The Northern Consort used to be a spy, don't you know? A good one, too...only the heavens know how far that particular web goes, but it benefits the Emperor's reign, and the Empress is found of him, so who are we to judge, eh?
[+200 Better Lore points!]
Empress Shen is finally here, my God! How difficult was this particular beast, eh? It took me, like, five or six redesigns! The balance between feminine and masculine really kicked my ass here...I think I did pretty well, if you take in account everything. I'm proud of myself, so all of you must be nice to me.
The drama is set during the warring states period, my inspiration was mostly from how they costumed the Queen of Zhao, the dowager Queen of Qin and Haolan when she finally becomes the Queen of Qin. They are all gorgeously dressed, I recommend watching it PURELY for the costuming and also the scheming women.
The design was immensely inspired by the Chinese drama The Legend of Haolan. The main character just has this impeccable Shen Qingqiu face-card, every time I see her I just think 'Yes, Shen Qingqiu, for sure.' Here's her, for reference:
For Shang Qinghua, things were so much easier, though; I watched some episodes of Story of Yanxi Palace and was struck by inspiration™. He was so easy to draw! It's all very Qing dynasty inspired, it just fits him, I think.
It took me so very long to draw the jewellery and the embroidery in both of them...I admire the people who actually do metal and needlework. Heroes, all of them.
The pearl makeup is one of my favourite ancient Chinese makeup trends; I just had to put it in. It's a very fancy form of Huadian, which is where you draw forms, mostly flowers and other pretty things on your face using paints, powders, pearls, gems and glued flowers, and it was popular from the Tang dynasty onwards. The ICONIC pearl Huadian was popularized in the Song dynasty because it (shockingly) represented modesty and elegance.
Shen Qingqiu's greenest ornaments are made out of imperial jade, which is characterized by this vibrant emerald green colour and great translucency. It's also the most expensive type of jade ever.
The! Nail! Guards! Make! A! Comeback!
Shang Qinghua's ornaments are, in the other hand, made out of pearls - for elegance, wisdom, and wealth, and blue jade, for serenity, peace of mind and self-reflection. Mobei-jun buys all of his husband's jewellery with intention, for sure.
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Look, tgcf is my fav book of the three but scum system has my fav fandom. There's almost no fights, everything is a shitpost or the longest analysis you'll ever see in your life, we're never going to get a second season, the commercial in the donghua has sqq create pads with his inmortal powers, you could make a fic where the sects got into a football tournament because of sqq and no one would bat an eye.
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I get that calling white lotus lbh a sticky little 'sheep' is a canon translation and stuck in the fandom now anyway, but I do feel the intended spirit of the original word wasn't the sheeple/dumb herd animal that's more common in the western world, but instead something actually conveying sweetness, innocence, purity and youth - lamb.
Famous for being utterly adorable and following around their mothers, gambolling in sunny meadows, curly white wool shining.
And NOW we can talk about black sheep/wolf in sheep's clothing metaphors.
Okay so, both Shen Jiu and Wu Yanzi come across an abandoned hut on the side of a river, the river is also violent and not shallow so it's the perfect dumping spot for bodies.
So when both Demonic cultivator and disciple come across a man sleeping in the shade it was obvious Wu Yanzi planned on mugging him then using the body for demonic cultivation-
So after Shen Jiu waits outside as look out, acting bored. It was normal for the screams to begin that was usual.
"Shen Jiu! Help this Master!"
The fact that it was his Master screaming in pain? not usual?
Shen Jiu ran forward to the doorway in time to see the sleeping man, with a demonic face bite into Wu Yanzi savagaly, blood gushing from his neck then the demon? Threw his master on the floor and spat-
"Not only do you have the nerve to attack this one- you don't even have the decency to be a filling meal!"
A-a Jiangshi!
Wu Yanzi was dead on the floor and the Jiangshi gazed at him, raising his clawed hands gestured.
"you. Come here."
