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Wei Qingwei had made three swords for Wan Jian’s rock wall before he actually made something he was proud of. His peers would constantly tell him he was his harshest critic, and they might’ve been right. Even his own sword, Cang Hai, which he made himself with all the care and passion he could muster, lacked the blinding shine he yearned for. It was perfect for him, but not perfect by itself. It wasn’t until his fourth piece that he considered himself worthy of his Shizun’s praise.
It was widely taught that swords weren’t born with spirits, but that they developed them after years of connection with their wielders or by decades of waiting for them in highly qi imbedded areas. Still, Wei Qingwei found himself questioning that principle once he set on to forge his favorite sword so far.
He noticed something different from the moment he went to the mountainside to collect iron for his new piece. The red mud in Wan Jian Peak was rich in iron and by rinsing it on the river, he could collect half a jun of it in one day. For this sword, he’d planned to collect iron for two weeks but ended up doing twice that amount because he had to switch mud veins thrice and river banks twice. The material wasn’t good, Wei Qingwei thought, and it had to be the best, so he gave himself extra time to get everything ready for the project.
Things got even more complicated once the forging began. At first, the cast iron didn’t feel right to the hammer’s touch. It was brittle and stubborn, and Wei Qingwei had to heat it at a higher temperature than usual before his hammer fell into place and the impurities could actually be removed from the metal. Then, the folding process began. Wei Qingwei had planned to fold the billet ten times, creating one thousand and twenty four layers of iron. It was his lucky number and a good spot to reach with Wan Jian’s iron. However, by the eighth fold he realized it wouldn’t be enough. The billet felt heavy, and its orange glow seemed shy and underwhelming. Wei Qingwei went on to fold it fifteen times; only over thirty thousand layers of iron felt right on the prickly billet. Forming the sword was a lengthier process than usual too. He had to drop his initial design and ended up with a sword more narrow than he’d originally planned. When time came to quench the sword, Wei Qingwei was hesitant. The water wasn’t cool and clean enough, he could tell. He quickly asked one of his Shidi to fetch water from the southern well of the peak, only that one would do well on his new piece.
The rest of the process was just as nuanced. Polishing, sharpening, mounting, and engraving, all took far longer than usual but the result was more sublime than ever. The proudest moment of his life, even preceding the day he received his courtesy name, was when he placed her on the sword wall for her to wait for a wielder, for he was certain that it would be her picking a cultivator and not the other way around. The sword would be demanding and elusive; whoever was lucky enough to be picked by her would certainly be deserving of it.
Wei Qingwei did his best to always be present during sword selection ceremonies. Each one was a chance for his favorite sword to reappear. He knew it could be a long wait, though, and chances were that he would raise to heaven without the sword picking a wielder. Still, he waited and hoped for one day to see it glimmering through the sky.
Fortunately, his hopes were not in vain. One day, a Qing Jing disciple arrived to Wan Jian Peak for his sword selection ceremony. His name was Shen Jiu and Wei Qingwei had heard a lot about him despite him being a late arrival without much experience. Apparently, he was brought to the sect on recommendation of the future sect leader himself, and he was promptly selected by the Qing Jing Peak Lord. The young man rose quickly among his fellow disciples and rumor had it that it was only a matter of time before he was chosen as head disciple. There were accusations of nepotism and inadequacy, of hostility and spite, and even of licentious and inappropriate behavior. Wei Qingwei was curious of it all but wasn’t close to any Qing Jing disciple to learn more about it. He was eager when he saw him entering the cave that held the sword wall. Whatever weapon he chose would give Wei Qingwei a clearer idea of his real character and, therefore, whether the rumors were founded or not.
Shen Jiu’s selection ceremony was quicker than for most disciples. He quickly emerged from the cave wielding a blade that shimmered like snow on the coldest day. Wei Qingwei’s heart skipped a beat when he recognized his favorite piece on the man’s right hand. Sensing his wielder’s excitement, Cang Hai vibrated inside his scabbard.
“You have chosen a fair sword, Shen-shizhi,” said Wan Jian’s Peak Lord after Shen Jiu paid his respect. “How will you name it?”
Shen Jiu didn’t hesitate when he responded. “Xiu Ya.”
“Fitting,” Wei Qingwei nodded in agreement with his Shizun’s statement. The sword was elegant and sharp, perfect for someone of the scholarly peak.
Wei Qingwei knew then and there that whatever unsavory rumors surrounded Shen Jiu, they must all be either fake or exaggerations. After all, if Xiu Ya had chosen him, it meant he deserved his position at Qing Jing. Was Wei Qingwei biased toward Xiu Ya’s judgment? Definitely. Still, he knew that a sword as picky as Xiu Ya would never select a mediocre or lazy cultivator. Shen Jiu might not be perfect but Wei Qingwei already knew he was better than dozens of which had come before him.
We couldn’t wait to see him and Xiu Ya shine.
One month after Shen Jiu had been picked by Xiu Ya, Wei Qingwei dared to venture into Qing Jing Peak. He hadn’t been there in years. Back when he was a mischievous young brat, Wan Jian’s hall masters chose to make him other peak’s problem by sending him off to Qing Jing’s library to copy whatever scroll they were in need of. It was dreadfully boring and it worked the way it was intended: forcing some discipline into him and making him second guess himself whenever he was about to do something stupid like stabbing one of his Shixiongs or throwing explosive material into the forge. The peak hadn’t changed much since the last time he came. It was still peaceful and melodious, with nothing but muted sounds of tuning qins and paper shuffling whispering through the wind.
He sighted a disciple idle enough to look approachable.
