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the-switch-conspiracy · 2 months ago

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Chapter 5: [ctrl f]

“I will be sending Shen Qingqiu to Shuang Hu City.”

Light streams through the windows adorning the richly decorated walls which make up the Qiong Ding Peak meeting hall. The multiple beams of light intersect across the table normally crowded by twelve, now only seating two. Yue Qingyuan gently blows away the light haze of steam rising from his teacup, before sipping at the over steeped blend. His current conversation partner gripped at the hilt of his sword with one hand, his other hitting the table with a sharp thunk, his eyes narrowing dangerously on his face.

“Tch. And what does Shen Qingqiu have to do with my request to cultivate in seclusion?” Liu Qingge pauses, his mouth pursing in agitation before reluctantly continuing, “Zhangman-Shixiong.” His eyes dart away, staring stonily at the distant wall. Yue Qingyuan blinks placidly at his Shidi, placing his cup down with a decisive clink.

“Strange activity has been reported in the city. When this information was first received, Shen Qingqiu claimed it for both himself and his disciples as a training excursion.” He pauses, catching Liu Qingge in a heavy glance, “Shen Qingqiu has, as you’ve no doubt heard, recently suffered a rather severe Qi-Deviation.” Liu Qingge snorts, ignoring Yue Qingyuan’s sharpening glare, fingers tapping against Cheng Luan’s hilt frenetically.

“So? Give it to one of the other Peak Lords.” Yue Qingyuan raises an eyebrow at him, and his face drops to a scowl, “No-”

“Shen Qingqiu is quite capable, but both Mu Qingfang and I believe that it would be best he has… assistance with this mission.”

“Yet you are still sending him instead of someone else?” and me along with him was heavily implied in the stony silence that followed. Liu Qingge’s eyes sharpen at the glimpse of something seen in his Sect Leader’s eyes. A hesitance, consuming and dark, lingering in the depths. Zhangman-Shixiong was hiding information, and that information was in relation to Shen Qingqiu. Oh course it was.

“You’re hiding things.” He bluntly exclaims, as his hand once more slams the table. A crack forms in the wood. Yue Qingyuan’s eyes track the motion, his face an unmoving mask. His head tilts in the barest suggestion of a nod.

“We noticed… something after he woke. It’s likely nothing of harm, however…” He pauses, catching his Shidi’s gaze with a surprisingly solemn look, “It would be best to act cautiously.” Yet you’re sending him on a mission rather than examining him!?Your blatant favouritism… It was to be expected of the Sect Leader, even with the Qing Jing Peak Lord’s -everything- the man dotes on him.He stills a shiver, a foreboding sense of disquiet filling him.This mission would change things. The thought was sudden and disturbing in its certainty. Where this unease came from, he was unsure, but his instincts have yet to fail him.

Shen Qingqiu was…. uncomfortable to be around. It was a primal discomfort, the sudden involuntary tensing of Liu Qingge’s muscles in his presence, the awareness of his proximity. His instincts scream when he’s in a room with the other, the black void behind his eyes hurts him to see. Liu Qingge did not dislike Shen Qingqiu, no. For how could someone dislike the concept of an amicable human being? But even despite his admittedly undeserved discomfort in his presence, his feelings towards the other were mixed. Shen Qingqiu was locked into a constant battle against a person that doesn’t exist, the person he wasn’t; the person Liu Qingge achingly wishes he was.

