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The moment he cast his gaze downwards, Wei Qingwei bitterly regretted his decision to take the first misstep of his honourable existence as the eldest Peak Lord in Cang Qiong.

He had always known that what he had decided to do was wrong, of course. Shen-shixiong might have been rude and aloof — not to mention rather unpleasant — but it was beneath an immortal cultivator to play tricks on him.

Wei Qingwei blamed Qi-shimei for this. Shen Qingqiu’s fiercest antagonist, she had embraced the latest artefact to arrive at Xiao Gelóu with the fervour of a blood-drunk weasel in a henhouse. Initially, she had approached the leader of the relevant Peak. However, under pressure from the woman, Zhao Qingmo had asked him to deal with it.

After all, Wei Shixiong specialises in spiritual weapons. There is hardly any difference between these and magical artefacts. Wan Jian and Xiao Gelóu are practically Sister Peaks!

That wasn't true.

And Zhao Qingmo knew that all too well.

However, it was hard to say whether his mild-mannered, peaceful Shidi was more terrified by the idea of upsetting Qi Qingqi or unleashing Shen Qingqiu’s vengeful wrath. Driven by pity for him and the pragmatic assessment that he was far taller and sturdier than him, Wei Qingwei had ended up accepting his request.

To be honest, he hadn’t initially understood what could be so interesting about a trinket that allowed people to relive their happiest memory. This was particularly true when he thought of it in relation to the leader of Qing Jing Peak. Wei Qingwei couldn’t even imagine Shen Qingqiu being happy.

That was until Qi-shimei had impatiently explained to him that it could be used to expose their depraved Shixiong.

Once he realised what his martial sister expected to see thanks to the artefact, Wei Qingwei felt a bit sick. Assuming the worst of him, Qi-shimei must have imagined a scene in which Shen Qingqiu was forced to stand in front of the mirror at a meeting of the Peak Lords and expose his worst perversions to everyone present. The most unspeakable of these would have to be his happiest memory.

Wei Qingwei reluctantly agreed to bring the heavy mirror to the next meeting. Yes, he had succumbed to the temptation of seeing the impeccable, haughty leader of Qing Jing Peak in distress. No, he had not believed that the mirror would show Shen Qingqiu raping one of his female disciples. Despite his rough edges and harshness, Wei Qingwei had always believed that if Shen Qingqiu had been chosen by a sword like Xiu Ya — powerful, with a dazzlingly white blade — then the deepest core of his being could not be evil.

Telling himself that nothing sensational would happen, he committed the most embarrassing act of his life at Qi-shimei’s hardly furtive nod: stretching out a foot, he tripped up his Shixiong.

Shen Qingqiu stumbled right in front of the mirror.

Immediately afterwards, Wei Qingwei realised with horror that Zhao Qingmo had misunderstood the artefact’s purpose. The mirror did not merely show the happiest memory: it caused the user to relive it. At the very least, it transported the user back to the physical age at which they had experienced it.

Secondly, as everyone stared in astonishment at the bundle of scrawny limbs and enormous, flaming eyes, Wei Qingwei realised that Shen Qingqiu’s happiest memory had occurred during his childhood. Beyond the bewilderment, Qi Qingqi had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.

Kid Shen Qingqiu stared at them with the expression of a ferocious little beast baring its teeth at potential predators. This made it painfully obvious that, in keeping with his body, his memory had also regressed. Either that or their Shixiong genuinely hated them more than anyone had ever dared imagine.

Then the child opened his mouth.

"Who the hell are you?" he growled. "How did I end up here?” Where's Qi-Ge?' Well, you bastards? Answer me if you don’t want me to bite your balls off and shove them down your throats!"

Wei Qingwei heard the usually composed and polite Mu Qingfang stammering like an outraged schoolgirl. He couldn’t say he blamed him. They had all grown up in environments, both domestic and academic, where great importance was placed on manners and good breeding. It must have been the first time they’d heard such foul, aggressive language. Aggressive was, of course, a term easily associated with Shen Qingqiu. But foul-mouthed? Him? The most refined and erudite Peak Lord?

Although the child had the same face as him, with phoenix eyes and delicate features, Wei Qingwei wondered if that little rascal might actually be Shen Qingqiu. This was partly because, as well as speaking like a dockworker, he was also brazenly shameless. Having kicked off the robes that had not shrunk with him and were now tangled around his feet, he stood before them in an indecent state. He was wearing only his innermost robe, which was thin and still too big for him. It hung from his shoulders, exposing his collarbone.

There was something provocative about the way the boy flaunted his semi-nakedness, holding his head high. Until he noticed Qi Qingqi. Then he grimaced with pure disgust.

"I can understand that men might be beasts, but a woman? You’re even more disgusting than them!" he yelled at her. Beyond the contemptuous hostility, his expression betrayed painful disappointment. To him, the idea that women could pose a threat seemed to be an unspeakable betrayal.

Qi Qingqi didn’t take his words well.

"How… how dare you?" she stammered. Her voice was an octave higher. "Shen Qingqiu! You’re as awful as ever! You horrible little..."

"My name is Shen Jiu, you stupid bitch!" he snapped, cutting her off.

By now, Wei Qingwei wasn’t the only one who had fallen silent. Even Liu Qingge continued to stare at this miniature version of Shen Qingqiu, his mouth agape. Having been personally attacked, Qi-shimei was the only person capable of speaking to him — or rather, lashing out at him in turn. Before she could say anything else — judging by her expression, it would not have been suitable for a child to hear — Zhangmen-shixiong's voice rose above hers.

"Xiao Jiu…?"

This wasn’t the first time they had heard him accidentally use that affectionate nickname, which was completely inappropriate for someone as harsh and unfriendly as Shen Qingqiu. But it was the first time they’d seen their Sect Leader looking so... lost. On his usually affable and composed face, they could see a raw vulnerability that no one would ever have associated with the man who, aged just twenty, had fought against Tianlang-Jun. The most powerful cultivator of their generation — the man who never needed to draw his sword to win — had fallen to his knees before a rude child who, in body and mind, was not even his Shidi at that moment.

Young Shen Qingqiu should not have recognised Zhangmen-shixiong.

However, when he set his gaze upon the man, his large eyes – which were disproportionately large for his gaunt little face – widened. Disbelief, distress and, finally, savage rage flashed through them. He lunged at Yue Qingyuan, pounding the man's chest with his fists, punching and kicking him and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"You’re a bloody bastard!" Wei Qingwei had never known that such a small child could express such hatred. "I’d recognise your face anywhere! It sickens me that you look exactly like Qi-Ge! Why did you abandon him? Answer me, you bloody bastard! Why did you abandon your son?! If you ever show your face to him again, I swear I’ll kill you! Do you hear me? I’ll kill you!"

Zhangmen-shixiong now wore a devastated expression of raw, uncontrollable suffering, his eyes fixed on the child.

Ten Peak Lords stared at them in silence. Shen Qingqiu had somehow recognised him, albeit misinterpreting his adult appearance. Did this mean the two had known each other since childhood?

As the child continued to hurl insults and threats at him, Zhangmen-shixiong suddenly pulled him into his arms. He was so much larger than the boy that a single hand was enough to cover his head. Shen Qingqiu struggled even more furiously, scratching, kicking and trying to bite the man's arm, but Zhangmen-shixiong held him tight.

"It's me, Xiao Jiu. It's Qi Ge. Do you remember how everyone said that impossible things could become possible through cultivation? Changing one’s age shouldn’t seem so crazy to Xian Jiu, who used to fantasise about riding a big, talking snake," he said. It was worthy of their Sect Leader to be able to maintain such a calm and controlled tone while holding a wild beast that was trying to bite his ear off.

Shen Qingqiu, Shen Jiu, froze upon hearing those words.

"A big, venomous, talking snake," he corrected irritably, as if that clarification were of the utmost importance to him. Then he fell silent.

They had always known how intelligent he was. Even Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi, who were openly hostile towards him, had never been able to dispute this; they could only lament the fact that such intellect was wasted on such a vicious, disloyal and unpleasant person.

Nevertheless, it was striking to witness a child, who had every right to be blindly stubborn and irrational in an unfamiliar environment surrounded by strangers, adopt a pensive air. His intelligent eyes considered an explanation that any other child in his position would have rejected hysterically. As Shen Qingqiu pondered the facts at his disposal, Wei Qingwei could almost read his thoughts: Was it really possible to age or rejuvenate overnight due to Cultivation? Perhaps through a plant? Or a curse? Or an artefact?