Shen Jiu wanted to run but suddenly his feet was moving forward, the man sliced open his finger then raised it.
"Swallow."
Shen Jiu face twitched in disgust, as the finger pushed and rubbed against his tongue then withdraw as he swallowed.
"Now you are my servant, dispose of this trash and guard me while I sleep during the day."
Shen Jiu scowled but did as he was told, not before pilfering Wu Yanzi's items before dumping the body in the river. It seemed he had some freedom within his orders.
And it appeared he traded one master for another.
When the sunlight set, the man immedietly groaned as he arched his back.
"That was the worst fucking nap of my entire unlife- oh you're still here."
"Obviously." Shen Jiu sneered, and the man rolled his eyes.
"Great- well this should work out for me. The night is short, and this humble master never wants to be out in te sunlight."
Telling Shen Jiu his weakness?
Either he was stupid, unlikely or he was testing Shen Jiu with this knowledge.
Wu Yanzi wasn't so different.
When they journeyed to a local village, luckily close to the rampaging rivers, the Jiangshi gave Shen Jiu money.
"Go find a nice inn for us, and buy something for yourself after."
Shen Jiu scowled, as the man vanished and Shen Jiu walked away, he couldn't run even when he tried to...although stopping outside a brothel and was able to enter and purchase some rooms.
...Guess he did have some freedom with how the command is worded.
He was able to go to a blacksmiths and buy some blades. Small knifes were the most affordable- and easy to hide and steal.
It was better to pay for something and seen as a customer, then leave suspiciously.
But when he found his new master, and took him to their 'inn' he scowled at the relief.
"Ah good- I was worried since I forgot to mention I needed something to eat."
Shen Jiu scowled, to think he put these women in danger-!
As soon as they entered, Shen Jiu with a dark scowl, and the man beaming and looking way to comfortable-
pov switch:
Not realising that it was all bravado, when he was alone he had no shame but now he had a kid and got he was only fourteen for christ sake!
Shen Yuan transmigrating as a freakin Jiangshi in PIDW had to be a cosmic joke!
"Hellow young masters!" The host spoke jovially, "May we interest you in some refreshments, one lady or two?" He glanced at Shen Jiu and Shen Yuan cleared his throat.
"Hmm, just one would do, and if you could..."
He placed the coins on the table, "A room with food and drink and a young man would suit me just fine." Shen Yuan smiled bashfully.
And he was met with different reactions. The host nodded, probably not surprised.
But Shen Jiu looked at him like he was an alien.
And yeah- then there was the feeding- okay he didn't need to sleep with them, but he had this whole routine thing and having someone watch, a kid at that- if he could blush he would but he's not ashamed! It's not wrong it's just food!
When the man came in, Shen Yuan would usually be more blunt, but felt that he had to be nice about it.
"I uh, I prefer doing it myself, you just get comfortable," Shen Yuan took the mans waist leading him to the bed "And relax."
All it took was a few kisses and nibbles, and the man was defiently playing it up, moaning like his life depended on it.
Shen Yuan hovered over him, if the man noticed a certain...lack of reaction he'll tense up and be suspicious-
Shen Yuan bit down, and now that was a real moan, even the mans hips thrusted up, sometimes that happened.
Shen Yuan fed as much as he could then stopped, just enough to make them tired enough to believe this was just a client being too rough.
Shen Yuan licked the wound clean watching it heal, then pulled back gazing at the mans eyes who relaxed, pupils wide and droopy under his thrall.
"Now, you'll leave this room disapointed but unsurprised that this was the worst client you have ever had the misfortune of laying with. So bad you want to erase the whole ebarrising thing from your memory."
The man left and Shen Yuan slumped back into the bed, just enough for another day he could lay low here for a while and when he notices how tired the patrons are he'll hop skip and jump to the next town no problem-
Shen Jiu shifted and Shen Yuan turned forgetting he was there.
"Why not lie? Why make him believe it was a lousy lay?"