“Good morning, Shidi,” he greeted. “I’m looking for Shen-shidi. Do you know where I could find him?”
The Qing Jing disciple furrowed his eyebrows and looked Wei Qingwei up and down with curiosity. Still, he managed to respond instead of prying into his business. Qing Jing Peak disciples were clever indeed.
“Answering Wei-shixiong, Shen Jiu has been training on the western terrace since morning.” Wei Qingwei wondered about the lack of proper address toward Shen Jiu but he cared more about finding him than whatever was going on there, so he thanked the disciple and left.
Luckily, Shen Jiu was right where he was told he would be. The young man was practicing sword forms with elegance and precision, not a single hair or finger out of place. It was a sight to behold even from afar and it only got more impressive as he approached. Unfortunately, once Shen Jiu noticed that Wei Qingwei couldn’t be looking for someone else but him, he stopped his movements, sheathed his sword, and greeted him with a curt salute.
“You have impeccable form, Shen-shidi,” Wei Qingwei said, “Xiu Ya couldn’t have been matched to a better wielder.”
Shen Jiu didn’t take the compliment well. His face didn’t reflect pride or embarrassment; it didn’t reflect anything but cold indifference. However, Wei Qingwei noticed how he protectively placed his right hand over Xiu Ya’s hilt.
“Wei-shixiong is kind, but this Shidi still has a lot to learn,” the young man said.
“Yet, I found myself mesmerized by your movements. You and Xiu Ya have adapted well to each other, haven’t you?”
Shen Jiu’s eyes squinted minutely, as if he expected Wei Qingwei to attack him and steal his sword from him.
“Wan Jian swords are the best in the world,” Shen Jiu said, “only a foolish cultivator would fail to wield them.”
Perhaps others would’ve seen his deflection as mean spirited and arrogant but Wei Qingwei saw it as witty and fun.
“Well, then it’s good that Shen-shidi isn’t a fool, isn’t it?”
Shen Jiu was taken aback by his carefree response.
“Is there something I could help Wei-shixiong with?”
Wei Qingwei wasn’t the kind of person that would plan his conversations. He never thought he needed it and his pride made him bold enough to go all the way to Qing Jing Peak without a plan in mind. He’d simply wanted to see Shen Jiu and Xiu Ya, but confessing to it would be embarrassing. He quickly had to figure out a way to stop himself and Shen Jiu from losing face.
“The truth is, Shen-shidi, that it was I who forged Xiu Ya,” Shen Jiu raised his right eyebrow. “I just wanted to know if she’s been living up to expectations.”
Shen Jiu stared at him for several seconds, after which he exhaled and nodded.
“As I said before, Wan Jian swords are the best in the world. Xiu Ya has been perfectly serviceable.”
Wei Qingwei fought the urge to wince at the ‘serviceable’ descriptor. Shen Jiu probably thought he was fishing for compliments and this was a way to humble him. His Shidi really wielded his words with more sharpness than his sword! Good thing that Wei Qingwei was able to see right through him.
“Just serviceable, Shidi?”
Shen Jiu huffed and looked away.
“I said what I said.”
Wei Qingwei laughed. He hadn’t expected him to be so bashful. It was endearing to see that Xiu Ya had ended up with a cultivator as prickly as her.
“I don’t wish to take more of your time, Shen-shidi. However, if one day you’re off on a mission that would require a companion, I would love to join you. Seeing you wielding Xiu Ya on a night hunt would definitely be helpful for my craft.”
That turned Shen Jiu’s attention back to Wei Qingwei. His eyes were wide open and his lips curled into a snarl. Wei Qingwei was able to see a hint of red tinting his ears but that might’ve been the morning sun shining behind him.
“Wei-shixiong presumes too much.”
“Not at all, Shidi. I don’t expect anything but a thought,” he gave him his best smile and bid him farewell. He had no doubt that Shen Jiu would keep him in mind, if only to curse him. Still, Wei Qingwei wouldn’t stop himself from trying. He was, after all, a tenacious and patient man. He would see Xiu Ya and Shen Jiu in action one way or another and he was going to love every moment of it. Of that, he was certain.
Wei Qingwei didn’t have to wait long to find an excuse to see Shen Jiu again. Only three months after he’d earned his sword, he was named the new head disciple of Qing Jing Peak. If times were different, the appointment would’ve been surprising but not outstanding. However, at that moment only three peaks were missing succeeding disciples, Qing Jing Peak included. Chances were that Shen Jiu would become one of them sooner rather than later. He’d only been part of the sect for less than five years, yet he was close to attaining a position most people could only dream of. As expected of Xiu Ya’s wielder!
Wei Qingwei prepared his congratulatory gift with diligence, and invited himself to the new head disciple’s study as soon as it was ready. This time he didn’t encounter another Qing Jing disciple before he knew where to go. The study was located on the eastern pavilion of Qing Jing’s main building and it was easily recognizable not only by its proximity to the Peak Lord’s abode but also by the way people avoided it. If the rest of Qing Jing Peak was quiet, this area was completely silent. Wei Qingwei was bold enough to break its peace with his noisy footsteps and his knocking on Shen Jiu’s door.
“What is it?”
Wei Qingwei grinned, already seeing Shen Jiu’s irritated frown on his mind. He puffed his chest and did his best to withhold the excitement in his voice.
“This is Wei Qingwei, Shen-shidi. I’m here to congratulate you on your appointment.”
There was a long pause but eventually the man gave him grace.
“You may come in.”
Wei Qingwei opened the door and took note of how it didn’t creak when he did so. Were there talismans on the entire peak to make it as silent as it was? Setting the thought aside, he walked toward Shen Jiu and sat across his desk. Its surface was covered with several notebooks that the man hadn’t set aside to welcome him, a silent warning that he wouldn’t entertain him for long. Wei Qingwei took the challenge upfront.
