alittlelessalone

[alittlelessalone]

Chapter 6 of No One is Alone is now up! https://archiveofourown.org/works/54659191/chapters/140822593

#shen jiu #shang qinghua #qijiu #moshang #svsss #ao3 fanfic

[alittlelessalone]

I’m pretty sure this particular plot point is my “Roman Empire.” I think about it far more often than anyone reasonably should and I honestly just can’t picture a scenario kinder than well-intentioned incompetence. I guess we could try arguing that his body had to be broken to be rebuilt, he needed to stay in the cave for its energy, and that sending in people with some sort of light source or genuine company would be dangerous for him. And we can argue that his pleas for help were incoherent and that’s why nobody listened. But still, even with all of that, you’d think after over a year, they’d figure out some way to make things less miserable if someone was actually trying.

All I can ever picture is just a broken, battered, and desperate Yue Qingyuan clawing at the walls until his fingers bleed and screaming for help until he loses his voice. I wonder if anyone even told him that he’d one day be let out. I wonder if the only reason he lived through that experience was the need to get to his Xiao Jiu. And then by the time he finally made it there, he thought he was too late.

Honestly, so many characters in svsss have so much trauma and it’s hard to compare the suffering of one to another, but Yue Qingyuan has got to be in the running for those who suffered the most. And then in the end, he never even gets a happy ending.

This is why I read and write fanfic. I think I’ll slowly go mad thinking about him without it.

Oh, terrible fun thought: what if the previous Qiong Ding Peak actually approved of Shen Jiu? Like, oh, this kid is driven and ruthless, why can't Yue Qingyuan be more like that and less soft-hearted?

Because I think Shen Jiu would hold this kind of approval over Yue Qi's head, not knowing what the Qiong Ding Peak Lord did to his head disciple. "Ha, you abandoned me for this cushy life and your own teacher likes ME more than you." If Shen Jiu had heard what Yue Qingyuan confessed to Shen Yuan at Mai Gu Ridge, I think he would have torn the previous Qiong Ding Peak Lord's throat out with his teeth.

MAYBE Yue Qi's imprisonment in the Ling Xi Caves actually saved his life and the previous Qiong Ding Peak Lord was a really nice person who tried his best in a terrible situation. That's totally possible. We just don't know. It's possible that Yue Qi's cultivation system was so messed up that destroying it and rebuilding was the only known option to save this kid's life. But a year of solitary confinement seems... incredibly cruel to me. Was that really necessary? It does sound as though he was at least visited, but it's unclear by who or how often.

But in any interpretation / AU where the Qiong Ding Peak Lord just sucks as a person, him actually LIKING Shen Jiu would be particularly painful. Ouch.

~

Relevant quote from Volume 3 of SVSSS (I cannot remember the chapter or the page numbers):

But Yue Qingyuan’s next words would shake Shen Qingqiu to the core. “I’m truly…sorry.” Even his voice trembled. “Even though I wanted to return as soon as possible, even though I wanted to come get you immediately…I made a mess of things instead. You were right. In the end, I’m an impulsive person…

“After that, Shizun destroyed all the tendons, bones, and meridians in my body, then shut me inside the Ling Xi Caves for more than a year. My entirety was broken down, to be rebuilt anew.

“I screamed, I yelled, but it was no use. For an entire year, inside that pitch-black cave, no matter how crazed I became, how hysterical, no one listened closely to what I said, no one let me out…

“I pushed myself as hard as I could, but by the time I returned, Qiu Manor had already been destroyed for some time…”

#yue qingyuan #Yue Qingyuan suffered so much #he deserves so much more happiness than he got #I wish to give him all that happiness #svsss

[alittlelessalone]

I haven’t been posting it on here since chapter 1, but I think I’ll start. Chapter 5 of my “Shang Qinghua saves Shen Jiu” fic No One is Alone is up now!

