrored his polite but distant demeanor at official political gatherings with other sect leaders, now it shone with genuine anticipation. As if he was truly glad... to introduce... them... to this... demon friend?...
Gods, her head was spinning. Had Shizun endured such outrages too? She should have warned Qi Qingqi that her martial brothers would try to drive her common sense to a tragic and agonizing death.
"Fine." Liu Qingge straightened up, sheathing his sword as he stepped off the table. He fixed an utterly blank stare on the remains of his cup, as if trying to remember how they'd even gotten there.
Seriously? Fine? That was his idea of "fine"? Qi Qingqi refused to find out what lay beyond that "fine."
"Does Yue-shixiong understand that his words in no way explain the fluctuations in his cultivation or his refusal to see Qian Cao?" Mu-shidi rubbed the bridge of his nose irritably, sounding so exhausted it was as if the weight of all twelve peaks—plus a couple of neighboring mountains—rested on his shoulders.
"But we cannot allow a demon to wander freely around the sect, no matter how confident Zhangmen-shixiong is in... his... harmlessness!"
Shen Qingqiu's sudden, loud, and strangely panicked outburst —and Shang Qinghua nervously tugging at his sleeve as if trying to restrain or silence him — accomplished what even the old palace master had failed to do. Yue Qingyuan froze completely. Even his smile froze, twisting into a pained grimace.
"Is that so?" The tone of his voice turned... strange. Like a blade being drawn from its sheath for the first time in a long while.
"Yes! This master asks to take into account that, regardless of your... past circumstances..." Shen Qingqiu kept babbling, as if oblivious to the danger lurking behind that deceptively simple and calm question.
"Bro, don't..." Shang Qinghua's agitated hissing was, for a moment, loud enough to catch fragments of that rare dialect only he and Shen Qingqiu knew. Qi Qingqi, however, had never been interested enough to try and learn it. Now she slightly regretted that she couldn't understand what they were always whispering about.
"...demons are very different from humans. None of us can guarantee they won't act aggressively, especially towards disciples. Shixiong certainly understands this. But he is driven by warm feelings and may thus judge his... friend somewhat biasedly... Therefore, we should all discuss, as soon as possible, what to do with... this friend and the safety measures to prevent any repeat demonic intrusion into the sect. It would be unpleasant if the barrier's unreliability led to an attack on the sect one day..."
Qi Qingqi felt physically awkward from his increasingly accelerating speech, threatening to spiral into a manic recitative.
"So shidi believes this shixiong has no right to a private life at all?"
The corners of Yue-shixiong's lips dropped dangerously. Qi Qingqi felt as if, for the first time, she was seeing him not just voice disapproval, but be... upset? Almost genuinely angry, yet retaining an iron grip on his self-control. On his usually gentle and amiable features, this expression looked alien and frankly unpleasant.
"This master does not recall forbidding shimei and shidi from meeting with anyone or bringing them to their peaks. He has never hindered Qingqiu-shidi from adding to his wards and by establishing a shelter in the caves beneath Qing Jing for all manner of demonic creatures, though it would have been more prudent to ask Lan-shimei to safely house them on her peak to prevent the constant escapes and incidents of disciples being poisoned. Was it not their safety that Shen-shidi had in mind?"
Shen Qingqiu choked on air, hastily hiding his flushed face behind his fan. Wait, Shen Qingqiu what...? Did he seriously think no one noticed that wild menagerie that caused an uproar on one of the peaks almost every ten days? For someone who barely left the sect once a year, he'dmanaged to haul a startling number of dangerous and rare creatures back from his travels. But the staunch reputation of a recluse wouldn't make everyone on the mountain blind.
"He said not a word and raised no objection when Shang-shidi's courtship with the demonic prince of the Northern Lands began, though it was rude of him not to ask for his sworn family's blessing."
"But... I... how..." Shang Qinghua's stunned face was no different from a frightened mouse's.
"And even more so, this shixiong did not consider himself arrogant enough to interfere in the reasons why, recently, the Xian Shu pavilions could rival the best gossip-mongers of the capital's tea houses in impropriety of speech. So why is he denied the right to welcome a dear friend into his own home when he himself has always allowed his brothers and sisters to act at their own discretion? Should he have been more strict?"
Shang Qinghua and who...? No! That wasn't important. How dare he question the righteousness and talent of her disciples! Was it their fault Liu Qingge behaved like a lovesick dog, dragging dead beasts right to Yue Qingyuan's very doorstep, or that Shen Qingqiu kept accidentally seducing most of the powerful men he met? He'd had a romance with the Emperor that nearly reached engagement, and he didn't notice! How could they have not written about this? Outrageous!...
