Chapter Text
Xiao Jiu actually has a very cute face when he’s sleeping.
“He’ll be okay, right gege?” Qiu Haitang asks worriedly.
“He will,” Shen Yuan says, with as much confidence he doesn’t feel. Xiao Jiu is destined to be the book antagonist after all...he still has to go to Cang Qiong Mountain and bully Luo Binghe.
He sighs, carefully brushing past the hair. “The healer said he’ll recover in a few days,” he says. “Tang-er, can you fetch me some water so we can clean his wounds?”
His sister nods with determination. “Of course! You can count on me, gege!” She squeezes his hand. “We only have each other and Xiao Jiu now.”
Shen Yuan watches her go. Ah, his little sister is slowly growing up…she isn’t just the spoiled young mistress anymore.
It’s been a couple of days since the attack at the Qiu residence. While most of the structures had been destroyed, no one had been seriously hurt, for which Shen Yuan is thankful for. Some of the male servants had fled, claiming it was Lord Qiu’s restless spirit. At least the majority of the maids and other women chose to stay on.
Shen Yuan gazes at the sleeping young man on the bed. His injuries from that night had been terrible, but they had been able to get him to a healer on time. Now it’s just waiting for him to wake up…
“Xiao Jiu,” he says, squeezing his hands on his own. “If you wake up, I promise never to bash your character on online forums ever again…”
He starts to ramble some more. “Stupid airplane, stupid author,” he mutters. Making his scum villain suffer this kind of awful backstory! More nightmares have haunted him since Wu Yanzi’s attack, giving him an idea of what kind of awful life Xiao Jiu would have led under Qiu Jianluo. How could he have put up with him for so long? He would have cheered Xiao Jiu to stab that man after all he’d done to him.
Shen Yuan is still muttering angrily when he feels fingers twitching against his.
He perks up. “Xiao Jiu!”
“Where…” Xiao Jiu’s eyes slowly open, green eyes unfocused. “Young Master Qiu?”
Shen Yuan resists the urge to pull him into a hug, settling inside for a wide smile. “How are you feeling?”
Xiao Jiu blinks at him, sitting up. He sways as he does so, prompting Shen Yuan to put a hand on his back to steady him. “I’ll call the healer,” he says. “Just stay here for a while.”
When he gets back, Xiao Jiu has swung his legs over the bed. He sees Shen Yuan approaching and he throws himself to the ground.
“I’m so sorry, Young Master Qiu!” he apologizes, banging his head on the floor. “This lowly one deserves death - ”
“Whoa!” Shen Yuan pulls him up before he can hurt himself further, touching his forehead tenderly. “There’s no need for that, Xiao Jiu.”
“I didn’t help him,” Xiao Jiu says immediately. “I swear, Young Master Qiu, I - ” he bites his lip, visibly in distress.
“It’s all right,” Shen Yuan tells him. “I believe you.”
Relief shines in Shen Jiu’s expression. “You do?”
“Mmn.” Shen Yuan pats him in the head. “Xiao Jiu is a good person.”
For a moment, Xiao Jiu’s eyes water. Then he starts to cry in earnest.
“Young Master Qiu, I’m so sorry,” he says, sniffling loudly. “This lowly one is not deserving of your kindness.”
He swallows. “When you got into that accident a year ago, I knew the stablehand had done something.” He looks away guiltily. “The same time, he was in charge of Lord Qiu’s carriage, and I still didn’t do anything…” he shakes his head. “And then I brought that man here…you were right about him, and yet I doubted your intentions…”
Shen Yuan rubs his back. “There, there,” he says soothingly. At least these plot holes have been filled, he thinks with some amusement to himself.
“He just wanted to rob you,” Xiao Jiu says resentfully. “He must have seen all you had at the estate, and thought he could use me to hurt you and Miss Haitang.” He hesitates. “I don’t know why he knows about…” his voice trails off.
Shen Yuan has some ideas. Some evil cultivators can peek into dreamscapes, after all, though none can manipulate them like actual demons such as Luo Binghe. Wu Yanzi had probably assumed Xiao Jiu still had bad blood between him and Qiu Jianluo from those memories he’d seen.
He exhales a sigh of relief. His fate has been properly avoided! If he had a System, it should be congratulating him right now!
“Don’t think about it anymore,” he says. “Everyone is safe, and that’s the important thing.”
Xiao Jiu bites his lip. “Young Master Qiu…truly doesn’t blame me?” he says uncertainly.
