#...og!scumplane?

[levemetal]

Have some various OG!Shangjiu brainrot + OG!Shang Qinghua design from my side - I do like to imagine he's quite different from Airplane.

I love rareships even if they're a pain cause there is like 0 content. Guess I have to do it myself then.

Disorganized OG SQH thoughts under cut

If we can believe Airplane on SQH, his upbringing wasn't too terrible nor all that great, probably some "disposable" son in a family, starting as outer disciple on An Ding. Presumably he runs into the inadvertent ambush by Mobei-Jun, and is similarly thrown to die by his fellow disciples. Assuming this happens as such in the OG timeline, it's easy to see why SQH would have no qualms betraying the sect. Overall tho, I imagine he was ambitious even before MBJ to fight his way up the ranks regardless of the cost. I don't imagine him to be afraid to climb over corpses, if only to secure himself a place as peak lord. I could see him having a bit of a two-sidedness to him kinda like NHS. Pretend to be demure and harmless/weak to get what he wants and not draw attention since everyone assumes him incompetent outside of his work as lord of paperwork, but a lot more ruthless and unfriendly on the inside. He doesn't particularly care for his fellow peak lords and thus is willing to sell the secrets to MBJ in exchange for his life Cold and calculating, ruthless, A grade actor, two faced, rude but repays debts (like mbj leaving him alive and therefore doing stuff for him; I think he'd be aware that he's hopelessly outmatched against mbj so is this technically coercion??)

Anyway with SJ probably an enemy/rivals to lovers situation starting with a spiderman pointing meme game of "I know what you are" and ending in "everyone sucks - I agree" and watching the world burn together or something it's all still vague in my head

[m0owu]

OK, guys, you were joking that sqh's type is tsundere, right?

let me show you the list of the most popular pairs with Shang Qinghua:

- Mobei-Jun (tsundere)

- Shen Yuan (tsundere)

- Shen Qingqiu (tsundere)

plus there's Liu Qingge (somehow) (also is tsundere)

seems like it's not a joke anymore..

[writing-frenzy]

Beautiful Disaster AU

So, here I am, on a serious Shang Qinghua/Airplane bro binge because sometimes you just crave a thing and can't let go, and I ended up getting inspired by these two posts :) Link and Link So here I go.

Edit: Forgor to set a link for part two, my bad.

Also, here is this poem that also inspired a thing and also gave the name for this AU~

`Beautiful Disaster~ By Nikita Gill If he tastes like the rainfall, Looks like a summer storm, Fights for you like a forest fire; he's a tornado of trouble. (And you need to hold on to him and never ever let him go.)

So yeah, I took a look at that, and thought it actually fit both Shen Jiu and SQH/Airplane well, if in different ways. (Shen Jiu the tornado and Airplane bro the forest fire, but oh, how SJ fights like lightening in a storm, ready to burn everything away, while SQH is tricky like the wind, saving most of his energy for when it really matters until you can't see anything past the wails and talismans.)

So yeah, watch me stumble into a scumplane with Ghost!Shen Jiu :3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It starts ever so simply, Shen Jiu watching as that fake is so happily accepted, all the other Peak Lords seeming to rejoice at having them there, even the disciples pleased and ever so willing to bark for the man wearing his face, the little beast practically panting after him every step he takes.

It disgusts him, makes him grind his teeth, makes him want to scream, shout, curse like he hasn't since he was just a desperate slave, how many visit his former home, his sanctuary now a cage of bamboo and frustration, rage, and bitterness. Watches how Peak Lord after Peak Lord visits, each charmed, some slowly, some in less than a second, guests of all types and titles leaving yet obviously wanting to stay.

All except for one.

"Ha-hahaaa, hello Peak Lord Shen, I'm here to deliver the order forms for the new training instruments and inkstones." The An Ding Peak Lord, Shang Qinghua laughs weakly, even as the fake narrows eyes at him over his favored fan. Shen Jiu glares, wishing he could rip it to shreds, throw it away, burn it so that it is no longer being defiled by this body snatcher.

