shanhailu

[shanhailu]

the long awaited huanglan romance arc! this is kind of long, clocking in at 7454 words. hope it's an enjoyable ride ☆⌒(>。<)

For several long, agonizing months, Huang Yuanfei had been nursing a budding attraction to Yue Qinglan. He did not have a solid idea as to when or how these feelings began to take root–perhaps they had slowly crept in, steadily burrowing into his heart. Perhaps it was inevitable. The two of them were very good friends, after all, and when one spends a significant portion of their life with very few friends, then forming such an attachment is not so surprising.

The agony, then, came from fear of upsetting the current balance. Their friendship had a comfortable and easy quality to it. Often, Huang Yuanfei found himself leaning on Yue Qinglan in a way that he didn’t with anyone else, save for Jiang Yinglian. Initially the feeling was troubling–he was unaccustomed to relying on someone else to this degree–but eventually he found that having a trustworthy companion by his side was a very welcome change. It felt good to know that there was always someone he could trust and come back to.

Perhaps if the object of his affection were someone else, he would not have this dilemma. He knew that this stalemate benefitted no one. However, a not-insignificant part of him desperately, foolishly wished that he didn’t have to endure this dance, that he could use implication as he always did. But that was impossible. The only choices he had were to keep silent or to be honest. The latter, he decided, was better.

Devising the best method of confession proved to be much more difficult than he had anticipated. There were multiple factors to take into account: the location, the weather, the time, what he would say and how he would say it. To ensure that everything was as auspicious and favourable as possible, he bit down his pride and sought counsel from all the trusted sources he could find. He even reached into the back crevices of his memory for divination knowledge tucked away long ago. 

After several sleepless nights, he decided to finally make his first move. Everything had been meticulously arranged. In the morning, he would ask Yue Qinglan if he had any plans for the day and subtly steer him towards herb picking, an activity that gave them space together, and that Yue Qinglan enjoyed. Once they had arrived, they would gather herbs for some time and slowly ease into the motions; it was crucial that there was no rush. Then they would go to a particular spot–he had been sure to choose somewhere appropriately scenic–where he would profess his love with grandeur. It was the perfect plan. 

But despite his plans, he still felt a terrible, potent mix of anxiety, apprehension, and dread. It was a poison that seeped into his bones and refused to let go. He despised this fear–it made him feel powerless, something he hadn’t been in a very long time. No matter what, he could not hope to control the outcome. Of course, he did not want that control, but the feeling remained. He could only hope for the best. 

That night, when he went to bed, he hoped it would be the last time he would go without sleep for a long while.

He found Yue Qinglan writing in his study. He was perched on a zhizhong in a half kneeling, half sitting position. All was tranquil and still; the only sounds were birdsong just outside the window and the occasional shuffle of paper. Soft, midmorning sunlight filled the study with a comfortable warmth. Trees rustled quietly outside, casting dappled shadows that danced around the desk. Huang Yuanfei watched from the doorway, the door slightly ajar, as Yue Qinglan started a new line of characters; each stroke was put to the paper in one fluid motion, like flowing water. He watched Yue Qinglan’s expression–he looked so relaxed, and the pale morning sun cast him a glowing aura that made him appear unearthly. He almost lost his nerve then, but he forced himself to blaze ahead.

He knocked lightly on the door. “A-Lan, may I come in?”

“Hm?” There was a pause–Yue Qinglan had likely set his brush down–before he answered, “Please enter.”

Huang Yuanfei composed himself, pushed the door open, and sauntered in. He unfolded his fan and started slowly wafting it back and forth, in the hopes that it would help him appear more casual. He walked over to Yue Qinglan’s desk and sat down, legs crossed, on the opposite side so that they faced each other. Then, still fanning himself with his right hand, Huang Yuanfei leaned forward and propped his cheek on his left.

“A-Lan, what are you doing?” he asked cheerfully.

Yue Qinglan picked up his brush again. “Practicing calligraphy.”

“What are you writing this time?”

“A poem I had read long ago and recently rediscovered. It’s a short piece written by a former civil official who had been banished to a peripheral province. The subject is his pet cat.” 

Huang Yuanfei laughed. “It’s just like you to choose this sort of poem. Feels like your style.” He gestured to the characters on the paper. “Do you have a favourite part?”

Yue Qinglan made a humming noise. “There isn’t a specific passage or line that stands out. The entire poem interests me. The many emotions packed in such a sparse number of lines is quite poignant. In the beginning there is sorrow, where the official laments his exile; in the middle is surprise upon finding the cat; and at the end is a growing fondness between owner and pet.” He smiled, then added, “You know, it somewhat reminds me of us.”

“I presume that I am the cat, then?”

“You do act remarkably similar to one.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” 

Yue Qinglan’s smile grew. He asked knowingly, “Was there something else? You look like you have more to say.”

As expected of his partner. They could read each other so well at this point that it was a wonder Huang Yuanfei’s feelings hadn’t been discovered yet. He wasn’t sure whether this was a blessing in disguise or a cruel trick the universe was playing on him.

He returned the smile. “I was wondering if you had any plans for today.”

“I don’t. Does A-Fei have something in mind?”

“Perhaps. You mentioned that you needed to replenish your supplies a little bit ago.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Yue Qinglan raised an eyebrow. “But what’s with the sudden interest? You usually don’t like coming with me on these trips.”

“Well, maybe I’m just bored enough.”

“If you’re so bored, why don’t we leave now?” Yue Qinglan rose to his feet and walked out from behind his desk. “I wouldn’t want you scratching the furniture while I’m gone.”

Huang Yuanfei snapped his fan shut and put a hand to his chest in mock indignation. “I’ll have you know that I am a very well behaved cat.”

“That you are. Come on, let’s go.”

The cool mountain air washed over the pair in refreshing waves. As they walked through the lush grass, only a light breeze accompanied them. Plump white clouds shaded them from the sun; while their current altitude was relatively high, it was just low enough for cloud cover. The mountain offered a different sort of tranquil–here, secluded from the rest of the world, nothing could disturb them. Huang Yuanfei was starting to understand and appreciate the appeal of these trips. The companionable silence was relaxing.

Presently they were looking for ginseng, an ingredient that was used up very quickly due to both its culinary and medicinal uses. The wild variation typically grew on higher mountains in deep, soft, well-drained soil. Leafy green shoots differentiated the ginseng from the grass. Harvesting the root was a simple matter of taking the leafy section and gently wiggling it out from the earth. Each of them had a small basket to contain the gathered ginseng. Huang Yuanfei kept a careful eye on both their path and the content of the baskets–he needed to make sure that their baskets still had room before arriving at his chosen spot.

He glanced at Yue Qinglan, who was scanning the ground for leafy shoots nearby. He stopped looking for his own ginseng to study the minutiae of Yue Qinglan’s profile: first, his serene expression, which greatly resembled the countenances of scholars in paintings; the way his eyebrows lifted slightly upon finding the right herb; how his eyes narrowed in concentration while digging out the root; and finally his lips–but Huang Yuanfei didn’t let his gaze linger for very long before he looked away.

“A-Fei, I think we’ve gathered all the ginseng in the area,” Yue Qinglan called. “We can head home now.”

“Aiya, A-Lan, don’t be so hasty!” Huang Yuanfei lifted up his basket and gestured to it. “Our baskets still have room; I know where we can find more.”

He took off without another word, leaving Yue Qinglan with no choice but to follow. Their path led them higher up, winding from the quiet, clear field to a giant waterfall that crashed and roared with a ferocious intensity. They ducked under and behind the waterfall to a short passageway that opened up to a small earthen platform with a wooden fence overlooking a sea of treetops and mist. Huang Yuanfei stopped just before the platform’s edge, turned around to face Yue Qinglan, and beckoned for him to come closer. 

“We’ll travel the rest of the way on cloud,” he said.

He climbed the little fence, stood on top, then casually stepped off it. For one exhilarating moment, he let himself fall before forming a cloud and ascending, breaking through the mist as he did so. Yue Qinglan came up next to him, eyebrow raised and hands folded in his sleeves. His eyes crinkled in amusement.

“Where are we going, exactly? This must be some high quality ginseng.”

“The very best.”

Steadily they rose until they reached Huang Yuanfei’s chosen summit. Huang Yuanfei landed first; he looked back to check that Yue Qinglan hadn’t fallen behind before continuing onwards. A short climb took them to the very top of the mountain. When they emerged from the stone confines of their path, they were greeted by a brilliant forest–smaller pillars of rock poked out of the clouds and mist like elegant towers. In the distance were a few more mountains, surrounding the spires in a formation similar to a ring. 

Above, the sun blazed with red light, tinting the clouds a joyful orange. A wizened ginkgo tree with golden leaves swayed slowly in the wind. Huang Yuanfei went to stand underneath it and pretended to search the area for ginseng. Yue Qinglan joined him under the tree. Huang Yuanfei kept up the charade for a little longer before straightening up and getting Yue Qinglan’s attention.

“A-Lan,” he started, “I have something very important to tell you.”

Yue Qinglan straightened up as well. “What is it, A-Fei?”

But the confession died on the tip of his tongue. As he stood there, watching the golden leaves fall around Yue Qinglan, he found that his courage had fled him. His throat closed with nervousness. The silence stretched on, until at last Huang Yuanfei couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke.

“...There isn’t any ginseng here. I misremembered.”

Yue Qinglan blinked. “Oh. Then shall we head home?”

Huang Yuanfei inclined his head. “Yes. Let us depart.”

He tried to tamp down his embarrassment, frustration, and disappointment. All of his careful planning had gone to waste because he had let his anxiety get the better of him. 

But he didn’t despair; there would be other opportunities. Courtship took time, after all, and he had all the time in the world.

◈◈◈

Thunder rumbled overhead. Sparks of lightning split the sky into a thousand flashing fragments, then resealed the cracks as quickly as they had been formed. Rain crashed down to the earth in fat drops that splattered on impact. The wind howled relentlessly.

Yue Qinglan and Huang Yuanfei huddled under an umbrella together as they braved the storm, looking for shelter. The umbrella did little to shield them from the piercing rain and biting wind; the pair were already drenched to the bone. Huang Yuanfei tried and failed to suppress a shiver. He had never fared well in the cold. The rain didn't help–it drove through his clothes, pelting his skin with merciless fury. His hair, once light and silky, had become a dead weight. He knew he looked wretched and despised it. The sooner they could get out of this damned rain, the better.

The storm had caught them by surprise. They had been tracking a weasel spirit when the torrential downpour started, forcing them to abandon their pursuit. No doubt the weasel spirit had escaped long ago, a fact that only frustrated Huang Yuanfei more. He glowered at their surroundings as he searched for something that could serve as shelter. Beside him, he felt Yue Qinglan’s arm shift as the umbrella moved. Yue Qinglan pointed at something in the distance with his free hand.

“A-Fei, look over there. I think that’s a house.”

He squinted. Ahead of them was a solitary building–it looked miserable and abandoned, ready to fall apart in the fierce winds. The thin roof seemed to barely keep the rain at bay, while the windows were on the verge of flying off. But they had no other choice; it was the only refuge from the storm.

“It’ll have to do,” he said glumly. 

