Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Shen Qingqiu rose from his bed and looked out his window at Qing Jing peak. The sun was just about to rise, dusting the landscape with various hues of oranges and yellows. There was a soft breeze causing his curtains to dance and his hair to softly flutter around. A knock disturbed his peaceful observing. He opened his door and was greeted by his no longer so little disciple.

“Good morning, shizun! I’ve prepared your bath already and breakfast will be done after you bathe.” The protagonist smiled at him. He greeted his disciple before heading off to bathe.

His white lotus disciple was now a young teen, almost taller than him, shoulders broader now, and featured sharper. He looked fitting as his protagonist role, incredibly handsome. 

As he finished bathing and dressing up, Binghe took a comb and brushed his hair, tying it up in its usual style. Luo Binghe brought his shizun to where the delicious food was spread out. Shen Qingqiu’s face was calm but on the inside he adored how attentive his disciple was. Luo Binghe made sure to cook good food for him, cleaned everything up, trained hard, and always ensured his shizun’s comfort.

As Shen Qingqiu sat and ate, he felt an odd sensation prickling in him. It was as if he had forgotten an important detail. He shook off the feeling, thinking that his disciple would remind him or that he himself would be able to recall what it was. He finished his meal and thanked Binghe who pretended at the praise. He fluttered his fan as he shook his head fondly at the younger, no matter how much older Binghe was, the boy still loved every bit of praise that Shen Qingqiu would reward him with.

Luo Binghe then cleaned up and excused himself to attend classes. Once his disciple left, Shen Qingqiu walked out of his home and decided to visit Airplane bro to have some tea or to whack the other with his fan as he complained more about the shit plot devices of PIDW. On his way there he was greeted by his two other disciples, giving them pieces of advice before letting them leave to attend classes. He finally managed to get to Shang Qinghua’s place where they had tea and talked about the things they missed in the modern world. They missed the theme parks, reading and posting dumb tweets, and watching movies and shows. The now playful banter they exchanged entertained Shen Qingqiu.Time passed by and soon he had to return to his own place to hold Luo Binghe’s private lessons.

When he got home, his disciple was already patiently waiting inside. Today’s lesson would cover different plants, identifying the poisonous ones, medicinal herbs, and harmless plants. As Shen Qingqiu reviewed various plants with Luo Binghe, he wondered how on earth Airplane bro managed to think of them- was he high or were these from fever dreams. As the lesson continued, the atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted. The peak lord shivered and raised his head to be met with the sight of his disciple.

But this disciple was different from his pure one, instead met with an older version who had a mark on his forehead. He felt a bucket of ice water drown him and he realized what the sensation he felt earlier was-

Shen Qingqiu gasped as he opened his eyes, instantly shivering. The ice cold chill that left no part of his body unscathed reminded him of his current situation. He was currently binded in the Water Prison, his body heavy and weak from the lack of spiritual energy and from without a cure acting up. He fully awakened realizing that he had somehow managed to fall asleep or perhaps he had fainted and it was all a taunting dream.

He spat bitterly at himself for dreaming what was once peace and serenity with his white lotus disciple. He then wanted to slap himself- no that heavenly demon was no longer the one he cherished so deeply. Luo Binghe was now different, the outcome of him pushing the boy who hopelessly pleaded and begged ‘shizun’  that he would be good.

She Qingqiu felt bile come up his throat and eyes stung as he remembered that moment. Luo binghe’s eyes frantically brimming with endless tears, his cries for his shizun, how he took xiu ya and let it pierce him, and his face when his beloved shizun finally pushed him off. Shen Qingqiu wanted to end the stupid system which forced him to shatter any innocence that his disciple held. He sometimes wondered if he could’ve done something different, then maybe Luo Binghe wouldn’t be as bitter.

No longer was his disciple the same as the one who used to preen at his praise. 

“This shizun thanks Binghe for the delicious meal.” Shen Qingqiu said behind his fan. The meal his disciple prepared for him was one of his favorites.

“Anything for shizun!” The boy exclaimed with bright eyes and a wide smile. If his disciple were a pup then his tail would definitely be wagging with little woofs.

The Binghe now wasn’t the one that liked to purposely mess up his hair so that shizun could brush it for him.

“Does Qing Jing peak not care for its disciples? Binghe, your hair is a mess again, come here, Shizun will brush it for you.” Shen Qingqiu chided, grabbing a brush from his table. Binghe sat obediently and closed his eyes as his hair was being brushed.