It was rather frightening that all the right questions Shen Qingqiu was asking himself were evident on his childish face.

Finally, he eyed Zhangmen-shixiong from head to toe. "Let’s pretend I believe you. Are you saying that the twelve-year-old Qi-Ge from this morning has turned into an old man?"

Well, he was still a child. A very rude one, at that. While it's true that adults always look like old people to children, not all of them would point it out like that.

Zhangmen-shixiong crinkled his eyes into an affectionate smile. He looked at the boy as if he were an adorable creature rather than a disrespectful brat. To be honest, compared to Shen Qingqiu, who always looked like an immaculate fairy despite his perpetually hostile expression, this Shen Jiu wasn’t even particularly pleasing to the eye. His hair was tousled, his knees were bruised and his body was far too slender and bony. The intensity in his eyes was also unnerving.

Yet Yue Qingyuan looked at him as if he wanted to wrap him in cotton wool and shower him with care and attention.

"Qi Ge has grown old," he nodded, smiling.

Wei Qingwei did not dispute the Sect Leader’s apparent decision not to tell Shen Qingqiu that he had been rejuvenated. He reasoned that it might be for the best, to avoid overwhelming a child's mind with too much information. However, he couldn’t help but frown upon hearing their subsequent exchange.

"Where are we?" Shen Qingqiu asked, still acting wary.

"At the Cang Qiong Mountain Cultivation Sect," replied Zhangmen-shixiong, his tone as calm and reassuring as ever.

"How did we get here…?"

"Xiao Jiu was asleep. I didn’t want to wake him, even though I knew he’d be angry with me for making him miss the excitement of the journey." Zhangmen-shixiong leaned towards him, his behaviour strange: it was unclear whether he was doting on a child or indulging himself. "Just think, Xiao Jiu," he continued. "We flew on swords."

Shen Qingqiu bit his lip. Although he was clearly excited by the news, he didn't let his guard down. "And why did they bring us here?" he asked.

Zhangmen-shixiong didn’t bat an eyelid. "The honourable cultivators lost the artefact that did this to me along the way. They immediately decided to take me to their sect for treatment, and I would never have left without Xiao Jiu. Never." He placed particular emphasis on that.

Wei Qingwei wondered whether they should have been alarmed by how shamelessly their Sect Leader was able to lie without losing his smile.

Mu Qingfang cleared his throat. "Zhangmen-shixiong, as the sect’s healer, I should visit the person who has undergone age change," he said. This was the closest he would come to objecting.

"Why are you looking at Qi-Ge while addressing Zhangmen-shixiong?" the boy asked promptly. He had become wary again.

It was exasperating how his sharp, ever-alert mind missed not the slightest detail. Wei Qingwei had never considered how exhausting it must be for Shen Qingqiu to simply be himself. Did that man ever allow himself to let his guard down? Goodness me, he’d been living in a constant state of alertness ever since childhood!

"I've told them several times to call me Yue Qi," Zhangmen-shixiong explained in a calm voice. "But it seems difficult for adults to address another adult in such a familiar manner."

"You’re not an adult," he retorted, now sulking.

"In appearance, I am," the man reminded him.

Shen Qingqiu pondered the matter for a few moments before shrugging. "I understand that adults are stupid," he conceded. Then, in a childish manner finally reflecting his young age, he tugged at Yue Qingyuan’s robes. "But when we grow up, I’ll still call you Qi-Ge!" he proclaimed with conviction. "And if you try not to call me Xiao Jiu, I’ll punch your stupid face."

Had Zhangmen-shixiong's eyes perhaps reddened...? Wei Qingwei held his breath until the Sect Leader turned back to Mu Qingfang and resumed normal behaviour – whatever that might mean in this situation.

"I am convinced that the effects will be temporary in any case," he said gently but firmly. The implication was clear: you will not visit Shen Jiu.

It must have been an act of mercy towards Mu Qingfang; if he had dared to go near him, the child would probably have gouged his eyes out. While this was consistent with Zhangmen-shixiong's usual kindness, Wei Qingwei couldn't help feeling slightly uneasy. It was as though Yue Qingyuan simply didn’t want anyone to get close to Shen Jiu, regardless of logic or responsibility.

Shen Jiu eyed his supposed 'Qi-Ge' sharply. He appeared wary and shrewd, two traits that Wei Qingwei would never have associated with a child. There was also a hint of defiance in his expression. He seemed to believe the story he had been told to some extent, but he took wicked satisfaction in testing the grown man over whom he felt he had power.

His question was as sharp and direct as a stab. "What happened to Qi-mei two days ago?"

However skilled Zhangmen-shixiong was at maintaining a constant façade of placid confidence, he stiffened. Wei Qingwei was certain that he shouldn’t have overheard this conversation; not him, not anyone else. Yet they all remained still, showing no sign of leaving the room. It was akin to the uncontrollable, morbid fascination one experiences when witnessing an unavoidable accident.

"Meimei is dead," replied Zhangmen-shixiong.

"How?" Shen Qingqiu pressed.

The man looked him in the eye, his expression unreadable. "She was killed."

"How?"

The child's demand for ever more detail was sinister; his feverish, almost obsessed eyes shone like precious stones against his pale face.

Yue Qingyuan’s face had also turned ashen. His eyes were terribly somber. Shen Qingqiu bared his teeth at him. "Answer me!" he ordered, raising his voice. He pushed him, but it was a ridiculously feeble shove that would never have moved Yue Qingyuan — no more than a gnat could hope to move a mountain.

Wei Qingwei watched as the man took the child's hands in his own. An hand were big enough to hold both of young Shen Qingqiu's.

His long, strong fingers trembled slightly.

"Qi-mei was killed by the slave trader who owned us," he replied, his voice hoarse and emotionless.

What…?

Wei Qingwei was sure that he had misunderstood. He must have misunderstood. It was impossible that Zhangmen-shixiong had actually said that he and Shen Qingqiu had been... Yet, as he repeated this to himself breathlessly, he saw the same mixture of bewilderment and unease reflected on the faces of his fellow sect members that he himself was feeling. Liu Qingge suddenly seemed very young in his distress.

Shen Qingqiu, on the other hand, had calmed down. "How did he kill her?" he asked, now murmuring. It was a barely audible whisper, yet it seemed to deal the invincible Yue Qingyuan a physical blow. He had to close his eyes and take a deep breath before answering.

"He kicked her," he said. "The first time, he hit her because she hadn’t earned anything that day. Then it was because she’d vomited on his shoes. After that, he kept hitting her, over and over again, until her head split open and her brains splattered across the floor."

At that moment, Wei Qingwei felt closer to his brothers-in-arms than ever before. He instinctively turned towards them so as not to feel alone with his own agitation and found them all equally horrified.

Conversely, he had never felt Zhangmen-shixiong seem so distant. However obvious his preference for Shen Qingqiu had always been — often a source of confusion, dissatisfaction, and discontent among those who considered it misplaced — now it was as if the two of them were suspended in an isolated dimension that excluded everyone else.

Yue Qingyuan cupped the child's face in his hands. He gently stroked his cheek with his thumb.

"I couldn't bring myself to go near her body," he said softly. "It overwhelmed me too much. I hated myself for it, but I still couldn’t bring myself to touch her. Xiao Jiu, on the other hand, touched her. He dragged her into the woods by himself and dug her grave with his bare hands. He swore, furiously wiping his eyes with his dirt-stained fingers. I watched my Xiao Jiu and thought that no one could be stronger than him."

Instead of being moved to tears, as a normal person would be, Shen Qingqiu twisted his face into a grimace. "Don't talk rubbish," he snapped back. "I know I’m a petty, opportunistic little shit. While Meimei was being killed right in front of me, I did nothing to save her because I knew the bastard would start kicking me if I tried to help. I wasn't about to die in her place. What the hell is brave about dealing with a corpse? At least Qi-Ge stopped the younger children from watching. I just stood there watching."

"Xiao Jiu… being afraid of dying can’t be considered a fault."

The way he stamped his feet was childish. But the same could not be said of his aggressive shouting. "I’m never afraid! I’m just wicked and selfish! Some people are born rotten, and I’m one of them!"

It was terribly twisted that Shen Qingqiu seemed to find comfort in seeing himself this way; a hint of bitterness flickered in his eyes, but pride and resentment still prevailed.

Zhangmen-shixiong... Wei Qingwei thought uneasily that the indescribable expression on the Sect Leader’s face was something private that none of them had the right to see.

