Chapter Text
Who is the person Liu Mingyan hates the most?
Shen Qingqiu. It will always be Shen Qingqiu...
She wakes up in the past. Long before her ascension to immortality… Even before she was accepted to Cang Qiong…
Before her brother was
dead
murdered.
Who is the person Liu Mingyan hates the most?
There is only one answer.
Shen Qingqiu
Shen Jiu… If she remembers correctly, Shen Jiu has not even joined Cang Qiong yet. He should still be living a pampered life at the Qiu household, preparing to burn them down once he got all that he needed.
Liu Mingyan remembers Qiu Haitang, the poor girl whose first love slaughtered her entire family. It was their hatred for Shen Qingqiu that brought them together. They both lost the people they loved due to that scum.
This time, Liu Mingyan will change it all.
Xiao Jiu is not yet Shen Jiu and he will never be Shen Qingqiu. Liu Mingyan will make sure of it.
Her brother is fourteen this year. He has been at Cang Qiong for two years already. A cultivation genius who started cultivating at ten and joined the prestigious Cang Qiong at twelve… She wished she could call her brother back to meet him. However she never got her wish. He was busy cultivating.
Liu Mingyan knows that her brother didn’t come back home until he was sixteen. Sadly, she thinks that it will remain the same this time as well. It doesn’t matter how many tantrums she throws, and that’s all she could do at the tender age of five, he doesn’t come back.
It’s fine, she decides, she could deal with Shen Qingqiu before she meets her brother.
It was a coincidence that her mother’s maiden home was in the same province as the Qiu household. This was something she discovered long after she had been acquainted with Haitang but by that time there was no Qiu household and Liu Mingyan had long lost all contact with her maternal family. So this discovery did them no good but bring back memories they wanted to forget.
Now however, centuries in the past, when the Qiu household was still standing and Liu Mingyan’s grandfather hadn’t denounced her for being a demon’s wife, things are different.
Liu Mingyan’s mother thinks that she is being willful but since she was already denied the chance to see her brother, her mother doesn’t deny the chance for her to see her grandfather.
So they; she, her father and her mother, heads for the Xue province where her grandparents are, where Shen Qingqiu is…
Maybe it’s because all these relatives; including her parents, had already denounced her in the future, she doesn’t feel any particular fondness for them. All of them had hated her when she married Luo Binghe, it didn’t matter to them that the half-demon bastard had brought justice for her brother; all they cared was that he was a demon (And that he had slaughtered cultivation sects, that he had started collecting wives into his ever growing harem).
In a way Liu Mingyan was a desperate fool. She lost the brother she admired and placed him on a pedestal in her heart and forgot that her brother had the same views as the rest of her family.
She was chasing after a reality that may never exist.
Liu Mingyan’s mother’s maiden name is Cheng. Cheng Lihua is the only daughter of Cheng Weiming and Shen Limei. Although Cheng Weiming and Shen Limei have four children; Lihua was the youngest and the only girl. She was the beloved sister of three brothers and the pampered daughter of two excellent parents.
Cheng Weiming greets them personally at the door. Other than his only daughter and her family, nobody has ever received such favor from old Cheng. It might seem unconventional for the elder to go out and greet them but Cheng Weiming was never one for conventions.
Despite the century he has lived, as a cultivator he still looks young enough to be his daughter’s older brother instead.
Liu Mingyan looks at the large smile on her grandfather’s face and feels like a stone is lodged in her throat.
In her family, the one she loved most was her brother and one who pampered her most was this grandpa of hers.
His smiling face warps and her memories bring for the disappointed expression in his eyes when she had announced her marriage to Luo Binghe. She never saw any of her family after that day. She suppresses the emotions that overwhelm her and maintains her calm. Because it doesn’t matter if they love her now, they will leave her again. She has no plans of giving up on Luo Binghe in this lifetime.
Cheng Weiming is puzzled by his dear granddaughter’s distraught expression. The usually cheerful little girl looks sullen.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Cheng Lihua explains to her father.
“A’yan has been crying to see her brother for the last three days. She is still a little sad over it.”
Cheng Weiming’s face softens with love and he bends down to scoop his granddaughter into his arms.
“Silly girl, if your brother can’t come visit you, we can always go visit him.”
