Chapter Text
There are many things that everybody knows. For one, everyone knows that Shen Qingqiu is an Alpha. It’s obvious! Just like everybody knows that he only chooses disciples that are sure to present Alpha. Everyone knows, because he’d once mentioned to Mu-Shidi that he didn’t want to have to worry about Omegas on his peak.
Some other things everybody knows? Well, that Luo Binghe will be an Alpha when he presents. It’s something Shen Qingqiu was sure about after all, and he hadn’t been wrong yet, not even after all these years as a Peak Lord.
Almost all the other Peak Lords are Alphas as well. Except Shang Qinghua, that is. Everybody knew he was an Omega.
Technically, Cang Qiong has no official policy that says only Alphas can be Peak Lords, nor do they have an official policy stating that only Alphas may be chosen for Qing Jing peak. Nor, nor does anyone actually test any of the sect members to confirm their secondary gender designations. It’s pretty much the honor system. Everyone knows this.
What else does everybody know? Well, they know that Shen Qingqiu was a lecherous pervert who liked to hang around at brothels. Everyone knew that he was the scion of a well off family, that’s why he was so cold and arrogant. Unfortunately, this was one of those issues where, even if someone had asked Shen Qingqiu if all of the gossip was true, he would have answered with silence. After all, why fight rumors when everyone knows the truth?
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One morning in late Spring, Shen Qingqiu starts his day feeling oddly restless. Meditating all night didn't help his fatigue at all, and even the scents of his beloved peak smelled all wrong. For one thing, the sharp tang of an omega in distress floated along on the air. However, that would be impossible, given that he had no Omegas on his peak. It was a choice he made deliberately, feeling that it was safer for any Omegas to be on a different Peak. Also, he didn’t want to be blamed when stupid Alpha children did what stupid alpha children were wont to do.
The windows of the bamboo house were open though, and the light morning breeze clearly carries distress with it. Distress, and a strong scent of fear and desperation. Incredible sadness, and underneath it all, hopelessness.
Shen Qingqiu stood up from his meditation cushion and quickly pulled on robes, tying his hair back in his simplest hair piece. He stashes his sword in his spatial pouch and leaves the house, following his nose.
It’s funny, he thinks to himself, that his olfactory sense was deciding to work today. Some days he couldn’t smell a thing. Although everybody knew that Shen Qingqiu was an Alpha, in reality, he had never presented. A physician he’d seen long ago conjectured that he had too much trauma in his past. Fortunately, it was easy enough to act like an Alpha. Being arrogant and overconfident seemed to do it just fine!
Shen Qingqiu’s strides lengthened as the offensive scents became stronger. It was definitely an omega but concerningly, several Alpha scents were bleeding through as well. He emerges from the bamboo forest close to the creek where the disciples gathered water and did the laundry. The creek is at the bottom of a small hill, cutting sharp turns into the earth in snake-like shapes.
There, at the creek bank, are four disciples. Three of them surround the victim, jeering and catcalling. Shen Qingqiu’s heart nearly stops when he realizes what one of them is holding. A torn set of disciple robes.
A group of young Alphas is ripping the clothes off one of his disciples, newly presenting as an Omega, and his terror was enough to draw Shen Qingqiu from his house, half way across the peak!
Shen Qingqiu’s fists clench in fury, and he leaps from the top of the hill, gliding down at rapid speed. He draws Xiu Ya, and with one swipe knocks all three Alphas off their feet, sending them back quite a bit. A strange noise emerges from his throat, a fierce growl that feels like it’s coming from the depths of his soul.
The Qing Jing Peak lord feels incandescent with rage, but before he takes another step the omega on the ground raises his head, and Shen Qingqiu freezes in place.
Luo Binghe, looks up at his Master, not in relief, indeed, not with any sense of safety at all. The scent of hopelessness increases, and Shen Qingqiu wants to vomit. A dark purple bruise on the boy’s jaw stands out clearly on his pale skin. His outer robes have been torn to shreds and lay in pieces all around him. His inner robes have long jagged tears through which bleeding wounds are visible.