The abandoned house’s interior was cramped but surprisingly dry. Although the walls, roof, and windows rattled the way coughs wracked a dying man’s chest, they stood their ground. Near the entrance, at the opposite wall, was one bed that looked barely able to fit one person. A dining table large enough to seat approximately three people was set against the wall with the door. In the back, behind the common area, was a kitchen. The stove still had some old kindling, which Huang Yuanfei set ablaze with a snap of his fingers. He promptly sat down and began wringing out his hair. Yue Qinglan joined him by the fire, combing his fingers through his own hair.

It wasn’t long before the both of them had dried themselves off. Huang Yuanfei tossed his head to let his high ponytail swing outwards. He leaned back, supporting his weight with his hands. He sighed.

“I hate this weather. I hate getting this filthy.”

Yue Qinglan held his hands in front of the stove. He replied, “Mm. I can’t say I enjoy getting soaked either.”

Huang Yuanfei snickered. “I don’t think anyone does.” He straightened up, then turned to Yue Qinglan. “A-Lan, do you have any spare cloth? My makeup is ruined, and I look dreadful.”

 Yue Qinglan rummaged around his qiankun pouch before producing a clean white cloth from its depths. “Here. You do look a little disheveled.”

“Thank you, A-Lan. I can always count on you to be prepared.” 

An amused twinkle shone in Yue Qinglan’s eye. “Where would you be without me?”

Huang Yuanfei was struck speechless. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to answer that question–rather, he didn’t want to answer it. Imagining what his life would be like without Yue Qinglan was almost too easy: he would spend his days flitting around his teahouse and travelling with Jiang Yinglian. Of course, there was always the possibility that he’d meet some other person of interest, but he couldn’t guarantee that they would be his partner. Even if they did become good friends, it would be different. No two friendships were the same.

The simple answer was that without Yue Qinglan, he would be unfulfilled. 

He considered confessing how he felt right then. He could reply to Yue Qinglan’s rhetorical question with a serious answer. He could be open, and vulnerable.

But he didn’t answer. He smiled lopsidedly instead, betraying no sign of his conflicting emotions. “It’s late. We should get some rest.”

Yue Qinglan made a humming noise in agreement. He uncrossed his legs to stand, walked to the bed, then started pulling aside the blankets. Huang Yuanfei pulled out his hairpins and loosed his hair as he followed. He tapped Yue Qinglan on the shoulder.

“A-Lan, let me help you with your hair while you prepare the bed.”

Yue Qinglan paused in his movements. Huang Yuanfei deftly removed the hairpin. He took a moment to run his hands through the ends of Yue Qinglan’s hair, gathering up the stray strands. His hair was smooth as silk, and he could smell the lingering, faint scent of jasmine tea. Combing it was oddly soothing; he was unwilling to let go.

“All done.”

“Thank you, A-Fei.”

“Of course.” He walked out from behind Yue Qinglan to give the bed a closer look. “How do you propose we divide our humble sleeping arrangements? This bed looks like it could hardly accommodate a child.”

“It’s not so bad. I’m sure the both of us can fit.”

“Are you quite sure? There must be some sort of mat in your qiankun pouch–one of us could sleep on the floor.”

“We’ll never know if we don’t try, A-Fei.” 

He climbed onto the bed, shuffled inwards, and pulled up the covers. He patted the space next to him. Huang Yuanfei swallowed any further protests. If his friend was going to insist, then so be it. Reluctantly, he squeezed into the remaining half of the bed. His right arm was packed against Yue Qinglan’s left; their faces were close, too close for his comfort. He could easily trace the elegant curve of Yue Qinglan’s brow, the subtle slope to his eyes. He hastily turned away, flipping onto his side.

“The bed isn’t big enough for the both of us to lie on our backs,” he said. “If I sleep like this, then you will have more room.”

“Mm,” agreed Yue Qinglan. “You’re always very considerate.”

“Anything for my greatest friend.”

Yue Qinglan made an amused noise, a light puff of laughter. “Goodnight, A-Fei.”

“Goodnight, A-Lan.”

◈◈◈

Huang Yuanfei was cursed. He was sure of it.

A terrible weight had accumulated in his chest, constricting him from the inside. Breathing was agonizing–every intake of breath felt like a dozen daggers digging into his ribcage. His heartbeat became much heavier; every thud was sluggish, pounding against his head. Occasionally, when particularly agitated, he’d cough up a thick globule of blood, round as a pearl.  

He bore the pain in silence–he told no one, not even Jiang Yinglian. He snuck medicinal powders–discreetly taken from Yue Qinglan’s stores–into the bowl of his pipe whenever he could, but he knew that was only a temporary solution. Besides soothing his pain, the medicine did little else. If he wanted to recover, then he would have to address the root of the problem.

If he wanted help, there was only one person he could turn to.

“A-Lan, I have a favour to ask of you.”

Yue Qinglan looked up from where he was sorting his drawers of medicinal and alchemical ingredients. “Yes? What is it, A-Fei?”

“I need you to help lift this curse on me.”

“What?” Yue Qinglan stood up in alarm. “When did you get cursed?”

Huang Yuanfei sighed. “I do not know.”

“That’s alright–we can determine that later. How do you feel?”

“My chest feels tight, and it hurts to breathe.” He decided to omit the detail about hacking up a mouthful of blood whenever his feelings reached their boiling point. 

“Hm… A-Fei, give me your hand. I’d like to check your pulse.”

Huang Yuanfei pulled back his sleeve and obediently offered his hand. Yue Qinglan grasped his wrist and placed two fingers on the inner side. He released his hold after a moment.

“It’s not a curse.”

“Then what is it?”

“You’re suffering a qi imbalance, likely caused by suppressing emotion.”

Huang Yuanfei sank into a chair. A sudden wave of exhaustion crashed over him. He put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes.

“A-Lan, I’m dying. This is the end for me,” he bemoaned in what he hoped was his most pitiful tone.

“You’re not dying.” Yue Qinglan found another chair and sat down across from Huang Yuanfei. “You’re simply locking something away and not confronting it.” He paused, then asked gently, “Can’t you tell me what’s troubling you?”

He was very tempted to be straightforward, to finally open the dam he had built in his mind. He had been hiding his affection for his friend for so long that the secret felt like a part of him, inseparable and immovable. 

But he couldn’t. Not like this.

He opened his eyes, straightened up, and smiled. “It’s nothing that I can’t handle. Besides, I’ve been availing myself of your medicine.” He took out his pipe and dropped a pill into its bowl with a flourish before putting the pipe to his mouth and inhaling deeply. The action sent a thousand splinters driving into his ribs, but his face remained a smiling mask.

Yue Qinglan’s eyebrows furrowed. “That’s not the right kind.” He rose from his chair and walked to his drawers. He opened one near the top, found the right medicine, then returned to his seat. He opened his hand to reveal several round pellets made of a deep jade-green substance. “Take one of these every day until the symptoms subside.”

Huang Yuanfei scooped the pellets into his hand. “Thank you, A-Lan.”

“It’s not a permanent solution.” Yue Qinglan was watching him, gaze searching. “These pills will help your body readjust its qi, but the rest of the recovery process is up to you. Whatever it is that’s weighing on your mind, you have to face it.”

“...I know.”

In the privacy of his own room, Huang Yuanfei stood over his washbasin, hands white-knuckled as he gripped the sides. A wet cough wracked his upper body, causing him to hunch his shoulders as agony slashed at him like knives. For a long moment he kept coughing and coughing until at last he spat out blood, thick and dark. It appeared almost black in the light of the lanterns. He stared at the wad of blood with a distant look of disgust before washing it away. 

He tiredly walked to his bed and sat down. With a snap of his fingers, an array of different smoking pipes flew out of their storage spaces and laid themselves in neat rows before him, suspended in the air. His hand hovered over the spread as he made his decision. He selected an elegant–if plain–pipe made of dark wood and fitted with a mouthpiece fashioned from white jade. Once he had made his choice, he sent the rest of the pipes away with a wave before he carefully placed a jade-green pellet into his pipe’s bowl. Then he took an experimental puff. Immediately a cool, calming sensation flowed down into his chest and settled there; it was a comforting presence. He breathed a sigh of relief and fell back onto his bed in a heap. He was utterly drained.

The medicine helped him clear his mind and relax in a way he hadn’t for far too long; as his body loosened, he considered his options. He couldn’t keep his attraction hidden for much longer–the adverse effects on his health had made that abundantly obvious. Neither careful planning nor spontaneous action had served him well. There had been a myriad of opportunities open to him over the past several months, and he had not taken any of them. Each time he had let the moment pass; his fear and anxiety strangled the words and wrestled them back behind his tongue, trapped unspoken in his throat. The thought of making one of his closest friends uncomfortable with his advances or driving a wedge between them paralyzed him. 

Then it occurred to him: he had been using the wrong approach. Instead of a grand confession, he should have an honest discussion with Yue Qinglan. He had been so concerned with crafting the perfect spectacle, with the need to impress, that he had overlooked the simplest route. He sat up, energy renewed. A nearly feverish joy seized him, but he remained composed; the only indication of his newfound delight were the animals made of pipe smoke dancing around his room.

Soon, he decided. When he recovered, it would be time for a proper conversation. 

◈◈◈

The familiar sounds of birdsong dragged Huang Yuanfei to the waking world, as if the birds were telling him to hurry up and get out of bed. Early morning sunlight filtered through the closed paper windows and softly illuminated the whole room. Huang Yuanfei buried himself deeper under the covers–he didn’t want to get up just yet. He allowed himself a few more moments in his nest of blankets before begrudgingly rolling out, swinging his legs to place his feet on the ground. He stood up, stretched his arms upwards, then walked to his vanity mirror. His hair was a frightful mess: it spilled wildly outwards and stuck up every which way. Taming it came first.

The rest of his routine was completed with relative ease. After his eyeshadow and false mole had been applied, he got dressed. The weather had grown warmer, so he selected a set of lighter clothes. Instead of his usual red, this set was a deep sunset orange-red that faded into a subtler shade at the hems and sleeves. He admired his reflection in the full-body mirror by his wardrobe. After he finished ensuring that his appearance was sufficiently lovely, he slipped Ruihan out from under his pillow and left his room.

Breakfast had already been prepared and set on the dining table by the time he arrived. Yue Qinglan and Ling Tiehua sat at the table, waiting. Ling Tiehua’s face brightened with anticipation when she saw him.

“Lan-ge, Lao Feng’s here! Let’s eat.”

Huang Yuanfei took a seat. “Good morning to you too, Xiao Hu.”

“Good morning.” She ate a spoonful of rice before noting, “You seem to be in a good mood today.”

Huang Yuanfei only hummed absently in response. It was true that an unusual excitement bubbled within him, sending nervous tingles through his limbs. Today was the day he would sit down with Yue Qinglan, one on one, and stop running from his feelings. 

“I have important business to attend to at the teahouse; that’s all.”

Ling Tiehua gave him a look, but didn’t say anything more.

Yue Qinglan spoke up. “Actually, A-Fei, there’s a case that requires our immediate attention.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“A wolf yao has started preying on a nearby village’s livestock. Some reports claim that it has started attacking the villagers as well.”

“Mm, that’s easy. If we leave after breakfast, I am confident we shall return before lunch.”

“After breakfast, then.”

Ling Tiehua watched their exchange with open curiosity. “Sounds like you two have it covered. Don’t be back too late.”

“A-Lan, you know I hate travelling on horseback. Must we use the slow method?”

