Archive of Our Own

They went back in time.

It wasn't all at once though. Thankfully.

Shang Hua, not yet Qinghua, got his back first. And the first thing he felt was relief. It was before he started colluding with demons, before that bastard Mobei-jun. The others were completely unaware.

This was before Liu Qingge joined the sect...

Meaning Shen Qingqiu was still at that Qiu Manor.

"How does working for demons feel, shidi? Any better than with humans?"

It wasn't any better. But at least he knew that demons were meant to be bad. Humans... humans were pure scum. A species that he was glad mostly died during Luo Binghe's rule. It was a goal of his. Ever since he escaped his own hellhole.

But now? He was just tired. Humans. Demons. What was the difference when both were capable of sadistic cruelty? He was used by both. Hypocrite cultivators. Two-faced demons.

Shang Hua collected his things, prepared to abandon the home his Shizun made for him and live in isolation until he grew old and died... but a part of him thought for a moment.

Shen Qingqiu, or Shen Jiu, understood his hatred. Of the burning disgust for humans and demons alike. Of wanting to live. To be free. Sure, his shixiong was an asshole to him, but he was an asshole to everyone. He was the only smart one there, suspecting him rightfully so. He protected the mountain from shady "allies," created thoughtful plans even if they seemed heartless, made sure no one spread lies or tried to sabotage the sect... of course, no one appreciated his loyalty, not even himself because he did not care for anyone on the mountain anyways. Technically, if it weren't for him, Cang Qiong Mountain Sect would have fallen.

(If it weren't for Shang Qinghua as well the peaks wouldn't have run as efficiently.)

But he knew. Shen Jiu would come to Cang Qiong for one person and one person alone.

Yue Qingyuan.

He snuck into Qing Jing when the Peak Lord was away on a mission. He only took a few things. Specifically the cultivation manuals needed to perfect a golden core in Qing Jing's spiritual ways. He didn't need to. But once Shen Jiu got his memories back, he would want them. Maybe. Who knows. Shang Hua was just guessing what his normally aloof shixiong would want. Hopefully, the other would have sense not to want to return to this mountain.

Shang Hua made sure he had all of his belongings before setting off in the dead of night.

He had a rough estimate of where the Qiu household was. He just had to convince the other to leave the house that supposedly treated him like family and to make sure he would never follow that coward Yue Qingyuan again.
__________

It's cold.

How long had she left him in the box this time?

It's been two years now. Two years since Qiu Haitang suddenly turned on him, treating him just as bad her brother does. He turned fourteen sometime this week, but he doesn't remember when. Before she had given him cakes and a present, dressing him up in nice fabrics before they went missing because of her cousins.

Now she looks at him with disgust.

"Miss Haitang?" His voice had become softer, weaker. "Please... please let me out...!"

The box itself was too small for how tall he was now. There was a quarter of water inside. Water almost as cold as ice. It was cramped. It felt smaller when she had him tied up.

"Miss Haitang...?"

Even if she joined in on tormenting him now, he refused to shed a tear. Even if his heart hurt that she hated him now for whatever reason.

"... please?"

Please don't treat me like they do...

Qiu Haitang was hiding her abuse on Shen Jiu from her family. Just like her family was hiding their abuse from her. He understood why they did it. But he could not figure out why Qiu Haitang did it.

He began to struggle again. The ropes were attached in a way that it tightened around everything. His wrists, neck, torso, legs, ankles. It pulled at his skin, cutting at the delicate flesh. He bit his lip to hold in the cries that threatened to spill out.

Too dark. Too tight.

"Miss Haitang, please, A-Jiu is sorry." His voice broke as he tried to relax, to get comfortable. "A-Jiu is sorry, please. Please let A-Jiu out. A-Jiu will be good. A-Jiu promises—!"

Every now and then, electricity shot through the box. The water around his feet and lower half felt even worse. He'd have to bite his tongue and stay quiet. Had to stop begging her or whoever was out there for mercy. He would not be given it. Not anymore by her or the women that had been the only ones who never hurt him. It hurt.

Qi ge. Please save me.

There was no paradise in this house anymore. Not a single shred of kindness. Perhaps it wasn't that big of a loss considering even Qiu Haitang was not always around and he could sparsely get any time with her to get away from the rest of her family. The other women only snuck him food before anyways.

(He should have known better. Kindness doesn't last forever. Qi ge still hadn't come back.)

When the shock finally stopped, Shen Jiu slumped against the cold water and box, gasping for air. It was suffocating.

Qi ge. Qi ge. Qi ge.

Even if men were horrible beasts and women were becoming more and more like them, Qi ge was different. Qi ge never hurt him. Qi ge loved him. He always would. He promised he would. He just had to hold on. He promised he'd come back to rescue him.

He'll come back. Any day now. Then I won't be cold anymore.

Someone finally let him out of the box. He wanted to cling to them for warmth, but minded himself. No one in that house would hold him. Not anymore.

"Go to the gardens. You have to do weeding." The servant said, walking pass him without a second glance.

Shen Jiu shivered, but got up on shakey legs and walked out. His eyes burned from the light, but he just felt relieved that it wasn't dark anymore. He left to the gardens. A place where he had once played with Qiu Haitang when she begged Master Qiu to let him join her. It was only a few times before she started her lessons, but it was still one of the few times he felt like a normal child.

He cherished those times.

"Hurry up!" He was suddenly kicked from behind. "After you weed, you must do the laundry and dusting. And then you must sweep and wash the floors."