Cheng Lihua and Liu Jian share an amused glance. If it was anyone else, such claims would be doubtful but this was Cheng Weiming. He was not only respected across the cultivation world but he is also the brother-in-law of the Qing Jing Peak Lord.
Liu Mingyan had forgotten this fact. Her grandmother Shen Limei was the sister of Shen Anwei; the current Qing Jing Peak Lord.
As much as she wants to use Cheng Weiming’s offer and see her brother, she came here with a purpose.
“No.”
Everyone is surprised by the surprisingly sharp word from the little girl. Since when did Mingyan ever refuse a chance to meet her brother?
“I am mad at brother.”
Her huffy attitude amuses everyone.
“Oh? Because he didn’t visit you?”
Liu Mingyan nods.
“Alright then,” Cheng Weiming laughs. “We will go and visit your brother when A’Yan is no longer mad.”
Liu Mingyan nods after a while.
The province is celebrating the Full Bloom festival right now. In two days the festival ends. The next two days are crucial because three days after the end of the festival, Shen Qingqiu will burn down the Qiu household. Liu Mingyan only has five days in her hand.
She recognizes Qiu Haitang at a glance. The older girl is strolling through the market with a large smile. Servants are trailing behind her with various purchases.
Liu Mingyan stops and observes that smile with surprise. She has never seen Haitang smile like this, bright, beautiful and untainted by the sorrows and tragedies. Haitang’s smile only harden’s Liu Mingyan’s resolve.
Five year old Mingyan meets a seventeen year old Qiu Haitang and becomes friends to everyone’s surprise. But the little girl is oddly attached to the older girl and there is nothing the adults can do about it.
The scowl on Cheng Weiming’s face is deep these days. He has never had a good impression of the Qiu family. The only reason he allows A’Yan near Qiu Haitang is because Shen Limei insisted that Qiu Haitang was harmless, if a bit naïve.
Qiu Haitang doesn’t really mind and is happy with her new little friend.
Liu Mingyan listens to Qiu Haitang talk on and on about how lovely her A’Jiu is and feels pity for her friend. But she cannot refute anything at this moment. She feels sad that Qiu Haitang’s innocence will only last two more days but Haitang must know the truth about the person she adored.
From Haitang’s sorrowful recollections every anniversary of the day, Liu Mingyan knows every detail there is to know about the Qiu family’s death. It is easy to prevent it.
The morning, three days after the festival has ended, Liu Mingyan throws a tantrum. As a child, this happens to be her best weapon. Before today, Cheng Weiming was adamant about not letting her go to the Qiu household despite Haitang’s invitations. At that time, Liu Mingyan just obeyed quietly.
Today is different. She wants to go visit her friend’s house. But they haven’t informed Qiu Haitang or the Qiu family beforehand. It is rude to make such a sudden visit but in front of Liu Mingyan’s heartbreaking tears Cheng Weiming acquiesces.
The moment Cheng Weiming steps into the compound, he can feel the chaotic qi inside.
Qi deviation… Someone inside is experiencing a qi deviation.
He would have rushed inside if not for that fact that there is A’Yan in his hands. He hesitates but he can feel the qi fluctuating more and more violently. It would be not long before the person inside descends into mania. The qi level is minor and qi deviation is also not a problem for a cultivator of Cheng Weiming’s level but A’Yan’s presence makes him hesitate.
He hurriedly sends a qi signal. One of the family guards came soon after. The guard also senses the qi deviation.
Qiu Haitang comes in right at that moment. At first she is happy to see Liu Mingyan but then she notes the grave face of Cheng Weiming and freezes.
“Is there a cultivator in your family?” Cheng Weiming asks surprising Qiu Haitang and Liu Mingyan.
Qiu Haitang shakes her head in denial.
Cheng Weiming frowns and hands over A’Yan to the guard.
“Take A’Yan home.” He commands and looks at Liu Mingyan with a slight smile. “A’Yan go home now okay, grandpa will be back a little later.”
The guard doesn’t waste time and Liu Mingyan doesn’t get a chance to protest.
Qiu Haitang is shocked and worried by the happenings.
“Stay here.” Cheng Weiming says and rushes inside.
Qiu Haitang stands still only for a moment before rushing inside.
She barges into the library and witnesses a horrible scene.
