#YQY needs a hug

[ceramicrambles]

Yue Qingyuan having every bone in his body broken and all his tendons snapped, crawling around the caves wretchedly clawing around for an exit because he needs to save Xiao Jiu. Yue Qingyuan being reformed but never truly feeling like his body is himself again. His mind screams at him that he died in those caves. That nothing should have survived what he did. His soul, now trapped in his sword, detached from himself and making him dissociate often.

Yue Qingyuan stark raving mad while standing in the ashes of the Qiu estate. Combing through debris until his hands are black with char. Searching tirelessly without sleep for days until his Shidi Mu Qingfang physically drags him from the rubble.

Yue Qingyuan, numbly letting himself become head disciple. Nothing is real anymore.

Yue Qingyuan finding Shen Qingqiu. It is the first time he has felt alive since the caves. Suddenly, it’s like he can breathe again. Like there’s a part of him still alive underneath the madness and disassociation.

Yue Qingyuan, feeling a jolt of satisfaction at every insult levied his way. Feeling alive each time Xiao Jiu waspishly destroys his character. Maybe he’s not happy. But happiness doesn’t crawl in his soul and live there the way this feeling does. It’s all encompassing want. It’s grief. It’s desire. He lives only in those fleeting moments where Xiao Jiu attacks him, and the rest of his life is a waiting period where he disappears and is dead in the cave again.

Yue Qingyuan, selfishly wishing Xiao Jiu would take his sword. Selfishly wishing he would draw it. Even if it uses up some life force, he wants his soul to be in Xiao Jiu’s pretty hands. He loves him so, so much.

There are long periods of stasis. Where Yue Qingyuan, unbeknownst to anyone but Mu Qingfang, simply lays in bed like a broken doll. His body is basically a husk anyways, with his sword containing so much of his soul. It’s all he can do to keep himself stitched together.

[patheticpeoplesupreme]

Yue Qingyuan and Shang Qinghua

Sqh looking at yqy’s pitfjul self being like

“I’m so sorry my son :,(“

—

“Zhangmen—shixiong?”

Yue Qingyuan jolts at the quiet voice, ah there—there was someone here, he should be more aware, stupid idiot…

He doesn’t turn around, simply just taking a deep breath and wiping his face, coughing away and deep emotions still tethered to his lungs, “Ah, Ahem, Forgive this one for improper behaviour. What… What brings you to this one’s office…”

Finally, he turns around to see the short peak lord carrying around a bunch of scrolls, a concerned look plastered on his face.

“Shang-shidi,” he smiles, “Thank you for submitting the paperwork quite early.”

“Haha.. I’m not like Liu-shidi. But… are you okay shixiong?”

His grip on

[hua-liansimp]

Thinking about how OG!SQQ would react if YQY actually formed a meaningful relationship with someone (other than him).

I'm thinking of someone who is or almost as influential as YQY, who can actually be a part of YQY's daily life. For example one of the other peak lords or someone from his own peak. Their relationship doesn't even have to appear romantic or start out that way (mostly because I believe YQY would just gently let down the person when he figures out their intentions), but strong friendship. Real friendship. Maybe they went on a mission together and they were drugged with truth serum and YQY ended up spilling all of his dirty secrets and feelings to this person, and now they have to be kept under close scrutiny (so they don't tell anyone about YQY's weakness). Except! Except they actually develop a relationship, a slow, genuine friendship through the months after (and when was the last time YQY actually opened up to someone? It feels... Strangely nice. YQY hasn't felt this light in years. His new friend is wrong about saying that YQY should tell SQQ what actually happened in the past, but it still feels nice to come clean). The other person doesn't give up on YQY, doesn't let him clam up and keep them out. (I think for this you really need someone who can actually bully YQY, but also someone YQY can feel like he can be useful to. Or perhaps even someone who reminds him of Xiao-Jiu? Someone who reminds him of one of the children from his own childhood?) Gradually, they start spending all of their time together, though it's almost always the other person who initiates it, not YQY. But he doesn't seem to mind it, not at all.

Their sect siblings and the disciples are watching - and behold, someone saw YQY laughing?! Genuine, inelegant, bark-like laughing?! YQY is seen hugged by this person, dragged around, manhandled, touched so freely as if he wasn't the Sect Leader?! YQY's smile sometimes turns strange when this person is around - were all of YQY's previous smiles fake?! You can't even run into YQY anymore without that other person present! They're like a pair of bonded cats! They're calling them the Twin Sect Leaders now!

The occasional visits to SQQ never stop, neither do the gifts, but SQQ is watching carefully. I don't think he would do anything at first, but it would hurt. He might think the other person is only trying to get close to YQY because he is the Sect Leader, maybe he thinks YQY is a naive idiot for letting them so close, but he is watching and he is wondering. Does YQY actually care for that person, instead of keeping them at arms-length like he seems to keep everyone? Is he being completely replaced? Scoff, it's a wonder it hasn't happened sooner.

Deep down, I think it might be hell for SQQ. Seeing someone occupy the space beside YQY that he used to occupy - Qi-ge seemingly has a new nearest and dearest, someone he can fully dote on again, someone he can devote all his time and annoying (fake) earnest sincerity to. He probably forgot about SQQ completely. Why would he even remember that dirty orphan who clung to him so pathetically? He has already left him in the dust once, so why does it feel like it is happening again? (I think SQQ might gradually work himself up enough to a) Leave the mountain b) kidnap YQY's new friend to make them come clear about their intentions or/and c) have a qi-deviation breakdown that almost kills him.)

Meanwhile YQY's new friend is trying to slowly push YQY into mending his broken relationship with SQQ or at least coming clean to him, for YQY's sake. Those idiots are clearly meant for each other.

[vodkassassin]

I'm dying over your SVSSS especially 'and I'm reminded of the simple life' you have taken my heart and stomped on it. I've reread it at least 2 dozen times in the last couple of months. And before that it was actually the fix that got me into svsss to begin with.(I followed you from your Naruto fics but that deserves a whole other rant)

It's incredible I adore all parts but especially the twist with you and sj's backstory the way sqh tried to save sj so hard. Even though we as readers know that the system probably took so many points away from him. Also mqf being the first one to really hug sqh the way he was so horrified over sqh blaming himself for his ribs??? I'm on the ground screaming. The sheer level of MUST PROTECT from all the other peak lords???? Yqy fully latching on to sqh as another little brother??? Mobi-jun practicing being gentle???? The way sqh is still so confused about what this going on??? The confession?????? I'm dying.

I cannot wait for a sqh chapter. I have so many questions??? What is the system doing in all this(I adore how it's just looking in the background adding to all of sqhs stress) how is it reacting?? Is the story he told yqy and sj almost the whole truth??? What prompted him to go after sj??? He needs so many hugs and I want all of them to give it to him. He should be hugged 24/7 ( I am dying for a sj hug even though I know thats probably a long way off if ever kind of thing). Also lqq is adorable I love him.

@haleingstorm thank you?!?! Tumblr totally ate this ask I can’t believe I never saw it until now!

I honestly have had so much fun with the plot of simple life. For a story that started out as a simple one shot, for it to have evolved into the 18 chapter (and counting!) monstrosity that it has become is just SUCH a trip. Amazing.

YQY’s POV was something I’d been looking forward to writing for a long time. I was super excited to actually get to that point in the story where I could finally share it and the reveal! The comments did not disappoint ☺️

It’s good to hear that so many people enjoy reading all the character interactions as much as I do writing them.

Plots of stories are all well and good, but in my humble opinion the relationships between the characters, and the characters own introspections, are a key component what makes stories so engaging.

