I'm curious to hear about people's rarepairs, especially the rarer ones, again. Doesn't have to be from a particular fandom. Can be backed only by vibes. Vibes are valid.
My rarer rarepairs for SVSSS are probably Luo Binghe/Gongyi Xiao and PIDW Mobei-Jun/PIDW Ning Yingying.
The former is because I think it would be funny for Binghe to actually get bogged down in the day-to-day running of Huan Hua Palace and he'd need help with that. The Palace Master making Gongyi Xiao effectively Binghe's secretary sounds awkwardly hilarious to me. Also, I think Gongyi "breaking the rules is fine if it's for moral reasons and you don't get caught" + "maybe we should slow down and try to figure this situation out calmly because that doesn't sound right for Master Shen" Xiao would be good for Binghe.
The latter is because, again, I think it's fun to think about who is actually running Bing-Ge's empire. I'm imagining a workplace comedy featuring other key harem members such as Sha Hualing and Liu Mingyan and the Little Palace Mistress more as annoying coworkers. Mobei-Jun is stuck in the incredibly awkward and angsty position of having feelings for another man's wife, and Linguang-Jun is being sooooo petty and mean about it. Also, I think PIDW Ning Yingying deserves a nice divorce or widowing.
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[Shen Yuan | Gongyi Xiao. Safe for work/ Mentions of sleeping around but no actual written smut. ]
So SY transmigrates as Gongyi Xiao, and in trying to save himself from his cedric diggory fate ends up not only gaining the attention of the protagonist himself he also accidently has a harem unaware that each man he meets he gains their loyalty! Snakes follow him, a rogue cultivator in the woods who he always night hunts with and even has fun, he gained the scum villains attention with both of their appreciation over fans and then the little rat Shang Qinghua.
Given that Luo Binghe also has a harem along with love trysts with Mobei-Jun. It seems as if everyones sleeping together but Gongyi Xiao is oblivious to the whole thing. He's just trying to survive and wait until his plant mushroom body is ripe!
Gongyi Xiao had a simple small story, a footnote who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time admist Luo Binghe's Blackening.
Gongyi Xiao is handsome, talented and a head disciple promised to the little palace mistress. A rival to the protagonist but thats not all, his humilating defeat dignity in tatters before he dies off screen. Not only is his death pathetic, oh no before the events leading up to that Gongyi Xiao would be cuckholed forced to watch his ex fiance drape herself over Binghe and have his manhood figurativly crushed like all stallion novels forced to watch Luo Binghe take whatever maiden he likes while the men have to watch in jealous rage.
Gongyi Xiao originally challenged Luo Binghe and mysteriously died after on a night hunt, with his title of head disciple taken, losing the respect of not only the Palace mistress but the Old palace master as well his death was seen as a good riddance.
From a respected shining diamond of the Huan hua palace now tossed into the trash as he was reduced to fools gold. Gongyi Xiao was a cannon fodder rival with a doomed ending....
....
So when Shen Yuan woke up in the body of Gongyi Xiao one year after the immortal alliance he realised he only had less than four years to prepare for Luo Binghes arrival. And He'd be damned if he ends up following in the orginal goods footsteps!
Hell no!
Leave me alone, Mistress!
Get the f*ck away from ME, you two face diciples who will stab this one in the back as soon as someone better and more handsome comes along!
And what the hell is up with the palace master!? Why does he give Gongyi Xiao a bad vibe? He tried to reason it away but his gut instinct was making him feel off balanced.
Gongyi Xiao began to distance himself, training harder to become stronger.
Once Luo Binghe gets here and snatches away the title of Head Disciple Gongyi Xiao will leave. And to survive in the world of PIDW he needs to be stronger. Cannon fodders always die but if he becomes a rouge cultivator along with the knowledge of PIDW he could potentially survive anything if he stays out of Binghes way!
By using the resources and training harder, most disciples shrugged and thought that Gongyi Xiao was taking his duties too seriously. Meanwhile Xiao Gongzhu is getting increasingly infuriated that her fiance is withdrawing and it gets worse when Gongyi Xiao reveals that he has second thoughts on the marriage that he doesnt feel good enough or worthy enough.
Instead of making her bad off, it made her think he was having doubts, she took his hands and spoke that he was worthy and once he's the new palace master they will marry and run the sect together!
This was NOT going the way he wanted.
So he ended up conceiving and spoke "The man who is strong enough to claim title to being the Palace Master of Huan hua sect will be worthy of being Xiao Gongzhu's husband." When saying this he was thinking of Binghe, while the mistress felt placated.
Thankfully that agreement will be void when Binghe arrives Gongyi Xiao hummed to himself.
His plan to run away was only one of many plans, his back-up plan was to hopefully get stronger and maybe endear himself to Binghe. If he was useful and not a dead weight soldier he could maybe be someone trusted to be Binghes confident, like Mobei-Jun who is his right hand man, Gongyi Xiao can be his left! He could help at Huan hua while Mobei-Jun deals with his demon palace.
But if that doesnt work his back-up back-up plan is a plant body he planted immedietly, it was growing well and was easy to maintain the irregation system he set up by applying a tailsman he didnt have to be there with the body to infuse it with Qi steadly!
Then there was his correspondence with the other sects, in honesty he only wanted blackmail from Shen Qingqiu. If he delieved that guy on a silver platter he might have the golden ticket to freedom!
But instead he found troubling letters about Tianglang-jun, he found himself researching and when he found that history strangely blank he began to ask questions.
If all the sects were called to lock up this demon, then where were the evidence or signs of Tianglang-Jun preparing to fight?
The old Palace master blew the whistle but why? What reason made him do it? He then had a letter giving the details of Luo Binghes mother Su Xiyan and that Luo Binghe looked so much like her at the Immortal alliance conference.
Gongyi Xiao bit his lip, it was...strange. How she died was he assisting the demons- but then how was Luo Binghe born and...where did she go?
The worst part he was starting to get strange letters from Sects trying to...poach him from Huan hua. They said his talents were wasted and he would do more good in the other sects, even Yue Qingyuan wrote a letter asking to meet up with the future head disciple to see if he were looking for any positions.
This was strange...and an OBVIOUS DEATH FLAG!
Gongyi groaned hiding all the letters and wondering if he should just burn them- then again, running away to a different Sect he could potentially save one by allying with Luo Binghe.
Running away seemed better, but with no safety nets. If he went to a sect that had stability it would be an even more crushing defeat.
He'd had to wait until Luo Binghe arrived.
Worse part he was still empty handed, other than him lotering around brothels nothing. Cang Qiong Mountain was quiet about Liu Qingges death and it would be stupid to throw around accusations.
As Gongyi Xiao was practicing sword forms, ignoring the diciples watching him. The boys sneering and the girls giggling, Gongyi Xiao almost fumbled when a dangerous thought almost shattered his concentration.
He only reached out to the two sects on information from Shen Qingqiu, close friends he made from the alliance who would never tell a soul...
So two out of the four sects...who told Cang Qiong mountain- and was Yue Qingyuans letter really a strange invitation- when in reality it was a threat.
If he could [and it wouldn't be OC] he would smash his skull against a wall not only does he have Binghe to contend with he may as well have told Cang Qiong mountain to look out for him too!
