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An Ding Peak is constantly underestimated. This is simply a fact of life.
They’re a peak dedicated to doing menial work and logistics. Most cultivators barely think of them, and when they do, it’s mostly to curse their name under their breath because some supplies were delivered late or incorrectly.
What people constantly forget, even more often than they overlook the necessity of logistics when running a cultivation sect, is that An Ding disciples are always running errands.
On top of the requisite schooling that comes with being part of an elite cultivation sect, An Ding disciples are constantly running from peak to peak, carrying missives and delivering packages. They go into local towns much more often than the more prestigious sects, and they are far less likely to be granted quality transportation than the more martially focused peaks as they go out on glamorous hunts to defend the citizenry.
All of this means that, despite the reputation An Ding has of being a peak full of pencil pushers, they tend to be some of the most athletically capable members of Cang Qiong peak. It’s a slightly different athleticism than the bold musculatures of Bai Zhan warriors or the lithe forms of Qing Jing’s scholars; it’s the kind of muscle earned through daily labor, hidden under a layer of fat that tends to hide the strength that comes from lugging boxes up mountains and rebuilding houses.
An Ding peak disciples, well aware of their reputation and the occasional boon it grants them (be it increased oversight over their own affairs when no one cares enough to pay attention to them or the anonymity to maintain an information network that spans beyond the reach of the sect) tend to downplay their strength when possible.
When they are around other An Ding peak members, they are free to flex their skills, easily lifting heavy objects without any flaunting of ability, but around outsiders, they tend to lean into the unassuming facade created by the rest of the cultivation world’s misunderstandings. This type of strategic deception has rarely been more common than under the current peak lord, Shang Qinghua.
Shang Qinghua has truly brought An Ding peak into its own. He has used the leeway and control he has over the sect’s affairs to establish a seat of power, hidden within his own sect. Like the physical strength of An Ding disciples, the power that An Ding holds over the sect as well as affairs outside of the sect is a subtle one that has grown naturally, mostly, from the amount of importance logistics and daily planning holds.
Shang Qinghua has nurtured those strengths and grown new ties. He has expanded the unofficial spy ring/gossip circle with his almost unnatural ability to know who is willing to trade what information for what price. He has implemented new training regiments that have brought up disciples in his image, weak appearing but deviously clever, always able to talk their way out of a situation somehow holding the upper hand without the other party even noticing.
After being revealed as a traitor, most people choose to place their own assumptions upon the narrative of his deceit.
“Oh, of course the An Ding peak lord is the one to betray the sect. As if anyone from that sect has the honor or strength to hold up against a demon,” they say. Shang Qinghua, and most of An Ding peak, save the younger members who tend to be introduced to the peak’s reputation more gradually, are well aware of their opinions.
They choose not to address the rumors and blame, knowing that not only would no one listen to them if they tried to defend their reputation in the least, but that it would benefit them in the long run to allow this indiscretion be blamed on them in order to maintain their careful cover as innocuous members of the sect.
Shang Qinghua, of course, is sometimes annoyed at the necessity of the ruse. He’ll often find himself whining complaining to his kind-of-friend and fellow peak lord Shen Qingqiu about how important An Ding work is to the sect. He doesn’t often find a friendly ear, but at least there’s some form of catharsis.
Mobei Jun thought similarly to the majority for a very long time. Despite the proof of his servant’s capability constantly showing through in his abilities as a spy, he remains under the impression that An Ding is nothing more than logistics. Shang Qinghua is simply an exception who happens to be very good at knowing where things are and how to negotiate things.
At least part of that illusion is shattered after the successful end to a long campaign to ensure peaceful trading rights for Junshang’s kingdom.
Shang Qinghua had been in charge of most of the military strategy from a broad perspective while Mobei Jun was on the field directing his troops and fighting on the front lines.
When they finally win, it’s with a spectacular plan laid out by Shang Qinghua, decisively claiming victory without many casualties on either side, which will be beneficial for the trading this battle was fought for.
When Mobei Jun arrives from the front, Shang Qinghua is almost glowing with joy that his plan had been as successful as it was. He had been hoping for the result they ended up with, but he had resigned himself to a more mediocre victory.
His face somehow brightened further at the sight of his king’s approach. It made Mobei Jun feel something he has reluctantly acknowledged as fondness for his servant/advisor/battle strategist/ jack of all trades.
Seemingly overcome with the excitement of victory, particularly that by his own hand, which Mobei Jun could understand easily (however indirectly, though Mobei Jun had learned to respect the distanced form of combat preferred by his servant), Shang Qinghua was jogging over to where Mobei Jun had portaled back to the command tent.
When he arrived where Mobei Jun was stood, he shocked the demon by, rather than simply grinning up at his lord as he usually does, picking up the king who was at least a head taller and quite broader than the soft peak lord in his arms like he weighs nothing and spinning him around in a circle before placing him back on his feet. All without any sign of effort.
Cultivation requires a sound body, Mobei Jun knows. He also knows that cultivation can be used to bolster one’s physical capabilities, but he had never known that kind of physical strength modification to be possible without much more focus than Shang Qinghua had just shown, seemingly unthinkingly wrapping his arms around his king in joy.
Mobei Jun… Doesn’t know how to feel about this.
He had always considered the human to be soft. Never quite weak- he wouldn’t have survived as long as he had if he were- but certainly more prone to using his words to accomplish his goals rather than any physical force.
But the arms that had wrapped around him had felt unyielding. They grasped him with confidence, pulling his body against his own for leverage, picking up someone who likely weighs almost double his weight and spinning him around.
It made Mobei Jun feel like his heart was trying to escape from his chest. Great, another strange emotion related to his human that he is going to have to figure out.
“Oh, My King,” Shang Qinghua has realised he has just manhandled his king, “This lowly servant apologizes for putting this one’s lowly hands on his King’s body. This lowly one would never be so presumptuous as to-”
Anticipating a long list of apologies, Mobei Jun chooses instead to put his hand on Shang Qinghua’s shoulder, unfortunately causing him to flinch, but that was an ongoing issue that Mobei Jun has been working on, and spinning him around to direct him back towards the rest of the generals to debrief after the battle, keeping his hand on his shoulder the whole way and well into the meeting.
This reaction to Shang Qinghua’s hidden strength would have to wait until he could spend some time reflecting.