...in her righteous fury, Qi Qingqi missed the demon's gaze, burning like smoldering embers and full of anticipation, fixed on Yue Qingyuan, whose lips were pressed into a tight, stubborn line. She also seemed to have missed the first part of Mu Qingfang's words, which now sounded weary rather than challenging.
"...cause such fluctuations?"
"Qi-ge tried to die like an idiot. That fixed him." The demon unexpectedly answered his question, to the shock of everyone present. And this time, his words caused considerable commotion not because of his mere presence, but because of frankly alarming content.
"I beg your pardon?" Mu Qingfang was so shocked he momentarily dropped his polite tone.
"Mu-shidi needn't worry, it wasn't nearly as bad as all that…" Yue Qingyuan switched back to his usual light tone so quickly that Qi Qingqi had to blink three times before admitting that no, his biting words hadn't been a figment of her imagination.
"Qi-ge," the demon's face held a condemnation so cold that his gaze could have frozen the sea, yet Yue Qingyuan didn't so much as flinch under it, "Someone poisoned him, and he would have died from a qi deviation if This hadn't heard the call."
"What?!" The indignation roused by Yue-shixiong's earlier words vanished without a trace.
"But who could have done such a thing?"
"Poisoned?"
"Why did no one notice?"
"Despicable!"
The shout of Liu Qingge, who had leapt to his feet once more, drowned out all the rest. His voice alone might have been enough to make the perpetrator, wherever they might be, cower in a corner in terror and feel the approach of imminent death. Who could be so confident in their untouchability as to attempt to poison Zhangmen-shixiong? And on his own peak, no less?
Mu Qingfang no longer waited for explanations or sought permission—the moment he grasped the full weight of the demon's words, he was at Yue-shixiong's side, wordlessly seizing the wrist hidden within the wide sleeves.
And that alone was enough to fill the hall once more with agitated exclamations.
Yue Qingyuan's entire hand was covered in swollen, crimson vessels. The skin around them had blackened and crusted over. Qi Qingqi thought she glimpsed open sores glistening with fresh blood crossing the forearm that disappeared beneath the fabric of his sleeves.
"This shidi did not know that shixiong was capable of such brazen lies," Mu Qingfang's voice, as he had already begun transmitting qi, sounded openly furious. With one hand, he directed a stream of spiritual energy, while with the other, he drove needles into the most swollen vessels to completely halt the spread of the poison. "How long did he intend to waste on senseless suffering, worsening his own condition?"
"This one begs forgi—"
"Qi-ge only ever knows how to stay silent and apologize," the demon edged closer to Mu Qingfang, but… to her own surprise, Qi Qingqi had to admit there was no threat in his posture. Even Wei Qingwei, ready to intervene at the slightest suspicious movement, relaxed his shoulders a little. The demon watched the healer's every move intently, as if he understood what Mu-shidi was doing to Yue-shixiong's meridians and was trying to memorize it. "This wants to know why failed."
Strange. For some reason, it was precisely after these words that Yue Qingyuan flinched and, it seemed, entirely abandoned his attempt to finish the interrupted apology.
"This master finds it difficult to say for certain until he learns what poison was used. At present, Yue-shixiong's body is clean; no traces of the substance remain, which is why these changes…" Mu Qingfang suddenly fell silent and turned his head, meeting the demon's gaze. Could he have been so focused that he hadn't noticed who had asked the question, and why?
Out of the corner of her ear, Qi Qingqi caught fragments of the discussion already beginning to arise about the actions needed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. It was only natural that the demon's issue was tacitly set aside. Compared to the cursed bird roaming the sect with horrifying harmlessness, a real attempt on Zhangmen-shixiong's life far outweighed it.
"…It’s possible that Yue-shixiong’s unique condition might have come into conflict with the demonic qi foreign to him. Under normal circumstances, the treatment Shen Jiu provided after drawing out the poison shouldn’t have left any negative consequences. Also this master did not notice any aftereffects of qi deviation in shixiong’s meridians. This one admits he is curious about how such an interesting effect was achieved. But, in any case, must first get Zhangmen-shixiong to Qian Cao."
Of course. No, Qi Qingqi shouldn’t have expected that an ideological conflict could even slightly shake Mu Qingfang’s thirst for new knowledge. Ever since their disciple days, his drive for experimental research had outweighed common sense.