"Why not? More incentive to never think of this Master and become suspicious." Shen Yuan shrugged.
Now he was stuck with Shen Jiu, he could send the boy out to find him a nice little hovel to sleep in then dismiss him.
Then again he seemed decent with cultivation- but if he lets him go what chances are he would come back to kill him?
...hmmm.
"Boy, tell me. What am I?"
Shen Jiu's eyes narrowed, maybe from being called boy.
"A Jiangshi." Shen Yuan blinked surprised, huh.
"I'm not stupid and my names is Shen Jiu." He bit, oh okay.
"How do you kill a Ghost Head Spider?"
"Strike the temple before it releases its baby like cries to alert others."
hmmm, so Shen Yuan began to quiz Shen Jiu, the other still stiff and answering every one like his life depended on it.
Shen Yuan sighed, moving over to the table and brightening to see food- he forgot about that.
"Shen Jiu come dig in!" He spoke, sitting down and pilling his own food onto a plate, Shen Jiu moved over cautiously.
"I thought you didn't need food?"
Shen Yuan smiled, "Ah but it's a form of nutrients, if a Jiangshi has a restrictive diet then they need other things to keep it going. I only fed a little so this is to make up the rest. Most Jiangshi don't need food if they drain a person kinda like Inedia to a cultivator- ah you don't have to eat if you don't want to."
Shen Jiu was physically trembling with the chopsticks showing he was fighting back.
Shen Yuan sighed, "Sorry it's been a while since I've last had a companion."
"Companion?" Shen Jiu snapped, "More like a slave! There is no point acting like the domesticated monster if I have to find you victims to feed on to stay alive. So don't pretend."
Shen Yuan blinked, then continued eating. Of course, that was probably what the other man did.
"Hmm, this one was rudely inturupted in his sleep being attacked and had defended himself, being half starved I wasn't in the right mind, it doesn't excuse it. My ire was towards that master of yours and he payed that with his life. You on the other hand I have no such animosity towards. But disrupting my sleep as well as tainting my home so I had to relocate? That was a debt that had to be payed."
He pointed his chipsticks his way "You payed that. And now, we're near a cultivation sect Zhao hao temple, you're a bit too...excitable to being a monk but if needs must-"
"No it has to be Cang Qiong."
Shen Yuan blinked, food stuffed in his mouth, "Hmm?"
Shen Jiu wasn't looking at him.
"It has to be Cang Qiong,"
...really?
Shen Yuan sighed dropping his food and scrubbing his hand across his face, "Need I ask why?" He whined, if a Jiangshi went to Cang Qiong he was beyond undead!
"No don't answer- ugh fine. I'll escort you then you can hop skip and jump the rest of the way. Alright?"
Shen Jiu scowled "Why can't you let me go now?"
Shen Yuan leaned back tilting his head to the side, "If you leave now, chances are a mass of cultivators will break down these doors and kill me. On the road in the middle of the night only trapped to go in one direction or have someone kill me? I want to live thanks. And you're a bright kid can defiently go the rest of the way by yourself and not find yourself in trouble."
And Shen Yuan whenever he thought, this was it. This was the village he'll abandon Shen Jiu in and leave him to it. And yet each night they rested up at a Brothel instead, as they kept getting closer Shen Yuan WAS going to leave he really was!
But he needed to teach Shen Jiu so much stuff!
Sure he learned how to write and read from Qui Jianlou, but academically especially for Cang Qiong- Shen Jiu was going to be behind with the lack of clan, or or fortune to back him up he would face bullying.
But if he kept his head down, but still presented as a scholar and kept his head down?
So Shen Yuan quized him, he even taught him how to spar in the way he knew how!
"Look, I'll be honest Shen Jiu, I can't teach you forms or how to wield a sword properly. BUT as a Jiangshi and a supernatural enemy I can help you hone your speed and strength! So from now on you will be doing a lot of heavy lifting." Shen Jiu scowled.