Stupid Airplane bro and his cold Shen Jiu who pushed the original protagonist into the depths of the demon realm. At least he was better right? Was he? Or did he just bestow kindness and fondness even when he knew what he had to do, raising a pig to slaughter? At least that Shen Jiu had been cruel from the start, the original Binghe wouldn’t have felt as betrayed, he actually probably expected to be shoved. But his Binghe was surrounded by his shizun’s affections. His Binghe was treated gently, caringly, and properly by his shizun.

No matter how much he wished to take it all back, nothing could be done anymore. His actions have brought him into his current state. The great peak lord was reduced to a pitiful sight. Immortal binding cables wrapped around him, skin sickly pale and almost a blue tint appeared from the cold, eyes dark and tired. How disgraceful he thought bitterly.

Suddenly another shiver passed through him, without a cure rendering his arm motionless. He clenched his jaw to keep his groans of pain reigned in. Binghe’s outer robes that he folded laid on the ground a few steps away. No longer caring how undeserving he was to dare wear the robes, he moved to it. He could no longer stand, the lack of energy, the harshness of the cold, prevented him from even standing up. He swallowed whatever pride he had left and desperately crawled to it slowly. Each sore muscle in his body screaming at him as he forced himself to move. When he finally clutched it in his grasp, he heard the footsteps of someone coming. He first thought it was Binghe but sluggishly realized the footsteps weren’t as elegant nor powerful.

It was the Little Palace Mistress of Huan Hua palace. She had an ugly expression on her face and a smug air around her as she held a whip in her hand. Shen Qingqiu shuddered both from the cold and from the thought of his earlier whipping.

“Humph, you’re the great peak lord of Qing Jing peak? Look at how pitiful you look. You should consider yourself lucky and thank Big Brother Luo for even bothering to show you mercy for the things you’ve done to him!” She sneered. Holy fuck, this bitch was such a whiny brat.

She noticed the robes clutched in his hands and was immediately enraged,

''What are you doing with Big Brother Luo's robes? You dare taint his clothes with your undeserving hands?!'' She screeched and raised the arm which held her whip.

She then started to whip him,

Whip

She's right he was undeserving- Shen Qingqiu thought as he bit his tongue.

Whip

He probably deserved this.

Whip

Would Binghe come save him again? He grasped his disciple's robe.

Whip

He snapped the foolish hope out of his head. The impact of the strike made him release the robes.

Whip

Did Binghe plan to prolong his suffering instead of waiting for the trial? He started to bleed.

Whip

Shit he couldn't think straight anymore, mind fuzzing.

Whip

He laid there helplessly and restrained.

Whip

He could taste the copper of his blood as he bit his tongue.

Whip

He forced himself to stay conscious.

Whip

He wanted it to be over.

Finally after 10 vicious strikes, the assault stopped. The Palace mistress sneered again as she took Binghe's robes and left. She left Shen Qingqiu bloody and beaten, if not for the cables that binded him then he would definitely be completely laying on the cold ground.

After who knows how long he pathetically hung there, he tried to move. He couldn't even feel the way his muscles protested, the chill numbed every fibre of his being. He attempted to at least sit properly, legs tucked neatly under him and hands on his lap. He sighed deeply and accepted whatever outcome would soon occur.

Hours, days- maybe weeks- have passed since the outburst of the young mistress. Not one soul had come to visit him, not even to bring food or water. Due to his lack of spiritual power- he could not properly practice inedia, leaving him to suffer the hunger he never knew. His throat was painfully parched. Without a cure continuously flared every so often. He was tired, weak, and he just wanted to end his suffering. 

Did Binghe just decide to leave him there to suffer slowly? Was he trying to tell his shizun- he didn’t deserve to be called shizun anymore- that he suffered for years in the abyss? Was all the torture just to kill him slowly? To make him regret pushing Binghe down the abyss? He already mourned the moment he even told Binghe to go down the abyss. 

Countless thoughts were the only things that occupied his days. He refused to fall asleep despite the heaviness in his head, the painful throbbing raging. He didn’t want happiness he could no longer attain to haunt him. He was also afraid that Binghe would see his dreams and spit at the absurdity that Binghe was part of his happiness too.

His eyes stung occasionally. His heart was always heavy. He could feel his shivers, but was numb to the cold. His body was exhausted- deprived of sleep, lacking in any food, not a single drop of water. Maybe a few more days and the last of his second life would soon diminish. Would that make Luo Binghe happy?

Chapter Text

The news of the return of Luo Binghe to Huan Hua palace spread throughout the castle like wildfire. The moment Gongyi Xiao heard of this, he rushed to find an opportunity to speak to Binghe. Gongyi Xiao watched the Water Prison whenever he had a chance to, not once has anyone stepped in after the Young Palace Mistress had. Not a tray of food nor a cup of water was passed to Shen Qingqiu, causing Gongyi Xiao to worry. He heard that the Qing Jing peak lord had his spiritual powers locked, surely he wouldn’t be able to practice inedia. He would plead with Luo Binghe to at least let Shen Qingqiu eat and drink. With his goal set in his mind, he rushed as fast as he could.