#shang qinghua #shen jiu #moshang #qijiu #scumplane friendship #ao3 fanfic #svsss

[alittlelessalone]

Okay. But what if BOTH their connections unravel and are replaced. And Yue Qingyuan is of course distraught and he doesn’t want to hunt for his new soul mate because he still loves Shen Jiu so much. And he doesn’t know if he should try to get Shen Jiu to remember him again or let him be happy with his new soulmate.

And Yue Qingyuan isn’t even sure if that’s still Shen Jiu in there, but he decides that it doesn’t matter. If it isn’t, then they were never soulmates and if it is, then he was only ever a bad soulmate who made his beloved unhappy and this new one is better for him.

And so he lets Shen Qingqiu go and tries his best to support him however he can. And sometimes he looks down at his new connection and wonders, but the guilt makes it impossible to pursue them. He doesn’t think he deserves happiness, especially if it’s not with Shen Jiu.

Meanwhile, a lost soul wakes up with broken memories and nothing but a soul mark and a few fragments of a promise to guide them. And they’re not sure if they’re looking for love or revenge, but they just want to find whoever is on the other end of the string.

And it’s not an easy road they walk to find each other once more. It’s filled with pain, guilt, self loathing, and self reflection, but in the end it turns out Yue Qingyuan was wrong. His soulmate never left him and the bond never broke. It just needed to be rerouted. And Shen Jiu finds the bonds he once thought were only shackles binding him and Yue Qingyuan were actually a lifeline just waiting to help him back up.

I really really like soulmate aus, platonic or otherwise.

And I like the idea that SY either didn’t have a mark before coming to PIDW, or he specifically had a character’s name (whatever ship you want lol) and that was why he read the book- because it had a cool character that matched his soulmate’s name.

Except I can’t write anything like that! Because QiJiu in this version makes me sad! I can have all the headcanons and aus I want of SJ coming back post canon, or during canon, or whatever, with YQY not even knowing that he had been missing and so not causing me distress, but I can’t do that here!

Imagine you’re sitting at your soulmate’s bedside, for days. He’s been sick, very sick, and he might not wake up. Your relationship with him hasn’t been good since you were little but he’s still the most important person in your life, and you only want whatever he wants!

And then he wakes up! Which is great! But he doesn’t seem to remeber you, or anything, and he’s smiling at you but there’s no real feeling there and-

Your name is gone and replaced on his arm by either the disciple that he hates or the Shidi that hates him or both/the red string is no longer attached to you, you wanted it untie on your hand in real time, and now it’s going out of the house/the mark on him has changed to not be yours/the color of the world suddenly leaves you for the first time since you were a toddler/the soulmate timer has started up again, even though you’re right there.

I can’t! The thought of YQY having to live like that is awful! It’s one thing to think that SJ just forgot about him and is living a better life somewhere else, it’s another thing to think that your soulmate ties had to be broken for that to happen!

Anyway, I might write some soulmate aus later lol

#I can’t help but want to make all tragic stories happy #and qijiu is one I’m especially weak for #there can be some suffering along the way #they just need to find happiness in the end #we could even connect them between 2 different worlds if we want (sj and Shen Yuan swapped places) #they just need to eventually find each other again #shen jiu #yue qingyuan #qijiu #svsss #soulmates

[alittlelessalone]

The idea of Mobei-Jun joining in the chats is the best thing ever and I need this so badly now. I mean, he’s so awkward and clueless and he’s absolutely going to stick out as odd, even if he tries his hardest to blend in. But it would be so sweet if he’s odd in the way that makes people want to help him and the next thing he knows, he’s getting people advice and even dating advice from these chaotic children who have no idea who he is (there are so many rumors and speculations about it) or who he likes (even more rumors and speculations).

And Shang Qinghua can’t say anything about knowing who Mobei-Jun is so he just has to play along with the guessing. And he doesn’t know about the DMs to the other disciples at all, but he 100% knows Mobei-Jun is acting differently (even if he doesn’t yet realize it’s flirting because he’s dense, Mobei-Jun is still bad at following the advice, and the advice was given by children).