"You just want me to fill up your bath water and give the Jiejies a rest."
"Correct and it helps you gain strength, also your diet needs to change too. With the excessive workout you'll burn through so that way the ecsessive weight will become muscle."
Shen Jiu scowled "Fine."
And of course it showed results. Shen Jiu had to do push ups, pull ups, Shen Yuan even made him do handstand push ups.
"Good work, you're doing well. Now do it with one hand."
"You-"
He heard him fall over and sighed "You'll have to repeat that set."
Shen Jiu was gaining muscle and looks, especially from the Jiejies the next neighborhood they went to.
And on the road with no one around, Shen Yuan would attack Shen Jiu, little things like tripping him up, drawing on his face. If Shen Jiu failed then he would have to do more sets.
Shen Jiu instincts was getting faster, and was even able to fight him for a solid 30's seconds.
But of course, when Shen Jiu realised this he became cocky and slipped up.
"You're problem is you think too much. And that throws you off." Shen Jiu scowled down at the bonfire then nodded.
"Yes, Master."
"Agh enough of that Master stuff it makes me feel creepy. Just Shen Yuan is fine."
Shen Jiu looked up at that, "Shen Yuan?"
"Not the same as yours. Shen for Wall." He corrected, then smiled as he leaned back.
"But going through town we could say we're siblings. A-jiu my adorable little brother!"
"No."
Shen Jiu was on edge, assuming Shen Yuan would take him down the dark path in the middle of nowhere and just kill him. And yet Shen Yuan would glance at the forest with a firmed lip and keep walking. When they went to the brothel once that was one thing.
The fact that he kept doing it, Shen Jiu never mentioned it, assuming if he called it out he would be punished.
And yet, the closer they got to Cang Qiong. The fact that Shen Yuan fed him more and even made him do excersizes-
Shen Jiu assumed he wanted Shen Jiu tired on purprose so he couldn't run or escape. But when he saw he was getting stronger and gaining muscle he was honestly surprised.
And when Shen Yuan quized him on plants, with each one they found on the road and telling him in depth about it's properties it didn't make sense to waste his time telling Shen Jiu this only to kill him off later on.
He thought maybe Shen Yuan lied about taking him to Cang Qiong, but when he helped him hone his senses and have faster instincts...it just didn't make sense.
"Hmm, Shen Jiu maybe we should go on a mission!" Shen Yuan spoke, after passing him a rented sword.
Shen Jiu almost missed what he said next too busy staring at the weapon in his hands! He could kill Shen Yuan right now-
"With a mission under your belt, that'll give you experience! Remember you're too old for the entrance exam SO you have to be good I mean really good that they couldn't dare pass you up to being plucked by another sect!"
And when Shen Yuan watched Shen Jiu on his mission, just observing and not helping at all, even observed as Shen Jiu took down the monster plauging the town.
Once he landed and looked at his Master for approval- then looked away why was he looking for his approval!
Shen Yuan hummed nodding.
"Very good, you were fast and efficient," He stepped closer and humed. "Now, is there anything on this beast worth salvaging?"
Shen Jiu froze, he was never taught that.
"Apologies Master, this one doesn't know how..."
Shen Yuan laughed, "Ah I forgot, well this is a learning experience! come here." And he taught him everything he needed to know.
When Shen Jiu was finally left alone and trusted to pay for their lodging, he asked the patron.
"How far is Cang Qiong Mountain?"
The man paused, "Hmm just a few towns North and you'll be there, this humble one see's you have a sword is your master a cultivator?"
Shen Jiu eyes flickered "Not one from a popular sect, my Master is a rogue Cultivator."
If this man thought they could triple the price he had another thing coming.
"Ah,"
"Also he would prefer," Shen Jiu stared at him cooley, he wasn't embarresed "Male courtesans."
"Ah of course-"
"Preferably someone older than myself, he's not a fan of young ones." The man nodded again. Shen Jiu remembered that incident, Shen Yuan was in a pleasent mood but when he saw the thirteen year old it was like something snapped.