Shen Yuan nods. Xiao Jiu may have done some bad things, but he’s not truly evil. And given his circumstances, Shen Yuan is surprised he hasn’t considered a tenfold vengeance. Xiao Jiu practically seems saintly compared to other scum villains out there!
“Thank you, Young Master Qiu!” Xiao Jiu says, bowing low again. “This lowly one will never forget your kindness!”
They set out to begin rebuilding the manor as soon as possible. Xiao Jiu takes the lead on it, working himself to the bone to oversee construction. Shen Yuan thinks, Xiao Jiu has really grown up now, it doesn’t make sense to call him little anymore.
Still, he doesn’t think he can get used to it. “Shen Jiu,” he tries, once, and Xiao Jiu looks startled at his call.
“You don’t like it?”
“Young Master Qiu doesn’t call me so formally,” Xiao Jiu responds instead, eyebrows furrowed.
Shen Yuan only laughs. Then, Shen Jiu will still be Xiao Jiu to him.
It’s several months after the fire when a cultivator arrives in the city. Shen Yuan isn’t exactly enthused about the news, considering the last cultivator that had come, but apparently this one is a powerful and well-admired one, given the reception.
Shen Jiu seems to have the same opinion as him. “Aren’t you going to go take a look?” Shen Yuan asks.
Shen Jiu gives him a wounded look. “Young Master Qiu insults me.”
Shen Yuan laughs. “I was only teasing,” he says, poking him on the cheek. “Xiao Jiu is acting so restrained, don’t tell me he’s forgotten his plans of becoming a cultivator?”
For a moment, Shen Jiu’s expression flickers. “...this lowly one doesn’t dare. After all, how can I leave Young Master Qiu after all he’s done for me?”
Shen Yuan startles. Surely...isn’t it the scum villain’s only goal to become strong and powerful? Has he regretted what happened so much that he has turned his back on his own ambitions?
...Why is he so cute!
“Xiao Jiu is free to pursue cultivation,” he reassures him. “Once we’ve completed the repairs, I’ll bring you to the sects so they can meet you.”
Xiao Jiu only shrugs, and returns to his tasks at hand. Shen Yuan wonders if he should be worried. Is this deviating too much from the story?
A messenger arrives the next afternoon. “Lord Qiu, the esteemed cultivator has come to pay a visit.”
Shen Yuan heaves a sigh. He doesn’t want to invite another cultivator into his estate for as long as he lives.
“Tell him I’m not entertaining guests at the moment,” he says.
“Er…” the messenger looks embarrassed. “The cultivator says he is here for Shen Jiu, my lord.”
Shen Yuan raises his eyebrow. Someone looking for Xiao Jiu by name? Who can it possibly be?
Fortunately, the main hall is almost done. He has the visitor ushered to the waiting room. He sits at the table, with Shen Jiu by his side.
When the cultivator walks in, Shen Yuan is immediately impressed by his bearings. Now this is the aura of a real cultivator, not like that hack Wu Yanzi! He has a proper sword strapped to his waist and neat crown in his hair, dressed in black xuan duan robes. Truly, an imposing and dignified figure.
Beside him, Shen Jiu’s eyes have gone wide. “Qi-Ge!” he blurts out, getting up on his feet.
“Xiao Jiu!” the well-dressed cultivator pulls him close. “Xiao Jiu, you’re...all right?” There’s a tinge of disbelief in his voice.
Shen Jiu nods. “En.” He glances behind him. “Ah - Qi-Ge, you remember Young Master Qiu….”
The cultivator turns to look at him. He’s smiling, but it looks cold. “Young Master Qiu.” He bows respectfully.
Shen Jiu’s hand snakes to the cultivator’s sleeve. He looks like he’s about to say something else, until the young cultivator actually gets down on his knees in front of Shen Yuan.
“I’ve come here to ask Young Master Qiu for Xiao Jiu’s freedom,” Qi-Ge says.
Shen Yuan stares at him blankly. “You - ”
“Qi-Ge!” Shen Jiu hisses, getting down on his knees also. “Qi-Ge, wait - ”
“This one’s name is Yue Qingyuan,” the man says. Shen Yuan jolts in shock. “I am the head disciple of Qiong Ding Peak of the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. If you are willing to free Xiao Jiu, the Sect will owe you and your family a debt of honor.”
For a moment all Shen Yuan can do is blink rapidly. Who could have known there was this kind of backstory between Shen Qingqiu and Yue Qingyuan!