Luo Binghe was back at Huan Hua Palace. His mood got worse when he saw on his bed the robe that he left his shizun. It made an uneasy feeling coil in him as he remembered how shizun simply set it aside. Was shizun really so disgusted by him? Offended that he would offer his robes to shizun? He had decided to leave after the sight of his shizun getting whipped by that useless Palace Mistress angered him madly. At the hurt he felt when shizun rejected his robes to warm up. After 9 days he was again back to the palace which imprisoned his shizun.

He sighed at the thought of his beautiful shizun, locked up at the water prison. He wanted to talk to his shizun and receive an actual reason as to why he had to go into the abyss. He thought that his shizun would never hurt him or betray him so harshly, shizun was never harsh with him before. Shizun said it himself right? That not all demons were bad? So why did shizun push him?

Luo Binghe’s heart froze as he remembered the cold eyes of his shizun that day- it haunted him. He never knew how cold those mesmerizing eyes could be. Those eyes were always filled with warmth that made him feel cozy. He couldn’t even begin to comprehend the harsh words that left his shizun, it pierced through him worse than xiu ya or any other weapon for that matter. His shizun’s words always comforted him, relaxed him and made him feel at peace yet the last time they met, only cruel words were heard. 

According to Binghe’s shijie, Ning Yingying, their shizun mourned Binghe deeply. That his shattered zheng yang was buried as if a grave for him. She sobbed that shizun would visit everyday and that in the first few weeks of Binghe being gone, the bamboo house was filled with despair. She begged Binghe to let shizun go, saying that shizun was innocent. She claimed that shizun was always sweet on him and was nothing but doting.

The reveal of this shocked Binghe- confused him to the core. Was it all an act to show others how shizun still ‘adored’ him? But what purpose would that act even serve? Binghe’s head raced with hundreds of questions, theories, and scenarios concerning only one- his shizun. 

Binghe wanted nothing more than to hold his shizun in his arms again. To hear his name come out of shizun’s mouth without any malice or unfamiliarity. He longed for the only person that really mattered to him to look at him with love. But this was the only way he could currently think of to at least keep shizun under his grasp. It was not an optimal choice- his shizun was restrained - but this was the only way.

At least the palace guards should have regularly brought food and water to shizun. Binghe would dread any more suffering to come to shizun after all. An impatient knock on his bedroom door brought him out of his thoughts. Without even waiting for Binghe’s permission, the door burst open. The person who aggressively opened the door was no other than Gongyi Xiao.

Luo Binghe’s eyes flashed green for a moment as he remembered how that Gongyi Xiao was around shizun. Jealousy surged through him when he saw those two together. No one else should have shizun’s attention- only Binghe was deserving.

Gongyi Xiao stood in front of him and slammed the door shut. The Huan Hua Palace’s disciples’s eyes were blazing with determination,

“Luo Binghe!” Gongyi Xiao coldly said.

“What business do you have here? Barging in like you own this place. Have you forgotten your manners?” Binghe icily replied. How dare this boy-

“Tsk you speak of manners? So you’ve finally returned huh? Finally remembered your shizun.” Gongyi Xiao spat. This made Binghe’s eyes set ablaze,

“Don’t speak of shizun with such familiarity.” He dangerously trailed.

“I don’t care what you’ve said to imprison Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu, but his treatment in the water prison is unacceptable. I never knew one could be so cruel to their own shizun.” The other said.

“The way he’s being treated?” He was now confused at the anger directed at him. Besides being restrained by the cables and imprisoned in the Water Prison, what else could cause his dearest shizun to suffer?

“Don’t play innocent! I’ve been watching the Water Prison and in the past nine days you were gone, I have not seen it open once. Have you forgotten that his spiritual powers were restrained? He can’t practice inedia, how is he to survive any longer without food or water-”  Gongyi Xiao practically snarled before being cut off.

“What? No one has given shizun food or water while I was gone?!” Binghe exclaimed and the fury on Gongyi Xiao’s face was his answer. It’s been 9 days… shizun-

Without a second thought, Binghe slashed xin mo and headed directly to the Water Prison which held his shizun. His heart was racing every millisecond he wasted, fearing the worst for his shizun.