He used his thrall to tell the prositute that he was way too young for this type of work and then brought in the owner and thralled them as well. Telling them that any worker under eighteen should work as cleaners or in the kitchens and be payed twice as much!
Shen Jiu stared as the owner nodded.
"M-Master why would you do that? That could ruin this mans buisness." Shen Yuans eyes were bloodshot as he glared after the man wobbling away.
"Then it should rot for all I care."
Shen Jiu never understood it, wasn't it normal for both genders as long as someone was willing to pay. But Shen Yuan seemed deeply unnerved by that.
"Also what the fuck is a pint sized childs blood going to do for me? Men have more women and children less so!"
"...Why would women have less blood?"
Shen Yuan shrugged, "I don't know, periods maybe?"
Shen Jiu didn't ask what a period was, Shen Yuan was still pissed and more annoyed when no one came to their room!
"You thralled him but didn't ask-"
"Agh! Shen Jiu can you just, I'll break his neck if I talk to him again!"
And Shen Yuans eyes was red, his teeth extended and even his voice was a deep growl.
Shen Jiu ran out like his ass was on fire, Shen Yuan faltered hand extended then covered his face with his hand.
He didn't mean to scare Shen Jiu...
Not realising that Shen Jiu collapsed against the wall, feeling weird.
He wasn't a stranger to attraction he knew what it was...in theory. Thanks to the Jiejies being so nice and talking to him assuming his Master and He had that type of relationship especially when he requested those types at the Brothel.
They spoke ...in detail...and Shen Jiu only to be polite nodded, but now it all came back to him in detail-
He wonderd if maybe Shen Yuan wanted him that way...especially since he was getting older, would Shen Yuan on the road...ask that of Shen Jiu?
Push him down in the woods in the dark? Both fumbling around in the damp dew grass-
Shen Jiu shook his head, forget that! He had to find Shen Yuan someone to feed on-
His traitorius mind flashed with the image of Shen Yuan feeding on him. And the fact that he found a young man similair to his face well...
When Shen Jiu stood before Cang Qiong Mountain right at the foot of the staircase, with two disciples stationed at the gates, thats when Shen Yuan leaned down.
"Okay, so I attack you-"
"What!?"
"Shush, I attack you, call you a worthless servant and you say you're not going to give me innocents to feed on anymore-"
Wait what!?
"And then you 'break' out my thrall, and when those two finally help, thats when I'll run away all "agh curses, Cang Qiong disciples ahh!" and you'll be taken in as a legendary strong cultivator who fought against a vampires thrall and won!"
There was stars in Shen Yuans eyes, he looked excited to 'act' and put on a show, but Shen Jiu couldn't- this was Cang Qiong there was a chance that they would hunt down Shen Yuan and kill him!
"N-no master this Shen Jiu doesn't think this is a-"
"Xiao Jiu!"
Both flinched and turned to see a party of returning Disciples probably coming from a mission and Shen Jiu's eyes widened to see-
"Qi-ge?" His voice broke, and Shen Yuan stood their awkwardly as the young disciple almost ran forward eyes shining in wonder.
"You're alive!" He sounded so joyful, and almost took a step forward but his Shizun stopped him, eyes narrowed in Shen Yuans direction.
"Yue Qingyuan who is this?"
Yue Qingyuan straightened. "This is a childhood friend of mine, Shen Jiu."
"Hmm," Shen Yuan shivered seeing those intense eyes looking at him.
Before he could open his mouth, Shen Jiu spoke before Shen Yuan decided to reveal what he was just to shove Shen Jiu into their arms.
"This is my Master, Shen Yuan. He has been educating this Shen Jiu about cultivation." The Sect Leader hummed.
"Really?"
"Shen Jiu is truly the prodigy, but this lowly one has nothing else to teach him. Both of us were wondering if there was any vacancies."