Yue Qinglan smiled good-naturedly. “Arriving by cloud is faster, yes, but it’s better for both us and the ordinary people if we travel in a way that they’re used to. We want to appear at least somewhat approachable.”

Huang Yuanfei sighed dramatically. “Interacting with mortals is so much more trouble than it’s worth.”

“Sometimes it is frustrating, but we must be patient all the same.”

“I’m starting to think you just like horses.”

“I do. But that’s not my point.”

As they rode, they saw little brown dots pop up against the horizon. They came to a crest in the path that offered them a wide, sweeping view of the entire village. Huang Yuanfei pulled his horse to a stop at the top of the crest. Yue Qinglan stopped beside him and waited. 

Huang Yuanfei looked over to Yue Qinglan. After a somewhat hesitant pause, he said, “A-Lan, after we finish our business here, there is something very important that I must tell you.”

“Alright. But are you sure it can wait?”

“We’ll be finished here momentarily. It can wait.”

It was already dark by the time they had arrived. Yue Qinglan and Huang Yuanfei stopped at the village’s entrance, where a watchman was sitting, fast asleep. Huang Yuanfei waited for a moment before calling out in a friendly tone, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

The watchman startled awake. “What–it’s morning already?”

Yue Qinglan answered, “No, it’s still nighttime.”

The watchman sighed in relief, before standing up and peering at the pair, eyes squinted with suspicion. “What do you two want? You’re not locals.”

“An astute observation, my friend,” said Huang Yuanfei. “We are here to offer our services to this village. There is a wolf yao plaguing you, is there not?”

“Oh, so you’re here about that.” The watchman scratched his head. “About time somebody came to deal with it. I don’t know how much longer we can hold out like this.”

“Don’t worry; we will help you,” Yue Qinglan reassured.

“That’d be greatly appreciated, Daozhang.” The watchman appeared thoughtful as he added, “I suppose you’ll need a place to stay. Follow me, young masters.”

He entered the village through the main gates and beckoned for the pair to follow. They dismounted their horses and trailed behind on foot. The winding streets–which were less properly paved streets and more dirt paths–were just large enough to allow the party of men and horses to pass through. After several minutes of wandering through the labyrinth of nearly identical houses, the group came to a stop at a house in the less packed sector of the village. The watchman bid the pair goodnight and waved at them before making his way back to his post. 

Their accommodation was a humble little house made from a handsome, dark red wood that had once been vibrant, but since then had faded with dust, sun exposure, and age. The thatched roof was battered but sturdy. A string of lanterns dangled merrily under the eaves of the roof outside the front door. The windows were slightly ajar to let in the evening breeze. 

Yue Qinglan stepped forward and knocked lightly on the door. A moment later, it swung inwards to reveal an older woman; she looked around curiously before her gaze landed on the pair. Her eyes scanned them, sizing them up. She cocked her hand on her hip.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

Here was the perfect opportunity to put charm and good looks to use. Huang Yuanfei flashed her a radiant smile. He said sweetly, “Good evening. We are cultivators, here to lend our aid to your pleasant village. The watchman was kind enough to lead us here to your beautiful home so that we may stay for a short while–if that is not too much trouble, of course.”

The woman relaxed somewhat. “So you’re here to deal with that wolf, are you? I’m sorry about my attitude just now; we’ve all been a little on edge.” She gestured for them to come inside. “We have a small yard in the back; you can rest your horses there.”

“Do you live with your family?” asked Yue Qinglan. 

“Yes; a son. He can take your horses.” She yelled into the house, “Yi’er! We have guests!”

There was a brief thudding of slippered feet against wooden floorboards before a young man arrived at the doorway. He appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years of age, and he had a somewhat sullen expression on his face. His sullenness morphed into curiosity when he saw two cultivators at the door. His eyes almost immediately darted to Ruihan at Huang Yuanfei’s side.

Huang Yuanfei was a little impressed; this boy seemed quite sharp. He took the reins of both his and Yue Qinglan’s horses and offered them to Yi’er. “I place our horses in your capable hands.” 

Then, following the woman, he and Yue Qinglan stepped over the threshold. 

The interior boasted a relatively spacious centre hall, at the end of which was an ancestral shrine. On each side of the hall, nearer to the shrine, was a bedroom. The kitchen and dining room were to the right, while the living room and a room containing a fire pit was to the left. Both bedrooms were already occupied by the original residents of the house, so Yue Qinglan and Huang Yuanfei were given the living room to sleep in.

After a meager dinner of rice porridge, stir-fried cabbage, and sliced chicken, the pair retired to their temporary quarters to discuss their plans. Huang Yuanfei lounged on a sleeping mat on the floor, while Yue Qinglan sat on his mat, legs crossed. 

“This should be quite simple,” Huang Yuanfei said. “The wolf hunts at night and isn't too careful about the prey it chooses. We’ll lure it out to an advantageous location and trap it there.”

“With what bait? I don't think the villagers are willing to sacrifice any more livestock,” replied Yue Qinglan. 

“Not to worry, A-Lan. I have a solution: we’ll use my horse.”

“You really hate horses, don't you?”

Huang Yuanfei clicked his tongue. “I do not. I assure you, nothing will happen to the horse, because I will be the one riding it.”

“So you intend to taunt the wolf yao and keep its attention on you while I set up a trap.”

“Precisely, A-Lan. I will disguise the horse as a goat and guide the wolf to you.”

Yue Qinglan thought for a moment, then said, “Mm. Be careful, A-Fei.”

“I will. Don't worry about me.”

The sun set lazily, sliding down the western side of the sky as if a drooping eyelid were slowly closing over it. Huang Yuanfei had returned to the house after making his part of the preparations: blocking off escape routes to engineer a path that he would lead the wolf yao on. He saw Yi’er sitting cross legged outside, whittling arrows. A longbow was placed on the ground beside him. Huang Yuanfei watched Yi’er’s deft knifework curiously.

“How is your marksmanship?”

Yi’er looked up, startled. “Um–pretty good, I guess.”

“How good? Show me.”

Yi’er grabbed his bow, stood up, then took a completed arrow and nocked it on the bowstring. He aimed carefully at a flying bird. Then he released the taut bowstring; the arrow whistled cleanly through the air and struck its target. Yi’er lowered his bow and looked at Huang Yuanfei, an undercurrent of pride running under his mostly serious expression.

Huang Yuanfei clasped his hands behind his back. “Excellent.” 

Yi’er perked up. “So does that mean I can help?”

“I’m afraid not. This is dangerous work that you are wholly unequipped to handle. Stay at home and out of trouble.” 

Then Huang Yuanfei left Yi’er behind, giving him no chance to retort.

As the moon reached its zenith, a young man wearing a cloak and a large bamboo hat covering his face dragged a reluctant horse with him to one of the wealthier households. He soothed the horse before performing a hand seal and transforming it into a plump white goat. The goat’s shiny white pelt appeared pearlescent in the ghostly moonlight. The young man smirked to himself. He looked up to the moon, tilting back his hat and revealing his characteristic mole and eyeshadow.

“So it begins,” Huang Yuanfei said to himself.

The remaining livestock had been evacuated; they were currently hidden on one of the hills not too far away from the village. The only prey that remained was the goat.

Now, all Huang Yuanfei had to do was wait; it was only a matter of time before the wolf reached his chosen house. He led the goat to the courtyard’s centre before retreating to a hiding spot. He idly flicked Ruihan’s bell as he watched the quiet courtyard for any signs of the wolf’s arrival. The night was still, as if the entire village was holding its breath. 

Suddenly, there was a thump–the subtle sound of someone hopping from the roof of a house to the ground. Huang Yuanfei raised his head and saw someone dressed in black robes standing at the opposite end of the yard, hungrily eyeing the lone goat. He stepped out of his hiding place and unsheathed Ruihan. 

“There you are,” he called. “I’m afraid you won't find any dinner tonight.” He whistled, and the goat ran over to him; as it ran, it changed back into its original form. In one smooth motion, he leaped onto the horse’s back and threw off his hat and cloak with no small amount of theatricality. “You shall have to deal with me.”

Enraged, the figure in black gave chase. Huang Yuanfei spurred his horse forward, rounding a sharp corner onto the predetermined path. When he turned back, he saw that his pursuer had transformed: a massive black wolf was hot on his heels. He sheathed Ruihan and grabbed the reins with both hands, urging the horse even faster. He wound through the labyrinthine village with lightning speed; the buildings became a blur as he shot past them. He turned down a final corner and burst into the village square. In the centre, he could see the array Yue Qinglan had drawn, its dull cinnabar like dried blood.

He slowed down to a brisk trot. As he got closer to the array, he continued to slow down, until the horse was pacing back and forth in front of it. He glanced up and saw Yue Qinglan on a nearby roof. With a wink, he turned his attention back to the square’s entrance. He didn’t have to wait long–the wolf bowled into the square after only a few moments. 

But something was wrong. When he turned around, he saw that Yi’er had entered the square, standing behind the array with his bow drawn. To his credit, he did not waver upon seeing the wolf; his aim remained steady.

Before Huang Yuanfei could tell Yi’er to get out of danger, the wolf lunged at the boy. Left with no time, he urged his horse into the array to protect Yi’er.

In the ensuing rush, Yi’er released his arrow.

A dull thunk punctuated the air as the arrow pierced flesh.

Everything was deathly still; even time itself appeared to stop. No one dared to move. Then, unable to hold on any longer, Huang Yuanfei fell off his horse, the arrow buried in his chest.

Yue Qinglan was at his side in an instant. Slender arms wrapped around his shoulders and lifted him so that he was sitting up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yi’er run away, panicked. He glanced down at the arrow protruding from the spot just above his heart. He could feel his blood, sticky and warm, ooze out of his wound and pool under his clothes. He touched a hand to the wound and pulled it away to reveal bright crimson streaking his fingers. He looked into Yue Qinglan’s eyes, wide with horror.

“Oh,” he said faintly.

“A-Fei, try not to move too much. It will only make the injury worse,” said Yue Qinglan in a strained voice.

“Alright.” It was getting harder and harder to stay awake; darkness encroached on the edges of his vision, threatening to submerge him into unconsciousness. “But I have something I need to tell you. It can’t wait, not anymore.”

“You can tell me anything, A-Fei.”

“A-Lan,” Huang Yuanfei whispered, “I’m in love with you.”

Then his vision went black.

When he woke up, Huang Yuanfei found himself in his room. He blinked away the remaining sleep from his eyes and tried to sit up. Instantly, a flare of agony burst in his chest, forcing him to lie back down and wait for the pain to subside. Now he was aware of a constant dull ache that throbbed alongside his heartbeat. He felt under his clothes and found a thick layer of bandages.

On his bedside table was a cup of water, which he took and drank from greedily. After he quenched his thirst, he reached under his pillow to check if Ruihan was there. To his surprise, his treasured sword was not in its usual place. He scanned the room and found Ruihan lying on his dresser instead. Next to Ruihan was his favourite phoenix pipe. A-Lan must have put those there, he thought. It comforted him to know that Yue Qinglan had been as methodical as ever. 

The door to his room opened, and Yue Qinglan entered. 

“Ah, you’re awake.”

Huang Yuanfei tried to sit up again; he winced. “Good morning, A-Lan.”

