#QiJiu
#SVSSS
Omega!YQY
It’s not that Shen Jiu went out with the intention of uncovering this particular secret. He, like everyone else in CQMS, assumed that the sect leader was a beta.
#SVSSS
Omega!YQY
It’s not that Shen Jiu went out with the intention of uncovering this particular secret. He, like everyone else in CQMS, assumed that the sect leader was a beta.
Yue Qingyuan’s calm demeanor and inability to be rushed into action by his emotions had also been attributed to his secondary gender. Though stereotypical, it was still widely believed that betas were less ruled by their emotions than alphas or omegas.
And thus, it only made sense that the infamous Xuan Su sword was a beta. When Shen Jiu had first discovered this about him, he had scoffed bitterly but didn’t question it.
He did, however, spent more than one sleepless night wondering if Qi-ge would have come back for him if he had been an alpha. Would he have felt the same level of possessiveness that Shen Jiu did when he finally presented as one?
Would that have been enough to bring him back to him?
Somehow, he doubts it.
So no, he didn’t set out to uncover this secret. He didn’t even know there was anything to uncover.
Somehow, he doubts it.
So no, he didn’t set out to uncover this secret. He didn’t even know there was anything to uncover.
The Qing Jing Peak lord had long since decided to wash his hands of anything to do with Yue Qingyuan outside of official sect business.
Who he decided to wet his dick with was none of his business.
He did not care.
/At all./
(He cared a lot.)
Who he decided to wet his dick with was none of his business.
He did not care.
/At all./
(He cared a lot.)
Shen Qingqiu was merely visiting Qian Cao Peak as an excuse to pick up additional medical supplies and avoid the young disciples first day with their personal guqins.
The thing about becoming a peerless immortal scholar with a mastery over the five arts is that you actually had to master then first.
Even on the scholars peak, the road to mastery was long.
Very, very, long.
Even on the scholars peak, the road to mastery was long.
Very, very, long.
No one could blame him for wanting to escape the out of tune discordant plucking of over eager disciples.
This is what ultimately brought him to the medical supply room. It had been years since he slept in the woodshed and had to sneak in steal supplies, but every now again he would fall into old habits to avoid any hall master or disciple stopping him for small talk.
“Zhangmen-shixiong, /please/! You can’t keep going on like this.”
Shen Jiu stilled as Mu Qingfang’s harsh whisper wafted in from the room next door. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his qi to dampen his presence and silence his steps.
Shen Jiu stilled as Mu Qingfang’s harsh whisper wafted in from the room next door. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his qi to dampen his presence and silence his steps.
Channeling the escapades of his youth, he looked at the floorboards to try to remember which ones were most likely to creak went stepped on. Ever so slowly, he made his way closer to the shared wall.
“I appreciate your concern shidi, but this is for the best.”
“I appreciate your concern shidi, but this is for the best.”
Shen Jiu’s eyes threatened to roll out of his head. Of course the illustrious sect leader knows best. However, the Qian Cao Peak lord was never one to be deterred when it came to one’s health. Shen Qingqiu, unfortunately, knew this all too well.
Privately, he felt a little gleeful at seeing his shidi dog someone else about their health decisions for once.
Not one to disappoint, Mu Qingfang’s voice went stern at the dismissal.
Not one to disappoint, Mu Qingfang’s voice went stern at the dismissal.
“I’ve said this for years, what you’re doing is not sustainable. No one would look down on you for seeking treatment. We have cultivators who are discrete or people off peak we can refer-“
“Shidi! Enough!”
“Shidi! Enough!”
Not expecting the booming response, Shen Jiu startled and nearly dropped the pouch he had been sliding medicine packets into.
The sect leader…was sick?
/‘I’ve said this for years.’/
And with some chronic condition.
How could this have escaped anyone’s notice?
The sect leader…was sick?
/‘I’ve said this for years.’/
And with some chronic condition.
How could this have escaped anyone’s notice?
If anything were to happen to Yue Qingyuan Shen Qingqiu would-
Would-
Would have to act as the interim sect leader.
As the second peak, Shen Qingqiu should have been notified!
Would-
Would have to act as the interim sect leader.
As the second peak, Shen Qingqiu should have been notified!
It was an active battle to fight back the snarl he felt threatening to emerge from the back of his throat. Of course /Shen Qingqiu/ would not be trusted with this information. What did he expect from faithless Qi-
“Shixiong.”
“Shixiong.”
His internal tirade was cut short from the shock of how defeated Mu Qingfang sounded. Shen Jiu set down the bandages he had been angrily stuffing away and leaned even closer to press his forehead to the wall.
“Just now, when I inspected your spiritual veins…I’m afraid you’re at risk of another qi deviation if things don’t change.”
/Another?/ When had he-
“Mu-Shidi, nothing will-“
/Another?/ When had he-
“Mu-Shidi, nothing will-“
“No, I’m not asking as your doctor or your shidi. I am telling you this as a friend that is /scared/ for you, this one /will/ be worse. Omegas were not meant to be on suppressants for decades. You /need/ to have your next heat and you’ll need to dual cultivate through it.”
It was as if a ghost had passed through Shen Qingqiu.
The sudden chill that ran through body froze not only his movements but also his ability to think. He could not process the words being said, could not twist them in any way to derive meaning or sense.
The anguished sound from the other side of the wall snapped him@back to attention.
“Shidi- shidi, I /can’t/.”
There was a lingering silence and then something that sounded like the muffled sound of fabric shifting.
“Shidi- shidi, I /can’t/.”
There was a lingering silence and then something that sounded like the muffled sound of fabric shifting.
Shen Qingqiu flattened his ear to the wall and closed his eyes to concentrate, to try to catch any sound that might indicate what was happening in the other room. They were so close and yet, the Qing Jing Peak lord felt like he was worlds away from the other two men.
His efforts were rewarded when the sound of creaking wood gave way to the soft reply of Mu Qingfang.
“Shixiong, you must.”
“Shixiong, you must.”
Unbeknownst to Shen Qingqiu, on the other side of the wall, his shidi had crossed the distance to bring gentle hands to wipe away the sect leader’s frustrated tears.
Shen Qingqiu had heard enough.
Like a thief in the night he dashed back to his peak unseen.
Shen Qingqiu had heard enough.
Like a thief in the night he dashed back to his peak unseen.
Kneeling on the floor of the Bamboo House with his head bowed, Shen Qingqiu turned the conversation over and iced. It was always well into the night and it still didn’t make any sense.
Despite never interacting for more than a few sentences, he kept meticulous track of any of Yue Qingyuan’s absences from the sect. For a man of such high status, it was much more common for people to come to him with any requests.
The few times he went off mountain was to partake in annual lessons with his disciples or for short visits to another sect or lord. There was never any time where they could have hidden a recovery from a qi deviation, especially one that would have Mu Qingfang so concerned
Unless
Unless
Unless it happened before Shen Qingqiu started keeping track.
There was a period of time during his first few years in the sect where he was so wrapped up in the loathing and betrayal and so busy clawing his way up the ranks that he didn’t pay any attention to him.
There was a period of time during his first few years in the sect where he was so wrapped up in the loathing and betrayal and so busy clawing his way up the ranks that he didn’t pay any attention to him.
This was both out of punishment and self preservation. If the man was so ashamed of him, of their past, then he would just remove himself completely. Shen Jiu would turn away from him if they crossed paths on a rainbow bridge or act like he did not see him at intersect events.
During the end of these years and just before the sealing of Tianlang-jun, and free from his bond to Shen Jiu, the disciple that was Yue Qi started to make a name for himself.
From what Shen Jiu remembers, this time marked the send of his off sect missions. The most notable of which involved him killing a Diamond-limbed Cardinal Darkening Hawk bare handed with-
With /Liu Qingge/.
Who had presented as an /Alpha/ only a handful of years prior.
With /Liu Qingge/.
Who had presented as an /Alpha/ only a handful of years prior.
A rumble starts to build in his chest and this time, Shen Jiu does nothing to force it down.
There was a time when Liu /Mingyi/, pest that he was, followed Yue Qi around the sect for days trying to get a spar out of him.
There was a time when Liu /Mingyi/, pest that he was, followed Yue Qi around the sect for days trying to get a spar out of him.
Unable to hold back, the brute’s spars would would escalate to the point that the sect leader and An Ding Peak lord demanded that they be contained on one of the back mountains to limit the destruction of property when they fully wielded their qi.
It only took /accidentally/ coming across them one time to make Shen Jiu decide to avoid them all together when they got like that. The memory of them rolling in the dirt, trading blows until Yue Qi pinned Liu Mingyi down made him sick with fury.
Yue Qi had the audacity to- to /laugh/ at his victory and the brute had looked up at him like he had any right to hear it, to evoke such a reaction from him.
The snarling has turned to full growls as thought has Shen Jiu snapping his head up to glare at the ceiling.
The snarling has turned to full growls as thought has Shen Jiu snapping his head up to glare at the ceiling.
Did /he/ know?
Did Liu Qingge, of all people, /know/?
Was he Qi-
/His/ alpha?
The fury that washes over him has him panting to catch his breath. His throat feels raw and he has no way to know how long he’s been growling for.
Did Liu Qingge, of all people, /know/?
Was he Qi-
/His/ alpha?
The fury that washes over him has him panting to catch his breath. His throat feels raw and he has no way to know how long he’s been growling for.
And as easily as the anger grew and festered like the licking sparks that start a forest fire, another thought extinguishes it and drops to the pit of his stomach with dread.
/‘I can’t.
Shixiong, you must./
Is /that/ who Yue Qingyuan will dual cultivate with?
/‘I can’t.
Shixiong, you must./
Is /that/ who Yue Qingyuan will dual cultivate with?
Shen Qingqiu didn’t set out to discover the sect leaders secret, and now, he wishes he hadn’t.
If he could go back to that supply room and stop himself from hearing that which would haunt his every waking though, he would.
If he could go back to that supply room and stop himself from hearing that which would haunt his every waking though, he would.
Everywhere he goes, he tracks the alphas among them and their proximity to the sect leader.
His elevated position creates a wall, a distance of sorts, with most people born out of obligation and respect.
His elevated position creates a wall, a distance of sorts, with most people born out of obligation and respect.
However, the fool’s looks and amicable nature makes people believe that they /know/ him.
In truth. No one in this sect, in this world, /knows/ him and what he is capable of when his back is pushed to the cliff and starvation is on the line.
He’s not even /that/ handsome.
In truth. No one in this sect, in this world, /knows/ him and what he is capable of when his back is pushed to the cliff and starvation is on the line.
He’s not even /that/ handsome.
The street rat who cheered with joy at finding a half rotten persimmon had twice, no four times, the charm as sect leader Yue Qingyuan!
A life of administrated duties have also robbed him of that bronze skin, of the freckles that Shen Jiu would fall asleep counting.
A life of administrated duties have also robbed him of that bronze skin, of the freckles that Shen Jiu would fall asleep counting.
Yue Qingyuan, over muscled bumbling oaf that he is, is subpar in every way.
Who would event want to dual cultivate with him?
Who would event want to dual cultivate with him?
These musings do not, however, stop him from keeping track of any alpha with a high enough cultivation level within their sect or those registered and qualified outside the sect.
The Madam of the Warm Red Pavilion even looked at him with concern when he asked for a list of brothels with alpha workers skilled with cultivation.
“You’re not leaving us, are you A-Jiu?”
“No, never that.”
“You’re not leaving us, are you A-Jiu?”
“No, never that.”
Yue Qingyuan is on his mind at all hours of the day. Though he still avoids eye contact during sect meetings, Shen Qingqiu would often find himself staring in the direction of Qiong Ding Peak.
It’s not until he catches himself running a hand over different fabrics in his home, wondering if they would be adequate nesting materials, that he decides enough is enough.
He is being absurd.
Knowing Yue Qingyuan is an Omega changes nothing.
Until it does.
He is being absurd.
Knowing Yue Qingyuan is an Omega changes nothing.
Until it does.
The quarterly audits are underway, and as always, Qing Jing Peak is the first to finish their financial reports.
Though Shang Qinghua ranks fairly low on his mental list of potential threats, Shen Jiu will admit that the way the alpha gets during this time of year is enough to motivate him and the Qing Jing hall masters to keep a meticulous eye on their budget.
By finishing early on, he is spared the full force of An Ding Peak's aggression and sabotage that is typically reserved for Bai Zhan Peak and Zui Xian Peak.
(Shen Jiu, for several years now, has suspected that Shang Qinghua is redirecting rut aggression to intimidate the other peak lords into compliance and if true, he is both amused and impressed by this.)
Ming Fan is trailing behind him, sweating as he pulls the hand cart full of scrolls. Once they've crossed the bridge and entered An Ding Peak, Shen Qingqiu dismisses him with a nod and waits to make sure he heads towards the financial hall masters offices.
Yellow clad disciples gather around the edges of the path to comment on the passing Qing Jing disciple. The older financial disciples, marked by their red belts, look noticeably relieved at the sight of Ming Fan and start to escort him the rest of the way.
Shen Qingqiu brings up his fan to cover the grin fighting to come forth, his head disciple looks so incredibly smug with his task and is clearly feeling self important about this delivery.
There is, at least, one benefit of growing poor.
Shen Qingqiu may be considered the scum of the sect, but if there's one thing that's certain, its that he will /never/ be able to be accused of embezzlement.
Shen Qingqiu may be considered the scum of the sect, but if there's one thing that's certain, its that he will /never/ be able to be accused of embezzlement.
Every penny spent from his peak, even those from his own personal stipend, is painfully documented. Satisfied that their report will make it into the appropriate hands, he makes his way over to Shang Qinghua's official office with the /summarized/ report.
While most peak lords are able to work from their residence, the sheer amount of paperwork and meetings that the An Ding Peak Lord is responsible has made such a secondary location necessary.
Shen Qingqiu's knuckles have barely touches the door when he hears a crash followed by a cry coming from within. It's enough to give him pause, if Shang Qinghua has once again fallen beneath an avalanche of scrolls, he doesn't want to risk his own getting lost in the chaos.
Well, it's not like they don't have duplicates.
Decision made, he reaches to open the door when a heavy force collides with him, knocking the peak lord to the dirt. There is an audible thump when his head hits the floor and he can hear his guan coming undone with the force of it
Decision made, he reaches to open the door when a heavy force collides with him, knocking the peak lord to the dirt. There is an audible thump when his head hits the floor and he can hear his guan coming undone with the force of it
Dazed from the impact, it takes him a moment to register what is happening. He is suddenly being surrounded by a faint smell of hawthorn berries and... caramelized sugar?
"Shen-shidi!!"
"Shen-shidi!!"
Abruptly, Shen Qingqiu is pulled back up to his feet by that same force . Before he can pull away from whoever is daring to touch him so familiarly, he is frozen in place by the sight of their frantic sect leader just inches away from his face.
There's a rosy flush high on his cheeks and Shen Jiu has the startling realization that, while faded, the freckles are still there. He hasn't been this close to the sect leader in decades and all he can think in this moment is, 'It's Qi-ge.'
'He's still here.'
'He's still here.'
Warmth starts to pool in his stomach, instinct is telling him that he needs to get closer, needs to put his face against the high collar of those black robes. When he sways to get closer there is suddenly a distressed squawk and he is being forcefully shoved away.
Bracing to be reacquainted with the floor, he's surprised by the small arms that catch him.
"Zhangmen-shixiong! Wait! It's okay! It's fine!" Shang Qinghua's voice is climbing higher and higher and it grates against Shen Qingqiu's very core.
"Zhangmen-shixiong! Wait! It's okay! It's fine!" Shang Qinghua's voice is climbing higher and higher and it grates against Shen Qingqiu's very core.
Yue Qingyuan, for his part, brings up both hands up to cover his face before turning around and /running/. In less than a second, he is summoning Xuan Su calling back to them as he flies away.
"Sorry!!! I'm so sorry!"
"Sorry!!! I'm so sorry!"
Hands no longer obscuring his face, it's plain to see the way his expression is wrought with distress.
In a move more fitting for back alley brawls, Shen Qingqiu twists out of Shang Qinghua's hold and drags him through the open door.
In a move more fitting for back alley brawls, Shen Qingqiu twists out of Shang Qinghua's hold and drags him through the open door.
With the same cruel efficiency, he slams the door shut behind them before pinning the other alpha against it by the neck.
Shen Qingqiu's whole body has gone still with cold fury. There is a stretch in the muscles of his jaw that signals his canines are out on full display.
Shen Qingqiu's whole body has gone still with cold fury. There is a stretch in the muscles of his jaw that signals his canines are out on full display.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?"
The growl that tears through is throat is barely contained behind the snarl. Below him, Shang Qinghua starts to shake and emits a low wine that echoes through the room. Shen Qinqiu's grip tightens and tears start to form in the other alpha's eyes.
The growl that tears through is throat is barely contained behind the snarl. Below him, Shang Qinghua starts to shake and emits a low wine that echoes through the room. Shen Qinqiu's grip tightens and tears start to form in the other alpha's eyes.
"N-NOTHING! I didn't any anything!"
Shen Qingqiu can feel the frantic way his artery pulses against his palm. It would be so easy to keep squeezing until it came to a complete stop.
He's done it before.
Shen Qingqiu can feel the frantic way his artery pulses against his palm. It would be so easy to keep squeezing until it came to a complete stop.
He's done it before.
His instincts say he should do it again.
It would be /so/ easy to give in.
Shen Jiu could do it.
But Shen Qingqiu won't.
It would be /so/ easy to give in.
Shen Jiu could do it.
But Shen Qingqiu won't.
Instead, he reigns in the growl to bring his voice down to its lowest register. Leaning further into the other mans space, he brings his mouth close to his ear and says, "Do /not/ lie to me, Shang Qinghua."
"I'm not!!"
"I'm not!!"
There is a steady stream of tears dripping down to the hand wrapped around Shang Qinghua's neck. This close to him, Shen Qingqiu can make out the fear, desperation, and anxiety coming off of him like waves. And to his disgustt, perhaps even the smell of arou-
Wait.
Wait.
Shang Qinghua flinches, and his trembling nearly comes to a complete stop as Shen Jiu brings his nose to brush against the crown of his head. Nuzzling against his temple, he takes a deep breath and then shifts to the other side to do the same.
It's faint, but now that he knows what to look for, it's unmistakable.
Hawthorn berries and caramelized sugar.
Hawthorn berries and caramelized sugar.
Taking in another deep breath, he feels as the flames sparking beneath his chest start to cool. The desire to eviscerate Shang Qinghua, while still present, takes a step back to let something else through.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
The effort it takes to pull away borders on being insurmountable. But he must.
Yue Qingyuan has scented /Shang Qinghua/.
Taking another breath to compose himself, he takes a step back to look at the other alpha.
Yue Qingyuan has scented /Shang Qinghua/.
Taking another breath to compose himself, he takes a step back to look at the other alpha.
Instead of the terror that had overcome his features only moments prior, what he finds is a look of shocked awe. Shang Qinghua's jaw is slack and those full lips are slightly parted. The crocodile tears are gone and those brown eyes are blown wide open.
"You /know/."
"You /know/."
For a moment, he's back at the Immortal Alliance Conference, Wu Yanzi's blood still on his hands. The betrayal cuts deep and his scent, usually kept restrained to hide his emotions, flares in anguish.
Shang Qinghua, of all people, knew Yue Qingyuan's secret.
Shang Qinghua, of all people, knew Yue Qingyuan's secret.
His arm jumps back as if burned. He needs to leave. He can't /be/ here. He can't /know/ this.
In an attempt to escape out the door, he tries to bodily shove the smaller alpha to the side only to be met with a surprising resistance.
"Let GO of me, you vermin!"
In an attempt to escape out the door, he tries to bodily shove the smaller alpha to the side only to be met with a surprising resistance.
"Let GO of me, you vermin!"
Kicking makes no difference as arms shaped from decades of manual labor claw against his belt and thighs cross around his legs.
"Wait! Wait! You got it all wrong! It's not what you think!"
"Wait! Wait! You got it all wrong! It's not what you think!"