"You may leave them with my disciples, Ming Fan or Binghe can take care of it." is the dismissive response of this other, lesser fake goods, even as Shen Jiu wants to scream.

"These are my duties; these are the responsibilities of a Peak Lord, you cannot hand them off to mere children, much less the beast." The real Shen QingQiu wants to howl, but it only comes out as whispered words through clenched teeth, the ghost not able to open his mouth for the anger choking him.

"Ah, about that my fellow Peak Lord, these contents are not for the eyes of disciples, I'll need your seal of approval on them as well." Shang Qinghua seems to wince, sounding rather apologetic, but it is this refusal that gains Shen Jiu's attention, actually surprised to hear someone being reasonable since the switch happened.

(The first time he's seen anyone actually refuse his cuckoo of a replacement.)

And is just in time to see the cold, cutting calculation the supposedly 'apologetic' man hides with his bowed head, before it is gone just as fast as he raises it.

It is the start of his interest in Shang Qinghua, that man he considered a rat in life, only to show just how clever he is after Shen Jiu died.

Watches how the man sneakily tests the fake, teas for cleansing snuck in here and there, talismans deceptively hidden in paintings, vases of flowers that detect malevolent, demonic energies.

And even with none of it being triped, the Fake able to somehow breeze past all these tests, Shang Qinghua still watches, guarded and suspicious, without ever letting his cuckoo even suspect it.

It is... gratifying, even if it is from that rat, to know someone still does not trust in what they see, that they too judge the fake and decide to actually question it. It is more than what his own disciples have done.

(It is more than what his Qi-ge has given, still ever so tolerant, ravished as he is for any crumbs, he can fucking get like the dogs they were.)

Changes only happen after what is apparently a disastrous conference, with intriguing, if terrifying secrets coming to light.

"Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky!"

"Peerless Cumber?!"

Hearing their words, it brings in new consideration for his circumstances, makes his already yin filled core seem to freeze at just what he is hearing.

Some kind of fate that forces you into another's dead body, chains one to follow it with little hope for change, even forcing a literary god from the sounds of it to be reborn into a human, never actually expecting their words to come to life, just trying to live as it were like any other storyteller from the streets.

(Remembers how any damage he does is just as quickly erased, as if it has never happened, as if there isn't a resentful ghost clawing at the walls, ready to destroy any in its way at the first chance it gets.)

Shang Qinghua, or Airplane as it were, visits more after that, plotting and planning with his bodysnatcher, who while he still hates, would be willing to gut if possible (but... can understand, so painfully understand being forced and chained, even if he was lucky enough his Masters were very much mortal at least).

But while there are no longer any suspicions in those eyes (the calculations are of course still there), they are instead replaced by a... mournful quality?

?

"Rest in Peace, Shen-Shixiong." is said in the middle of the night one day, when his fake has long since slept, the words like a whisper in the wind. In his mind's eye, he can smell the incense of sandalwood and jasmine, with an offering of melon seeds beside it...

...!

oh...

... Not once, not since he has been stuck in his home, has he heard his Shang-Shidi call the imposter Shixiong...

For that night, Shen Jiu stares at one of the pictures on the walls of his bamboo house, keen eyes seeing the subtle symbols for mourning on it, a subtle 9 easily hidden among the strokes if one was not a master like himself, the rage a quiet thing tonight as he thinks.

-

And then, one day, seemingly normal for all it is a quiet day at his peak, Shen Jiu finds that whatever was trapping him, caging him, chaining him to his bamboo house turned prison is gone.

He doesn't miss his chance, out the door before his mind can catch up, before he fully realizes he has been freed. It is only once he is off his mountain, out from that sect, away from everyone, that Shen Jiu realizes he has a choice.

He can feel it, he can feel his body even with the distance he is, knows exactly which direction to go if he wants to reclaim it. And he could, he could do so rather easily he can tell, whatever link between it and chained binding his imposter had gone...

...But why should he?

Why should he? Why should he go back to all those so willing to trade him for his knock off, why should he go back to people who will only be disappointed in the return of the 'old Shen-QingQiu' even if it is the true one.