“Congratulations on becoming Qing Jing’s head disciple, Shen-shidi,” he said as he offered him a gift box. “May the greenery last forever and may it bloom evermore.”
Shen Jiu raised his right eyebrow, probably impressed by how unimpressed he was. Wei Qingwei didn’t mind. There was a reason he ended up in Wan Jian and not Qing Jing or Qiong Ding Peaks. His skills with words were very limited.
“This position was an honor bestowed prematurely to this Shidi. However, this one will work hard to be worth of Shixiong’s praise.”
Wei Qingwei beamed at the scripted response despite knowing he didn’t mean it. The fact that he was trying to be amicable was good enough for him. At this rate he would break his shell in no time… considering they were aiming for immortality, that is.
Shen Jiu opened the gift box with the caution of a man handling a cursed artifact. Still, he couldn’t stop himself from widening his eyes at the sight. The gift was a simple green tassel woven around an engraved piece of white jade. Wei Qingwei had thought long and hard about what type of gift the Qing Jing disciple would enjoy. He decided on something simple and subtle. The tassel had no thread out of place, no groove of unnecessary adornment, no gleam that would draw the attention of meddlesome observers. Wei Qingwei thought Shen Jiu would enjoy well made things, elegant in their simplicity and practicality, just like Xiu Ya.
Judging by the fine decorations on the walls, Wei Qingwei knew he’d been right on his assumptions.
“This Shidi thanks Shixiong for his gift.”
No hurtful words. That meant he absolutely loved it.
“May I?” Wei Qingwei asked.
Shen Jiu furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding what the man meant. Wei Qingwei extended his hand.
“May I put it in Xiu Ya? Unless Shen-shidi has a better tassel tied to its hilt…?”
Shen Jiu was baffled by Wei Qingwei’s audacity. So much so, he didn’t react on time to stop him from retrieving the gift or standing up to get Xiu Ya, which was resting against a nearby wall. Its hilt was already adorned with a green tassel, but it wasn’t even decorated with a wooden bead, making it look like most tassels in Qing Jing Peak. He didn’t feel an ounce of remorse as he untied it and replaced it with his.
“There. A tassel worthy of Xiu Ya.”
Shen Jiu raised his right arm and hid his face underneath his sleeve. Wei Qingwei could only imagine the red that was surely coloring his cheeks.
“Unbecoming,” Shen Jiu muttered.
Wei Qingwei nodded before returning to his spot in front of Shen Jiu.
“Please be patient with me, Shidi. Once I came up with the idea for your gift, I couldn’t help but make it myself. Only the best for Xiu Ya and Shen-shidi!”
His words slightly diffused Shen Jiu’s embarrassment.
“You made it yourself?”
“You wield Xiu Ya wonderfully, Shidi. I wanted you to wield something else from my workshop.”
Shen Jiu stared at him for a long time. Wei Qingwei braced himself for being kicked out but instead his Shidi huffed and shook his head.
“Ridiculous,” said Shen Jiu as he removed the notebooks from his desk and placed them on a nearby bookcase, “if Wei-shixiong is so willing to waste his time, he won’t do it in a way that’ll make me look like a poor host.”
He placed a pottery stove on the desk and ignited its charcoal with a small fire talisman. He then took a tea set and tray from a cabinet and began the process of tea making. As with his sword forms, each movement was elegant and full of intent. Once the tea was ready, he offered the first cup to him. The aroma was subtle but its flavor was intricate and earthy. It reminded him of the warmth of his forge.
“Ah, Shen-shidi really is amazing. Everything he does is outstanding.”
“I think Wei-shixiong is simply easy to please.”
“On the contrary, Shidi! I’m known to be very particular!”
Shen Jiu huffed again and focused on his own drink. They didn’t talk much after that, but when Wei Qingwei left, he did so knowing that the cold Qing Jing disciple was starting to tolerate him. A win through and through!
Wei Qingwei didn’t want to risk his luck by visiting Shen Jiu again. Instead, he chose to wait for three more months for the annual inter peak tournament to take place. Wei Qingwei used to look forward to the event, seeing it as an excellent opportunity to identify weaknesses and strengths on his peer’s blades. However, after he became succeeding disciple three years ago, he stopped participating for the sake of organizing the event. He still enjoyed the matches, though, even if he couldn’t see the swords up close.
This year, the final of the tournament was between Shen Jiu and a Bai Zhan disciple of surname Liu. Wei Qingwei had also met the later when he went to Wan Jian Peak to get his sword. He’d named it Cheng Luan; it was a hardened blade, tenacious but too rigid for Wei Qingwei’s taste. Liu-shidi turned out to be just like that too, righteous but stern and not very fun to be with unless you wanted to train. He’d crossed blades with him before and he was very close to losing despite the age difference. There was no question he would become a force to be reckoned with. Everyone knew that both he and Shen Jiu were in line to become succeeding disciples, and everyone expected a magnificent fight.
They delivered.
The Bai Zhan disciple was young but extremely strong and talented. Shen Jiu was weaker but he was clever and skillful. At first, everyone rooted for the Bai Zhan disciple, but as the fighting continued, support grew for the underdog. He was, after all, one of the few people capable of withstanding Cheng Luan for so long. Soon, more than half of the spectators were hailing Shen Jiu’s prowess.
Unfortunately, the match ended with Cheng Luan pointed at Shen Jiu’s throat. Everything after that was a blur. The championship was awarded to the Bai Zhan disciple and Shen Jiu disappeared out of the blue, probably to lick his wounds away from prying eyes.