And of course An Ding is much more united now. And also has Mobei-Jun offering advice now because he cares about them. And it’s morally questionable advice, but damn does it sometimes work really well. Plus every now and again random gifts appear. Nobody knows where they came from (except Shang Qinghua), but sometimes they just get jewels, rare plants, parts of a beast, or even aid when they’re in danger.

An Ding basically has its own guardian angel demon looking out for it. And none of them have any clue, but as they continue to get older and as the generations change, he becomes a bigger and bigger fixture in it. And now they’re not taking anybody’s shit and the rest of Cang Qiong has to deal with this. Which of course ripples through the sect. Which then ripples through the plot. And by the time Lou Binghe is there, there’s no way his abuse would be stood for. And the second Mobei-Jun noticed Shang Qinghua take interest in Lou Binghe, he’s going to find out he’s half demon. And then the plot is going to change even more!

And now Shang Qinghua is left with a horrible truth. Internet chat forums is what dragged him into this mess and internet chat forums is what ended up saving the world.

An Ding Dot Net

Here's a fun thought:

Due to Airplane having blanked on what to describe background An Ding characters were holding and gone "little block of [mutton jade/silver/other precious but also capable of being flat and reflectively surfaced material] the System starts badgering him to create a reason for all those little rectangles while he's a young disciple because oops there isn't one.

Being a millennial who used to do stuff on the internet with html and a bit more (though not a hardcore or even full on coder by any means) he goes "huh, that looks ...phone shaped?" and makes a basic text messaging interconnected pile of rocks.

Which it doesn't take much to convince the other An Ding disciples to take up. Who doesn't like the idea of a little piece of stone with a smooth polish on one side that you can use a stylus or your finger to write messages and scroll and a massive maze of arrays carved into the back to make it as tough as a nokia brick? Especially one where everyone can makeup a silly username and chat without the adults knowing?

Oh, you want to bully us kid from Bai Zhan? Feeling big to bully two kids on a road with no one but you and your two buddies to see it? Well, you'll never know but all of An Ding's Super Secret Group Chat is making fun of you now.

And sure, Disciple Shang is a bit weird for making his Great Master Fly Machine, but he's cool since he invented them and shares. (And he's got a full on spy network for free.)

Obviously, since he made a private messages array in it SQH gives MBJ one so they can send info fast. MBJ does not stay in the DMs, but does have the sense to blend in.

And off the rails goes the plot.

#shang qinghua #mobei jun #moshang #svsss au #svsss #anything that lets Shang Qinghua save the day is a winner in my mind #especially if he did it on accident #also Mobei-Jun learning by staring at a rock as he talks to children is my favorite thing #I need more of it

[alittlelessalone]

Shang Qinghua and Ling Wen (and also Yin Yu) should 100% unionize. Imagine having a job so important/hard to do that you could literally betray everyone and still be hired back, but also have a job so painful that it’s considered punishment enough to be welcomed back after betraying everyone. That’s a job that needs a union for sure.

Also, I really want to know what happened to MXTX to make her view logistics jobs this way. Like, she’s probably not wrong, but it’s also such a specific plot arc to happen twice (not to mention Yin Yu who is totally overworked as well).

After Maigu Ridge

Yue Qingyuan: I would like to invite Shang-shidi back to our sect

Shang Qinghua, suspicious: Why?

Yue Qingyuan: You have shown great bravery here today and have proven that you are willing to fight for humanity despite your demon allegiances

Shang Qinghua, squinting: What's the real reason

Yue Qingyuan: No one else on the mountain knows how to do taxes

#they deserve better working conditions #yeah I know they’re traitors but can we blame them #in this household we’re pro union #shang qinghua #ling wen #yin yu #mxtx

[alittlelessalone]

I’m pretty sure I just accidentally speedran the blackening of my brand new Bingpup plush today.

So I just got my good little boy at a con and was walking home with my billowing cosplay robes and armfuls of art. And it was dark and late and Bingpup was riding in my badge lanyard. And apparently at some point in the journey (fortunately near my home), he fell out.