A̮̲̼̱͆͊̽͘ ̧̼͎͖̓͐͛͠ţ͔̭͑̊̋h̯̮͒̓́ͅo̩̅u̖͊̊͜s̨̤͔͋̄̔a̭̙̣͓͑̔̍̏͝ͅn̦͆d̟̑ ̙̼̠̹̉́̊͟͝͞f̧̛̙̹̈̃̓͢ȃ͔n͇̻̺̑̋́s̘̝̩͕̪̄̽̉͂̎,̧͎̺͔͂͊̾͡ d̫̔r̻͓̋̈͋ͅop̻̯͙̜͊̆͐͡p͇̖̃̐i͔̠̿͊ň̪̺͋͋͟g̨̛̘̣͋̓ ̛̯̖̗͎͊̐̾̆͢ę͈̹̠̱̈́͋̎̿͋n̰̿̔͟d͙̬̯͊̓͗ļ̟͉̘͋̒͛̂ȩ̰̱̈̿̎̕͢ş̦̭̜̈̄̊̎s͚͕̒͒l̬̮̗̆́͝y̛̬.̠̬̲̓͊̏ ̩̯̾͘F̘̖̠̱̺̐́͌̾̕i͖̫͇͌́̎͘͢vè̛̙͖̙̬̓̿ ̟̉y̭̪̌̕e̠̬͓̟̼͑̑̄̐͞å͉͈̞̓͆̉͢ŕ͇s̙͎͒̽ ̻͐ở̰̻f͓̜̱̭̽̂̇̿ ̟͓̤̊̿͝ḻ̌o͓͋s̪̏͌͜ṡ̲̹͂͑ͅ.͉͙͚̆́̀ ̜̱̮̖̀͂̎́T̝̥̪̆̍̕h̻͎̝̱̫͆́̾̅̔ė̖ ͙̗͊̊ȩ̟͍̅͊͝n̝̪͍̋̽͗d̥̓ ̝̠̦̑̐̽d̢̊row̛̘̼̳̐̿n̛͎̳̥͈͑̓́e̦̼͋̆̚͟d͔͎̯̋̀̈́ ̢̧͎̎̊̆î͚͇̬͋͌n̤̗̱̮̿͛̌̀ ͚̗͉̼̀̄̊͆r̡̬͇͕̈́̏̀͘ed͈̱̫̖̂̍̐̇.

He grits his teeth, ignoring the sting echoing through his skull. Lunacy. The flashes, the unworthy thoughts. Figments of fantasy that will never exist, of a Shixiong who…. no. Enough! Madness. Perhaps he too was heading towards a Qi-Deviation of his own, it’d be fitting. His nails dig into his palm, the flesh straining, moments away from spilling blood. Barely perceptible shivers trailed through him, his pulse beat in his skull.

“Tch, possession? Or damage? Not that it matters,” he rises, tension flooding him as his agitation peaks, “you could replace him with a training dummy and notice no difference.” Yue Qingyuan’s face spasms, a quick cycle of anger, irritation, and cold distaste play, before setting once more on placid calm. His words however barely hide the barb they carry.

“He is still your martial senior, and deserves respect.” He pauses yet again, seemingly lost in thought, “He wasn’t always-” His words trail off as a distant expression appears in his eyes. Between a breath and the next, Yue Qingyuan went from sitting back straight and firm, to grabbing his head in his hands, an evident flash of pain crossing his face.

“Sect Leader?” Liu Qingge rockets forwards, one hand stretching towards the hunched over figure of his Shixiong.

“I’m…. fine. For a moment…” he stops, his eyes searching Liu Qingge’s own, before abruptly shaking his head. “No.No.I’m misremembering.” It comes in a mutter from under his breath, hard to hear even with Liu Qingge’s cultivation enhanced senses. Before Liu Qingge could even open his mouth, Yue Qingyuan looks away and concludes the conversation, “You will be joining Shen Qingqiu and his disciples to identify the cause of the deaths in Shuang Hu City.” It was an order, ‘play nice’.

“If Zhangman-Shixiong insists.” He spits it bitterly through closed teeth as he turns his back and strides from the room. His footsteps fade.

Yue Qingyuan sits alone, cold tea in front of him. Blood drips from the Sect Leader’s nose.

~O~

The dusky twilight coats the sky with swirls of purple and shimmering green. It was a beautiful night, brisk but warm enough to comfortably stand and watch the stars. It was funny how ephemeral these small moments between are, how bitter they can make you feel despite their beauty. Shen Qingqiu tilts his head towards the sky, the gentle light of the moon caressing his face.

Several days have past since his awakening and his discontent has only grown. Being alive was a blessing he wasn’t sure he deserved, but it was a blessing with many strings attached. Strings barely holding a sword of Damocles above his head, the heads of every living sentient being in this world. He doesn’t even know what the System wants from him, every question he asks of it only returns a ‘Please complete Tutorial Mission: The Skinner Demon 2.0. To unlock further information!’. His eyes linger on the lake, the air and water Qi rich and gleaming silver. He shivers, his breath catching, this memory at least was clear.

Silver sword, silver glare, sinking beneath the lapping waves.

He shuts his eyes, breathing deeply, the tension building behind his closed lids matching the hurt corroding his soul. When his eyes open once more, everything appears so slightly blurry. The sound of wings beating, as the cranes who call this place home take flight, reaches his ears. The sound of footsteps approaching follows soon after.

