Chapter Text
It was a bright day out, at least in the afternoon. That morning it had been foggy and dark, making it hard for him to drag himself out of bed on time to arrive on time, but the thought of coming in late and being judged was enough motivation to rouse him. Shang Qinghua swallowed nervously as he made his way out of the hall on Qiong Ding. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he looked for his most intimidating martial brother.
“Ah, Shixiong! Wait!” Shang Qinghua called out to Shen Qingqiu. Their most recent meeting had just concluded and it seemed that Shen Qingqiu was determined to get off of Qiong Ding as quickly as possible but Shang Qinghua was determined to catch up with him.
“For a moment there it seemed like you were walking faster!” he said, a fake smile plastered on his face as he caught up and Shen Qingqiu slowed his step.
“Must’ve been a trick of the light.” Shen Qingqiu dismissed. “What can I help you with, Shidi?” he asked, looking like he would rather be back on Qing Jing already. Shang Qinghua resolved to try to make this conversation go as quickly as possible.
“I just wanted to inquire as to how Shixiong’s preparations for the immortal alliance conference were going!” Shang Qinghua replied with false cheer in his voice.
“Fine.” Shen Qingqiu said, pausing for a moment before continuing, “It’s been keeping me busy.” Shang Qinghua nodded in sympathy.
“I was just wondering as to whether you’d be bringing Shen Yuan along with you.” Shang Qinghua asked outright. Shen Qingqiu looked back at him with a thoughtful look on his face.
“I had been considering it.” Shen Qingqiu said, in the annoying evasive way where he said absolutely nothing. Despite his irritation at this non-committal answer, Shang Qinghua didn’t let it show, instead choosing to move the conversation forward.
“Well I just wanted to say that I was very much looking forward to seeing his performance!” he said with false cheer.
“His… performance?” Shen Qingqiu repeated, looking confused. Shang Qinghua smiled back at Shen Qingqiu at the other man’s confusion.
“Don’t you know that everyone will be elated to see him?”
“Excuse me?” Shen Qingqiu asked, almost stopping in his stride and Shang Qinghua was reminded that he was currently playing with fire.
“Well yes! It’s not often that a peak lord’s child competes.” Shang Qinghua said, keeping his tone light as he attempted to continue their leisurely pace towards the rainbow bridge. “Not to mention that everyone knows that he’s been trained by both you, the smartest of Cang Qiong, and Liu-shidi, the strongest.” If Shen Qingqiu looked pleased with being called the smartest it was instantly replaced with irritation at the mere mention of Liu Qingge’s name.
“People know that he’s been trained by Liu Qingge? They don’t spend that much time together these days.” Shen Qingqiu asked looking confused. “Do they?” he repeated quietly to himself.
“Well, I mean. Liu Qingge has the eyes of many on him, and people have been waiting for him to train a disciple properly. Not even just people inside the sect.” Shen Qingqiu didn’t reply, looking deep in thought, so Shang Qinghua decided to go further. There was no room for uncertainty here.
“I wasn’t sure that you were going to let him, considering the risks. The conferences are always dangerous, after all. But he’s been training for years by now, even if it’s not as much as some of your other disciples. Anyway, I’m sure that plenty of people would love to see him compete!”
“Well, I’m afraid they’ll be disappointed.” Shen Qingqiu said. “Shen Yuan won’t be competing.” He said, with finality.
Shang Qinghua covered his smile with his hand before collecting himself and speaking again. “Oh, but he will be attending by your side, yes? I heard that the Huan Hua Palace Master himself has been interested in meeting him-”
“Shen Yuan won’t be attending at all.” Shen Qingqiu confirmed, sounding extremely huffy about it. Good.
“Ah, what a letdown!” Shang Qinghua feigned his sadness. In his own mind, he thanked the system for finally letting something go right. Or rather, not allowing a mess to be created only to force him to fix it with the threat of death over him. Now, Shen Yuan could stay at home and read his books peacefully while the real plot happened. Shang Qinghua looked down at his clenched fists, happy that for the first time in a while, they had stopped shaking.