Shen Jiu trembled, holding onto the dying embers of his anger, "I-I haven't e-eaten—"

"You can't eat until your chores are done." Another servant snapped, dropping a small basket of dull tools. "If you can't finish today, you'll have to do them along with your chores tomorrow. And if you slack for even a moment, Miss Qiu said we can whip you as many times as we want."

Shen Jiu clenched his fists as he stared at the rusty, barely functional tools. He had already gone a few days without food or water before being put in the box. He felt dizzy and weak. It was nothing new. But he had gotten used to eating once a day, maybe even twice with snacks in between because of the women and Qiu Haitang, but now? He was feeling just as horrible as when he did on the streets. He felt sick. He wanted to throw up.

But he grabbed the basket and forced himself up to try and finish his impossible tasks.

He would not being getting any food.
___________

The days blurred together when all you felt was constant pain. He preferred it over the emotional pain in his heart. At least it was a nice distraction from thinking by himself. Wondering what he did wrong. Wondering if Qi ge was okay. Wondering if he would be able to live another day.

"Filthy rat!" One of her cousins stomped on his forearm, something snapped.

"Luo ge, must we still engage this trash to our dear Tang'er?" Another said, kicking Shen Jiu in the head, making his vision go dark for a moment.

Qiu Jianluo laughed, patting their heads as they were younger, "Well, Tang'er likes him. And she'll stay longer if she's engaged to someone within the house. We must respect her wishes."

Shen Jiu wheezed and curled up feeling disgust. While her cousins and uncles were trash, they genuinely cared for Qiu Haitang and didn't want her to leave the house as the only, treasured girl in the family. Her brother and father on the other hand... he shuttered and blocked out that particular memory he caught them talking about her.

"A-Luo! A-Luo! Brother, where are you?"

Shen Jiu perked up at the sound of his supposed fiancee. The boys all left the room, leaving him there on the cold ground of the cellar. He wondered if Qiu Haitang would ask where he was. If she still cared about him in her own naive way that always got him in trouble.

She didn't.

They all left, laughing and talking merrily while he was left to bleed on the floor until he was brought back our for chores or to endure more beatings.

It was cold down here, too.

The cellar door was closed and he was left in darkness.

It's too dark. It's too cold.

He doesn't remember crawling to up the stairs and to the door. He doesn't remember clawing at the wood, hitting and trying to push it open. He doesn't remember calling out for Qiu Haitang or anyone he could hear passing the doors.

His fingers bled. His throat hurt. His eyes stung. His stomach clawed at him in hunger. His skin prickled painfully at the cold.

Was this hell on earth? Did he already die and this was his punishment? What did he do? He was just a street rat slave. He had to steal and trick people for money if he wanted to avoid a beating from the slave traders or feed himself and Qi ge. What choice did he have? Why did he have to suffer for wanting to live?

"Qi ge... Qi ge..." He muttered softly, his working hand pushed at the door softly, too weak to do anymore.

He hated the dark even more. He had the cold more than the winter snow. He hated starving so much. He hated that any bit of kindness was taken away from him. He hated being alone.

"Qi ge... help me..."

His consciousness came in and out the following days. He didn't know what disassociating was until Qiu Haitang and her favorite servants whipped his arms until the skin was almost torn up completely.

He held his tongue though. He didn't make a sound or cry. But he didn't feel the pain either.

He was feeling less and less each passing day.

"Disgusting." She hissed, the normal innocent facade she had around her family — and him at some point — always dropped when she had him alone. "To think I once loved you."

The words hurt. Because he had loved her once as well. He truly did. She was his sunshine, his protector in this twisted home. Now, she was another tormentor.

"Just wait until A-Luo comes around again. I'll make sure you suffer a thousand deaths, Shen Jiu."

Call me A-Jiu. Just like you used to.

There was no more warmth from her.

"Burn him."

Shen Jiu struggled slightly as he was forced to bend more onto the floor. His bleeding arms stung even more where he was grabbed by the servants who helped both sides of the family torment him. His upper robes were pulled up and he could smell iron being heated up. The bruises her brother and father left had just healed, so she would never know what they were doing. He wondered if she even saw the old and slightly newer whip scars her brother liked to make on him.

Did she know now that she was also hurting him like the rest of her family and staff? Was that why she was hurting him? Was that why she was different now?

He didn't have much time to contemplate it when the first iron rod touched his back.

He disassociated again.
___________

Qi ge was probably dead by now. It had already been six years since he first came into this hellhole.

That could be the only reason why he was still here. Still suffering.

He was hanging in the woodshed today. The Qiu family was having a big party with some other households today. Even the servants and other slaves were allowed to go out and eat the foods.

It sounded like fun.

Shen Jiu wondered what it would be like to go to a party as well. If he could fill his empty stomach up on the treats being served. If he could be out there making friends and laughing with them. If he could feel even a modicum of joy like he once had when it was just him and Qi ge.

His arms and legs felt numb from where the old Master Qiu had beaten him with a cane.

He shuttered at the sticky feelings on his legs were the old man had... where he touched himself revelling in Shen Jiu's agony. He even touched Shen Jiu a bit, but stopped prematurely because Qiu Haitang had called out for him, eager to show off her robes.

He was scared.

He felt disgusting. He felt dirty. He wanted to go wash up and pretend he didn't see the sadistic lust in that man's eyes.

"For a little slave, you are so very pretty."

He didn't like those implications. His face was continously avoided by all parties. He wished someone would scar him, so that that man and the others would stop looking at him like a piece of meat.

