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Chapter Text

The End is Just the Beginning

Shen Qingqiu contemplates and dies.

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In Huan Hua Palace's numerous rooms in their water dungeon, a body can be seen hanging by immortal binding ropes, keeping it in place.

The 'body' had its appendages cut off, leaving only uneven stumps behind. Greasy, matted hair stuck together with dried blood, in disarray. It had their right eye gouged out, and from a brief peek at their mouth, their tongue was ripped out too, and judging from the wound it was messily torn as if somebody ripped a handkerchief in two with their bare hands.

All of a sudden, the 'body' jerked in motion, as if somebody forcibly moved a puppet, jarring and unorganized, the 'body' let out a groan.

Shen Qingqiu was already so, so tired. Tired of life, of pain, self-pity, and this neverending pain. He knew this was nothing in comparison to what the Qiu's did to him. But Gods was it maddening. To be stuck here, not knowing what was happening outside, on Cang Qiong. On Qi-ge, a traitorous part of his mind whispered.

Shen Qingqiu isn't stupid, to be a Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak you need not only the skills but also the intellect. The tacticians. The Scholar. He knows that Luo Binghe's anger is like a child's tantrum, it destroys and kills innocents even in the process of its revenge, as long as it gets its revenge it'll be happy, but its fire won't be quenched, it'll only feed the growing discontent and he'll want more. More to take, more to have, more to destroy.

Shen Qingqiu knows when to listen and how to read between the lines. When a passing servant murmured a soft, "Luo Binghe got rid of the biggest pest." he knows its probably Cang Qiong Mountain Sect or Yue Qingyuan, it can't be Liu Qingge, because Shen Qingqiu killed the mighty God of War of Bai Zhan Peak.

When the trial commenced for that murder, it stung, his Martial Brothers and Sister not believing a single thing he said. Not even Qi-ge. Just the thought of that trial sends pricks of pain in his heart. He thought that Cang Qiong Mountain Sect would at least know to trust their Martial Brother. But Shen Qingqiu knew, that someday, this would happen. Sooner or later. It will, just as he did it to Qiu Jianluo and Wu Yanzi.

He would have preferred to die by the pyre, where he came from existence, and where he will die. A fitting end for a Villain like him.

He sobbed, when he knew that Luo Binghe was not surveilling him, Yue Qingyuan's Xuan Su lay on his feet, broken and empty from its usual shine. Like Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu's eyes wandered the room, eventually sitting upon the shards of Xuan Su at his, nonexistent, feet. Just looking at it Shen Qingqiu sighed, feeling bitterness bubbling inside, Yue Qingyuan is truly innocent, he did no wrong. Except accepting Shen Qingqiu in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.  

Luo Binghe had the gall to lure Yue Qingyuan into a trap, and blame Shen Qingqiu for the reason why Yue Qi died. When Shen Qingqiu learned later that Luo Binghe used Shen Qingqiu's chopped feet to lure Yue Qi, Shen Qingqiu laughed and laughedandlaughedlaughedlaughlaugh- until he cried, foolish Qi-ge always there when not needed but nowhere to be found where he was. It was Shen Qingqiu who destroyed everything. Shen Jiu ruined it.

Shen Qingqiu wondered, does Luo Binghe realize that he already turned into the scum he so desperately hates? Shen Qingqiu can see the parallels between Qiu Jianluo and Himself. Now, Shen Qingqiu can see the similarities of him and Luo Binghe, it was sickening.

Musing, Shen Qingqiu looked at the fragments of Xuan Su, Shen Qingqiu decides in that very moment, consequences be damned. Well, if you're dead you can't experience the consequences.

Even though it took a bit of some maneuvering, Shen Qingqiu successfully slipped out of the immortal binding ropes, made easy by the lack of limbs, it helped that Luo Binghe forbid anyone from visiting Shen Qingqiu, for what reason, Shen Qingqiu speculates that it might be selfishness from Luo Binghe wanting to monopolize Shen Qingqiu's pain as only for him, but it helped Shen Qingqiu escape, so he guessed it would be okay to applaud Luo Binghe for his lack of foresight.

Landing on the floor with a quiet grunt, he crawled towards the fragments, thinking, how undignified a previous Peak Lord of the Qing Jing Peak crawling on the dirty floors of the dungeon, like a writhing worm. But it's not like he wasn't unfamiliar with this routine. He was too numb to be affected by his previous trauma in the hands of Qiu's.

Biting one of the shards to his mouth, he swallows it, and another, rinse and repeat, piece by piece, one by one, until Shen Qingqiu swallowed all the of the sword shards.

Through the whole process, some smaller pieces are stuck to his mouth and every piece, trailing pain inside his body. It was indescribable, he didn't know if it was pleasurable or painful. The burn trickled from his throat moving down to his stomach, it reminded him of a drink he once had when he was still a rogue cultivator, the person serving it had called it vodka.

Some shards stuck to his heart as if gummi, his lungs, and windpipe, torn to shreds, his insides throbbing painfully. A supersonic nova inside him, it felt like something to anticipate, the thrill of it was addicting.

Feeling the onset of internal bleeding, Shen Qingqiu thought that, at least when I die, I have pieces of Yue Qi with me.

Although dying by internal bleeding is painful, he'll take it any day than dying by Luo Binghe's hands.

But if Luo Binghe knows or witnesses his death, he'll try to revive Shen Qingqiu, Shen Qingqiu believes that one way or another, Luo Binghe would devise a way to resurrect Shen Qingqiu, which Shen Qingqiu doesn't want, at all, haha no thank you, he'll pass on that.

Cutting straight to the point, if Shen Qingqiu dies, he wants it to be on his terms and by his own doing, and certainly not at the hands of some half-demon bastard.

Feeling faint and dots of black appearing at the edge of his only remaining eye Shen Qingqiu mutters inside his head, 'At least, I'm free,'

Feeling drowsy, Shen Qingqiu made himself comfortable in the floor and closed his eye, his last thoughts being, If I had another chance, I'll definitely, definitely-

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With a gasp Shen Qingqiu- no, it's Shen Jiu now, awakens, in a soft bed, looking at his hands, now smaller and softer, lacking his callouses from practicing forms with Xiu Ya, and holding brushes for hours on end. While having a mental breakdown, Shen Jiu thought, 'I'm still alive?'

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Mother's Antics

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Shen Bai headed towards her son's room to wake him up. She opened the door just a crack and looked towards the bed.

She took her daily inspection of whether A-Jiu was safe. Ever since her wife was, was- di- gone her old habits seemed to creep up on her.

Anticipating the view, she quickly grew excited. On her seeing A-Jiu looking soft and cute and cozy! Seeing him so open was hard you know?! He's so mature that Shen Bai wants to pamper and indulge him on everything he wants just so she could see his shy smile!

But luckily, A-Jiu didn't grow rotten and is always a quiet and bookish child. Preferring books over people. Just like her Mom.

But instead, she saw A-Jiu awake leaning on the head of the bed his back propped up by pillows, staring blankly at his hands, clenching and unclenching the digits.

He was muttering something under his breath, though due to the distance, she couldn't hear it. He was trembling too, she noticed. Was the AC on too high? She frowned.

Fully opening the door gently to not make a noise. Shen Bai walked silently towards the bed.

She went unnoticed by her son, too distracted in his bubble. She sat on the edge of the bed, making it creak and pulling A-Jiu out of his stupor.

He looked at her with wide and confused eyes questioning, "Mama?" With a soft voice.

But Shen Bai wasn't listening. She was too busy looking at his cuteness, his usual sharp eyes were softened at the edges with unshed tears, and his cute and fluffy bedhead.