Now everything should go as planned. It needed to.
Recently there had been too much uncertainty, too much strangeness keeping him riddled with unease and paranoia. It was hard enough to occupy the original Shang Qinghua’s dual roles in the story and now on the side, he kept having to observe the activities on Qing Jing just to make sure that something extreme hadn’t taken place while he wasn’t looking. It would be just like the system to blame him for whatever might happen. Even worse, he wasn’t particularity close with Shen Qingqiu, and Shen Yuan didn’t seem to trust him either. As he probably shouldn’t.
From what he observed, Qing Jing seemed to still be a tranquil place, as it should be, but it did feel like it was more of a truly peaceful calmness instead of a tense one, where at any moment something would just snap it and shatter the illusion. It seemed to be a nice enough place now, if still rather strict. But Luo Binghe’s fall was inevitable and the happiness they had achieved might not last much longer.
All things, good or bad, would come to an end.
///
Shen Yuan expected Shen Qingqiu to get bored with the arrangement. Maybe not after only a few months, but after a year? Maybe two? People would get used to his presence and there wouldn’t be any point in having him there anymore.
Yet somehow, Shen Qingqiu never seemed inclined to get rid of Shen Yuan. Whenever it felt like the topic might come up it was simply avoided, one of them would change the topic, or suddenly become too busy to continue the conversation. At this point, Shen Yuan would say that it was probably half that he actually liked Shen Yuan and half that he was happy to have a 24/7/365 Yue Qingyuan deterrent.
But could Shen Yuan really complain? While the food on Qing Jing may not compare to modern cuisine (he missed fast food so much) it was better than not knowing where his next meal would come from. And if he ever missed the old days he could simply say he was going on a ‘training trip’ and then when he got sick of nature again he could sleep in a warm bed again. When he came back Shen Qingqiu would be there, asking if Shen Yuan had a good time sleeping in the dirt, then proceeding to bitch about everything that happened in the days that Shen Yuan had missed. It was surprisingly comfortable. Often Shen Yuan found himself forgetting that he had ever read a book called ‘Proud Immortal Demon Way’ or that he knew these people as nothing but characters.
Then something would remind him and he’d snap out of it and he would come back to reality as if waking from some sort of dream.
“Hmm, attending the conference from Qing Jing this year will just be Luo Binghe.” Shen Qingqiu said, thoughtfully as he sat with his head in his hand, leaning on his desk. Shen Yuan was lounging and thumbing through what was apparently a popular romance novel, according to one of the merchants that Shen Qingqiu had run into while he was doing sect business off the mountain. So far, though, it just seemed like all the characters just sat around chatting and drinking tea all the time. Hearing Shen Qingqiu speak, however, stopped his train of thought abruptly and he felt as if his fingers were plunged into ice water.
“Ming Fan attended the last conference, there’s no real need for him to go again. Besides, Bai Zhan will be sending something like a dozen disciples anyway, there’s no need for me to try to pad Cang Qiong’s numbers.” Shen Qingqiu mused. Shen Yuan supposed that was true enough, Qing Jing wasn’t very large or focused on combat. Sending disciples would gain them prestige and more hopefuls if they did well, but that wasn’t truly necessary at this point in time.
“Unfortunately, I’ll have to attend whether I send someone or don’t.” Shen Qingqiu sighed and wrote Luo Binghe’s name in tall, elegant characters. Shen Yuan glanced over at Shen Qingqiu’s desk to see the single written name. Before Shen Qingqiu even set down his pen, Shen Yuan spoke up.
“And if I wanted to participate?” Shen Yuan asked quietly. The idea had been present in his mind for a while. Liu Qingge’s survival had proved for a fact that Shen Yuan really could change what was happening in the story, in subtle ways and sometimes more overt ones. So why not try to change this too? It would be risky since the whole conference was literally a trap, but since Shen Yuan already knew that it would be dangerous he had an advantage over everyone else that would be present. Plus he didn’t even necessarily have to do well, just survive.
