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Chapter Text

Prologue: Child of the Emperor

Luo Yu’s father does not love him.

To be better put, Luo Yu’s Father only showed a cursory interest in his existence. If anything he is treated like one of his father’s many treasures.

He was an object that belongs to the ruler of this world. Something to be looked at occasionally and kept safe, but ultimately forgotten for the countless other more interesting treasures the Emperor has yet to obtain. There will always be something better his Father’s greed would demand he obtain.

But Luo Yu digressed. None of this matters because Luo Yu is done. He’s done with being one of the many children the Emperor has sired with his ridiculously massive harem. Luo Yu only has to blink and there seems to be three more ‘wives’ crawling around the palace.

Luo Yu found the harem disturbing and tiring. Maybe because his mother had been a part of it before she had died giving birth to him. The idea that his mother may have acted like the countless Emperor obsessed women that lived in the palace was a thought he could not stand.

Luo Yu liked to think that his mother had been tricked into marrying the Emperor. That his Father had swindled her the way he had obviously done with the hundreds of other women that seemed to be hypnotized by his supposed charms.

But the harem doesn't matter. The dozens of siblings that he has don’t matter (all the Emperor’s children fought for their Father’s attention; there was no love between them). Luo Yu has no family in this world built on his Father’s greedy demands for more.

Luo Yu has only ever really seen his Father on one day of each year. It was more than the rest of the Emperor’s children were guaranteed as he was the sole child that permanently resides in the palace. All the rest live with their Mothers in estates or whatever property the Emperor gave them.

With Luo Yu’s mother dead, he is allowed to live in the palace. The servants raised him and the Emperor deigns to visit him one day a year on his birthday. Luo Yu was also the only child to be allowed the surname Luo.

It was a kindness he was told to be grateful for, but each year was the same. The morning of his birthday would come, he would spend the day alone, and then his Father would invite him to dinner.

Luo Yu would never admit it out loud, but his Father was terrifying. At those dinner the Emperor would sit at the end of a long table with narrowed eyes that would stare at Luo Yu. The man would not say anything until halfway through the meal, but it would only be questions about his studies with his tutors. ‘Have you learned to harness your demonic powers properly?’ was always a question the night ended with.

Unfortunately, Luo Yu was apparently defective and had no cool magic demon powers to speak of, much to his Father’s obvious disappointment. So the dinners always ended with his disapproving stares and silent judgment. Before Luo Yu left those dinners, he was given a present.

If it could be called that.

His Father would slit his wrist with a sharp nail and have Luo Yu drink his blood. It was done in the hopes that Luo Yu’s demon blood would awaken with the help of his Father’s. Except, for some reason, it never worked. His tutors had explained that they believe it is an issue with his age, and that once his body had hit his demonic puberty or whatever; the blood would activate his and all would be well.

Except Luo Yu didn’t want his blood to activate. He didn’t want to be like his demonic siblings who had no issue awakening or controlling their demonic powers. Luo Yu wanted only one thing.

A family.

His Father did not care about him. The harem members could be kind, but none of them liked him as he represented how unstable their positions were. The servants were mostly demons, and demons love nothing from what he’d seen. Luo Yu has no one.

But that was going to change.

He was 11 years old today, and he had just had his obligatory birthday/blood drinking/dinner party with his dear old Dad. His Father has been even more disinterested in his existence than usual. Fiddling with a new braid in his hair and staring into the distance with a dark gaze.

He never once looked Luo Yu directly in the eyes. It was the final straw in a long list of disappointments. So Long Yu was leaving the palace to find a place to call home.

He wasn’t stupid enough to think he would find a family or friends. He was a child who nobody wanted. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t find a mountain and learn the one thing his Father had banned him from learning.

Cultivation.

It was a whispered word that had haunted Luo Yu since he had heard of it. Nearly anyone could learn it if they had the aptitude, but it was something his Father declared pointless since he had demonic powers that were ‘far superior’. Fortunately, the palace library was full of all sorts of novels one should never read. Bestiaries, erotica, history, and most importantly cultivation manuals.

They were locked up, but Luo Yu had always been clever. No one ever truly paid him attention so he easily took all the time he needed over the years to figure out how to obtain them.

Now, with the contraband of many books from the library and his few prized possessions, he left the Emperor’s palace in the dead of night in search of a cool mountain with the beautiful scenery he had read of in his studies.

Little did he know that this decision would not only lead him to finding a family. It would lead his Father to learn some lessons, he had spent too long living without.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: How to Win Big with Transmigration ft. System Error

Shen Yuan would like to thank God for his inherent lazy nature as it lead him to eat that moldy yogurt in his fridge.

Sure, it killed him, but the pros so far had far outweighed the cons. Which is not at all something he had imagined himself saying when he thought of any kind of transmigration scenario in his previous life.

To start at the beginning, Shen Yuan’s amazing transmigration experience began the day that his favorite and most hated web novel, PIDW, had updated its last chapter. Thinking back to it, Shen Yuan could still feel the utter rage he had felt when that asshole Airplane-Shooting-Towards-the-Sky had written the worst ending to a novel that Shen Yuan’s eyes had been cursed to read.

Plot resolution? No! A satisfying ending? Not even close! That shitty author had left his favorite character Luo Binghe in a state of papapa rinse and repeat garbage. The author stated that Luo Binghe would never find happiness as his road to blackening had led him to a dead end where he was nothing but a cruel, tyrranical leader who had merged the worlds he hated only to be hated in return. The ending had even implied that his so called beloved harem would eventually rise up and plan a coup to kill him and return the world to the way it was before.

Shen Yuan’s eye were burning with rage. Wtf?!! What was the point of thousands of chapters of shitty papapa and harem acquisition if they were all just going to kill him at the end. Luo Binghe wasn’t even happy at the end! He was surrounded by hundreds but alone due to his miserable cycle of self destruction that stemmed from his upbringing by that shitty Shen Qingqiu!!!

There were so many plot holes that Shen Yuan could’ve buried a single member of each of Binghe’s harem in each one and still had plenty of holes to spare! Shen Yuan had never in his life been so utterly enraged by a novel that he had invested so much of his life in. Under the name Peerless-Cucumber. Shen Yuan wrote the most scathing review of his entire life to let that shitty author know that he might at well burn the novel in the same place he had left the plot to rot.

It was as he published his review that he realized that something was wrong. The next thing he knew he was waking up to a field of nothing as a voice spoke above his head.

“UNAUTHORIZED USER DETECTED!! Please standby for reconfigurations!

The nothing surrounded Shen Yuan. Only the computerized voice of what sounded like google translate gave him any idea of what was happening.

“Reconfiguration complete! Welcome UNAUTHORIZED USER: SHEN YUAN! I am the SYSTEM and will be your temporary interface. Your role has already been fulfilled by another USER! Please stand-by for TRANSFER into an available substitute!”

Shen Yuan could only take a second to worry about this before he was abruptly booted into a place where he fell face first into the dirt.

Shen Yuan quickly stood up and shouted, “WTF?!” He looked around and realized he was in a bamboo forest. The bamboo was to the left and right of him as he had apparently landed on a dirt path that led to one of the coolest, if slightly small, mansion Shen Yuan had ever scene. It was the picture perfect image of a wealthy Lord’s private get away home described in many Xianxia novels.

As the SYSTEM seemed to be long gone, Shen Yuan decided to explore. The manor appeared to be two stories and colored with grays and blues that complimented the surrounding bamboo scenery. There seemed to be a path that led to a river near the right of the small manor. Behind the manor was a garden. It was separated into two sides. Crops to the right and a collection of beautiful flowers to the left.

Past the garden was even a small lotus pond that was beautiful in its serenity. Shen Yuan thought that it looked like the perfect place to read or take a nap near. Especially with that large willow tree that was situated close to it.

Walking over to the pond. Shen Yuan looked at his face in the water’s reflection. To Shen Yuan’s slight disappointment he looked largely the same as before he had...transmigrated? At least that was what Shen Yuan is largely suspecting his situation entails. His facial features were the same, but his hair seemed to have grown longer. It reached to about midway down his back now when previously his hair had been neatly cropped short. He also had new clothes. He wore soft blue robes that were straight out of an ancient Chinese novel. It even had like seven layers.

‘It it was summer, I would bake in these.’ Shen Yuan was greatful for the apparent Autumn weather this place had. Shen Yuan wandered a bit more before deciding to enter the mansion and hopefully figure out just where he had ended up.

Five minutes later, Shen Yuan was reading a very modern look note that was apparently from the SYSTEM that had booted him here to begin with. With a grin that seemed to grow as he read the letter, Shen Yuan realized his luck had never been higher than today.

SYSTEM: UNAUTHORIZED USER SHEN YUAN. Due to a an unknown ERROR, you have been gifted the rights to HAU MOUNTAIN. This special gift has been allotted to you as you have been misplaced into the post novel scene of user’s favorite novel: PROUD IMMORTAL DEMON WAY. Original position of USER: SHEN JIU, has already been selected. Due to the harrowing land of this novel’s setting, the higher ups have granted you (1) ward protected mountain!! CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Important things should be said three times!! This mountain comes with the Shen Estate that is equipped with (1) manor home! Please be sure to upkeep your new land and home. This SYSTEM would also like to announce that UNAUTHORIZED USER:SHEN YUAN has been gifted a body that is full of cultivation!!! Please work hard to progress your skills with the aid of the Shen Manor Library!! All knowledge you may need can be found there. This lucky USER has been gifted a wealthy amount of funds to live out his days happily!! WARNING: Due to the amazing amount of generous gifts, UNAUTHORIZED USER:SHEN YUAN will receive no further help from the SYSTEM!! The mountain is warded to only allow permitted visitors, and it is highly recommended that UNAUTHORIZED USER: SHEN YUAN stay within these wards as the world he has trasnsmigrated into is a DANGER CATEGORY 5!! Good luck!!!!

Shen Yuan was slightly conerned with the danger category 5 line, but that didn’t matter!! Shen Yuan got an entire mountain to himself! No more poor health and wimpy mortal body. Shen Yuan was now a immortal(?) cultivator! Who needed to leave the mountain when he had super powers to level up and the a library of books to read. He was living his millennial dream! Why would he possibly want to leave?

Shen Yuan had a brief thought that since he was in the setting of PIDW, that meant that his favorite character Luo Binghe was the ruler of his new world and they could possibly meet. (To see Luo Binghe in person?! Shen Yuan would die before admitted that seeing the OP protagonist in person would be amazing cool. Who wouldn’t want to meet the man who was so beautiful he had a harem of over 600 women??) Shen Yuan quickly dismissed the thought. When the novel ended. The shitty author had implied that one day in the future, the harem would rise up to shank Luo Binghe, and Shen Yuan wanted none of that.

‘None of that has to do with me’, Shen Yuan thought, ‘maybe I can leave the mountain when the world is back to being separated? I’m sure it’ll be safer by then and maybe Binghe will have some super cool memorial so I can still see what he looked like.’ Shen Yuan shook his head and wiped an imaginary tear for his poor favorite protagonist, but quickly was distracted by idea of exploring his new home.

***
It would be a long time before Shen Yuan would ever leave Hua Mountain. The event would only take place some time after a little boy with fluffy hair stumbled into Shen Yuan’s private world and smashed the peaceful life to pieces.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: The Woes of Camping

Luo Yu had to admit. He may have been slightly in over his head when he decided to run away from the palace.

Not that he regretted it! He just had never really left the palace before. The only times he had been allowed to leave was when some of the nicer harem members had taken pity on the child and taken him to town with them. He was allowed to explore as they finished their tasks, but no one would talk to him as his status was made apparent by his robes. So despite being fun, the trips never made him feel any less lonely.

But loneliness didn’t matter right now. Luo Yu was beginning to realize the novels he had read in the palace library did not accurately depict the world he was currently wandering. It was as if there were two sceneries. In one you had a fiery scene of lava and stone in the other a picturesque scene of nature. Now take those images and combine them. As Luo Yu travelled down the road. He would see beautiful green fields meld into burnt earth next to a river full of lava. Even the sky would be a pretty blue in some areas and a moldy yellow in others. Near the palace it stayed a solid blue color so it was oddly disorienting. He had never properly been outside so he had no memories to compare it to. Yet, Luo Yu could not help but feel in his heart that the world just did not meld the way it should.

Not that it mattered! Even with the weird scenery. There were still plenty of areas where the world looked exactly how his stolen old map and books said they should. In fact, he had seen a super cool lake with massive fish in it just a day ago! The water had even tasted good (despite the odd creature that he had been careful to avoid drinking from it as well). His destination was the Zise mountain range which was the farthest mountain range on his map.

It had been three days since Luo Yu had left the palace. He may have underestimated the amount of food and water he would need to get to the Zise mountains. Hence why he took the opportunity to drink from the lake when he’d had the chance. Luo Yu had also, maybe, underestimated the life that is sleeping outdoors. He had brought his favorite blankets so he thought he’d be fine. And he was!

The first night.

At first it had been neat to find one of the unmarred forests along the path to find a tree to sleep under. This was an adventure and Luo Yu was amazed by the idea of sleeping under the stars. He fell asleep quickly after getting settled into his soft blankets. The night that Luo Yu ran away from the palace was a day full of excitement and anxiety so he was naturally exhausted by the end of it.

The second night was not so kind. He had woken up to a bug crawling across his arm. (Luo Yu would never admit to the shrill scream that had left his mouth). He had quickly gathered his things and (ran) walked away quickly from the forest. The day involved staring at the strange scenery, finding the lake, trying to figure out what creatures he passed were normal or demonic, and following the path that should take him to the mountains farthest away (from his Father). The day was tiring but Luo Yu’s constitution was good. When he laid down to sleep beside a log in a grassy field, he realized he couldn’t fall asleep.

The ground was also very uncomfortable.

Luo Yu’s blankets which had once been fluffy and soft were now covered in dirt. He’d shaken them out as best he could, but the dirt still made his skin feel quite itchy. Nature was also very loud. Whenever Luo Yu thought he might finally fall asleep, the sound of a cricket would go off near his ear or the cry of some beast in the distance would slightly (scare) startle him. It took a very long time for Luo Yu to finally fall asleep.

The third and current day is when Luo Yu woke up to the idea that maybe the mountains weren’t as close as the map made it seem. He was a sheltered child who had no real concept for things like time or distance. It was why he packed his food and water supplies as if he would be on a weeks journey. The map was indicating he wasn’t even close after three days!!

Luo Yu was beginning to realise something that almost all children who ran away from home learned. Life is hard when you’re not being taken care of.

Luo Yu was still somewhat prepared. He had brought survival books to let him know what plants were good to eat and how to build a shelter. He would be fine as long as he never gave up! He had even brought a tarp in case it rained. He also may not be getting close to the mountains that were farthest away from the Demon Lord’s Palace (which was built using the Huan Hua palace after Luo Binge claimed it for himself), but he was getting close to the Huan Hua mountain range.

Despite there probably being many mountains that Luo Yu could find suitable for his cultivation needs, it would all be pointless if his Father could easily find him. He didn’t expect something like this to (possibly) occur until his Father came looking for him on his 12th birthday. Not even the servants would notify his Father of his absence as he had told them months ago that he no longer needed their help and the tutors already been temporarily dismissed until his Demon blood was awoken. But better safe than sorry! His Father may hate him, but he was still greedy about his things and wouldn’t let anything slip through his fingers for long unless he allowed it.

The Huan Hua mountain range was beginning to look more and more appealing as time went on though. The third night of sleeping in the wilderness was the worst yet as the only area he found suitable for sleep was a barren wasteland of dead earth and ash far too close to what looked like a geyser of acid(?!). He was bundled in his dirty blankets in an alcove formed by rocks when it had begun to rain said acid. Luo Yu let out a cry of dismay.

‘This wasn’t what the books described!’ Luo Yu wanted to cry. What happened to the beautiful rainfall and cool storms filled with lightning? This was just death waiting to melt him. Luo Yu quietly trembled as he watched a small lizard race from a distance outside his rock den get slowly eroded by the rain as it tried desperately to reach the safety the rocks provided. As it got close the poor creature was clearly dying and it hobbled its way to the den’s entrance before collapsing a foot away.

Luo Yu didn’t think before he quickly stuck out his hand to grab the lizards tail to drag it to safety. Pain! Was the first thought that crossed his mind, but he powered through it and managed to get the lizard inside. His arm was burnt from the rain. Fortunately Luo Yu seemed to have inherited something from his Father as it quickly healed itself. Still, the pain had startled something in him and he was quite upset with the new experience. He glanced down at the lizard he had saved.

It was already dead

Luo Yu didn’t realise he had made a broken hiccuping noise until he felt warm water slide down his face. He then began to cry in earnest.

This wasn’t how the stories went! Luo Yu was supposed to have rescued the lizard. The creature would be incredibly grateful and then he would have a friend to travel with him. Luo Yu wasn’t supposed to get hurt by acid rain. He was supposed to be at the Zise mountain range by now. Practicing cultivation and making a new life for himself. He covered his head with his blanket and turned away from the corpse of the lizard.

He didn’t stop crying until he fell asleep.

****
Luo Yu awoke to blue skies and a distinct lack of acid rain. The scenery looked slightly better, and he quickly gathered his things to leave. (He carefully did not look at the corpse of the lizard).

As he walked, he did some thinking. Luo Yu’s mood was not good and his dwindling supplies did not help. Something last night had crushed a bit of his naive dreams, and he realized that at the rate he was going; he would not reach the Zise mountains. That didn’t mean he was giving up! Luo Yu gained a glint of determination in his eyes. He would just have to adjust his plans. Instead of traveling non stop he would temporarily stay somewhere in the Huan Hua mountain range. There would still be a mountain where he could cultivate so it worked out!

Luo Yu nodded thoughtfully to himself as he nibbled on his food. He would find a mountain soon, build a home in a cave or out of branches (like the book described!), and then he would learn to cultivate. The Huan Hua mountain range was sure to be full of many creatures. When they saw how diligently he cultivated, they would be amazed and all want to be his friends. The lizard had passed tragically, but Luo Yu would be sure to protect any future creatures he came across. Once he was strong enough, he would continue his journey to the Zise mountains to set up a more permanent home.

Luo Yu finished his food and looked at the map. According to his now much better map reading skills, he should be at the foot of the mountains by tonight! He glanced up over the map and, sure enough, he could clearly see the mountains in the distance.

As the day passed, the mountains grew taller. Luo Yu had not realized just how tall mountains were. And as they grew taller and taller, a thought occurred to him.

‘How does one go about climbing a mountain?’

****
Meanwhile, on a mountain not too far from where Luo Yu was walking, Shen Yuan looked at his garden in consternation. It had been years since he transmigrated, and yet he still had the hardest time growing food without resorting to using cultivation. (Cultivation really was the fix it for any situation and the reason why Shen Yuan hadn’t starved himself to death. Thank you shitty Airplane bro for doing at least one thing helpful).