If he can't shake him off than Shen Qingqiu is determined to make him suffer. He takes both hands and wraps a fist into that nest of hair and uses the other to twist an ear.
"Oh? You know what I think? I wasn't aware telepathy was in your skill set. Then /please/ enlightenment me, Shang-shidi!!"
He takes all the pleasure he can out of the whine that is being emitted below him but Shang Qinghua does not budge.
He takes all the pleasure he can out of the whine that is being emitted below him but Shang Qinghua does not budge.
"We're not anything! Nothing happened with Zhangmen-shixiong! I would /never!/"
A different flare of anger flushes through him.
"You would /DARE/ reject him!"
"No! I mean yes! There's nothing to reject!"
"You think you're so-!"
A different flare of anger flushes through him.
"You would /DARE/ reject him!"
"No! I mean yes! There's nothing to reject!"
"You think you're so-!"
His hands are reaching back down to throttle him when Shang Qinghua /dodges/ but not without losing several strands of hair.
"HEY! He was comforting me! I was stressed!!"
Small fists pound against his hip and Shen Qingqiu isn't above admitting that it /might/ hurt.
"HEY! He was comforting me! I was stressed!!"
Small fists pound against his hip and Shen Qingqiu isn't above admitting that it /might/ hurt.
While he is significantly taller, he is not a cultivator known for his physical strength. That's not exactly why people become /scholars/.
"Listen! To! Me!"
He grunts as Shang Qinghua's words are punctuated by several hits.
"Listen! To! Me!"
He grunts as Shang Qinghua's words are punctuated by several hits.
Shen Jiu makes another attempt to grab him and his parasite lets go and rolls away.
"Shang Qinghua! Get over here!"
"NO WAY!" Though his back is pressed against a desk and his hair is a mess, Shang Qinghua looks up at him with a fierce determination and /growls/. "LISTEN!"
"Shang Qinghua! Get over here!"
"NO WAY!" Though his back is pressed against a desk and his hair is a mess, Shang Qinghua looks up at him with a fierce determination and /growls/. "LISTEN!"
Stunned by this reaction coming from /Shang Qinghua/, Shen Jiu stills. "Then speak."
Slowly, Shang Qinghua rises from the floor and takes another few steps away. Both are panting, trying to catch their breath, but the mixing of their scents no longer reek of anger.
Slowly, Shang Qinghua rises from the floor and takes another few steps away. Both are panting, trying to catch their breath, but the mixing of their scents no longer reek of anger.
"He's weaning off his medications. I don't know why, but he's not using scent blockers either. So he's, you know~" He makes a vague gesture with his arms to indicate...something.
Shen Jiu most certainly /doesn't/ know.
"He's /what/. Speak clearly."
Shen Jiu most certainly /doesn't/ know.
"He's /what/. Speak clearly."
"He's being all Zhangmen-shixiong-y but like...extra. I was freaking out over the budgets because no one has seen Liu Qinggee in /weeks/ and Qi Qingqi is trying to kill me because she lost her head disciple that usually handles this so /nothing/ is done for Xian Shu!"
"Why is that /my/ problems! That's poor leadership! So I was /panicking/ okay??? A lot!! And then, he just!! He grabbed my face and just! Scented! Me!! It was so embarrassing! He was SO embarrassed!"
/Oh/.
Stupid Qi-ge.
/Oh/.
Stupid Qi-ge.
Shen Qingqiu pinches the bridge of his nose to try to stave off what is already threatening to become a headache. He remains in this position a little longer than necessary once he realizes that his...hair pulling did transfer some of that scent onto him.
"And that's when you got here! Nothing happened!"
The scent is /so/ faint, and tries to discretely rub it against his vambraces. Judging by the acrobatics happening on Shang Qinghua's face, he doesn't succeed.
"How do you even know this?
The scent is /so/ faint, and tries to discretely rub it against his vambraces. Judging by the acrobatics happening on Shang Qinghua's face, he doesn't succeed.
"How do you even know this?
Shang Qinghua grimaces and visibly swallows whatever his initial response was going to be.
"Shen-shixiong, it was just the two of us and already, he smells like an omega. Like a LOT. /Everyone/ is going to know soon."
"Shen-shixiong, it was just the two of us and already, he smells like an omega. Like a LOT. /Everyone/ is going to know soon."
(You know what, yeah this is officially existing in an au of the o!MBJ thread archiveofourown.org/works/44892655…
CQMS is going to pieces and MBJ is sweating over his charts trying to figure out why his heat and SQH’s ruts have never lined up. He’s getting desperate!)
CQMS is going to pieces and MBJ is sweating over his charts trying to figure out why his heat and SQH’s ruts have never lined up. He’s getting desperate!)
Yue Qingyuan starts avoiding Shen Qingqiu.
It’s not even subtle.
They could be walking towards one another but the moment the sect leader sees him coming he’ll speed off in a different direction.
It’s not even subtle.
They could be walking towards one another but the moment the sect leader sees him coming he’ll speed off in a different direction.
It’s irritating and does nothing to alleviate Yue Qingyuan’s constant presence in his thoughts. Especially now that the rumors have started spreading through out the sect.
After a week of sleepless nights, Shen Qingqiu makes his way down to the Warm Red Pavillion.
After a week of sleepless nights, Shen Qingqiu makes his way down to the Warm Red Pavillion.
As always, a night of relaxing and eating with the women there lulls him to sleep. Being Surrounded by calming omega pheromones lulls him into a sense of security and peace that he can’t find anywhere else.
He ignores the part of him that screams that this is wrong, wrong, wrong! That these aren’t the omegas he should be spending time with.
Shen Qingqiu is an expert at denying himself what he wants for what he needs. Instead, he requests tanghulu be served with his meal and savors how the scent of fruit and sugar lingers in the air throughout the night.
The sun is just starting to rise over the horizon. The golden rays paint the Bamboo House in warm tones and for a breath, Shen Qingqiu pictures coming home to a humble cottage in a small town, to someone waiting for /him/ instead.
As he gets closer, he blinks a few times to banish what must be the remnant of a dream. Leaning against the door frame is none other than Yue Qingyuan.
He makes sure to flare his qi to signal his arrival and slows his pace for the remainder of the trail. If the sect leader wants to run away, he has more than enough warning to leave him behind.
Later, Shen Qingqiu will blame the warm feeling the comes over him as an after effect of spending the night surrounded by omegas. But in this moment, he’s surprised that the feelings of resentment that typically color their every interaction are absent.
Instead it’s-
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
It’s fine.
Shen Qingqiu stops before getting too close and angles himself to be downwind of the sect leader.
Shang Qinghua was right.
Anyone nearing the sect leader would immediately be able to identify him as an omega.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
It’s fine.
Shen Qingqiu stops before getting too close and angles himself to be downwind of the sect leader.
Shang Qinghua was right.
Anyone nearing the sect leader would immediately be able to identify him as an omega.
Instead of the muted scents of a beta, he’s emitting calming, pleased even, pheromones. There’s a hint of anxiety/distress beneath that but overall sect leader is…happy.
Unconsciously, Shen Qingqiu feels his lips to better taken it in only to snap his mouth shut when he notices how Yue Qingyuan’s eyes dart down to notice.
Embarrassed at being caught out, he raises a brow in questioning and turns to start undoing the house’s security wards.
Embarrassed at being caught out, he raises a brow in questioning and turns to start undoing the house’s security wards.
“Good morning shidi, this shixiong thought you might enjoy some breakfast but… I didn’t expect that you would start your day so early.”
From the corner of his eye, he recognizes the hot box from An Ding Peak’s kitchen sitting on the ground next to the sect leader.
From the corner of his eye, he recognizes the hot box from An Ding Peak’s kitchen sitting on the ground next to the sect leader.
That warm feeling spreads and Shen Qingqiu is deliberating between inviting Yue Qingyuan in and snapping at him for his presumption when he feels the sect leader press against him.
Time stands stills as the sect drags his face across one shoulder only stopping to rest his head in the crook of Shen Qingqiu’s neck.
Shen Qingqiu can’t move, can’t /think/ over the rapid beating of his traitorous heart.
Shen Qingqiu can’t move, can’t /think/ over the rapid beating of his traitorous heart.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
He wants to turn around and-
“You went to the brothels again.”
It’s not a question but a demand, the sect leader has gone stiff behind him and Shen Qingqiu is doused with the reality of the situation.
Of course.
He wants to turn around and-
“You went to the brothels again.”
It’s not a question but a demand, the sect leader has gone stiff behind him and Shen Qingqiu is doused with the reality of the situation.
Of course.
Yue Qingyuan doesn’t want him, he’s merely the dirty secret that he has to bribe into silence. He is no more than a stain on the sect, /he’s/ not someone worth waiting for. Their angry scents mingle to sour the the air and the growl is already starting at the base of his throat.
Shen Qingqiu can feel the acrid barb at the tip of his tongue, ready to hurt, to burn, to cut into his stupid sect leader when a thick arm wraps around his chest, holding him still.
“Xiao Jiu doesn’t need those other omegas.”
“Xiao Jiu doesn’t need those other omegas.”
The arm around his chest moves upward until it is at his throat and instead of perceiving is as the threat it could be, Shen Qingqiu tilts his head back to expose his neck.
Yue Qingyuan shudders behind him and drags his wrist across the scent gland on his exposed neck and presses closer to rub his face on the opposite side.
This is so- it’s so /forward/ of his sect leader. Unspeakably so.
This is so- it’s so /forward/ of his sect leader. Unspeakably so.
Shen Qingqiu knows, he /knows/ it’s the hormones. That Yue Qingyuan wouldn’t be doing any of this if he wasn’t approaching his first heat in who knows how many decades, if he wasn’t brain addled by his basic instincts coming to the surface.
And yet-
Shen Qingqiu /wants/.
And yet-
Shen Qingqiu /wants/.
His head is already resting on the sect leaders shoulders and it’s so, so easy to merely turn to the side to press again his sect leader’s next.
Greedily, he takes in the smell of hawthorn berries and caramelized sugar until he feels like he could get drunk off it.
Greedily, he takes in the smell of hawthorn berries and caramelized sugar until he feels like he could get drunk off it.
The pleased rumble coming from the larger omega reverberates in his own chest and he wants to-
(claim! claim! claim!)
The scent that his- that Yue Qingyuan is emitting is so overwhelming, so inviting that he finds it so simple to just press his lips against that thick neck.
(claim! claim! claim!)
The scent that his- that Yue Qingyuan is emitting is so overwhelming, so inviting that he finds it so simple to just press his lips against that thick neck.
His lips part to run a tongue across the hot scent gland, relishing in the mix of tanghulu sweetness and salt when a spike in arousal has his canine catching against the skin there.
He needs to-
He needs to-
The desperate whine that comes out of Yue Qingyuan is enough to have them immediately scrambling away from one another.
Before he can even turn around, Yue Qingyuan’s scent has shifted was more with the stench of distress and anxiety.
Before he can even turn around, Yue Qingyuan’s scent has shifted was more with the stench of distress and anxiety.
“Shen-shidi, I- this shixiong never meant to- this was a mistake, I-.”
The feeling of anger and betrayal finally rears its ugly head and it takes everything in his power not to turn around to see just what kind of regret is painted across that face.
The feeling of anger and betrayal finally rears its ugly head and it takes everything in his power not to turn around to see just what kind of regret is painted across that face.
“Zhangmen-shixiong, I am more than used to being considered one of your worst mistakes. Why should anything change now?”
He lets the hurt come through in the sneer and growl before taking the final steps into his house.
“Wait, Shen Qingqiu!”
He lets the hurt come through in the sneer and growl before taking the final steps into his house.
“Wait, Shen Qingqiu!”
But Shen Qingqiu has been through this before.
He had pressed against a sandalwood moon gate door, desperate to for one last look at the only person who had ever cared about him, and for a moment had eyes the glimmered with the idea of a different future together.
He had pressed against a sandalwood moon gate door, desperate to for one last look at the only person who had ever cared about him, and for a moment had eyes the glimmered with the idea of a different future together.
He knows now that It’s foolish to have any hope in the person on the other side of the door.
Qi-ge died that day, and he was never getting any part of him back.
Qi-ge died that day, and he was never getting any part of him back.
So Shen Qingqiu, suppressing the screaming and crying of his alpha instincts, walks deeper into the Bamboo House.
He knows better than to wait for an explanation that will never come.
He knows better than to wait for an explanation that will never come.
That’s the end of the first half! Next we have YQY’s perspective on this mess and then this fic will be done!
Here’s the top of the thread since it’s getting pretty long!
Here’s the top of the thread since it’s getting pretty long!
https://twitter.com/10thmusemoon/status/1641926890826133505
Yue Qingyuan messed up.
That’s all he ever seems to do when it comes to Xiao Jiu.
He never would have predicted that things would go this way when Mu Qingfang informed him that he had to stop taking his scent blockers and heat suppressants.
That’s all he ever seems to do when it comes to Xiao Jiu.
He never would have predicted that things would go this way when Mu Qingfang informed him that he had to stop taking his scent blockers and heat suppressants.
Yue Qingyuan has been on every suppressant medication known to man over the years, he hadn’t really known life without them. As a consequence, he couldn’t have predicted how much they had actually dulled not only his instinctual urges but also his senses.
He feels everything /so/ much now.
For years, his secondary gender played very little into his day to day life. Allowing others to believe he was a beta was convenient in that he didn’t have to fight against the typical hurdles omegas in leadership positions face.
For years, his secondary gender played very little into his day to day life. Allowing others to believe he was a beta was convenient in that he didn’t have to fight against the typical hurdles omegas in leadership positions face.
(The sect receives enough marriage proposals as is, and this would only worsen once his status was made public. )
As the time went on, he slowly started picking up scents that he hadn’t been aware of before.
It first happened during a monthly meeting where he realized he could actually perceive the nuisances between his lead hall master’s anxious and pleased scent and their anxious and irritated scent.
On the next day, he intentionally went out of his way to oversee some of the youngest’s disciples training. The distressed waves coming from the instructor at his sudden appearance were drastically overtaken by the excitement coming from the children.
It was /cute./ it made him feel /fond/ of them.
While he had always felt protective of his disciples, he can’t say he had ever felt any personal attachment to them before.
While he had always felt protective of his disciples, he can’t say he had ever felt any personal attachment to them before.
But as they started showing off for him, almost wiggling in excitement when he praised them, he had an unexpected thought.
‘They’re mine. The sect is /mine/.’
The possessiveness was starling.
Yue Qi the orphan, the slave child, didn’t have /anything/.
‘They’re mine. The sect is /mine/.’
The possessiveness was starling.
Yue Qi the orphan, the slave child, didn’t have /anything/.
His protectiveness of the other street children was born out of the obligation of being the oldest.
Except for Xiao Jiu.
But street rats begging for scraps don’t /have/ a right to possessions. The second others realizes there is something important to you, it’s gone.
Except for Xiao Jiu.
But street rats begging for scraps don’t /have/ a right to possessions. The second others realizes there is something important to you, it’s gone.
You can’t show that you care about anything too much without it being stolen or destroyed. Things are a weakness. This goes double for slave children, /you’re/ owned and anything that’s yours is theirs and will be sold the moment it’s discovered.
It’s a cruel and often bloody lesson to learn.
Yue Qingyuan has never forgotten it.
Even now, decades after becoming a sect leader, his residence is bare. The walls are are bare except for some gifts from his fellow sect leaders.
Yue Qingyuan has never forgotten it.
Even now, decades after becoming a sect leader, his residence is bare. The walls are are bare except for some gifts from his fellow sect leaders.
The bed has the same blankets from a decade ago, worn thin from the years of use and nothing else.
He’s never built a nest, never felt a need to.
And now…
He’s never built a nest, never felt a need to.
And now…
Now it feels like his skin is stretched too tight. His bed, which has remained unchanged throughout his tenure as the sect leader, feels foreign and /wrong/.
Hours would go by with him shifting around in bed as the sense of something missing would creep over him.
Hours would go by with him shifting around in bed as the sense of something missing would creep over him.
And then there was the guan.
Going to An Ding Peak was something of a test. It would be his first time alone with an alpha since he stopped hiding his secondary gender.
As far as alpha peak lords went, Shang Qinghua was a low risk option.
As far as alpha peak lords went, Shang Qinghua was a low risk option.
He had, after all, been on the escort mission with him when he presented.
When they both did.
The less said about it, the better.
Yue Qingyuan didn’t expect anything from this visit and was more so curious as to the alpha would react.
When they both did.
The less said about it, the better.
Yue Qingyuan didn’t expect anything from this visit and was more so curious as to the alpha would react.
It was rather anticlimactic when all he said was “oh! So you’re doing this now? Good for you!” And then brought out the audit reports they needed to discuss.
What Yue Qingyuan hadn’t expected would be how /he/ would react to the alphas presence.
What Yue Qingyuan hadn’t expected would be how /he/ would react to the alphas presence.
Now that his senses were no longer being hindered, there was something exciting about learning his shidi’s scent against. He would hide his attempt to take in deep breaths behind his teacup but slowly founded himself leaning closer and closer over the small table.
Shang Qinghua’s scent was…very Shang Qinghua.
There were strong tones of cinnamon and charcoal with an undercurrent similar to ink and old paper and an overall nervousness.
There were strong tones of cinnamon and charcoal with an undercurrent similar to ink and old paper and an overall nervousness.
Whether that was due to his actual scent or a by product of his profession was unclear.
It was nice.
Familiar.
It was nice.
Familiar.
Just like when he encountered his disciples, an awareness started to build in Yue Qingyuan. The more he took Shang Qinghua’s scent in the more it grew.
(/Mine/)
(/Family/)
(/Protect/)
It was unsettling in that it felt /right/.
(/Mine/)
(/Family/)
(/Protect/)
It was unsettling in that it felt /right/.
When his shidi’s scent started to lean towards bitter distress when he started talking about their more troublesome peaks, Yue Qingyuan couldn’t help but wonder for how many years he had failed to notice his truly upsetting this was for his shidi.
It was disappointing.
It was disappointing.
Here was another person he had failed.
Shang Qinghua was almost single-handedly responsible for making sure the peak functioned and Yue Qingyuan had never noticed the toll this took on him.
Shang Qinghua was almost single-handedly responsible for making sure the peak functioned and Yue Qingyuan had never noticed the toll this took on him.
“And her head disciple didn’t even die!! She just eloped! Shimei should have a back up plan and not just rely on ONE person to keep track of all of her peak’s paperwork!! That-That’s irresponsible! That’s how embezzlement happens!! And then there’s Liu shidi!!!”
Yue Qingyuan watched as this ink stained hands came up to yank at the hair at his shidi’s temples.
“More like, /where/ is Liu-shidi!! It’s been /weeks/!! He doesn’t even HAVE a head disciple!!”
“More like, /where/ is Liu-shidi!! It’s been /weeks/!! He doesn’t even HAVE a head disciple!!”
When tears started catching on his shidi’s long lashes the overwhelming need to- to do /something/- to soothe and calm Shang Qinghua gripped at his heart. The instant he recognize the feeling, his own hands were pulling and untangling Shang Qinghua’s from his hair.
“Shang-shidi, it’ll be fine. Deadlines can be pushed back, it’s fine, it’s fine.”
The smaller alpha stilled below his touch as he continued to run his hands through his hair and push the feeling of (calm! Calm! Calm!) toward his distress shidi.
The smaller alpha stilled below his touch as he continued to run his hands through his hair and push the feeling of (calm! Calm! Calm!) toward his distress shidi.
Shang Qinghua’s deep inhales were audible in the silence . Yue Qingyuan found himself…pleased at how quickly the scent of distress eroded and was replaced with his shidi’s usual nervousness when…
“Uhhhh, Zhangmen-shixiong…are you..are you scenting me?”
“Uhhhh, Zhangmen-shixiong…are you..are you scenting me?”
He had been so focused on calming down his shidi that Yue Qingyuan hadn’t noticed how his wrists had warmed from the strain of exerting his pheromones.
Hesitantly, the sect leader sniffed the air and found that though it was only a slight scent, barely noticeable in the large room, it was indeed recognizable as his own.