As he worked tirelessly getting stronger, going on night hunts, sharpening his knoloedge he lost track of time.
He never really knew when Luo Binghe would arrive.
Or the night.
So on this on perticular night, avoiding the mistress, and the Master who seemed to be watching him even more carefully Gongyi Xiao practically leapt to his feet when the wards around the Huan hua Palace was activated and volunteered to investiage!
He needed out of this palace- and its not like anything bad can happen to him yet, he needed to meet Binghe and get cuckholed- so he was safe till then!
So as Gongyi Xiao went into the forest at night using a [orb thingy I forgot the name leave me alone or please tell me and I'll change this to the xianxias equivilant of a torch >,<]
He felt the demonic presence before he saw it, drawing his sword and extinguishing his light, Gongyi Xiao came across a clearing in the woods where the moon breached the space with its light. Like a spotlight on the stage, Gongyi Xiao gaped to see a man slumped against a tree, shadowed in dark robes and the red could be his clothes also or blood.
Gongyi Xiao almost dropped his sword, Luo Binghe!?
It had to be him- what other handsome demon would appear this close to Huan hua Palace!?
[boy if only he knew about Tianglang-jun]
Gongyi Xiao took a step forward then stiffened as the demonic presence vanished, like your ears popped and there was a sudden silence.
It felt more foreboding...
"Hello? Excuse me, young master?" He spoke softly, as if he was approaching a wounded animal instead and also- what the hell?
The Palace mistress- or when of the Huan hua sisters should be here! Where was a little sister to patch up the protagonists wounds and give him that tender care and warmth especially after his ordeal from the abyss.
Expecting danger, Binghe would be flighty.
Gongyi Xiao put away his sword and approached slowly raising his hands up.
"Are you injured? Do you need help?"
Since he was not a maiden, he was almost afraid Luo Binghe may be mad or have a possible Qi Deviation if he would attack Gongyi it seemed likely.
The other shifted, red eyes peeking out through black hair, Gongyi rested on one knee but approached no further.
"Luo Binghe-Shixiong?" He asked in shock, or pretend shock. Which of course had the other perk, finally taking in the golden disciple before him and the forest he was in. A huge contrast to the abyss.
"You..." his voice sounded rough from disuse Luo binghe swallowed "You know this one?"
Oh thank goodness a maiden wasn't here, she would've been distracted by such a tenous voice.
"Yes, uh- This one is Gongyi Xiao, Disciple of Huan Hua Palace. Both of us participated at the immortal alliance conference five years ago."
He gave him time to digest that as he saw the others face change going through a range of emotions before settling on nuetral.
He had no idea who the perfomance was for, there was no anger or ill intent there. Luo Binghe only looked lost, then slumped like his strings were cut. Anyone would be moved.
Gongyi had to give him an oscar.
Luo Binghe grunted, clutching his chest and Gongyi Xiao almost panicked then remembered no sudden moves.
Gongyi activated his emergency flare, "Don't worry, The Huan hua palace master should come for help soon," He spoke urgently as he hovered but stayed in Binghes line of sight.
"Can this one check Luo Binghes meridians?"
Luo Binghe nodded eyes shutting tight, Gongyi Xiao took his wrist and felt the termulous qi and went into another panic.
If Luo Binghe was exposed as a demon here, the Huan hua would shoot first ask questions later! Goddammit maybe a maiden DID stumble upon Luo Binghe and triggered a qi deviation that would then lead into some dub-con papapa!?
But dual cultivation wasn't on the cards since there were no little sisters around!
Gongyi Xiao began to push his own Qi against the others, hoping that he could help clear Binghes meridians the best he could.
In time he felt the other relax, his meridians beggining to soothe and Gongyi Xiao gave sigh of relief.
And just like that the cavalry appeared taking Luo Binghe into the Huan hua Palace. The beggining of Luo Binghes arc and the end to Gongyi Xiaos peace.
________________________________________________
Y'know what? Gongyi Xiao would get upset, but he was too busy marveling at the story parralells! Airplane was really holding out on him!
Of course Luo Binghe was introduced, all domineering and a force to be reckoned with. What would you expect from the protagonist? Gongyi Xiao found himself buckling under the pressure of extra duties, he struggled while Luo Binghe flourished and after a spar for the whole Huan hua palace to see along with Gongyi Xiaos humiliating defeat. Luo Binghe found himself as the new head disciple easily.
And Gongyi Xiao was ridiculed, beaten by the other Huan hua disciples who probably felt pent up about their own inadequicies and felt it justified to take it out on Gongyi. Then if that weren't enough, he found his position being pushed down further into the dirt.
Chores only younger and outer disciples were then delegated to him. He found himself in the kitchens working with the staff, doing laundry, and other menial work. Most forgot who he was and spoke to him with no respect before 'remembering'
Which is all fine and dandy, if Gongyi Xiao wasn't already doing it. Even the staff he worked with had to look at him bemused. Gongyi Xiao once he transmigrated knew he was going to get booted out. And if he was going to be a rogue cultivator he would have to learn how to cook and do meanial chores.
Although, laundry was on his to-do list. That was the one thing he kept putting off.
He was tired, battered and bruised from the rough housing of his martial siblings, his hands ached from chopping wood, heavy lifting of moving parcels and packages that the Huan Hua needed for some dumb reason as well as helping out in the kitchen.
His first excuse to weasel his way in was if he was going to be the Palace Master he needed to know the inns and outs, after seeing how hard working he was gained the respect of many. Which now they had to grimace realisng that their dreams of a more accomidating Palace Master went up in smoke with the arrival of Binghe.
Still, even with how quick the Palace mistress and master were Gongyi Xiao had to wrap and take care of his injuries himself.
And when he decieded to tackle laundry, even grimacing at the dirty clothes of Huan hua he had to bemoan why they used white and yellow- why not follow Binghes example and wear all black?
Of course when his hands touched the water along with the powder used to clean their clothes Gongyi Xiao immidietly yelped feeling as if he poured salt into tiny wounds in his hands. The heavy labour previously along with this made him grimace in pain, now that he was expecting it though he tried again to get through the first batch of clothes as quickly as possible.
He felt the hair rise on the back of his neck and turned to find a shadow in the doorway.
"You make it so easy," Luo Binghe spoke, his eyes devoid and looking down on Gongyi Xiao, both literally and figurtively. "To let others step all over you."
Gongyi Xiao couldn't help but press his lips together, you'd think for someone who was in this position himself Luo Binghe would be more sympathetic?
But alas, Luo Binghe saw himself in Gongyi Xiao, even the way he brightened with a smile.
"This one is afraid to misunderstand Luo Binghes meaning, this one wanted to help the burden we place on our staff and has learned so many things." He smiled, but inside he really wanted Luo Binghe to grow bored and walk away.
Instead Luo Binghe glanced at his hands, that were red and trembling slightly from the unused labour.
A sneer graced his handsome features as he turned in a clear dismissal.
"Pathetic."
...Gongyi Xiao had no idea what he was expecting, to see his favourite protagonist and to be dismissed like that, he hadn't even done anything- but of course he was a man a rival to Luo Binghe!
And yet...it still hurt.
Looking back on the past couple weeks building up to this, Gongyi Xiao stood straighter in his formation with the other disciples as they were doing drills together.