Thanks for the ask <3 Feel free to leave as many as you like! ;D

[artsarasp]

Don't add it to the game, I honestly don't care. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEE check out The Sneaky Spy's Subtextual Self-Save-State Securing System by MysteryTeacup on ao3 (https://archiveofourown.org/works/52111114/chapters/131797675)

It's moshang, but honestly? It's mostly about sqh and what happens after you have been freed from the shackles of a ruthless system and yet you still have to live after the fall. It's such a good read. Has:

Competent sqh

Grieving + existencial crisis

OG lbg dealing with the Consequences™ of his actions

Mbj needs a hug and his man and a drink

How many OP people can we pack into this bad boy? YES

(it's on-going but keeps updating)

I would also recommend In Tune by Angry_gremlin_commando (shen jiu and mbj friendship + moshang + sj x yqy). It hasn't been uploaded in a while tho. But it's very good.

Thank you for the recs!!! I'll add them to my list :>

[tumbleweeddesktop]

I think the qiong ding peak disciples takes advantage of zzl low temp and hugs him a lot to cool down, as a result of this he usually turns half snake and the kids just lays on his tail and sometimes fell asleep there. Zzl doesn't bother cs it made him feel useful at least. But as a result zzl gets cold, like nearly shivers even during warm or even hot days cs he stays in the shade so as to not get his body temp high for the kids.

Yqy notices this, he doesn't scold the disciples cs them cooling down actually helps them learn and practice better. He still tells them to do it in moderation however, and may or may not have lowered their break time between trainings. But he still can't let zzl get cold.

So while the disciples train, yqy would spare some time to check on zzl (making up any sort of excuses), sit beside him, and then proceed to manhandle the snake to his lap. At first he asks for permission, but now zzl just pats the seat beside him and that was all yqy needs. Sometimes zzl would sit between his legs, yqy hugging him from the back. Other times zzl sit sideways on his lap to warm the front of his body. Yqy warms him with his qi (however that is) even though according to zzl he runs hot enough already and doesn't want to trouble yqy.

Both of them are still too shy for zzl to straddle him lest they get caught even though it's already an open secret what they do.

The disciples just leave them be. Giving them some extra time together. Besides, who doesn't like a chance to relax a bit during training?

[thegoldenavenger]

Reblogging bc I know I have a couple of yqy lovers here, but also here are some of my thoughts:

Soft but explicit loyalty

Big man, shaped for hugs and comfort

From the outside he seems like he has it all together: he's genial, smart, in control, and the most shixiong so when he shows up you know everything will be alright just by his mere presence

But HE'S NOT!!! He's lonely and hurting on the inside, terrified that he'll keep making the wrong choices and that he will mess up and that he will never be able to repent for the mistakes he's made

He believes he doomed the person most important to him. That he was so weak and flawed that he not being able to make it back was like. A moral failure.

So he makes up for this by doing what he thinks that person wants by letting himself get walked over even though neither of then want that!!! He's self flagellating!!!!

The quiet responsibility and melancholy he carries....

But he is, despite everything, ride or die. Like, "yes I know it's a trap but I will not abandon anyone again" and that does extend to his other sect brothers and sisters. He is a good leader!

Anyways, that's what I think is cool about the character, that intersection between living with an impossible guilt on your shoulders and somehow trying to live with it. In fics especially, seeing him bloom and grow by letting others start supporting him and learning how to actually listen to what they need and want is Very Nice

I have a question for Yue Qingyuan enjoyers that’s might sound bitchy but I promise is in good faith: what do you like about this man? Please pitch me on this character.

I’m writing a story that is going to be quite harsh towards him in some points, and I’m having difficulty gauging whether I’m being fair to him. Normally when I write stories that are quite harsh to a character, I like that character; YQY lies at the intersection of multiple personal pet peeves. It makes me second guess how I write his big character moments. I’m aiming for “character critical” versus “character bashing.” Also Jesus Christ this fic is easily going to pass 50k words.

[rarepears]

Please keep writing for SL and svsss, and no we are not tired of it (tbh I thought you would get tired of Svsss prompts so I have to hold myself back :/ but now that isn’t a problem :D)

Im up for a bit of angst soooo, SY and LBH are married but LBH cheated and decided to start a harem. SY wants no part of it so he leaves, he doesn’t go into a relationship straight away but he eventually starts to date some one else (LQG, YQY, MQF, etc. anyone you want). But they also cheat on him cause they fell in love with the peerless immortal SQQ facade and not SY (SY became comfortable with them enough to show them what he is really like).

Fast forward a couple more heartbreaks later, the OG! SQQ comes back and he is ANGRY. LBH and the other ex’s try to get with him, but because of SY they forgot that he actually isn’t nice and is, in fact, a dick. SJ finds out about what they did to SY and he shows them what he is really like. Que making their lives living hell because SY might be nice and caring but he is an absolute petty bitch that will use any advantage to bring you down.

SQQ and SY develop a pretty good friendship because of this and after a few years they decided to date (they won’t instantly jump in cause of past experiences and trauma). Everyone else sees their happy and stable relationship and start feel sorry about what they did to SY and SQQ in the past, but they don’t care anymore and go live their cottage core life 😌.

PS. Please make them REGRET hurting my baby SY

I'm going to flip some things around here.

Shen Yuan doesn't realize Luo Binghe's feeling for him. He thinks he's just the first person to join Binghe's harem, and this assumption is validated by the incoming stream of girls that Binghe is collecting. Shen Yuan assumes he's faded into the background of the harem enough that he skedaddles out of there before the harem really gets messy with poisoning and sabotage.

As for Luo Binghe, he was feeling emotionally unfulfilled by his relationship with Shen Yuan and Shen Yuan made all those comments about getting a harem, so Luo Binghe did what Shen Yuan said and got a harem. He was still left wanting because no one fulfilled all his desires of cuddling, holding hands, and fluff. It was all Binghe doing the giving, not other people cuddling and hugging Binghe after Binghe's bad day.

(Well, not to say that Shen Yuan didn't notice, but it wasn't anything different from before they established their relationship as lovers rather than Master and disciple! Plus, Luo Binghe may or may not have some very very unrealistic standards about how a romantic relationship should go after reading one too many overly possessive and kind of insane yandere love stories - you know exactly the type I'm talking about here where the ML is some 30 year old tyrant who usurped the throne from his older emperor brother in order to marry the beautiful 15 year old girl born to a concubine engaged to marry the crown prince by her power hungry father.)

Shen Yuan ends up sinking into a relationship with Liu Qingge. Now, it's not either parties' fault here, but their relationship doesn't hit 100%. Liu Qingge is in love with Shen Qingqiu, but he can't find that spark of personality in Shen Qingqiu in this amnesiac version of Shen Qingqiu. There's not enough bite, not enough vitriolic arrogance.

Shen Yuan is also not feeling great about this relationship because he can't convey his worries about his real family back in modern China or talk about how sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night feeling like he can't breath, that he needs an oxygen tube, that he can feel his chronic disease returning.

So yeah, that relationship just falls apart on its own. Sad sad.

Shen Yuan ends up finding comfort in his dreams where he dreams up of some man who fulfills all his needs in a romantic partner, yet for whatever reason, his dream can't figure out what this man is supposed to look like, so his mind just stamps his own face - the Shen Qingqiu face - onto this love interest. It's weird, Shen Yuan thinks, but okay he will take it. Shen Yuan proceeds to verbally vomit all his fears, thoughts, and past history onto this dream lover, and damn this is better than therapy.

There we have it: Shen Yuan X Shen Jiu relationship happens in Shen Yuan's dreamscape. Shen Yuan eventually realizes that he's actually interacting with Shen Jiu's ghost, pulls in Airplane to figure out how to get Shen Jiu a body, and they go off into the sunset.

Because Shen Jiu already has no good thoughts about Cang Qiong before his death and Shen Yuan's experience (replacing Shen Jiu with no one remaining suspicious about it all), Shen Jiu has no plans to reveal himself. As much as he would like to verbally flay into everyone, he values the long term gains than short term happiness, so he zips his mouth and grabs Shen Yuan out of the hornet nest.

As far as Cang Qiong knows, Shen Qingqiu just eloped with some stranger. Oh dear.

