The air in the cultivation hall sang with the soft, mournful tones of a simple clay xun.
Yu Yanli closed her eyes as she deftly moved her fingers, both real and prosthetic, across the small holes carved into her instrument, her movements so gentle it was more as if she was caressing the xun instead of playing it. And then her hands lifted, and parted, and the xun floated unsupported in the air like a little brown egg, still playing the same solemn tune.
She lifted her hands to the side, her fingers outstretched as if towards something invisible just out of reach, and then she slowly began to dance, pulled this way and that by the music. Her body shifted and flowed like a soft autumn breeze, each gesture suffused with wistful melancholy. And then the song changed, gaining energy and warmth, and Yu Yanli's movements sped up to match the song, her feet rising with the rising notes until she was barely touching the floor. As she took one final step into the air, the bittersweet melody began to fade, and she sank back down, like a fallen leaf no longer able to escape the dirt. The music faded to almost nothing as she came to a stop behind the xun, holding her hands out to catch it when it finally went silent, and fell.
A hush fell over the room, to finally be broken by a single voice.
"AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL! SPECTACULAR!" shouted Shi Qingxuan, clapping as hard as they could. "Did you see that? She used to be my student you know!"
Soon other people joined in, and not just because Shi Qingxuan was nudging them to acknowledge Yu Yanli's brilliance. "Yes, very good Yu-shimei!", "As to be expected from our new star pupil", and so on. This wasn't a formal demonstration, but a small audience had collected to watch Yu Yanli's performance as it went on, and they all seemed suitably impressed now that she was done. Shi Qingxuan was delighted, basking in the praise for their friend, and for themself as her teacher. Yu Yanli's more recent teachers received praise too, of course, and that was only fair, but Shi Qingxuan didn't care about them and tuned it out. Some of the other students nearby seemed less impressed, continuing their training or even talking over her loudly, but Shi Qing Xuan didn't care about them either.
Yu Yanli accepted her classmates' praise with the practiced humility of a born performer, explaining her methods and saying any of them could do the same if they put their mind to it.
"I'm not so sure about that," said Shi Qingxuan. "I have...a little experience with air spells, haha, and the level of control required to play an instrument that way...even some gods couldn't do it! I...uh, would imagine. How have you improved so much in such a short time?!"
"I had very good teachers," said Yu Yanli, nodding to her academy teachers with a grateful smile.
"Also I discovered dual cultivation," she added to Shi Qingxuan, in private.
Shi Qingxuan had to stifle a cough. "Dual...um. I assumed you already knew about that? What with your former profession?"
"I don't mean sex," she replied. "I mean dual cultivation! Not that most of the cultivators I approached made much of a distinction, it took a while to find anyone with half-decent spiritual powers who'd take the idea seriously. God forbid they see me as an equal they could perform a serious ritual with, instead of a useless groupie they could string along for a bit of fun."
"Oh. Well, good for you!" said Shi Qingxuan. They'd tried proper dual cultivation a few times, just to see what it was like, but they'd ascended too young for it to come up when they were mortal, and it was rather pointless as a god. Still, it was from all accounts a very effective technique for a mortal cultivator aiming to increase their powers, and well suited to someone with Yu Yanli's frank unselfconsciousness regarding sexual matters.
"Of course I can't tell anyone," added Yu Yanli, "A proper student of the academy is supposed to be virtuous and chaste, and the gossip mill here is vicious. But I'm sure I'm not the only one taking advantage of the surplus of powerful male cultivators with no cultivation partner."
Shi Qingxuan looked around at the other students, who filled the hall performing drills and reciting lessons. Some seemed more interested in chatting with their friends, but others had serious expressions and an air of dogged determination. Whether or not they'd follow Yu Yanli's example, there was no doubting that many of these women wanted power, and Shi Qingxuan wondered how far they'd be willing to go to get it. Had some of the students pointedly ignoring Yu Yanli's performance been trying to undermine her as a rival? Ugh. Politics was the same everywhere.
After some encouragement, Ban Ruojun did a demonstration as well, taking out a well worn guqin and playing a song designed to soothe the spirit and dispel corruption.
"Lovely!' said Shi Qingxuan, when she was done. "I feel quite refreshed!" Especially since she hadn't been any near as impressive as Yu Yanli.
