Chapter Text
Okay… so maybe talking to Liu Mingyan about those types of things wasn’t entirely awful. It was still weird but once he had started he found he was readily able to pull up all kinds of memories and passages from Proud Immortal Demon way. He might have gone on too long actually, the pair ascending the mountain late into the evening but Liu Mingyan was just so excited and it’d been so long since he could really talk at length about aspects of Proud Immortal Demon Way with anyone except Airplane, even if it was under the guise of ‘stories from his hometown’. He also may or may not have let her assume that in his home town there was a famous Heavenly Demon that had once lived to have created so many stories but… eh the damage was done.
She disappeared at the base of the mountain, promising to bring him all the materials and written 'proof' that he might need within a few days which was just intimidating in its own right. Sure Airplane could write 10,000 words a day but it was almost complete drivel with only a few kernels of worth contained within that had to be carefully and excruciatingly mined out. He sighed again. The damage was done, and at least he would have his proof so that maybe now everyone would finally leave him alone.
As he arrived back at the bamboo house, the lights blazing form inside, he realized that he might have forgotten something else vitally important.
"Shizu- Qingqiu!"
In the back of his mind, he registered how Yue Qingyuan, Liu Qingge, and Mu Qingfang all flinched at the shout to varying degrees. Then he was turning to look at Luo Binghe, very much noticing that the worst of the cups had been set out for tea. "Binghe."
"Shizun should have mentioned he was going out, this one would have accompanied him."
Yes, that was somewhat the problem. He sighed, subtly glancing around. "As everyone can see, this master is quite alright." Now please leave . "He simply went for a stroll to the village to send a message to an acquaintance."
"Given Shen-shixiong's condition-"
"Which this one has had for years at this point." He snapped the fan out, leveling the interlopers with a look. Binghe at least had the sense to disappear quickly and reappear with tea and those snack cakes that Shen Qingqiu had been favoring lately. He set them easily within Shen Qingqiu's reach, and out of the reach of everyone else.
Liu Qingge folded his arms. "It'd bring shame on the sect if every time you wandered off you got injured or kidnapped."
He narrowed his eyes at the man. "Then I'll just have to go out more won't I, to prove that it happens rarely." His fan snapped shut, Shen Qingqiu stalking across the room and towards his bedroom. "Now, you have all seen me. I have reached out to my acquaintances who may actually be able to find something useful. Goodnight."
"She-"
"Goodnight!"
Binghe appeared between them all, leveling them with a look even as he bowed shallowly. "Peak Lord Shen has made his wishes clear. Please leave the peak."
Shen Qingqiu pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing deep and steady. Don't start a fight. Don't start a fight .
Mu Qingfang clapped his hands, turned, and drifted out into the night. After a long moment, Liu Qingge stalked off as well.
"A-Ji-" Nope ! He didn't have time for the puppy eyed big brother act. All of the ease and good will he'd gotten by disappearing for a while vanished, something rearing its head in the depths at that familiar call, at that call for someone who didn't exist anymore. He smoothly slid around Binghe, feeling the man stiffen as they brushed. Then he was in the man's face, poking him.
"I said. Get. Out. This is still my peak, I am still a peak lord and I will not have my every action questioned and you lot following me around like I'm some damsel. You have more important things to be doing." The loosening tension because the sect leader apparently liked being yelled at snapped as he flinched back.
Shen Qingqiu continued to glare as the mountain of a man that was the sect leader seemed to shrink in on himself. "A-"
"Out!"
Blissfully, blessedly, this time Yue Qingyuan went. Shen Qingqiu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he fought off the guilt. He really couldn't with all this hovering though. Binghe was of course there a moment later. "Qingqiu…"
"There will be documentation of the cure in a few days," He turned, brushing past Binghe. "Until then, please be patient and stop with the hovering."
"This one only wishes to ensure Qingqiu is doing well."
"This master has been this way for years now, Binghe. It is nothing new."
Binghe followed into the bedroom. "Does Qingqiu wish for…. This lord to go elsewhere tonight?"
"Have I told you to get out?" Reaching up, he barely hesitated before beginning to undo his hair. It fell across his back, Binghe there a moment later.
"Please let this one care for it."
Shen Qingqiu sat, leaning back into Binghe's hands. "Hopefully the matter will soon be solved, and we can return to Binghe's duties."
"Qingqiu wishes to return to the demon realm?"
"Mhm, as soon as matters are settled here."
"Thank you. Qingqiu."