And all this without even considering the implications of the unexpected and shocking life experiences endured by their two Shixiong. Wei Qingwei was sure that he wasn’t the only one who would rather pretend not to have heard anything.

Yue Qingyuan picked up the child. Despite his scornful grumbles, Shen Qingqiu wrapped his arms around Yue Qingyuan's neck and snuggled against his chest. When Zhangmen-shixiong left, taking with him the sect’s biggest — now smallest — problem, no one tried to stop him.

━━━━ ◦: ✧✲✧ :◦ ━━━━

Everyone had hoped that the effects would wear off after one night's sleep. Or maybe two nights? Perhaps three... After four days, even the most optimistic among them had given up on that possibility.

So, on the morning of the fourth day, they could no longer avoid deciding what to do about the disciples of Qing Jing Peak.

Mu Qingfang was present because, as a healer, he felt morally obliged to keep an eye on Shen Jiu. Initially, he tried to think of him as Shen Qingqiu. However, he could not, in good conscience, equate that malnourished child with the second most important figure in his sect.

Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi were also present, albeit reluctantly, having been summoned by Zhangmen-shixiong.

Mu Qingfang observed that Shen Qingqiu’s disciples were a small, scattered group. This reminded him that all of Qing Jing’s previous disciples had left following Shen Qingqiu’s ascension to Lord of the Peak. Left alone, Shen Qingqiu had managed to gather a dozen or so new disciples. This was an excellent result in itself. After all, the new Lords of the Peaks had only taken up their positions a few years ago. Mu Qingfang hadn’t even taken on any new disciples yet, preferring to look after those he had inherited from his Shizun.

However, he felt uneasy witnessing the consequences of a defection for which Shen Qingqiu had taken all the blame at the time. Of course, it was possible that he had indeed alienated all his former fellow disciples and that their refusal to remain under his command had been justified. Nevertheless, it was easier to believe this when confronted with a cold, contemptuous man who made no effort to defend himself than with a child clinging to the sect leader’s robe.

"Is he Shizun’s son?"

The disciple who had been staring at Shen Jiu with her mouth agape the whole time was the first to speak. She was probably between fourteen and fifteen years old, and the eldest of the group. After Zhangmen-shixiong denied the child’s alleged identity, she seemed even more confused.

Mu Qingfang thought she must be upset. However, to his surprise, having decided incredibly superficially that it wasn’t important to give the child a name, she let out a squeal of pure joy and rushed to kneel before Shen Jiu.

"So cute!" she chirped. She cupped his cheeks in her hands and squeezed them as if they were two steamed buns.

The other two girls soon followed suit, crowding around the child amid squeals of excitement and girlish coos.

Surprisingly, Shen Jiu didn’t try to bite their fingers off. Like everyone else, Mu Qingfang had heard the insinuations about Shen Qingqiu's ambiguous preference for his female disciples. Yet, seeing him like this — slightly annoyed, but clearly enjoying the attention from the young girls — he seemed more like an indulged younger brother who loved being pampered by women's delicate hands.

Meanwhile, the male disciples stood looking lost and unsure of what to do.

Zhangmen-shixiong cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "This child is called A-Jiu and is my protégé. But that is not why we are here. I have come to inform you that your Shizun has entered solitary meditation to advance his cultivation. As Qing Jing Peak no longer has any senior disciples who can temporarily oversee the training of the younger ones, I have come to ask the lords of the other Peaks for help."

Under Zhangmen-shixiong’s insistent gaze, Liu Qingge stepped forward with a snort. "The boys will train at Bai Zhan Peak," he declared, succinctly.

Qi Qingqi was kinder when she made the same offer to the girls.

At the prospect of setting foot on Bai Zhan Peak, the boys turned as pale as sheets of paper. While the girls did not seem opposed to temporarily staying in the Women’s Enclave, they were far more interested in pampering Shen Jiu.

Qi Qingqi was red-faced. She must have thought that Shen Qingqiu’s disciples would be overjoyed at the proposal, falling at her feet in gratitude and begging her to let them stay at Xian Shu Peak forever. The fact that they showed no particular desire to leave Qing Jing was certainly a bitter pill to swallow. This may also have been because, in recent days, Shen Jiu had made it a point of honour to call her a "damned bitch" at least a dozen times before sunset.

Before any of them could say a word, a savage scream rent the air. The sound of stamping feet and a cacophony of belligerent voices: half a dozen young boys in light-coloured Bai Zhan uniforms suddenly appeared.

"We're here to teach you a lesson in combat!" proclaimed the eldest boy, trampling on the fallen guqin of one of Shen Qingqiu's disciples.

Everyone was familiar with the cyclical raids that Bai Zhan’s disciples carried out on Qing Jing Peak. It would have been hard to forget them, given that Shang Qinghua complained about the damage they caused to the sect's finances at almost every meeting.

But seeing it with one's own eyes was quite another matter. The boys were so busy acting like bullies and smashing everything they could get their hands on that they hadn’t even noticed their Shizun’s presence.

Mu Qingfang thought disapprovingly that seeing Liu Qingge would probably only make them more determined. Shen Qingqiu’s disciples, for their part, made no attempt to defend themselves. Their faces were livid and they looked like they wanted revenge, but they had no intention of getting into a fight with Bai Zhan’s disciples. This explained why Mu Qingfang’s Peak had never been involved in any of those famous raids: it was unlikely that any injuries would occur during a one-sided attack.

Liu Qingge’s lads were clearly accustomed to facing no resistance. This frustrated them. This was evident in their reaction when Shen Jiu wriggled free from Zhangmen Shixiong’s grip and charged towards them, flailing wildly. Although unimpressed by his harmless appearance, Bai Zhan’s disciples were nonetheless delighted to have an opponent willing to fight.

That is, until Shen Jiu leapt at them.

Shen Qingqiu had always been known for his underhand fighting style: blinding talismans, feints and traps. However, watching his younger self fight revealed that, as an adult, he had always held back, trying to strike a balance between wanting to win and acting with dignity.

Young Shen Jiu, to say the least, was a raging fury.

Much to everyone's astonishment, except for Zhangmen-shixiong, who was rubbing his forehead as if he were coming down with a headache, Shen Jiu resorted to biting, scratching, and throwing sand in his opponents' eyes to gain the upper hand.

Liu Qingge was the first to remember that he was an adult with a duty to intervene. He grabbed Shen Jiu by the arm just in time to stop him from knocking out a few more teeth with the stone he had hidden in his sleeve.

"That’s not fighting!" he exclaimed angrily. Then he groaned – Bai Zhan’s God of War groaned – when Shen Jiu kicked him in the testicles with all his might. Qi Qingqi let out a sound suspiciously like a laugh, which she quickly disguised as a contemptuous grunt.

Bai Zhan’s disciple, who had just spat out a mouthful of blood – and a piece of tooth – screamed as if his Shizun had been stabbed in the heart.

Yue Qingyuan hurried to lift Shen Jiu into his arms. From that secure vantage point, he became even bolder: he bared his teeth at Liu Qingge and mimed slitting his throat. "Come on, you fucking arsehole! Try teaching me the proper way to fight now!" he taunted.

Zhangmen-shixiong, demonstrating terrible educational instincts, held him even tighter.

Qing Jing’s disciples looked as shocked as they were delighted.

Still in Zhangmen-shixiong’s arms, Shen Jiu addressed them fiercely. "Isn’t this your Peak? You’d better defend him, you spineless, filthy rats!" he exclaimed. "If they’re stronger than you, use your wits, for fuck's sake! Set traps, set their hair on fire and tip buckets of shit over them!" He gesticulated wildly to emphasise his words, to the extent that Yue Qingyuan was struggling not to lose his grip.

The girls, following some strange mental process, continued to coo about how cute he was. Meanwhile, the boys seemed to be having an epiphany. Some smirked and rubbed their hands together in an unsavory manner.

Mu Qingfang thought wearily that his Peak would have a great deal more work to do in future.

They finally came to the conclusion that Qing Jing’s disciples weren’t going anywhere.

Zhangmen-shixiong agreed to teach them for at least a couple of hours a day, setting them tasks to keep them occupied until evening. This was a better education than Bai Zhan’s boys received; they were usually left to their own devices as Liu Qingge spent most of his time outside the sect, moving from one hunt to the next.

Since Shen Jiu had taken a liking to the bamboo hut, unaware that it was his own house, he and Yue Qingyuan had settled in to sleep there.