Shen Qingqiu could barely hold himself together any longer. His mind was practically in shambles from his refusal to fall asleep. At this point even breathing pained him, the way he inhaled irritated the drought in his throat. He didn’t know if he still felt the hunger or if the chill now set deep in his bones numbed everything. He couldn’t even tell the state of his without a cure anymore. He could feel his life slowly being dragged out an inch at a time.

Even through the haze of suffering, Shen Qingqiu’s thoughts somehow still held the energy to coarse through him. Each train of thought- or a freight train of thoughts- drowned him like the water that couldn’t reach him would. Each moment lost in thought dumped ice over him, almost as if challenging the cold of the prison.

He thought of his many shidi, shixiong, shimei, and shijie if they were faring well. He wondered if his other disciples were progressing their martial arts even without him. He longed for the comfort of his home and people he experienced warmth that he craved. Did Liu- shidi miss him? Was Yue- shixiong still managing the sect properly even as he worried? Where was that idiot Shang Qinghua right now? All these plagued his mind.

The focal point of his thoughts of course were about his disciple- if he still had any right to be called that. But Binghe addressed him as ‘shizun’ so Binghe must still think of him as his disciple right? Then again, what disciple would slowly kill their shizun like this- not that he didn’t deserve such treatment. He had to admit that he couldn’t even tell if he’d rather experience this or become a human stick.

The image of the current Binghe, and the Binghe he raised befuddled his mind. His Binghe was now blackened. His disciple had gone through the abyss, experienced horrible creatures, it was no surprise that he turned out like this. In some way he felt proud that his disciple was now more powerful than ever in only a span of three years. Even when he already knew that Binghe would achieve great success- the protagonist halo after all- it still calmed him a bit at least.

Suddenly frantic footsteps echoed. He paused to try and crane his head up more. He knew those footsteps, the elegance and power only belonged to one. Ah, speak- well think- of the devil.

The footsteps stopped directly in front of him. Shen Qingqiu calmed his heart and mind, preparing himself for something. He didn’t know why Binghe was here- to bask in his pitiful state, to show off and shove it in his face? Was his disciple going to tell him to look at who’s on top now ? Or was Binghe tired of him still clinging on to the thread of life, the same way the immortal binding cables clung to him. Did Binghe finally have mercy to show him the end of the darkening tunnel.

He braced himself to resign to his fate in his blackened disciple’s hands yet still his heart stuttered when he heard,

“Shizun?” Binghe’s deep voice surrounded him. Was it… concern that he had detected? He looked up, neck straining in pain. He tried to put on the elegant and masterful mask that he was known to wear- hoping that it would remain intact despite the exhaustion. 

“Binghe.” Was all he replied with. The short response actually took almost all the strength he could muster. The sound of his voice was scratchy, the sound of it embarrassed him deeply. His throat felt like sandpaper, eyes straining to focus on the face staring down at him- trying to decipher the other’s expression.

For a moment there was nothing but silence then he felt something. One moment he was hanging off the cables, the next he was slumped over in Binghe’s lap. In the flurry of confusion he felt something stirring up in him- demon blood. Expecting to be torn apart, he was shocked at the feeling of his wounds closing up. The warmth Binghe enveloped him in slowly caused him to regain the feeling in his frozen body and made him uncontrollably shiver. Just as he collected thoughts he felt faint and then the last thing he remembered before blacking out was a worried shout of ‘shizun!’. 

Chapter Text

Binghe gazed wearily where his shizun now laid. Binghe quickly brought shizun into his room the moment his teacher passed out.  Looking at his shizun made his gut curl as he took in the terrifying sight of his shizun seemingly half dead.  Pale skin that seemed to have a blue tint, the incessant shivering even when he wrapped as many blankets as he could around his beloved shizun, the dark bags under the eyes that he adored. His shizun had been on the very brink of death and it was all his fault.

He thought back to moments before shizun had passed out. How shizun was being held up by the cables, lacking the strength to stay upright. The tattered robes had been stained by blood. Shizun’s well kept hair had been a mess, his face haggard, his eyes hollow for a moment. Then the expressions that passed shizun had been like a punch to his gut. The look on Shen Qingqiu’s face was as if he thought it were his final moments. The fact that shizun actually expected him to end it all.

His heart constricted at the fact that shizun expected him to harm him. The one he treasured so dearly, the one who motivated him to leave the abyss as quickly as possible. He never wanted that expression to be directed at him ever again.