[ben-wisehart]

Shen Qingqiu didn't actually believe that the PIDW characters weren't real

I'm honestly not sure what the prevailing view on this is within the fandom, but one take I've seen from a few people seems to be that Shen Qingqiu in the beginning of the story thought of everyone else in the story as characters (with the possible exception of Shang Qinghua), not truly respecting their autonomy until toward the end of the novel. This is mostly in respect to Luo Binghe, but it's also applied more generally to the other characters as well.

I think this is an oversimplication, and it's related to something that SQQ struggles with throughout the novel; his desire to survive conflicting with his kind nature. His logic versus his compassion.

The thing is, it would be easier for SQQ to believe that Binghe and all the other people in the book aren't real people. If he and Shang Qinghua are the only living people in the world, then he doesn't need to feel guilty about the Endless Abyss plot. If Luo Binghe and all the other people in their lives are just simulated constructs, then SQQ can just survive by hugging the protagonist's thighs long enough to let his Dew Flower body grow, then fake his death and bounce, never to be seen again by anyone who knew him before.

His attitude, particularly at the beginning, does seem to reflect this view. He talks about his life like a video game. YQY is a quest-giving NPC. These villains have such low IQs. Binghe is the protagonist. This character is canon fodder. Activate easy mode.

The thing is, Shen Qingqiu never really acts like he truly believes this is the case. I'm sure he'd like to believe it. He'll argue in circles with himself and with the System about it, but as we all know, he's not honest about his true feelings with either himself or the reader.

Shen Qingqiu's actions do not reflect the mindset of somebody who thinks he's the only real person in the world and everyone else is a holodeck construct. He's constantly walking a thin line where he knows the wrong actions might get him killed, but even then, he chooses to put himself in danger constantly. He uses his magical leaves to save Binghe from Ming Fan and the other bullies literally the very same day he arrives, despite knowing there was a chance doing so would cost him every single one of his B-points (which would kill him). He takes the hit from Without-A-Cure. He takes the hit from Binghe's attacks in the dream world. He does all this with the full knowledge that Binghe is invincible and he is not. (And he even berates himself afterwards for thinking with his heart and not his brain)

Maybe you could argue that being kind and gentle with Binghe in general was a calculated move intended to get in Binghe's good graces before his rise to power, but getting in his good graces doesn't mean a thing if he dies before that point, and those moments when Shen Qingqiu only has a split second to make a decision are where his true feelings come through. Shen Qingqiu would like you to believe that he's just a guy motivated by his own survival, but he's not. And don't even get me started on his self-destruction. If all he wanted was to fake his death, he didn't need to make his final act as Shen Qingqiu sacrificing himself to save Luo Binghe from Xin Mo.

He cares about Binghe. Furthermore, he cares about everyone else. Once he's successfully got his Dew Flower body, the logical thing to do would be run off and plough fields somewhere for the rest of his life, but instead he joins up with Yang Yixuan to go and rescue Liu Mingyan despite the fact that doing so would put him right back into the middle of the same conflict he'd been trying to avoid. He literally cannot bring himself to stay out of the conflict, and this is literally impossible to reconcile with a Shen Qingqiu who doesn't believe in the personhood of anyone else. He understood that they were real, at least in some capacity, from Day 1.

What he does have are biases. He already has a particular version of events in his head, and they colour his perception of the people around him, especially Binghe. He's spent years living with the knowledge that Shen Qingqiu is a scum villain destined to be tortured by the protagonist. He knows that Luo Binghe will come out of the Abyss different from how he went in, and when Luo Binghe does come out changed, he thinks he already knows what that will look like, so it doesn't occur to him to look deeper than that.

He does develop some understanding of the difference he made in chapter 43 before he self-destructs, but because he still hasn't realised Luo Binghe's feelings, he draws the conclusion that the only result was making Binghe hate him more. I don't want to focus on this, but I feel like it would be a disservice to not bring up that SQQ also suffers from internalised homophobia. I mean, we don't know that much about his life before transmigration, but it's pretty obvious, and it adds a whole other element to how oblivious he was to Binghe's feelings.

For the most part, SQQ's meta knowledge from PIDW has been extremely useful to him, so it's not surprising that he should come to rely on it as a guide for understanding everyone else's intentions. Nor is it unusual that he starts to think of himself as knowing better than everyone else—because for the most part, he does. Once you also consider the fact that he's also Binghe's teacher, somebody responsible for him, you get a perfect storm in the form of a Shen Qingqiu who loves Binghe, but also doesn't trust him, treat him like an equal or believe he can make his own decisions until it's almost too late.

tl;dr: It's not that Shen Qingqiu acts as though the other characters are real but subconsciously thinks of them as characters. It is, in fact, the exact opposite of that.

SQQ has always known that the other characters are real, but through a variety of factors ranging from coping mechanisms to unconscious biases acts as if they're not sometimes.

[shimaen]

Bullet points here uvu - sj is still kinda the scum villain but not to the og level, now could mostly be negligence, Lbh just reminds him too much of his soft and caring A-yuan, and the memory just hurts him too much, he is not sure if he wants to destroy it or preserve it.

- Sy's presence shows an unknown side. To most people, of Yqy and Sj, Sj becomes more emotional and expressive. He is ashamed to say he cries easier. Yqy becomes more rigid/strict and kinda controlling. He lost Sy once, and he can let it happen again. He cares too much [ Note here! They both kinda go back to their bad habits as children, Sj was bad at managing his emotions, and that's why he used to lash out so frequently. Yqy repressed hard his emotions, preferring to focus on Sj's needs Sy helped them to understand their emotions and Express them more efficiently and in a healthier way When he disappeared, they still tried to manage their emotions, but it was less effective now that their emotional support was gone. After yqy gets to stay just with Sy and Sj, he just kinda breaks, this bear of a man Hugging Sy so tightly it kinda hurts, but he can feel how hard Yqy is trembling He is no sect leader this second He is the boy who lost someone precious to him, the one who searched day and night for a corpse to have some kind of closure but was left with nothing but the responsibility of being strong for the other person in his broke little family]

-The system needed to transport Sy's consciousness to the future but couldn't just let his body rot, so tree crystal it is. For Sy, it has only been some minutes since he went out, tho the system does put him up to date and informs him of his shituation

- Yqy, Sj and Sy don't see each other nor as brothers or parent/sons, mostly because for Yqy and Sj those type of figures have been tainted, and see no value on them at that time of their lives. They consider each other family and as a safe space.

Sy shizun au

Sy transmitting as a random rogue cultivator many years before the protagonist is even born.

He starts looking for the protagonist but in the way he finds a homeless child that just looks like him, they are not the exact same, but they could easily pass as family. He ends up helping out this child, he felt strangely attached to him, bringing him to his lil cabin near a forest, one of his many hidden safe zones.

The child, Sj, comes in a package with his older brother? Yqy. The 3 of them don't start as teacher and students, much less a parental figure, Sy is not a child, but he must be just 5 or 6 years older than them, but Sy becomes a safe space, he provides them with basic necessities and more.

They grow up respecting him, and he teaches them what he knows, and could be useful. Thing is, the system determines that his work in that era is done, and needs to send Sy to fix the next problem, so one day, 4 years later after meeting his 2 lil gremlins, he goes into the forest, just a normal fauna and flora exploration for Sy, he goes alone with almost nothing, after all he is not going far, they all know this.

But Sy doesn't come back.

They wait until midnight

They are still searching by sunrise

They are losing hope after a week

They think that he must have abandoned them, it was too good to be true, but it still doesn't makes sense, Sy left most of his stuff in their little cabin, all his money, his sword, his trinkets, his fan. If he abandoned them, why did he leave all his stuff too?

They don't want to think that he may have died. It isn't fair. They would prefer that Sy just abandoned them, but they know (they hope) that Sy isn't like that. Years pass, and the plot somehow reconnects, Sj becomes a peak lord, and Yqy the sect leader, they gave up searching a long time ago and just accepted the most probable "truth" Lbh enters the story, and in one of his night hunts, he separates from the group.