"You've become so submissive. That's good. Very attractive."

He wanted to keep fighting and defying. He really did. But everytime he tried to protect himself, he ended up back in that godforsaken box. It was really messing with him. He could hardly sleep anymore.

Shen Jiu coughed softly, sniffling. It was like he was always cold now. He couldn't take it anymore. He felt sick and so very weak. Moreso than when he was a toddler. It was far too much. This hell.

"Qi ge..."

He had a bit of hope left. Maybe Qi ge was still alive. Maybe he was on his way now. Maybe he hadn't forgotten about him.

But his mind always betrayed him.

Why would he come for Xiao Jiu now? He was probably a really cool cultivator now. He probably had new friends. What use did he have for someone like Xiao Jiu? A disagreeable, angry, bitchy child that fought with everyone and only looked out for himself and Qi ge. Qi ge looked out for everyone, constantly chastising Xiao Jiu for being mean and a jerk to the others even though they clearly took advantage of his kindness. Did he even remember his promise to come back? Had he lied? Was that why he still wouldn't come back? Did Qi ge no longer love Xiao Jiu? Was he really that bad? Even though he was protecting Qi ge?

Shen Jiu didn't notice the door open. Too lost in his thoughts until he suddenly dropped down from where the rope was cut.

He let out a soft sound and looked up, vision too blurry from hunger and pain to see who it was standing over him.

"This is what that bitch called treating like family?" The person said, Shen Jiu blinked, confused. "Shen shixiong, do you remember me?"

Shen Jiu blinked again, clearing his vision slightly, "Who... who are you?"

The person paused for a moment, before kneeling down to untie his wrists, "My name is Shang Hua. I've come to free you."

Shen Jiu flinched when the other touched him and frowned, "Free me...?"

His eyes lit up slightly.

"Did... did Qi ge send you—?"

"I don't know a Qi ge. No one sent me. I've come on my own." The other said, standing and helping Shen Jiu up on shakey legs. "You can hardly move. Here."

They turned and offered their back. Shen Jiu stared down at them, swaying slightly.

Qi ge didn't come. He didn't even send someone for him. It hurt. It hurt so much.

Numbly, he climbed onto the other's back and wrapped his arms around their neck. They lifted him with ease and snuck out quietly. They were in the back of the house, none of the party guests would come back here.

"Fuck. Do you even eat anything? You weight as much as a newborn does." The stranger complained, jumping up and over the wall.

Shen Jiu tightened his hold weakily. Every part of him shouted not to go. To wait. What if Qi ge came and he wasn't here? How would he find him?

But at the same time, relief and gratefulness flooded his senses. He was escaping. He was getting away from these people. He was going to be free.

"Why?" He asked, softly, but so full of emotion. "... why are you helping me?"

Shang Hua remained silent as he used his qi to enhance his speed, running as far away from the house he had spent a few days spying on to gauge what kind of house the Qi family truly was. Suffice to say, he learned quite a bit and he wasn't all that surprised what filth was actually hiding within the walls that Qiu Haitang failed to mention back then. Likelyhood, she truly didn't know what her family was doing.

But she seemed different as well. Away from her family's eyes, she was a hellspawn. Pushing around her servants and bullying the man she called her ex-fiancee. He quickly came to the conclusion she had her memories returned as well. He read her diary when they went out to the market yesterday for last minute party supplies. She had a whole plan to forcibly break Shen Jiu's will early on while he didn't remember and wait until Luo Binghe finally came back so they could bother torture him further together.

It was quite graphic considering she was going to have him tossed around by some male servants to humiliate him further sometime next week as punishment for being a lecherous man.

He never really believed those rumors considering he spied on Shen Jiu a lot after the incident with Mobei-jun happened to make sure the other didn't monitor him while he was living his double life. He won't lie and say he felt bad for never saying anything. He truly didn't care.

He still doesn't care.

But considering he wants to live a peaceful life and his true revenge was making sure Cang Qiong fell by their own hands this time, Shen Jiu had to come with him.

"Don't think too hard about it." He finally said as he reached where he left the small carriage and horses he bought for his travels.

Shen Jiu frowned, but accepted that answer as the other carefully set him down on the edge of the cart. He bit his lip to avoid whimpering when the bruises and burns were rubbed against.

Shang Hua got in and helped pull him further into the cart. There were two boxes with supplies. He had quite a few quaniken pouches in one box full of money and items he stole from the archieves that he would sell once they got far enough away from the four great sects.

"Where are we going?" Shen Jiu asked at some point.

They were going through a well known road to the west. It was closer to the human empire that the sects never got involved with until Luo Binghe took over and destroyed everything. That was for future them to worry about. For now, Shang Hua was just trying to find them a place where no one would find them. At least not for a long time.

"We're going somewhere far away from this land. Somewhere we can live in peace." Shang Hua said blandly, looking up at the clear skies. "We don't belong amongst anyone. Not humans. Not even demons."

Shen Jiu curled up further in the blanket Shang Hua gave him. He was still cold, but it helped a bit.

"... do we have to go now?" He asked and Shang Hua looked back at him. "... my brother... he said he would come back for me..."

Shang Hua scoffed, "You still believe that? After I came to save you?"

Shen Jiu flinched at the harshness in his voice and looked away, "Qi ge said he would..."

"Qi ge?" Shang Hua rolled his eyes. "What's his full name? I might know his name."