...Could this be why he had still gone to save Shen Qingqiu back then, when Luo Binghe had sent him his legs...
“Ah, is this why Xiao Jiu wanted to become a cultivator so much…” he says slowly.
Shen Jiu nods, face still red. “Qi-Ge promised me he’d come back and we’d be cultivators together…”
“B-but if Young Master Qiu doesn’t approve…” Shen Jiu says hesitantly.
Yue Qingyuan raises his head in shock. “Xiao Jiu!”
“I - I owe Young Master Qiu!” Shen Jiu insists. “I...I will pay him back with my life.” He looks determined. Shen Yuan can’t help but feel moved. Shen Jiu has wanted to be a cultivator for so long, and yet he feels so guilty about what happened that he’s willing to stay. Isn’t that kind of loyalty too precious?
He nods. “I see. Then, I can’t hold Xiao Jiu back, right?”
He gets up on his feet, and gently holds out his hand. Shen Jiu takes it, and he pulls him up from the floor.
“I only hope Xiao Jiu will become a very powerful cultivator,” he says. “And that he will be kind and treat all his disciples well in the future.” There, a good word for Luo Binghe! Shen Yuan gives himself a metaphorical pat on the back.
A flush has spread all over Shen Jiu’s cheeks all the way to his ears. “This lowly one won’t dare fail Young Master Qiu!”
Shen Yuan smiles warmly. “I’m sure Xiao Jiu will make me proud.”
Qiu Haitang is nearly inconsolable at learning Shen Jiu has to leave. “But it’s so far away,” she protests.
“I’ll come back and visit Miss Haitang,” Shen Jiu tells her placatingly. “And Young Master Qiu.”
Still, his sister clings to him. “Do you really have to go?” she cries, eyes brimming with tears. “Xiao Jiu, what about our marriage…”
Shen Jiu shakes his head. “Like I am right now, I am not a good enough match for Miss Haitang,” he says gently, cupping her face. “Young Master Qiu will find a good man to take care of you.”
“No! I only want Xiao Jiu!”
Sister, you’ll be singing a different tone once you meet Luo Binghe! Shen Yuan thinks silently. “All right, Tang-er, that’s enough…”
Qiu Haitang bursts into tears. “Gege! You’re so cruel to me!” Then she goes running off, crying loudly.
Shen Jiu looks torn. “Should I…”
Shen Yuan shakes his head. “It’s fine,” he says. “Don’t mind her. She’s just not used to not getting her way.”
Shen Jiu sighs. “Young Master Qiu…are you really sure?”
“I think it’s best to end the engagement early on. We don’t know what will happen in the future. Don’t you agree? Or does Xiao Jiu want to marry her?” Shen Yuan asks, curious. He still can’t let Shen Jiu steal a girl from Luo Binghe’s harem…
Red creeps up Shen Jiu’s expression. “I-if Young Master Qiu finds me suitable,” he says bravely. ‘Then I’ll be happy to marry Miss Haitang. But otherwise…”
“Otherwise?”
Shen Jiu turns his head away. “I don’t know if I’ll be good enough like Qi-ge. And I’m starting so late, so…”
Shen Yuan chuckles. “I know Xiao Jiu will do good,” he says gently, and he takes his hand and squeezes it. “Visit us soon, all right?”
Shen Jiu nods fervently. “Thank you, Young Master Qiu! I - I’ll work hard and become a powerful cultivator!” Saying so, the young man bows. Yue Qingyuan glances at Shen Yuan with some suspicion before following suit. They walk past the gates and off to the horizon.
Shen Yuan sighs a little after they’re gone. In the weeks after, the Qiu estate feels too large and too lonely. Qiu Haitang is inconsolable most days, her appetite gone. Shen Yuan entreats her to act with maturity.
“You should make friends your age,” he says. Already a young woman, and still so spoiled! He doesn’t want her growing up like Ning Yingying or worse, the Little Palace Mistress!
Ah, but he does miss Xiao Jiu a little. He really did have a way of livening up the place…
Now Shen Yuan supposes he has nothing left to do but be a hapless cannon fodder. If only he knew where to find Luo Binghe and adopt him...but that might interfere with the plot!
Shen Yuan sighs, and glances at the parchment on his table. Then he gets hit by an idea. Quickly he grabs a brush and his inkpot, and starts writing.
“Dear Xiao Jiu…”