Chapter Text
Shen Anwei has had enough! He’s tired of the way his precious head disciple is bullied across the twelve peaks! Their generation is supposed to ascend within the next five years. He shudders to think what will happen to Jiu-er if Shen Anwei leaves while things are like this.
Although Shen Jiu has the support of the next sect leader, their relationship is so contentious that Shen Anwei doesn’t think it will help.
What Jiu-er really needs is an alliance with one of the other head disciples.
That Bai Zhan brat is definitely out and so is that Wei Ziyu on Wan Jian peak. No. Shen Jiu would never accept either of those men. They’re too… Shen Anwei sighs.
Too much.
He taps his fingers on his desk. Perhaps the boy on Ling Yu? No, that’s right, he’s spoken for already. He dismisses Qi Shizhi out of hand as Jiu-er is utterly uninterested in women that way. It’s a shame because in several ways they have similar personalities.
Shen Anwei keeps the idea in the back of his mind for a while before bringing it up with his good friend Wang Anshui, the peak lord of An Ding peak.
The next time they get together for the monthly peak lord meeting, Anshui sighs and starts complaining about how his A-Hua has been so disrespected by the other head disciples.
Once the meeting is over, Shen Anwei invites his friend to the bamboo house for tea (and gossip but that part is a given).
They settle at the low table near the front of the house. Shen Anwei says, “Jiu-er is also having problems with the rest of the brats.”
Wang Anshui huffs. “How do they think they’re going to be able to work together when there is so much gossip and backstabbing?”
“Yes,” Shen Anwei agrees. “I’m afraid that Jiu-er will be ostracized completely and end up in a bad way.”
After a moment, Wang Anshui offers, “Ever since A-Hua survived the demon attack it feels like he’s being punished for living.” He slaps a hand on the table. “It makes me so furious for him, but what can we do about it?”
“About that,” Shen Anwei says. “I have an idea but you’ll have to keep an open mind,” he warns.
“Tell me,” Wang Anshui demands.
Leaning forward over the table, Shen Anwei’s eyes gleam. “We arrange marriage for them.”
“…to whom?” Wang Anshui says with furrowed brows.
Shen Anwei sits back and crosses his arms over his chest. “To each other.”
“But….” Wang Anshui looks conflicted. “A-Hua…he’s-look, I love the boy like my own son, but I’m not blind. He-” He sighs. “He has a nervous nature, but he tries so hard to please people. Anwei, I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“Well, my Jiu-er has plenty of sharp edges himself but-if someone would just give him a chance they would find that Shen Jiu would give them his loyalty. And once he does that, my friend, he doesn’t take it back. No matter what.” Shen Anwei meets his friend’s eyes. “Let’s start small. I will invite you both for tea and go from there.”
“All right.” Wang Anshui replies slowly. “Send over the invitation and we will be there. But, Anwei, you had better have a good reason prepared for this meeting because both of our boys will hound us about it.”
______________
Shen Jiu is tired. Tired of the constant drudgery. Tired of trying to get along with the other disciples, most especially the other head disciples. But no matter what he does, or what he tries (even when he does try) it’s never enough. Shen Jiu is just about ready to abandon all attempts to be cordial at this point, and just assume that everyone really is out to get him.
Shizun calls for him one afternoon and so Shen Jiu leaves his things in the woodshed with a do-not-notice talisman on them and heads off to the bamboo house. He enters and finds Shizun waiting for him at the low table. Next to him are two men.
Just then, Shen Anwei looks up and greets Shen Jiu with a smile. “Jiu-er! Look, Wang Shishu is here with Shang Hua.”
Keeping his face clean of any expression, Shen Jiu bows to Shizun, and then to Shishu and Shang Shidi. “How can this disciple be of service?”
Wang Anshui grins. “Shen Shizhi is diligent and filial, don’t you think A-Hua?”
Shang Hua looks startled at being addressed. His dark brown hair is pulled into a knot, with strands falling out of the back. His brown eyes are large and bright. His skin is clear and his mouth is wide. He always looks uneasy, like he may be attacked at any moment.
Shen Jiu can relate.