There was something horrifyingly ironic about the fact that, once again, Shang Qinghua was the only person he had ever actually scented. Once when they both presented and now again that he was weaning off his medications.
More so, it was- it was-
Embarrassing!
More so, it was- it was-
Embarrassing!
Distressing, even!
Heat crawled down his face and neck and Yue Qingyuan could feel the way his ears were burning.
"That-It's not- I have to go!"
"It's not, it's not a big deal! It's fine!"
Heat crawled down his face and neck and Yue Qingyuan could feel the way his ears were burning.
"That-It's not- I have to go!"
"It's not, it's not a big deal! It's fine!"
It was /not/ fine.
It was, in fact, such an egregious breach of decency to just- just scent a subordinate out of nowhere that Yue Qingyuan was /mortified/.
He needed to leave. /Now/.
But things have never gone the way Yue Qingyuan has needed them to.
It was, in fact, such an egregious breach of decency to just- just scent a subordinate out of nowhere that Yue Qingyuan was /mortified/.
He needed to leave. /Now/.
But things have never gone the way Yue Qingyuan has needed them to.
In his rush to flee, he had missed the presence waiting on the other side of the door. The collision knocked them both to the floor and in an effort to lessen the impact, Yue Qingyuan moved to cradle the back of their head with one hand and their waist with the other.
The fall had knocked the air out of his lungs and when he went to catch his breath it was as if someone had lit a fire along all his meridians.
It was as if the final key had slotted into place.
Every day he had ever spent suppressing his natural instincts finally added up to their devastating consequence.
Even before he registered the green robes he knew who was before him.
Every day he had ever spent suppressing his natural instincts finally added up to their devastating consequence.
Even before he registered the green robes he knew who was before him.
If Shang Qinghua's anxious scent had felt like family and instigated feelings to soothe, this acidic mix of citrus, iron, and petrichor felt like completion.
With surgical precision, the sharpness of the scent cut around the empty wound in Yue Qingyuan's very soul and slotted something into place. Decades of loneliness were rendered meaningless, because at long last, he was here.
His alpha.
His alpha.
No.
Maybe in another life, fate would have granted Yue Qi that privilege.
But fate has never been on Yue Qingyuan's side.
Especially not where Xiao Jiu is concerned.
If destiny, the heavens, or any forces that be had any plans for him, it always came at much too high a cost.
Maybe in another life, fate would have granted Yue Qi that privilege.
But fate has never been on Yue Qingyuan's side.
Especially not where Xiao Jiu is concerned.
If destiny, the heavens, or any forces that be had any plans for him, it always came at much too high a cost.
So even if his body, /his very soul/, screams for the person before him. For Xiao - /Shen Qingqiu/ to-
(claim! claim! claim!)
- to be anything more than a subordinate, Yue Qingyuan knows better.
(claim! claim! claim!)
- to be anything more than a subordinate, Yue Qingyuan knows better.
He would rather be pierced by a thousand arrows than become another shackle around Shen Qingqiu's neck.
His escape is.../inelegant/, but if he spends a moment longer in his- in Shen Qingqiu's presence, he fears that the pulsing in his blood will make him do something reckless.
His escape is.../inelegant/, but if he spends a moment longer in his- in Shen Qingqiu's presence, he fears that the pulsing in his blood will make him do something reckless.
Shang Qinghua's cries echo in his mind as he flies back to his peak. As a defense mechanism, he had covered his mouth and nose with his hands to prevent the allure or Shen Qingqiu's scent from getting stronger.
But now amongst the clouds, with no one around to see this shameful act, he brings his hands up once more and inhales deeply to try to commit the scent to memory.
He didn't know it was possible for /anything/ to smell so good.
He didn't know it was possible for /anything/ to smell so good.
The scent fades before he even makes it into his office.
Yue Qingyuan dismisses his head disciple and settles in for an evening of catching up on paperwork.
Yue Qingyuan dismisses his head disciple and settles in for an evening of catching up on paperwork.
It doesn't serve as the distraction he had hope for as not even a shichen goes by before an unsettling dread starts to build in the back of his mind.
This occurs from time to time, where a sudden unease drives him to distraction and eventually into action.
This occurs from time to time, where a sudden unease drives him to distraction and eventually into action.
Reorganizing and cleaning his office typically soothed the anxiousness that would come over him. There was something almost meditative about reorganizing all the decorative trinkets scattered across the sect leader’s office.
Half of them were inherited with the position, Yue Qingyuan never had it in him to replace what his Shizun left behind. The other half is routinely switched out from the treasury by An Ding disciples just before vital meetings that there is always something new cropping up.
Despite being the most decorated room in his home, Yue Qingyuan looks around and comes to the realization that feels bare, wrong even.
Reorganizing the placement of things does nothing to alleviate the feeling.
Reorganizing the placement of things does nothing to alleviate the feeling.
The sensation of his skin been stretched taut across his body returns and he makes the decision to go for a patrol around the sect.
Night has painted the sect in blues and greys, the warm lights coming from windows shine in stark contrast.
The sect is beautiful like this.
Night has painted the sect in blues and greys, the warm lights coming from windows shine in stark contrast.
The sect is beautiful like this.
Each peak’s charm comes through in the different ways they hold the night.
The ever present clanking from the smiths of Wang Jian peak simmer down to provide a rare, though peaceful, silence meanwhile the chanting of the final prayers from Ku Xing take on a haunting tone.
From his position among the stars, he can see the disciples from Xian Shu practicing their forms beneath the moonlight, it's a sharp contrast to the Bai Zhan disciples sleeping out in the open or those on the beast peak snuggled next to snoring spiritual creatures.
He brushes near the wards to tests their strength and by the end of his circuit, Yue Qingyuan's mind has settled with the knowledge that peaks under his care are safe.
Before turning in for the night, he catches the sight of a pair of An Ding disciples pulling a cart full of lumber across the rainbow bridge . He decides to follow them just long enough to see them reach the road leading to the dorms.
He'll have to talk to Shang Qinghua about setting limits to how late requisitions can be fulfilled. An Ding disciples work nearly round the clock, it wouldn't do to have them fall off the peaks because they're sleep deprived.
Ah, Shang Qinghua.
He should probably apologize to his shidi at some point for the impropriety earlier. Though he seemed understanding, Yue Qingyuan would hate for him to feel uncomfortable or get the wrong impression from the situation.
He should probably apologize to his shidi at some point for the impropriety earlier. Though he seemed understanding, Yue Qingyuan would hate for him to feel uncomfortable or get the wrong impression from the situation.
Regardless of their disastrous presentations, the thought of anyone thinking he would come onto /Shang Qinghua/ is so absurd that it causes him to let out an abrupt snort.
He really had it easy masquerading as a beta all these years.
He really had it easy masquerading as a beta all these years.
Feeling guilty, he loops back to fly over Shang Qinghua's leisure house and then over the An Ding main office to rest assured that his shidi is having a quiet night as well.
[ Unbeknownst to the sect leader, his shidi is most certainly /not/ having a quiet night. At this very moment, Shang Qinghua's heart is racing as he tries to figure out why a certain omega ice demon looks so distraught as he pulls and prods at the peak lord's hair. ]
Just as he's ready to turn away from An Ding, a reflective light catches his eye. Closer investigation identifies it as a silver guan that has been left behind. It looks too fine to belong to any disciple and it is unlike the simpler pieces Shang Qinghua usually wears.
It might belong to a hall master or someone else that will surely be missing something this costly. Instead of leaving it behind for someone else to find, he decides on giving his head disciple the task of finding the owner tomorrow.
Yue Qingyuan is placing bets on which shidi she'll pass the task onto when he picks up the guan and nearly drops it again. The scent of something like this, worn regularly and intimately, is so strong.
It's unmistakable now that Yue Qingyuan knows what to look for.
Xiao Jiu.
It's unmistakable now that Yue Qingyuan knows what to look for.
Xiao Jiu.
Yue Qingyuan is a large man, his cultivation allows him a significant enough boost in strength that there is very little he can not carry.
The guan tucked so gently into his sleeve feels like an insurmountable weight with how aware he is of it during the flight.
The guan tucked so gently into his sleeve feels like an insurmountable weight with how aware he is of it during the flight.
Yue Qingyuan had every intention to return the hair piece to Qing Jing Peak.
Really.
He fell asleep staring at the way the moonlight bounced off the metal from it's place on a far shelf and thought to himself, 'tomorrow.'
On the next night, he thought the same.
Really.
He fell asleep staring at the way the moonlight bounced off the metal from it's place on a far shelf and thought to himself, 'tomorrow.'
On the next night, he thought the same.
By the third night, when the guan had made it into his bed, and he fell asleep comforted by it's scent, he thought 'just one more night.'
🔞
It was on the fourth night, when he clutched it near his face, desperate to take in what he could of Xiao Jiu while his hand found it's way between his legs...well.
He had to admit to having a problem with his self control lately.
The guan wasn't going anywhere.
It was on the fourth night, when he clutched it near his face, desperate to take in what he could of Xiao Jiu while his hand found it's way between his legs...well.
He had to admit to having a problem with his self control lately.
The guan wasn't going anywhere.
The shame was killing him.
During the day he was able to go about as he normally did. Very little changed except he now gave more pointed looks when people tried to direct the conversation to his secondary gender.
During the day he was able to go about as he normally did. Very little changed except he now gave more pointed looks when people tried to direct the conversation to his secondary gender.
One stern look was all it took for people to clear their throats and move on. The one change that did surprise him was how eager to please those around him became at any hint of displeasure.
While anyone in a position of power grows used to ignoring the brown nosing, this was different, more earnest. Alphas bent over backwards trying please him, to catch the fragrant smell of his approval.
The Qiong Ding hall masters had never been so accommodating.
The Qiong Ding hall masters had never been so accommodating.
Qi Qingqi only /slightly/ teased him about everything after he, testing this new ability out, gave her a baleful look and concentrated on emitting signals of 'I'm not happy!'. She even promised to promote a new head disciple by the end of season.
Shang Qinghua cried at the news.
Shang Qinghua cried at the news.
It was at night that things became complicated. The moment he set aside his paperwork for the evening, the warm heat of anticipation would start to build and grow as he readied for bed.
🔞
He stopped wearing sleep pants and instead opted for a thin inner robe with how wet he was by the time it came to change into his bed clothes.
Prior to the guan, he had never possessed an interest in touching his body in this way.
He stopped wearing sleep pants and instead opted for a thin inner robe with how wet he was by the time it came to change into his bed clothes.
Prior to the guan, he had never possessed an interest in touching his body in this way.
🔞
It had always been a more perfunctory task, done to solve a problem rather than to seek satisfaction.
But recently....
Recently he couldn't settle in for the night without bringing himself to satisfaction to thoughts of his shidi.
Multiple times.
It had always been a more perfunctory task, done to solve a problem rather than to seek satisfaction.
But recently....
Recently he couldn't settle in for the night without bringing himself to satisfaction to thoughts of his shidi.
Multiple times.
🔞
How could he look Shen Qingqiu in the eye when he had, just the night before, imagined that it was those long thin fingers, calloused from years of being a musician and swordsmen, ruthlessly pumping in and out of his body.
How could he look Shen Qingqiu in the eye when he had, just the night before, imagined that it was those long thin fingers, calloused from years of being a musician and swordsmen, ruthlessly pumping in and out of his body.
How could he hold a conversation with his subordinate when his most indulgent daydreams involved nefarious plots to sneak onto the second peak to steal the silky robes Shen Qingqiu wore so he could fill his empty bed with them?
He couldn't!
Yue Qingyuan didn't have the face for it!
He was riddled with so much shame over the situation that he went to great lengths to avoid Shen Qingqiu!
Yue Qingyuan didn't have the face for it!
He was riddled with so much shame over the situation that he went to great lengths to avoid Shen Qingqiu!
In a moment of weakness that Wei Qingwei, will surely never let him live down, he event went as far as to jump into a bush that served as a boundary for the minor cliffs. His shidi's howling laughter as he free fell is not something he's likely to forget anytime soon.
With only the barest amount of details, he expressed his concerns during his following check in on Qian Cao Peak.
The uncharitable grimace Mu Qingfang wore did not comfort him. And as a beta, the peak lord was more resistant to his efforts to garner sympathy.
The uncharitable grimace Mu Qingfang wore did not comfort him. And as a beta, the peak lord was more resistant to his efforts to garner sympathy.
"Zhangmen-shixiong, these... lapse in control are symptomatic of your upcoming heat." He ignored the world weary sigh coming from Yue Qingyuan and continued,
"As an omega, you may find comfort in nesting or indulging in the desire to act as a caretaker. These are instinctual urges and suppressing them may result in moods of irritability and frustration."
Yue Qingyuan gave a solemn nod and kept his eye line just behind his shidi's ear
Yue Qingyuan gave a solemn nod and kept his eye line just behind his shidi's ear
It did nothing to draw suspicion away from the medic. "Zhangmen-shixiong... this shidi will not ask whether or not you are nesting but it is generally agreed among professionals that it will significantly help alleviate some of the issues you have mentioned."
"Yes, shidi."
"Yes, shidi."
Thin brows drew further together as Mu Qingfang did little to temper his disbelieving look.
"This shixiong will put in a request with An Ding."
Appeased, Mu Qingfang approached the next topic more delicately and as such, caught the sect leader off guard.
"This shixiong will put in a request with An Ding."
Appeased, Mu Qingfang approached the next topic more delicately and as such, caught the sect leader off guard.
"As zhangmen-shixiong knows, Qian Cao peak keeps a list of alpha's registered and willing to dual cultivate when such an instance is medically recommended. Given the nature of your position, we have further filtered the list with cultivation level and discretion in mind."
"While recommended, it is not required to select someone from this list. If zhangmen-shixiong has a cultivation partner, or perhaps another peak lord in mind, it would be best to approach them to discuss an arrangement and consent before your heat arrives."
The scent of dread filled the room and Mu Qingfang, consummate professional that he is, did his best to ignore it. After a few additional checks to his qi and meridians, with a heavy heart, Yue Qingyuan made his way to An Ding Peak to request additional bedding.
He was only sulked /a little/ when the new blankets and soft form pillows actually made it easier to fall asleep. Medical advice still in mind, the next day he dropped in on the youngest disciples' martial training to smother them with praise and food smuggled from the kitchens.
By midday, he realized that feeling of being stretched too tight /was/ was greatly reduced.
Everything was going better until a particularly...enthusiastic night resulted in the guan losing all traces of Shen Qingqiu's scent.
Everything was going better until a particularly...enthusiastic night resulted in the guan losing all traces of Shen Qingqiu's scent.
It was inevitable that such a thing would occur, and yet Yue Qingyuan was still unprepared for the alternative feelings of despair and borderline panic that colored his night.
It was during a particularly manic state that resulted in him rubbing at the overworked scent glands in his wrist that an impossible idea came to him him.
He could-
He could /ask/.
He could-
He could /ask/.
Not verbally, of course.
That would be the fastest way to sabotage his efforts but... Shen Qingqiu was an /alpha/ without a partner.
(Mine! Mine! Mine!)
And hadn't Yue Qingyuan seen the effect that he, as an unclaimed omega, had on alphas?
That would be the fastest way to sabotage his efforts but... Shen Qingqiu was an /alpha/ without a partner.
(Mine! Mine! Mine!)
And hadn't Yue Qingyuan seen the effect that he, as an unclaimed omega, had on alphas?
With the efficiency of dry wood in a summer fire, a plan started to form in the sect leader's head. It was much less nefarious than the daydreams that normally tormented him, but the end goal was the same.
He would end up in the Bamboo House with a carefully hidden qiankun pouch and Yue Qi's skills.
And Shen Qingqiu would be the one to invite him in.
With a quick change of clothes, Yue Qinyuan made his way to the An Ding peak kitchens for a hot box and set his plan in motion.
And Shen Qingqiu would be the one to invite him in.
With a quick change of clothes, Yue Qinyuan made his way to the An Ding peak kitchens for a hot box and set his plan in motion.
Nothing goes according to plan.
Yue Qingyuan is eagerly leaning against the Bamboo House's door, waiting for Shen Qingqiu to wake and start his day, when an approaching flash of qi draws his attention to the bamboo grove.
Yue Qingyuan is eagerly leaning against the Bamboo House's door, waiting for Shen Qingqiu to wake and start his day, when an approaching flash of qi draws his attention to the bamboo grove.
Shen Qingqiu has always been beautiful.
But as he emerges from the grove, the warm hues of sunrise painting a halo of light around him, he looks like a heavenly vision.
Like a storybook hero come to reclaim his home.
But as he emerges from the grove, the warm hues of sunrise painting a halo of light around him, he looks like a heavenly vision.
Like a storybook hero come to reclaim his home.
Yue Qingyuan's heart has always had a space carved in the shape of this man.
Before he even knew what to call it, a slave boy with knotted hair and cracked nails had burrowed his way into his very being.
And Yue Qingyuan has loved him ever since.
Before he even knew what to call it, a slave boy with knotted hair and cracked nails had burrowed his way into his very being.
And Yue Qingyuan has loved him ever since.
Even now, with so much heartache and disappointment between them, his feelings hold true.
He thinks that if his mind was wiped, if he was reborn in a new body, and stripped of everything Yue Qi was, he would still love him.
He thinks that if his mind was wiped, if he was reborn in a new body, and stripped of everything Yue Qi was, he would still love him.
Something rooted at the very core of his existence would draw him back to him.
In every life, in every way, Qi-ge has always belonged to Xiao Jiu.
That his body is only just now catching onto the fact doesn't change that it is a truth of the world.
In every life, in every way, Qi-ge has always belonged to Xiao Jiu.
That his body is only just now catching onto the fact doesn't change that it is a truth of the world.
He was so foolish for thinking he could avoid this.
Stupid Qi-ge, through and through.
Stupid Qi-ge, through and through.
There is something exciting about being able to feed Shen Qingqiu.
Though he didn't cook the food, he worked with the cooks to carefully choose foods he knows that Shen Qingqiu enjoys and often denies himself for the sake of appearing like an immortal above mortal concerns such as eating.
He hopes he likes them.
He hopes he likes them.
Yue Qingyuan gathers the full force of his joy and smiles as his shidi approaches.
“Good morning shidi, this shixiong thought you might enjoy some breakfast but… I was unaware your day started so early.”
“Good morning shidi, this shixiong thought you might enjoy some breakfast but… I was unaware your day started so early.”
The breeze pulls at Shen Qingqiu's ebony hair and Yue Qingyuan tries not to make his deep inhalations obvious. He's momentarily distracted by the way the alpha parts his lips and takes his own breath (!) that he doesn't notice how /wrong/ his scent is.
Shen Qingqiu starts the task of undoing the complicated security wards, it gives giving Yue Qingyuan an excuse to step closer to try and get of hint of his scent.
Instead of the clean sharpness he expected, he is struck with suffocating tones of sweetness mixed in.
Instead of the clean sharpness he expected, he is struck with suffocating tones of sweetness mixed in.
Yue Qingyuan has only possessed the ability to distinguish the nuances of scents for a short period of time but even he knows what that implies.
An omega.
But-
Shen Qingqiu would /never/ allow someone close enough to leave this much of their scent on him:
An omega.
But-
Shen Qingqiu would /never/ allow someone close enough to leave this much of their scent on him:
Instinct overriding sense, he presses even closer to confirm what he fears. When he’s only a hands width away it becomes clear that he missed something in his first assessment.
It wasn’t an omega scent mixed in.
It’s /Several/ omegas.
It wasn’t an omega scent mixed in.
It’s /Several/ omegas.
(Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!)
The sting of betrayal doesn't have time to set in before sparking into anger.
He /dares/-
Doesn't he-
Doesn't he /know/?
Sure he must /realize/ that Yue Qingyuan is here.
Is /willing/.
The sting of betrayal doesn't have time to set in before sparking into anger.
He /dares/-
Doesn't he-
Doesn't he /know/?
Sure he must /realize/ that Yue Qingyuan is here.
Is /willing/.
(Yours! Yours! Yours!)
Closing the distance between them, he presses up against Shen Qingqiu's lithe form. The height difference between them is negligible, his own natural scent is stronger when he's this close to his neck.
