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"My lord! My lord! Taifeng-Jun has arrived!"

Shen Qingqiu pauses in his steps, turning to the servant with his fan in front of his face. He's quiet for a moment, considering. "Inform Taifeng-Jun I'll be with him momentarily," Shen Qingqiu announces in a cool voice. "And send word to Luo-Jun that our guests have arrived. Early." The slightest hint of frost coasts that last word, snapping in the air, and the servant's eyes widen.

"Yes, my lord, of course, my lord," he stammers, and bows deeply.

"Go," Shen Qingqiu says, and the demon all but sprints off.

The second he's gone and Shen Qingqiu is alone, he squeezes his eyes shut. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! repeats on a loop in the back of his mind.

Of course Tiafeng-Jun has shown up three days early, while Luo Binghe is busy attending to matters in Mobei-Jun's lands. Knowing Taifeng-Jun, he planned this on purpose. He is every bit as tempestuous as the winds he controls, more fair-weather friend than ally, and without Luo Binghe there to radiate impressive black qi until Taifeng-Jun yields, Taifeng-Jun is going to target Shen Qingqiu instead in the hopes he'll wrest concessions from Shen Qingqiu while the true lord is absent.

Despite himself, Shen Qingqiu wrinkles his nose behind his fan.

Politics.

More importantly, demon politics, where ripping someone's arm off and beating them half to death with it is viewed as a perfectly reasonable solution to most problems, which simultaneously makes everything simpler and more complicated.

One day, Shen Qingqiu is going to pin Shang Qinghua against a cork board like a butterfly, even if it means risking Mobei-Jun's wrath. Barring that, Shen Qingqiu is going shake him until his skull collapses in on itself, for surely there's no brain to hold up the bones. Must there be a whole set of elemental-themed demon lords? Must the males among them all begrudge Luo Binghe his power, while the females all fall over their feet to try and steal him away?! Must most of them view Shen Qingqiu as a fascinating combination of predator and prey and take great delight in testing his skills whenever Luo Binghe isn't present?!

Worse still, Shen Qingqiu is crankily aware that it used to be various members of Luo Binghe's harem that faced these ridiculous machinations, particularly Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing.

Maybe Shen Qingqiu can convince Taifeng-Jun to hurl Shang Qinghua off a cliff for him. How's that for politics.

It's an excellent thought, but not one that's particularly practical, Shen Qingqiu supposes. His fan waves idly as he debates his options. They're slim, and every second that Taifeng-Jun is kept waiting is another second he's likely to cause some sort of trouble that Shen Qingqiu will be forced to sort out.

He sighs.

Then, grudgingly, he heads for his opulent dressing room. While normally Shen Qingqiu prefers simpler clothing, under the circumstances, it would be prudent to change into something with the Luo seal to remind Taifeng-Jun that even in Luo Binghe's absence, Shen Qingqiu is not to be trifled with, and he carries the full confidence of his husband.

Keeping his white inner robes, he exchanges his outer robe of green for steel gray, embroidered with Luo Binghe's seal in red and dragons in silver. After a moment of debate, he switches out the white jade ornament in his hair to one in silver set with cabochon-cut rubies, and then stares at his reflection in the mirror. He looks austere, reserved, but even though Luo Binghe isn't here, he can hear that ridiculous disciple whining in his ear, feel the weight of his chin on Shen Qingqiu's shoulder.

But I want to buy Shizun gifts! Doesn't Shizun like them? Look, look, this one is of green jade! No mere stone could compare to Shizun's beauty, but—!

Ridiculous. Truly ridiculous.

Shen Qingqiu's fingers twitch towards the rarely-touched jewelry case all the same. In lieu of Luo Binghe's forehead to rap with his fan, he raps the edge of the wood, conceding aloud, "Fine, fine! This master will find something suitable to wear!" Besides, this is one of the few times where Shen Qingqiu doesn't run the risk of getting an earring accidentally ripped out by either a disciple or an amorous, and toothy, husband.

He pauses, then. He thinks about demon politics and considers the odds of anyone's limbs being ripped off and used to beat them. He straps Xiu Ya to his waist.

Only then does he open the jewelry case, selecting a series of black diamond hoops. As he puts them on, however, he realizes that two of his piercings have closed, and has a brief flash of fresh sympathy for an old memory of his little sister opening a partially closed piercing before he shoves the hoop through his ear with a little hiss. Once all the earrings are in place, however, following the curve of his ear like a lover's caress, he decides he's had enough pain for the day and the rest of his jewelry will be simple. He chooses a carved black jade pendant featuring more tiny cabochon-cut rubies, then frowns. He can't find the matching cuffs, and spends a moment scrounging around the jewelry box before he finally remembers a—well—a tryst in their courtyard, and sure enough Shen Qingqiu finds them near the bamboo stalks and flushes at the memories.

Perhaps—well. Perhaps he could be kinder to Luo Binghe about these opulent gifts and show a little more appreciation.

Hurriedly, he puts them on, followed by his personal seal and the formal Luo seal, which hang at his waist. Grabbing a grey fan, he briskly heads towards the throne room. Once the doors are opened for him, however, Shen Qingqiu's every motion is languid and relaxed as he passes Taifeng-Jun on his way to the waiting throne, seating himself elegantly before he bothers to look at their visitor. Let Taifeng-Jun think he was kept waiting as a slight, instead of panicking about making sure he had something appropriate to wear.

"Taifeng-Jun," Shen Qingqiu greets coolly. He opens the fan and waves it idly. "Your journey must have been quite blessed, to have arrived so early. You and yours are welcome."

