(Fair warning, new ideas are being added to this on and off, so there might be new bits added to it, the plot doesn't change tho so don't worry!)
The Warm Red Pavilion always smelled of a strong incense, the smell was overwhelming. Shen Jiu hated it. But he would deal with it, it helped when everything else in his head was overwhelming him. One big overwhelming thing to cancel out all of the small things adding up...
It didn't help he hasn't gotten the chance to sleep in over a month. Being a cultivator he could still live with it but his whole body ached, he was tired. Qi-ge Yue Qingyuan kept bothering him. Apologies are worth nothing, not from him,
'Xiao-Jiu. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'M sorry, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY! I'M SO SORRY XIAO-JIU!'
'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU SORRY FOR!? LEAVING ME IN HELL, NOT COMING BACK FOR ME, LETTING ME DIE AT HIS HANDS!?! Why Qi-ge... just why?-'
How he wished he could say that to Yue Qingyuan, he wished he could bash that traitor's brains in for leaving him 'there' to die. For apologizing without a reason behind it. He just wanted an answer-
"I'm so sorry A-Jiu but... all of the girls have been booked out for the night."
Why, the one time he was able to come? Why did this have to happen!?
He sighed, he knew it wasn't thier faults if all these disgusting men- ew. "Are you sure Madam Yu? What about Su-Jiejie, or Xin-Jiejie. Are either of them booked tonight?" They couldn't be, they were high ranking, anyone who wanted to spend a night with them would surely go broke till thier next reincarnation cycle. They wouldn't be-
"I'm afraid they've been bought out for the night as well A-Jiu, a few rich merchants stopped by the Pavilion tonight and booked out most of the girls including them. We still have a few male courtesan but..."
"A-Jiu, I know you don't feel comfortable--" Hah... if only that was the whole story. "But they would never do anything to you. Please, at least try, Mingshan was so concerned after last time. This could be good for you."
Last time he had decided to go to the Warm Red Pavilion, some drunk had tried touching him while he was having tea with Lan Yuqin in the main room. He felt filthy after, his guard was down because he thought he was safe when he was surrounded by people he trusted, but no, of course not. He felt sick after all of it and Mingshan, one of the newer courtesans who he'd recently become close with, had seen him getting sick in his room with Lan Yuqin and Su Jinmao there.
"What about A-Yuan, he's-"
"Madam Yu I would but I can't go all the way to the Lotus Pavilion to see A-Yuan this time."
A-Yuan was a mystery, Shen Jiu hated him... but he was safe. Unlike every other men Shen Jiu had ever met, A-Yuan felt safe. He would talk on and on about the dumbest of things, but Shen Jiu could never get mad at him for it. He was too kind, too innocent and naive. He looked at Shen Jiu as if he meant something, even knowing who he was.
Madam Yu and the girls knew about A-Yuan of course, he had told them about him after his first time at the Lotus Pavilion. He had... fallen asleep with A-Yuan in the small room he had been given at the Lotus Pavilion. It scared him, but he was warm upon waking up. Something he didn't think was possible anymore near a man.
Shen Yuan was a mystery, and Shen Jiu almost didn't want to find out just what he was hiding anytime he was in the Lotus Pavilion. If not just for one more chance to feel safe around one man who seemed to truly care for him if nothing else.
"-that was changed, A-Jiu. He was bought off-"
Right, he had tuned Madam Yu out... 'He was bought off', what? Is she talking about A-Yuan, where was he then? Did his contract get paid for by some rich man or-
"--A-Yuan is supposed to be done playing a game of go with a client in the main room soon if-"
A couple drunk heads turned towards the front desk where Shen Jiu and Madam Yu was standing, along with a few of the newer courtesans who were playing games with clients.
"Were you not listening to anything I was saying boy!?" Madam Yu exclaimed before sighing. "We had a courtesan exchange between a couple of the nearby brothels, one of those including the Lotus Pavilion. Shen Yuan was one of the courtesan that transferred here for the exchange."
Well that was... shocking. A-Yuan was pretty high ranking even at the Lotus Pavilion, what, who did they have to trade here for him to be moved here?
"I see, then if I may after he is done with his client?" At least he could still sleep tonight...
"Yeah, yeah, silly boy. Just go find him in the main room and after he is done you can head to your normal room" Madam Yu sighed again before waving Shen Jiu off, not even seeming to remember to charge him for the night. Oh well, he will drop off the money in the morning, after he is able to sleep.
