Chapter Text
For all the ways Shen Qingqiu managed to make himself appear bigger and stronger than those he looked down upon. Truly, Shen Jiu was such a fragile little thing. It went against all of Binghe's childhood fears, to see the man appear so weak and human-like. How he'd always looked down on others, never looking up at them. Facing opponents head-on without ever flinching.
As if he were unbeatable and without fear. Shen Jiu had managed to project a number of illusions over the years. Growing up, Binghe had unsurprisingly fallen for most of them. Even after crawling his way back up and out of the abyss, there was a sort of dread that bloomed behind his ribcage at the thought of facing off against his Shizun. What sword could possible cut a man like that.
Binghe had never voiced these concerns out loud. Had taken his time preparing, creating a backdrop for their inevitable reunion and coming together. Their back and forth was not insignificant. They managed to stretch out their final moments before everything finally came to a head. Like the snapping of a bowstring, held too taught between nimble fingers.
Unlike all the fears Binghe had concocted in his own head. Fears a man of his strength and experience should never have. Shen Jiu fell easily. Too simply. It wasn't even right to say he'd fallen under Binghe's hands. It had been the accumulation of two many things in the final battle. Nevertheless, at the end of it all, Binghe had been the victor and Shen Jiu had been Binghe's to do with as he pleased.
They didn't talk for the first month Shen Jiu was held captive. Not a single word passed between the two of them. Brutal conversation that had torn at each other out on the battlefield, had dispersed the second they left the field. Like mist brushing through fingers spread too wide to hold any of it in. Everything that had existed within their dynamic until that point, disappeared.
What made them, well, them. From their scathing remarks to their bitter arguments, neither of them seemed to be able to find it within themselves to continue on with it. So, a month managed to pass like that. Nobody was ever privy to how they moved on from this change in their dynamic, but it eventually shifted once again. Their loud arguments could be heard from the other side of the estate without even trying to listen in.
Yet, not all of their discussions ended in such an explosive disaster. Shen Jiu didn't need to eat in the way normal mortals did, but he still enjoyed food. Nobody knows what he gives up for it, but when he's good, Binghe hand delivers him a bowl of fruit. Cut up by hand into easy to pick at small cubes. Juice dripping from them, fresher than the food anyone else receives.
The medic Binghe employs, has the most first hand accounts of what goes on between them. Her young face always so animated as she explains what she saw as she tended to their prisoner. How easily his skin bruises and how he always tried to dismiss her. Binghe never pushed for her to stay if she's dismissed. Not caring if Shen Jiu is attended to or not.
Guards are typically stationed around Shen Jiu's room. Though Binghe had off-handedly mentioned that Shen Jiu was never going to attempt to escape. So, no one really knew what they were there for. But nobody pushed to find out too hard, it's the easiest job anyone can have handed to them that day. As long as Binghe is in a good mood on top of that, it's the least confrontational as well.
One of the guards had watched one of Binghe's outbursts early on. Had detailed the way Binghe had wrapped his hand around Shen Jiu's neck, holding it in place as Shen Jiu's back bowed. Fingers pressed up against Shen Jiu's jaw as he spoke words only Shen Jiu could hear. Quiet and intimate. Forcing Shen Jiu's mouth open with a few of his fingers, Binghe had torn his own palm up and watched the blood dribble down into Shen Jiu's open mouth.
It hadn't been something Shen Jiu physically struggled against. Nothing he could've done would've stopped Binghe. Who'd been so irate about something, that despite his confidence that Shen Jiu wasn't planning on escaping, fed him his blood anyway. Solidifying the fact that Binghe would always know where Shen Jiu is from that point on even if he were to try escaping.
"Did you see those bruises? Who knew a cultivator could be so delicate?"
The guard had been leaning up against a wall down some random hallway. His words were spoken to the other guard who he'd been on duty with, who hadn't dared to look in the room like the man opposite him had. Smoke curled up from the pipe the guard was smoking out of. Features looking oddly confident. An almost self-assured smile had taken residence across his aged features.
"Would love to get my hands on him, personally. That emperor of ours visits at pretty set times each day, I think I could-,"
Materializing behind the man like a burst of smoke. Dark and dense, without the guard even suspecting a thing. Cutting his sentence of short as he made quick work at killing the man. Not even removing his sword from his waist to do it, simply using a single hand to crush the delicate neck under his grip. Weak. Pathetic. Disposed of without a second thought, like he was nothing.