He ends up in a section of the forest that looks a bit wilder, somehow more mystical. He reaches a big tree, ancient looking, it almost looks alive, and in the middle of it, there is this crystal, ancient amber filled and pumping with energy, maybe the beating heart of the forest? And there is something in the middle, a figure seemingly sleeping, it looks like his shizun, but not quite, maybe a bit younger, even Lbh doesn't realize until he has his hand pressed against the crystal, blood from his earlier wounds accidentally smeared against the amber, and the figure opens its eyes.

Haha funny au Lbh helps a really confused and out of it Sy out of his amber cocoon and brings Sy to the were they were staying just to discover that his teammates went back to the sect without him So imagine the shock of an Sj that was going to look for his student when he Sees this child carrying a full adult that seems to be unconscious, he was going to scold lbh when he actually sees the face of the man, and it feels like time stopped

[tossawary]

Chapter 29: “The Ringing Bells” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” quotes and commentary. Not a full list of favorite quotes or full commentary.

-

It’s just been him, Yue Qingyuan, and the not-so-modest Qiong Ding entourage befitting Cang Qiong Mountain Sect’s leader. Shang Qinghua and Yue Qingyuan still haven’t talked about anything personal (Shang Qinghua kind of hopes they never will!), but putting up a united front and then putting up with other sects seems to have brought them closer together again.

If Shang Qinghua had given in to his idea of bringing a flask of emergency wine in his sleeve, they could have made a drinking game or something every time someone managed to “casually” mention that Zhao Hua Temple Sect’s barrier techniques were the best in the world. With that face Yue Qingyuan made after the third, ear-gouging hour of listening to a long line of Zhao Hua experts condescend to them about security measures that will surely stop invading demons in their tracks, Shang Qinghua would have bet the man could have been talked into it. Big Bro would have been down, he’s sure.

-

AN: There is something immensely amusing to me that Yue Qingyuan and Shang Qinghua of all people run this sect (like, sure, SQQ and WQW and the other peak lords do stuff too, but YQY and SQH seem to be the ones who actually deal with worldly affairs and interact with people). To me, they both have such “I don’t want to be here” energy. YQY would rather be thinking about his slow reconciliation with Shen Qingqiu, and SQH would rather be daydreaming about the sexy ice demon he’s been betraying the sect for for 20 years. 

But nooo, they have to be responsible. 

Yue Qingyuan nearly dying at the end of SVSSS to me had such... vibes of relief? This man is carrying SO MUCH stress over his position and his responsibilities and appearances, that his reaction to dying seems to be at least a little bit: “Oh, time to put everything down. I can give up. I don’t have to be the invincible sect leader above it all anymore. Thank goodness.” You can fit so much trauma and unhealthy ideation in this man! 

Which is, I think, why this connection between SQH and YQY was a little inevitable in this story. They’re both carrying so much stress and trauma, and doing their best to not let anyone see it, so they really relate to each other but... in a way that’s kind of one-sided on both parts? Because SQH isn’t supposed to know shit about YQY’s past or pressures. And YQY doesn’t have the full picture of what SQH is dealing with at all. After their fight after SQQ died and SQH coming forward about their invasion, SQH and YQY are finally getting to have some more direct connection, but neither of them are willing to put their masks down yet. It goes against their natures and their perceived duties (as sect leader and a transmigrator/traitor) to honestly confide in each other. 

YQY and SQH both kind of have a “I know better than you” thing going on here. Yue Qingyuan because he’s the sect leader and he’s been taught that he has to manage himself and everyone else. Shang Qinghua because he’s a transmigrator and also... the fallen creator god of this world? 

- 

Yue Qingyuan is apparently just as eager to make it home as Shang Qinghua is. Their travel pace puts them a full day ahead of schedule, and Yue Qingyuan courteously sends his youngest personal assistant ahead via flying sword to warn the sect.

“Shen-Shixiong and Wei-Shixiong will need time to hide the mess from all the parties they’ve been throwing in our absence,” Shang Qinghua jokes.

Yue Qingyuan looks at him with polite but concerned bemusement.

“Aha, never mind, I’ll just… go check the last report my head disciples sent me again.”

None of them are expecting the assistant, who flew off with all the energy and eagerness of youth, to return only a little over an hour later. The assistant is red in the face and panting for breath. He collapses in front of Yue Qingyuan.

“Shizun, I-! I turned back as soon as I saw- in the distance-! The sect was on fire! Qiong Ding Peak was on fire!”

Yue Qingyuan and Shang Qinghua exchange a look of shock. When Shang Qinghua joked at the beginning of their journey that the sect would probably set itself on fire without them there to do damage control, he really was only joking! He’s had way too much of the shit he says coming true on him!

-

AN: I don’t think I’ve mentioned this yet, but Yue Qingyuan’s youngest assistant is the kid that Shen Qingqiu shoved on him from the House of Rejuvenation mess. Qi Qingqi and Liu Qingge picked up Luo Fanli from that, Shen Qingqiu picked up Fu Qiang from that, and Yue Qingyuan got this kid. 

He doesn’t have a name yet, but he’ll probably get one at some point. Probably in Part 4 when Shen Yuan and Fu Qiang’s story comes to the forefront. 

-

“Shishu!”

Shang Qinghua turns and gets an armful of nephew. Binghe’s arms wrap around him with no care for the bandage around one of them and Binghe’s warm face is buried into his neck - he’s so tall now - to share his dirt stains.

Shang Qinghua has no idea what to do. He wants to hug his very huggable nephew, of course, but in front of so many people?! He can’t just shove Binghe away either! Luckily, Binghe seems to realize his mistake about two seconds after contact and launches away from Shang Qinghua, bowing deeply enough to hide his face completely.

“Apologies for tripping, Shishu!”

Shang Qinghua nearly laughs. “Ah, ah, it’s fine. It’s fine.”

This is probably one of the worst kept secrets in the sect, anyway.

-

AN: This is absolutely a reference to Binghe pulling this trick in SVSSS canon, only unlike SY, Shang Qinghua recognizes the excuse. 

-

Luo Binghe clears his throat and intervenes before his friend can accidentally kill Shang Qinghua with kindness or something. “The demon saintess Sha Hualing and her followers attacked.”

“Oh,” Shang Qinghua says, relaxing a little.

 “Is that all?” he thinks. “Phew! Earlier than I was expecting, but okay!”

-

AN: It’s very funny to me to have CQMS going, “Demon attack! Demon attack! Totally unexpected demon attack!” And Shang Qinghua going, “Shit, I think I put that down on my calendar wrong. Did I put that down on my calendar...?” 

-

This apparently prompted Liu Mingyan and Luo Fanli to volunteer at the same time.

“They looked like they were going to argue over it, at first, or even fight over it,” Luo Binghe says. “Qi-Shigu and Liu-Shishu didn’t seem to want to let them fight, but they just ignored them and almost started a quick hand-game over who would get to fight. And then the demoness said… she said… she...”

“What?” Shang Qinghua asks.

Ning Yingying lifts her nose to the sky and declares, “She said: ‘If I get a say in this, I want to fight the pretty one in the veil, and not the old lady!’ So rude!”

“...Ah,” Shang Qinghua says again.

That explains the awkward grimace Binghe is making right now.

“Liu-Shijie and Luo-Shijie froze, then Luo-Shijie just looked at Shizun and Qi-Shigu and Liu-Shishu,” Ning Yingying continues. “ Snap! And then it was really quiet. And then Shizun said, ‘I’ll allow it.’ And Qi-Shigu and Liu-Shishu and even Liu-Shijie didn’t say anything.”

“Of course not! Shizun outranks them,” Ming Fan says.

As though that has ever honestly mattered to Liu Qingge or Qi Qingqi.

“So she got to fight the demoness,” Luo Binghe says, like it was a foregone conclusion that his stubborn auntie would get what she wanted. Who’s surprised about this? Not this long-suffering nephew!