"Oh hell no! You absolutely cheated-"
"Hey pretty lady~ surely you-"
"Hey! Where is the alcohol!?-"
The main room was too loud, to crowded. Shen Jiu hated when it was this busy. He's too tired now, he just wants to find A-Yuan and sleep.
"-You did amazing in that game! I'm impressed-"
A-Yuan, that was his voice. Where-
Shen Jiu saw Shen Yuan near the stage. Cleaning up a go board while a drunk, greasy looking client sat across from him. The Lotus Pavilion always had thier courtesans wear purple or pink, such as the name. The Warm Red Pavilion had no such rules.
Maybe the reason Shen Jiu always felt so comfortable around A-Yuan was because his voice was a lot softer, more like a woman's. Or how the pink robes he nornally had on made him more feminine. He had always used that excuse as to why A-Yuan felt safe.
A-Yuan looked better now. He had on a light green robe, it matched nicely with his eyes. When Shen Jiu had looked at A-Yuan's eyes closely for the first time, he noticed the small pink specks among light green... The robe was far to low cut and a bit see through to be truly comfortable for anyone not used to wearing such garments, but it still suited A-Yuan nicely. He had his hair fully down this time, trailing down to the middle of his back. The light pink rouge that stained his lips and cheeks made him look softer, matching the expression on his face.
He looked like a god, no, better. He shouldn't be socializing with some nobody. He shouldn't be treating some nobody like he cares when he clearly doesn't. Maybe the man is just to drunk to realize that little crease between A-Yuan' eyes, the way his smile twitched down a little whenever the man tried to touch his hands.
It annoyed Shen Jiu to no end seeing that man touch A-Yuan like that. Shouldn't he be able to tell how uncomfortable it makes him!? Shen Jiu must have been glaring because a couple of customers nearby backed away slightly apon seeing him, not that he cared really, just-.
A warmth seemed to show up in his stomach upon seeing A-Yuan turn to him smiling. Not a fake smile he'd give clients, a real one. He looked at Shen Jiu as if he was world. Shen Jiu hated to say that he almost liked the feeling.
"A-Jiu! When did you get here? OMG, (such a weird phrase, Shen Jiu always wondered about some of the things Shen Yuan said) please tell me your spending the night! I have so much gossip to tell you since the last time you visited the Lotus Pavilion! You would not believe what Lan-Jiejie did to one of the customers. Oh and I have that bestiary that you let me borrow from last time! I had completely forgot to return it back to you. Oh, Oh! How have things been on Qing Jing Peak, have-"
A-Yuan had stood up from his seat beaming, running over to Shen Jiu and grabbing his hand. Only looking at the brothel madam; who gave a fake annoyed look, waving him off quickly to say yes, before dragging Shen Jiu to the stairs up to his room. Completely seeming to forget about the drunk man he was originally playing with.
"A-Yuan, calm down." A-Yuan's hands were always so warm compared to his own. But, he let himself be held by the other man for some reason he still had yet to figure out. "You didn't say that you were moving to the Warm Red Pavilion?"
"Oh yeah! That was pretty recent so I never got the chance to send a letter up to you. It took way to long to get rooms set up and everything!" A-Yuan said with a sigh, though the excitement not really leaving his face as he let go of Shen Jiu's hand to grab a small jade tablet and held it up to the Shen Jiu's room door. The door quickly swinging open as Shen Jiu was dragged yet again, this time into his room by A-Yuan. The warmth of A-Yuan's hand not fading though he as the courtesan let go of his hand to help remove his outer robes. Chattering happily as he did so.
"Oh and all this happened and- oh right I forgot! A-Jiu, you will not believe what happened last week! Lan-Jiejie actually slapped a client because-"
Shen Jiu just let Shen Yuan gossip, as A-Yuan sat down on the bed bringing him down onto it as well, now in just his inner robes, pants, socks, and guan. The last being carefully removed by A-Yuan and set down on the nearby table.
Shen Jiu let himself lay his head on A-Yuan lap while A-Yuan continued to say something about some beast he had supposedly 'read about', even if they both knew that wasn't true. A-Yuan running his fingers through Shen Jiu's hair softly as he did so. Untangling the small knots that his fingers caught on.