The sect leader shot Shang Qinghua a long, judgmental look after he dared to suggest that Shen Jiu might prefer to sleep alone. After all, Shen Jiu wasn’t a baby; in fact, he was far more alert and independent than the average child. That look made Zhangmen-shixiong's point clear.

In the days that followed, Mu Qingfang saw Shen Jiu wandering all over the mountain, with Yue Qingyuan close behind. He brought up the rear. Despite his patient being unaware of his need for one and the impeccable Sect Leader revealing an unexpected and frustratingly unreasonable side, Mu Qingfang was determined to fulfil his role as a healer. It was becoming increasingly clear that Yue Qingyuan preferred to enjoy the company of the child who incessantly called out, "Qi-Ge! Qi-Ge!" to finding a solution straight away.

That day, it was Wei Qingwei’s turn. Zhangmen-shixiong had climbed up to Wan Jian Peak with Shen Jiu in his arms, flying on his sword to please the child. Mu Qingfang had to admit that it was rather cute the way Shen Jiu’s eyes lit up when he flew. Shen Qingqiu had never seemed so keen to do it himself, always preferring a carriage to the sword wherever possible.

"Qi-Ge, will I be able to learn to fly, too?" he had once heard him ask.

Zhangmen-shixiong had smiled, as if on the verge of tears. "Xian Jiu will be the best at flying," he replied.

It wasn’t true. Mu Qingfang knew better than anyone that, due to his flawed cultivation, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t cover long distances in flight without stopping often to rest.

This thought brought to the surface the aspect of the whole affair that had troubled him the most. On the first day, he had taken the child’s pulse to check the state of his meridians, seizing an opportunity while Zhangmen-shixiong was distracted. What if the child were at risk of a Qi deviation? It was his duty to ensure that his martial brother did not die before his very eyes! However, to his utter astonishment, Shen Jiu’s meridians proved to be perfect. Powerful and healthy, with immeasurable potential. These were the meridians of a child who could become the most powerful cultivator of their generation, surpassing even Zhangmen-shixiong.

Mu Qingfang had not dared to ask any questions. In the past, it would have been easy to believe that Shen Qingqiu had squandered his potential through a dissolute lifestyle. But now... Mu Qingfang was afraid to discover the truth.

Lost in thought, he paid little attention to Shen Jiu brazenly making his way into Wei Qingwei’s forge. Out of a mixture of good nature and guilt — given his involvement in their Shixiong’s current condition — Wei Qingwei willingly showed Shen Jiu the most intriguing spiritual weapons he had recently crafted.

By the end of the tour, rather than showing childlike enthusiasm, Shen Jiu’s eyes shone with longing.

"One day, I too shall have a sword," he proclaimed. He held his head high. "A fantastic sword."

Wei Qingwei agreed without a second thought. "I know," he replied. Mu Qingfang was certain that this weapons fanatic was thinking of a top-grade weapon like Xiu Ya.

Shen Jiu was wary at first. However, when he sensed no hint of mockery in the man’s calm demeanour, he relaxed. "You’re not bad for a muscle-bound bloke," he remarked. He said it as if receiving a young lad’s approval should be a source of pride for an adult.

Mu Qingfang strongly suspected that Qi-Ge was responsible for his disrespectful attitude towards his elders. Qi-Ge. Yue Qingyuan. Zhangmen-shixiong. Realising that they were all facets of the same person gave him a splitting headache.

Smiling broadly, Wei Qingwei did nothing to discipline the cheeky child. “Thank you,” he replied cheerfully.

Really, Wei-shixiong? For heaven's sake, have some dignity!

Mu Qingfang apologised to his martial brother when he found himself smiling at Shen Jiu's praise later that day.

They had come across a limping disciple — nothing special, just a minor accident — yet Shen Jiu had stared at him with unnerving intensity while taking his first-aid supplies out of the Qiankun bag hanging from his belt. Mu Qingfang had merely reset a dislocated shoulder and eased the pain with herbs and pills. But for Shen Jiu, the mere fact that a healer had treated someone of their own accord must have been astounding, given the deep impression it had made on his face.

"Aren't you going to ask him for something in return?" Shen Jiu snapped defensively once Mu Qingfang had finished treating the lad.

Mu Qingfang blinked like an owl. "Of course not," he replied, not quite understanding.

The child scrutinised him warily for a long time; eventually he must have seen something in his face that convinced him of his sincerity.

"You’re a good doctor," he said. Again, those few concise words should have sounded terribly disrespectful. Yet now Mu Qingfang understood why Wei Qingwei had received them with satisfaction. Shen Jiu had an extremely serious way of showing his appreciation.

Mu Qingfang gloated. But he was chilled to the bone by Shen Jiu's next words, addressed to Yue Qingyuan:

"Not like that piece of shit who wanted his cock sucked in exchange for medicine," he said bitterly. "Do you remember him, Qi-Ge?"

The man's face was a blank mask. "I remember him," he replied, his voice calm beyond reason.

Shen Jiu kicked a pebble with such force that it sent up a cloud of dust. Annoyed, he carefully wiped the dust off the new shoes that Yue Qingyuan had given him. "When your stomach was playing up terribly, I got the medicine from him to treat you," he said, lowering his voice.

From the way he turned pale, it was clear that Yue Qingyuan was hearing this news for the first time. He dropped to his knees instantly and grabbed Shen Jiu by the shoulders. "I told you not to go near that man under any circumstances!" he exclaimed, speaking more harshly than anyone had ever heard before.

As always, Shen Jiu attacked to defend himself: "You were throwing up, burning up and ill. It's obvious I had to look after you!" he snapped.

"Xiao Jiu..."

Yue Qingyuan looked utterly devastated. It was surreal to see a grown man being comforted by a child. Although Shen Jiu's way of showing kindness was to kick him in the shins. "What are you thinking, you idiot?!" he protested. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "'I didn't actually suck his dick! I did put it in my mouth, but only to bite down on it so hard that it bled. Then, while he was rolling around on the ground, I grabbed the medicine and ran off."

Mu Qingfang stood rooted to the spot, feeling queasy. He admired the effort Yue Qingyuan had made to force a smile. "Xiao Jiu is always so strong," he said, praising him. The hand with which he held him close was trembling. His final murmur was barely audible: "Qi-Ge always ends up being saved by his Xiao Jiu."

While Shen Jiu’s praise was carefully considered and therefore entirely sincere and meaningful, he was aggressive and brutal in expressing his contempt.

The visit to Xian Shu Peak was brief, intense, and potentially deadly. There were a few glances, an increasingly bitter expression and a swift, merciless assessment. "There are only pretty girls here," Shen Jiu growled. "Are you really such a bitch that you’d reject an ugly girl just because she'd ruin the look of your shitty Peak?"

Qi-shijie clenched her fingers as if she were wringing his neck. Zhangmen-shixiong coughed discreetly. "I am certain that Qi-shimei would never be so petty and superficial as to choose her disciples based on their looks," he said in a conciliatory tone.

Had Zhangmen-shixiong perhaps been... sarcastic? His tone was so subtle that one might have thought otherwise, but judging by the smug smirk on Shen Jiu’s face, it was clear that he was familiar with that side of Zhangmen-shixiong's personality.

Fortunately, Qi Qingqi didn’t notice. Taking the sect leader's words as a defence of her honour, she shot Shen Jiu a withering glare. He responded by giving her the middle finger. She nearly choked on her indignation. Yue Qingyuan hurried to pick up the child and take his leave of Xian Shu.

After that disastrous experience, they refrained from taking Shen Jiu to visit the other Peaks for several days. This gave Zhangmen-shixiong time to focus on the all-important task of feeding the child. By 'feeding', Mu Qingfang meant filling Shen Jiu up with all kinds of delicacies and sweets.

"Zhang... Yue Qi, too much sugar will upset his stomach," said Mu Qingfang, watching Shen Jiu devour his fifth tanghulu. In addition to the hardened layer of sugar, it was also coated in syrup. Moreover, the juice from the ripe peach had stained his teeth red, creating the impression that he was feasting on a living creature dripping with fresh blood. It was unsettling just how well that image suited a child with such delicate features.

This was especially the case after Shen Jiu growled — literally growled — and clutched the food protectively to his chest. "Try touching it and I’ll rip your hand off!" he threatened.

Zhangmen-shixiong gently stroked his head. He had personally styled his hair that morning, tying it at the nape of his neck with a green silk ribbon. "Don’t worry," he reassured him. "Mu Qingfang had no intention of taking your sweets away from you."

