#wu yanzi

[tossawary]

Thinking about the actual living arrangements between Wu Yanzi and Shen Jiu is interesting, because I would think that Wu Yanzi should be more than a little concerned that his new apprentice might decide to turn that bloody sword on him sooner or later.

Putting this below a cut because I'm talking about child abuse here.

You can come up with all sorts of angsty, abusive behavior for Wu Yanzi on the premise that he's afraid of what Shen Jiu might do, simpler examples being things like "he might have made Shen Jiu sleep outside if he was ever taking a room at an inn" and "he might have regularly taken all of Shen Jiu's belongings away because he couldn't 'trust' his disciple with them". More extreme, antagonizing examples being things like "he might have tied Shen Jiu up at night like a dog" or "he might have planted some kind of talismans that prevented Shen Jiu from coming near him or from leaving a small space". He might have even been "matter of fact" about it. Not obviously taking pleasure in a "necessary measure".

I don't think Wu Yanzi treated Shen Jiu like complete shit all the time, I think it probably would have depended on his moods, as it does with many abusers. I just think it's interesting to think about why exactly young Shen Jiu was "terrified to death" of this person. There has to have been a line of "worth putting up with this to learn some cultivation techniques" keeping Shen Jiu from deciding to just risk it and try to kill Wu Yanzi (the line ends up being Yue Qi at the Conference).

It's possible that Wu Yanzi treated Shen Jiu kind of okay most of the time, actually, trusting in his young apprentice's fear without relying on any kind of physical abuse. At the beginning, Wu Yanzi is something of a cultivator and Shen Jiu is not. By forcing Shen Jiu to participate in his foul crimes, he makes it harder for Shen Jiu to leave him, because now Wu Yanzi can threaten to TELL PEOPLE what Shen Jiu has done. And seeing Wu Yanzi kill people in horrific ways such as the Cursed Black Light talismans functions as a very effective threat by itself. "Behave or I'll kill you," is probably all the rope that Wu Yanzi would need to tie Shen Jiu up at night, honestly, stopping his apprentice from killing him in his sleep. Verbal threats and abuse are more than enough, especially when said by an actual murderer.

I think it's interesting to think about the different ways that abuse manifests, and how the different styles of abuse from Qiu Jianluo and Wu Yanzi might have affected Shen Jiu. We don't see a lot of Shen Jiu's life with Wu Yanzi, so we don't know whether or not his behavior was playfully cruel or tersely paranoid or coldly detached. It's easier to draw links between Shen Jiu's abusive treatment of Luo Binghe and Qiu Jianluo's abuse of Shen Jiu.

Anyway, I was thinking about this because I was thinking about more Canon Divergence AUs for Qijiu. Like, what if, after killing Qiu Jianluo, Shen Jiu gets a taste of what his life will be like under Wu Yanzi and throws caution to the wind to murder this guy? He desperately wants to learn cultivation, yes, but he doesn't want another master. Maybe there's some bounty on Wu Yanzi's head and Shen Jiu decides to take it, and hopefully leverage the kill as his legitimate entrance into the cultivation world?

I'm wondering how easy it would be to somehow get Shen Jiu to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect when Yue Qi has been trapped in the Ling Xi caves. I don't think that Shen Jiu would be happy about Yue Qi's imprisonment at all. That could end up being a very dramatic rescue.

[aftersector]

was chatting about how sexy it was of jc to be hunting down demonic cultivators and then went wait what if jc hearing rumours about wyz and just

something something jc hunting down wyz, something something jiang cheng taking in shen jiu :3c

[crazynekochan]

Send them to Jail - SVSSS

(I saw another version of this, but was dissatisfied with the amount of actual crimes that had been missing from the characters alongside some characters missing entirely. So with the help of a few people on a Discord server I made my own poll)

[rarepears]

not shen yuan achieving the american dream of white picket fenced house, two kids and a dog with wu yanzi of all peeps 💀

As a rich second generation used to having a silver spoon, Shen Yuan doesn't really think much about how his husband makes money. He's used to always having money on hand and he has a LOT of things to buy in this world.

As long as the cash is rolling in and he can maintain his lifestyle (cough studying beasts and plants and writing said discoveries down as bestiaries), Shen Yuan is pretty oblivious to the ongoings of pretty much everything else.

But Shen Yuan's husband-taming skills (and wifebeam) does make Wu Yanzi (slightly) better... ish.

Shen Yuan's plant experiments does need a lot of fertilizer. A dead body is good fertilizer no matter where (or what) it came from...

At least Wu Yanzi is more polite when interacting with shopkeepers and does good things like donating to charity and helping old widows with their groceries (only because he knows he needs to actively manage his reputation to be a positive one to ensure that he can publicly appear by Shen Yuan's side without issues).

The kids still hate him, Shen Jiu tries to half heartedly kill him every now and then, and the dog keeps stealing his side of the bed.

[More in this AU: #Shen yuan wifebeams wu yanzi and then its a happy family of two kids and a dog au]

[scrivenger-grimgar]

OK so there are two ways i could go with shen anyuan’s path in protecting shen jiu, both of witch are something i really want. shen jiu burns down the qiu manor under the influence of wu yanzi (who essentially drugged and coerced him into ignoring reason, its like a whole Thing), and this is where it branches, ig?

anyuan attacks and kills wu yanzi when he tries to touch shen jiu, who still dazed by shock and mindlessly watching the flames of the qiu house dance. anyuan takes shen jiu and they then make their way to cang qiong. jiu arrives earlier to cang qiong and gets a. better start to his cultivation bc of this.

the qiu manor burnes down three months earlier when wu yanzi tries to kill anyuan to eat his heart and boost his own cultivation. the culmination of negative emotion causes and abyss rift to form and swallow the qiu manor and everyone inside. qiu haitang and the three servants with her are the only survivors, as they were in town when it happened. bc of this shen yuan has to guide shen jiu in his cultivation to survive, and while it does work, shen jiu slowly takes on more draconic features. he wont be completely dragon, but claws, scales, and bright green eyes. its like the "[insert non-human] can cultivate a human form" but reversed.

as a continuation of 2, anyuan and jiu essentially have to live in the endless abyss until shen anyuan starts experimenting with seals, combining ideas from different web novels and stories to create written spells. they are eventually able to escape during the immortal conference where yue qingyuan meets shen jiu and kills wu yanzi in canon. instead, yqy thinks sy is trying to attacking shen jiu and so tries to kill shen anyuan, enraging shen jiu. jiu stabs yqy and gives him a permanent scar under his eye. they stop and talk, and shen jiu is accepted into cang qiong.

yqy is def jealous of sy, but sy is just like "quit staring at me you weirdo, gods, fucking leave"

shen jiu is accepted onto qing jing, and it becomes an open secret that he did in fact sneak a dragon onto the peak as well, but no one on the peak talk about it. Cai Lingfei, the current peak lord of qing jing finds this fucking hilarious and doesn't even try to stop it, feigning ignorance despite having tea with sy every week.