Wei Qingwei had a pair of very insistent prying eyes, though. He left the arena and went to Qing Jing Peak. He found Shen Jiu at his studio, already patching himself up. His cheeks were red with fury and his eyes shimmered with emotion. He looked as if he’d just been bullied, and Wei Qingwei suspected that no one was a harsher bully to Shen Jiu than himself.
“What do you want?!” Spat the Qing Jing’s disciple the moment he noticed Wei Qingwei underneath his studio’s lintel.
Wei Qingwei hesitated but his desire to comfort his Shidi was stronger than his self-preservation. He’d been in that place before: defeated, upset and thinking that he would never be worthy of anything. Fortunately, he had good martial siblings and a kind Shizun who reminded him not to be too harsh to himself. Unfortunately, Shen Jiu didn’t seem to have anyone to give him that reminder. Well, then, he would have to take on the job himself!
“I wanted to congratulate Shen-shidi on a magnificent fight,” he said as he entered the studio. He kept his eye on the ceramic box with ointment on Shen Jiu’s desk. Hopefully he would be able to catch it on time if Shen Jiu decided to throw it at his face.
“Do not patronize me, Wei Qingwei.”
Truly, Wei Qingwei should’ve considered the poisonous tone threatening, but he was too happy to hear Shen Jiu dropping the honorific. It made him feel closer to him!
“Ah, I apologize, Shidi. That was not my intent. I sincerely wanted to congratulate you. Everyone was enthralled by your abilities.”
Shen Jiu huffed as he clumsily bandaged his right forearm.
“Yeah, right. Everyone was hoping that the Bai Zhan brute would make a mistake and pierce me with his sword.”
Baffled by the preposterous idea, Wei Qingwei sat down next to Shen Jiu.
“May I?” Without waiting for an answer, he took the bandage from Shen Jiu’s hand and began wrapping his forearm anew.
“What are you doing?!” Shen Jiu cried.
“Helping you out. You can’t dress your wounds correctly if you’re out of your mind, which you clearly are.”
“How dare you?!” He swatted his arm away from Wei Qingwei but was hurt by the sudden movement. He held a hiss as he placed his arm over his chest, guarding it with his opposite hand.
“I said what I said. Only someone out of his mind would’ve missed the way half of the sect was rooting for him,” he continued before Shen Jiu could protest. “It’s no news for a Bai Zhan disciple to win the tournament; it’s exceptional for a Qing Jing disciple to even get to the final. I’ve haven’t seen the spectators this excited in years! There is no shame in losing, especially when you gave it your all. Shen-shidi always gives his all so he shouldn’t be ashamed of anything.”
Shen Jiu stared at him in bewilderment, with his mouth ajar and eyebrows raised. After a long silence, he sighed and closed his eyes. He relaxed minutely, and pressed his right thumb over his temple.
“What is it that you want from me, Wei Qingwei?”
Wei Qingwei wasn’t prepared for that question, so it took him a while to respond.
“At first I simply wanted to get to know the cultivator that Xiu Ya deemed worthy of her, but then I met you. Now I want to get know you because I find you interesting and fun.”
“Fun? Me? Are you stupid?”
Wei Qingwei couldn’t stop himself from laughing. Shen Jiu was clueless about his charm, which could be dangerous for him. Good thing he was here to clear things up!
“You’re straightforward and sharp. I like that about you.”
“So you are stupid.”
Wei Qingwei laughed again.
“I might be, Shidi, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to get to know you.”
Shen Jiu furrowed his eyebrows and pressed his lips as he pondered his options. Wei Qingwei could only start to imagine the number of thoughts that must’ve crossed his mind. He could bet it went from thinking about the right dose of poison to kill him to figuring out how he could take advantage of keeping him alive.
“I guess, I can entertain Wei-shixiong further,” he said, probably thinking it would be better for him to be in good terms with a succeeding disciple. Wei Qingwei didn’t mind. If Shen Jiu found benefit on his friendship, all the better for him.
“Excellent! Now please let me help you dress up your wounds, Shidi,” Shen Jiu faltered. “Or perhaps it would be better for me to call Mu-shidi? I’m sure he would give you a long lecture about avoiding medical care.”
Shen Jiu grunted and extended his wounded arm toward him.
“You do it.”
“Of course, Shidi.”
Wei Qingwei helped Shen Jiu with his wounds and then they shared an excellent afternoon tea. By the time he left Qing Jing Peak, Shen Jiu’s mood had improved. He knew he would work harder and smarter in order to win next year’s tournament. However, Wei Qingwei wondered if he would have the chance to do so, not because of inability but because now he was more certain than ever that Shen Jiu would join him in the group of succeeding disciples, banning him from the tournament. The only question in his mind was when it would happen.
Proud and happy of what he’d achieved, he went back to Wan Jian Peak and started planning his next gift for Shen Jiu. The sooner he got at it, the better.
To Wei Qingwei’s delight, his relationship with Shen Jiu slowly developed into friendship. At first, he would ask for his help finding his way through Qing Jing’s library. Later, he straightforwardly asked for his guidance regarding specific minerals or where to find animals whose parts could be useful in the forge. Shen Jiu held the knowledge of an entire library and talking to him proved to be much more useful than following paper tracks that sometimes led to nowhere. If those discussions had the extra benefit of spending a delightful evening with him, even better.
Soon, Wei Qingwei dropped the pretense and started visiting Shen Jiu just because. Although reluctant at first, Shen Jiu never missed the opportunity to prove himself a good host, serving him tea, treats and sometimes even dinner. Wei Qingwei wasn’t fond of Qing Jing’s bland food but the company certainly made it taste better.