“Good morning to you too, A-Fei. Here, let me help.” Yue Qinglan walked to the bed and stacked the pillows on top of each other. “This might be more comfortable.”

Huang Yuanfei leaned back against the pillows. “Thank you, A-Lan. That is much more comfortable.”

Yue Qinglan moved the dresser’s chair to the bed and sat down. His expression grew a little more serious. “A-Fei, we need to talk.”

Huang Yuanfei winced again, this time with dread. “Oh. About…that, right?”

“Yes. Just how long have you been waiting to tell me?”

“For months now. I really was going to tell you after we dealt with that wolf spirit, but as you can see, my plans went awry.”

“That they did.” Yue Qinglan put a hand to his chin. “So…ah…you’re in love? With me?”

“...Yes. Are you upset?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, good.” 

An awkward pause settled between them as they looked at each other, unsure of how to continue. Yue Qinglan broke the silence.

“I actually had my suspicions, later on.”

Huang Yuanfei stared, aghast. “What? …Was I that obvious?”

“To those who know you.”

“Of course. I should have expected that you would notice,” said Huang Yuanfei with exaggerated gloom, hand to his forehead.

Yue Qinglan spread out both his hands. “I really don’t mind. It’s just that no one’s ever been in love with me before.”

“So I’m the first? I’m honoured.”

Yue Qinglan grinned. He said, mirth twinkling in his eyes, “You know, I would be willing to try, if it’s with you, A-Fei.”

Huang Yuanfei bolted up; he ignored the pain. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Huang Yuanfei laughed, elated; it hurt like hell, but he didn’t care. He leaned forward to sweep Yue Qinglan into a fierce hug. Yue Qinglan returned the hug just as fiercely.

“A-Lan, I love you.”

“I love you too, A-Fei.”

Huang Yuanfei pulled away, though his hands remained on Yue Qinglan’s shoulders. “That feels so good to say. I don’t know how I managed to keep that to myself for all this time.”

“I told you things would get better once you confronted your feelings.”

“Yes, yes, you were right. I should have listened to myself sooner.” He paused before asking, “How long will I take to heal?”

“Several weeks at the least.”

Huang Yuanfei collapsed onto his pillows. “Weeks! I can't believe that boy shot me.”

“It will take longer if you keep moving around like that.”

“Fine.” Huang Yuanfei carefully rolled onto his side, a cheeky smile on his face. “Perhaps…a kiss would speed up my recovery?”

Yue Qinglan moved from his chair to sit on the bed. He leaned over Huang Yuanfei. “Why don’t we find out?”

Without missing a beat, Huang Yuanfei reached up and wrapped his arms around Yue Qinglan’s shoulders, resting his hands on the back of his neck and bringing them together so that their faces were inches apart. He tentatively kissed Yue Qinglan on the lips. He could feel Yue Qinglan start to smile, but it was restrained, as if he didn’t want to disrupt the moment. Giddy with delight, Huang Yuanfei suppressed his own burgeoning grin and deepened the kiss. 

They stayed in each other's embrace for a long time, unwilling to part. 

At last, Yue Qinglan broke off the kiss. He said quietly, “A-Fei, I have to go. I need to prepare lunch.”

“Already?” Huang Yuanfei pressed his forehead to Yue Qinglan’s. “I don't want you to go just yet. Can’t lunch wait?”

“Well… I suppose Xiao Hua can boil the rice and prepare the ingredients first, and I can start the cooking later.”

“Exactly. Come on, A-Lan, lie down with me.”

Yue Qinglan obliged; he shifted his position to lie on his side. Huang Yuanfei shuffled closer, slinging an arm across the other’s waist and burying his head under his chin. The dull ache in his chest was relegated to the back of his mind. His breathing started to slow, as did Yue Qinglan’s. He closed his eyes.

Slowly, as if in sync, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

[shanhailu]

huanglan sketch that my friend kris @vampyrobot drew ^_^ they're so cuteeee

[shanhailu]

The SHL Masterpost!

Carrd! (provides a quick and general overview of what this project is; still a wip)

Tag List:

#official: everything that's made by me, whether it's illustration, writing, or something else, falls under this category.

#chapter: this is where all my writing gets filed.

#illustration: where all my drawings get filed.

#fanworks: anything "fanmade," or not by me, gets put here.

[shanhailu]

very short ling tiehua + huang yuanfei piece with a focus on tiehua! only 707 words, rest is under the cut (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b

A crunch as metal met flesh and bone. Then a slick rasp as weapons withdrew from wounds.

“That’s eight,” Ling Tiehua counted triumphantly.

“I have ten,” responded Huang Yuanfei leisurely. 

Ling Tiehua rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Before Huang Yuanfei could make a smug remark, the wall to their left exploded, leaving behind a gaping hole. Another wave of snake spirits burst forth, poised to attack. Huang Yuanfei lazily lifted Ruihan up to point it at their opponents, as if he couldn’t be bothered to give them the time of day. Ling Tiehua immediately resumed a proper fighting stance, metal fans at the ready. Then, both sides lunged forward.

 Ling Tiehua slashed with both fans, slicing open the jugulars of two snake spirits at once. Nearby, Huang Yuanfei had neatly decapitated another snake spirit. There were already several other disembodied heads strewn about–how was Huang Yuanfei so fast? Ling Tiehua picked up the pace; two more slashes and one thrown knife later, she felled three more enemies.

“Thirteen!” she called.

“Twenty,” Huang Yuanfei replied, almost bored. “Do try to keep up.”

Ling Tiehua grit her teeth in frustration before swinging one fan upward, sending forth a gust of razor-sharp wind. This gust simultaneously caught five snake spirits, ripping them apart mercilessly. Ling Tiehua heard something behind her move; she pivoted and threw a knife straight into another snake spirit’s heart. Then another hiss to her left–this time she took a dagger and drove it deep into their neck.

“Twenty now!”

Huang Yuanfei clicked his tongue. If he was annoyed, he did not show it. “Twenty-four. Not bad.” 

Ling Tiehua smiled, a little smug. “About time you admitted it, old hag. I’ll catch up to you soon enough, so you better watch out.”

Huang Yuanfei scoffed. “Keep dreaming, you little brat. There is still quite some distance between us.”

Just then, another wave of enemies arrived. Huang Yuanfei sighed, took out his own fan, and snapped it open.

“How persistent. At our current rate, it would take us decades to clear out this viper’s nest. Let’s speed things up, shall we?”

With a flick of his wrist, Huang Yuanfei summoned a powerful wave of fire. Screams erupted around the den, accompanied by the sound of sizzling flesh. Huang Yuanfei winked at Ling Tiehua.

“That’s ten more.”

“Oh yeah? Watch this.”

Ling Tiehua kept her fans low, then swung upward, unleashing a relentless current. The snake spirits that had not been caught by the initial firewall bore the brunt of this next attack. A cacophony of yelps arose, only to be abruptly cut off as bodies slammed against the den’s walls with a final, decisive crunch. Ling Tiehua silently counted twelve fallen enemies. Grinning, she turned to Huang Yuanfei.

“Thirty-two. What’s your count?”

Huang Yuanfei smiled back in his signature falsely sweet style. “Thirty-four. Still ahead, Xiao Hu.”

“Lao Feng, don’t be so smug. You’ve only got two more than me.”

Huang Yuanfei was about to reply when two more snake spirits emerged. Before either the snake spirits or Huang Yuanfei could act, Ling Tiehua hurled two throwing knives. Each knife struck its target with pinpoint accuracy. The targets fell with a dull thud. There was a beat of silence. Then, Ling Tiehua spoke up.

“Guess that’s the last of them.”

Shock briefly flickered over Huang Yuanfei’s face before he quickly replaced it with a look of mild interest. “I suppose that’s it, then.”

“We’re tied. Still think there’s a lot of distance between us?”

“Hm. This proves nothing. So what if we tied this time? It is merely a little game.” He paused briefly, then continued, “But you did well. I admit that you are a formidable fighter.”

Ling Tiehua smiled and rolled her eyes. “You’re such a sore loser. But I’ll count your compliment as a win.”

Huang Yuanfei sheathed Ruihan. “I shall pretend that I did not hear you call me a sore loser. Let us return home.”

A cloud formed before Huang Yuanfei’s feet, and he stepped on. Ling Tiehua quickly followed suit. Before taking off, Huang Yuanfei put his arm around Ling Tiehua’s shoulders to keep her from falling. Then they rose up before shooting into the distance, like an arrow loosed from a bow.

[shanhailu]

guzheng lessons with yue-xiansheng! very short thing (965 words) i wrote about the trio spending some time together. rest is under the cut (¯▿¯)

Business in the teahouse had been somewhat lackluster. Huang Yuanfei did not derive the same joy he usually did when visiting it. For the past few days he had been boredly flitting between his home, Nine Heaven Pavilion, Shen Yinxue’s underwater abode, and wherever else his whims took him. Yue Qinglan had been away gathering herbs and other ingredients for his alchemical experiments in the mountains. Ling Tiehua had been a fun sparring partner, but the two of them quickly tired of trying to launch surprise attacks on each other and returned to stifling idleness, confined to their own areas of the house.

Huang Yuanfei had returned home after another unsuccessful tour of Nine Heaven Pavilion to find that Yue Qinglan had returned as well. 

Delighted, Huang Yuanfei greeted Yue Qinglan with undisguised enthusiasm. “Welcome home, A-Lan. I trust that everything went well?”

“Very well. I actually found the trip quite refreshing.” Then he asked, “What about you, A-Fei? I hope you didn’t miss me too badly.”

“Oh, but I did miss you terribly. It has been dreadfully boring in your absence.”

Yue Qinglan raised an eyebrow. “Really? Don’t you have Xiao Hua to keep you company? The teahouse?”

Huang Yuanfei put a hand to his chest and declared with utmost sincerity, “Every minute we spend apart is like a dagger to my heart.”

Yue Qinglan blinked in surprise. Then he puffed out a small laugh. “I can’t believe some of the things you say. Seriously…”

“But it’s true! These past few days have been torture. A-Lan, I am so bored.” His tone was bordering on a whine.

“Hm…” Yue Qinglan put a hand to his chin in thought. “How about this? I find that learning something new is quite stimulating, so what if I taught you and Xiao Hua to play the guzheng?”

“Oh? An interesting proposition. Very well.” Huang Yuanfei turned to leave. “I shall be back with Xiao Hu momentarily.”

A little while later, Huang Yuanfei made his way to Yue Qinglan’s room with Ling Tiehua in tow. Ling Tiehua’s ears twitched in annoyance as she walked behind Huang Yuanfei.

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing or are you going to continue being annoying?”

“I will allow A-Lan to tell you himself. Here we are,” Huang Yuanfei said cheerfully, ignoring the hostility in Ling Tiehua’s voice.

Yue Qinglan had finished tidying his room and came out at the sound of their approach, guzheng in his arms.

“Let’s move to the eastern courtyard.”

“Are we gonna learn how to play the guzheng?” asked Ling Tiehua.

“We are. A-Fei said the both of you were bored while I was gone, so I thought this could help with alleviating that boredom.”

“I guess.” 

“Come on, Xiao Hu, it’s not like you have anything better to do right now. It’ll be fun,” Huang Yuanfei chimed in.

Ling Tiehua’s ears flicked again. “I didn’t object.”

Huang Yuanfei smiled. “Good.”