They turned to see if He Xuan had enjoyed it too, but he looked a little green.
"Not your sort of music?" they asked him privately.
"I am made of corruption," replied He Xuan. "Excuse me for my lack of enthusiasm at that woman attempting to destroy my very soul."
"She managed to hurt you?" Shi Qingxuan was equal parts worried and impressed.
"Not to any notable extent," said He Xuan. "But hiding my nature from the protection array is a drain on my powers. I'll be happier when we're gone from this place."
"You'll be happy? Is that a promise?"
He Xuan grimaced.
"Ban-shijie's music is lovely," said Yu Yanli, "But her real talent is in exorcisms. She's quite remarkable!"
"You're too kind," said Ban Ruojun, blushing.
"Wow!" said Shi Qingxuan, who wouldn't have thought she had it in her. "Exorcism, that's brave!"
"It's necessary," said Ban Ruojun, expression suddenly serious. "When I was a child, I watched an evil spirit kill my father, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I vowed to never experience that sort of helplessness again."
"She's helped all sorts of people who were being harassed by evil spirits," added Yu Yanli, proudly. "She's been working on some great evil detection spells, too!"
"Ghosts cause so much suffering," said Ban Ruojun, an unexpected fire in her eyes. "They think they can treat us mortals however they like. But I am determined to defeat any ghost I encounter, no matter how powerful."
"I-is that so?" said Shi Qingxuan. "Haha, pity there's no ghosts here right now for you to demonstrate your talents on." They forced themself not to look at He Xuan. "Though you know, they're not all bad! So I have heard! Like uh...Crimson Rain Sought Flower! He's supposed to help people, right? Of course, it's good to defeat evil ghosts, if they're hurting people you should definitely stop them! But maybe when you meet a ghost you should make sure they're evil first, you know? Just...just saying."
He Xuan let out a long, irritated sigh.
"We probably shouldn't tell her you're a ghost, huh?" sent Shi Qingxuan.
He Xuan flicked his eyes to Shi Qingxuan with an expression of weariness. "I wasn't planning on it."
"All ghosts are evil," said Ban Ruojun, darkly. "People worship Crimson Rain Sought Flower because he's powerful, not because he's good."
"But I've really heard he's not that bad!" said Shi Qingxuan. Ban Ruojun's eyes narrowed. "Haha, and if we're talking about morally dubious people who only get worshipped because they're powerful, the real villain is the g...ow!" Shi Qingxuan let out a little cry and realised He Xuan had pinched them on the back of the hand.
"Are you alright?" asked Ban Ruojun, eyes now wide with concern.
"Haha, yes, totally fine," they said, while silently sending He Xuan a string of curses. "Just the old bad leg playing up again."
"Oh, dear!" said Ban Ruojun. "I hope we didn't make you walk too far today. So, what were you saying?"
"Shizun!" Yu Yanli grabbed them by the arm. "Why don't you help me change out of my costume?"
"If you like!" said Shi Qingxuan.
"I'll come with you," said He Xuan.
Yu Yanli's eyes widened in surprise, but she made no complaint, and led them both to a back room of the cultivating hall filled with costumes and accessories and a jumble of various cosmetics piled in front of a big mirror.
"No peeking," said Yu Yanli with a wink as she undid her belt, but Shi Qingxuan could tell she was trying to cover her own awkwardness. She and He Xuan weren't really friends, and both knew he was actually a man. At least she'd realised there was no point trying to suck up to He Xuan for personal advantage, seeing her actually try to flirt with him would be...their mind shied away from even imagining it.
"I would rather pluck out my eyes," said He Xuan, pointedly turning to stare at the wall.
"Hey, none of that!" said Shi Qingxuan. "Yu Yanli deserves her privacy, but she's a visual delight! Why did you even come if you were going to be rude about it?"
"I'm here," said He Xuan, "because the alternative was to remain alone with a woman who is developing a technique for detecting ghosts."
"Ohhhh," said Yu Yanli. "Sorry. I know you're a ghost, but I don't really think of you as the same sort of being as evil spirits and ghost kings, you know? You're just Shi Qingxuan's friend, the pale guy with the fish."