A young guard had been working with him, he'd watched as Binghe had materialized. It wasn't his fault that he'd been privy to that older mans ramblings, he hadn't even fed into the mans fantasies or interest. Unfortunately, that type of innocence didn't amount to much when it came to Binghe. He'd still heard what that man had to say, and that wasn't something Binghe was going to allow.
Shen Jiu's delicate nature was Binghe's own to see and to contribute to. He'd felt the mans soft skin underneath his callused, rough hands. Had watched the way the man would bruise if Binghe held onto him, even if only for the shortest amount of time with minimal strength. His Shizun would never wince or complain, but the evidence on his body always caught Binghe's fancy.
Days after that event, bruised handprints had still been visible across the expanse of Shen Jiu's neck. They'd clearly had a better conversation that day because Shen Jiu was snacking on bite sized pieces of peaches. Juice dripped down from his lips, making them shine with gloss as a dribble of juice rolled down his neck. Shen Jiu was sat politely, while Binghe leant against the wall just beside the doorway.
No guards where within earshot as Shen Jiu said, "you're a pervert."
He wasn't even looking over at Binghe when he said it. Not needing to, when he could feel Binghe's eyes staring at him so intently. Well, more like he was staring that hard at the bruises around his neck. Remnants of their encounter from the other day. Still lingering on his pale skin, taking its time to completely fade away. It had always seemed to captivate Binghe.
When they'd come to blows, Binghe had been able to see welts and bruises rise on Shen Jiu's skin. They hadn't always been so close, physically, so it hadn't been something that Binghe had picked up on immediately. Now though, Binghe often found it hard to drag his eyes away. Shen Jiu did often think it gave him some form of perverse pleasure, seeing his bruised and marked up.
Perhaps that was part of it. Truly though, it made Binghe feel conflicted. Like he'd always believed growing up, his Shizun was tougher and stronger than anyone else. He was beyond capable and wouldn't easily fall underneath anyone's heel. His skin had always appeared pristine, like nobody could ever truly touch him. Yet, here he was, and would remain, marked up under Binghe's care.
"In here," Binghe started mumbling to himself, Shen Jiu almost didn't catch his words, "No one will lay a hand on you."
Binghe could still remember that final battle. Could recall that someone else had gotten to his Shizun first. Shen Jiu hadn't been in peak condition when he'd come to catch Binghe's eye. It was an inevitable end he found himself at. Honestly, he'd actually believed he would die there. Under Binghe's hands. But that wasn't how it had ended, and he shockingly continued to live today.
Complicated was the easiest way to define their relationship. Newer additions to the palace and armies often understood it as those two being mortal enemies. Hating each other, one having suffered through his childhood and the other now suffering under imprisonment. How could two men like that ever come to an understanding. It was simply black and white for them.
Those who'd been around for some time had more nuanced takes on it. Not believing them to be on particularly good terms, but there was something there between them. It was unhealthy, whatever it was, bordering on obsession. Maybe even going further than that, something that became all consuming. Neither of them had a clear head when it came to dealing with the other.
Now, what Shen Jiu received rewards for, was handing over military information. Binghe hadn't expected it to be easy. Even when he hadn't physically struggled out of his hold when he'd given him his blood forcibly. Shen Jiu had still spat on the floor, knowing it wouldn't change anything, just to show that he wasn't easily swallowing just anything Binghe gave him.
Shockingly, Shen Jiu hadn't really seemed to hold much back from Binghe in this regard though. They weren't closely guarded secrets. He wasn't going down kicking and screaming in order to protect anyone. On those nights, Shen Jiu would recall things from memory. Attempting to piece together campaigns to better advise on a person's battle tactics, whether it was someone he fought with or against.
What could be considered "selling out" comrades would suggest there was anything between him and the Peak Lords he'd existed alongside. Not a single one of them had come to his aid. No one tried to save him, to bring him back to Cang Qiong Mountain or his own peak. He'd been abandoned. Left in Binghe's care. It's not like they didn't suspect what would happen to him in Binghe's care either.
