Chapter Text
The first time it happened was during one of Liu Qingge’s visits to Qing Jing Peak.
Word spreads far more easily in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect than one would expect, so it didn’t take long for the news of the return of the Qing Jing Peak Lord—along with his Demon Lord husband—to reach Liu Qingge’s ears.
Namely, the news came in the form of Yang Yixuan, who asked for permission to visit Qing Jing Peak. Being the head disciple, it was important that the Peak Lord be aware of his whereabouts in case of any emergency, despite how unlikely an emergency might be.
So, Liu Qingge was trying to make a dent in the seemingly endless paperwork gathered on his desk when his disciple announced his presence. He waved the boy inside without looking up at him.
“Apologies, if this disciple has inadvertently disturbed Shizun,” Yang Yixuan said, hands carefully folded in front of him, the very picture of politeness. It immediately told Liu Qingge that the youth most likely came here seeking permission, if not exactly what the permission was for.
It wasn’t as though Yang Yixuan wasn’t usually polite; he was. He was, also, comfortable enough with Liu Qingge to not exactly worry about Liu Qingge ever refusing to give him permission regarding whatever he wished to ask for or wherever he wished to go. Both of them knew this was more formality than anything. Liu Qingge wasn’t one to bind anybody from doing anything or going anywhere. So the fact that the boy was hesitating was a bit concerning.
Liu Qingge grunted in acknowledgement and eyed the disciple with a sliver of suspicion. When the boy didn’t continue afterwards, Liu Qingge sighed, then set the brush down carefully. He turned his attention fully towards Yang Yixuan, a brow raised, questioning.
“Well? Speak up,” he said, urging. Yang Yixuan continued hesitating for a few moments, only to sigh in what Liu Qingge thought was defeat.
Yang Yixuan straightened up as if to prepare himself, then bowed low—even more concerning—and spoke in a single breath as though wanting to get the words out as quickly as possible, “This disciple wishes to visit Qing Jing Peak, if he has Shizun’s permission to do so!”
Liu Qingge blinked, mildly confused by the fuss. Why would the boy think that he’d refuse his request, especially since it was to visit Qing Jing Peak? And yet before he could mull more on the topic, the disciple’s next few words told him why:
“Peak Lord Shen and Luo Binghe have returned from their travels and… this one wished to discuss some things with Luo Binghe,” Yang Yixuan said, voice growing hesitant by the time he reached the end of the sentence.
Ah.
Hm.
Yang Yixuan’s concern over his Shizun’s refusal made sense, then. Even though he shouldn’t have been concerned in the first place.
Still, he couldn’t help but think of the married couple’s return. The two of them had been travelling for the better part of the last year following their marriage, doing whatever it was that they wanted to in between. And, now, they had returned to Qing Jing Peak, for however long that may be.
Admittedly, Liu Qingge himself hadn’t been on his Bai Zhan Peak for a lot of time during the last year; always taking on different missions, or travelling when there weren’t any missions to go on. He had needed time to be away from Cang Qiong Mountain as a whole after the events of the past few years and, well, the event a year ago. He loved Shen Qingqiu. That fact had never, and never would. Seeing him marrying Luo Binghe wasn’t exactly pleasant, but he was above throwing a silly tantrum when he could very clearly see how much Luo Binghe loved Shen Qingqiu and how much Shen Qingqiu loved Luo Binghe in return.
So, following the couple’s departure, he’d started staying away from Cang Qiong under the guise of missions, simply because the distance allowed him to come to terms with the circumstances. To come to terms with the fact that, no matter how much he loved Shen Qingqiu, he was happy with his husband, something that even a blind person wouldn’t fail to tell. He knew that the couple had returned to Qing Jing Peak a few times while Liu Qingge was away, but this was the first time that Liu Qingge was on Cang Qiong Mountain at the same time as Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe.
It had helped, more than he would have thought it would. Which is why he finally returned to Bai Zhan Peak a month ago without having any plans to leave anytime soon, not if it wasn’t necessary to do so.
Was Liu Qingge still jealous? Yes, but that was something he’d pretty much grown used to living with. He was more or less indifferent to Luo Binghe’s presence in Shen Qingqiu’s life beyond the fact that the man was, indeed, worthy of Shen Qingqiu. Worthy where he wasn’t, during those five years of his failed attempts in saving Shen Qingqiu.
Liu Qingge shook the thought away, and instead focused on his disciple’s request. Despite Yang Yixuan trying to hide it from Liu Qingge, he was aware that the demon lord and his disciple shared a friendship, something that probably happened while he himself was away on a mission or something similar, which was probably why the boy was now asking in such a fashion.
The mere thought that Yang Yixuan might be worried to ask Liu Qingge for something left an unpleasant feeling in his gut. With how much he cared for the boy, Yang Yixuan’s hesitance to ask for something so simple just didn’t sit right with him.
Plus… Liu Qingge himself didn’t really mind. No matter his own unpleasant feelings for the Heavenly Demon—which, to be fair, had mellowed down considerably during the last year—he didn’t want Yang Yixuan to refrain from continuing a friendship, or feel hesitant to do so, all on his account.
Liu Qingge sighed and glanced up at the youth who was barely resisting the urge to fidget. Something fond uncurled in his chest, lips twitching in a barely repressed smile.
“Alright. I assume your duties would be delegated to another disciple?” he asked, watching as Yang Yixuan’s expression flickered from shock to relief to delight, a grin spreading across his face.
“Yes, Shizun! This one will inform Shizun of the disciple in charge for the day once he has discussed it with them,” Yang Yixuan said, finally cheerful now that he was granted the permission he was seeking.
“Right, go now,” Liu Qingge waved him away, which the disciple did so with an enthusiastic, “Yes, Shizun!”