Taifeng-Jun's retainers all rise and give Shen Qingqiu his due respect, but Taifeng-Jun himself is slow to bow, and there's a bright, smug grin on his face. As always, Shen Qingqiu is thrown off by Taifeng-Jun's appearance; although his features are as finely carved as Mobei-Jun's, Taifeng-Jun is short, stocky, and muscled. He looks like he would be more at home in a forge than in the sky. "Swift winds have ever been mine to command, Shen-Jun, and the hospitality of Luo-Jun is, as always, gratefully received."

They make polite, idle conversation laced with barbs for several minutes, as Taifeng-Jun presents several lovely baubles to Shen Qingqiu in thanks for hosting the Taifeng clan, including a particularly beautiful entity sealing pot. Shen Qingqiu accepts them all with due courtesy, and promptly has the servants whisk them away for further inspection lest Taifeng-Jun have done something untoward to them.

More refreshments are brought out, and Shen Qingqiu offers a few small gifts of his own in return, before suggesting Taifeng-Jun settle into his rooms before they reconvene for dinner. With any luck, proper discussion can be delayed until Luo Binghe has returned and Shen Qingqiu can use that protagonist's halo to his advantage.

Taifeng-Jun declines with the utmost grace, however, and for a moment the conversation lulls.

"Mn," Shen Qingqiu hums, letting an oppressive silence fill the throne room. Taifeng-Jun refuses to look cowed, the breezes that constantly surround him tugging at his clothes and hair as though he stands on a cliff's edge, not in a solemn room of obsidian.

After a moment of consideration, Shen Qingqiu decides it's better to attack than defend. "So tell me, are you here to ask for support when you move against Yinyue-Jun?"

As Shen Qingqiu had hoped, Taifeng-Jun's smile stiffens. Unlike most of the other demon lords, Taifeng-Jun is prone to dancing around the questions he truly wants to ask and the threats he truly wants to make, hoping to trick his victims into agreement rather than use brute force. He's displeased by Shen Qingqiu's direct strike. Shen Qingqiu would admire his talent for manipulation, if only Taifeng-Jun didn't use it to squabble over matters that Shang Qinghua has deemed important in this world, but which even now sound to Shen Qingqiu's ears like the ravings of a madman trying to post a chapter before midnight after being unable to sleep for three days.

Which, admittedly, might well have been the case.

Shen Qingqiu sighs.

Taifeng-Jun tilts his head and recovers. "Why would I move against Yinyue-Jun? Her domain has been the western mountains for three centuries." He waves a hand. "No, I have no interest in that at all. I came because Luo-Jun requested we speak about, ah, what was it...of course! He's hoping to convince me to allow human merchants to pass through my lands." His smile is back, showing plenty of sharp teeth.

Holding his fan in front of his face, Shen Qingqiu taps the arm of the throne with his fingertips. A favor for a favor, it seems, but not one that Luo Binghe would be willing to entertain. Frankly, Yinyue-Jun is the only one besides Mobei-Jun that either of them likes, if only because she is a rare exception among so many elemental demon masters—a woman utterly uninterested in Luo Binghe but capable of holding her own against almost anyone, stupidly OP protagonist excluded. Without losing any clothes, even.

Shen Qingqiu thinks of Sha Hualing and represses a scowl.

"Not just passage. Safe passage," Shen Qingqiu corrects. He leans back in the throne. "Well, if not support against Yinyue-Jun, I assume you have something else you desire in exchange?"

Taifeng-Jun snaps his fingers, and several documents are brought forth by his retainer. "I suspected your interest would be assured, given the...weakness of human merchants. I took the liberty of drawing up a proposal."

A threat, too, how charming. No wonder he arrived early. He clearly thought Shen Qingqiu would be more affected than Luo Binghe by threats against humans. Foolish. Luo Binghe, when he isn't distracted from his duties by Shen Qingqiu's mere presence, likes to discuss all major decisions having to do with the demon estate with Shen Qingqiu no matter how many times Shen Qingqiu has explicitly deferred to Luo Binghe's expertise. It's—more charming than Shen Qingqiu would have expected, Luo Binghe's insistence that they are equals.

Shen Qingqiu blinks at Taifeng-Jun to refocus.

At Shen Qingqiu's nod, one of Luo Binghe's servants takes the sheaf of papers and carries it to Shen Qingqiu. "I'll review them," he says. "Now, if that's all, our training grounds are open to you. Dinner will be served at sunset." This time, the dismissal is no longer up for negotiation, and Taifeng and his people reluctantly file out.

Only when they're gone, the doors safely closed, does Shen Qingqiu risk an exhale. Mobei-Jun's palace takes most of two days to reach even for specially trained demons, and the northern tundra is unforgiving. It's no coincidence that Taifeng has appeared early—even if Luo Binghe left the instant that the messenger arrived and flew home, it would take even the OP protagonist at least twelve hours to arrive now that Xin Mo is no longer at his side. That still leaves two days of Shen Qingqiu staving off Taifeng-Jun's attempts to outmaneuver him.

It seems they're going to have to thin the ranks in the estate, because someone has been whispering. It's enough to give Shen Qingqiu a headache; he never particularly liked reading stories of palace intrigue, but it seems that just because Shang Qinghua hadn't dwelled on them in the novel didn't mean they haven't somehow formed in the absence of his interference.

Finally, Shen Qingqiu stands, impassive.

Tossing Shang Qinghua off a cliff is sounding more and more reasonable.