Finally, Shang Hua manages to meet Shen Jiu’s eyes in a truly blink and you miss it glance. He looks back down at the table and says softly, “Yes, Shizun. Shen Shixiong is quite filial.”
“Shen Shizhi please sit,” Wang Anshui invites, extending a hand and indicating the chair across from Shang Shidi and to the right of Shen Anwei.
Unsure, Shen Jiu looks to Shizun for guidance. Shen Anwei lifts his eyebrows and nods, so Shen Jiu takes his seat. He has no idea why he and Shang Shidi are here. This seems bad. Shen Jiu steals a glance at his martial brother, but again, Shang Hua is staring with determination at the table.
Wang Anshui clears his throat. “A-Hua? Perhaps the snacks?”
Cheeks flushing a dull red, sweat beads at Shang Hua’s temples. He produces a qiankun pouch and starts drawing things out.
First, some osmanthus cakes, then buns filled with red bean paste. And then-
Shen Jiu looks at Shizun with betrayal. Tanghulu? That’s his favorite treat and the only other person who knows is Shizun. Pressing his lips together, Shen Jiu thinks about how Shizun also knows that he doesn’t like to eat it in company because it’s too messy.
Shen Anwei sends Shen Jiu a pleased look. Shen Jiu arches an eyebrow when Shizun looks away. He looks too pleased in fact.
He waits politely until everyone has picked out a treat before choosing his own. Glaring at the tanghulu, eventually Shen Jiu claims a stick.
He narrows his eyes and somehow manages to meet Shang Hua’s eyes while he’s peeking over at him. Shang Shidi is so annoying, Shen Jiu thinks. We’ve barely exchanged two words and he already hates me. Why else would he be so determined to not look at me?
Carefully, Shen Jiu starts eating the candied berries while averting his eyes.
“Does Shen Shizhi approve?” Wang Shishu asks gently. “A-Hua descended the mountain to get it for his Shixiong especially.”
Wait, what? Shen Jiu’s gaze locks on Shang Shidi again. The An Ding head disciple is once again flushed red, and picking at his nails. Wang Shishu must prod him under the table because Shang Shidi manages to look Shen Jiu in the eye for several seconds.
“It was no trouble,” Shang Hua demurs. And then adds while looking away, “I just wanted to do something nice for Shen Shixiong.” He hunches in place after he speaks, like he’s waiting for a verbal lashing.
That’s. Not what he was expecting Shang Shidi to say.
Shen Jiu expected to receive some verbal barbs about eating candy meant for street rats. It’s something he’s heard over and over from disciples of all peaks. Most of the disciples on Qing Jing peak are young masters from noble families, or young ladies seeking to land a husband. They love to remind Shen Jiu where he came from. As if he could ever forget.
Shen Anwei gives him a significant look and Shen Jiu clears his throat. “Thanking Shang Shidi for his consideration,” he says evenly and then he is the one to look away. Shen Jiu continues carefully munching on his tanghulu.
Wang Shishu tells Shen Anwei about Shang Hua’s recent success at finding a good deal of money within the peaks budget so that several of the peaks will be able to purchase things that they have been putting off for decades. He’s been able to source some special ore for Wan Jian peak, as well as Cloud-Pearl silk for Xian Shu peak. And of course, Qing Jing peak needed special guqin strings made from the gut of a Green Horned Leopard. It was hard to find the animals anymore, but Shang Hua had discovered an entire colony of them in a hidden realm nearby.
Interestingly, the more Wang Anshui bragged about Shang Hua, the more that Shang Hua tried to become invisible in his chair.
“Shang Shizhi should be proud of such an important contribution,” Shen Anwei says. “Don’t you think, Jiu-er?”
He does, actually, but it seems clear that poor Shang Shidi would rather sink through the floor than discuss this further. Shen Jiu inwardly sighs. If doesn’t rescue this stupid shidi of his, Shang Hua looks like he’s a hair away from just running out the door.
“Shang Shidi,” Shen Jiu says, “Do you play weiqi?”
Startled at being directly addressed, Shang Hua gapes for a moment. “Uh, I mean, kind of? I’m not anywhere near your league though, so I’m not sure why-”
“Shizun, Shishu, perhaps this disciple could claim some of Shang Shidi’s time unless we are needed?” Shen Jiu asks Shen Anwei.