Of course!
Being bullied, facing grueling labour it was a parralell to Luo Binghes white lotus arc! And what next- Luo Binghe found himself falling to the same pattern as Shen Qingqiu that abuse leads to abuse?
Gongyi Xiao thought this was far fetched and yet, everything was leading up to it. He found himself cornered by Luo Binghe along with his followers.
"The Palace Mistress was looking for you, Shidi." Luo Binghe spoke, and Gongyi Xiao tensed, no way! She had no interest when he started to distance himself years prior why now?
"Thats cruel to ignore a buetiful lady, Shidi. No respect at all." He saw the others perk up and came to the conclusion.
Was the Palace Mistress like Ning Yingying? An excuse to beat up the sad underdog character?
And Luo Binghe found himself playing the same role as Ming Fan.
Maybe he thought it was normal, watching how the golden robe disciples would beat up on of their own, like hyenas respecting the strong and eating the weak.
Inside, Gongyi Xiao was miserable, running away and staying alert whenever Binghe or even his followers would find him and trying his hardest to keep busy with more work to avoid them. And when that failed he went to the library to cram as many books as he could soon he'll lose access to this sect and their knowledge might as well bulk up!
But it all came to a head, when Gongyi Xiao requested more missions. The more field work he can do alone, the easier he can get away from this sect!
Which of course, the Old Palace Master denied, claiming some cock and bullshit story about his daughter needing a body guard.
Look- if Gongyi Xiao witnessed Binghe and the mistress messing around he's dead! Game over!
With only local missions in the town near the sect, Gongyi Xiao felt depressed. Faking his death seemed to be the only option at this point.
"There you are!"
kill me. He thought before plastering a smile on his face.
palace mistress comes in, asks why hes avoding her- says he's not. She asks if hes upset about the position, he says he's relieved. That truthfully, he's never saw himself as a palace master. That he really wanted to work on his beastiary, he shows her some pages and tells her that thanks to Binghe he has all this free time and wants more missions to study these beasts but the old palace master said no because she needs bodyguarding.
She asks why
"Luo Binghe- he's the new head disciple and you seem to like him. He can take care of you."
"Thats not- but you promised! Why does it feel as if your giving up!"
"This one said the man who was stronger and more worthy to be Palace master should marry Xiao Gongzhu." He spoke softly "This one never thought it would be him. You like him too, wouldn't it be easier if I wasnt in the way?"
She didn't look happy, if anything she looked more annoyed.
"You've always wanted to run away. Now your using Luo Binghe as an excuse."
huh?
"You've never spoken to me for years you've avoided all of our martial siblings they kept saying you thought you were better than them. That you think your so good because you train and study. But I knew that wasn't true. Now that Luo Binghe is here you have more free time and yet I see even less of you! Do you hate Huan Hua that badly, you look down on us don't you!" She yelled close to tears, Gongyi Xiao flinched he had no clue where this was coming from.
But the truth was...he did look down on Huan hua, how could he not? In the books he always thought the sect was useless using their money to pay for talent and even then it meant nothing when they couldn't back it up.
If Huan hua weren't rich they would be the laughing stock of the sects! And Gongyi Xiao wanted to do better, he had a small hope that if he was good enough he could be a soldier for Luo Binghe like Mobei Jun he could be secure and safe and do whatever the heck he wanted. But it was scary if he was too competent Luo Binghe may kill him.
"This one became Head Disciple because there was no one better." He spoke placing his hands on his knees "But with Luo Binghe here, this one knows when he's beat, working hard means nothing compared to pure talent and Luo Binghe is someone this disciple trusts to be the new head of the Huan Hua Palance." He glanced at the mistress pressing her lips together.
"My whole plan was to take over as that was my duty but this one never wanted it. If anyone better came along this one would gladly step aside...this one figured Huan Hua was still my home even if that were the case."
"It IS your home Gongyi! You dont have to- to, pull away from us!"
He gave her a dry look "How can this one not feel unwanted with the way the other Martial siblings treat this one? You have also spent more time with Luo-Shixiong than this one so this disciple thought it'd better to give you space," He looked away with a grin "Give Luo-Shixiong the talk once he proposes."
"Now see here Gongy- wait propose?"
"Has he not proposed yet? tsk, this Shixiong of mine." Gongyi Xiao leered at the Mistress and she slapped his arm.
"Gongyi!"
He laughed and felt something inside his chest unravel as she laughed too.
"Your not going to leave?" Gongyi glanced at her in surprise "No- not unless you want me to go."
She nodded placing her head on his shoulder and Gongyi Xiao tensed then forced himself to relax.
"Gongyi Xiao never this one that way, has he?" She asked and Gongyi pressed his lips together.
"This one is sorry."
"Don't be, you can't force peoples feelings. We're childhood friends young love never usually works out."
For Luo Binghe it does, he thought then banished it from his mind after. "You need to show those martial siblings whose boss, just because Luo Binghe beat you doesn't mean you let everyone walk all over you. Show them you were head disciple for a reason." He shook his head "That'll just make them worse."
"Your a Huan hua disciple, you need to stick up for yourself."
Luo Binghe and Gongyi Xiao talk and Binghe still looks down on him before helping him with the luandry and calling Gongyi privaleged for taking such things for granted and probably had a taste of what working class go through and has the nerve to be upset? With others less fortunate and then acts happy to abandon all respobsibilites?
Gongyi feels ashamed, not just as himself but as Shen Yuan.
But working side by side with Luo Binghe both of their hands plunging into hot water, Gongyi Xiao spoke "This is why this one started doing this. I'm aware of how lucky this one is and wanted to help around the Huan Hua Palace whenever I could. And if this one went on more missions would have to learn how to be independent." He glanced at Luo Binghe and smiled "Binghe is so good at this, I wonder if there is anything he can't do."
Binghe was quiet for a moment so Gongyi Xiao went back to work wringing out the fabric to place in the basket to then put on the line, sure he could use drying tailsmans but he noticed a difference after a while as if some water pockets were still being stored in the fabric, long story short. Gongyi still felt damp.
So he cursed airplane as he pushed another fabric into the vat.
"This ones mother was a washerwomen." Binghe spoke softly and Gongyi Xiao stopped eyes looking up to Binghe in surprise.
Binghe noticed and scowled "Are you looking down on me?"
huh?
"What no!" Gongyi Xiao spoke in shock "I was- this one is just surprised that Luo-Shixiong feels comfortable enough to tell me." Gongyi Xiao couldn't surpress his smile. The fact that Luo Binghe actually told someone who wasn't a wife! That is a big deal- that is something Binghe would hold to his chest. Gongyi Xiao looked down feeling pleased that Binghe trusted him to tell him. If Gongyi was doing right maybe they could be friends.
He looked up and spoke "Theres nothing shameful about ones past, this one never understood why others would look down on people who did honest labour." He hummed, in the cultivation world and his own it was something he never understood.
But there was something he wanted Binghe to know, as a reader, something even his wives and closest allies never told him. Something even Ning Yingying never spoke about. And Gongyi knew he should keep his mouth shut. But he felt as if Luo Binghe should know.
