BOC AU: Elder But Younger Sister 6: Morning Duel

A shorter chapter this time for this. Unedited. next chapter might be this, might be SHI.

Qingyi’s blade flashed through the air, and a demonic cultivator fell before her; it was a masterful blow, one that slew her foe perfectly, but she had no time to admire the clean cut—there was battle to be done. She dashed down the streets, the song of combat singing in her veins, and her enemy falling before her. The Wicked creatures roared and tried to resist her, but it was for naught. 

She was Shen Qingyi, and they were but rice to be harvested.

The city blurred around her. A demon menacing a mortal child was cut down in a beautiful flourish so profound that the mortal child ignited their dantian on the spot, and his parents shouted their adulations.

She moved with such perfection that every villain in the city had to turn to face her! They roared and raged!

Five demonic cultivators leapt at her, and she smirked. Each one fell, struck dead with a single blow. She strolled past their still falling corpses, her coat billowing out majestically behind her, and her earrings flashing in  the sun. But then the air whistled behind her. A cowardly attack!

She whirled, and could have deflected the blow, but she didn't need to. Another sword descended, and slew the demon.

“Watch your back, Elder Sister!” Jin said with a smirk. He stood tall and proud, his own coat fluttering in the wind. He wielded his blade with grace and power, his Jian, the gentleman of weapons, resting easy in his hands. 

Qingyi’s smirk just widened and her own sword flashed, dispatching the Spirit Beast sneaking up on her brother.

“You should take your own advice,” she chided, ruffling his hair. Her brother huffed, but looked pleased by her looking out for him. “Shall we?”

 A veritable tide of demons, demonic cultivators, and Spirit beasts roared, and surged towards them—yet both of them simply smirked.

Both of them flourished their blades, their matching coats flowing behind them. His blade looked bigger. A Dao..? Yes, a dao worked well with his larger frame!

“Elder Sister, they don’t know, do they?” Jin asked, his voice amused. “They do not know who they face!”

“Then let us enlighten them! By the time we are done the whole world will resound with this victory! For they face the Shen Clan! The strongest clan in the world!” Qingyi’s voice boomed over the tide approaching them. They faltered at the declaration, fear starting to enter their minds, but their charge continued.

Qingyi and her brother met them. It was glorious! They danced through the horde, two streaks of light. None could stand against them!

Their victory was utterly assured!

And then, at last, they stood before the mortals. Their names were roared, and each and every mortal had only eyes of devotion!

She smiled at her brother. He smiled back at her.

And then Jin wrapped an arm around her neck and started shoving his finger into her cheek again.

A moment later, he was screaming, and waving his arm around, trying to dislodge her. Somehow, she had managed to fit his entire hand into her mouth, and her teeth were latched on at the wrist—

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Qingyi woke up with her teeth sunk into her pillow. She removed the drool soaked item from her mouth, and carefully didn’t look at it as she prepared for the day.

She had slept in yesterday, but today she was up at an acceptable time. She put in her very nice earrings, and her clothes for today; just her training garments for now.

Her brother and father were up at around the same time as well. Father’s Qi ghosted over her, but he found nothing amiss. His smile was good today too, and she embraced him. He returned it, his hug warm and comforting.

Jin saw that she was weaning his gift and offered her a smile.

She studied him for a moment, wondering if it would be appropriate.. And then decided to go for it anyway. She hugged him as well. Jin seemed a little surprised, but after a moment, he returned her affection. There was a little bit of awkwardness in the action.

That would be rectified through repeated exposure, but for a first time it was fine! They were siblings now, and the mortal siblings she had seen had always been quite affectionate.

“Good morning, younger brother.” She bid him.

“Monin’ little sis.” he reposted with a smirk, and Qingyi huffed. He chuckled,, then he turned to the stove. “I’ll get breakfast started.”

“Not today, Jin. I have already ordered food, and it shall be delivered to us. We have much to discuss.” Father declared, and sat at the table. Both she and Jin took their own places, the invitation clear. Father at the head of the table, and both of them turned slightly to look at him. He turned to Jin. “I have adopted you into my clan… yet you know little of me. A son must know his father, just as a father must know his son. Every morning, we shall speak to each other, and get to know each other better. Ask me any question you wish. No topic is forbidden.”

Jin paused, taken aback. He considered her father’s words, and nodded.

“Then let's start at the beginning, I guess. Where did you come from? Who is Shen Yu?” He asked.

Her father smiled. “The beginning hmm? A fine place. As for who is Shen Yu? You know him—for Shen Yu was you. A street rat from the Crucible.”

