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Chapter Text

Maybe Yue Qingyuan should have noticed sooner. With Shen Jiu’s improving mood and the small talks that would end so peacefully, Yue Qingyuan foolishly thought Xiao Jiu was only being able to let his full anger out on the demons he fought on the missions he asked to take, letting himself be happier.

He did let himself be happy.

With another man.

Yue Qingyuan shuts his eyes closed as the image of Xiao Jiu looking so fondly at a man as said man, with eyes that look at Xiao JIu with so much love and adoration, gives him tanghulu. Xiao Jiu had been wearing plain clothes and wore a light green veil but Yue Qingyuan could never mistake those green eyes for anyone else’s but Xiao Jiu.

He had only left for town to get some fresh air and out of the mountain because Han Ruoning, his head disciple, was worried about his Shizun being holed up in his office doing paperwork and reading letters from towns and other sects for three weeks straight so he chided and persuaded Yue Qingyuan to take a small break as he delivered the paperwork to An Ding.

“Here’s your sweet, my sweet.” 

Yue Qingyuan who had been shuffling around some of the stalls first chuckled at the loud voice that spoke it until he heard the voice that replied, though muffled as it is. Yue Qingyuan knew that it was Xiao Jiu that had replied.

“Baohe, you only bought one?” 

Yue Qingyuan froze, blood rushing in his ears as he tries to so discreetly turn to source of the voices to see Xiao JIu in green commoner clothes, the half of his face covered by a light green veil, standing closely with a man, broad and tall wearing dark blue clothes. 

But that’s not the only thing that caught his eye. No.

“Baobei needn’t worry, there’s still some more tanghulu that Huamei made back at the room. But of course, I would still buy some more for you if you want.”

It was the way they stood so closely to one another as the unknown man offered the stick of tanghulu to Xiao JIu with such a charming smile on his face whilst he spoke, and Xiao Jiu’s eyes turning into crescents as he looked up at the man and listened to the answer to his question.with a small chuckle.

Yue Qingyuan even heard some of the merchants nearby cooing at the scene.

“How sweet! Time sure flies, doesn’t it? I still remember the first time that man bought my most beautiful fans for his heart!”

“Ahh my heart! I still remember seeing the veiled one, Bai JIu I think, use that fan!”

“No kidding! Bai Jiu’s suitor asked me for advice in carving little statues so he could make gifts for his beloved!”

“Bai Jiu even asked me to make a custom-made robe for that man!”

“Oh, stop referring to him like that! I heard his name is Bai Baohe.”

Yue Qingyuan didn’t know what to feel. He feels like there’s something lodged in his throat, like he can’t breathe, and his tongue is tied. His grip on a jade paperweight tightened until his knuckles turned white.

He exhaled, it felt difficult to breathe, why is it so hard? He carefully released the jade paperweight and placed it back on the stall, forcing himself to take his eyes off the retreating backs of the pair, the man’s eyes not once straying from Xiao Jiu as they walked away.

Yue Qingyuan forces himself back into the present. He’s sitting in front of his desk, and on top of it are papers, letters, and a small cup of tea Han Ruoning gave him— crushed petals of some flowers and tea leaves — but that’s not what his eyes are on.

It’s the messily written letter with demonic qi emanating from its seal and paper and the words on it.

The Qing Jing Peak Lord, Shen QIngqiu’s, hand in marriage in exchange for a truce and my demons shall be controlled. He shall be wed to none other than I, the Eastern Demon Lord, Shu Dongjun.

Should you deny this, Cang Qiong, this venerable one will let his demonic subjects run loose in the borders of your lands.

Yue Qingyuan’s eyes flicker at the words, the sentences not registering in his mind.

A meeting. He has to call an emergency meeting. 

So, he sent a letter for an emergency meeting in three days for every peak lord. 

Xiao Jiu didn't take the news well but kept an icy facade, his eyes throwing daggers into the circular table as the others argued.

Yue Qingyuan keeps his mouth closed but his eyes are on Xiao Jiu, no doubt his face showed concern and worry for the younger as Xiao Jiu’s face contorted into a scowl.

“Give me a week to decide.” Xiao Jiu spits and before anyone could even say anything, before Yue Qingyuan could even say anything, he stood up and left in a hurried yet elegant stride. Robes flutter at the hurried pace and Xiao Jiu slips out of the room.