Of course not! He’d merely pointed out that eating too many sweets would be bad for his health. Why did he have to be treated like a sort of scum villain for that?

Mu Qingfang kept his mouth shut, refraining from interfering further in his shixiong’s eating habits. Because he wasn’t stupid. He couldn't ignore the fact that Yue Qingyuan's current behaviour stemmed from his past inability to buy anything for Xiao Jiu.

The Lords of the Peaks had tacitly agreed not to comment on revelations about Zhangmen-shixiong and Shen Qingqiu's pasts. However, Liu Qingge, who was always too honest to accept anything less than absolute candour, had repeatedly brought up the subject, mostly muttering that he hadn’t known. He had no idea that Shen Qingqiu was not a lazy, spoilt nobleman who had taken up cultivation late due to his vices. Mu Qingfang tactfully confirmed to him this to him; of course: how could he have known?

Qi Qingqi snorted, remarking that Shen Qingqiu could have communicated with them like a normal person.

Although Shang Qinghua was usually rather insignificant, he had silenced everyone with his reply that Shen-shixiong specialised in sabotaging himself and making his own life more complicated.

Liu Qingge looked visibly displeased.

Mu Qingfang therefore felt tense when the time came to take Shen Jiu to Bai Zhan. It seemed that Yue Qingyuan had not considered refusing the child's request to explore the mountain.

When the disciples saw the Sect Leader appear, they redoubled their efforts, flexing their muscles and strutting about like peacocks. When Liu Qingge saw Shen Jiu, he stiffened — an unusual reaction in itself — and began to rub the back of his neck.

The child fought the discomfort with the delicacy of a stone crusher.

"Are your balls all right?" he asked Liu Qingge.

He immediately forgot any regrets. "They are," he grunted. Whether he’d needed a cold compress to reduce the swelling would remain between him and Mu Qingfang.

Shen Jiu shrugged. "Not that I’d have cared if you’d become impotent," he clarified.

Liu Qingge shot him a glare. Then, probably remembering that he had judged him based on prejudice, he forced himself to stay calm.

"I can teach you the basic sword forms," he offered gruffly. "That way, you can fight like a warrior, not a beast," he added under his breath. “And to think you had the nerve to call me a brute…”

"If you insist," Shen Jiu replied dismissively. Despite his haughty attitude, he was still too young and inexperienced to hide his true emotions. He was practically trembling with excitement.

When Liu Qingge handed him a wooden beginner's sword, he looked at him in outrage, as if the man had just drowned his favourite puppy right in front of him. "I want a real sword, not this rubbish for amateurs!" he protested.

Liu Qingge merely rolled his eyes. Annoyed by his lack of reaction, Shen Jiu stomped violently on his foot.

Mu Qingfang was very proud of his Shidi, who remained calm and collected.

"Either the wooden sword or nothing," he said curtly.

Shen Jiu glared at him and, just for good measure, stamped on his foot again. In the end, however, realising that Liu Qingge was unyielding, he accepted his terms.

For a man who regularly sent his disciples to Qian Cao, often carrying them on his shoulders like moaning sacks of potatoes, Liu Qingge was rather attentive and patient with Shen Jiu. He didn't even give the impression of being cautious just because the sect leader was watching them with a hawk-like gaze.

Shen Jiu was completely dedicated: he listened, observed, and replicated what he was taught without ever complaining that it was too exhausting. Seeing the child repeatedly perform the same arm movement until his muscles trembled, never slowing down or resting, Mu Qingfang wondered how they could have misjudged Shen Qingqiu as lazy and indolent.

Such determination was not something that could be lost as one grew up. How could they have failed to recognise the effort Shen Qingqiu had put in to get where he was?

After all, they had convinced themselves that he was a spoilt nobleman when, in fact, he was the opposite. This disheartened and frustrated him. Mu Qingfang agreed with Qi-shimei that that exasperating man could have communicated with them — at least with him. After all, he was the sect’s physician! It was insulting that Shen Qingqiu didn’t trust him. Not surprisingly, he was the only one among them who had never allowed himself to be examined voluntarily. Mu Qingfang could only examine his meridians if Shen Qingqiu was struck by a severe enough Qi deviation to render him unconscious.

Then Mu Qingfang remembered that it had taken Shen Jiu a lifetime to gain control of his own body. At that, his indignation turned to ashes.

He let out a long sigh. He’d never had headaches before Shen Qingqiu.

"Qi-Ge, look! I’ve won! I’ve won!"

Shen Jiu cheered like a wild monkey when he successfully landed a thrust, striking Liu Qingge just above the abdomen.

He snorted. "You’ll never defeat anyone by hitting them there."

The child looked at him as if he thought he was too stupid to be alive. "You can pull their guts out from there," he retorted. He crossed his arms over his chest. "You can survive with your guts hanging out if you’re very good at tucking them back in, but you certainly can’t keep fighting. So I’ve beaten you."

Liu Qingge was spared the trouble of responding to that deeply unsettling statement by the sudden appearance of Shang Qinghua. The lord of An Ding Peak was approaching them, his arms laden with paperwork, looking utterly exhausted.

Perhaps he had come to plead his case against Liu Qingge and his daily destruction of the sect’s training dummies.

Shang Qinghua was so tired that he didn’t notice them until he was just a few steps away. Then he startled. This would not have been unusual, given his nervous disposition, were it not for the way he glanced at Shen Jiu before looking away.

He almost seemed... uncomfortable, as if he felt guilty towards him. But that made no sense. After all, it was common knowledge that Shen-shixiong was the one who terrorised the tiny lord of An Ding Peak, always ready to silence him during meetings and curtly order him to do his job without whinging.

Mu Qingfang was convinced of it; the idea that Shang Qinghua could have done anything wrong to Shen Qingqiu was unthinkable.

Shen Jiu confirmed this by addressing Shang Qinghua as though he were the most insignificant field mouse.

"You really are spineless," he said contemptuously, twirling his sword.

"Xiao Jiu…"

"It's true!" he exclaimed, reacting vehemently to Yue Qingyuan's reprimand. ‘This is at least the seventh time I’ve seen him trudging up to the other Peaks to beg the idiots on duty to finish their reports! He should tell them to fuck off! If you can’t be bothered to give me the paperwork I need to do my job, then I won’t waste my time running your Peak. And why on earth do you make your disciples run up and down the mountain delivering things? Tell everyone to get off their arses and collect their own stuff!”

In the middle of his rant, Shen Jiu placed his hands on his hips, evoking the image of a particularly feisty housewife.

"I hate people who allow themselves to be treated like doormats!" he snapped.

Zhangmen-shixiong's expression was strange: slightly melancholic, somewhat amused, and extremely affectionate — like the regret of a thirsty man who cannot reach his oasis.

"Luckily, Xiao Jiu is here to help these fools," he remarked.

Mu Qingfang had the distinct impression that he was talking about himself.

Xiao Jiu crossed his arms over his chest and snorted loudly. "Qi-Ge should learn not to let himself be taken advantage of. You can't always sort out other people's messes!" he retorted.

So it was true after all: the child had spoken of Shang Qinghua while thinking of Yue Qi, and Zhangmen-shixiong had noticed. There was so much between the two of them that trying to understand their relationship was like tossing a coin into a bottomless well.

"Qi-Ge should only think about Xiao Jiu." The child said this in a low voice. If they had not all possessed the keen hearing of cultivators, they would not have heard him.

Zhangmen-shixiong did not reply. Instead, he picked the child up and asked if he wanted more tanghulu. Shen Jiu mumbled his agreement, then buried his face in Zhangmen-shixiong's neck.

From Dòng Wù, the Peak of Beasts, Shen Jiu returned with a bear.

To be precise, it was a musk-horned sheep-bear from the northern regions. Despite its size, it was a very docile creature that had been hunted almost to extinction.

The reason Qing Jing Peak ended up with a new domesticated beast was simple. Shen Jiu wanted it. He liked it because it was big and soft, and would make a fantastic pillow.

Poor Gou Qinggu tried to object, reasonably explaining that his Peak was the Peak of Beasts precisely because those beasts were meant to live there. Before the child could throw a tantrum — though, being Shen Jiu, he would probably have fought tooth and nail to get his own way — Zhangmen-shixiong asked Gou Qinggu in a velvety voice if an exception could be made.

Gou Qinggu replied that it could.

It felt strange to address their sect leader by his childhood name – a name that wasn't really a name at all; Qi and Jiu: seven and nine. Mere numbers – as if, when they were children, they had been nothing more than commodities. And they had been. Mu Qingfang still could not accept that reality.