Shen Yuan shook his head. He may suck at gardening, but he had all the time in the world to master it. (RIP:electronics, those precious time wasters, Shen Yuan misses you dearly). Boredom was the enemy, and Shen Yuan was a pro at keeping busy. Whether by reading or gardening, he kept himself entertained. He wasn’t lonely. (He didn’t miss his fa-). As Shen Yuan plucked weeds from his garden and resigned himself to using cultivation to keep his dumb plants alive, he had a thought.

‘If nothing else, it’s still quite peaceful’.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Millennial Man gains (1)Small Child

Shen Yuan may have underestimated how much work it is to stay alive without the helpful wonders of modern day technology.

Clothing needed to be washed and dried by hand, food had to be grown and picked from the garden, the house and paths did not not miraculously keep themselves clean so regular sweeping was a must (RIP Luo Roomba. Shen Yuan missed it so much). On the plus side, the manor was everything he could’ve dreamed of. It had many bedrooms, fully equipped with a variety of robes for all ages. (From what Shen Yuan could tell the home had been intended to hold a family with at least 3 children). The main rooms to note were the library, weapons storeroom, general storeroom, and the kitchen.

The library was where Shen Yuan spent most of his time. It was, without a doubt, the largest room in the manor. It held such an incredible variety of books that it would take lifetimes for him to read it all. In fact, Shen Yuan had made this his current life’s goal. One of the most interesting books he had found was the Shen Estate Family History.

Any questions, Shen Yuan had ever had about his new body were answered by this book. The Shen Family was an ancient one that dated back centuries in this PIDW setting. Why had Shen Yuan never heard of such a prominent family while reading the novel? Well, it turned out he had. According to the family tree there was a side branch of the Shen branch that had fallen into poverty. The book listed all the members of said branch and it ended with one name.

Shen Jiu.

The implication that he and that bastard Shen Quingqiu were somehow cousins(?) now, was not an idea that Shen Yuan wanted to dwell on. (And If Shen Yaun was somehow related to Shen Jiu here while having the same appearance from his last life. Did that mean that somewhere in modern times, Shen Yuan had a relative named Shen Jiu? It was possible. Shen Yuan had tons of relatives he had never cared to meet, and his family had always been too preoccupied with their business to bother with any Shen Family reunions). No. Nope! The connection really didn’t matter when Shen Jiu was already well dead and gone à la human stick.

Shen Yuan’s new body had descended from the main branch who were the current wealthy owners of his shiny, new magic mountain. There were no relatives for Shen Yuan to worry about having to act in character for. Much like Shen Jiu, he was the last name of his branch. It seemed that when Luo Binghe had merged the worlds in his fit of OP protagonist fury; he had inadvertently killed off the remaining Shen Clan members.

From what Shen Yuan understood, from a very convenient journal made by his current body, (who was also conveniently named Shen Yuan) the original goods had been grief stricken by the loss of his family and booked it to the Shen manor to live out his days in seclusion. The original goods refused to accept a world that had killed off his family. He stayed in his home and mourned the memories of the family he had loved so dearly.

Shen Yuan thought it was all very tragic, but it reeked of Airplane Bro’s shitty plot holes.

One man's loss was another man's gain, Shen Yuan supposed. Now he had cool manor with no real issues to worry about. As long as he never left the manor; nothing could go wrong.

The wards protecting Hua mountain was another interesting thing he had researched. The mountains wards would only answer to Shen Yuan. No one could enter without his say. It even had a safety clause! If at any point Shen Yuan let someone in but came to regret it, all he would have to do is uninvite them and they would be instantly booted from the mountain. It was all too good to be true, and Shen Yuan suspected the SYSTEM’s interference with most of it.

Viva là System!

All of this information had been found within the first year of living on the mountain. It had been many years since then, and although there had been many trials with chores, (why the fuck was gardening so hard?!) Shen Yuan had spent most of his time becoming a grand master cultivator.

That’s right! Shen Yuan had a beautiful golden core that would ensure his immortal youth and a variety of skills. While the manor was equipped with a weapons storeroom, swordplay was honestly a lost cause for him. Instead, he had found a much more interesting selection of weapons to occupy his time.

Fans.

What?! If he was going to be an old mountain hermit, he may as well look the part. The fans made him look quite cultured, and they really were kick-ass weapons. The sheer amount of wind related cultivation techniques he had painstakingly mastered were well worth the time and effort.

Not to say he has absolutely no use for a sword. Did you think Shen Yuan would pass up the opportunity to have his own portable flying accessory? Hell no! What was the point of living in PIDW if he didn’t take advantage of all the cool magical objects?! He had already missed out on all the barely there plot.

(How cute would it have been to seen Luo Binghe as a cute white lotus. Shen Yuan weeps at the missed opportunity. That cute disciple was long gone and blackened.)

As the years had passed, Shen Yuan had truly made himself comfortable in his new life. He was adept at running his manor, and he learned something new everyday. He was living the dream. If Shen Yuan had any real complaints it would be over one issue.

He was lonely.

It wasn’t a crippling kind of loneliness. It was just rather boring to have absolutely no one else to talk to. The one time his solitude had pushed him to fly to the bottom of the mountain to see what lay beyond his new home had led him to a shocking discovery.

From inside the wards, the scenery surrounding the mountain appeared to be covered by a layer of misty fog. There was no telling what lay beyond the wards unless one went to the base of the mountain. The fog seemed to clear up, and you could see the surrounding environment. Curious, Shen Yuan had investigated and what had he found?

Fucking volcanoes!!

Wtf?! Shen Yuan had internally screamed. (Possibly externally too). Why were there volcanoes surrounding his mountain?! What kind of dumb logi- Shen Yuan paused and thought of one name.

Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky!

It must be a consequence of the world merging that hack author had written about towards the end of the novel. Inside the mountain barrier, the world was green and beautiful. Even the sky displayed a normal variety of colors consisting of mainly blue, but outside the barrier it was completely different. The sky’s color was so wrong it looked almost rotten.

The volcanoes surrounding the mountain weren’t technically active and yet there were still cracks filled with lava? Shen Yuan was pretty sure that wasn’t how volcanoes worked, but this is the kind of thing that happens when you transmigrate into a half-baked novel full of garbage.

Needless to say, Shen Yuan decided the outside world wasn’t something worth worrying about. Inside the barrier was nice and safe. The mountain was massive. The sheer amount of territory to explore and wander would keep Shen Yuan busy for a very long time. The barrier even allowed plenty of space for him to zoom around the sky on his sword if he felt inclined. Which he did. Often.

The mountain was also alive with wildlife. Animals and plants of unknown species reside all over the mountain. Nothing truly harmful would be allowed through the wards so this wasn’t a concern. Shen Yuan could live out his dream of observing and studying all sorts of strange creatures! He would have been interested in the plants, but he was wary. If PIDW was known for one thing, it would be the sheer amount of aphrodisiac inducing vegetation.

Shen Yuan wanted none of that.

So there was cultivation to be maintained, books to be read, and bestiaries to be written. Shen Yuan was great. Who needed friends and family when there was knowledge to be obtained! He was living his best life, and nothing would get in the way of that.

****
Luo Yu was living his worst life. It seemed like Fate was working against him at nearly every turn.

Luo Yu had reached the base of the Huan Hua mountains at nightfall. It was here that his newly curated plans from the morning shattered into a million pieces. There had been foreshadowings of this outcome along the road to this point. The dead earth, acidic environment, and the color of the sky had progressively gotten worse as Luo Yu had walked. He looked up at the mountains he had so painstakingly traveled to and despaired.

Where were the beautiful mountains?!

These mountains were terrible! Dead trees, a malignant atmosphere, and a hazy orange glow from… was that lava?! No friendly creatures would willingly live here. From what he could see, not a single one of these mountains was suitable for cultivation.

The path he was walking continued to wind its way between two mountains. The stone walls seemed to go up for forever, and the mountain peaks were long out of view beyond the corrupt looking sky. Even the clouds were black, and Luo Yu would bet all his supplies that they would rain acid if given the chance.

In a fit of despair and frustration, he flung himself at the nearest mountain wall near the path and beat his fists against the rocks. It wasn’t until his tiny hands were starting to bleed did he stop. Wiping away budding frustrated tears, Luo Yu decided that none of it mattered.

So what if these mountains sucked? It wasn’t like the Huan Huan mountains were his real destination anyway. It was the Zise mountains that he was heading to. Those mountains were sure to be far better than these stupid, ugly ones.

Luo Yu was quite cheered by these thoughts and decided that he would continue on the path despite it being nightfall. He was no longer tired so it would be fine. Besides there really wasn’t anywhere nearby that was suitable for a place to sleep. He would walk until he found a cave or shelter along the path and then rest.

The change of plans meant he would need to come up with a means to obtain more food and water. He had maybe three days left of supplies, but Luo Yu suspected that going through the mountain range would take all of them. The mountains were barren so no vegetation meant no food. He would have to wait to see what nature lay beyond these awful rock monstrosities before he could really come up with a solid plan.

(A small voice in his head pointed out that all the world may be dead from this point on, but Luo Yu quickly dismissed it. After all, why would his Father allow the world he ruled to wither away?)

For now, he walked along the mountain path. Sure his plans kept changing, but the ultimate goal was still in sight! Everything was going to be fine.

****

Nothing was fine!

Luo Yu ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He had (unknowingly) been extremely lucky in his travels up until this point.

In the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way, the citizens knew two things. One: that the world was now extremely dangerous and the landscape continuously uncertain. Two: NEVER travel anywhere after dark. Powerful Demonic creatures awakened in search of prey.

Luo Yu was not aware of these common facts. Living in the palace had kept him away from all harm. Why would anyone need to tell him about life in the outdoors yet? The prince would never have to worry about such matters.

(The residents of the palace and even the Emperor himself had assumed that Luo Yu’s demonic heritage would be well in effect before he ever left his home.)

Back to the current matter, Luo Yu had been extremely lucky up until this point. That luck had clearly run out when he had arrived at the base of these Hell mountains.

He had been walking down the mountain path for barely an hour when he had been attacked. It was a beast that had the head of a snake and the body of a dog. It was as ugly as it was terrifying. The creature was a silent predator and had nearly bitten off Luo Yu’s head before some unknown instinct had had him rolling off the path. He scrambled down rocky slopes and plains of sharp brambles. The path was long gone along with his sense of direction. There was nowhere to hide and no safe place to run to.

He had to get away! He still had to get to the Zise mountains! (He still has to find a family). He panted. He wouldn’t be able to run for much lo-

Luo Yu slammed into something hard.

He had been running so fast that the impact sent him flying to the ground. He laid there shocked. It wasn’t until the sound of hissing was heard from right above him that he realized he was about to die. ‘It's a shame’, Luo Yu thought resigning himself, ‘that the son of the ruler of this world would die without anyone knowing of caring’. Before the snake head could strike, a swarm of leaves(?!) came flying out of nowhere.

The leaves were impossibly sharp. They shredded the monster. Blood splashed the earth as the monster roared with pain. The leaves showed it no mercy. It wasn’t until the creature tore away from the leaves to flee that they began to let up. Luo Yu watched the scene with a dazed expression. It wasn’t until a soft voice reached his ears that he managed to prop himself up from the ground.

There was a man standing a few feet away from him. Dark, concerned eyes looked out from a soft, pretty face. The man wore robes of a light blue, and he seemed to unconsciously tap a similarly colored fan to his chin. An unconscious gesture that highlighted just how concerned the man looked.

Luo Yu had never, in his entire life, had someone look at him with the level of caring concern that this stranger did. ‘It’s nice’ Luo Yu thought as his vision began to blur, ‘to be looked at like this.’ He was oblivious to the feeling of his head hitting the ground. The last thing he saw was the strangers eyes widening in panic before it all went dark.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Sir, where is your medical degree?

Shen Yuan was in a complete state of panic.

The day has begun so nicely too. Shen Yuan has woken up early for once. A rare occurrence given his tendency to sleep till noon. He had made himself some tea and watched as the mountain awakened from his swing hammock by the lotus pond. (Through a lot of trial and error he had made this hammock and he was very proud of it). As morning turned to noon, he decided today was the perfect day to work on some more entries for his bestiary. He had quite a few entries in his first volume, but just after a few years short explorations, he could tell that Hua mountain had enough creatures to fill at least a dozen.

With that thought in mind, Shen Yuan returned to the manor to gather some supplies for his research. Papers, inks, brushes, snacks, weapons, and his emergency rope (you never know!) were all gathered and neatly tucked away into a dimensional storage ring. Fantasy settings really were too convenient sometimes. With items literally in hand, Shen Yuan took off on his sword toward a river he had seen near the base of the mountain. There had been some suspiciously seahorse shaped creatures swimming there last he’d checked, and Shen Yuan was dying to see just how greatly Airplane’s lazy writing had affected this world.

After arriving at his destination, he got down to research. Shen Yuan was there well into the night. Apparently the creatures he had seen were indeed seahorses. He made very pointed notes about the complete lack of ocean nearby or any amount of salt in the water. The seahorses (or were they riverhorses now?) were really quite interesting. They were even bioluminescent! Hence why he had stayed well past sunset and into the night. Oh well, it’s not like Shen Yuan had ever made it a priority to have a healthy sleeping schedule. In this life or his last.

As he gathered his things, he felt proud of the amount of work he had gotten done. He was sure there was more to be learned about the seahorses, but that could wait for another day. Pulling out his sword and hopping on, he was just about to fly home when he felt it. It was a strange feeling so it took him a moment to figure out what was wrong.

The wards!

There was a strange tugging sensation that pulled him to an area only minutes away from the river. Quickly he changed the direction of his sword and flew to the disturbance. When he arrived, it was a frightening sight that greeted him.

There was a creature with the head of a snake and what seemed to be a body of a dog. The creature was without a doubt of demonic lineage, and it’s hissing noises sent shivers down his spine. It was a distance away from Hua mountain, but was quickly getting closer. At first Shen Yuan thought it was trying to charge the wards to break in. But that thought was quickly dashed away when the monster stopped near a lump on the ground that he had overlooked.

Looking closer, Shen Yuans eyes narrowed before widening in panic. That was a child! Code fucking red!! Shen Yuan was not going to let a kid be eaten by a creature before his very eyes. Quickly grabbing his fan, he concentrated his cultivation into the trees around him. Leaves quickly fell and then soared through the air to attack.

‘Go!’ Shen Yuan thought as he directed the leaves to slice the creature. It would either die or retreat. Either way, He wouldn’t let the thing step a foot near the child. The beast tried to fight the leaves, but there were too many. As blood splashed the ground, it finally realized the situation was not in its favor and gave up trying to kill its prey. Only after it began to run away did Shen Yuan begin to release his control of the leaves.

Quickly looking at the child, whose head was turned towards him, Shen Yuan’s heart was instantly filled with worry. The child was a mess! Dirt covered him(?) from head to toe. The child was also covered in scratches and who knew what kind of injuries. Making eye contact with the kid, Shen Yuan asked, “Are you alright?” Instantly after asking the question, he instantly shut his mouth. He could’ve slapped himself. Of course the child wasn’t alright. Shen Yuan isn’t an idiot. What kind of dumb question was that?!

The child blinked at him once. His head slammed against the ground not even a moment later. Shen Yuan was moving before he realized it. For the first time since he had arrived in this world, he left the mountains wards. Quickly running to the child’s side. He knelt down and his hands flailed for a moment. He was no doctor, and the worst injury he had ever personally dealt with was a skinned knee. Grabbing the child’s wrist, he attempted to check for a pulse.

Nothing. There was nothing. Shen Yuan lost his shit. As he felt his mind descend into madness, his eyes caught movement from the boy’s (and yes it did appear to be a boy) chest. Raising a shaking hand in front of the other’s mouth, his body instantly sagged in relief when he felt soft exhales against it. The child wasn’t dead! Shen Yuan was just incompetent at checking a pulse. Thank God.

Now that the scare of the child being possibly dead was over. Shen Yuan calmed enough to get a real scope of the boy’s injuries. The scratches were the most evident, but none seemed to be serious. The child was caked in dirt so it was a bit hard to spot injuries, but the only thing that was a concern was the possibility of a concussion. The boy’s head had hit the ground hard when he’d passed out. There was a slight lump on the back of the child’s head. No blood, but still concerning.

Shen Yuan has all the medical knowledge of someone who had watched TV in the 21st century. And that was to say: nothing reliable. Tapping the child’s cheek, produced no signs of waking so he gently gathered the precious cargo into his arms and carefully got on his sword. He flew slowly to the manor to avoid causing unnecessary harm.

When he entered his home, Shen Yuan came to a stop. Holding the child awkwardly, he deliberated over what to do. His new guest was absolutely filthy and he still needed to see if the child was truly as lightly injured as he appeared. He would need to gather water for a bath. What else? Bandages! New clothes as well. Shen Yuan had briefly checked the supplies the child had with him. The clothes were all dirty and there was nothing of note except for a space storage ring which he won't be able to access without the owner’s permission. So ultimately nothing useful.

First, he needed to place the child in one of the guest rooms while he gathered everything. He carefully went up the stairs to the bedroom that was closest to his own. Shen Yuan had long settled into what appeared to be the master bedroom. He decided his new guests room would be the room closest so he could keep an eye on the child’s condition through the night. Entering the room, Shen Yuan headed directly to the bed and laid the child down. He hated to leave the child alone, but this was the best course of action. Before leaving, he double checked that his guest wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon before quickly leaving to gather everything.

There was nothing Shen Yuan missed more than instant showers and baths. Gathering water and heating it was an exercise in sheer frustration when in a rush. After the water was taken care of, he grabbed bandages and went back upstairs to get the child. (The bandages might not even be needed with the cure-all that was cultivation). The tub of water was far too heavy to carry up, and he would need to temporarily bring the child to the washroom downstairs.

When he entered the room he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the child hadn’t moved. Shen Yuan had reached out a hand to gather the child into his arms when suddenly said child sat up and bit his arm.

Gah! Shen Yuan stumbled back startled by the surprise attack. Before he knew it, the child was flinging itself off the bed and towards the door. The child had nearly escaped when a pair of arms quickly wrapped around his waist pulling him into the air.

“Oh no you don’t!” Shen Yuan cried. There was no way he was letting this child run off to go get himself more hurt somewhere on the mountain. The boy had other plans. “Let me go!” The boy yelled as he flailed in Shen Yuan’s arms. “Kidnapper! I know what your kind does to cute kids like me!”

Cute was debatable at this point. Shen Yuan almost said this out loud but thought better of it. “Calm down. I’m not going to hurt you. I found you outside the wards of my home, and saved you from that snake monster! Remember?” The child slowly stopped struggling which Shen Yuan took as a sign of agreement. He sighed in relief and slowly set the child down. The boy turned around and he seemed to be startled by the sight of Shen Yuan.

Kneeling down, Shen Yuan gentled his voice and said, “Hello, my name is Shen Yuan, and I am the owner of this manor. I’m not a kidnapper, and I only brought you here because you’re hurt”. The child looked at him in blatant disbelief that slowly turned into a slow hope. “Swear you won’t hurt me?” The child demanded. “Pinky swear.” Shen Yuan held out his pinky. The child stared in confusion and asked. “What’s that mean?”