They even went on missions together. As expected, Shen Jiu and Xiu Ya shone brightly in the night sky, and both of them were as deadly as they were beautiful. After much of Wei Qingwei’s insistence, he even accompanied him to tea houses and brothels every now and then. Shen Jiu enjoyed being surrounded by women but only in the way most women were. He would share stories and songs with them, and when the night came, he found solace in their company. Wei Qingwei was no stranger to the harshness of the martial world and he understood why someone would want to part from it whenever they had the chance.
Little by little, Wei Qingwei learned more about his Shidi. He discovered that he enjoyed sweets, that he disliked loud noises, and that he had an extraordinary memory. He also learned that, underneath his superior scholar and martial capabilities, there was an insecure young man. He was too conscious of the age he started cultivating and the consequences of it in his development. He struggled with the thought of being outpaced by others but he never gave up. He was a fighter, a stubborn man aiming not for the top, but for his own standards, which were alarmingly high.
Wei Qingwei found it particularly helpful to show him his work in progress. Shen Jiu was as demanding to others as he was for himself and he didn’t hold his tongue when it came to finding flaws. He could trust him for advice and, the few times Shen Jiu had nothing negative to say about his work, Wei Qingwei puffed his chest triumphantly knowing he was a step closer to perfection. Knowing that Shen Jiu must’ve read a lot about forging and spiritual weapons for his sake made him feel even better, even if he did it with the excuse of “finding better ways to criticize Shixiong’s work”. Wei Qingwei knew that the truth was that Shen Jiu was simply too embarrassed to admit he wanted to help him, and so he used arrogance as a shield. His Shidi was extremely shy when it came to dealing with feelings and it filled Wei Qingwei’s heart with warmth whenever he was able to see behind his bratty words, which was more often than not.
He would never forget the first time Shen Jiu went to Wan Jian Peak on his own volition. He wanted to show him a scroll with a forging technique that was previously thought forgotten and only recently found by Huan Hua Palace. Wan Jian’s Peak Lord requested to consult it a couple of years ago but the permission was denied claiming that the scroll was too frail to be used. However, everybody knew that was Huan Hua Palace’s excuse for keeping information to themselves whilst not doing anything with it. That sect had always opted to commission their swords instead of forging them themselves, yet they refused to improve the craft by sharing their findings with the crafters. It was preposterous and a pity but Wei Qingwei thought there was nothing to do about it. Yet Shen Jiu offered him a copy of the scroll with a proud smirk on his face.
Apparently, Shen Jiu had made a copy of a valuable tome in Qing Jing Peak’s library and had offered it in exchange for a copy of a much less valuable book from Huan Hua Palace’s library. The transaction was approved but Huan Hua Palace was so stingy, they didn’t offer to copy the book themselves, but requested that Shen Jiu would do it on his own. Shen Jiu had counted on this and he went all the way to the other sect to make the copy. He used the opportunity to look into three other books and even found the time to sneak into their secret library where the aforementioned scroll was held. He somehow managed to read them all, memorize them, and make perfect copies once he returned to Qing Jing Peak. An incredible and slightly scary feat. It was good that Shen Jiu was on Cang Qiong Sect’s side. Otherwise he would’ve been a terrifying enemy.
Wei Qingwei wasn’t the only one who found Shen Jiu’s skills extraordinary. The Qing Jing Peak Lord must’ve seen it too because one month later, Shen Jiu was declared the new succeeding disciple. Wei Qingwei wasn’t surprised when he heard the news, but he still excitedly hurried to his workshop to retrieve his congratulatory gift before flying to Qing Jing Peak.
Wei Qingwei spotted Shen Jiu before landing. He was playing the qin on a clear of the bamboo forest. His hair was down, a stark difference from his usual ponytail, and it was decorated with a delicate silver guan. He looked even more beautiful than before. Gravity suited Shen Jiu. It made him look unattainable and sacred, and Wei Qingwei couldn’t wait to reach out for him.
“Greetings, Shixiong, and congratulations on becoming Qing Jing Peak’s succeeding disciple.”
Shen Jiu raised his eyes from the qin but only for a moment. He quickly decided that his instrument was far more interesting than Wei Qingwei. Still, a small curve on his lips signaled his amusement.
“What? No poem this time?”
Wei Qingwei chuckled and sat on the grass next to Shen Jiu.
“I’ve been told stick to weapons but if Shixiong insists: bend your neck towards the sky and sing.”
Shen Jiu violently plucked the qin’s strings before granting a deadpan expression to Wei Qingwei.
“You’re right,” he said, “you should stick to weapons.”
“Then perhaps Shixiong would appreciate this more,” he said as he presented a large, thin box to Shen Jiu. He opened it hesitantly and hitched a breath when he looked at the iron war fan Wei Qingwei had made for him. After a long pause, he finally dared to hold it. He slowly opened its ribs and raised it to the sky, contemplating the beams of sunlight reflecting on its surface.
“It’s so light…” whispered Shen Jiu.
“The sticks work as talismans,” Wei Qingwei explained as he pointed at the characters engraved on one of them; they read ‘weightless’. The following stick said ‘sharp’, and a third one ‘discreet’. Mighty, bright, swift, clean, Wei Qingwei spent weeks selecting the proper charms for the weapon and then months engraving them. The result was sublime even by his own standards: a deadly and beautiful weapon, not different from his new wielder.
“You made this?”
“En. I would be honored if you accepted my gift. No one else bears my weapons with as much grace as you do.”
Shen Jiu closed the fan with a loud thud but he then opened it again. This time he used it to hide his face. Still, Wei Qingwei was able to catch a glimpse of the blush on his cheeks.