"This one may not know much about people what their thoughts and feelings are, but I have a strong feeling...that..." Gongyi Xiao looked up at Luo Binghe who glanced at him, his expression nuetral as he kept working but glanced at him in this moment then paused at the look on Gongyi Xiaos face.
"Luo-Shixiong, this one knows your mother would be proud of you."
Binghe's eyes widened just a little and that raw emotion immedietly made Gongyi Xiao uncomfortable as he looked down scrubbing faster, why didn't he say that when he was going to put the clothes on the line he would've made a cool exit. ugh!
Now he made it awkward.
The only sounds of both of them washing the clothes he felt Luo Binghe stop and walk around him to place the cloth into the basket.
Gongyi Xiao cleared his throat "Thank you Shixiong, this shidi will take the rest from here."
As he moved to take the basket he heard Luo Binghe speak.
"What made you decide to do this? To lower yourself with the help?" He asked and Gongyi blinked as he looked up at him.
"Well, at first when this one was Head Disciple and had the responsibility of being the new Palace Master thought it made sense to know the ins and outs of the entire palace and how everything worked. And with some free time thought it was fair to help. We should all do our part to make Huan Hua Palace the best it can be." Gongyi grimaced as he glanced away.
"This one is aware of the rumours and our reputation and how the other sects look down on us that we buy our talent. This one wanted to change that," He glanced up at Luo Binghe and shrugged "And when rare talent presents itself this one thinks it best to know when to step aside."
"You have no issue with this one being the new head disciple?" Gongyi Xiao nodded hoping Luo Binghe would believe him.
"Honestly shixiong? This one would rather go on night hunts and study beasts and other demons, as a head disciple this one barely had any time and had to compromise and put Huan Hua first. Now with all this free time this one can study and hone this craft to my herts content!" Honestly protagonist this one will gladly give all Huan Hua resposibilty to you!
"A bit hard with no missions?" Luo Binghe asked and Gongyi Xiao grimaced "Yes, this one thought they would be glad to be rid of me."
"You noticed that? This one thought you were oblivious." Luo Binghe dried his hands on some cloth and Gongyi Xiao had to frown.
Did He think he was stupid? Who was he? Ning Yingying!?
"It was hard not to notice, this one just pretended he couldn't see."
The harsh light returned to Luo Binghes eyes, he almost looked angry and Gongyi Xiao's grip tightened on the basket, did he say something wrong?
"Why don't you fight back?"
"There doesnt seem to be a point, its understandable they probably feel bad about their own cultivation and want to take that frustration out on others. Its not something I can fault them for." He saw the jealousy, the envy and saw that when Luo Binghe bested Gongyi Xioa he saw their faces lighting up with hope.
"This one blames himself, by trying so hard with training and studying I allientated the others acted like I was too good for them. They probably leave me alone when they realise this one is human just like the rest of them."
"What if thats not what their thinking? They just want to hurt you and you make it so easy."
Luo Binghe said that before, saying he made it so easy.
Gongyi Xiao readjusted the basket on his hip and shrugged "They'll probably grow bored soon, thats if I can finally be allowed to go back on night hunts, do you know why the Old Palace Master wont let me go?"
Luo Binghe stared at him then looked away, "This one knows nothing."
Bullshit.
"This one will...make a request to the Old Palace Master and see if this will be straightened out." Gongyi blinked what-
"Wait, no Shixiong theres no need really- this one wouldn't want to waste your time!"
"Nonsense Shidi," Luo Binghe spoke a grin stretching his lips and Gongyi Xiao shivered as Luo Binghe made his way towards the door.
"This one is the Head Disciple of Huan hua, any complaints should be handled by me personally."
Luo Binghe left and Gongyi Xiao wondered if maybe he made this so much worse.
Strange after that he was then allowed free leave to join night hunts. Gongyi Xiao was so excited he had to find the Palace mistress to tell her- he had to tell someone and never realised she was the only friend he had. Which was terrible as she was soon to be Binghes wife!
He found the two and stopped running as he saw that both Luo Binghe and the mistress were alone together- shit. Was this the scene.
"Gongyi-Shidi?" Luo Binghe asked and Gongyi had to bow "Shixiong, Palace mistress. This one has to thank both of you."
Luo Binghe had a great poker face, but the amusement on the mistress face was all real.
"Oh for what?"
Gongyi Xiao looked up and pulled a face at her cheeky look. "The night hunts, this one has no clue which one asked the Palace Master but this one is grateful!"
"Here that Xiao Gongzhu? He's grateful."
"Hmm, maybe he should do something for us in return?"
Now Gongyi Xiao tensed shit what was it- he knew if the character Gongyi Xiao saw both Luo Binghe dual cultivating together it would trigger his death! Hopefully its a stupid favour and nothing so weird as that! But cuckholding and voyourism is a thing in PIDW.
"Gongy Xiao will have no choice but to join our wedding."
huh what!?
"Huh? Why waste a favour on that! this one wanted to come anyway! that is if this one was welcome!"
"Of course your welcome! You have to stand by my side! Your the closest to a brother this one has!" Gongyi Xiao eyes pricked.
He felt awful, to avoid the Palace mistress he thought she was a brat but now felt a kinship he glanced at Luo Binghe and had to swallow the lump in his throat.
"Luo-Shixiong doesn't mind."
"Xiao Gongzhu wouldn't have the wedding unless Gongyi Xiao was there."
Gongyi had to bow again "Congragulations to you both!" He spoke a wide grin on his face.
Before Luo Binghe changed and began to warm up to Gongyi Xiao, during his conistent torment and bullying there was something he was looking forward too. As the sect was remaining quiet about Luo Binghe being head disciple and it was still Gongyi as the acting head, meant that during certain events Gongyi was able to reveal his ugly mug to the world!
A festival was being produced in their town that the sect was living with. And of course all of the Huan Hua disciples can GO!
They were given an allowance and were able to have a night of fun! Like cinderella going to a ball Gongyi Xiao was looking forward to it. There was going to be fireworks and food and a break from all of his work and-
He bumped into Luo Binghe as he rounded a corner and saw the instant hatred flash across the others face before it was hidden with a polite smile.
"Careful, Shidi." Even the way he spoke scared him. Gongyi Xiao accidently uttered "I prefered your other face." Being glared at was less scary than this polite smile!
"Hm?"
"Apologies, Shixiong." Gongyi Xiao bowed "This one was just excited for the festival."
"A festival?"
"Yes, the people down town put it up every year and we get to go down and celebrate- wait...Hadn't the Palace Mistress told you?" Gongyi Xiao paused his ramblings as he asked, shouldn't both she and Binghe go together?
Luo Binghe shook his head "This one wasn't invited." Gongyi Xiao gaped "Invited- of course you're coming! Its for all the Huan hua disciples! Luo-Shixiong is a Huan disciple, so this Shidi will see you there- oh we have to go to the Old Palace Master first he gives us an allowence to spend while we're down there." Gongyi Xiao spoke and saw Luo Binghe smile become a little bit more real as he realised he could go to.
Maybe Luo Binghe needs to feed his inner child more.
"You should ask the Palace Mistress to go with you, there light lanterns near the end and release them into the sky and make a wish." Gongyi Xiao spoke, almost reaching out to lightly nudge Luo Binghe then aborted it half way when Luo Binghes eyes tracked it.