Yue Qingyuan remains frozen in his seat, his eyes turning to look at the letter, still messy but very real. It's no fake, not a stranger trying to mess with the Cang Qiong Sect. The azure seal is an obvious sign that it was legit.

At the start, many didn't believe it was a real letter from the Eastern Demon Lord, Shu Dongjun. But Yue Qingyuan points out the seal, a unique azure blue and the symbol on it.

It wasn't very often for Yue Qingyuan to receive letters from any demons but to receive one like this…

Qi Qingqi was commendable to the idea of the demon as well as some others, and shockingly enough, it was Shang Qinghua who had refused to allow Xiao Jiu to be married off to the Eastern Demon Lord.

All while this was happening, Xiao Jiu had been staring at the letter with a strained glare and anger. He doesn't lash out, only spitting out insults and biting words at the others.

…

Yue Qingyuan eyes the fan on his desk that Xiao Jiu dropped in his haste. It wasn't like the other fans Yue Qingyuan had seen Xiao Jiu use during the meetings, a light blue fan with the dark green guard of the fan having ‘Shen Jiu’ engraved on its wooden surface.

Han Ruoning had returned it to him, Qiong Ding's head disciple being far too shy to pursue his shushu to return the beautiful fan. 

He should give it back.

Yue Qingyuan stood up from his position, the fan in his hand and left wordlessly.

Passing his head disciple and only giving the young man a wave and a nod as he bowed. The boy is probably on his way to tell Yue Qingyuan that he's going back to the dorms since it's dark.

It felt like a blur to Yue Qingyuan as he hopped onto his sword and made his way to Xiao Jiu's peak.

Qing Jing’s halls are empty of disciples as they all may have gone to rest after a long day.

But

Yue Qingyuan sees the faint glow in one of Xiao Jiu's windows at the bamboo house. A flickering of a candle.

He approaches slowly. Nearing the slightly open window and he sees a figure…

Two figures.

Yue Qingyuan feels cold as he peeks into the room from the slightly opened window.

He feels his heart almost stops at the sight that greets him.

Xiao Jiu seated on the edge of his bed, the man, Bai Baohe— right that's his name—, rests his head on Xiao Jiu's lap as he softly weeps. Yue Qingyuan catches the choked apologies stumbling out of the weeping man's mouth.

Xiao Jiu didn't look any better, the candlelight helping Yue Qingyuan see the red rimmed eyes of Xiao Jiu. His eyes glassy yet still looking at the man sadly as he pets and smooth out Bai Baohe's untied hair, trying to soothe the weeping man on his lap.

He feels pained to see this.

Yue Qingyuan takes a step back. And another.

And another.

Until he's running back to Qiong Ding, the fan in his white knuckled grip as he is unable to give it back to his Xiao Jiu.

He'll give it back. When Xiao Jiu makes his choice. Yue Qingyuan will give the fan back.

When Xiao Jiu asked for a meeting to be called, Yue Qingyuan immediately knew as they all gathered.

He made his choice. And Yue Qingyuan didn't expect it.

“I have made my choice. I will marry the demon.”

Yue Qingyuan’s eyes widen as he stares at Xiao Jiu who looks back with a sharp glare and a scowl.

The whole room is silent. The tension is high, but Xiao Jiu continues on.

“That demon… Will be my husband, I accept it.” Xiao Jiu repeats and continues. “This will be beneficial to the sect as well as the borders of our territory. That demon stated in the letter that he will help keep his minions in check as well as help exterminate and scare off demons of other clans.”

“Shen Qingqiu…” Qi Qingqi starts but trails off with a shocked expression.

Liu Qingge and Shang Qinghua openly gaping at the statement.

Mu Qingfang and Wei Qingwei watched with shocked and wide eyes.

Yue Qingyuan remains frozen in his seat.

“If that's all, I will be preparing to meet with that demon and his generals. I have already sent a letter.” Shen Qingqiu didn't even give any of them any chance to speak as he stood up and left, his eyes remaining cold and sharp after looking over his martial brothers. 

Everything goes to chaos from there.