His eyes stung as he began to tremble, falling on his knees beside the bed shizun laid. He grasped the furs and sheets on the bed as tears fell from his eyes. His shizun had almost died because of his ignorance. Shizun had suffered through the harsh cold with his torn and bloodied robes. The whip marks that imprinted on shizun’s skin weren’t treated and instead slowly bled until the blood clotted. The immortal binding cables hindered the use of spiritual powers which meant that shizun couldn’t practice inedia, instead feeling the hunger from the lack of food. The harsh conditions shizun had endured also caused without a cure to flare up considerably more than ever. Sobs now racked through him as he clung on the bed desperately, keeping his blood in shizun buzzing to relieve any more physical suffering. He passed as much spiritual energy as he could, throat blocking up. He was still sobbing when-

“B-binghe?” The voice he thought he wouldn’t be able to hear again tiredly whispered. His head shot up, sobs stopping but tears still falling.

“Shizun!” He hiccupped in response. He wiped the tears as best as he could to be able to clearly take in that shizun was alive. He came to his senses and reached a cup of water to the man laying on the bed. His shizun immediately gulped it down in one go, literally having gone days with no water.

Binghe moved back a bit then bowed and grovelled on the floor.

“Shizun, please punish this unsightly disciple. This disciple’s incompetence caused you to suffer for so long. E-even causing you to come to the brink of death.” He was now sobbing again. “This disciple is truly sorry and will understand if shizun refuses to accept this one’s apology. This one deserves only the harshest treatment and accepts any punishment for being a disgraceful disciple.” He finished, tripping over some sentences as he continued to sob. His entire body was shaking as if it were him who was caged in the cruel cold of the water prison. But he felt in his heart that no matter what punishment was bestowed on him, it couldn’t compare to the guilt eating him up for shizun’s current state.

“Binghe…” Shen Qingqiu started before softly sighing,

“Binghe stop that. Face me… please?” Shizun finished. Binghe’s heart was in his throat as he slowly looked up to face shizun.

Shizun looked at him with a lost expression, clueless as to what to do.

“Binghe, why would this shizun- tsk do I even have the right to call myself that?” Shen Qingqiu muttered the last part but it clearly echoed in Binghe’s keen ears. He felt himself freeze and a pain shot through the scar he kept on his chest. 

“SHIZUN! Please don’t banish me from being your disciple! I deserve it but please, anything but that! You’re my shizun .” He yelled in a desperate panic. The peak lord’s face held extreme confusion,

“Binghe what are you saying? I meant that I don’t even deserve to be your shizun anymore. Not after what I did to you.” Shizun’s eyes looked haunted with guilt. Binghe frantically started,

“Shizun, what are you saying? You’re my only shizun!” Shizun’s eyes widened at his proclamation.  

“What? Then why..?” Shizun trailed.

“This disciple did not mean for shizun to be treated the way he was. It was not this disciple’s intention to harm shizun. This disciple expected the guards to provide food and water, so I assumed that shizun would be fine. I was unable to hear of this mistreatment as I was… away from the palace. I was not aware of shizun’s suffering until Gongyi Xiao barged into my room.” Binghe said sorrowfully. Shizun stared at him before sighing softly.

“Binghe ah, shizun… understands now that you are not to blame for my… misfortune.” Shizun started slowly “But this teacher does not understand why Binghe is being so kind to him. Did you not feel any resentment or hate for what I had done? Has Binghe not suffered himself for years in the abyss? So why..?” Binghe lifted his hand to touch the scar on his chest. He was hurt that shizun thought he deserved any less, that shizun thought he would willingly hurt his precious teacher.

“This disciple could never hate shizun.” Shen Qingqiu inhaled sharply at that, muscles becoming loose- no longer tense.

“But this disciple begs shizun to answer him. Shizun said that demons weren’t all bad, yet pushed this one into the abyss. Shizun raised me himself, why would he think that I could have turned out bad after revealing my demon side? Then when this disciple had returned shizun was very tense around this one. But according to Ning- shijie, everyday shizun has mourned- even burying my zheng yang. This disciple does not understand shizun’s actions.” He interrogated the one who sat on his bed. He looked carefully at every reaction that passed shizun’s face.

Shen Qingqiu could hear sobbing as he slowly regained his consciousness. As he shifted on the comfortable surface, he remembered a voice calling out ‘shizun’ before blacking out. He fluttered his eyes open, his body felt surprisingly better. He was still tired but he no longer felt the jagged whip marks, the aching muscles, the numbing cold. Even without a cure seemed to be dormant no longer restricting his movement. He sat up and shifted to see his disciple harshly sobbing on his bedside. He was utterly confused at the sight of those rolling tears and the sound of disturbed breathing. What on earth- or not earth- caused the protagonist to be reduced to this sobbing mess?

He called out Binghe’s name then in an instant was met with the sight of Binghe kneeling- forehead touching the ground. His disciple’s words made him even more confused. So it was not Binghe’s intention to slowly kill him? The blackened lotus was begging to be punished? Shen Qingqiu still deserving to be called Binghe’s shizun? Binghe was treating him with such kindness- Binghe doesn’t resent him?