[saunters-vaguely-downwards]

Scum Villain AU:

Wu Yanzi decides not to go to the Conference with Shen Qingqiu the year that Yue Qingyuan would participate. So, Shen Qingqiu does not see Yue Qingyuan and doesn't not kill Wu Yanzi to save him. Instead, he stays under his "tutelage" for a lot longer. Until he finally snaps...

Shen Qingqiu always had a penchant for fire. There was a reason he burned the Qiu household and watched the flames burn higher. What better way to say a final goodbye to his "teacher" but the same way he bid farewell to his "family".

(I don't know guys, the image of Shen Qingqiu watching Wu Yanzi burn is living rent free in my brain right now.)

[fistfuloflightning]

An expansion on this post now that I’ve had time to think (ie daydream) about it

MDZS happened long before SVSSS to the point that the sects have faded to obscurity or legend and the only important things left behind are a handful of relics and cultivation legacies.

So when Huan Hua Palace hears about an extremely young ghost cultivator living in the Burial Mounds, they suspect he’s the reincarnation of the Yiling Patriarch (not knowing the real Patriarch has already been reincarnated centuries before as a crow and has since cultivated to a high level). Thinking to nab him for their own, they send cultivators to bring him back.

Little do they know that Wei Wuxian will not let any of them take another of his sons.

[summonthebats]

PIDW Headcannons- Death by tea cup

Shen Jiu is terrible with a sword.

By his own, feral perfectionist who compares himself to Liu Qingge standards. Others would disagree.

But he is an absolute nightmare with any form of improvised weaponry

Fans? Murder.

Leaves? Murder.

Pebble? Murder.

Pot plant? Murder.

Half a tea set? Murder.

A plum? Murder.

Hair ornaments of any sort? Of gods how is that even possible no

If he’d walked out of those caves without Xiu Ya then Sha Hualang would have fled screaming in under five minutes and spent the rest of her life flinching at the sight of grass.

[sunderwight]

SVSSS AU where Shen Yuan's younger sister does a villainess transmigration.

The world she ends up in was originally a dating game and visual novel with some light RPG and crafting elements. Playing as purehearted main girl Qiu Haitang, one could choose any number of routes to pursue, from dashing Liu Qingge, to scholarly Mu Qingfang, sexy ice demon Linguang Jun, cute-but-domineering younger half-demon Luo Binghe, and so on. It was an interesting game, though it notoriously inspired some frustration when some of the more interesting side characters (like Yue Qingyuan) were completely unavailable as romantic options, and inspired at lot of rumors about hidden content and demands on future DLC expansions.-

Shen Meimei hadn't particularly liked the game. Sure, she played every route to 100% completion, bought all the extras, the official soundtrack, and the merch (fanmade as well as what slim-pickings existed officially), but that shouldn't be mistaken for approval. Much of that was in fact a desperate quest to figure out what the hell was even going on! Ignore the play time listed for this scathing Steam review, everyone! It shouldn't be factored into any assessments!

The game had several problems, in Shen Meimei's opinion.

The main issue was the lack of follow-through on the buildup of the backstory. Qiu Haitang's whole family was killed one night, maybe-probably by her sketchy as fuck ex-fiancee, who was also a hostage being kept by the Qiu family as leverage against a rival family. Which begged so many questions! Shen Meimei had suspected all along that there was more to it than met the eye (not just because the evil family shared her surname) but it was never deeply delved into. The whole thing only even got resolution in some of the routes, and the most thorough was Luo Binghe's. Luo Binghe had a huge vendetta against Shen Qingqiu, Haitang's sketchy former fiance, which left a lot of room for doubt about his investigating the issue. Was Shen Qingqiu really to blame? Or was Luo Binghe just taking advantage of an opportunity to pin SOME crime on him, since he couldn't really get him for the shit he actually did to Luo Binghe himself? What about the hints regarding that Wu Yanzi guy? Why did those never seem to amount to much? Were the Qiu family really stupid enough to betroth their only daughter to a hostage, or was something else going on? And what about Xiao Qi, the slave boy servant of the Qiu who was mentioned a few times as another possible survivor or witness, but who never comes up again?

Shen Meimei played through everything, certain that there had to be some way to actually solve or gain clarity on the Mystery of the Qiu Family Murders, but even after completing the main routes and unlocking and completing the hidden ones -- nothing! It was all just swept aside in favor of tepid romance arcs, made all the more insufferable because of the compelling subtext between the male love interests. Like, why were any of these guys even interested in Haitang when they so clearly had more going on with each other?

Annoyance over a game Shen Meimei lost too many hours of her life to was one thing, of course.

Transmigrating into the younger sister of notoriously sketchy ex-fiance Shen Qingqiu was another!

Bad news: in the routes where Shen Qingqiu is prosecuted for his crimes, his whole family goes down with him. So if this goes poorly, not only will he be punished, but so will Shen Meimei!

Worse news: this fictional version of her family is almost identical to her actual real family. To the point where she would be checking everyone else for transmigration, except that no one but her seems aware that anything is odd. Shen Qingqiu acts exactly like her older brother, right down to his particular flavor of prickly social behavior and cynicism. And their middle brother is a chronically ill nerd who hate-reads trash novels and is completely fascinated by weird monsters (a much more worrisome trait in a world that actually has a lot of those...)

In short, her life is on the line, and so is her family's!

Damn you, Veiled Heroine Games! If you hadn't abandoned so many plot threats, Shen Meimei might actually know what was going on and be able to neatly circumvent everything! But now she has to figure out how to win the protagonist back over, rescue her brothers, and solve (and possibly further cover up...) the mysterious Qiu family murders, all while keeping Luo Binghe away from Shen Jiu, and preventing Qiu Haitang from completing any of the romance plotlines that will cause troubles for them! Which is most of them!

[tossawary]

The Yue Qi and Shen Jiu extras of SVSSS are all quite sad, especially since they apparently take place in the PIDW universe and show off some of Shen Jiu’s time in Huan Hua’s Water Prison (when Yue Qingyuan comes to visit him) and Luo Bing-ge coming to tell Shen Jiu about Yue Qingyuan’s death. I had read these extras before, but only the once, and a few years ago now.