It was peaceful. Sitting down with Shen Yuan here. Just talking and letting Shen Jiu rest as he knew he so desperately needed.
"Oh yeah! How have your kids been A-Jiu? Did Yingning finally get any better at her calligraphy? I know that Ning-Jiejie had no talent in writing when she was still young so-"
"No." Shen Jiu lighty pinched Shen Yuan's thigh, chuckling internationally at A-Yuan's surprised squeak. "I am not going to gossip about my disciples A-Yuan, they are a headache enough without you exclaiming how cute they sound in whatever stories."
Shen Jiu could tell Shen Yuan was pouting now. A-Yuan always looked cute when he was pouting. Not like that mattered of course!
"...A-Jiu~" Shen Yuan's tone was softer now though. It was teasing, but not in a bad way.
"Brat, what do you want now."
"How rude A-Jiu! I am not a brat!" A-Yuan exclaimed dramatically, his tone teasing though at Shen Jiu's name calling. Speaking again a decent bit calmer only a few seconds later. "I just wanted to ask a question."
Shen Jiu was going to look up, but A-Yuan's lap was comfy and exhaustion was really starting to take over his body.
"...A-Jiu, what would you say if I had a client who might be willing to buy out my contract soon?"
All the exhaustion in Shen Jiu's body suddenly seemed to fade away at Shen Yuan's question. A cold feeling spreading throughout his body. Who was buying out A-Yuan's contract? Was it some creep? Shen Jiu still hasn't figured out why A-Yuan felt safe. Shen Jiu quickly sat up from Shen Yuan's lap. Glaring at A-Yuan even if he didn't mean too.
"A-Jiu. What do you mean no? ...This could be my chance to get away from all of 'this'."
"Well whose planning on buying you out!? Do you trust them not to still treat you like a courtesan? Do you really think any filthy man who bought you out would treat you human still?"
Shen Jiu hated how angry his voice sounded, he hated how his words made A-Yuan's smile fade. He hated this. He hated whatever faceless stranger that wanted to take A-Yuan away so that he couldn't see him anymore. He hated whoever dared try and take A-Yuan-
"I'll buy out your contract and take you back to Qing Jing Peak."
...Shen Yuan looked shocked, opening his mouth as if to say something and then quickly shutting it. To be honest, Shen Jiu was just as shocked at his own offer. Sure, it wasn't the first time Shen Jiu had thought about buying Shen Yuan's contract. But, the Lotus Pavilion didn't give courtesans a choice if they had an offer on thier contract. Shen Jiu would never force Shen Yuan to go with him, nor would he ever want Shen Yuan to feel pressured into something he didn't want. The fact that he had said it now...
"You'll have free reign of all of Qing Jing Peak, you could choose if you wanted to help teach classes like you've always seemed to have an intrest in doing. You could come with me on night hunts if you wanted and be able to visit the Jiejies here or at the Lotus Pavilion whenever you would want."
Just don't accept that faceless man taking you away from me. You seem to care, you don't fake a smile around me, you've become a safe space for me. Please don't let me lose you too...
Of course Shen Jiu would never say that last bit out loud, that last thought of desperation was his and his alone.
"A-Jiu, that's... I don't- why?"
Even with the confusion in A-Yuan's voice it sounded like he was actually considering it. But, Shen Jiu didn't think he could give an answer as to why. Not one that could explain how A-Yuan made him feel, so, he just laid his head back down on A-Yuan's lap. Closing his eyes and allowing himself to fall asleep rather then face some truth he couldn't bring himself to say out loud.
It didn't take A-Yuan long to pack up all his things into Shen Jiu's qiankun bag the next morning, he didn't have much after all other then gifts from clients and robes. Shen Jiu had taken the time while A-Yuan was packing to send a qi message to his disciples to set up the side room of the bamboo house, along with paying the madam for the previous night and A-Yuan's contract. Madam Yu was a bit shocked at seeing Shen Jiu actually buy out a courtesan, much more a male one at that but was supportive none the less.
The girls all surrounded the two of them on thier way out. Telling Shen Jiu to visit soon while congratulating Shen Yuan, hugging and kissing him goodbye. The latter stirring up an odd feeling in Shen Jiu's gut he didn't like in the slightest. He would have called it jealousy, but, like that would ever be the case.