Why should he debase himself to go crawling back to people in a body even more wrecked then his Qi-Deviation left it, all wanting something he is not and will never be?

(Go to see that panting, drooling Beast, to the desperate, stalking Brute, to that disappointing, clinging to scraps and fakes Brother Sect Leader?

To see those calculating, distrusting, mournful brown eyes? As weak as he is now? Not worthy to even be called Shixiong.)

Shen Jiu pauses, turning aways from where he can feel his body, where all those lies and expectations are, into a different direction, where death calls and the yin energy beacons any foolish or ambitious or both to answer.

He can feel it in his distant bones, trembling in his ghostly yin qi running through his spiritual body, his other choice.

The Gates of the City of Gu are about to open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note:

*Me looking at Airplane, his trust issues, his knowledge of just how fucked up his story could be, thinking of alllllll those wife plots and the trickery* No way this man didn't try a few ways to see if Shen QingQiu was possessed by something or another; not that he doubts the all knowing sword, but yeah, he doubts the fucking sword.

Also, if anyone were to find out that Airplane was technically the creator god, I headcanon people would assume he was a literary god who either gained too much power on accident or some other gods decided to fuck around for shits and giggles because they could.

Also, Shen Jiu would be smart enough to figure out about the system, even if he doesn't know exactly what it is, the concept he understands fucking terrifies him; no way would he go back into his body giving the choice, being so weak from without a cure and whatever the fuck the imposter did to it to where he can go back. He'll take his fucking chances.

(Besides... his Shidi like demons well enough, why not a Calamity?) :3

[savstan1]

i had to run it back with fem sqq and then there’s sqh bc i love her and i want them to fight and kiss,

[greentrickster]

Okay, so, been reading some good scumplane (OG!Shen Qingqiu/Airplane) lately, because in this house we support Airplane being loved by terrifying/terrifyingly hot men, but also, like... I do love Moshang just so so much as a ship.

And all this has awoken a mighty need in me.

A need for a Moshangjiu fic with scumplane getting established first and then bringing our favorite popsicle in on things.

Anyway, scenario! Shen Qingqiu starts noticing Shang Qinghua when they're disciples via the classic scenario of being smart enough to realize something is fishy about SQH being the only survivor of a demon attack, begins paying attention to his most anxious shidi, accidentally shows his most anxious shidi the simplest of Human Kindness, accidentally becomes shidi's favorite shixiong, accidentally becomes friends with shidi, accidentally catches feelings. Continues being a Sneaky Bastard in order to figure out what shidi is up to (and now also to confirm shidi is single).

Ah, shidi is entangled with an Ice Demon. This shixiong will make use of his scholarly peak's library to learn all and then decide to- wait. Wait, it's super violent by human standards, but is it- is this demon attempting to... court shidi?

...

Not if SQQ dates him first he's not!!!

There follows a whirlwind romance between SQQ and SQH where no one really knows what's going on, especially the two involved, it involves a lot of shit talking about everyone else in their lives, snacks, and accidental trauma bonding.

Also Airplane being Airplane and accidentally spilling that not only is he also kinda crushing (bad) on Mobei-jun, but also Mobei-jun's entire backstory and please, shixiong, I know it all looks bad but this shidi's house is literally the only place in the world it's completely safe for his king to sleep, everyone deserves to sleep without having to worry about their relatives murdering them for things that aren't their fault from time to time, right, shixiong???

Shen Qingqiu: ...goddammit, the demon's a fellow sad little meow meow. (only not in these exact words because he doesn't know these phrases, naturally)

In a wild, bold, and - dare I say it - shockingly sexy convolution of thought processes and ideas, SQQ manages to finagle SQH into letting him meet with MBJ (SQH nearly has a heart attack three times in the process but it's fine, it's cool, this is his life, this may as well happen, it's fine-).

SQQ: It has come to my attention that my shidi is spying for you on our sect.

MBJ: (glowering at SQH, who is cowering behind shixiong wondering how he got talked into all this)

SQQ: However it also appears that this is merely a cover story and the only thing you really do is use his room to nap. And also that you are quite fond of him.