The Sect Leaders eyebrow twitched, "You think we just take any random child of the street?"
Shen Yuan glanced at the disciples then back to the sect leader confused. "Yes, you have an entrance exam open to anyone of the public."
"Yes, we don't accept all of them."
"You accept the students who pay. Or you pilfer off prodigies." Shen Jiu's hands twitched, he was NOT a prodigy what was Shen Yuan saying!
"With the right guidance, Shen Jiu can be the the pride of Cang Qiong."
The Sect Leader sighed, until Yue Qingyuan spoke, "Please Shizun! Shen Jiu is good enough to be a cultivator!"
"Yes but he's too old even for some instruction-"
"Then see what he can do, place him in a peak and if he fails then kick him off the mountain. What are you really losing?"
The man openly glared at Shen Yuan and of course his Master had to needle him more.
"Just see what he can do, then you can decide if he's worthy of Cang Qiong or not."
"You're not going to stop are you?"
"No."
"Very well."
Shen Jiu was surprised, when the Sect Leader nodded and a random disciple came forward drawing his sword, Shen Jiu followed suit. Fighting here? at the base of the mountain!?
He was going to get his ass kicked and it was all Shen Yuans fault, he glared at him and Shen Yuan had to the nerve to look offended in a "Who me?" gesture.
But when the signal fell and the disciple lunged, cocky smile on his face. Shen Jiu was surprised it ended so quickly.
Thanks to endurance training and the his speed from Shen Yuan, he was able to dodge and move just as fast to disarm the disciple.
"..."
Even Shen Jiu looked surprised, and was irritated by Shen Yuans proud grin.
"Your form is off, without the speed and agilty anyone could easily pulverise you into the ground." The sect leader spoke, not missing Shen Yuans scowl.
"However, this has been inlightning. Very well. We'll see which Peak Lord will accept your prodigay, and you will be billed from the inconviniance." Shen Yuan sighed, "This Master had a feeling you would say that."
When Shen Yuan finally found a brothel ah he was so used to an assitant! Maybe he might thrall another young man and teach them everything he knew. Seeing Shen Jiu soak up all that knowledge made him prideful.
But when he returned after sending off the money, and then retired to his room paused outside the door knowing someone was inside already. Before he could run he took a step back into someones arms.
"Don't run."
The man reached forward opening the door and pushing him inside his room, he gaped to see the Sect Leader standing inside, he turned scowling up at the man who pushed him in not recognising the uniform.
"Be nice shidi, this one has fangs."
The man huffed then stood at the door arms crossed, meanwhile the Sect Leader was covering the window. He was trapped.
"Okay this one can't be in trouble with back-payments already-"
"It's nothing like that...Shen Yuan was it?" He nodded, glancing at the table with the teapot then back to the sect leader.
"This one had heard some strange stories about a master and his disciple. Going to brothels."
Shen Yuan pursed his lips, "Is this a...strange roundabout way of asking for a threesome? I'm flattered but neither of you are my type."
"Why you-" The man at the door almost drew his sword and Shen Yuans face split into a smile-
"Enough Shidi, you're too old to be goaded so easily. No tales of men having no memory after having one night with the Master. That the two travel at night," Shen Yuan couldn't sweat.
But god was it a close thing.
"And this Sect Leader detected it right away." Shen Yuan tilted his head, "What?"
"What you are-" Shen Yuan didn't let him finish, grabbing the teapot and throwing it towards the Sect Leader even with his speed- these were two experienced Cultivating Masters!
The an used his sword to parry the teapot, and Shen Yuan in the distraction dove past him out the window-
Then choked when something grabbed his robe, like holding the scruff of fur around a cats neck- he undid his sash and dropped, the Cultivator cursed as he watched Shen Yuan sprint across the tiled roof.
Shit, shit shit shit shit- well what a good unlife he had a shame it was so freakin short-
The man guarding the door landed in front of him and Shen Yuan yelped swearing like a sailor and skidding to the left dropping down into the alley way but was slammed into the wall by the sect leader.
