Work Text:
He’d stabbed Binghe again. He truly didn’t mean to keep doing that. It was just… it was too much! He had to get away. As if he even could. As if he ever could have. Truthfully, he probably deserved being thrown around. He probably deserved being choked, and tortured, and Binghe yelling.
It didn’t stop the panic when a hand clamped over his mouth, Shen Qingqiu thrashing against it. He couldn’t… he couldn’t… that was a fate a thousand times worse than death. Already he could taste the iron on his tongue, Binghe crooning something or another.
He thrashed and fought… even though he already knew what he would do next.
He’d known since the day he stumbled across the spellwork buried deep in hidden rooms of the library that it turned out you needed to be the Peak Lord to enter. Maybe you just needed to be Shen Qingqiu.
He’d sworn he would never use such an array, such a curse.
He’d known he was lying to himself then. He knew now. He was selfish, and pitiful, and he’d already proven he’d put his own life first.
I’m sorry, Binghe. This master keeps making it worse for you. He’s too selfish to even let you have your revenge.
His hand snapped down, no longer fighting off Binghe. That the demon lord shifted a moment later to stop him from drawing his sword meant nothing. He wasn’t after the hilt.
Binghe’s nostrils flared, his eyes widening as the scent of Shen Qingqiu’s blood reached him. Not that he thought to react before Shen Qingqiu shoved his now bleeding hand into Binghe’s face, against his own mouth.
He passed his other hand on the way, swiping the blood onto his fingers and getting enough of Binghe’s blood on them, if they didn’t have enough already, to sketch the spellwork along Binghe’s arm. By its very nature the array was meant to be done fast and dirty. Normally the elaborate inked version would be tucked away somewhere, or inlaid into the floor under a rug or something.
Shen Qingqiu had the System and his own impressive memory for that.
Binghe knew it too, understanding flooding his expression. Shen Qingqiu shifted, hooking a leg over Binghe before the other could think to react, flipping their position so that it was Shen Qingqiu pinning Binghe. He needed only a few seconds more and he’d be done.
Binghe didn’t try to fight him off. He had to know. The protagonist had to have some idea of what Shen Qingqiu was doing, or at the very least that it was something.
[ Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations
Good things must be said 3 times
Satisfaction Points +500
Keep up the good work! ]
What the absolute hell System, what do you mean he’s happy that I’m about to forcibly tie our fates together? Binghe’s free hand snapped out, claws hooking just over Shen Qingqiu’s heart. It made him hiss, unintentionally sputtering a bit of Binghe’s blood and managing to actually swallow a bit of it just as Binghe’s throat worked. Shen Qingqiu only faintly caught Binghe clawing himself before the demon was sketching matching spellwork onto Shen Qingqiu’s arm.
Oh good, he did know what Shen Qingqiu was doing…
Oh fuck, he’s forcing that version?
They completed their sides of the work.
It wasn’t quite pain that exploded through his body, but it did white out everything else. Power he distantly realized. It burned… but not in a bad way. It scoured through his veins like the most blissful of hot springs, cooled by the ice and snow just past the rim.
Without-A-Cure snapped like a cheap ribbon, shredded under the secondary onslaught of power.
Binghe’s dual nature and jawdropping raw reserves met Shen Qingqiu’s more advanced stage and fine tuned control, spilling through them both and dragging them into the depths. It was too much though… too much for the location and rushed nature, for the stunted flow of energy around them. The bubble wavered, cracked, and blew them apart.
Shen Qingqiu felt sparks of actual pain as he hit a wall, crumpling to the ground. True to the spellwork, some matched logical points for him to feel pain and for there to be blood. Others appeared on their own, blooming into existence from whatever Binghe had hit. If Shen Qingqiu had to guess it was a cart that collapsed under the demon lord. A moment later the glow all around him, in him, surged towards it, flooding around the cut on his chest.