“Shizun? Begging Shizun’s pardon, but this disciple has brought food..?”

Ah Binghe, his voice hesitant but clear. Of everything that’s happened he’s strangely been the most reliable, the most like his memories suggest. After that first meeting sent pain through his heart at how different he seemed, Shen Qingqiu was expecting more of the same. Close enough to hurt, but different enough to seem like a stranger wearing a friend’s skin. Contrary to that expectation, Luo Binghe was just so… Luo Binghe!

That very evening Shen Qingqiu had sat down for dinner, expecting the bland fare Qing Jing was known for to appear, only for Binghe to show up with a banquets worth of divinely exquisite food. He’d slid seamlessly back into the place he��d once occupied, a helpful shadow at his shoulder. It was like he’d finally woken up from a nightmare, one of the only things that felt right amidst everything else. It was nostalgic in a way, yet melancholic, for even before this it had been something of a rare occasion. He, after all, had a h͍͂u̼͡ś̺b̡̢̭̮̍͂̔́a͇̟̺̮̓͆̃͠n̺̭̙̲̐͊̈̀d̨̖̄̋ to care for and coddle. He winces as a sensation not unlike having a needle stuck behind his eye appears, sharp and stabbing.

“Shizun?” Once more, closer this time, the wolf in sheep’s clothing scampering closer with a surprising lack of finesse. He turns to take in the sight of his disciple. Binghe was pink cheeked with a sheepish expression covering his face, his hair escaping the careful ponytail he had tied it in, and a smear of... flour? Covered his chin.

“Binghe was fetching this one for dinner?” Something to eat would be good while he went over the case files of the Shuang Hu city murders. Or the Skinner Demon murders as it were. He had asked the Sect Leader about it during one of his many, many, visits. Yue Qingyuan had seemed surprised that he was mentioning it at all. That surprise had quickly faded, but had brought about another one of the many searching looks he’s been collecting. Just what was so interesting about him? Hmm? Was he truly doing such a poor job at acting like their Martial Sibling this time? He sighs as he follows Binghe back to the bamboo house.

“Is Shizun still examining the info for tomorrow’s mission?” He nods, mouth stuffed full of the tastiest dumplings he’s had in a long time, the scroll balancing on his knee. So far nothing serious seemed changed. Still nine people dead, two of which were Master Chen’s concubines. All of them completely skinned. There was one slight difference… noticeable stitching on each of the corpses, detectable even in their state of decay. It was the slightest change yet….

Binghe was sitting across from him, cheek in his hand elbow on his knee, and staring at him with a smile. His eyes gleam with every bite Shen Qingqiu takes, a quiet but rapt attention directed towards him. Lit by the golden glow of the lanterns, he’d taken on a dreamlike haze, lending what would normally be an intense expression an otherwise sweet affect. In this moment, ignoring everything else, it was nice. It felt… simple. It was simple. Except it really, really isn’t. He places his chopsticks down, and once more picks up the scroll.

Everything has been sorted, the small handful of students he’s picked out for this mission would be meeting near the stables at dawn, Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying of course among them. All of them were senior disciples, ranked highly on exams focused around identifying demonic creatures, and practised in talismans. While it shouldn’t be too difficult a night hunt, it would be remiss of him to ignore the obvious. His prior knowledge is useless. Knowing that his charges were just that bit more prepared this time around… it was a weight off his shoulders.

“Binghe should head to bed.” He raises an eyebrow at the youth who should be over at the dormitories, “We have an early morning tomorrow.” His eyes steadfastly ignoring the bowls surrounding him, that was a job for later. Maybe. He’ll ask an outer disciple to tidy tomorrow before leaving. Binghe’s mouth curls into a frown.

“If Shizun insists.” …? Of course he insists!? Binghe rises to his feet in a single, graceful movement, and bows. “This one implores that he be allowed to tidy first before taking his leave. Shizun shouldn’t dirty his hands for this.” Binghe… that’s not… Shen Qingqiu feels the internal sweat drop forming, Did he seem so incapable of cleaning up after himself? Sure he wasn’t going to, but now it’s a matter of pride!