SQH: (This is it, this is how I die. Again.)

MBJ: (...if I stare straight ahead and don't change my expression, no one will be able to tell that he's right)

SQQ: So anyway I think you should join Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.

MBJ: (gears grinding)

SQH: (squawking splutters of protest and confusion)

SQQ: (who speaks panicking!SQH at this point) Stop that, it's perfectly reasonable. He has the head disciple of our logistics peak under his thumb, it would be the simplest thing in the world for him to have you throw the sect into absolute chaos without even trying, then organize an attack, swoop in, and crush us all. He could have done it years ago, but he never has, he never even seems to initiate anything. I don't think he even cares about taking the Northern Throne, I think he's just incompetent about wanting to spend time with you. So he might as well just lie low until our shizuns ascend and then I'll take him on as a disciple on Qing Jing and you two can stop sneaking around like idiots.

MBJ: >8O

SQQ: Are you actually opposed?

MBJ: (folds arms and looks away sulkily, because like... it's true but you don't have to say it like that)

SQH: 8O ...reverse uno...

SQQ: What?

SQH: You're reverse unoing my blorbo!

SQQ: Quit making up word-

SQQ cannot continue because the System just presented the option to accept this potential new plot line (even if it does have the rather confusing title of 'Shidi Has Two Hands'), and holy shit, Mobei-jun seems to be potentially down for it, holy shit, apparently Mobei-jun actually likes me, holy shit, SQQ may have just solved all my problems-?!? This is great, this is fantastic, this is the best day of my life, this- is a long time I'm being allowed to be myself about all this, why is Shen shixiong not interrupting...?

Ah.

It is because I am kissing him full on the lips.

Cool cool cool.

At least I'm gonna die on a high note.

SQQ: O///O o_o (ahem) Shidi's- shidi's a really bad kisser.

SQH: Ah-haha, I can explain-

SQQ: We should work on that. Later.

SQH: (BEST DAY OF BOTH MY LIVES!!!)

MBJ: (I... did not actually hate watching that. Hm.)

Anyway, he agrees to the plan, SQQ and SQH start dating, some more time passes, the previous generation of peak lords ascend, the new generation take their places, and a week later Mobei-jun is an outer disciple of Qing Jing Peak.

The other peak lords are not amused, Qingqiu that is a demon, no.

SQQ: So what I'm hearing is that whole 'Cang Qiong will accept anyone from anywhere' philosophy was a lie then?

He's a demon!

SQQ: Children can't help where they're born. Now if you'll excuse me, I have classes to teach.

First lesson of the day is SQH and SQQ are a package deal, take it or leave it. Second lesson is no canoodling with Shang Shibo until you've finished with lessons and chores for the day. Third lesson is if you see any Bai Zhan disciples hassling our peak's disciples you can break their swords. Just snap 'em in half. Throw them off the peak. Don't kill them, but do make them cry.

SQH, meanwhile, has now seen MBJ in an outer disciple uniform and had a whole bunch of new awakenings on top of all the other things he already knew about himself.

And, in a twist of dramatic irony... Qing Jing's first disciple to ever have demonic heritage decides the dorms are a no-go after one night because, to him, they are broiling hot, how can anyone sleep in this heat, and chooses to go sleep in the wood shed instead.

[lady-asphodel]

[ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵛˢˢˢ ᵖʳᵒʲᵉᶜᵗ ➠ ʰᵉˡⁱˢⁱᵘᵐ- ʰᵉᵃᵛᵉⁿˢ' ˡᵉᵍᵃᶜʸ ]

So here's young Shang Qinghua's design. He's supposed to be twelvish at that time. It's very far from his original design but in this story he's God and supposed to be extremely beautiful. Also I wanted his young self to be distinct from how he'll be as an adult (which will look more like the og sqh)

If someone thinks that he looks like how some heavenly demons would be drawn. . . Well, let's say it is not as much as a coincidence as it would be eheh.