“Absolutely not.” Shen Qingqiu said, setting his brush down to look at Shen Yuan. “You? Participate?” he snorted, rather inelegantly at the thought of it.
Shen Yuan felt offended. “And what does that mean?” he asked, lowering his book to give Shen Qingqiu his full attention.
“I can hardly call you competitive, or even ambitious from what I’ve seen of you.” Shen Qingqiu replied. “And a contest where the sole purpose is to gain glory and prove yourself in combat? Doesn’t fit.”
Shen Yuan supposed that he couldn’t argue with that.
“And if I wanted to attend anyway?” he asked, hoping Shen Qingqiu might not press the matter and just write down his name.
“I wouldn’t allow it.” Shen Qingqiu said, with finality in his voice, surprising Shen Yuan.
“Why not?” Shen Yuan asked. It wasn’t often that Shen Qingqiu flat out denied him something. This felt… unusual. Strangely serious.
“The conference is dangerous and largely a waste of time.” Shen Qingqiu countered. Shen Yuan supposed that he couldn’t disagree with that point, but it felt as if there were something else on Shen Qingqiu’s mind, something he wouldn’t speak of. So Shen Yuan decided to press it more.
“You’ve let other disciples attend before, in the past, Ming Fan and Lin Yuyan, and now Luo Binghe.” He pointed out. What was different here?
“But not you.” Shen Qingqiu said. He’d already made up his mind. For whatever reason.
“What about as a spectator?” Shen Yuan asked, trying a different route, but Shen Qingqiu frowned.
“Why exactly are you pressing this so much?” He asked, answering a question with a question. There was no better way to provide no answer than to avoid the question entirely and distract with a new one.
“Do I need a reason?” Shen Yuan asked back, mimicking Shen Qingqiu.
“No, I know already.” Shen Qingqiu said, sounding sour. “It’s that Luo Binghe, isn’t it?”
“It’s not.” Shen Yuan said. In part, it was because of Luo Binghe, but it was also because of Shen Qingqiu.
“Don’t lie to me.” Shen Qingqiu said. “I don’t understand your fascination with him. That child… there’s something wrong with him.” Shen Qingqiu said quietly. Well, Shen Yuan could admit to himself that there definitely was something inherent that set Luo Binghe apart from others, but there was no way that Shen Qingqiu could know of Luo Binghe’s heritage, and he probably didn’t have a protagonist detecting radar in his head either. But if Shen Qingqiu’s mind wouldn’t change when he first came, it probably wouldn’t change now.
“You really don’t want me to go with you?” Shen Yuan asked again. There was no response for a minute.
“You’re staying here, on Qing Jing.” Shen Qingqiu said.
Shen Yuan frowned as he felt his stomach twist and knew that there would be nothing he could do as he watched Shen Qingqiu seal the envelope with Luo Binghe’s name inside, alone.
In the weeks that preceded the conference, Shen Yuan found himself growing more and more restless, despite knowing there was nothing that he could do about it by Shen Qingqiu’s own will. Attempting to sneak into the conference would be a poor choice. If Shen Qingqiu found out there would be hell to pay, and post-conference he might end up on the suspect list as a potential saboteur.
On the day that Shen Qingqiu was slated to leave, Shen Yuan found that he had woken up early, filled with anxiety. But he knew that the only thing he could do was let the plot take its course and hope that all he had done in preparation would be enough. Things weren’t as bad now, right? Shen Yuan quietly hoped that he had made the world just a little softer.
There was a knock at the door, and as Shen Qingqiu hadn’t emerged from his own room, Shen Yuan answered it.
“Ah, good morning, shixi.” Yue Qingyuan said, awkwardly. Shen Yuan really couldn’t blame him for how tense he seemed when he saw who responded, considering how just about all of their meetings had ended thus far. “Shall I come in?” he asked, and Shen Yuan understood that it was more of a question of exactly how poorly would Shen Qingqiu react to Shen Yuan letting him inside.
“Please do.” Shen Yuan said politely, inviting Yue Qingyuan in because even if he was concerned for Shen Qingqiu, he couldn’t deny that he was feeling a bit petty at that moment.
“I heard that Shixi wouldn’t be participating.” Yue Qingyuan commented as he stepped inside. “I was quite surprised, I thought that surely you would be.”
Shen Yuan smiled outwardly at Yue Qingyuan, but there was no real warmness underneath it. "Father didn't want me to attend the conference," he said, knowing Yue Qingyuan would understand what he was implying, as he also knew Shen Qingqiu well.
“I see.” Yue Qingyuan said, proving Shen Yuan right. “Well, your father does have your best interests at heart. The choices he’s making should be respected, even if we may not like them, he’s thinking of your safety.”
Shen Yuan wondered if that was what Yue Qingyuan told himself when he was banned from speaking to Shen Yuan on the first day.
“I know,” he said.
Later, as Shen Yuan watched everyone depart he tried to make himself think of his own safety as well, in the hope that it would help take his mind off of things.
It half worked.
///
Shen Qingqiu sat at the immortal alliance conference, seated next to Yue Qingyuan, looking regal but feeling impossibly bored. Every few minutes he found himself wishing Shen Yuan was with him so that he might have someone interesting to talk to and not Yue Qingyuan and the Palace Master. Instead, he watched the disciples running around, or watched the cultivators from Zhao Hua converse, pointing at their own disciples and discussing them. He watched as Luo Binghe’s name slowly but steadily moved up the scoreboard and he sighed.
When things began to go wrong, however, he was happy that he had left Shen Yuan at home, no matter how upset Shen Yuan may have been with him for it. Across the room, he looked over to Shang Qinghua, who was currently standing a step behind Yue Qingyuan.
He turned back and frowned at the screen showing the disciples having to face off demons far above their level as members of the various sects bickered behind him, about exactly whose fault this was, where the demons came from, pointing fingers avoiding blame. Disgusting.
“If you break the barrier things will only become worse,” he said, not even looking at them as he kept his eyes on the screens, watching the disciples running around like ants fallen out of line. “Those who are willing should be taking action now, by entering yourselves, if you dare to,” he said, uncaring of how this may be received. The way they all went on and on about what a crisis this was yet did nothing but sit and talk about what a disaster this was.
He didn’t pay much attention to what anyone else did after he spoke, or whether anyone followed his example, instead choosing to head down to see the disciples that were in over their heads, which turned out to be almost all of them, unfortunately.
All but Luo Binghe and the group that was now dogging his every step as he swept the area.
“We haven’t covered the southern section at all.” Shen Qingqiu said, to the gathering of cultivators from assorted sects, now united. They were exhausted, their bright-colored robes were now muddied and torn and their upbeat demeanors had fallen far. Though some may be able to cut it, far more of them were still too weak to face a real threat like this.
“Shizun, don’t you think it would be better to let those who are tired retreat to a safer location? Surely many of them aren’t able to go on any longer.” Luo Binghe piped up, that insolent dog.
As he looked back to the disciples, Shen Qingqiu did notice that many of them were exhausted from fighting already. Hm. Better to cut down on the dead weight. It should be safe enough now, though if they strayed too far from each other they may run into trouble.
Shen Qingqiu looked to Luo Binghe. “Will you be running back as well?” You cowardly mongrel.
“I’ll be okay to continue Shizun.” Luo Binghe said and smiled at him as if Shen Qingqiu were asking out of concern for his wellbeing and not hope that he’d leave. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to leave Shizun to fight alone.”
Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes. A dig at his skills? Luo Binghe would do to remember just who was the master here.
“Besides, shixiong would be upset if anything happened to his Father.” Luo Binghe added and Shen Qingqiu tightened his grip on his sword in anger.
How dare he speak of Shen Yuan and how dare he imply that Shen Qingqiu was so weak as to die here in this wretched place? He huffed.
“Come along then.” Shen Qingqiu said, walking away. “There’s no sense in waiting any longer here if both of us can continue.”
He led the way, Luo Binghe following him just a few steps behind, both of them taking care to be vigilant, looking for straggling disciples as well as any sign of demons.
Then, the ground cracked, and the worst enemies yet emerged, shaking the ground beneath their feet as they charged. Moon Python Rhinoceros charged forward and Shen Qingqiu began to wonder, just for a moment, what Shen Yuan would feel if something actually did happen to him, as Luo Binghe had said.
It was the hardest battle yet, but Shen Qingqiu managed to cut the beasts down, though he found himself to be exhausted. Silently, he prayed that no more demons would erupt from the crack. As he heaved deep breaths, he looked over to where Luo Binghe had been fighting his own enemies.
From where he was standing Shen Qingqiu could clearly see that Luo Binghe was still alive, though clearly he was worse off than Shen Qingqiu himself, which he allowed himself to take some pleasure from.
But as Shen Qingqiu approached, he could tell that something was wrong with Luo Binghe, beyond his injuries. Cuts that were on his body were now beginning to knit themselves back together. Luo Binghe pulled himself up and turned to Shen Qingqiu, facing him. As Shen Qingqiu looked at Luo Binghe’s face, he smiled widely, feeling only a distorted sense of joy.
In the center of Luo Binghe’s forehead, there was a crimson mark, pulsing.
He had known it this entire time, that there was something wrong with Luo Binghe. The vindication he felt was indescribable. Despite being covered in blood and dirt and sweat he felt like laughing.
“I knew it. You mongrel.” Shen Qingqiu said to Luo Binghe as he stepped forward. “Hiding this entire time, fooling everyone. Did you enjoy it? Tricking your fellow disciples?” he said, stepping forward again, and Luo Binghe took a step back in response. “Demon.”
“No! I didn’t- I just wanted-” Luo Binghe said and Shen Qingqiu stepped forward again and tightened his grip on his sword. “I’m a human too.”
“You wanted to play the human being? Make pretend that you aren’t a monster just hiding among the rest?” Shen Qingqiu snorted. “Disgusting. Even the demons we’ve fought today know what they are. You’re deluding yourself.”
“No!” Luo Binghe said. “Shizun- please.”
“You still dare to call me your Shizun?” Shen Qingqiu asked. “Then, Shizun has one last lesson for you-” he said, then struck, plunging Xiu Ya deep into Luo Binghe’s chest.
“You’re going to go back where you belong.” Shen Qingqiu said as he slid Xiu Ya out of Luo Binghe’s chest, the blade now coated with the demon’s blood. “And you’ll never see A-Yuan again,” he whispered in Luo Binghe’s ear, before pushing him into the blackness.
A-Yuan. For so long he had been so adamant that Luo Binghe was simply a regular disciple, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t wait to give him the truth. Would it be cruel? Perhaps, but the truth was often cruel, and in time Shen Yuan would accept that he had been wrong, and Shen Qingqiu had been right. He flicked the wet blood that he could off his blade and began to walk away, leaving behind the shattered shards of Zheng Yang, the last trace of that fiend.
As he made his way back and the Abyss closed, he only had one final thought on the matter. Good riddance.
///
It was more than a week after the invasion when Shen Qingqiu finally returned home to Qing Jing. The invasion itself had only happened on one day, but it had taken more than one day to find all of the disciples that were still alive, and more after that to count the dead. It was odd, but it seemed that despite sending one of the largest delegations, they had one of the lowest death counts. Even after all of that, there was a great deal of time spent where everyone tried to blame each other for the disaster instead of making any progress on information about the demons that had attacked.
