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[1] Disciple Era
It wasn’t the first time Liu Mingyi found himself on a mission with another head disciple. Though he found it more enjoyable when it was with his shixiong, Yue Qi. He was one of the few people on the peak aside from the Bai Zhan Peak lord himself who could keep him with Liu Mingyi in battle prowess. He could never be envious of his power, even if he longed to see what he’d be like with an unsheathed sword.
For now, the two of them find themselves off to slay another beast. What was it again? A scaled brass trumpet bear? What an odd creature it was, its fur with a metallic sheen and a shelled back and a roar that made one's body vibrate with buttons on its shell that pressed into the beast when it made its roar. A tail that was shaped oddly and resembled a flower it had an odd fixation for, the Deadly Moonshine Trumpet Lily. Hence the name, Brass Trumpet Bear. Atleast that was how his Shizun had described it when giving the mission to him and Yue Qi. Supposedly the beast itself was good for refining the cultivation of those on Qing Jing Peak, atleast if you preferred playing music it would.
Which meant Liu Mingyi only cared for slaying and bringing back the beast, not so much its properties. The battle itself would be enough, especially if it was to see his Shixiong in action.
Many Qiong Ding disciples don’t tend to take themselves on missions such as these. Preferring to pair with an An Ding Disciple for trade routes to learn how to have some diplomacy and negotiate with the hardest eggs to crack. For which a Bai Zhan disciple as himself could never find appealing.
Yue Qi was.. different though. “This one believes we’re getting close.. Can you hear that?” Liu Mingyi zones himself back in, hearing the distant song of the beast. “They say anyone who gets close is lucky to not come out with some loss of hearing.” Yue Qi chuckled. “Does Liu shidi consider us to be lucky?”
“It could be too early to tell.” he nods.
“Ah.. perhaps, but we should keep our voices down.”
It didn’t take long for the two of them to continue following the source of the sound and hunting down the beast. The battle itself was quite the struggle considering the beast was known for using soundwaves for its attacks. Liu Mingyi and Yue Qi had to keep themselves from being blasted into the surrounding foliage and keep their hearing from getting worse to the point they become deaf.
At times Mingyi couldn't help but marvel at Yue Qi’s abilities, even with a sheathed sword and his bare hands he could tear through a beast as if it was a tiny bug.
In fact the fierce battle only came to a conclusion because he could rip out the weakness of the beast, its buttons on its shell. Halting its ability to play music and letting Liu Mingyi take the final blow to put it to an eternal rest. By the end Mingyi felt as if he looked more like he was fighting a true beast and Yue Qi simply took a pleasant yet breezy stroll.
“Ah-! Liu Shidi-” He watched Yue Qi come closer, pulling out a rag with some ointment. Before Mingyi could even begin to protest he sat him down and brushed over the more serious cuts on his arms that ripped through his robes. “Perhaps it's best we take a breather before we return.. This particular beast is a rather large one to carry back.”
“mm.” he nods, feeling heat rise to his cheeks as he’s fussed over.
It takes a while before Yue Qi realized he’s done enough. “Apologies- I’m used to- ah.. tending to others, this one may forget himself.” he clears his throat and sits back. Allowing them both to lean against the metallic yet soft fur of the beast.
“No.. it’s alright.”
“oh- is it?”
“This one has forgotten what it was like to be.. fussed over. You’re also this ones.. shixiong.. it’s only fair.” Mingyi glanced away, unsure of what face Yue Qi was making.
“I see-.. ah.. we’re both head disciples aren’t we Liu Shidi? We’ve been on.. how many missions together already?”
A blink, he looks back over. “Only a handful this one believes.. Yue shixiong.” A soft smile was painted onto his shixiong’s face. It made Mingyi want to heat up again, he was hoping the darkness of the night could hide whatever tint his cheeks became as he had Yue Qi’s attention. “May this one ask.. why?”
“Oh well- ah.. I’d- this one would say we’ve gotten very close.”
His chest does an odd flip. Yes he could agree with that rather easily. Besides perhaps the head disciples on Wan Jian peak and the peak of beast taming, Yue Qi was the only other who could put up with what others call a stubborn and blunt personality. Though Mingyi would only say he prefers to be rather honest with his intentions and he means no rudeness by his words. Not like a certain shixiong on Qing Jing.
“And I’m rather-..not used to formalities. Perhaps we could..?”
“Could, what?”
Yue Qi stares at him, before a soft chuckle leaves his mouth. “Drop them,” he bumps shoulders with him. “Shixiong and Shidi can feel like a mouthful sometimes..”
