Jiali x Liu Qingge

@Liu Qingge Li Jiali's eyes widened, almost comically. "Siming. You. Are. A. Genius!" Detaching the thin inner layer from the bundle of robes, Li Jiali folded it carefully into a tight bundle to preserve the scent, then left it beneath her pillow to further investigate later in the night. "Watch over it for me, please," she instructed Fan Siming. Just in case any of the other disciples decided that they wanted a whiff of Liu Qingge, too. Taking her sweet time with the clothes, Li Jiali played 'housewife doing laundry' all afternoon. It was only when the sun was setting that she remembered that her Shifu and Shishu were still waiting. Hurrying back to the main pavilion, Li Jiali found the man alone, by the entrance gate. "Li Shishu," she greeted neutrally as she approached him, bowing when he turned to face her. "I have your robes here, cleaned. I apologize for my clumsiness today again."

@Li Jiali Fan Siming watched the fanatical display in front of her, wracking her brain for another solution when it seemed like her Shijie needed one. "Why don't you just keep the innermost layer? And then you could say a bird stole it-" she said, looking out the window to see if there were some birds they could put the blame on for today. Fan Siming didn't particularly understand the fascination that Li Jiali had for the Bai Zhan Peak Lord, as she was much more curious about his martial arts manuals, but she supposed there were some wonders of the world that could not be answered.

@Fan Siming Li Jiali pouted. "I wish he was," she admitted brazenly, rubbing her cheek against the soft material, closing her eyes and pretending it was Liu Qingge's very own hand. "I did as you said, and spilled his tea on him. He became very angry, but Shifu convinced him to let me wash his clothes. I should get a move on about this." Despite her words, she continued to stand in the middle of their chambers, gripping at the clothes. "Ooh..." she finally breathed out in defeat, not having the willpower just yet to begin her task. "I wish I could keep some of this. Do you think Liu Shishu would notice if I cut a little square out for a handkerchief?"

@Li Jiali Fan Siming had barely just laid the last manual in its chest and pushed it under her bedding when Li Jiali's voice suddenly previewed her entrance to the room again. Shooting up to her feet, Fan Siming's eyes widened as she saw the telltale white and teal robes that the Peak Lord of Bai Zhan peak wore. "How did you get them!" she asked, not even daring to lay her hands on them to 'help' since she knew Li Jiali wanted to preserve the scent. "You made him take off his clothes? Is he now?"

@Liu Qingge Despite the scolding and the terrifying glare she got from Liu Qingge, Li Jiali was more than happy - /giddy/, even - to take his robes. "Yes, Shifu," she said gracefully, walking out in the most dignified way she could before sprinting the rest of the way back to her sleeping quarters. "Siming!" she squealed, loud enough to attract the attention of a few of her martial sisters. "Look at this!" Jiali held the slightly damp robe up in front of Fan Siming, clutching it tightly as though it were /her/ most prized possession now. "Guess what this is! Oh!" Bringing the soft material to her face, Li Jiali inhaled deeply, whimpering at the sweet scent of Liu Qingge that clung to his robes. "Oh... he smells so good!"

@Li Jiali "Liu Shidi," Qi Qingqi stepped in, calling for her martial brother to sit back down instead of getting up and terrorizing one of her top disciples, "You should let her clean your robes, it is a logical consequence for her mistake." With that, she flicked her chin for Li Jiali to join her in removing the outermost robes on Liu Qingge's body. Layering them over Li Jiali's arms, Qi Qingqi instructed her promptly, "Wash and dry your Liu Shishu's clothing before the end of this day, Jiali." Though she wasn't displaying it on her expressions, it was clear that Qi Qingqi was simply lightening the severity of the situation.

Liu Qingge reluctantly let his robes be taken off until he was left in the bare minimum that could be considered decent still. He continued to glare at Li Jiali, the mole under his right eye twitching along in his anger. Well, now it looks like he had no choice but to stay here. He watched as Li Jiali left the room, then sitting back down across from Qi Qingqi as he sipped what was left of his almost bottomed-up teacup. "Unbelieveble," he murmured to himself, thinking that this was probably the girl Gongyi Xiao was talking about after all.