The first thing that Shen Qingqiu noticed when he arrived back at the peak was the absence of a familiar face. Shen Yuan wasn’t waiting for him to return with the other disciples that greeted him as he returned to Qing Jing. As he approached, they cheered and welcomed him back excitedly, though they quieted down quickly.
“Shizun! I heard what happened at the conference, are you alright?” Ning Yingying asked as she rushed up to him with concern in her eyes and Shen Qingqiu gave her a single pat on the head. “I’m fine.” He said. “Did you really think someone as strong as your teacher would be hurt so easily?”
“Of course not!” Ning Yingying denied instantly, making him smile slightly.
“I’m afraid that Luo Binghe perished during the invasion, like so many others.”
Ning Yingying covered her mouth and looked down. Shen Qingqiu could see wetness in her eyes and he stopped in his stride to place a hand on her shoulder. “It’s unfortunate, but he fell alongside many others that day. Do not forget the demons that killed him.” He said to Ning Yingying as she wiped her eyes. She continued to sniffle, even though she seemed to be putting on a brave face.
It really was regrettable that she was upset like this, but her sadness would be temporary. She would remember him, but soon her mind would turn to other things and she would move on as if he were never here at all. They all would.
“Shixiong is going to be so sad.” She said as she dabbed her face with her sleeve. She didn’t need to clarify which she meant.
“He will.” Shen Qingqiu agreed. But Shen Yuan would understand. They had always worked this kind of thing out before, even if he got strangely emotional about Luo Binghe. Perhaps it was some sort of demonic manipulation that had been affecting him before. Though, such a thing would break down now, since the creature had been disposed of.
But the most important thing was that Shen Yuan would be safe now, even at the expense of his happiness.
“It will be alright.” He told Ning Yingying as he reached out to touch her head, brushing a strand of hair that had fallen out of place while she was crying back behind her ear. “At least you aren’t the one that breaks the news.” He says and Ning Yingying smiled weakly back before she leaves him to walk the rest of the way alone. On his way over, a younger disciple ran past him, not stopping to even greet him in his rush.
Shen Yuan was in the living room, already waiting for Shen Qingqiu’s entrance.
“Welcome back.” He greeted, though there was a distinct lack of warmth in his tone. “I heard about the invasion.” He said, looking over Shen Qingqiu, scanning him for any obvious injury.
“Yes, it was a mess. You should consider yourself lucky that you weren’t present.” He said as he walked in and made himself comfortable, throwing his qiankun pouch over on his desk to unpack later. For now, he sat down in his usual seat and leaned back before taking his hair out of the heavy jade crown he had been wearing. There was no longer any real need to look presentable.
“You didn’t ask after Luo Binghe.” Shen Qingqiu commented as he ran his fingers through his hair and twisting it into a more simple bun. Shen Yuan was looking down at his book again.
“There’s no point.” Shen Yuan said, quietly, not looking up from his reading. “I already know he’s dead. If he were alive he would’ve returned with you.” He said.
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t argue with that. The room slipped into silence as Shen Yuan flipped his page. Shen Qingqiu sat and waited for him to speak again. When there was nothing, he spoke again.
“I didn’t inform the other disciples of this, as not to make them fret, but Luo Binghe was not a human. During the invasion, he revealed his true form to me. A demon, of heavenly lineage.” Shen Qingqiu said, waiting for Shen Yuan’s reaction. Would he smile? Or would he start sobbing, or would he yell and scream?
But there was nothing. Just a solemn blankness.
“So you killed him.” Shen Yuan finished, looking up at him. He always was so intuitive.
“I did.” Shen Qingqiu confirmed before the uneasy quiet returned.
“Did you at least collect his sword shards?” Shen Yuan asked.
“Why would I?” Shen Qingqiu said as he thumbed through some of the papers that had been left on his desk for him to review when he returned. “A blade that belonged to a demon doesn’t even deserve to be reforged in Wan Jian’s fires. Best to forget it entirely.” Shen Qingqiu said and he felt his cheek twitch into a small smile. Shen Yuan shut his book abruptly with a soft thud.
