Chapter Text
Liu Qingge is at Xian Shu Peak having tea with his sister before the Peak Lords meeting. Every so often the siblings just have a chat over a tea to know about each other's life. His sister is a capable woman, a promising cultivator and possesses more social and tactical capacities than Liu Qingge, but she’s still his precious little sister.
This morning she’s tired. She explains that some contraband substance had made its way to the hands of some disciples at her peak, and as the head disciple of Qi Qingqi she has to handle the problem.
“It’s not something terrible or dangerous to the body but still can cause problems with some lady’s reputation.” She says.
“I think I don’t need to know about it.” He would rather don't involve himself in that kind of business, he wouldn’t understand it anyway.
“This is a new tea, do you like it?'' His sister asks him, changing the cumbersome topic.
“Sweet.” He doesn't like sweets that much but for some reason his sister's eyes over the veil glimpse with weird understanding and some dissapoint?
“I was right then.”
“About what?”
“The tea, it’s made with petals of the honest maiden’s flower from the south of the demon realm.” Liu Qingge has no idea what that flower is. He knows that his sister wouldn’t hurt him on purpose but her little experiments are bothering.
“What did you feed me this time?”
“Nothing to worry about, it's just that only virgins can stand the flavor, to any other person it's extremely bitter, making it impossible to drink a cup without throwing up.” She says, and for Liu Qingge´s relief she takes a sip of her cup.
“That is the thing you had to seize?”
“It is. It was quite a hassle.” She replied with one hand supporting his head, “Something like this can be very harmful if run free.”
After his chat with Liu Mingyan, Liu Qingge comes to the meeting hall where the Peak Lords meeting is usually held. He’s early so some of his martial brothers aren’t here yet.
Today is Xian Shu Peak turn to offer refreshment and the female disciples are already bringing cakes, sweets and pouring the tea in front of each seat. Liu Qingge sits down and casually sips his tea. It’s famialiary sweet.
He looks at Qi Qingqi who is glazing his way with an expectant face. She wouldn’t?... of course she would.
Liu Qingge drinks the full content of his cup holding her gaze.
“Tsk” He listened to her. She clearly considers the result of his test boring.
Before he can’t scold her for putting something like that in their cups Yue Qingyuan spits his drink after a small sip, awakening the attention of Qi Qingqi who makes a little “o” with her mouth. That’s unexpected for both of them and now Liu Qingqe decides to keep silent about the tea to maintain the Sect Leader reputation.
One by one, the other Peak Lords arrive at the meeting hall, they make distasteful faces after the first sip but as gentlemen they don’t complain. Nobody but Shan Qinghua drinks the whole cup. At the end, Shen Qingqiu and Mu Qingfan enter the room. Apparently, Qi Qingqi had kept them busy as the doctor can easily identify the tea and maybe Shen Qingqiu can do it too.
Then it happens. Shen Qingqiu takes a seat gracefully, closes his fan to put it for a moment on the table. He lifts the cup and… drinks the full cup. His usually aloof face even showing a little of appreciation.
Liu Qingge looks at Qi Qingqi who is visibly shocked.
“The tea today is rather good,” Shen Qingqiu says. An unusual show of acknowledgement from him, but the others misunderstand.
“Qingqiu Shidi, I’m sure Xian Shu Peak made an effort.” Yue Qingyuan says to Shen Qingqiu in a mild tone.
“I can see that.”
“You don’t have to criticize every little detail, do you?” Another Peak Lord yells at him. Shen Qingqiu is confused for only a moment before replying.
“I see, just forget it and continue with the meeting.” He opens his fan again and covers most of his face.
“Tsk, ungrateful bastard.”
Shen Qingqiu barely pays attention to the others, his face impassive, but Liu Qingge knows he isn’t critizacing the tea. Why doesn't he explain?
“No, it’s not-” Qi Qingqi starts but halts, she can’t say the truth now. “I´m sorry, I...” That only makes the others glare with more disgust at Shen Qingqiu, who just keeps quiet.
“Xi...Qingqiu Shidi.” Yue Qingyuan speaks as if the other is an unruly child that must be corrected. Shen Qingqiu lifts his head a little but doesn’t look the other in the eyes. If Liu Qingge doesn't know better he would have thought it a disrespect.
Before the Sect Leader speaks again, Liu Qingge says.
“Just start the meeting.” And they do it. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t speak again if he’s not required. His expression is sharp as always but his head is a little down. Shit, he's hurt.
Qi Qingqi is oddly quiet too, that only makes the misunderstanding bigger. Mu Qingfang's angry glare directed at her from time to time.