“It would be a disservice not to bear a weapon from Wan Jian’s future Peak Lord. I have no alternative but to keep it.”
“Good. I was planning to engrave your courtesy name on it but I was so excited when I heard the news, I didn’t even ask what it was before coming here. If you tell me, I’ll engrave it for you in no time.”
Something shifted in Shen Jiu’s eyes. It was merely a shadow but Wei Qingwei recognized frustration and anger in it. Still, Shen Jiu was able to push whatever thought it was down.
“It’s Qingqiu.”
Clear autumn. Wei Qingwei nodded with approval. Shen Jiu was as beautiful and crisp as the season. It was an auspicious name, plentiful and promising of new beginnings. He wondered why the words came out of Shen Jiu with so much vitriol.
“It suits you. Don’t you like it?”
“It doesn’t matter whether I like it or not. It is my name now, and I’ll make it my own. I am Qingqiu now, so don’t you forget it!”
Wei Qingwei knew right away what he meant but that didn’t stop him from seeing an opportunity and taking it.
“As you wish, Qingqiu-shixiong! I’ll address you like this from now on!”
Shen Qingqiu’s astonished face was so scary, Wei Qingwei thought he was going to use his new fan to behead him right there and then. Luckily for him, Shen Qingqiu didn’t want to soil his new gift so soon.
“Whatever, I’ll call you Qingwei-shidi, then.”
Grinning triumphantly, Wei Qingwei nodded. He then stood up and extended his hand toward him.
“We must celebrate, Qingqiu-shixiong. Let’s go down the mountain and eat something delicious.”
“Your treat?”
“Of course!”
Shen Qingqiu made a curt nod, put his qin inside a qiankun pouch, his new fan on another, and then took Wei Qingwei’s hand.
An auspicious day indeed!
As the months and years passed, Wei Qingwei and Shen Qingqiu became closer. It still wasn’t as close as the first one would’ve wanted but that was only because he was a greedy man. Still, he was patient. As long as Shen Qingqiu was willing to keep his company, he would be grateful. If only their other martial siblings could see Shen Qingqiu the same way he did…
Shang Qinghua? Well, he was terrified of him and for good reason. Shen Qingqiu suspected he was a traitor and Wei Qingwei feared he was right. Shang Qinghua had always been a wreck but the day he found him after the terrible massacre that ended the life of dozens of An Ding Peak disciples, he was acting even more skittish than usual. Shen Qingqiu interrogated Wei Qingwei for almost a shichen after he brought Shang Qinghua back to the sect. It was suspicious, he said, that everyone had died but him. At first Wei Qingwei thought it was because the man had pretended to be dead, but then Shang Qinghua started raising through the ranks despite his inexperience. Even someone like Wei Qingwei could see something was off. However, they still didn’t have enough evidence for his crimes and they had to lay low. Wei Qingwei hoped Shang Qinghua could enjoy his freedom while it lasted. Once Shen Qingqiu decided to strike, it would be over for him.
The rest of their martial siblings had a better relationship with Shen Qingqiu, but not for much. Yue Qingyuan adored him, but distrusted him for whatever reason. Qi Qingqi was curious about him, but was too proud to approach him on her own. Mu Qingfang wanted to take better care of him, but was too busy to figure out the best way to do so.
Liu Qingge…
Ah… the Bai Zhan disciple was a whole problem on its own. They hated each other and had no qualms in letting everyone know. Shen Qingqiu, usually calm and restrained, lost control with him. He was vicious towards him and Liu Qingge’s curt personality only made things worse. Wei Qingwei had to admit it made him a little jealous to see his favorite Shixiong being roused by someone that wasn’t him but he wouldn’t change what he had with Shen Qingqiu for anything in the world. He only wished Liu Qingge was less of a stick in the mud and that Shen Qingqiu stopped taking him so seriously.
The rest of their martial siblings must’ve wished that too because when the chance came to join both Shen Qingqiu and Liu Qingge on a mission, nobody but Yue Qingyuan was willing to volunteer. Unfortunately for everybody else, the Sect Leader had refused his disciple’s intervention and the floor was opened for a new sacrifice.
“I think you should join, Qinghua,” said the sunny An Ding Peak Lord, “it would be good for you to have more combat experience.”
“Bu-but I still have a backlog of orders, Shizun!” Pleaded Shang Qinghua.
“Nonsense, camaraderie takes precedence over paperwork,” responded the Peak Lord with a blinding smile. His disciple shrieked.
Whether Shang Qinghua was a traitor or not, it was pitiful to see him so terrified. He was on the verge of tears and his Shizun was either none the wiser or actually enjoying his suffering. Wei Qingwei sighed and decided to do his good deed of the day.
“I can join Liu-shidi and Qingqiu-shixiong.”
Wei Qingwei hadn’t volunteered before because he didn’t want to see them arguing in front of him. He was sure their intensity would make him jealous and he feared being rude to Liu Qingge just because he paid too much attention to his favorite Shixiong. Perhaps this was for the best, though. This way Shang Qinghua wouldn’t die of a heart attack before they uncovered his secrets, and Wei Qingwei could keep Liu Qingge out of Shen Qingqiu’s mind.
“I have no objections on Qingwei joining,” said the Wan Jian Peak Lord.
“Oh, well. Perhaps next time, Qinghua,” said the An Ding Peak Lord, his perennial smile still shining bright. Shang Qinghua whimpered.