Shen Anwei and Wang Anshui exchange a pleased glance. “Yes, Jiu-er, that’s a good idea.”
Wang Shishu says, “This master will entrust A-Hua to Shen Shizhi’s care.”
______________________
Qing Jing peak has many outdoor pavilions, normally used for painting. Some of them have a wood table with seating. When Shen Jiu first came to the peak, Shizun used to have everyone play a piece in front of the whole peak. Huh. Now that he thinks about it, he’s not sure why Shizun stopped that tradition.
Shen Jiu sets up the weiqi board. “Shang Shidi may choose his color,” he remarks while he places the stones.
“Um…” Shang Hua frowns like this is a matter of life and death. “Does…Does Shen Shixiong have a preference?”
“This Shen does not. Shidi may choose.” Shen Jiu says flatly. Just pick a color already Shidi, this is not that difficult.
“I-this disciple will choose…uh, white?” Shang Hua looks entirely too stressed about such a simple thing.
To his surprise, Shen Jiu finds that this very anxious Shidi of his is not a bad player. It’s just that his nervous habits are quite distracting. If he was anyone else but Shang Hua, Shen Jiu might suspect the other man of trying to throw him off. But, maybe he really is that fearful, Shen Jiu thinks.
At any rate, his strategies are quite good. Shen Jiu is so absorbed in the silent back and forth that he’s surprised when a shadow falls over the board.
“Anshui, look,” Shen Anwei says, humor in his voice. “The children are getting along.”
Shen Jiu gives Shizun a sour look, before glancing at Shang Hua. For once, Shang Hua meets his eyes directly, and then smiles broadly. It changes his face completely, and for just a moment Shen Jiu can’t help his astonishment at such a drastic transformation.
“They do seem evenly matched,” Wang Anshui says seriously, and why does Shen Jiu feel like Shishu isn’t talking about the game anymore?
With both of their Shizuns hovering over them, it’s not a surprise to Shen Jiu that Shang Hua starts pulling his invisible act again. He flips a captured stone through his fingers, thinking. “Shishu,” Shen Jiu says, “Shang Shidi is a good opponent but he becomes anxious easily.”
Across the table, Shang Hua’s lips part in surprise.
Shizun and Wang Shishu exchange another one of those glances. Shen Anwei gives Shen Jiu an approving look. Shen Jiu isn’t sure what he’s done to win that look, but it makes his chest warm. The two peak lords continue on their ambling stroll around Qing Jing peak.
“Sorry.”
Shen Jiu doesn’t look up from the board. He can’t remember the last time someone apologized to him and actually meant it.
“Um.” Shang Hua says. “You should have the new guqin strings soon. We’re almost finished processing them.”
That gets Shen Jiu’s attention and he looks over. “Do you want something? Is that why you’re being nice to me? Whatever you want, I can’t help you.”
“Do I-” Shang Hua sighs heavily. The corners of his lips turn down.
They continue playing in silence.
Then Shang Shidi says, “I don’t have it much better than you, you know.”
Shen Jiu shoves down the anger that’s always, always in his chest. This prick has no idea what he’s been through. He can’t even stand to look at Shang Hua right now, not with the turn his mood has taken.
“Look, I didn’t mean-” Shang Hua sits back and makes an aborted movement with his hand like he’s about to try and run it through his hair. “I know you’re not…”
“Not. What?” Shen Jiu says icily. “Not a young master from a good home? Not more than a street rat?” He narrows his eyes at the man across from him. “Am I supposed to be grateful that you’re speaking to me?”
Shang Hua presses his lips together and stares down at the board. “I concede,” he says softly, then stands up in a whirl of robes and walks away.
For some reason, Shen Jiu just watches him leave. That’s probably why he sees Shang Hua reach up and wipe his face. And then Shang Shidi makes the same swiping gesture with his other arm.
The black rage in his chest fades, replaced by another, more insistent feeling. Like something in there is twisting.
Standing up, Shen Jiu takes another look at the board. It was Shang Shidi’s move. Frowning, he stands on Shang Shidi’s side of the table. The furrow between Shen Jiu’s brows grows deeper.