Shen Bai quickly grew concerned, it was not like A-Jiu to sound so soft, often using his venomous tongue to make others cry than consoling them.

Shen Bai gently inquired, "Did you have a bad dream?" A-Jiu stilled for a moment to nod.

She continued, "Do you want to talk about it?" Her son's eyes roamed her face with a look that she couldn't pinpoint what it is. Looking and searching for something.

But looking as if he found what he was looking for, he relaxed and shook his head, saying with his lisp, "No," slumping dejectedly "I don't wanna talk about it." While his eyes rested at his lap, where his hands were fiddling with a loose string on the blanket.

Shelving this conversation at the back of her mind. She decided on not pursuing the subject any longer and only said, "If that's what you want, A-Jiu."

Awkward silence lingered on the air.

With a loud clap of her hands, startling her son. She smiled gently, making her eyes crinkle, taking A-Jiu's hand in hers squeezing them gently for reassurance, "Would you like to eat, A-Jiu? Breakfast is ready, it's your favorite Choco pancakes." And with tears on his eyes and a slight, albeit wobbly, smile he answered with, "Yes, I would like to."

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Shen Bai was worried about her tsundere son. His personality changed after that nightmare he had. But still, she decided to stalk- ahem, I mean observe A-Jiu whether it be on the library, school, park, and their backyard, she didn't let anything go past, except for the bathroom.

After that nightmare, he cleans up his room, fixes his bed every morning, eats his vegetables, even cook and clean too! and his cuteness shot up through the roof. But really, the truest most absolute truth was that Shen Bai was just that shitty at taking care of the house and wouldn’t know what the difference between a hard broom and a soft broom is. Several times Shen Jiu wondered on how in the heavens they haven’t died of food poisoning yet.

(Okay, maybe that was a bit of an over-exaggeration. She wasn't that bad at cooking, sure, it's edible but the taste was just plain awful. )

Ultimately shrugging it off as A-Jiu taking after her, she went back on writing her latest book: A Bun in the Oven, the sequel to her previous book: I Knead You

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On a serene and calm day, when she was at home writing her manuscripts. She got a call from the school principal saying that A-Jiu was recommended to move up a grade. Momentarily surprised at the news, though she quickly recovered, and only thought of this as a normal matter, facing it with a smile that hides a cautious and venomous temperament. Because when you've lived two lives nothing much fazes you anymore and being a genius runs in their blood.

Quickly saving her document. Shen Bai went to A-Jiu's school, she went to the principal's office to talk about A-Jiu's genius. When she met the principal, she got a bad vibe oozing out of him. Something about him just ticks her off.

Suspicious, she kept her guard up and oh boy, it was a good thing she did. At first, the conversation was normal with usual questions like, 'Did Shen Jiu show any advanced intellect when he was a child?' Yes and 'Does it run in the family?' Sadly No, Yes it does, but Shen Bai wasn't going to tell him that, etc, etc. But then things had turned into a weird direction, the questions becoming 'Does he have any close friends?' and 'Are you close with your son?' 

Shen Bai got an idea of what this degenerate want to do, and her suspicion was correct when he proposed the idea that 'Shen Jiu can go into a specialized boarding school for geniuses.' With hunger in his eyes. Ha ha Motherfucking funny. Does he think he can touch A-Jiu without any repercussions? If he so much as touch Shen Jiu she'll make him live a fucking life worse than death.

This fucking pedophile wants to do something to her child huh? She declined his offer and made some excuse about, 'Oh, my it's getting late, My A-Jiu is going to go home and we need to prepare for dinner.'  She stood up to leave but he stopped her when she touched the doorknob, and proposed a sponsorship that families sometimes accept for their children.

He said that he'll give her money in exchange for A-Jiu to attend this so-called 'boarding school'. Barely managing to contain her rage, because how dare he? How dare he suggest that he'll fucking pay her in exchange for her son, A-Jiu?! 

The other implications were not lost on her either, he's experienced, meaning he's done this more than once and he said earlier that other families have already been 'sponsored' by him. Red filled her vision. With a miracle, she managed to put up a facade of a genial smile, concealing the emotions running rampant inside of her.

With controlled steps, Shen Bai managed to get back home without causing any property damage. Opening the front door, she faintly heard A-Jiu saying, “Welcome home.” from somewhere inside the house. 

Hearing A-Jiu's voice, Shen Bai relaxed but quickly gained an overprotective look on her eyes. Taking off her shoes and exchanging them for an indoors one, she shrugged off her coat and put it in the coat hanger in the living room. 

Sighing tiredly, she went to the kitchen to prepare their dinner and was surprised to see A-Jiu there, cooking with a cute apron. With a grin, she pulled out her phone and took pictures. She looked over her son’s shoulder to see what he was cooking but A-Jiu quickly slapped a hand over her eyes. 

Annoyance coloring his tone,” It’s not finished yet!” manhandling her to forcibly turn around he made shooing motions, ushering her out of the kitchen.

Kicked out of the kitchen, pouting she murmured, “What a meanie.” but even when Shen Bai said that she felt something gooey, like thick, warm caramel inside of her heart, overflowing with love. 

But she was snapped out of this feeling from remembering her duty. Using this time to go to her room, she locked the door and turned on her computer. She logged in, and clicked a desktop icon called ‘Othila’ its icon looked like a four-sided diamond with its two most bottom lines extended. The app loaded and a group chat opened up. In the group chat, numerous people were firing rapid non-stop messages. Not bothering to scroll up and read through the previous messages to understand the conversation, she greeted them.

The_QwUeeen: Hello, everyone.

Not even a second later, she was greeted by the rowdy bunch.

Imjustaham: Hey! Q-Jie

TheNTRer: Yo, Queen!

Princess_of_A_Rouse: It’s been a while, how are you?

SpO_Oky: OwO you visited us!

The_QwUeen: Sorry for not visiting, I’ve been busy.

The_QwUeen: I need help with something. There’s this pedophile principal that wants to covet my darling.

TheNtRer: You have a new wife?!

Imjustaham: I didn’t know that!

SpO_Oky: >~< I didn’t either.

Princess_of_A_Rouse: Now, now, let us not jump into conclusions.

TheNTRer: Its something Queen would do tho.

Imjustaham: True dat.

At their words Shen Bai acquired a throbbing vein on her forehead, enraged, she furiously typed:

The_QwUeen: Hey! Don’t slander me! I did no such thing!

The_QwUeen: I’m talking about my kid! And I said pedophile! 

The_QwUeen: Meaning my darling is underaged! Don’t make it sound like I’m a womanizing pedophile!

The_QwUeen: All I need for you guys is to destroy his life.

The_QwUeen: His name is Yamamoto Keiro and he’s the current principal of Ando Elementary School in Japan.

Imjustaham: Eh? You moved Q-Jie?

TheNTRer: We weren’t informed, idiot.

SpO_Oky: Yeah, I mean after what happened-

Princess_of_A_Rouse: We promised not to talk about that, dear.

TheNTRer: Yeah! We promised. Sorry, Queen, we won’t pry anymore

The_QwUeen: No, it's okay. I was busy with our move, I just couldn’t stay there anymore.

The chat went quiet. They never liked talking about her. It just hurt too much.

The_QwUeen: So, Can you guys do it?

TheNTRer: Of course. I’ll gladly help.

Imjustaham: I’d be glad to!

SpO_Oky: Yeah, like what they said

Princess_of_A_Rouse: Although I may not be much help I’ll do what I can.

At their confirmations, Shen Bai’s worries were put to rest. After all, with Othila doing this would be a sure success. Hearing a knock from her door, she almost had a heart attack, she forgot that A-Jiu was cooking dinner. She heard A-Jiu’s annoyed voice saying that dinner is ready. 