Yue Qingyuan doesn't even register much. His eyes staring off as he holds the letter in his hands, Xiao Jiu's fan on his desk, untouched and still not yet returned to its rightful owner.

He will be the one to be in the place of Xiao Jiu's parents. Who else but him? He's the closest thing to family Xiao Jiu has but… Does he deserve to be called family by Xiao Jiu?

The letter in his hands is unimportant, something about needing more funds. It's just the same old man that wants more money for himself, Yue Qingyuan already knows.

He'll have to find some fitting wedding robes for Xiao Jiu.

“Shizun.” 

Han Ruoning calls outside and knocks on Yue Qingyuan's door. Yue Qingyuan shook himself out of his daze and called the young man inside.

“Shizun, another letter came and this package as well. Wu-shidi received it from the same flying beast.” Han Ruoning says as he enters holding a slightly big wooden box in his hands as he opens the door with a little struggle.

On top of the wooden box was a letter, the outside is much neater and a bit more presentable than last time.

“Disciple Han can put it down next to my desk. Can you hand me the letter?” Yue Qingyuan asks as he folds the letter in his hands and puts it back on his desk, Han Ruoning placing the wooden box next to Yue Qingyuan's desk with care and handing the letter that is laid on top of it.

“Here it is, Shizun. This disciple will be heading back to the training grounds to monitor his shidis and shimeis.” Han Ruoning nods and bows before leaving Yue Qingyuan alone with the letter in his hand.

Yue Qingyuan pauses to glance at the bright azure seal on the letter, no doubt it's really from that demon lord. He opens it and begins to read.

Sect Leader Yue,

This lord hopes you find my letter well. I hadn't known that the beast had been so filthy when he delivered my first letter, it doesn't matter anymore this lord has sent his betrothed his wedding garbs. No doubt it would fit him well, have it sent to him. My betrothed will be wearing the robes my mother wore on her wedding, see if it may fit him. If it doesn't fit, I'll simply have my seamstress make one for him, robes that are more beautiful than my mother's ancestral wedding garbs.

Sincerely (not really), Esteemed Eastern Lord of Demons, Shu Dongjun

Yue Qingyuan blinks. He blinks again.

The demon lord sent wedding robes. Not only that.

That demon lord sent the ancestral wedding robes of his mother to Qiong Ding to see if it fits Xiao Jiu.

He closes it. Folding the letter back and putting it back on top of the wooden box, the box where the wedding garbs are inside.

Han Ruoning returns at the perfect timing, Yue Qingyuan thinks when he hears the knock on his door.

“Come in.” He says and feels surprised when he saw the young boy and girl that came with Han Ruoning, they both looked displeased and sad. Yue Qingyuan can recognize those two anywhere, Ning Yingying is Xiao Jiu's favorite disciple and Luo Binghe being the total opposite, being Xiao Jiu's most despised disciple.

“Is something the matter?” Yue Qingyuan asks as the three disciples bow in greeting.

“Yue-Shibo! Please stop the wedding!” Ning Yingying begs and the two fall to their knees and kowtow to Yue Qingyuan, he feels his heart clench at the sight of the two children begin to weep.

“These disciples beg shishu to help stop the wedding!” Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying echoes, loud and clear. Han Ruoning has an unsure expression on his face, hesitant as he looked to Yue Qingyuan, his Shizun, if he should let these two continue.

“Yue-Shibo!” They both yell as they kowtow to Yue Qingyuan before someone enters the office, this time Ming Fan, Xiao Jiu's head disciple, looking furious at the sight of his shidi and shimei. After bowing to Yue Qingyuan in greeting, he turns to his two younger martial siblings with fire in his eyes.

“Stop your groveling! Shizun has chosen! You will not go against Shizun's choice!” Ming Fan scolded before turning to Yue Qingyuan, Yue Qingyuan almost winced at the anger in the young man's voice. “Zhangmen-Shibo, please forgive this disciple's shidi and shimei. They are still young and are unaware of their actions.”

“Shizun, I'll lead them out for you.” Han Ruoning speaks up and nods to the other head disciple which Ming Fan returns with another nod of acknowledgement before grabbing the two younger disciples by the back of their collar and pulling them up from their kneeling forms.