Closing the distance between them, he presses up against Shen Qingqiu's lithe form. The height difference between them is negligible, his own natural scent is stronger when he's this close to his neck.
If he had been scented properly, that sticky sweetness would cling to more than just his clothes. Yue Qingyuan, now conditioned to want more of that scent, doesn't even hesitate to drag his face across a shoulder and come to rest at his shidi's neck.
He takes an open mouth breath and ignores the strands of hair that stick to his lips.
“ You went to the brothels again.”
It's not a question, but an accusation.
Yue Qingyuan doesn't want an answer, nor does he expect anything from him.
But it /hurts/.
And he's /angry/.
“ You went to the brothels again.”
It's not a question, but an accusation.
Yue Qingyuan doesn't want an answer, nor does he expect anything from him.
But it /hurts/.
And he's /angry/.
Xiao Jiu should /know/ that he's-
(Mine! Mine! Mine!)
They're close enough that he can feel the angry rumble that will soon become a growl.
(Mine! Mine! Mine!)
They're close enough that he can feel the angry rumble that will soon become a growl.
If he let's it continue it will turn to full blown anger and this conversation, like so many others, will be cut short before it could even begin. Xiao Jiu is always turning away from him.
That's not fair.
Xiao Jiu isn't the one that's been wronged. Yue Qingyuan would never hurt him, but he needs him to listen. To /stay/. The arm he wraps around his chest is insurance, nothing more.
"Xiao Jiu doesn’t need those /other/ omegas."
Xiao Jiu isn't the one that's been wronged. Yue Qingyuan would never hurt him, but he needs him to listen. To /stay/. The arm he wraps around his chest is insurance, nothing more.
"Xiao Jiu doesn’t need those /other/ omegas."
Yue Qingyuan doesn't blame them, things are different when you need to work to survive. To them, the beautiful alpha that descends from the mountain to visit them is just a client.
It's not the same. It could never be the same. They don't /know/.
But maybe they should.
It's not the same. It could never be the same. They don't /know/.
But maybe they should.
They don't know that Xiao Jiu has someone waiting for him, but they /will/.
He luxuriates in the slow drag of his hand up the soft green robes that have featured, quite prominently, in his recent dreams.
He luxuriates in the slow drag of his hand up the soft green robes that have featured, quite prominently, in his recent dreams.
Before he can even make it to that elegant neck, Xiao Jiu is tilting his head back to rest on his own shoulders. The sight of his neck so exposed sends a rush of heat through Yue Qingyuan's body.
For Xiao Jiu to allow this is unbelievable.
Fearing that he'll pull away at any moment, Yue Qingyuan's hand shakes when he presses his wrist against Xiao Jiu's scent gland.
Fearing that he'll pull away at any moment, Yue Qingyuan's hand shakes when he presses his wrist against Xiao Jiu's scent gland.
The satisfied exhale he feels at the contact encourages him move closer and rub his face against opposite scent gland.
He has never been one to cry, even when he needed to. It was always a beautiful teary eyed Xiao Jiu who played that role to gain sympathy from their marks.
He has never been one to cry, even when he needed to. It was always a beautiful teary eyed Xiao Jiu who played that role to gain sympathy from their marks.
The last time he cried in earnest was out of desperation, when the tips of his fingers had scabbed over from clawing against stone and he realized they would never let him out of that cave.
But this is different.
He is so, /so,/ happy.
But this is different.
He is so, /so,/ happy.
In a move that was move that he learned from what feels like another life, he discreetly rubs away the tears on Xiao Jiu's outer robe. The benefit of having to wear this many layers of robes is that there is no way he would have felt that.
In that way, it's very different from the times that Xiao Jiu had smeared his tears and mucus on him out of retaliation for whatever perceived slight had deserved punishment.
His joy manifests in the form of a purr and oh-
Yue Qingyuan didn't know he could do that.
His joy manifests in the form of a purr and oh-
Yue Qingyuan didn't know he could do that.
He has never been this happy in his /life/.
Xiao Jiu is doing nothing to hide the fact that he is taking some very deep breaths and the thought that Yue Qingyuan's scent pleases him only adds to that.
The only that that would make this better is if he-
Xiao Jiu is doing nothing to hide the fact that he is taking some very deep breaths and the thought that Yue Qingyuan's scent pleases him only adds to that.
The only that that would make this better is if he-
(claim! claim! claim!)
All thoughts vanish at the first hot swipe of Xiao Jiu's tongue against his scent gland.
All thoughts vanish at the first hot swipe of Xiao Jiu's tongue against his scent gland.
/Xiao Jiu wants him./
His thoughts stutter at the second slow swipe and he finds himself shifting to accommodate the sudden wetness between his thighs. As their chests rise and fall in tandem, a desperate feeling starts to grow in Yue Qingyuan.
The combination of Xiao Jiu's sharp scent surrounding him and the wet, burning feeling of his tongue sliding across his neck has his knees going weak and sending his blood rushing to his lower dantian.
(His alpha! Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu!)
(His alpha! Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu! Xiao Jiu!)
Whatever plans he had started the day with are irrelevant when faced with the desire burning through him. He needs- they need to go inside the Bamboo cottage /immediately./
Yue Qingyuan's in the process of collecting his scattered thoughts to suggest as such when he feels the sharp catch of teeth against his neck and his knees buckle.
The sound that comes out of him is high and reedy and he is so, so, hard and wet that if Xiao Jiu were to take a step back he would be able to feel him and give his omega what he-
Oh no.
No.
No.
/No./
He's not-
He can't-
If Yue Qingyuan wasn't an omega he would /never/-
Oh no.
No.
No.
/No./
He's not-
He can't-
If Yue Qingyuan wasn't an omega he would /never/-
An /unclaimed/ omega this desperate, this close to his heat, would be hard to refuse. Hasn't he seen the effect his scent has had recently? He wouldn't-
Shen Qingqiu /doesn't/ want him.
Haven't the last few decades shown that?
Shen Qingqiu /doesn't/ want him.
Haven't the last few decades shown that?
Isn't this- isn't this abusing his power over his shidi? After everything was said and done, when the effects of being heat drunk faded, would he not be repulsed by Yue Qingyuan's behavior?
Shames extinguishes desire and Yue Qingyuan scrambles away before he can make the situation worse.
“Xia- Shen-shidi, I- this shixiong never meant to- this was a mistake, I-.”
“Xia- Shen-shidi, I- this shixiong never meant to- this was a mistake, I-.”
The air sours and Yue Qingyuan feels himself shrinking into himself further and further with each of Shen Qingqiu's cutting words.
“Zhangmen-shixiong, I am more than used to being considered one of your worst mistakes. Why should anything change now?"
“Zhangmen-shixiong, I am more than used to being considered one of your worst mistakes. Why should anything change now?"
So he was right.
(no! no! NO!)
Shen Qingqiu considers even this a mistake, and anything further would have taken them somewhere they would not be able to come back from.
Something deep inside Yue Qingyuan unlodges the second the furious growl reaches his ears.
(no! no! NO!)
Shen Qingqiu considers even this a mistake, and anything further would have taken them somewhere they would not be able to come back from.
Something deep inside Yue Qingyuan unlodges the second the furious growl reaches his ears.
His alpha is unhappy, angry, displeased with him.
Yue Qingyuan is a man of considerable power, there isn't much that can intimidate him any more but right now, facing the person he cares for the most, /he's afraid/.
Yue Qingyuan is a man of considerable power, there isn't much that can intimidate him any more but right now, facing the person he cares for the most, /he's afraid/.
The feeling of being stretched too thin returns sits restless just below his skin. He needs to fix this. He needs to fix this. He needs to fix this.
Shen Qingqiu shouldn't- he needs to- if only he would turn around he could- he would /see/ how badly he wants to fix this.
"Shen Qingqiu!"
The frame of Bamboo Cottage shakes with the force of the door closing and the sound of the impact reverberates through Yue Qingyuan's chest
"Shen Qingqiu!"
The frame of Bamboo Cottage shakes with the force of the door closing and the sound of the impact reverberates through Yue Qingyuan's chest
leaving him feeling hollowed out.
He should have known better.
He was so foolish for thinking he could avoid this. At his grown age, shouldn't he know better than to act so impulsively?
Stupid Qi-ge, through and through.
He should have known better.
He was so foolish for thinking he could avoid this. At his grown age, shouldn't he know better than to act so impulsively?
Stupid Qi-ge, through and through.
Yue Qingyuan messed up.
That’s all he'll ever do when it comes to Shen Qingqiu.
That’s all he'll ever do when it comes to Shen Qingqiu.
Top of the thread for those joining us.
https://twitter.com/10thmusemoon/status/1641926890826133505?s=20
Shen Qingqiu isn't granted any time to lick his wounds, the monthly peak lord meeting is the very next day. While preparing his report, he spends a significant amount of time considering whether or not he should skip it all together.
Just when he's convinced himself to stay hidden away on his peak, the thought of that man surrounded by the other alpha peak lords spikes such a fury in him that he resigns himself to going.
For no reason other than his usual bouts of vanity, Shen Qingqiu carefully selects an outfit that accentuates his height and figure. After careful consideration, he also selects his second best semi-casual guan.
The first was lost on An Ding all those days ago and he doesn't have the face to be rooting around like a beggar trying to find it.
Over the course of his tenure as the Qing Jing Peak Lord, he has perfected arriving at these meetings early enough to beat the majority of the other peak lords but just late enough that he doesn't give the others enough time to actually speak to him.
This time, he times his arrival only moments before the meeting is set to start. Instead of heading directly to his seat as is his custom, he finds himself frozen at the door bewildered at the sight before him.
Yue Qingyuan is seated at his usual position at the front of the room, what is different is the number of peak lords hovering around him when they should be seated at their tables.
"If Zhangmen-shixiong isn't feeling well, perhaps a visit to Xian Shu Peak for tea will help alleviate some stress?"
"If relaxation is the goal, then perhaps Zui Xian Peak would be a better goal? This shidi has a new delivery of 7 Blossom White Peach wine that-"
"If relaxation is the goal, then perhaps Zui Xian Peak would be a better goal? This shidi has a new delivery of 7 Blossom White Peach wine that-"
"Ah shidi, there /shouldn't/ be a new delivery when according to your budget-"
"Now, now Shang-shixiong, isn't that neither here nor there when Zhangmen-shixiong is clearly in need of-"
"Neither nor there! Shidi!"
"Now, now Shang-shixiong, isn't that neither here nor there when Zhangmen-shixiong is clearly in need of-"
"Neither nor there! Shidi!"
"As this shimei was saying, if Zhangmen-shixiong were to visit, my new head disciple is-"
The vultures have found their prey.
Shen Qingqiu pulls out his fan to cover the sneer that must be distorting his face in disgust.
The vultures have found their prey.
Shen Qingqiu pulls out his fan to cover the sneer that must be distorting his face in disgust.
The sect leader's displeased scent fills the room and the idiots are fawning over themselves to be the ones to do something about it.
The smell of eager to please alphas is already grating on him and for once, he’s thankful to be sitting near Mu Qingfang’s muted presence. The beta boss his head slightly in acknowledgement and returns to staring at the mess before them.
Shen Qingqiu returns the favor, ready to ignore his presence for the remainder of the meeting when he leans over just to try and confirm what he thinks he smells on him. When his head snaps up in shock, the medic’s eyes are already meeting his in slight exasperation.
“Please bear with it, Shen-shixiong. It was unexpected and-“ he tilts his head over to their martial siblings, “- it hasn’t gone over well with the others.”
Yue Qingyuan has marked him as family
Yue Qingyuan has marked him as family
Once there was a time, when two boys, much too young to have distinguishable scents, would nuzzle their heads together in the in imitation of a familial claim. Their scents would never last more than a handful of breaths, but it had been soothing, it had meant something.
The reminder sours his stomach.
His tight grip on his emotions falters enough that it releases into his scent and causes Mu Qingfang to shift uncomfortably.
“Now is a delicate time for Zhangmen shixiong, it can be beneficial to indulge one’s instincts.”
His tight grip on his emotions falters enough that it releases into his scent and causes Mu Qingfang to shift uncomfortably.
“Now is a delicate time for Zhangmen shixiong, it can be beneficial to indulge one’s instincts.”
Eyes narrow behind a delicate fan and Shen Qingqiu responds curtly, “even at the cost of one’s dignity?”
The disappointed look that settles in Mu Qingfang’s face does nothing to him. /Nothing/.
The disappointed look that settles in Mu Qingfang’s face does nothing to him. /Nothing/.
Shen Qingqiu is planning out the most cutting combination of words to bring the meeting to order when the door slams open.
“Liu-shidi! We don’t come back just to break things!” Comes Shang Qinghua’s distressed cry.
“Liu-shidi! We don’t come back just to break things!” Comes Shang Qinghua’s distressed cry.
Judging from the pathetic whine to it, his rut must be over.
In what must pass for effort in Liu Qingge’s mind, he slowly slides the door close but does not change the force applied to it. In response, Shang Qinghua drops his face into his hands.
In what must pass for effort in Liu Qingge’s mind, he slowly slides the door close but does not change the force applied to it. In response, Shang Qinghua drops his face into his hands.
When Shen Qingqiu had been deliberating whether or not to attend this meeting, it was with the understanding that the brute had not been seen in over a month and was unlikely to be present either.
Now, as he watches Liu Qingge’s steps falter as his head moves back and forth in an attempt to identify the new omega scent, he knows he made the right choice.
Instead of making his way to his seat, he redirects to join the group surrounding the sect leader and makes a show of breathing in the air around them.
Shen Qingqiu, along with all the other alphas present, bristle at this brazen behavior and hold tense for whatever is to come from their blunt martial brother.
“Hey!”
“Yes, shidi?”
Yue Qingyuan’s expression is a cross between hesitant and indulgent, demonstrating that not even he knows the direction this will take.
“If you’re like this,” here the brute juts his chin out to indicate the sect leader and gruffs out, “let’s spar after.”
“Yes, shidi?”
Yue Qingyuan’s expression is a cross between hesitant and indulgent, demonstrating that not even he knows the direction this will take.
“If you’re like this,” here the brute juts his chin out to indicate the sect leader and gruffs out, “let’s spar after.”
Jumping from incredulous to amuse, Yue Qingyuan brings a sleeve up to hide behind, it does nothing to disguise the way his eyes crinkle and the sudden lighter shift to his scent.
“It has been a while, hasn’t it? Thank you for the offer Liu-shidi, we’ll discuss it later.”
“It has been a while, hasn’t it? Thank you for the offer Liu-shidi, we’ll discuss it later.”
Ignoring the way the room has shifted their attention to him, the Bai Zhan War God gives a single satisfied nod and heads to kneel at his table.
Still smiling, the sect leader turns to the remaining peak lords & motions to their empty seats.
“Now that we’re all here, let’s begin. There are a few pressing matters to discuss now that Shang-shidi and I have gone over the audits.”
“Now that we’re all here, let’s begin. There are a few pressing matters to discuss now that Shang-shidi and I have gone over the audits.”
Shen Qingqiu misses the first few items on the agenda, his mind busy replaying the first and only time he came across the two sparring.
Yue Qi, warm brown skin covered in sweat, dirt and debris, laughing deeply as he pinned down the smaller man. Celebrating a victory that, by all accounts, shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
And Liu Mingyan, bastard that he was, breathless and dazed at the sight before him.
And Liu Mingyan, bastard that he was, breathless and dazed at the sight before him.
Full lips making the shape of an O as he stared up at his future sect leader like he hung the stars.
And here he is, arriving to what should be a surprising reveal of the sect leaders dynamic, and acting like it’s inconsequential.
Like he /knew/.
And here he is, arriving to what should be a surprising reveal of the sect leaders dynamic, and acting like it’s inconsequential.
Like he /knew/.
It’s the same thought had robbed him of sleep when this began, and here it was again, driving him to distraction.
Unacceptable.
Centering himself, Shen Qingqiu takes measured breaths and brings his attention back to meeting.
Unacceptable.
Centering himself, Shen Qingqiu takes measured breaths and brings his attention back to meeting.
It drags on, as these audits typically do, and he takes his opportunity to make pointed comments when necessary and preening when, once again, Shang Qinghua comments on the exemplify work from his peak.
Just as the meeting is set to adjourn, Mu Qingfang clears his throat, interrupting the sect leader. It’s an astonishingly rude and out of character mood, drawing the attention that it was intended to.
The impact is immediate, stopping the sect leader in his tracks as his eyes dart to and from their resident medic. Such behavior is enough to liven up a room that had, essentially, checked out when the agenda items relevant to them had passed.
The sudden change in atmosphere weighs in the Yue Qingyuan enough that he drops his usual formal tone.
“Due to personal matters, I will be unavailable in the upcoming days.”
“Due to personal matters, I will be unavailable in the upcoming days.”
Like lighting a wick, the room is suddenly charged by the implications of his words, the scent of alpha interest spreading out from all angles. When it reaches him, he visibly stills and the proceed to keep his gaze locked on the opposite wall.
“All pending matters will be handled by my head disciple with the guidance a trusted hall master. Shang-shidi has also volunteered to step in as necessary for any matters that An Ding Peak may be able to resolve.”
If glares were swords, they would be missing a logistician.
If glares were swords, they would be missing a logistician.
Clearing his throat, Yue Qingyuan’s gaze lifted from the back wall to scan over his martial siblings. “That being said, let’s adjourn this-“
“Do you have a heat partner?!”
“Do you have a heat partner?!”
Shen Qingqiu felt the hot flash of qi next to him before he even registered the scandalized tone from My Qingfang.
“Qi Qingqi!”
“Qi Qingqi!”
The problem with peak lords ascending to their positions together, is that often times, they’ve known each other since childhood and are likely to fall into old habits and over familiarity. Such is the case now when the the room erupts into various shouts of alarm and delight.
“Zhangmen-shixiong! I’m free-“
“Insolence!”
“This Shimei is willing to make an exception to-“
“HEY!”
“This is private issue and-“
Shen Qingqiu dares a glance at their sect leader only to see him with his mouth ajar, horror crescendoing on his features.
“Insolence!”
“This Shimei is willing to make an exception to-“
“HEY!”
“This is private issue and-“
Shen Qingqiu dares a glance at their sect leader only to see him with his mouth ajar, horror crescendoing on his features.
The emerging feelings of possessiveness are drowned by the amusement of finally seeing his sect leader at the mercy of his martial sibling’s gossip. What he’s feeling now is only a taste of the hyper vigilance Shen Qingqiu has felt since entering the sect.
Sitting back and enjoying the show, he makes eye contact across the room with an equally amused Shang Qinghua. It’s Curious that, even now, he’s not drooling for a taste of unclaimed omega. Shen Qingqiu makes a mental note to investigate if he has a partner hidden away somewhere.
Squirming under his focus, smaller alpha shrugs a shoulder at him moments before snapping his head to the chaos before him. “No!”
Wei Qingwei rolls his eyes and defensively says, “Now shidi, they’re very nice collars. Only the highest quality.”
A chill runs through Shen Qingqiu
Wei Qingwei rolls his eyes and defensively says, “Now shidi, they’re very nice collars. Only the highest quality.”
A chill runs through Shen Qingqiu
The thought of Yue Qingyuan collared, even in one created with the intent to protect an omega in heat from an unwanted bite, makes his blood boil.
Yue Qingyuan should never be in any form of shackles, otherwise what had been the point of any of it?
Yue Qingyuan should never be in any form of shackles, otherwise what had been the point of any of it?
Shen Qingqiu pushes out a dominant scent and a suffocating amount of qi.
“Enough of this! Have you no shame discussing the sect leader in this way? Is it not enough to objectify an omega behind their back that you must also do it to their face?”
“Enough of this! Have you no shame discussing the sect leader in this way? Is it not enough to objectify an omega behind their back that you must also do it to their face?”
The display of power settles his martial siblings into various expressions of chastisement. Their is a murmur of apologies mixed in with sly mentions of Shen Qingqiu’s visits to brothels.
Ignoring them, Shen Qingqiu doesn’t let off of his qi or scent until the other alphas are filtering out of the room to escape the suffocating presence and shame.
