Work Text:
The water fell on and on, a roaring cacaphony to drown the world. On a little stone island surrounded by deadly acid, Shen Qingqiu knelt. Chains bound him tightly, and his skin was raw where they had rubbed it. Mostly numb with cold, although occasionally the wrong movement sent stinging pain anew.
And Shen Qingqiu knew this was nothing, nothing at all, compared to what he deserved. What he might soon be getting.
Luo Binghe stood before him, looking down at his pitiful former Shizun, eyes blazing with fury. Once, they had been full of light. But Shen Qingqiu had snuffed out the candle of Luo Binghe’s youthful joy when he cast his disciple into the Abyss. There was no turning back.
Luo Binghe leaned in close and spoke softly, his voice barely carrying over the neverending sound of falling water. “So, Shizun. Will you speak to me now? Will you tell me why?”
Shen Qingqiu looked away. What could he say? The System had forced his hand, had given Shen Qingqiu a choice. And he couldn’t pin the blame on the System. The only one left, was himself. And he did deserve this, because he had chosen his own life over Luo Binghe.
But Luo Binghe, ever the protagonist, would not accept even so minor a rebellion.
“Very well,” Luo BInghe growled. “Then you give me no choice.”
“What-” Shen Qingqiu looked back and then choked.
Luo Binghe forced the vial of liquid into Shen Qingqiu’s mouth, and no matter how he thrashed, his bound hands couldn’t bat Luo Binghe’s away. Shen Qingqiu gagged and sputtered on the bitter, brackish liquid. He felt it dribble, undignified, down his chin.
Poison.
Shen Qingqiu’s mind raced. But which one? The Hot House Flower of Ever Burning could burn the drinker to death from the inside out, literally cooking the flesh. It probably wasn’t the Venom of the Acid-Spitting Water Drake, that would have dissolved his throat by now. But it could still be–
A faint tingle rose in Shen Qingqiu’s throat and mouth. It felt so strange. And then he couldn’t feel them at all.
“Do you regret it?” Luo Binghe asked so sweet, so deadly.
“I regret it,” Shen Qingqiu answered, without meaning to. But he couldn’t stop the words tumbling from numb lips. “Three more years… what a stupid decision. I should have died then. Should have spared you the pain. Then you wouldn’t be like this. It wouldn’t have come to this.”
[Warning: Revealing the System will result in termination of your account!]
I can’t stop it! What do you expect me to do?!
Because this was apparently water from the Spring of Unvarnished Truths. It would force Shen Qingqiu to answer any question posed, without Shen Qingqiu having any control over his answer at all. No opportunities to spin the truth, or sidestep it, or even remain silent.
Luo Binghe flinched back, eyes widening. “Shizun, what do you mean?”
Shen Qingqiu’s hands clenched into fists, but he was bound and helpless. “The System was going to kill me then unless I pushed you. And it’s going to kill me now, for telling you.”
[Violation! Violation! Violation! Account termination in 5…]
Light and hope gleamed fervently in Luo Binghe’s eyes. The way his face brightened was hard to watch.
“Shizun!” Luo Binghe cried. “Don’t worry. I’ve grown strong. I’ll stay by your side, and this ‘System’ can’t hurt you. I’ll protect you!”
[4…]
With such enthusiasm he looked like Shen Qingqiu’s disciple once again. The Luo Binghe that Shen Qingqiu had sacrificed. Bright and smiling and eager, as though they were back in the sunlight of Qing Jing Peak. For a moment, the sound around Shen Qingqiu wasn’t the acid waterfalls of Huan Hua’s Water Prison, but the rustling of bamboo leaves in the forest.
[3…]
Luo Binghe was volunteering for a night hunt, excited and proud to show his Shizun everything he could do. And Shen Qingqiu wanted to pat him on the head and tell him to slow down, enjoy his youth, don’t try to grow up too quickly, now!
Chains jangled as Shen Qingqiu’s hand twitched.
[2…]
“Oh, my Binghe…” Shen Qingqiu mumbled. “You’re not dead after all. I’m so glad…”
Luo Binghe was smiling at Shen Qingqiu now. He was so beautiful.
[1…]
Shen Qingqiu’s vision was blurring. He closed his eyes.
[0]