So, while Shen Jiu was working for Wu Yanzi, he committed a number of serious crimes alongside his master, and Wu Yanzi had killed a number of famous cultivators using what most would call “dirty tricks”. Shen Jiu assumes at this point in time that Yue Qi has died horribly or gotten caught in some “worse than death” situation, so he’s shocked to encounter Yue Qi again, and see that Yue Qi has become the head disciple of Qiong Ding Peak and looks great.

The worst part is that Yue Qi and Shen Jiu meet again at an Immortal Alliance Conference. Where Shen Jiu and Wu Yanzi are looting the bodies of some of the disciples who “considered themselves elite”, and it first it seems like the disciples just died against some beast, so it’s not as bad as it could be. Yue Qi stumbles upon Shen Jiu, they’re both shocked, and then Shen Jiu is the one who dives forward and sets off one of the “distress signal fireworks” that disciples are equipped with for these conferences. Shen Jiu is in this case a trespasser and a murderer, and so bringing the sects down on them is bad for him, and he can only possibly be doing this to save Yue Qi from Wu Yanzi.

Wu Yanzi returns and scolds Shen Jiu (who quickly throws the firework shell away) for the firework going off, saying that it’s unusual for Shen Jiu to be so slow and asking why Shen Jiu didn’t just cut off the disciples’ hands, so, yeah, Wu Yanzi and Shen Jiu probably killed some if not all of these disciples. Best case scenario is that they sneaked up on disciples who were fatally injured and then dealt the final blow, but that’s an extremely generous reach.

Shen Jiu tries to convince Wu Yanzi to leave before more senior cultivators come and find them, but Wu Yanzi and Yue Qi get into a fight. Shen Jiu is terrified for Yue Qi. Wu Yanzi is about to pull a move that I think temporarily blinds or otherwise disables his opponents? It’s some move that Wu Yanzi has used to kill several famous cultivators, which Shen Jiu has witnessed him use before. So, before Wu Yanzi can use this move, Shen Jiu stabs his mentor through the back with his sword to save Yue Qi. Then Shen Jiu and Yue Qi run off together, hand in hand, presumably leaving Wu Yanzi’s dead body to be found surrounded by dead disciples, with his pockets full of loot.

Yue Qi and Shen Jiu then have a confrontation, in which Yue Qi apparently cannot bring himself to explain to Shen Jiu why he failed to come back, and which Shen Jiu immediately takes badly. Yue Qi apologizes, but Shen Jiu interprets it badly as well, which makes sense when Shen Jiu is jumpy as hell and running on survival instincts and a criminal. Honestly, in this moment, I cannot blame Yue Qi for failing to speak eloquently about this, because it read to me like he was just in shock. Like, holy shit. What a way to meet again.

[a-mere-dream]

I think it'd be hilarious if Shen Yuan transmigrated into, say, Qing-generation disciple era as Shen Jiu's twin, and he's doing his absolute best to make sure his brother doesn’t get suspicious of his changed behaviour--and it's working. As far as he knows, Jiu-ge suspects nothing!

Meanwhile, a reincarnated post-PIDW Shen Jiu is doing the exact same, trying not to let on how he has no fucking clue how to act around this random guy with his face (he isn’t meant to be a big brother! Is this feeling genuine protectiveness?? Ew, what the fuck, stop it--)

So they just awkwardly shuffle around each other, both feeling like they are doing so fucking well, look at that idiot, he suspects nothing.

A-Yuan speaks a strange language? Okay, why the hell not, it's not like Shen Jiu knows what the boy learned while travelling with Wu Yanzi. Jiu-ge's skills are up to par with fully grown Cultivators? Yeah, sure, that makes sense--he'd have been a very boring villain if he sucked at everything.

It takes literal decades until they finally realise the truth.

Bonus points if Yue Qingyuan has been shot here from a svsss-adjecent timeline, is undergoing about twelve Revelations a minute, and is vibrating from the sheer excitement that comes with getting to dote on the 'new' version of Shen Qingqiu that he's grown fonder off than he ever wished to without that meaning he has to give up on his history with Shen Jiu. It never once occurs to him that the Shen twins don’t know what is going on.

[azzandra]

Recent commenters remarked on something I included in a fic, about the underlying reasons that Yue Qingyuan never tells Shen Qingqiu the truth, and why Shen Qingqiu never defends himself against false accusations. And the thing about that is that I think it comes from the same place. I think it's just a demonstration of the adage that the coping mechanisms that help you survive don't always help you thrive.

Because YQY and SQQ share the same trauma that causes them to be like this, frustratingly silent when it comes to speaking in their own defense. They both spent the entirety of their formative years being so completely under the power of other people, that they must have inevitably learned at some point that trying to defend themselves would be not only pointless, but probably invite even greater punishment from their masters.

We can see this most clearly with SQQ, because we know the kind of miserable life he had as a slave and then later as Wu Yanzi's accomplice/apprentice, so I think he gets more sympathy than YQY. But YQY was also a street urchin, was also a slave, and even after he joined Cang Qiong, it doesn't seem like he got a lot support or sympathy. He was imprisoned in a cave for a whole year, and that's like... obviously not something you do to a child you genuinely care for.

So being at the mercy of other people, all SQQ and YQY could do for the most part was just mitigate the amount of suffering they brought down on themselves. Endure and try not to provoke the people abusing them into coming down on them even harder.

But the thing is that both SQQ and YQY both developed this, like, survival instinct where any time they have an opportunity to defend or explain themselves, there's a blaring alarm in their brain that goes 'DANGER DANGER' stopping them from even considering it. And I doubt they're even aware of it, I doubt if you asked them they'd even be able to articulate why they stay silent even when it's to their detriment. It's become steeped into their personality that it just feels like the natural reaction to them. If they spoke they'd just make it worse.

So, I don't really feel the same anger or frustration at YQY for never telling SQQ the truth. I think on some level, he might have genuinely felt that explaining himself would make everything much worse.

[rarepears]

If Shen Yuan can wifebeam anyone, then I need an AU where he transmigrates into PIDW earlier and wifebeams Wu Yanzi. Then the two of them pick up and adopt a son together. ❤️

Naturally their son is Shen Jiu. Then they acquire a second son… Yue Qingyuan. The dog is Luo Binghe just because.

[More in this AU: #Shen yuan wifebeams wu yanzi and then its a happy family of two kids and a dog au]

[greenflamedwriter]

Vampire Au | JiuYuan

Okay so, both Shen Jiu and Wu Yanzi come across an abandoned hut on the side of a river, the river is also violent and not shallow so it's the perfect dumping spot for bodies. So when both Demonic cultivator and disciple come across a man sleeping in the shade it was obvious Wu Yanzi planned on mugging him then using the body for demonic cultivation-

So after Shen Jiu waits outside as look out, acting bored. It was normal for the screams to begin that was usual.