For the next fanarts, I think I'll do his and mbj's adult-selves. And, I'm still currently writing chapter 3. I'm switching between the Helisium and my Scumplane one-shot so it takes a little more time.

[nyoomerr]

What’s a rarepair you love but want separately from your main ship? Mine personally is OG!Shen Jiu/Shen Yuan because Shen Yuan’s wife beam is so strong I truly believe he could win him over 💪💪

mmm i don't think i have any ships that fit that bill, honestly 😅

i appreciate fandom bicycle sy!sqq, so i like most sy!sqq ships (i think mushen is probably the "rarest"?), but i'm also intolerably bingpilled... so if sy!sqq is going to be set up with someone else, it either needs to be harem style or a situation in which binghe is temporarily out of the picture (or a child) so i can imagine he joins in later, LOL

on the flip side, i don't like lbh with anyone but sy!sqq... even if it's a harem style where sy!sqq has multiple boyfriends, i don't much care for the harem to turn into a polyship - in my heart bingy only has eyes for one freak no matter what <3

so i don't really have any ships that would have to be kept quarantined from bingqiu/binggeyuan, regardless of rarity 😂

outside of them though, one rarepair i enjoy is scumplane! sqh as an unintimidating man who somehow knows how to avoid Every Single Landmine when it comes to handling sj since he's who wrote sj's backstory, and sj as a cold and scary beauty to fit sqh's tastes, lmao. i also think that sqh is one of the few characters morally ambivalent enough to overlook a lot of sj's behavior, in order to even reach a point of romantic interest.

[danmei-confessions]

I'm going to be completely honest. I don't like Bingqiu. I don't really know why I just don't. I remember when I first entered the fandom I kept trying to force myself to like it at least because there was so much content for it and not for the other ships. I lost interest in svsss because of it.

Then I re-entered late 2023 and went for rare pairs instead and I now adore svsss.

And I know the svsss fandom has the reputation of being accepting and letting everyone do what they want, but there's bad apples like every other fandom. I got an ask about Bingqiu once. It was someone asking if I could make something for it. I admitted that I didn't like Bingqiu, but I was willing to do any other ship they liked.

The og poster of the ask apologized (I told them it wasn't necessary) and then asked for something for Scumplane, which I did.

But then an anon (or multiple people using anon) kept spamming my inbox demanding I explain why I didn't like Bingqiu. I ignored the asks, but it only really annoyed so I never mentioned my dislike for the ship again.

I've tried to like Bingqiu. I really did. I just can't get behind the mom/dad/teacher/wife/etc thing they have going on. And I feel so guilty about it too because it's so popular 😭

.

[anachronismstellar]

🍄 🍬 ? For the ask game

🪲

ANOTHER ESSAY DONE LETS GOOOOO

ok ok

🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

Kinda Scumplane?

So, OG!SQQ knew how to play Go, but Cucumber didn't. So Airplane taught him how to do it, but Cucumber is not as good as Shen Jiu. Still Airplane lets him win sometimes just to see the image of Shen Jiu with a smile over the fan across a Go board like good times.

..... Now I made myself sad ;-;

🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character

....... Shit hmmm not SVSSS but MDZS: I did not care for the Xue Yang and his nonsense with Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan, and I kinda skip their part when I rewatch/re read mdzs....... :p I think is boring sorry

🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

From Airplane vs The System:

He didn’t panic. He refused to panic, because panicking meant that all his bad feelings about Mobei going after Linguang-Jun would be real, it meant that his husband was out Heavens know where and Shang Qinghua wouldn’t be able to reach him and help- Ok, he was panicking. “I need you to hold court,” he asked before Sha Hualing could even open the door properly, her hair still down from her sleeping.

Thank you for the ask Frozt!! :D

[domoz-writes]

Okayyy i added a few wips to the list (All scum villian)

The General At the End of the World - From this post - Cumplane - No Transmigration AU where SY discovers his sexuality via 400k of unposted MoBing

Shang Bros Fic (tbd) - From this post - (Eventual) OG!Scumplane - Shang Hua's little brother is terrifyingly smart, knows things he shouldn't, and is the most important person in the world.

