Chapter Text
“Are you really in any condition to go on a mission?” Shen Yuan asked him as he sat at the edge of Shen Jiu’s bed.
“I will be fine, don’t worry.” Shen Jiu responded plainly as he tried to get out of bed.
Shen Yuan sighed, “Ge, I think you should leave this matter to me until you recover. Do you not trust me, your twin, to deal with this simple problem?” He knew it was cheesy but he would say anything to convince Shen Jiu to stay.
Shen Jiu sat back down with a huff. “Alright, but I expect a full report once you return.”
“Thank you, now I should let Yue Qingyuan see to you. He was upset at being stuck outside.” Shen Jiu was resigned at the thought of seeing Yue Qingyuan at the moment but Shen Yuan walked out to let Yue Qingyuan see Shen Jiu.
He then decided to go for a short stroll after the emotional turmoil he had been in over his brother’s fever, he didn’t want to lose the last person he had left. He shook the thought away and kept walking, and walking until he came upon a small mob of disciples beating on another disciple it seemed like a good time to try and break it up, but as much as he wanted to, for some reason, he was stuck staring at the scene from a distance until he came up with a beneficial idea. Using his cultivation to launch pointed leaves at the disciples to break the fight up without going out there. He launched the leaves, successfully making the mob run away.
The Shimei who was just standing there quickly helped the Shidi up. They spoke about finding a necklace or pendent of some sort. Shen Yuan could see it, but at this point announcing his presence would not be ideal so he waited until they left to pluck it from a tree.
Upon retrieving it, Shen Yuan was unsure what to do with it but ended up stuffing it into a pocket, which once it entered it also disappeared from, which was odd but Shen Yuan stopped questioning things long ago.
* * * * *
The mission supplies and recruited disciples were already prepared to leave, just waiting on their Shizun. Shen Yuan approached the group of disciples to explain that he would not be coming. Shen Yuan had never been one for speaking to large groups, so he took a deep breath and cleared his throat to try and get their attention. “I’m sure you all have noticed that your Shizun is not here. Sadly, his fever was too high for him to be able to attend so I will be here in his stead.” Once he finished, he quickly checked which disciples would be attending. The disciples coming included the mob and the disciples that were being harassed. Although now that he finally had a good angle on them, he remembered who they were. The leader of the mob, Ming Fan, Shen Jiu’s favorite, the Shimei who watched, Ning Yingying, a popular disciple, The disciple who was being beaten was Luo Binghe, Shen Jiu’s least favorite student, and then some assorted disciples who were also involved in the dispute.
Once they set off and Shen Yuan was finally settled in the carriage, there seemed to be another fight brewing between Ming Fan and Luo Binghe. Shen Yuan knew well that Luo Binghe was in no state to be put into another fight, so when Ning Yingying asked what he was going to do about it he glanced out the window and said, “Luo Binghe, come here. Let’s talk.”
Luo Binghe hastily entered the carriage and bowed. “Many thanks to Shen-Xiansheng.”
Shen Yuan chuckled at the courtesy. “Nothing to be thankful for, I simply had something to give you and the timing seemed to be beneficial.”
Luo Binghe looked up. “What did you need to give this disciple?”
“Take a seat first.” Shen Yuan gestured across from him.
Luo Binghe quickly sat down. Shen Yuan smiled at this. “Alright, here.” He threw Luo Binghe some medicine. “For your injuries. I apologize for my brother, he…” Shen Yuan exhaled a deep breath. “He’s gone through a lot in life and I think you remind him of what he can’t have.” Shen Yuan moved closer to help Luo Binghe apply the medicine. “I’ll get him to stop being,” Shen Yuan thought through his next words carefully. “So much for you to handle.”
Once Shen Yuan was done helping him apply the medicine he asked, “Will you be okay for this mission?”
Luo Binghe didn’t want to quit the mission if his vigorous nod was any indication.
“Alright, if you’re that enthused. Don’t overdo it though, okay?”
“This disciple understands.”
Shen Yuan moved back to where he was previously sitting to ponder this as they continued on this journey.
* * * * *
Once they arrived in Shuang Hu, Old Master Chen, and a concubine greeted them, telling them about the horrible deaths of two of his other beloved concubines, caused by the Skinner Demon.