"Ha!" said Shi Qingxuan. "I should introduce you that way from now on. My pale friend with the fish." They elbowed He Xuan affectionately in the ribs and he elbowed them back, leading to a round of mutual poking that only ended when Yu Yanli repeatedly shouted for them to stop.
"Hey!" she grumbled, "When you children are quite done, I do actually need some help here."
"Right, sorry!" said Shi Qingxuan.
He Xuan let out an irritated huff as Shi Qingxuan moved away from him to help Yu Yanli get changed. When she was mostly dressed, he spoke, still staring at the wall. "Yu Yanli," he said, coldly, "It has not escaped my notice that you would have been perfectly placed to set this all up as a trap, to attempt my destruction or capture while weakened by the array."
"I suppose I would," said Yu Yanli, not seeming too offended. "But what would be the point? You're a useful guy to have around."
"He Xuan!" said Shi Qingxuan. "You know she wouldn't do that! You're just being paranoid!" Why was he being so mean to her all of a sudden?
"Perhaps," said He Xuan. "But it still seems like a suspiciously large coincidence. If not you, then Ban-"
"Come on." Shi Qingxuan rolled their eyes. "If she knew you were a ghost she'd have definitely tried to kill you by now."
"Fine," muttered He Xuan. "Then what of Shen Xiaowan? Or do you claim she is above such behaviour?"
"Ha, no," said Shi Qingxuan. "Her, you can suspect all you like. Right, Yu Yanli?"
"Well...I'm not saying she's above it," said Yu Yanli. "But I can't see why she'd go to so much trouble to hurt you when you only just met."
"I am a ghost," said He Xuan. "As has been established, that is reason enough. And I have my share of enemies."
"Hmm, I suppose it's not impossible," said Yu Yanli. "As Shen Xiaowan constantly reminds everyone, the Shen family do have a lot of connections. Do you have enemies in the military, the Imperial court, or the magistrate's office? I don't think there's many other cultivators in the family, but there might be a priest or-"
"Wait," said He Xuan. "The city magistrate?"
"Yes," said Yu Yanli, "Her father is Magistrate Shen. Why?"
He Xuan hissed.
"The yamen runners!" exclaimed Shi Qingxuan. "Oh, this isn't good."
"Yamen runners?" gasped Yu Yanli. She'd likely had a few unfortunate experiences with such men herself. "What-"
She was interrupted by the sound of running feet, and then Ban Ruojun burst into the room.
"Sorry!" she said. "But there's men at the door looking for a man with a limp and a broken arm. They say he's some sort of dangerous criminal!"
Shi Qingxuan let out a little squeak of fear.
"Shut up," sent He Xuan, his voice sharp enough to shock them into silence. "Say nothing and do nothing."
"Right!" they sent back. "I'm a woman today! And my arm isn't broken! This is totally fine ahahaha!" They had to force themself to keep breathing.
"G-goodness!" said Yu Yanli, taking a step to stand in front of Shi Qingxuan, though it was a bit late to hope Ban Ruojun didn't notice the limp. "How...how scary!"
"I wonder if it's a ghost," said Ban Ruojun. "He died some sort of violent death that left his body broken, and now he wants revenge." Then she covered her mouth and looked to Shi Qingxuan with wide eyes. "My apologies, Mistress Feng! I don't mean to imply that all people with bad legs are bitter and evil!"
Shi Qingxuan let out a high, weak laugh.
"I doubt it's a ghost," said Yu Yanli, who sounded like she was doing a better job of calming herself down than Shi Qingxuan. "How would one get past the protection array? It's probably just another thief. They'll catch him and everything will be fine."
"A thief?" Ban Ruojun's face fell even further. "But Shen Xiaowan went to the treasury to strengthen the defences. What if she gets hurt?!"
"Shen Xiaowan can most definitely look after herself," said Yu Yanli, with barely a hint of audible bitterness in her tone. "But how about you and I go talk to these men and see what else we can find out?"
Shi Qingxuan sent her an incoherent but sincere message of thanks.
"That's a great idea, shimei!" said Ban Ruojun. Then she turned again to Shi Qingxuan. "Oh, but what about your friend?"