He watched the disciple hurry out with fond exasperation, shaking his head as he returned to his pile of paperwork, although he couldn’t entirely focus on it anymore, his mind drifting to the painted fan in his qiankun pouch.
Merely two days later, Liu Qingge found himself walking the path leading to the Bamboo House, a painted fan tucked in his belt.
The path was familiar enough that he had a hard time believing that it had been almost a year since his last visit. The sound of a qin playing in the air, of lectures happening in nearby pavillions, the sight of the Bamboo shoots, it all brought a sense of comfort that Liu Qingge soaked in as though a flower soaking in the sunlight.
Qing Jing Peak was a direct contrast against Bai Zhan Peak, and while he preferred the grounds of Bai Zhan Peak for the convenience of practicing swordplay or duelling, he had missed the stillness, the peace of Qing Jing Peak during the year he stayed off Cang Qiong Mountain.
At last, Liu Qingge stood before Bamboo House, and was just about to barge in as he always did when he hesitated. Should he knock? He wasn’t sure what the right course of action would be, having been away from the Peak for so long as he had.
Stuck in his dilemma, Liu Qingge failed to notice how he wasn’t alone anymore, failed to notice a pair of black eyes on himself, or how the owner of said eyes froze in shock, before slowly making his way towards him.
It was only when the smell of food from behind him—seemingly delicious even when he hadn’t even eaten any—reached his senses that he noticed another presence behind him. And a familiar one at that.
Though before he could say or do anything, a familiar voice spoke, a note of muted amusement audible, “Shishu can go inside. Shizun is there.”
Liu Qingge refused to tense up, but he could feel a telltale, embarrassed flush at being caught surfacing anyway; which was ridiculous— it was not as though he was hiding anything!
Liu Qingge grunted, “Right.” And without looking behind himself, opened the door to walk inside, Luo Binghe at his heels.
Just as the two of them entered, a familiar voice—one he had dreaded hearing while he was still sulking but which only brought a sense of relief now similarly to being on Qing Jing Peak—spoke, “Ah, Binghe, have you seen my…”
Shen Qingqiu froze once he saw him, shock as evident on his face as Liu Qingge had ever seen while not on missions. Liu Qingge had just enough time to panic and rethink coming here without any warning, before Shen Qingqiu’s shock melted into delight.
“Shidi! What a pleasant surprise,” Shen Qingqiu said, a smile dancing on his lips and Liu Qingge breathed out in relief, only now noticing how tense he’d gotten.
“Shen Qingqiu,” Liu Qingge spoke in greeting, gaze softening ever so slightly, feeling the same pang of feelings that had become normal in the last decade or so. No matter how long he spent away from the man, seeing him was seemingly enough to put Liu Qingge at ease, no matter for however long.
On his side, Luo Binghe stepped past him to lower himself beside the table, movements elegant, and Liu Qingge finally got his first look at the man, holding a tray of food, likely what Liu Qingge had smelled earlier.
He was wearing simple black robes with red details embroidered on the edges which in the end looked good on him anyway, his heavy mane of long, gently curly hair loose, stray strands tucked behind his ear and out of the way.
When Liu Qingge’s eyes reached Luo Binghe’s own, he almost startled to find them already on himself, an eyebrow raised, watching him curiously.
He quickly looked away, towards Shen Qingqiu who was watching him as well. Liu Qingge swallowed, then stepped towards the table.
He took the painted fan out of his pocket and set it down on the table away from the food set out on it. Liu Qingge looked at Shen Qingqiu deliberately, who glanced at the fan, frowned, before his eyebrows lifted in realisation and surprise alike.
“That fan… Shidi, did you keep it all this time?” he asked as he took the fan. His eyes were filled with plain curiosity when he looked at Liu Qingge.
Liu Qingge nodded as he stood up straight. He refused to blush under that curious gaze (and another, heavier gaze that he was steadfastly trying to ignore). “Of course I did. I returned your other ones, did I not?” he said gruffly.
Shen Qingqiu smiled, something pleased in his expression although Liu Qingge wasn’t exactly sure what. “Thank you, Liu-shidi. Would you care to have breakfast with the two of us?”
Liu Qingge blinked, a bit taken off guard by the offer. He instinctually glanced at Luo Binghe who was still watching him, looking for any signs of disapproval or jealousy.
He found none, which only left him even more baffled.
Liu Qingge returned his gaze to Shen Qingqiu. As much as he might want to accept, he sighed and shook his head. Shen Qingqiu immediately frowned. Unexpectedly, it was Luo Binghe who spoke next, “Shishu doesn’t wish to stay for breakfast?”
Liu Qingge looked at him again, frowning slightly, poring over the other man’s demeanor as though trying to solve a tricky problem. Luo Binghe’s face immediately cleared of whatever expression was on it previously, and he bore the scrutiny with an expression that was almost serene. In the end, Liu Qingge looked away.
Surely that note of disappointment in Luo Binghe’s words was his own imagination.
Faced with Shen Qingqiu’s frown, though, Liu Qingge explained, “I have a meeting with Sect Leader and I’ll be late if I stayed.”
Shen Qingqiu’s expression cleared, though he still seemed a tad disappointed when he sighed. “Alright, shidi. But make sure to visit again. It has been a long time,” he insisted, now smiling at last.
Liu Qingge hummed in agreement, privately delighted by the open invitation. As he turned to take his leave though, his gaze found that of Luo Binghe again.
Despite himself, Liu Qingge stared for a few seconds, considering, before he nodded at the man in acknowledgement, whose eyes widened ever so slightly before—shockingly—a charming smile curled Luo Binghe’s lips.
Liu Qingge immediately turned and walked out, feeling strangely off balance and his face alarmingly hot.