All except one.
Liu Qingge ignores him to sit before the sect leader. Yue Qingyuan’s face buried in his hands.
“Hey.”
Liu Qingge ignores him to sit before the sect leader. Yue Qingyuan’s face buried in his hands.
“Hey.”
When he lifts his face, it is burning a bright red and the scent of his embarrassment/anxiousness/frustration is matching in its intensity.
Eyebrows drawn together, he hesitantly asks; “yes, shidi?” As if already afraid resigned to whatever Liu Qingge will say next.
Eyebrows drawn together, he hesitantly asks; “yes, shidi?” As if already afraid resigned to whatever Liu Qingge will say next.
Liu Qingge shifts in his seat and avoids looking their sect leader in the eye, opting instead to tilt his head slightly to the left. From this angle, Shen Qingqiu can see the way his ears have started to grow pink.
“Just- are you okay? With them. With this?”
“Just- are you okay? With them. With this?”
Surprise then relief flickers across Yue Qingyuan’s face, the soft smile he gives the brute does something wretched to Shen Qingqiu’s heart.
“Liu-shidi is kind to worry for this shixiong. Though everyone is…excitable about this topic, it will pass soon enough.”
“Liu-shidi is kind to worry for this shixiong. Though everyone is…excitable about this topic, it will pass soon enough.”
The unspoken, though obvious, reason it will pass has Liu Qingge clenching his hands into fists at his lap. With a solemn nod, he goes to leave the room until he notices Shen Qingqiu presence.
The change in the way he holds himself is immediate.
The change in the way he holds himself is immediate.
Liu Bingge stiffens and moves to put himself between the sect leader and Shen Qingqiu in an obvious show of who he considers the threat in the room.
Any other time, Shen Qingqiu would drop an incendiary comment before leaving and depriving his shidi of the fight he’s eager for.
Any other time, Shen Qingqiu would drop an incendiary comment before leaving and depriving his shidi of the fight he’s eager for.
But these last few days have grated on his patience and he finds himself more willing to engage in the hostility that is expected of him.
He growls at him.
Low and deep and every bit the threat he intends it to be. Shen Qingqiu watches Liu Qingge’s eyes narrow into slits and his claws extend his fingers even longer. The air is thick with their aggression, Shen Qingqiu feels his own body reacting to it.
Low and deep and every bit the threat he intends it to be. Shen Qingqiu watches Liu Qingge’s eyes narrow into slits and his claws extend his fingers even longer. The air is thick with their aggression, Shen Qingqiu feels his own body reacting to it.
With a sneer, he tilts his nose up to the other alpha to display his fangs and express his condescension.
“How arrogant of you, Liu shidi. Do you take me for one of your monsters? An animal that will bend any omega over once alone?”
“You-“
“How arrogant of you, Liu shidi. Do you take me for one of your monsters? An animal that will bend any omega over once alone?”
“You-“
Whatever Liu Qingge was going to say next becomes a mystery.
Growing and weaving between their competing scents is something new, sweet, unmistakable.
Arousal.
Growing and weaving between their competing scents is something new, sweet, unmistakable.
Arousal.
Their heads snap at attention to where Yue Qingyuan stood at the front of the room. His eyes were wide open, pupils dilated as they bounced between the two posturing alphas.
A courtship fight.
A courtship fight.
(Mine! Mine! Mine!)
Shen Qingqiu has never won a fair fight against Liu Qingge in his life.
An unfair fight is another matter.
Taking mental inventory of the talismans and knives hidden in his robes, he feels good about his odds. The stakes have never felt so high.
Shen Qingqiu has never won a fair fight against Liu Qingge in his life.
An unfair fight is another matter.
Taking mental inventory of the talismans and knives hidden in his robes, he feels good about his odds. The stakes have never felt so high.
Across the room, Liu Qingge is getting flustered but equally riled up. Steely eyes wash over Shen Qingqiu, gauging the threat and how best to put his strength on display.
A courtship fight isn’t to the death in most cases, it’s a ploy to appeal to an omega’s most basic instincts. To a desire to be protected, cared for. A strong alpha would be able to provide and offer safety when necessary.
And hasn’t that always been Shen Qingqiu’s role?
And hasn’t that always been Shen Qingqiu’s role?
When Yue Qi would put himself at risk, time and time again, for those other ungrateful street rats, who was it coming to bail him out each time?
When had any of them ever protected Yue Qi in turn?
Never.
When had any of them ever protected Yue Qi in turn?
Never.
Shen Jiu was the only one watching his back, checking him nightly for hidden injuries, and shielding him from dangerous adults.
Even now, as the second peak lord, wasn’t it the same?
Who else, if not the chief strategist, protected everything Yue Qingyuan had built?
Even now, as the second peak lord, wasn’t it the same?
Who else, if not the chief strategist, protected everything Yue Qingyuan had built?
Everything that he called his?
Liu Qingge shifts his stance, Shen Qingqiu responding in kind, each daring the other to make the first move. Rocking on to the balls of his feet, Shen Qingqiu prepares for the lunge that is sure to come only-
It never does.
It never does.
The heavy qi that washes over the alphas brings them to their knees.
A humble reminder that this particular omega does not need protecting.
The sect leader walks towards them and reigns in his aura once he’s certain they won’t go at each other’s throats when free.
A humble reminder that this particular omega does not need protecting.
The sect leader walks towards them and reigns in his aura once he’s certain they won’t go at each other’s throats when free.
Sweet arousal still surrounds him, but so does another pleased tone.
“Liu-shidi, please leave us.”
Shen Qingqiu’s instincts blare with the victory, he unfolds his fan to hide the shit eating grin at the stubborn refusal on Liu Qingge’s face.
“No.”
“Liu-shidi, please leave us.”
Shen Qingqiu’s instincts blare with the victory, he unfolds his fan to hide the shit eating grin at the stubborn refusal on Liu Qingge’s face.
“No.”
The frown betrays the joy in his scent, but undeterred, Yue Qingyuan merely hums in acknowledgement and turns to face Shen Qingqiu. "Shen-shidi, will you join me in my office?"
His office.
In his home.
Near his nest.
He shouldn't. Hadn't yesterday proved disastrous enough?
His office.
In his home.
Near his nest.
He shouldn't. Hadn't yesterday proved disastrous enough?
"Zhangmen-shixiong!"
"Of course, /Yue-shixiong/."
The familiarity has the Bai Zhan Peak Lord gaping like a particularly affronted fish. To had insult to injury, Shen Qingqiu turns his back to the alpha and walks out of the room without a word.
"Of course, /Yue-shixiong/."
The familiarity has the Bai Zhan Peak Lord gaping like a particularly affronted fish. To had insult to injury, Shen Qingqiu turns his back to the alpha and walks out of the room without a word.
-
Maybe Yue Qingyuan /had't/ ruined everything.
Yue-shixiong
Yue-shixiong
/Yue-shixiong./
And after what could only be interpreted as a courtship fight!
There is no other way to take the dominant posturing, the eagerness to claim, and show off.
/To him./
Maybe Yue Qingyuan /had't/ ruined everything.
Yue-shixiong
Yue-shixiong
/Yue-shixiong./
And after what could only be interpreted as a courtship fight!
There is no other way to take the dominant posturing, the eagerness to claim, and show off.
/To him./
/Xiao-Jiu wants him./
If not consciously, at his basic instincts, /he wants him/.
He's worth having. Possessing.
(Claiming!)
And now he's agreed to go into his home, with the knowledge that he's /near his heat/.
If not consciously, at his basic instincts, /he wants him/.
He's worth having. Possessing.
(Claiming!)
And now he's agreed to go into his home, with the knowledge that he's /near his heat/.
If only he'd known that the rivalry between his shidis, one that had caused him never ending headaches through the years, would lead to this! He would have used his talisman to recall Liu Qingge to the sect the moment he stopped taking his suppressants!
Watching Shen Qingqiu walk out the door, toward his /house/, fills Yue Qingyuan for such fondness for Liu Qingge. He should thank him.
He comes to a standstill right before his shidi, looking down on him fondly and enjoying the way he had tried to protect him. Care for him.
He comes to a standstill right before his shidi, looking down on him fondly and enjoying the way he had tried to protect him. Care for him.
It was, of course, unnecessary, but it was /nice/.
So few people had ever tried to protect Yue Qingyuan or Yue Qi. He could count the number of people on his hands and still have enough fingers left over to eat comfortably.
So few people had ever tried to protect Yue Qingyuan or Yue Qi. He could count the number of people on his hands and still have enough fingers left over to eat comfortably.
The petulant look the alpha is giving him is cute. If Liu Qingge had lived another life, one where he had to beg to survive, he surely would never have gone hungry. Ah but often times, there were worse fates than hunger for people that looked like him.
"Zhangmen-shixiong, it isn't /proper/ to be alone with an alpha right now.'"
Amused, he allows his smile widen fully to tease his shidi. "Liu-shidi, /we're/ alone now. Is this shidi not also an alpha?"
Amused, he allows his smile widen fully to tease his shidi. "Liu-shidi, /we're/ alone now. Is this shidi not also an alpha?"
For a moment, Liu Qinggge looks dazed before the implication sets in and leaves him spluttering for words. "That's not- it's - It's different!"
Yue Qingyuan allows himself the luxury of laughing. Things have always been easy when it came to Liu Qingge.
Yue Qingyuan allows himself the luxury of laughing. Things have always been easy when it came to Liu Qingge.
His blunt words and straight forward way of thinking made it so that he never had to try to decipher his intent. Among nobleborn children, he also wasn't afraid to get dirty to accomplish a task, or eat food of varying quality when on a mission.
Liu Mingyi had been breath of fresh air in a time when Yue Qi was nothing more than a desperate anxious creature. He's a good man, a good brother. Filled with joy and affection, Yue Qingyuan allowed himself a stolen moment of impropriety.
When he scented Mu Qingfang earlier, it was out of gratitude. Though betas have muted senses, even they enjoy the soothing benefits of the scent of a pleased omega. It might have been his hormone addled brain, but Yue Qingyuan had come to the conclusion that the sect was his.
His martial siblings were also his.
Yue Qingyuan would never have children, parents, or a husband. But he would have this. They would be his family and if they allowed it, he would claim them as such.
Yue Qingyuan would never have children, parents, or a husband. But he would have this. They would be his family and if they allowed it, he would claim them as such.
He had not expected the action to cause such a commotion earlier, but he had been sincere in his actions and planned to approach his other sect siblings after his heat was passed. After their enthusiasm to...assist him, he didn't want anyone to get the wrong ideas.
But Liu Qingge was here, right now. And he was so upset on Yue Qingyuan's behalf, what else could he do? Hadn't Mu Qingfang said to indulge these urges?
Telegraphing his every move, Yue Qingyuan brought his hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind the alpha's ear.
Telegraphing his every move, Yue Qingyuan brought his hand up to tuck a lock of hair behind the alpha's ear.
Dropping the formalities, he put every ounce of sincerity into his words and scent. "I remember you mentioning your younger sister is an omega. Thank you for caring for me like you would her. Liu Qingge is a good brother."
Those dark eyes gazed up at him in awe, not an unfamiliar look from his shidi. There were few, if any, people that could match him in battle the way Yue Qingyuan could.
It became apparent when the purpose of the claim registered. He frowned for a moment then closed his eyes to lean into the hand carding through his hair, brushing against his shoulders. Strangely enough, the expression he wore became something unfamiliar.
"Yeah. Okay."
"Yeah. Okay."
His breathed slowed and Yue Qingyuan brushes his wrist against his jawline, careful to avoid his neck. The movement shocked a gasp out of his shidi and when he opened his eyes again, there was an inexplicable gleam of conviction in them.
"I won't give up."
What?
"What?"
"I won't give up."
What?
"What?"
Taking a step back, he gave a curt bow and marched out the door.
What was /that/ about?
What was /that/ about?
-
The high of being chosen carries Shen Qingqiu just as far as the front door of the sect leader's home. When he noticed that Yue Qingyuan was /not/ following behind him, his steps had faltered and slowed. Uncertainty started to creep through him the longer he waited.
The high of being chosen carries Shen Qingqiu just as far as the front door of the sect leader's home. When he noticed that Yue Qingyuan was /not/ following behind him, his steps had faltered and slowed. Uncertainty started to creep through him the longer he waited.
It was not lost on him that their positions from yesterday were inverted. Just as he was readying to summon Xiu Ya, Yue Qingyuan came around the corner in a hybrid of something between a jog and a run.
He was still smiling.
Not that Shen Qingqiu was checking for that.
He was still smiling.
Not that Shen Qingqiu was checking for that.
But if he had been, one could say that baring witness to it did things to their ability to take in air.
But not him.
Beaming, he paused in front of his to release the security wards.
“This shixiong thanks Shen-shidi for his patience.”
But not him.
Beaming, he paused in front of his to release the security wards.
“This shixiong thanks Shen-shidi for his patience.”
Shen Qingqiu made a show of averting his gaze only to turn back once Yue Qingyuan was distracted. He would only watch for the first few, just to check if they were up to par.
Or he would have.
“One!? Just one!?”
The one shoulder shrug was /not/ an adequate answer.
Or he would have.
“One!? Just one!?”
The one shoulder shrug was /not/ an adequate answer.
“How can the sect leaders residence only have /one/ ward. Even Ku Xing Peak has more than that and they don’t even /have/ things!”
Yue Qingyuan laughed as if he was joking.
“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Yue Qingyuan’s solemn head disciple was walking toward them with a basket of scrolls in each arm. “Shizun,” she made an effort to bow without jostling her load. “Shibo,” Much less effort on that one.
“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Yue Qingyuan’s solemn head disciple was walking toward them with a basket of scrolls in each arm. “Shizun,” she made an effort to bow without jostling her load. “Shibo,” Much less effort on that one.
“Ah, Lin Siniang, that will be enough for today. Please work from the hall masters building starting immediately.”
The child was nearly out the door when she froze mid step to whip her head between them. “Shizun, no!”
The child was nearly out the door when she froze mid step to whip her head between them. “Shizun, no!”
“This master recommends taking dinner on An Ding tonight.”
Shen Qingqiu watched, astonished, as Yue Qingyuan grinned in a way that was all easy confidence and teasing cheekiness before slamming the door shut behind them.
Shen Qingqiu watched, astonished, as Yue Qingyuan grinned in a way that was all easy confidence and teasing cheekiness before slamming the door shut behind them.
Such joy is charming, it takes years off his face and Shen Qingqiu drinks in the sight greedily. He doesn’t know the last time Yue Qingyuan looked so free.
Reflecting on their last few interactions, he comes to the conclusions that while sect leader hadn’t been /different/, he had been…more himself in a way. Had his suppressants really made so much of a difference?
“-Shang-shidi’s head disciple, the tall one with the knives, it’s puppy love so far but there’s no harm in sneaking around when they haven’t presented yet.”
Settling behind a low table, Yue Qingyuan gestures the pot of tea and snacks that had been waiting for him.
Settling behind a low table, Yue Qingyuan gestures the pot of tea and snacks that had been waiting for him.
Ill advised crushes aside, at least he had a diligent disciple. Shen Qingqiu looked over the tempting sweets only to shake his head no. It wouldn’t do to give the impression that this was a chat between friends.
“Zhangmen-shixiong, what is this about?”
“Zhangmen-shixiong, what is this about?”
He almost regrets asking with how that smile fades. A quick survey of his scent speaks to the joy simmering, sparks of anxiousness coming through and a continued presence of arousal.
Shen Qingqiu glances down at where the table blocks the view is his sect leader’s waist and his words to Liu Qingge about bending omegas over rattle in his brain.
Shaking the thought, he darts his eyes back up to that gentile face only to catch on the slightly swollen gland at his neck.
The one that Shen Qingqiu had, just the day before, been licking.
Swallowing, he turns his gaze to focus on the space between Yue Qingyuan’s brows.
The one that Shen Qingqiu had, just the day before, been licking.
Swallowing, he turns his gaze to focus on the space between Yue Qingyuan’s brows.
There wasn’t a single sexual thing about eyebrows. His focus allowed him to see how deep the wrinkles between them became when pinched them close together.
“May I speak freely?”
Shen Qingqiu nodded, eyes still glued straight ahead.
“You want me.”
“May I speak freely?”
Shen Qingqiu nodded, eyes still glued straight ahead.
“You want me.”
Shen Qingqiu has qi deviated before, it felt similar to this.
It starts with a level of detachment, as if his body is a hands width to the left from where it should be, and he a mere observer of its actions.
It starts with a level of detachment, as if his body is a hands width to the left from where it should be, and he a mere observer of its actions.
He hears what Yue Qingyuan is saying, but he cannot comprehend that these words are being said to him.
What follows is a slow building heat up every meridian, collecting at his chest until he can’t breathe.
“Shen Qingqiu, will you help me through my heat?”
What follows is a slow building heat up every meridian, collecting at his chest until he can’t breathe.
“Shen Qingqiu, will you help me through my heat?”
As the scholarly peak, Qi Jing Peak disciples learn to weigh the impact of their decisions quickly. A regular part of the curriculum includes rapid fire quizzes where they must solve an ethical dilemma and defend their choice against all the other disciples in their cohort.
Once Shen Qingqiu was in the running to be his Shizun’s successor, there was the added challenge of needing to make a decision before a cut leaf could fall to the forest floor.
Shen Qingqiu has never been so grateful for his Shizun’s training as in this moment where the longer he remains gaping like a fish, the more Yue Qingyuan’s shy smile fades.
Years of denying him everything bring the “no” to the tip of his tongue first.
Years of denying him everything bring the “no” to the tip of his tongue first.
However, the thought of Liu Qingge’s presence back in the sect has him choking back his response. There is also the question of their already fragile relationship as martial siblings and leaders of the sect.
Though, when he thinks about it, it can’t get much worse than it’s current state.
But if he agrees…
But if he agrees…
Yue Qingyuan had a roomful of powerful, objectively beautiful, alphas offering themselves up on a silver platter. He had /options/. Liu Qingge had tried to have a courtship fight for the opportunity and yet-
Shen Qingqiu is the one the sect leader is offering himself to.
Shen Qingqiu is the one the sect leader is offering himself to.
Yue Qingyuan had sounded so broken in that room on Qian Cao Peak at the mere suggestion of having to duel cultivate.
He had pressed Mu Qingfang until the beta snapped back at him….and yet Yue Qingyuan had smelled so sweet, so pleased, each time in his presence.
He had pressed Mu Qingfang until the beta snapped back at him….and yet Yue Qingyuan had smelled so sweet, so pleased, each time in his presence.
He had gone as far as to visit him yesterday morning and-
Hm.
Was that meant to be an /attempt/ to ask him?
Had he fumbled it horribly in his typical way?
Hm.
Was that meant to be an /attempt/ to ask him?
Had he fumbled it horribly in his typical way?
Stalling for time, Shen Qingqiu delicately brings one of the sweet snacks from the table to his mouth. He pauses for a moment, pressing it against his bottom lip and cataloging the way Yue Qingyuan swallows at the sight.
He’s not wrong.
Shen Qingqiu does want him.
In the same way he would rather destroy one of his discarded possessions than share it, he wants to rip into Yue Qingyuan until there is nothing left of him for anyone else to have.
Shen Qingqiu does want him.
In the same way he would rather destroy one of his discarded possessions than share it, he wants to rip into Yue Qingyuan until there is nothing left of him for anyone else to have.
Shen Qingqiu wants to sink claws and teeth so deeply into him that his bloodlust, fueled by years of meaningless platitudes, is finally sated.
He wants to ruin him so completely that he will never be able to think of another alpha without feeling the phantom pain of Shen Qingqiu in his very soul.
And if he tries to open his heart to anyone else, they’ll only see the remnants of Shen Qingqiu’s fury in his chest.
And if he tries to open his heart to anyone else, they’ll only see the remnants of Shen Qingqiu’s fury in his chest.
There is also the appeal that, if this goes well, if they are compatible and amicable to the idea, Shen Qingqiu could steal each of Yue Qingyuan’s heats for himself.