He was embarrassed to address Zhangmen-shixiong as Yue Qi, but perhaps it was better for Shen Jiu to remain unaware of the power held by his childhood friend. If he was already behaving so brazenly, who knew what he would demand upon discovering that he had the Cang Qiong sect leader wrapped around his little finger?

In hindsight, they should count themselves lucky that the adult Shen Qingque refused Zhangmen-shixiong’s favour.

━━━━ ◦: ✧✲✧ :◦ ━━━━

One month after Shen Qingqiu regressed to childhood, Zhao Qingmo burst into the bamboo hut where Yue Qingyuan was teaching the child to read. Ignored by both of them, Mu Qingfang sat obstinately on the other side of the table.

Judging by his haggard appearance, with dark circles under his eyes and his hair standing on end, the Lord of Xiao Gelóu Peak must have spent countless sleepless nights searching for a solution.

His bloodshot eyes spoke of far too much tea being consumed in an attempt to stay awake.

"I'VE GOT IT!" he shouted triumphantly, verging on the maniacal. Mu Qingfang made a mental note to give him some sedatives.

His joy was short-lived. The bear, which had been dozing peacefully by the front door, stood up on its hind legs and growled in his face when the stranger kicked the door down. As placid as the beast might have been, it still had animal instincts towards potential threats – or perhaps Shen Jiu had already accustomed the bear to ferocity by secretly feeding it raw meat and fresh blood.

Looking at him, you might have thought that he would find it very funny if his pet tore a man to pieces.

However, for once, Yue Qingyuan ordered him to behave with a certain sternness.

"Xiao Jiu, be a good boy and call Chángzi back."

Right: because Shen Jiu had had to call that beast guts.

The child clicked his tongue but obeyed. He went over to coax the bear, stroking its thick fur and scratching it behind its ears. "I feel sorry for you, mate. Unfortunately, Qi-Ge only wants you to eat cooked chickens and rabbits. But this loser’s scared of you, so you’ll have to wait outside. Do it for me — if he shits himself because of you, the house will stink of shit for days."

Even a month later, Mu Qingfang still couldn’t come to terms with the fact that the always refined and impeccable Shen Qingqiu used to swear in his youth. Perhaps the very fact that he was always impeccable should have raised suspicions, though. Although, perhaps, the very fact that he was always impeccable should have raised suspicions. Someone who truly feels strong, elegant and erudite has no need to constantly flaunt it; whereas someone who has been treated like a rat all their life will have an obsessive need to show what they have become.

Shen Jiu accompanied the bear out of the house and closed the door behind him. Then, he turned to Zhao Qingmo. "If you’re going to faint, don’t do it on my writing exercises," he admonished him sharply.

Zhao Qingmo was still very pale, but he managed to pull himself together. He cleared his throat. "A few weeks ago, I consulted a colleague at the Huan Hua Palace who is an expert in talismans and artefacts. He, in turn, asked a retired cultivator friend of his who now lives as an ascetic in the mountains. This person then sought the advice of an old shidi of his, who is now the owner of one of the richest private libraries in the country.  Apparently, his hobby is to wander about in search of the rarest and most bizarre texts..." As he began to ramble, he also started gesticulating. Yes, Mu Qingfang was now convinced that Zhao-shidi had taken too many stimulants.

"Get to the point!" Shen Jiu shouted.

The man was startled, as if he had forgotten that he was talking to someone. He blinked, parting his lips, and looked dazed. Then he cleared his throat again. Resuming his speech, he spoke with renewed practicality, his words clear and concise. "The artefact’s effects will cease the moment the affected person speaks aloud about their happiest memory."

Mu Qingfang frowned.

It was a surprisingly… banal solution. He wondered if his martial brother also felt foolish for never having thought to investigate Shen Jiu’s happiest memory despite everything starting from this very point.

Zhangmen-shixiong nodded gratefully at Zhao Qingmo. " Zhao shidi’s commitment will not be forgotten," he assured him.

However affable and kind their Sect Leader might be, he did not bow his head to them every day in gratitude. Zhao Qingmo was more flustered now than when he had seen Shen Qingqiu shrink before his eyes. He mumbled a few words to save face and, as soon as Zhangmen-shixiong dismissed him, slipped away quickly.

"As a healer, I must stay," said Mu Qingfang, anticipating the farewells directed at him.

He refused to leave his most problematic patient in such circumstances. Even under normal conditions, Shen Qingqiu had been dangerously prone to Qi deviations; it would be madness to leave him to his own devices now, when his body would be under severe strain.

Anticipating Yue Qingyuan's move, Mu Qingfang knelt before Shen Jiu. He kicked him in the knee. Right: he hated being treated with the condescension usually reserved for children. Mu Qingfang stood back up. "Yue Qi might not know how to talk about his happiest memory," he remarked casually. "Perhaps Shen Jiu could show him?"

Before that incident, Mu Qingfang would never have considered ignoring an annoyed glance from Zhangmen-shixiong. However, their Sect Leader, having acknowledged the wisdom of that ploy, remained silent.

Shen Jiu looked wary. "I wouldn’t know what to say," he replied. He was so on the defensive that he resembled a cornered wild animal more than ever.

"Try to remember the last moment that made you smile before you woke up here in Cang Qiong," Mu Qingfang suggested.

He bit his lip, then shot a sidelong glance at Yue Qingyuan.

"Xiao Jiu?" the man urged gently.

Shen Jiu puffed out his cheeks and stamped his feet in frustration. When he spoke, he spat out the words with all the anger his little body could muster. By now, Mu Qingfang had learnt that the more Shen Jiu expressed his anger, the broader the range of emotions his soul was imbued with. At that moment, he seemed to be feeling a mixture of fear, shame and pain.

"Qi-Ge only shared his bread with me!" he blurted out, clenching his fists tightly. His cheeks were flushed, but it was his eyes that seemed to burn. "Only with me," he repeated. "Usually, even though he gives me the first bite, he shares the food he gets with the other useless brats too. When Meimei died, Qi-Ge comforted the youngest children in the group because they were crying and clinging to him with their filthy, sticky little hands. But this time, he didn't care about anyone else! He didn’t look at anyone else! He thought only of me."

Mu Qingfang swallowed the lump in his throat.

It was saddening that this was Shen Jiu’s happiest memory.

Shen Jiu was a child starved for affection and connection, greedy and possessive by nature. Someone like that could never have found fulfilment in Yue Qingyuan’s selfless, upright and impartial nature.

Mu Qingfang was nervously pondering this when the child suddenly turned back into a man right before his eyes.

A completely naked man, as his clothes, which were far too small for him, had torn and were now little more than shreds of fabric. Mu Qingfang blushed and hastily looked away. He would have been quite happy not knowing that Shen Qingqiu’s body was slimmer than it had seemed beneath all those layers of clothing, or that his... his nipples were small and pink.

Mu Qingfang felt a piercing gaze upon him that sent shivers down his spine. Without turning around, he could picture Yue Qingyuan's displeased expression. It wasn’t his fault! He hadn’t wanted to see Shen Qingqiu naked. He was there as a healer!

Meanwhile, Shen Qingqiu picked up the adult robes that Yue Qingyuan had discreetly laid out beforehand. There was no doubt that he remembered everything. Without his fan to hide behind, he looked furiously embarrassed and vulnerable. Zhangmen-shixiong had had the foresight to provide the robes, but had forgotten the fans behind which Shen Qingqiu usually concealed his expressions.

Mu Qingfang suspected this had been an intentional oversight.

Shen Qingqiu was getting dressed so furiously that he tore a few seams. He paid no heed. He refused to acknowledge Mu Qingfang and Zhangmen-shixiong's presence, even though this meant he could not shout at them to leave.

Mu Qingfang hesitated; he should have asked Shen Qingqiu to take his pulse to check that his Qi was not misaligned. However, the air around his Shixiong was so charged with nervous tension that he hesitated to speak to him.

Mu Qingfang was left breathless when Yue Qingyuan not only approached him, but embraced him.

Still half-undressed, Shen Qingqiu's hair was dishevelled from the fury with which he had ripped off the green silk ribbon — a gift from Zhangmen Shixiong — from his head. His anger was unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Yet Yue Qingyuan stepped forward and embraced Shen Qingqiu from behind, pressing him so that his back rested against Yue Qingyuan's chest.

At first, Shen Qingqiu froze. Slowly, like a puppet with faulty gears, he parted his lips and widened his eyes. Then, like a powder keg catching fire, he began to struggle with savage fury.