The_QwUeen: Sorry guys, My kid is calling me that dinner is ready. I have to go.

Princess_of_A_Rouse: Goodbye Queen. Hope to hear from you again.

Imjustaham: Bye bye!Take care Q-Jie

SpO_Oky: Buhbai! UWU Don’t die so soon!

TheNTRer: Yeah, Good Lieuk.

TheNTRer: I mean!!

TheNTRer: **LUCK! LUCK!**

SpO_Oky: *Lieuk

Imjustaham: *Lieuk

Princess_of_A_Rouse: *Lieuk 

The_QwUeen: *Lieuk

Exiting the app, Shen Bai laughed, “Those guys never change, huh?” She was reminded by dinner by the more incessant knocks on her door. 

Smiling, she opened the door and was faced with an annoyed A-Jiu with a ‘glare’, that looked like a kitten trying to intimidate her, He gave a ‘Hmph!’ and said, “I won’t wait for you next time.” He walked away from her, his chin tilted up giving him a prideful look. This kid is so dishonest. He said that last time and the time before that. But even still, he waited for her.

Looking at A-Jiu’s back he resembled her wife at that moment, she couldn’t help but cry. 

They ate a simple curry and rice dish, but Shen Bai felt like she was eating the most delicious thing in the world, it brought tears to her eyes, she...really didn’t think that she was crying because of the passable taste A-Jiu cooked compared to her cooking.

Tomorrow morning, it was in the news that The Principal of Ando Elementary School was arrested for having Child Pornography in his house, and if she just laughed vindictively and used that as a reason to withdraw A-Jiu from school to homeschool him, well no one had to know.

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On a quiet Sunday morning. Shen Bai can be seen putting on a coat due to the chilly autumn season, with winter approaching, you already had to wear your coats and jackets outside or else you'll catch a cold.

Shen Bai was just about to head out to buy groceries for today’s lunch and dinner, when she remembered something Iamjustaham saying along the lines of, 'When kids are at a certain age, you need to teach them independence.' and she was hit with a burst of inspiration.

Taking off the coat that she just put on. She just had an amazing idea. Mulling it for a few seconds, she approved of her plan, patting herself in the back. Shen Bai planned on having A-Jiu buy the groceries, while she follows him with a video recorder, to tape everything A-Jiu did!

From the living room, in a sing-song voice she yells, "A-Jiu, dear could you buy the groceries?!" Making sure that her son heard it just fine from his room upstairs.

With the sounds of tiny but fast footsteps, Shen Jiu burst into the living room, looking a not even a bit ruffled from his rush downstairs. How he does that, she’ll never know.

Silently laughing, Shen Bai smiled at him, "Can you buy the things in this list?" She prodded him with an even voice, betraying the giddy happiness she's feeling underneath her smiling face.

A-Jiu looked up at her and asked, "To the store?" Aww, what a cutie.

"Yes." She clarified. Seeing A-Jiu nod his head obediently, Shen Bai bent down and patted his head. With a warm feeling blooming on her chest, she thought, she's so lucky to have a cute kid like Shen Jiu.

"Wait here for a bit, it's really cold outside. I'll just prepare what you'll wear okay?" She asked in a gentle tone.

"..." Although A-Jiu looked like he was suffering, he still put up with her overbearing personality. 

Ah~ how cute, darling A-Jiu is already having his TsunTsun-ness show.  With a firm pat on A-Jiu's head, she extracted her hand from A-Jiu’s hair, already mourning the loss of contact with that silky, fluffy hair.

Walking towards her bedroom, she headed towards her closet. Although it took some rooting around, she finally found it at the bottom of her closet, buried under other clothes for A-Jiu. 

Giggling, she closed her eyes and imagined A-Jiu wearing the clothes she prepared him. With her mental image, she grew excited at finally seeing A-Jiu wear these clothes.

Finishing retrieving the things she was looking for, Shen Bai headed back to the living room, when she arrived there she saw A-Jiu sitting on the sofa, hugging his knees. She paused for a bit to coo at the cuteness of A-Jiu still wearing his pajamas and his cute sock-clad feet, he was still wearing pajama’s because of the cold weather lately, it was making him more lethargic than lately, and her, being the stupid mother that she is, let it go. Because when you can see A-Jiu still wearing his pajamas well, you fall in love.

"A-Jiu," she called out to avoid startling A-Jiu, "I have your clothes ready."

Squinting at her in suspicion, A-Jiu answered her with a drawn-out, "Okay..."

She smiled, "Oh, don't look at me like that, I won't do anything bad." But she only received a disbelieving look and a quirked eyebrow as a reply.

Oh, her son's trouble awareness was good. But not enough to avoid her type of trouble.

With a 'Ta-dah!' she opened the box to reveal a red hood(cloak?), a pair of kids sized gloves, a black sweater, and a brown scarf. A recreation of the classic tale of The Little Red Riding Hood's outfit.

Now, A-Jiu looked stupefied, he looked at her in bafflement and his eyes seemed to be saying, ' This is it?'

"Now, you might think it's a bad idea but I want to see this bad idea in front of my eyes," and with a bit of a threatening aura, "You can't be embarrassed, okay?" With a cheery smile, she just put the box at the hands of her darling son.

He looked at her in confusion, several beats passed and he finally opened his mouth to ask, "Why should I be embarrassed?" and looked at her like she grew two heads.

Shen Bai was slightly surprised though she didn't let it show from her ever-present smiling face. "Well, those are girl's clothes, so I thought you might be embarrassed to be seen wearing them." And his eyebrows furrowed.

"Clothes are clothes. Clothes are meant to be worn, not to be embarrassed about." At A-Jiu's cutting reply, A-Jiu takes after her, huh.

With a warm smile, she just answered, "Yes, yes they are." Now finally done with the subject she had A-Jiu wear the sweater on top of his pajamas, while A-Jiu was wearing the gloves, she put on the hood on his head and fastened it with a brooch, while A-Jiu was having trouble putting on his gloves, she already put the scarf on top of his hood and knotted it in place. Now the only thing missing from this getup is-!

Going back to her room real quick, she scrounged around the room scavenging for the-aha! The basket she and her wife made before...before the-

Returning to the living room, she had A-Jiu hold the basket.

Pulling away from A-Jiu, she smiled and asked him, " Can you twirl around for me, darling?" At her request, A-Jiu’s eye twitched but obediently twirled while holding the end of the hood, with his cuteness almost burning her eyes.

The hood was long, but not too long- its ends only fell to A-Jiu's knee, while the gloves were white, custom made and tailored to fit A-Jiu's hands, although his sweater was mostly covered up, it couldn't hide the aura of good quality it excluded, and the scarf was oatmeal-colored that put a bit of lightness in the too dark ensemble.

Pulling out her phone she rapidly took pictures of the glory that is happening in front of her eyes. Ah! How can A-Jiu be this cute?!

Seeing him off from their front door, she gave him the money and the shopping list and waved him goodbye. Waiting until he turned into a block, and he was out of sight, Shen Bai whipped out sunglasses and a black beanie.

Rubbing her hands mischievously, she locked the door and proceeded to climb into a nearby electric post with catlike flexibility, she climbed it with ease, and took out her camera.

Jumping from post to post until she caught up with A-Jiu who was already halfway to the market. Every step he takes, she also takes one, even several, pictures. Pausing when A-Jiu reached the local grocer, she went down the post stealthily and followed him inside.

Inside the store, A-Jiu walked towards the vegetable section, muttering “Please don’t tell me we’ll have food poisoning for our meals.” Eh? Food poisoning? But she was forced to abandon that train of thought because her son moved away and headed towards the candy section, he stopped on front of the S*neakers and scratched his head in confusion. All the while, Shen Bai is oblivious that her shopping list has mismatched ingredients for their meals, her shopping list consists of eggplant, potatoes, s*neakers, bread flour, and seaweed.