Oh… so that’s what Binghe’s healing ability feels like? Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been sure he would actually get anything like that from this spellwork. Mostly from what he read it was meant to tie two people together, the one with the spellwork actually marked on them tied to experience any pain or injury inflicted on the other. There were cruel versions, but Shen Qingqiu had only memorized the one that was in equal measure as the original received. He had only bothered with those that did actually pay the bound back in some way, in this instance by accessing Shen Qingqiu’s power and admittedly questionable stability. Though Binghe changed that didn’t he. He made it so it was truly equal, truly shared. Binghe had given him access to Binghe’s power, his innate abilities.
Shen Qingqiu would forever more have the immunity of a Heavenly Demon.
He also apparently had an awareness of Luo Binghe. His senses hadn’t quite come down yet, the power still pooling through him and bleeding off in waves. He was aware however, of Binghe struggling to his feet.
Trust the protagonist to still recover first. Though he would have faced much worse and still got up in the Endless Abyss . He had needed to, in order to survive.
There was a spark of fear somewhere in the jumble but… it didn’t matter. Luo Binghe couldn’t hurt him ever again… not without hurting himself.
Shen Qingqiu chose to ignore that there were quite a few instances of Binghe injuring himself without hesitation to win a fight or for ploys in Proud Immortal Demon Way. Even earlier today he had pulled such a thing with the Sower’s Rash.
Shen Qingqiu didn’t care that Binghe’s stunt meant that Shen Qingqiu could never harm Luo Binghe again. He wasn’t capable of that anyway. Truthfully, if he never had to see Binghe look heartbroken or lost or in pain again he’d be quite happy.
Binghe was saying something, though Shen Qingqiu couldn’t be bothered to care. Why should he care when he could just lie there experiencing the flood of power that… actually might not be all Binghe? Some of it might be Without-A-Cure being freed from his system and Shen Qingqiu having full access to his cultivation again. He might not even suffer any long term effects from it given how he could feel the blood mites moving through his system, the surge of cool power gathering in his meridians and erasing the tattered edges.
It would have been nice if Binghe wasn’t still talking, his footsteps coming closer. The sound was muted though, Shen Qingqiu much more fascinated by the way the mites moved, seeming to gather in the base of his skull to mill about. They had better things to do. He directed them to do such and… they did! Binghe gave a slight grunt, pausing for a moment before he came to Shen Qingqiu’s side.
Distantly he was aware of being turned over, of hands lightly on his cheeks. Binghe was still saying something. Couldn’t he just enjoy the moment? This had to be an experience for him as well. Talk about powering through the stages.
“Shizun. Shizun please.” Ah… maybe not hearing whatever Binghe was saying was actually a problem, by how off the voice sounded. It was rapidly improving though even as arms lightly circled around him. Distantly, Shen Qingqiu was aware that he was being lifted, cradled limp in Binghe’s arms. “This one knows what it feels like, but please Shizun…”
It felt nice, being so close. Especially since Binghe was pouring qi into him, circling it through the both of them until the energies blended and mixed and wasn’t that pleasant. Bothering to gather enough of himself to know where his body did and didn’t exist, he looped his arms around Binghe’s shoulders.
Ah, he must have squeezed when the System notification went off, since Binghe stiffened.
[ Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations!
Good things must be said 3 times!
Satisfaction Points +300
Keep up the good work! ]
Shut up. I don’t want to deal with you right now. He so didn’t have the mental ability to figure out what the fuck the System was on about giving satisfaction points for this. He also… actually shouldn’t Binghe be angry? Granted, he had clearly recognized the spell and had shifted it to his advantage but Shen Qingqiu had his healing now, Binghe didn’t need to be holding or comforting him, just making sure Shen Qingqiu didn’t get hurt.
“Shizun?”
[ Hosts have gained new skills and abilities!
Review now? ]
What part of shut the fuck up was misunderstood? He drew in a deep breath, unsure if dragging himself back into awareness was a good thing or not. Honestly, his body felt amazing. Light, airy, brimming with power and Binghe was so warm. Wait a minute…
“Shizun… what is this?”
What the fuck do you mean “hosts”?
[ Hosts have triggered Hidden Storyline ‘Binding of Souls’
Host Shen and Host Luo have successfully bound their powers, lives, and souls together!