Tartare - Moshang - Shang Qinghua does not leave after Mobei-jun's ascension on account of, um, the gaping gut wound.

An Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky - Gen - Airplane is pretty sure he had reasons why cultivators weren't just flying everywhere on their swords all the time. Like, why didn't the eagles just fly the hobbits to Mordor? Cause flying is hard, asshole! ...He's pretty good at it, though.

[vodkassassin]

I've been on a Scumplane/ Shen Jiu/Shang Qinghua kick again in between writing my NaNo so.... What are the thoughts of your OC peak lords on OG!Shen Qingqiu/Shang Qinghua?

Oh ho, alright~

If we’re going from top to bottom in numerical order, my peak lord OCs on the topic of Jiuplane|Scumplane…

Peak #8 (boys only club) Kang Qingxiu

KQX is a quiet type and he makes it a mission not to have opinions on things, for the simple reason that it’s too much of a headache most of the time. He’s very impartial on most subjects, but if he had to comment he’d admit he thinks they’re cute together. He’s never really thought much of SJ’s rumor-ridden reputation — they don’t talk personally all that much, if ever, so he doesn’t have much to say. However, KQX respects SQH a lot for his hard work to keep the sect running, so he’s happy for them.

Peak #9 (booze) Shui Qingyu

SQY thinks romantic relationships are hella weird and won’t touch them with a ten foot pole, but if these two are really enjoying each other like that then who is he to say anything about it? They can both hood their liquor extremely well so mad respect for them both. As a team, they’re a powerhouse.

Peak #10 (research & development) Chang Qingzhi

CQZ thinks it’s very sweet! SJ and SQH are both amazing people who have suffered incredibly difficult lives, and it’s so touching that they’ve found solace in each other! He’s very happy for them and wishes them the best. Even if SJ keeps glaring at him because he can’t keep the squealing down to a minimum :( he can’t help it ok? he’ll support them quietly from afar, then! :)

Peak #11 (beast taming) Ju Qingsong

They are adorable and JQS will go down with this ship. He will die on this hill. They’re perfect. Anyone who says anything about it can shut up and walk nice and obediently on the gaping maw of his very hungry Giant Razortooth Panther. Also, wouldn’t Jiuplane look SO CUTE if he just tucked an adorable little Basalt Tail Liger cub in their arms? SJ would have killed him with zero hesitation if it was before, but he’s weak and soft toward SQH’s happiness now, so maybe JQS could get away with it…

Peak #12 (agriculture) Rong Qingsheng

He’d be able to enjoy the view a lot more if JQS would just shut up :/ it’s hard to focus when some chatterbox is rambling nonstop in your ear. However, he will say that SJ and SQH make a very striking picture together, and it wouldn’t hurt to subtly stare at them for a little bit longer, right? They’re just so picturesque. Long and angular SJ with the smaller, slighter, fairy-like SQH clinging to his arm as they walk through the garden and fall leaves whirl around them gently in the wind… ah, sigh….. JQS please, you’re ruining the moment. Yes, ok, they would look cute with a baby animal yes, now shut up.

[danmei-confessions]

When I read svsss, I actually didn't know what the content was about nor did I read any sort of summary for the plot. I only read it because there is this one fanfic that's from a different fandom that was based on the books and I wanted more context and a sort of general idea of what I'm signing myself up for here.

You can imagine my surprise when apparently, the book was some sort of master/disciple ship with a whole lot of baggage and weird shit. I, uh, didn't like the main ship, and mainly focused on other ships, but I can still handle seeing it on my blog! Even if it's a bit much, sometimes...

See, the fanfic does have a bit of the teacher and student thing, but from what I understand, it's more like a tutor thing than an actual teacher student setting??? The "SY" and the "LBH" of the fanfic are practically the same age! They're more like best friends/sworn brothers! (Although the og goods("SY") was a bit more, uh, backstabbing than the rest of the brothers.)

