Work Text:
Mobei-jun noticed it the third time.
Shang Qinghua stood at the edge of the training field, sleeves tucked up, calling out corrections in a voice far too indulgent for a peak lord.
“Hey—don’t overextend like that. You’ll tear something. I’m not fixing it twice.”
The disciples groaned but obeyed. One tripped. Another laughed. Shang Qinghua clicked his tongue, already moving forward.
“Careful. You’re all my kids, not spiritual beasts. I don’t need you breaking yourselves.”
Kids.
Mobei-jun’s gaze sharpened.
Humans used strange words for strange things, but Shang Qinghua repeated this one often—too often for carelessness. He said it when they ate, when they trained, when they were injured. My kids. Possessive. Familiar.
Mobei-jun observed. The disciples were of varying ages. Their qi patterns differed. Their faces—some bore traces of other peak lords. One had the sharp brow ridge of Qing Jing. Another carried Bai Zhan’s build, despite the weakness of An Ding Peak’s methods.
They did not resemble Shang Qinghua. That did not eliminate the possibility. Humans were inefficient breeders.
Mobei-jun considered the matter carefully.
If they were Shang Qinghua’s biological offspring, then… how many? And with whom? Humans required two. Shang Qinghua lacked the strength for demon reproduction, but human methods were less demanding. Messy. Repetitive.
Did he mate with multiple peak lords?
The thought sat badly.
Peak lords were territorial. Possessive. Yet none behaved as if their bloodlines had been compromised. Either they were unaware—or this was accepted.
Which led to the next possibility.
Adoption.
Why would anyone entrust children to Shang Qinghua?
Mobei-jun dismissed it. There was one remaining option.
He watched Shang Qinghua press a hand to a disciple’s head, murmuring quiet instructions. Protective. Focused. His qi softened unconsciously.
Mobei-jun narrowed his eyes.
…Are any of them mine?
He decided to just ask. Humans were stupid, especially his human so he had to be forward about things.
That evening, when the peak had quieted and the disciples had dispersed, Mobei-jun found Shang Qinghua hunched over a table, buried under scrolls and half-eaten snacks.
“You call them your children,” Mobei-jun said.
Shang Qinghua jumped a full foot into the air. “Gah—! Can you walk like a normal person?!”
“Answer.”
Shang Qinghua froze. “…Uh.”
“How many are yours.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“The disciples,” Mobei-jun continued, expression unchanged. “Are they your biological offspring. Or were they taken from other peak lords.”
Shang Qinghua stared.
“…Taken how.”
“Adopted,” Mobei-jun clarified. “Or exchanged.”
Shang Qinghua’s mouth opened. Closed. His soul briefly left his body.
“You think I—what—who—with whom—”
“Some resemble other peak lords,” Mobei-jun said calmly. “Explain.”
Shang Qinghua scrubbed his face hard enough to redden it. “They’re not—no! They’re disciples! Students! I call them kids because I teach them and feed them and keep them alive!”
A pause.
Mobei-jun absorbed this.
“So they are not yours.”
“Not biologically!”
“None of them.”
“NONE.”
Another pause.
Mobei-jun’s gaze sharpened, voice lowering.
“…Including me.”
Shang Qinghua choked.
“YOU—?!” He coughed violently. “WHAT KIND OF LEAP WAS THAT?!”
“You refer to them possessively,” Mobei-jun said. “I required certainty.”
Shang Qinghua stared at him, face burning. “…No. Absolutely not. Zero percent chance. We would have noticed.”
Silence stretched.
Mobei-jun finally inclined his head.
“Understood.”
Then he just.. left.
Shang Qinghua slumped into his chair, heart pounding.
"Wait.” he muttered. "Was he asking to have kids..?" Shang Qinghua.exe has stopped working.