Forenote:
Hi hi~ Part 1 of a double update today lads~ Totally not because I forgot to post Chpater 3, naaaaah
Chap warning: vaguely dissociative threatening head-space, section: '...his body relaxed. Boneless. Malleable... - ...Even Qiu Jianluo...'
The demon healed from his wound quickly, but still tired easily from lingering effects of Huan Hua's poison. Thus, Shen Jiu was able to stall long enough for the demon to run out of energy and fall asleep after he had all the information his little snow cat could give him.
The effort of forming coherent sentences must have truly exhausted the beast, because he had slept through the day as well, returning Shen Jiu to his role of Qi-donor, but allowed him to finish sewing Wu Yanzi's personal disguise-talisman arrays into the ragged fabric of the demon's clothes for when they separated… and to avoid answering any questions his ice demon may choose to pose. For now, at least.
When the demonic fawn-kit eventually awoke, he had made no mention of his 'owed' questions, so perhaps fortune would shine down upon Shen Jiu for and have the oversized frosty leopard cub simply forget the deal they'd struck…
Yes, because Shen Jiu's luck always turned to his benefit. Clearly.
He huffed to himself, heaving another bucket of water for the princeling's bath. He would eventually, inevitably, have to provide his own information soon (he wasn't an oathbreaker, unlike some), but now that he had gained what he had set out on this whole demon-rescue expedition to achieve… what consequence was there really once Xuemao of the Noble Mobei realised that Shen Jiu was just a brittle imposter to the lofty peaks of immortal cultivators? Might he try to strike the impertinent, tainted Xiao-Jiu down? Rip him open and eat his heart, devouring his scarred Core and perpetually unstable qi?
Ha.
He could try.
She Jiu had survived (and thrived, by the metric of demonic cultivation anyway) in an apprenticeship under Wu Yanzi, the most infamous and dangerous demonic in the entire spread of the Cultivated Lands of the Human Realm between the mighty mountains of the Dividing Heaven-Scrapers and the Crystal Sea stretching far over the horizon.
He would not succumb to the claws of a demonic kitten.
In any case, the beastling fawn was still fairly weak from his time in captivity, so there was no true danger there regardless.
Even so...if he could twist circumstances to continue their association and convince proud, arrogant Xuemao to accept the chain of his life debt to the lowly Shen Jiu... well. He could think of several ways that could be very useful indeed, not first amongst which being a direct line of information on the demon realm from a source set to be enthroned at the heart of its only long-established and stable kingdom.
His lips curled without his control, a spy on the throne of the Kingdom. What an idea that was. The things he would know, the resources, the possibilities...
It was for this reason that Shen Jiu was even indulging his soon-to-be-pet-or-pelt snow leopard's request/order for a bath to be drawn.
If Shen Jiu could trust Xuemao's loyalty, he would ensure he became Mobei-Jun.
Water sloshed into the tub, not quite enough. Urgh. Back and forth, carrying water for another, it took his mind far too close to memories of the Qiu household.
As soon as he got back to Cang Qiong, Shen Jiu was learning how to make an everflow ewer. It shouldn't be too challenging- it was only a qiankun space for liquids, really it was an embarrassment that he hadn't learned it already and had simply settled in complacence after mastering the qiankun array.
Finally, the oversized copper bucket was filled and steaming. Shen Jiu turned back to the bath tub once his royal frostiness had managed to settle himself in he tub… and immediately turn the luxuriously hot, steaming water cold. It even began to form icy slush around around the scattered crimson Cleansing Blood Moon Lotus flowers, which he had deliberately added, from his own pack, to detoxify the demon's blood, body and qi of most lingering taints.
Why an ice demon had wanted hot water in the first place was a mystery, but Shen Jiu had put effort into that, and now that effort was wasted.
A low rumble filled the air, expressing guttural displeasure. A single slitted, bright blue eye opened and caught his own, "The water is not hot."