All these revelations rendered him speechless. Whether it was his sluggish brain or immense shock, he could barely process anything. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His disciple still recognized him as shizun and never once hated him. He still felt that his disciple should despise him, burn with hatred at him, but here he was. He laid in a comfortable bed with many furs, blankets, and pillows alike. He was being treated for the injuries he had acquired. He felt relieved yet spat bitterly at himself for receiving such caring treatment even after being the reason why Binghe has suffered.

Then Binghe started interrogating him with questions that made his heart thud. His disciple was so clueless to any of his actions. His disciple wanted and deserved answers. But his voice was lodged in his throat. His mind raced for a good answer to all the questions he was asked.

Why had he told Binghe that not all demons were bad? Was it really to save his ass in hopes that Binghe would remember how he did not think so low of demons? No. It was because he truly believed that not all demons could be bad. He remembered looking at the younger Luo Binghe, whose eyes twinkled with pure innocence, fear and adoration. He wholly believed that Binghe wasn’t bad even if he did have heavenly demon blood coursing through his veins. No one was born inherently good or evil. 

He already knew the real answer concerning the fact that he had to ensure Binghe to fall into the abyss. It was to complete the mission that had absurd consequences if failed. But at the same time, he knew that the abyss would just make Binghe stronger. That his disciple would embrace the power his heritage had given him. That all the hardships and challenges were stones waiting to be stepped on to cross the river of life. 

He didn’t know what to say about his mourning . Ning Yingying ah, he should teach her more often to not spill so many words. How could he say that he was absolutely guilt ridden the whole time and still turned his back on Binghe? That was just a whirlwind of mixed signals, no wonder his disciple was looking at him with puppy dog eyes. He knew he had to say something, its the least his disciple deserved for treating him with care. So he calmed himself and took a deep breath,

“Binghe, this teacher truly does believe that not all demons are bad like how not all humans are good. No one can be born good or evil.I’ve overseen your growth as my disciple, you were everything but evil, you were always so caring for this one. But I knew you had to venture into the abyss, you are a heavenly demon, Binghe, you cannot change that. You did not choose to be one, but you can’t ignore it- you had to learn how to become great. This shizun- although knowledgeable- would have been unable to nurture your abilities to its fullest capacity.

I know that the manner in which I pushed you was nothing short of cold and cruel. But I had to make sure you were concentrating on striving to refine your powers. This shizun deeply and sincerely apologizes for the anguish and suffering his disciple must have been troubled with. This one is completely appreciative of his disciple, and always has been.” He finished sincerely, forcing himself not to look away from the man kneeling on the floor.

Before he knew it, the man who onced kneeled on the floor stood up and hugged him. Binghe hugged him from the back, cautious of his earlier physical injuries. His disciple gently cradled him against his chest, arms also wrapped around his waist. He flushed at the sudden display of Binghe, wishing he had a fan to cool his flaming face. Before he could say anything else, Binghe raised his own head,

“Shizun, this disciple is very relieved to hear this. This one does admit to being hurt by his shizun’s actions, but I felt absolutely no resentment- only confusion. This one now understands that everything that had happened was with in shizun’s best intentions.” Binghe paused, “But shizun ah. Know that this disciple wishes to return to taking care of you. I would much rather be beaten til my last breath than ever hurt you like this again.” His disciple whispered.

Shen Qingqiu’s heart started to race, beating loudly in his ears. He slowly gulped at the demon’s words. He mustered up all the courage he possibly could to turn around to meet his disciple. He was met with Binghe’s broad chest then looked up to see the other’s face. Binghe’s face held nothing short of pure love and Shen Qingqiu’s tongue was tied so he decided to bury his face into the demon’s chest. Binghe’s arms adjusted themselves and pulled him basically on his lap. The two shared an embrace, silence enveloping the room- their actions conveyed more emotion than any words they could think of in that moment.

“This teacher would be ecstatic to be by his disciple’s side once more.” He lifted his head to look at Binghe.

“This disciple would be more than delighted to never part with shizun ever again.” Binghe automatically replied with obvious glee on his face. Shen Qingqiu’s heart melted at the sight and couldn’t help but tease his disciple.

“How ever would this shizun’s disciple find a wife to wed when his disciple is so devoted to this one?” He laughed and almost choked at Binghe’s unexpected reply.

“This disciple does not care to find a wife. This one’s attention and devotion is only for shizun.” Binghe firmly said- staring directly into his eyes, causing Shen Qingqiu to look away quickly- unable to handle holding Binghe’s gaze. 