Shi Qingxuan's mind whirred as they tried to come up with a decent excuse on the fly. "Well, um, you see-"
"My mistress is tired, and will rest in here where it's safe and quiet," said He Xuan. "I will protect her, if need be. But surely a thief is unlikely to come into a back room like this."
"I suppose..." said Ban Ruojun. Just as Shi Qingxuan felt like they were going to explode from tension, she finally relented and allowed Yu Yanli to lead her away.
When they were gone, Shi Qingxuan collapsed against He Xuan and wailed. "It is the yamen runners, isn't it?! I don't want to go to prison!"
"I don't recommend it," said He Xuan. "Set up a private array for you, Yu Yanli, and I."
Shi Qingxuan did so, and explained to Yu Yanli about the yamen runners. She sent a visual of the men at the door, and Shi Qingxuan's heart sank to their feet when they realised it was indeed the same men who'd been at the temple a few days before. Shi Qingxuan probably wouldn't manage to sneak past them a second time.
"Sorry," said Yu Yanli. "I'd make a distance shortening array to get you out of here but I haven't quite gotten the hang of them yet."
"I could cast one without too much trouble," said He Xuan. "It would just involve destroying the protection array and possibly this building in the process." He sounded pretty enthusiastic about the idea.
"Um...could we...avoid that?" said Yu Yanli. "If possible? I'm rather attached to this school..."
"Couldn't I just sneak past them to the gate?" said Shi Qingxuan. "It's just two men, if one of you cause a distraction I could manage it, I'm sure."
"There's likely more men waiting outside the gates," said He Xuan. "We need a back exit."
"Hmm," said Yu Yanli. She paused for a moment in thought. "I don't know of anything like that. But there's some old underground tunnels near the wall, I've heard the protection array is weak down there. Ol' Feng could probably cast an array."
"Right!" said Shi Qingxuan, though it had been a long time since they'd cast one. It was a tricky spell, even for gods, and He Xuan had always been so much better at them.
"Yu Yanli," said He Xuan.
"Yes?"
"If you break my trust, I will destroy you. I will kill you, but before that, I will make you wish you were never born." His voice was cold enough to freeze the blood in their veins.
"Uh," said Shi Qingxuan, who was well aware that He Xuan was entirely capable of making good on such a threat and already panicked enough. "What?"
"...good to know," said Yu Yanli, sounding like she was clenching her teeth. They sent Shi Qingxuan a private message. "Did I do something to offend He Xuan? He's being even ruder than normal."
"I don't think so?" said Shi Qingxuan. "He just gets like this sometimes, sorry. Don't take it personally."
He Xuan's tone became a drop less frigid. "Can I trust you to look after this idiot while I draw away the men at the door?"
"Oh is that all?" Yu Yanli laughed. "Of course, Ol' Feng will be safe with me. And I'm not inclined to become enemies with a powerful and generous ghost."
"You'd better not be," said He Xuan, "for your sake. I will contact you again when I'm ready."
"Understood," said Yu Yanli. "I keep an eye on things out here until then."
She was being way more understanding of He Xuan than he deserved, the big meanie. "Stop with the death threats!" said Shi Qingxuan, slapping his chest. "And stop being so paranoid!"
But deep down, they were pleased. Pleased to know there was a plan to keep them safe, protected by their two friends. And pleased that He Xuan had been the one to come up with it. The knowledge that He Xuan was so concerned for their wellbeing made them want to lean on him more than they were already, cuddle closer and say sappy things about what a good friend he was until he got embarrassed and pulled away.
And then He Xuan started to take off his belt and it was Shi Qingxuan pulling away instead.
"What are you doing?!"
"Becoming a man with a limp," said He Xuan. He stopped and glared down at his robes, pulling fruitlessly on the high, feminine waist and revealing neckline. It seemed that shifting your clothes was also on the list of spells restricted by the protection array. Giving up, he pulled off his outer robes entirely and started rooting through the collection of costumes.
Shi Qingxuan found themself staring, though they'd seen He Xuan in his inner robes (and less!) countless times as Ming Yi and Sha Lizhong. But He Xuan as He Xuan was always so formal and put together, seeing him like this felt intimate and strange. When their eyes met, He Xuan said sharply, "What are you doing just standing there? Help me find something to wear."
