Chapter Text
Stupid. Stupid, stupid stupid. Shen Qingqiu kicked out, the relief of the action not really managing to outweigh the annoyance when it did absolutely nothing to the pillar he was tied to. It wasn’t even that impressive of a pillar! It was made of half rotting wood. It should have splintered into thousands of pieces even if he was being affected by Without-A-Cure. Instead it stood there stubbornly as he tried again to yank on the cables binding his wrists. After all, what did he care right now about being OOC! If he was going to get punished it would have happened already, just like that time with the Skinner Demon. If anything this was almost worse! Sure he had managed to keep his clothing this time around… maybe not fully intact but he still had his outer robe. That was a small comfort against the fact that he had been blindfolded most of the time, and even now he was gagged. Him! Gagged! Wasn’t he aloof and silent enough with the help? Huh? Huh?
Shen Qingqiu huffed, easing up on the restraints for now. Gah! System, help me out here! Isn’t there an easy mode to whatever the hell this is?
He was definitely going to need easy mode. He had gotten too used to the low IQ of all the canon fodder. Apparently though, at least one of them actually had something resembling a brain or had just watched enough of their brethren get beaten to a pulp and sent crying home that they finally got a clue.
Seriously though, wasn’t this a bit excessive? Did they really, really need 360 immortal binding cables wrapped around him? That wasn’t even counting the literal rope they had made out of the threads that currently bound him to the pillar! How long did that take huh? What kind of ridiculous resources did they have to waste that much on a cultivator they had managed to jump and subdue in a matter of a few seconds? Okay fine, so maybe he had been distracted at the time, quietly panicking at a rumor that Binghe was back three years earlier than he was supposed to be, and fine maybe he hadn’t been taking the greatest care of his own cultivation, and fine maybe he had forgotten the suppressing drugs for Without-A-Cure for a day or two. He just couldn’t manage to get it down with the bland food on his peak okay. Buy into how pathetic he was! Funneling the rage, he put all the strength he could into another solid yank that did nothing but make pain bloom across his wrists and anywhere else the cords dug in.
[ System in hibernation mode, Power Source an indeterminate distance away ]
Useless hack… and don’t call Binghe “power source”. Whatever, he would just have to figure out how to get out of this himself. It would just be too pathetic of an end to be strung up by low level demons long before the protagonist ever even returned. He also couldn’t stand the thought of being rescued by Liu-shidi like some damsel in distress… again.
Okay, so he had to figure out how to get away from these canon fodder demons who had suddenly grown a brain. That was fine. He was still Shen Qingqiu after all, peak lord and a pretty impressive cultivator really so long as he wasn’t up against the protagonist. He could do this.
First, he needed to take stock of everything around him.
He was in some kind of sheltered courtyard, or maybe training yard. Could it really be called a yard though when there was a sort of half roof overhead? Not enough to block out the view of the demon realm sky or the faintly swaying tree branches but enough that flying up and out was going to be tricky at best and impossible at worst. So up wasn’t an option, next up was to check around. His post wasn’t centered within the area, but was definitely a notable piece at the head of the courtyard with change to the stone behind him that was just out of reach. His sword lay mockingly at the other end of the courtyard, held in a cradle and very clearly on display with other racks of assorted weapons shining with fresh care. Not just weapons either, Shen Qingqiu not dwelling for too long on the low tables full of assorted… creative… torture devices. All of those were out of reach and ideally he would be long gone before any of them could be marred of their very recent polishing.
Beyond the courtyard were other rooms that were more distinctly rooms and a semi impressive two door gate off to his left. With the assorted doors shut he wasn’t able to place the size, purpose, or occupancy of the rooms. He couldn’t really hear anyone though. Well, that wasn’t true. Somewhere off in the distance he could hear the occasional call of a voice but it was too far to be anything distinct or useful.