~*~

Dinner that night is...boring, as far as it goes. Taifeng-Jun lays a series of traps that Shen Qingqiu evades through a combination of force of will, a calm mask, and blind luck, although he manages to retaliate on several accounts, particularly in regards to reminding Taifeng-Jun of his many failures at reclaiming the western mountains that Yinyue-Jun had waged a war for, and won, after the wind demons had stolen the lands from her mother and killed most of her family. Even better, Shen Qingqiu somehow manages not to drag drop a single bite of food on his robes.

However, tomorrow is a new day.

Shen Qingqiu stares at the ceiling in the bedroom that he shares with Luo Binghe, and misses him terribly, and not just because Luo Binghe could blaze in with a wave of black qi that would bring anyone sane to their knees. Their bed is empty, the room too quiet, and Shen Qingqiu is cold without a sticky disciple wrapped around him like his own personal space heater.

With a sigh, he closes his eyes and rolls onto his side, chasing sleep. If nothing else, Luo Binghe will find him in his dreams.

~*~

Except he doesn't, and Shen Qingqiu awakens feeling off-kilter and anxious.

Luo Binghe is the OP protagonist; nothing can touch him, let alone harm him. Should Luo Binghe desire it, victory is assured. So there's no reason at all for Shen Qingqiu to have awakened feeling acutely alone.

Something is off.

He can't help but suspect Taifeng-Jun has done something, although he has no idea what that something could possibly be. Or perhaps there was an issue at Mobei-Jun's palace instead? Even then, Shen Qingqiu should have at least awakened with the sense that Luo Binghe had been there in his dreams, because his white lotus usually wants nothing more than to be close to his shizun even if Luo Binghe hadn't had the energy for more than that. He chews his lower lip, as he sits in their bed, but he cannot soothe away his unease.

Still, there's nothing to be done as he dresses in clothes suitable for sparring, since Taifeng-Jun had been so insistent at dinner the previous night that he desired to fight against Luo-Jun's husband that Shen Qingqiu had been forced to oblige him. If nothing else, it will give him the opportunity to study Taifeng-Jun's skills outside of a battle, which may be a saving grace. With that thought in mind, he straps Xiu Ya to his waist and heads to the practice fields.

He's not the last one to arrive, but he's close, and Taifeng-Jun has already worked up a sweat fighting against both his retainers and the warriors of the Luo estate. Shen Qingqiu returns everyone's greetings, but stands to the side and observes rather than joining immediately. Perhaps he has been a teacher for too long, because he finds himself correcting forms and movements in his mind even if it's not his place to instruct aloud. Instead, once he's gotten a feel for the movements of Taifeng-Jun's people, he offers himself as a sparring partner.

Shen Qingqiu's first opponent is a young demon with dark skin and darker eyes. If Taifeng-Jun is a storm, this retainer is the calm that comes before.

Wielding two short blades, the youth moves first, aiming to quickly disarm Shen Qingqiu, but he's too obvious, and Shen Qingqiu counters with a strike that's narrowly blocked by his opponent's crossed swords. He reverses his hold on Xiu Ya and aims for the stomach instead, once more just barely blocked, but it's only a feint. With two neat flicks of his sword, it is the youth and not Shen Qingqiu who is disarmed.

The young demon bows grudgingly and goes to retrieve his weapons. "Work on hiding your intent," Shen Qingqiu advises mildly. "You have the skills but are too eager."

That earns him another bow, slightly less grudging this time.

Then, Shen Qingqiu has very little time to think, as another opponent steps in front of him. This one he manages to get at sword point, and then disarms both his following attackers in under ten moves.

Truthfully, none of them are skilled enough to do more than provide a warm-up exercise, but Shen Qingqiu also knows that's exactly what they're supposed to be. Taifeng-Jun stands in the shade of a blood tree, drinking water and observing Shen Qingqiu as Shen Qingqiu had observed others.

He tries not to pay it any heed.

When he's warmed up, however, Shen Qingqiu finds himself in a more serious bout with one of Taifeng-Jun's inner circle. By the time the woman is flat on her back, Shen Qingqiu's sword lightly digging into her belly, he's got a scratch on his cheek and what's sure to become a massive bruise on his hip. Wincing, he joins Taifeng-Jun in the shade, accepting a gourd of water from him.

"What do you say?" Taifeng-Jun asks lightly. "Shall we spar next? It would be a shame to come all this way without challenging you. After you've had a moment to recover, of course."

"Of course," Shen Qingqiu agrees, snapping open his fan. Despite the early hour, it's shaping up to be a hot day.

"Oh, no, allow me," Taifeng-Jun says courteously, and with a gesture of his fingers, several breezes leave their master to dance around Shen Qingqiu instead.

Despite himself, a hint of a genuine smile lights up Shen Qingqiu's face. These are not minor air spirits, trapped beneath Taifeng-Jun's thumb, nor are they a spell. They're real breezes, answering the command of the Demon Lord of Wind for no other reason than like calls to like, and they playfully tug at his clothes and hair. When he waves his fan, they pull the new breezes formed into circling around him as well with a noise like laughter, and Shen Qingqiu thinks that even though he trusts Taifeng-Jun no more than before, he's charmed nevertheless.

"Shall we?" Shen Qingqiu inquires once he's cooled, gesturing back to the field.

Taifeng-Jun suddenly grins and offers his arm, and Shen Qingqiu arches a brow but takes it. The pair of them stroll forward like they're in a throne room, not a training ground, and the bouts being waged by everyone else gradually stop as they move out of the way.

Shen Qingqiu and Taifeng-Jun square off, Xiu Ya against a blade of wind that shimmers faintly in the air.

No sooner have they faced each other than Taifeng-Jun leaps forward. He's fast. Faster than Shen Qingqiu, and strong. To face a demon lord is no laughing matter, and Shen Qingqiu estimates that the odds are more than slightly in Taifeng-Jun's favor.