Luo Binghe the great heavenly demon protagonist, the one who wielded the mighty xin mo, and had a mighty harem, was not interested in a harem anymore? All for him? Shen Qingqiu? His heart threatened to burst out, face maddeningly red, mouth gaped open. Could Binghe’s affection for him possibly be greater than expected? Binghe leave this one some face, he thought flustered.

“B-binghe? What do you..?” He stuttered nervously. What was wrong with him? Where was the elegance and poise a peak lord should have? He once again craved to get a hold of his fan- whether to hide his face or to hit his own face, he couldn’t decide.

Binghe cupped his cheeks and tilted his face up so their gazes would meet. Shen Qingqiu’s breath was uneven, heart skipped beats, mind racing yet feeling blank at the same time. The sheer proximity they shared made him slowly gulp.

“Are this disciple’s intentions still unclear? This Binghe cares for nothing or no one besides his dearest shizun.” Binghe caresses his cheeks as his eyes widen. “My heart breaks at the thought of being unable to protect you. This one would want nothing more than to ensure his shizun’s happiness along his side. But if shizun does not reciprocate this one’s affections, then this one will still be content as long as he can stay beside shizun.” Binghe confessed, each sentence his disciple uttered left him even more embarrassed.

Luo Binghe liked- or was it loved- him? The great protagonist who collected a harem, was completely devoted to him? Not only was Binghe not interested in his harem, he was a cutsleeve now. He could barely comprehend anything at the moment. He wasn't quite sure how to respond to that but as he looked into Binghe's eyes he was sure of one thing.

He now understood that the thumping in his chest was not from fear of Binghe, it was from fear of his affections for Binghe. The way his disciple treated him and the way he indulged his disciple in return. When he would inwardly beam simply from seeing his adorable protagonist even when Binghe was just standing there. The sudden vibrance in his life that admittedly went bleak without Binghe. The reason why his thoughts were filled with the oversized pup. 

“This one… reciprocates Binghe’s affection.” He said, a little out of breath. Binghe paused in caressing his cheeks and stared at him wide eyed. Shen Qingqiu felt time stopped in that moment as Binghe slowly brought their lips closer. As if it had taken a millennia to pass, their lips finally met in a soft embrace. They stayed like that for a moment then he pulled back for a second to place his hands on Binghe’s neck as he tilted his face before meeting in another kiss. This time he moved his lips against Binghe’s, doing his best to make use of the little experience he had in his past life. Binghe- being the quick learner that he was- imitated his shizun’s actions. They eventually found their own rhythm, sweetly kissing.

Another minute passed and they pulled back again- breaths slightly uneven, both a bit flustered and eyes were blown wide. Binghe’s bright eyes glowed with happiness and radiated a comforting aura, filling the room with warmth.

“This Binghe is the happiest being in existence. I love you so much shizun.” Binghe whispered those words but it loudly reached Shen Qingqiu’s entirety. The red on his cheeks felt like it burned some more, his heart stuck in his throat. He was unable to form words so he surged forward and kissed the other man again.

This kiss was more urgent- full of longing from the years they spent apart. Arms wrapped around each other almost as if they didn’t want even a single particle of air in between their bodies. Binghe nipped his lip, causing him to gasp- giving the demon a chance to slip his tongue into the peak lord’s mouth. A mewl escaped his mouth, encouraging the other to continue. Another eternity passed- in reality maybe less time than it took for an incense stick to burn- before they parted. Shen Qingqiu was panting, both his breathing and his heart were erratic. 

“I love you too, Binghe.” He sighed softly, getting pulled into another embrace. They both basked in each other’s presence. To them nothing else mattered, the world could burn and they’d be content to spend the whole time in a warm embrace.

Chapter Text

After they indulged in each other, Binghe forced his shizun to rest and fully recover. His shizun tiredly agreed with a promise that Binghe would cook him food the moment he wakes up. Binghe smiled at the sight of his beloved resting peacefully on his bed, covered in his robes. 

He left the room quietly, expression suddenly turning malicious as he remembered the whip marks that once marred his shizun’s skin. He set off to find that worthless bitch who dared injure shizun, thinking of ways to make her pay her dues.

As he turned a corner he was met with Gongyi Xiao. He paused and approached the Huan Hua palace disciple. As jealous as he was of the other when he saw the disciple interact with shizun, he now felt thankful for the concern the man had. Gongyi Xiao noticed him approach and hardened his expression.

“This Binghe… wants to thank your concern for this one’s shizun.” He started, Gongyi Xiao’s expression immediately relaxed. “I was not aware of the abuse shizun had faced while imprisoned in the water prison. This one will severely punish the lowlifes who inflicted pain on shizun.” Binghe finished then set off once more leaving a relieved Gongyi Xiao behind.