"Shen Jiu! Help this Master!"

The fact that it was his Master screaming in pain? not usual?

Shen Jiu ran forward to the doorway in time to see the sleeping man, with a demonic face bite into Wu Yanzi savagaly, blood gushing from his neck then the demon? Threw his master on the floor and spat-

"Not only do you have the nerve to attack this one- you don't even have the decency to be a filling meal!"

A-a Jiangshi!

Wu Yanzi was dead on the floor and the Jiangshi gazed at him, raising his clawed hands gestured.

"you. Come here."

Shen Jiu wanted to run but suddenly his feet was moving forward, the man sliced open his finger then raised it. "Swallow."

Shen Jiu face twitched in disgust, as the finger pushed and rubbed against his tongue then withdraw as he swallowed. "Now you are my servant, dispose of this trash and guard me while I sleep during the day."

Shen Jiu scowled but did as he was told, not before pilfering Wu Yanzi's items before dumping the body in the river. It seemed he had some freedom within his orders.

And it appeared he traded one master for another.

When the sunlight set, the man immedietly groaned as he arched his back. "That was the worst fucking nap of my entire unlife- oh you're still here."

"Obviously." Shen Jiu sneered, and the man rolled his eyes. "Great- well this should work out for me. The night is short, and this humble master never wants to be out in te sunlight."

Telling Shen Jiu his weakness? Either he was stupid, unlikely or he was testing Shen Jiu with this knowledge. Wu Yanzi wasn't so different.

When they journeyed to a local village, luckily close to the rampaging rivers, the Jiangshi gave Shen Jiu money. "Go find a nice inn for us, and buy something for yourself after."

Shen Jiu scowled, as the man vanished and Shen Jiu walked away, he couldn't run even when he tried to...although stopping outside a brothel and was able to enter and purchase some rooms.

...Guess he did have some freedom with how the command is worded.

He was able to go to a blacksmiths and buy some blades. Small knifes were the most affordable- and easy to hide and steal.

It was better to pay for something and seen as a customer, then leave suspiciously. But when he found his new master, and took him to their 'inn' he scowled at the relief. "Ah good- I was worried since I forgot to mention I needed something to eat." Shen Jiu scowled, to think he put these women in danger-!

As soon as they entered, Shen Jiu with a dark scowl, and the man beaming and looking way to comfortable-

pov switch:

Not realising that it was all bravado, when he was alone he had no shame but now he had a kid and got he was only fourteen for christ sake! Shen Yuan transmigrating as a freakin Jiangshi in PIDW had to be a cosmic joke! "Hellow young masters!" The host spoke jovially, "May we interest you in some refreshments, one lady or two?" He glanced at Shen Jiu and Shen Yuan cleared his throat.

"Hmm, just one would do, and if you could..."

He placed the coins on the table, "A room with food and drink and a young man would suit me just fine." Shen Yuan smiled bashfully. And he was met with different reactions. The host nodded, probably not surprised. But Shen Jiu looked at him like he was an alien.

And yeah- then there was the feeding- okay he didn't need to sleep with them, but he had this whole routine thing and having someone watch, a kid at that- if he could blush he would but he's not ashamed! It's not wrong it's just food!

When the man came in, Shen Yuan would usually be more blunt, but felt that he had to be nice about it. "I uh, I prefer doing it myself, you just get comfortable," Shen Yuan took the mans waist leading him to the bed "And relax."

All it took was a few kisses and nibbles, and the man was defiently playing it up, moaning like his life depended on it. Shen Yuan hovered over him, if the man noticed a certain...lack of reaction he'll tense up and be suspicious-

Shen Yuan bit down, and now that was a real moan, even the mans hips thrusted up, sometimes that happened. Shen Yuan fed as much as he could then stopped, just enough to make them tired enough to believe this was just a client being too rough.

Shen Yuan licked the wound clean watching it heal, then pulled back gazing at the mans eyes who relaxed, pupils wide and droopy under his thrall.

"Now, you'll leave this room disapointed but unsurprised that this was the worst client you have ever had the misfortune of laying with. So bad you want to erase the whole ebarrising thing from your memory."

The man left and Shen Yuan slumped back into the bed, just enough for another day he could lay low here for a while and when he notices how tired the patrons are he'll hop skip and jump to the next town no problem-

Shen Jiu shifted and Shen Yuan turned forgetting he was there. "Why not lie? Why make him believe it was a lousy lay?"

"Why not? More incentive to never think of this Master and become suspicious." Shen Yuan shrugged. Now he was stuck with Shen Jiu, he could send the boy out to find him a nice little hovel to sleep in then dismiss him. Then again he seemed decent with cultivation- but if he lets him go what chances are he would come back to kill him?

...hmmm.

"Boy, tell me. What am I?"

Shen Jiu's eyes narrowed, maybe from being called boy. "A Jiangshi." Shen Yuan blinked surprised, huh. "I'm not stupid and my names is Shen Jiu." He bit, oh okay. "How do you kill a Ghost Head Spider?" "Strike the temple before it releases its baby like cries to alert others."

hmmm, so Shen Yuan began to quiz Shen Jiu, the other still stiff and answering every one like his life depended on it. Shen Yuan sighed, moving over to the table and brightening to see food- he forgot about that.

"Shen Jiu come dig in!" He spoke, sitting down and pilling his own food onto a plate, Shen Jiu moved over cautiously.

"I thought you didn't need food?"

Shen Yuan smiled, "Ah but it's a form of nutrients, if a Jiangshi has a restrictive diet then they need other things to keep it going. I only fed a little so this is to make up the rest. Most Jiangshi don't need food if they drain a person kinda like Inedia to a cultivator- ah you don't have to eat if you don't want to."

Shen Jiu was physically trembling with the chopsticks showing he was fighting back.

Shen Yuan sighed, "Sorry it's been a while since I've last had a companion."

"Companion?" Shen Jiu snapped, "More like a slave! There is no point acting like the domesticated monster if I have to find you victims to feed on to stay alive. So don't pretend."

Shen Yuan blinked, then continued eating. Of course, that was probably what the other man did.

"Hmm, this one was rudely inturupted in his sleep being attacked and had defended himself, being half starved I wasn't in the right mind, it doesn't excuse it. My ire was towards that master of yours and he payed that with his life. You on the other hand I have no such animosity towards. But disrupting my sleep as well as tainting my home so I had to relocate? That was a debt that had to be payed." He pointed his chipsticks his way "You payed that. And now, we're near a cultivation sect Zhao hao temple, you're a bit too...excitable to being a monk but if needs must-"

"No it has to be Cang Qiong."