Okay. So that left him… alone, tied helplessly to a post surrounded by torture devices somewhere in the demon realm. His day was going to be so much fun. Worse, this had never been mentioned in Proud Immortal Demon Way. Why would it be? Even if it had happened in the original timeline it wasn’t like Binghe would have any idea what was going on while he was in the Abyss.
That didn’t mean his carried over knowledge was useless though! The trees he had long since dismissed. He vaguely recognized them but couldn’t recall any in depth description. That ruled them as probably safe enough, plus them being used in what was probably a pretty regularly occupied area… The other plants were just generic demonic versions of decor plants, and without someone coming in he couldn’t really verify the type of demons holding him. The ones who had captured him he thought looked like they belonged to one of the north eastern tribes. He couldn’t seem to recall their name, if it had even ever been mentioned. They weren’t considered pretty but were generally rather shrewd and even sly when motivated to be. In Proud Immortal Demon Way he recalled them being mentioned as being a tribe that just up and surrendered to Binghe when he came marching through, gifting him with all kinds of information on their neighbors beyond in a show of ‘loyalty’ to their new emperor. Oh, no wait… they had also given him other tributes too though it was mostly more of the same… gold, rich fabrics, expensive jewels to shower his harem with. Shen Qingqiu was pretty sure there was something about a hairpiece that had caused a whole ruckus within the harem that Binghe had to solve. Okay, maybe his prior knowledge didn’t have anything useful.
Briefly, he lamented not carrying some sort of short knife hidden on him. He supposed it wouldn’t actually do a lot of good though. Even assuming that they didn’t bother to check his clothing a normal blade wouldn’t do anything to the binding cables.
It took hours for him to see anyone, the immortal feeling the unfamiliar tinges of thirst and hunger tugging at him with how restricted his cultivation was. By then he had sunk down to lean back against the post, his legs an inelegant sprawl in front of him. His hair was an absolute annoyance, the hairpiece long since knocked loose in an attempt to use the pin to pick at the cords. What did he care about after all, watching the sky darken overhead? This was probably as comfortable as he was going to successfully get and if someone came in to light the lanterns and didn’t like it well… they could get nice and close to make their complaint.
He was almost glad really when the sounds of people approaching roused him from going over the same information again and again. Frowning, he worked his legs back under him. It sounded like a lot of people…
Shen Qingqiu had his feet under him, standing as well as he was able and with as much of his cool aloof aura around him as he could manage, hoping the cracks showed only mild irritation, when the doors opened. Really he had been braced for them to be flung open so when it was soft, not even a creak or bang he huffed. Come on, show a little bit of theatrics!
At least the person who scurried into the room was dressed to the nines. Full court attire, well done sir, full credits to you. Shen Qingqiu didn’t know the specifics of this area but from general setup he would guess that this was someone high ranking in the court, if not the lord himself. Well… maybe manor lord given how readily and low he bowed to whoever was in the doorway.
“It is our great pleasure, our honor, your lordship, your greatness, to present the last of our tribute to you.”
Shen Qingqiu huffed. What the hell kind of tribute was that? Oh look, we kidnapped a high ranking cultivator in your name! That was as bad as a white elephant. If he managed to escape he was definitely going to remember and make it their problem. If not then Cang Qiong was most definitely going to make it someone’s problem… well, specifically Liu-shidi probably but when The War God of Bai Zhan decided to make something a problem…
His mental tirade about how terribly unsubtle of a plan that was for people who were this thorough in his actual kidnapping cut off the moment the figure the lord was speaking too stepped through the doors.
The young man was clothed almost entirely in black with only faint red accents, few jewels and the longsword he carried was unadorned, modest really. Of course, with his features any precious stone would pale in comparison.
Luo Binghe had grown, both physically and in his aura. No doubt he was taller than Shen Qingqiu now and here in the demon realm while his clothing seemed plain in comparison and his expression was somewhere between boredom and mild disdain, the threat he represented seemed to echo with every footstep.
[ Hello. System activation successful.