Oh right. Shen Yuan should’ve known that PIDW wouldn’t have such a silly thing like pinky promises. Whether it was a modern thing or just something that Airplane couldn’t have been bothered to include remained to be seen. “It’s a cultivators promise.” Shen Yuan made up the lie on the spot. It sounded sufficiently impressive.

Suddenly the boy’s eyes lit up like stars. “Cultivators promise? You’re a cultivator?!” The full 180 in the child’s emotions threw Shen Yuan for a moment. “Yes, I a-“ The child flung himself at Shen Yuan before he’d even finished his sentence. “You have to teach me! Can your pinky promise cover that too? I swear you won’t regret it. I’ll be the best disciple you could ask for!” The child continued to hug Shen Yuan in an iron grip and rambled his qualifications. Shen Yuan himself had long tuned out.

Teach him? Shen Yuan hardly knew this child. He was the least qualified person to teach some random kid cultivation. He’d only learned it himself not too long ago! But... looking down at the child who’s enthusiastic face was honestly adorable despite its dirty appearance, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but feel his heart soften. Said adorable face spoke words that broke him out of his daze. “So will you?”

“Will I what?” Shen Yuan asked. The boy huffed cutely in frustration. “Will you teach me?” The hope in the child’s eyes shone like beacons that let Shen Yuan know that any negative response would crush his dreams. With the weight of the child’s gaze on him, Shen Yuan could feel a nervous sweat bead his brow. He couldn’t say no to such an adorable face, but still to agree to teach him…

He waved a hand nervously. “We’ll discuss it later. We need to acquaint ourselves with each other before such a serious decision is made. For now you’re covered in dirt and injured. I’ve run a bath for you so we can get you cleaned and dressed in new robes. Some of my… family’s old robes should fit you.” The boy pouted at him, but nodded his head to show he agreed to cooperate. Shen Yuan could see a gleam in those eyes that said the issue was far from over.

As the boy turned to leave the room. Shen Yuan stopped him with a gentle tap on the head. The boy looked up in confusion. Laughing, Shen Yuan raised his pinky. “Have you forgotten?” The child froze before a beaming smile stunned Shen Yuan. Too bright! This child was too cute! It made his hands itch to pinch those dirty cheeks, but he restrained himself.

As the boy raised his pinky, Shen Yuan gently wrapped his around it. “I promise I will never hurt you, and I’ll keep you safe for as long as you are under my care.” The boy’s eyes seemed watery for a moment before his mouth opened surprising Shen Yuan with his own promise. “I promise to be the best disciple Shifu could ever ask for!”

Shen Yuan’s eye twitched. Shifu?! Who’s your Shifu? I don’t even know your name child. Don’t be so sly. Ignoring the boy’s promise, he herded his new ward(?) down the stairs to get cleaned.

It took an hour to clean and tend the boy. The child seemed fascinated by the manor, but not overly impressed which meant he likely came from a wealthy background. Helping the child dress. He finally got a good look at the child’s features.

A Bun!

The child was simply adorable. It was clear to see he would grow up to be quite handsome. Chubby cheeks, big eyes, and curly black hair. The ultimate bun. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but pat the child’s head. The child was obviously startled before leaning into the pats like a puppy. Shen Yuan nearly cooed at him. He’d given him a pair of white robes to wear, and he looked like a fluffy white sheep.

“You know my name, but I don’t know yours.” Shen Yuan’s teases as he continued to pat the boy’s head. Said head froze. Looking down at him, Shen Yuan saw panic flash across the boy’s face before he blurted out. “Shen Yu!”

“....”

“....”

An embarrassed flush lit the boy’s face red. He seemed to go into shock over how obvious a lie he’d told. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but let out a deep laugh that had the child glaringly pout in offense. Shen Yuan knelt down and did what he’d been wanting to do all night. Pinch the boy’s cheeks and lightly smushed the boy’s face. The bewildered stare he got in return had Shen Yuan let out another laugh.

“Shen Yu, huh? I bet the Yu part is honest at least. How about I call you A-Yu?” Shen Yuan teased. The pout returned to A-Yu’s face for a moment before a mischievous glint entered those eyes. ‘If Shifu is calling this one so familiarly than does that mean this master has agreed to take A-Yu as his disciple?”

This brat! Shen Yuan should’ve known that A-Yu’s sweet face hid a cunning soul. But looking into the child’s eyes, he could tell the question came from an honest heartfelt place. He sighed. Who would’ve thought he had a weakness for cute buns? (His little sister flashed through his mind before he quickly dismissed such thoughts).

“All right.” Shen Yuan said. The boy vibrated in joy. Shen Yuan could almost see a tail wagging. Yet again he was hugged tightly by his new guest, no, disciple. “Don’t get too excited. If I’m to be your Shifu you have to promise to behave and listen very carefully to my instructions. The mountain can be very dangerous. You’ll also eventually have to tell me about why you’re here on your own. I understand you may have secrets, but I need to know enough to be prepared.” A-Yu rapidly nodded as he nuzzled Shen Yuan’s stomach. “I pinky swear!” He shouted before nearly poking Shen Yuan’s eye out with said pinky.

“Alright! Calm down. Pinky swear.” Just like earlier, Shen Yuan gently entangled his pinky with A-Yu’s. With that over with, he guided his new disciple back to his room. They had to stop and grab sheets before heading up the stairs, as the current ones were dirty now. Thirty minutes later, Shen Yuan had A-Yu tucked into bed. Gently he took both of the child’s hands and began to cultivate. The wounds on the child’s body faded, and A-Yu watched in awe as they slowly disappeared. Once they were all gone the boy simply stared at him.

Shen Yuan nearly had a heart attack when the boy started crying. Quickly leaning forward on the bed to pull the child into a hug, he patted the back of A-Yu’s fluffy hair as the boy wept into his robes. “There, there it’ll be alright. Shhhhh…it’s ok.” He repeated this until A-Yu finally calmed.

“Thanks Shifu.” A-Yu whispered. Shen Yuan simply hummed in response. “Shifu?”, “Yes?”

“Do you promise you won’t get rid of me later?”

“I pinky promise.”

****
It would take a while for A-Yu to fall asleep that night. At one point the child had exclaimed something about mountains and tried to leap back out of the bed to go look outside. Shen Yuan had firmly placed him back in bed and was only able to get him to go to sleep after promising to give him a tour of the mansion and mountain when they both woke up in the morning.

This was the beginning of a bond that would last both their lifetimes. A family of two that would one day grow (but that’s a story for later). For now, a surprise meeting and a pinky promise had linked their fates together. A promise that would bring great joys and sorrows, but one that neither would ever regret. After all, what could be worse than the loneliness of their previous lives?

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Schemes Gone Wrong

Luo Yu’s new Shifu looked very exasperated when covered in food.

It had been a week since Luo Yu had nearly been killed by the snake creature at the base of Hua mountain. It was strange to think that in such a short time he had not only found a cultivation teacher, but the most magical mountain he could’ve ever dreamed of.
Nature affected by the merging of worlds couldn’t hold a candle to the healthy greenery that surrounded him now.

The sheer massiveness of the mountain had shocked him when his Shifu had allowed him to travel with him on his flying sword. (A flying sword! His father had Xin Mo, but he’d never seen him use it to fly). His Shifu has been insistent on carrying him for the ride. He had put up a token protest, but was actually quite content with the situation.

Luo Yu found that being fussed over was an amazing experience. He was reborn. If Luo Yu had had any concerns about his Shifu being a man with evil intentions, they were murdered under a barrage of cuddles, head pats, and cheek pinching.

He honestly didn’t know what to do with such warm attention. The honest care and concern that went into every one of his Shifu’s actions towards him was bewildering in its ease. No one had ever treated Luo Yu kindly without some personal gain involved. Women (and men) liked to try to please him in order to get closer to his Father, and the rest catered to him to avoid that same Father’s wrath. (Not that his Father ever noticed when he was unhappy).

Regarding his new home, Shen manor was quite nice. Not nearly as large as the Palace, but there was something about it… as if it was meant for many people to live in it and fill the halls with laughter. The manor’s interior rooms were often decorated with light blues, greys, or greens. Subtle colors that were pleasing to the eye. It radiated a peace that directly opposed the Palace’s oppressing aura. Luo Yu decided shortly into his stay here that he loved his new home with every fiber of his being. He would happily stay in it as long as his Shifu permitted.

Shen Yuan had allowed him to decorate his room however he pleased. He was even given permission to steal from the other guest rooms and make his bed a nest of pillows and soft blankets. His own personal clothing and blankets had been added as well after thoroughly washing them with the help of his Shifu. After settling into his room, Shifu had looked terribly amused by the state of his bed when he had come to check on him.

And that was another thing.

Every night when it was time to sleep, Shen Yuan would come and tuck him into bed. The man would tell him stories until Luo Yu couldn’t keep his eyes open. At first, he had assumed it was his Shifu’s way of monitoring his health, but halfway through the week the visits continued. When Luo Yu had demanded in a flustered state why his Shifu would bother, the simple reply had been. “It’s a Shen family tradition.”

Which implied that Luo Yu was now part of Shen Yuan’s family. Which implied he would never have to return to the depressing palace of his childhood ever again. Which implied he wouldn’t be lonely again. Which implied… Luo Yu couldn’t comprehend all that the simple response implied so he beamed a smile at Shen Yuan and continued to let the man tuck him in every night.

In the week that he’d been there, they hadn’t begun cultivation lessons. His Shifu has declared that Luo Yu needed to be well acquainted with his new home before they got down to work. He had whined and pleaded with his Shifu to reconsider, but the man had been surprisingly firm. For all that this kind man doted on Luo Yu; he could be equally as stubborn in his decisions. Not even puppy dog eyes would get the man to crumble when he had truly put his mind to something.

It was strange. In the palace, his tutors always caved to his demands unless otherwise ordered by his Father. His tutors did not care what Luo Yu did as long as he learned the materials demanded of his position. Fortunately, he loved knowledge so he had used this to his advantage to get information that technically wasn’t a part of his curriculum. Like what went on outside the castle and more importantly, stories about cultivation.

It had been a tutor that had informed him that before all the major cultivation sects had been wiped out, the mountains of the world had been claimed by them so that they could keep the spiritual energy found there all to themselves. The tutor claimed that his Father was doing the world a favor by cleansing it of such greedy humans. Whether this was true or not had led Luo Yu to investigate. He had unknowingly sought out the path for his future dreams.

The books in the palace library said nothing of this supposed greedy domination, but Luo Yu had taken one thing to heart. Mountains were full of spiritual energy that one needs to cultivate. No mountain equals no cultivation. It was quite fortunate that his Shifu owned the coolest mountain ever. Maybe it was true that immortal cultivators hoarded their mountains. After all, Shen Yuan was the only one who lived here. It was fine though. His Shifu had been kind enough to let him live on it too. He was beginning to feel quite possessive of the mountain himself. The child would make sure no one would ever try to steal the mountain from his Shifu and him.

Back to the issue at hand though, it had been a week since Luo Yu had arrived and he was definitely well acquainted with his new home. He had woken up this morning with one mission in mind: beginning cultivation lessons. He quickly emerged from his (nest) bed and quickly got dressed. Wasting no time, he flew down the stairs to the kitchen.

If there was one thing Luo Yu had actually learned from his time here, it was the fact that Shen Yuan was NOT a morning person. This fact had created his current issue. To combat his Shifu’s lazy nature, he had decided to make his teacher breakfast. Shen Yuan had made sure to show him where all the food was stored in case he was ever hungry. His Shifu always made sure to prepare lunch and dinner for them. It was only breakfast that their schedules never aligned, and Luo Yu often ate meals of easy to obtain fruits and vegetables.

Today was different. He planned to make a proper meal to hopefully entice his Shifu into waking. The man would be so grateful for the delicious food that he would instantly cave to Luo Yu’s demands. It was the perfect plan.

Or it would have been if Luo Yu had ever actually cooked in his entire life. At the palace, food had always been well on hand thanks to the kitchen staff and servants. Luo Yu had never wanted for anything. Even when he had gone months without servants (in order to avoid attention when he suddenly disappeared), he had ordered the staff to leave his meals on a table outside his bedroom. This varied from the previous norm where servants would set the food directly inside his room. He would obtain these meals as he pleased, but he had made a deal with one of the kitchen staff’s children to do away with said meals after he vanished.

It was odd to think, but the human food made by a staff full of demons had honestly been heavenly. Every prepared meal that Luo Yu had eaten had exploded his taste buds in a combination of mouth watering flavors. It had honestly been an adjustment eating other food when he had left the palace. The deliciousness of Luo Yu’s food had been one of the main reasons he was able to bribe a child servant into taking and eating it for themselves. The child had agreed to keep quiet, and rambled about how it would be an equal trade for such great food. Which even now confused Luo Yu as the servants parents worked directly in the kitchens. Maybe the kitchen staff were not allowed to feed their family the same quality food that the prince was given?

All of these factors may be why Luo Yu was currently staring at a mushy orange paste that was supposed to be rice with vegetables. ‘It’s not terrible?’, Luo Yu thought as he tilted his head in consideration. If anything the food should look slightly green. Where had the orange color come from? He delicately used a chopstick to stir the meal. Maybe if he drew a cute design in it, Shifu wouldn’t notice the terrible presentation.

Shrugging his shoulders, he did his best to make the meal look nice. This food was meant to be a bribe. It needed to look the part!

Five minutes later, Luo Yu entered the room of his Shifu. The room was quite a bit larger than his own. Decorated in green colors, it reminded Luo Yu of the bamboo forest surrounding the manor. Very peaceful. Unfortunately, his Shifu did not look the same.

Sprawled on the large bed situated in the center of the room, Shen Yuan slept like the dead. Well… if the dead looked like they had been slightly mangled. That kind of position was so unnatural that it surely couldn’t be comfortable. Luo Yu was so distracted by the sight of his ridiculous teacher that he didn’t notice the stray fan lying on the ground.

It only took a moment for all of Luo Yu’s carefully crafted plans to be ruined.

His foot tripped over the fan, his body lost all sense of coordination, and the food was sent flying at Shen Yuan’s resting face. As Luo Yu collapsed to the ground, his body simultaneously lurched forward in an attempt to stop the inevitable. An attempt made in vain.

*****

Shen Yuan’s day began when a ceramic bowl was broken by his face.

Shen Yuan flailed in his bed after the unexpected attack. Maybe it was Shen Yuan’s face that was broken because holy shit his that hurt. He scrambled to sit up and summon his sword to face his attacker. He preferred his fans, but swords were the only weapon one could summon with cultivation. All his killing intent instantly fled when he saw the horrified gaze of his newest disciple staring up at him from the floor.

The two stared at each other. A pair of shocked gazes trying to figure out this outlandish turn of events. The quiet was only broken when Shen Yuan felt a plop of orange goo(?) fall from his hair onto his nose. A cross eyed look determined that it did indeed seem to be some kind of goo. The smell was… unpleasant. Turning his gaze back to the shocked form on the floor, his heart nearly gave out as the child’s eyes began to water.

Mind still not fully awake, he did nothing as A-Yu let out a wail and threw his body across the bed to tackle him.

“Shifu! I’m so sorry Shifu! This disciple was trying to make you food and I ruined everything! Shifu is even hurt, and I, I, I’m…” Another sob broke through the ramblings. The boy was so distraught he could no longer speak, and had instead buried his face crying face in Shen Yuan’s sleeping robes.

As Shen Yuan was clung to he couldn’t help but think one thought dazedly. ‘It is far too early for these kind of emotional breakdowns. Have mercy on this old man.’ Shaking his head, Shen Yuan carefully moved to pet the child’s head with his left hand and transfer the broken bowls remains to his nightstand with his right. It wouldn’t do for either of them to hurt themselves further. After taking care of the bowl, Shen Yuan directed his gaze to the clinging bun.

“Hey’, Shen Yuan soothed, ‘it was just an accident. What’s all these tears for?” He used both hands to raise the boy’s face to look at him. The child’s face was a red, blotchy mess. Tears continued to roll down his face as the boy breathed hiccuping gasps. Snot even dribbled from the boy’s noise. It was disgusting.

Shen Yuan was helplessly endeared.

He used his fingers to gently soothe away the flow of tears. “It’s alright A-Yu. There’s nothing to worry about. The bowl can be fixed and it’s nothing to cry over.” A-Yu raised his own hands to rub his face angrily. “I don’t care about the stupid bowl. I hurt you Shifu! There’s a cut on your face!”

He hadn’t realized, but the boy was right. However, after some prodding he realised it was nothing serious. His cultivation would soon take of it. He drew A-Yu’s attention back to him. “A-Yu, it’s fine. Do you really think that a peerless immortal such as I could be taken out by a bowl?” The boy’s petulant silence indicated he did indeed believe so.

Enough was enough though, Shen Yuan was the one who had been rudely awoken. He gently grabbed the boy’s cheeks and smushed them together.

Like a charm, the child sputtered in affront before a slow smile tried to break out behind that determined frown. “Is that a smile I see?” Shen Yuan teases. The child realized his face would soon betray him and quickly tried to turn his face away, but Shen Yuan’s grip was firm. “A-Yu what were you doing in my room so early in the morning?”

An embarrassed flush relit the boy’s face red. A mumbled response, but Shen Yuan was having none of that. “What was that?” Cheek squish. “Did you say something? I couldn’t quite hear it.” A-Yu couldn’t handle the teasing and spoke quickly. “I wanted to make you breakfast!”

Shen Yuan stopped pinching the boy’s cheeks and instead cradled them gently. “You made me breakfast?” Was that a crack in his voice? No sir! This old man was definitely not nearly moved to tears. The child already had that well covered.

A shy but determined nod was his response. “I did Shifu! I worked very hard on it just for you!” Shen Yuan suddenly sensed an ulterior motive. That kind of phrasing was just what his sister used to say when she wanted something from him. What could A-Yu possibly want from hi…. oh.

Exasperation hit him with the force of a tidal wave. How could he not know what this child wanted from him? It was the one thing he had been begging for all week at any given opportunity.

Turning the weight of his exasperated gaze towards A-Yu, said child seemed to sense that the jig was up. Pleading puppy eyes appeared as the child grasped for the life line that was Shen Yuan’s weakness to cute things. Rolling his eyes, Shen Yuan raised a hand to gather the goo that had fallen on his nose. A curious orange color greeted him and was met with a wary look.

Having apparently learned nothing from his previous death, Shen Yuan used a finger to taste the strange food. A-Yu also watched as his new guardian tried the food he had worked hard to prepare.

It was only the child’s expectant gaze that kept Shen Yuan from spitting the food right back out. Terrible! Truly terrible beyond compare. He felt his soul briefly flee his body to escape the horrid taste of death in his mouth. A-Yu’s voice called out to him from beyond the grave. “Is it good?”

Silence met the child’s question. A long pause that was eventually broken by a slow chew and an audible swallow. As Shen Yuan’s soul finally returned to its body he finally answered the boy’s question. “It’s very good.” A suspicious look met the response. Behind a calm demeanor, he mentally begged the child, ‘Please A-Yu, give this teacher some face. I’ve nearly died twice this morning!’