@Liu Qingge 'What the ?' Li Jiali wanted to curse. Did Liu shishu have to be so rude? It was an 'accident'! Despite her annoyance, Li Jiali kept her expression neutral as he bowed and apologized once again. "I apologize, Liu shishu. I was not careful enough. Please let me help you clean it." Qi Qingqi raised a brow as Li Jiali collected the overturned teacup and tried to keep the tea on the table from spilling over Liu Qingge's lap, less than amused with Liu Qingge's reaction. To avoid undermining his authority, however, she kept mum for the time being. Li Jiali was, admittedly, having a clumsy moment.

@Li Jiali In the midst of being grilled by Qi Qingqi's unrelenting questions, the door suddenly opened and spared Liu Qingge a few extra moments to consider what exactly it was that he was doing here instead of sending a letter or announcing a formal visit. The young disciple that entered with the tea tray, he realized, was the same one who he had defeated at the competition. Her haughtiness of not wanting to be declared champion had actually cost her the title, since Liu Qingge did not let her save face and win despite dueling him. She was also the one that he suspected that Gongyi Xiao to be referring to when he spoke of a maiden, but in that moment, Liu Qingge could not recall her name. He waited for his tea to be served before making another comment, not wanting to raise Qi Qingqi's suspicions again. His patience proved to be a waste though, as the scalding hot tea sunk right through the material of his robes and burned his skin underneath. Standing up straight in anger, Liu Qingge scolded the careless disciple with a glare in his eyes, "“I thought you were decent with a sword, but it turns out all those flashy movements come from your shaking hands and broken feet. Get lost." Though his voice was steady and his body gestures were aggressive, one look at Liu Qingge's eyes would give away the fact that he was a pace from qi deviating on the spot.

@Liu Qingge "Good call," Li Jiali said. It was genius, really. Wear something to catch Liu Qingge's attention first, then spill tea over him. A foolproof plan. Aside from official or formal functions, Qi Qingqi encouraged her students to wear whatever they liked. This could hardly count as a formal occasion, could it? Li Jiali would just pretend she already had this on when he came over unexpectedly for tea. Donning a rather revealing set of red and black robes, Li Jiali arranged her serving equipment on a wooden tray and shuffled out to greet her shifu and their special guest. She announced herself at the door before making her way into the room, her gaze kept on Liu Qingge the whole way. Goodness, he looked handsome, as always. Li Jiali hid a smile as she knelt, easing the tray onto the table without a tremble from her practiced hand. "Shifu, Liu shishu," she greeted gently. "Tea." She poured for Qi Qingqi first, handing the cup over with both hands, then Liu Qingge's. Here it comes. Making sure the teacup was filled higher than usual, she picked up the cup with both hands and it out toward Liu Qingge. In retrospect, she was rather obvious about it - it would be hard for a regular person, let alone a martial artist, to make this sort of rookie mistake. The hot tea spilled over the front of Liu Qingge's robes and his lap, and Li Jiali let out a shriek of 'surprise'. "Liu shishu! I apologize, my hand slipped. Please, let me help you clean up."

@Li Jiali Fan Siming was in her room, putting away her training manuals in a (long-overdue) attempt to clean up her living quarters. Luckily she never had to share a space with anyone else, or else things would go missing within the week for all parties involved. When her door burst open and Fan Siming heard her Shijie's voice hollering though, her work came to a screeching halt as she got up to help Li Jiali address the situation at hand. "Ah-" was all she could say when Liu Qingge was brought up into conversation. Of course, what else would get Li Jiali so overworked like this. Thinking hard with her index finger and thumb tucked under her chin, Fan Siming listened to the other's predicament before suggestion, "You could maybe...make an impression on him! You can accidentally spill some tea on him, and offer to clean his robes! That'll make him notice you for sure, right Shijie?" she offered in a very straight-forward, no-nonsense tone.

@Liu Qingge Qi Qingqi wished she had a cup of tea to hide her snort behind. Liu Qingge had never been good at this. "You're not asking me for a disciple, are you?" she remarked dryly, now curious to what kind of shenanigan her shidi was up to now. "There are no rumours on Xian Shu Peak. You are mistaken."