Well, I got home and noticed he wasn’t there, tore my apartment apart, and then on a hunch, ran outside. And then proceeded to watch in real time as my good boy was run over by a car, thrown in the air by the tires, slammed back into the ground, then run over again.

Fortunately, there was a lull in the cars after that and I was able to run out and save him. And also fortunately, it wasn’t raining or dirty on the road today, so he’s not covered in dirt. But my poor pup didn’t even make it into my apartment before being traumatized! Look how sad he looks!

He’s going to need so many snuggles and Shizun kissies now to make him feel better!

#bingpup #lou binghe #bingpup plush #svsss #poor Binghe #there’s no escaping the abyss #or car tires in this case #at least he seemed to have escaped without blackening! #I would have been devistated if he was destroyed #I could buy another one tomorrow #but I’d still be devastated at the destruction of any good boys! #so I’m so glad he’s safe and only (hopefully mildly) traumatized!

[alittlelessalone]

I just posted the first chapter of the fic I’ve been working on for a while now! It’s a story about Shang Qinghua saving Shen Jiu and the rippled butterfly effects that causes. I’m really excited to share it with everyone! It’s going to be a long one, but I’ll be aiming for weekly updates. I hope people like it!

#shang qinghua #shen jiu #scumplane friendship #moshang #qijiu #svsss #svsss fanfiction #this has been a ton of fun to write #I hope it’s as fun to read!

[alittlelessalone]

Wait! You might get it! I saw this and went feral with the fact that nobody else seemed to notice it! Please tell me I’m not the only one who saw her and immediately thought of him!

all my comfort characters (that I can think of)

#teenaged Cherry was more punk than he is now but the hair now is more similar #I’m sure he’s still punk somewhere inside him #and Sir Pentious and Joe can both helplessly pine together #although props to Sir Pentious for getting his act together before Joe #lol rip Joe #matchablossom #kaoru sakurayashiki #cherri bomb #sk8 the infinity #hazbin hotel

[alittlelessalone]

Okay, so I just got back from a trip to Japan and I went to the restaurant that inspired Sia La Luce and I just need to share my experience (and photos) with everyone!!!

First of all, look at their Joe shrine! It's right on the bar and always on display! Also glad they added a Cherry. Can't have a shrine to Joe without him!

And the second our waitress saw my sk8 phone straps, she pointed them out and said we could get some photos after our meal. I assumed she meant I could snap a few, but then she let us go up to the bar and started positioning us. Even the cook joined in! They were both so nice about it and found my excitement really endearing (the waitress even snapped a picture of me to keep for the restaurant). I censored these for posting online, but you can be 100% certain I'll be showing them off to all my friends!

Then, our waitress brought out a Sk8 art book to show us our table was right next to the outlet where Carla was charged! (Lol, look at my mini-Carla go!)

And this one wasn't pointed out to me, but apparently I'm gay enough that I recognized the picture. And I was right! Look! It's the same one!!!!

So yeah, overall it was a really great experience! The food was great, the staff were super friendly (even if they didn't speak much English and my Japanese is also pretty limited). I'm so glad my friend and I decided to do this (and grateful she went along with it since she hasn't seen Sk8 yet). We did a ton of really incredible things in Japan, but this had to be the one with the potential for the most awkward moments, but it ended up just being a really fun and wholesome time. 100% recommend going to Cucina Italiana Tamanaha if you're going to Okinawa. As long as you're respectful and actually eat a meal there, I think other fans will also have a really great time!

#matchablossom #kojiro nanjo #kaoru sakurayashiki #sk8 the infinity #sia la luce #cucina italiana tamanaha #this was just so cool #my gay heart was going wild the entire time #god I can't wait for season 2 and the ova

[alittlelessalone]

Thinking about why and how Shang Qinghua left Cang Qiong Sect as a traitor after Shen Qingqiu faked his death (by actually dying) and also why Yue Qingyuan took Shang Qinghua back afterwards... it would be kind of fun to do an AU where Yue Qingyuan actually sent Shang Qinghua to go spy on Luo Binghe.