A-Yu’s suspicions slowly melted into a happy smile. “You really liked it?” Shen Yuan helplessly smiles in return. “I did.” “Then you’ll teach me cultivation today?!”

“....”

This brat! He actually came out and said it. Who ever thought you were cute?! Not this elder! The exasperation had returned and seemed determined to stay. Shen Yuan was quite done with this morning.

With a speed that surprised the child. Shen Yuan wrapped his arms around the small boy’s frame. A shriek filled the room as Shen Yuan slammed the both of them near his pillows.

Trapped by his monstrous cuddling Shifu, A-Yu fruitlessly struggled to escape. Shen Yuan lowered his voice with a playful glower. “Listen my sweet doting disciple. Your Shifu is very touched by such your devotion. To reward it. We shall be sleeping for a couple more hours.” A-Yu whined. “Shifu no!” His complaints were ignored.

Sensing he wasn’t going to escape. A pout settled on the child’s face. Shen Yuan ignored that too and made sure the boy was comfortable before he laid his head on a pillow and closed his eyes. A grumbled sigh of defeat met his ears. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a quiet sleepy voice enter his ears.

“Shifu?”

“Mm.”

“Will you teach me cultivation later?”

A pause.

“After lunch. Now go back to sleep.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: The (low key) Beginning of a Villain Origin Story

It had been a long month.

Shen Yuan felt that he had gone through a heavenly tribulation. Evolved like a Pokémon from old man to ancient elder. If a poet had looked into his eyes, they may equate them to the eyes of a man that had seen the abyss and had it stare back at them. A weary soul who had seen too much. And no Shen Yuan was not being dramatic!

Who would’ve thought that teaching a child to learn cultivation would be such a disaster experience? When he himself had been learning cultivation, there had been the slight hiccups here and there but an overall smooth experience. Sure he had the cheat of his new body already possessing a golden core, but how much of a difference could that make?

Apparently a great deal. The amount of hair raising incidents that had happened this month were beyond count. It wasn’t even really the fault of the master and disciple duo either. It seemed that whenever A-Yu concentrated any amount of energy, it would inevitably release in the form of explosions and property damage. (The poor jade statue of a crane hadn’t deserved it’s fate).

The first day that Shen Yuan began teaching A-Yu, he had started with simple meditation exercises. It proved to be a slightly difficult task with the child’s boundless energy impeding the calm state needed for the task. It had taken days for the child to achieve. Unfortunately, it was after this success that the real problems began.

The next step of training required one to slowly extend energy through the bodies meridians. The energy would circulate to slowly form a golden core. Piece by piece the process would continue. A budding cultivator would have to repeat these steps until the core fully formed.

Shen Yuan had mostly skipped these steps by already having a core. His knowledge mainly pertained to what he had read in the library and in his previous life. He still had to cultivate his body, but it was more of a regular maintenance: easy to do and took very little time.

To truly improve at his stage, he would need to find one of the mountain’s spiritual caves and enter secluded cultivation. He had don’t this already a number of times over the years.

His disciple lacked this advantage and was beginning from scratch. When A-Yu entered meditation everything was fine, but the moment he attempted to circulate it; things exploded.

The first time it had happened they had been by the lotus pond. A suitably peaceful place for such teachings. Shen Yuan had placed two mats on the grass for them to sit on. The hammock by the willow tree swayed gently in the breeze not too far away. Shen Yuan observed as his student successfully meditated and spoke gently the next steps he would need to follow.

“Do you feel the energy in your chest? Let it slowly flow throughout your body. You should feel veins branching out. Use those to move your energy. Don’t ru-“ a booming noise broke off his words. The hammock that had been peacefully swaying in the breeze exploded into shards of wood that flew in every direction. Shen Yuan leapt forward and grabbed A-Yu to cover him. He used his fan to quickly blow the shards away.

The two sat there in a state of shock. It took some time before A-Yu struggled out a Shen Yuans strong protective grasp and immediately apologize for being a terrible disciple. The hysterics followed soon after and Shen Yuan had shaken away his shock in order to comfort the child. Reasurances flowed as he stated that no, he was not going to ‘kick him off the mountain’ and no, he was not going to ‘ban A-Yu from learning cultivation’.

Shen Yuan had been forced to become an adaptive teacher. His disciple was apparently in possession of so much spiritual energy that when he attempted to circulate it, the energy tore out of his body to attack the nearest unsuspecting object. Fortunately, the energy didn’t target anything living.

Identifying the issue did not magically fix it. Many, many items had been destroyed. Shen Yuan had to clean up the aftermath of each session. It had gotten to the point that they had to take their training far away from the manor in order to avoid completely destroying their home. The manor’s back porch had been the last unfortunate victim, in a long list of deaths, that sparked the needed change. The repairs were still underway, and A-Yu was particularly weepy at the sight of it.

None of this even accounted for the incident with A-Yu’s beginner cultivation manual. It may have attributed to the child’s difficulties though. The storage ring that his charge had arrived with had apparently been filled with books obtained (stolen) from his family’s library.

(A-Yu had told Shen Yuan bits and pieces of his past. Nothing concrete, but it painted a sad picture. A rich household, a dead mother, and a father that paid him no attention. It wasn’t a wonder that the boy had run away.)

In the collection of books was the beginner’s manual, and Shen Yuan had seen no issue with letting it be the tool A-Yu used to study. This decision would later prove to be a mistake.

One day, Shen Yuan left A-Yu alone as he went to tend the gardens. After his disciples’ cultivation issues settled down, he planned to have him help with chores such as these around the manor. For now though, the child had enough to worry about. He had been ever so calmly threatening his tomatoes into cooperating when he noticed his disciple standing by the side of the manor walls.

He observed as the child crouched down and…was that a handstand? It was definitely an attempt. The boy had his palms firmly on the ground and his feet propped on the side of the building. He was using the wall to keep his balance as his arms shook under his body’s weight. As he observed, A-Yu had apparently decided that his form was good enough to attempt walking with his palms.

Unfortunately, as soon as the boy’s feet left the wall they tipped forward sending the child face first to the ground. A face covered in dirt arose from this position a moment later. The angry pout on the boy’s face had Shen Yuan shaking with quiet laughter.

He watched as the child stubbornly repeated the process many times with the same result. Shen Yuan eventually wiped the tears of mirth budding from his eyes, and got back to work. The minds of children were truly incomprehensible things.

When he was done gardening, he got up and picked his prone disciple off the ground. (The boy had been lying there in a fit of despair after too many failures). Carrying the child like a rag doll, he went inside to prepare a bath for them both and some dinner.

This incident was the first of a dozen. He’d seen the boy randomly carrying firewood around, climbing trees with feathers attached to his hair, burying himself up to his neck in dirt, and a plethora of other odd games(?). It was all very amusing if extremely bewildering.

The last event that would take place was not so amusing. The incident would happen in the middle of the night. Shen Yuan had long tucked A-Yu into bed, but had stayed up late himself to read. He had eventually grown weary, but got up to obtain a glass of water before heading to the land of dreams. On his way back from the kitchen, he decided on a whim to peek into A-Yu’s room to check on him. His heart froze when he saw the bed was empty.

Trying not to panic, Shen Yuan quickly scoured the manor looking for the child. When his search proved no results; he could no longer keep his cool. He quickly gathered his weapons before running outside. He was about to start shouting his disciples name when he spotted the boy sitting in the shallow water of the lotus pond. Shen Yuan practically teleported there and his panic instantly evolved into heart stopping terror when he saw the state of A-Yu.

The weather wasn’t downright freezing, but it was cold. Autumn had fully settled into the mountain and the nights were chilly. His disciples face was turning blue as he stared up at his Shifu in surprise. Shen Yuan uncaringly threw his weapons on the ground before hopping into the pond. He snatched A-Yu out of the water, and immediately turned to speed back to the house.

As soon as they left the water, Shen Yuan began scolding the child fiercely. “What were you thinking?! You’ll catch pneumonia at this rate! Does your silly mind wish for death?!” Shen Yuan’s furious words belied the way his body shook nearly as badly as A-Yu’s. He clutched the boy to his chest as if he feared he would vanish at any moment. The child clung to him just as fiercely but remained silent.

After entering their home, Shen Yuan bundled the boy in a cocoon of blankets before preparing a warm bath. He then carefully settled the boy into the tub when it was ready. Gently, he poured the warm water over the boy’s head before scrubbing the fluffy hair with soap. Throughout it all he had babbled a worried rant that scolded the child for his actions. It wasn’t until later, when he was dressing the boy in a warm robe, that he finally stopped his scolding. Seeing color return to A-Yu’s cheeks had calmed the panic that had consumed him. Now all that was left was concern.

He was thinking of a way to ask the child why he had been in the pond when his musings were cut short by a pair of small arms wrapping around his waist. A pair of apologetic eyes looked at him mournfully. The perfect image of a sad puppy.

Shen Yuan’s thoughts went quiet when the boy finally spoke for the first time. “I’m sorry Shifu. I didn’t.. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I didn’t think you would get so worried! No one’s ever...” A-Yu’s voice lowered to a broken whisper, “No one’s ever cared about me the way that you do.”

Shen Yuan collapsed to his knees.

He wrapped this precious child in a fierce hug and spoke equally as fiercely. “I care about you more than I’ve ever cared about anyone. We’re a family now A-Yu. That’s what happened when I agreed to take you in as my disciple. This is what happens when you care for someone. It doesn’t matter if I’m your teacher because I’ll always be your family now. So don’t you ever do something like that again! My heart can’t take it.”

The boy shook in his grasp and clung tighter. There was surprisingly no tears, but it was likely due to the sheer exhausting events of tonight.

After some time, Shen Yuan picked up the tired child and went upstairs. Instead of putting A-Yu in his own room, He headed directly to the master bedroom. There was no way his child was leaving his sight tonight. Shen Yuan got them settled into bed to sleep. Just after he blew out the candles, he heard a voice whisper in the dark.

“I love you Bàba.”

Shen Yuan’s heart stopped for the third time that night and restarted with a warmth that consumed him. He whispered, “I love you too.”

As Shen Yuan drifted to sleep, he made a promise in his heart to the oblivious child cuddled against him. One day, Shen Yuan would enact revenge on the people in A-Yu’s life who had so obviously wronged and treated him poorly. The family who had treated the child with so little affection that the slightest smile from Shen Yuan could make the boy beam with happiness. That family would feel the full extent of Shen Yuan’s protective wrath.

‘Yes’, Shen Yuan sleepily thought, ‘one day, I shall have my revenge.’

****

“Why have you been acting so oddly lately?”

It was the morning after the pond incident. Luo Yu and his Shifu had both slept in late due to the tiring night events. Now, they were both in the kitchen while Shen Yuan made them a late breakfast.

Luo Yu would never tell Shen Yuan that his cooking was bland in comparison to the Palace’s gourmet meals. The heart and care his Shifu put into the meals well made up for the quality. Besides, after the bowl trauma, Luo Yu had sworn off cooking for the foreseeable future. Proper meals were to be made by his Shifu, and snacks could compensate for anything else.

As Luo Yu ate breakfast, he considered Shen Yuan’s question. “My cultivation manual stated that there are many ways to improve one’s cultivation. I keep exploding things so I thought that if I followed the training tips, I’d be able to surprise you with better results. But none of it has worked! I follow the books instructions very carefully Shifu! I only did the pond method after the other ones failed!” He looked up and gave Shen Yuan a pleading look to express his sincerity. He really hadn’t meant to worry his teacher!

To Luo Yu’s surprise, the look on Shen Yuan’s face wasn’t disbelief. Instead, it was a strange mix of exasperation, consternation, and irritation.
Seeing Luo Yu’s face became worried, Shen Yuan quickly waived his hand. “It’s not you. The methods your manual described are garbage. None of the things you’ve been doing are methods that improve cultivation. Where is this book? I need to take a look at it.”

Luo Yu quickly ran to his room and grabbed said manual. Book in hand, he ran back to his Shifu and carefully handed it to him. After a pointed nod at Luo Yu’s unfinished breakfast, he was ignored for the rest of the meal as his teacher angrily flipped through the pages of the manual. Just as he finished eating, Shen Yuan startled him by slamming the book against the table.

“Trash! Utter and complete trash! If anything the contents of the book are an attempt to bully the reader. Forget about your cultivation! Where did your family find such filth?! Is this blood on the cover? They better not have purposely given this to you or I swear…” Shen Yuan quickly dissolved into angry mutterings as he furiously stirred his cold tea with a spoon. He glared at the manual as if he could set it on fire with his mind.

Despite the seriousness of the situation and the slowly dawning realization that all his hard work had been wasted by instructions that were twisted to harm, Luo Yu surprised himself when a giggle broke out from his lips. Quickly he slapped his hands over his mouth, but it was too late. Shen Yuan’s gaze turned to his disciple in clear confusion. The confused look sent his way sent him into another fit of giggles.

This man! An adult named Shen Yuan who was often times so graceful. Yet, he was utterly hilarious when frustrated. No other adult had ever made Luo Yu feel so safe and breathtakingly happy. As Shen Yuan slowly began to chuckle with him, he realised that he was truly content.

He may have a Father, but Shen Yuan was the only man his heart would identify as his Bàba. For now, Luo Yu would address Shen Yuan properly. Shen Yuan was both a Shifu and Bàba to him. One day, Luo Yu will master cultivation. He would no longer need a Shifu, but that was fine since he would always need his Bàba. He would address him as such when the time came (with the occasional slip from time to time).

Shen Yuan would later give him a proper cultivation manual from the library. They would gleefully burn the other one that had caused so much trouble. Luo Yu’s cultivation would progress much more smoothly from then on. He also made sure to double check with his Shifu before practicing any new methods. Luo Yu’s life was perfect.

It was too bad that he would soon have an encounter that would throw his new routine into chaos.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: A Rival Approaches

Shifu’s field trips were the best.

Luo Yu hadn’t been aware that ‘field trips’ existed until the day his Shifu declared that they were taking a day off from cultivation lessons.

“There are many things in this world to see and learn about besides cultivation A-Yu. You’ve been working hard, but it’s time to learn about something else. Tomorrow we’re going on a field trip. As your Shifu, it would be remiss of me to neglect properly teaching you. Besides, it’s good for children to explore and this mountain has many wonders.”

He had been primarily studying cultivation, but Shen Yuan had slowly begun teaching him to play the guqin. They also did something called ‘book reports’ where his Shifu would have him select a book to read and take notes on. They would analyze and discuss the book after Luo Yu finished it. It was less work, more fun. The teacher and disciple duo seemed to share a passion for reading so it was quite nice for both of them to have someone who shared their hobbies. Shen Yuan called it a learning experience for them both.

They often took a day off here and there, but this was the first time Shen Yuan had brought up the idea of doing something well beyond the manor grounds. Surprised by the turn of events, excitement filled the child. Bouncing around his Shifu, he impatiently started to question him. “Where will we be going? Are we looking for creatures? Can they come live with us?”

The barrage of questions seemed to exasperate the man, but his Shifu still patted his head and gave an explanation. “We’re going towards a forest on the far side of the mountain. We’ll have to fly there, but there’s some plants there that I’ve read are good for helping with qi-deviations. We don’t want to be caught unprepared if your cultivation acts up in any serious way.”

Touched that the ‘field trip’ was an excursion to help Luo Yu, he nodded his head obediently and did not question his Shifu further. If he had known how the day would end, he would’ve never let his Shifu leave the manor.

******

The pair had left the manor at dawn the following day. Luo Yu’s excitement had not diminished one bit. He had even convinced his Shifu not to carry him as they flew.

He was a growing disciple who would one day have a sword of his own. He had to get used to standing on one. When he had told Shen Yuan this reasoning the man had given him an unreadable look before mumbling something that suspiciously sounded like “They grow up too fast” and “ He’s still not getting a sword until he’s 15”. His Shifu kept a firm grip on his shoulders as his teacher stood behind him on the sword. Luo Yu was 100% certain that the man still thought that he might fall off if he loosened his grip on him. This was actually a compromise as Shen Yuan had originally wanted to tie them together with a rope.

It was touching but unnecessary. Fortunately, Luo Yu was too distracted by the scenery to be bothered by Shen Yuan’s overprotective nature. Hua mountain really was too beautiful in the early light of dawn. Dew made the world look covered in gems, and it was an awe inspiring sight to behold.

They arrived at their destination after half an hour of flight. It helped that Luo Yu’s encouraging shouts of “faster” had seemed to amuse his Shifu enough that he’d reluctantly complied.

The forest they were in was different from the one surrounding the manor. Instead of thin bamboo shoots, the forest was full of giant towering trees. Seeing his curious look, Shen Yuan enlightened his disciple. “They’re coniferous trees. Very old by the look of them. They’re a type of Conifer that’s bigger than most. This forest is full of them. There’s a lot of creatures that have made their home here.” That last sentence made Luo Yu ask a question that had been bothering him for a while.

“Is there anything dangerous that’ll attack us?”

Luo Yu didn’t have a real weapon of his own. Shifu was waiting for his cultivation to reach a point where they could find one that suited him from the weapons storeroom in Shen manor. Until then, he must rely on Shen Yuan’s protection which was no hard burden. He was more concerned with the idea that if something went wrong it would be his teacher that might need protection.

Shen Yuan looked at him in surprise before a smile appeared. “Don’t worry. The mountain’s wards won't allow anything in that would intend to harm us. Even if a creature suddenly did try to attack us all this teacher would need to do is uninvite them.” With that mysterious statement said, Shifu gracefully swept away and headed north. Luo Yu quickly made to follow him.

It took them the rest of the morning to find their target. The plants were shaped like lanterns. The translucent papery film was heart shaped. In the center of the plant was a round red fruit. Shen Yuan brought Luo Yu over to look at them.

“Much like their appearance might suggest, these are called lantern plants. They usually don’t look like this. The covering is often times darker and not translucent. In this world, the more translucent they are; the better they are at stopping Qi-deviations. We’ll only take a few. Anymore would simply be greedy.” Shen Yuan seemed to pause after that last statement before turning to look at Luo Yu with a serious expression.

“In this world, take only what you need. Never more.” The words seemed simple, but the weight they carried was not. His Shifu had moments like this. He’d look Luo Yu in the eyes and say words that seemed to engrain themselves in his very being. Something told him that it was these lessons, above all others, that would save his life one day. (Luo Yu was being unknowingly taught how to avoid the many mistakes his own Father had made).

The first two pods took a couple hours to obtain. Apparently, the plant requires a very specific harvesting method in order to be properly used to negate Qi-deviations. Shen Yuan made sure to slowly guide Luo Yu through the process. It was a very good learning experience. It was well into the afternoon when they were done with the harvesting.

“I think we’ll need about one more just to be safe,'' Shen Yuan mused, “I can handle this one by myself since you’ve already learned the technique.” An amused look was sent Luo Yu’s way when he let out a groan. His Shifu quickly soothed him. “Why don’t you go look around? Don’t wander too far! There should be nothing dangerous here, but the terrain can be dangerous. f you’re careful though, everything should be fine.”

Instantly, Luo Yu was up on his feet and taking off outside the clearing. He could hear Shen Yuan calling a reminder to not go too far, but he was far more focused on exploring.