So, uh, I just kind of focused on the other ships. I really do enjoy the fandom, just... I don't actually have a good opinion on the book itself. It's why I like reading pre-canon, pre-canon plot deviant and canon plot deviant that don't necessarily focus on ships. I like liushen and scumplane better, anyway. (And maybe a sprinkle of qijiu. Just a little)(Also, moshang has a special place in my heart. I will never get tired about hearing about them. Blame PINTWILF)

.

[k-l-ng]

Smart Shang Qinghua ? Check

Shen Jiu feels ? Check

Jiuplane/Scumplane ? Check

My highlight of the day !!

Beautiful Disaster AU

So, here I am, on a serious Shang Qinghua/Airplane bro binge because sometimes you just crave a thing and can't let go, and I ended up getting inspired by these two posts :) Link and Link So here I go.

Also, here is this poem that also inspired a thing and also gave the name for this AU~

`Beautiful Disaster~ By Nikita Gill If he tastes like the rainfall, Looks like a summer storm, Fights for you like a forest fire; he's a tornado of trouble. (And you need to hold on to him and never ever let him go.)

So yeah, I took a look at that, and thought it actually fit both Shen Jiu and SQH/Airplane well, if in different ways. (Shen Jiu the tornado and Airplane bro the forest fire, but oh, how SJ fights like lightening in a storm, ready to burn everything away, while SQH is tricky like the wind, saving most of his energy for when it really matters until you can't see anything past the wails and talismans.)

So yeah, watch me stumble into a scumplane with Ghost!Shen Jiu :3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It starts ever so simply, Shen Jiu watching as that fake is so happily accepted, all the other Peak Lords seeming to rejoice at having them there, even the disciples pleased and ever so willing to bark for the man wearing his face, the little beast practically panting after him every step he takes.

It disgusts him, makes him grind his teeth, makes him want to scream, shout, curse like he hasn't since he was just a desperate slave, how many visit his former home, his sanctuary now a cage of bamboo and frustration, rage, and bitterness. Watches how Peak Lord after Peak Lord visits, each charmed, some slowly, some in less than a second, guests of all types and titles leaving yet obviously wanting to stay.

All except for one.

"Ha-hahaaa, hello Peak Lord Shen, I'm here to deliver the order forms for the new training instruments and inkstones." The An Ding Peak Lord, Shang Qinghua laughs weakly, even as the fake narrows eyes at him over his favored fan. Shen Jiu glares, wishing he could rip it to shreds, throw it away, burn it so that it is no longer being defiled by this body snatcher.

"You may leave them with my disciples, Ming Fan or Binghe can take care of it." is the dismissive response of this other, lesser fake goods, even as Shen Jiu wants to scream.

"These are my duties; these are the responsibilities of a Peak Lord, you cannot hand them off to mere children, much less the beast." The real Shen QingQiu wants to howl, but it only comes out as whispered words through clenched teeth, the ghost not able to open his mouth for the anger choking him.

"Ah, about that my fellow Peak Lord, these contents are not for the eyes of disciples, I'll need your seal of approval on them as well." Shang Qinghua seems to wince, sounding rather apologetic, but it is this refusal that gains Shen Jiu's attention, actually surprised to hear someone being reasonable since the switch happened.

(The first time he's seen anyone actually refuse his cuckoo of a replacement.)

And is just in time to see the cold, cutting calculation the supposedly 'apologetic' man hides with his bowed head, before it is gone just as fast as he raises it.

It is the start of his interest in Shang Qinghua, that man he considered a rat in life, only to show just how clever he is after Shen Jiu died.

Watches how the man sneakily tests the fake, teas for cleansing snuck in here and there, talismans deceptively hidden in paintings, vases of flowers that detect malevolent, demonic energies.

And even with none of it being triped, the Fake able to somehow breeze past all these tests, Shang Qinghua still watches, guarded and suspicious, without ever letting his cuckoo even suspect it.

It is... gratifying, even if it is from that rat, to know someone still does not trust in what they see, that they too judge the fake and decide to actually question it. It is more than what his own disciples have done.

(It is more than what his Qi-ge has given, still ever so tolerant, ravished as he is for any crumbs, he can fucking get like the dogs they were.)