Yue Qinglan turned down the hall and started for the eastern courtyard. “Come on, you two.”

The eastern courtyard had a large peach tree in one corner, its trunk tall and its branches overarching, creating a canopy of pink blossoms. Yue Qinglan sat near the base of the trunk, while Ling Tiehua and Huang Yuanfei sat in front of him. Each of them had a guzheng placed before them.

Yue Qinglan’s hands hovered over Xianyun’s strings. “Let’s start with some basic notes.” He strummed once, producing a high, clear sound. He motioned to the other two. “Now you try.”

Ling Tiehua copied Yue Qinglan and produced the same sound. Her tail swished as her expression lightened, pleased with herself. She looked to Yue Qinglan. He inclined his head in approval.

“Excellent.” He turned his head to look at Huang Yuanfei. “A-Fei.”

Huang Yuanfei did as directed. The clear, high note echoed through the courtyard for a third time.

“Good. Now the next note.” This time the sound was slightly lower.

Ling Tiehua and Huang Yuanfei strummed their notes simultaneously. Before Yue Qinglan could progress to the next note, however, Huang Yuanfei spoke up.

“A-Lan, at this rate we’re going to be stuck here until the end of time plucking strings.”

“Hm? But I thought you were doing excellently.”

Huang Yuanfei leaned forward, resting his elbows on the guzheng and propping up his head on the backs of his hands. “Of course I was doing excellently. What I mean is that this is still boring.” He tilted his head. “I think a demonstration from A-Lan is in order. Xiao Hu, what do you think?”

Ling Tiehua instantly caught his meaning. She grinned cheekily. “I agree. Come on, play us a song!”

Yue Qinglan clicked his tongue. “I should have seen this coming. Honestly, if you two just wanted to listen to me play, you could have just asked.”

“Aw, but A-Lan, I really did want to learn. I just didn’t think it would take this long.”

Yue Qinglan raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t think learning an instrument would take a long time?” He waved a hand in fond exasperation. “Alright, I’ll indulge the two of you.” He repositioned his hands over Xianyun. “What song would you like?”

“High Mountain and Flowing Water!” Ling Tiehua called.

Huang Yuanfei nodded in approval. “An excellent choice.”

Yue Qinglan began to play. The song began with deep, echoing notes that reverberated throughout the courtyard. These notes smoothly gave way to quicker, higher sounds. Then the deep notes alternated with the quick ones, weaving together like fish in a stream. Overhead the peach tree’s blossoms were ruffled by the wind; the petals swirled down around the trio before resting on the courtyard floor. As the song drew to a close, the petals soared up once more, flying away in the wind. 

[shanhailu]

short piece i wrote for yue qinglan's birthday (which is march 3rd)! as usual the rest is under the cut °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

It was a beautiful spring morning. Birds chirped merrily as they flew between the trees, rejoicing in the pleasantly warm weather. It had rained much in the past few days, with bursts of sunlight in between. Today, on the third day of the third month, it seemed that the heavens had decided that there had been enough rain, and graciously provided a comfortable amount of sunlight.

Yue Qinglan had already awakened; he was sitting up in bed, listening to the birdsong. After a few more moments of listening, he got out of bed. He combed his hair, tied it up with a silk band, then slid in his white jade hairpin. Then he got dressed in his usual set of light blue robes and left his room.

As usual, Yue Qinglan headed to the kitchen to boil a pot of tea and prepare breakfast. What he did not expect to find, however, was Huang Yuanfei sitting lazily at the dining table. Huang Yuanfei had draped both his legs over the left side of the chair, and he was idly fiddling with the ends of his hair. When Yue Qinglan entered the room, Huang Yuanfei’s face lit up.

“Has A-Lan decided on a birthday gift yet?”

Yue Qinglan sighed. “You’re up early, A-Fei.”

Huang Yuanfei beamed. “Of course I am. How could I dare to arise late on your birthday?”

Yue Qinglan only shook his head in response. Huang Yuanfei had been pestering him constantly the previous month in an attempt to figure out what Yue Qinglan wanted for his birthday. At first, Huang Yuanfei had been quite subtle. However, upon discovering that his delicate probing and careful observation yielded inconclusive results, he started asking outright. This approach did not work either.

“You don’t have to get me anything, really.”

“There must be something you want. Whatever it is, I have the ability to acquire it. All you have to do is ask, A-Lan.”

Yue Qinglan ignored him; when Huang Yuanfei decided to be stubborn, it was best to conserve energy and not bother with resisting. He started preparing the tea.

 “Is Xiao Hua awake yet?”

Huang Yuanfei waved his hand, and the tea was boiling heartily in an instant. “Do not trouble yourself with tedious tasks today, A-Lan.” A brief pause, then he continued airily, “Yes, Xiao Hu is awake. She is outside.”

Yue Qinglan promptly left the little kitchen and made his way to the courtyard. Huang Yuanfei’s home had multiple, and this one was especially reserved for sparring and weapons practice. Presently, Ling Tiehua was engaged in a sparring match with an enchanted puppet. She was tearing into it with savage ferocity; chunks of the puppet came flying off, clinking against the courtyard walls. With a final slash across the puppet’s throat, Ling Tiehua severed the puppet’s head. She stood triumphantly over what was left of the puppet with her hands on her hips. After a moment, she turned her head to greet Yue Qinglan. 

“Morning!”

“Good morning, Xiao Hua.” Yue Qinglan then sighed. “You’re too rough with the puppets. I’ll have to make another one…”

Ling Tiehua grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. I guess I get a little too fired up. Oh, and don’t worry about making another one–I can handle it!”

Yue Qinglan raised an eyebrow in slight amusement. “Really? Do you remember all the proper steps and seals?”

“Um…yeah? It can’t be that hard, right?”

Yue Qinglan shook his head. “Alright then. You can get started when we return home. Come in and have breakfast.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

When the two of them entered the dining room, they were greeted by a magnificent spread of various rare delicacies. Huang Yuanfei was already seated, leaning forward with his head propped up by his left hand under his chin. He beamed at them. “A-Lan, I know how much you enjoy trying new foods, so I have taken the liberty of preparing breakfast. Please consider this my birthday gift to you.”

Yue Qinglan sat down. “A-Fei is very considerate. Thank you for preparing breakfast.”

Ling Tiehua had already eagerly started eating. “This is really good! Where do you find stuff like this?”

“I have my ways,” Huang Yuanfei answered enigmatically. Then he asked, “What does A-Lan think?”

“Very good. There’s many dishes here that I’ve been meaning to try; thank you for your trouble, A-Fei.”

“It is no trouble at all.”

Soon, the trio had finished eating. Huang Yuanfei snapped his fingers, clearing the dishes in a blink of the eye. Then he looked at Yue Qinglan expectantly.

“Does A-Lan have any birthday plans? I can take you anywhere you wish.”

“I do have plans. Today, I want to go to Yiwu Mountain.”

“Oh? Why there?”

“It’s my birthday. You said you’d take me anywhere I wished,” replied Yue Qinglan, smoothly dodging the question.

Huang Yuanfei relented. “Alright, then. Yiwu Mountain it is.”

Arriving at Yiwu Mountain took mere minutes. When the trio touched down, Ling Tiehua immediately bolted off to play in a nearby field of wildflowers.

“There’s so many flowers!” she exclaimed with delight.

“Don’t run off too far,” warned Yue Qinglan. He added, “While you’re at it, can you help me gather some honeysuckle flowers?” He turned to Huang Yuanfei. “You too, A-Fei.”

Huang Yuanfei raised both eyebrows, affecting an air of delicate surprise. “Oh? And what are we gathering honeysuckle for?”

“You will see soon enough.”

After several hours, the three of them had each gathered a large bundle of honeysuckle flowers; Yue Qinglan wrapped them up and tucked the bundles into his qiankun pouch. Yue Qinglan gestured for Ling Tiehua and Huang Yuanfei to sit down among the field of wildflowers.

The sun had already begun to set. As the sun sank lower into the horizon, it set the sky ablaze in a brilliant orange glow. Yue Qinglan laid down, eyes crinkling upward in a not-quite smile. Huang Yuanfei was lying to his left side, and he turned to face Yue Qinglan.

“A-Lan, is that really it? Surely that was not all you had in mind for your birthday.”

Yue Qinglan laughed softly. “I don’t need to celebrate my birthday with grand festivities. Spending the day with those close to me is enough.”

“In that case…” Huang Yuanfei leaned over and gave Yue Qinglan a quick kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, A-Lan.”

Ling Tiehua made exaggerated gagging sounds off to Yue Qinglan’s right side. “Ugh. Do you have to be so sappy about it?”

Yue Qinglan burst into a rare fit of laughter. Huang Yuanfei started laughing along with him, and soon Ling Tiehua joined in. 

Their laughter echoed around the mountain, suffusing its normally stoic air with a resounding joy.

[shanhailu]

huang yuanfei character study (completed feb. 19) consisting of 3525 words. i had a blast writing this and i hope you have just as much fun reading it. rest is under the cut ☆ ～('▽^人)

Spring had slowly started creeping in after a long and persistent winter. It had been a few days after the new year celebrations, and Huang Yuanfei had been quite busy running around performing exorcisms and providing blessings. Now, he was looking forward to enjoying the myriad gifts he had received. Being so renowned had some downsides, but Huang Yuanfei considered it a small price to pay for the admiration of many. 

Presently he was sitting in his room and enjoying a cup of excellent aged white tea. The flavour was not as sweet as he was used to, but it had a depth to it that his preferred type of tea, white peony, lacked. As he was savouring the tea, a golden swallow flew into his room through the window and perched on his shoulder. It chirped a message that only Huang Yuanfei could understand, and his face fell. He sighed, then waved the bird off. Reluctantly, he finished his cup of tea, then rose and went to get properly dressed. He made sure to drag the routine out for as long as possible, just to spite whoever had come calling. Then he slipped his sword out from under his pillow and left his room to receive his visitor.

A rather young-looking boy was waiting in the main hall; he appeared to be about thirteen years old. He was looking around the house with barely disguised excitement and curiosity. When he noticed Huang Yuanfei enter the hall, he quickly snapped to attention and tried to look as serious as possible. Huang Yuanfei resisted the urge to laugh. He smoothly produced a smoking pipe from his lapels, then motioned for the boy to sit. A low table appeared between them, complete with a pot of green tea and two teacups. The pot floated over and poured tea into each of their cups, then set itself back on the table.

“You said your message was urgent,” Huang Yuanfei said, trying not to sound too bored. He took a drag of his pipe and blew out a smoke ring.

“Y-yes! I come on behalf of the Gao family. There’s been several kidnappings, and a vicious bull spirit has made himself known…”

Now Huang Yuanfei was blowing different shapes with the smoke from his pipe: a swallow, a dragon, a butterfly… Was he even paying attention? The messenger trailed off in the middle of his explanation, uncertain of whether to continue.

Huang Yuanfei glanced from the smoke to the messenger and raised an eyebrow. “Well? Do continue.” Another drag from his pipe. “I am listening.”

You sure have a funny way of showing it, the messenger grumbled internally. He continued, “Well, this bull spirit has been terrorizing the Gao family and the area they live in. The bull spirit has already kidnapped numerous women to be his wives, and demands tribute from the richest families in the area.”