Half an hour later, Luo Yu was standing at the base of the largest tree he had even seen. The thing was simply massive. He couldn’t even reach the bottom branch without having a flying sword or something similar. He was checking out the base of the tree when he saw it.

There were many creatures that his Shifu and him had passed while journeying through the forest. Rabbits had been the most ordinary. The rest were quite strange: Stone doll like creatures that seemed to rattle their heads and teleport from branch to branch, strange deer with golden fur, and a mouse that seemed to emit strange meowing noises as it walked. From cute to strange these creatures filled the forest with life. His Shifu had looked at each one with a glint in his eyes that suggested he would be following them if they hadn’t already had plans for the day.

Now before him was a new creature. A tiny black ball of fur that was barely as big as Luo Yu’s hand. It hopped and scampered around the tree roots with cute little snuffling noises. Upon closer inspection, he realised he knew what this creature was. It was a dog! A puppy by the looks of it.

These creatures had often accompanied many of the women in his Father’s harem. Even a couple of his rarely seen siblings had them. He’d always found them fascinating since dogs and cats were some of the only creatures that Luo Yu was able to see outside of books.

The black ball of fluff before him was the tiniest one he had even seen. It’s tiny tongue was no bigger than half of a fingernail. It was quite cute. And yet.. looking at the dog, Luo Yu felt a strange premonition. As if he was sensing an enemy that shouldn’t be underestimated. He quickly dismissed the feeing, and tried to draw the dog’s attention. He crouched on the ground and called out to the dog, “Hello there! Over here. Hello!”

(If luck allowed it. This dog would be the first furry friend he would make. This dog might be the companion he had always dreamed of having!)

The dog, that had been so happily bouncing around, froze. It turned directly around to look at Luo Yu with none of the cute energy it previously had. There on the miniature dogs forehead was a tiny red mark. It instantly made Luo Yu think of the red demon mark on his own Father’s forehead. The puppy continued to simply stare at him. No movement. Only a pair of beady black eyes that seemed to stare straight through Luo Yu.

For some reason, the situation was now filled with a tense air that kept Luo Yu on edge. He was still crouched on the ground a good 6 or 7 feet away from the dog, but he slowly rose to back away. The dog seemed to sense his this and made one single hop forward. As insanely adorable as an outsider would find the scene, Luo Yu knew better. That one hop had clearly been a threat.

Letting his instincts finally guide him, he took off running. He ran as fast as he could back to where Shen Yuan should still be harvesting the lantern plant.

As he ran, he looked over his shoulder. The dog was hopping after him at an impossibly fast pace. A dark aura seemed to cover the hell dog and those tiny eyes gleamed red with menace. Terror filled Luo Yu’s every sense, and he tore through the forest in search of safety. Every glance behind him showed that the demon never faltered in its hunt.

Luo Yu mentally wailed. ‘Dogs were supposed to be nice creatures!! What kind of monster was this?!’ He knew that one false step and this demon would catch him. He didn’t know what would happen then, but the demonic aura promised nothing good.

In his panic, Luo Yu couldn’t recall the exact way back the lantern plant’s clearing. He could taste his own despair as he panted and struggled to continue running. His energy was running out fast. Luo Yu turned his head to glance at his pursuer, but as he did so, his foot caught on a tree root.

His body was sent tumbling to the ground. As the dust settled, Luo Yu lay flat on his back and stared up at the sky through the leafy foliage of the tall trees. He realized that he was likely about to be murdered. His body didn’t move as the wind had been knocked from his lungs with the fall.

Luo Yu thought with the seriousness of a man who was speaking his last words. ‘Bàba is going to be distraught. I hope he’ll be ok.’

Like the thought had summoned him. A concerned voice broke through the daze of his dying mentality. “A-Yu, are you alright?!” Concerned eyes appeared in his vision and examined his dirty state. “What happened? Did you trip?”

As Luo Yu stared up at his savior. He could’ve wept as relief flooded through his veins and his body relaxed. He was safe now. Shifu was here.

A horrible thought occurred to him. Turning his gaze away from his worried Shifu, he looked back to where he had tripped. It was hard to miss the root that had so lovingly sabotaged him. Said root had obtained a new accessory. Luo Yu felt his eyes widen in horror. Perched on top of the root was a tiny, fluffy form that stared at him with smug black eyes.

*****

Shen Yuan was dealing with his first case of separation anxiety.

He knew it was the right thing to do letting A-Yu go off to explore. The boy has spent far too long cooped up in the manor. Children need the stimulation of new environments. It helped them grow. Kept them from becoming too sheltered.

Besides, nothing dangerous could enter Hua mountain’s wards. The child could still possibly get himself into trouble, but there was no risk of him getting attacked. Shen Yuan kept repeating these reassurances to himself as he quickly yet carefully harvested the last lantern plant.

The hours he had wasted in his past life reading PIDW’s creature and plant glossaries had truly paid off. If Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky had been decent at one thing; it was the amount of care and detail that he had put into these glossaries. Sure, most of the plants had been heavily described to further the papapa plots and the creatures were described to make Luo Binghe look like a total badass. But Shen Yuan had loved each and every detail. Those glossaries had been the only lifeline in a sea of shitty writing and plot holes.

(Well the glossaries and Shen Yuan’s obsession with Luo Binghe’s character).

Before his anxiety could peak, he finished harvesting the plant. Now he could find his wayward child and they explore the forest together. There were so many creatures they had already seen today that Shen Yuan was just dying to add to his bestiary. It didn’t matter that most of them had looked like some kind of Ghibli movie knockoffs. This was the world in which he now lived. Ridiculous or not; Shen Yuan would study them all.

(Was this what it felt like to be a Pokémon researcher? Would that make A-Yu the Pokémon trainer that came to him to get a Pokédex or, in this case, cultivation training? The child had once rambled about attracting animals to be his friends. This metaphor was getting far too scarily accurate).

Dismissing his silly thoughts, Shen Yuan left the clearing to find his disciple. If he was lucky, the child had been obedient enough to not wander too far away. If all else failed, he could always hop on his sword to spot A-Yu from above.

He had wandered for barely ten minutes when he heard a noise coming from his right.

He immediately turned to investigate. A teacher’s sixth sense allowed him the idea that his student was at the source. Shen Yuan took out his fan just in case. The next scene he saw would be the sight of his student lying on the ground, face up while covered in dirt. It was obvious that the boy had fallen there.

Putting his fan away, he rushed to the child’s side. “A-Yu, are you alright?!” He asked, “What happened? Did you trip?” There seemed to be no injuries on the child.

Shen Yuan was surprised as the boy looked at him as if he was an unexpected rope rescuing him from the pits of despair. Dramatic for what seemed to be a mere case of an accidental tumble, but children were strange creatures. A-Yu’s body relaxed and he watched as the child’s eyes turned away to look back at something. Shen Yuan startled when the boy seemed to tense again.

Following A-Yu’s gaze, Shen Yuan was introduced to the most adorable creature he had ever seen. Unbeknownst to him, Shen Yuan eyes seemed to fill with stars and he beamed an excited smile.

A small fluffy, black puppy sat on top of a tree root. It had a small red mark on its forehead that identified it as one of his favorite creatures in PIDW: a Harmonic Demon Dog. These creatures were known to be rare. Their kind hunted to near extinction due to their adult form having the ability to moderate unstable spiritual energy.

This skill was obtained by the race as a result of their bodies having an unstable amount of yin and yang energy while young. Sometime in this youth, the puppies would eventually face the trial of searching for a source that would allow them to stabilize their cores.

The protagonist had encountered this creature in one of his many harem member acquisition arcs. He had needed the dog to help stabilize a female cultivator energy. It had fluctuated after she drank a poisoned drink in a bar. Shen Yuan has been bored to tears during the arc until the Harmonic Demon Dog had appeared.

Luo Binghe had found the creature, but in an extremely amusing turn of events been unable to catch it. The protagonist had been forced to return to that week’s maiden in distress empty handed. Of course, the golden halo meant the poison had another cure that was Luo Binghe’s heavenly pillar.

The arc had truly been unique in that Luo Binghe had actually failed in a task that seemed simple. The Harmonic Demon Dog had skyrocketed to the top of Shen Yuan’s favorites despite never being seen in the novel again. Airplane had never specified what tactics the dog had used to escape Luo Binghe, but it was still fun to read.

Now Shen Yuan got to meet one of the puppies in person. It was a dream come true! He could feel his fingers itching to pet the tiny little head that tilted at him cutely. He restrained himself and instead called out to the creature. “Hello, my name is Shen Yuan. I didn’t know your kind lived on the mountain. I’m sorry if my disciple here encroached on your territory. It’s very nice to meet you.” He even gave a polite bow. This creature’s species was able to escape an OP protagonist. It deserves respect!

The dog seemed slightly startled by the introduction. The surprise seemed to slowly change to acceptance. The little tail on its body began to slowly wag. It’s eyes seemed to flash between red and black signifying that it had yet to find a source to balance it’s yin and yang energy.

A thought occurred to Shen Yuan and he took a moment to look through his things. He found what he was looking for and presented it to the Harmonic Demon puppy. “This is a lantern fruit. We already have enough, would you like it? I know your kind have issues controlling your own energy, but this should help with that.”

The puppy stared.

Shen Yuan took a slow step forward. He was oblivious to the way his disciple desperately reached out a hand to grab his ankle in an attempt to stop him. The boy had been watching the events in horror. Too shocked to speak up.

As Shen Yuan approached, the puppy remained still. He carefully held out the stem of the plant for the puppy to take hold of if it wished.

After a moment of eye contact, the puppy gently grasped the stem. Shen Yuan gently stepped back in order to not overwhelm the cute creature. The puppy sat on top of the root with the plant that was ironically bigger than it was. Those tiny black eyes simply looked at Shen Yuan at first. Slowly it’s eyes began to enlarge and complete adoration filled them. The puppy tail was nearly invisible as it wagged fiercely, vibrating it’s entire tiny form.

Before he could blink, a small black ball of fluff abandoned its gift and leapt at Shen Yuan’s chest. He heard A-Yu cry out behind him, but his focus was entirely set on making sure he caught the puppy mid flight. He carefully caught the precious bundle and cradled it in his hands.

So soft!

The puppy’s fur was was the fluffiest, softest thing he had ever felt. The puppy continued to vibrate in his hand and jumped towards Shen Yuan’s face in an attempt to lick him. Shen Yuan cooed and laughed as little toe beans flashed in his vision. This was one of the best moments of his two lives!

****

Luo Yu watched as his treasured Shifu cuddled a creature from the depths of hell. The creature that had hunted him down like it was prepared to spend weeks attempting to digest the child’s corpse. He had never been so horrified in his entire life.

Approaching his Shifu, Luo Yu noticed the puppies eyes flash red when they turned to glance at him. The look went unnoticed by Shen Yuan who happily cradled the beast. Unaware that he was holding Luo Yu’s would-be murderer. He’d even given the evil thing one of the fruits they had worked so hard to harvest!

Luo Yu decided enough was enough and it was time to rescue his oblivious Shifu. “Shifu, that.. that creature is very dangerous. You should put it down before it turns on you.”

Shen Yuan didn’t even look at him. The man was too focused on the dogs feet to care. His teacher did deign to grace him with a response. “Nonsense A-Yu. Look at how cute it is! The puppy knows we mean it no harm.” Having apparently finished inspecting the demon’s feet, Luo Yu watched in disbelief as his Shifu gently nuzzled his nose together with the creatures and pet it’s fluffy fur.

The child realised that he was beginning to smell vinegar. He darkly thought that his hair was the only one Shen Yuan was supposed to pet so adoringly. Luo Yu realised that if he didn’t put an end to this than his Shifu would surely bring the thing back the manor. He needed to act quickly before his Shifu nam-

“Since it seems to be a boy puppy, I think I’ll call you Bingpup.”

Luo Yu felt the color drain from his face. Not only had Shen Yuan named it; he named it after his Father?! How? Why?! He quickly began to stutter out a question. “Sh- Shifu, why that name?”

The question seemed to break Shen Yuan’s focus on the puppy as his teacher finally looked at him. The man seemed startled by Luo Yu’s appearance. “Why are you so pale? This puppy is a Harmonic Demon Dog. You can tell by the mark on its forehead. I’ve heard the demon emperor Luo Binghe has a similar mark on his forehead. Bingpup is a very cute name!”

His teacher ended his answer with a defensiveness that made Luo Yu either want to laugh or cry. His Shifu thought he was concerned about the name being silly or offensive. Little did his teacher know, his poor disciple was merely having a heart attack over his Father’s name being mentioned.

The puppy glared at him from Shen Yuan’s grasp. It seemed to be irritated with Luo Yu for drawing Shen Yuan’s attention away from it. It attempted to regain the man’s attention, but Shen Yuan shook his head and gently set the puppy down by the fallen lantern plant. With a deeply regretful sigh, his Shifu patted the dog gently before straightening out his form.

“I suppose we can’t keep you. You must have a home nearby.” Shifu said this, but Luo Yu saw the twitch in those hands that belied his words. Before his teacher could change his mind Luo Yu grabbed the man's arm and pulled him away.

“Don’t worry Shifu! That bea.. dog definitely has a home. I accidentally entered its territory earlier and it chased me all the way here! It’ll definitely better if we leave it be.” He said all this as he firmly tugged the man along.

His Shifu looked briefly sad before nodding in agreement. The man seemed to have a thought that confused him as a slight furrow appeared between his brows. “A-Yu, didn’t you want to have plenty of creatures living in the manor with us? If I remember correctly, you mentioned wanting to gather all sorts to be your friends.”

Luo Yu was unable to tell his Shifu that he still had this dream and internally wailed. ‘Shifu, I still want this, but that demon will never be willing to be my friend!’ Instead of expressing this thought, he forced a smile at his teacher instead. “I’ve changed my mind for now! But enough of this, Shifu. I’m tired. Why don’t we go home?”

The concerned look the man sent him let Luo Yu know he’d used the right tactic. Shen Yuan stopped him from pulling him further. His teacher unsheathed his sword and carefully helped Luo Yu to get situated before hopping on behind him. Luo Yu thought they would immediately fly off, but Shen Yuan surprised him. He turned the sword back around to fly back to the newly dubbed ‘Bingpup’.

The puppy hadn’t left the spot where Shen Yuan had placed it. It had been sitting there forlornly as Shen Yuan was dragged away by Luo Yu. Seeing it’s sad appearance, the child almost felt pity, but the image of a glowing black aura and red eyes quickly squashed the feeling. The dog seemed to sense them and looked up. Seeing Shen Yuan, its body began to vibrate again.

His Shifu slowed the sword to a hover. He still had a firm hold on Luo Yu’s shoulders but he leaned forward slightly to the side to call out to the puppy. “We have to go home now! I hope the lantern plant’s fruit is helpful. Please, take care of yourself Bingpup!” Fortunately, Bingpup seemed to understand. His tail slowly stopped wagging, but he no longer looked forlorn. The puppy picked up its prize and seemed to be prepared to head back to its own home.

Seeing that his message had been received, Luo Yu’s Shifu finally directed the sword to fly them back home. Luo Yu couldn’t help but feel touched by the way his Shifu obviously cared for that evil puppy. His teacher was so kind.

Halfway through the flight home, Luo Yu insisted that he was too tired to continue balancing on the sword. Shen Yuan carefully adjusted him so that he was able to be held. Sleepily, Luo Yu rested his head on his teacher’s shoulder. He would have lasted until they were home, but Luo Yu felt possessive of his Shifu’s attention right now. The thought of that demon dog being cuddled by his Shifu made him cuddle close to the man.

He had a thought before fully falling asleep. ‘For now, I’m very happy that it’s only me and Bàba. I don’t need any friends yet.’

****

Neither Shen Yuan or Luo Yu were aware that a pair of tiny eyes watched the pair as they flew back to the Shen Estate. A tiny black form hopped across the mountain at a pace that was too fast for the naked eye to see.

Chapter Text

Chapter 8: The Eccentricities of Cohabitation

Having to do chores was a new experience.

Luo Yu had never had any at the Palace. The most he had to worry about were his lessons. He had been free to do as he pleased with his free time, but with no one to spend it with, he’d primarily hung out alone in the library.

His cultivation lessons were progressing smoothly. He hadn’t exploded anything in weeks, and Luo Yu could sense the beginnings of a golden core beginning to slowly form in his chest. His Shifu was so pleased with his progress that he’d apparently decided that Luo Yu was ready for more responsibilities. He was now responsible for tasks such as laundry, gardening, and cleaning.

To be fair, they did the gardening together everyday in the (late) mornings. The laundry and cleaning were set so that they did them in alternating shifts. Luo Yu was expected to clean up after himself to the point that the teacher and student duo only had to perform a thorough cleaning once a week. It was the least he could do for his Shifu who took care of him in every way.

Between chores, guqin lessons, and cultivation training, Luo Yu was kept quite busy. (He didn’t count the book reports as they were really more of a pleasant pastime for both him and his Shifu). He found that he liked all the work. He enjoyed keeping busy, and he felt that these tasks helped him grow in a way. They taught him of hard work and patience. It all helped him realise just how much he took the servants work for granted at the Palace. He truly had gained a new appreciation for how the common people lived their lives. He would be doubly sure to never dismiss them.

His Father only ever seemed to tolerate women, and Luo Yu never wants to end up like that.

Luo Yu was a prince, but (while his Father had no heir to his throne) he decided long ago that he would never fight his siblings for the position. He would rather explore the world and make friends with all sorts of people and creatures.

He had vague plans for the where he would still call the mountain his home, but he would leave on trips to help people with their troubles wherever he could. Maybe his Shifu would even come with him on his travels occasionally. Either way he would make sure to visit the Shen Manor regularly. He would be a powerful cultivator that his Shifu could be proud of.

Plans for the future aside, it was his week for the laundry. He had taken the path through the bamboo forest near the manor and arrived at the river. This river flowed downhill and filled the surrounding area with the gentle sounds of moving water. It was a decent size but small enough that the stones in the water could be used to hop across to the other side. Shen Yuan and Luo Yu did the laundry near a tiny waterfall that formed from where the mountain slope created a small drop in the river. Once a week they would carry a small basin, soap, and washer board to scrub their clothes and bedsheets clean.

Luo Yu scrubbed at his dirty robes. He had already washed everything else. Once done with these last items, he could head back up the path to the manor. His Shifu had a clothes line set up near the garden that they used to hang and dry their laundry. It was very likely that his Shifu was currently enjoying his free time by lounging in his newly rebuilt hammock by the lotus pond.

He had just finished the last of his robes when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise. Slowly, he turned his head to look around. There was something watching him.

Luo Yu’s heart began to speed up in anxiety. ‘Who could be watching him? No one but him and his Shifu should be able to live here. It had to be a creature of some kind right?’ These thoughts rapidly flew through his mind before coming to a screeching halt when his eyes caught sight of something on the other side of the river.

A small form sat perched on top of one of the many stones littered across the river bank. A fluffy black ball of fur that contained a pair of tiny black eyes that stared through Luo Yu’s soul and found him lacking.