“That settles it,” said the Sect Leader. “Prepare to depart tomorrow. Qingyuan will give you the details for the mission. Now, on to the Guiyun Sect trade treaty…”
Wei Qingwei did his best to pay attention to the rest of the meeting but he failed miserably. His mind alternated from excitement for going on another mission with Shen Qingqiu, and concern about Liu Qingge being there. Luckily, his input wasn’t requested at any time and he was able to return to Wan Jian Peak without embarrassing himself.
He spent the rest of the evening preparing for the mission.
In order to save strength for their mission, the group decided to get there on carriage, or rather, Shen Qingqiu decided it and Wei Qingwei seconded him. Liu Qingge complained about wasting time and being spoiled but at least he stopped himself from flying all the way there on his own. Moreover, he decided to drive the cart on his own volition, which gave Wei Qingwei the chance to spend several hours in semi privacy with Shen Qingqiu.
They shared snacks, small talk, and a very one-sided play of qi. Later, Shen Qingqiu delighted Wei Qingwei as he practiced a new song on the qin. If only they didn’t have that meddlesome Shidi nearby, Wei Qingwei would’ve been able to imagine he was on a date with Shen Qingqiu. Sadly, the frequent potholes on the road served as a reminder that he couldn’t just go on and start wooing his Shixiong.
It was nighttime by the time they arrived to the town that had called for Cang Qiong Sect’s help. They left the carriage in the city center and walked to its main well. The information they received was that it was haunted, and that whoever looked into its mouth would see their smiling reflection right before being dragged to the bottom. Liu Qingge had walked straight toward the well, while Wei Qingwei readied himself for an attack. Not far from them, Shen Qingqiu was leaning on banyan tree pretending to read a book and trying very hard to look disinterested just to piss Liu Qingge off. It worked.
Liu Qingge huffed and, probably hoping it would speed up the mission, he recklessly looked into the well. A moment passed and then he looked back up.
“Nothing happened.”
“Let me try,” said Wei Qingwei as he too looked into the well. Unfortunately, there was nothing out of the ordinary. “Ah… what shall we do? What do you think, Qingqiu-shixiong?”
Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes and shut his book closed. He then walked toward the well.
“Step aside,” the other two complied. Shen Qingqiu looked into the well but once again nothing happened. “It might be that whatever haunts the well only responds to intent. It can tell we’re here to fight it. You should’ve let Shang-shidi come with us, Qingwei-shidi. I’m sure he had no intention of fighting on his own.”
Despite the graveness of the situation, Wei Qingwei laughed.
“But then I wouldn’t have had the chance to be destroyed at qi by you, Qingqiu-shixiong!”
Liu Qingge grunted as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“What do we do then?”
Shen Qingqiu shot him a severe look of disdain before taking a talisman out of his left sleeve. “We force the spirit out.”
He embedded qi on the talisman and shot it down the well. Its water began to churn and bubble and then a wispy blob of spirits shot into the sky. The three cultivators took out their swords and began fighting the dozens of spirits that flew around them. Surrounded, the only thing they could do was to hold their ground, doing their best to keep themselves from hurting each other.
At one moment, a white shadow peeked from behind Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu quickly attacked it as it passed Liu Qingge’s shoulder. Unfortunately, Liu Qingge misinterpreted the action as an attack and retaliated.
“Are you blind?! What are you hitting?!” Yelled Shen Qingqiu as he avoided both the ghosts and Liu Qingge’s attacks.
“Who hit first? Who went blind first?!”
Soon, the two of them were busier fighting each other instead of the spirits, and Wei Qingwei had to put a stop to it. He used Cang Hai to send a shockwave all around them. That stunted the spirits for a moment and Wei Qingwei used the time to recoup.
“Enough you two! Liu-shidi, Qingqiu-shixiong was helping you! Shixiong, please focus!”
Shen Qingqiu snarled but had enough common sense to turn his eyes to the now recovering spirits. It took longer for Liu Qingge to react but soon they went back to only attacking their enemies. Eventually, they were able to defeat the resentful spirits and contain them in a retrieval vessel. Wei Qingwei was ready to go back to the carriage and, hopefully, find a nice inn to spend the night at.
“Is it true?” Liu Qingge asked as they were getting ready to leave.
“What is it?” Asked Wei Qingwei after Shen Qingqiu responded with cold silence.
“Was Shen Qingqiu helping me?”
“Of course he was, he’s your Shixiong!”
“Don’t waste your time with him, Qingwei-shidi. He’s all brawn, no brains.”
As much as he understood Shen Qingiqu’s frustration, it would be problematic to end the mission without clearing up the misunderstanding.
“There was a ghost behind you, Liu-shidi. Shen Qingqiu saw it before it could hurt you and dispelled it. He brushed your shoulder when he did so, but he didn’t intend to hurt you.”
“That’s enough, Qingwei-shidi!” Shen Qingqiu was so angry, his reddened face glowed underneath the moonlight.
“Is it true?” Liu Qingge asked again, this time to Shen Qingqiu.
“Even if I said it was true you wouldn’t believe me, so what’s the point?”
Liu Qingge furrowed his eyebrows.
“You’re always saying you’ll kill me.”
Wei Qingwei wanted to laugh out loud at that but he figured it would be mean to make fun of someone receiving death threats. There was no question that Shen Qingqiu had threatened Liu Qingge several times before and it wasn’t as if Wei Qingwei thought Shen Qingqiu incapable of cold blood murder; it was just that if Shen Qingqiu really wanted to kill Liu Qingge, he would’ve found a better way than letting everyone know how much he hated him.
“Perhaps if I killed you, you would stop talking nonsense!” With that, Shen Qingqiu decided he’d had enough and left the plaza.
“How can you stand him?” Asked Liu Qingge.