Whilst the tea steeped, Li Jiali had found her first unassuming victim for advice: Fan Siming. She just happened to be free, and Li Jiali would talk to just about anyone about Liu Qingge. "Okay, so, the tea is steeping," she rambled as she paced back and forth before her shimei. "And Liu shishu is here! He. Is. ACTUALLY. Here. This is happening. Oh! What am I going to do? He actually came, and I'm serving him tea. Should I say something? If he and Shifu aren't talking, it's silent, should I say something? Or do something? Or what!"

@Li Jiali Liu Qingge did not have any excuse planned out in his head before his feet had carried him all the way to the doors of Xian Shu Peak. When he was greeted by Qi Qingqi, he simply bowed in greeting, "Qi Shijie," he said, looking out the window of the room they were seated in to see if there were any disciples in sight. “My sister," he began, clearing his throat as he racked his brain for an excuse as to why he was here, "I haven't seen her since the Conference. I heard rumors that she wanted to speak with me." It was quite stupid of an excuse now that he said it aloud. Anyone knew that Liu Mingyan could easily go find her brother if she really needed to speak to him. "So, how are you doing? Your disciples are doing well? Maybe I need a disciple too."

@Liu Qingge News of Liu Qingge's unannounced arrival to Xian Shu Peak spread quickly. Li Jiali was near distraught when Liu Mingyan was instructed by Qi Qingqi to prepare tea, and she rushed off after her senior sister to beg if she could take her place. Liu Mingyan was, of course, more than pleased to offer up the role. Qi Qingqi was, in simple terms, suspicious. Liu Qingge did not show up just because he wanted to check on how his younger sister was doing. Everyone knew Liu Mingyan was more than capable. Still, she entertained him, like how she put up with every single foolish man on this mountain who had Heavens know what going through their minds. "A fine day for Liu shidi to visit, isn't it?" she asked, looking out the terrace overlook to the mist below. "Well? What is it?"

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@Li Jiali In this competition style, Fan Siming had actually been third in the lineup for Xianshu Peak, but it became very obvious that her turn would not be coming this year with the way her shijie was performing. She had expected Li Jiali to be every bit as capable as she was on the dueling grounds, but the battle with Liu Qingge was especially a surprise. Fan Siming had heard lots about the Bai Zhan Peak Lord (most of it from Li Jiali) but watching the two in action was so mesmerizing that she couldn't take her eyes off the clashing swords and the quick feet movements that occurred. By the time Li Jiali returned to her, Fan Siming welcomed her back by throwing an arm around the taller girl's shoulders, nodding her head, "I saw I saw." she reiterated, seeing that magical expression in the other's eyes, "You did well, Shijie, I'm sure you'll have left an impression in Liu Shishu's mind now." Knowing that a full night of storytelling was to come, Fan Siming gave a tug, motioning for Li Jiali to follow her to their peak's dinner gathering, intending to fill her stomach in preparation first.

@Fan Siming Not even minding the way Liu Qingge only half-accepted her proposal, Li Jiali made her way back to her sisters with a blank face and a silly grin. "Oh, she's gone crazy for sure this time," one of her shimei commented as Jiali approached the group. "It's okay, he was not that mean this time." They liked to , and Jiali did not mind, but there was only one person who would take her seriously when she needed a proper discussion on Liu Qingge. "Siming, did you see that?" she asked with a dreamy giggle, turning her head slightly as they walked away to try and catch one last glimpse of the sect leader. "When he was holding me... I thought I was going to die! He's so warm..."

@Li Jiali "Liu shishu, thank you for your guidance. I will train even harder, and I will challenge you again."

Liu Qingge gave a little "tch" in response to indicate that he had heard Jiali. Yue Qingyuan had noticed that the Bai Zhan Peak Lord seemed a little too distracted to offer any formal ending notes on his own, so he cleared his throat and addressed the crowd once more, "And thus this brings an end to the annual inner-circle duel. Continue to cultivate and train hard. Maybe next year you will have a chance to battle our very own Bai Zhan Peak Lord for yourself too. Until then, we congratulate Li Jiali from Xianshu Peak and her Shizun Qi Qingqi! Everyone may disperse now!"