To Mingyi it felt as if it was.. an odd request, perhaps it was because of his noble background and length of time spent at Cang Qiong being longer than Yue Qi’s. In his mind this way of speaking came more normally. It was simple and easy, those of a higher peak are shixiong and shijie, those below are shidi or shimei. At the same time.. who was he to not take an excuse to accept a closer friendship with his shixiong?
His brows furrow deep in thought, how should he refer to him? Simply as Yue Qi or any variations felt empty and unnatural. Silence continued to grow as Liu Mingyi began to sweat, he must give him an answer.. and soon.
“Q…Qi-ge-!” It was perfect wasn’t it? Liu Mingyi however paused, the expression that ran across his face confused him. Yue Qi’s eyes had widened as his mouth opened and then closed, did Mingyi say the wrong thing? Was his shixiong going back on his word? “Or maybe just Yue Qi is fine” He stumbles over looking upward to the sky, body aflame in embarrassment. “You can call me Mingyi.”
“Of.. of course.. Shidi”
Ahh.. Liu Mingyi decided it would be the last time he called him Qi-ge. Most certainly.
[2] Peak Lord Era
Liu Qingge had not meant to run late coming back to Cang Qiong for the most recent Peak Lord Meeting. Whoever decided they needed to happen to frequently despite his very busy schedule of staying off the peak to slay beasts to bring back and let his martial siblings study.. he hopes they sleep overheated every night.
It was not his fault the beast happened to knock him into a flower field that just so happened to also be an aphrodisiac. He was lucky Mu Qingfang constantly refilled him with qiankun pouches full of antidotes. Even luckier that he constantly took the time to read up on them too, as was the danger of being a disciple and peak lord of Bai Zhan Peak. If he was late enough however perhaps he could pester Shang Qinghua for notes, that mousy man was always scribbling something down for later. Practically making him the scribe for every meeting.
When he opened the doors, sighing heavily to himself, the meeting had, unfortunately, ended.
“damnit.”
He decided to try and find someone to pester, knowing the sect leader.. he’d likely stick around a little longer before heading back to his office.
For once, luck struck him. It did not take long for Liu Qingge to turn a corner and recognize the familiar strong silhouette of Yue Qingyuan. He was about to call out to him before hearing that acerbic voice call out.
“That I what Zhangmen Shixiong?”
As quickly as he turned he hid himself back around. He shouldn’t eavesdrop.. it would be rude. Though it wasn’t rare to catch Shen Qingqiu and the sect leader holding a tense conversation with one another. This was one of the many things that irritated him about Shen Qingqiu. Always ready to offend the sect leader, forcing his hand to concede to his whims. Could he not see how much Yue Qingyuan ate out of the palm of his hand? Or did he simply use it to his advantage to escape trouble despite the protests of his martial siblings?
“All this shixiong asks for is that shen shidi lays low..” a plea, a beg like Shen Qingqiu would actually listen to him for once and not triple down. Liu Qingge could take a bet that this was about his trips to the Warm Red Pavillion.
A haughty scoff. “If this lord lays low it will be of no use.” how arrogant, Qingge thinks. “This lord will come and go wherever he pleases. Unless Zhangmen Shixiong plans on breaking this ones legs and keeping him locked in the bamboo house?” He could hear a surprised gasp escape Yue Qingyuan.
“Xiao jiu please- this Qi ge—”
The argument only spiraled from there, Shen Qingqiu snapping his fan open as if it was a smack to the face. “Qi ge? Is he here with this one? No, last this lord heard, Qi ge was quite dead.” Storming off furiously he hadn’t even realized how much Liu Qingge pressed himself against the wall to remain undetected by his gaze. The Bai Zhan Peak Lord did not wish to continue and start a fight with his rival.
Looking over the corner he saw the hunched over form of Yue Qingyuan. He hardly ever saw him in such a weak stature, always keeping his shoulder rolled back and held straight as a board. Here he looked.. small. Liu Qingge cleared his throat, “Qi.. ge?”
He’s never watched him turn so quickly before. Watching his surprised expression soften, “ah.. Liu Shidi is back.” Was he disappointed it was him? Surely. “Please forget what shidi has heard today. This one apologizes-”
Liu Qingge shakes his head. “This shidi won’t. But would.. Zhangmen Shixiong want to have tea with this one? This shidi would like to catch up on anything he’s missed.” He can see the smile soften further, he hoped it meant he was endeared. “If not-” “This one would not be opposed.. let us.. head to my office?”