-

AN: So, Sha Hualing made the “old lady” joke in front of 1) Qi Qingqi, Luo Fanli’s teacher who knows about her student’s past with the House of Rejuvenation, 2) Liu Mingyan, Luo Fanli’s friend who either knows about it or recognizes that LFL is touchy about her age, 3) Liu Qingge, LFL’s brother-in-law who also knows, and 4) Shen Qingqiu, who was THERE and that’s how they met. 

So, there’s sort of a collective, “If we don’t let Luo Fanli try to beat the shit out of this demon girl, we will never hear the fucking end of it,” here. 

Also, as soon as I made Luo Fanli into Liu Qingge’s apprentice of sorts, there was no way that she was NOT going to want to fight Sha Hualing, and it seemed a good way to shake things up from canon while also doing some stuff with the Fanli & Binghe relationship. I’m really trying to breathe new life into all the scenes that I’m redoing from SVSSS. 

-

“She kicked that demoness’ ass!” Ning Yingying squeals.  

“Ning Yingying!” Ming Fan hisses.

Shang Qinghua snorts. “Oh? Really?”

“It was rough,” Luo Binghe says, while Ning Yingying and Ming Fan both turn bright red realizing what she just said in front of a Peak Lord. Binghe, however, has totally heard Shang Qinghua say way worse than that. “The demoness was really good and really mean, and she kept getting up even after she got slammed into the ground, but eventually she got pinned and had to forfeit to keep her head. Fanli is still mostly in one piece. She’s over there right now with Mu-Shishu and Liu-Shishu.”

Shang Qinghua follows his nephew’s finger, then winces. His little sister-in-law looks pretty roughed up, her face is beginning to swell and she’s got a lot of claw marks, but she’s grinning up at Liu Qingge. Liu Qingge looks totally fine, besides some flecks of blood that must belong to other people, and is smiling down at her.

Mu Qingfang looks less than enthusiastic about all this as he treats Luo Fanli’s injuries of victory.

Aha, yeah, Liu Qingge is definitely the one explaining this to Luo Jiahui later.

-

AN: I really like building and having built up all these relationships. I like giving Binghe friends, even if they’re friends that he kind of runs rings around given his manipulative tendencies (NYY and MF rely on just grabbing him at this point and relying on sheer force of obliviousness/authority). I like giving Liu Qingge more connections in the form of Luo Fanli and Mu Qingfang too. 

This cast is... so big at this point. I didn’t really expect this when I started. 

-

Inside the cell is… a bloody demon girl who looks about fifteen-ish (sixteen-ish, maybe?), with dark hair in many braids, a sharp face and a sharper stare, and clothing that looks like it was made out of not nearly enough silk ribbons. Ah, wow, that’s way more skin than Shang Qinghua ever wanted to see of Sha Hualing. No jewelry at all, though, not even a belt. Not even boots or even slippers. Just lots of blood splatter.

Both Sha Hualing’s arms and legs have been restrained. She’s also been muzzled, though that doesn’t stop her from showing off her teeth in the least happy-looking smile anyone has ever smiled. There’s blood in Sha Hualing’s teeth! That’s blood there smeared around her mouth!

Qi Qingqi is in the cell too, utterly unimpressed, making sure that Sha Hualing is properly restrained and even treating an injury on the girl’s thigh. Demons are pretty tough, Sha Hualing would probably be fine, but Shang Qinghua supposes they can at least be a little kind toward the poor disciple who’ll have to mop the floors here later.

“So good of you to finally join us,” Shen Qingqiu says to Shang Qinghua. His voice is dry, as usual, but it might be missing its worst sharp edges? The man seems pleased at having caught himself a demon.

“Ah, I didn’t want to show up the sect leader with my speed,” Shang Qinghua replies.

That gets an amused look from Yue Qingyuan. “Let us speak elsewhere,” he says, politely admonishing everyone to shut up in front of their guest. “Qi-Shimei?”

“A moment,” Qi Qingqi says.

“Oh, don’t leave me all alooone,” Sha Hualing says, only slightly muffled by the muzzle, her eyes going wide and scared. “I’ll behave! This is really too much! These restraints are hurting me. Please… it’s making it hard for me to breathe, please…”  

Qi Qingqi ignores her and finishes up her work.

Yue Qingyuan lets the Xian Shu Peak Lord out and then seals the cell behind her. Shang Qinghua is familiar with those seals and yeah, there’s very little chance Sha Hualing is getting out of there on her own. The demoness complains loudly about being left behind in a cold and lonely cell. Shang Qinghua can still hear her wailing as Yue Qingyuan instructs the guards on, mainly, not letting anyone in and not taking any of Sha Hualing’s bait no matter what lies she tells.

If anyone gets “seduced” by that teenage girl - a trick pulled many times by the wily Sha Hualing in Proud Immortal Demon Way - Shang Qinghua is going to be so disappointed. Surprised? Not really! But still… depressingly disappointed!

- 

AN: It was... hm... important to me that none of the characters here actually sexualize Sha Hualing or disregard the fact that she’s very young to them. In his narration, Shang Qinghua mentions her skimpy clothes and the possibility of her seducing a guard, but it’s with the casual detachment of someone who was writing a stallion novel and knows the tropes. 

I wanted to focus more on the fact that Sha Hualing is not just a “wife character”, but an extremely dangerous non-human individual and already a minor political player, if currently trying to play outside her league. She’s an enemy. Also, just because she is currently playing outside her league doesn’t mean that she’s not dangerous and shouldn’t be taken seriously. 

All she needs is someone to get close and she will inflict life-long injuries. 

I also wanted to use her here for some Mobei-Jun stuff, which I’ll talk about later when I get to the Mobei-Jun part. 

-

“Shang-Shidi, do you recognize any of these materials?” Shen Qingqiu asks next, like he’s reading Shang Qinghua’s mind now! He looks so unimpressed by Shang Qinghua’s startle. “You are, after all, one of our experts on tracking down the source of such strange things.”

“Aha, off the top of my head? I couldn’t say! But… I would suspect part of this weapon came from the far north of the Demon Realm...”

Wei Qingwei finally looks up. “I would make the same guess,” he says, like a real bro. “If only this weapon hadn’t broken, we could have tested its limits of disruption! But our plans have been disrupted there… I’d like to see how something like this would go up against the different types of barriers out there.”

“Zhao Hua Temple’s barriers, perhaps?” Shen Qingqiu suggests.

Yue Qingyuan audibly sighs.

“Of course, they won’t wish to see proof that there are demon lords preparing to invade,” Shen Qingqiu says icily. “How remiss of me to forget that fact. What does it matter if a demon lord’s daughter was swinging around a previously unseen weapon like a child’s favorite new toy?”

-

AN: So, when I say that I want to breathe new life into the canon scenes that I’m redoing and reinterpreting, my goal for this one was to really... build up the upcoming Immortal Alliance Conference and actually connect Sha Hualing’s invasion to... well... anything. 

In SVSSS, Sha Hualing’s invasion happening is just following PIDW events apparently, and SVSSS in my opinion isn’t... really too interested in PIDW worldbuilding or Sha Hualing’s character from the standpoint that this really is a real world now. It’s all about Shen Yuan reliving the PIDW plot. 

So, if I’ve put 200,000+ words at this point into actually trying to establish that this is a real world, these are real people, there are real long-lasting politics and sect relations, that world elements aren’t just spawning into existence when the plot needs them and exist now, even if I’ve been doing so kind of as a joke because I think it’s funny to make Shang Qinghua deal with that, I wanted to actually try to place and connect Sha Hualing’s invasion to other story elements and place Sha Hualing’s character in relation to the others. 

Here, Sha Hualing’s invasion is a spoiled and violent child looking to make herself look good and cause trouble, as it is in SVSSS, but here it’s emphasized that Sha Hualing really is 1) a child, 2) a demon lord’s child, and 3) a future demon lord herself. And Sha Hualing is showing off her family’s inventions in preparation for the Immortal Alliance Conference. This is a move that has consequences for her and for Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, and will continue to have consequences for her (partially indebted to MBJ’s clan) and for Cang Qing Mountain Sect (it makes them look bad in front of the other Great Sects). 