Shen Jiu perked up slightly, "Yue Qi. That was his name. I need to find—"

"Yue Qi?" Shang Hua tensed and looked back. "That was his name when we were disciples. He goes by Yue Qingyuan now."

Shang Hua was taking a shot in the dark. Yue Qingyuan and Shen Qingqiu had a history together, that much was known considering the man died for Shen Qingqiu. He even called him Xiao Jiu even though it incited rage from the other. Yue Qingyuan let Shen Qingqiu abuse his favoritism and overlooked every single thing he did.

And with everything he witnessed these last few days and the state of Shen Jiu, he could guess that Yue Qingyuan had abandoned Shen Qingqiu. It would explain why Shen Qingqiu couldn't talk more than a five sentences with the man, why he was so angry with him, why Yue Qingyuan always looked guilty around him. It didn't explain why Shen Qingqiu stayed, even though he was the most hated and mistrusted person on the mountain. Shang Hua would have never stayed if he had been in his shoes.

Shen Jiu managed to crawl over, "You-you knew Qi ge? How-how is he?"

Shang Hua bit his lip before speaking.

"He's well. He's been named the successor of Qiong Dong Peak, he will inherit the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. He's strong, smart, well-liked, and very popular." Shang Hua said.

Shen Jiu seemed to perk up slightly, the dullness in hid eyes lighting up, a small smile even formed, "Ha, I always knew he would grow up to be a great cultivator..."

Shang Hua paused and looked at him, "He never mentioned you."

Shen Jiu blinked and the smile dropped, "What?"

"Yue shixiong never mentioned you. He's been off doing missions, attending lessons, and spending time with his fellow disciples and other head disciples. He didn't look like he was on a desperate mission to save anyone." Shang Hua said.

He wasn't lying exactly. He didn't know what Yue Qingyuan was doing before he disappeared for a couple years. Yue Qingyuan was well liked though, very popular for his big brother attitude and such. But he also truly never mentioned Shen Jiu, never said he needed saving, or just anything about him in general. If he had, he had no doubt that Sect Leader Hou would have gone to retrieve his supposed little brother.

He wonders if Yue Qingyuan knew what Shen Jiu had gone through in the Qiu house. He just barely scratched the surface, and he saw enough when giving the other some first aid to know that Qiu Haitang clearly lied about how Shen Jiu was treated in the Qiu house.

He turned to say more, but stopped when he noticed the heartbroken expression on Shen Jiu's face. Tears threatened to spill out of his eyes and his cheeks were red from trying to hold it in. Shang Hua chewed on his lip before continuing.

"Yue Qingyuan has been the succeeding disciple for three years now. If he requested the Sect Leader, his Shizun, for help to free you from the Qiu hold, the Sect Leader would have done it. Could have done it. He has the power to do so. He could have saved you any time now. But he didn't." Shang Hua turned away. "I guess he didn't want to save you at all considering all of the resources available to him."

Shang Hua drove the cart in relative silence, unwilling to speak anymore. Especially with the soft sobs that filled the silence of their travels.

(A small part of his heart ached for his once spiteful shixiong.)
__________

[Back at the Qiu household, Qiu Jianluo became enraged that his favorite punching bag escaped. Qiu Haitang pretended to be heartbroken, but was internally relieved that ungrateful dog was gone. It didn't matter. Once Luo Binghe came, they would hunt him down and torment him together. She couldn't wait to introduce her family to Luo Binghe when he finally came.

This time it would just be the two of them. No need for a harem.

Of course, that dream came and passed. The Qiu household burned down two years later, right around the time Shen Jiu had done it in their first life.

Qiu Haitang had gone mad with grief when Yue Qingyuan showed up with a few of their martial siblings asking where Shen Jiu was. She only cried out "A-Jiu" and "Tang'er was wrong! So wrong!" repeatedly. Qi Qingqi took her back to Xuan Shu, mostly just to hold her prisoner for her past involvement with demons.

They refused to let her join them in their search for Shen Jiu.]
_________

"A-Hua, you're a mess! Get out! Out!"

It had been about six years since Shang Hua saved Shen Jiu from the Qiu household. In those six years, Shen Jiu had recovered wonderfully. He was back to his prissy, know-it-all self. It hadn't been easy considering Shang Hua purposely broke his heart to make him renounce his love for Yue Qi. Shang Hua had bought some land in a relatively wealthy city in the west, bordering the ocean. At first, he was certain Shen Jiu would never recover, especially after his half-truth about Yue Qingyuan. But at some point, he seemed to have a psychotic break and the other merely cut his hair and declared "Xiao Jiu" dead. It had taken him some time to recover. But it was the start of their relationship, so he didn't mind what happened in between all of that.

Shang Hua huffed, stomping his feet to get the dirt and guts off his boots, "The bath is inside though! I need to go in!"

Shen Jiu snapped his fan closed and waved it at him like a weapon, "Go around back!"

"But that's a long way!" He whined, barely stopping the smile from growing on his face. "Just let me cross here!"

Shen Jiu shook his head, "I think not! You'll sleep outside if you track that mess in here!"

Shang Hua sighed and turned away slightly, "A-Jiu is so mean to A-Hua. And after I got us meat for the next few days."

Shen Jiu stuck his nose up and turned away, "Sorry, but I draw the line at tracking mess in our home. Go around the back. Clean yourself off. I'll prepare the meat and dinner."