With that, it was over and Liu Qingge simply gave Jiali a pointed look. "Work harder before you think I'll accept a challenge from you again," he told her before he turned and jumped upwards, sailing through the air and landing lightly back where the other Peak Lords surrounded the stadium. Though his words were harsh, Liu Qingge was curious if he had broken that young cultivator's resolve. He peered downwards, expecting to see her cry. But it seemed that this cultivator, was no ordinary young maiden to be trifled with.

From the first time their blades met and her attack was deflected as easily as a boatman's paddle dipping into calm river water, Li Jiali knew why Liu Qingge had been bestowed such a nickname. If he were an actual opponent, she would be fearing for her life. Instead, giddiness struck her as she flitted around him, slashing again. To be able to spar with Liu Qingge was like a unattainable dream. If this was a dream, then she there was no shame in the very obvious outcome, wasn't there? She was in high spirits as she dodged and attacked, not even feeling weariness and soreness set into her muscles as they danced around each other for so long that the sun began to set. It was only when Li Jiali caught a glimpse of the red sun in the horizon that she realized just how long they'd been going for, and how there was a sheen of sweat over her skin. Liu Qingge still looked like he hadn't broken a sweat. The golden light from the sinking sun reflected off his angular face so perfectly that Li Jiali had to take a moment out of each attack to admire his handsome face. It was no surprise that during one of those moments, her guard fell and Liu Qingge grabbed at her, pulling her with such force she lost all her balance as she slammed against his chest. His chest! Oh. She was leaning with her back pressed against his firm chest, warmth radiating through his robes. Li Jiali didn't dare close her eyes, wanting to take in every single detail of this moment. Even Liu Qingge's whispered 'feedback' sent chills down her spine, her legs becoming soft and weak. She wanted to stay in this moment for... eternity. Alas, she had to step out of his embrace in the end, sheathing her sword and folding her hands out in a bow to Liu Qingge. "Liu shishu, thank you for your guidance. I will train even harder, and I will challenge you again." To her shizun up in the stands, she bowed as well, though there was no shame in her actions.

@Li Jiali Liu Qingge's hand closed around the hilt of his sword, and he held it out to block Jiali's incoming strike. His feet skidded on the ground as he turned, evading her next attack. In just a few movements, Liu Qingge could see that Li Jiali was a formidable opponent, and a disciple who had invested time into perfecting her technique. He recognized every form she took from the martial arts manual. She was using a great deal of power, but also reserving some where she saw necessary. It was no wonder she was able to last through the entire competition and still have the energy to challenge him. Still, she was no match for him. Liu Qingge was reserved with his attacks, for now only playing defense so he could read her better. What was meant to be a quick spar lasted for quite a while, and if some onlookers wanted to comment, they might even consider Liu Qingge toying around with Li Jiali. When it became clear that Liu Qingge had exhausted the pent up energy that the disciple's other competitors were unable to release, the sun was setting. Deciding that it was time to end it, he stepped inwards towards her incoming sword, leaning back just as the blade whirred past him. Pulling Jiali in by her arm, Liu Qingge's quick steps circled around her body and he easily pulled her thin frame against his own, the flattened blade of his sword flatted against her chest while while the tip pointed at her neck. Together, they stood still in the middle of the stadium, his breath steady and quieter than hers. He didn't let her go. In a voice low enough so that only she could hear, Liu Qingge murmured, "Not fast enough. Not surprising enough. Not impressive enough."

@Liu Qingge The wicked smile that Liu Qingge did not often possess on his face was enough to stop Li Jiali from thinking rationally for even one more thought. In that moment, she saw nothing wrong with battling the famed Bai Zhan War God, whose name alone was enough to strike fear in humans and demons alike across the land. She only saw it as her opportunity to see Liu Qingge up close, maybe even sneak in a touch or two. "Liu shishu, it would be an honour," she managed, her voice lilted and uneven. Opening her hand for Ruixue again, she struck first, darting forward from where she stood, relying on pure speed rather than trickery to attack. She slashed at Liu Qingge with full force, already knowing that she'd lost this battle the moment she rejected her victory against the disciples, but high from the feeling of getting to spar against the man she'd looked up to since she was accepted into Cang Qiong Sect.