-

“Shang-Shidi, do you recognize any of these materials?” Shen Qingqiu asks next, like he’s reading Shang Qinghua’s mind now! He looks so unimpressed by Shang Qinghua’s startle. “You are, after all, one of our experts on tracking down the source of such strange things.”

“Aha, off the top of my head? I couldn’t say! But… I would suspect part of this weapon came from the far north of the Demon Realm...”

Wei Qingwei finally looks up. “I would make the same guess,” he says, like a real bro. “If only this weapon hadn’t broken, we could have tested its limits of disruption! But our plans have been disrupted there… I’d like to see how something like this would go up against the different types of barriers out there.”

“Zhao Hua Temple’s barriers, perhaps?” Shen Qingqiu suggests.

Yue Qingyuan audibly sighs.

“Of course, they won’t wish to see proof that there are demon lords preparing to invade,” Shen Qingqiu says icily. “How remiss of me to forget that fact. What does it matter if a demon lord’s daughter was swinging around a previously unseen weapon like a child’s favorite new toy?”

-

AN: Me to myself: “...Is there canonical evidence that Mobei-Jun can read and write???” Because, like, the impression I get from this guy is that he basically raised himself and barely survived, so the System could interpret that to make an AU in which MBJ never learned to read or write. 

Mobei-Jun can read and write in “pride is not the word I’m looking for”, Shang Qinghua is just exaggerating here because he’s a little miffed. 

But it’s kind of tempting to write an AU now in which SQH realizes early-on in knowing MBJ that... his king can’t really read or write... his upbringing was so shitty and his father was so careless that MBJ never learned more than a few words that he picked up from context. That’s fucking horrifying. MBJ’s poor socialization and communication levels reach new heights! 

-

“It’s just that something like that happened before, remember, Uncle?” Binghe presses. “With the skinner demon? That same light and that same warm, almost burning feeling! It was different this time - that weapon wasn’t going to hit me, I was blocking it; I know that I was blocking it the right way - but it’s too similar, isn’t it?”

“It’s… very similar,” Shang Qinghua agrees slowly.

 “System?! Bro?! This is your fault!” he thinks. “Why the fuck are you leaving these explanations to me?! If you take points off me for any of this, you piece of shit, I’m going to find a way to strangle you, I swear! Preemptively: fuck off!”

Shang Qinghua lets himself visibly think about, trying to figure out what the fuck to say here. Binghe looks up at him like he’s trying to see into Shang Qinghua’s head to watch his thoughts come together. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a man all of a sudden! Binghe is too clever to be easily fooled by weak bullshit! How is a man supposed to come up with a decent lie under these circumstances?

“Well, ah, it’s happened when you’ve come into contact with demons who are trying to kill you, so it seems like it’s… some kind of unique reaction between that demonic energy and your spiritual energy,” Shang Qinghua says finally, because it’s better than explaining that there’s some shitty, no-good god-like being invested in a predestined plot. “Strange things happen sometimes in life-or-death situations, you know. Cultivators can accidentally pull off great feats sometimes when they’re desperate or panicked, without knowing how they did it.”

Binghe doesn’t look very reassured. Which makes sense, because a long-winded way of saying “I don’t know, it sounds like a freak accident to me” isn’t really reassuring.

-

AN: This, plus Sha Hualing’s invasion, is about Shang Qinghua’s coming up against the consequences of his choices. He can’t really have everything at once! He’s managed to have a lot all at once so far, but the time for Binghe’s demon reveal is coming closer, and Shang Qinghua is going to have to make some tough decisions and live with them. He’s going to have to deal with the people in his life having opinions on his tough decisions. 

Shang Qinghua is trying to keep the System happy, with his eyes on the end goal of keeping Binghe out of the Abyss, which makes him unwilling to take certain risks deviating from the plot. But, if you’re looking at it from the perspective of someone who doesn’t know about the System or the plot, Shang Qinghua’s decision-making seems completely illogical. 

Binghe is too clever not to at least notice that there’s some bullshit happening here. He doesn’t know what his uncle isn’t telling him, but Shang Qinghua isn’t the greatest bold-faced liar, so he knows there’s something. 

- 

At the end of the day, Shang Qinghua leaves his fellow Peak Lords (Shen Qingqiu, Qi Qingqi, Liu Qingge, and Tang Qingling) arguing in circles over cold trails (Yue Qingyuan is stuck refereeing, poor bastard). He returns to his Leisure House and finds a familiar ice demon lounging in his sitting room, eating some of his snacks.

“My king, did you help Sha Hualing escape?!” Shang Qinghua demands.

“She did not contribute,” Mobei-Jun answers.

Mobei-Jun looks good, like breaking in and out of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect last night was no trouble for him. Why would it be any trouble for him? He’s been doing it for years and years without getting caught, after all!

“How did you bypass the cell’s seals so cleanly?” Shang Qinghua wonders, as he puts some papers aside and kicks off his boots.

The cell doors hadn’t been ripped off its hinges, just… taken off like they were never attached… which combined with the ice-related injuries on the guards, plus the fact that the intruder slipped in like a shadow and left the same way, kind of gave the whole thing away.

Mobei-Jun raises his eyebrows. “You have shown me many such protections.”

“Ah… yeah… I guess I did do that.”

-

AN: Presenting Sha Hualing as I did: a dangerous and political figure even though she’s only a teenager, was also meant to reflect on Shang Qinghua’s relationship with Mobei-Jun. Mobei-Jun is the enemy. Mobei-Jun may be on Shang Qinghua’s side and his own side, but he is not on Cang Qiong Mountain Sect’s side and he has loyalties to people in direct opposition to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. 

Sha Hualing is, in many ways, Mobei-Jun’s people. He’s completely unfazed by her violence. To him, Sha Hualing’s behavior is normal and expected, if the foolishness and arrogance of someone trying to act grown-up. He is not human. He is from a completely different world to Shang Qinghua. 

And their separate worlds are now colliding. 

Shang Qinghua really can’t have everything he wants here. He’s a traitor and, realistically, he can’t expect that not to come out sooner or later. He’s making decisions for the sect (releasing SHL to prevent another demon invasion (and also to keep the plot on track)) that Yue Qingyuan might have agreed with if he knew the full picture of SQH’s spying (all he knows at the moment is that SQH has informants), but that YQY doesn’t know about and so can’t agree with, so SQH is acting beyond his authority letting MBJ break SHL out. 

It’s a mess! It’s not sustainable! Shang Qinghua’s old character role and his new character role can’t continue to coexist like this. 

-

Thinking of worrying unnecessarily, desperate to change the subject away from the looming plot, Shang Qinghua brings up the very important subject of Mobei-Jun possibly, maybe, if he has the time, letting him know when to expect him, when he’s going somewhere, and when he’ll be back. He’s brought this up before, though mostly in a “my king, this humble servant would really appreciate it if you at least learned to knock, but if that’s too much to ask, it’s fine, it’s really fine, never mind, forget I brought it up” kind of way.

He only realizes just how daring it sounds after he says it! He’s always kind of figured that the proud Mobei-Jun would take offense to the concept of being at Shang Qinghua’s beck and call in any way. Why would Mobei-Jun need to explain himself?

“Why?” Mobei-Jun even says.

“...Why?” Shang Qinghua repeats, kind of hoping that he wouldn't have to explain the things he asks for. Mobei-Jun said he could ask for things, but he has to explain himself too? That's really too much. “I didn’t get to see you at all while I was gone! I got back and I didn’t know when I’d get to see you again, my king.”

This gets him another random pinch to the cheek, but it also gets him another surprising kiss. Mobei-Jun is apparently not even a little bit offended by this request. So it’s fine! This one thing, at least, is really fine.

-

AN: But Mobei-Jun is also becoming one of SQH’s rocks in many ways! This relationship is new and exciting and comforting! Giving up or betraying Mobei-Jun is completely out of the question for Shang Qinghua. 

I’m kind of fucking loving these secret forbidden romance vibes. 

If Shang Qinghua asked, Mobei-Jun would whisk him away from everything right now, but he understands that Shang Qinghua needs to be here for his nephew, his sister-in-laws, and his students. With his father as king, Mobei-Jun doesn’t have the position or authority yet to make any kind of peace with CQMS. MBJ’s relationship with SQH could get him in deep shit with his father, with his uncle, and with other demon lords. 

Shang Qinghua is a filthy traitor and he’s dragging MBJ down with him. 

[delicioussshame]

Everything I write is for me, but this is a LQG/SQQ/YQY AU where plant!SQQ returns right back to the sect is Very for me. Sequel to this, kind of.

Shen Qingqiu lets himself in Liu Qingge’s private chambers with the ease of someone who is certain of his welcome, even if he isn’t.

He finds Liu Qingge so deep in cultivation that he isn't disturbed by his arrival. It's not a first, they were close enough that Liu Qingge sometimes dropped his defense, but it's rare.

He opens his mouth, but no sound comes out. What to say? Anything could have happened since the last time they all saw each other. Maybe Liu Qingge moved on. Maybe Shen Qingqiu has been forgotten.

Liu Qingge doesn't strike him as someone fickle. Surely he remembers the promise Shen Qingqiu had made?

Still.

Liu Qingge's eyes shoot open. "Who is here.”

Shen Qingqiu waves awkwardly. “Hello Shidi. It’s me.”

…He should have thought this through, shouldn’t he? What can he tell Liu Qingge after all that happened?

Before he can find the right words, if they exist, he finds himself trapped in Liu Qingge’s inexorable hold.

It’s so familiar it hurts.

Very few things have been familiar since Shen Qingqiu woke up.

Shen Qingqiu hugs Liu Qingge backs, relishing in the feeling of safety for a moment. It’s been dearly missed.

“Why did it take so long?”

Shen Qingqiu shrugs as best he can. “I have no idea. If I could have returned faster, I would have, I swear. It wasn’t especially fun.”

Liu Qingge pushes him back and takes a good look at his face. “You look like you.”

“A bit.” He hesitates. “It’s not too strange, is it?”

“No. It’s fine.” Visible guilt passes over Liu Qingge’s face. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t get your body back.”

Shen Qingqiu frowns. “It’s not here at the sect? Where is it? Anyway, I don’t care. I have no need for it.”

“Luo Binghe kept it. He’s been doing… who knows what with it. It’s not right. I will return it to the sect.”

Shen Qingqiu shakes his head. “Don’t bother. You must know how dangerous Luo Binghe can be now. Why risk it? If he wants my body, he can have it. It’s all he has left.”

Liu Qingge flushes in anger. “He doesn’t deserve it! It’s his fault you were reduced to this!”

Shen Qingqiu gestures in appeasement. “Now now, let’s not get angry at things that can’t be helped.”

“So you’ve said. Now that you’re back, are you finally going to explain? I still think we could have taken him out.”

Shen Qingqiu has no desire to explain more than the strict minimum about his situation. He has told Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge as little as he could get away with regarding his plans for his “death”, and he’d like to keep it that way, thanks. He can’t tell them more without revealing too much of himself, and if they can’t accept him… No.

“This is something I would also like to know more about.”

Shen Qingqiu should be more startled by Yue Qingyuan’s appearance, but again, he just feels like things are finally right. “Shixiong.”

Yue Qingyuan grasps his face and stares at him. His eyes take on a wet sheen as his hands learn the new planes of Shen Qingqiu’s face. “Qingqiu is back. He was sorely missed.”

Shen Qingqiu opens his mouth, trying once more to say something that could express how sorry he is for inflicting this on them all, how he wishes he could tell them the truth, how he missed them just as much.

Instead, Yue Qingyuan kisses him.

Shen Qingqiu kisses back eagerly. He’s been lonely, away from his peak, afraid of failing, of what Luo Binghe would do, of never getting to do this again. Being so obviously wanted is lifting, and just as welcome as Liu Qingge pulling him away to have his share.

It’s hard to ignore the edge of desperation in Liu Qingge’s grasp or the almost violent way he’s kissing him, and harder not to respond in kind.

He has no desire not to.

Intellectually, he knows this is not what they should be doing right now. It’s not like Luo Binghe is dead. They’ll have to decide whether to do something about him. They’ll have to get Shen Qingqiu some sort of backstory, maybe a reason to remain at the sect. He will eventually have to convince them that trying to eliminate Luo Binghe would be pointless and ultimately bring only ruin.

He knows, but he can’t say no to this. Not after so long. He can’t free himself from Liu Qingge’s inflexible embrace, nor from Yue Qingyuan’s overflowing gaze.

They must feel something similar, because they don’t complain when Shen Qingqiu kisses back with more intensity, when he can’t help but go looking for the warmth of their skin against his. It’s been so long since he felt someone else.

“It’s rare for Qingqiu to be this enterprising. He must have missed us.”

Like Shen Qingqiu can’t her the tremor in his voice.

Just this once. “I did. Didn’t you?”

"You really are Shen Qingqiu. No one else would ask something this obvious."

His laugh might have a hint of hysteria in it. Hopefully Liu Qingge won't have noticed.

"Qingqiu" is whispered like a prayer in his ear as Yue Qingyuan divests him of his robes, or tries to. He’s clumsy tonight, courtesy of his current state of mind.

Shen Qinqqiu can’t blame him. He’s equally affected by how affected he is, if that makes any sense.

Yue Qingyuan kisses him again. “Now that Qingqiu-shidi is back, we’ll never let him leave again.”

Shen Qingqiu manages to free himself long enough to answer. “Good thing I don’t want to leave then.”

Liu Qingge pushes him down on his bed before straddling him. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“I just said I wouldn’t.”

Liu Qingge ignores him in favour of opening himself up almost harshly.

Shen Qingqiu can only hold on to Liu Qingge’s hips not to urge him on. If he’s any rougher, Liu Qingge will hurt himself, and the last thing Shen Qingqiu wants is to hurt him further.

Then again, who knows how things might have changed during those years he spent away. Maybe Liu Qingge is now so practised Shen Qingqiu could slip right in without issue.

Maybe it will be the first time in months he lets someone take him.

Shen Qingqiu has to find out.

Yue Qingyuan slaps his hands away before tangling their fingers. “He’s been waiting for so long. Let him have this just as he wants it.”

“You’re fine with it?” Yue Qingyuan’s love runs so deep Shen Qingqiu can’t imagine he will happily keep to himself until his turns come.

“Qingqiu is here, with us. I have everything I need. The rest can wait.”

Oh.

Shen Qingqiu can only squeeze Yue Qingyuan’s hand harder and curse whatever went wrong for him to remain buried for so long.

He’s shocked out of his regrets by Liu Qingge’s yielding body sinking on him, dragging him right back to the present and the marvel of human musculature that is his lover. Years have had nothing on Liu Qingge’s almost otherworldly beauty, nor on his flawless physique.

He does, however, bears a few more scars, which is just another reminder of all the times he wasn’t where he was needed.

Did Luo Binghe inflict them to his shishu?

This is a path he can’t take, not right now. Not when Liu Qingge is riding him so well, using his strength in a way no one would dare think him capable of to impale himself on Shen Qingqiu like he’s been dreaming of nothing else since the last night they spent together.

Maybe he’s not the only one.

The nails of Shen Qingiqu’s left hand are digging in Yue Qingyuan’s own, while his right feels muscles work in Liu Qingge’s rock-hard thigh for a moment before finding its way to where Liu Qingge will enjoy it most.

Liu Qingge growls and sets an even more punishing pace, sweat rolling down his torso tantalisingly.