Like, let's say that Yue Qingyuan figures out that Shang Qinghua had SOMETHING to do with Shen Qingqiu's actions after the Water Prison. By general behavior, maybe, and also because Shang Qinghua did send a coded letter to Shen Qingqiu just before his escape from the Water Prison. Yue Qingyuan doesn't have to have even seen the letter or its contents to know that something is up here if he finds out about that.

Yue Qingyuan also canonically missed Sha Hualing's invasion because he was away organizing the Immortal Alliance Conference, so it's not unreasonable for Yue Qingyuan to belatedly figure out that Shang Qinghua (who almost certainly helped organize the event) possibly had something to do with the invasion of the conference too. Maybe this is the point where a whole bunch of little details over decades of acquaintance click together to form the greater picture.

So, a grieving Yue Qingyuan has caught a traitor, which is terrible for the sect, but a traitor can still be very useful. He doesn't really want Shang Qinghua managing the sect and spying on them now, and Luo Binghe has stolen Shen Qingqiu's body and kidnapped Mu Qingfang (briefly) and is now regularly having fights with Liu Qingge about it, so maybe it'll be preferable to an execution if Cang Qiong has an inside man of sorts? Especially when Luo Binghe is possibly very obviously trying to resurrect Shen Qingqiu (it's something that Mu Qingfang could easily guess from his time there and report back to his sect leader), which Yue Qingyuan probably doesn't actually want to PREVENT even if he would also like Shen Qingqiu's bones back so that the man he loves can rest in peace. Shang Qinghua can be a double agent! Thrown out under the guise of being discovered!

Shang Qinghua: "Sure, sure, sure. But what if I just ran away, huh? What if I just didn't do that for you?"

Yue Qingyuan: "What if I told the new Huan Hua Palace Master, Luo Binghe, that you sent Shen Qingqiu a coded message directly before he escaped the Water Prison and died?"

Shang Qinghua: "...Fuck. What happened to your bleeding heart, Shixiong?"

Yue Qingyuan: "It's not bleeding for you. If any of Luo Binghe's resurrection rituals work, let me know, hm? And try to save Liu-Shidi's life whenever possible."

#I would 100% read this #it’s also such a fun dynamic for the two of them to have #although anything that has Yue Qingyuan more active when Shen Jiu is gone will still be tragic #oh the pain of qijiu #yue qingyuan #shang qinghua #svsss

[alittlelessalone]

Strong bride meme was 100% made for TianXi

#it really was made for them #su xiyan looks like she can snap tianlang-jun in half #tianlang-Jun looks so happy about it #couple goals #tianxi #tianlang jun #su xiyan #svsss

[alittlelessalone]

The moment I saw the comments about the sexism stuff, I was 100% sure this change was going to happen. I have no idea if them wanting to make this change is why they removed that part of his character arc, but I could believe it. Even without those comments, I wouldn’t have been surprised. A show handling a man wearing makeup and women’s clothing in a way that doesn’t mock it? Clearly that’s way too scary to include!

They just didn't want Sokka to wear a dress and makeup and have a great time hanging out with the other girls, the fucking cowards.

#avatar the last airbender #sokka #I haven’t watched the live action show yet #still deciding if I’m going to

[alittlelessalone]

I can also imagine that if Shen Jiu asked him to prove it before they became Peak Lords, Yue Qingyuan simply couldn’t. Given the great coverup for what happened with Xuan Su, I could imagine that Yue Qingyuan’s Shizun wouldn’t just let him leave. He’s both too much of an investment and too dangerous to allowed out with loose lips (not to mention any medical treatment he’s still currently receiving to hide the side effects).

And after everything Yue Qingyuan did to get to Shen Jiu and how he reacted upon being reunited with him, I don’t think it would be difficult for his Shizun to realize how important he is to Yue Qingyuan. So to some extent Yue Qingyuan must realize he has his hands tied and can’t step out of line or leave the sect so long as he wants Shen Jiu to be safe and accepted.

I think it’s up for debate and interpretation whether or not the Sect Master actually would hurt Shen Jiu to get to Yue Qingyuan, but I think Yue Qingyuan has seen enough cruelty and has suffered enough in his time on Cang Qiong that he’s not willing to take that risk.

Then by the time he becomes Sect Master and loses those chains, it’s already far too late. The same way he can’t bring himself to explain what happened to Shen Qingqiu because he thinks it’ll only be a worthless excuse, he’ll view finally accepting that bargain as too little, too late. He’s not about to explain why he waited so long and he can’t imagine Shen Qingqiu would appreciate it now. So instead, he’ll stay in power to look after and protect Shen Qingqiu as the only thing left he feels he can do.

The Qijiu position as the top two peak lords is fascinating to me, because if Shen Jiu really, REALLY didn't want to be around Yue Qingyuan, he could just leave! Shen Yuan spends about 3 years wandering after the Immortal Alliance Conference, so Shen Jiu wouldn't even have to leave permanently, if he needed to get away.

But Shen Jiu pursued the wealth and power and stability of Cang Qiong, and he's not giving it up! On the way to Shuang Hu City for the Skinner Demon, Shen Yuan comments on the carriage being packed full of luxuries like a fancy chessboard that won't be used and multiple tea sets, so I think it's fair to say that Shen Jiu liked being rich and being seen to be rich. Shen Jiu spent his childhood wandering the streets and his teenage years trailing after Wu Yanzi, he doesn't want to be back out there, even if he's now a powerful cultivator with the means to support and protect himself. He won't walk away from it.

The sect comes with rules and protocols and traditions. Yue Qingyuan has authority over the entire sect, but he can't press Shen Qingqiu and Qing Jing Peak too hard (it does not matter that Yue Qingyuan wouldn't do this, because Qiu Jianluo would have) without the other peak lords sitting up and taking offense at the sect leader interfering with one of these 12 subsects banded together. The entire cultivation world might take notice if Yue Qingyuan behaved badly. This kind of mutually assured destruction is not without tension, but it gives Shen Jiu a measure of control, which he is not going to give up to leave Yue Qingyuan as a powerful sect leader (enjoying the power and privilege that he thinks Yue Qingyuan happily abandoned him for).

I wonder if Shen Jiu ever told Yue Qingyuan to "prove himself" to him by abandoning Cang Qiong. "If you didn't leave me so you could chase power for yourself, then prove it, give it up," kind of thing. "I'll keep Cang Qiong for myself and YOU go away," kind of dare, because Shen Jiu is bitter and wants to hurt Yue Qi back or just wants to be left alone or whatever. (If Yue Qingyuan gets to enjoy this, then Shen Jiu isn't going to be the one to give it up and walk!)

Unfortunately for Qijiu's communication and potential reconciliation, I don't think Yue Qingyuan would do this, because I don't think he's willing to give up the power and control of being a peak lord either. Yue Qi also had an extremely shitty childhood and presumably hates being vulnerable. He's not about to abuse his position over Shen Jiu, but his position is how he protects Shen Jiu, so he's going to dig his feet in and refuse this demand, even if it makes Shen Jiu angry, because he's also worried about their survival. Better to have Shen Jiu angry and alive than defenseless.

So, they're stuck in this awful, tense state of affairs, because they both know what it's like not to have anything and they're not willing to give it up! Yue Qingyuan won't talk and Shen Jiu won't listen, so there's just this! It's agonizing.

#they are a mess of miscommunication #but also their world was constantly making it harder for them #and it doesn’t excuse Shen Qingqiu for the harm he caused #or even Yue Qingyuan for allowing the harm to continue #but it makes it that much more painful #and also makes me want to learn so much more about Yue Qingyuan’s Shizun #the cycles of pain and abuse in PIDW were so real #yue qingyuan #shen jiu #qijiu #svsss

[alittlelessalone]

"The Ling Xi Caves were labyrinthine. After traveling down a thousand twists and turns. Shen Qingqiu emerged in what seemed like a different world, strange and beautiful. Here, there was neither wind nor moon, yet it was cool and quiet. Together, white stones like clouds and green stones like jade created wonders large and small as well as natural stone beds. At the center lay a pool of clear water that reflected this other world like a mirror.