Because System operates based on soul verification, this means that all System benefits will now extend to Host Luo as a member of a joint account!
Congratulations! ]
Shen Qingqiu lifted his head slightly, squinting at the screen. After a moment he glanced at Binghe. “Binghe can see that?”
Binghe’s eyes were wide, and his grip a little too tight. Eh, whatever, Shen Qingqiu could match it. It wasn’t enough to actually be painful or worrying. Not like earlier… though the damage from that was already gone as well. “Yes, Shizun.”
“Oh good.” Wasn’t expecting that, but… I guess it- oh I can explain now can’t I. I never… I never thought I’d be able to. Because how to he even begin to explain? How could he convince Binghe that he hadn’t wanted to, that if he could have found a way to avoid it he would have. That he had never hated Binghe, had never wanted him to suffer like that. Shen Qingqiu released the hold for a moment to wave towards the screen. “It’s that thing’s fault Binghe had to be shoved into the Endless Abyss.”
[ Host Shen! ]
Get wrecked. He seriously debated on sticking his tongue out at the thing. Decided it would be too much… even if there couldn’t be a punishment for it. You think I’m not going to absolutely throw you under the bus now that there’s not a god damned thing you can do to threaten me? Because he was soul bound to Luo Binghe. He was soul bound to the protagonist. He couldn’t be removed from this world any more than Binghe could be.
He shifted just enough to send a smile at the System screen, and not a kind one. He… he really couldn’t be threatened again. He didn’t have to keep living in fear! His health would be Binghe’s health and while he supposed he could still be imprisoned he supposed the current soft way Binghe was holding him didn’t lend itself towards being dragged off. Actually, it didn’t lend itself to anything angry or negative at all really, instead seeming almost… comforting.
[ Host Shen’s expression: 90% In Character for Shen Jiu / Original Shen Qingqiu ]
“Shizun… this disciple is very confused. Is… Is this being also bound to Shizun? Are Shizun’s thought projections always this way?” Maybe jumping Binghe through multiple stages had done something to the demon lord as well. Though… he sounded more like an older version of his precious white lotus than the original Binghe had ever managed after the Abyss. Did that mean… did that mean Binghe might be able to get more of that back? That he might be able to smile happily like he had before?
He hummed, turning away from the sulking System. “Pretty much. Though it’s probably more accurate that this master is bound to it.”
“So… Shizun didn’t want to? He was forced to?”
Shen Qingqiu would have pushed up slightly to see what face exactly Luo Binghe was making, but the grip around his shoulders suddenly turned tight and he found he couldn’t actually move. The fragile hopeful tone didn’t belong to the blackened protagonist though. Well… he’d certainly take it. It was the truth after all. “Yeah.”
[ Host Shen is being unfair! Host Shen’s words were his own. The requirement was that Luo Binghe had to enter the Endless Abyss. All other actions and the method of entering were at Host Shen’s discretion! ]
You’re leaving out the whole timer, sirens, 10,000 point deduction, and sending me back to a dead body. Which honestly, what the fuck!
[ Host Luo had to enter the Endless Abyss! To unlock his full half Heavenly Demon Heritage he had to be pushed to the edge and past it in the same spirit as the original! He had to find his fated weapon Xin Mo which would make him the strongest. ]
Shut up. He didn’t need to suffer. Oh… he was angry? That was… well he’d been frustrated before but this was actual raw anger. Shen Qingqiu frowned, sitting up. “Are our emotions bound together as well?”
“This disciple does not think so, Shizun.” Though it was very possible that Binghe had somehow managed to acquire Shen Qingqiu’s poker face with how completely and utterly calm he looked.
Shen Qingqiu tilted his head, considering the man in front of him who looked poised and calm. Deadly calm. “So the anger isn’t Binghe’s?”
Binghe stared at him for a moment, then cast a considering look at the System screen. “This disciple is somewhat angry… but he thinks if Shizun could feel his other emotions then he would also be sending his own emotions back or at least reacting in some way.”
That made sense. Shen Qingqiu nodded slightly, then breathed out slightly, looking down at his hands. He should… he should probably apologize or… or something but how could he even begin. Taking a deep breath, he started to get to his feet while Binghe surged to his own to steady him.