Luo Yu felt horror begin to consume him. The demon dog had come back to finish the job!! It had tracked him all the way to the Shen Manor and must have waited until he was alone to enact it’s insidious plans. His mind continued to dissolve into panicked internal shrieking, but the puppy made no move towards him.

Just as Luo Yu thought the devil might be a mirage, it moved. A small head tilted, and it stared straight into Luo Yu’s eyes before giving a tiny woof.

Terror stole all his reason. Before he knew it, he’d abandoned the laundry and practically flew up the path. A mantra of ‘Bàbas’ left his lips as he cried out for help as he ran. He had just reached the manor when Shen Yuan came flying around the back of the house. His robes and hair were in a state of disarray. He had obviously just been napping.

Before the concerned man could even begin to question Luo Yu, the child flung himself at his teacher and began to wail. “Shifu, it’s back!! The demon’s back to eat me!”

Startled and confused, Shen Yuan was knocked to the ground by the child’s flying form. After the fall, the teacher glanced down at the hysterical child clinging to his chest before questioning him. “What demon is back? When did you even meet a demon a first time?! Are you alright?”

Luo Yu calmed slightly as he was held by his Shifu protectively. He glanced up at the man’s concerned face and rapidly answered the questions. “The demon from the forest with the lantern plant! It’s by the river!! It was watching me Shifu. It wants to eat me!”

His Shifu’s confusion did not abate. In fact, it seemed like his teacher was growing a tad exasperated.

“Are you talking about the Harmonic Demon puppy? I doubt the tiny creature could eat you even if it wanted to. Also, what do you mean it’s by the river?”

Luo Yu got off his Shifu and dragged him down the path to the river. As they walked, he started rambling. “C’mon Shifu. Hurry! It’s on one of the stones by the river. Hurry!” Shen Yuan let the child pull him along. When they arrived, Luo Yu’s ramblings cut short. Because there, on the stone where the hell creature had been watching him, was an empty space.

Luo Yu was sent into a dumbfounded stupor. ‘Where had it gone?! He had only been gone for a few minutes at most! How had the tiny thing escaped so fa- oh.’ He recalled the repressed memory of the outrageous speed the demon had used when chasing him through the forest not too long ago.

His Shifu turned to him. “Are you sure you saw Bingpup? He doesn’t seem to be here any more. Who knows. Maybe there are more Harmonic Demon puppies living on this mountain.” Shen Yuan finished with an unconcerned shrug of his shoulders.

Under the double assault of the name his Shifu had given the terrible creature and the idea that there could be more than one of those nightmares out there, Luo Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Instead, he gently fell to the ground and placed his face in the dirt of the riverbank. He muttered to himself aloud, “I think I’ll take a nap. Life is too cruel.”

He heard his Shifu laugh at him from the side. Apparently amused by Luo Yu’s existential crisis. A very cruel man, his Shifu. Said cruel man seemed to have determined that there was nothing to be concerned about. Shen Yuan went and gathered up the previously abandoned laundry. Luo Yu kept his eyes closed and didn’t move.

He listened as his teacher finished gathering everything. It was only when he heard the sound of footsteps stop near his head that he decided to open his eyes again. The first thing he saw was his Shifu’s amused face. “Come along A-Yu. You’ll catch a cold down there. The Harmonic Demon dogs can’t harm you, and I doubt you’ll see them often. Besides, we still need to hang up the laundry before it gets too late.”

Apparently Shen Yuan had decided that the source of Luo Yu’s terror was only an amusing anecdote for the day. The man had clearly moved on from the incident, and Luo Yu had no choice but to do so as well.

As they left the clearing, both were unaware of the tiny form that huddled in the bottom of the washing basin.

****

Luo Yu was going insane.

It had been two weeks since the laundry scare. The first few days had been peaceful. The demon puppy had vanished, and Luo Yu really had begun to think he’d maybe imagined the whole thing. He repressed the whole idea of the puppy having followed them back to the manor. Deciding decisively that all was fine and normal.

This mentality shattered the morning that Luo Yu saw the creature sitting peacefully on their kitchen counter.

As usual, he’d woken up long before his Shifu. He’d gone to the kitchen in a sleepy daze in search of breakfast. At first, he hadn’t noticed the new addition the kitchen. It wasn’t until he had pulled a bowl out of one of the cupboards that he saw a flash of black in the corner of his eye. Turning with the bowl in hand, Luo Yu came face to face with a small demonic demon puppy.

Said puppy lazily lounged on the counter with a grace that shouldn’t have been possible for such a tiny body. It looked at Luo Yu with a gaze that screamed smug indifference.

The bowl in Luo Yu’s hand fell to the ground and shattered. An all too familiar terror filled him. As he stared at the puppy who seemed to take great pleasure in his shock, he realised that his soul might just abandon its mortal shell at this rate.

Recovering, his fight or flight instincts finally kicked in. Before the puppy could blink at him again, he took off like an arrow towards the stairs. Just like the laundry incident, Luo Yu’s wails of ‘Bàba’ filled the air. When he arrived at his Shifu’s room, he practically slammed his body against the door. Inside, the corpse like form of the sleeping man awaited.

The child wails couldn’t pierce through Shen Yuan’s peaceful slumber. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and Luo Yu wasted no time in flinging himself onto his teacher’s sleeping form. The poor man was unprepared for a hysterically wailing child to body slam him so early in the morning. The child sized missile made contact, and Shen Yuan flailed into wakefulness.

Luo Yu babbled at the man. Too horrified by the fact that the manor’s bubble of safety had been breached to form a coherent sentence. It wasn’t until the thought that the puppy might get away again occurred to him, that he managed to pull himself together. Ignoring his Shifu's wheezing, he dragged the man out of bed to the kitchens.

History unfortunately repeated itself because when they arrived, the demon was gone.

Luo Yu wanted to cry. “Shifu, it was the demon puppy! It came back again! I told you I saw it at the river and now it’s in our home. It’s gonna murder us in our sleep!” His rant had dissolved into full on wails, and his Shifu looked at him with a look that screamed exhausted exasperation.

“A-Yu are you sure you weren’t just tired?” His Shifu asked with a resigned sigh. Luo Yu instantly felt offended. “Of course not Shifu! I would never imagine that demon. He really was here!”

Reluctantly, his Shifu nodded in agreement. It seemed the man had decided to believe him. “Well, I doubt Bingpup means any harm. He didn’t try to hurt you did he?” The concerned look prevented Luo Yu from lying and he grumpily shook his head.

Shen Yuan clapped his hands together with a small smile. “See, I’m sure Bingpup is a very gentle soul. I’m sure he just wants to be your friend! For now, there’s nothing we can do about it. Let me make us both some breakfast.”

There was so many things wrong with what his Shifu had just said that Luo Yu stood astounded in disbelief as the man went to get their breakfast put together.

Apparently this was all his Shifu had to say on this mornings drama. Luo Yu realised that the man would be no help with the issue of their home invader. The demon had obviously bewitched his oblivious Shifu. With a serious nod to himself, he realised that it was up to him to protect the manor and its residents.

As if to mock his grave thoughts, a tiny black ball of fur looked at the child with smug eyes from its hiding spot beneath the table.

*****

The incident would be the first of many.

The demonic puppy would appear at random. Popping up behind bushes, in random rooms of the house, in the garden: nowhere was safe from the beast. Luo Yu was progressively losing his mind. The only common trait the incidents shared was the fact that Shen Yuan was never around to see the appearances. He had been forced to stop fleeing to find Shifu at every sighting. The monster was always long gone by the time he’d dragged the exasperated man to see.

The situation was truly beginning to affect Luo Yu. He couldn’t sleep or concentrate. His mind constantly cycled through ideas on how to rid his home of its pest problem. The smug look that dog continued to send him at every appearance was slowly turning his fear to rage.

Today it was going to end. He had a plan. He had carefully obtain some rope from the manor’s storerooms and knotted it into a ugly looking net. He would have used the fishing net, but the demon would likely easily break through those. As soon as the dog appeared next, Luo Yu planned to throw the net over it and finally prove to his Shifu once and for all that he wasn’t crazy.

The plan had many flaws but anything too complicated would be a red flag signaling Luo Yu’s intent to the enemy. He knew his foe had a way of keeping surveillance on the manor. It had to with its constant avoidance of Shifu.

(He had asked his teacher how to catch a Harmonic Demon dog, but the man had simply laughed and gave him a confusing line about how even a protagonist couldn’t catch one.)

Today was a free day. He planned to go by the lotus pond and wait for the demonic puppy to appear. The pond would block one of the ways that the demon could approach, giving Luo Yu a smaller area to have to keep an eye on. The bamboo forest and gardens would be the only places the dog could appear from.

As Luo Yu carefully stood in front of the lotus pond, he kept the rope on the ground but in easy reach. Shifu was currently making lunch so he had an hour before he would need to head inside. Looking around, he saw no trace of the tiny ball of evil.

Twenty minutes had passed, and he was beginning to have second thoughts. ‘Was the puppy not going to appear? Had Luo Yu not been sneaky enough when creating the net?’

He was about to give up when he heard the barely audible sound of a splash behind him. Freezing, his face went pale. ‘There’s no way…’, Luo Yu thought with great uncertainty. Nearly against his will, his head turned to look over his shoulder.

The lotus pond was beautiful and full of life. That beauty was lost on Luo Yu because in the center of the lake sat a small Harmonic Demon puppy resting on a large lotus pad. Those eyes gazed across the pond at Luo Yu with the kind of domineering superiority his Father had when dealing with his subjects. As if the person being stared at wasn’t even worthy of one’s time or energy. Mockingly, the puppy rolled away on its back and seemed ready to take nap.

Luo Yu felt his fighting spirit drain away. He couldn’t win. The dumb dog was always two steps ahead of him. Halfheartedly, he tossed the net across the pond in an attempt to reach the demon. It fell in the water halfway. The puppy didn’t even flinch.

He felt despondent. Ignoring his tormenter, he headed back to the manor. He trudged through the door and ignored the concerned questions from his Shifu as he headed for the stairs. It wasn’t until he collapsed face first on his bed that he finally gave into the frustrated tears that had been building for a while.

Luo Yu was finished. He just wanted to sleep and forget everything.

*****

Despite what A-Yu may think, Shen Yuan was not oblivious to the fact that his child was being messed with.

At first it had been amusing. If exasperating. Shen Yuan has originally assumed that if the Harmonic Demon puppy, dubbed Bingpup, was indeed scurrying around than it would only be a matter of time before it truly made its presence known.

Instead, the puppy seemed to be playing some kind of long lasting game with his disciple. He doubted the puppy’s intentions were truly malicious. (The wards wouldn’t allow for such ill intent). However, malicious or not, enough was enough. Shen Yuan was truly concerned for the state of A-Yuan’s mental health. It was time to step in and stop the chaos.

Shen Yuan set aside lunch for later. A-Yu had just fled to his room. Without a doubt having just had another encounter with the mischievous puppy. The boy had been visibly upset, and he would need to go check on him soon.

Stepping outside, Shen Yuan headed towards the lotus pond. Exiting the garden, he looked around the area to the expected sight of a puppy-less environment. Shen Yuan only stopped walking when he stood underneath the willow tree hanging over the lotus pond. He took one more moment to glance around again before calling out in an even tone, “Bingpup, I know you’re here.”

Silence.

Nothing moved around him, and he knew he would have to resort to drastic measures. “If you don’t come out I’m going to activate the wards and have you leave Hua mountain.” It was a clear threat that Shen Yuan hadn’t wanted to make, but the Harmonic Demon puppy’s behavior was getting out of control.

Another moment of silence met his words before a small, fluffy black puppy hopped off its hiding place in the branches overhead. Startled, Shen Yuan carefully caught the falling form. The puppy allowed itself to be cradled. Shen Yuan raised his hands so that Bingpup was eye level with his face.

Wide adoring eyes met eyes filled with reproach. It was too bad for Bingpup that Shen Yuan was unhappy. He would not be fazed by a cute fluffy face. The puppy seemed to realise this as it gave a pitiful whine.

“None of that. You have been bullying a member of my family. What I want to know is why. If the reason isn’t good I’m afraid I really will have to ask you to leave the mountain.” Shen Yuan told the dog this calmly. He didn’t want Bingpup to have to leave, but no one was allowed to harm his child.

The dog’s tiny face turned sheepish. Black eyes flashed red briefly. At first glance, one might think that the puppy’s energy was still imbalanced. Shen Yuan was a cultivator though. He could clearly feel that the yin and yang energy was calming. Bingpup has clearly eaten the lantern plant’s fruit. In time, the fluffy pup would be able to fully control the changing color of its eyes.

Shen Yuan gently bopped the puppy’s nose. “I can tell you ate the lantern fruit. I didn’t give you that gift so you could turn around and terrorize my disciple. Just what are your intentions?”

Bingpup only became more sheepish and guilty. It gently licked Shen Yuans hand and seemed to attempt to communicate its remorse. He tried to recall all of the puppy’s actions. What could it have possibly wanted to achieve with its strange game of hide and seek?

An exasperating thought occurred to him. Bingpup was very, very smart. If he was playing mind games with A-Yu, but specifically causing no harm, it was for a reason. The real clue was that Bingpup hadn’t allowed Shen Yuan to see him for each incident. With sudden clarity he asked the dog, “Were you jealous?”

The puppy in his hands froze. Reluctantly it’s tail tucked beneath its body and its eyes grew large.

He was right?! This explained the events of the last few weeks. When Shen Yuan had left Bingpup in the forest not so long ago, the puppy must have gotten it into its head that A-Yu was to blame. The child had been the one to originally drag him away so it wasn’t a terrible conclusion.

With this assumption in mind though, Bingpup had hatched a plan. It followed the duo back to Shen Manor and camped out to observe. It eventually appeared before A-Yu in an attempt to scare the boy into leaving. With the child gone, the puppy could usurp the child’s position in Shen Yuan’s life.

Or at least that was what Shen Yuan assumed. He quickly regaled the idea to the puppy who seemed seemed to miserably agree.

After confirming his suspicions, Shen Yuan simply stared at the puppy and gathered his thoughts. Bingpup could not be allowed to continue messing with A-Yu, but the puppy’s reasoning had been childish not cruel. It never harmed; only lightly bullied in an attempt to get close to a being that had showed it kindness. Shen Yuan had the feeling that the puppy had acted out of loneliness.

His heart could not help but be moved by the tiny creature. It really was too similar to A-Yu when he had first arrived.

Shaking his head, he drew the puppies attention. “Listen well Bingpup. You will no longer bully A-Yu. I know you meant no harm, but your actions have consequences that you must account for.”

Bingpups mournful eyes showed a spark of seriousness that showed he understood his crimes.

Shen Yuan carefully patted the puppy’s black fur. “That being said if you want to live in the manor, you’re going to come with me to apologize to A-Yu. If he forgives you; you can stay.”

The puppy stared at him in shock. Bingpup’s tail slowly began to wag. Hope filled it’s tiny form, but it realised that it was the small child that would determine its fate. Hope fled as it’s tiny form sagged in Shen Yuan’s hands. After all, why would a child forgive its bully?

Seeing the puppies distress, Shen Yuan gently bopped Bingpup on the nose again. Tiny round eyed gazed at him inquisitively and Shen Yuan wanted to melt at the cute sight. He held firm though and told the dog, “No need to worry. A-Yu is a child that has a very kind heart. As long as you are sincere, everything will work out fine.”

Shen Yuan gently smiled at the puppy before carrying Bingpup back to the manor. He entered the back doorway and headed to the stairs to A-Yu’s room. When he arrived he shifted Bingpup so that he could raise a hand to knock on the door.

His knock was met with silence.

Shen Yuan quietly called out, “A-Yu can I come in?” Bingpup seemed to tremble with nerves in his arms. It took some time before the duo heard a muffled voice give confirmation.

Shen Yuan stopped before entering the room. He place Bingpup carefully on the floor and whispered, “Stay out here. I’ll call you when it’s time to come in.”

Bingpup nodded and Shen Yuan entered the room. There on the bed was a nest of blankets and pillows. A-Yu seemed to have cocooned himself in the mess. Despite the situation, He couldn’t help but be amused by the sight.

Shen Yuan eventually situated himself next to A-Yu’s bundled form. Carefully, he raised a hand to gently pat the boy’s blanket covered arm. He couldn’t help but coo a bit when the cocoon wriggled closer to him.

Moving his hand to the top of the blanket, he adjusted them so that he could see the child’s face. Slowly, a red teary eyed face was revealed. A-Yu’s face was utterly pitiful in its frustration, and Shen Yuan instantly moved to pick up the cocooned form so that he had the child cradled in his arms.

The child seemed to draw comfort from his actions. A-Yu’s tension began to ease, and the stress of the last few weeks faded.

Patting the child’s fluffy hair, Shen Yuan broke the silence. “You know I never thought you were crazy,” a pat, “I know Bingpup has been bullying you lately. This teacher made the poor assumption that the two of you would work things out on your own.” Another pat before Shen Yuan paused.

“This Shifu is very sorry.”

Abruptly, A-Yu struggled out of his blankets and turned his face towards Shen Yuan. Rapidly shaking his head, the child nearly shouted. “No Shifu! It wasn’t your fault! I should have been more clever and trapped the demon before it bothered us for so long. This disciple was incompetent in the face of this threat!”

Seeing that the child was nearing the point of tears again, Shen Yuan instantly began to shush and soothe. “No A-Yu. You are not to blame. This teacher truly made an error. No, don’t shake your head. It’s true. Listen and I will explain.”

Shen Yuan carefully explained the circumstances surrounding the events of the last few weeks. Bingpups jealousy and loneliness. How it was attempting to bully the child into leaving. Shen Yuan kept nothing hidden from the child. Throughout the tale, A-Yu’s face flashed with a series of emotions. Anger, affront, and confusion were easily identified, but it took Shen Yuan a moment to see that A-Yu’s face now read of a reluctant understanding. It seemed that the child understood and related to the actions of the Harmonic Demon puppy.

Grumbling, A-Yu looked at Shen Yuan with a surly look and crossed arms. “This doesn’t mean I have to like the hellbeast.”

Shen Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. A beaming smile stole over his face as he looked at the child he had come to care for so fiercely. He couldn’t help but reach out his hands to pinch those cheeks. Much to A-Yu’s whiny dismay.

After the two calmed down, Shen Yuan gave the boy a serious look. “If Bingpup had harmed you, I would have taken care of him. Know that nothing is more important than your safety. If you ever feel like things are getting out of hand again, I’ll be sure to listen.” It was a promise not dismiss the A-Yu’s concerns again and a confirmation that Shen Yuan cared for the child first and foremost.

A-Yu looked at him with gratefulness and the child nodded his head to show Shen Yuan he understood the message.

Shen Yuan smiled. He was slightly nervous about the next step. “A-Yu there’s one more thing that needs to be taken care of. Will you trust me?” The child gave him a startled look before his face turned serious. The child wasted no time giving him a look that showed that he trusted his Shifu implicitly.