That noise again, comes from Shen Qingqiu’s throat without any intention at all. “Stay put,” he says to the boy, then steps over him. He leaps gracefully over the creek to the other side where the other three are huddling together. Ming Fan, Yu Jiangyu, and Qian Fengge have all already presented as Alphas. Ming Fan was a leading candidate to be his head disciple. No more.
They all throw themselves into kowtows, and Shen Qingqiu must resist the urge to murder them all. He has no idea what scent he’s giving off, but from their reaction, he assumes it is potent. Good! His insides feel like they’re boiling.
“On my peak,” Shen Qingqiu says through a throat full of growls, “You would attack an freshly presented Omega?” Words can not even convey how offended he is! That and some part of him wants to howl in displeasure. He leans down. “What…gives you the right?” He demands, and they further cower.
Shen Qingqiu wants to make it clear that this behaviour will Never happen again. He wants nothing more than to pound these idiots into the ground until they can’t get back up, but he is their master. Ultimately, the fault is with him regardless of his desire to avoid omega students or not. He has one now, and that is a fact.
A low whimper has Shen Qingqiu whipping his head around, narrowing his eyes at the boy shaking alone on the ground on the other bank. He glances down at his three alpha students. “You three go kneel in front of the reflection hall. Do.Not. Move. Until this master retrieves you.”
He ignores the chorus of “Yes Shizun!” that follows and leaps back across the water to Luo Binghe. This child is one of his more annoying disciples to be sure, not progressing in his cultivation and always getting into fights. Looking down at his rather pathetic figure, Shen Qingqiu now must wonder how many of those fights were started by the other boys.
After all, he thinks bitterly, everyone knows Luo Binghe is his worst student.
Shen Qingqiu puts his sword away, and picks up the boy who goes utterly stiff and leans away in his arms. “Stop fighting me,” he says irritably, “this master is trying to help you.”
The bitter tang of hopelessness, if anything, gets worse, and Luo Binghe covers his face with his hands. The back of his inner robes are damp, and Shen Qingqiu wishes he could un-know that fact. Some kind of instinct clamors in his chest though, and he gathers the boy close to his chest so that his face is turned to his own neck.
Not that his own scent is much better, Shen Qingqiu knows, having been informed many times by his martial family how disgusting it is.
Using his qinggong, he springs up the hill, then continues his light footwork, heading to the rainbow bridge which leads to Qian Cao peak. Halfway there, the boy starts shaking harder in his arms, and Shen Qingqiu pauses to pry one of the kid’s hands away from his face.
He’s met with Luo Binghe’s dark eyes, wet with tears, scent still reeking desperation and hopelessness. Sighing deeply, Shen Qingqiu guides the boy’s nose to his neck, one hand cradling the back of his head. “This master has you, Luo Binghe.”
All at once, thin arms wrap around his neck, clutching at his robes. Swearing internally, Shen Qingqiu manages not to bark at the boy.
The arrive at the healing pavilion of Qian Cao a short time later, and one of the disciples of that peak settles them in a private room, while another fetches Peak Lord Mu.
Shen Qingqiu tries to set Luo Binghe down on the bed, but the boy just curls deeper into his arms. This little idiot, Shen Qingqiu thinks. This master is not your safe haven! His arms hold the boy tighter, in spite of his uncharitable thoughts.
He tires of standing and takes a seat in the chair next to the bed.
Moments later the door opens, and Mu Qingfang gazes down at them with the sort of calm that only healers ever seem to have. “Shen Qingqiu,” he greets. “What has happened?” Mu Qingfang’s dark eyes miss very little, sweeping over Shen Qingqiu’s hands cradling his disciple, and the boy’s face buried in his neck. The healer tilts his head to the side. “Omega presentation?” His brow wrinkles. “But then why-” His voice cuts off abruptly, and for a moment, he stares at Shen Qingqiu in something like shock before gathering his composure.
“Shen Shixiong, who do you have with you?”
Shen Qingqiu shifts uneasily in his chair. “This is my youngest disciple Luo Binghe. This master scented-” desperation…hopelessness… “trouble, and upon investigation found Disciple Luo being assaulted by three other disciples.”
The arms around his neck tighten, and Shen Qingqiu snaps, “This master still needs to breathe, Binghe.” Unfortunately, this just makes the boy shake harder.