Her father’s tale began. It was one that Qingyi had heard before, but she stayed quiet and listened anyway. They were interrupted once, when the food father ordered arrived—a veritable feast from one of the more expensive restaurants in the city.

It was quite tasty, but she honestly had preferred the breakfast the day before. Her brother’s cooking had been delicious. Maybe he could teach her how to cook as well? She could do simple fare, father had taught her, but the tastes of yesterday had lingered. The fried potatoes especially suited her taste.

They talked for a while, and the tale started to wind down. Jin was starting to ask some questions about what had been told; about how much had truly changed in eight hundred years. Jin was engrossed in the discussion, his head turned, and eyes on their father…. And a sudden devious idea formed in Qingyi’s head. Her Brother was on his third plate, and was still absentmindedly eating.

She still hadn't fully repaid him for the assault he had delivered upon her person in front of all those mortals yesterday! And his continuous labeling of her as his younger sister! How dare he!

She saw which piece of meat his chopsticks were heading for. With a deft flick of her wrist, she raided the defenseless morsel. Jin’s chopsticks closed on nothing, while Qingyi’s teeth closed on her prize. He didn’t seem to notice the disappearance, merely trying again, his aim adjusting slightly.

Once more she struck, like a fierce heron fishing a dragon from the heavens. Again, Jin missed.

He paused and glanced at his plate for a moment with a raised brow. He studied his plate for a moment, and then he turned back to father.

His aim was true, heading for a succulent morsel; as was hers. The food tasted very good this way.

Jin froze. He looked back at his plate, confused. Then he turned to her. Qingyi made a show of glancing from father back to Jin, as if she just noticed his stare. She cocked her head to the side in a silent question. Father glanced in her direction. The corners of his lips twitched with amusement.

Jin had a befuddled look upon his face. He picked up a piece of his meal and ate it before his attention once more was consumed with father.

Qingyi wanted a moment. He dropped his guard.

Some of his pickles disappeared. 

Jin looked at his plate. He smacked his lips together.

“I’m gonna have to ask for a pause in the story, pops.” He said, and carefully placed his chopsticks on the table. Then he lunched himself over the table directly toward her.

Qingyi however, was prepared for the attack, deftly dodging… or trying to. She moved slightly slower than she had been expecting. Her brother’s fingers managed to barely hook on her ankle… And that was all he needed. Those three fingers dragged the rest of his body so that he could close his hand like a vice around her ankle.

They went tumbling. Qingyi knew she was more skilled than her brother and nearly managed to turn the tables on him, but in the end, an initiate was still constrained by the limits of their mortal body.

Her brother was probably twice as heavy as she was, and that made all the difference. He managed to pin her, his glare fierce, but she had already won, delivering justice for his acts yesterday! Her grin was wide and challenging… though she did feel a bit of trepidation at the gleam in his eye.

“Sister, you have committed an unforgivable act! For your sins, I shall mete out divine punishment!” he roared. “The forbidden technique! Wei Tu Wei Lei!” 

伪Wei  途Tu   萎Wei  泪Lei? The False Path of Withered Tears? It sounded dangerous.

He raised a free hand, and with grim finality stuck his finger in his mouth.

Qingyi was befuddled. What exactly was he—?

The finger, covered in spit, entered her ear.

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Shen Yu sipped his tea while a ball of shrieking, thrashing daughter and son tumbled all over the floor. He observed them. Qingyi’s form was perfect and sharp as she tried to get her own drool-covered fingers into Jin’s ears, while Jin fought like a demon against the vicious assault.

“Children.” he sighed, his smile fond.

He took another sip of tea, and savoured the simple honest joy of the moment.

Ah, each morning had been more glorious than the last, it truly had. He allowed them to fight it out for a moment longer… before he too entered the fray.

His daughter and son were about to learn that a master picked up techniques far faster than they.

The False Path of Withered Tears descended upon them both. Daughter and son yowled like scalded cats, and he lifted them as such, both by the scruff of their shirts.

They glared at him, both of them dangling.

“A fine warm up for today’s training!” Shen Yu declared with a smile. “For today shall be your first lesson with a sword, my Son.”

Jin’s scowl was erased, suddenly looking interested.. While Qingyi looked utterly appalled.

“His first—father, you haven't taught him the blade yet?!” she demanded.

“There were other things that needed his attention—but today, he shall learn. Can we count on your guidance, Qingyi?”

“Yes!” she responded instantly, her eyes suddenly hungry. “Little brother, I will teach you well!”

Jin suddenly looked mildly worried.

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Shen Yu uses Jin's own technique against him. Truly, he is a master of all martial arts.