Opening his fan, Shen Qingqiu drives away the wind that tries to slice him to ribbons with one hand and parries Taifeng-Jun's blade with the other. Shen Qingqiu's enemy is the very air itself, and in short order Shen Qingqiu is forced to create a shield to keep the breath from being stolen from his lungs as they fight.

At least he has leverage. Taifeng-Jun is nearly fifteen centimeters shorter than him, and Shen Qingqiu uses that to his advantage. Twice he nearly brings Taifeng-Jun to his knees before Taifeng-Jun twists away, striding up into the air and out of reach. Shen Qingqiu strengthens his shield as he stares up at the demon lord, an oasis of calm amid the storm whipping itself into a frenzy on the practice field.

Diving down, Taifeng-Jun attempts to use the speed of his blows to overwhelm Shen Qingqiu, and nearly succeeds until Shen Qingqiu releases a blast of fire that hungrily chases Taifeng-Jun's winds. Shen Qingqiu throws another ball of fire and manages to add a burn to Taifeng-Jun's arm, alongside the bruises and minor cuts. Shen Qingqiu sports numerous bruises and cuts of his own, breathing ragged within the shield as he burns through his available air.

He hurriedly lowers his shield to take in fresh oxygen, and nearly gets torn apart by a small tornado before he raises it again, using his fan to throw the tornado up into the air, where it dissipates.

Unfortunately, Taifeng-Jun seems to have dissipated as well. Shen Qingqiu's skin prickles as he stands on guard, Xiu Ya clutched in his hand, slowly extending his spiritual senses. His shield will keep Taifeng-Jun from just killing him in one blow, but Taifeng-Jun is adept at bending the air around him to manufacture invisibility. It won't hide his qi, but it will keep Shen Qingqiu from striking as efficiently.

There—a full li in the air, almost shimmering in Shen Qingqiu's spiritual vision. As though recognizing the touch of Shen Qingqiu's power, Taifeng-Jun plummets again, sword raised.

Shen Qingqiu raises Xiu Ya in answer, and the ground shatters around them as the blades ring.

The invisibility vanishes, and Shen Qingqiu just barely sees Taifeng-Jun's smile before Shen Qingqiu is hurled across the practice field, narrowly missing the blood tree. The shield saves him from a broken spine, and an instant later, Taifeng-Jun's blade breaks the shield and sinks into the stone a hair's breadth from Shen Qingqiu's neck.

Shen Qingqiu sucks in a breath, staring down at Taifeng-Jun. That single breath is enough to touch Shen Qingqiu's skin to blade, and a drop of blood slides down his neck.

"Do you yield?" Taifeng-Jun growls. At least he looks worse for the wear.

"You know, you never asked whose blood was fed to the blood tree," Shen Qingqiu observes quietly. He doesn't smile, precisely, but there's a hint of teeth.

Taifeng-Jun's eyes widen, but it's too late. In answer to its master's command, the blood tree's branches whip around Taifeng-Jun, each leaf a blade ready to pierce his skin as he's dragged into the canopy.

There's a moment of frantic thrashing and panicked shouting, but no matter how fiercely the wind blows, the branches bend but do not break.

Then, finally, the blood tree is still.

"I yield."

Only then does Shen Qingqiu drop the remnants of the shield and sink to his knees, breathing heavily. A moment later, the blood tree drops its prey to the ground. Taifeng-Jun groans and rolls over onto his back, and Shen Qingqiu wheezes.

There's a pause, and then Taifeng-Jun starts to laugh. Relieved that his somewhat dirty trick hasn't offended, Shen Qingqiu drags himself to his feet and offers a hand to Taifeng-Jun, pulling him up. Taifeng-Jun slaps him on the back, squarely over a bruise, and he hisses, making Taifeng-Jun laugh harder.

Both of them stumble into the shade of the blood tree, where they're plied with water and food that the servants have brought out. Shen Qingqiu manages to compose himself swiftly, although he is already desperate for a good soak.

"I must admit," Taifeng-Jun says in between bites. "I'm surprised Luo-Jun allowed you to foster a blood tree, given how earnestly he protects you."

"Ah, well," Shen Qingqiu replies vaguely. "Binghe has faith in my skills." That, and Shen Qingqiu had rightfully pointed out that a blood tree was an excellent defense mechanism for the palace, although that wasn't the reason that Shen Qingqiu had planted it. Rather, it was more tractable than most of the monsters Shen Qingqiu had wished to study in the demon world, and so the blood tree had been ranked as an acceptable compromise.

He fondly pats the trunk of the tree and gets a couple of flowers dropped on his head in return alongside a few tendrils seeking out some drops of its master's blood. Shen Qingqiu takes a knife and opens one of the veins inside his elbow. When the branches taste the offering, the tree grows quiescent again. He'll probably have to feed it the blood from the pig that would be roasted for dinner after it had expended so much energy, but his own blood will sate it for now. After one last pat, he sits again.

He notices Taifeng-Jun watching him, but when he meets the wind demon's gaze, Taifeng-Jun merely holds up a drink in acknowledgment and drinks every drop.

~*~

Later, after a bath and a few hours of seeing to the paperwork that inevitably piles up in Luo Binghe's absence, not to mention trying not to think too much on Luo Binghe's absence in his dreams, Shen Qingqiu readies himself for the evening's "festivities". Taifeng-Jun had insisted after sparring that some of his retainers entertain the Luo estate that evening. Warily, Shen Qingqiu had agreed.