"Let me go at once!" he growled.

"No."

Yue Qingyuan’s refusal was calm, almost composed, yet still categorical, taking both Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfang by surprise.

Shen Qingqiu responded by thrashing around with renewed vigour. Although Zhangmen Shixiong was much taller and more robust, it seemed that Shen Qingqiu might be able to overpower him with his sheer anger. Thankfully, Xiu Ya was in Wei-shixiong’s custody.

Yue Qingyuan did not let him go, even at the cost of enduring his kicks, elbows, and scratches.

It was Shen Qingqiu who lost his strength first. As if the strings that had been controlling him had been cut, he suddenly yielded to the man’s embrace, turning into a limp weight that Yue Qingyuan supported effortlessly in his strong arms. At the same time, however, his tone dripped with venom.

"Did Zhangmen-shixiong enjoy making a mockery of the pathetic Shen Jiu, who still believed he was important to him?" he hissed.

"You are important to me!" Yue Qingyuan replied with unusual vehemence. "To Qi-Ge, there is no one more important than Xiao Jiu."

Mu Qingfang  was aware that they had both forgotten he was there. He had frozen in place, barely daring to breathe for fear of drawing attention to himself. He wanted to leave, but he knew his fellow sect members would never forgive him. Especially Qi-Shijie. To deprive her of first-hand gossip would be far too cruel. Besides, he didn't feel he could leave Zhangmen-shixiong and Shen Qingqiu alone together.

In their current state, Shen Qingqiu might kill Yue Qingyuan in a fit of rage, and he would simply make it easy for him by offering up his neck.

"That’s not true!" the younger man blurted out. His voice was terrifyingly fierce, but he also let a raw pain filter through, perhaps because he was still too destabilised to promptly raise all his masks and barriers. "That’s not true," he repeated through clenched teeth. His shoulders were shaking. "Otherwise, you wouldn’t have abandoned me like some filthy baggage from the past that you left behind!"

This time, Yue Qingyuan let him wriggle free. Now they stood face to face. The fire burning in Shen Qingqiu’s usually cold eyes would have made anyone else look away. But not Yue Qingyuan. He was a man who longed to be consumed by that fire.

"I never abandoned you," he said in a hoarse voice.

"Fucking liar!"

"Xiao Jiu! I swear on my life that it's true."

They were both breathing heavily. Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu spoke as though they had ripped open their chests and pulled those blood-soaked words straight from their hearts. It was not moving. In fact, it was a painful scene to witness.

Mu Qingfang took a step back. His instincts told him to feel uneasy, and common sense warned him that he shouldn’t be there. He wasn’t merely unwelcome; he felt like a complete intruder. Nevertheless, the tension in the room was so intense that he wouldn’t have been able to move even if he’d wanted to.

Yue Qingyuan's expression turned desperate. “I came back for you!” he exclaimed heatedly, frantically, as if he were stopping himself from backing away.

"What…?"

"When I returned to the Qiu residence, I found nothing but burnt ruins. I was told that no one had survived the fire. I… I don’t remember how I felt. After that, my days were a blur of grey and silence until I found you again, almost a year later. At first, I thought you were a figment of my imagination, but you were real, you were alive, and you were there."

Shen Qingqiu seemed as though he was about to interrupt, but once Yue Qingyuan had started, he could not—or would not—hold back the torrent of words pouring from his lips. He placed a hand over Shen Qingqiu’s mouth to silence him and continued with even greater fervour.

"I failed to protect Xiao Jiu. Since it took me too long to come back to you, I can hardly claim to have kept my promise. I have no one to blame but myself. In my eagerness to save you as soon as possible, I forced a bond with a sword too powerful for me, one that did not want me. I nearly destroyed my cultivation and my Shizun had to lock me away in the Ling Xi Caves for a year so that I could rebuild my spiritual pathways from scratch. To save myself, I had to bind my life to Xuan Su.”

Mu Qingfang already knew all this. After all, his Shizun had looked after Zhangmen-shixiong throughout the ordeal. Yue Qingyuan had spared Shen Qingqiu the details of how the former Sect Leader had broken almost every bone in his body before imprisoning him in the caves.

Even knowing the facts, Mu Qingfang still shuddered. No one had ever known that Yue Qingyuan longed for a powerful sword and was so desperate to leave the caves, even at the cost of his own life, for a very specific reason. For one person.

Shen Jiu had shaped his entire life.

Shen Qingqiu was speechless. No one had ever seen him at a loss for words before. Once he had shaken off the numbness, his first reaction was to shove Yue Qingyuan violently. His face was contorted into a furious grimace and, at the same time, painfully vulnerable. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!" he demanded. He accompanied every word with another shove. "What the hell were you thinking? Did you think there was no difference between failing to save me and not even trying? Did you really think so little of me that you believed I’d hate you for nearly killing yourself just to keep your promise?!"

Yue Qingqiu looked confused. "But I didn't keep it," he replied. "Xiao Jiu had warned me not to be impulsive, but I didn’t listen to him. Once again, he had to pay for my mistakes."

Shen Qingqiu was so beside himself that Mu Qingfang feared he might actually experience a Qi deviation. "You bloody idiot!" he shouted in Yue Qingyuan’s face. He had reverted to the heated, foul-mouthed language he had used as a child. "A bloody fucking idiot!"

"Qi-Ge is sorry," muttered Zhangmen-shixiong. "You’re right: Qi-Ge is stupid. That’s why he needs his Xiao Jiu."

Shen Qingqiu stopped shouting. Instead, he clenched his teeth tightly. "And yet, you’ve always been quick to believe every bit of slander about me," he spat. No matter how hard he tried to sound contemptuous and resentful, a hint of pain still came through in his voice.

And was it... true? Mu Qingfang found himself blinking. Until that moment, he had never realised that Zhangmen-shixiong had never actually defended Shen Qingqiu against the rumours circulating about him. He had always believed the rumours. Although Zhangmen Shixiong showed Shen Qingqiu infinite indulgence and boundless patience, he didn’t trust him. He favored him, yet always seemed to side with others rather than with him.

"Qi-Ge is so…"

"Say that again and I swear I’ll rip your tongue out! I don't care if you're sorry, Yue Qingyuan! I want to know why."

Mu Qingfang had never seen Zhangmen-shixiong look like this before. He was usually so honest and calm.  Now, however, his face was impenetrable, and his words were as flat as the surface of a deceptively calm lake.

"An imperfect Xiao Jiu — he was a Xiao Jiu who needed me."

"So you wanted to use a scumbag like Shen Qingqiu to make yourself feel better?’" the younger man asked in an icy tone.

"No."

Yue Qingyuan replied with such force that Shen Qingqiu was silenced.

There was something obsessive about his gaze. It was as though, having looked within himself for the first time — like a child facing darkness with only a tiny flame to guide him — he now felt an urgent need to speak, just as he once felt an urgent need to remain silent.

"I felt a sense of peace at the thought of Xiao Jiu misbehaving," he confessed. "I was tormented, desperately wishing to know that he was at peace and no longer restless or angry. Yet dealing with his excesses felt so familiar. It made me feel useful. It was something I could do for him; something that kept Shen Jiu close to me. A Xiao Jiu who hated me, at least, was a Xiao Jiu who hadn't forgotten me. Being able to be disappointed by him had almost become a guilty pleasure. Each time Shen Jiu caused me pain, it made it a little easier for me to breathe amidst the terrible guilt I had been drowning in for years.”

Yue Qingyuan moistened his lips, then knelt down and bowed his head. "But now I realise I have wronged you. Thinking I was acting for your sake, I have done nothing but act for myself. I never really looked at you. I never... helped you." He uttered this final admission as if a demon had torn the words from his throat with red-hot pincers.

He concluded in a hoarse voice. "For far too long, I told myself that by accepting and allowing others to criticise you, I was earning the right to think only of you.”

Mu Qingfang was genuinely horrified.

Was this the way Yue Qingyuan had tried to reconcile his natural instinct for justice with his equally natural, yet far more visceral, urge to put Shen Jiu before everyone else? If, for example, Shen Qingqiu were to be put on trial for some unknown crime, even with a bleeding heart, would Zhangmen-shixiong allow justice to take its course? At the same time, however, if Shen Qingqiu were to die, Yue Qingyuan would be ready to die with him.

Mu Qingfang felt a knot in his stomach. It was all too obvious that Yue Qingyuan would refuse to outlive Shen Qingqiu.