He didn't do what he did out of spite. Binghe doesn't actually quite know why Shen Jiu offers this information up. But it's helped him in numerous battles, and Binghe has progressed further and far easier then he could've ever imagined. Nobody ever stands a chance against him. What he knows in advance though, helps him to move his army better. In a more advantageous way.
A war room discussion was underway. There wasn't many of them present. Never needed to be because usually Binghe handed his information over to Mobei-Jun, who then in turn, spread the information throughout the ranks. Binghe didn't have much direct contact with anyone under him. Not unless it was his two immediate right hand men. A term that didn't quite capture what Mobei-Jun and Sha Hualing were but it sufficed.
His mindless musings were cut short when Sha Hualing leant his way and whispered, "Are you going to see him after?"
It was obvious who she meant, "He's usually walking at this time-,"
While it was true that Binghe had permitted Shen Jiu to walk around. Binghe had still focused in and using his demon blood, tried to pinpoint exactly where Shen Jiu was. He'd injured his ankle (Binghe's fault) so he might've gone back in earlier or was taking longer because he was slower. Neither one of those options accounted for the fact that Binghe could see Shen Jiu wasn't even in his near vicinity.
There were no words spared. Binghe didn't announce his departure or excuse himself, he simply stood up and left the room. Sha Hualing for a second thought she'd said something to set him off, Mobei-Jun waved away those worried and moved to wrap up the meeting. The two of them followed Binghe out not long after, finding him stalking down the hallway quicker than they'd ever seen.
A guard caught Binghe's eye and before anyone knew it, the guard was being pressed up against the wall. He looked tiny with Binghe looming over him like that. A vision of darkness, enveloping around this poor, unsuspecting guard. Eyes wide and more than a little frightened. Struggling on instinct before trying to settle himself, he already knew he couldn't escape.
"Where is he?"
Unlike with Sha Hualing, this guard didn't instantly know who that referred to, "Where's who, your highness?"
"My- Shen Jiu." Binghe cut himself off, finishing a little more uncertain then he'd started his outburst.
"We're just going to swap over with the previous guards."
"Our shifts haven't changed over yet, we haven't seen Shen Jiu, your highness."
The other guard by his side tried to vouch for the other guard. Explaining that neither of them had seen Shen Jiu yet. Neither of them knew where he was or that he'd disappeared. Binghe was frustrated and he wanted to wrap his hands around the demon under his hands. That wouldn't give him any relief though, and he couldn't afford to waste any time.
Pushing the guard aside, Binghe kept going. Momentarily stunned, the guard was supported by the other before they hurried to follow their emperor. As the next shift of guards, they still felt responsible to follow. Not knowing exactly what had happened but still expecting to have to go through with their duty. Mobei-Jun and Sha Hualing weren't far behind.
Bursting into the room the guards usually handed over in. Binghe was already seeing red, it only got worse when he saw the current guards lounging around. Like they didn't have a care in the world. Both of them were talking to each other casually, resting up against the nearest surface. Beyond relaxed. It was only Mobei-Jun's hand holding him back that stopped him from grabbing his sword.
"Oh." An incredibly new guard sat up without rush, "Didn't expect to see you here so soon, sir."
Before Binghe could speak, Mobei-Jun had stepped forward and asked, "Where is Shen Jiu right now?"
"I don't know?"
Those words were spoken like he truly didn't care. Both of the guards were young and seemingly careless. What Mobei-Jun was picking up on, was unfortunately they seem to be the type to believe things easily. Such as the misconception that Binghe doesn't care about Shen Jiu. Which seems to be leading to neither of them caring about Shen Jiu either. A great mistake.
"What happened, weren't you on watch?" Sha Hualing questioned, genuinely baffled and not suspecting anything just yet.
"He said he needed a moment, we kept walking on and we were going to circle back around to him. By the time we got back, we saw a group of men leaving with him. Though we figured you wouldn't really mind, you can finally be rid of him."
"Your joking." Her voice was full of surprise as she looked between the two guards then over at the two men at her side, "You're not joking?"
The two guards standing back were quite young but not so young that they were naive. They were shocked to hear how careless the two guards before them had been. It also didn't look good for them, if they were going to be left dealing with Binghe in this mood. Not that it was their fault, but they'd be the ones left cleaning up after it all blows up.
For everyone but those useless guards, it was clear they weren't leaving this room alive afterwards as Binghe demanded, "Tell me everything you know."