“Please do.” Yue Qingyuan nods reluctantly, which Han Ruoning, without a doubt, notices, and pauses before adding. “Bring this package and letter to your Shishu as well, Disciple Ming. It is meant for him… From Shu Dongjun.”

“Ah… This disciple will deliver it to Shen-Shishu later on after leading my juniors out.” Han Ruoning nods and bows.

Yue Qingyuan watches his door close as the four disciples disappear behind it with distant eyes.

Chapter Text

Bai Baohe slams his head into his desk when he first remembers how he had written the proposal in an angry drunken rage, right on the garden floor. He had been drinking with his Huamei, his sweet meimei, as a celebration for her finally finishing her trials and proving herself as part of the Shu clan after unsealing her demonic powers.

It was until Shu Jiehua began ranting about how unfairly the other Peak Lords had been treating her Jiu-ge, her drunken voice growing in agitation and anger as Bai Baohe began to listen intently.

He wasn't blind to it either, with Shen Jiu tending to having a busy schedule of finding higher quality herbs for his disciples and teaching the little troublemakers, with the exception of head disciple brat apparently, Bai Baohe tended to visit Shen Jiu instead and telling his Baobei’s jiejies how he's faring in his Peak. 

Shen Jiu is being sent lower quality herbs and the treatment to him and his disciples are getting worse as weeks pass.

The brat Shen Jiu dislikes runs into him often and Bai Baohe just ignores the brat as the boy glares at him, if the brat does that often enough it will definitely ruin his innocent look. Bai Baohe was almost fooled, he should probably tell his baobei that the brat is half-demon.

The girl, Yingying, also often glares at him after their first (unfortunate) meeting with Baohe hogging all of Shen Jiu's attention while the jealous little girl pouts and glared holes at the smug man. Not like his baobei could even spare a glance at the kid, Shen Jiu was practically sitting on his lap while eating the sweets delivered by Baohe from the jiejies. Besides, the kid wasn't even allowed in that part of the bamboo forest so she had to keep herself hidden behind one of the bamboo.

Back to the point. Drunk Bai Baohe of the past was mad. Really mad. And so was Shu Jiehua.

So they both began to think up ideas. Kidnapping is immediately out of the question, Bai Baohe refuses to do something like that to his baobei and Shu Jiehua shudders at the idea. Being in a drunken haze, the two siblings thought up a storm of ideas.

Second idea had Bai Baohe reveal himself glamorously while introducing himself to Shen Jiu's martial family then sweeping his beloved off his feet and running away to the East, to his palace and introducing the peak lord to his mother and her harem officially.

Then there was also marriage disguised as a peace treaty of sorts. It was agreed by the two idiotic drunks immediately.

So when Bai Baohe got some paper, he got on the ground and began to write. His writing is messily done unlike when he's sober.

Strangely enough, he can write a decent enough letter despite being drunk and soon sent it to Cang Qiong. The azure seal on the letter is enough proof that it's really from him.

Going to bed, Bai Baohe didn't know what he did would result in the most shameful realization of what he just did to his beloved.

That morning had been the worst time he and his meimei had ever had. They both cursed their drunken selves.

“Gege, you should tell him. If- If you trust that he'll be fine with it…” Shu Jiehua brings up while she sheathed her training sword, Bai Baohe doing the same with his sword. “I mean, Jiu-ge is understanding, a bit sharp around the edges, sure. But still.”

They had just finished training. And there's that Bai Baohe has a free schedule for today but Shu Jiehua still has to return to the pit for more training from one of A-Niang's wives, one of the wives that volunteered to help the young woman flourish and care for her talent.

“Huamei, I know that.” Bai Baohe brings an arm around his sister's shoulders and brings her into a half hug as they walk to the palace to eat lunch. “But I worry how he'll take it. Would he think I have done it all for this? This might be too fast. I admit I wanted to propose to him every single time he gave me this smile of his, all happy and content, but this…”

“Da-ge, please. It's better for him to know it's you.” Shu Jiehua clicks her tongue at the sappiness of her gege's tone and jokingly pushes Bai Baohe away with a smirk. “You practically learned how to make sweets the first few weeks when you found out Jiu-ge likes sweets. Now you can make sweets without even having to take a peek at the recipe book that rogue cultivator gave you.”