Unfortunately, that means another formal evening, and Shen Qingqiu reluctantly dresses even more ostentatiously than the previous day. The white and black silks are always heavier than he's expecting, made stiff by the heavy embroidery outlining both the Luo seal and bamboo along the hem and sleeves. It's stifling enough that in a fit of pique, he puts his hair up in an unforgivably modern hairstyle just to keep from overheating, and then sticks several white jade pins in it, like that will salvage things. He curses that coward Shang Qinghua as he does it. Aesthetic though it might be, and as much as Shen Qingqiu appreciates this scholarly face and form, it doesn't make his hair easier to deal with.

Usually it's Luo Binghe who ensures Shen Qingqiu is properly attired, but somehow the protagonist halo ensures that whatever Luo Binghe does or doesn't do to his hair, it looks unfairly magnificent and fluffy enough that Shen Qingqiu can't resist petting him on occasion. But Luo Binghe isn't here, and Shen Qingqiu feels another pang in his chest before he puts it out of his mind.

When his clothing is as good as it's going to get, he turns to jewelry. He puts long emerald and gold drops into his first piercing, and small gold hoops in the others. His necklaces are green jade, one just a strand of beads, the second a pendant, also patterned with bamboo. He hesitates over a set of cuffs, but ultimately decides against them. With Xiu Ya and the seals at his waist, he's as ready as he's likely to ever be, and heads to the throne room.

By the time he arrives, the hall is already full of chatter and music and alcohol. The windows have been thrown open, and the bronze and scarlet of sunset pours into the room.

Despite Shen Qingqiu's unease, the only thing Taifeng-Jun seems to have done in his absence is show off a little more, because there are several breezes stirring the room, ensuring that the heat doesn't get too unbearable.

Everyone rises and bows as Shen Qingqiu steps inside, the shouts and jeers and conversation fading, but he only raises his voice to say, "Enjoy the food!" before waving a hand. Instantly the noise fills the hall again as food is served and everyone digs in.

He joins Taifeng-Jun at the head table, ensuring his guest has a full plate before touching anything himself, the obsidian throne at his back cooling the nape of his neck. Watching Taifeng-Jun out of the corner of his eye, Shen Qingqiu is relieved he took so much time to dress. Although Taifeng-Jun's clothes are little more than a tunic and trousers, he's completely decked in gold. It shimmers at his wrists, his ankles, his throat, his ears, even his eyes. He practically gleams in the sunlight and his teeth are very white against his swarthy skin. Shen Qingqiu can't help but notice the only gemstone Taifeng-Jun is wearing amid all that gold is a stunning fire opal the size of Shen Qingqiu's fist in a gold filigree band.

Taifeng-Jun notices his stare and carelessly takes off the bracelet, putting it on Shen Qingqiu's wrist. "A gift," he says. "May this be the start of a profitable arrangement for us both."

"We haven't even started negotiations," Shen Qingqiu objects, raising a brow. He extends his spiritual senses, but the bracelet seems inert. He doesn't have anything on him of equal value, so he takes the closest thing, the strand of jade beads, and loops it around Taifeng-Jun's neck. They're particularly fine, but not of any sentimental value, so he parts from them without so much as a pang.

Dinner passes swiftly, although Shen Qingqiu is mindful not to drink more than a single glass of lychee wine to keep his wits about him, no matter how Taifeng-Jun attempts to persuade him, and no matter how much Taifeng-Jun himself drinks. Shen Qingqiu only relaxes when the dishes are cleared away and tables moved back as three pairs of male and female wind demons step forth.

At least some entertainment should distract everyone.

The lead pair are as sun-bronzed as Taifeng-Jun, with huadian that look like a swirl of wind between their brows. They also wear simpler versions of his tunic, trousers, and jewelry, their feet bare. As one, they bow, but they don't introduce themselves. Instead, the steady pounding of a drum starts, followed by the sweet melody of a xiao.

And then, they take flight.

So really, it's no wonder that Shen Qingqiu is distracted and doesn't realize what's happening until too late.

The seal they had created midair comes to life.

He has a single moment to hate Airplane Bro's cowardly, trope-loving guts, before the seal activates, binding his power just in time for the fire opal to spark to life and whisk him into darkness.

~*~

When Shen Qingqiu awakens, the first thing he does is feel out the pitch-black space around him. It's just big enough for him to stretch out his arms and touch the cool clay sides. Strange. The room is circular, slightly narrower at the bottom than top. The ceiling is out of reach unless he jumps, and after touching it a few times he pauses, frowning. The ceiling is also clay. Or rather—not a ceiling, because this isn't a room.

The entity sealing pot.

Shen Qingqiu doesn't know who he wants to kill more: Shang Qinghua for inadvertently shoving him into the role of damsel in distress or Taifeng-Jun for having the audacity to kidnap him.

"Fuck," Shen Qingqiu mutters, and pounds a fist against the side of the pot. "I! Am! Not! A! Damsel!" With each word, he hits the side of the pot again. He does nothing but bruise his hand; his golden core is somehow out of reach no matter how he strains for it. Remembering Xiu Ya at his waist, he draws it, but it's just cold steel in his hands, no warmth of recognition from his blade. He sheaths it again with annoyance.

He wonders how long he's been unconscious. Without his spiritual senses, it's as though he's in the bamboo house at Qing Jing peak, except all the furniture has been moved and he's blind, left to rummage around and hope for the best.

After pounding the sides a few more times and receiving no response, he shakes his head and settles down into the lotus position, meditating to conserve his strength and try to figure a way to free himself. Every so often he makes another attempt to access his power, but the seal is particularly powerful, crafted as it was by six demonic cultivators.

Luo Binghe has created too many enemies—no wonder someone finally thought to target Shen Qingqiu to force his compliance instead.

Tapping his fan, he debates the merits of attempting to fall asleep. It's the likeliest way he'll be able to contact Luo Binghe before his return—assuming, of course, that he'll even be able to reach Luo Binghe on his own without his golden core. It's enough to make him stand in frustration, uselessly striking the side of the entity sealing pot yet again.

No! Shen Qingqiu refuses to be so reduced! Let him save a little face at least, and make sure that he can't be used against Luo Binghe! No matter that the protagonist halo will keep him safe, it won't extend to Shen Qingqiu, and—and even barring the fact that Shen Qingqiu still has no interest in dying, he also doesn't have any interest in leaving Luo Binghe behind. Who knows what his absurd black lotus disciple will do then?!

As though summoned by Shen Qingqiu's frantic thoughts, black qi suddenly blazes through his body.

Binghe!

Shen Qingqiu shouts his name, but he gets no response. Instead, Taifeng-Jun's voice cuts through the void of darkness as though he's standing beside Shen Qingqiu.

"I wouldn't do that," he chuckles. "Your Shizun is right here, and I'd hate for such a pretty cultivator to go to waste." There's a noise from the lid, as though Taifeng-Jun had tapped it with his fingers. "If you're polite, I might even let you speak with him."

Shen Qingqiu is coldly furious and he draws himself to his full height. "Binghe won't be cowed by you," he says, but once more his words don't seem to penetrate the entity sealing pot's walls.

Despite Shen Qingqiu's confidence, the voice that speaks next barely sounds like Luo Binghe's at all. "Shizun?" There's panic there, and terror, and Shen Qingqiu grows colder still as he realizes it's not feigned. Even Luo Binghe's qi is roiling erratically. "Shizun, are you really there?"

It's instinct to reassure him. "Binghe, this teacher is fine. You needn't worry about me." He rests his forehead on the side of the pot, hoping that he's facing the right direction. "No matter what, this teacher will be fine." Shen Qingqiu will make sure of it.

"Shizun—!"

"Stop!"

There's silence, and Shen Qingqiu wishes desperately that he could see what was going on. "Binghe?" he calls again, but whatever Taifeng-Jun had done to allow Shen Qingqiu to speak and prove he was in Taifeng-Jun's grasp seems to have closed off again—and this time, both Taifeng-Jun and Luo Binghe's voices have gone silent as well.

He needs to get out.

And then, abruptly, he realizes he already has everything he needs.

Taifeng-Jun had to have been manipulating the seal of the entity sealing pot to allow their voices to pass through, but even with the seal in full effect, Shen Qingqiu can still feel Luo Binghe's qi wrapped around him—which means although the entity sealing pot is enough to keep Shen Qingqiu imprisoned, especially with his golden core out of commission, it's not strong enough to deal with Luo Binghe.

A gift from the OP heavens!

For once, Airplane Bro has come through!

Under different circumstances, Shen Qingqiu might have been leery about exposing his spiritual core so completely, but his instincts pay off—the qi that is corroding the wards on the pot is also capable of corroding the wards around Shen Qingqiu's power. Whether Luo Binghe is doing this deliberately or not, his power is strong enough that it only takes a moment before Shen Qingqiu senses the seal on his power and the pot alike falter.

Shen Qingqiu strikes hard and fast.

He sets off a small explosion.

In the process, he tumbles down the stairs leading to the throne and nearly spills his brains on the floor when he catches his temple against one of the corners. Dazedly, he scowls at the smoke for a precious second as Taifeng-Jun and Luo Binghe stare at him in stunned silence.

This is not what he envisioned when he said he wanted to free himself to save face!

"Binghe," he coughs, "take him prisoner."

A lot of things happen very quickly.

The black qi gets impossibly stronger and Luo Binghe is at Taifeng-Jun's side in a split second. White-faced, Taifeng-Jun summons a blast of wind that Luo Binghe stops in his tracks, his sword is at Taifeng-Jun's throat.

"Don't move," Luo Binghe purrs. "Shizun, are you certain I shouldn't just kill him?"

Cool! Too fucking cool!

"Not yet," Shen Qingqiu rasps, rising to his feet. "I think Taifeng-Jun is considering all the many ways he can be useful right now, aren't you?"

Taifeng-Jun's mouth twists in a snarl, but he doesn't deny the precariousness of his position.

Walking around the shards of pottery that are all that remains of the entity sealing pot, Shen Qingqiu joins Taifeng-Jun and Luo Binghe beside the throne. It's the only reason why Shen Qingqiu sees the wind demons who had sealed him in the first place move to attack.

Shen Qingqiu doesn't hesitate.

He steps around Luo Binghe, protecting his exposed back like it's the only option that makes sense. Xiu Ya leaps free of its scabbard and blood spills across the seamless obsidian floor. Shen Qingqiu stares for a moment at the corpses, blood dripping from Xiu Ya's edge. The lead woman who had greeted him at the start of her performance had been the one to make it closest in the attack. Her eyes are still open, pale grey in a still face, the huadian unmarred.

Shen Qingqiu turns to Luo Binghe, fan up and covering his expression.

There's a strange, dark light in Luo Binghe's eyes as he stares at Shen Qingqiu. Taifeng-Jun hasn't looked away from the demonic cultivators who died trying to free him.

"The lowly Taifeng kidnapped Shizun to harm this lord, and even in defeat raised his hand against us." Luo Binghe observes softly.

Shen Qingqiu can hear the question implicit in the words. He knows he should defer to Luo Binghe; he is the scion of the Heavenly Demon lineage, and the lord of this palace. He is the OP protagonist. Shen Qingqiu knew this when he agreed to marry into Luo Binghe's family, to be his family.

"Bind him," Shen Qingqiu instructs. "I think Yinyue-Jun would be delighted to have him as her guest."

Taifeng-Jun's eyes widen, but no amount of struggling gets him out of Luo Binghe's grip as he's dragged to the deepest recesses of the palace.

Shen Qingqiu exhales, rubbing at his forehead. He would have preferred the option where they cut off Taifeng-Jun's arm and beat him to death with it.

Politics.

He cleans off Xiu Ya with the tunic of one of the dead wind demons and only then sheathes it. Before he can track down Luo Binghe, however, he's back at Shen Qingqiu's side, that strange light in his eyes even brighter. Shen Qingqiu startles at his presence and backs up a step.

Luo Binghe follows him, snaking an arm around his waist and pulling him close. "Shizun has a little..." he begins, and then leans in to lick the spray of blood from Shen Qingqiu's cheek.

"Binghe!" Shen Qingqiu protests, shoving at his chest to no avail. "Stop!"

"No," Luo Binghe breathes, his lips brushing against Shen Qingqiu's skin. "This disciple—this disciple was so worried—"

There isn't enough space for Shen Qingqiu to rap Luo Binghe with his fan, so he settles for assuring, "I'm fine. I told you I would be, didn't I?" and offers a hint of a smile.

"I came as fast as I can," Luo Binghe says. "We finished earlier than expected, and I was on my way back to Shizun when I ran into your messenger. He was dying. Some of Taifeng's people had attempted to kill him, and when they realized he'd succeeded in passing along his message anyways, they laid a trap for me. I left Sha Hualing to deal with them and pressed on ahead, but even then I wasn't fast enough to protect Shizun." His grip tightens, and the look in his eyes makes Shen Qingqiu's traitorous heart skip a beat. "That shameful worm never should have gotten this close."

Despite himself, Shen Qingqiu draws him into a kiss. Luo Binghe turns it on him, dominating the kiss until Shen Qingqiu's knees are weak.

"But Shizun is strong, and beautiful, and capable," Luo Binghe growls against his mouth. "There is no one who compares. And Shizun protected me instead. Let me thank you."

Shen Qingqiu doesn't have the opportunity to agree or disagree or even protest the onslaught of compliments before he's being kissed again, dizzy with the force of it. "Shizun handled that lowly one without me, and only by trickery did he take you—and even then, you freed yourself."

That's not what happened! Shen Qingqiu wants to explain. Somehow Luo Binghe is making it all sound far more impressive than it actually was even though he's technically correct, but the words are lost in the midst of another sharp kiss, nearly hard enough to draw blood. Instead of the usual annoyance, however, fondness and desire fills Shen Qingqiu's heart. "This teacher isn't going anywhere, Binghe," he promises.

Luo Binghe makes a soft sound, hungry and sweet, and somehow Shen Qingqiu's fingers tangle in Luo Binghe's hair before he realizes he's being walked backwards to the throne. Luo Binghe presses him down and straddles his lap. He surrounds Shen Qingqiu completely, pressing their bodies together, clumsy in his eagerness.

"If only Shizun could see how he looks right now..."

The words alone are enough to make Shen Qingqiu squeeze his eyes shut, hyper aware that Luo Binghe has started to push aside his clothing while he tenderly kisses every earring, and then the delicate skin beneath Shen Qingqiu's ear. Sweat prickles at his skin as Luo Binghe moves down to his throat. Luo Binghe worships him with every touch, and when he pulls away Shen Qingqiu mindlessly follows his heat.

That earns him another hungry kiss, but then Luo Binghe pulls away with more determination. "That creature betrayed our hospitality," he says. "Here, Shizun. I reclaimed these." He loops the cool strand of jade beads over Shen Qingqiu's head, and Shen Qingqiu lifts his hands to them in surprise.

"Oh," he murmurs. "Ah—thank you, Binghe." Suddenly, with Luo Binghe's dark eyes on him, Shen Qingqiu is very fond of the simple beads.

"Of course, Shizun."

Luo Binghe devours him then, discarding their clothes without care for the dead bodies still at the base of the steps, and Shen Qingqiu is too distracted to complain about it. He can't stop stroking the scar on Luo Binghe's magnificent chest as their bodies rub together with increasing fervor. The weight of Luo Binghe's body, perched above his own, the tug of Luo Binghe's hands in his hair, discarding the pins in favor of letting the dark locks curl around his shoulders, the heat of his tongue against Shen Qingqiu's lips.

For a moment, Shen Qingqiu thinks this will be it; they'll rub together like teenagers in the back of a car and dirty themselves, only to skulk off and bathe before anyone notices. He doesn't object to it, in theory, and it's certainly a much better option than to try and take Luo Binghe without any aid. But then Luo Binghe stops just as Shen Qingqiu's toes are starting to curl, both of them panting against each other's mouths, and Shen Qingqiu groans.

"I want to make you feel good, Shizun," Luo Binghe says. He traps Shen Qingqiu's wrists against the back of the throne above his head with one hand, and rolls the jade necklace back and forth over Shen Qingqiu's nipples with the other.

Shen Qingqiu makes a noise he doesn't recognize. Certainly he's too composed, too practical to keen like that, no matter how good it feels to have Luo Binghe's callused and elegant fingers rubbing cool beads back and forth across his skin. He struggles against Luo Binghe's hold not in objection but in some strange demand for more, and he notes in the back of his mind that this is surely to become yet another item in Luo Binghe's terrifying and ever-growing arsenal of ways to drive Shen Qingqiu out of his mind.