When A-Jiu was done with the shopping, he went for the cashier. While ringing the stuff the cashier and A-Jiu engaged in small talk, when it was all done, he went out of the grocery. Followed by Shen Bai who quickly scampered up another electrical pole, again.

But he wasn’t going to leave uninterrupted. A man approached him, brunette, normal looking, probably in his mid-twenties as well, “What’s a little lady doing out here alone?” he asked, with a gentle voice, he looked brotherly, someone who looks trustworthy, and Shen Bai doesn’t buy it one bit.

But A-Jiu ignored him and walked past him without ever so much a glance. The man just looked at A-Jiu’s back and followed him at a distance, at this move, Shen Bai smiled murderously, her hands almost destroying the camera she was holding. But out of the thought that A-Jiu’s pictures were the only thing stopping her.

She sped up her pace and went on a side alley that A-Jiu would pass by and by extension, the stalker, she waited a few seconds, and finally, A-Jiu passed by the alley. 

Waiting for almost two or three minutes, the bastard finally passed by her, snagging his collar quickly, she put him in a crushing hold. Pinning his hands behind his back, and holding his throat in an almost choking vice grip, so their positions were: The man’s back was on her chest.

Fury in her eyes, “What do you want to do to that kid there? Hm?” with a growl, she increased the strength of her grip, almost crushing his wrist. 

He gave a pained grunt and spat out, “I-I wasn’t going to do anything, believe me!”

She leveled him a dark look and sneered, “I wonder why I don’t believe you one bit.” With a chop to the back of his neck, the man was knocked out. Fetching her phone from her pocket she called 110, “Hello, I just apprehended a man who tried to make a move on a kid. I’m here at XXX alley near the Toki-Mekii grocery store.”

The urgency must have shown through her voice because immediately the police arrived at their location. ‘Huh, that was fast’. After finishing her statements, she handed them the ‘body’ and quickly ran as fast as she can to their house. 

Luckily, it seems like A-Jiu still hasn’t arrived yet, with this little time she took off her sunglasses and hat, fixing up her disheveled hair and just in time to hear the doorbell ring. 

Walking calmly to the door she opened the door and greeted A-Jiu in his cute Little Red Riding Hood glory with a soft smile and a “How was your trip?” 

He had a displeased frown on his face. ”Tolerable. Mama,” He gave an exaggerated eye roll, “I don’t know what you plan on cooking, but I’ll take over cooking for now.” He quickly went to the kitchen, all while muttering under his breath, “Because if I don’t take over you’ll kill us with your cooking.”

While A-Jiu made magic happen in the kitchen, she just smiled and wished for this peaceful life to go on.

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Earth is a Wonderful Place

Earth is a fucked up place. Yet Shen Jiu is in love with it.

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It was with frightening clarity that Shen Qi-Jiu realized where he was. He was in Ando, JPN, Earth. He's 9 years old, his birthday is September 9. His mothers are Shen Bai and Shen Yi.

He just woke up either from a very realistic dream, or memories of his past life.

He's betting on the latter but, hey, you can't be sure. Clenching his hands, he marveled at the softness of it. His hands have been calloused due to hours of doing paperwork holding a brush and countless hours of doing forms with Xiu Ya. At least he thinks they used to be. He knows it's probably the dream just talking but... who was he?

Propping his head on the headboard while still trembling, due to the too real to be true dream, from head to toe he sighed and mumbled, "I'm still alive?" That was a stupid question, of course, Shen Jiu was alive, he never died. but a traitorous part of his mind whispered, Are you really?

While he was so focused on his task, he didn't notice Shen Bai walking up to him silently. Her footsteps as quiet and light as a feather.

Hearing his bed creak from the added weight of Shen Bai sitting on it, he almost jumped off from his skin. Heart pounding and absolutely scared shitless, Shen Jiu hoped that at least managed to school his expression into a placid and stoic one...he hoped. But it probably looked vunerableandweakanduseless-

Looking at her with suspiciously misty eyes, "Mama?"

She looked at him with concern. A beat passed and she asked, "Did you have a bad dream?" Her face full of honest concern, so open and bright like the sun

Shen Jiu was about to lie and say no but...he can't. This is Mama, and if he lies he'll only make her worry. Mama doesn't deserve it, she's stressed enough as it is. And Qi-Ge won't approve of it. Where did that come from?... Who...who is Qi-Ge?

Not feeling confident that his voice won't crack, Shen Jiu opted for a nod. Feeling small against the stark contrast of his body being dwarfed by the size of the bed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He searched her face for any signs of deceit, but he found none, just honesty and plain concern. Although Shen Jiu knows that he can tell Shen Bai the contents of his dream, he's not ready just yet, it's too early, maybe someday but not now.

"No,"  Shaking his head, "I don't want to talk about it." Shen Jiu settled for a refusal, the dream was too real, too sore. He couldn't even string together a sentence about that dream.

They settled in a terse and awkward silence. The air thick with a weird tension.

Looking at his small hands, Shen Jiu wondered who was he? Shen Jiu or Shen Qingqiu? Or both? Was he just being delusional? Was everything about that dream real? Who is Qi-ge? Why is he so important that Shen Qingqiu craves validation from him?

Mama clapped and startled him out of his thoughts.

She took his hands and smiled, lighting up her face beautifully. "Would you like to eat, A-Jiu? Breakfast is ready, it's your favorite Choco pancakes."

With a wobbly smile, because, his Mama is so precious, even though Mom just... Mama still tries her best, even though she's not very good with cooking, she still offered to make Choco pancakes, "Yes, I would like to."

________________

That dream was the first, but it wasn't the last.

Nights are often plagued with dreams of another life, filled with bitterness and regret. But Shen Jiu was thankful for the sleep, with every passing night he feels detached from that life, every dream leaves his heart not as heavy as before.

The following days, Shen Jiu solidified his theory, that he was Shen Qingqiu, the Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak at Cang Qiong Sect but now, he was Shen Jiu, son of Shen Bai and Shen Yi, just a simple six-year-old kid, with no responsibilities in life. Though, he might have to help Mama with household chores. With the rate they're going, in 2 weeks they might have to hire a housekeeper.

Life continued on, although Shen Jiu knows that he's not the same, he's too tense, jittery, too smart and prone to panic attacks inside his room. Life continued as normal.

Mama is doing her best, it's only common sense that Shen Jiu help the best he can. Wanting to repay Mama for all that she's done, Shen Jiu tried to do household chores, because Mama is so bad at them, and the results are....bad, horrifically bad.

The first time he tried to vacuum the carpet, he couldn't even clean it properly because of this weak-ass body. Doing household chores is frustrating. Especially with clumsy and useless hands.

Well, Shen Jiu thinks, if he had to do something he better make sure he does it perfectly. After that Shen Jiu would go on a cleaning spree trying to polish up his cleaning skills.

It came upon Shen Jiu's notice that he was being watched by his Mother. It was awkward, to say the least, in the backyard, his room, though luckily not his bathroom. He wants to talk about it but he has a feeling that Mama won't budge about it.

Apparently was qualified for a second chance in this new world, in this new life. Whoever deity is up there, he doesn't know why it was him that was chosen, but thank you, for giving him this chance to repent for his sins. Strange...was Shen Jiu this optimistic before?

(Unseen by him, up above in the heavens, a woman smiled and laughed, "Darling don't worry, I won't give you a hard life." Giggling, she continued, "You are, after all, my favored one. Luo Binghe," she muttered it like garbage from the deepest pits of hell, "Won't be able to do anything in this world." She narrowed her eyes, "What is that?" She observed for a moment and gasped in happiness, "Aww! Your Qi-Ge is helping you!" She was pleased with this...after all, if nothing interesting happened, it would be such a waste that she brought those souls from that world.)