The Gao family was landed gentry and presided over the town of Xiliu along with other scholarly families. Although Xiliu was remote and relatively small, it was famous for producing two things: tea and scholars. Its quiet, idyllic scenery was seen as an ideal environment for raising scholars, and many travelled there to taste the tea and compose poetry. Many scholarly families had moved to Xiliu early on and established their foothold there. Tea makers and merchants followed suit. At first, Huang Yuanfei considered it strange that a bull spirit like this would settle in Xiliu. What could a bunch of scholars and tea makers offer him? But the more he thought about it, the more it started to make sense. There were still plenty of merchants in Xiliu, and gentry families like the Gao were quite well-off. Additionally, Xiliu was remote, which made it harder for the residents there to send for help and easier for the bull spirit to establish dominion. Perhaps this bull spirit was smarter than Huang Yuanfei initially thought.

In their desperation, the Gao family had pooled their resources with the other rich or scholarly families to acquire as much help as possible. Several prominent sects and solitary cultivators had been summoned by the Gao family. It was their hope that by throwing money and people at the problem, it would be solved quickly. Huang Yuanfei did not fault them, nor did he complain. Business was business, after all. As the son of a merchant, he understood this all too well.

The boy finished relaying his message. Huang Yuanfei waved him off. Then he waved away the low table and tea set before getting up. He took a few puffs on his pipe while mulling over the situation. Huang Yuanfei was sorely tempted to ignore the summons outright; today was meant to be his day off, and he felt a little annoyed that his leisure had been disturbed. But the more he considered it, the more intrigued he became. Perhaps it would be worth it, just to see what this bull spirit was like. It would prove more interesting than lounging at home, at least. Ultimately Huang Yuanfei resigned himself to the arduous task of doing something while on leave and set off for Xiliu.

It took mere hours to arrive at his destination. Huang Yuanfei gracefully alighted from his cloud, lazily fanning himself. He was greeted by the sound of an unfriendly voice.

“You’re late.”

Huang Yuanfei smiled. It was not sincere at all. “On the contrary, my friend. I always arrive precisely when I mean to.”

The other cultivator’s eye twitched. “Do you realize how long we have been waiting? The Gao family refused to start with someone absent. Do you do this on purpose?”

“I do not know how long you have waited, nor do I care,” Huang Yuanfei answered coolly. “You should consider yourself fortunate that I have deigned to grace Xiliu with my presence at all.” With that, Huang Yuanfei snapped his fan shut and strode away, leaving the other man to seethe in indignant silence.

As a show of gratitude and hospitality, the Gao family had organized a grand banquet to welcome all the cultivators. The great sects each had their own tables, while the solitary cultivators sat in groups of their own choosing. Huang Yuanfei, however, sat alone. He was absently puffing on his pipe when he noticed a woman in a pink ruqun sit down nearby. Unable to resist the urge to show off, he switched from blowing smoke rings to more unusual shapes: squares, triangles, and even characters. At this point the woman was watching him with obvious interest, and four or five others had slowly come over. They all watched Huang Yuanfei with rapt attention.

Huang Yuanfei switched tricks again. A wave of giggles rippled through the group of women as they watched Huang Yuanfei blow smoke clouds in various shapes. The shapes coalesced into the forms of different mythical creatures: qilin, dragons, and phoenixes. They galloped, swam, or flew their way through the crowd. The woman in the pink ruqun spoke up, “Very impressive, Huang-gongzi!”

Huang Yuanfei smiled. “Just a little parlour trick,” he said evenly. “You have not seen anything truly impressive yet.”

“What else can you do?” the woman asked eagerly.

In response, Huang Yuanfei took a puff of his pipe, then exhaled. Instead of a cloud of smoke, a plume of flame burst forth. The flame was of a pale pink colour and formed itself into the shape of a lotus before bursting into a shower of harmless embers. Delighted gasps and giggles broke out anew. Huang Yuanfei leaned back and smirked, clearly pleased with himself.

The other cultivators looked on as discreetly as possible. They all thought the same thing: What a pompous peacock. 

Huang Yuanfei noticed their gaze and winked at them. The others furtively averted their glances. Huang Yuanfei laughed, then continued entertaining the group of women.

Eventually, the banquet drew to a close. The women flitted away one by one, except the one in the pink ruqun. She boldly stepped forward and introduced herself.

“My family name is Gao, and my given name is Meilin,” she said as she bowed.

“Ah, Gao-guniang, is it?” Huang Yuanfei bowed back. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Gao Meilin giggled. “Did you enjoy the banquet?”

“I enjoyed it very much. Of course, meeting my lady has greatly improved the experience.” 

“You certainly have a way with words,” Gao Meilin replied, smiling openly. “I sense a kindred spirit in you, Huang-gongzi. Shall we talk on the way to your quarters?”

Huang Yuanfei inclined his head in assent. “If that is what my lady wishes.”

Gao Meilin, Huang Yuanfei found, was an exceedingly interesting woman. She showed great interest in the pursuit of cultivation and devoured whatever material she could get her hands on with ravenous enthusiasm. Using her family’s resources, she also sought the expertise of whatever masters she could find. Her parents had indulged her pursuit for some time, but after a few years had decided that enough was enough and prohibited her from going near cultivation sects. As a result, Gao Meilin had resorted to studying in private and snuck out as often as possible. The predicament with the bull spirit had been the perfect opportunity for her to advance her studies.

“To be honest, at first I only approached you because I felt too awkward talking to anyone else,” Gao Meilin admitted. “It felt strange to just walk up to the great cultivation families and ask them to take me on, and the solitary cultivators were in their own worlds. You just seemed the most interesting.”

“I tend to have that effect,” Huang Yuanfei replied half-jokingly.

Gao Meilin laughed. By this point they had reached the guest wing of the house. They stopped in front of Huang Yuanfei’s room. Rather reluctantly, Gao Meilin bid Huang Yuanfei good night, with the promise that she would find time to properly discuss cultivation matters with him. Then she left Huang Yuanfei to his own devices. 

Alone at last, Huang Yuanfei finally started to unwind. He removed his hair pins before letting down his hair. Then he cleaned his face, washing off the eyeshadow and false mole. Finally, he removed his outer robes. Xiliu was somewhat cold, so he kept his middle layer on. Huang Yuanfei slipped into bed and wrapped the blankets around himself like a cocoon. He had always loathed the cold, and now he somewhat regretted coming out all this way. But it would not do to back out now, especially since he had made an arrangement with Gao Meilin. He resigned himself to sleeping like this; at least the matter would be dealt with quickly.

Huang Yuanfei woke at the crack of dawn. He rose from his nest of blankets and was about to go to his vanity mirror when he remembered that he was in Xiliu. Sighing in annoyance, Huang Yuanfei went about his morning routine, sans mirror. When he was finished, he went back to the bed, rummaged around for Ruihan, then left his room for the grand hall.

The heads of the great sects and the solitary cultivators had already gathered. When the others noticed Huang Yuanfei enter the hall, their expressions instantly darkened. Huang Yuanfei smiled sweetly at them in response. Before anyone could make any comments on Huang Yuanfei’s punctuality, the echoing ring of a gong rippled through the hall. Everyone turned to see a young servant boy–Huang Yuanfei recognized him as the messenger he met with the previous day–and a man in his forties standing by the gong. The man was no doubt Gao Liang, the Gao family head. He stepped forward and cleared his throat.

“My sincerest gratitude to my lords for coming to Xiliu’s aid in this desperate hour. Allow me to explain the situation in more detail. As you all know, a formidable bull spirit has taken residence in Xiliu, demanding tribute in the form of riches and brides. His name is Li Wang. The exact location of his lair remains unknown, so our plan is to assign an area to each sect and groups of solitary cultivators to patrol. That way, Li Wang can be caught faster.”

Everyone nodded in acknowledgement and went back to their quarters to make preparations. However, as Huang Yuanfei approached his room, he heard a voice call him from behind.

“Huang-gongzi, Huang-gongzi!”

Huang Yuanfei stopped mid-stride and pivoted to face the person in one fluid motion. He smiled lightly. “Greetings, Gao-guniang. What does my lady need me for?”

Gao Meilin stopped to catch her breath. “Huang-gongzi, I overheard Father in the grand hall. Does that mean you’re going out to find Li Wang now?”

Huang Yuanfei inclined his head. “Gao-guniang is correct. I have some preparations to make, then I shall head out at once. My lady need not worry; I will make short work of Li Wang.”

“Of course I’m not worried about that. I have every confidence that you will succeed.” Gao Meilin paused. “I actually have a request to make: could I come with you? This is the perfect opportunity to gain actual experience. I promise that I’ll be careful and follow whatever instruction you give.”

“I am afraid that is not possible. It is much too dangerous for my lady to come with me. Your father would have my head if he found out.”

Gao Meilin sensed that it would be futile to argue. However, she did not completely give up in trying to help. She slipped out a talisman from her sleeve and presented it to Huang Yuanfei with both hands. “Then take this. It’s a protection charm that I made myself.”

Huang Yuanfei accepted the talisman with both hands. “Gao-guniang has my heartfelt gratitude. I shall return before long.” He left with a whirl of his sleeves, leaving Gao Meilin to stare at his retreating figure.

It did not take long for Huang Yuanfei to reach his assigned area. There were three other cultivators waiting at the rendezvous point, all junior disciples, and each from a different sect. They did not regard Huang Yuanfei with the same contempt or exasperation their leaders had; in fact, they seemed wary but curious. Huang Yuanfei flashed them his signature sweet smile. He slipped out his fan, snapped it open, and started slowly fanning himself.

“Well? Has anyone come up with a strategy?” asked Huang Yuanfei.

The three juniors glanced at each other awkwardly. Then one wearing green robes suggested hesitantly, “Should we stick together? Splitting up might overwhelm us, especially if we’re caught off guard. We don’t know what tricks Li Wang has up his sleeve.”

Huang Yuanfei nodded. “Mm, very good. I see that your sect leader is at least somewhat competent at teaching.” He snapped his fan shut. “If there is nothing else, let us begin.”

The group started on their patrol without further delay. They had been on patrol for only a short time before they heard a large crash. Huang Yuanfei drew his sword, and the junior disciples followed suit. A huge, hulking figure had tumbled its way onto the horizon. The area the group had been assigned to was relatively flat, allowing them a clear view. Huang Yuanfei noticed the figure’s massive horns. He signalled for the juniors to remain silent. The hulking figure drew closer. He looked up, finally saw the group, and visibly blanched. Frantically, he started scanning his surroundings, but it was too late. Huang Yuanfei called out, voice friendly, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.

“Li Wang, how fortuitous that we have crossed paths here today. It definitely saves me the trouble of having to look for you.”

Li Wang glared. “So this is what the Gao family had cooked up. I had managed to escape the other patrols, but I guess I wasn’t so lucky this time.”

“One does have to wonder just how you managed to evade capture for so long. You are not exactly stealthy nor graceful.”

“I wouldn’t have to run around like this if you cultivators weren’t such cowards. If you had the guts to face me head-on, I would’ve easily defeated all of you!”

“Oh, so it’s a one-on-one duel you want? Very well.” Huang Yuanfei lifted Ruihan and pointed it at Li Wang. “Let us duel.”