Mu Qingfang considers this tableau a moment then eases closer. “Luo Shizi, this Mu Shishu needs to check your pulse and will be touching your wrist.” Gently, he reaches over and palpates the boy’s pulse.
Shen Qingqiu watches the healer’s gaze flick between the disciple and himself several times. “What is it?” he demands finally.
Clearing his throat, Mu Qingfang says, “Has Shen Shixiong noticed any unusual symptoms of his own this morning?”
Huffing a breath through his nose, Shen Qingqiu says only, “This master has noticed that scents seem much more noticeable, and if this one may say so, extremely unpleasant today.”
The physician merely hums, withdrawing a talisman from his sleeve and imbuing it with qi. It glows briefly, lighting up with several familiar characters. “Shen Shixiong surely knows that Luo Shizi has presented as Omega.” Mu Qingfang hesitates, meeting his gaze squarely. “But it also appears that Shen Shixiong has also presented as an Omega on this day as well.”
“Excuse me?” Shen Qingqiu says sharply.
Briefly looking to the ceiling, Mu Qingfang recites, “Difficulty sleeping, difficulty meditating, scent intensification, and-”
“And what?”
“Extreme protectiveness regarding other Omegas.”
Shen Qingqiu presses his lips together in a tight line, unable to refute any of that.
“Also,” the physician continues, “Shen Shixiong’s scent has changed, clearly reflecting an Omega scent.”
“This master was under the impression that his scent was…distasteful. To others.”
Surprisingly, Mu Qingfang huffs and crosses his arms over his chest. “Don’t tell me you actually believed that claptrap from Liu Qingge?” Shaking his head, he adds, “Shen Shixiong’s scent was always rather faint and somewhat bland, never reflecting any emotions.” Nostrils flaring, Mu Qingfang says, “Shen Shixiong has recently been very, very angry.”
Shen Qingqiu’s arms tighten and Luo Binghe squeaks.
“Shizun?” A small voice says into his ear.
“Yes. Will you allow Mu Shishu to examine you?”
“Don’t leave me alone!” Luo Binghe cries, fingers once more digging into his neck.
“Damn it-” Shen Qingqiu forcibly stops his curse. This boy keeps trying to strangle him! “Fine, this master will stay. He wasn’t planning on leaving anyway.”
Luo Binghe allows himself to be placed on the bed, pulling up his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs. Now that his face is clearly visible, it’s clear that he is worse off than Shen Qingqiu had thought.
One eye is swollen, the orbit purple. His bottom lip is split and bleeding, and of course, the large bruise on his jaw that Shen Qingqiu had seen before.
His inner robes are falling off of his upper body, and his entire front is covered in dirt.
Just the sight of him like this is churning up Shen Qingqiu’s insides again, making that dark growl emerge from his throat.
“Calm, Shixiong,” Mu Qingfang says soothingly. “This one will not hurt your pup.”
“I don’t have any-” The snarled words stop abruptly, like the denial gets caught on an impassable snag. Shen Qingqiu’s brows furrow. Does he have a pup? This young one in distress is covered in his scent. A haze drops down over Shen Qingqiu’s mind, and he wants to rage, to destroy whoever did this! “MY pup,” he snarls, bending over and snatching the boy back up into his arms.
Mu Qingfang wisely takes a step back. “Shen Shixiong, try to remember that you are presenting as an Omega as well as young Luo Binghe here. Presenting at such an advanced age is quite unusual, and this useless healer is unsure what to expect. This Qingfang does know that Qingqiu should try and stay calm, to not upset his pup.”
Yes, Shen Qingqiu thinks. His pup has been upset enough. His insides feel like they’re catching fire again, and he sways on his feet.
“Shizun?” Luo Binghe sounds worried, and his scent is even more so. At least that desperation and hopelessness has taken a back seat to plain old worry.
Shen Qingqiu clutches his chest and coughs, sending a large clot of blood spraying onto the front of his robes. His head rings with pain, and clumsily he brings a hand to his temple. The room feels like it’s rising and then something cool presses against his cheek.
“Shizun!” The sound fades quickly, the but worried scent of his pup remains.
“Keep…pup…safe…” he manages before everything goes black.