Liu Qingge doesn’t listen to the countable report Shan Qinghua makes. He has never understood accounts, but now he’s feeling too conflicted to even pretend he cares. He doesn't like the fact that Shen Qingqiu is sad yet he bears with it as if nothing had happened. I always hate when he’s distant, not showing feelings.
When the meeting is over Shen Qingqiu gets out elegantly faster. He moves like a fairy but his velocity can’t be undervalued. Liu Qingge is too late to catch him, he stays outside the meeting hall to see Mu Qingfang taking Qi Qingqi away. She looks at him begging to be saved from the doctor’s scolding but he returns his look with a face that clary says you deserve this, bear with it. Dejected, she lets her hope die and follows the doctor.
Now, I have to find Shen Qingqiu.
But he is not at his Peak nor in the Sect.
Where?
Liu Qingge ends up in front of the brothel called the Warm Red Pavilion. And just at that moment he noticed, What does a virgin everytime inside a brothel? Evidently, not what Liu Qingge had thought. What he thought, what he told everybody else. Fuck.
Should I enter? The god of war feels scared. He has never been in this kind of place. He doesn’t want to enter and find Shen Qingqiu fucking a prostitute. After the tea he knows it’s not like that, but what he would possibly find inside still scares him. At this moment he can recognize a fact, he wasn't angry at people who visit the whores, he just can't stand the idea of Shen Qingqiu doing it. I don't want anybody else to touch him.
Finally, he steals himself and goes in. It's early in the night but there are some clients and women in revealing clothes dancing, giggling and pouring drinks for them. Shen Qingqiu isn't there.
“What brings this handsome cultivator here? I’m sure I can serve you well tonight.” Some women get closer to Liu Qingge. They apparently prefer him over other clients but he doesn’t care.
“Take me to Shen Qingqiu, I know he’s here.” And from adoration their faces change to protectiveness.
“Our establishment prides itself on giving its clients privacy.”
Liu Qingge just attempts to walk inside but they grab him.
“You’re not allowed to disturb him.” One girl says stubborn.
“Move.” Then more girls block the way and it is awesome how these weak women block a stronger cultivator just to protect Shen Qingqiu. They must really like him.
“What is this?” An older woman asks, coming down from the stairs at the end of the hall.
“Madam, he wants to bother our A’Jiu.” One of the girls cried out. “ Our A’Jiu” Liu Qingge repeats in his mind.
“He should be from that Sect, A’Jiu should just leave them.” another girl said in a censuring tone.
“That 's right. They don’t deserve him.”
They speak deliberately loud for him to listen but the older one shuts them out only with a gesture. One that he has seen Shen Qingqiu use with his disciples.
“Sir,” she says to Liu Qingge dryly. “I’m sorry, we have to deny your petition to save our clients privacy.”
“Where is he?” He’s about to charge and clear the way when a voice stops him.
“Liu Shidi. How unconventional to find you here.” Shen Qingqiu walks to him.
“A’Jiu.” One of the girls says worriedly.
“Don’t worry Lin’er, at most I‘ll just return to the Sect early today.” Shen Qingqiu's voice is almost gentle. The girl pouts.
Liu Qingge doesn’t wait for the group to speak more, “Shen Qingqiu, today at the meeting, I’m sorry. And for the rumors I started before, I’m sorry too.” Liu Qingge falls to his knees in front of the other who gasps in shock.
“What?..Stop this, please. Stand up, you idiot.”
“No.”
“Liu Qingge! Stand up right now.”
“Listen to me first, Shen Qingqiu, I swear I will make up for every one of my mistakes.”
“Stand up” Liu Qingge obeys this time.
“Why now? How are you doing it?” Then he says mockingly, “Will Liu Shidi restore my damaged reputation? I’m not a young maiden.”
“I’m not sure how, not yet.” Liu Qingge is apologetic. “I promise I will think of something this week.” He looks at Shen Jiu in the eyes “I will be responsible for my wrongs, I know an apology it’s not enough but after this, could you forgive me?”
“A’Jiu, I don’t want you to go with him. What if he steals the cabbage we cultivate?” one of the girls says reevaluating his opinion of Liu Qingge.
“Whatever you want, Shidi, now leave, I wont see you out.” Shen Qingqiu says and turns towards the stairs while the girls throw him curius glares. With no other option Liu Qingge returns to Bai zhan. He knows nothing is happening at the brothel and it’s obvious the women there care for Shen Qingqiu. Still he doesn't like him being there, surrounded by beauties all night.