Gongyi Xiao laughed nervously "Ah- ha well, see you at the festival, Luo Shixiong." He gave a farewell and ran away feeling red eyes watching him leave.
Of course Gongyi Xiao may have been a bit biased with his...allowance. He was in the crowd already splitting of from his group of disciples, he wanted food and souvineers and yet his pocket change was just that, pocket change! He sneaked a glance and saw that both his Shidi's and Shixiong had triple the amount he had.
No fair!
He lit a candle for himself and counted, okay so he had enough to buy two maybe three things with some food and that was it. He'll just have to be happy with Window shopping!
As Gongyi Xiao walked down the stalls, watching the crowd go by he brightened at the smell of one of the stalls and saw the steam rising from the food. He was salviating. making up his mind he bought a meat bun and some tanghulu and was about to walk away until he passed a dark corner of the allyway. He glanced down and gave eye contact to twin pairs of eyes and immedietly froze.
Two children in rags and covered in much stood there eyeing his food with a hungry gaze.
Gongyi Xiao bit his lip, his own hunger vanished he could practice inedia for crying out loud!
Gongyi Xiao approached and saw one of the children tense up, fight or flight instincts kicking in.
"It's okay, here, I accidently bought too much earlier and find myself stuffed full- can you help me take these from my hands?" He passed the bun to the boy, he realised once he got closer on one leg and then passed the Stick of sticku fruit to the girl.
He patted one on the head "There we go, where's your parents?"
"Don't have any, they make us beg for money and if we dont bring any back they'll beat us up." Gongyi Xiao bit his lip. IF he was still head disciple he could've taken these kids in to the sect where the Palace Master used to wave away anything Gongyi did, as long as he was his prized gifted disciple he could ask any favour.
Gongyi Xiao never realised he would lose that.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his allowence seeing the boys eyes widen.
"Here you go, its not much." The girl teared up "Thank you gege."
Gongyi Xiao may have been conned but at this point he didn't care. "Watch out in these dark corners, there are weird people here. You should leave in case someone comes." Both nodded the boy grinned with a gap in his teeth and Gongyi heart melted as he gave them one final pat and and stood to walk away.
It felt awful to leave them, but he doubted the Palace Master would accept them not with the way the other martial siblings make comments about the working class.
Gongyi Xiao kept going through the festival gazing at the stalls and things they have to offer, he almost stumbled when two Huan hua disciples ran past with paper kites in their hand he found himself smiling. At least they were having fun.
He trailed to a stop outside the stall with fans.
He remembered using a fan at home when it got uncomfortably hot, he himself saw other people in the Huan Hua court using fans both men and women and honestly he wanted one. He was so sick of smiling all the time.
His hand reached out and picked up a golden fan, the wood was black and had a black lotus in the middle. It was so pretty.
"Does the young master like this fan?" The other asked and Gongyi smiled reaching into his pocket for his purse then paused- he gave it away earlier.
The stall owner saw the look on the others face and his own fell into an annoyed look.
"How much for these fans?" A voice asked beside him and Gongyi almost moved out the way to place the fan back down as he couldn't afford it. He looked up and almost fell back in shock.
"Peak Lord Shen!" He gasped then bowed with the fan as he rememberd himself, "This disciple greets Shen-Gongzhu!"
He saw the other look down on him a sneer on his face. And Gongyi wanted to kick himself goddammit, what the hell was Luo Binghes scum shizun doing here?
The other hummed and Gongyi realising that was a dissmisal or at least he sure hoped it was! Placed the golden fan down lest he accidently walked away with it.
"How much for this fan?" Shen Qingqiu asked picking up the golden one that Gongyi Xiao was wanting. Gongyi was rooted to the spot wondering why Shen Qingqiu would buy such a guady [well Gongyi was guessing he always came to those yearly Sect meetings the palace master and Shen Qingqiu always made it known how much he hated yellow!]
And here he was buying the most trashiest [in his words] fan!
Gongyi Xiao really liked that fan he figured he could probably come back and beg the allowence from the Palace Mistress if he had to.
Shen Qingqiu opened it up with a flare then twirled it in a certain way that had Gongyi watched in fascination.
"Does the young Disciple know the fan language?" Shen Qingqiu asked then held out his green fan that had a turqoise tassle attatched. Gongyi blinked as he realised he was supposed to take it.
"N-no Peak Lord Shen." He spoke bowing as he took the fan. He could feel the eyes of Shen Qingqiu look straight through him and wanted to squirm in place.
"Any interest?" Gongyi Xioa nodded "Yes, this one found a manual and thought it was fascinating to speak to others without speaking." Shen Qingqiu was quickly fanning his face with one half covering his face before slowing down. It must be hot for him, his peak was high in the mountains with bamboo after all.
"Oh? So what do you know so far?" Gongyi Xiao blinked "Oh um, just two uh," using the fan he Shen Qingqiu gave him he demonstrated keeping it closed it placed it on the left and right cheek.
"Hmm and does this disciple know what that means?"
"The left cheek with the closed fan means no and the right side means yes."
"Very good."
It was weird hearing praise from Shen Qingqiu, Gongyi Xiao has had no experience with others praise especially since he excluded hiself from them so of course this life like his old life he was a recluse a neet. And an exceptionally thin face.
He opened his fan and covered half his face with it "Thanking Shen-Gongzhu." He spoke hiding half his face with it.
"Oh? Does Young Master Gongyi know the name of this one?" He asked and Gongyi Xiao immidietly moved his fan away from his face "No- did this one say something rude? This one apologises!"
And Shen Qingqiu laughed, but feeling as if he was insulted Gongyi Xiao's face twitched.
Shen Qingqiu closed his fan "If you want, this master is willing to teach you how to use the fans personally."
Now he almost dropped the fan but remembering it was the peak lords tightened his hold.
"This- this one is sorry?"
Shen Qingqiu tilted his head up as his eyes gazed down "You heard this Master. You should come to Cang Qiong sect, leave Huan Hua and be my disciple."
...huh?
Gongyi Xiao mouth fell open "W-why would Peak Lord Shen want this one?"
"This master has been digging around," He spoke as he began to walk forward and Gongyi stumbled to follow "Some concerning letters arriving at the other Sects, makes this one curious."
Fuck- fuck, fuck!
"And this Master has done some digging." He stopped at a stall and of food that Gongyi Xiao wanted for himself and watched how Shen Qingqiu bought a stick of tanghulu.
What he stole his golden fan and now he's going to eat in front of Gongyi what a scumbag.
Until the stick was passed into his hands, Gongyi Xiao blinked surprised as Shen Qingqiu began walking and he followed in step.
"It seems as if your sect isn't treating this disciple well, if Huan hua abuses its disciples Cang Qiong qill gladly take you away from it."
Gongyi Xiao almost laughed, Shen Qingqiu had to be joking, right?
He saw Gongyi Xiaos face and sneered "You wear your heart on your sleeve. Thats a nasty habit." Gongyi Xiao schooled his expression.
"How does Peak Lord Shen know this one is being abused?"
Gongyi Xiao couldn't help it, some amusement slipped through.