“Because of this demon, I can’t let Die-er leave my side because I fear once she does she’ll face the same fate. Help us, immortal masters, please!”
Shen Yuan decided to retreat to his room, leaving Ming Fan to talk to the Old Master. Although he didn’t get to look around for long until Ning Yingying entered his room.
“Would Shen-Xiansheng like to accompany this Shimei on a stroll about the town?”
Ning Yingying was one of Shen Jiu’s more beloved disciples, her kindness to her Shidi and Shixiong was a sight to behold. Shen Yuan had only been alone with her once or twice, mostly exchanging pleasantries on the way to their respective obligations. Shen Yuan would have loved to chat with her and walk about to learn more about her, but sadly Shen Jiu wanted this matter quickly cleaned up which meant that he had to have his full attention on this Skinner Demon problem. “This Shen wishes that he could, but sadly must focus on the task at hand. Why not ask one of your other Shidi or Shixiong to accompany you?”
Ning Yingying accepted this offer with grace and left Shen Yuan to concern himself with the Skinner Demon.
* * * * *
After receiving the report from Ming Fan, just as he was about to excuse him, Luo Binghe barged in yelling, “Shen-Xiansheng! Ning Yingying is missing!”
Shen Yuan was taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“We were walking through the town and I tried to urge her back once it got dark but she wanted to keep going and then this disciple lost Shijie and she disappeared. I tried to look for her but I need your help.”
Once Shen Yuan fully processed what had happened he ran out with no sense of decorum. They ran down the streets until they reached where Luo Binghe had lost her. “This is all this disciple's fault.”
“No need to blame yourself. I am also at fault.” He closed his eyes only to find a barely perceptible string of demonic energy. They approached a neglected house that the energy had led them to.
He didn’t see it as a waste once he and Luo Binghe arrived at some sort of abandoned building. Just as he was about to explain his plan to him, Luo Binghe exclaimed, “Shen-Xiansheng! Watch-” He missed whatever came next as he was knocked unconscious by some sort of spray.
* * * * *
Shen Yuan awoke to hear his name being shouted at him as if he had somehow forgotten who he was. “Shen-Xiansheng, wake up.” As his eyes adjusted to the light he tried to locate the voice. He tried to move towards it, only to find that he was bound to a wooden pole with what he could only assume were immortal-binding cables. He didn’t know who was in charge of naming things such as this, but whoever it was did a horrid job.
After that realization, he realized that the ropes were digging into his skin and not his robes. He looked down to realize that his chest was bare. As much as he wanted to cover up he was still restrained so he was forced to accept that his chest would be on display, which at the thought of anyone seeing him feel even more embarrassed.
Back to the task at hand, he followed the sound of the voice with his eyes until they fell upon Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying were tied together to another wooden spoke. It looked as if a sense of relief washed over them the minute they noticed he was awake, but no relief went through Shen Yuan. He knew that they expected him to get them out of there but he had no clue where to start, at least until The Skinner Demon walked up and asked, “Now I’m disappointed, I had hoped I had caused enough of a stir to get a Peak Lord, not this sorry excuse for a disciple.”
Once she arrived all the pieces started to fall into place for Shan Yuan to realize what had been going on. “Die-er?” He didn’t sound sure but he knew it had to be her, the room they were in had to be Chen Manor going off the furniture and smell of wealth, and Die-er’s figure was unique. He couldn’t think of anyone else who looked quite like her.
Die-er dropped her veil. “How did you know?” She paused for a moment and continued. “It doesn’t matter, I doubt you could figure out why a woman like me would do this so I will explain. Every time I kill, I change into my victims' skin. I imitate them and everyone is none the wiser as I seek out new victims.”
Shen Yuan pondered this for a moment. “What about their corpses?”
“Ah, so you’ve figured that out too, I just use the most recent corpse to act as the one before after I change skins.”
Die-er was no longer interested in humoring Shen Yuan as she stalked toward Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying. “Since your Shixiong is tied with immortal-binding cables, he can’t save you two now, can he? My martial aspect, If it wasn’t damaged then I wouldn’t have to change skins and absorb their qi.”
Ning Yingying yelled in terror as Luo Binghe tried to stay calm. Die-er continued, “Your skin is so dazzling and soft, your skin should last for a while, after I’m done with your skin I’ll move on your Shixiong over there.”