The only thing that marred the beauty was that some cultivator who'd previously gone into seclusion here hadn't properly cherished this public facility. The cave walls were covered in countless gashes and gouges made by both blade and sword glares. The stone walls were further plastered with swatches of dried blood, and the stains had already blackened.

This was only one cavern of many, and though it looked a tad like a murder scene, Shen Qingqiu was very satisfied and had no plans to find another location. He sat on the stone bed and began to cultivate, carefully following the methods he'd memorized from manuals.

Then, as if the heavens didn't want him to try to honestly farm B-Poins, not long after he began meditating, he heard a strange sound.

Panting.

The panting of a person in pain."

Volume 1, Chapter 2, page 88.

"Well, it looks like someone got murdered here, but other than that, it's a perfect spot!" says Shen Yuan, apparently. The fact that he settles here probably saves Liu Qingge's life, but STILL.

It's not clear here whether this is Yue Qingyuan's "it looks like someone got murdered here" cavern or if this destruction was caused by Liu QIngge, since we don't know how long Liu Qingge was suffering under the effects of a qi deviation. It's kind of funny in a very grim way to think that the Ling Xi Caves might have two "it looks like someone got murdered here" caverns.

I do like the description of the Ling Xi Caves. Very magical.

#maybe once your magical caves start needing nickels to count how many people died it’s time to retire the caves #I always assumed it was Yue Qingyuan’s cave though #because there’s just something so tragic about Shen Qingqiu failing to save Liu Qingge and being blamed for his death #in the same place where Yue Qingyuan ended up when he failed to save Shen Qingqiu #it’s like a horrible cycle from which there’s no escape #and all the more reason to maybe not just dump/allow unstable people in the caves! #svsss #shen qingqiu #liu qingge #yue qingyuan

[alittlelessalone]

When Shen Yuan returns to Cang Qiong after the Skinner Demon mission, one of the first things that he does is report to Yue Qingyuan, and one of the first things that Yue Qingyuan does is take Shen Yuan by the wrist to check his health. (It must be very strange for Yue Qingyuan that this amnesiac Shen Qingqiu is letting him do these things without ripping his head off.)

"Shen Qingqiu was instantly surprise, however Yue Qingyuan made no further movements and instead examined him attentively through his pulse, even inserting a mild spiritual flow of his own to investigate Shen Qingqiu's. He realized then that Yue Qingyuan was only inspecting his spiritual circulation, and he relaxed.

After a moment, Yue Qingyuan let go. He smiled and walked with Shen Qingqiu into the main hall. "How was the training?"

His tone was like that of an eldest brother, which made Shen Qingqiu remember his former self's two brothers. He felt slight sorrow, but greater still was the comforting sense of warmth, to the point that even his dejected report came out cheery. "Unsatisfactory."

His disciples hadn't so much as glimpsed the Skinner Demon's shadow. Speaking from the angle of disciple-training, the trip really had been a bust.

"No need to rush," said Yue Qingyuan.

Shen Qingqiu nodded before suddenly changing the topic. "Zhangmen-shixiong, I wish to go to the back of Qiong Ding Peak and enter secluded cultivation without the Ling Xi Caves." "

Volume 1, Chapter 2, page 86.

I'm not sure that Shen Jiu did anything "cheery" in his life. Yue Qingyuan has very good control of his face. (Yue Qingyuan does visibly react to Shen Yuan saying that he wants to make use of the Ling Xi Caves immediately after it, but it's a quick flicker that Shen Yuan can't read clearly before it's gone.) Again, Yue Qingyuan must be having an extremely weird time with this.

Also "former self" is a hell of a way to refer to Shen Yuan's past life when I'm pretty sure it's only been a couple weeks at most? Shen Yuan is like: "I will put my grief in regards to the family I was 'very close' to in a box and I will deal with it never."