@Li Jiali Liu Qingge's eyes narrowed, his birthmark just under his left eye scrunching upwards on his face just a bit as he smirked again. Turning around, he exchanged a look with this disciples Shifu, Qi Qingqi. Her expression was unreadable, but given that Liu Qingge made no attempt to accept Li Jiali's challenge, it was obvious that she too was waiting for his answer. He exhaled loudly, turning back around to stare at Li Jiali. This look of his, one could only describe as scrutinizing. Was he going to deign to battle a /disciple/? One that wasn't even his own? Her youthful features displayed a sense of determination that Liu Qingge wanted to smirk in response to once more. After what seemed like a long time, he finally clicked his tongue and accepted, "Fine. If it is a battle you want, you'll have to battle me. We will do a spar, but do not expect me to go easy on you just because you are a disciple." With that, Liu Qingge extended his right hand to a side, and with a simple and controlled motion, summoned Cheng Luan into his hand.

@Liu Qingge Li Jiali had to bite back a squeal when she realized that her bait worked exactly as she intended. Liu Qingge spoke for Bai Zhan Peak, of course, whilst the other peak lords looked slightly amused. In her daze, however, she didn't expect at all for Liu Qingge to land so gracefully before her. Startled, she took a step back, but found her composure to bow again to him, ducking her head to hide the smile that she tried to fight back. "Liu shishu, let us not talk about price. There is no dignity in losing within Cang Qiong Sect. Liu shishu, I am but a simple disciple looking to a friendly spar with my martial family."

@Li Jiali If there was one person that Liu Qingge would usually watch out for, it was his sister Liu Mingyan. She had done well in the previous years' competitions, and undoubtedly would have been able to hold her own today. Unfortunately, Liu Qingge had received news that his sister was not feeling well, and would therefore be absent today. Initially he had been skeptical that Xianshu Peak would even stand a chance then, since he had yet to hear of any other recognizable name that would be partaking in the competition. However, as the numbers quickly dwindled down, Liu Qingge began to hear the name of a particular young disciple from Xianshu Peak whose name seemd to be more prominently called out compared to the rest.

Li Jiali. Liu Qingge stretched his neck out just a bit, delineating from his half reclined position of usual disengagement so that he could get a better view of the disciple. She was quick on her feet and her swordsmanship was clean. Liu Qingge narrowed his eyes as he watched the familiar sidestep swing and lunging forward pattern, quietly nodding his head at this young girl who was able to hold her own even against the burliest of the men. And finally, she was crowned as the winner. Liu Qingge knew where recognition was due, and as he rose to watch her crowning, he raised an amused brow.

"I cannot accept this victorious disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain yet, for I have not matched with a disciple from Bai Zhan Peak yet. Otherwise, how could I claim this title righteously? Bai Zhan Peak is a part of Cang Qiong Sect as well."

What a bold claim. What fun. Liu Qingge smirked, a little wind escaping his mouth as he did. Although there was a moment of silence in the crowd, it didn't last long as Liu Qingge swiftly swung himself over the stadium up above, landing himself right in front of Jiali and peering down at her with a cocked head. "You have courage, I can see that. It is very important. But who are you," he asked, "To think that you have what it takes to battle a Bai Zhan Peak disciple?" he asked, obviously making no intention to initiate a duel with her just yet, "What price are you willing to pay when you lose?" he followed, "Your dignity?"

@Fan Siming "Of course this is my chance. Since Liu shishu is here today, then I'll work even harder than I planned to in the first place," Li Jiali asserted rather shamelessly, unable to tear her eyes from the top to pay attention to the introductions taking place in the arena. Used to her martial sisters' teasing, she gave Fan Siming's arm a gently smack. "I can't help it. I've never seen a man more attractive than Liu shishu. There are so many men in this world, but none of them compare... like... that..." Another sigh, before Li Jiali realized that her name was being called. She smiled at Fan Siming, then up at Liu qingge, before stepping out into the arena. 'Shishu,' she thought. 'My win is for you! Are you watching?'