Which of course made it perfect timing for everyone else to get involved.
Liu Qingge was the first to descend in a steak of righteous power and huff irritation “Shen Qingqiu! What are you doing-” Liu Qingge paused, staring at Binghe for a long moment before he made a slight sound. “Isn’t he your dead disciple?”
Shen Qingqiu frowned. “Clearly he-”
“Luo-shixiong!” Ah, there was Huan Hua, streaking over the rooftops. “Luo-shxiong we were so worried!” Immediately the disciples flocked around Binghe, though they impressively also managed to give Shen Qingqiu a wide breadth of room.
Liu Qingge glared. “Shixiong? You abandoned Shen Qingqiu for Huan Hua?”
Showing the same level of spite and spirit as they had before, the disciples closed ranks. It was even the pockmarked young man from earlier who puffed up against the ire of the man literally called a War God. “We took Luo-Shixiong in after Cang Qiong abandoned him.”
Unlike earlier, Liu Qingge didn’t have Shen Qingqiu’s cool aloof nature and distaste for how it would look to be caught bullying young disciples. He immediately cracked his sword from its sheath. “You little-”
Shen Qingqiu smoothly stepped between everyone, unfurling his fan. “It appears there have been a few misunderstandings.”
Binghe immediately stepped out of his forming guard to stand at Shen Qingqiu’s back. “Shizun is correct. This one is sorry to have dragged so many into what is a personal matter. He has behaved rashly and shamefully, not understanding Shizun’s reasonings.”
Shen Qingqiu turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. Binghe was… helping him? Well… he supposed having Shen Qingqiu be put on trial or injured might not be ideal for Binghe though… He had rather forced a weakness onto Luo Binghe hadn’t he? Since he didn’t have the fear of literally dying or being turned into a human stick though he could work on properly apologizing and making it as easy as possible for Binghe.
Liu Qingge slid his sword back into the sheath fully. “Calling him Shizun still? Shen Qingqiu, is he or is he not your disciple?”
“Ah that…” Was he?
Binghe cupped his hands and bows slightly. “This one is not quite a disciple anymore. This one is Shizun’s soul partner.”
For a moment there was complete silence, and then absolute chaos. Shouts of it being impossible, Huan Hua begging Binghe to realize he was mistaken, pleading, several people looking like they wanted to cry, Shen Qingqiu staring at Binghe dumbstruck and Liu Qingge turning an interesting ashen color.
Binghe held his hand out to his martial uncle. “If Liu-Shishu would like to check.”
“Damn right I’m going to!” Liu Qingge snapped his hand out, wrapping his fingers around Binghe’s wrist.
Shen Qingqiu meanwhile could only stare on at the proceedings. Excuse me protagonist, but what the actual fuck? Up and declaring them soul partners which… okay, sure, whatever he supposed he had kind of forcibly bound their souls together so it wasn’t incorrect but the way Binghe phrased it and the way everyone else was reacting to it!
Binghe glanced back at him, looking a bit startled. Protagonist? Oh, is that me?
Shen Qingqiu mentally startled, badly. Outwardly he flicked his fan and let his eyes drift away to the rooftops as if he was entirely unconcerned. Completely forgot you’d be able to hear me now too. That was going to be… oh… that probably wasn’t going to be good. Binghe really didn’t need to be hearing his inner thoughts and realizing how much of a poser he really was. At least the OOC lock is off.
Please don’t worry, Shizun. This one has a story prepared. Since Shizun never mentioned System before there’s rules about not talking about it right?
Yeah… there are. Okay, maybe the silent communication wasn’t entirely bad. He was definitely going to have to watch how he phrased things though. Binghe did not need to know the long winded rants he went on about wanting to pet Binghe’s hair. At least it did just seem to be the ones that were directed… sorta directed.
Liu Qingge had taken on that odd tone again. He also sounded a little like he was being strangled. “You…”
Binghe withdrew, bowing again. “Shishu has confirmed then?”
The War God clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. “It’s true.”