Shen Yuan blinked, food stuffed in his mouth, "Hmm?"

Shen Jiu wasn't looking at him.

"It has to be Cang Qiong,"

...really? Shen Yuan sighed dropping his food and scrubbing his hand across his face, "Need I ask why?" He whined, if a Jiangshi went to Cang Qiong he was beyond undead!

"No don't answer- ugh fine. I'll escort you then you can hop skip and jump the rest of the way. Alright?"

Shen Jiu scowled "Why can't you let me go now?"

Shen Yuan leaned back tilting his head to the side, "If you leave now, chances are a mass of cultivators will break down these doors and kill me. On the road in the middle of the night only trapped to go in one direction or have someone kill me? I want to live thanks. And you're a bright kid can defiently go the rest of the way by yourself and not find yourself in trouble."

___________________________________________________________

And Shen Yuan whenever he thought, this was it. This was the village he'll abandon Shen Jiu in and leave him to it. And yet each night they rested up at a Brothel instead, as they kept getting closer Shen Yuan WAS going to leave he really was! But he needed to teach Shen Jiu so much stuff! Sure he learned how to write and read from Qui Jianlou, but academically especially for Cang Qiong- Shen Jiu was going to be behind with the lack of clan, or or fortune to back him up he would face bullying. But if he kept his head down, but still presented as a scholar and kept his head down? So Shen Yuan quized him, he even taught him how to spar in the way he knew how!

"Look, I'll be honest Shen Jiu, I can't teach you forms or how to wield a sword properly. BUT as a Jiangshi and a supernatural enemy I can help you hone your speed and strength! So from now on you will be doing a lot of heavy lifting." Shen Jiu scowled.

"You just want me to fill up your bath water and give the Jiejies a rest."

"Correct and it helps you gain strength, also your diet needs to change too. With the excessive workout you'll burn through so that way the ecsessive weight will become muscle."

Shen Jiu scowled "Fine."

And of course it showed results. Shen Jiu had to do push ups, pull ups, Shen Yuan even made him do handstand push ups. "Good work, you're doing well. Now do it with one hand." "You-"

He heard him fall over and sighed "You'll have to repeat that set."

Shen Jiu was gaining muscle and looks, especially from the Jiejies the next neighborhood they went to.

And on the road with no one around, Shen Yuan would attack Shen Jiu, little things like tripping him up, drawing on his face. If Shen Jiu failed then he would have to do more sets. Shen Jiu instincts was getting faster, and was even able to fight him for a solid 30's seconds. But of course, when Shen Jiu realised this he became cocky and slipped up.

"You're problem is you think too much. And that throws you off." Shen Jiu scowled down at the bonfire then nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Agh enough of that Master stuff it makes me feel creepy. Just Shen Yuan is fine."

Shen Jiu looked up at that, "Shen Yuan?"

"Not the same as yours. Shen for Wall." He corrected, then smiled as he leaned back. "But going through town we could say we're siblings. A-jiu my adorable little brother!" "No."

"aha- you're no fun."

________________________________________________________

Shen Jiu was on edge, assuming Shen Yuan would take him down the dark path in the middle of nowhere and just kill him. And yet Shen Yuan would glance at the forest with a firmed lip and keep walking. When they went to the brothel once that was one thing. The fact that he kept doing it, Shen Jiu never mentioned it, assuming if he called it out he would be punished. And yet, the closer they got to Cang Qiong. The fact that Shen Yuan fed him more and even made him do excersizes-

Shen Jiu assumed he wanted Shen Jiu tired on purprose so he couldn't run or escape. But when he saw he was getting stronger and gaining muscle he was honestly surprised. And when Shen Yuan quized him on plants, with each one they found on the road and telling him in depth about it's properties it didn't make sense to waste his time telling Shen Jiu this only to kill him off later on. He thought maybe Shen Yuan lied about taking him to Cang Qiong, but when he helped him hone his senses and have faster instincts...it just didn't make sense. "Hmm, Shen Jiu maybe we should go on a mission!" Shen Yuan spoke, after passing him a rented sword.

Shen Jiu almost missed what he said next too busy staring at the weapon in his hands! He could kill Shen Yuan right now-

"With a mission under your belt, that'll give you experience! Remember you're too old for the entrance exam SO you have to be good I mean really good that they couldn't dare pass you up to being plucked by another sect!"

And when Shen Yuan watched Shen Jiu on his mission, just observing and not helping at all, even observed as Shen Jiu took down the monster plauging the town.

Once he landed and looked at his Master for approval- then looked away why was he looking for his approval! Shen Yuan hummed nodding. "Very good, you were fast and efficient," He stepped closer and humed. "Now, is there anything on this beast worth salvaging?"

Shen Jiu froze, he was never taught that.

"Apologies Master, this one doesn't know how..."

Shen Yuan laughed, "Ah I forgot, well this is a learning experience! come here." And he taught him everything he needed to know.

When Shen Jiu was finally left alone and trusted to pay for their lodging, he asked the patron. "How far is Cang Qiong Mountain?" The man paused, "Hmm just a few towns North and you'll be there, this humble one see's you have a sword is your master a cultivator?" Shen Jiu eyes flickered "Not one from a popular sect, my Master is a rogue Cultivator." If this man thought they could triple the price he had another thing coming. "Ah,"

"Also he would prefer," Shen Jiu stared at him cooley, he wasn't embarresed "Male courtesans."

"Ah of course-"

"Preferably someone older than myself, he's not a fan of young ones." The man nodded again. Shen Jiu remembered that incident, Shen Yuan was in a pleasent mood but when he saw the thirteen year old it was like something snapped. He used his thrall to tell the prositute that he was way too young for this type of work and then brought in the owner and thralled them as well. Telling them that any worker under eighteen should work as cleaners or in the kitchens and be payed twice as much!

Shen Jiu stared as the owner nodded.

"M-Master why would you do that? That could ruin this mans buisness." Shen Yuans eyes were bloodshot as he glared after the man wobbling away. "Then it should rot for all I care."

Shen Jiu never understood it, wasn't it normal for both genders as long as someone was willing to pay. But Shen Yuan seemed deeply unnerved by that.

"Also what the fuck is a pint sized childs blood going to do for me? Men have more women and children less so!"

"...Why would women have less blood?"

Shen Yuan shrugged, "I don't know, periods maybe?"

Shen Jiu didn't ask what a period was, Shen Yuan was still pissed and more annoyed when no one came to their room! "You thralled him but didn't ask-" "Agh! Shen Jiu can you just, I'll break his neck if I talk to him again!"

And Shen Yuans eyes was red, his teeth extended and even his voice was a deep growl. Shen Jiu ran out like his ass was on fire, Shen Yuan faltered hand extended then covered his face with his hand.

He didn't mean to scare Shen Jiu...

Not realising that Shen Jiu collapsed against the wall, feeling weird. He wasn't a stranger to attraction he knew what it was...in theory. Thanks to the Jiejies being so nice and talking to him assuming his Master and He had that type of relationship especially when he requested those types at the Brothel.

They spoke ...in detail...and Shen Jiu only to be polite nodded, but now it all came back to him in detail-

He wonderd if maybe Shen Yuan wanted him that way...especially since he was getting older, would Shen Yuan on the road...ask that of Shen Jiu? Push him down in the woods in the dark? Both fumbling around in the damp dew grass-

Shen Jiu shook his head, forget that! He had to find Shen Yuan someone to feed on- His traitorius mind flashed with the image of Shen Yuan feeding on him. And the fact that he found a young man similair to his face well...

_____________________________________________________________

When Shen Jiu stood before Cang Qiong Mountain right at the foot of the staircase, with two disciples stationed at the gates, thats when Shen Yuan leaned down.

"Okay, so I attack you-"

"What!?"

"Shush, I attack you, call you a worthless servant and you say you're not going to give me innocents to feed on anymore-"

Wait what!? "And then you 'break' out my thrall, and when those two finally help, thats when I'll run away all "agh curses, Cang Qiong disciples ahh!" and you'll be taken in as a legendary strong cultivator who fought against a vampires thrall and won!"

There was stars in Shen Yuans eyes, he looked excited to 'act' and put on a show, but Shen Jiu couldn't- this was Cang Qiong there was a chance that they would hunt down Shen Yuan and kill him!

"N-no master this Shen Jiu doesn't think this is a-"

"Xiao Jiu!"

Both flinched and turned to see a party of returning Disciples probably coming from a mission and Shen Jiu's eyes widened to see-

"Qi-ge?" His voice broke, and Shen Yuan stood their awkwardly as the young disciple almost ran forward eyes shining in wonder.

"You're alive!" He sounded so joyful, and almost took a step forward but his Shizun stopped him, eyes narrowed in Shen Yuans direction. "Yue Qingyuan who is this?"

Yue Qingyuan straightened. "This is a childhood friend of mine, Shen Jiu." "Hmm," Shen Yuan shivered seeing those intense eyes looking at him. Before he could open his mouth, Shen Jiu spoke before Shen Yuan decided to reveal what he was just to shove Shen Jiu into their arms. "This is my Master, Shen Yuan. He has been educating this Shen Jiu about cultivation." The Sect Leader hummed.

"Really?"

"Shen Jiu is truly the prodigy, but this lowly one has nothing else to teach him. Both of us were wondering if there was any vacancies."

The Sect Leaders eyebrow twitched, "You think we just take any random child of the street?"

Shen Yuan glanced at the disciples then back to the sect leader confused. "Yes, you have an entrance exam open to anyone of the public." "Yes, we don't accept all of them."

"You accept the students who pay. Or you pilfer off prodigies." Shen Jiu's hands twitched, he was NOT a prodigy what was Shen Yuan saying! "With the right guidance, Shen Jiu can be the the pride of Cang Qiong." The Sect Leader sighed, until Yue Qingyuan spoke, "Please Shizun! Shen Jiu is good enough to be a cultivator!" "Yes but he's too old even for some instruction-"

"Then see what he can do, place him in a peak and if he fails then kick him off the mountain. What are you really losing?"

The man openly glared at Shen Yuan and of course his Master had to needle him more. "Just see what he can do, then you can decide if he's worthy of Cang Qiong or not."

"You're not going to stop are you?" "No." "Very well."

____________________________________________________________

Shen Jiu was surprised, when the Sect Leader nodded and a random disciple came forward drawing his sword, Shen Jiu followed suit. Fighting here? at the base of the mountain!?

He was going to get his ass kicked and it was all Shen Yuans fault, he glared at him and Shen Yuan had to the nerve to look offended in a "Who me?" gesture.

But when the signal fell and the disciple lunged, cocky smile on his face. Shen Jiu was surprised it ended so quickly. Thanks to endurance training and the his speed from Shen Yuan, he was able to dodge and move just as fast to disarm the disciple. "..."

Even Shen Jiu looked surprised, and was irritated by Shen Yuans proud grin.

"Your form is off, without the speed and agilty anyone could easily pulverise you into the ground." The sect leader spoke, not missing Shen Yuans scowl. "However, this has been inlightning. Very well. We'll see which Peak Lord will accept your prodigay, and you will be billed from the inconviniance." Shen Yuan sighed, "This Master had a feeling you would say that."

_____________________________________________________________

When Shen Yuan finally found a brothel ah he was so used to an assitant! Maybe he might thrall another young man and teach them everything he knew. Seeing Shen Jiu soak up all that knowledge made him prideful.

But when he returned after sending off the money, and then retired to his room paused outside the door knowing someone was inside already. Before he could run he took a step back into someones arms. "Don't run."

The man reached forward opening the door and pushing him inside his room, he gaped to see the Sect Leader standing inside, he turned scowling up at the man who pushed him in not recognising the uniform.

"Be nice shidi, this one has fangs."

The man huffed then stood at the door arms crossed, meanwhile the Sect Leader was covering the window. He was trapped. "Okay this one can't be in trouble with back-payments already-"

"It's nothing like that...Shen Yuan was it?" He nodded, glancing at the table with the teapot then back to the sect leader. "This one had heard some strange stories about a master and his disciple. Going to brothels." Shen Yuan pursed his lips, "Is this a...strange roundabout way of asking for a threesome? I'm flattered but neither of you are my type." "Why you-" The man at the door almost drew his sword and Shen Yuans face split into a smile- "Enough Shidi, you're too old to be goaded so easily. No tales of men having no memory after having one night with the Master. That the two travel at night," Shen Yuan couldn't sweat. But god was it a close thing. "And this Sect Leader detected it right away." Shen Yuan tilted his head, "What?" "What you are-" Shen Yuan didn't let him finish, grabbing the teapot and throwing it towards the Sect Leader even with his speed- these were two experienced Cultivating Masters! The an used his sword to parry the teapot, and Shen Yuan in the distraction dove past him out the window-

Then choked when something grabbed his robe, like holding the scruff of fur around a cats neck- he undid his sash and dropped, the Cultivator cursed as he watched Shen Yuan sprint across the tiled roof.

Shit, shit shit shit shit- well what a good unlife he had a shame it was so freakin short- The man guarding the door landed in front of him and Shen Yuan yelped swearing like a sailor and skidding to the left dropping down into the alley way but was slammed into the wall by the sect leader.

"Now now little Jiangshi, if this Master wanted you dead, you would be dead by now."

Shen Yuan fidgeted in his grasp, trying to get out then sighing. "What do you want?"

"A conversation with tea, but you decided to make it difficult-"

"What want me to nicely sit here and say 'please Master Cultivator kill me quickly' I'm a monster you're a cultivator of course I won't sit there nicely and take it!" Shen Yuan snapped his teeth lengthing. "Who said anything about killing you?"

huh?

Suddenly a tailsman was planted onto his back and Shen Yuan yelped falling like a ton of bricks face first into the ground.

"See, Shidi? look how weak he is." The Sect Leader sounded delighted, and Shen Yuan scrambled trying to get up it's like a fat buddha was sitting on him he couldn't move.

"Just because it hasn't fed in a while doesn't mean it's not dangerous-"

"Pick him up, we'll talk at Cang Qiong." Shen Yuan blinked when he was hefted up, this guy was stupidly strong!

___________________________________________________

Kidnapping aside, Shen Yuan didn't expect to being the resident pet of Qing Jing Peak. After seeing Shen Jiu's new Master and being forcefully put to work Shen Yuan did fear for his life. But with all the food he can eat, and the blood given to him by the doctors he was basically living a cushy life AND he can read all the tomes of the Qing Jing Peak library!

Ah things were looking up!

"Ah that's bad..." "How so?" "Just...bad, weird after taste." The doctors hummed when Shen Yuan tasted blood he was able to tell who was healthy or not. The cultivators weren't stupid they never gave him information like a guinie pig just gave him samples and wrote down his answers. He didn't think anything of it.

After learning the man who got him was the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan he avoided him like the plauge, Shen Yuan was polite to everyone even reluctently the Sect Leader after figuring out what the man wanted.

He was so impressed with Shen Jiu he wanted Shen Yuan to duplicate what he was teaching to their students! Shen Jiu besides his form in fighting was astounding in everything else. So now Shen Yuan was a reluctant hallmaster.

Of course when Shen Yuan was given someone to feed on he had to admit it was strange for Cang Qiong to allow such a thing- then immedietly spat out the blood once it hit his tongue.

"Oh my god ew! What was that!"

Cheng Liang scowled, the Bai Zhan brute. "Blood, you need it to survive draining innocents is a line we won't cross-"

"Draining? I've never feed more than I needed to! and I can't live on this...doing bad things taints the blood." "Well it's this or nothing." "Then I'll take nothing." -------------------------------------------------------

Of course the sect leader sent in Yue Qingyuan, and Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What is this?" "Feed, you're looking worse for wear. Yue Qingyuan offered."

He doubted it. "Whats wrong with your blood?" "Finally admitting your motive to killing the Sect Leader of Cang Qiong?" "I never wanted to be here!" Shen Yuan sighed, then looked Yue Qingyuan in the eyes. "This won't hurt." He fed and sighed, it's been...a long time since he's had a good meal. Even so, no need to take more than he needed, as he pulled back licking the wound clean for it to heal he flinched at the hand suddenly cupping his head.

"That wasn't enough."

Shen Yuan eyes narrowed, "Yes it was, now let go-"

"He can take it." Shen Yuan shoved both away almost falling over, "No he can't. This one is fine so-"

"You're weak, embarrsingly so, how can this mountain expect you to survive like this?" Shen Yuan looked at him in befudlement "I've been survivng pretty well so far."

asshole, he didn't say.

"You are wasting your potential, a Jiangshi can never be a cultivator, but can still get stronger-"

"Shouldn't you want the opposite? Isn't it better having a tamed Jiangshi?" Now the Sect Leader smirked, showing his real face that made Shen Yuan almost duck down but kept still instead. "On the contrary, this Master finds no purpose in keeping things that are weak."

[pr0cyon-lotor]

I was turning my favorite jiuyuan trope (which is older SY with no system if you're curious) around in my head for my own enrichment, and I think I finally know why I like it so much.

(I ramble ↓)

Shen Jiu will never get out of the narrative unscathed. That's just not possible. He's too brash and sharp for the world that punishes that sort of behavior. The strong will suffer and will be forced to persevere. To become Shen Qingqiu, Shen Jiu will suffer no matter what. That's the rule of the world and PIDW.

So to have SY, who is an anomaly in the world and doesn't play according to PIWD's rules, come in as a player it means that the narrative doesn't touch him much. It can't since his mind hasn't been molded to fit PIWD's rules. He escapes wifeplots, dodges characters he recognizes, and avoids sects.

Be it that the system doesn't touch him or simply discarded him as soon as he came in, either way he'll not touch the narrative. So everything he does is because he wants to.

So SY being much older means he's aware of all the rules and can ultimately become a neutral party. Sects don't mean much to him. Rich nobles can't touch an man that lives under no laws. And laws are useless to someone who lives outside of their jurisdiction.

If he meets SJ, SY's habit of helping injured birds will come in. Especially if he doesn't realize SJ will be SQQ. The Qiu name means nothing to him. And Wu Yanzi is just a name to be forgotten about among the sea of names he had heard in his lifetime. Shen Yuan has no reason to judge Shen Jiu.

SY will try to help SJ to the best of his abilities, picking up any pieces SJ can't find and handing them to SJ. But he will not overstep. He lets SJ attempt to fix what is broken; he won't baby SJ. He treats SJ with respect and only helps when it's absolutely necessary.

SY helps SJ he does not try to fix SJ.

Shen Yuan knows Shen Jiu isn't a charity case and doesn't even entertain the idea of this brash and sharp kid being a helpless creature. He simply gives the injured bird a splint to fix its wing. He doesn't stop it from hunting or scavenging for food. He only helps when Shen Jiu asks for it.

Shen Yuan plans to leave the bird once it's healed (no need to overstay your welcome y'know?). At that point Shen Jiu refuses to leave. Adults and men alike have let SJ down, tried to baby him, or hurt him. So to have someone older than him not only be a man, respect him, care for him, and even aid him of course he'd become attached.

Shen Jiu is attached and proclaims that he will make Shen Yuan his. (Shen Yuan is shocked and confused, but when is he not?)