Many of the mountains disciples were no match for Li Jiali, who fought without mercy or toying about with her martial brothers and sisters. She knew that Liu Qingge was more impressed with quantity over quality, and so now was no time to show off any fancy footwork. Her sole want to impress her shishu made the battles pass by much quicker, and in no time, she was being crowned the winner of the bi-annual inner circle duel. It was the first time she'd won, and there was no time like the present to challenge the structure than now. She bowed to Yue Qingyuan first, then to the panel of peak lords. "I cannot accept this victorious disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain yet," she announced boldly, her hands still folded in a bow before her as she spoke. Of course, there was no other way of romancing Liu Qingge but in battle. "For I have not matched with a disciple from Bai Zhan Peak yet. Otherwise, how could I claim this title righteously? Bai Zhan Peak is a part of Cang Qiong Sect as well."

@Li Jiali Since she joined the Cang Qiong Sect as an official disciple, Fan Siming was starting to see all the wonders that the cultivation world offered. Without her Shifu, there was no way she would have ever been able to participate side by side with the incoming great cultivators of her generation in so many events, conferences, and competitions. She watched in awe as the disciples of the twelve peaks lined up orderly and naturally. It was their life, this was their norm. In the midst of her thoughts, she heard her shijie Li Jiali whispering in a hushed voice again, and Fan Siming's attention was finally drawn to the man at the center of all those sighs. In the stands sat a man who had his hair tied up into a full ponytail, a stark difference to all the others who only had their hair up in a half-do. Fan Siming took a long hard look as her shijie asked, then turned and gave a little chuckle, "Shijie, are you going to impress him today? Now's your chance." Fan Siming said, herself itching to draw her sword and duel with those more powerful than her too. She wanted to learn, to digest, and then to conquer. However, the next sigh from Li Jiali made her refocus, and Fan Siming laughed again, "Shijie, you're what they call /unsaveable/. Look at you, you're about to drool!"

@Liu Qingge Arriving in the order their shifu's seniority, Li Jiali and her sisters took their places, heads held high, beside An Ding Peak's disciples. Coming from Xian Shu Peak, the disciples of Qi Qingqi held their heads high, unfazed by the general rabble from the participants and the observing disciples up in the stands. Li Jiali's gaze, unfortunately, wandered from the levelled ring. It wandered straight up into the stands where the peak lords sat. Each and every time, Li Jiali could spotlight her gaze on the same man, accurately and within seconds each time they appeared in the same setting. Liu Qingge. She sighed dreamily, earning a disappointed head shake from the shimei on her left. Li Jiali decided to bother the shimei on her right instead. "Siming," she mumbled, her head still tilted up obviously toward the peak lords. She reached out blindly, tugging on Fan Siming's sleeve. "He's here. He really came. Oh. It's so attractive when he ties his hair up. Siming, are you looking? Look-"

@Li Jiali A glare to the left. Then a glare to the right. This ruckus was /ungodly/, and Liu Qingge would know since he was an immortal cultivator. When and how the inner-circle duel had become a tradition, he did not know, but since there was no disciple worthy enough for him to apprentice and send in his place, Liu Qingge had begrudgingly shown up and taken his place in the half circle of peak lords watching over the competition. As usual, Shen Qingqiu had a somber expression on his face. Such was the case since he returned from the Immortal Alliance Conference and news had spread that he lost his most beloved disciple. The other peak lords made their way to their spots too, and Liu Qingge leaned back as he watched the competition down below commence.

Yue Qingyuan, as the Cangqiong Peak leader and the one who was overseeing the competition as its main judge, briefly explained the rules. This would be a winner-take-all competition. Each sect could contribute a maximum of three disciples, and the dueling would happen until there was one left standing. With a smile and a wish good luck to all, Yue Qingyuan returned to his place in the center of the Peak Lords' seating balcony, and the first disciples made their way out.