"Right," said Shi Qingxuan. They opened the nearest chest, glad for the distraction, but it turned out to be full of nothing but scarves. "You're going to pretend to me, then? We don't look very similar. And what if you get hurt?"
"They obviously don't know what you look like," he replied, pulling out a loose, androgynous coat and throwing it over his inner robes. "And what are they going to do, kill me? You're the one who only has one body."
"That's not going to work," said Shi Qingxuan, before He Xuan could finish putting on his belt.
He Xuan waited for them to explain, one eyebrow raised expectantly. Shi Qingxuan put their hands under their own chest with an expressive gesture. "You'll, uh...stick out, haha."
He Xuan looked down at his bosom, which the coat was entirely failing to disguise, and made an expression of disgust. "I never understood your enthusiasm for these things. All they do is get in the way."
This was an old argument. Shi Qingxuan felt a warm glow of nostalgia, remembering all the times Ming Yi had said something similar after Shi Qingxuan had badgered him into changing sex. "You just have no appreciation for beauty," said Shi Qingxuan, waggling their finger at him. "It's not about the practicality, it's about the aesthetics. We're so much prettier as women. And it's not like male bodies don't have their own impractical-"
"Focus," said He Xuan, before Shi Qingxuan could fully launch into their 'why all men should try having breasts' rant. "I need something to bind myself with."
"Right, right..." said Shi Qingxuan. They held up one of the scarves from the chest. "How about this?"
"It'll do," said He Xuan, and took off his inner robes, revealing a disconcertingly broad expanse of pale skin. For all that he claimed not to enjoy his female form, He Xuan always dressed to flatter it, which meant narrow waists and low necklines, and the small black square of his nei yi didn't cover much. His arms were slim, but slightly more muscular than Ming Yi's had been, and even in his female form his shoulders were broad and strong. Shi Qingxuan wondered what he'd look like without his inner robes in his male form.
"The scarf?" said He Xuan.
Shi Qingxuan realised they'd been staring again. It looked like He Xuan had noticed, too, if the blush on his cheeks and troubled expression were any guide. Shi Qingxuan placed the scarf in his waiting hands and looked away, feeling their own cheeks become warm.
I've been single too long, they thought to themself. Single, and surrounded by mortals a quarter of my age. He Xuan, by contrast, was exactly the same age as them, and far from mortal. But he was also the man who had killed Shi Qingxuan's brother, and spent centuries seeking revenge on their family for the death of the woman he loved. He probably found the idea of Shi Qingxuan being attracted to him disgusting, he'd barely gotten comfortable with the idea of them being friends.
Shi Qingxuan poked through the makeup by the mirror, making sure not to look at He Xuan's reflection as he got changed, and then prepared a clean wet cloth. "Come here," they said, when He Xuan was finally dressed again and they could look at him without getting distracted. "I'll wipe off your makeup and give you a moustache."
"No moustache," said He Xuan, ducking down so his face was level with Shi Qingxuan's. He closed his eyes and lightly opened his lips, a display of trust that made Shi Qingxuan's heart twinge. Shi Qingxuan carefully wiped the cloth across He Xuan's face, gently holding his jaw in their hand. Without rouge, his lips were very pale, almost colourless, but still soft. Shi Qingxuan ran their thumb across He Xuan's lips to make sure they'd gotten all of it and felt the puff of He Xuan's breath as he let out a silent sigh. Finally Shi Qingxuan was done, and the only colour on He Xuan's face was the natural faint pink of his cheeks. Shi Qingxuan moved his hand to touch the skin there, to see if it felt as warm as it looked, but it was as cold as the rest of him. He Xuan's long eyelashes fluttered open, and he stared at Shi Qingxuan with deep black eyes as they held his face in their hands.
"Well, that's you done!" said Shi Qingxuan, stepping away. They dropped the cloth back on the table and wiped their hands on their sleeves to try and shake off the strange feeling in their fingers where they'd touched He Xuan. "Haha, that was fun, like you're a nobleman and I'm your trusty servant."
"Spoken like someone who's never been a servant," said He Xuan. He stood up straight. Without makeup, and with his chest bound under a loose coat, he looked suitably androgynous, and made a striking figure, with his sharp features and tall, slim frame. Shi Qingxuan generally preferred looking like one gender or the other themself, but there was something uniquely appealing about He Xuan in this in-between state.