If Wei Qingwei was a better person, he would’ve explained that Shen Qingqiu was an acquired taste and that he simply had to pay more attention to him to understand him. However, he wasn’t, and he wasn’t about to tell Liu Qingge to pay more attention to Shen Qingqiu.
“He’s fun,” he said instead.
Liu Qingge sighed and shook his head.
“I don’t get either of you,” he said as he walked on the opposite direction of the carriage.
“Where are you going, Shidi?”
“The mission is done. I don’t have to go back with you,” he said as he turned a corner and left Wei Qingwei on his own.
Finally feeling some of the tension leaving his shoulders, Wei Qingwei went back to the cart, where Shen Qingqiu was reading a book… upside down. He looked so cute, he couldn’t stop himself from staring.
“What are you staring at me for?!” Asked a fuming Shen Qingqiu.
Not wanting Shen Qingqiu to lose whatever little face he had left, Wei Qingwei decided against mentioning the book. He instead sat down next to him.
“I’m sorry that Liu-shidi mistook your actions, Shixiong. It was rude of him.”
“I don’t care whatever that numbskull thinks. You shouldn’t either, why would you even waste your breath defending me?”
“Because if I didn’t, he would’ve left thinking you tried to kill him. That would’ve been troublesome for you.”
“As if he could believe I can do good! How could he? I do hate him and want him dead.”
“No you don’t. I mean, you do hate him, but you wouldn’t intentionally hurt him.”
“You’re a fool if you think that! Everyone else knows I’m scum!”
Wei Qingwei knew that wasn’t true. Many people admired Shen Qingqiu, but he was so convinced of his own wickedness, he ignored them all.
“Qingqiu-shixiong is revered all over the sect. Even more than that, he is the famous Xiu Ya sword. He’s brilliant and powerful and vehemently protective of his sect. Those who disagree are stupid, including Qingqiu-shixiong.”
“How dare you?!”
Wei Qingwei placed his hand over Shen Qingqiu’s closed fist.
“I wished Qingqiu-shidi could see himself in the same way I see him.”
Shen Qingqiu swatted his hand away.
“You’re just saying that because you’re a sword-loving idiot. The only reason you care about me is because I wield your favorite sword.”
“That’s not true!” Wei Qingwei said louder than intended. “I really admire you, Shixiong! I admit you’re rough around the edges, but you have good intentions and have always been good to me. You’re more than what you give yourself credit for!”
“I am not! I’m a weak cultivator and a cruel person! I’m selfish and resentful and hate others just because they’ve had it better than I did! I’m not Xiu Ya! I’m nothing but a broken knife that pretends to be a spiritual sword!”
“Shixiong…”
“No kiln is hot enough to fix me. Not even reforging me would make something decent out of me!”
“Qingqiu… I might be a sword-loving idiot, but even I know that hurt people are not meant to be fixed. They are meant to be healed.”
Shen Qingqiu’s breath hitched and his right hand went inside his left sleeve, probably looking for a weapon or something very heavy to smack Wei Qingwei on the head. At that moment, Wei Qingwei could only think of a way to stop him. He hugged him, immobilizing his arms but also making the situation extremely awkward. He let him go the moment he felt Shen Qingqiu’s body tense up.
“I’m sorry, Shixiong! I wasn’t thinking! I just didn’t want you to bonk me on the head!”
Shen Qingqiu wasn’t really listening to his excuses.
“I see… so this is what you wanted all along. I knew you were up to something. No one would be so kind without expecting something back.”
He sounded relieved, as if he was glad he’d been right all along. Still, Wei Qingwei could also recognize his disappointment.
“It is true I have fallen for you, Qingqiu,” Wei Qingwei admitted, “however, the only thing I want form you is whatever you are willing to give me. Whether it is your heart or a thought, I would be happy regardless.”
“What about you?”
Wei Qingwei blinked several times, confused.
“What do you mean?”
“If I gave you a thought, what would you give me in exchange?”
Warmth enveloped Wei Qingwei’s chest. Even in a situation like this, Shen Qingqiu had to make things so convoluted. Oh, well. If thinking this was only a transaction made him feel better, Wei Qingwei wouldn’t stop him. It didn’t matter how long it took, he would get through him eventually.
“Why, Qingqiu-shixiong, don’t you know? I gave you my heart a long time ago. Would you accept it?”
Shen Qingqiu looked at him for a long time. His shoulders raised and fell with each breath and his hands shook as they held firmly onto the carriage’s floor. Finally, just when Wei Qingwei was about to give up for the night, Shen Qingqiu closed his eyes and turned his head to the right.
“Fine. After all, it is my duty as your Shixiong to take care of you.”
Bursting with happiness, Wei Qingwei jumped at the opportunity of embracing Shen Qingqiu once again. He was still tense, but little by little he allowed himself to lean on his chest. Shen Qingqiu was warm and soft. His hair smelled like fresh wood and his clothes like sandalwood. It was the most wonderful feeling he’d ever experienced. Wei Qingwei could be like this for the rest of his life; he planned on it too.
“Qingqiu-shixiong is so lovely. I’ll teach you to care for yourself as much as I care for you.”
“Nonsense,” muttered Shen Qingqiu, his face burying deep into Wei Qingwei’s chest.
Wei Qingwei chuckled.
“We’ll see. I am nothing if not tenacious. You can ask Xiu Ya.”
Shen Qingqiu huffed and, somehow, buried himself even deeper.
They still had to inform the town elders that the well had been exorcised. After that, they would have to find an inn to spend the night at and get something to eat. Still, for now, they remained content inside the carriage.
By their side, and resting on their scabbards, Xiu Ya and Cang Hai hummed with relief.
It was about time!