"How do you...-" Shen Jiu fiddled around the buttons on the vacuum cleaner, and, unseen by him, he accidentally pressed a button that says 'Turbo' and then-

WHOOSH!!!

"Ah! Hey-" the vacuum went out of control, while Shen Jiu tried to wrestle the vacuum, he was trapped. Without noticing, the vacuum had encircled his legs and it got tangled up in wires.

Later while Mama was helping him escape from the vacuum cleaner's trap.

With a scowl on his face, Shen Jiu thought, maybe somebody in Shen Qingqiu's life was cursing him.

(...It was Qiu HaiTang.)

____________________

He had to attend grade one as a transfer student from CHNA. How exhausting, it would have been better to have him be homeschooled than be stuck in a room full of sniveling kids.

But he knows better than to pass up a chance to learn anything, whether it be cleaning or gossip. Information is, after all, important. Especially in this world where education is a must. He was still a child, therefore, vulnerable. His only saving grace in this world is his Mama and Mom.

Just how many Sects' dirty secrets did he have that could be used as blackmail In his past life? In his peak single-handedly, if he so wishes, he could have destroyed 86% of the cultivation Sects', but he didn't. Maybe he should have done it... y'know so that the whole persecution trial wouldn't have happened.

_____________________

It was the first day of school, Mama was fussing with his clothes, his hair, and his backpack.

They were standing in the living room but Mama had a scowl on her face that, to be honest, scares Shen Jiu a little. "Now, do you have your lunch box? Your money? Phone?" Frantically, she was shaking him back and forth. Which was making him kind of dizzy, to be honest.

"Yes to all of that, I've already your number, the way to school and my class schedule," Shen Jiu reassured her, "Besides, I won't go off to war. It's only school."

Thankfully, she stopped shaking him.

He was being introduced by the teacher with, a "Be kind to Shen-kun," and "He's a transfer student from CHNA, isn't that amazing?" With that remark from the teacher, whispered grew more heated and some kids were shooting interested and intrigued glances and stares at him. Finally, he was given a chance to introduce himself to the class.

Standing in front of the class, facing the grubby hands, snot-nosed dirty children, ugh, disgusting. Grimacing inwardly, Shen Jiu gave a dry stare at the class of sniveling kids, "Hello, My name is Shen Jiu."

If Qi-ge was here he'd smile and say Qingqiu-shidi, won't you get along with everyone?" To which Shen Jiu will only reply with a sneer. Walking away from Qi-ge, with the unspoken 'No.' palpable in the air.

Huh. Maybe this new life is doing good things for him. There was just something freeing in this new chance. No expectations as a peak lord, no one would bother him. Is this how butterflies feel? After their metamorphosis, no one could compare their beauty to the caterpillar. Just like how people wouldn't compare Shen Jiu to Shen Qingqiu and possibly conjure up the thought that the two were the same.

__________________

It's been one week since Mama pulled him out from the school. Although it wasn't a very big occasion she treated him to a 'cake shop' with an 'all-you-can-eat-buffet' for the first time. He has got to say, 'Buffets' are pretty amazing and cakes! Cakes are the best, he was used to cakes from his previous life. The cakes here and there have practically no similarities. Though due to his small stomach he couldn't eat more than a whole slice, so Mama had the foresight to get small cuts from different types and let him choose among the offered.

It didn't escape his notice that Mama probably had something to do with the Principal's sudden arrest. And it was a thing to take into consideration that Mama might not be a 'normal' person. Even if Shen Jiu might not know what 'Normal' even means in this world.

There was another thing wrong with this world, Shen Jiu thinks. Everyone, and he meant Everyone(that he's met.), has at least a foundation in their cultivation. Not to mention the colored hair that everybody seems to possess.

But, nobody cultivates! And another thing, his Mama, Shen Bai, at least has a Golden Core. That was impossible and absurd but, it kind of makes sense...?

In his theory, it might be related to the Yoga and Exercising they do, that stimulates the Qi present in their body. Although, there might be other ways like Martial Arts and Gymnastics?

This world is weird. It's full of Qi and almost everybody unconsciously cultivates. Their body was stronger compared to Shen Qingqiu's world. This world's temperature, climate, and biomes were a fucking deathtrap compared to his previous life. And not to mention the people themselves, they ride on a metal contraption and throw themselves out of it with only a piece of cloth to break the fall! They call this 'sky diving' Who does that??? Insane people! That's who. Living is supposed to be trying not to die! Not speed up the process!

...But he loves Earth. People's technology in this world have already reached where you can go to the moon, wherein his previous life, nobody even thought or speculated what stars are made of! Humans on Earth are special. They questioned everything, from rocks to air, animals, water. This is the embodiment of Qing Jing Peak. The Scholar.

This world is a contradiction.

And Shen Jiu loves every second of it.

Standing in a small footstool that Mama installed in the bathroom for Shen Jiu, He cupped his hand in the faucet, watching it drain in the sink, he brought the handful of water to splash on his face, Shen Jiu stared at his reflection in the mirror. Lifting a hand to cup his cheek he used his pointer finger to caress the bottom of his right eye while he glared at the reflection in the mirror. His left eye had deep green sheen, it looked as if glowing, like custom cut emeralds especially made to be fitted as an iris, it looked like his past life's eye. But his right eye was anything but, instead of the emerald green lake on his left, his right eye held a soft grey color, freckled with a smattering of black. It looked like Qi-Ge's eyes, or in this case, eye.

He huffed, frustrated by the lack of answers. He stilled his hand and used it to brush aside his bangs instead. A few tufts of light green locks made their way back into his face but other than that it was perfect.

...Too perfect.

It was too good for scum like him.

And it was because of that he was relieved. He didn't body-snatched anybody. Shen Jiu is 'Shen Qingqiu's reincarnation. It was just something, though what it was, he didn't know, that resurfaced his previous life's memories.

The least he could hope for is a clean death this time.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

It? Them? woke up. Their body felt heavy, like lead and everything was muffled, so he slept and slept and slept and he- he dreamed.

They dreamt of another life, in another world. Where they were a slave who killed their captors, then a street rat, grieving for a brother that didn't die who abandoned them and left them to rot with the Qiu's. Where they were a peak lord who had a poisonous mouth but gentle hands, misunderstood by people. Where they had a student who missed the point of their lessons and decided to kill him torturously, where they died by eating the sword shards of their brother- the same brother who abandoned him, who he gave his loyalty to- why didn't you come get me Qi-ge?

Another one in a world filled with magic and nobles in castles, they were a simple child, not a noble nor a hidden heir to a throne. Who had magic and was forced to fight in a war for a kingdom filled with only greed, when they were but a mere child. Who died on the battlefield burned alive from an enemy's attack. Where they died without love, care, and joy. 

They dreamed of a world with gadgets and technology without magic nor Qi, with tall buildings clumped together, where he was but a simple person who was trying to live on and get by their life with the world against them.

Their death was filled with screaming and rocks thrown at them and tears streaming from their eyes.

Another, where he was a head of an orphanage for children with special conditions, where adults decided to change their body into something more, they loved the children who experienced the darkest sides of life but still managed to smile, with all of their heart.

Their death was filled with regret, they were found and hunted, they sacrificed their life so that the children could escape, and they in their last moments only hoped that the children were okay.

They had another dream and another, another, another, anotheranotheranother-

At the end of their visions, they only knew that in all of the dreams: 

Two names were a constant in their lives. Shen Qingqiu, and Shen Jiu.