Shang Hua smiled then, coming up close anyways to press a kiss against Shen Jiu's cheek. The other startled and tried to hit him as he spun away with a laugh and went off to clean up. Shen Jiu turned red and huffed angrily, reaching up to touch his cheek shyly.

He doesn't remember when it started. When Shang Hua became... so affectionate with him. But it wasn't bad. In fact, it was quite nice. So much different from Qiu Haitang, who had smashed her lips onto his cheek, hurting him on accident everytime. Different from the kisses Yue Qi had given him as an infant and child, those kisses were filled with love, but familial love.

Shen Jiu rolled up his sleeves and dragged the beast around the side of the house, where he had a wonderful space to skin and store their food. He was better at removing skin and preserving the meat than Shang Hua. It was also very therapeutic for him to do so.

Methodically cleaning, skinning, and cutting.

It was addicting.

It gave him control.

He was almost finished when Shang Hua came back around, looking and smelling clean. His messy hair put up into a bun with pieces of his hair framing his face in a cute way.

Truthfully, Shen Jiu could firmly say Shang Hua had not been his type at first. He was very... passive in a way that made him dangerous. He was strong and calculating. He didn't hesitate to put someone down should they be threatened. When Shen Jiu was still... recovering mentally, he had been afraid Shang Hua would turn on him as Qiu Haitang did. He was afraid to sleep in the dark, alone. He slept outside a lot because he felt claustrophobic in their home alone. He cried at night. His body would work against him most days, paralyzed in fear. He felt useless. He felt weak. He felt pathetic.

But Shang Hua didn't hurt or get upset with him.

He talked softly to him, asked him for permission to touch him, reassured him constantly that he would not abandon him. He never raised his hand or voice when Shen Jiu had an episode. He never withheld comfort when Shen Jiu sought him out for it, considering it was just the two of them and he couldn't trust anyone else in town that liked to talk to them. Shang Hua indulged in his wants and needs quietly.

In a way, he was more attentive than Yue Qi had ever been. In ways that he truly needed it.

"What's for dinner?" Shang Hua asked, leaning against him carefully as Shen Jiu salted and wrapped the meat.

"Stew. From the last bit of the Violet Nark you hunted last week." Shen Jiu replied, pursing his lips when Shang Hua wrapped his arms around his waist.

Shang Hua smiled, "I love stew! Perfect! Maybe it'll give you more meat on your bones. You're still so skinny. I'm afraid you'll blow away with the wind!"

Shen Jiu stiffened slightly when Shang Hua ran his hands over his stomach and waist. He couldn't help it. He just couldn't gain anymore weight. He had a pretty feminine build. A narrow waist. Long, slender legs. Broad, but soft shoulders and chest. Shang Hua seemed to like it despite complaining about his weight all the time.

Shen Jiu huffed, shivering when his hands traveled up more, "I eat and eat and can't gain anymore weight. I can't change that."

Shang Hua laughed softly, nuzzling his neck, "Don't take it as an insult, A-Jiu. I'm jealous that I can't lose weight. It's so unfair that you get to be so pretty. I have to exercise every day if I don't want to get fat like those fuckers in town."

Shen Jiu snorted then, cleaning his hands to reach up and pet the other's head, "Maybe if you didn't slack on your cultivation, you could maintain your image better with inertia."

"And miss eating your foods? It's a sacrifice I'm willing to take."

Shen Jiu laughed and the smile on Shang Hua's face grew.

Who knew Shen Jiu could sound and be so sweet? Shang Hua did. It was his privilege now. Only his.

Shen Jiu once looked like an untouchable immortal...

Well, he still was, considering how his cultivation was going. But now... he looked more like an untouchable god. But far more lighthearted, sweet, and kind in ways Shang Hua noticed he was from their first lives. He was more approachable now, but still had that air of being above any mortal or being they came across. Shen Jiu had always been beautiful, but since he didn't have his ever present scowl or blank look, it seemed to increase ten-fold!

Hell, just yesterday, the stupid nobles from the Dong house came to ask for his hand! Again! Even though Shen Jiu was his!

He slipped a special poison in their food supply that would cause anyone who ate it to have violent diarrhea for weeks to come. Not to kill. Just to torment.

(Shang Hua would have killed them, but Shen Jiu was against murdering, even if they were disgusting rich men. Their hate for high society was a nice thing they had in common when they went to listen in on the gossip from the brothel ladies.)

"A-Hua, your hands." Shen Jiu shivered again as Shang Hua tempted to reach in and up his upper robes with a mischievous smile.

"My hands?" He echoed, feigning innocence as he felt that soft jade skin.

Since Shen Jiu's cultivation hadn't been crippled yet, his potential had grown and surpassed what he was like compared to their first lives. The wounds and scars he had faded fairly quickly, like he hadn't spent half of his life being abused and tortured. Shang Hua had kissed the parts he was allowed to touch when the scars were still there.

(He practically worshipped Shen Jiu's scarred body. He figures that's why Shen Jiu let him touch him in such an intimate way, even after confessing how the Master Qiu and his son molested him quite a bit during his time there. Shen Jiu seemed to get better when Shang Hua didn't hesitate to kiss every inch of his body their first night together, never going any further than that.

It was a ritual every once a week. Even if the scars were gone now, Shang Hua made sure Shen Jiu knew he still loved his body. With or without the scars.)

Shen Jiu gasped softly as Shang Hua pulled open the front of his robe, exposing his chest to the air as he dragged his calloused fingers up and down his soft skin. He smirked, playing with the red fruit on his chest, pulling and twisting until the buds were perked and sensitive. Shen Jiu whimpered at the feeling, but eagerly pushed his chest out to chase the pleasure being given to him.