Li Wang wasted no time and charged straight for Huang Yuanfei. He easily stepped aside, then landed a powerful kick, forcing Li Wang off course. Li Wang nearly toppled over from the impact. He thought to himself, Shit! This prettyboy is tougher than he looks. Whirling around, Li Wang unsheathed a massive saber. He charged again, then swung his saber up in a mighty arc. Huang Yuanfei blocked the blow. Sparks flew when their blades met; the sharp screech of metal rasping against metal rang through the clearing. Blades crossed, Li Wang tried to push Huang Yuanfei back and gain more ground, but found that Huang Yuanfei was equally stubborn. Huang Yuanfei kicked Li Wang’s right leg, forcing the bull spirit down on one knee. Li Wang tried to slash at Huang Yuanfei, but he somersaulted out of reach and landed with a flourish. 

Growing frustrated, Li Wang pushed himself up and was about to charge yet again when Huang Yuanfei lightly flicked the bell hanging from the end of Ruihan’s handle. A piercing cacophony of noise drilled its way into Li Wang’s skull. He collapsed back to the ground, clutching his head in pain. Huang Yuanfei stepped closer leisurely. The juniors looked on in shocked disbelief.

“I graciously took the time to come all the way to Xiliu, only to be met with disappointment. I had mistakenly considered you a worthy opponent. A miscalculation on my part.”

Li Wang did not respond; his head was still pounding with pain. Huang Yuanfei signalled for the juniors to bind Li Wang. “Our work here is done. Let us return to the Gao family estate.” He took out his fan and snapped it open, leaving without even sparing Li Wang a glance. The juniors scrambled to follow.

Huang Yuanfei’s group was the first to arrive. The servant boy gaped at them, dumbfounded. Huang Yuanfei raised an eyebrow at him; the boy hurried off to notify Gao Liang. Shortly after a signal flare shot up into the sky, exploding in a rain of red sparks. Huang Yuanfei tucked away his fan and exchanged it with his smoking pipe. The other groups slowly trickled in. When they saw Huang Yuanfei smugly standing by with Li Wang, idly puffing on his pipe, they immediately had to look away to conceal their indignation. Huang Yuanfei smirked, then turned to Gao Liang.

“Well? Li Wang has been captured. I expect you know what to do next.”

“Yes, yes, it’s all been prepared for you. Will you stay for the farewell banquet?”

“I think not. I have had quite enough of Xiliu.” 

With a flick of his sleeves, he went off to his room. A large chest was waiting for him, neatly tucked beside the bed. Huang Yuanfei crouched down and opened it; as he expected, the chest was filled to the brim with gold. Satisfied, he shut the chest, then tapped it with his pipe. The chest disappeared in a puff of smoke. Huang Yuanfei got up and left his room. He had made it all the way out to the Gao family estate’s main gate when he heard a familiar voice.

“Huang-gongzi, wait!”

Huang Yuanfei turned around. He smiled genuinely for the first time since coming to Xiliu. “Gao-guniang.”

“You’re leaving already? What about the farewell banquet?”

“I see no reason to linger any longer. Besides, I have matters to attend to back home.”

“I see…” Gao Meilin looked dejected.

Huang Yuanfei, still smiling, said, “Meeting my lady was easily the most worthwhile part of this whole excursion. If nothing else, I am glad to have made your acquaintance.”

Gao Meilin perked up a little at this. She smiled back. “Does that mean we’ll meet again?”

“If fate wills it.” A pause, then Huang Yuanfei continued, “However, if fate works too slowly, then I know several good teahouses that we can go to. I will always make time for my lady.”

Gao Meilin laughed. “Alright then. I’ll hold you to that, so you had better not forget!”

Huang Yuanfei inclined his head in acknowledgment. Then he said, “Ah, one more thing before I depart.” He produced a golden brooch in the shape of a swallow from thin air. Huang Yuanfei presented the brooch to Gao Meilin with both hands.

Gao Meilin took the brooch, dumbfounded. It was a while before she found her voice. “Is this really for me?”

“Think nothing of it; the brooch is merely a little trinket to remember me by.” Huang Yuanfei turned to leave. He mounted his cloud and ascended a short distance. Then, he looked back and said, “I do hope that I will have the great honour and pleasure of meeting my lady again.” 

Before Gao Meilin could reply, Huang Yuanfei turned and sped off, becoming a mere speck on the horizon in moments.

[shanhailu]

short yue qinglan-centric character study thing. completed jan 28. rest is under the cut ＼(￣▽￣)／

Yue Qinglan had a dilemma.

“This won’t do,” he muttered to himself. “I need a human test subject.”

Earlier that day he had been testing the efficacy of a new general remedy he had concocted on chickens. While the remedy seemed to work, he had no idea if it would have the same results on humans. Truth be told, he felt pity for the livestock he ran tests on, but without a willing human volunteer, he did not feel comfortable testing on anything else. Testing on himself was out of the question–not only was it unwise, generally poisons and illness had little to no effect on him. He got up from behind his desk and paced around his room before steeling his resolve. It was highly uncomfortable, but Yue Qinglan did not see another alternative.

Yue Qinglan swiftly arrived at the farm from which he procured his chicken test subjects. He knocked lightly on the humble house’s door. An old woman in her sixties answered. When she saw Yue Qinglan, her face lit up.

“Oh, it’s you again, Yue-xiansheng! More chickens?”

“Actually, I came to ask for something else. Or, rather, I have a question for you.”

“What is it? Just ask, don’t be shy.”

Yue Qinglan shifted uncomfortably. “Well, Ping-laolao, to be blunt–do you know anyone who’s gravely ill or dying?”

Ping-laolao seemed taken aback for a brief moment, but she quickly recovered. “Hmm… I think there is someone. The Zhou family has a young daughter who’s going through a severe bout of illness right now. Does that help?”

Yue Qinglan nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s it! Thank you, Ping-laolao!” Then he dashed off to the Zhou residence.

Someone who was severely sick or near death’s door had nothing to lose; they were the perfect test subject for a new medicine. If his general remedy failed, then at the very least it would soothe the patient’s pain until he could find the root of the problem. This general remedy was made from distilling the dew off plants that grew in areas rich in beneficial spiritual energy. The resulting liquid acted as a somewhat magical purifier. While the process of distillation was relatively simple, harvesting the dew was not. Fortunately, one dose required only a few drops, depending on a person’s build and weight. A remedy like this was sure to work for most regular illnesses, and would be especially effective against maladies with supernatural causes.

Of course, since Yue Qinglan was not a professional doctor nor an alchemist, there was some margin for error. He merely dabbled in these things because he found them interesting. While he had studied under an actual doctor and therefore had practical knowledge and experience, he would still urge people to visit a medical professional whenever possible. It was simply safer that way.

He arrived at the Zhou family’s residence still lost in thought. Before knocking on the door, he steeled himself again and tried to make his expression as neutral as possible. He must not look too eager or spirited; it would give the poor family the impression that he was excited someone was sick. He knocked on the door. A man who appeared to be in his thirties greeted Yue Qinglan.

“Hello,” said Yue Qinglan cordially. “I heard your daughter was very ill, and I think I might have something that may help.”

“Oh, so it’s Yue-xiansheng! Come in, come in.” The father stepped aside and gestured for Yue Qinglan to enter.

Yue Qinglan stepped over the threshold, and then was led to a small room off to the western side of the house. The Zhou family did not have a very large home. There was only the house itself, and a small courtyard in the front. The interior was modest and practical; aside from a few houseplants, there was nothing else decorating the halls. As the father and Yue Qinglan approached the daughter’s room, sniffling accompanied by a woman’s hushed voice could be heard.

The father knocked on the bedroom door. “Yue-xiansheng is here,” he called. 

“Oh, thank goodness,” the mother said as she opened the door. 

“If I could just get in…” Yue Qinglan interrupted. He edged past the parents as gently as possible. He approached the daughter’s bed, then kneeled at the head. The little girl appeared to be about five or six years old. She was sniffling miserably; her eyes were puffy and her cheeks red. She did not appear very sick at all. The parents were hovering worriedly near the end of the bed.

“How bad is it?” the mother asked anxiously.

“Her condition doesn’t appear too serious. When did she start feeling unwell?”

“About three days ago.”

“Has she eaten anything strange? Or has she been anywhere unusual?”

“Not at all; everything’s been normal.”

Ah, so it’s likely just a cold then. It was still winter; given the amount of time that had already elapsed and the absence of abnormal events, that was the most plausible explanation. Yue Qinglan did not know whether to be relieved that it was not anything serious, or a little annoyed that his remedy would be used on something so trivial as a cold. He tried his best to mask his exasperation. He turned to face the little girl. Smiling gently, he said, “Alright, I have something that will help you get better. I promise that it doesn’t taste bitter.” He took out a small gourd from his qiankun pouch and offered it to the girl. “Just one drop is all you need.”

The little girl obediently took a tiny sip before returning the gourd. Almost instantly, her eyes cleared up, the redness of her cheeks faded, and her breathing became easier. Yue Qinglan watched this process with an intense stare and a hand to his chin. Upon seeing the girl recover near instantaneously, he felt immense satisfaction; he even held back a smile. While he had been initially disappointed that the fruit of his labour would be used like this, he could not call it a waste. It had achieved its purpose, and that was all he could ask for. He nodded, then stood up.

“Your daughter has fully recovered now. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave.” He promptly turned around and walked toward the bedroom door. Before he could open it, however, the father called after him.

“Wait. That’s it? What about payment?”

Yue Qinglan turned, but not all the way. “Don’t worry about that. I find joy in the work itself. Besides, this was just an experiment.” Then he left, leaving the couple both relieved and dumbfounded.

[shanhailu]

the first full piece i wrote (finished jan 23) for my oc story, guaiwu zhuan! it's only 6 pages. rest of it is below the cut ^_^

Dawn broke through the shuttered windows, the sun’s golden rays searching for any available dark nook and cranny. All was still and quiet in the house, but not for long. Presently, both of the current young masters of the house had risen and begun their early morning routines. Yue Qinglan combed and tied his hair, got dressed, and took a sip of water from a cup he kept at his bedside, all in an unhurried manner. Then, he made his way to the kitchen to brew a pot of morning tea.

Despite getting up at the same time as Yue Qinglan, Wang Yuanfei took considerably longer with his morning routine. After rising, he walked to his vanity mirror, sat down, and began fixing his hair. In the mornings, Wang Yuanfei’s hair was a dishevelled bird’s nest from sleep; it always took him at least half an hour to detangle it, then carefully make sure it lay just right. After grooming his hair, he opened a drawer underneath the vanity mirror, which contained multiple rows of various hair ornaments. He selected a set of four golden hair pins, the ends of which were carved in the shape of auspicious clouds. From the ends of the bottommost hair pins dangled a chain, and at the end of the chains was a bell and white tassel. Carefully, he slid the hair pins into his hair. Once satisfied, he began applying his makeup: red-orange eyeshadow around the lower edges of his eyes, and a false mole dotted on using special water-resistant ink. Wang Yuanfei tilted his head this way and that, admiring and checking his face from different angles. Pleased with his work, he smiled at himself, then rose and went to his wardrobe. This wardrobe was magnificent, large, and opulent; made of mahogany wood and inlaid with mother-of-pearl in the shape of plum flowers, it could be considered a valuable work of art. Wang Yuanfei nonchalantly tossed open the door. In the wardrobe were numerous, almost countless sets of robes. Most were various shades of red with gold-thread embroidered designs, but a few were orange. He took his time carefully considering his options before selecting a set of vibrant, deep red robes with a phoenix embroidered on the back in gold thread. Once dressed, he added the final touches: a white jade ring in the shape of a dragon on his right third finger, and a white jade ring with a swallow resting on it on the left fourth finger. With his outfit fully assembled, he was ready to leave; just before finally exiting his room, he grabbed his sword from where it lay under his pillow.