They were, in fact, a he.

He already experienced all sorts of jobs, races, genders, and species in his lives. Thus, apparently making him an experienced person.

He chose the name Shen Jiu simply because, it reminded him of his Qi-ge. On how even after death Shen Jiu is still a parasite clinging to Qi-ge's light. On how it was the only thing that can give him an identity, it's a thing he needs so that he won't live as an empty shell, a mere husk of himself.

And his love for Qi-ge...His love for Qi-ge remained after his constant reincarnations.

Although Shen Jiu has forgotten what Qi-ge looked like, he never forgot Qi-ge's hands, on how warm and calloused they are, how Qi-ge always ran after Shen Jiu and affectionately called out 'Xiao Jiu!' Always with an undertone of regret and how it always reminded Shen Jiu on how he was just a smear of dirt in Qi-ge's past.

At the end of it all, he still can't fully immerse himself in the emotions that his memories should have given him. It felt like he had a layer of film blocking it from reaching him.

His memories were so mixed that he can't even distinguish one from another. Like puzzle pieces that shouldn't have clicked together, but miraculously did.

But, out of all lives, his first life was the one that stuck to him. A peak lord. He never remembered the names of the people in his lives, except his own, and Qi-ge's.

Even though he didn't know what exactly happened until the smallest detail in that life, he instinctively knew that his first life was filled with regret, misunderstandings, and unspoken words.

Even Shen Jiu doesn't understand why it was exactly that life that he remembers the most out of others. Even he would like to forget that life and just remember the other ones.

But, he was quickly snapped out of it because of a sensation. It felt like something was tugging his hand and pulled.

It woke him up with a gasp. The feeling still freshly embedded in his mind. It wasn't a good feeling, it raised goosebumps on his skin. Even in all his lives, nothing felt like that.

Waking up, he tried to feel out his limbs but he still couldn't move them. Shen Jiu was alarmed, was his limbs chopped off again?

But he got his answer when he tried to feel his body using qi. The result was relieving, it turns out that he's only turned into a tree and was relatively fine.

Wait...a tree? Furrowing his eyebrows, did he even have eyebrows?, he was lost, because, he's been a nymph, elf, and fairy before. They lived on the trees and isn't THE tree, there's a difference okay?!

Still feeling around, he felt the cool and refreshing qi of the water beside him. He shook his leaves to bask more in the warm sunlight hitting his body. Mentally mapping out the terrain around his body, he 'saw' the images in his mind, It was a river, filled with pure qi from the universe, and as it turns out he was inside a nice volcano(?)-ish place, what was supposed to be a volcano was transformed into a place of paradise, flush with greenery, just the right amount of sun providing light, inside a cone or bowl-like wall of earth. Feeling for more, he saw his own 'body' and oh....what a sight it was.

His body had a ginormous trunk that, a hundred people linking their arms together and encircling the trunk, wouldn't be able to completely circle it.

He felt his roots deeply burrowing into the earth under him, with some portion sucking up water from a giant lake.

His leaves were a beautiful green color, all in varying shades, with markings, runes, and engravings on them. Tipped with a faint shimmer that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be silver or gold.

The earth has a rich and abundant supply of celestial qi into it...well, Shen Jiu, with his ever-loving high IQ pieced together the clues.

With the volcano structure providing a natural fortress, a qi abundant place adding in with his body's features and a funny feeling in him saying this is real.

He faced the truth and accepted the fact that somehow, Shen Jiu became a world tree, or in other world's cultures, a Yggdrasil.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Jiu tried not to panic because he was a World Tree! and World Trees are supposed to support worlds! He thinks they don't, they don't...right?

You aren't supposed to panic because of your duty and it was, he was a Yggdrasil now, that fact cannot be changed.

Even though world trees are the most mysterious and probably most dangerous thing to be right now, Shen Jiu can't panic! He doesn't know what exactly a World Tree does! Emotions might have diverse effects on the Worlds.

Well, he mused, there's a first for everything. He still didn't know how he can 'see' because, you know, trees don't have eyes?

But it must be some kind of spiritual awareness that instinctively comes with World Trees because of the 'supporting the worlds' properties it has.

Shen Jiu tried to 'feel' outside the volcano, just as his qi got outside, something grasped on the edges of his qi, tugging incessantly.

He felt the thing projecting emotions and flashes of memories through the makeshift bond.

Even though it was only a glimpse- of people, monsters, and spirits chasing after them, to eat them, to consume them- it was enough for Shen Jiu to understand the gravity of the situation.

Something in this body practically screamed at him to save the thing and protect it from harm. Putting aside the weird feeling, he molded his qi into a hand and grabbed the thing.

Feeling it struggling around, Shen Jiu grabbed it more firmly and safely into the confines of his hand. Within a second, his hand deposited the thing in front of his body, it turned out to be things, not a thing but things, and looked like small, round seeds.

Curious at the things Shen Jiu used his hand to grab hold of them and brought them closer to one of his branches. He gingerly tried to put some of the Yggdrasil's power in the seeds to examine them.

Appearance-wise, one of them was a light green seed and the other was a deep purple. But their auras were weird. The green one gave off a scared and jittery feeling with an undercurrent of fierceness, while the purple one gave a very, very active and energetic qi.

Deducing them as mythical seeds or probably somewhere along those lines, because, his body wouldn't be that urgent at saving them.

Looking at these two little beans, Shen Jiu decided on planting them on a good distance away from his body. Maybe, just maybe, they'll turn out to be something great.

Sleeping, cultivating something in his mind whispered, some more. Shen Jiu thought, while being warmed up by the sun with its gentle beams falling into his body, maybe this isn't so bad after all.

----------

******

-To become a child of mine, you must celebrate your life's experiences, whether it be suffering or joy, you must remember it. What happened in your life is what shaped you to become who you are. If you think that keeping someone innocent and pure of the World's darkness is right, you are wrong, you are sheltering them, crippling their wings, and never letting them bud and blossom into a person who has their ideologies, thoughts, and experiences. You will make them unable to stand on their own two feet, making them stagger and fall, needing others to help them in their plight, and help. Help will never arrive. You must help yourself, and not expect others to help you. You must be able to handle your problems with or without a helping hand from the Family. That is what it takes to be my child. 

- Father

******

A fresh Qi infused breeze flew by, bringing with it the smell of flora and a cooling sensation attributed to the Qi present in the air, only possible by Father's precise and excellent Qi manipulation. Shen Zhiqiang drew in a big breath, laying down on a grassy hill, feeling his meridians being soothed, it was not an unfamiliar sensation. He had already experienced it countless of times but he had never grown tired of the feeling nor sensation.

He lifted himself from his previous position and hefted his messenger bag, imbued with a space manipulation array, thus being dubbed the name 'Bottomless Bag', from its place in the grass beside him onto his shoulder.

Opening the bag, he checked the contents. Countless numbers of herbs and other knick-knacks were gathered and organized by name alphabetically, from the Dew of Delight to the Starburst Flower, a leaf with a unique pattern and a tiny branch, both probably coming from Father's tree.

Sighing, Shen Zhiqiang stood up, pausing for a moment to stretch, rotating is head, arms, and legs one by one. Patting himself to get rid of grass stuck into his pants, he headed towards a tree. A mulberry tree, in particular, stopping in front of it, Shen Zhiqiang knocked thrice, and whispered a small chant.

Leaves rustling, the tree twisted and bent itself in impossible angles as if it was going to burst and splinter, but all of a sudden it stopped, as if all motions it made before was only an illusion.

But in one heart-stopping motion, the tree's bark started folding on itself, revealing the wood underneath, before the wood, too folded on itself, leaving behind a hollow inside, looking as if the space inside goes on forever, submerged in inky black darkness as if hiding secrets and unfathomable beings inside its deceptively calm depiction. Though if you take into account their Family's fascination with unique Flora and Fauna, could be possible.