“I don’t understand how you can be happy about this.” Shen Yuan criticized angrily.
“Why wouldn’t I be happy?” Shen Qingqiu asked rhetorically. “Qing Jing is safer now.” He said, but when he looked at Shen Yuan he saw only a cold glare aimed back at him. “Something about him bothered me. This whole time, even if I agreed to disregard my suspicion for you. But I felt it.” Shen Qingqiu hissed his hand clenching into a fist. "I finally learned what was wrong with him! This whole time, I was right!" he yelled, vindication burning in his chest as he spoke.
“You’re wrong.” Shen Yuan replied quietly. “There wasn’t anything wrong with him. He was a person. Just like me. And Ning Yingying. If anyone here has been acting demonic it’s been you.”
Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. “You’re too dramatic. If you think me a demon, clearly you’ve been too sheltered to understand what they’re capable of.”
Shen Yuan ignored his commentary, “You promised me that you wouldn’t act like this anymore! That you wouldn’t hurt Luo Binghe just because of your unreasonable prejudice against him!”
“If he was innocent, then there would have been no reason for me to act. What, am I just meant to tolerate a demon’s existence because of a promise? Shall I turn my head from his revelation, so conveniently timed, it just so happened to be revealed while he was surrounded amongst his own kind.” Shen Qingqiu pressed, to Shen Yuan’s blatant displeasure.
But Shen Yuan didn’t respond.
“You’re acting childish again. How old are you meant to be now? Act like it.” Shen Qingqiu scolded. “I did what was necessary. You should understand that by now.”
Shen Yuan silently stood, walked to his room, and shut the door.
Shen Qingqiu got the feeling that it would take Shen Yuan longer than originally expected to see that he had been right.
///
“I want to go on a training trip.” Shen Yuan told Shen Qingqiu. His expression was still dead in a way that Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been able to fix. It had been months now since he had returned from the immortal alliance conference and it seemed that Shen Yuan had neither healed from that nor forgiven him. Despite the fact that it had been the best move in that situation. What would Shen Yuan have him do, anyway? Harbor a demon in secret or perhaps turn him loose to the human world, unrestrained and unmonitored?
He really was still being ridiculous, but even in these last few months, he hadn’t requested to leave the peak. Until now, that was. Shen Qingqiu felt his heart plunge as there was a split moment of panic. What was to stop Shen Yuan from getting approved leave and then simply never returning?
There was no reason for him not to. Shen Yuan had already been here far longer than either of them had anticipated him staying, though neither one of them had brought it up.
“Where would you be traveling to?” Shen Qingqiu asked.
“To the east of here, there’s meant to be an area with a dense amount of spiritual energy, secluded in a jungle near a waterfall.” Shen Yuan explained. “Its existence was only a rumor that I heard of, but I wish to search in the area I suspect it’s located in.” He said, pulling out a small map and placing it in front of Shen Qingqiu, who leaned over to examine a small area that Shen Yuan had marked.
“This is a wider search area than I expected.” Shen Qingqiu commented as he looked it over. “But I’m sure that the two of us will be able to cover the area quickly enough.” After a moment, he looked back up from the map to make eye contact with Shen Yuan.
“You would be coming with me?” he asked, surprise clear on his face. “Don’t you have sect business and teaching to attend to? Shouldn’t you check with Yue Qingyuan first?”
Shen Qingqiu was impressed at Shen Yuan’s admirable attempt to throw him off by reminding him of his duties, but he underestimated exactly how much that Shen Qingqiu didn’t care about what Yue Qingyuan thought. If he couldn’t run a sect without Shen Qingqiu’s presence for a month then clearly he deserved whatever trouble he got himself into.
“We can head out tomorrow.” Shen Qingqiu replied, unintimidated. He gave Shen Yuan a fake smile which Shen Yuan returned.
“Then, I’d best get ready soon.”