“Binghe needn’t worry about tidying, this Master is capable of cleaning a few bowls.” Luo Binghe’s mouth tightens, a wounded expression flashing across his face. Ah, he can’t handle that expression… pride? What is pride in the face of this? It was like kicking a puppy… “But if Binghe...-”

“Yes.” Don’t just agree to it! You don’t even know what I was going to say?! But his face was all but glowing, a slightly self-satisfied grin twitching on his lips. He gathers up the remnants of dinner with decisive movements, “This disciple will finish this quickly.” before scurrying off in the direction of the kitchen. Shen Qingqiu sighs, shaking his head with a smile, Binghe really is just Binghe. A little different, but…

He rises to his feet, and stretches. Exhaustion fills him to his very bones. Maybe on this night, sleep would finally bring the clarity he needs. Or, like the nights passed since he awoke here, his sleep would bring only terror.

~O~

Leather and sword oil, a hint of earth and forest, clean sweat and spicy soap. A familiar scent tickles his nose, his eyelids flutter open. He was sitting beneath a massive Ginkgo tree, each branch arching endlessly into the distance, a beautiful ever shifting golden ocean lay above him. There was a familiar man laying beside him, dressed in recognisable white and blue robes with golden leaves in his hair, asleep. His face was slack and soft in his slumber, lacking his ever present frown. His Shidi, Liu Qingge, lays peaceful in a way he’s never seen before.

Found you.

His head whips around, turning towards the source of the ever consuming voice. Black hair, glowing poison green eyes, that hauntingly well-known face, his pale reflection made flesh. A bitter smile lingers on those bloodless lips, his hands hidden by his flowing monochrome robes.

It’s been harder than I thought, getting through to you. We are quite adept at avoiding harsh truths. And it has been trying its hardest to stop us from reconnecting. He laughs, a shattered sharp thing. I know you’ve been gaining fragments, so at least some memories are slipping through.

This reflection… he remembers…

So you do remember this place, this space between dream and reality. It was like a spark of life had ignited in him, a frenzied energy appearing in his movements. That’s… something. Something good. It can’t monitor us here.

A flash of memory returning from the last visit to this realm- You said I’ve forgotten something? I… paid a price..? Is that why I feel so empty? What have I lost?!

Pity. That expression on that face…

You don’t know the half of it, you can’t know the half of it. Once more that ugly shattered laugh echoes through the still air. The price was paid in two parts. Certain memories had to be taken, and a sacrifice had to be made. His grin seemed more like a snarl, the expression only softening when his gaze fell on the sleeping Liu Qingge.

In the corner of his eye, a figure appears. Tall and broad, the outline suggesting a curly mane. Unlike Liu Qingge or the reflection, it was entirely engulfed in shadows and static, its form twisting and shifting constantly. With every look he feels a hopeless, desperate, love that equals the sweet joyous emotion he experiences while looking at his Shidi’s sleeping form. It was maddening, knowing somewhere lost to him was the reason behind that love. His copy follows his gaze, eyes filling with sorrow as they fall on the mysterious figure.

You’ll regain those memories in time, I swear. What I can give you, I will. The deep emptiness grows, coiling around his lungs, his heart. The only thing more noticeable than the emptiness was the fear. He was drowning in it. A terrible energy fills the air, a flicker fills his vision. He felt distant, as if his connection to the dream was fading. He has to know the answer, to the constant pain he feels, to the flashes of memory that shatter his skull.

And the sacrifice? You said a sacrifice had to be made? The feeling grows.

That’s harder for me to explain. So much had to fall in place for this to work, for it to do what it did for us. A billion calculations, all for the best possible chance of success… and this was the best it could- wait-

The figure drew closer, his reflection’s glowing eyes widen in horror.

A rumbling fills the air, bringing with it the thick scent of smoke. Ember and ash cloak the sky like a veil. The great tree, the golden ocean, set ablaze. And with a crack, it falls, bringing the inferno down with it.

~O~

Shen Qingqiu bolts to consciousness with a gasp, his pulse racing as Xiu Ya materialises in his grasp. All that was left of his quickly fading nightmare was the impression of flames. Luo Binghe startles where he’s standing at the door, once hand raised in an aborted knock.

“Shizun! I was just coming to wake you.” The gentle dawn filtered through the open slats in his window, carrying the cool dew-laden morning breeze. Luo Binghe’s face was pulled into a look of sweet concern, his hands were carrying what appears to be a bowl of congee. What time was it? Surely he should be with his students, readying himself to leave? Correctly identifying the concern on his master’s face, Luo Binghe is quick to interject.