This audacious, entitled little-! As if it were Shen Jiu's failing that this spoiled, incompetent princeling couldn't control his own damn qi fluctuations and not freeze the water Shen Jiu had so generously prepared- hot. Especially with that expression on his face! If the demon were not testing the boundaries set between them on 'if Xuemao could order Shen Jiu around like a servant', he might have called the subtle swell of his pursed lips a pout. Which was both completely absurd and just unnecessary.
Shen Jiu loosed his own growl- though unfortunately not as impressive as the demon bratling's- and stalked closer until he was all but looming over his head, reaching down and slamming his palms flat against the copper sides just beneath patterned blue shoulders, before shoving a roaring swell of hot fire qi directly into the metal and water. Ha! See how the little icicle liked that!
Another sound resonated in the air, low and thrumming, vaguely hedonistic to his ear.
A purr.
Shen Jiu blinked down at the expanse of long dark hair and bare blue shoulders. Shoulders which had practically melted in relaxation as Xuemao slide down slightly further into the qi-heated water.
Black silk spilled over his fingers as the demon tilted his head back, features creased in lines of satisfaction.
Almost in a daze, Shen Jiu reached for the brothel-provided wheatgrass wash solution, systematically wetting raven wing strands and working the detoxifying bathing liquid into the hair and scalp, waiting for the limit of this allowance of touch to be reached, for Xuemao to tense and pull away, to growl a warning, something.
Until all his fingers lay splayed through the demon's hair, thumbs resting beneath shimmering crystal antlers and palms cradling his skull.
Xuemao's purring had deepened in pitch to levels more felt than heard, the vibrations tickling his skin where they touched. His eyes were still closed and his body relaxed. Boneless. Malleable.
Staring unblinkingly, Shen Jiu moved his fingers in circular pulsing motions, massaging from the crown of his head (where he might yet see a crown set), down behind his ears, down, down, down, until...
Shen Jiu's eyes fixed on his fingers, resting on the demon's neck. He brushed them up and down across delicate petal blue skin, with deceptive gentleness.
It would be so easy.
To reach his fingertips around the column of the demon's flesh, fingers brushing past each other from opposite directions across dusky patterns of shadowy spots and wrap his hands around Xuemao's throat.
And squeeze.
Watch violet petals bloom under his grip, the struggle rise and fade from this demon under his power, remove a threat before it became too dangerous, teach this stupid kitten not to let scum like him so near such vulnerability.
Even Qiu Jianluo was smart enough not to give him such opportunity.
Xuemao remained blissfully unconcerned, ignorant to the fragility of his life and utterly heedless of the world around him except the aspects of pleasure and comfort. He chuffed slightly and shove his shoulders up more firmly into Shen Jiu's touch.
He blinked.
Sweeping his palms firmly back up to the demon's hair, he rinsed it and picked up the comb and honeysuckle scented oil from his own supplies.
This might be easier than he anticipated.
.
.
.
Xuemao felt contented in a way he had never experienced outside of hazy memories of warm fur and a soothing rumble when he was a just kit curled up in his mother's embrace.
Shen Jiu was rapidly becoming the face Xuemao conjured in his imaginings of a Queen enthroned beside him and a partner in his nest, during the soft twilight dreams between waking and sleep.
He was intelligent and cunning. Fierce and decently enough powerful in qi-strength for his current position.
He was nurturing. His hands were firm and assured, tending to needs Xuemao had not realised, with grace and efficiency. He would keep a wonderous nest.
Xuemao was quickly adapting to the disparity between their power and only slightly regretful for their most likely lacklustre Summer Year. Shen Jiu didn't need to capable of physically dominating any opponent stood against him, only sharp enough in mind and gast enough with his dagger to survive the Courts and their cut-throat politics.
In the case of outright challenges, Xuemao would become strong enough for the both of them.
Though he would certainly not object of his Queen desired to wet his blades himself. Shen Jiu was smart enough to steal victory, one way or another.