That set off a whole range of reactions from Huan Hua.
[ Satisfaction Points +100 ]
Shen Qingqiu mentally sighed.
Shizun, what are satisfaction points?
Protagonist satisfaction points, they’ll go up when your plans go correctly or something happens that you like.
None of the conversation going on made it to either of their expressions. Instead Binghe was the mask of politeness. “It seems, Shizun realized it before this one did. He sent this Binghe away so that he could grow into his own. When we reunited though… the delayed bond settled into place.”
Liu Qingge was unreasonably stiff, growing out. “That’s what that explosion of qi was?”
“Yes, Liu-shishu.”
“But it didn’t do that earlier!” Ah, dear cannon fodder, don’t you know when to stay out of it?
He was very unsure about how to feel regarding Luo Binghe’s snicker of laughter that echoed in the back of his mind. Binghe turned to the Huan Hua disciples that were still grumbling. “Earlier, Shizun kept his distance.”
One of the pretty girls in the back folded her arms. It seemed she was among those who didn’t think about how impressive a cultivator’s hearing was. “Despicable. Luring Luo-shixiong in like that when he was your disciple.”
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes cut to her, pinning her under the cool look. “Hm… but Binghe is with Huan Hua now isn’t he? And an adult.” He… couldn’t keep up the rebuffing attitude internally though. Really, she wasn’t wrong. He felt rather scummy. “Even if he was early.”
Early? Nothing showed of the question that cut through Shen Qingqiu’s mind. Instead, Luo Binghe smiled slightly, shifting so that he was the main focus. Well, that worked just fine for Shen Qingqiu. Binghe spoke. “Shizun would have continued keeping his distance. It was this one who insisted on seeing him even though he believed Shizun wouldn’t want to.”
“Wait… so you sent him away? You knew he wasn’t dead?” Shen Qingqiu froze, his gaze drifting to Liu Qingge even as the fan lazily waved. The war god folded his arms. “Then what the hell was with the grief and sword mound huh?”
Liu Qingge… couldn’t this have waited? He really didn’t want that brought up okay! It made him look like an idiot.
Shizun was grieving?
He turned away from them both. At least until there was some sort of shuffle behind him. Glancing back he found… the broad planes of Binghe’s back and his oh so nicely curled hair. Shen Qingqiu blinked. What?
Forgiveness Shizun. Liu-shishu made to grab you, this disciple intervened.
Shen Qingqiu leaned slightly around Binghe to see a Liu Qingge who looked livid. The moment he caught sight of Shen Qingqiu he glowered. “Answer, damn it!”
Well… if Binghe is already making it this way… “As Binghe said… this master knew what he had done, what he had denied himself.”
“You!” Liu Qingge dragged his hands down his face, breathing in slow and steady. “Of course you wouldn’t explain. You never explain.” He turned abruptly, stalking away.
Huh… It had been a while since he saw the War God have enough control to leave a fight like that. It… lasted perhaps a dozen paces before Liu Qingge snarled and a wall crumbled under his punch.
Too bad the Huan Hua disciples couldn’t take the hint. They flooded forward, actually daring to touch Luo Binghe. He smiled at them pleasantly while Shen Qingqiu watched. Well… if they could… could he? If they were passing off apparently being soulmates then he really should. He’d… he’d figure out why the hell that was the plan later because it was definitely going to cause a lot of problems.
Lightly, he touched Binghe’s back, his palm flat on Binghe’s shoulder blade.
[ Satisfaction Points +50 ]
Huh…
Binghe settled. “Forgiveness, it may seem abrupt but this one will need to be leaving Huan Hua.”
Huh? Binghe-
Binghe cut a glance to him. How can this one stay there, when Shizun isn’t there?
Ah… he had bound them together. Physical distance won’t actually harm either of us.
The man eyed him for a minute, completely ignoring the increasingly upset Huan Hua disciples. Shizun, please allow this disciple to come home. Shizun has already proven that he does care, and that it was not his choice to send this one away.
Hadn’t they kind of set a precedent that Binghe wasn’t his disciple anymore? Though… that was being replaced with soul… He let the fan drift a bit. If you don’t pay attention to them, you’ll lose favor points.