“There is time to eat and dress, Liu Shishu is corralling the rest.” Oh? Liu Shidi was getting everything into- Liu Shidi? What do you mean Liu Shidi is here?! Shouldn’t he be in closed cultivation, or had that too changed?

“Your Shishu is here?” It fell from his lips in a daze. He’d expect this from his own Qingge, but this wasn’t his own Qingge. Binghe nods, a frown creasing his brow.

“Yes, apparently the Sect Leader sent him.” The Sect Leader thinks us incapable? Or is it a lack of trust? He feels his own mouth pursing, his chest squeezing. It would be good to see his Shidi alive, though he’s not sure he’ll be able to handle the sight of his face filling with suspicious hatred as it once had. He’ll take the small mercies as they come. With a nod of his head, he rises to prepare for the day.

The peak is engulfed in a soft haze of mist, the hems of his robes just barely brushing against the dew covered stalks of foliage surrounding him. The sight that reaches him fills his heart with a simple warmth, a lithe figure dressed in elegant Bai Zhan blues, alive and well. Liu Qingge stands wreathed in fog, arms folded in front of his chest, surrounded by a clutch of awestruck teenagers and Ning Yingying. Their horses stand, saddled and ready, snorting in the brisk air. He takes note of Shen Qingqiu’s arrival, Binghe half a step behind, and snorts derisively.

“Tch, took your time.” His gaze raked Shen Qingqiu from head to toe, before he stops and glowers at him. Though he appears to be looking Shen Qingqiu in the face, a closer check makes it clear his gaze was settled somewhere behind his head, looking through him. “If we head out now, we should make it Shuang Hu City by noon.” His head jerks towards a saddled mare, no carriage in sight. Surely his Shidi can’t be serious. He finds his eyes narrowing at the other man, put off by his blatant disinterest.

“Good morning Shidi, how are you enjoying this fine day? This master is grateful you’ve organised my students for my mission.” Syrupy sweetness not even trying to disguise the venom dripping from his tone, his fan in hand lightly fluttering in front of his mouth.

“It’s as Zhangman-Shixiong wills.” He brusquely states, the implied I’m not here for your sake, evident. His gaze finally meets Shen Qingqiu’s own. He pauses, the air between them growing taunt and charged, his eyes widening so slightly Shen Qingqiu would almost think he’d imagined it, if not for how dark they suddenly became. His mouth parts just the slightest bit, a sight that on most others would be easily ignored, if not for the fact it was Liu Qingge’s equivalent to being shocked dumb. It was perhaps one of the strongest reactions he’s gotten since returning here, for all that it is barely a reaction at all.

Shen Qingqiu can’t help but watch with burning curiosity as his Shidi visibly composes himself, his jaw noticeably clenching as he avoids his eyes and the tips of his ears flushing pink. Was he embarrassed? What could he possibly be embarrassed about? His behaviour? It’s unlikely, but the thought still fills him with a wicked glee. He smirks behind his fan. Maybe treat this Shixiong kinder if you don’t want to regret it! Ning Yingying takes the pause as a chance to chime up from among the other disciples.

“Begging Shizun and Shishu’s pardon, but this Yingying has called for a carriage. It should be here-” She stills herself as the sound of trotting hooves approaches. A low mumble sounding suspiciously like I should been the one to... came from behind him. His smirk becomes a smile, ah his little sheep... Liu Qingge however, visibly bristles.

“Shen Qingqiu, a carriage will double our travel-” He cuts himself off, eyes sharpening like the edge of a blade as he noticeably restrains his temper, “We will need to leave now if we want to make it before dusk.” he spits out, gesturing towards the carriage. Shen Qingqiu inclines his head, and his disciples leap into action around them. He turns and gracefully makes his way over to his transport, enters, and settles in for the long trip. Ning Yingying’s voice ringing in the morning air as she instructs the others to move out.

The carriage shakes on its axles momentarily and Shen Qingqiu briefly considers they must have begun moving, before he is once more face to face with his Shidi. His Shidi who was quite decisively settling in across from him with a focused stare. The Shidi who was looking at him like he was some sort of unidentified creature he’d stumbled across while hunting. Ah... this was going to be a long trip.

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#svsss #svsss au #bingqiu #bingliushen #time loop #angst #Inspired partially by system possession Au's like @artsarasp 's #And @unfrtune 's material system au #SVSSS World Corruption AU

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