Changes only happen after what is apparently a disastrous conference, with intriguing, if terrifying secrets coming to light.

"Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky!"

"Peerless Cumber?!"

Hearing their words, it brings in new consideration for his circumstances, makes his already yin filled core seem to freeze at just what he is hearing.

Some kind of fate that forces you into another's dead body, chains one to follow it with little hope for change, even forcing a literary god from the sounds of it to be reborn into a human, never actually expecting their words to come to life, just trying to live as it were like any other storyteller from the streets.

(Remembers how any damage he does is just as quickly erased, as if it has never happened, as if there isn't a resentful ghost clawing at the walls, ready to destroy any in its way at the first chance it gets.)

Shang Qinghua, or Airplane as it were, visits more after that, plotting and planning with his bodysnatcher, who while he still hates, would be willing to gut if possible (but... can understand, so painfully understand being forced and chained, even if he was lucky enough his Masters were very much mortal at least).

But while there are no longer any suspicions in those eyes (the calculations are of course still there), they are instead replaced by a... mournful quality?

?

"Rest in Peace, Shen-Shixiong." is said in the middle of the night one day, when his fake has long since slept, the words like a whisper in the wind. In his mind's eye, he can smell the incense of sandalwood and jasmine, with an offering of melon seeds beside it...

...!

oh...

... Not once, not since he has been stuck in his home, has he heard his Shang-Shidi call the imposter Shixiong...

For that night, Shen Jiu stares at one of the pictures on the walls of his bamboo house, keen eyes seeing the subtle symbols for mourning on it, a subtle 9 easily hidden among the strokes if one was not a master like himself, the rage a quiet thing tonight as he thinks.

-

And then, one day, seemingly normal for all it is a quiet day at his peak, Shen Jiu finds that whatever was trapping him, caging him, chaining him to his bamboo house turned prison is gone.

He doesn't miss his chance, out the door before his mind can catch up, before he fully realizes he has been freed. It is only once he is off his mountain, out from that sect, away from everyone, that Shen Jiu realizes he has a choice.

He can feel it, he can feel his body even with the distance he is, knows exactly which direction to go if he wants to reclaim it. And he could, he could do so rather easily he can tell, whatever link between it and chained binding his imposter had gone...

...But why should he?

Why should he? Why should he go back to all those so willing to trade him for his knock off, why should he go back to people who will only be disappointed in the return of the 'old Shen-QingQiu' even if it is the true one.

Why should he debase himself to go crawling back to people in a body even more wrecked then his Qi-Deviation left it, all wanting something he is not and will never be?

(Go to see that panting, drooling Beast, to the desperate, stalking Brute, to that disappointing, clinging to scraps and fakes Brother Sect Leader?

To see those calculating, distrusting, mournful brown eyes? As weak as he is now? Not worthy to even be called Shixiong.)

Shen Jiu pauses, turning aways from where he can feel his body, where all those lies and expectations are, into a different direction, where death calls and the yin energy beacons any foolish or ambitious or both to answer.

He can feel it in his distant bones, trembling in his ghostly yin qi running through his spiritual body, his other choice.

The Gates of the City of Gu are about to open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's note:

*Me looking at Airplane, his trust issues, his knowledge of just how fucked up his story could be, thinking of alllllll those wife plots and the trickery* No way this man didn't try a few ways to see if Shen QingQiu was possessed by something or another; not that he doubts the all knowing sword, but yeah, he doubts the fucking sword.

Also, if anyone were to find out that Airplane was technically the creator god, I headcanon people would assume he was a literary god who either gained too much power on accident or some other gods decided to fuck around for shits and giggles because they could.

Also, Shen Jiu would be smart enough to figure out about the system, even if he doesn't know exactly what it is, the concept he understands fucking terrifies him; no way would he go back into his body giving the choice, being so weak from without a cure and whatever the fuck the imposter did to it to where he can go back. He'll take his fucking chances.

(Besides... his Shidi like demons well enough, why not a Calamity?) :3