Shang Hua could have beaten him.
If Shen Jiu didn’t make him cry, that is.
He sweeps the board and stones into a qiankun pouch and brings it back to the bamboo house. He knocks and waits to be called in. Shizun and Wang Anshui are back at the table, eating snacks and sipping tea.
Wang Shishu takes one look at Shen Jiu and frowns. “A-Hua?”
“He.” Shen Jiu swallows. Looks down. “He wasn’t feeling well.” He can’t look at Shizun, can’t bear to see the disappointment in his eyes.
“Jiu-er,” Shen Anwei says. “Did something happen?”
The quiet in the bamboo house has never seemed so loud. “This disciple…spoke without thinking.” He thinks of his anxious little shidi, surreptitiously wiping his eyes as he hurries away. Shen Jiu kneels. “Asking Wang Shishu for punishment.”
More silence. Shen Jiu expects to be ordered to run laps, or chop wood, or-
“Ah. These children.” Wang Shishu says. “Shen Shizhi, please rise. It seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Cautiously, Shen Jiu stands. Lips pressed tightly together, he shoots a glance at Shizun, who meets his eyes with concern.
“Jiu-er. Sit. And tell us exactly what happened to make you upset.”
This is actually worse than any punishment. Shen Jiu sits, and starts to tell them how Shang Hua mentioned the guqin strings and that he asked what the other man wanted from him. How he asked if that’s the reason he was being so nice, because he wanted something from Shen Jiu.
Before he can go on, Wang Anshui sighs deeply. He runs a hand over his face. “Shizhi…A-Hua…” He lays down his hand and meets Shen Jiu’s eyes. “A-Hua is a good boy. Did you know that? He likes…to try and make people happy. Unfortunately, most of the time, for whatever reason, most people…misunderstand his motives.” With an unflinching gaze, Wang Shishu continues. “He knows things that he can’t explain, and asking just sends him into a panic. But he knows what each peak needs, even if they don’t ask for it. And since my A-Hua is a good boy, he tries to acquire it. Like the ore from the demon realm for Wan Jian peak. And the silk which can only be bartered for with Succubus demons.”
Utterly lost, that twisting sensation in Shen Jiu’s chest just getsworse.
“This master had no idea that Qing Jing so desperately needed special strings. But A-Hua knew, and he made sure to find some. For you. So that when you are the peak lord, you will have what you need to teach your disciples well. So, just like A-Hua knew that Shen Jiu enjoys tanghulu and made sure to get some for you, he just wanted to help.”
“I thought he was making fun of me,” Shen Jiu says, unable to meet Shishu’s eyes anymore. “I thought he was mocking me for…”
“Because you have no family?” Wang Anshui inquires. “Tell me, Shizhi, are you under the impression that Shang Hua does?”
Shen Jiu’s throat tightens.
“Shang Hua arrived at the disciple selection dressed in rags, without shoes, and hadn’t eaten in days. Yet he climbed all of those steps without complaint. After this master chose him, he was treated at Qian Cao peak for several days where he was found to have several broken bones and severe malnutrition to the point that he nearly died. It is likely that if this master had not seen the core of strength that hides within him, that Shang Hua might not have survived another day on the street.”
Shen Jiu’s lips tremble. He blinks, and his eyes overflow.
“Shen Jiu.” Shizun says. “You have asked Wang Shishu for punishment.”
“Please punish this unworthy disciple,” Shen Jiu says thickly. He pushes the chair back and kneels, lowering his head until it touches the floor.
“Anwei, are you sure about this?” Wang Shishu says.
Shen Jiu prepares for the worst. His throat has a lump in it, and his face hurts from trying to keep his emotions from showing.
“Jiu-er. This master asked Wang Shishu to bring Shang Hua today so that you could spend some time together.”
“Yes, Shizun.” Shen Jiu says woodenly, not moving.
“This master, in spite of what happened today, thinks that you and Shang Hua are well suited to each other.” Shen Anwei pauses. “Wang Shishu is prepared to offer Shang Hua’s hand to you in marriage. And this master thinks you should accept.”