Chapter Text
The Cang Qiong sect had, reluctantly, started getting used to seeing demons wandering their peaks. Something that surely would have sent their predecessors rolling in their graves if they’d known. But with one peak lord married to the demon emperor, a pair of disciples being courted by another demon lord, and a second lord serving as advisor to a third demon… get used to it they must. Even so, while they now knew that Mobei-Jun came and went as he pleased, they rarely saw the Northern king.
Today was, apparently, going to be one of those rare occasions.
The tall demon made a striking figure as he strode across the Rainbow bridge from An Ding to Qiong Ding, particularly considering the way he kept an arm firmly and possessively around the waist of one peak lord Shang Qinghua. And it might shame the sect to say, but there was also an equally rare grin of happiness on the immortal master’s face.
Anyone would take notice. And certain peoples who did hurried to tell their masters, who gathered in the meeting room.
“So Shang-shidi is back to normal then?” Wei Qingwei asked, grabbing for the bottle of wine that’d started making its rounds already. “Too bad. I was sketching out plans for a miniature sword for him.”
Qi Qingqi produced a sheaf of paper and a charcoal pencil from… somewhere, marking down some notes. “Normal sized, at least. The rest of him wasn’t ‘normal’ before and I don’t hold any expectation of it in the future. Mu-shidi, your disciple said he looked… happy?”
“Extremely,” the doctor said with a nod. He waved away the wine in favor of a cup of tea. “I’m curious about what cured his condition. This master unfortunately cannot claim credit for it.”
“Nevermind his little curse, I want to know who won the wagers!” Wei Qingwei burst out, slapping a jovial hand down on the table.
“We’ll need to wait and ask the sect leader what was said once they finish their discussion, but so far we have a latest date possible for the cure, and a pretty damning confirmation that yes, they’re at the very least courting,” Qi Qingqi said as she read over her notes.
Head leaned against a fist, Liu Qingge snorted. “It was obvious.”
His martial sister scoffed. “As if you’re one to see things that are right in front of your face.”
“Liu-shixiong did suspect Luo Binghe’s intentions towards his shizun earlier than most of us,” Mu Qingfang pointed out delicately.
“He thinks everyone’s trying to seduce that man,” Qi Qingqi said with an annoyed huff. The worst part was that half the time it seemed to be true. What the appeal was, she didn’t understand. “Anyway, no one bet against a courtship so those wagers remain in the pool. But you lost your bet that Shang Qinghua would stay small for a year, Qingwei.”
The blacksmith shrugged his shoulder. “It wasn’t a big wager.” He ducked his head under Mu Qingfang’s pointed glance. “It’s not that I doubted your skills, Mu-shidi. It’s just that it’s something we’ve never seen before.”
Mu Qingfang hummed softly, unconvinced but willing to let it go. “It seems that all there is to do now is wait for news.”
As if on cue, the door to the meeting room opened and they all looked up as one. But instead of Yue Qingyuan, Shen Qingqiu breezed in as though he’d never been gone. Looking far too pleased with himself.
“Shen-shixiong,” Qi Qingqi said, narrowing her eyes, “When did you get back?”
“Lovely to see you as always, Qi-shimei,” the second peak lord said calmly, taking a seat. He gave Mu Qingfang a nod as the man, being last of the lords present, poured him a cup of tea. “Just now.”
“What a coincidence that Shen-shixiong arrived just as Shang-shixiong returned,” she commented lightly, suspicious.
And rightfully so when the man smiled. “No coincidence at all. My Binghe asked Lord Mobei-Jun to deliver me. Since he was coming to speak to Yue-Zhangmen anyway.”
“So you know what they’re talking about!” Wei Qingwei said, all but pouncing on the hint. “Come on, don’t keep it to yourself!”
“Of course this lord knows,” Shen Qingqiu said, fan raising up in front of his face. But not so soon that his smirk was completely missed. “But shouldn’t we wait until all parties have arrived? That’s tradition, isn’t it?”