Hm. Xuemao flexed his hands under the water, feeling the silky sensation of the bathing oils that clouded the water slip between his claws. A frission of ice crackled quietly over the surface, prompting a huff somewhere above his head and a delicious burst of heat to flow through the bathing water, the qi within curling over his skin in feather-light touches. Like phoenix plumes.
The qi, once he absorbed it through his skin, did as much good for the aches in his bones and muscle as the physical temperature, helped along by the dried lotus flowers that glowed like silvery red candle flames to his senses, cycling the qi of the bath water, filtering and purifying it, becoming more rejuvenated the more taint they fed off.
Strange that a human cultivator would carry and use a demonic plant so openly… (the golden weeds had always spit hatred about any and all thing that came from Xuemao's realm, except the metals and stones they coveted so much… if human noses at their cultivation level were dull enough to miss the scent of demon on those jewellery pieces, maybe they just never realised where most of those 'riches' came from.)
He still had promised answers to tease out of his sly fox of a mate-to-be.
Xuemao tilted his head back into the luxurious touch of the hands massaging his scalp, drifting into a light trance as he enjoyed the temporarily qi-rich environment and more permanently present companionship.
Maybe Xuemao could ask about that- Shen Jiu's deliberate keeping of demonic goods, perhaps feel out his suitor's current level of involvement with the demon realm.
His Shen Jiu might even know something on the state of the North.
Blue eyes opened a bare increment, water freezing once again as qi wisps curled off his skin in thought. The North-
Sharp pain in his scalp derailed his thoughts, Shen Jiu ripping his fingers from their hypnotic ministrations and slapping against the copper sides of the bathing tub, storm-like qi surging into the water and encasing Xuemao in tingling heat, hot enough to make his skin shiver in the scalding prickle. A rush of air hissed between his teeth. He was suddenly, distantly, very glad for the murkiness of the oils and shadows from the lotuses.
The hands didn't immediately return to his hair, instead lingering a moment before a second rush of qi, less controlled, more pooling cold water than glowing fire, which he did appreciate just as much as the fire-heavier flavour, but it seemed almost… weaker? Brittle, almost. Strange too, since Shen Jiu seemed to intend for this experience to be about heat.
Xuemao gave a low rumble of warning and slowly tilted his head back, giving his lovely Baihu time to avoid being gored by Xuemao's antler. His suitor was oddly pale in the face, like a corpse of a man taken by the cold. He was still positioned over Xuemao, back bowed outward instead of bodily moving, soft belly and vulnerable under-rib a mere inch from the icicle-sharp tips of Xuemao's upper antler set, pulsing and ebbing closer and retreating with every laboured pant.
Shen Jiu's arms were braced against the edge of the bath tub and they tremored. A knot of tension gathered the arching sweeps of his eyebrows close together, creasing the space between them over eyes screwed shut.
Something was very wrong.
His suitor had so far not turned his back or closed his eyes knowingly once in Xuemao's waking presence. To be showing such obvious weakness, he must be unable to hide it. Poison- they hadn't had food or drink recently, and Xuemao had smelt nor tasted anything in the last meal. No injury- no blood scent. Perhaps… qi exhaustion? His courter had put a considerable amount of qi into Xuemao's bath water… did humans store qi away within themselves like demons? Shen Jiu's qi tasted strong and rich, indicative of large qi reserves- larger than the amount gifted for Xuemao's healing.
Perhaps he had just exhausted his immediate reserves in his bid to show nurturing ability and gain favour through this evening of semi-seduction, a hunter uses the skills he knows after all. Xuemao had heard several of the low-level golden weeds talk to each other at various times about their progress in forming 'Golden Cores', maybe it was more similar to demonic Cores than he had thought.
Still, his sharp and fiery Baihu was trying with sincere effort to court Xuemao well, which meant it was Xuemao's turn to show his suitor he was deserving of it.
Rising from the copper tub, he froze the water clinging to his skin and shook it off, then pulled on the thin, water-like silk provided by the qi-merchants of the building (he was looking to offer comfort to Shen Jiu, not proposition him). Turning, he pulled his suitor close with an arm around his waist and had them both walking over to the nest and laying down on it before his Baihu could do more than blink his eyes open and work out the meaning of the unexpected contact.