A-Yuan still seemed shocked at the whole ordeal, almost as shocked as Shen Jiu himself but now with excitement clear behind his eyes as well. The moment he saw Shen Jiu pull out Xiu Ya, he looked like a child seeing fireworks for the first time. He wasn't scared of the idea of flying on a sword, when Shen Jiu had wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him steady in front of him, he seemed to relax. Shen Jiu hated to admit that he smiled slightly when A-Yuan was focused on watching the town houses slowly become smaller as they ascended.
"A-Jiu this is so cool! I don't see why cultivators would ever want to ride boring carriages over this. This is awesome!" A-Yuan exclaimed within the first 2 minutes up in the air. Eyes shining, looking ahead at two-headed ferret fly that had just fluttered bye.
"It's simpler and uses less qi A-Yuan, but yes... it is sort of cool I suppose." Shen Jiu had never thought of it as cool before. But, seeing A-Yuan love it some much, maybe he could start to see the appeal a bit more...
It took only a few incense time to reach Cang Qiong Mountian after speeding up. A-Yuan did NOT squeal like a happy child when Shen Jiu did NOT do a few tricks while they were both still a bit far away from the peaks. Nope, not at all! Not at all...
Shen Jiu eventually landed down onto the rainbow bridge. Helping Shen Yuan down from Xiu Ya as the former courtesan took in the sights. Shen Jiu had never really cared for how "beautiful" the rainbow bridge was, but seeing Shen Yuan look at it with some much excitement, he started to like it a bit more, he saw why some people might find it a bit cool.
"A-Jiu, this is so cool! But how does this even work? Is the bridge like actually a rainbow? How is it made, is it like qi made? Oh, oh! How is it held up, is it-"
Shen Jiu was about to cut Shen Yuan off honestly so they could get to the bamboo house. But his disciple doing it was a far different story. Gods, he was going to wip someone...
The disciple landed a couple feet away from the Peak Lord and his new guest, looking anxious while bowing. They clearly had something to say, Shen Jiu had a bad feeling that he wouldn't like it.
"...Shizun" Shen Jiu is going to wip someone now. And he has a feeling he knows who. "S-Shizun, when s...some disciples were cleaning out the side r-room of the bamboo house... Z-Zhangman-Shibo had went to Qing Jing Peak looking for y-you." Shen Jiu is going to wip Yue Qingyuan, no one is going to fucking stop him.
"A-Jiu, why would the Sect Leader go to your Peak again, haven't you told your disciples that he shouldn't be around there unless there is a meeting scheduled?"
Shen Jiu is not in fact going to wip someone.
'(Shen Jiu is going to simp publicly and make it everyones problem.) - MJ'
Ignoring his disciple in favor of answering Shen Yuan's question, Shen Jiu was suddenly stopped by seeing an unfortunately familiar figure flying straight towards him.
Shen Jiu is going to wip Qi Qingqi.
"Shen Qingqiu! Do you have no shame!? Buying a courtesan! Do you not care at all for your Peak and the rest of Cang Qiong's reputation!?" The lady devil-spotted porcupine herself yelled landing on the bridge, shoving Shen Jiu's disciple away in favor of grabbing onto the front of Shen Jiu's robes roughly.
Shen Jiu was about to speak up, but, "Apologies Peak Lord Qi, but this one's was under the impression that your Peak bought out courtesans and slaves frequently?" A-Yuan spoke up, a far to polite tone being used. Already taking a few steps forward and resting a hand onto Qi Qingqi's. A silent request for her to let go of Shen Jiu.
Shen Jiu is not going to wip Qi Qingqi, he is in fact though, going to let A-Yuan have his fun.
"You- Are you the whore this bastard bought? You have no reason to stand up him if he is clearly forcing you!"
Shen Jiu is going to kill Qi Qingqi. He is going to kill Qi Qingqi for calling A-Yuan a whore. He is going to kill Qi Qingqi for daring to be rude to what, who is now HIS. He is going to tear off her limbs one by one, he is going to gouge out her eye first then tear out her tongue. He is going to-
"Peak Lord Qi, I advise you not to listen to common hearsay. A-Jiu has never been anything but a gentleman to everyone at both the Lotus and Warm Red Pavilion. He is far kinder then anyone I have ever met and would never do something cruel to myself, he is no bastard. And much more then that, A-Jiu is my close friend and I went with him willingly. Courtesans can decline purchases at the Warm Red Pavilion if they feel unsafe at the hands of thier buyer and A-Jiu has never once made me feel unsafe."