The opening was only enough for a child of Shen Zhiqiang's age to fit inside.

With no trepidation, Shen Zhiqiang stepped a foot inside and with another one, he fully entered the space where the opening behind him disappeared with no sign of being touched, not sparing a glance behind him, Shen Zhiqiang trudged towards a direction on the left, swiftly heading towards something unseen. As if Shen Ziqiang was following directions only he can hear. 

Finally, after an unknown amount of time walking towards Shen Zhiqiang's unknown destination, a sparse light can be seen at the distance, it was flickering, like a candle's flame in a storm. Upon seeing that light, Shen Zhiqiang put up the speed, running instead of walking. 

After finally reaching the light, the light was revealed to be a lamp aloft, being held by nothing, besides a non-descript door with an unusually ornate doorknob. Knocking three times, Shen Zhiqiang manipulated some of his Qi to the doorknob, where it clicked. With a slight shift if his wrist the door opened to reveal-

Chapter Text

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Yue Qingyuan was someone who was used to disappointment and the bitterness of life. Being a slave was a major part of that, and consequently, finding Shen Jiu. Yue Qingyuan knew that he was too brash, impatient and ultimately….

Useless.

He wasn’t enough to save Xiao Jiu from the Qiu’s, from Xiao Jiu’s so-called ‘Master’ Wu Yanzi and… Luo Binghe, that disgusting monster. So ungrateful, always receiving Xiao Jiu’s attention when Yue Qingyuan had none . The thought of that almost made Yue Qingyuan frown in anger. Almost. 

Oh, how Yue Qingyuan loathed him. He was the one who took the brunt of Xiao Jiu’s unfiltered hate. The one who ripped Xiao Jiu away from Yue Qingyuan’s side, from his Qi-ge.

(When it was supposed to be Yue Qingyuan. The one to receive Xiao Jiu’s pain, sufferinghate- everything .)

But even that was untrue. Ultimately it was Yue Qingyuan who wasn’t strong enough to kill Luo Binghe and save Xiao Jiu. It was Yue Qingyuan, who didn’t defend Xiao Jiu during his trial, who was the too-impatient-one causing him to be locked up in the Spiritual Caves for three years and leading to Shen Jiu suffering at the hands of the Qiu.

All. 

   Because.

      Of. 

         Yue. 

             Qing.

                 Yuan.

If there was one thing Yue Qingyuan wanted to do before he died, it was- please save xiao jiu. he needs his qi-ge by his side, please- disappointing Xiao Jiu as always. His precious beautiful Xiao Jiu, he needs Yue Qingyuan to protect him. (What if he didn’t? Xiao Jiu didn’t need his Qi-ge?) Or else, or else- Yue Qingyuan wasn’t needed. Everything that Yue Qingyuan did was for Xiao Jiu, gorgeous, full of vitriol, and always so prideful. Xiao Jiu deserves the whole world, for Yue Qingyuan’s everything to be laid bare in front of Xiao Jiu-

Now, faced with his death. Yue Qing- no, Yue Qi, it was Yue Qi. He could do nothing but regret. Yue Qi was the source of Xiao Jiu’s pain and misery. Yue Qi was Xiao Jiu’s undoing as much as Xiao Jiu is to him.

As the last breath slipped out from his unwilling lungs, Yue Qi smiled, no more Yue Qingyuan, duties as Sect Head, and disappointing Xiao Jiu(his ray of light and reason to live.). Only the end…

And in another place-

Yue Qi wakes up.

Chapter Text

When LBH was given another chance to do everything all over again, he was torn between joy and disgruntlement. Joy, because he had another chance to do it all again (even torture his Shizun) and disgruntlement because he was once the supreme ruler of the three realms. And now he’s a useless twig with no power whatsoever, vulnerable and weak? 

Yeah, doesn’t it sound quite fun? 

…

Yeah, no.

Anyway back to the topic, he was planning on getting to Qing Jing peak again to be his Shizun’s disciple (and maybe probably make his Shizun maybe a tad bit more like that fake’s Shizun… ) theoretically, it could work. But execution? That was where the fates fucked him up sideways. (As if they didn’t do it enough already with his goddamn life being more akin to the most cliche theatre play that a struggling people pleaser, son-of-a-whore writer wrote than y’know, an actual life.)

During the fated disciple internship where you had to go through the harshest test of shovelling qi-filled soil to test your spiritual roots (how that worked, he didn’t know, but well, tradition is tradition he guessed?) a fight broke out beside him and he accidentally got roped into it and beat up both of the (maybe) disciples to be, that everything went south.

He got into Bai Zhan.

Accidentally.

No, he was not kidding about this.

He looked up at the impassive face of his new ‘Shizun’ Liu Qing Ge and tentatively smiled while vomiting blood mentally.

No, no, no, no- wait, Luo Bing He, calm yourself, you are the master of the three dimensions, successfully doing what was thought to be impossible. You can handle this, he told himself. 

Looking at the bright side, Bai Zhan was supposed to be a righteous peak, they wouldn’t stand for bullying, right? Not to mention this was his wife’s older brother who she spoke fondly of having an unbending sense of righteousness and was unparalleled on his swordsmanship (except maybe Yue Qing Yuan, that pest who Luo Bing He couldn’t even manage to defeat without using underhanded methods), maybe he can learn something from the War God? 

First things first, game plan, he needs to curry favour with his master to learn more in this second life, maybe check out the Qing Jing peak and somehow meet his ‘Shibo’ (that word on his tongue made him want to vomit, it was just- wrong.) Shen Qing Qiu.

All of the information he knew about Bai Zhan was: 

First, according to his wife Liu Ming Yan, Liu Qing Ge was a staple example of the perfect righteous cultivator. 

Second, Liu Qing Ge had the moniker of ‘God of War’ due to his skills in combat (that ultimately didn’t help him from dying in Shen Qing Qiu’s hands). 

Third, Bai Zhan was (in)famous for racking up quite a sum for damage for their furniture and medical supplies, which was fair in Luo Bing He’s point. It was, after all, a martial peak. Unlike Qing Jing who had their finances more invested in scrolls, paper, and ink.

Having his plans on what to do when arriving on the Bai Zhan peak, he was lead (on foot to boot!  Unlike how Luo Bing He was accepted on Qing Jing where he tagged along to a senior disciple’s sword) on a gruelling hike towards the Bai Zhan peak’s (supposed) location. 

The first thing Luo Bing He thought when they finally arrived at the entrance, after a seemingly infinite number of steps was that, He was royally fucked.

He was dehydrated, possibly dying due to the malnourished state of his young body, starving, filthy and dog tired. Not to mention that his plan on acting like a loveable, naive, and must be protected disciple was a failed mission from the start. Due to Liu Qing Ge’s stone face that even he, The Master of All Realms and Conquerer Supreme wasn’t able to read, Luo Bing He wasn’t able to pick a proper subject to talk to, not to mention the War God’s reaction to him acting like an excitable puppy…

Luo Bing He coughed slightly, making subtle signs that he definitely needed water to survive for the immortal. But his new ‘Shizun’ didn’t seem to take the hint or he just shrugged it off. Luo Bing He didn‘t know what was worst honestly. 

He expected more from the famed cultivator. It seemed that his wife was exaggerating a bit much. Letting out a sigh, he gave up on that endeavour and instead tried the innocent act his wives seem to love so much.

“I’m Luo Bing He!” the previous Xin Mo wielder chirped, not unlike a ray of sunbeam in its cheerfulness. 