Even worse than this distorted declaration of intent was the fact that, instead of rejecting Yue Qingyuan and his unhealthy attachment — for once, with good reason — after his initial distress, Shen Qingqiu seemed strangely pleased to hear him out. Clearly, he enjoyed being the object of that obsessive attention.

It was only then that Mu Qingfang realised the true extent of their bond — their lives were inextricably intertwined. They were like two twisted branches, each preventing the other from growing straight towards the sky. Yet they could not, and would not, be separated.

He reconsidered his earlier thoughts on their dramatic incompatibility. Shen Jiu —Shen Qingqiu — had a greedy and possessive nature. Nevertheless much the idea troubled him, he had to consider the possibility that Yue Qingyuan was the more obsessed of the two. He was a selfless and honourable man. But he was also a man who longed intensely for one person alone. If Shen Qingqiu had kept him at a distance, even without hostility, merely by not returning his feelings, he would probably have kept the ravenous beast in his chest under control. However, now that Shen Qingqiu was giving him what he had always longed for, it was difficult to imagine that Yue Qingyuan would remain as reasonable and impartial as ever.

In the silence that had fallen over the room, one could have heard a tear fall. Shen Qingqiu slowly knelt before Yue Qingyuan, who kept his head bowed. He placed two fingers under Yue Qingyuan's chin, forcing him to lift his head. "Look at me," he ordered.

Yue Qingyuan obeyed.

Shen Qingqiu observed him thoughtfully; his sharp gaze almost concealing the tremor in his hand.

"You are very selfish," he stated.

Yue Qingyuan agreed without hesitation.

Shen Qingqiu placed a hand on Yue Qingyuan's stomach and, with slow, languid movements, spread his fingers and stroked him. This gesture, combined with his bare shoulders and collarbone, was all too sensual. It was unlike him. Then again, it was also unlike him to be wearing only his undergarments and a surcoat fastened haphazardly. "If Xiao Jiu were ever to call out another man’s name in his sleep, Qi-Ge’s insides would twist with jealousy," he remarked casually.

This time, Yue Qingyuan swallowed loudly before nodding. "That’s true," he admitted.

"Remember that time at the brothel when you lost your temper? You got really angry because you couldn't bear the thought of me having sex with someone else. You were so overbearing that day. You hurt me by yanking my arm."

It was clear that Shen Qingqiu was goading him now. Although Yue Qingyuan said nothing, the intensity of his gaze spoke volumes.

As a healer who also treated mental health issues, Mu Qingfang should have advised them against staying together. From experience, he knew that when there was too much emotion involved, things rarely worked out. If it then descended into codependency, the chances of a functional relationship were even slimmer.

However, he knew that neither of them would take his advice.

Perhaps, he optimistically told himself, they would find their own balance. This thought crossed his mind as he watched Yue Qingyuan cradle Shen Qingqiu's face in his hands and touch him as though he were made of the finest porcelain. He then saw Shen Qingqiu close his eyes and rub his cheek against Yue Qingyuan's palm.

After that moment of tenderness, Shen Qingqiu, being Shen Qingqiu, curled his lips into a mocking smile.

"You still need to explain why you made me believe you were a child in an adult’s body,” he said. ‘Does the mighty Zhangmen-shixiong harbour some strange fetish? Does the idea of being treated like a child turn you on?"

Yue Qingqiu did not reply immediately. Instead, he continued to stroke Shen Qingqiu's face and run his fingers through his hair, tucking the strands behind his ears. He seemed enchanted by how black and silky they were, as though he were seeing them for the first time.

"Pay attention to me!" he said, offended, pinching his arm.

Yue Qingyuan apologised obediently. "I don’t have any fetishes," he said, shaking his head. "It's just that seeing Xiao Jiu so small made me want to be his Qi-Ge again.' I seized the chance to go back to a time when I was at my happiest. Because back then, Xiao Jiu loved me."

This answer was too serious and honest in response to Shen Qinque’s mischievous tone. Annoyed, he punished him with a painful flick on the forehead. Judging by the way Yue Qingyuan smiled, you would have thought he had been showered with flowers.

"Qi-Ge is so pathetic," he criticised.

Yue Qingyuan didn’t deny it.

Shen Qingqiu leaned forward until their foreheads touched. He had never allowed anyone to get so close to him before, let alone a man with whom he had previously struggled to exchange more than five sentences without arguing. "Since he’s so pathetic, what would Qi-Ge do without Xiao Jiu?" he teased.

"Nothing."  The fervour in Yue Qingyuan’s voice was that of a man kneeling before an altar. "Qi-Ge is lost without his Xiao Jiu."

Shen Qingqiu looked smug, but he also flushed with embarrassment. Mu Qingfang could see that this contrast was charming, although Yue Qingyuan's adoration was, of course, excessive.

Muttering something under his breath about incorrigible fools, Shen Qingqiu stood up and impatiently urged Yue Qingyuan to do the same. Once they were facing each other again, Shen Qingqiu frowned as he examined Yue Qingyuan from head to toe, studying him intently as though he were seeing him for the first time. Even on tiptoe, he still couldn’t quite reach Yue Qingyuan’s height. He clicked his tongue in frustration.

"You'll miss being able to carry Xiao Jiu around like a doll," he said pointedly, crossing his arms over his chest. The pout on his face ruined the sarcastic effect of his words.

Without batting an eyelid, Yue Qingyuan wrapped one arm around his waist and the other behind his knees, lifting him effortlessly. "I can still do it," he nodded. For a grown man at the head of the most powerful cultivation sect, he looked far too smug.

And Shen Qingqiu, the second-in-command and strategist of the aforementioned sect, resembled a cat with its fur standing on end as he hissed at Yue Qingyuan not to be an idiot. However, he did not struggle to escape his grip with any real conviction.

Instead, he chose that moment to remember Mu Qingfang’s existence. He almost squealed unbecomingly in fright when his eyes pierced him like blades.

"If you try to tell anyone about our business, I'll kill you and feed your corpse to your disciples, telling them that it is venison," he threatened in a frighteningly calm voice, after wrapping his arms around Yue Qingyuan’s neck.

Zhangmen-shixiong reprimanded him with a gentle "Xiao Jiu, don’t be like that," but this did nothing to reassure Mu Qingfang. At that moment, he was more inclined to suspect that, had Shen Qingqiu presented a corpse to the Sect Leader, Yue Qingyuan would have helped him dig a grave to bury it.

However, what truly unsettled Mu Qingfang was the realization that they had always been well aware of his presence. They hadn’t forgotten him. They’d simply been too caught up in each other amidst uncontrollable impatience and feverish desire to care that they weren’t alone in the room. Mu Qingfang was slightly offended, but decided it was better not to defend his pride by reminding his shixiongs that other people were not mere supporting characters in their story.

Instead, he cleared his throat in a mature and professional manner.

"I am glad that Zhangmen-shixiong and Shen-shixiong have had the opportunity to confront their inner demons," he said. Moreover, this was no lie. From a strictly pragmatic point of view, it would be better for the sect if Zhangmen-shixiong and Shen Qingqiu improved their relationship. "I sincerely hope this will benefit them both, but above all, I hope it will help Shen Qingqiu find the stability he needs to improve his cultivation. As I have often told him, there can be no stable cultivation with a troubled mind. But I would venture to say that I have never seen him  as calm and serene as he is right now."

Shen Qingqiu pulled a face to show his complete disdain. However, right afterwards, without his fan to hide behind, he turned his face towards Yue Qingyuan’s shoulder to hide his expression. His ears were red.

Mu Qingfang looked at him in surprise. Good heavens, was Shen Qingqiu perhaps a little... cute? Zhangmen-shixiong’s rather unfriendly glare made him quickly backtrack. Shen Qingqiu wasn’t cute at all. Not in the slightest. Zhangmen-shixiong had no reason to fear any rivalry; Shen Qingqiu was all his, complete with a gift ribbon from everyone.

"I thank Mu-shidi for his thoughtfulness," Yue Qingyuan replied formally.

"Could you leave now?" Shen Qingqiu grumbled.

Mu Qingfang was only too happy to oblige. He was just as glad not to know what they would get up to once they were alone. In any case, he trusted Zhangmen-shixiong to be capable and mature enough to handle couple cultivation properly.

Mu Qingfang left the bamboo house, departing with all the dignity of a man slipping away to preserve his sanity. Just before he could mount his sword and leave, he heard Shen Qingqiu's peremptory words.

"Qi-Ge, let’s get this straight right away: the bear stays."