"This Master noticed your hands, they're calloused and cut in certain skin. Repetitive stress not something created from a sword and too small a wound from a beast or demon. The wounds seem old as well, it can be healed in less than a week but yours still linger because the wounds aren't weeks old, they are new." Gongyi almost looked at his hands but refrained from doing so, he instead bit into a piece of sugared fruit to keep silent.
"Why would the Head Disciple be doing menial labour and be left alone? Why would he have no money to spare for the festival in his hometown?" Shen Qingqiu asked and Gongyi Xiao swallowed.
"This humble one likes working with the staff of Huan Hua palace and thinks its fair to help when this one can, and t-this one is terrible with money and spent it all at the start on food- really this is a foolish disciple too stupid for Qing Jing Peak." He said.
He did wonder why Shen Qingqiu cared or maybe was trying to find evidence of abuse, since Shen Qingqiu was a scum villain maybe he would make a fuss from projecting his own crimes to another sect!
Or maybe he did want Gongyi Xiao as a disciple maybe he was missing his punching bag Luo Binghe and wanted to replace him as soon as possible!
Heck no- he was not moving from the frying pan into the fire- literally! Cang Qiong burns to the ground even miserable beaten bloody and blue and even crying himself to sleep he is much safer in the Palace sleeping under the dragon than moving into its line of sight!
"Really? Giving all of your money away to street beggers is quite foolish." Shen Qingqiu nodded and Gongyi Xiao stopped walking.
"You saw that?" Was Shen Qingqiu watching him?
Shen Qingqiu turned around with a smirk. "This Master makes it his buisness to know everything." He stepped towards Gongyi Xiao towering over him and the other almost fell backward into a stall.
"After all of those...intriguing letters this one thought you would jump at a chance to finally ask this Master yourself about those rumours." Gongyi Xiao gulped.
It was true Gongyi Xiao was sending letters out, about Shen Qingqiu and finding dirt on him. Gongyi Xiao was foolish enough to think if he had paper evidence he could hand gift wrap him to Luo Binghe and save his own neck!
Now he had both the Scum Villain and the protagonists attention! The opposite of what he wanted!
"Master Shen wasn't the only one this disciple was investigating," Gongyi Xiao spoke standing straighter his hand gripping the green bamboo fan tightly in his hand.
"The Huan Hua palace speiciises in arrays but also is known for Justice. As a-" [Former] "Head Disciple, this one wanted to look at the history of the sects and found some inconsistencies."
Shen Qingqiu tilted his head like a snake waiting to strike.
"Most people in the sects prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, if you stick your nose in other peoples buisness they'll make an enemy out of you. Even your history of being a honourable cultivator will be ignored if you make the world your enemy."
Was this a threat?
Gongyi Xiao's eyes narrowed "The Cultivation world needs to know the truth, of men in power who hurt those weaker than themselves and get away with it."
Shen Qingqiu still looked amused the golden fan lowering down to tilt Gongyi Xiaos chin.
"Does this list also include the Old Palace Master?"
Gongyi Xiao couldn't very well say it, but yes. A diary in fact of all of the Palace Masters misdeeds all hidden safely under a wooden floorboard in one of the rooms of the Huan Hua Palace.
Gongyi couldn't express but a slow tilt of his head downwards as he kept eye contact had Shen Qingqiu break out into a grin.
Well in his own way it was small for others but Gongyi Xiao found himself staring.
The fact that the Scum Villain was smiling at him made him realise his survival rate has probably dropped considerably.
"Very well then, this Master will contact the old Palace Master about a disciple conference, this Master will personally teach you fan language and would like to foster relations between the Sects of Huan hua and Cang Qiong" Shen Qingqiu closed his fan placing the tip to touch his ear on his right "This Master awaits your response."
And he disapeared into the crowd and Gongyi Xiao found himself holding his fan.
He glanced down at it eyes furrowed. Was this...a bad omen?
He pressed his lips together starting to feel the slow claws of panic gripping his chest, anxiety wasn't something new, he was starting to have nightmares of the Huan Hua disciples kicking him out of the palace, weirdly from a cliff?
Or times when the Palace mistress was chasing him in the maze of the water prison calling him pathetic and criticizing his man hood that was a weird one. Or the same dreams of being killed forgotten and alone, and other times Luo Binghe was in it. Of course he would dream of him but the stuff he spoke about didn't make sense.
Gongyi Xiao would always ask him if he found the secret entrance of the library. Which of course there was none in the Huan Hua Palace so if Binghe was using his dream magic and found that Gongyi Xiao was talking a loud of crap? well- jeez no wonder the other was angry.
Still he couldn't exactly toss this fan into a river, if Shen Qingqiu learned he 'lost' his fan he might actually whip and beat him up. Disciple from another sect be damned!
But then again...he pursed his lips spreading the fan wide. If he was trusted by Shen Qingqiu...wouldn't that give Luo Binghe an opening. He remembered reading in the chapters that it took a lot of time and precision to invite Cang Qiong to Huan hua that wasn't the yearly Sect meeting. And he couldn't let Shen Qingqiu know he was alive yet, but this could be helpful to him!
"See this one told you!" He looked up to see Luo Binghe with the Palace mistress clinging to his arm along with a few Huan Hua disciples crowding around them.
One pointed a finger "See he has his fan! Gongyi Xiao was making plans to leave for another sect!"
Gongyi Xiaos eyes widened "What? Thats not true!"
Luo Binghe was already watching Gongyi Xiao, and he knew fan language and felt himself growing angry when he saw his Shizun acting so familiar with Gongyi Xiao.
The way Gongyi Xiaos used his Shizuns fan to say 'this one is willing.'
Luo Binghe almost spat blood at the sight, watching his Shizun flirt shamelessly and Gongyi Xiao seemed to be taking it too well!
The demon lord no longer felt that he had to worry about his wives with Gongyi Xiao as his interest obviously laid elsewhere! He could see the panic on the others face slowly turn to irritation.
"This one has no intention of leaving Huan Hua," He spoke then shoke his head "Only death will release this one from his duties as a disciple of Huan Hua Palace. Shen-Gonzhu only offered to teach this one fan language- none of you know it!" At this the others were quiet as it was true, none knew or even wanted to learn fan language.
The Palace mistress perked up "Fan language? Whats that?" Gongyi Xiao brightened "A secret language to communicate to others without speaking." She immedietly shook Luo Binghes arm.
"This one also wants to learn! Binghe-Shiziong do you know fan language?"
"This one does not."
Gongyi Xiao closed the fan clasping it in both hands as he looked up at Luo Binghe "This one wanted to learn from Shen-Senior. to [word for alliances and making stronger bonds] As a member of the Huan hua palace wishes to make strong ties with other Sects thats what the letters originally were from." Gongyi Xiao bowed to the group "This one never cleared up the misunderstanding, this disciple never wished to leave Huan Hua only wanted to create stronger connections. As a head disciple thought it was imperative to make allies." He stood up to look Luo Binghe in the eye then the others.
One of the disciples sneered "Bullshit, you've been caught red handed - literally! You're carrying Shen Qingqius favour and want to be a disciple of the Cang Qiong Sect!"
Gongyi shook his head horror on his face "If this one wanted to leave for another sect this one had plenty of years to do so."
Luo Binghe spoke "Enough, it's clear Gongyi Xiao had no intention of leaving. There's no need to bully him."