He really does see Yue Qingyuan as "big brother shaped" and likes him, though! That's kind of nice and a little funny to me in a slightly sad way. Yue Qingyuan is like, "Would you... like some affection and care and thoughtful support? Maybe we could hang out later?" And Shen Yuan is like, "Oh, yes, please! You're so nice! Sounds great!" (They have both lost the people they truly care about here and they can't know it / can never talk about it.)

#it’s so sad that neither are ever able to truly process their grief #Shen Yuan has Shang Qinghua but I don’t think he’s going to tell him #and Yue Qingyuan might have some idea that his Xiao Jiu is wrong but will never be able to confirm #it’s both nice and really really sad that they have each other in this #this is why I need fix its/AUs #I love svsss but it makes me depressed when I think about it for too long! #svsss #shen yuan #yue qingyuan

[alittlelessalone]

SQH + An Ding Idea

-An Ding runs similar to a sort of college campus, everyone writes about An Ding basically doing everything for the whole peak.

(Architecture, Accounting, Business, Operations, Textiles, etc. etc.)

There's no way every disciple can learn all of the things An Ding does, and be able to perform them to a high quality.

So, perhaps SQH is the one who starts it because he realizes how kind of fucked the An Ding mechanics are. (Or system helped out, or possibly SQH god powers because that little guy is real busy and instituting all of these plans would take a whole long time)

But An Ding ends up running like some sort of campus, with a bunch of disciples specializing in different areas. Younger disciples take all of the essential classes, and then pick one or multiple areas of study/specialization. And they get real good at them, because specialization and not covering a million jobs at once means quality goes up. And I think SQH would just take in kids at the masses, just gathering up pretty much any kid with no place to go even if they have no real cultivation potential. Because running An Ding means they need a large number of disciples. He has a recruiting system or something, so there's a little girl in the street who fashioned her rags into a slightly cuter skirt. And an An Ding person is like 'hey, you like fashion? Textiles? You can do that for as long as you want if you join An Ding.' room, board, safety all for people who enjoy these sorts of trades to be able to specialize them and produce all the things the sects need. Street kids who are good with numbers or good with carpentry get taken into An Ding, no cultivation potential needed just kids who have passions but no way to enjoy them in their current situations.

This would also mean so much less outsourcing for the peak, much easier to work in house if it can be set up correctly.

Do the An Ding kids still get pushed around and shit on by other peaks, yeah for sure none of those peaks ever appreciate all the work An Ding does. But these kids are fine anyways because as soon as they get back on An Ding their solid, their doing what they enjoy and what they're good at. Who cares if some buff bai zhan kid teases them for being An Ding, they get to go to woodshop after this and the hall master is teaching embellishments and decor carving!

(one of the req. Classes would be a year long 'how to deal with Bai Zhan' training)

OH MAN OHHHH MAN I LOVE THIS IDEA SO MUCH??? OHHHHH THIS IS GOOD YES YES A THOUSAND PERCENT

Qinghua running the peak that has each category to specialize in is great. They handle literally everything for course they need more man power and of COURSE THEY NEED PEOPLE TO LEARN SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC INSTEAD OF A THOUSAND THINGS AT ONCE ohhh OH I love the does that he takes in just anyone

I wonder if he takes in whoever doesn't make it from the other peaks. "Trust me you don't want to be at Bai Zhan peak. You actually get to do what you like here" also I feel like there has to be a group that does the heavy lifting from all the stuff they get so there IS a group that are ready to fight anyone who picks on the other An Ding kids

This means An Ding must have the most disciples of course its HUGE, imagine if he doesn't tell the other peak lords

He's just like "fuck it what are they going to do? Tell me I can't when efficiency has SKYROCKETED AFTER MY SYSTEM!"

Yes YES i would read a fic with this premise so FAST I absolutely love this idea

Wonder what the whole "campus" of kids think when Mobei Jun starts popping in randomly

#i would 100% read this #An Ding is the powerhouse of the sect #shang qinghua #svsss