Touched, Shen Yuan gave the child a quick head pat before getting up to open the door. Carefully he bent down and picked up the puppy that had been patiently waiting. He made sure to give Bingpup a stern look before turning his body back towards A-Yu.

He could see the exact moment that A-Yu saw the tiny form in his arms. The child’s face paled and eyes widened in shock. Surprisingly, the boy seemed to regain his composure quickly. It seemed that either the tale of Bingpups reasoning or the child’s trust in Shen Yuan had eased his terror.

Shen Yuan moved slowly toward the bed. Seeing A-Yu’s rigid form give no protest, he carefully sat on the bed with Bingpup placed gently between them. The puppy seemed to realise it was his time to make amends. Bingpup mournfully gazed at the child and gave a gentle whine. It rested its tiny head between its paws and seemed to gaze at A-Yu with true remorse. An apology unspoken.

A-Yu stared at the puppy. It took some time before the child’s body seemed to sag in relief. Shen Yuan could tell that the child had realised that Bingpup was truly apologetic. As he watched the scene, A-Yu slowly raised a hand towards the puppy.

Bingpup flinched but remained still as the hand drew closer. It seemed resigned to its fate. The tiny fluffy body seemed to freeze in shock when all A-Yu did was give the puppy a gentle pat on the head. The action shocked something in Shen Yuan as well due to its familiarity. It was the same thing Shen Yuan did to A-Yu whenever he wanted to comfort the boy.

Bingpup realised the head pat was a clear sign of forgiveness and his tail began to wag. The tiny body began to vibrate in its excitement, and the puppy nearly fell all over itself as it hopped around the bed in happiness. A-Yu looked reluctantly amused by the actions.

Shen Yuan cooed at the both of them. They were simply too cute. His old man heart couldn’t handle it. Abruptly, he realised there was one more question he needed to be sure of before he let the puppy get too excited. Turning to A-Yu he asked him solemnly, “Is it alright with you if Bingpup lives here?”

Hearing the question, the puppy quickly stopped rolling around. It looked between Shen Yuan and A-Yu with clear anxiety brimming in its eyes. However, Bingpup did not beg or whine. It seemed to be willing to accept whatever verdict came it’s way.

A-Yu took a moment to seriously consider. Shen Yuan knew by the slight quirks of his lips what the child had decided long before he spoke. “I don’t know…will Bingpup do chores? It wouldn’t be fair if he just lounges around the manor.”

Shen Yuan pulled out his fan to cover the lower part of his face. His eyes must have given him away though as they curved. The boy was teasing Bingpup! After weeks of being bullied, it was only fair that the child got some light revenge.

The puppy in question seemed to panic in its attempt to assure A-Yu of its usefulness. It rushed around in circles and gave the child enthusiastic barks. After a few seconds of this, A-Yu gave up his serious face and giggled. Obviously pleased by his revenge.

Seeing the giggle, Bingpup seems to realise he'd been duped. Fluffy hair seemed to expand in surprise before a tiny body scrambled over the bed to attack the boy with enthusiastic kisses. A-Yu squealed as he tried to avoid being licked by the puppies tiny tongue. He cried out for help from the adult in the room.

Unfortunately for A-Yu, Shen Yuan was too busy gasping for air as his entire body shook with laughter. His fan had fallen to the side. He felt like he was brimming with happiness as he looked at the pair of child and puppy. His heart was so very full.

Shen Yuan would eventually get ahold of himself and grab the pair to go down and eat. Lunch had been missed and it was now time for dinner. One adult, a child, and a small demonic puppy gathered together to eat dinner. It would take some time before A-Yu would be truly be at ease with Bingpup. However, a connection had been formed that night.

The family of two became three.

****

A transmigrated cultivator, a half-demon runway prince, and a Harmonic Demon puppy that was one of the last of a dwindling race. A strange family brought together by the common factor of loneliness. They lived happily together on a magical mountain that kept them separate from the perils of a world that was slowly crumbling. Truly a story right from a fairy tale, but still a story that has not yet reached a conclusion.

It is fortunate that, in life, a terrible beginning can still lead to a happy ending. This is especially so for the sake of one Demon Emperor.

Chapter Text

Chapter 9: A Beginning and an End

Ning Yingying lived under a facade of happiness.

A lifetime ago, she was a disciple of the Cang Qiong Sect living in Qing Jing Peak. The Peak of scholars. She had been so proud. That was when she had had dreams. Never had she intended to settle down. She wanted to be an immortal cultivator. Maybe even take over as head disciple once Shen Qingqiu retired and Ming Fan took her Shizun’s place.

These ambitions had unknowingly died the day she had asked her Shizun to choose a very special boy digging holes in the dirt. In her darkest times, she wondered about the life she could have had if she had only kept her mouth shut.

Ning Yingying could never truly regret it though. That child had been innocent. Nothing like the man he would one day become. Nothing like the man she would one day marry. That child had later been shaped by a cruel hand and a crueler fate to become the Demon Emperor of the present.

Her husband was not a good man. He could be kind, but she knew the man has lost a piece of himself when he’d been thrown into the Abyss by their Shizun. If any part of the innocent child he had been survived; it was buried deep in the man's soul. Ning Yingying supposed it would take a miracle to unearth. If it existed.

Years of marriage had truly given her insight on her husband’s character. She loved him, but she had only recently began to realise that she wasn’t in love with him. Maybe she had been once, but she was beginning to wonder.

Her carefully maintained life of happiness and love had been shattered by the arrival of a man with her husband’s face.

That man had taken one look at her. One single look, and seemed to have known everything. Of course he wasn’t aware of the specifics of her life, but he’d given her a look of such sorrow. Her robes showed her position, and he’d seemed to realise that she’d long ago lost the spark that his own Ning Yingying must have.

The doppelgänger hadn’t stayed. He searched the Palace out of necessity. Found information that seemed to horrify him. The only time the man had really spoken was to demand answers about ‘his Shizun’. Wasn’t that a shock?

For whatever reason, she had let him do as he pleased. Something about him made her willingly answer all questions no matter how strange. As her husband’s unofficial advisor, she was privy to most details the copy had wanted to know. Information gathered, he was gone in no time at all, but before leaving he’d asked her one thing.

“Are you happy like this?”

He hadn’t waited for a reply. They both knew the answer.

It was like a ghost had come to her home and opened her eyes to the decay it was built from. The shadow of the A-Luo she had originally loved. Appearing before her to shatter her carefully crafted lies.

Then her husband had returned. Defeated by that copy. His wounds would heal, but something had shattered in him. Much in the same way that something had shattered in her. They’d both woken up to the world they were living in and found it clearly wanting.

Her husband was enraged. Dangerous in his despair. In his unending questions that seemed to have no answers. It took carefully timed questions to slowly gather the story of what had happened to him in that other world.

He spoke in seeming disgust of that kinder Shizun who had been so easily tricked at first. Ning Yingying was not deceived. She saw clearly the desire in his eyes. The way his hand would not stop fiddling with that new braid in his hair.

It made Ning Yingying question her life all the more. Question all the things she and A-Luo had never had.

They had never had children together. She hadn't wanted any. Not like some of the other harem members. She had been too busy unknowingly trying to fake her own happiness to worry about a child. A-Luo had always been careful. Only those who truly wanted a child, would be gifted one. He always made sure that the mother in question knew that he would take no real part in that child’s life.

Her husband was wary of them. Children. He found them too fragile. They brought up too many memories of his bullied childhood. If he were to favor one over the other, the fragile harem politics would be thrown into disarray. A-Luo claimed it was clearly all a huge waste of time. Ning Yingying believes that her A-Luo was just afraid of not being able to treat one properly.

(He was an Emperor known for his tyrannical rule. He had no qualms with torturing and slaying his enemies. Razing entire villages if it suited him. He was only gentle with woman, but even they were wary of his temperament. How could such a man treat a child gently?)

Her husband had offered her a son once. Not made from their conception, but a child born from a recently deceased concubine. It was rare that any of the women her husband collected die. In fact it was the first time such an event had happened. A-Luo hadn’t looked so surprised in years when he had first heard the news.

Her husband had been forced to name the child. It had seemed to shake something in him. He had brought the child to her in a somewhat helpless manner that had struck her with nostalgia. So similar had he looked when he was a confused disciple on their peak. The feeling was fleeting.

He named the child Luo Yu. Yu spelled to mean ‘rain’.

He’d offered the baby to her after that. She thinks he did it because even now he trusts her just slightly more than the others. Looking back, she thinks that there was a part of her A-Luo that wanted to keep the child. Take a role in raising it. She would’ve been the best solution to do so without playing favorites.

Ning Yingying let him down for the first time.

She had taken one look at the baby and known she could never raise it. Even so young, Luo Yu looked exactly like his Father. The innocence in those eyes combined with the memories of a young Luo Binghe had scared her. The walls of her facade had trembled. She couldn’t allow them to break.

She’d given the baby back to A-Luo with a stiff smile. Claimed to be unprepared for such a responsibility. Her husband had looked at her with a rarely seen flash of disappointment before leaving to give the baby to someone else. The man buried that small spark he had so briefly carried.

She knew she had hurt him then. It haunted her. He acted indifferent, but she saw that that briefly lit dream. It was a tragedy that they were both too broken in different ways to do the right thing.

She rarely saw Luo Yu again. The boy was raised by the staff. No harem member would willingly raise a random child. Luo Binghes or no. Harem politics were difficult enough without another burden. Ning Yingying was fortunate in her position as first wife and unofficial advisor. She was privy to nearly everything A-Luo did and exempt from issues that most of the other women faced.

Fortunately Luo Yu seemed to grow up well. A tiny, stubborn thing that only grew more painful to look at as the child grew. Ning Yingying shamefully admits to outright avoiding the boy. She knew her husband did much the same out of only slightly different reasons. Though the man could not hide his slight favor for the child from her watchful eyes.

It was a status quo that became the norm. Life went on. A-Luo greedily consumed the world, and she stood by his side throughout.

This had changed. The other Luo Binghe revealed the answer to a question that she had buried for years.

Her husband did not love her.

She now knew that her A-Luo had never been in love. Not with a single one of his wives or concubines. He tried. Oh, he tried. Ning Yingying could see that much. But none had ever been able to touch that damaged heart. So shriveled and cold now. The man had trapped himself in a cycle of greed and revenge that had been breaking him to pieces bit by bit.

Love. She had seen love in that other Luo Binghe when the man had spoken of his husband. That man had practically glowed with it when speaking only briefly of that kind version of her Shizun. If Shen Qingqiu could be so loved, did that mean that her own Shizun may not have been as evil as they’d believed? Did that mean that so many things had been pointless?

She’ll never know, but she did believe that the actions of her worlds Shen Qingqiu were not without blame. It did not matter if he had some sort of decency behind that cold exterior. None of it mattered as the past cannot be changed. Nearly everyone from that time were dead and gone.

It had been months since the incident with the copy. Her husband was finally coming to realise that he could not return to that other world. He desperately tried, but Ning Yingying knew that the doppelgänger had a love he treasured fiercely. That man wouldn’t leave anything to chance. If there was one thing she knew, it was that a determined A-Luo would achieve the impossible.

Her poor husband was going up against a version of himself with far more to lose. It was this fact that determined her A-Luo’s loss. Obsessed as he was; he couldn’t compete with true devotion. The whole situation was another blow to Ning Yingying’s frail marriage that was almost all but in tatters.

What did it mean? That a version of her husband could be so at peace with one man. Was it merely a factor of his tastes being different? Was gender the issue? Ning Yingying had thought long and hard before denying the theory. She had a feeling that it wouldn’t have mattered the gender for that other A-Luo.

It had always been a matter of the individual. That Shen Qingqiu who had had it in him to love a Luo Binghe. He must be the source of the rift. Who knew what was the background of such a man? She knew that the question haunted her husband far more than it did her.

Things were changing. Her husband no longer sought out more conquests. No new women entered the Palace. He still had sex with her. With many of the others too. But he had lost his passion. It was clearly only a task he did to deal with Xin Mo. The demonic sword that had truly caused nothing but grief. It was the key to A-Luo’s broken empire.

A-Luo only searched fruitlessly now. He sought for a way to return for that man. Attempting to claim the same happiness that his double had. Her husband seemed to finally realise he was miserable. It was pitiful to see, but Ning Yingying could barely muster any sympathy.

She now had her own dilemma to deal with. Her mind was in turmoil. Questions constantly ran through her head, but one screamed loudest.

Why should she remain here?

She wasn’t happy. She had nothing to truly call her own. Her dreams were long dead. Her husband didn’t love her. What was stopping her from leaving?

She knew the answer.

Despite it all, she still cared for her husband. Ruins as he was, he was her A-Luo. Ning Yingying did not want to leave him when she was one of the only lifelines on his path to self-destruction.

Ning Yingying was also unsure of where she would even go if she did leave. She had always stood by her husband’s side as he had enacted his revenge and built a Kingdom. The price was that the man has set into motion the end of the world.

When A-Luo combined the demon world with the human world, he had destroyed the balance. Ning Yingying was an immortal cultivator from a sect of scholars. She should have known the consequences of her husband's actions long before now. She knows she had been purposely ignorant. Purposely blind to the world around her. Too busy maintaining a marriage that was built on codependency. She was no longer able to ignore her reality.

Ning Yingying’s world was dying. She needed to decide what she was going to do about it. What she was going to do with her marriage, and what she was going to do with her life.

As Ning Yingying contemplated these issues from her room in the Palace, she was unaware of what events the future held for her. Fate had a role for her, and it remained to be seen whether it would be a kind one.

Ning Yingying would come to learn that she was not the only one aware of the state of the worlds slow decline. Plans had long been brewing in the shadows of the Palace, and it was only a matter of time before they were put into action.

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: All Good Things (Part 1)

Winter had set into Hua Mountain.

Luo Yu woke up in his cozy nest of a bed. He was so comfortable, he’d almost rather die than get up. His body was in a state of heavenly contentment and warmth. He drowsily decided that he would sleep for a while longer. It wasn’t like his Shifu would be up either.

A scratching noise came from the other side of his bedroom door. Luo Yu felt his eye twitch.

It hadn’t been too long since the demon puppy had officially been welcomed into the family. Luo Yu was still getting used to the little terror’s presence. Though he was becoming undeniably fond of the fluffy thing. It was hard not to when Bingpup was a combination of tiny and stupidly cute.

That did not mean the puppy wasn’t still annoying. The creature undeniably favored his Shifu. It slept in his Shifu's room on a pillow that his teacher had put near the lower part of his bed. Shen Yuan really spoiled Bingpup rotten. None of this was an issue for him though.

Well.. it wasn’t an issue before the dumb thing got it into its fluffy head that Luo Yu was also someone to be liked.

Every night, Bingpup would sleep in his Shifu's room, but come early morning the dog left the sleeping man to accompany Luo Yu. He had found it quite touching at first. It was mornings like this that made Luo Yu curse the moment they allowed the puppy to stay.

As the scratching at his door continued, Luo Yu bemoaned to himself. ‘All I want to do is sleep in! Shifu does it everyday, so why can’t I?’

He tried to ignore the noise, but it was slowly driving him mad. Any feeling of contentment had been washed away by Bingpups annoying pestering.

“Fine! Fine, I’m up!” Luo Yu threw the blankets off and hopped out of his bed. Much to the dismay of his feet because, wow, the floor was freezing. Winter had truly arrived. His Shifu seemed to adore the cold weather. The man happily bundled up in layers of clothes and blankets. The cultivator said he loves the ‘winter vibe’. Whatever that meant.

Luo Yu himself much preferred the warmer months. There was so much to do outdoors and the cold weather impeded his adventurous soul. However, it was nice to stay bundled in front of the library’s fireplace with Shifu and Bingpup. Some of his favorite memories were of laying on his side with his head resting on his Shifu’s lap as the man read him stories he thought Luo Yu might like. Bingpup going back and forth between them all the while and alternating who cuddled him.

Shaking away the fond memories, he quickly changed into his winter robes that consisted of many warm layers. When he was done, he threw open his bedroom door to face the source of his ruined morning.

Bingpup gazed up at him. Tail wagging and surrounded by an aura of amused smugness. Quite content in its accomplished goal of gently terrorizing Luo Yu out of bed.

He glared at the small demon. “You think you’re cute, but you’re not.” Bingpup was unimpressed.

Ignoring the puppy, Luo Yu headed downstairs for breakfast. Halfway there, he was stopped short by the sight that lay beyond the manor’s windows.

Snow!

He had never really gotten to experience snow. The Palace had never really seen a lot of it, and he had often been told by the servants that it was unsightly for a prince to be seen frolicking in it. Inside he had remained. Watching from afar as the magical white substance fell from the sky.

There was no such restrictions here though! Excitement flowed through his body, and he practically ran to the front door. He flung it open, and was met by white. It was nearly blindingly bright out with the sunlight hitting the snow. Squinting, Luo Yu was amazed by how beautiful everything looked.

The snow was at least two feet deep. It gently covered everything. Even the trees in the bamboo forest were covered in a white layer. Behind him, Bingpup hopped closer to see the sight as well.

Distracted by the snow, Luo Yu was not prepared for a tiny black blur to fly past him and through the doorway. Stunned, he could only watch as Bingpup flew through the air. Gravity eventually took its toll, and the puppy fell down towards the snow-covered earth. One second the puppy was there, the next it was gone. The demonic ball of fluff vanished beneath the snow.

After a moment of silence, Luo Yu realised that Bingpup had just been eaten. Was he still alive? Had his rival been so easily taken out?!

He stared in bemusement at the spot the puppy had vanished. To get Shifu or not? Deliberating his options. Luo Yu decided not to bother the sleeping man. If there was a tiny, black corpse hidden beneath the snow, than his Shifu didn’t need to witness that. His caring teacher would grieve for years. It was up to him to make sure the puppy hadn’t accidentally committed suicide.

Ignoring his own budding concern, Luo Yu waded through the winter wasteland and carefully began to dig up the white powder surrounding the hole created by the dog. What awaited him was the sight of no corpse. (Thank God). In fact, no matter how much Luo Yu searched. All he could find was the ground beneath all the ice.

‘The snow really did eat Bingpup?!’

Horror filled him. No one had ever told him that the snow was capable of such things. Sure there were avalanches, but he hadn’t realise that snow could simply eat you without leaving a trace. He felt like he was now surrounded by a hazardous danger. The environment was just waiting to eat him too.

Luo Yu fled back to the house. He almost went yelling for his Shifu before common sense kicked in. There was no way that snow was capable of eating things. He would’ve come across such knowledge in his very detailed research of mountains. Despite the logical reasoning, he still wasn’t sure what happened to Bingpup.

He decided to wait for his Shifu to wake up and have him deal with the mystery. The man has read far more than Luo Yu, and if anyone would know what to do; it was the scholar. Plan made, he went to the kitchen to eat and wait. His appetite was lost in his nervous state, but he was lucky not to have to wait for long.

His Shifu came stumbling into the kitchen. Still dressed in his sleep robes. The man had a blanket wrapped around himself to keep out the cold. Sleepy eyes met Luo Yu’s. He could tell that the man instantly knew that something was up by the way those eyes cleared and sharpened.

