[open post] NEW USER: Shang Qinghua

[greatmasterairplane]

Look, this clearly isn't Proud Immortal Demon Way. Shang Qinghua might not remember all the details of what he wrote—that's what his most devoted fans are for, to point out inconsistencies in the comments section so Shang Qinghua can bullshit some mystical explanation, hahaha—but he's sure he didn't write this Western-style mansion. The System, when he tries to question it, is silent. So maybe it's some kind of test?

If so, not fair! Arranging the invasion of the Immortal Alliance Conference was supposed to be his last thing. The original Shang Qinghua died shortly after that, so how much plot relevance could he have?? He was meant to be retired, living life in the lap of luxury (or drudgery in the employ of his king, but whatever). Why doesn't the System just reward him for all his many years of loyal service? Can they have a "being hand-fed melon seeds by a group of big scantily-clad men" event, please???

He skims through the welcome table materials. Okay, so a world between dimensions, people pulled in from disparate worlds and trapped for eternity, sure. Classic stuff. His king is bound to show up at some point and drag Shang Qinghua away by his collar like a tiger scruffing a kitten. Until then, he'll just try to stay out of trouble.

Comments

[sagramore]

"A pleasure. I'm Sagramore." Since Shang Qinghua bowed, he does too, pleasantly courtly. "Do you need any help getting settled in?"

[greatmasterairplane]

Time to figure out some parameters. "Your hospitality towards a humble stranger is much appreciated, young master Sagramore. From which land do you hail?"

[sagramore]

"Britain, most recently, but this is my home now."

[greatmasterairplane]

No way, just regular Britain? Not even, like, a xianxia equivalent where they have to talk about it in coded terms, as a far-off land to the west where the people dress in strange fashions? Also, given the modern clothes and glasses, is this guy just like... a normal (hot) English guy? If so, then Shang Qinghua is the fantasy weirdo, which is pretty cool! Way better than being a sweaty underpaid webnovel author. Also, Sagramore won't know that An Ding is not one of the cool peaks.

"I have heard tales of that foreign land—a place of great kings and stone castles. I myself am the Peak Lord of An Ding Peak, in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. From the literature I perused, it seems the art of cultivation is known here?"

[sagramore]

"Cang Qiong Mountain!" He grins. "I've heard of it. --Yes, it seems so. I know a few people who practice it."

[greatmasterairplane]

Well, there's only one person Sagramore could have met from Cang Qiong Mountain. Shen Qingqiu disappears for three months, and then Shang Qinghua finds himself transported to a mysterious mansion? This just confirms that it's a System thing. "The lord of Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingqiu, has been missing of late." The implied question should be clear.

[sagramore]

"Yes, quite so. You know him?"

[greatmasterairplane]

"We are close friends." Cucumber-bro would not agree with this assessment—Shang Qinghua does not agree with this assessment—but everyone likes Cucumber-bro, so if he's made any alliances here, Shang Qinghua will be piggybacking on them, thank you very much!

[sagramore]

"Ah, I'd consider him a close friend as well. He's very dear to me."

[greatmasterairplane]

As expected! Even Liu Qingge's heart, which Shang Qinghua basically didn't know existed, was melted by Cucumber-bro, so it's no surprise at all. No doubt half the men here are pining after him. "What has he told you of our world?"

[sagramore]

He's operating on the assumption that Shang Qinghua only knows about the Cang Qiong Mountain part of Shen Yuan's life, which does mean dredging up some things he only half-remembers (of course his mind immediately floods with Pokémon). "Cultivation?" he offers.

[greatmasterairplane]

"Well. Yes. Has he mentioned Luo Binghe?" Undoubtedly he has.

[sagramore]

Sagramore laughs. "Frequently," in tones of great fondness. "Almost as much as Luo Binghe mentions him."

[greatmasterairplane]

"Luo Binghe is here?"

[sagramore]

"Luo Binghe is here. Do you know him too?"

[greatmasterairplane]

Of course, Shang Qinghua doesn't say, that is my precious son!! Very precious, but very unfilial, and super likely to kill his dear old dad! How Shang Qinghua proceeds next depends crucially on how far Luo Binghe is in the Abyss arc. "Do you know, ah. Has Luo Binghe mentioned what he was doing before he found himself here? Or, perhaps, how old he is?"

[sagramore]

"He hasn't. I don't think he has." He tries half-heartedly to remember what Luo Binghe told him in the dream, but most of it is hazy in the way dreams always are. "I'd say he seems young, but I've gotten the impression he's actually older than me in terms of years?"

[greatmasterairplane]

Great, thanks, very helpful!! Shang Qinghua needs to know if he's allied with Mobei-jun yet! Whatever. It's still probably better to play up his connections in the demon realm than worry about keeping up his spy cover, unless there's anyone else here from Cang Qiong, and then they would have been missing too. "I ask because I serve his lieutenant, Mobei-jun.¹ I have not noticed his absence."

¹I'm guessing the mansion translator won't translate this, because it's a title in the vein of "Hanguang-jun," but it just means "northern demon lord."

[sagramore]

"Oh, I see. No, I can't contribute anything useful on that topic."

[greatmasterairplane]

"Curiosity moves me to ask—how has the Qing Jing Peak Lord been spending his time? His absence has been the subject of much speculation."

[sagramore]

He considers Shang Qinghua. "Painting. Wise counsel. Accountability. What does he usually do?"

[greatmasterairplane]

Shang Qinghua makes a judgment call, based on this guy identifying himself as Shen Qingqiu's friend. "He talks a lot about Luo Binghe."

[sagramore]

"He certainly does," blandly pleasant.

[greatmasterairplane]

Alright, fine—Hot Brit is clearly suspicious of him, and protective of Cucumber-bro. That's fine, Shang Qinghua is untrustworthy—he's a spy, after all—and if Cucumber-bro is really here, he can just find him and learn all this first-hand. Because despite Sagramore's suspicions, Shang Qinghua actually does know Shen Qingqiu better than most other people, even if neither of them is exactly happy about it. This conversation is useless, except that Sagramore is really hot. And tall! Shang Qinghua's had no time lately for any kind of dalliances, too busy balancing his dual loyalties and trying to set Mobei-jun up—his king is way too picky. Might as well shoot his shot. "Then I'm glad to hear that he's well." He lets his eyes roam over Sagramore's muscled shoulders. "You asked if I needed help settling in? What kind of assistance do you offer?"

[sagramore]

"I'm more than happy to help you find a room." He has no idea what Shang Qinghua's intentions towards Shen Yuan actually are, but he has a pretty clear idea about his intentions towards him, and he's fine with that.