The image of Liu Qingge’s face when he emerges covered in Yue Qingyuan’s desire, favor, would be too good.
The image of Liu Qingge’s face when he emerges covered in Yue Qingyuan’s desire, favor, would be too good.
He can see the way that Yue Qingyuan seems to be coming to his own conclusions and decided to cut it off at the head.
“Show me your nest.”
“Show me your nest.”
This pathetic.
He tells him as much, but it makes no difference in dimming the joy that Yue Qingyuan is brimming with. While he hadn’t verbally accepted, he hadn’t rejected it outright and that had been enough to get Yue Qingyuan to spread his scent throughout the room.
He tells him as much, but it makes no difference in dimming the joy that Yue Qingyuan is brimming with. While he hadn’t verbally accepted, he hadn’t rejected it outright and that had been enough to get Yue Qingyuan to spread his scent throughout the room.
Shen Qingqiu is not unaffected.
And now, now he can do something about it.
He drags his hand across the shears and scowls at the rough texture. “/Cotton/.” Cheap cotton too, the kind that comes with-
“Are these from the disciple packs!?”
And now, now he can do something about it.
He drags his hand across the shears and scowls at the rough texture. “/Cotton/.” Cheap cotton too, the kind that comes with-
“Are these from the disciple packs!?”
Yue Qingyuan has the decency to at look ashamed, though his scent hasn’t changed one bit. “It was recent, I didn’t want to bother Shang-shidi.”
Shen Qingqiu is going to strangle this idiot.
Shen Qingqiu is going to strangle this idiot.
Even the omegas at the Warm Red Pavillion have nicer pillows than these and they will never see a fraction of the sect leader’s stipend in their life. Turning a pillow over his hands, he frowns at his o- sect leader. “What does Zhangmen shixiong even spend his money on?”
The amused, yet meaningful, look he receives is enough to shut him up.
Right.
“Clearing his throat, he throws the pillow back on the bed before declaring, “I’m not staying here.”
Right.
“Clearing his throat, he throws the pillow back on the bed before declaring, “I’m not staying here.”
The souring scent has him rolling his eyes, but he’s quick to add, “there’s finer materials on Qing Jing Peak. Bring what what’s needed for your comfort and this shidi will provide the rest.”
(Providing For his-)
(Providing For his-)
He shuts down that thought and relishes in his easy it is to please Yue Qingyuan when he’s like this. How the nuances of his scent conveys more than his mouth ever did about what he wants from Shen Qingqiu. He’s easy, like this.
🔞
Yue Qingyuan’s sickly sweetness is over powering in this room, even if he hadn’t known his best was close, the smell of arousal clings to the fabric of the, subpar, pillows.
Yue Qingyuan’s sickly sweetness is over powering in this room, even if he hadn’t known his best was close, the smell of arousal clings to the fabric of the, subpar, pillows.
🔞
And Shen Qingqiu can just picture it, Yue Qingyuan desperately rocking into his hand while another reaches between those muscled thighs to dip his fingers into that warm wet heat.
Did he ever picture someone else’s hands? Or does he mindlessly chase completion and desire?
And Shen Qingqiu can just picture it, Yue Qingyuan desperately rocking into his hand while another reaches between those muscled thighs to dip his fingers into that warm wet heat.
Did he ever picture someone else’s hands? Or does he mindlessly chase completion and desire?
Yue Qingyuan gasps, noting his own shift in scent.
“Ah, shidi-.”
“Come here.”
The sect leader, bane of the demon realm, stumbles in his hurry to get near him. Shen Qingqiu’s spirit sings at the sight.
If Yue Qingyuan didn’t picture another’s hands before, he will now.
“Ah, shidi-.”
“Come here.”
The sect leader, bane of the demon realm, stumbles in his hurry to get near him. Shen Qingqiu’s spirit sings at the sight.
If Yue Qingyuan didn’t picture another’s hands before, he will now.
Drunk on power and arousal, Shen Qingqiu steps into his space to run his hands up the sect leader’s sides, making sure the glands at his wrist always make contact.
When his hands reach those broad shoulders, he teasingly dips a finger beneath that high collar, just narrowly missing his scent glands.
Yue Qingyuan’s chest rises and falls with the quickness of his breath and Shen Qingqiu pushes two fingers and circles his thumb at the front of his throat, occasionally pressing down.
“Xia-Shen-Shidi!” Yue Qingyuan /begs/.
“Xia-Shen-Shidi!” Yue Qingyuan /begs/.
🔞
He hadn’t meant to do more than tease, to give the allusion of what the coming days would bring.
But Yue Qingyuan smells so tantalizing and he can feel the hot press of his cock against his leg.
He hadn’t meant to do more than tease, to give the allusion of what the coming days would bring.
But Yue Qingyuan smells so tantalizing and he can feel the hot press of his cock against his leg.
🔞
Shen Qingqiu has never wanted someone like this. Had never known desire could feel so good. And with Qi-
With Yue Qingyuan, there’s no risk involved.
Shen Qingqiu has never wanted someone like this. Had never known desire could feel so good. And with Qi-
With Yue Qingyuan, there’s no risk involved.
🔞
He’s so desperate to be bitched after a life time of going without that Shen Qingqiu could tie him up In immortal binding cables and take him roughly until tears stream down his face and the sect leader would /thank him/ for it.
So yes, Shen Qingqiu wants him.
He’s so desperate to be bitched after a life time of going without that Shen Qingqiu could tie him up In immortal binding cables and take him roughly until tears stream down his face and the sect leader would /thank him/ for it.
So yes, Shen Qingqiu wants him.
🔞
Pressing a thigh against that heat, he uses the way Yue Qingyuan’s knees buckle to force him to take a seat on his bed.
And isn’t that a sight.
Flushed and pretty, mouth ajar just enough to show his pink tongue.
Pressing a thigh against that heat, he uses the way Yue Qingyuan’s knees buckle to force him to take a seat on his bed.
And isn’t that a sight.
Flushed and pretty, mouth ajar just enough to show his pink tongue.
🔞
Shen Qingqiu has plans for that mouth, but not today.
For now, he straddles Yue Qingyuan’s lap and slaps his hands away when he tries to touch him. “Don’t” he warns and the growl is deeper, huskier, than he intended.
Yue Qingyuan shakes with it, “Shidi, please-“
Shen Qingqiu has plans for that mouth, but not today.
For now, he straddles Yue Qingyuan’s lap and slaps his hands away when he tries to touch him. “Don’t” he warns and the growl is deeper, huskier, than he intended.
Yue Qingyuan shakes with it, “Shidi, please-“
🔞
Shen Qingqiu musters up the most unimpressed look he can, under the circumstance and gives an experimental rock of his hips that tears a sob out of his omega.
“Shen-shidi!”
“Be quiet.”
The clack of his teeth slamming shut is so audible, it must of hurt.
Good.
Shen Qingqiu musters up the most unimpressed look he can, under the circumstance and gives an experimental rock of his hips that tears a sob out of his omega.
“Shen-shidi!”
“Be quiet.”
The clack of his teeth slamming shut is so audible, it must of hurt.
Good.
🔞
Yue Qingyuan jostles him with how often he squirms and repositions himself. The smell of arousal is so strong that Shen Qingqiu’s mouth waters at the thought of what must be happening beneath those robes.
Yue Qingyuan jostles him with how often he squirms and repositions himself. The smell of arousal is so strong that Shen Qingqiu’s mouth waters at the thought of what must be happening beneath those robes.
🔞
Instead of addressing it, as Yue Qingyuan so desperately wants, he leans in to pick up wear he left off the day before. The moans his omega lets out when he runs his tongue over his scent glands is nothing compared to the way his hips buck after he mouths at it and /sucks/.
Instead of addressing it, as Yue Qingyuan so desperately wants, he leans in to pick up wear he left off the day before. The moans his omega lets out when he runs his tongue over his scent glands is nothing compared to the way his hips buck after he mouths at it and /sucks/.
🔞
When the thrusts start to pick up their pace, he lets off to give the other side attention. Ignoring the desperate sounds Yue Qingyuan makes in his attempt to stay quiet, he repeats the process of slowing licking and mouthing at it.
When the thrusts start to pick up their pace, he lets off to give the other side attention. Ignoring the desperate sounds Yue Qingyuan makes in his attempt to stay quiet, he repeats the process of slowing licking and mouthing at it.
🔞
This is a dangerous game he’s playing.
His instincts scream, howl, beg him to take that throat between his teeth. To mark him, claim him, /ruin/ him for everyone to see. There’s no collar, it would be /so/ easy.
This is a dangerous game he’s playing.
His instincts scream, howl, beg him to take that throat between his teeth. To mark him, claim him, /ruin/ him for everyone to see. There’s no collar, it would be /so/ easy.
🔞
And even if Shen Qingqiu never touched him again, if he left the sect and never looked back, Yue Qingyuan would be /his/.
He’s almost tempted to do it for the scandal it would cause at happening outside of a heat.
And even if Shen Qingqiu never touched him again, if he left the sect and never looked back, Yue Qingyuan would be /his/.
He’s almost tempted to do it for the scandal it would cause at happening outside of a heat.
🔞
But Shen Qingqiu is an expert in denying himself what he really wants for what he needs to do.
And right now, he needs to make Yue Qingyuan suffer the rest of the day with thoughts of his mouths, with the memory of his weight and scent above him.
But Shen Qingqiu is an expert in denying himself what he really wants for what he needs to do.
And right now, he needs to make Yue Qingyuan suffer the rest of the day with thoughts of his mouths, with the memory of his weight and scent above him.
🔞
Just as the thrusts start to crescendo, he stands up. The sudden lost of his weight leaves the sect leader tumbling backward to lay flat against the thin mattress.
“Shen Qingqiu!”
The betrayed look on Yue Qingyuan’s is delicious.
Just as the thrusts start to crescendo, he stands up. The sudden lost of his weight leaves the sect leader tumbling backward to lay flat against the thin mattress.
“Shen Qingqiu!”
The betrayed look on Yue Qingyuan’s is delicious.
Shen Qingqiu is licking his lips at the sight, savoring that last bit of taste. His mood is so good, that he benevolently shrugs off his top most layer and throws it at the sect leader, not even waiting for it to land before turning to walk away.
Fighting down the giggle threatening to erupt out of his chest, he pauses at door way for just long enough to call back, “get some contraceptives before you come!”
The double entendre succeeds in pulling the laugh out of him and the frustrated groans of “shidi!” Add to it.
The double entendre succeeds in pulling the laugh out of him and the frustrated groans of “shidi!” Add to it.
Shen Qingqiu is in such a good mood, that he extends the walk back to his peak long enough to take a detour to Bai Zhan Peak.
He was right, Liu Qingge’s expression alone makes this worth it.
He was right, Liu Qingge’s expression alone makes this worth it.
Shen Qingqiu visits the Warm Red Pavilion, the women there have very mix opinions on what he’s agreed to do. Some of them have a Look about them that Shen Qingqiu pretends not to notice for his own sake.
Regardless, they give him a crash course lecture of what he can expect and what can be done to aid his omega between couplings.
His omega.
They kept emphasizing it like that, and each time it sent a warm, satisfied, pleasure through him.
His omega.
They kept emphasizing it like that, and each time it sent a warm, satisfied, pleasure through him.
Shen Qingqiu acquires a list of shops known for providing the finest omega goods and spends an evening flickering in and out of them.
Shopping for someone else, running his hands across silks, comparing the plushness of pillows, and picturing how they will look against Yue Qingyuan’s skin…it’s fun. Providing for someone in this way, picturing Yue Qingyuan’s reaction, it scratches an itch he didn’t know he had.
He places orders with several locations and returns to his peak with several full qianken pouches tucked away carefully in his sleeves.
After settling matters with an incredibly flustered Ming Fan, he goes to work arranging things.
After settling matters with an incredibly flustered Ming Fan, he goes to work arranging things.
Shen Qingqiu is no omega, but as an artist he has an eye for what is aesthetically pleasing.
Letting his imagination run wild during the day has an affect on his dreams that night. Yue Qingyuan is laying on his back in the grass, robes open from the waist up and gleaming from the sun and sweat. His body, while impressive, is not what catches Shen Qingqiu’s eye.
It’s the warm, open, expression as he smiles softly up at him. His lips are loving but Shen Qingqiu can’t understand what he’s saying, hypnotized by the reappearance of the scattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose and high on his cheeks.
Shen Qingqiu leans in close to press a kiss near the corner of his eye, then stops to do the same on the other side before moving to Yue Qingyuan’s lips. Their kiss is slow, each glide of their lips bleeding into the next.
Yue Qingyuan’s mouth opens with little resistance and Shen Qingqiu continues with his slow explorations.
A growing rumbling sound reaches his ears and it takes a moment to identify that the purr is coming from his own chest. Though it’s been years, It makes sense, in a way.
A growing rumbling sound reaches his ears and it takes a moment to identify that the purr is coming from his own chest. Though it’s been years, It makes sense, in a way.
He had only ever purred around one person and that was-
“Qi-ge.”
Shen Qingqiu wakes from the dream with such an empty, vicious, yearning that he might be sick from it. When he tries to recollect what he saw, felt, it slips away like sand to the tides.
“Qi-ge.”
Shen Qingqiu wakes from the dream with such an empty, vicious, yearning that he might be sick from it. When he tries to recollect what he saw, felt, it slips away like sand to the tides.
Two days after the happiest and most frustrating day of his life, Yue Qingyuan wakes up with a fever.
A sudden sensitivity to light has him shifting back beneath the covers and pulling Shen Qingqiu’s robe close.
A sudden sensitivity to light has him shifting back beneath the covers and pulling Shen Qingqiu’s robe close.
It still smells so strongly of him, of them both, that Yue Qingyuan has taken comfort in wrapping it around himself in the imitation of an embrace.
Mind still drowsy he nuzzles against it and breathes deeply as he tries to wake. It's a miserable morning, there is a persistent pain in his head and lower back, and there's a soreness spreading across his muscles.
In a tone of frustration, he curls into himself and thinks, 'my heat must be starting.'
While he is normally a morning person, it takes a moment for the thought to really settle. Abruptly, Yue Qingyuan sits up and flings the bedding off of him.
His heat is starting!
While he is normally a morning person, it takes a moment for the thought to really settle. Abruptly, Yue Qingyuan sits up and flings the bedding off of him.
His heat is starting!
Drowsiness gone, Yue Qingyuan enters a frenzy as he runs around his room trying to collect everything he needs, pausing for only a moment to send out a qi construct warning Shen Qingqiu of his impending arrival.
After thoroughly washing, Yue Qingyuan finds himself with a pressing dilemma. In theory, it won't be long before he reunites with Shen Qingqiu, so there really isn't a need for him to be so hesitant to leave the robe behind.
It's just, well, he's gotten used to being surrounded by his scent and the thought of going without it....
…sounds unbearable. Yue Qingyuan has become addicted so quickly and he doesn’t know how he’ll be able to survive after his heat ends and Shen Qingqiu wants nothing to do with him.
Running his hands across the silk, he ponders whether he could pass it off as an under robe.
Running his hands across the silk, he ponders whether he could pass it off as an under robe.
Though even if someone noticed it, it’s not as if he’d be wearing it for long.
Convinced, Yue Qingyuan eagerly slips an arm through the sleeve only for his heart to drop at the first sound of the threads snapping.
Convinced, Yue Qingyuan eagerly slips an arm through the sleeve only for his heart to drop at the first sound of the threads snapping.
An undetermined amount of time goes by before he braves maneuvering out of the robe. He doesn’t-
He doesn’t want to /ruin/ the first gift Shen Qingqiu has ever given him.
And while it may not be anything to him, it’s the first gift he’s accepted as a recognized omega.
He doesn’t want to /ruin/ the first gift Shen Qingqiu has ever given him.
And while it may not be anything to him, it’s the first gift he’s accepted as a recognized omega.
As soon as word of his dynamic leaves the mountain, he’s going to be bombarded in courting gifts, carefully chosen to suit him.
But none of them will mean nearly as much as this robe haphazardly thrown at him in the heat of a moment. None of them will be from his Xiao Jiu, his alpha.
They haven’t even, they probably won’t even discuss what comes after. Is this a one time thing?
They haven’t even, they probably won’t even discuss what comes after. Is this a one time thing?
If-
If Yue Qingyuan is good for him, could he convince him to register as his heat partner? The thought of Shen Qingqiu accepting him into his bed over and over again stabs at his heart.
He can’t mess this up.
If Yue Qingyuan is good for him, could he convince him to register as his heat partner? The thought of Shen Qingqiu accepting him into his bed over and over again stabs at his heart.
He can’t mess this up.
He can’t do anything that will repulse Shen Qingqiu from seeking him out.
And if there is one thing that will do that quickly, it’s calling him by the wrong name.
No matter how lost in the heat he gets, he absolutely can’t call out for Xiao Jiu.
And if there is one thing that will do that quickly, it’s calling him by the wrong name.
No matter how lost in the heat he gets, he absolutely can’t call out for Xiao Jiu.
There are probably more things he should avoid, though he doesn’t have the experience to know what they might me. It is only now that he regrets not paying more attention to the lewd things his shixiongs would say in their youth.
No one would dare to say such things around him now and Shen Qingqiu has surely developed distinct tastes after visiting the brothels so frequently over the years.
With a defeated air about him, Yue Qingyuan pulls at the sleeve to assess the damage. He tests the five of the snapped threads by pressing a thumb between the seam and decides this is something he might try to fix himself.
Bitterly, he thinks it a good methaphor for their relationship.
Shen Qingqiu gives him something precious and Yue Qingyuan unintentionally fumbles the opportunity until all he is left with are the memories of what they once had.
Shen Qingqiu gives him something precious and Yue Qingyuan unintentionally fumbles the opportunity until all he is left with are the memories of what they once had.
Years of trying to appease his shidi and make headway towards something like forgiveness had proven fruitless. Even The current situation was born only out of luck.
Yue Qingyuan presses the fabric against his face and tries his best not to give into the desire to mope.
Yue Qingyuan presses the fabric against his face and tries his best not to give into the desire to mope.
If he could not earn Shen Qingqiu’s affection, at the very least he could have his lust.
He’s still standing there, faced pressed against the robe when a loud thumping reverberates through his home. Anyone who would need something from him has been notified of his absence and anyone who knows about his current situation wouldn’t dare to come into an omega’s home.
So there’s really no reason to interrupt his moment of self pity.
Or so he thinks.
The sound of his front door slamming open is all the warning he gets before a very irate Shen Qingqiu barges into his room.
Or so he thinks.
The sound of his front door slamming open is all the warning he gets before a very irate Shen Qingqiu barges into his room.
His hair, usually impeccably styled, has strands recklessly strewn in a disarray as if he had been flying at top speed. The peak lord’s head whips this way and that way, scanning every crevice of his room before his gaze settles on Yue Qingyuan.
The narrowed eye stare is accusatory and Yue Qingyuan flinches in alarm.
“Shen-shidi?!”
Three long steps close the distance and Shen Qingqiu continues to surprise him by pulling open the collar of his inner robe.
“Shidi!!”
“Shen-shidi?!”
Three long steps close the distance and Shen Qingqiu continues to surprise him by pulling open the collar of his inner robe.
“Shidi!!”
On reflex, Yue Qingyuan tries to close his robes with one hand while the other flies behind him to hide the robe.
How could he know!?
How could he know!?
An elegant hand covers his as Shen Qingqiu steps into him to breathe against his neck. “Who-“ The growl that had been growing since he entered the room simmers and then slowly disappears.
Yue Qingyuan, still confused as to what the alpha is thinking , stands deathly still and tries to fight how the sensation of hot breath on his neck has him warming all over.
It’s so similar to when he-
Is he going to-
It’s so similar to when he-
Is he going to-
Shen Qingqiu steps back, hand never relenting its grip, just enough that the confused look on his face is visible.
“You’re alone?”
Dumbfounded, all Yue Qingyuan can muster is a nod.
The confusion morphs back into accusation, “Why?”
“You’re alone?”
Dumbfounded, all Yue Qingyuan can muster is a nod.
The confusion morphs back into accusation, “Why?”