This one doesn’t care.
Aish, Binghe. If you lose all your favor points you’ll have to work that much harder. Are you just going to ignore all of these beauties who want your attention?
There is only one beauty here who I care about.
Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes. Then pay attention to that one. Binghe started to turn until Shen Qingqiu all but shoved him forward. Not me! Damn it Binghe… wait was that line meant to be about me? Don’t use harem lines on this old man!
“Don’t push Luo-shixiong!” Oh, wonderful. He had earned the attention of all the disciples.
He fixed them with an ice cold look. “This master is pushing him towards you, what are you complaining about?”
“Shizun…”
“What’s going on here?”
Shen Qingqiu closed his eyes. Great, perfect. When did you even get into town you crotchety old man? The Old Palace Master had appeared, flanked by several other cultivators who just looked like they came from villain backgrounds. Shen Qingqiu knew that there was the whole don’t judge a book by it’s cover but come on! They were dead ringers for henchmen! He didn’t want to deal with this, especially with the way that the Old Palace Master’s gaze lingered on Binghe. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it. He looks like your precious head disciple you lost. Obviously he would! Now move on!
Binghe snapped around, “Shizun?”
He tsked, before righting himself in the aloof cultivator image. “Huan Hua Palace Master”
“Peak Lord Shen. What seems to be the issue?” His gaze drifted, lingering on where Shen QIngqiu still had his hand pressed on Binghe's back.
Immediately the disciples flocked to him. “Palace Master! He’s trying to take Luo-shixiong away!”
“Oh?”
Binghe bowed. “Forgiveness Palace Master. There seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“So Peak Lord Shen isn’t regretting his actions and trying to poach back Huan Hua’s rising star of the disciple?”
Poach? Poach!? If he was anyone except for Shen Qingqiu who kept the aloof poker face at all times he might well have laughed. Loudly and at length. It could most definitely be said that at least half of Huan Hua’s disciples were those who had first failed to be noticed by Cang Qiong. Who’s poaching who here?
Shizun is correct. Binghe bowed. “Forgiveness Palace Master but… this one never formally joined Huan Hua. He can’t be a star disciple as he is only a guest staying for a few.”
The man stiffened, then laughed. “The formalities may have been set aside but Binghe is well loved as if he were indeed at the cusp of becoming head disciple.”
RIP Gongyi Xiao. Ah, truly the woe of being cannon fodder. Not that it was surprising that Gongyi Xiao was having his place ripped from him. That was exactly what had been apparent earlier too.
Gongyi Xiao is ‘cannon fodder’?
Obviously.
Binghe glanced at him. Then what is Shizun?
That doesn’t matt-
[ Answering Host Luo:
Shen Qingqiu assigned role: Scum Villain. ]
You useless hack of a System! You choose now to chime in?
“Hmmm… for such intense looks, neither of you is saying much.”
Shen Qingqiu flicked his attention back to the Old Palace Master. “Luo Binghe has formally requested to come home to Cang Qiong. Forgiveness that we feel it is a personal matter to discuss which continues to be interrupted.”
Binghe quickly followed suit. “It has ever been this one’s desire to return to Shizun’s side. There… seems to have been a miscommunication regarding why he was sent away which led this one on a bit of a strange path.”
“Oh… and what miscommunication was that?”
“This one foolishly thought that he had failed Shizun or angered him. Instead… Shizun realized the potential of a soul bond with this one, and sent him away that he could make his choice freely.” Shizun is NOT a villain. He is not scum.
Binghe…
No. Shizun called this one the protagonist right? Shouldn’t the protagonist be the one to decide titles?
He was pretty sure it didn’t work that way for villains. Not even the author has much sway on that. Not once he was in the world anyway.
“A soul bond?” The Old Palace Master smiled and it creeped Shen Qingqiu right the fuck out. “Ah, to be young and tempted by such foolish ideals.”
Don’t let him touch you. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t say what it was. Something rang absolutely wrong with the look. It seemed almost… greedy and way too buddy buddy.
Yes, Shizun.
Now to get them the hell out of this situation because… regardless of really anything he was not letting Binghe go back with a guy who looked at the pair of them like that. “As it has been established that Luo Binghe was only staying as a guest at Huan Hua, this master and Binghe will be going for the night to discuss matters.”
They didn’t get very far before the honey sweet words of the Old Palace Master reached them. “Huan Hua Palace’s doors will always be open to Luo Binghe, no matter what Peak Lord Shen may try to convince him of otherwise.”
Make me feel like the creep here, thanks.
Shizun is not a scum villain.
Yeah, yeah, save that for later. I am 100% certain we’re going to be followed like this is some b-tier thriller flick.
Does Shizun want this one to get rid of them? The tone, even mentally… had a bit too much anticipation in it. Shen Qingqiu swallowed, glancing at a Luo Binghe who was just out of the Abyss and demon realm.
No, it will only cause more issues. We should stay in public places though.
Shizun is in no danger from them. He has this one’s power to draw on and he is cured of Without-A-Cure.
Oh, that’s not in question. No doubt Luo Binghe could take the entirety of Huan Hua and I guess… since you made the bond both ways I could too. It’s more a… public image thing.
Shizun believes the Old Palace Master may attempt something?
Yeah. How much should be reveal? So far Binghe had been handling what had to be complete blind side punches left and right with remarkable poise. How long would that last though? This master has some details of what he could be doing but it can wait until later. Right now it is more important to get somewhere public where others know where we are and that we aren’t… doing something strange. Fortunately speaking mentally is working quite well so we will have that privacy to adjust since no doubt Binghe must be…
Shen Qingqiu stopped dead, Binghe reaching out to lightly touch his shoulder. Wait… Binghe isn’t angry. Binghe was asking him questions, was following him softly and while those eyes were directly on him Binghe had very effectively ruined his own reputation and had made it so that it would be hell for him to build his harem. Well… at least in the short term but since they were soul bound…
This disciple is plenty angry. The suffocating aura was gone, the creepy smile and tone was gone. Really, at a glance Binghe looked like he was the same sticky disciple following at Shen Qingqiu’s heels.
He narrowed his eyes at the man, considering. But… not at me.
No… not at Shizun. He was only ever angry because he was scared Shizun hated him or was disgusted with him. Shizun is clearly not, for him of all blood bonds, to choose one that would in any way help this one. To have memorized it.
It really wasn’t anything special. This master just found it in the library and thought it was the best one.
There are many blood bonds. Few of them are the kind that give anything in return. All of them could have been cast much earlier if Shizun had been so inclined.
Blood bonds need blood.
Shizun could have easily drawn blood whenever he chose. He ran, rather than fight even when this one lost control.
They probably shouldn’t be standing in the street giving each other odd expressions. Shen Qingqiu still stared at Binghe for a long moment before he began walking again.
Binghe seemed very in control.
This one was not. He was lost in his own fear, his own anger. He hurt Shizun.
I hurt Binghe first. It was understandable that Binghe would want revenge.
This one never wanted revenge. Shen Qingqiu glanced back with a raised eyebrow. Binghe oh so helpfully came up so they walked side by side. He was afraid. He wanted only for Shizun to look at him again, wanted only to be close to Shizun. He didn’t understand why Shizun would push this Binghe away, what this one had done that was so wrong he couldn’t even explain. Now this one knows it wasn’t Shizun’s choice, knows the reason this one ‘had to’ go into the Endless Abyss, and is even able to have a bond with Shizun.
Well, they had certainly achieved a bond now hadn’t they. He supposed it would be the protagonist’s luck that what should have been a huge curse and weak point actually turned out to be a blessing. If Binghe is truly content with such a thing… Though how he had managed to bring about this luck and had managed to partake of it he wasn’t entirely sure. It couldn’t be because of the protagonist luck he’d be effectively leeching off of now. Binghe truly only wanted to come back, even… before?
Yes, Shizun. This one wanted to show that he was a righteous cultivator, that he was powerful and worthy of being Shizun’s student.