Which was exactly where he sat for the next few hours, the tea Yue Qingyuan brewed is bitter and a little over done. Though he supposed he was not much better, there was hardly a time he remembers brewing any sort of tea that wasn’t for his Shizun when he became a Bai Zhan disciple. The bitterness wasn’t something he found himself minding though, it was tea made for only himself and Yue Qingyuan.. that was enough.
“Did your mission go well? You took longer than expected to arrive back.”
“hm?” He looks up, seeing the brush and paper in hand. This was new.. He was already preparing to bunker down and write down a report after this. “Ah yes.. This shidi was momentarily indisposed of.” he clears his throat “A flower field nearby had pollen that acted as an aphrodisiac, luckily this one had an antidote on hand and only needed to wash the pollen off himself.”
Yue Qingyuan nods with furrowed brows. “Is shidi sure he won’t need a check up for Mu Qingfang? Just in case there aren't any lingering effects?”
Liu Qingge was sure there weren’t any, his chest always warmed when he spent time alone with Yue Qingyuan.. Though the possibility that it could be helped and made worse by lingering pollen he couldn't wash off.. He couldn’t stay here. The last thing he’d ever do was- His face heated up more at the imagination of it.
“Liu.. Shidi?”
Liu Qingge didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of the Sect Leader. Mu Qingfang? Certainly, he knows that man has seen worse than a Bai Zhan Peak Lord making a fool of himself because of another aphrodisiac incident. Liu Qingge was one of the few who could tank them all without needing dual cultivation, if there was an antidote? He’d take it. If there wasn’t? He’d ask for a fight to flush it all out.
But here?
Right now?
He felt as if he’d make himself even more of a fool. He abruptly stood, knocking over the chair he sat on, drinking the rest of the warm bitter tea and slamming down the porcelain cup. “This one! Will. Go. To Mu Shidi. This instant!”
“Ri-Right now?! Liu Shidi- Liu Shidi!”
…
“Liu Shixiong? What brings you here?” “This one requires a check up.”
“Wh.. what?”
[3] During those 5 Years
Liu Qingge found himself stumbling back onto the final few steps of Qiong Ding Peak. Holding onto a particularly nasty gash at his side, still finding strength to grab onto Mu Qingfang. He was lucky Luo Bing- that Beast didn’t sink his sword any deeper. It helped that this time it was not a battle he was looking for, atleast this time the person he was retrieving was alive. But it wasn’t enough. He was only lucky to have gotten there when he did. He was so close.
Perhaps that was why it was a vicious one.
“Liu Shixiong- Liu shixiong you should come back to my peak first-” His ears filled with cotton as Mu Qingfang attempted to hold him up “Liu- Ah.. Zhangmen Shixiong..”
His mind became a little more clear “Zh..zhangmen shixiong.” he looks up to see him running over. He didn’t dare reach out. He could see the sect leader’s gaze growing concerned at the sight of them both.
“Liu shidi-?! Mu Shidi!” He gasps looking them both over, Mu Qingfang completely unharmed, robes only scuffed and dirtied from battle while Liu Qingge was barely holding himself together. “What about-”
Liu Qingge coughs, “No.. This one failed- again.”
“Liu Shidi..”
“hm.” Was his only warning before he leaned forward and lost consciousness feeling his body caught against someone.
…
His mouth felt dry, that was his first thought. The next was how sore his entire body felt. Swallowing whatever spit and blood lingered he tried to open his eyes. The past few years have been filled with nothing but strife, the body of Shen Qingqiu stolen.. unable to be put to rest. Desecrated by the one who dares call himself a disciple of Qing Jing.
It sickened Liu Qingge to his core, someone he considered an unexpected friend.
Someone who was beloved on Cang Qiong.
Gone just like that.
He hears mutters off to his side, two voices that hush quickly as they hear him attempt to move. A large and gentle hand stopped him from sitting up further. “Liu Shidi.. don’t strain yourself.”
“Yu..Yue Shixiong..” he muttered. “I must-”
“No. Mu Shidi told this one shidi’s injuries are too extensive today. Does shidi know how long he has been out for?” Liu Qingge didn’t care, he needed to go back to Huan Hua. He needed to keep fighting, he needed to show that beast he couldn’t keep getting his way. He needed to return Shen Qingqiu’s body back to- “It is already late into the night Liu Shidi. This Shixiong pleads with you.”
“But I haven’t..” It wasn’t enough.
“Shidi brought back Mu Shidi.” He nods.