He soon caught sight of the annoying brat of Huan Hua palace, the little mistress. The one who was the cause behind shizun’s immense torture, had the fucking audacity to smile at him as if she did nothing wrong. Hm let her smile- its will just satisfy him even more when she ends up begging for her life.

''Big brother Luo-'' Little Palace Mistress skipped happily towards him only to be grabbed by the hair.

''Wh- WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!'' She shrieked, causing Binghe's head to pound with annoyance. She struggled and twisted in his iron grasp, her screams strained.

Binghe shamelessly dragged her by the hair for all to see, not caring what others would think. Her demanding screams turned into pitiful pleading as they got to the water prison. Hah! They weren't even inside yet and she was already pleading- shizun only stayed silent even when restrained. Binghe finally threw her harshly onto the ground. Her body hit the floor with a loud thud and skidded a bit.

She propped herself with her arms, panting erratically with fear deep set on her face. Binghe was greatly amused already by this, but she has yet to pay even half of the price for bothering shizun with her existence. Binghe merely scoffed at her, rage burning with malicious intent. His aura radiating kill intent.

He held himself back from just slashing her neck- no she didn’t deserve an easy way out. He was going to make sure she suffered the consequences. He summoned immortal binding cables to restrain her entire body, the cables positioned her on her knees and arms stretched in opposite directions. The palace mistress couldn’t form words anymore, her words were mumbled as she hiccupped through her tears.

“Do you know why you’re here?” Binghe’s voice thundered. She shook her head violently, Binghe’s eyes glowed red. So she didn’t know why?

“You think you can hurt my shizun again and get away with it? This demon will show you what happens when you mess with a heavenly demon’s beloved!” He snarled at her. She was shaking- whether from the cold or from fear Binghe could care less.

He directed the cables around the other, causing her oxygen to be cut off in different parts of her body. When she looked like she was about to pass out, he eased the cables. Binghe would make sure to torture her a bit more before showing her mercy to let her pass out. He then drew out xin mo, the demonic energy raging like its master. He slowly slashed his captives arms, letting her feel each second of his blade shredding her skin. She screamed in pain, no more tears could leave her eyes. After about 20 slashes he finally stopped. Binghe had to make sure he didn’t make her lose too much blood- no she was going to be here for a long time. He slammed her head on the ground, finally causing her to be unconscious, and made sure to torture her dreams with horrifying scenarios.

Satisfied for now, Binghe left the water prison. He proceeded to the kitchen, his mood flipped like a switch. He moved around the kitchen to make shizun food, making sure every dish was to his beloved’s taste.

When he got back to the room with food in tow, his shizun was rousing from sleep. Perfect timing he thought. Binghe quickly laid the food down onto a desk before coming to sit on the bed. He couldn’t help shamelessly staring at the beauty in his bed- even when said beauty was rubbing sleep out of his eyes and yawning a bit. Once Shen Qingqiu’s eyes opened, Binghe assisted him in sitting up right.

“I hope you’ve rested well, shizun! I’ve prepared your favorites.” He smiled then initiated a chaste kiss onto the barely awake peak lord’s lips. He chuckled as the other slowly blinked at him before blushing again. 

“Thank you, Binghe.” The peak lord replied, looking almost shy. His shizun always did have a thin face. He then accompanied shizun to the table where he laid the dishes. Somehow Binghe managed to convince Shen Qingqiu to let him feed the other. Once his shizun was satisfied, Binghe cleaned up before speaking up

“This disciple will clean up shizun’s reputation and will ensure your safe return to Qing Jing peak if he wishes.” He promised.

“Hmm yes we’ll visit the peak.” Shizun began “Then we will return to wherever Binghe resides. This one has promised you after all- that I will stay by your side.” Shen Qingqiu smiled softly at him. Binghe’s heart burst and hugged the other. They soon fell asleep in each other’s arms, more content that they’ve ever been.

In a span of a few days they’ve visited the peak- where many, especially a certain shidi and shixiong, fussed over Shen Qingqiu and regained respect towards Binghe. After a week they then set off to return to Binghe’s residence and accompanied each other everyday. The Palace Mistress was still in the water prison where she was given a cup of water once a week and a little food every 2 weeks- she wouldn’t taste the sweet embrace of death yet. The same treatment was given to everyone who hurt his darling shizun. Binghe placed Huan Hua Palace under Gongyi Xiao’s governance, having trust for him. In the end, Shen Qingqiu lived together, despite the arguments and headaches, to them practically nothing could be better than that.