The Palace mistress humped "Luo-Shixiong is right, this is a festival! We should be having fun!" She tugged Binghes arm "Come on Shixiong, the lanterns are this way." Gongyi watched as a small mistress pulled the giant of a shixiong who tumbled after her and felt his own face split into a smile. Luo Binghe should be having fun. He hoped Shen Qingqiu didn't ruin it for him.
________
Gongyi Xiao lost his fan.
And of course the Old Palace master wanted to send Gongyi Xiao to the conference swap, he pulled Gongyi Xiao aside to remind him to report back anything suspicious of the peak lord.
Uh yeah he would report Gongyi Xiaos dead body if he didn't find this fan! He left it right at his desk to be safe!
If he turned up to the Cang Qiong peak without it he was beyond dead!
Upset, even after turning his room inside out had nothing to show for it. He went to bed hopefully to sleep it off and wake up with a clear head and can think of something else until then.
Of course his dreams were filled with anxiety too, he dreamed he was in his room pulling everything apart, even destroying the floorboards he had a habit on hiding things in there.
"Lost something, Shidi?" A voice asked he turned to see Luo Binghe and blinked "Ah Shixiong, the sun is going down." He gestured at his window where the sunlight flickered before vanishing.
Another stress induced dream, he was looking for his fan and couldn't find it. The only reason he even wanted to go to Shen Qingqiu was to create an opening for Luo Binghe. Without it theres no point- but if he makes Shen Qingqiu have more reason to hate Huan Hua would make it harder to get him here for the trial.
"This one can't find Peak Lord Shens fan, its missing and this one has to find it!"
Luo Binghe crouched down beside him tilting his head.
"Why is that?"
"Without the fan theres no point going, the whole reason this one is even doing this is for Luo-Shixiong."
"...Why are you doing this for this lord?" Luo Binghe asked after a while and Gongyi Xiao glanced up at him.
"Luo-Shixiong was hurt by Shen Qingqiu, there were rumours of his abuse and the fact that Binghe is here instead of returning to Cang Qiong means something awful happened." He went back to looking around in a mad scramble.
"This one will do anything to help Luo-Shixiong even help find him an opening to bring Shen Qingqiu to justice!" Gongyi Xiao bit his lip trying to find something but found nothing.
"Luo-Shixiong has done nothing to support his Shidi, why would you waste your time with scum like that?"
Gongyi Xiao glared "Don't say that! Luo Binghe is a good disciple and had done nothing wrong! Its obvious that he has rotten luck and the world has been too cruel to him."
Now he was annoyed at this dream and that he lost the fan. He slumped against the wall pouting, might as well feel sorry for himself who was going to see it.
"This one is going to have to cancel, this one only wanted to support Binghe as a martial brother should."
Luo Binghe stood up and moved around the room, Gongyi Xiao watched. The more he watched the more he suddenly had a sinking feeling.
Most of his dreams have been strange and different, but the more this dream wore on the more Gongyi Xiao was aware this was a dream. He subtly glanced at his hands and counted, it was something he tried for fun when he remembered he was dreaming and found the more he counted the more fingers would appear.
Here they stayed consistent, Gongyi Xiao tensed. This was Luo Binghe- his dream malipulation.
"Shidi." The other spoke and Gongyi gave him his entire attention and saw how Binghe went towards his dresser and placed his hand in his disciple robe pocket and pulled out the fan.
"You must have put it in here at the festival and forgot."
Gongyi Xiao blinked "Oh- oh! That could've happened! Thank you Luo-Shixiong."
If he woke up is that where it'll be? Gongyi Xiao had no clue...
When Gongyi awoke the next morning he felt pure panic- if Luo Binghe was in his dreams he was screwed he can't even remember half of his dreams what if he said something stupid!?
He looked at his robe and felt trepidition. He walked over in his under robes and checked the pockets.
Nothing. No Fan.
Gongyi Xiao relaxed. So the dream was a fluke, thank god for that. Even so he had to be careful just in case. It wont help his anxiety being wary of both his dreams and the waking world.
And the worse of it? he was supposed to travel to Cang Qiong mountain without Shen Qingqius fan. He may as well chisel his gravestone now.
As Gongyi Xiao was at the entrance of Huan hua about to mount his sword he heard the Palace mistress yell for his name. He turned to see both the Palace Mistress and Luo Binghe accompany her as they came towards him.
"Gongyi Xiao! We found your fan!"
Gongyi Xiao almost stumbled over on air, as Luo Binghe held out the fan with his fan "You should be more careful with this, Shidi."
Gongyi Xiao took it and noticed how warm the handle was, he looked up at Binghe with a grateful look.
"Luo-Shixiong! Thank you very much!" He bowed, now he doesn't have to worry anymore! And he can be helpful to Binghe!
Luo Binghe spoke "The Palace Master told this one that you are to report to this disciple about all meetings and correspondance with peak lord Shen." Gongyi Xiao blinked, oh- oh!
Gongyi Xiao perked up "This one will report to Luo-Shixiong upon his return!" Luo Binghe was his handler and with this good news.
He could prove his loyalty to Luo Binghe! And avoid his terrible ending!
"Go- you don't want to keep Peak Lord Shen waiting."
The little princess gasped "Wait- Gongyi, be careful! This one heard rumours of Shen Qingqius leacherous reputation! You should be careful and tell us if he does anything!"
Neither noticed Luo Binghes gaze darkening, especially when Gongyi Xiao laughed.
"Please Shiemei," He mounted his sword looking self assured "Shen Qingqiu only likes women, so this one is perfectly safe!"
Now both Luo Binghe and Xiao Gongzhu blinked as they watched Gongyi Xiao sped away on his sword.
"Binghe," The palace mistress spoke suddenly getting a bad feeling.
"If anything happened to Gongyi Xiao- if Shen Qingqiu tried anything with him." Luo Binghe cupped her face his own eyes matching her vitriol to protect their martial sibling.
"This one promises, any harm to Gongyi Xiao this one will repay tenfold." She relaxed in his grip then tensed again biting her lip.
"B-but Gongyi Xiao never tells anyone his troubles what if he pretends nothings wrong to not disrupt sect relations?"
"It wont come to that, this one will take care of Gongyi Xiao and make him feel safe enough to tell him any of his burdens."
Luo Binghe had originally written of Gongyi Xiao, but the martial sibling appeared like a fairy, spirting him away to the Huan hua and tried to help Binghe where he could, Binghe was distracted with organising his marriages with the Qin siblings and his marriage to the palace mistress and establishing his place here he forgot about the ex-head disciple.
Now he found this shidi of his, interesting and strangely loyal from what his dreams told Binghe. He felt as if he shared the Palace mistresses fire to protect Gongyi who strangely wormed his way to Luo Binghes affections. Now seeing the man fly away towards his Scum Villain he couldn't help but feel as if he was too late to stop him. If Luo Binghe planned this right he could gain Gongyi Xiao's loyalty and both could stage a cou to get rid of the Palace Master.
Until this meeting, Luo Binghe would just have to bide his time.
Okay I called Shen 'Gongzhu' at one part thats a mistake- I forgot what the name for senior/daoist priest was called the thing disciples call and older cultivator who is NOT their shizun and the name began with a G and I forgot what it was- I'll fix it later.