“What if he hates me? For lying to him? For being, well… You know.” Bai Baohe motioned to the mark on his forehead, he can't believe he's acting like this to his meimei but he can't help it, imagining his beloved’s small yet content smile replaced with a cold and sharp expression, a betrayed and saddened look in those beautiful green eyes.

“Gege. Jiu-ge is more accepting, remember? You both helped the demon child escape the slavers while I was with you!” Shu Jiehua sharply reminds him, her smirk dropping into a frown, stopping her steps to give Baohe a glare. “Tell Jiu-ge that you're Shu Dongjun. We both already know about what's in the stupid supposed treaty and its benefits to Cang Qiong, Jiu-ge is going to accept it!”

“... What do you mean?” 

“Jiu-ge… You still remember our talk when we were drunk?”

Baohe nods at his meimei as she begins to pace.

“Jiu-ge is always treated so poorly within the cultivation world and the human world, with the exception of the jiejies and some select few others. But only that. If Jiu-ge does accept the proposal, we can have him live with us after you're both married happily and away from those people-”

“You expect him to be more willing to be my bride if he finds out it's me he's marrying?”

“Don’t cut me off, let me continue. As I was saying, Jiu-ge can stay in your palace. Not only will he receive the best treatment he always deserves, his beloved sect will also benefit from the marriage and the treaty. We both know Jiu-ge, how loyal he is to that sect, he'll accept. But he only knows that the man he is marrying is a demon lord, not you. Tell him how we both messed up and the reasons why you did it. You can ask him if he accepts the proposal or not after it.”

“...”

It ended like that. They both stared at each other before selectively choosing to continue their walk to the dining hall and eat in pure silence.

But in the end, Bai Baohe did eventually leave the palace two days later. Shu Jiehua nailing into Bai Baohe's head to be ready if his love won't take the reveal well despite already knowing that Bai Baohe will never do anything reckless as long as it involves her Jiu-ge.

I

t's dark, Bai Baohe had just sneaked in after Shen Jiu finished up in grading his disciple brats' poems and the essays he had assigned them to make. The sweets he made is immediately placed on the small table in Shen Jiu's room, plating it and giving his Baobei the sticks of tanghulu he made.

“Baobei. I need to tell you something.” Bai Baohe starts, his hand staying firmly on his lap. He's not blind to see Shen Jiu acting off. “You… Received a proposal, yes?”

Shen Jiu froze but he recovered quickly, his mouth stopping mid chewing to snap his head up and look wide-eyed at Bai Baohe.

He feels guilt but Shen Jiu is his love, Bai Baohe refuses to let his Baobei get hurt more. So he continues.

“Baobei… I-”

“How did you know?” Shen Jiu cuts in, putting down the plate back to the side of the bed where he sat. His eyes look unsure, but there is also something in his gaze that Bai Baohe can't put a finger on.

“Will Jiu-er believe me if I say that I was the one who sent the letter?”

“...”

“Baobei, please understand that I didn't mean to send it— I was drunk! If I had meant to propose to you in any other way, I would have done so properly-”

“Explain.”

Bai Baohe can see the hurt in Shen Jiu's eyes that avoided his gaze, shifting it to the table where he sat in front of. It makes his fist clench to see it, angry at his mistake that caused his Jiu-er to feel this way.

“Baobei, I'm Shu Dongjun, formerly named Shu Weiyu.” Bai Baohe bows his head in front of his beloved and sheds his human disguise, his body shaping back into the towering and lean form of the demon lord and the dark blue mark on his forehead is revealed, glowing faintly in the candlelit room.

“...” 

Bai Baohe can't raise his head, afraid to see the expression on Shen Jiu's face but he continues as he keeps his head bowed. His lip trembling as he starts to speak once more, his hand moving to his chest as if to calm the thunderous beating of his heart.

“But I am also Bai Baohe, that is the name I had given myself in finding my sister. And not only had I found her, I found you.” 

“Was it all a farce?” It was cutting how Shen Jiu spat the question out, bitter and sad. Yet angry as well.

Bai Baohe's head snapped up in shock, his eyes widening at the pain and anger in the green eyes of his beloved.

“What?” He asks without thinking and Shen Jiu's pained and betrayed gaze meet him, it makes his heart nearly burst at the sight. It hurts to see Shen Jiu like this.