He wasn’t enough, he was only lucky because Luo Binghe did not need Mu Qingfang anymore. There would be no bringing back the dead. Not when the soul did not linger. Just as everyone kept attempting to tell him. “This one cannot rest.” Yue Qingyuan’s expression became complex. Liu Qingge thought maybe sorrow was laced into it with the constant lingering of guilt. That one he could always see clearly as day, always one of the most open books Liu Qingge could read.. Yue Qingyuan was. “This shidi means it- even if it will-” A cup of water is put to his lips.
He drinks.
Mu Qingfang.. he forgot, glancing up at him. “Drink.” He insists strongly “This one will be getting more bandages to redress shixiong’s wounds. Zhangmen Shixiong?”
“This shixiong will keep him in bed.”
The two of them sat in silence for an unknown amount of time.
“Shidi should drink more water.”
“hm.” He does as he’s asked. Though his hands tremble too much and Yue Qingyuan ends up needing to help him instead. “Thank you..” his voice only a whisper. Liu Qingge forces himself to glance away from Yue Qingyuan, he can still feel his gaze set upon him. He steels himself to speak “I won’t stop, I mean it. No matter how much you or Mu Shidi try to hold me down. I will go back to Huan Hua.. and I will fight again for his body.”
“This shixiong understand he means alot to us Liu Shidi but we cannot afford to lose more-”
Liu Qingge snaps his head over, he couldn’t stand this anymore “Qi ge.” Yue Qingyuan’s mouth snaps shut. “He means alot to you.” An unforgettable truth, no peak lord was blind to the favoritism and doting nature of the sect leader to their second highest lord. Not even one as stubborn and bullheaded as Liu Qingge.. and he could understand it himself. Shen Qingqiu was quite the enigma.
Regardless of what hidden history he witnessed that one day years ago. This was beyond his own responsibility to give him a proper funeral. It was for himself… For Yue Qingyuan.
The warmth of Yue Qingyuan’s hand over his own made him flutter. “This ones statement still stands, Liu Shidi.. Your shixiong does not want to lose you as well.. today was already close enough.” He felt his hand squeezed lightly, Liu Qingge’s brows furrowed. “So let us drop this conversation for now.. and rest.”
Shidi this.. shidi that, it would always remain the same. Liu Qingge’s resolve did not falter. Regardless of the order, this was the only one he knew he had to disobey. In spite of the sect leaders wishes. “This Shidi won’t.” A promise he would keep. He let Mu Qingfang change his bandages throughout the night, providing ointment and qi to aid the process.
They all knew holding him down was truly a futile venture.
Liu Qingge would still leave the mountain and visit Huan Hua the second day broke through the horizon. He knew it disappointed Yue Qingyuan to push himself this way.
[+1] 10 Years Post Canon
This tradition was one he couldn’t pinpoint when it started. One day he was merely invited over for tea by Yue Qingyuan and it never ended.. it was now a daily occurrence, or atleast as daily as it could be. In all honesty Liu Qingge’s night hunting habits never ceased. Yet he would be lying if he didn’t admit he soon forced himself to come back earlier and earlier to not miss him too much.
At some point he even freely admitted to him “Zhangmeng Shixiong.. Do you always brew your teas a little too long? Do you really like them this bitter?” After one particularly bad brew.
Only to hear a joking response. “Ah? Does Shidi promise he can brew a better tea than this shixiong then?” he was a fool to take him up on that challenge.. only to find out that he makes even worse tea after all. The taste fell flat and he didn’t let it steep long enough.. ah well, now they had all the time in their immortal lives to make bad tea into eventually better than average tea. Letting it become a small joke between them as they swapped off on who made it.
Even now he feels himself smiling, getting a little giddy as he rushes to Yue Qingyuan’s office. This certain hunt had gone longer than expected, but the kill he had brought would be good for boosting one's qi and health. It was already a pain to wait for it to be prepared by the beast peak but he endured it nonetheless.
He must share it with Yue Qingyuan.
“Zhangmen Shixiong!” He opened the door unceremoniously. The Qiong Ding disciples were fed up and used to the so-called War God forcing his way into their Shizun’s office hours and time. Yue Qingyuan himself didn’t even seem the slightest bit surprised (delighted actually) to see Liu Qingge ignore knocking. “This one has returned.” he nods at him holding the packaged chunk of meat and some new tea he picked up along the way.
“Ah.. then this shixiong shall take his break now.” A chuckle left him as he got up and walked Liu Qingge to his leisure house.
It was the largest out of all of them, but somehow Yue Qingyuan managed to keep it humble. Liu Qingge wasn’t really sure how but it felt that way.. like it was truly a home. Minimally decorated but not enough to feel empty. At times he’s even rolled into Yue Qingyuan’s bedroom with an injury still actively bleeding out just to announce he has come back. The War God apparently had grown impatient enough to wait till morning. Giving the man a fright and forcing him to keep bandages and first aid on hand for any future break ins.