“Ha, as if you care about tradition!” Qi Qingqi scowled, leaning back into her seat. “You eloped out of the blue and didn’t even give us the chance for a pool.”
“Considering you only mentioned it after the fact, that is hardly my fault.” Green eyes flashed over the edge of the fan. “We’ll wait for the sect leader, and then I’ll confirm if what he reports is true. Since you excluded me from making bets of my own, you can be patient.”
“As if you wouldn’t have wiggled your way in to work things your way to win.”
“I’m surprised that demon let you come here without him,” Liu Qingge said, frowning as he looked the other man up and down. Scanning for injuries without thinking. “After the last time.”
Shen Qingqiu waved the implied question away. “Binghe’s working on a project. This master intends to help, but the first stage doesn’t require my presence. So I asked to come back while things are arranged.”
The other lords present tried to pry the information out of him, but Shen Qingqiu didn’t say another word until the meeting room door opened up once more. This time to admit Yue Qingyuan, who looked a bit dazed, but ultimately pleased.
“Well, what happened?” Liu Qingge asked without preamble, impatient to know. He hadn’t made all that many bets, but the tension in the room over such a silly issue was grating his nerves. As was not knowing.
“There is to be a wedding,” the sect leader said simple, taking his seat with grace. “Between Shang Qinghua and Mobei-Jun. In four months’ time.”
“Ha. At least someone had some propriety not to just elope,” Qi Qingqi said, gleefully marking down the answer on her notes. “That demon didn’t knock him up, did he?”
Yue Qingyuan sighed. “Shimei… No, you may tell your disciple that her shibo is not carrying his fiancé’s child. Or any child.” How the young lady even knew of the betting pool that was meant to be between peak lords only, he was not quite sure. And he did not want to think about the logistics she must have been imagining for it to happen either.
He felt no need to mention that the future education of heirs had been in the marriage contract. That was a headache for the future. No need to invite it in early.
The Xian Shu peak lord looked over her notes, comparing them to the betting sheet they’d covered. “That covers if they’d marry properly or elope, and if Qinghua would be full sized at the time of marriage. What about wedding location? Did they say?”
“The Northern Desert,” Yue Qingyuan said with a nod, sighing with inward relief. A royal demon wedding in the heart of a cultivation sect would have been a nightmare. They’d have to almost entirely lower the wards that protected the sect to allow the guests in, and trust that they’d behave themselves. That their enemies wouldn’t take the opportunity to attack them when they were distracted. “Mobei-Jun has given his oath that anyone attending will be delivered and returned unharmed. With exceptions for injuries if they decide to join in the traditional wedding fights.”
Liu Qingge perked up at the idea, making Wei Qingwei snicker behind his cup of wine.
“Shang-shidi would like it made clear that wedding fights are meant to be non-fatal,” Yue Qingyuan said, fixing him with a pleasant but pointed look. “Only the couple and a champion are allowed to kill.”
“Hmph.”
“He promised to write up a report on Northern wedding traditions and customs so we may be prepared before the event,” the sect leaded concluded.
“And does Shen-shixiong confirm?” Qi Qingqi asked, staring over at the man in question.
Shen Qingqiu fanned himself casually. “Of course. The news about the wedding fights is new, but then again, Shang-shidi is the expert on northern demons, not me. But the rest sounds correct.”
He sat to the side as the wager winners were paid, the losers equal parts amused or sour depending on the size of their losses. Yue Qingyuan, having decided to have faith in his shidi, came out with a sizable amount that he tucked out of sight before leaving the meeting room. Pleased with the company that followed at his side.
“And the true outcome?” he asked lightly once they were far away enough from the meeting hall.
“A mix of both,” Shen Qingqiu said. “They did elope, while Shang-shidi was still small. But in secret. Most of the northern court still believes them only engaged.”
“And Shen-shidi’s price for keeping this likewise a secret?” Yue Qingyuan asked with a serene smile.
“Oh, half the relevant winnings will do.” He hid a smile behind his fan. “I’m sure you agree?”
“Of course.”