Ah, they were back at where Cang Qiong had made their lodging, Mu Qingfang coming out to greet them with a skeptical eye.
Binghe is worthy of so much more. He is worthy of the entire world.
Shen Qingqiu exchanged greetings with Mu Qingfang and just barely held his mask together at the quiet, highly amused thought from Binghe of: Now who’s using lines meant for lovers.
It turned out that Liu Qingge had come by and very briskly informed Mu Qingfang of the situation in between hauling in pretty much anyone he thought would give him a bit of a fight for something or another. Shen Qingqiu’s extended version did not do anything to calm Mu Qingfang’s quiet alarm.
Like Liu Qingge however, it took only a quick check of their qi to confirm it.
Mu Qingfang’s eyes widened as he continued to check over Shen Qingqiu though. “Shen-shixiong’s condition…”
“Hmmm, it appears to have been a side effect of the soul bond snapping into place, or perhaps the explosion of qi afterwards.”
The man actually smiled, reaching out to lightly touch both their shoulders. “This one will be happy then, for the two of you. Though, he does ask that Luo-shishu stay close, and not let Shen-shixiong do anything so foolish as to try and deny a soul bond again.”
Binghe bowed. “This one promises. Now that it is like this, he would not have it any other way.”
Shen Qingqiu flicked out his fan, drifting away and he tried to cool himself. He wasn’t entirely sure when the room had become so warm but it really was quite the annoyance. Why is it that everyone just accepts ‘oh, by the way we’re ‘soul mates’ without questioning that anyway? Blood bonds aren’t unheard of.
Blood bonds are rarely beneficial or welcomed by both parties. It is usually about dominating one or the other, but what Shizun gave this one was equal ground. Binghe caught up with him, placing a hand between Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder blades. Besides, is it truly so hard for Shizun to believe that we could be soul mates? It certainly seems to this one that for even an equal blood bond the combination has been extensive.
Shen Qingqiu nearly felt himself cough up blood. Of course not! What a ridiculous idea. That he could be Binghe’s soul mate. Binghe didn’t have a soul mate, or at least it was never brought up, never a bond that called to him or a red thread of fate that ran before him twisted and turning. Binghe is meant to be the master of a harem that numbers hundreds! He is meant to have the entire world at his feet. How could he be held back by this master being his soul mate?
It was Binghe’s turn to miss a step. “What!?” Ignoring that they had managed to get the attention of literally every person in the room, Binghe swung Shen Qingqiu around, placing both hands on his elbows. “Shizun could never hold this one back. His only dream is to be by Shizun’s side.” I do not have, nor want a harem let alone one that is so grossly extensive.
Shen Qingqiu stared for a long moment. “Oh…” Because… that… that couldn’t be… That is so far off from… but… but there’s no… His gaze cut to the side oh so briefly, looking for a System pop up. A warning or alarm or something…
Shizun said System couldn’t force him to do things anymore.
Oh that’s right. He had said that hadn’t he. He’d crowed it to the System actually. He’d… he really could be that far off the plot. He could be, because he didn’t have to adhere to the plot anymore. He could actively change it and there was nothing the System could do about it without also dragging down the protagonist. The protagonist that actually didn’t hate him.
“Shizun?” Binghe stepped forward, circling his arms around. “Forgiveness! This disciple didn’t meant to-”
He… he ruined Shen Qingqiu’s aloof cultivator image in a moment. He did it by huffing a slight chuckle. Then another. Then another until they started building on each other until he was actually laughing. His arms snaked around Binghe, hugging this precious man who did deserve the world close. Binghe is amazing.
It took a moment before Binghe responded, seemingly frozen stiff. His hug was crushing. Thanking Shizun for his praise.
[ Satisfaction Points +500 ]
Thank you System, but please leave us alone for a while.
[ System entering muted state at Host Luo’s request ]
Well look at that. The System really did give way to the protagonist. The protagonist that was hugging him back while everyone stared and Mu Qingfang looked on with a slight smile and… and maybe this would be okay.
Then please allow this master to stay by Binghe’s side. He may not know the future anymore, but he does still know quite a bit about the world.
Always, Shizun.