Or perhaps it was just that there was something uniquely appealing about He Xuan in general. Shi Qingxuan's existing attraction to Ming Yi had shrivelled into almost nothing with all the traumatic events around his reveal as He Xuan. But now that they were friends again, it had come back in fits and starts, and seemed set to become stronger than ever. Shi Qingxuan been trying to ignore it, and coming up with excuses for why it wasn't real, but maybe they should just accept the attraction as just another facet to their weird, impossible friendship, along with the fear and resentment and centuries of messy history.
"Keep out of sight," said He Xuan. "Keep me updated. When I've drawn them off, get that woman to take you outside, I'll have a clone waiting."
"Alright," said Shi Qingxuan. "You too! I know they can't really harm you, but...stay safe!" He patted He Xuan on the shoulder.
"It's not me you should be worried about," said He Xuan, but he didn't shrug off Shi Qingxuan's hand like he normally would. Instead he put his hand on Shi Qingxuan's shoulder in return. They felt a huge amount of spiritual power passing into them, and then He Xuan took his hand off their shoulder and walked away.
After He Xuan closed the door behind himself, Shi Qingxuan sat by the door and tried not to be consumed by worry. They could hear He Xuan walking as he approached the entrance to the cultivation hall. It was different to the normal sound of his steps, yet familiar. STEP, step, STEP, step: the distinctive rhythm Shi Qingxuan had heard every time they'd walked for over a year.
What was he thinking? Shi Qingxuan messaged He Xuan in a panic. "The yamen runners will see you limping!"
"Only if they see me at all," said He Xuan. "I fooled the Heavens for a century, I can sneak past a few underpaid thugs. I know how to play a character. And I know how not to be noticed when I do it."
"Right, I guess you do," said Shi Qingxuan, thinking of Ming Yi and Sha Lizhong and all the countless other roles He Xuan had used to hide right beneath everyone's noses.
Soon after that, the sound of He Xuan's steps faded into the general hubbub of the cultivation hall. For a while, that was all they could hear, though they had their ear to the door listening for the slightest sounds of trouble.
And then their heart stopped when they heard a voice shout, "Hey! You there with the limp, stop!"
"Before you panic," sent He Xuan. "I'm outside already."
"I wasn't panicking," lied Shi Qingxuan.
"Uh, yes?" said He Xuan out loud, his voice shaking slightly.
"Haven't I seen you before?" barked the yamen runner. "What's your name?"
"F-feng..." Shi Qingxuan had never heard He Xuan stutter before, yet he made it sound entirely natural. "Um. Fang! Fang Xing!"
"Yeah," snorted the yamen runner, "You're coming with us."
He Xuan's voice took on a brittle, almost manic tone that felt oddly familiar for all that it was nearly the opposite of his usual voice. "Aaah! I'm caught! I'm caught!"
There was the sound of many feet running, including an irregular gait that was quite possibly what Shi Qingxuan would sound like running, if that was something they were remotely capable of doing.
"Are you doing an impression of me?" asked Shi Qingxuan, unsure if they were offended or charmed.
"That was the goal, wasn't it?" said He Xuan.
"I suppose..." they muttered. It still felt a little strange.
There was the sound of someone approaching the back room, and Shi Qingxuan looked about in vain for somewhere to hide. But it was only Yu Yanli. She offered Shi Qingxuan her arm, saying, "Time to go, while everyone's distracted."
Shi Qingxuan spent the whole walk to the door with their heart in their throat. There was no way to fully hide their limp, and no escape if they got caught out in the open like this. But everyone really did seem to be distracted by the chaos He Xuan was causing outside, barely noticing Shi Qingxuan and Yu Yanli as they slowly made their way out of the cultivation hall and away from the yamen runners.
Just as Shi Qingxuan was leaning against a tree in relief and updating He Xuan on their progress, they heard him shout "Please stop chasing me! I am an innocent citizen!" There was the sound of more running, and then a splash. "You'll never catch me alive!" he shouted, as a wave of water birds flew up in the air. "I'm too beautiful to go to prison!"
"I never would have pegged He Xuan as having such a taste for theatrics," said Yu Yanli, laughing.
"Trust me," said Shi Qingxuan, "you have no idea."