He continued, “Shizun, I’m really happy that, you know, you chose me-” he stuttered. Cutely. He made sure to do so that he looked more like a bashful young child meeting their idol for the first time rather than a boot licker.

“Among all of the participants in the test, I hope I won’t disappoint y-” he was cut off by an unimpressed voice, one second too long that he realized that came from his ‘Shizun’.

“If you’ve got enough time to be blabbing about, you should keep up instead of lagging behind.” which, okay, rude, Luo Bing He’s legs were perfectly acceptable length, and he’s a growing child, of course, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with some centuries-old man when walking but when he was hiking? That was just impossible.

But those words successfully shut Luo Bing He up and all further future attempts at starting a conversation were halted with a deadpan look from his dear ‘Shizun’.

It seemed like the fates were trying their best to throw his plans into the rubbish with how much unlucky he’s gotten...

Chapter Text

Alright so y’all might be wondering why I popped back up like a weed, so after all the stuff that happened in my life while I was writing this story I got groomed by a co-creator in another fandom and after that thing I thought I would never write another fic in my life. If you know who I am, you’d know who that was but anyway I got into therapy and now I’m better! I have meds and everything.

I just re-read the comments people left me on the last chapter and I feel bad cause the readers never got closure. Sure, there were some not so nice comments on the bookmarks that made me spiral in a negative direction but I like to think that I can regulate my emotions better now that I had a looooot of time to settle. I know if I was a reader I would like closure on an old abandoned fic.

Anyway, expect to see this updated with mostly SJ my love content. I had lots of drafts that never saw the day and I’ll post them here.

Chapter Text

Opening his eyes the first thing that Shen Qing Qiu sees is a dilapidated ceiling, if it can even be called that. The ‘ceiling’ consisted of a roof made with hay, various holes and gaps that futilely tried to keep out rays of the oncoming sunrise.

Shen Qing Qiu pays it no heed. 

’So, I died huh.'

That was the single train of thought running through his head. Strangely enough, that statement doesn't elicit any emotional response in the immortal. Only apathy. He feels as though his head is submerged in water and his head is foggy with haze, not unlike the feeling of inhaling Canine plant fumes. 

Back to the topic, It was to be expected. After all, Shen Qingqiu knew that everything comes to an end. Just as he ended the Qiu's. The same will happen to him.

Letting out a sigh, Shen Qingqiu pushed himself to a sitting position. An analytical gaze sweeping across the room, picking everything apart.

Letting out a small soundless groan, Shen Qingqiu (or was it Shen Jiu now?) bemoaned his future.

He was back where he started.

With the Qiu's.

Shortly after Shen Jiu realized where he was, he quickly made preparations to dump this hellhole and hightail it out of here.

What about Qiu Haitang? Well, Shen Jiu never forgets his debts.

Not killing the Qiu this time around would be his payment to Qiu Haitang. Was he supposed to be guilty just leaving her in this wolf den?

The answer was ultimately:

No.

After all, Qiu Haitang needed to grow up and stop being that spoiled lady. She just needs a little wake-up call that the world is more unforgiving than it seems.

(Shen Jiu realized that shielding her from realizing what the real face of the Qiu's was a huge mistake on his part. He should have let her stand up on her own against the ugly truth, letting her toughen up on her own. 

He thinks about Ning Yingying and her naivety on how she always needed a crutch to help her… As sweet as that child was, she was spoiled rotten by him and forgot her position.

Ungrateful white-eyed wolf.)

Giving himself an imaginary deadline, specifically a week, Shen Jiu scampered off to speed up the process.

Figuring out that Shen Jiu make some preparations beforehand, Shen Jiu tentatively circled his qi, drawing a sliver of it from his dantian and was momentarily surprised at how… smoothly it flowed on his meridians .

Shen Jiu never really felt the difference of his ruined talent roots until he compared it to his untouched one.

Shen Jiu still had time to prepare, so for the next three days, he avoided the Qiu's The Qiu Patriarch, Qiu Haitang, Qiu Jianluo, and the servants.

He memorized the layout of the Qiu Manor, noting all the possible exits and entrances.

Along the way, he also gathered small knick-knacks that were easily overlooked if lost.

Holding needles (he pocketed from maids) of varying sizes the small reincarnator chose a relatively small needle, made for delicate work, and got started on his self-appointed task.

Inputting some qi into his eyes to help Shen Jiu see against the dim light of the small shack he was in, Shen Jiu scrutinized the small piece of metal. 

Using his index finger to carefully feel the needle's imperfection and dents. Finding the material satisfactory, Shen Jiu, with no hesitation pricked his finger. 

A bead of crimson on his digit immediately appeared, it looked black, like tar, under the dim lighting. Wasting no time, Shen Jiu inputted qi into the needle. 

Letting the bloodstained needle work was no small feat. The needle had no qi inducting materials whatsoever. But Shen Jiu was nothing but a genius, and ultimately, he managed to use it by repeated trial and error in the previous days. And thus, he was free to carve characters on a raggedy pouch, crafting a trash quality qiankun space, it wasn’t any bigger than a medium sized bag but for its purpose and the amount of items Shen Jiu had, it was sufficient.

Although crude, and a rogue cultivator he met on the Red Flower District in his last life could do better, Shen Jiu was satisfied with his work, especially since he used uncoordinated pudgy hands for this work.

Finally done with his tasks, Shen Jiu was done with his preparations. He was finally free to leave.

Freedom, here I come!

Slipping away under the cover of the night with only his meagre belongings, slave contract freshly disposed of, money (stolen from different family members of the Qiu) a knife (the best quality that Shen Jiu could find in their kitchens) and rations of food (once again, stolen from the kitchens), he was ready to go. 

He stored everything on his space pouches and was already standing on top of the roof, overlooking everything. It was probably in the middle of the time of the Ox, where everyone, including the night shift guards, was asleep. 

And with the drugs that Shen Jiu created from foraging for herbs in the woods and the skills he acquired while working under Wu Yanzi that he added to the food in the kitchen when no one was tending to the pot, Shen Jiu was sure that everyone was knocked out cold for the night.

Looking towards the whole compound, Shen Jiu felt… unsatisfied.

He spent his past life waiting around for Yue Qi that Xiao Jiu never really realized was that easy to escape.. Too scared to even take a step out, chained by a promise unfulfilled. 

Was he really just gonna let everything go? All that pain and suffering he received only for them to go free? he thought grimly. 

He didn’t want to kill them, that’s for sure. It would be an insult for him to dirty his hands with their tainted blood and especially since Shen Jiu’s time as Shen Qing Qiu he had killed better, and more worthy opponents with schemes and lies. 

But he was only a slave, some thing , in the present, he didn’t have the position of a peak lord or a scholar anymore and regarding his past life Shen Jiu figured it was the result of karma. Better let bygones be bygones, he repaid his sins by blood through the Little Miss Qiu and vice versa. Taking any more action would be going too far. And considering the Qiu’s crooked beam, it was impossible for them to remain clean for so long.

Shen Jiu might not be a believer to any god but he sure respected the karmic balance.

Now the final piece for a clean cut, an end through fire.

Using a small flare of his qi he set a small kindling on fire watching it crawl along the wooden walls of his wooden shed, like a dragon’s tongue drawing a path of soot and ash on its way. In some way it felt freeing, a mocking facsimile of the burning of the Qiu estate. 

Shen Jiu didn’t know if it was due to his proximity to the heat but he swore he saw a figure in the middle of the fire. Blinking, Shen Jiu dropped his gaze and didn’t stick around for too long.

When the guards came to see the remains of the fire, they could never identify the cause of the fire but the only casualty was a slave and nothing worth mentioning. The young miss was furious for a few days from losing her plaything but was easily distracted by another toy.