Also this is TOOOO long so I'm going to have to split it into parts and post my writings here- I dont think of my story ideas as linear I just write 'scenes' tiny chapters in random parts then once I create it try to write the filler/timeline after. So if this is flip flopping back and forth sorry-
I thought it would be a cool parralell that Luo Binghe who was a white lotus then blackened then see's Gongyi Xiao and comes to the horrible realisation that Shen Qingqiu was right. He saw right through Binghe and saw that something was wrong with him. Binghe see's himself in the way Gongyi is bullied and ostricised by his group and finds sick delight from it. But when he see's how Gongyi takes the abuse there are no dark looks, no mutterings he always takes the abuse with a smile and it burns Luo Binghe. Why doesn't he fight back? So he keeps poking wanting to see Gongyi Xiao prove to him that its a front, he's only acting nice but deep down he's scum like the Huan hua disciples, like his Shizun like everyone. But when Gongyi Xiao keeps proving him wrong makes Luo Binghe realise he's acting just like his Shizun. Nothing more than a beast.
It is fairly well known that China has a pollution problem. Of course it’s most noticeable on the worst days, of which we’ve had a few lately. The first two photos (not mine) demonstrate the extremes, a combination of smog, haze, and fog juxtaposed with a relatively bright and clear day (different seasons/times but same location). The bad air quality makes me really appreciate the nice days, but in the winter there is much more fog here which can be mistaken for smog.
Yesterday (the bottom two photos) we had an incredible amount of radiation fog for most of the day and it was really amazing. The density was such that it would condense on tree limbs and drip, but not so much that it rained. It thankfully did eventually rain, which improved visibility enough for me to bike to the gym. Anyway, yes the pollution is bad but there are always nice days to balance it out, and the fog can be really cool from a climatology standpoint.
Lately the weather in Gongyi has been overcast and rainy, but a few weeks ago we had a day of clear skies and clean air. The rarer the beautiful days are the more we appreciate them, but the haze and smog is a strong push factor when considering future plans. The top photo is mine, the rest are student photos, taken with what I can assume are much better cameras than my phone’s.
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I'm having trouble sitting down doing one or two long posts about Beijing so I've decided to do one photo at a time... and apparently drag this out for forever. This photo was taken from a bridge we traversed during an exceptionally long walk through the city looking for Tienanmen Square. Beijing is a beautiful, modern, clean, sophisticated, culturally diverse city that wasn't nearly as polluted as I expected. Which may mean that Gongyi was even more polluted than I thought. Certainly it is a garbage dump compared to Beijing.
Oh, of all the times to not have my camera with me!
I was just going to the store real quick, that's all. But then a student happened upon me and said hello. She was, in her words, "a little sad" because she had nothing to do. So I suggested we go get something to eat.
I was hungry. And I'd half considered finding some food while I was out, so it made sense to ask if she wanted to eat with me. Besides, she can read menus and I can't.
We end up at a place I've only been to once, and that was with a group of people a long time ago. I told her I wanted tofu and vegetables. We ended up with an eggplant dish, green beans, and a cucumber salad type thing. I think she confused eggplant and tofu.
The eggplant was so good. So good. It wasn't the usual sweet and sour eggplant I usually get at a restaurant two doors down from the place we went to today. This dish was very lightly breaded with hot pepper sauce, and ever so slightly sweet. I think I like it better than the sweet and sour eggplant.
So we were chatting over our late lunch and I mentioned that I liked the eggplant so much that I'd like to make it someday but wouldn't know how. So she offered to find out. And she did!
She asked the owner, who sat shirtless at a table drinking beer and watching the news on the flatscreen TV mounted on the wall.
They talked for a long time. Then he got up and went to the kitchen for a large can of custard powder, telling her that it would be difficult to acquire, but if I could find it he'd share the recipe. And he did!
Frankie (the student; not one of my students, just a student who was bored and saw a foreign teacher so got up her nerve to say hello) wrote down the name of the custard powder, then the owner took over and wrote down all the steps of how to make the dish. In Chinese of course.
Then he went one step further and took us back into the kitchen where he showed us step by step what to do! Wow. So cool. I wish I'd had my camera. Or at least my phone. All I was doing was running to the store quick. I hadn't planned on a sightseeing trip!
The kitchen was a back room roughly twelve feet by sixteen feet. On two walls were shelves and counters crammed with boxes and chopped vegetables and boxes and who knows what all. On one wall was a giant cook-top, sort of like what a short order cook uses to make burgers and pancakes in a diner. Except this cook-top was gas powered and had two giant woks on circular bases. Down the center of the room was a metal table with three rows of about a dozen containers in each row of condiments. Chinese condiments, of course: hot peppers, pepper oils, salt, white granules (probably sugar and MSG and three other things, but I have no idea), peanuts, sliced green onion, garlic, and a bunch of unidentifiable stuff. The whole room was dirty, smelly (in part due to the overflowing trash can), dingy, dark, and not at all like the professional kitchens you see on TV.
The man got an eggplant from a different room, cut off the top, peeled it, and sliced it. Here's the kind of eggplant he used:
Then he put it in a colander type basket, ran it under water, and sprinkled corn flour on it. Not yellow corn flour, white corn flour. Frankie spelled out corn to make sure I knew she was saying corn flour, so it must have been corn flour, but it looked like wheat flour. Anyway, after he lightly coated the eggplant with corn flour he sprinkled on a little bit of custard powder. He fried that in oil and added sliced green onions, minced garlic, two kinds of pepper oil, chopped peppers, a little bit of salt, two kinds of white granules, and a brown powder, and cooked that together.
Frankie is going to translate the instructions for me and give them to me later this week when we meet again for lunch.
While I waited for the owner to write down the instructions I watched the news. There were several stories in a row about flooding in the eastern coastal cities of China. Really terrible, with washed out bridges and stranded trains and buses nearly covered in water. Then the news switched over to a Chinese reporter in Oklahoma doing a story about underground tornado shelters some residents are installing. Though she only spoke Chinese, she demonstrated the installation so well that I think I could manage it myself. She also interviewed a couple of Americans, and let me tell you, that was weird seeing people speak English on a Chinese news station.
I swear I will never leave my apartment again without my camera. Who knew a trip to the store would turn into a once in a lifetime cooking lesson in the dark and dingy kitchen of tiny restaurant?
I think since I've been here, I'm guestimating of course, that it's never rained more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time, and rarely at that. So it was funny, but not really funny, to look out and see a woman holding an umbrella against the rain while she watered the dirt patches that are supposed to have grass but are way too dry.
It did stop raining of course, though I stopped paying attention to when. I was busy. In the afternoon I tore myself away from what I was doing to do some food shopping.
Just as I stepped out the door freezing rain began spitting from the sky. Wonderful. But like I said, it doesn't rain for long here, which is why it's not at all strange to see someone watering while it's raining.
I waited for what seemed like forever for the bus. Meanwhile it warmed up enough that the freezing rain/sleet turned to plain old rain.
Two hours later I returned home with a soaked windbreaker, jeans soaked to the knees, soaked shoes (this would have been a perfect time for my boots, but who knew it was going to rain like this!), and soaked socks. And it's still raining.
Is this what they call monsoon season in dry, Middle Kingdom China?