“How was it this time?”
“My disciples were bumbling around, as usual.” Liu Qingge huffed. The rare moment he decided to not go solo was of course the one time everything had to go wrong. “But there was improvement.. they’ve learned how to trap more effectively. Only one disciple got caught in their own.” Certainly a step up from last time where all but one got caught in their traps and Liu Qingge felt tempted to keep them up there.. Instead he made them run a hundred laps while attempting to dodge his attacks once they came back.
Yue Qingyuan held back a laugh, it made him swell a little in pride. “.. This shidi brought some back as well, the meat when cooked right can help boost qi reserves and heart health.” Holding up the packaged meat in his hand. “When cooked right the meat turns from blue to purple.”
“It’s.. blue?” the sect leader tilts his head
He nods. “Then it turns purple.”
The two of them enter the kitchen as Yue Qingyuan pulls out a pot. “How interesting..” Before he could pull out the tea Liu Qingge quickly hands him the ones he picked up. “Oh?”
“This one thought shixiong would like them. The merchant said, they're bitter but earthy. When properly steeped this time.” Yue Qingyuan nods along, happily taking them and preparing the pot to a boil. “.. This shidi will also prepare the meat to share.”
Moving aside as the two of them worked quietly in tandem in the kitchen. It was a domestic sight for anyone who wanted to peek inside, and certainly some of the more nosey Qiong Ding Disciples did.. on occasion even a Bai Zhan Disciple or two would do so too. Just to see where their Shizun often ran off to the second their night hunts were over. Liu Qingge would always glare at them enough that they’d scurry off in a hurry and leave them be.
This sort of routine did bring some peace to Liu Qingge’s mind though. In a way no other peak lord on Cang Qiong could argue that this was good for him.. not even just him. Them.
“Liu Shidi” Qi Qingqi had come to him once “Your sister has been telling this shimei that shidi has been hanging out with the sect leader as of late.”
He looks over and blinks “This one what about it?”
She chuckled at him and shook her head “There’s nothing wrong with it, this Shimei was only happy to see you two are learning what it means to relax.”
“.. what.”
“Seriously, this lord has never once seen her shixiong and shidi once take it easy for themselves. Liu Shidi never rests unless hes bed bound by Mu Shidi, and Zhangmen Shixiong holds himself too high to look down”
Liu Qingge never thought he’d ever take any sort of break from his endless night hunts.. after all what would he do if he had nothing to say to Yue Qingyuan when they meet? “Liu Shidi?” He looks over at Yue Qingyuan who poured him a cup of tea. Ah wait- shouldn’t Liu Qingge be the one doing that? Damnit.. he beat him to it again.. A soft laugh “Shidi seemed lost in his thoughts again”
“this one was only thinking.. that’s all”
“Don’t let Shen-Shidi hear that, he might be surprised.”
“More like his husband would take advantage to say it outloud.” He says bitterly as he takes a sip.. oh. Perfect. Wasn’t that funny.
Yue Qingyuan's gaze lingers on him long enough for Liu Qingge to notice. “Yes, This one hears you have taken to sparring with him no?”
Unfortunately that unfilial disciple was a good fighter. “mm. This shidi finds Zhangmen Shixiong a better sparring partner.” Atleast Yue Qingyuan wouldn’t mock him to rile him up, that man atleast plays fair. Something about those two.. always choosing to play dirty when it came to the War God. He could almost see a hint of pink stain his face, surely his mind playing tricks. “Does Shixiong enjoy the meal?”
“hm? Oh! yes.. Shidi has- rather fine cooking skills.”
Shidi.. Shidi
He almost wants to pout, but controls himself. “Meats are what this one is best at, The Beast Tamers help quite often in refining this one's techniques.”
“Is that so?”
“mm.” a curt nod, Liu Qingge lets a thought run through his mind. Glancing away. “Zhangmen Shixiong..” He lets him look up. “We’ve known each other for quite some time now.. ahem.. Do you believe it’s fine to… drop formalities? That is unless.. you’re finally used to them already.. Qi ge”
For a moment Yue Qingyuan seems dumbfounded, before his cheeks light up rouge. He breaks into a small bout of laughter, did Liu Qingge say the wrong thing? Perhaps he was being foolish, he should get another check up by Mu Qingfang– “Yes.. you’re right, Xiao Ming” He felt his breath be taken away, the two of them catch each others gaze. “Or is Mingyi fine like before?”
“..! hah..! Either one is fine by me…”