.
.
.
Shen Jiu blinked at the pale blue flesh filling his vision, eyes catching on the interesting shapes of shadowy patterns as he tried to work past the buzzing in his head to understand what was happening. Another rhythm started echoing in his head, more like a drum pattern, like if he was listening to one of those huge tanggu drums in the Qing Jing ceremonial halls, but he was listening from underwater.
A cool, heavy weight was slung across his lower back and another just below his shoulders. Cool, fresh mint filled his nose, with a musky undertone like fur, as another cool, fresh sensation started spreading across his back in small ripples, tinged with an inexplicable sense of darkness. Like gentle rain dancing across the still mirror of a mountain lake, droplets glimmering in the scant light of a new moon.
Then the energy pressed closer, sank just beneath his skin, and Shen Jiu's fogged mind snapped to attention. He launched himself back, ripping himself from the grip of the demon who he had been stupid enough to show weakness to and-
The arms, muscular even with the body's leanness, tightened around him and pulled him back before he's escaped more than a hand's breadth. He'd failed. Mobei Xuemao chuffed and tucked Shen Jiu's head under his chin.
He could bite his throat out, came the semi-hysterical thought. Now. While it was in reach, before the demon's qi sunk deeper and touched Shen Jiu's hard-won Golden Core, before he realised the power that was bundled there and worse the qi imbuned in his muscle and bone from the years under Wu Yanzi practicing demonic cultivation, the only remnant of his childhood qi-strength, he had to do something. Before the demon realised the feast he held and how easy it would be to take-
When cool liquid qi touched his meridians and halted for an instant, She Jiu knew. His jaw opened, he would have to strike fast, the demon was rested and mostly healed while Shen Jiu was sleep deprived and on the edge of Qi Deviation from exhaustion and the destructive imbalance of his qi natures from stupidly drawing so heavily on his Yin Fire, leaving a surplus of Water. He tilted his head for a better angle to strike.
"This Prince's Baihu should rest. No harm will pass this Prince's protection."
The low tone resonated through the room, all languid arrogance, every word dripping with the smug invincibility of a young warrior completely assured of his power and skill. It almost reminded him of that Bai Zhan brute Liu Mingyu.
The qi at his back didn't flood his spirit veins like the tsunami he expected, it just pooled on his skin and slowly percolated through the tissues. Xuemao wasn't invading Shen Jiu's Core and over-running it to steal his power, but providing a slow, steady mix of his own Lake and Wind to balance and nourish Shen Jiu's own. Even adjusting the element proportions to provide more Wind, to feed Shen Jiu's Fire alignment better.
The qi was heavy on his back, denser than what he'd felt from others at Cang Qiong. The rippling motion as the imbecilic Snow Kitten leaked it felt almost like a massage… and the coldness of the increased Wind element soothed the old aches of his badly healed bones, joints and scars.
With the haziness of his almost-Deviation dragging at his mind and limbs, as the arms tightened in a small, secure squeeze and a rumbling purr started up in the chest beneath his cheek, Shen Jiu surrendered to the situation and went limp.
Protection, huh…
The stupid demon fawn kit would have struck by now if he was going to, so apparently Shen Jiu had succeeded in bringing this Icy Snowleopard under his control… at least for now. There still had been no questions…
The tips of claws delicately trailed random patterns along his spine, the light pressure bafflingly soothing…
Dazed green eyes slipped closed and Shen Jiu drifted into slumber, wrapped up in the scent of fresh mint, living fur and familiar honeysuckle hair oil.
Notes:
• Demonic cultivator- strictly for humans. Humans are distinguished into mortals, cultivators & demonic cultivators, whereas demons are all just demons as there is no 'mortal' equivalent, /all/ demons are essentially cultivators, there are only the very weak to the very strong Lord level across a continuous scale.