How... can A-Yuan say this with so much confidence? How can he make Shen Jiu sound like a saint, Shen Jiu is no saint. He knows this, but hearing A-Yuan say all this, maybe he wouldn't mind being one if it was only for A-Yuan...
Qi Qingqi was sputtering by the time A-Yuan had finished speaking. If anything she seemed more stunned that anyone would actually speak against her then speak up for her martial sibling. Shen Jiu smiled behind his fan.
"Qi-Shimei, if you are done causing useless fights then this shixiong and his 'friend' will be heading to Qing Jing Peak." Shen Jiu finally spoke up closing his fan and putting it in his sleeve before grabbing Shen Yuan's hand. Xiao-Jiu had always held onto people's hands tightly for fear of them running off. Shen Jiu held people's hands or wrists to pin them down in a fight. Shen Qingqiu didn't touch anyone willingly.
A-Jiu, held onto A-Yuan's hand gently, he wasn't scared Xiao-Jiu, he wasn't Shen Jiu surviving by fighting, he wasn't Shen Qingqiu who hated touch. Even with others around, he was just A-Jiu around A-Yuan, and to be honest, he didn't really mind. He liked it almost.
Glaring at his disciple off to the side who quickly got the message and got on thier sword, flying away. Qi Qingqi looked at Shen Jius and Shen Yuans hands together, a strange look of disgust, confusion, shock, and a few other emotions even Shen Jiu couldn't tell on her face. She snapped out of it though when both Shens had started to walk past her.
"Oh hell no! You can't just running off, Zhangman-Shixiong called a Peak Lord Meeting because of what you did and all of the other Peak Lords have been waiting for you to get back. You and that whore are going to Qiong Ding Peak!"
Qi Qingqi tried to grabbing onto Shen Jiu wrist while speak but A-Yuan had grabbed onto her wrist first surprisingly. Likely because Qi Qingqi didn't actually expect him to actually do anything,
"Peak Lord Qi, don't touch people without thier permission. That is one the first rules you learn as a courtesan, maybe you would do well to learn some of those rules." A-Yuan said with a clearly fake smile before adding. "Though, before learning some of the standard courtesan rules, it might actually be a bit better that you found some face powder and rouge, it might help for any courtesan kind enough to teach you if you first looked as if you could actually pull a client."
Shen Jiu might not murder Qi Qingqi just yet, Shen Jiu is much more intrigued letting A-Yuan have his fun.
While Qi Qingqi was still in shock at the insults to her appearance, Shen Yuan had already let go of her wrist and followed Shen Jiu stepping up onto Xiu Ya. Shen Jiu wrapping an arm back around A-Yuan's waist and flying off to Qing Jing Peak before anyone else could stop them. Shen Jiu will deal with his martial siblings idiocy later. They aren't ever going to be his main focus, they never have been and he doesn't plan to put them any higher on his priorities now that he has a new one in the top spot.
"A-Jiu... Why didn't you stand up for yourself? You have never once hurt any of the courtesans or servants at the brothel. But, that your martial sibling seemed so convinced." It only took a minute for A-Yuan to speak up, his tone seemed sad, more disappointed then anything. He had put his hand over the one Shen Jiu had tightened around his waist. But, he didn't turn to look back at Shen Jiu, not even a glance.
It hurt more when A-Yuan wouldn't even face him. It hurt horribly when A-Yuan sounded so sad for Shen Jiu. It hurt when Shen Jiu realized that Shen Yuan would figure out just what his martial siblings thought of him in person. It hurt when he realized that A-Yuan would be treated no different by so many of the Peak Lords because of who Shen Jiu was.
It only took a couple minutes to arrive at Qing Jing Peak from the rainbow bridge. A-Yuan allowed Shen Jiu to help him down from Xiu Ya but stayed silent. Shen Jiu could tell A-Yuan was looking around at the bamboo forests, the nearby meditation building, the pathways. A-Yuan looked at all of Qing Jing Peak in awe, his eyes shone even when his expression was so dim.
Shen Jiu lead A-Yuan up the paths of Qing Jing Peak. He didn't care enough to make the few disciples bold enough to follow go away. He was too focused on the wonder in A-Yuan's eyes even as the former courtesan avoided his gaze. Shen Jiu never let go of A-Yuan's hand leading him up to the bamboo house all the way near the top of Qing Jing Peak, Shen Yuan didn't make him.
