Chapter Text
It started when he was an outer disciple. He'd been a perfectly normal little kid just minding his business when he'd been sent on a simple mission to bring back some resources from a nearby village. He, along with two senior An Ding disciples, had traveled to the village, filled a cart with herbs and before heading back had taken some time to explore the town. The senior disciples had ensured Shang Fei that a little break was fine and encouraged him to take some time to shop.
With what funds?! The An Ding outer disciple allowance was next to nothing!
But… he'd appreciated the break and having not yet learnt the ways of An Ding and it's own kind of bullying, had believed his seniors. They had no reason to lie to him, after all! They didn't know he had a system blaring in his head to reach Peak Lord status or die, so why would they think an innocent little disciple was a threat?
He had no idea that the moment he'd wandered off a little, the senior disciples had left with the cart, mocking him for his naïvety.
An oblivious little Shang Fei had taken his time checking out the market, finding a few merchants with snacks he considered spending his few coins on, before he found it.
A stall shoved tightly between two buildings, the merchant hooded and mysterious — SUSPICIOUS!!!! Why was his younger self so stupid?!?! — and beckoning to Shang Fei with bony fingers. There, he'd been presented with a small protective charm carved out of jade, supposedly cheap because the merchant wanted the right person to have it.
Shang Fei hardly thought he was the right person, but the System had chimed in and mentioned a side quest, pestering him to accept and well… He folded like a wet noodle. Despite the clear warning signs, he'd tossed the merchant his last couple coins and accepted the small handkerchief protecting the little charm. Somehow he'd missed the pleased smirk and the evil cackle, too busy arguing with the System that he should at least get his money back if he finished the quest.
He never did get those coins back.
Moments later, he'd unwrapped the charm, taking another look at it and pondering just what it was supposed to be. The shape was very round, strange symbols carved into the sides. Wanting to take a closer look, he'd grabbed the charm with his hand to bring it closer to his eyes when he'd felt a painful burning pain in his palm and he'd watched, horrified, as the charm burned it's way inside of his flesh. His heart had sped up in fear and pain as he stared at the strange symbols burned into his hand and moments later he'd felt the floor vanish from beneath his feet and his scream of fear had come out as a squeak instead.
Had anyone paid attention to the puddle of clothes on the ground in the middle of an alleyway, they would've spotted a small, trembling brown hamster swimming in fabrics and staring up at a world he didn't know, sad little squeaks leaving his tiny body.
It took him nearly two shichen to transform back, and once he did not only had he nearly been eaten twice, he'd transformed back into a naked shivering human covered in scratches in a basement somewhere he'd hidden in to avoid the stray cats wanting a quick snack. It had been a terrifying experience and by the time he'd crawled out of that basement it was already afternoon and he'd been unable to find his robes or his belongings. At the time he'd resorted to stealing a simple robe left out to dry, ignoring the slightly damp feeling in favor of trying to find his Shixiongs.
When he'd later been informed the two cultivators had left several shichen ago, he'd tearfully thanked the man answering his questions before he'd started the trek back to the sect on his own. It took him a long time to get back and the moment he returned to the sect he'd been dragged before his Shizun. Expecting a scolding, he'd burst into tears on the spot. He was tired, had nearly died twice and just wanted to go to sleep.
His Shizun, only wanting to ensure his disciple was okay considering his condition, was instead met with a small hamster trembling and seemingly crying laying flat as a pancake where his disciple used to stand, clothes thankfully softening his landing.
When he'd transformed back again, this time much faster as his Shizun helped calm him down, he'd shown him his hand and explained what had happened as best as he could. It wasn't hard to conclude he'd been cursed by whatever the charm was and it seemed to be linked to his emotional state.
Shang Fei had nearly turned into a hamster again on the spot.
The disciples who had left him behind were punished in the end, his Shizun reasoning that he'd returned to the sect barefoot, in a worn old robe and covered in wounds. To the rest of the sect, it looked as if a young outer disciple had been abandoned and hurt when the senior disciples were supposed to look after him.
It didn't really make him feel any better, if anything making him more anxious, but what did make him feel much better was the small private residence he was granted by his Shizun. He no longer had to share a room in the dormitory, instead having his own space despite not being a head disciple. If he spent many nights there as a scared little hamster well…
Only his Shizun ever knew, and Shang Fei was okay with that.
Unfortunately, that changed when newly named head disciple Shang Qinghua was sent on a mission to a well, accompanied by Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu.