Chapter Text
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The doors to the Peak Lord meeting room slammed open. The sculpted handles on the inside were ripped off the two gaping doors. “Xiao- Qingqiu Shidi! The meeting is not over!” To all the peak lord’s surprise, Shen Qingqiu did not in fact, turn around and apologize for his rash actions. The corners of his eyes were red, and his brows were drawn together so close they could have touched. Although he did not turn around, he did pause.
“Excuse me.” Was all he said before he fled. The peak lords were left, stunned into silence, well- most of them. Liu Qingge let out a shout and was prepared to give chase when Shang Qinghua ran out of the room. His robes billowed in air as he ran after the runaway peak lord.
Shen Qingqiu, with all the grace and dignity he had left, fled Qiong Ding peak. His mind was racing, going a hundred miles an hour. Finished the plot?! Going home?! What the fuck did the System mean by going home?! He had a life here! Shit- I need to find Binghe. Shen Qingqiu took Xiu Ya out of its sheath and threw it forward, pausing only a moment before mounting the sword and making his way to the Bamboo House. He heard the distant cry of Shang Qinghua yelling his name, and plainly ignored it. Shang Qinghua was not his problem at the moment.
The flight back to Qing Jing was swift. Flying through the peak, not bothering to address the disciples had him given a few odd, confused looks. It was not only that, but Shen Qingqiu was very well aware of the state his hair was in. It stuck out at every angle, right, acute, obtuse, you name it.
“Shizun, Shizun! Are you alright?!” Ning Yingying came forward from the small crowd that had gathered to greet him curiously. Ming Fan, who had run up next to her, was shocked into silence by Shen Qingqiu’s appearance. “Shizun is back from his meeting so early!” She bounced on the balls of her feet giddily, accidentally falling onto Ming Fan who caught her, not without a shocked squawk and his face flushing with one of the brightest shades of red Shen Qingqiu had ever seen on someone’s face.
The Peak Lord sheathed his sword and tried to calm his hair. “Yingying has no need to worry, this master is just fine.” Lying straight through his teeth, he chided his disciple. “Is Binghe still around Qing Jing?” The disciples all bobbed their heads. It seemed they were all keen on staying in their Shizun’s good graces by not reporting the Heavenly Demon Lord that was roaming around his house to Liu Qingge. “Alright then, thank you. Now, go. Continue with your studies.” He gently, but hastily shooed them off and quickly made another (not so) smooth exit and fled towards the bamboo house. The disciples did not dissipate and tend to their studies instantly, as per usual. Instead, they stayed and watched as their Shizun faded into the bamboo forest, perplexed and murmuring with each other about what their Shizun was up to now.
As he landed in front of the bamboo house, he noticed that the door hadn’t been changed in a good while. Shen Qingqiu paused before it, taking in the smooth cut of the dark oak and the small, engraved details The corner of his mouth tugged into a small smile. Luo Binghe had not had a fight with anyone then. He reached out for the handle and pushed the door forward.
When he looked inside, he found the bamboo house empty. Shen Qingqiu frowned. “Binghe-” he was about to call out when a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind.
“This disciple heard Shizun left his meeting early.”
Shen Qingqiu let out the breath he was holding then wriggled around in Luo Binghe’s hold to face him. “Cheeky.” He reached forward to pull on his cheek before pressing a quick, gentle peck to where he pulled. His husband smiled brightly, squeezing his waist just a little tighter. “Mn, this master did indeed leave early, how come Binghe caught the news so quickly?” Luo Binghe tilted his head to the side. Adorable!
“The younger disciples like to talk.” Luo Binghe, leaned in closer. Shen Qingqiu kept his composer, gently pushing the demon away.
“Ahem! Something has happened, and this master… this master has something to tell you.”
His husband nodded earnestly. “This disciple will listen to whatever Shizun has to say.” One of his hands slipped back to his side as he guided Shen Qingqiu into the Bamboo House. The familiar sent of Shen Qingqiu’s favorite tea filled his nose, calming his racing mind and increasing heartrate. Luo Binghe led him to the table and pulled the seat out for him to sit. He moved around to the other side and poured tea for Shen Qingqiu before moving one of the other two chairs closer to the peak lord and sat himself down.
Luo Binghe gave Shen Qingqiu his most dazzling smile as he drank his tea, his canines glimmering dangerously in the dim lighting of the room as he waited patient but curious for the news.
“Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu gently placed his tea down on the smooth bamboo table. “Do… do you remember the qi deviation this one had around a decade and a half ago?” Luo Binghe nodded, the wavy curls of his hair jumping and dancing around his face as he did so.
“That was a couple days before Shizun gave this disciple medication on the skinner demon expedition.”
“Mn, Binghe remembers well,” Shen Qingqiu smiled. “You may have noticed the...change in personality as well.” Another nod. “Before I continue, I am not sure if I will be able to say anything with any interruptions. So, please do not say anything until I have finished.” Luo Binghe stayed silent, giving the peak lord his undivided attention. Shen Qingqiu prayed the System would give him the chance to explain to Luo Binghe that he was about to die, otherwise if it ever needed a customer's review Shen Qingqiu will gather all his criticism and throw it with all the strength he had into the System’s main screen. “I-”
At this moment, the System made the gracious decision to interrupt filling his head with alarms.
[WARNING! WARNING! User does not have access to ‘It's me! Your biggest fan!’ plotline. Purchase is 200 B points! Would you like to access this plotline?]
Shen Qingqiu decided to ignore just how terribly convenient this ‘new’ plotline was. How many B points do I have?
[Currently User has 245 B Points! Would you like to continue?]
Shit- Yes, yes, I accept.
“Shizun?” Shen Qingqiu hummed, his attention focusing back on Luo Binghe. “Shizun... spaced out. Shizun does this often, more in complex situations. Is this what you wanted to talk about?” Shen Qingqiu leaned forward and cupped Luo Binghe’s face in his hands. The demon’s face was warm. It was a comforting warmth that had Shen Qingqiu wanting to squish and hold him for eternity. Luo Binghe leaned into the touch, turning his head to kiss the palm of his hand.
“It might be. You’ll have to listen to find out.” Shen Qingqiu leaned back and swallowed the rest of his tea in one go, then slammed the cup down on the table like a shot, then he turned to Luo Binghe, and simply said; “I am not Shen Qingqiu.”
“…” Luo Binghe remined silent, scaring the living shit out of Shen Qingqiu but not enough to stop him from continuing apprehensively and informally.
“Well- I mean- I am, but also not really? I am now and have been for the past fourteen years. So- quite authentic.” He made a weak attempt at being comedic and patted his chest. Luo Binghe’s mouth twitched, causing the other to panic more. “I’m not from here either and I don’t mean Cang Qiong. I was brought here by the System- It… an entity that has plagued me with its existence since I was brought here. I come from a different world- universe? Thing… shit I probably should’ve written this down before hand.” Fucking system, thanks for giving me a heads up for my next death date.
Luo Binghe’s muffled laugher is what brought him back to himself. When he noticed the look of betrayal on the peak lord’s face, he shook his head, playing innocent. “Shizun misunderstands, I’m not laughing at him! It is just that this husband already knew.”
… Say what now.
“What?”
“Shizun, we’re married, and this one has been… observing… you since you became my Shizun. The day of your qi deviation, everyone on the peak noticed an odd change. None of us disciples thought anything of it at first, but then you were kind, and taught us well, Shizun started to care more, that is when we, especially this disciple, started to theorize.” Luo Binghe took hold Shen Qingqiu’s hands and gently caressed them with his thumb. He looked up at his Shizun and smiled. Shen Qingqiu reveled in the brightness of it. “Even though it took a while, I am very happy Shizun has decided to trust and tell me.”
While all this was wildly sentimental, Shen Qingqiu was still panicking. Was his acting truly so bad that children saw through his facade? Whatever, that didn’t matter anymore, there were more important things to focus on. Like that fact he was dying. Yeah, that seemed to be of pretty fucking high importance. Shen Qingqiu cast his gaze to the table, pulling his hands back from his husband. He took a deep breath. “Binghe,” his breathe was inevitably shaky.
“Shizun?” Luo Binghe frowned, noticing the change in mood.
“Binghe I’m not going to be here in three days.”
There was a beat before Luo Binghe hesitantly asked; “W… what does Shizun mean by that?” Something dreadful pulled at Shen Qingqiu’s gut. The sudden fear that overtook Luo Binghe’s face was going to kill him faster than the System or that massive Heavenly Pillar ever could.
“I’m being sent back to my world.” His husband said nothing, only looking for any sense of an ill-intended joke. “Not by choice. This body is going to die in three days, and I will be put back into my original one, which is currently dead as well.” Shen Qingqiu held out hope and waited for the system to correct him. It didn’t. He reached forward and held Luo Binghe’s shaking hands and squeezed.
As Luo Binghe processed the information his eyes clouded over, and his face went blank. It seemed as if his precious Binghe was adamant in making sure not a single emotion made it through his face in fear of his emotions tipping him over the edge. Easier said than done, his voice cracked viciously as he said; “You said you would never leave me… Shizun said he would stay.”
Shen Qingqiu’s heart tore itself into thousands of tiny pieces.
He let go of his husband’s hands and stepped up from his seat and stepped over to Luo Binghe whose face was as blank as a piece of paper. His eyes felt itchy. Luo Binghe looked up as Shen Qingqiu stood in front of him. The two stared at each other for a short while before Shen Qingqiu shot forward and wrapped his husband in a hug and hid his face in the crook of Luo Binghe’s neck. Damn, the dust just got really fucking annoying, huh? His eyes pricked with tears, there were too many tears about to fall that he didn’t know what to do with himself. “I know I promised. Binghe, I’m sorry.” He chocked out. “I’m so sorry.” A small plap sounded next to his ear. He leaned back, only for Luo Binghe’s hands to come up as quick as a striking snake and hold him in place. Did Luo Binghe think he was leaving? He was still leaning back enough to see Luo Binghe’s pretty, pale face flushed and his eyes leaking like two fast flowing rivers.
The gut-wrenching sobs that tore their way through Luo Binghe’s body had Shen Qingqiu’s breath quivering, as stray tears slowly fell from his weighing eyes. Luo Binghe pulled him close and onto his lap holding him tight and borrowed into the peak lord’s shoulder. “Shizun,” he choked on his sobs. “Shizun, please, please, please don’t leave me! This disciple begs Shizun, please don’t leave this worthless one here alone!”
There were no more, slow falling tears, now it was as if a dam had broken, causing a pair of streaming tears to run down the sides of Shen Qingqiu’s face. He brought his hand to Luo Binghe’s head and tried to solace him, slowly stoking the soft fluffy hair. “Oh, Binghe… I’ll try.” He sniffed. “I promise.” The two stayed cradling each other. If anyone were to ask, to save what was left of his depleting dignity Shen Qingqiu would blame his sticky husband. Even though he was the one that held on tightly, unwilling to let go when the sobs of his husband stopped, and he was left to think that Shen Qingqiu was sick of his whining. He wasn’t ready to let go.
They would’ve stayed like that, huddled and comfortable in each other’s embrace until the peak lord’s imminent passing. He knows this, and to Shen Qingqiu, it seemed like a good, comforting idea. There wasn’t anyone else he’d rather spend his last moments with then his Binghe.
The scene fell apart when loud frantic knocks pounded at the door of the bamboo house. “CUCUMBER OPEN THE DOOR!” Then following in broken English, “WE NEED TO TALK. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPING MAN? OPEN THE DOOR I KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE.” Shang Qinghua sounded out of breath, as if he had been running around the whole of Cang Qiong looking for him.
The grip Luo Binghe had on his waist tightened. “Shizun, don’t answer.” He sniffed, snuggling impossibly closer. “Just stay here.”
Shen Qingqiu huffed. “As much as I would like Binghe to keep me to himself for the next few days, I do still have to warn everyone that I’m dying.” Luo Binghe stiffened; no doubt upset with the reminder. The peak lord patted his back twice to calm him. “Aiya, let me go, I need to discuss this with your Shang-Shishu.” Luo Binghe stuck out his bottom lip in a pout, before slowly untangling himself from his husband. Shen Qingqiu give his lips a quick chaste kiss, muttering a thank you before walking to the door where Shang Qinghua was still knocking like a maniac.
When the door opened, Shen Qingqiu was promptly smacked in the face. Shang Qinghua let out a weak yell of surprise. There was a brief pause for shock before Shen Qingqiu hissed out; “Get the fuck inside now before I decide to let Binghe ruin your face.” The pathetic author hastily ran inside and came face to face with the protagonist. Luo Binghe’s face was dark and fuming as he looked down at the peak lord.
“J- Junshang! Ah-haha what- a,” he gulped. “What a pleasant surprise!” Shen Qingqiu elegantly swept past him and stood at the other side of the table, trying to stay as far away as possible without leaving the dining room.
Shang Qinghua was struck dumb when he realized that Luo Binghe wasn’t going to leave. What happened to keeping this a secret bro?! He gave the other transmigrator a look and not so subtly side-eyed Luo Binghe. Shen Qingqiu heaved a sigh. “Well?” he inquired. “You came all the way here to talk, so talk.” Despite everything, Shen Qingqiu would never admit that Shang Qinghua’s being here helped sooth his nerves. The three stood in silence for a quick moment, due to Shen Qingqiu’s patience being as thin as a guqin cord. “Binghe is aware of our situation.” On the word ‘situation’ he gave the pathetic rat sarcastic jazz hands.
The tension in the room slowly relaxed. Shang Qinghua straightened his posture as he spoke, gradually becoming more confident. “You got the message about going back too, right?” Shen Qingqiu nodded, promptly avoiding looking at Luo Binghe, who was watching the two of them with sharp eyes. “W… were you given the option not to?”
Shen Qingqiu eyed him. “No, it wasn’t something I was able to decline. Were you?”
The An Ding peak lord fiddled with his hands, a nervous action. He hung his head. “Yes,” hurriedly followed by; “b-but I’ve been given the option to go home plenty of times!” HUH?! Airplane what is the absolute betrayal? I thought we were … never mind this is in character for him. Shen Qingqiu was extremely close to berating someone with his fan.
All too suddenly, the temperature of the room dropped. Luo Binghe took a step towards the author, dark swirls of demonic qi becoming visible as his anger grew. “Would Shang-Shishu consider himself the reason for this?” His voice was pitched low and dark. In true stallion protagonist fashion, the demon lord’s eye twitched and his huadian glowed with the same dangerous light of his eyes. Shen Qingqiu would never outwardly admit to how attractive he found it.
Shang Qinghua, scared shitless, flailed his hands around frantically, watching gratefully as Shen Qingqiu pulled Luo Binghe to his side. “Nononono! Junshang misunderstands. That’s the thing, I was given the option so many times that I think the System got sick of my constant rejection and decided to take methods into its own… screen… hands… wires?”
With a roll of his eyes Shen Qingqiu said, “So, what you’re saying is you have no idea how or why this is happening?”
“I know bro, I’m sorry, I thought the System had given an answer or something.”
At the tung on his sleeve Shen Qingqiu gave his attention to Luo Binghe, who looked like child when his favorite meal had just been taken away from him. His face twisted into another pretty pout, his lower lip lightly pursed. Too cute! “Shizun, you said this System lives in your head.” Shen Qingqiu nodded. “Maybe this one could try and kill it tonight? If it shows up in Shizun’s dreams?” From the corner of his eye Shen Qingqiu saw Shang Qinghua perk up.
“That could work!”
“And if it doesn’t? Then what? We only have three days.”
Luo Binghe grabbed his hands, holding tight, his eyes pleading and welling with tears. “Shizun, please let this one help. I don’t want you to go.” A heavy tear slipped down his cheek, his eyes shining prettily. Shen Qingqiu reached to cradle his face, using his thumb to wipe away the tears. Because while Luo Binghe was a manipulative bastard, he was Shen Qingqiu’s manipulative bastard. He shook his head.
“It will be dangerous. Extremely so.”
“Shizun, this husband would face countless dangers for you!”
Shang Qinghua gagged silently in the corner as the two went back and forth.
After a minute or two, it was decided. “Fine. Let’s try this out.” Shen Qingqiu sighed.
⋆˚o O *˚ U´• ﻌ •`U ˚* O o˚⋆
Shang Qinghua stayed a while in attempt to help Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe come up with a plan. He didn’t end up staying long before Luo Binghe got annoyed with his presence and forced him out, wanting to spend as much time as he could with his Shizun. For a so called ‘demon lord’ Luo Binghe was as sticky as rice. As soon as that hack author left, he pounced. Attacking Shen Qingqiu with kisses and tiny bites, holding him tight in his arms.
Time passed quickly as the two reveled in each other’s company, not needing to speak words when their actions meant so much more. Though their shared silence was comfortable, Shen Qingqiu was growing restless with his limited time. Eventually, Shen Qingqiu broke the silence unable to bare it any longer. “Binghe,” he started. The puppy-like demon lord looked up at him with his big doe eyes and smiled. “Would you like to know my name?”
“Shizun’s name?”
“My birth name, yes.” Shen Qingqiu watched as the realization dawned on Luo Binghe’s face. He nodded franticly, grabbing hold of the peak lord’s hands, his face willed with sincere curiosity and innocent want. Shen Qingqiu laughed, squeezing Binghe’s hands. “My name is Yuan. Shen Yuan.”
Luo Binghe’s face erupted into a smile, so bright Shen Qingqiu thought it was his time. Ah, there’s the light. He wished he wasn’t doomed to go towards it. “What character?” Luo Binghe asked.
“Ah. My name is the one for ‘wall’. Nothing special.”
“Mn, it suits Shizun.”
“Really?” the peak lord was bewildered. A wall? What was the comparison? “How so?”
“Shizun is a wall to me in many ways,” Luo Binghe smiled down at the intertwined hands. “Shizun is my wall because he is always there for me to lean on when things get tough, standing strong in the face of challenges. You have the resilience to withstand whatever comes your way, providing me with a sense of security and support like a protective wall. Shizun is the foundation that holds everything together with his unwavering strength!”
Shen Qingqiu was speechless. At the mercy of Luo Binghe’s wit and charisma, he was reduced to a blushing drunken maiden at the word vomit of complements. Well, I suppose if someone could give the word ‘wall’ some kind of deep hidden meaning it’d be Binghe. Ah… This protagonist really was something. “You…” he blinked. Fuck, what the hell was he supposed to say to that?! Luo Binghe smiled, leaned forward and promptly attacked Shen Qingqiu’s face with his own.
⋆˚o O *˚ U´• ﻌ •`U ˚* O o˚⋆
Luo Binghe sat on their bed, watching as Shen Qingqiu carefully reorganized a few items on his nightstand. A habit he still carried with him from his past life. In a soft voice Luo Binghe called out to him. “A-Yuan.” Shen Qingqiu looked up in surprise, his mouth slightly open. The ongoing silence had Luo Binghe fidgeting. “Shizun…” he corrected.
The bed gave a low creek as Shen Qingqiu sat with him, taking one of the demon lord’s hands in both of his. “Binghe may call me what he wishes, I just haven’t heard been referred to by that name in so long,” he smiled. “It was shocking, yes. But I want you to continue to call me by my old name… maybe just not in front of other people.”
If Luo Binghe were to be completely honest, he would have it no other way. Shizun was his, and he was Shizun’s. Plus, if Liu Qingge somehow found out about Shizun’s name and used it? Luo Binghe might just consider merging the three realms together with Liu Qingge in the center. "I want to know more about Shizun.” Luo Binghe smiled, giving Shen Qingqiu’s hands a squeeze. "This husband wants to know every part, to understand your stories, your past... everything."
Warmth rapidly spread through Shen Qingqiu’s chest. He nodded, and leaned close, his mouth twitching into a smile. Luo Binghe shuffled into his space and leaned down to press a short, sweet kiss to his lips. Shen Qingqiu chuckled, leaning away. "Very well, I'll try my best to tell you everything." Luo Binghe's eyes softened with gratitude. "What does Binghe wish to know?"
“How old was Shizun when he got here?”
He wasn’t sure how, but Shen Qingqiu had a sneaking suspicion that would be the first question. “I was twenty-two.” He watched as Luo Binghe’s face contorted from peacefully relaxed and curious, to mildly horrified and shocked.
“B-but Shizun is always referring to himself as an old man?”
Shen Qingqiu slapped Luo Binghe’s firm bicep lightly. Scared to hear the answer, he asked; “Just how old did you think this master was?”
“…”
“Binghe.”
“…”
“Luo Binghe, answer.”
“…This disciple thought Shizun was…” he coughed. “Well into his hundreds.” Shen Qingqiu’s jaw fell to the floor. He had to not so gracefully pick it up himself, brazenly thinking. Binghe please, you want me to live, right? I CAN’T DO THAT IF I’M BEING TOLD THAT YOU, MY DEAR HUSBAND, CONFIDANT, WHATEVER THE FUCK, THINK THAT I AM AN ELDERLY, OLD, WITHERED MAN. SAVE ME SOME FACE.
“Any-” he coughed, attempting to regain his composer. “Any other questions?” This time he prayed for something with a less awkward outcome.
Luo Binghe huddled closer resting on his shoulder. “Did Shizun have a family?” Well shit, that was a more sensitive topic, wasn’t it? He nodded, resting his head on Binghe’s. “If it pains Shizun to talk about, this one is fine to discuss something else.”
“Eh? No, no its alright.” He huffed. It had been so long since he let himself remember his family that he could hardly remember. He stained his tired brain, racking it for information. When he found it, he started with his little sister. As he started talking, he started remembering more. Shen Yuan remembered how much of a troublemaker his sister was. How she would parade around their house singing with a voice so out of tune, it almost made his ears bleed, but their family would constantly let her perform concerts before or during dinner.
He remembered his older brothers, and how they were always starting fights with each other, but loved each other nonetheless. How his eldest brother always took care of them when their parents were at work or away on business trips.
He remembered how much he loved his family, and how they grew apart as he wasted away in his apartment. Relaying the memories, he opted to only tell Luo Binghe the happiest ones. Luo Binghe was happy to listen to his Shizun rant, but another question soon caught his attention. A question that couldn’t be ignored, that had to be answered.
“A-Yuan, this one has another question.” His hesitant tone worried Shen Qingqiu.
“Of course, ask away.”
“When…” Luo Binghe took a deep breath, scared to hear the answer. “Did Shizun intend to push me into the Endless Abyss?” He had spent hours, days, years reliving the moment in hopes of finding something in Shen Qingqiu’s demeanor, something that would tell Luo Binghe that, no, he didn’t want to cast him out. Eventually, he did find something. Something so small that he thought it was his imagination messing with him, but he grabbed onto it and held on with a deadly grip. He was still holding on to that hope now as he asked the question and waited for an answer.
Shen Qingqiu reached out, his fingers brushing against a faint scar on Luo Binghe's chest. The scar was thin but noticeable, a testament to where Shen Qingqiu had stabbed him all those years ago, and a reminder of what Luo Binghe endured to get to where he was now. It was a wound that could easily be removed with a thought but due to Binghe’s own stubbornness, wasn’t. Luo Binghe looked down at where the hand met his chest, looking confused and hurt. It reminded Shen Qingqiu of that day. The day the system forced his hand. The day he witnessed the beginning of a white lotus' blackening.
“I… yes. I intended to.” He didn’t give Luo Binghe’s heart the chance to break. “I didn’t want to. But, yes, I had intended to throw you in to the Endless Abyss.”
“… Shizun didn’t want to? Then, why?”
“Remember how I mentioned the System?” a nod. Shen Qingqiu gives a half-hearted smile. “In the beginning it forced me to act like the original Shen Qingqiu, I was told that I was locked in that state unless I completed a mission. In this case it was the expedition with the Skinner demon.”
“Where A-Yuan was stripped and tied up, that Skinner demon?” Shen Qingqiu slapped his chest. Why are you so shameless, huh?! THIS IS NOT THE TIME! He coughed.
“Sure. Anyway- when I completed that task, I was free to act like myself. However, there were still a few things set in stone. The book this world is based on, had an event that… couldn’t be missed. No matter how many times I had asked I was always given the same answer.” He took a deep breath. “The protagonist, Luo Binghe, must fall into the Endless Abyss and unlock his power to rule over the three realms.”
“I’m the protagonist?” Luo Binghe asked, eyes wide with surprise. Shit… he hadn’t said this world was technically based on a book, had he?
Shen Qingqiu nodded, his expression a mix of resignation and fondness. “Yes. When I died- the first time, I died cursing the novel I had just finished reading. A trashy harem novel with waaaaay too much sex and so many potholes it made my nose bleed on several occasions. Luo Binghe, the hero of the story, was destined to rise from nothing, endure countless trials, and become the most powerful being in the world. Of course, that includes suffering betrayal and eventually seeking revenge against those who wronged you… especially your master.”
Luo Binghe looked at him with a mixture of disbelief, confusion and anger. “So, the other Luo Binghe that took my place that one time was…?”
With a heaving sigh, Shen Qingqiu said; “He was the Luo Binghe from Proud Immortal Demon Way. I was sent here to rewrite the plot because my last words were cursing the novel. ‘Dumb-fuck author, dumb-fuck novel’ I guess the System took a hit and decided ‘YOU CAN NO UP YOU CAN NO BB! ᕕ (ᐛ) ᕗ’” Luo Binghe’s face flushed at the crass use of words.
“So… what A-Yuan means to say is that… everything at Jin Lan and Hua Yue city was because you were afraid of me based on what… that man, did to Shen Qingqiu in the book you read?”
“Mn, that’s how the book went. Shen Qingqiu hates Luo Binghe, pushes him into the Endless Abyss, Luo Binghe comes back five years later after ascending to the Demon Realm’s thrown and tortures his old master. But this world, after a certain point stopped following the script. Sometimes, things change. And now here we are.” Way past the end of the novel and yet- still being forced on missions. THANK YOU, SYSTEM. Shen Qingqiu mentally threw both his hands, middle fingers pointed in the air in a big ‘Fuck You.’ to the System.
Luo Binghe was silent for a moment. Eventually he asked, his voice just above a whisper, “So… Shizun did intend to cast this one away, but… didn’t want to?” Shen Qingqiu nodded, hoping his husband didn’t hate him.
“I knew you were going to live, I knew exactly what was going to happen to you down there, no matter how many times I asked, the answer never changed.”
The demon lord’s eyes welled with tears. He threw himself forward into his husband’s chest and clung to him like a sticky piece of rice. Shen Qingqiu’s heart ached at the thought of Luo Binghe’s trials in the Endless Abyss. He leaned down pressing a soft kiss to the top of his husband’s fluffy head. “This one should have never doubted Shizun!” Luo Binghe’s grip around his waist tightened. With a wry chuckle the peak lord patted his head.
“It’s alright that you did. Binghe had every reason to.”
“Mn! But this one held out hope. I aways wanted to know if it was something A-Yuan did out of obligation or because he wanted to…” Luo Binghe reasoned, nuzzling up to his neck and placing his head in the small divot of his shoulder. After a moment Luo Binghe pulled himself away and asked; “A-Yuan said he asked questions… who did he ask?”
Shen Qingqiu sighed. “The System. It said that if I didn’t push you into the abyss, it would take away 10,000 B-points- don’t worry about what that is- and I would be sent back to my original body, which is dead.” When he was done explaining he felt a wave of familiar demonic qi pass through him. He shook his head fondly. “It’s alright, I’m here, aren’t I?” The fact he wouldn’t be in two days went unsaid.
The qi quickly settled, not overbearing but still noticeable. Through gritted teeth Luo Binghe asked; “Shizun was threatened?”
With a snort Shen Qingqiu said; “Calm down, calm down.” Before the demon lord can object, he continued, “Binghe has no need to worry, it is all in the past.” He reached forward and patted Luo Binghe’s head softly, childing him. “We can talk about this in the morning, but for now we should rest. We have a big day tomorrow.” They moved to the headboard of the bed and shuffled under the covers. Shen Qingqiu reached for Luo Binghe to use him as a pillow and rested his head against his chest. While Luo Binghe wrapped a protective arm around the peak lord’s waist, holding him tight. Once they were settled Luo Binghe, overcome with a bout of protective and possessiveness, shifted Shen Qingqiu higher to kiss him and tuck his head into the crook of the peak lord’s shoulder. He held Shen Qingqiu as tight as he could while making sure the other wasn’t uncomfortable in any way. The peak lord’s hand rested on his head, gently stroking his hair. After a moment Luo Binghe felt another press on his head as the peak lord craned his neck to kiss his fluffy curls, whispering good night.
Luo Binghe smiled into his husband’s shoulder. “Mn, good night, A-Yuan.”
It was not long before Luo Binghe heard his husband’s breath even out. He waited just a little longer before he closed his own eyes and entered the dreamscape.
⋆˚o O *˚ U´• ﻌ •`U ˚* O o˚⋆
Luo Binghe found his husband’s dream easily. Once he did, he used little to no force to embed himself into it. His eyes blearily blinked open and were greeted with a blinding white light. Dense snow blanketed the rocky roads of a town he did not recognize, reflecting the sun’s glare into his eyes. With merely a thought he cleared away the blinding snowy weather and replaced it with the familiar, comforting green of spring. As he looked around, the town’s main road seemed never to never end, the same little houses fading into mist.
In the corner of his eye Luo Binghe caught a glimpse of a green sleeve. When he turned, he saw his husband, in all his glory walking down the street with the dignity of a god. His face was turned away from Luo Binghe, but he could still see the redness of his ears. Beside him stood another Luo Binghe. Well, a dream version of him. He held his Shizun’s hand as they walked. While the real Luo Binghe watched from the sidelines and pushed the ten jars of vinegar away and turned his focus to the task at hand. He needed to save A-Yuan.
There was a suspicious lack of people in this dream. Luo Binghe found that dreams that centered around towns typically had more faceless people. But here, in Shizun’s dream the only people in sight were Shen Qingqiu himself and the two Binghes. Despite the jealousy, Luo Binghe felt comforted that his husband was dreaming of him. He watched as they walked, leaning into each other and talking distantly. Luo Binghe couldn’t help but frown, noticing their hands interlaced with each other. It wasn’t the hand holding that was the problem, it was the hands themselves. The air around them crackled, glitching in and out of place. Bright greens, reds, blues in sharp little boxes danced around their hands.
Luo Binghe reached out, aiming for the glitches, while simultaneously ridding the other Luo Binghe from the dream. “Shizun!” He was careful to make sure that his voice carried no trace of anxiousness. Shen Qingqiu turned to him, his eyes sparkling in crescents.
He shook his head fondly. “This master is here. Binghe has no need to call.” Shen Qingqiu chided, tapping Luo Binghe’s bicep with his fan. Luo Binghe leaned onto his shoulder, and grabbed his Shizun’s hand, but before he could say anything he swallowed in darkness.
…