A-Yuan was still mad for Shen Jiu's sake, but he was even more mad at the fact Shen Jiu wouldn't even stand up for himself. Shen Jiu had a bad feeling that A-Yuan would be doing his best to stand up for him, knowing his past. What happened to him, why he visited brothels, why he refused help, why he is scared. (scared, sorry if it is hard to read lol)
One of Shen Jiu's disciples were waiting outside the bamboo house already by the time him and A-Yuan got closer. He handed Shen Jiu a scroll and looked hesitant but handed Shen Yuan a similar one before bowing deeply to Shen Jiu. The disciple didn't even bow to Shen Yuan though. He just ran off instead.
Shen Jiu is going to wip that disciple, now that, is going to happen no matter what. Shen Jiu has taught his disciples better. The disrespect-
Shen Jiu heard A-Yuan make a small sound just then. He saw how his nails had been digging into A-Yuan's hand without him realizing. He had hurt him. He had hurt A-Yuan. He is no better then some normal man, he-
Shen Jiu hurt Shen Yuan. Shen Jiu was mad at himself, Shen Jiu was mad at his martial siblings, Shen Jiu was mad that he hurt- Shen Jiu hurt HIS A-Yuan. Shen Jiu deserves to die, he deserves to be tortured, he deserves- HE HURT A-YUAN!
"...-A-Jiu, calm down. Focus on my voice, it isn't worth it. You're going into a qi deviation."
Shen Jiu could feel A-Yuan's hands lightly holding onto the sides of his face. He could see Shen Yuan's concerned expression. Shen Jiu knew that A-Yuan had seen him go into a qi deviation before while at the Lotus Pavilion. He knew he should calm down for fear of hurting A-Yuan again, but why-
Shen Jiu was about to respond but he was lightly pushed behind someone, the person's hands pushing him were warm. Oh, A-Yuan. Shen Jiu realized A-Yuan was opening up the door to the bamboo house, helping him inside and closing the door behind the two of them. Not caring much for a certian brute who had just called out for Shen "Qingqiu".
Shen Jiu could vaguely tell that A-Yuan was helping him over to his room, asking him something that he couldn't make out. Shen Jiu could tell that a bit of blood had started to fall from his lips and ears, and his vision was slowly becoming red. He couldn't really tell whenever it was that A-Yuan had sat him down on his bed. Nor could he really tell what A-Yuan was doing when A-Yuan seemed to be looking throughout Shen Jiu's room for something. It seemed like A-Yuan had found whatever he was looking for when Shen Jiu heard him, just faintly. He was asking something, he was telling Shen Jiu to do something, Shen Jiu couldn't tell what.
Shen Jiu could tell though when A-Yuan had gently opened his mouth with his fingers, and he could feel when A-Yuan had pushed a small pill into his mouth. He wanted it to spit it out, it tasted horrible. But, he swallowed it, maybe it was because he trusted A-Yuan...
Shen Jiu could tell when a familiar medicine had started to flow from his meridians, torn and jagged. The ladies at the brothels Shen Jiu frequented; The Lotus Pavilion, The Warm Red Pavilion, always had a couple bottles of medicine like this for when Shen Jiu had visited.
Shen Jiu could feel the qi in his meridians start to stabilize, he could feel someone running a damp cloth across his face where he could see blood starting to dry. His eyes were still stained red with blood, he felt tired. Shen Jiu didn't want to open his eyes right now. He felt warm, safe for once...
Shen Jiu fell asleep, safe, for the first time on Cang Qiong Mountian.
When Shen Jiu woke up he was cold again. He hated the feeling with a burning passion, hah, how ironic... He could hear people arguing outside of the bamboo house, he recognized the voices of course, that didn't mean he wanted to have to deal with them.
"-Oh please! As if that horrible man could do anything but manipulate you-"
"-Shen Qingqiu, stop hiding behind you're whore and come out right now!-"
"G-Guys... may- maybe we s-s-should just --EEK! C-come back later!"
"-I understand, but I have to talk to Xiao-Jiu and-"
They are talking to A-Yuan. Shen Jiu is going to wip all ot his martial siblings, well other then maybe the rat. Shang Qinghua will probably die from a wipping, plus, he is at least not saying shit to A-Yuan, yet.