It should be more than enough to scramble Shen Qingqiu’s brain completely, and yet, even now, even with Liu Qingge fucking himself on his cock like he couldn’t live without it and with Yue Qingyuan practically vibrating by his side, his hold on Shen Qingqiu’s hand almost painful, all he can think about is how desperately he missed them. How he wishes he could promise he would give them this every night for the rest of their very long life, and have them reciprocate.

Luo Binghe still lives, so nothing is certain, but they’ve made the first steps in the right direction. Shen Qingqiu is dead. Shen Qingqiu is here, alive and well with those he cares about. They’ll make it work. He’ll make it work. He swears it.

Those are the last coherent thoughts he has before his mind is cleared of all thoughts.

[threadsunlightthroughmyfingers]

I was in a super sleep deprived haze when I was wondering how to make my fic (sea foam and grenades) tragic-er (because the entire thing is slowly morphing into how the PIDW world is really ancient Chinese xianxia-westeros, and my gremlin brain just went: what if Shang Qinghua had an addiction?

Now, I don't think I'll write that into my main fic, but I began wondering about how that would even work. Like, if the system is a thing, then would it keep SQH in check? Or would it not?

So here's an...idea. So SQH, the child of two terrible childhoods, SQH of sleep deprivition and split loyalties, has a particularly bad day and he wants the equivalent of coffee. So he takes some time and hunts that down (it was from a wife-plot, of course it was) and at first, it's okay? It's an energy drink, basically like coffee most of the time, and he's on top of things for a while. In fact, it's better than coffee, because a side effect of the drink is emotional regulation, which tones down his general anxiety, guilt, and massive amounts of depression. So he's feeling great, the best he's been since...forever. Since before death, really. He's never been so productive, and someone (maybe YQY, maybe QQQ) tells him they've never seen such producitivity from him, and he begins to think him on this drug is preferable to him off the drug.

So it becomes a habit. He keeps drinking it, he feels confident and unemotional (numb and unpanicked) and things go on for a while.

But slowly, more and more is needed for him to function at the same level. His hands begin trembling when he doesn't drink the next dose, and slowly, any productivity begins to wane when his brain won't function without the next dose. His appetite begins to wane as well, and he stops eating regularly.

Here's where someone realises? After copious bad things, of course. So I'm thinking the drug suppresses Qi, and Shang Qinghua either has a Peak Lord mission or gets into trouble with MBJ, and he either collapses or becomes feverish, and he's rushed to the healer. But he's either not healing or so terrifyingly gaunt and sickly that other Peak Lords actually show some concern.

And he wakes up and he tries to secretly take the drug, but he spills it on himself because he's trembling so hard, and MQF sees this and realises what's going on. So he stops him, but then SQH has to go through withdrawal, and it's horrifying.

SQH doesn't want to feel things anymore, and he basically says something to the extent of "none of you even noticed" or "you all liked me better when I was drugged to be emotionless"

So after this we either have SQH being watched by his Peak, and recovering, or things go badly, and SQH manages to get more of the drug and the cycle continues until someone gives SQH a hug.

This is what my tired brain comes up with.

[virginsqq]

pokemon au

:)

sj!sqq:

crobat. yes its a friendship evolution. raised since a baby zubat. literally sqq’s first pokemon. no one ever brings this up. yes this is because i think sj is more of a softie than people think of him as. so there.

charizard. lovingly and tenderly raised since it was a charmander. evolved into charmeleon to help burn down the qiu house. sj literally saved its life. in the og timeline, lbh literally kills it. thats too dark

kadabra. lovingly raised since it was an abra. sj has been trying to get it to evolve to alakazam for ten years.

marowak. has been with sqq ever since qi-ge left. evolved the same time as charmander.

yamask. you know, people say yamask are the ghosts of people who died of betrayal...

sy!sqq

so first off. the kadabra and the marowak left because they like sj not sy.

golbat. because sqq’s first pokemon will not give him the dignity of a friendship evolution.

charizard. but charizard is NOT happy about it. its just sticking around in case sj comes back :(

yamask, but it makes fun of sy behind his back.

ditto, the copycat pokemon

mimikyu

yqy

aegislash. has been raised since it was a honedge “Honedge's soul once belonged to a person who was killed a long time ago by the sword that makes up Honedge's body.” “Once upon a time, a king with an Aegislash reigned over the land. His Pokémon eventually drained him of life, and his kingdom fell with him.” :)

dragonite. cause its a pseudo legendary which is known for kindheartedness

phantump. “These Pokémon are stumps possessed by the spirits of children who died in the forest. Their cries sound like eerie screams.”

serperior cause it reminds him of sj

gardevoir because gardevoir is the protective psychic type :)

sqh

alolan vulpix. a gift from mbj but sqh just thinks its cute. it bullies him all the time though

wishiwashi. cause its a crybaby! and sqh loves water types cause he needs to calm down.

jigglypuff. because he REALLY needs to calm down. and also jigglypuff gets mad when on one likes its singing like sqh does when no one likes his writing.

mime jr. cause it can be used for spying and its tiny and adorable and so fucking weird.

mandibuzz which was a vullaby in the original work but sqh raised it to evolve. vulture cause he just preys on leftovers & refuse.

mbj

beartic. yeah just cause its a cool looking ice type you know how it is.

froslass. the ice type pokemon that eats humans. thats on brand for mbj

sneasel. vicious ice/dark type who i love <3

alolan ninetales cause alolan ninetales is way more vicious than alolan vulpix and also more of a cool beauty, which sqh is known for giving to mbj.

vanillite. was a gift from sqh which mbj has a very complicated relationship with because its scared of mbj but mbj really wants to use it to make a relationship with sqh but it just fucking hides from him.

mqf

chansey. yeah. cheap. i know.

butterfree

audino

lqg

hariyama. fuck yeah big ol fighty guy.

medicham. same reason as above.

mienshao. see above.

lucario. pseudo legendary fighting type. absolute king shit. also has a strong sense of justice

umbreon. love evolution. good for him.

sha hualing

mawile. “Don't be taken by this Pokémon's cute face - it's very dangerous. Mawile fools the foe into letting down its guard then chomps down with its massive jaws. The steel jaws are really horns that have been transformed.”

chimecho. cause. cause its a bell pokemon.

nidoqueen. it just suits her.

liepard for the same reasons lmao

ning yingying

smoochum in the og work, jynx in the sy!sqq verse 

ralts in the og work, kirlia/gardevoir in sy!sqq

azurill in the og work, marill in sy!sqq

pokemon she didnt have in the og work but she does have in sy!sqq

primarina, lovingly and tenderly raised

huntail cause she used the wrong evolutionary stone on clampearl lmao

bingge

zoruark. cause hes supposed to be dark and tough and also zoruark is a pseudo legendary so. there we go.

hydreigon but was forced to evolve early. another pseudo legendary because i think sqh would just give bingge whatever the coolest pokemon are.

banette. “Resentment at being cast off made it spring into being. Some say that treating it well will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy.” found in the endless abyss.

salamence. “After many long years, its cellular structure underwent a sudden mutation to grow wings. When angered, it loses all thought and rampages out of control.”

hypno. dream pokemon in a weird creepy and mean way.

absol. “Long ago, superstitions were spread about it, saying it brought disaster. This fed a hatred of it, and it was driven deep into the mountains.”

bingmei

altaria. fluffy dragon type and more friendly than the other dragon types. genuinely friendly.

munna. dream pokemon replacement for hypno. because its more friendly :)

sylveon. because you need two hearts in pokemon amie to evolve it and bingmei is a very loving boy.

stufful pre-abyss, bewear post-abyss. because hes a hugger and he can actually put up with getting hugged by bewear. also kind of a foil to banette, the evil stuffie pokemon.

zoruark because lbh isnt actually evil and neither is zoruark no pokemon is :) anyways. tenderly and lovingly raised since it was a zorua. they are best friends.

wooloo. cause. hes the white sheep protagonist :)