"Watch," Luo Binghe commands into that dark and sweet air between them, almost ghosting another kiss across Shen Qingqiu's lips. His nail drags along the shell of Shen Qingqiu's ear, the long emerald drops also cool against his skin in a way that makes him jolt, his eyes flying open. Only then does Luo Binghe's fingers caress his neck before sliding down back to Shen Qingqiu's chest.

Satisfied with his shizun's attention, Luo Binghe alternates between teeth, tongue, and the cool jade beads until Shen Qingqiu's cock is twitching, soft sounds escaping from his lips. He's no woman with soft breasts to admire, and so he shouldn't be reacting like this, but his body doesn't seem to understand anything but the way pleasure keeps sparking through him. "Binghe," he gasps in response to a particularly hard bite, wrists flexing against Luo Binghe's grip again. It's no more relenting now than before. "Binghe!"

"Yes, Shizun?" he croons, tilting his head.

Shen Qingqiu's mouth goes dry. Luo Binghe is naked, still straddling him, dark hair falling around them both. His mouth is soft and red, and there's a stupid little flutter in Shen Qingqiu's heart. He can't say the first words that come to his mind, so he whispers, "Husband," instead.

"Shi—Husband," Luo Binghe returns reverently, and then takes the jade beads from around Shen Qingqiu's neck.

"Uh," Shen Qingqiu says.

Luo Binghe smiles in that impish way he's got when he thinks he's being clever. Shen Qingqiu attempts to disguise his panic, because what Luo Binghe tends to think is clever during sex rarely ends well for either of them, but all he does is loop the necklace several times around Shen Qingqiu's dick.

Shen Qingqiu squints at it for a moment. "Uh," he says again.

Then Luo Binghe wraps his broad hand around the beads and Shen Qingqiu's cock alike, and Shen Qingiu's mind goes completely and utterly blank. Luo Binghe's grip is just tight enough that the friction is exquisite, and the beads are rolling up and down Shen Qingqiu's cock with every stroke, making every fucking nerve spark with need. "Keep watching," Luo Binghe commands, and Shen Qingqiu is helpless to do anything but obey. He's trembling as Luo Binghe rubs the beads right beneath the head of his dick, breath catching.

Luo Binghe's thumb swipes over the head, and Shen Qingqiu tenses as raw pleasure lances through his body. "B-Binghe," he stammers, but Luo Binghe just does it again, and again, rubbing those beads against him and Shen Qingqiu has a crazed moment where he acknowledges that he is never, ever, ever going to be able to look at a strand of beads the same way ever again, that this is something else that Luo Binghe has ruined for him completely.

And then Shen Qingqiu is coming hard, white coating Luo Binghe's hand and the jade beneath, and finally Shen Qingqiu throws his head back, arching. Luo Binghe works him through it as Shen Qingqiu gazes up at him in a daze. When Luo Binghe kisses him, though, Shen Qingqiu shudders with an aftershock and closes his eyes until he can catch his breath.

Except there's no breath to catch, because Luo Binghe is pressed against him, that massive cock caught between them, rubbing against Shen Qingqiu's stomach while Luo Binghe's lips keeps returning to Shen Qingqiu's, moth to a flame. He's oversensitive and aching, but although Luo Binghe finally releases his wrists, Shen Qingqiu doesn't push him away. Instead he wraps his arms around Luo Binghe's shoulders, pulling him closer still.

Luo Binghe almost sobs at the fresh closeness, his usual stamina undermined by the fact that it's been more than a week since they've seen each other. He keeps rubbing against Shen Qingqiu, their bodies sweat slick in the heat, kiss after kiss being frantically pressed against Shen Qingqiu's skin everywhere Luo Binghe can reach. Shen Qingqiu's half-hard cock twitches at the fresh friction from the beads as Luo Binghe grinds impossibly closer. His teeth scrape over Shen Qingqiu's ear, nearly catching on an earring and another aftershock makes Shen Qingqiu groan.

Neither of them can survive much more.

Shen Qingqiu's fingers tangle in Luo Binghe's hair. "Come," he snaps.

Luo Binghe moans and obeys, clutching at Shen Qingqiu, mouthing soft compliments against his skin.

Filthy, they sit on the throne until their skin has cooled, as has the horrible mess between them. Shen Qingqiu brushes a final kiss across Luo Binghe's lips. "I'm...glad you're safe," he murmurs. It's foolish. Luo Binghe is the protagonist, whose golden halo shapes this entire world. Somehow, that doesn't make his safety any less satisfactory.

"Don't worry, I won't part from Shizun's side," Luo Binghe declares. "Especially not until that shameful worm is gone."

Shen Qingqiu is torn between smiling and rolling his eyes, but settles on pushing gently at Luo Binghe's heavy weight on top of him. "Then you ought to message Yinyue-Jun and tell her that we've got a guest for her to entertain," he says. As Luo Binghe stands, however, and Shen Qingqiu gets a good look at the mess on his stomach and thighs, he holds up a hand. "After we get clean."

Luo Binghe beams and scoops him up. "This disciple knew that it was wise to leave Shizun in command of this disciple's estates! He is brave, and merciful, and—"

"Binghe!" Shen Qingqiu interjects, mortified. Luo Binghe looks at him, confused, and Shen Qingqiu waves a hand, hoping his blush isn't too noticeable. "Bath first. We'll deal with everything else afterwards."

"Together?"

Shen Qingqiu huffs a laugh and pulls Luo Binghe into a kiss. "Together."