"A-Hua..." he gasped when a hand went down, rubbing his thigh, from the knee up to his pelvis, but never touching more. "Don't— don't tease—!"

Shang Hua hummed, kissing his neck, "Don't tease? I am doing no such thing."

He kissed the back of his shoulders and neck. His hands wandered more and more, teasing the front of his pants where he ghosted over the growing tent at his menstrations. He wondered how far he could get today.

At least until they felt a disturbance in the array Shang Hua set up.

Shen Jiu got up quickly, fixing his robes, "G-go see what that was. I need to compose myself."

Shang Hua watched him rush back into the house. With a pout, he put the meat away before grabbing his axe and heading towards the front of their land where the array was disturbed. Whoever it was, he was ready to murder.

Until he heard familiar voices.

"Liu shidi! You hardhead!" Came Ye Qingjiu's voice.

"Shut up! I didn't know it was there! Liu Qingge snapped back.

"Both of you shut up!" Wei Qingwei hissed. "You two are acting like children! We're Peak Lords! Act like it!"

Shang Hua froze, but he had already breached the small tree line Shen Jiu had planted to make an entrance way to their home. The others whipped their heads in his direction and they stared at each other for quite some time before Liu Qingge's pulled his sword in surprise.

"Shang Qinghua!"

Wei Qingwei's face morphed into hate, "You—! Traitor! What are you doing here?"

Ye Qingjiu pulled his sword, "Never expected to see your face again."

Shang Hua frowned before letting his expression drop to a normal blank mask. His default expression when he wasn't pretending to be a pitiful man to trick others and gain their sympathies.

"Oh, it's just you asshats." The three flinched in surprise.

Shang Hua, Qinghua, in their memories was always a timid man. Stumbling over his feet and words, backing down from confrontation, running away in fright. He was one of the worst examples of a righteous cultivator. But this man? He was... dead and done in a way they've never seen before.

"What do you want? How did you find this place?" He asked impatiently.

It would be better it Shen Jiu never saw these guys again.

Wei Qingwei clenched his fists, "We're looking for Shen shixiong. The villagers here told us a man looking like him lived here at the edge of the ocean's shore."

Liu Qingge frowned and huffed, "Is he here or not?"

Shang Hua glanced at the War God, unimpressed, "Of course he is. But he will not see any of you bastards. Go away and don't come back. We don't want trouble."

Ye Qingjiu blinked, "We?"

Shang Hua smirked, startling the three again, "Yes. We. This is our home. And you three and any of our previous martial siblings are not allowed here. So, bye-bye!"

He did a mock wave and turned to leave, but was stopped when a large hand grabbed his shoulder.

"That's not an option—!"

He spun quickly, using qi to amplify the speed and power in his axe swing, just barely missing cutting off Wei Qingwei's hand from his arm. His face morphed into barely concealed hate and anger as he swung his axe and lunged at the sword smith. Wei Qingwei managed to pull out his sword, blocking a swing to his neck. Shang Hua wasn't deterred as he pulled a dagger from his sleeve and went to stab his neck. Ye Qingjiu jumped in, forcing Shang Hua to abort his attack to jump away when a leg swung out from above that would have crushed his skull. Liu Qingge came up behind him, kicking him in the back and sending him flying before hitting the ground.

He coughed hard from the impact, but forced himself up quickly to dodge an combined attack from Ye Qingjiu and Wei Qingwei. His cultivation may have been damaged long before he entered the sect, but his body had been hardened from years of abuse. He could take a beating if it meant driving away these unwanted pests from the past.

But he was the weakest for a reason. Against cultivators and not normal mortals, he was defeated in less than ten minutes. Liu Qingge had him pinned to the ground as Ye Qingjiu tied him up. Wei Qingwei was writing up a talisman, clearly to report back to Yue Qingyuan.

"Get off of him!" A sudden gust of wind and razor sharp leaves shot out, cutting into the three cultivators.

Shouts of confusion and alarm rung out as the weight on Shang Hua was moved off. He scrambled up to see Shen Jiu marching out of the tree line, a look of outrage and hate twisted his normally calm face.

(Just like he remembered in their first lives. He found that he didn't mind it. In fact, it was quite attractive.)

Shang Hua got up quickly and ran over, taking up a spot beside him and grabbing onto his arm. Shen Jiu fanned himself, looking at Shang Hua from the side while not taking his eyes off of the three cultivators that dared to trespass.

"What the fuck are you doing on our land? What right do you have intruding upon our space?" Shen Jiu snarled, holding onto Shang Hua's hand in worry.

Wei Qingwei scrambled up in surprise, taking in Shen Jiu's features, "You— Shen shixiong, it's us!"

Shen Jiu snarled, "Us? What a strange name to share between three... men."

Liu Qingge frowned and got up, reaching out, but stopped when Shen Jiu took a step back, "You— we're martial siblings. You belong in Cang Qiong Sect!"

Shen Jiu glared at him, "I belong where I say I belong. And that's here, with A-Hua."

Ye Qingjiu blanched, "A-who?"

Shang Hua smirked from behind before putting on a pitiful frown, "A-Jiu, these horrible men bullied me for no reason! Look, look!"

He pulled up his robes to reveal where Liu Qingge had kicked him moments before. And showed where he had been hit trying to block attacks from Wei Qingwei. Of course, the hits weren't that bad. He had felt far worse when he had worked under Mobei-jun.

But the effect was worth it.

Shen Jiu's face twisted in rage as he took in the bruises before whirling around to face their previous martial brothers. His rage was so potent that the others shrunk when he turned his jade green eyes on them, furious and hateful. Shang Hua smirked smugly at the shock in on the other's faces. Clearly, they imaged this going a different way.

"How could you side with-with that demon colluder?" Ye Qingjiu yelled in disbelief.

Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow, "Demon colluder? My A-Hua refuses to trade with that damned blacksmith down in town for all the priceless material we find her."

Wei Qingwei looked confused before realization dawned on his face, "You... you don't remember us..."

Liu Qingge's face fell at that and Shang Hua had to cover his mouth to avoid laughing when Shen Jiu scoffed.

"I'm supposed to remember a rag-tag group of barbarians beating on my A-Hua, spouting nonsense, and demanding my time? I don't think so!"

They had no chance to respond when Shen Jiu waved his fan, summoning up his famous leaf trick once more. Since his qi reserves and meridians were undisturbed, the effect was far more powerful than when he was a Peak Lord with a damaged core. The others had no defense as they were chased off with cuts so deep, Shang Hua was sure it pierced their bones.

Shang Hua smiled brightly when Shen Jiu turned to check him over.

"We need to strengthen our barriers."

"Of course."

"You're not allowed to leave the house for a month."

"But who will hunt for us?"

"I can do it. Go. Back to the house where I can treat you."

"Yes, A-Jiu."
___________

"Here again?"

Those cultivators brought more friends. Shen Jiu stood at the edge of his land, quietly plotting ten different ways to disarm and break each of them.

Mu Qingfang pursed his lips, "Shen shixiong, I... did something happen? Why don't you remember us?"

Shen Jiu raised an eyebrow, "The same, tired question. From the same tired cultivators. Leave us alone."

Qi Qingqi pursed her lips, "Shen Qi— shixiong... we... we've wronged you. We-we need to make it up to you! To protect you!"

"Protect me?" Shen Jiu laughed. "I don't know you people! I will not accept unwanted help from some do-gooders like yourselves! All I need is A-Hua."

Wu Qingtai frowned, "Shang shixiong? Why? He's a traitor to humanity!"

Shen Jiu smirked and fanned himself, "Humanity can rot for all I care."

Jun Qingsu gaped, "How can you say that! You're human!"

"I am whatever I chose to be. I will not associate myself with creatures like human beings. I hold no love for humanity. No love for the walking flesh suits." Shen Jiu mocked. "I can see you're all pampered, spoiled young masters and mistress. I don't care if I go to hell for killing the lot of you and then some if you don't leave my property now."

For added effect, he pulled out his sword. It wasn't a very good sword compared to the ones made by the sect, but it was enough for him to protect himself and Shang Hua. The cultivator's eyes widened in shock.

Liu Qingge stepped up again, clearly desperate, "You— come with us. You belong on Cang Qiong. You're our... our brother!"

Huang Qingxin nodded, "We're your family."

"I don't need family. All I need is A-Hua." Shen Jiu snarled.

(He had family once. But he never came back for him. Never asked anyone to help save him. Threw him under the bus and got off scott free.)

"He worked with demons! He betrayed us! You included!" Yu Qingxuan yelled helplessly. "We were wrong to mistrust you! Everything you did! We were wrong!"

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Shen Jiu snapped, feeling his qi spike in irritation. "Go away before I—!"

"Xiao Jiu?"

Shen Jiu tensed as he watched another figure finally join the party. His eyes widened in disbelief.

He would know his brother anywhere. No matter how much time apart. He knew Yue Qi like the back of his own hand.

Yue Qingyuan rushed over from his month long mission after receiving word from Wei Qingwei that his Xiao Jiu had been found. His brother. His family.

Xiao Jiu looked healthy. So much healthier than in their first life. Taller, too.

"Xiao Jiu... you're here..." he smiled and moved closer, but Shen Jiu stepped back.

Yue Qingyuan didn't stop smiling. Even though that face of disgust and hate painted his pretty features. He had the chance to make it right. To make sure Xiao Jiu wouldn't get into trouble again. That he would be safe on Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.

"So. You're alive and well." Shen Jiu bit out, his hands were shaking. "Great."

Yue Qingyuan reached out, "Xiao Jiu, I—"

"Don't call me that."

The others flinched at that tone. It was always the tone Shen Jiu used before he started yelling at and cursing Yue Qingyuan. Shen Jiu was turning red.

"Leave. And don't fucking come back here."

Yue Qingyuan pursed his lips, "Xi— Shen Jiu. Please. Qi ge is sorry. For not coming back. For not having your back like he should have. Please. Please come back to Cang Qiong with me. Qi ge will protect you."

"I don't need your protection." Shen Jiu pointed his sword at Yue Qingyuan. "I don't need you. Like I've told your tone deaf siblings... all I need is A-Hua."

Mu Qingfang stepped up next to Yue Qingyuan, "He really doesn't remember."

Ye Qingjiu frowned and came up, "Shang Qinghua does though. He's done something to Shen Qingqiu."

Shen Jiu inspected the barrier that the cultivators were stuck behind. It didn't look like they knew how to get through thanks to Shang Hua's array talent. He felt smug on the other's behalf before looking up when someone stepped up as close as they could to the barrier.

The boy in purple was looking at him like he kicked a puppy.

Shen Jiu narrowed his eyes, "Can I help you?"