"But…" Yue Qingyuan barely attempted to object before he was stopped by two pairs of eyes that, without any prior agreement, stared him down. Perhaps they held a promise of endless suffering if even one more word escaped his mouth, because he wisely decided to remain silent once more and submit to Mu Qingfan’s manipulations.
"Wait, but we still haven’t decided…"
"Right now, we should focus on finding the one who dared to attack Zhangmen-shixiong." Liu Qingge interrupted Shen Qingqiu with uncharacteristic rudeness. Usually, even when he didn’t want to, he always tried to hear both him or Yue-shixiong out to the end. But it seemed the revealed assassination attempt had driven him so far beyond his limits that he had no patience left to observe even basic decorum.
And well. This time, Qi Qingqi couldn’t blame him. She herself could feel the urge to throw herself into battle bubbling beneath her skin as she watched Mu Qingfang lead Yue-shixiong out of the hall, the demon following them, dispersing the shadows and concealing the cursed energy so thoroughly that, if not for the wings swaying behind his back and the demonic symbol on his forehead, he could have been mistaken for an ordinary person.
Fine. All right. Even if she hadn’t managed to get any coherent answers now, nothing prevented her from raising this topic again later. She had the impression that neither Yue Qingyuan nor his damned pet demon intended to leave the sect anytime soon. Once they dealt with this mess, she would find out every detail of this depraved connection…
***
"Xiao Jiu acted very cruelly."
The nighttime darkness of Yue Qingyuan’s chambers was dispersed only by the shifting, flickering flame of a candle. With carefully bandaged fingers, he gently stroked the feathers of Xiao Jiu, who was using his shoulder as a pillow, regretting with all his soul only that he couldn’t feel their softness. He was rarely allowed to touch them so freely.
Especially since, until very recently, he had no such right at all.
"Qi-ge was wounded and foolish." Despite the meaning of the words, the quiet hiss sounded more than pleased. — This should know what went wrong.
"Xiao Jiu remembers that he can… no refer to himself that way? Please. You deserve more." Yue Qingyuan tried to speak quietly and carefully. Not insisting. Just voicing a thought. Right now, Xiao Jiu was completely relaxed, but the last time he attempted to raise this topic with more determination, he was met only with furious hissing and unsheathed claws. For an entire month after that, he saw neither Xiao Jiu’s face nor any feathers left in his house or office.
"This is only a beast. Qi-ge is biased." The indifference and open disdain in his tone cut deeper than Yue Qingyuan could have imagined.
He tried to suppress a pained sigh, merely stroking the down at the very base of the wings with his fingertips. All right. He would try again later. Sooner or later… sooner or later, he would manage to convince Xiao Jiu that he was incredible and far better than he was used to thinking of himself.
If that weren’t so, how could he have allowed Yue Qingyuan to come near him again?
Xiao Jiu melted even further onto his shoulder, yielding to the careful caress. It was always difficult to make him relax. It seemed the sudden encounter with shimei and shidi had exhausted Xiao Jiu more than he was ready to show. But if this continued, it would be better if they lay down completely. Yue Qingyuan, of course, didn’t mind spending the entire night sitting up and simply letting himself be used as support. But if Xiao Jiu fell asleep in this position, by the time he awoke the next evening, everything would surely ache. And he could not allow that.
"Qi-ge is thinking of going to rest, as Mu-shidi instructed. Would Xiao Jiu keep him company?" he earnestly tried not to sound pleading, though the desire to fall asleep feeling Xiao Jiu’s weight in his arms, just like long ago, made his heart clench painfully in his burning chest.
"This will stay." Xiao Jiu replied after a brief silence.
And this time, Yue Qingyuan did not try to restrain his joy, fussily arranging soft pillows to let Xiao Jiu settle as comfortably as possible. Wings were very demanding to handle. He wanted to eliminate every possibility, even accidental ones, by which they might be harmed.
Yue Qingyuan still remembered the condition they had been in when Xiao Jiu found him. He would not allow even a shadow of those memories to disturb the peace that so rarely appeared on Xiao Jiu’s face.
But he mustn’t let himself dwell on these thoughts.
The pillows and rolled-up blankets gave way under his weight. Xiao Jiu, as befits a bird with hollow bones, alighted weightlessly after him, claws gripping the fabric of Yue Qingyuan’s nightclothes. Whatever tomorrow might bring — as long as Xiao Jiu allowed Yue Qingyuan to stay by his side — he was ready to meet it with a smile.