"Now now little Jiangshi, if this Master wanted you dead, you would be dead by now."
Shen Yuan fidgeted in his grasp, trying to get out then sighing. "What do you want?"
"A conversation with tea, but you decided to make it difficult-"
"What want me to nicely sit here and say 'please Master Cultivator kill me quickly' I'm a monster you're a cultivator of course I won't sit there nicely and take it!" Shen Yuan snapped his teeth lengthing.
"Who said anything about killing you?"
huh?
Suddenly a tailsman was planted onto his back and Shen Yuan yelped falling like a ton of bricks face first into the ground.
"See, Shidi? look how weak he is." The Sect Leader sounded delighted, and Shen Yuan scrambled trying to get up it's like a fat buddha was sitting on him he couldn't move.
"Just because it hasn't fed in a while doesn't mean it's not dangerous-"
"Pick him up, we'll talk at Cang Qiong." Shen Yuan blinked when he was hefted up, this guy was stupidly strong!
Kidnapping aside, Shen Yuan didn't expect to being the resident pet of Qing Jing Peak. After seeing Shen Jiu's new Master and being forcefully put to work Shen Yuan did fear for his life.
But with all the food he can eat, and the blood given to him by the doctors he was basically living a cushy life AND he can read all the tomes of the Qing Jing Peak library!
Ah things were looking up!
"Ah that's bad..."
"How so?"
"Just...bad, weird after taste." The doctors hummed when Shen Yuan tasted blood he was able to tell who was healthy or not. The cultivators weren't stupid they never gave him information like a guinie pig just gave him samples and wrote down his answers. He didn't think anything of it.
After learning the man who got him was the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan he avoided him like the plauge, Shen Yuan was polite to everyone even reluctently the Sect Leader after figuring out what the man wanted.
He was so impressed with Shen Jiu he wanted Shen Yuan to duplicate what he was teaching to their students! Shen Jiu besides his form in fighting was astounding in everything else. So now Shen Yuan was a reluctant hallmaster.
Of course when Shen Yuan was given someone to feed on he had to admit it was strange for Cang Qiong to allow such a thing- then immedietly spat out the blood once it hit his tongue.
"Oh my god ew! What was that!"
Cheng Liang scowled, the Bai Zhan brute. "Blood, you need it to survive draining innocents is a line we won't cross-"
"Draining? I've never feed more than I needed to! and I can't live on this...doing bad things taints the blood."
"Well it's this or nothing."
"Then I'll take nothing."
-------------------------------------------------------
Of course the sect leader sent in Yue Qingyuan, and Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"What is this?"
"Feed, you're looking worse for wear. Yue Qingyuan offered."
He doubted it.
"Whats wrong with your blood?"
"Finally admitting your motive to killing the Sect Leader of Cang Qiong?"
"I never wanted to be here!" Shen Yuan sighed, then looked Yue Qingyuan in the eyes.
"This won't hurt."
He fed and sighed, it's been...a long time since he's had a good meal.
Even so, no need to take more than he needed, as he pulled back licking the wound clean for it to heal he flinched at the hand suddenly cupping his head.
"That wasn't enough."
Shen Yuan eyes narrowed, "Yes it was, now let go-"
"He can take it."
Shen Yuan shoved both away almost falling over, "No he can't. This one is fine so-"
"You're weak, embarrsingly so, how can this mountain expect you to survive like this?"
Shen Yuan looked at him in befudlement "I've been survivng pretty well so far."
asshole, he didn't say.
"You are wasting your potential, a Jiangshi can never be a cultivator, but can still get stronger-"
"Shouldn't you want the opposite? Isn't it better having a tamed Jiangshi?" Now the Sect Leader smirked, showing his real face that made Shen Yuan almost duck down but kept still instead.
"On the contrary, this Master finds no purpose in keeping things that are weak."