Liu Qingge pursed his lips and shook his head, "Come to Cang Qiong."

"No."

Yue Qingyuan stepped up, "Xiao Jiu—"

"Don't call me that!" He swung his sword in anger, the qi infused attack sent half of them flying. "Leave us alone! We don't know you people!"

Yue Qingyuan shook his head, "You know me!"

"I know Yue Qi! Not Yue Qingyuan!"

The others looked at Shen Jiu. Yue Qingyuan frowned.

"I don't—"

"A-Hua told me all about you. You certainly found yourself some "nice" new friends! Forgot all about me! You could have sent for me! You had the power to! But you left me to rot!" Shen Jiu yelled, his jaw aching from how hard he tried to keep those thoughts in.

(But his heart ached and cried. He thought he had gotten over Yue Qi's betrayal. He thought he had moved on.

But looking at his long lost brother. The man he had sworn his loyalty to and protected, valued more than his own life... something deep inside him hurt far more than he had imagined possible.)

"Yue Qi is dead! That's the only reason my brother never came back for me! That's the only explanation I'll accept! I don't know you! So go away! Go away and leave us alone!" He screamed, feeling the air knock out of his body. "Leave me alone!"

They couldn't get through the barrier because it was too strong. Shen Jiu was on the verge of a qi deviation, that much was obvious. They couldn't help him.

"Shen Qingqiu—!" Liu Qingge called out.

Shen Jiu looked up, ready to scream his lungs out to chase away these intruders. To make the suffocating feeling he was experiencing because of them go away, when suddenly a familiar hand reached around and covered his eyes.

"A-Jiu. Calm down. It's alright."

He shuddered at the voice of Shang Hua whispering in his ear. It was only then that he realized he was hyperventilating and shaking. He barely managed to reign himself in when he felt the other pull him up against his chest and wrap his other arm around him. The familiar hold comforted him as he curled in on himself and into Shang Hua's hold.

The others collected themselves and blanched at the display.

Yue Qingyuan's face darkened when he saw that traitor holding his dear Xiao Jiu in such a way.

Shang Hua looked at them with uninterested eyes before smirking cruelly. He kissed Shen Jiu's cheek, making Liu Qingge scream for the other to get away from Shen Jiu. But all that did was make Shen Jiu turn around so they were chest to chest and hug him so tightly it squeezed the soul out of him. But he didn't mind. He held Shen Jiu back just as tightly, purposely placing a hand on his lower back, drawing their eyes to his slender waist, and a hand on his shoulder, high lighting that even though Shen Jiu was taller, he was smaller in the ways that made him a peerless beauty.

"Immortal masters," he said, a simpering tone in his voice as he comforted Shen Jiu, "please leave us alone. We are merely rogue cultivators trying to live peaceful lives. You're stressing out my cultivation partner."

He could see the heartbreak on Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan's face at his last statement. The others looked equally shocked at Shang Hua's words. Even some pitying looks on their faces at his words. For emphasis, he kissed Shen Jiu's shoulder and nuzzled him close.

Mu Qingfang clenched his fists, "Shang shixiong... how could you take advantage of Shen shixiong? Knowing he has no memories!"

Shen Jiu turned then with a nasty glare, "Watch what you say about A-Hua! He is mine! And he is a better man than any of you nosy, pushy bastards ever will be!"

Shang Hua hid the other's face in his neck, patting him, "Hush, A-Jiu. Don't expend your energy on these humans. They don't deserve it, baobei."

Liu Qingge turned a deathly pale at his words and he couldn't help but laugh. He was no expert on love, but even he could tell the War God had been attracted to Shen Jiu in their first lives. He heard Liu Mingyan whispering about it before Liu Qingge died with her martial sisters one time when he was spying on Qi Qingqi to give Sha Hauling her whereabouts for a surprise attack on the woman people deemed as a immortal fairy. He liked seeing the heartbreak on him. Serves him right for always bullying Shang Hua into doing his paperwork for him and threatening him when he couldn't get his way.

"Come, let's return home. They can't get passed the barrier anyways." Shang Hua led Shen Jiu away, but stopped to face them one more time. "We are not part of your sect. Never was and never will be. This is your last warning to leave us alone. If I catch you here again, I will kill you and use your bodies as fertilizers for A-Jiu's garden. That is a promise. Not a threat."

They left the others in stunned silence.

Back in their home, Shen Jiu laid on their bed and cried. He cried and cried until the sun set and his tears ran out.

Shang Hua merely laid beside him and let the other cry into his chest. He knew it hurt the other to see Yue Qingyuan. He should have known better than to let the others tell the man where they lived.

"We might have to move..." he whispered softly, petting Shen Jiu's head.

Shen Jiu sniffed and shook his head, "This is our home. We won't be bullied out of it."

Shang Hua laughed softly and kisses Shen Jiu's forehead, "Of course. We'll kill them before they get the chance to chase us off."

"En."

(Unfortunately, their ex-martial siblings would keep coming every other week to persuade then both to come back to Cang Qiong. It was only both once they realized Shen Jiu would never recover his memories and would only follow Shang Hua. Not even Yue Qingyuan's pleas and reminders of who his loyalties should belong to phased him.

It turns out, the next Peak Lord of both An Ding and Qing Jing were both a royal fuck-up and an actual lecherous scum because their martial brothers never came to Cang Qiong for their rightful seats.

Not that Shang Hua or Shen Jiu cared.

It was even more of a shitshow when Luo Binghe showed up.)