Her brother is crumbled on the ground near the wall, almost as if he had thrown into the wall with great force. He is still alive; the painful groaning is a proof of that.
She cries out her brother's name and moves towards him before noticing A'Jiu. Naked, bleeding and convulsing in Cheng Weiming's arms.
She freezes.
Cheng Weiming's hand is covering A'Jiu's forehead and both their eyes are closed.
She waits... She doesn't know what she is waiting for but soon Cheng Weiming opens his eyes and A'Jiu settles down, unconscious. The man finally covers A'Jiu's body with his outer robe and she wants to ask, she wants to ask so much but she is afraid of the answers.
She gets her answers sooner than she hoped for.
Her brother is arrested.
Of course its not for raping a sixteen year old slave boy. After all, who cares about what happens to slaves, right? (She cares... She cares! It's her A'Jiu!)
Her brother is arrested for colluding with demonic cultivators. Before this, she had no idea the 'wandering cultivator' A'Jiu and she met at the market was on her brother's payroll as well.
There is also tax evasion and other crimes on the head of the Qiu family.
She can only sit there numbly and watch as her family is taken away, as her home is seized, as everything is lost.
She thinks she hates Cheng Weiming a little but then she remembers what her brother did.
She thinks that the Qiu deserves this.
Qiu Haitang who was raised naive for seventeen years, has to mature in one day.
In a way, Liu Mingyan got the goal she hoped for, Qiu Haitang realized the true face of the person she adored.
Liu Mingyan waits impatiently.
She hears snippets of conversation about the Qiu family. Something has happened to the Qiu but there is no talk about a fire.
Then she hears a servant that the criminal had been colluding with demonic cultivators and that he had been arrested and executed.
Liu Mingyan is finally relieved.
It seems they caught Shen Jiu and Wu Yanzi as well.
Good.
Now she can finally relax.
She doesn't get to see Qiu Haitang until two weeks later.
"Tang jie, how are you?"
Liu Mingyan asks mimicking a child's mannerisms to the best of her abilities.
Qiu Haitang looks thin. Her eyes are hollow and her face is melancholy.
But she still says, "I am fine."
Liu Mingyan thinks that she is just shocked about her 'fiance's betrayal. But at least, he was caught red-handed and she didn't lose her family this time.
"How is your brother?"
Qiu Haitang freezes. But Cheng Lihua comes in at that time and takes Liu Mingyan away, sending an apologetic glance towards Qiu Haitang.
Liu Mingyan has to leave that day.
She thinks she will keep in contact with Qiu Haitang after this, and give Haitang her address to send letters. Qiu Haitang promises to do so.
Liu Mingyan is happy and victorious on the way back home.
Maybe she should have checked the facts before celebrating but as a five year old, other than scattered conversations from servants she gets no information. And she makes her own conclusions. Oh how wrong she is.
Qiu Haitang never sends her letters.
Qiu Haitang is planning to join a sect in Shu province. Before going, she wants to see A'Jiu one last time.
Her brother... She has no idea what to tell him but she wants to speak to him.
Because she loves him. And now that love is tainted but still there...
However her hopes are dashed when she arrives at A'Jiu's room.
Shen Limei is there.
A'Jiu is resistant to all men except Cheng Weiming. Other than the female servants, only Cheng Weiming and Shen Limei takes the time to visit the boy. The rest of the family are all men and they don't come out of concern for the child. Cheng Lihua had visited once before she left. They all kept Liu Mingyan out of this because she was just a child as well.
Shen Limei is well aware of Qiu Haitang standing outside.
"Your marriage with Qiu Haitang... What do you think about it?"
"Is it still valid?" A'Jiu's voice is hoarse as he asks.
He is still recovering. His cultivation is poor as he had no formal education and he went through a major qi deviation. If the treatment is not completed properly, there will be lasting damage in his spiritual veins.
"No... There is no contract for the marriage but do you want to?"
Qiu Haitang stays quiet, she doesn't want to miss A'Jiu's answer.
"... No. I have never lover her like that."
"A'Jiu! I love you..."
"A'Jiu I told my brother to let us marry!"
"A'Jiu will you always stay with me?"
A'Jiu
A'Jiu
A'Jiu
Qiu Haitang leaves as quietly as she came.