Yue Qingyuan jaw drops and he notices the defensiveness in his tone a little too late. “Who else would I be with?!”
He watches the way Shen Qingqiu presses his lips together, visibly swallowing his first thought before he turns his gaze to side, not meeting his eyes.
“It’s been two shichen.”
“It’s been two shichen.”
Yue Qingyuan connects the dots to their natural conclusion and it’s impossible to decide whether he’s insulted or pleased by Shen Qingqiu’s actions. There is a part of him getting closer and closer to the surface, that relishes in the idea of the alpha wanting him, protecting him
But at the same time, another part of him howls at the indignity that he should ever want anyone else but Shen Qingqiu.
He has /only/ every wanted him.
It would scare him away to know how much. His desires may have brought him here, but they’re no guarantee he will stay.
He has /only/ every wanted him.
It would scare him away to know how much. His desires may have brought him here, but they’re no guarantee he will stay.
At least not without incentive.
With a tilt of his head, Yue Qingyuan brings his chin to rub against the hand still holding onto his own. Closing his eyes, he feels the way Shen Qingqiu’s grip falters and uses that opening to unfurl his fist and tilts his face into it.
With a tilt of his head, Yue Qingyuan brings his chin to rub against the hand still holding onto his own. Closing his eyes, he feels the way Shen Qingqiu’s grip falters and uses that opening to unfurl his fist and tilts his face into it.
“This shixiong was hesitant to leave without your scent.”
Eyes closed tight, he brings the robe up from behind his back and rubs it on the exposed side of his neck.
Eyes closed tight, he brings the robe up from behind his back and rubs it on the exposed side of his neck.
Concentrating, Yue Qingyuan pushes out a scent of (yours! Yours! Yours!) and waits a breath before opening his eye.
/Oh/.
Yue Qingyuan is suddenly very aware that he’s only in his inner robes.
/Oh/.
Yue Qingyuan is suddenly very aware that he’s only in his inner robes.
This early into his heat, there is only the very lowest thrumming of desire running through him.
Currently, headaches and muscle aches over power everything else but if Shen Qingqiu keeps looking him like /that/ it won’t be much longer before Yue Qingyuan will be able to do little else but beg for his touch.
As if sensing his thoughts, Shen Qingqiu runs his hand then wrist down his neck, spreading his own claiming scent. His touch stutters when Yue Qingyuan shyly smiles back at him, sending out a happy scent, and soon he’s bringing both hands to caress him.
He sucks at his teeth in reproach but words are discordant with the way his hands glide around his neck and shoulders.
“Tch. Foolish. Grab your things, let’s go.” When he sees the way Yue Qingyuan still hesitates with the robe, he merely rolls his eyes and says, “bring it then”
“Tch. Foolish. Grab your things, let’s go.” When he sees the way Yue Qingyuan still hesitates with the robe, he merely rolls his eyes and says, “bring it then”
Yue Qingyuan perks up at please tone of both his scent and his voice.
-
The flight to Qing Jing Peak is a memorable one. Conversation with the Warm Red Pavilion omegas still fresh in mind, Shen Qingqiu had asked Yue Qingyuan if he was able to make the flight back to his peak.
-
The flight to Qing Jing Peak is a memorable one. Conversation with the Warm Red Pavilion omegas still fresh in mind, Shen Qingqiu had asked Yue Qingyuan if he was able to make the flight back to his peak.
There was a moment of hesitance, where Yue Qingyuan seemed to study him and then evaluate his own state before saying, “Not on my own and…this shixiong shouldn’t walk past other alphas in this state.”
The mere mention of other alphas made Shen Qingqiu’s face pinch in anger.
The mere mention of other alphas made Shen Qingqiu’s face pinch in anger.
During the time between the sect leader’s notice and his decision to fly to Qiong Ding Peak, he had worked himself up in a fit of jealousy at the idea of another alpha, of Liu Qingge, getting to Yue Qingyuan first.
The sect leaders home only had /one/ security ward.
The sect leaders home only had /one/ security ward.
He maybe the most powerful cultivator alive, but even he would give up to his base instincts during his heat.
It was, perhaps, unwise to barging into the home of an omega in heat, but Shen Qingqiu was bordering on losing reasoning himself.
It was, perhaps, unwise to barging into the home of an omega in heat, but Shen Qingqiu was bordering on losing reasoning himself.
He suspected that his stunt a few days prior, mouthing directly against an unclaimed omega’s scent glands, might have kick started his own rut early.
So when he saw Yue Qingyuan alone, smelling only of his own scent, he was not unaffected.
So when he saw Yue Qingyuan alone, smelling only of his own scent, he was not unaffected.
Sharing a sword with his sect leader, bodies pressed closer than necessary, has his instincts wanting more, more, more of what his omega has to offer. Of what Shen Qingqiu has the right to-
(Claim! Claim! Claim!)
(Claim! Claim! Claim!)
Yue Qingyuan’s content little sigh when he presses cool lips to the back of his neck almost signs their death warrant. Even so, being surrounded by his joyful scent and his arms transports Shen Qingqiu to that half remembered dream.
There’s a phantom of a rumble in his chest and he shakes it off to let them into the Bamboo House.
Though he will never admit it out loud, he’s looking forward to seeing Yue Qingyuan build his nest.
Though he will never admit it out loud, he’s looking forward to seeing Yue Qingyuan build his nest.
News of what he’s done had scandalized the WRP omegas, how dare he demand his omega’s nest he in his home when he hadn’t even claimed him!
It wasn’t until he mentioned the meager attempt at a nest he had seen that they calmed down enough to stop chastising him.
It wasn’t until he mentioned the meager attempt at a nest he had seen that they calmed down enough to stop chastising him.
“Your omega must not be used to nesting, make certain to spoil him A-Jiu!” The resounding cries of agreement were soon followed by suggestions of things he most include or do.
Most of them had only been able to have fine nesting materials after joining the brothel and the memory of their first proper nest was fresh.
“If your omega accepted the demand, he must want to be surrounded by A-Jiu’s scent even when clear headed.”
“If your omega accepted the demand, he must want to be surrounded by A-Jiu’s scent even when clear headed.”
That set off another round of speculating and Shen Qingqiu firmly remained silent on the events prior that might have impacted Yue Qingyuan’s judgement.
Apparently, a courting fight could be quiet a heady experience for an omega.
Apparently, a courting fight could be quiet a heady experience for an omega.
Shen Qingqiu leads him to the room and tries not to preen by the delighted, bordering on overwhelmed look, his sect leader has as he picks up and sets down the assortment of pillows, blankets, and clothes he has spent the last two days scenting.
Yue Qingyuan is a large man, though only slightly taller than Shen Qingqiu, he is easily twice as thick. To see such a man, one who could easily topple a mountain if he wishes, delicately move and rearrange items to his mysterious whims is almost…cute.
When Yue Qingyuan crawls across the bed to discretely place something from his qiankun pouch into the nest, a very different thought comes to mind.
The earlier sight of the sect leader in his inner robes blends with the shirtless man in his dreams and Shen Qingqiu has to excuse himself to check the security wards he’s set up.
While no one but a very select few know about the sect leader’s whereabouts, he will not be taking any chances. He dithers about to check on the food supplies and the tea Mu Qingfang had prescribed them before re entering his room.
He’s greeted by the sight of Yue Qingyuan splayed across his bed, wrapped once again in the robe from this morning. Slowly, he approaches the bed and lets his gaze wander between the finery and the sect leader’s body.
Soon enough, he’ll be parting those robes sliding between those thick legs. But for now, the dopey satisfied look on Yue Qingyuan’s face pulls at his heart. He’s never seen the other man so relaxed.
‘I did that.’
‘I did that.’
The thought sparks a moment of pride in him, and he doesn’t even hesitate to join him in the bed when a hand pats lazily against the comforter.
Since becoming a peak lord, Shen Qingqiu has filled his life with soft things.
Since becoming a peak lord, Shen Qingqiu has filled his life with soft things.
He been trying to make up for a childhood where he didn’t own things but was owned. Nothing is out of his reach now, if something catches his attention he buys it.
His bed only has the finest of sheets, his robes are made from the rarest of fibers from both the human and demon world, he has accessories that cost as much as some people will every see in their lifetime.
Some of these things have been gifted to him by the very man laying besides him.
Shen Qingqiu is no stranger to finery and rare treasurers.
Shen Qingqiu is no stranger to finery and rare treasurers.
But he finds that he has never seen anything as precious as the shy little smile that appears when Yue Qingyuan whispers, “do you like it?”
There’s a dark fabric hanging around the canopy of his bed, Shen Qingqiu had bought it because the small gems sewn into it had reflected light nicely when he had walked by it.
Neither of them could have predicted how reminiscent it would be to sleeping under the stars.
Neither of them could have predicted how reminiscent it would be to sleeping under the stars.
Struck dumb by the ghost of a memory, Shen Qingqiu simply nods his head and closes his eyes to block out the images super imposing on one another.
This was Yue Qingyuan, he couldn’t let himself forget that.
This was Yue Qingyuan, he couldn’t let himself forget that.
At some point they fall asleep, by the time they’re waking up, the warm rays of sunset are painting the room in hues of orange and yellow.
Yue Qingyuan feels like he’s on fire.
Yue Qingyuan feels like he’s on fire.
🔞
His muscle aches have disappeared and have been replaced with a heat so strong it feels like it’s burning a curse into his bones. The edge of his thoughts are starting to get hazy and there is a pooling wetness gathering between his legs.
His muscle aches have disappeared and have been replaced with a heat so strong it feels like it’s burning a curse into his bones. The edge of his thoughts are starting to get hazy and there is a pooling wetness gathering between his legs.
🔞
Next to him, Shen Qingqiu is still lying motionless on his sleep. Waking up surrounded by his scent is enough to have him clenching his thighs together and covering his mouth at whimper that escapes him from the pressure.
Next to him, Shen Qingqiu is still lying motionless on his sleep. Waking up surrounded by his scent is enough to have him clenching his thighs together and covering his mouth at whimper that escapes him from the pressure.
🔞
A heavy weight is straining against the fabric of his pants and the knowledge that he is this hard and laying near Shen Qingqiu makes him feel a little hysterical.
Sensing the motion, Shen Qingqiu shifts in sleep and Yue Qingyuan stills at the sight.
A heavy weight is straining against the fabric of his pants and the knowledge that he is this hard and laying near Shen Qingqiu makes him feel a little hysterical.
Sensing the motion, Shen Qingqiu shifts in sleep and Yue Qingyuan stills at the sight.
🔞
There’s a half formulated thought trying to emerge through the smoke but he can’t quite grasp it. There was something he needed to do. He needed to-
Oh right.
A hand fumbles around his sleeve until he’s able to pull out a thick strap of leather.
There’s a half formulated thought trying to emerge through the smoke but he can’t quite grasp it. There was something he needed to do. He needed to-
Oh right.
A hand fumbles around his sleeve until he’s able to pull out a thick strap of leather.
🔞
It takes three tries for him to lock the clasp, and another two attempts to properly generate the precise amount of qi to activate the seal that truly keeps it from being removed. This way, no matter how desperately he may beg, there is no one else that can remove it.
It takes three tries for him to lock the clasp, and another two attempts to properly generate the precise amount of qi to activate the seal that truly keeps it from being removed. This way, no matter how desperately he may beg, there is no one else that can remove it.
🔞
Yue Qingyuan chokes back a sob at the sensation tight around his neck.
It’s not just the stinging pressure of it against his scent glands it’s how he hates wearing a collar after knowing freedom.
(He hates it, he HATES it, HE HATES IT!)
But he loves Xiao Jiu more.
Yue Qingyuan chokes back a sob at the sensation tight around his neck.
It’s not just the stinging pressure of it against his scent glands it’s how he hates wearing a collar after knowing freedom.
(He hates it, he HATES it, HE HATES IT!)
But he loves Xiao Jiu more.
🔞
Shen Qingqiu wakes to the jostling of the bed. The smell of lust, of sugar sweet tanghulu, is so thick he can feel his body reacting before he even registers what happening.
Shen Qingqiu wakes to the jostling of the bed. The smell of lust, of sugar sweet tanghulu, is so thick he can feel his body reacting before he even registers what happening.
🔞
Shen Qingqiu had fallen asleep to the sight of a relaxed and shy Yue Qingyuan, he wakes up to the sight of the other man with his robes in disarray and his hands moving furiously beneath his sleep pants.
Shen Qingqiu had fallen asleep to the sight of a relaxed and shy Yue Qingyuan, he wakes up to the sight of the other man with his robes in disarray and his hands moving furiously beneath his sleep pants.
🔞
His own heartbeat steadily rises as he tracks the movement with his eyes. Laying on his side, Yue Qingyuan has is desperately thrusting into his hand, trying to chase relief. His movements come to a complete stop when their eyes meet and he calls out,
/"Alpha/! P-please!"
His own heartbeat steadily rises as he tracks the movement with his eyes. Laying on his side, Yue Qingyuan has is desperately thrusting into his hand, trying to chase relief. His movements come to a complete stop when their eyes meet and he calls out,
/"Alpha/! P-please!"
🔞
Not Shen Qingqiu, not Xiao Jiu, /Alpha/.
Yue Qingyuan's moment of stillness doesn't last long as he jerkily resumes his movements with a choked back sob that spurs Shen Qingqiu to pull himself forward, but not close enough to touch.
Not Shen Qingqiu, not Xiao Jiu, /Alpha/.
Yue Qingyuan's moment of stillness doesn't last long as he jerkily resumes his movements with a choked back sob that spurs Shen Qingqiu to pull himself forward, but not close enough to touch.
🔞 Up close, he can see how dark the flush has spread, how it has already consumed his face from ear to ear. Yue Qingyuan's thick brows are pinched tight in frustration and his eyes have started to glisten.
🔞
Shen Qingqiu's attention falters at the collar before moving on to the disheveled state of the sect leader's robes, opening at the chest and rucked up around the waist.
Shen Qingqiu's attention falters at the collar before moving on to the disheveled state of the sect leader's robes, opening at the chest and rucked up around the waist.
It's not that he didn't expect it, but the sight of the plain leather makes his stomach turn in revulsion and something else he doesn't care to examine.
🔞
Instead, he focuses on the triangle strip of skin that Yue Qingyuan's open robes has revealed. It's hardly indecent, but it's more of the sect leader than Shen Qingqiu has seen in recent memory.
"Shen-shidi!"
Instead, he focuses on the triangle strip of skin that Yue Qingyuan's open robes has revealed. It's hardly indecent, but it's more of the sect leader than Shen Qingqiu has seen in recent memory.
"Shen-shidi!"
🔞When the sect leader reaches for his sleeve, instinct has him flinching back. The whine that elicits sends a spike of heat with him and he truly takes in the full picture before him.
This is, quite possibly, the most pathetic the sect leader has ever looked.
This is, quite possibly, the most pathetic the sect leader has ever looked.
🔞 'I could leave him here. Let him suffer.'
The thought has an appeal to it, feels akin to justice. But just quickly as the though enter his mind, it leaves.
The thought has an appeal to it, feels akin to justice. But just quickly as the though enter his mind, it leaves.
🔞Shen Qingqiu palms himself through his robes using only the slightest pressure, and then abandons the effort to run a hand up the inside of the sect leader's thighs. Through the fabric he can feel the hard plains of muscle that speaks to his strength and dedication as a warrior
🔞 Qiong Ding Peak, like Bai Zhan, focuses on physical cultivation above all else. Shen Qingqiu has made it his business not to notice how solid, study, the sect leader has gotten.
🔞 Adjusting his grip, he gives a squeeze that causes the omega to jolt and cry out. Fascinated by the sound, he repeats the gesture where he suspects a scent gland should and feels how the fabric grows wet at his touch.
🔞 Before today, if his mind ever drifted to wonder what was beneath these black robes, he was quick to reign in his focus. Now that these self imposed restrictions have been lifted, he wants to see it all.
🔞He wants to run his hands across every crevice of skin, catalog every tremor, every whimper and gasp, until there is nothing of Yue Qingyuan hidden from him.
🔞 Shen Qingqiu wants to know his body so thoroughly that if asked, he'd be able to take him apart and put him back together again in the shape of a man who could lo-
"Zhangmen shixiong, take off your pants."
"Zhangmen shixiong, take off your pants."
🔞 There isn't a moment of hesitation between his command and the sound of fabric tearing in the struggle to obey. Shen Qingqiu covers his mouth to hide his smile, but the action was too late judging by the awe struck look on Yue Qingyuan's face.
🔞 he had known the sect leader was a large man, the heat that had been pressed against him recently and the tent in his pants had confirmed it. But it is one thing knowing, and another to bare witness to it.
Biting his lips, Shen Qingqiu greedily takes in the sight.
Biting his lips, Shen Qingqiu greedily takes in the sight.
🔞Yue Qingyuan’s earlier ministrations are evident in the way his length gleams with his own slick. Shen Qingqiu runs a thumb up the large vein of the underside, gathering what he can into the bead of pre cum at the head.
🔞 The groan he hears is enough motivation to continue massaging his thumb at the dark head until Yue Qingyuan tries to thrust up into his hand.
Immediately, he lets go.
“Shen-shidi!”
Immediately, he lets go.
“Shen-shidi!”
🔞 Ignoring him, he stares fascinated at the culminated mix of slick and pre cum on his hand. Bringing it closer to his face, it smells so purely of omega (/his/ omega’s) arousal that he easily gives into the urge to taste it.
🔞 Yue Qingyuan gasps and squirms as watches, transfixed, at the way Shen Qingqiu runs a pink tongue across his palm, between fingers, and around knuckles. He throws his head back against a pillow and closes his eyes to whine.
“Shen-shidi, /please/ stop teasing me.”
“Shen-shidi, /please/ stop teasing me.”
🔞it’s all he’s done recently, starting and stopping and Yue Qingyuan’s patience has run out. It was all well and fine outside of his heat, but if he continues this way now of all times, Yue Qingyuan may actually die. Whether by qi deviation or not.
🔞 The hand that had been pressing against Yue Qingyuan’s thighs moved to behind his knee, prompting him to open his eyes in time to see the impossible sight of Shen Qingqiu kissing at the skin their.
🔞 His leg is hiked up further, brought to rest on the Qing Jing peak lord’s shoulder as he continued to make his way down tanned skin, pressing kisses and bites until he reaches his scent gland and sucks hard enough to have Yue Qingyuan curving up off the mattress.
🔞 Another arm lifts his other thigh onto the other side of Shen Qingqiu’s head as he presses closer and closer until the full of Yue Qingyuan’s weight is resting on his own shoulders. The first lick against his rim is tentative, testing and unsure.
🔞 The second is greedy in it’s eagerness and soon Yue Qingyuan is shaking with the pleasure, fighting the urge to close his legs around Shen Qingqiu’s head but still using them to bring him closer.
🔞 The bruising hold on his hips, directly against his skin, contrasts enough with the way his cock bobs against the the fabric of the robes he’s still wearing.
🔞 Some how, the realization that he’s half naked while Shen Qingqiu is still fully dress feels more obscene than the act of being fucked by his tongue. Yue Qingyuan comes with a sob, it’s not enough, he needs more.
🔞 He says as much and all he receives is a “Patience Zhangmen-shixiong” that he simultaneously hates and desires. It’s not what he wants to be called when his Xiao Jiu has him like this.
But at the same time, to be called shixiong in bed is-
It’s not bad.
But at the same time, to be called shixiong in bed is-
It’s not bad.
🔞In their current position, the part of his mind that’s not yet lost to lust informs him, he’s almost in a mating press.
So when Shen Qingqiu starts to draw back and Yue Qingyuan is so frustrated, no /offended/, that fists at the robes of his collar to drag him up for a kiss.
So when Shen Qingqiu starts to draw back and Yue Qingyuan is so frustrated, no /offended/, that fists at the robes of his collar to drag him up for a kiss.
🔞 Their mouths crash together in a way that brings more pain than pleasure, someone has drawn blood and he’s not sure who but the taste of iron mixes between saliva and /his own slick/.