I just love prickly and sharp characters realizing that they can soften up towards one person because they won't be punished for it. Even more so if they become stupidly attracted to that person. ❤️

Also I love it when one person is somewhat put together so they can help someone else, who is doing much worse, put themselves back together. ❤️❤️

Also old man Shen Yuan is iconic. ❤️❤️❤️

[moonsvillain]

have been toying with the idea of an au wherein shen jiu, after burning down the qiu household and running away, comes across xie lian rather than wu yanzi poaching him immediately afterwards:

i'd imagine in this verse he runs away to town rather than immediately being found in the aftermath of what he's done. at this point, shen jiu would be too paranoid to consider reaching out for directions to cang qiong mountain even if he wanted to make it there: what if they knew what he did? or figured it out if he did know? (if he even had the mind to think of these things through his panic)

he doesn't want to end up begging on the streets again, though—too alike his childhood and last time he was in that position, shen jiu ended up with the qius in the first place

so he takes refuge in temples that he comes across, stealing food when he can before moving to a different part of the rather large town he's ended up in so there's no clear pattern of when he shows up at whichever food stall

despite not holding that same respect and unwavering belief in gods (how could he, after everything he's gone through? shouldn't they have stepped in, sometime? what god would let him suffer as he did, separating him from the only person he loved?) he knows better than to try them, and begrudgingly thanks them for the shelter (because this he did appreciate, at the very least, if nothing else)

winter hits hard when it does, and shen jiu, after spending so many years in the qiu household, forgot how the cold seeps into your skin and bones without solid walls to keep out the frigid breeze.

he quickly falls ill with nothing to protect him from the elements but his threadbare clothing, and when he grows ill, he becomes slow. shen jiu nearly gets caught stealing, running away before he can be dragged to a town guard for his offence, but earning himself a nasty wound to his leg as he retreated

sickness + the cold + the wound leave him weak and wanting: missing qi-ge, reminiscing on nights where they'd curl up together for warmth, still cold but not alone, the two of them steady against the storm that raged on ahead of them

fever-ridden and teetering close to death, shen jiu wanders into a temple late at night and sinks to his knees, falling to his side, heart-rate slowing. in his delirium, he misses the figure taking shelter from the storm in the corner, watching him

shen jiu wakes up (he doesn't expect to), warm while he hears the wind whistle. he's still in that temple from earlier, but it's considerably... cozier. a small fire warms the inside and his clothes aren't as damp against his cold skin. his fever's broken, too—he doesn't know how long it's been, but he's glad he didn't die: never realized that he wanted to live until he was close to forfeiting his right to

here is where he meets his accidental saviour: xie lian stood over a slowly bubbling pot of stew that smells heavenly to shen jiu—he'd eat just about anything at this point, starved

his immediate distrust of xie lian stops him from being truly excited about his appearance

their relationship is veryyy shaky at the very beginning: shen jiu refuses to trust him and xie lian refuses to abandon this strange child he found on the verge of death

(there's a strange sort of bond built up when you nurse someone back to life, dragging them away from the brink of death and xie lian isn't interested, but he's curious about this kid who stumbled into his temple at the dead of night on a midnight in winter)

shen jiu's torn between distrust and this desire for company he didn't know he possessed; after being alone with no one but the qiu household [before he went on his massacre] he didn't realized how much he wanted to share space with someone who wasn't actively hurting him until he was afforded the opportunity to experience non-violent company with xie lian

his distrust slowly declines when he finds out that xie lian is a cultivator. despite being arguably too old to learn cultivation to the fullest extent he could have if he started a few years earlier, he still desperately wants to learn

xie lian, perceptive as ever, slowly starts teaching him bits and pieces of the basics, teaches him to meditate, takes care to keep his distance when it looks like shen jiu's getting overwhelmed

shen jiu can't help but get attached. he hates it

shen jiu decides to test xie lian before resigning himself to this

he was snappy, impatient, and argued with xie lian, when he came over, one day, waiting for some form of punishment to come, bristling like a spooked cat.

nothing came of his experiment but a slight frown from xie lian, which made shen jiu feel almost bad—xie lian almost reminded him of qi-ge, which made him feel doubly bad because he desperately wants to find him

shen jiu came to xie lian the next day with a pastry [that he stole] as an apology. and a request:

"teach me how to cultivate so i can be a disciple at the cang qiong sect"

xie lian agrees easily enough: he's been around shen jiu to see that despite the late start, he has potential to be great [especially untouched by wu yanzi and his twisted form of cultivation]

shen jiu throws himself into his studies, working himself to the bone

xie lian is concerned by this and after trying to soften the load of his work doesn't make shen jiu slow down, he becomes stern: warns him against trying to chase too much frivolously

this leads to a breakdown of sorts—where shen jiu gets angry, dismissive, before becoming upset. the average emotional depth of a teenager but, like, 4 times worse because of the circumstances

xie lian coaxes the story out of shen jiu here; qi-ge [the first time he's mentioned aloud by name], the qiu household [only the barest of details. shen jiu refuses to dwell], and the night shen jiu made qi-ge leave, as well as qi-ge's promise to come back

shen jiu finishes by telling xie lian he needs to make it back to qi-ge, needs to see if he's still alive, he's been selfish for sticking around as long

shen jiu tells xie lian that he needs to figure out as much as he can, as fast as he can, so he can leave and make his way to cang qiong mountain with some sort of base knowledge to make it in. and that he's not sorry for pushing himself because he doesn't have time

xie lian is quiet for a while

puts a comforting hand on shen jiu's shoulder and tells him he understands; he knows someone who would do anything to make it back to the one they loved, understands the pain that comes when time and distance separates the two

however, xie lian tells him, he can't let shen jiu push himself. he'll only stunt his progress by hurting himself rather than speed things up

shen jiu is ready to argue again before xie lian offers to make the trip with him

shen jiu doesn't believe it at first—who would bother with helping him for this long if they weren't getting anything out of it? he already found this hard to believe, let alone the fact that xie lian would drop everything to travel with him for weeks on end

xie lian doesn't shake in his resolve, though. shen jiu figures out he's being serious and wants to argue, but he's just—relieved

so many people have stood as roadblocks on his path back to qi-ge; xie lian might be the first person actively trying to help them

it almost reignites hope in him; someone other than him believes in them. someone other than shen jiu thinks they'll make it back to each other and succeed in reuniting. xie lian's faith in him is like a gust of wind beneath his wings

he agrees to their road trip

[xie lian makes sure to tell his beloved he'll be away for a while]

[shen jiu doesn't notice that xie lian buys steamed buns off the same stranger in nearly every town they stop by for a night of rest in the following few weeks]

[xie lian notices, years later, when shen qingqiu doesn't recognize him upon their first meeting in decades. shen yuan doesn't know xie lian, but xie lian knows this isn't shen jiu, anymore]