Shen Yuan didn’t enjoy the fact that he seemed female enough to her to have his skin stolen. “Don’t you go after beautiful, young women?”
“No, male skin is just as good if their skin is nice and lustrous, just usually female skin is better quality.” As she spoke she moved back toward Shen Yuan, her hands moving up and down his chest. “But cultivators, even a man like you has glossy and smooth skin. I do miss my male skin…”
As Shen Yuan was being groped, he got goosebumps at the mix of chilly air and skin contact, it definitely made this situation ten times more awkward.
His reaction to this situation shook Luo Binghe. He barely knew Shen Yuan, only ever seeing him when he was gracefully watching over disciples or helping with training, and he had never seen him like this. The sight made his face turn red as he looked away. Even with his eyes away from him, he could still imagine how he looked, messy and disheveled, with red bruises from the cables. The emotion bubbled in his chest, unsure of how to feel. He contemplated how different Shen Jiu was from Shen Yuan. Shen Jiu made him upset and enraged when he was picked on and beaten, but Shen Yuan did nothing but care for him and try to protect him from Ming Fan. He didn’t deserve this, to be touched by *that*. He mustered whatever courage he could and called out to Die-er. “He’s old, I’m much younger and more suitable for you I’m sure.”
Die-er turned to him, “Though your skin is lovely, you can’t compare to a man who has reached Mid Core Formation.”
Before Die-er could turn back to Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe shouted out, “But, the peak accepted me as a disciple, doesn’t that mean that I have to potential to reach Mid Core Formation as well?”
“Okay then, you don’t mind me testing your logic, do you? I will attack you, if you live you’re right, if you don’t then you’re not.”
Shen Yuan didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t let a fourteen-year-old die, but he knew anything he said, Luo Binghe would just counter, so he sat there frozen as she moved towards him.
Ning Yingying began crying as she moved closer, afraid for Luo Binghe’s sake. Although the strangest thing happened, as she was about to attack, a ceiling beam fell on her, forcing her to stay laying on the floor. The same ceiling beam which as it fell broke the beam that Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying were tied to. Ning Yingying had fainted from terror but Luo Binghe managed to get free.
As Luo Binghe got up so did Die-er, yelling about trickery. “You called me over so that your Shixiong could attack me from behind! Why else would a new ceiling beam just fall on me?!”
Shen Yuan was stumped by that too. Why would a perfectly good ceiling beam fall on her like that? Thank goodness that it did though.
Die-er continued on her tirade, turning to Shen Yuan. “Good luck getting free, only an immortal’s sword can your cables be cut.”
‘Okay, thanks, but why are you telling me this?’ Shen Yuan thought, but then a plan appeared. All he had to do was distract her. “So, did you really sleep with that old man? That sounds gross.” Shen Yuan physically recoiled at the thought.
The question made Die-er go silent. She stood there, eyes fiery with rage, but before she could act on her emotions Luo Binghe moved with Yōuyǎ after he had stolen it from her hip, he slashed the immortal-binding cables off, Shen Yuan.
The second he was free he gathered his spiritual energy and attacked her. She was launched back by the power of the energy, breaking bones and creating bloody gashes.
Every time he has to eliminate demons he always feels sympathetic, but he couldn’t allow it to show in front of his Shidi and Shimei, even though she was still unconscious. Shen Yuan took a calming breath. “This was the first time that you’ve seen someone ‘eliminate demons and uphold justice’ was it not?”
Luo Binghe sheepishly nodded.
“I’m sure you were scared. Why did you put yourself in harm's way? I’m your Shixiong, I should have taken responsibility for getting us trapped.”
Luo Binghe’s head hung low as he spoke. “Shen-Xiansheng has been so good to this disciple, this disciple just wanted to be helpful to you.”
“I wouldn’t be helpful if you hurt yourself trying to protect me. Protect yourself and defenseless people first. I can fend for myself.” Once he looked at how forlorn Luo Binghe looked, he reached out and patted his head. “Thank you.”
At this gesture, Luo Binghe lit up and looked up at him, much happier than he was moments before. “Oh Shen-Xiansheng, your sword.” He handed Yōuyǎ up to Shen Yuan, which earned him another head pat before Shen Yuan picked up Ning Yingying and they finally left.