The gentle, fragrant scent of fresh tea floated its way through the house. In the kitchen, Yue Qinglan was already hard at work preparing breakfast. Light and simple fare was Yue Qinglan’s preferred kind of food, and today breakfast consisted of century egg and pork congee. A bowl and a pair of chopsticks had already been set out for Wang Yuanfei.

“Good morning, A-Fei. Breakfast is ready,” said Yue Qinglan, gesturing toward the table.

“Diligent as always, A-Lan,” Wang Yuanfei replied cheerfully. He sat down at the table.

Yue Qinglan hummed in response. He finished washing the dishes, got himself a bowl and chopsticks, then sat down at the table to eat. The congee was delicious; while light, it had just the right amount of flavour. Additionally, the eggs and pork were excellently tender. A comfortable silence settled in the room as the pair ate. Soon, they were both finished; Yue Qinglan got up and collected the dirty dishes. With a snap of his fingers, the dishes were cleaned. Then, Yue Qinglan darted out of the dining room, returning with a large stack of papers. He let the stack drop to the table with a soft thump. This stack of papers was the myriad inquiries and requests sent in by people plagued with certain supernatural troubles. These supernatural troubles ranged from a simple exorcism to troublesome yao that needed to be slain. Every morning, Yue Qinglan and Wang Yuanfei looked through the tower of papers for any noteworthy cases. Most of the time, the cases they took on were quite easily dealt with.

Wang Yuanfei boredly rifled through the stack. “Does it ever end?” he sighed. 

“Every case is important,” answered Yue Qinglan. “Small nuisances will eventually build up to become large dilemmas if left unattended. Besides, we usually knock out all of the day’s cases well before dinner.”

 Wang Yuanfei sighed again. He was about to start sifting through the stack in earnest when a certain paper caught his eye. The calligraphy was well-practiced and elegant; it was likely penned by someone from a scholarly or affluent family. “Hey, A-Lan, this one looks quite promising.”

Yue Qinglan clicked his tongue in mock exasperation. “You didn’t even look at it properly.”

“I do not need to; a single glance is all I need to determine whether or not a case is worth my time. Even if it proved to have the slightest difficulty, there is nothing we cannot handle.”

While Yue Qinglan appreciated his partner’s vote of confidence, it was still wise to properly read the case overview. Wang Yuanfei likely chose this paper because the elegant calligraphy suggested a client with means. To him, the price offered by the client was most important; all other details became secondary. In fact, the more dangerous it was, the better, for that meant greater compensation. The case that they were presently reviewing certainly seemed to fit this criteria. A nine-tailed fox had recently appeared in the city of Menghai, resulting in the deaths of multiple people; it seemed that this fox killed any prey it could get its claws on. It was even powerful enough to have devoured other cultivators who had travelled to the city intending to slay it.

This was the first major foe the pair had encountered in several months. They spent the rest of the day making the proper preparations: hundreds of hand-written yellow paper talismans with different uses; cinnabar and brushes; blank scrolls for note-taking; and lastly, plenty of small snacks for the road. Wang Yuanfei took care to sharpen his sword, Ruihan, while Yue Qinglan tuned his guzheng, Xianyun. At dawn, the pair set out on horseback toward Menghai. The city was not far from their current base; Yue Qinglan estimated that it would only take a day’s ride to reach their destination. Normally, Wang Yuanfei objected to such slow and mundane means of transportation; he preferred making a grand entrance, but Yue Qinglan had wanted to stay cautious. After all, this nine-tailed fox had not bothered to hide itself and had no qualms about demonstrating its power; it was best to keep the element of surprise and even trick the fox into underestimating them. In the meanwhile, the pair whiled away the time by chatting.

“I despise travelling this way,” Wang Yuanfei groused. “It is inconvenient, time-consuming, and exhausting. At the very least, we do not have long until we reach Menghai.”

“I know, I know,” replied Yue Qinglan gently. “When we go home, we can travel the way you like.”

“Mm. I expect that this will be over quickly.” Then, Wang Yuanfei perked up. “Ah, at long last, we have finally reached Menghai.”

Little buildings had started to appear on the horizon. As the pair drew closer, the buildings increased in size and number, until they finally reached the city gates; impressively tall and vibrantly red, they commanded an almost dominating presence. Menghai was a wealthy city built close to sea, and as such was famous for its trade and commerce. Sailors, merchants, carts, and livestock bustled throughout the city streets. Shouts from street vendors and shops rang through the air.

“So, who are we meeting this time?” Wang Yuanfei asked. “Nobody dull, I hope.”

“Just the local magistrate,” answered Yue Qinglan. “You would know this if you bothered to read the case file,” he continued pointedly.

“Ah, but A-Lan, where’s the fun in that? Be a little more spontaneous. Of course, I already knew who we were meeting; nothing escapes me. Come, let us make haste.” With that, he urged his horse into a gallop, smoothly cutting through the tide of people and carts, leaving Yue Qinglan behind.

Yue Qinglan smiled and shook his head. Gently, he guided the horse to walk slowly to where Wang Yuanfei had stopped at the end of the street. By now, the pair had attracted countless stares, and some people were whispering among themselves. Yue Qinglan was long used to Wang Yuanfei drawing attention like this–an occupational hazard as a result of being Wang Yuanfei’s partner–but he was still uncomfortable with being scrutinized like this. Wang Yuanfei, however, did not seem to care at all. The stares, the chattering, and the pointing slid off him like water off a duck’s back. Wang Yuanfei smiled apologetically at Yue Qinglan, who only shook his head again with exasperation. They continued until they came to a neat and clearly wealthy district; the houses were orderly, the roads well paved, and everything looked as if it was painstakingly cleaned. The magistrate’s manor occupied a spot deeper into the district, and it sat higher than the other houses. It was terribly gaudy. All the most garish and expensive pigments were used to paint the wood, while bizarre art pieces decorated the garden. Before either of them could comment, two servants rushed out from the house.

Wordlessly, Yue Qinglan and Wang Yuanfei dismounted from their horses. The servants bowed to the pair before quickly disappearing with the horses in tow. It was just as well; they were spared from tedious explanation. The two of them made their way to the manor’s front entrance. A servant girl opened the door before either of them could announce their presence. “Please enter, my lords,” a crisp voice said.

The pair entered the house’s main hall. It was less gaudy than the exterior, but only slightly. “There is no need to be so gracious in addressing us,” answered Wang Yuanfei, in a way that implied it would be wisest for the magistrate to continue addressing them in this manner. The magistrate put on a strained smile as he motioned for the pair to sit. He personally poured the tea before presenting each of them a cup with both hands.

The magistrate cleared his throat before speaking. “Wang-daren, Yue-daren, I must extend my sincerest gratitude. Without your timely arrival, this city would be doomed.”

“Oh, I would not go that far,” Wang Yuanfei replied airily, just to be difficult. “Without a city full of easy prey, how else would the fox sustain itself?”

The magistrate’s eye twitched. Yue Qinglan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. After a beat of silence, the magistrate said, “...Yes. Quite right.”

Wang Yuanfei smiled sweetly. “Now then, shall we get to the heart of the matter? Where is the fox?”

The following day, the pair made their way to the nine-tailed fox’s lair. It did not take long for them to reach the lair’s entrance. After alighting from their clouds, they began taking in their surroundings. No guard or protective measure of any sort blocked their path. Yue Qinglan was furiously scribbling down notes. “Fascinating,” he muttered, more to himself than Wang Yuanfei. “Not a single obstacle for potential enemies to encounter. Just how powerful is this fox?”

“Perhaps it is not that powerful at all. Perhaps it lures its enemies into a false sense of security, and overpowers them that way,” Wang Yuanfei mused. He tapped his cheek thoughtfully. “A tactic that I would use myself.”

“Hm. I think it’s best to exercise caution. All we know about this nine-tailed fox is that it's not afraid to attack directly.”

“Alright then.” Wang Yuanfei motioned to the cave’s massive doors. “Shall we?”

Wang Yuanfei flung the doors open with ease, Ruihan already in hand. He looked around the cave’s main hall. When he was sure that there was no immediate threat, he nodded to Yue Qinglan. Slowly, both of them entered. The air inside the cave was frigid; it dug into them like claws through flesh. No light source illuminated their surroundings. Wang Yuanfei conjured five little fires and sent them into a ring position around the cave to provide light. There was nothing decorating the cave’s interior. The ceiling and walls were high and smooth, clearly purposefully carved. Aside from the cave’s unnatural smoothness and massive doors, there was nothing to indicate that anyone or anything lived here.

Suddenly, there was a rush of air–then a resonant clang as Ruihan blocked something sharp. Yue Qinglan swiftly threw a talisman in the direction of the clash. An inhuman shriek closely followed by the sizzling sound of flesh burning echoed around the cave. The creature–no doubt the fox–attacked again, only to meet Ruihan’s blade once more. Enraged, the fox lunged toward Yue Qinglan. Wang Yuanfei immediately gave chase, his heart jumping up into his throat. Too late, he realized that the fox’s attack was just a feint. The fox’s claws descended on both of them with lightning speed. Now they were both pinned under her massive, knife-sharp claws. Drool threatened to drip down from her snarling jaws. Ruihan had been knocked out of Wang Yuanfei’s grip–it now sat just out of reach at a tantalizing distance.

Yue Qinglan had already started slowly inching his right arm out of the fox’s grip. He had carefully hidden a talisman up his sleeve and was waiting for the opportune moment. Wang Yuanfei noticed and started struggling like mad to keep the fox’s attention trained solely on him. As Wang Yuanfei struggled, he managed to grab one of his hidden daggers. Then the pair glanced at each other–they both struck at once. Another inhuman shriek rang through the air, followed again by the stinging smell of burning flesh. The nine-tailed fox leapt backward. Wang Yuanfei seized the opening and ducked under her. With a final, sickening squelch, Wang Yuanfei rammed Ruihan up into the nine-tailed fox’s throat with all his might. Warm blood gushed from the wound, coating his hands, forearms, and sleeves. He slid Ruihan out.

“A-Fei, are you alright?” Yue Qinglan asked worriedly.

Wang Yuanfei looked down at his hands with vague disgust. “Fine,” he answered.

Yue Qinglan sighed in relief, then said, “You do have to admit, that nine-tailed fox was quite clever. That feint was a brilliant move.”

“She must have surmised that we were close and exploited that in order to trap both of us. Very clever, indeed.”

Yue Qinglan grinned. “But not as clever as you, right?”

Wang Yuanfei smiled back. “Nor you, A-Lan.”

After Wang Yuanfei cleaned himself off, he and Yue Qinglan travelled back to Menghai to collect payment. Then the pair treated themselves to a cup of tea and a meal at one of the city’s finest teahouses. When night fell, the pair left the city by cloud, streaking across the starry sky like a pair of comets.

[shanhailu]

a beautiful wang yuanfei drawn by my lovely friend @vampyrobot 🫶