Stepping outside of his room Shen Jiu could see the main room in disarray, the front door was of course broken, again. Shen Jiu knew who to blame for that of course but that didn't make it any better. He could see the figures of some of his martial siblings from the doorway, along with A-Yuan blocking thier way inside. Clearly Shen Jiu's martial siblings haven't been here long, or else Liu-Shidi would have just pushed A-Yuan out the way.
Mind that if he did do that, he would be lacking certian genitals as punishment, thanks to Shen Jiu-
"Oh look who finally decided to show thier face! Got tired of hiding behind your whore?" Shen Jiu was never a bit fan of the Zui Xian Peak Lord, he is becoming less of a fan by the second.
"A-Jiu! Sorry for letting them wake you up. Some of your Martial Siblings really are as much of brutes as you described them as..."
A-Yuan, who Shen Jiu could now see had Xiu Ya at his side leaning against the shattered door frame, gave him an apologetic smile. Turning it face him rather then the other idiotic Peak Lords...
A-Yuan had a red mark on his cheek. Someone had hurt him, it was clearly a slap mark, so who? Who the fuck hurt him.
"Someone, tell me why my guest is injured."
If murderous intent could be seen, the whole of Cang Qiong Mountian would have been covered in deep red smoke. Shen Jiu's voice was too calm, too quiet. There was no doubt all of the Peak Lords heard it, but none of them answered. Cowards.
Before Shen Jiu could repeat the question, Shen Yuan spoke up instead, he only said two words though. Just two.
He didn't need to say anything else, Shen Jiu allowed himself to step back and let A-Yuan talk. He simply watched as A-Yuan took Xiu Ya out of it's sheath besides him. His own sword which recognized Shen Yuan with ease and allowed itself to be wielded by him. After all, his sword was based off his soul, why would his soul refuse to submit to Shen Yuan's every will?
Of course, Shen Jiu's martial siblings gapped at seeing Xiu Ya calm in A-Yuan's hand. For someone else to hold a cultivators sword showed that the owner of the sword completely trusted the other person. The fact that a former courtesan was able to hold Xiu Ya so calmly... And A-Yuan trusted Xiu Ya not to hurt him.
Oh, someone actually trusted Shen Jiu, that hurt.
Shen Jiu watched his martial siblings shocked looks at seeing Xiu Ya so calmly in someone other then it's master's hands. He watched as Shang Qinghua muttered something about plot lines being messed up. (Not noticing how A-Yuan had tensed at those words.) He watched as Liu Qingge glared with both shock and anger in-between Xiu Ya, Shen Yuan, and Shen Jiu himself. He watched as he saw guilt and betrayal in Qi-ge- Yue Qingyuan's eyes.
Shen Jiu hated to say he loved the feeling.
He loved how his martial siblings seemed to shocked that someone had trusted him, and he trusted them in return. Oh, how good it felt to see his martial siblings realize that they weren't his priorities in life, as they claimed he should have.
"You-" Liu Qingge attempted to speak up, but,
"As you can all see, this lowly one means no harm to the Qing Jing Peak Lord, as I am sure that is what you were all truly worried about." A-Yuan said with a sarcastic smile, cutting off Liu Qingge who turned red. Whether it was in anger or embarrassments, who knows? Oh and who cares.
"I heard Peak Lord Qi say to my friend, Peak Lord Shen, about how his purchase of this one's contract would ruining the reputation of Cang Qiong. But, of course, Cang Qiong is rather infamous throughout the major Sects for taking in slaves, courtesans, and beggers. A couple Hua Huan officals who have visited the brothel I work-"
A small cough came from besides A-Yuan from Shen Jiu.
"Apologies A-Jiu, the brothel I 'had' worked at had a few choice words about such actions. Better A-Jiu?" The teasing light too A-Yuan's tone was not ignored as Shen Jiu lighty hit his head with his fan. Much to the shock of his Martial Siblings who he could tell were staring with greater shock then before.
(TO BE UPDATED SOON CAUSE, also, why the heck can't I write fluff to save my life. I can't tell how this is going so like, anyone please give like tips or something cause what the heck is even going on anymore?)
"SHEN-SHIXIONG BOUGHT A MALE COURTESAN!?! AND HE'S NOT AN ASSHOLE ANYMORE????????? WTF!?!"
-Shang Qinghua later on wondering where his plot went and why the scum villian is now happy with a man in his house.