“Did- did you only court me to do this? To have Cang Qiong on your side?” Shen Jiu averts his eyes from Bai Baohe's seated form on the floor and stares at his lap where his hands are tightly clasped together.

“What!? No, no! Absolutely not!”

Baohe stands abruptly, faltering when he sees his beloved flinch and stubbornly keep his eyes from meeting with Baohe's.

“Baobei…” Baohe starts gently, his eyes tearing up at the sight of pain in the green eyes of the man he loves. “I wouldn’t tell a lie, not to hurt you purposefully. I never wanted a treaty with your sect!”

“Then why?”

“Because I wanted you to come with me, to my palace where you will be treated better than here! Because my sister and I never want to see you overworking yourself so hard because your martial siblings never help you and they treat you like shit!” As every word was uttered, Bai Baohe took a step closer to Shen Jiu. Closer and closer until he's in front of his beloved.

“...” Shen Jiu keeps quiet, he can't retaliate to that. Not when it's true, the herbs Mu Qingfang has been sending his peak are getting lower in quality and the swords Wei Qingwei is sending his peak are no different, duller and low in qi.

“Jiu-er, when I wrote that letter, A-Hua had supported the idea but we were idiots not to realize that it would lead to this. I'm sorry for causing you such worry, Jiu-er…” 

He's crying now, his hands moving to hold the white knuckled hands of his beloved, bringing it up to his face and pressing his lips gently to the closed fist of the human he loves. Bending down slightly to kiss Shen Jiu's closed fist before trying to seek his beloved's gaze.

He starts to speak once more, holding his Baobei's hands ever so gently.

“My sister and I had been celebrating her victory in the trials our Mother had given her to prove herself to be part of the Shu clan. We were drinking. The state of the letter, if you saw it, makes it clear that I didn't make enough effort in making it, but I hope I wrote it well enough to understand.”

He continues, Bai Baohe rubs his thumbs across the knuckles of his beloved's fist. His eyes closed and he felt the small fire of anger in his chest as he resumed his rant of an explanation.

“We were angry, we both wanted to get you away from the baseless rumors, this sect you call your martial family. I was brash and wasn't able to think straight. I wanted to have you and my other family meet, I wanted to have my mother spoil you like she does with Huamei’s beloved. I'm a selfish man, a demon. I'm sorry, baobei…”

Slowly, Bai Baohe knelt in front of his beloved with his hands gently holding the relaxing fists of his baobei. Tears now flowing endlessly down his cheeks, Bai Baohe couldn't help but start to choke out one apology after another. Shen Jiu, his darling beloved, is crying now. 

That just worsened Bai Baohe and made the demon cry harder.

He feels his love's hands leave his hold and instead moves to pull the demon onto his lap, having Bai Baohe rest his head on Shen Jiu's lap as the demon sobs. Bai Baohe burying his head on the lap of the man he loves most.

Now, the slender hand is on his head. Petting him and sometimes combing through the long strands of Bai Baohe's hair, trying to calm him down and comfort him. 

It took a long hour for Bai Baohe to calm his sobbing and apologizing, turning into small hiccups and whines as Shen Jiu kept petting him. Bai Baohe's hands are gripping the ends of Shen Jiu's robes like a lifeline even as he calms.

They don't talk but Bai Baohe understands what he has to do. Shen Jiu has not voiced his rejection but he also hasn't voiced his forgiveness. So Bai Baohe will work for it and Bai Baohe is happy that Shen Jiu is giving him a second chance in proving himself.

Bai Baohe lifts his head and looks at Shen Jiu's red rimmed eyes, it made him falter only a bit before moving his hands to hold his beloved's that patted his head.

“I will work for your forgiveness, baobei. I am determined to win back your trust and I will do so with all my heart.” Bai Baohe declares softly and kissed the open palm of his beloved.

“I ask for your trust, baobei, though I am undeserving for causing you such pain. I will do my very best to earn your trust.”

Bai Baohe whispers, his eyes fixated on the relaxed fingers of his beloved, so slender and pale. He pressed his lips to the fingers of his beloved before lifting his head from Shen Jiu's lap and moving away to stand.

“Trust my determination and my tenacity, baobei. With blood and tears I will redeem myself in your eyes.”