🔞 Shen Qingqiu freezes against him, long enough to remind Yue Qingyuan of his silent vow to not do anything to drive him away, to be /good/ for him. Used to Yue Qingyuan’s failure, Shen Qingqiu must sense the apology coming and presses their lips together even harsher.
🔞 Uncaring of the pain, Yue Qingyuan moans against the pressure. He’s wanted this longer than half his disciples have been alive for, what does a little pain mean in the face of Shen Qingqiu’s touch? Yue Qingyuan will take anything and everything he deigns to give him.
🔞 Shen Qingqiu, ever the opportunist, takes advantage to press his tongue into his mouth, shift positions slightly, and improve the kiss significantly. Yue Qingyuan gives into it completely, memorizing the way his shidi’s tongue shamelessly explores another part of him.
🔞 He’s so lost in it that he misses the first foreign brush of heat against him, by the time Shen Qingqiu is guiding his head to break through the tension of muscle, Yue Qingyuan has enough awareness to beg for it.
“Xia- Shen-Ah! Please, please don’t tease this time! Alpha!”
“Xia- Shen-Ah! Please, please don’t tease this time! Alpha!”
🔞 What had started as a slow intrusion turns into a smooth glide that has Yue Qingyuan tearing at the sheets. Ever since that first slap of his hands he had not dared to touch Shen Qingqiu and he felt his resolve start to break down with ever breath.
🔞 between his first orgasm and the stretching he had done while Shen Qingqiu slept, there’s no resistance at all. The punched out sound Shen Qingqiu makes when he takes him to the hilt dries in his chest and has him pressing desperate kisses along his jaw line.
🔞 Against his neck, coming to rest his attention at his scent glands. Returning the favor he had been so recently bestowed, he swirls his tongue against, sucks against the heat, and finally, /bites/.
🔞 Not deep enough to break skin, to be a claim, but it’s enough to break Shen Qingqiu’s control. He rises back up to return a thigh to his shoulder and drives into him, hard, fast and deep, hands roaming across every bit of exposed flesh.
🔞 Between the grunts and moans and screams that come with being used for someone else’s pleasure, Yue Qingyuan calls out for his alpha. Every word driving Shen Qingqiu to go harder, deeper until Yue Qingyuan is spilling over himself again.
🔞 Shen Qingqiu is barely holding on to his sanity, he should still have a day or so until his rut fully takes over but he has under estimated what Yue Qingyuan calling out for him would do to his control. Calling him his /alpha/ as his eyes roll to the back of his head and
🔞 he rips at the sheets. So he takes and takes and takes what Yue Qingyuan shamelessly offered him. Remaining stubbornly silent aside from wordless sounds of pleasure.
🔞 Yue Qingyuan has called out every name but the one he wants to hear.
Shen Qingqiu swallows down the one he wants to say.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
Shen Qingqiu swallows down the one he wants to say.
(Qi-ge! Qi-ge! Qi-ge!)
🔞 Yue Qingyuan comes for a third time during his onslaught, already near completion, the tightening of his warmth finally brings Shen Qingqiu and he spills inside him.
The satisfaction this brings him tears at his heart as his orgasm tears through his body.
The satisfaction this brings him tears at his heart as his orgasm tears through his body.
🔞In this way, Qi-ge is finally marked as his.
It takes some time to recover his senses, for his breath to return to him and his awareness to take in more than their combined scents and the feeling of Yue Qingyuan still around him.
It takes some time to recover his senses, for his breath to return to him and his awareness to take in more than their combined scents and the feeling of Yue Qingyuan still around him.
🔞 The thigh pressed against his shoulder was the only thing that kept him from slumping over completely at the end of his ecstasy. Now, seeing the scratches and bites that have brought blood to the surface, he thoughtlessly presses a kiss to it.
A hurried glance to the side takes in Yue Qinguan’s sleeping form and gives himself a quiet moment of introspection. He’s a selfish man, he’s always known this. So he searches for any guilt, any remorse, or self loathing and finds himself coming up empty handed.
Regardless of what happens after they emerge from this little world they’ve made, these days will belong to him. He’ll take ownership, maybe even cherish, what it felt like to briefly be everything Qi-ge needed, everything he wanted.
So he'll signed Mu Qingfang's stupid paperwork. Four times year he'll be the first in line begging for the illustrious sect leader's favor. Lavish him in rich foods and soft things to prove he's worth the effort.
And he will take, and take, and take, what he couldn't get in this life. That illusion of a world where Qi-ge came back for him, where they claimed each other. That dream where he smiles softly at him, where they kiss slowly and earnestly, not with the hurried fervor of lust.
🔞 Shen Qingqiu pulls out, commits to memory the sight of seed and slick dripping out of Yue Qingyuan and takes care of his Qi-ge. His omega.
Leaving the bed behind, he finds one of the soft robes he bought for the way the soft green would look against brown skin.
Leaving the bed behind, he finds one of the soft robes he bought for the way the soft green would look against brown skin.
He pulls together the snacks and the massaging oils that were recommended to him from the Warm Red Pavilion, and lastly a bowl and wet cloth to clean up the results of their coming together.
Shen Qingqiu wipes down Yue Qingyuan with the same care he used the first time his shizun gave him a quqin. Slowly, careful, and with a grain of worship and awe. Attentive to each detail and with the fear that he will never have his hands on this again.
The thought of unwrapping a gift comes to mind when he moves to untie the sect leader's robes. There's a brief flash and the memory of that lazy dream comes to mind, Yue Qingyuan laying in the grass shirtless and sweet.
With a sense of eagerness, deft hands part the fabric and he gasps at the sight.
Yue Qingyuan is covered in scars, this is known, he's been part of legendary battles of great renown. Even a cultivator of his skill would left marred from them.
But this, this is different.
Yue Qingyuan is covered in scars, this is known, he's been part of legendary battles of great renown. Even a cultivator of his skill would left marred from them.
But this, this is different.
A peak lord with a high cultivation, especially those with access to the healers of Qian Cao peak, should not scar easily.
The benefit of qi speeding up the healing process, as well as elixirs that can speed up the growth of new skin, make it that only the most grievous of wounds leave their mark.
Yue Qingyuan’s body is covered in scars.
Yue Qingyuan’s body is covered in scars.
Criss crossed from shoulder to abdominals, are the telling claws marks of a beast or demon. Neatly healed in clean lines, only the palest of discoloration visible on raised skin.
But below that.
The sight makes Shen Qingqiu feel sick.
How could Qi-ge have survived this?
But below that.
The sight makes Shen Qingqiu feel sick.
How could Qi-ge have survived this?
They are jagged, ugly things. Discolored, wrinkled and raised skin intersecting so often it’s impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins. So many look like cuts, where skin was sliced open, but even more than that, are the stab wounds. Over and over and over again.
Shen Qingqiu traces his fingers across each one, wondering how could Qian Cao allow this to happen? Was it a mission? Was he too far from aid? Even so, the healing…they shouldn’t have healed in this way if he had received any medical attention. Unless-
Unless-
Unless-
Unless it happened before he entered the sect.
But no.
No that can’t be right.
Yue Qi would have died from wounds of this magnitude, his core wasn’t developed enough to be able to heal him.
This must have happened after he came to the sect but before Tianlang Jun.
But no.
No that can’t be right.
Yue Qi would have died from wounds of this magnitude, his core wasn’t developed enough to be able to heal him.
This must have happened after he came to the sect but before Tianlang Jun.
Nothing else would have been able to cause this much damage to the sect leader without him knowing. Mu Qingfang wuldn’t have left him leave Qian Cao, Shen Qingqiu would have /known/.
He should have known.
He should have known.
Something almost killed Qi-ge.
And Shen Qingqiu didn’t know.
He wouldn’t have known.
Yue Qi could have died before ever meeting him again and Shen Jiu /wouldn’t have known/.
He had accepted that possibility in his childhood but now-
Now when they’ve reached adulthood…
And Shen Qingqiu didn’t know.
He wouldn’t have known.
Yue Qi could have died before ever meeting him again and Shen Jiu /wouldn’t have known/.
He had accepted that possibility in his childhood but now-
Now when they’ve reached adulthood…
When they’ve known safety-
When they’ve been by each others sides for so long, despite how tenuous the relationship became-
Now that Shen Qingqiu can’t bare to picture a world without Yue Qingyuan in it-
When he’s grown out of practice of mourning him.
It’s too much.
When they’ve been by each others sides for so long, despite how tenuous the relationship became-
Now that Shen Qingqiu can’t bare to picture a world without Yue Qingyuan in it-
When he’s grown out of practice of mourning him.
It’s too much.
Watching the gradual rise and fall of Yue Qingyuan’s chest, the life his every action is filled with, and picturing it all coming to a stand still is an impossible thing.
An unspeakable thing.
Oh, Qi-ge.
Stupid Qi-ge.
Stupid, /stupid/, Qi-ge. They’re both /so/ stupid.
An unspeakable thing.
Oh, Qi-ge.
Stupid Qi-ge.
Stupid, /stupid/, Qi-ge. They’re both /so/ stupid.
A shakey sob emerges from his throat, and before he can stifle it, long lashes are fluttering open. Doe eyes are slightly out of focus and it takes a moment for Yue Qingyuan to notice the hands on his chest. When he does, that ever present expression of guilt reappears.
Shen Qingqiu could kill him! He hates him!
He hates him!
He’s so stupid!
“I’m sorry-“
“Shut up!”
Not wanting to hear meaningless apologies, he leans over and kisses the center of the largest scar, right over his heart.
“Xiao-“ an intake of air, “Shen Qingqiu, this-“
He hates him!
He’s so stupid!
“I’m sorry-“
“Shut up!”
Not wanting to hear meaningless apologies, he leans over and kisses the center of the largest scar, right over his heart.
“Xiao-“ an intake of air, “Shen Qingqiu, this-“
“I said shut up!”
Trailing his lips just above the scar, Shen Qingqiu follows it to the next connecting line and kisses there are well. One by one, he kisses each and every scar he can reach, peeling back the robes further to reveal more and kissing those as well.
Trailing his lips just above the scar, Shen Qingqiu follows it to the next connecting line and kisses there are well. One by one, he kisses each and every scar he can reach, peeling back the robes further to reveal more and kissing those as well.
Yue Qingyuan remains silent beneath him, sudden inhales of breath and shakey exhales punctuated by occasional squirming are the only signifier that he’s still there.
Following a scar up the side of his neck, he comes to a stop next to his lips and pulls back just enough to see the fall of his tears mix with Yue Qingyuan’s.
/Qi’ge is crying./
/Qi’ge is crying./
He’s never seen him cry before.
Eyebrows drawn together and face wrinkled up, it’s an ugly sight.
Shen Qingqiu never wants to see it again.
“I was too late, Xiao Jiu, I was too late…”
Closing his eyes, Shen Qingqiu leans in until their foreheads are touching.
Eyebrows drawn together and face wrinkled up, it’s an ugly sight.
Shen Qingqiu never wants to see it again.
“I was too late, Xiao Jiu, I was too late…”
Closing his eyes, Shen Qingqiu leans in until their foreheads are touching.
‘Too late’
So he did come.
How could he have doubted him?
Who in the world ever loved Xiao Jiu like Qi-ge loved him?
“I’m so-“
Another kiss.
“Shut up.”
“But!”
And another.
Opening his eyes, he draws back enough to cup Yue Qingyuan’s face in both hands.
So he did come.
How could he have doubted him?
Who in the world ever loved Xiao Jiu like Qi-ge loved him?
“I’m so-“
Another kiss.
“Shut up.”
“But!”
And another.
Opening his eyes, he draws back enough to cup Yue Qingyuan’s face in both hands.
Tears are still steadily streaming down his face and Shen Qingqiu finds himself mesmerized by the glistening of brown skin.
“Stupid Qi-ge, what are you apologizing for? Haven’t you enough?” Harsh words are betrayed by the softness with which they’re spoken.
“Stupid Qi-ge, what are you apologizing for? Haven’t you enough?” Harsh words are betrayed by the softness with which they’re spoken.
Qi-ge starts crying harder. It seems that he’s the type that once he starts, he can’t turn off the valve.
“But I-“
Another kiss shuts him up, Shen Qingqiu swallowing up all the little sobs and gasps.
“No more apologies, it’s time for restitution.”
“But I-“
Another kiss shuts him up, Shen Qingqiu swallowing up all the little sobs and gasps.
“No more apologies, it’s time for restitution.”
A single shakey nod. “Anything, anything Xiao-Jiu wants.”
Dangerous words.
“And if Xiao-Jiu wants your life?” He brings his hands down from his face to wrap around the sect leader’s throat and give a tight squeeze.
The scent of fear is absent from the room.
Dangerous words.
“And if Xiao-Jiu wants your life?” He brings his hands down from his face to wrap around the sect leader’s throat and give a tight squeeze.
The scent of fear is absent from the room.
Yue Qingyuan looks straight into his eyes, into his soul and says, “It’s always been Xiao-Jiu’s to do with what he pleases.”
Then, strong dark hands join him at Yue Qingyuan’s neck, Shen Qingqiu full expects to be pulled off he doesn’t expect the scent of submission to fill the air.
Instead of reaching for his own, Yue Qingyuan brings his hands behind his neck and the soft click of a latch echoes throughout the room. Breath coming quick, Shen Qingqiu lifts his hands, bringing the collar with him.
Submission, and heat, and desire, and joy fill the air.
Submission, and heat, and desire, and joy fill the air.
Never breaking eye contact, Yue Qingyuan tilts his head to the side, baring his neck and scent glands to him.
“This omega has always been Xiao-jiu’s. To claim, to kill. To have in whatever way he pleases.”
“This omega has always been Xiao-jiu’s. To claim, to kill. To have in whatever way he pleases.”
Collar still in hand, Shen Qingqiu draws up enough qi to twist the hinge of the latch until it's broken. Throwing it a side he moves to straddle his omega, and tangles their hands together.
"Qi-ge," he says as he noses along his neck, pressing their hands into the bed near his shoulders. "Qi-ge, you're mine."
Stretching his neck further he pants, "Yes, yours, only yours," and squeezes their hands.
Shen Qingqiu savors this.
Stretching his neck further he pants, "Yes, yours, only yours," and squeezes their hands.
Shen Qingqiu savors this.
He luxuriates in scenting both sides of his neck, in licking and sucking and nibbling at the scent glands there until he feels the press of Yue Qingyuan's hot cock against his back side.
Hips presses and hands pressed against the mattress, there's nothing for the sect leader to do but to lay there and suffering through Shen Qingqiu's attention. Hands squeezing and being squeezed in response, a song of "Qi-ge" and "Xiao-jiu" shared between the two.
Finally, when Shen Qingqiu has drunk his fill of Yue Qingyuan's sweet scent, when his omega is trembling beneath him with desire, begging him to claim him, to fuck him, to take him, he gives in.
Canines break flesh and the taste of iron is secondary to feeling that goes coursing through their meridians. A shock and a warmth that fills their bodies with pain and pleasure both. Yue Qingyuan jolts and moans and begs, "Harder! Mark me, Xiao Jiu! Claim me!"
It's a deeper, rougher, bite than is necessary. The one on the opposite side is the same, Shen Qingqiu is determined to leave scars that will be visible to all. Impossible to hide under the highest collars of robes.
There's no going back from this, Yue Qingyuan will be his forever.
Pressing his knees tight against his omega's hips, he flips their positions and lets go of one hand to bring Yue Qingyuan's mouth to his neck.
"Qi-ge, Qi-ge, do it! Do it now!"
Pressing his knees tight against his omega's hips, he flips their positions and lets go of one hand to bring Yue Qingyuan's mouth to his neck.
"Qi-ge, Qi-ge, do it! Do it now!"
When he bites down, and the rush of the claim goes through them again, it's not enough. Shen Qingqiu pushes his head down further, deepening the wound, back arching off the bed. Blood drips down his pale neck, a hot tongue licking him clean.
Finally.
/Finally./
Qi-ge is his.
Finally.
/Finally./
Qi-ge is his.
Their kisses get desperate, get deeper and filthier as they rut against each other. Scratching and groping in move of a fight than any love making. It's more desperate, more feral, than anything that came before.
It comes to a climax with Shen Qingqiu laying behind Yue Qingyuan, holding his arms back, immobilizing him, as he fucks hard into his warmth.
Hips pistoning at a brutal rate until his omega is nothing but a sobbing mess, begging him to stop, to go harder, to let go, to never let go until he is pulled in tight, knot growing and growing his his seed at Yue Qingyuan's walls twitch around him.
"Xiao Jiu," he whines, "It hurts."
Kissing at his neck again he says, "Qi-ge's body is mine, to do with what I please." He grinds in a slow circle that has them both moaning. "So be good, be good Qi-ge."
Kissing at his neck again he says, "Qi-ge's body is mine, to do with what I please." He grinds in a slow circle that has them both moaning. "So be good, be good Qi-ge."
Yue Qingyuan, for all his protesting, keeps moving back to fuck himself against the knot. There's no give, it's bordering on painful for them both, and yet he can't stop, can't get enough. Shen Qingqiu has to wrap a leg around his thigh to get him to hold still.
"Qi-ge! Do you want it to hurt!?"
"Ye-yes! Ah! Yes Xiao Jiu, make it hurt!"
A sudden tightness around him has his seed filling Yue Qingyuan, threatening to spill out of him with the way he keeps trying to fuck himself back on his depleting knot.
"Ye-yes! Ah! Yes Xiao Jiu, make it hurt!"
A sudden tightness around him has his seed filling Yue Qingyuan, threatening to spill out of him with the way he keeps trying to fuck himself back on his depleting knot.
"Qi-ge!! You can't!" Desperate to get him to stop, he slaps hard at a muscled thigh and watches in awe as the illustrious sect leader jolts and stutters and comes all over himself.
/Well./
/Well./
Somehow, that's the most surprising thing Shen Qingqiu learns from the first night of Yue Qingyuan's heat.
On the second night, fully into his rut, Shen Qingqiu learns it's possible to open himself up using omega slick. He also learns that Yue Qingyuan can fuck him standing, using nothing but his strength to hold him up.
The third night is when, in a post orgasmic haze, Yue Qingyuan confesses to having his first and only shared heat with Shang Qinghua. Shen Qingqiu is merciless, leaving him so brutalized and marked up that Yue Qingyuan learns the benefits of jealousy.
Though the thought of anyone else touching him now repulses him, he regrets not having any other experience to flaunt in front of his alpha.
On the fourth night, just as they've started to emerge from the lust filled haze, their fucking grows tender. Slower, softer.
On the fourth night, just as they've started to emerge from the lust filled haze, their fucking grows tender. Slower, softer.
There is no rush, they have nowhere to be but in each other's arms. Yue Qingyuan re-arranges his nest and Shen Qingqiu helps him, stopping for an awkward moment where the long lost guan makes an appearance. Flustered, Yue Qingyuan refuses to elaborate how it made it's way there.
They laugh together on the fourth day.
They cry, too.
There are words they try to say, confessions and truths long buries, that never make it out. What they can't say speaks volumes about what they went through.
They cry, too.
There are words they try to say, confessions and truths long buries, that never make it out. What they can't say speaks volumes about what they went through.
The world is cruel.
They know this better than most, the only thing they can do is try to be gentle with one another.
On the fourth day, Shen Qingqiu falls asleep counting Yue Qingyuan's freckles.
They know this better than most, the only thing they can do is try to be gentle with one another.
On the fourth day, Shen Qingqiu falls asleep counting Yue Qingyuan's freckles.
On the morning of the fifth day, hormones long purged and the leisure house smelling like citrus acid and tanghulu sweetness, smelling like home.
Xiao Jiu tells Qi-ge he loves him.
Qi-ge says the same.
Xiao Jiu tells Qi-ge he loves him.
Qi-ge says the same.
On the fifth day, they wake up in a softer world.
Where two ex slaves know freedom, know love, know safety.
Where they know they'll be okay.
As long as they have each other.
/END
Where two ex slaves know freedom, know love, know safety.
Where they know they'll be okay.
As long as they have each other.
/END
Top of thread! Thanks for sticking through this one! It will be edited and uploaded to ao3 tomorrow!
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