Universal activation key: Luo Binghe
Power system is operating normally and in good condition ]
Shen Qingqiu shook his head, trying to focus through the rapid fire notifications. Luo Binghe was right there and he… he was tied up and being offered to the man like a cooked boar. Never mind the whole thought about this being some group of idiot demons trying to take out their lord. There would be no taking out the protagonist. Shen Qingqiu was done, it was over before it even really got started. For a moment, he was actually glad for the gag since it prevented him from making some small sound and completely destroying his image in front of the entire court of demons.
[ Hibernation mode suspended. Normal mode activated.
Download and installation of update complete.
Thank you for your continued subscription. ]
The system actually updated? Not that it would do him any… wait no… maybe it would help out? He really didn’t want to die. He really didn’t want to be turned into a human stick. If it had to be anything… maybe he would take all the tools laid out so nicely for Binghe to use on him. That should be fine right? Right!?
The manor lord was saying something else, gesturing and Binghe’s gaze was following. The moment his eyes settled on Shen Qingqiu everything seemed to go deathly still. For a moment… all of Shen Qingqiu’s focus was on the man looking at him. He watched, cold sweat dripping down his back as recognition filled eyes as dark as the night sky. Recognition and surprise. “Shizun…”
Binghe’s gaze turned, giving the rest of the courtyard and the assorted retainers pressing closer to see the show a glance. Then his gaze was locked once again on him. Shen Qingqiu swallowed at the blooming rage filling those eyes, felt it whispering through the edges of Binghe’s aura with the promise of a painful screaming death. Slowly, Binghe reached back to grip the handle of the sword.
His voice was cold, his gaze never wavering from his former master. “Leave us.”
The crowd scrambled to obey, cheering and lighthearted as Binghe’s grip turned white around the handle. Shen Qingqiu’s mask cracked, all of his strength pouring into straining against the bonds. What was that about in moments of despair achieving the impossible? Unfortunately, the cords and the post didn’t even creak or budge. Pure fear raced through his veins at the sound of the sword leaving its sheath, Shen Qingqiu struggling again. No use, nothing. Was this really how his pretty decent time here ended? Run through while tied up and helpless? System!
[ User seemed distressed. Use key item? ]
Key item? What key item! Binghe was walking closer, every step deliberate even as his aura flared around them wildly. How much, how much, how much?
[ Item is already in your inventory. Use item “Fake Jade Guanyin”? ]
Okay, okay. He remembered that. The only thing Luo Binghe had left of his adoptive mother… although he didn’t really have it since Shen Qingqiu had it. He was just keeping it safe though, he planned to return it… someday. Today seemed like a really good day!
Yes, yes! Use key item!
[ Warning: This item is single-use and can consume a maximum of five thousand of Luo Binghe’s anger points. ]
5…5,000? What are his anger points now! How could he possibly use an item that could wipe out that impressive of a score so easily?
[ Current anger points: 500… 510… 520… 530… ]
The rush of brand new fear got him to strain again, feeling the blood starting to drip down his wrists, the numbers the system was reading off starting to jump by greater increments. By the time Binghe was actually stabbing him the number might well be higher than his original harem count! Yes! Yes, use key item!
[ User does not have enough B-Points to use key item. ]
Fucking hack stupid… Shen Qingqiu forced himself still, drawing in a breath. It still sounded strained, like he was hissing between his teeth which… if he was the kind of person who talked to their “assistant” out loud he would be. You said it was in my inventory!
[ Item “Fake Jade Guanyin” requires 5,000 B-Points to activate ]
I hate you… so… so much. Shen Qingqiu risked a glance at Binghe who was now close enough that he could see the way the light drifted off the curls only tokenly held back, the move and shimmer of the fine embroidery on his clothing. Even like this… he truly did look like the protagonist. How unfair. Letting his head fall, and body sag, Shen Qingqiu braced himself for the inevitable pain as that sword started to flick upwards, its plain adornment shed to reveal the wicked edges of a cursed blade. Xin mo… so he did find it. No wonder he was out of the abyss, although it was far, far too early. With an easy movement, the sword swung down.