“A-Yu…”

Before his Shifu could even finish, he interrupted with a, “It’s not my fault!”

Startled, his Shifu stared at him before carefully asking, “What’s not your fault and where’s Bingpup?” It seemed Shen Yuan had noticed the absence of their third family member.

Not meeting his Shifu’s eyes, he mumbled a response. “He was eaten by the snow.”

His Shifu froze. Luo Yu watched him in worry. The man seemed to be having some kind of existential crisis as a range of emotions flashed across Shen Yuan’s face. Amusement, exasperation, and his default concerned expression were a few that he read before his Shifu sighed and closed his eyes. The immortal cultivator delicately raised one hand and pinched the bridge of his nose before composing himself enough to question Luo Yu.

“What do you mean the snow… ate Bingpup,” Shifu asked with the same exasperation that he got when Luo Yu blew things up during cultivation training. Rude.

Luo Yu quickly narrated the events of Bingpups disappearance. By the end, his teacher merely shook his head. “A-Yu, the snow didn’t eat Bingpup. The silly thing probably dug its way through to somewhere else.” The man clapped his hands, as he always did when he was ready to put a plan in action, and told Luo Yu to wait by the front door while he got dressed.

His Shifu returned swiftly. Dressed in a set of beautiful gray winter robes. Not a single hair out of place. The perfect image of a wise, immortal cultivator. Luo Yu would’ve been more impressed if he hadn’t just seen the same man looking like a sleepy, homeless hunchback.

Together, teacher and disciple went outside to observe the scene of the crime. They both bent down to the place where Luo Yu had cleared the snow in search of any oddities. They both made a noise of surprise when they found a perfectly Bingpup sized hole hidden behind some snow that Luo Yu must have accidentally pushed to cover the opening earlier.

“I guess you were right Shifu. The demon escaped its demise.”

Shen Yuan flicked his ear for that comment but hummed in agreement. Standing up, Shifu turned to him and said, “For now, we’ll just have to wait till Bingpup shows up on his own. If he isn’t back by the evening we’ll make sure to look again.”

Luo Yu easily agreed. It wasn’t like he wanted to plow through the snow all day looking for tiny tunnels and an insane puppy. The two decided to progress with their daily lessons.

*

Later, they had lunch indoors. Bingpup was still nowhere to be seen, and he wasn’t quite sure what to do with the rest of the day. Shen Yuan seemed to note this and offered a solution.

“Why don’t we build a snowman?”

Luo Yu blankly stared at his Shifu. What on earth was a snowman? Was it a cultivation tool having to do with snow? Why was a man involved? The giant question mark above his head must have been apparent as his teacher sent him an appalled look that turned into irritation.

“Of course that family of yours wouldn’t have shown you what a snowman is.” Shen Yuan abruptly headed outside the manor. “Come along A-Yu! This Shifu would be remiss in his teachings if I don’t teach you how to have fun every once in a while.”

The incentive of a fun activity definitely peeked Luo Yu’s interest. He ran after the man. His Shifu went some distance away from the Manor before coming to a stop. “This should do it. Make sure to put your gloves on, and gather some snow in your hands.”

Confused as he was, Luo Yu always listened to instructions. The next hour was spent with Shen Yuan teaching him how to roll the snow into giant balls and stacking them together to form a ‘snowman’. His teacher had even gotten rocks and sticks to decorate their creations with features. Laughter flowed freely, and neither could keep the giant grins off their faces.

They finished two snowmen before his Shifu challenged him to get more creative. “I’m going to try to shape the snow into a rabbit next. Feel free to do whatever you want. It’s all just for fun.” A pause. “We can also see who’s is better.”

Determination filled him. One teasing smile met his challenging one. The two set off to find a space to begin.

Luo Yu wasn’t sure what to build. He wasted some time trying to think of an idea before inspiration hit him. Eyes glinting with glee, he got to work while making sure his Shifu wouldn’t see his creation until it was done. The snow creature took a while to make, but Luo Yu seemed to have a talent for this.

When they both were finished, the duo met halfway to determine who would go first. Luo Yu insisted on it being his Shifu. The man obliged. They walked to his Shifu’s creation and Luo Yu couldn’t help but be surprised. If this was a bunny, he’d never seen this type before. It was small, stood up in its bottom legs like a human, had a tiny horn on its head, and possessed two massive floppy ears.

“What kind of rabbit is this, Shifu?”

If Luo Yu hadn’t been staring so intently at the snow bunny, he might’ve seen the way Shen Yuan’s smile froze for a moment. By the time he looked at the man, his teacher showed no signs of awkwardness. “This bunny is called a Terriermon. It’s a mythical being I learned about in my childhood.” A blinding smile was sent at Luo Yu. It was almost as if he were waiting for something, but Luo Yu quickly dismissed the thought and beamed a smile in return.

“Shifu, this is amazing! Shifu truly is very skilled. I would like very much to learn more about these Terriermons in our lessons.”

‘The bunny breed looked weak, but Luo Yu bet it was a very powerful mythical beast!’ A cough broke his musings. His Shifu had his fan covering his lower face. Strange behavior. What with the freezing weather. Luo Yu couldn’t be bothered to question the action, and instead dragged the man off to see his own creation.

He demanded that Shen Yuan shut his eyes before they arrived. The adult smiled and agreed. Brimming with excitement, Luo Yu carefully had his Shifu stand in front of his snow creature.

“You can open your eyes now!”

His Shifu listened to his instruction. Luo Yu watched as Shen Yuan opened his eyes to look at the snow replica of the third member of their family.

Luo Yu had made a large, snow version of Bingpup. It was three times the size of the real puppy, but looked nearly identical. It was like looking at a larger, white Harmonic Demon dog. His Shifu’s eyes glowed. His teacher stashed his fan away and circled the snow puppy with audible cooing noises.

Luo Yu’s chest puffed up in pride. It was obvious that his Shifu loved it. He was just thinking about how he had won their little competition when the snow Bingpup shook.

Both Shen Yuan and Luo Yu froze.

“A-Yu, did your Bingpup just move?”

A pause.

“I think so?”

Neither were prepared for the snow Bingpup to start vibrating at an alarming rate. Before Luo Yu could blink, his Shifu had tackled him to the ground moments before his icy creation exploded. A shower of snow fell around them as Shen Yuan carefully covered him from any unknown threats. It turned out to be unnecessary as the flying snow housed the culprit of this evenings turn of events.

The real Bingpup flew through the air and tackled the two lying in the snow. Neither were prepared for a flying puppy. His Shifu, who had been protectively covering him, took the brunt of the tiny, furry attack.

Shifu barely had any time to process this before his face was assaulted. A tiny tongue made rapid work of covering Shen Yuan’s face with slobber.

Bingpups victim rolled off of Luo Yu and collapsed into the snow. His Shifu desperately flailed in an attempt to gently pry the dog off of his face. The sight was utterly hilarious.

Luo Yu laid there stunned before releasing a cackle. Clutching his sides, he rolled back and forth and laughed until he was breathless. Every time the child thought his life couldn’t get better, moments like these turned up to prove him wrong. It was so nice to not be the one on the receiving end of Bingpup’s chaos.

Unfortunately, Luo Yu had thought this too soon as Shen Yuan had managed to wrangle the demonic puppy into behaving. His Shifu must have seen his disciple laughing at his struggles and decided to teach him a lesson. The next moment it was Luo Yu that had a face full of wild Bingpup.

Shrieking, Luo Yu tried to fight off his opponents. They were too strong. Soon his face was dripping in puppy slobber, and Luo Yu was forced to cry out for mercy.

His attackers relented, and they all collapsed breathless with laughter into the snow. Bingpup was set back on the ground. The puppy hopped around them with tiny little woofs of excitement.

Eventually the family of three calmed. Nightfall was fast approaching, and the temperature was getting too cold to tolerate. The adult of the group declared that it was time to head in and eat dinner. Somewhat reluctantly, Luo Yu and Bingpup complied.

Dinner was a short affair of warm food and quiet contentment. Luo Yu and Shen Yuan spent the time trying to guess how Bingpup had ended up inside his snow replica. They eventually settled on the assumption that the puppy used some unknown ability. Said demon puppy neither confirmed nor denied.

Tired from the day’s events, the trio headed directly to their beds after dinner. Skipping the usual library hangout. There would be plenty of other nights to uphold their new tradition. Winter was a long season. Many happy days lie ahead of them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: All Good Things (Part 2)

New Year’s began with their own mini lantern festival.

Luo Yu had never experienced one personally, but he had seen the lanterns from the Palace as they floated through the sky. He’d always found them to be beautiful.

Shen Yuan had obtained supplies from the manor’s storeroom and had the whole trio make their own lanterns by the lotus pond. It had been a lot of fun. Luo Yu had taken great glee in dipping Bingpup’s tiny paws in ink so that the puppy could ‘write’ its own wishes on a lantern they’d build for him. Some might find it ridiculous to build a lantern for a dog, but Bingpup wasn’t some pet. The puppy was a real member of their family. Bingpup was smart. Intelligence shown from the puppies’ eyes, and it would be both disrespectful and cruel to not include him in the activities.

Luo Yu carefully wrote his wishes down on his own lantern. His Shifu did the same with his. By the time their creations were ready, the moon was well overhead. They all got comfortable
on a blanket laid on the grass. He and Shen Yuan had their guqins out and ready to play. It was time for them to begin the mini celebration.

That night a simple but pretty duet accompanied three lanterns as they gently floated above their lotus pond. Despite the small number, Luo Yu felt he had never seen anything quite like it. Thousands of lanterns wouldn’t be able to compare to those three lights full of his family’s heartfelt wishes.

He hadn’t realised his eyes began to water until his view of the lanterns blurred. Luo Yu tried to clear his eyes without stopping his guqin playing, but his Shifu always had a way of knowing when he was distressed. A hand gently reached out and paused his strumming. Surprised, he noted that Shen Yuan had put his own guqin to the side and was now looking at him with worry. “A-Yu, are you alright?”

Luo Yu looked at the man that had given him… everything really. A home, a family, cultivation: All of his dreams were being achieved because of this one man. A small snout snuffled at his hands as they remained hovering over the strings. A concerned Bingpup had come to check on him too. Another individual who, despite being a terror, had made his life so much better. He carefully put his instrument away and settled Bingpup into his lap. Luo Yu turned his head and gave his Shifu his full attention.

Wiping his eyes he showed Shen Yuan a watery smile. “I’m just— I’m just so happy Bàba.”

His Bàba stared at him. The cultivator’s eyes seemed to get a bit misty as well. A careful cough accompanied a head turn so that Luo Yu couldn’t see the man’s face. Despite this, Shen Yuan’s arm reached out and pulled him into his side. Bingpup was now able to rest his head on Shen Yuan’s thigh.

A bit emotional but happy. No further words were needed. They sat together quietly as three lanterns, holding identical wishes for their families bright future, floated into the night sky.

*****

Spring brought rain.

The cold winter snow left the mountain and nature began to bloom anew. The garden had to be tended to as most of their crops had died during the icy winter. It was hard work, but Shen Yuan found he enjoyed the activity. He truly had a love-hate relationship with gardening.

On the one hand, the literal fruits of his labor were quite nice. His old man soul cackled in glee over every successful crop. On the other hand, he really rather sucked at it still. Progress was being made, but his skills only inched forward incrementally. He still had to use his Qi to bring forth true health in the plant life. A-Yu helped, but he seemed to have a real skill for gardening. Very fortunate, since the child could not be allowed to do anything cultivation related to the gardens.

A-Yu has truly been progressing well with his cultivation training. He could already sense a notable change in the child’s meridians and was very proud of the boy’s progress. There was still the occasional hiccup and there would likely be more in the future. Shen Yuan no longer felt daunted by the idea though. Just as A-Yu was growing into his role as a student, he was growing into his role as a teacher. It was a learning experience for them both.

Today was a day in which no gardening would be happening. In fact, it looked like it was going to be a free day. Perhaps he would have A-Yu practice the guqin a bit, but the heavy rain pounding on the roof of the manor cautioned against any outdoor activities.

As Shen Yuan lie resting in his bed, he let the sounds of the rain rush over him. Even in his old life, he had loved the sound of the rain. His older brothers had not been as fond. They had often gotten moody to the point where they’d take off to their rooms. Sounds of video games echoed from their bedroom doors. His little sister had loved the rain just as much. They would often sit together by a window and simply listen and doze off to the pitter pattering of water hitting the earth.

His chest felt tight thinking about it. There was an invisible hand hand reaching into his chest and grabbing his lungs. It was hard to breath around the painful feeling of homesickness that threatened to drown him. He tried not to think of his long lost family. It hurt too much. Times like these crept up on him without consent.

He was so distracted by these feelings that he didn’t notice the door to his room opening. Two figures sneaked in and made their way towards the bed. Shen Yuan was distracted from his staredown with the ceiling by the sound of a quiet woof. Startled, he looked to his right and found two faces staring at him with matching sets of puppy dog eyes.

He was feeling a little too… something to muster the usual exasperated amusement such a sight would normally bring him. Shen Yuan gave them both a forced smile. “What are you two up to this morning?”

Silence met him. Usually such a question would prompt A-Yu to give a rambling speech illustrating whatever hairbrained scheme the child and Bingpup had contrived for the day. The break from the norm was only highlighted by the somber air that filled his bedroom.

A-Yu met his eyes with quiet discernment. Shen Yuan was surprised by how unreadable the child was. For such a sticky kid, there were times where A-Yu looked far older than his 11 years. These moments were generally brief and fleeting, but he always made note of what caused the change of mood. Today, it seemed it was he himself who had caused the strange tone of this morning’s interactions.

A pang of sorrow accompanied the weight in his chest. He truly was acting like a maudlin old man. Shen Yuan needed to get a grip.

Before he could force himself into a better mien, A-Yu placed Bingpup in the crook of his left arm. “Here. Take Bingpup. I’ll be right back.” The words were quietly spoken before the boy left the room quickly. Bemused by the abruptness, Shen Yuan diverted his attention to Bingpup. The puppy carefully rested its chin on his shoulder blade and looked at him with tiny black eyes that were filled with concern.

He raised his right arm to scratch the puppies fluffy head. “None of that now. I promise I’m fine. You and A-Yu don’t need to concern yourself with my silly moods.” Instead of soothing, the words seemed to create a light of melancholy in the creature’s eyes. Too smart for his own good, this puppy.

Shen Yuan decided to not make things worse and kept his mouth shut. He and Bingpup simply listened to the sounds of the rain. A-Yu returned swiftly with a book in his hands. Not saying a word, the child got on the other side of the bed and situated himself in the crook of Shen Yuan’s unoccupied arm.

Confused, he let the child situate them however he liked. A-Yu deemed himself comfortable and opened the book he’d brought. He was given no explanation before the child began to read aloud. “There was once a beautiful moon spirit…”

Startled understanding filled him at those words. A-Yu had gotten one of their favorite novels. It was the story of a moon spirit that traveled the stars looking for her lost love. It was full of tragedy and drama but had one of the most beautiful happy endings. Shen Yuan would always select this book to read whenever he saw that A-Yu or Bingpup were upset. The book had a calming effect on them all.

Not once had A-Yu been the one to read this book aloud. The fact that he was doing so for the first time today implied quite a bit. Shen Yuan hadn’t fooled anyone with his fake smiles. Only caused his charges to become concerned. They were even cuddling him and trying to make him feel better.

His vision was becoming strangely blurry as A-Yu patiently read. The feeling of suffocation was beginning to abate, and he could finally breathe again. His children (and yes, he considered Bingpup to be his child) were truly too kind to him. They both held a wisdom within them that had come from their lonely history. It made Shen Yuan want to bundle the two up and never let them go.

He will always miss his old family. The memories of them would haunt him in both happy and sad ways for the rest of his days. But… looking at A-Yu and Bingpup, he realised that his new family was equally as precious to him. They were a trio of broken parts that fit together to paint a hopeful future.

Shen Yuan let himself rely on the freely given love and comfort of his family. The sounds of the rain and A-Yu’s gentle sounding words washed over him and soothed away any remaining aches.

******

Summer was hot as fuck.

Did Shen Yuan once state that the thing he missed most from his previous life was indoor plumbing? He takes it back. Air conditioning saves lives. It was a gift that you always took for granted until you had to live without it. Even a small electronic fan would have made a world of difference.

Layered robes were not happening. The perks of being an immortal cultivator was the only thing keeping him sane at this point. Each summer was like this on Hua Mountain. Hot to the point he often took field trips to cooler areas. Caves and water sources were his sanctuary.

Poor Bingpup was shedding like crazy and could often be found collapsed in odd positions around the manor. The small puppies fluffy fur really was a burden in the summer weather. A-Yu, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. The child seemed to thrive in the warm environment. At least Shen Yuan could collapse next to Bingpup in shared misery. He would use his trusty fans to wave a slight breeze over them both. A-Yu just made fun of them. The child wanted them to be active and present. Truly exhausting.

He was currently outside in this hellish weather because of said exhausting child. The child had begged for them to go observe a creature that was situated on the northern part of the mountain. These creatures looked like hedgehogs. Their backs were full of flowers instead of spines.(His mind screamed at Airplane over plagiarism).

They were very cute creatures. This combined with his love of research had been enough for him to be willing to leave the manor.

Shen Yuan had made sure to equip the group properly. Research materials and water pouches were packed in his storage ring. Each of them sported a straw hat. Even Bingpup had a miniature version of one. The puppy was being carefully toted around in a basket that Shen Yuan carried. The demonic creature was truly spoiled by them.

They had arrived at the site of the ‘Hedgeflowers’ location by the afternoon and had been here ever since. The Hedgeflower habitat was situated in a forest plain. Tall grass covered the area and the flowered monsters trotted freely among it.

Shen Yuan has situated himself firmly in the shade of a tree with a napping Bingpup. The tiniest member of the family seemed to have no interest in such creatures. He suspected that Bingpup would actually be more prone to terrorizing the small Hedgeflowers if it wasn’t so hot out.

This week’s monster was quite friendly. Shen Yuan had gathered extensive notes on them which were neatly added to his Bestiary. A-Yu was currently off exploring the plain doing the same in his own journal. He was happy that the child was so enthusiastic about these outings. He had originally been worried that A-Yu might grow weary of them, but each field trip was met with boundless enthusiasm.

A-Yu was off having fun. There was no need to hover. Having taken enough notes for today, Shen Yuan drowsily decided to take a nap. He felt as if no time had passed when he was startled awake by the sound of something being dragged towards him. Opening his eyes, Shen Yuan went completely stiff at the sight before him.

Bingpup (still adorning his tiny straw hat) had apparently woken up at some point and decided to explore. The oh so tiny puppy was happily hopping towards him with a giant snake firmly gripped in his mouth. It was utterly comical as Bingpup was so small that he shouldn’t have been able to drag around such a big creature.

As the dog grew closer with its prize, Shen Yuan realised the limp snake was in quite the pitiful state. Gashes covered it’s dark green scales, and it was hard to tell if it was breathing. Slightly concerned, Shen Yuan called out to the snakes captor. “Bingpup, let the poor snake go. It’s obviously in no state to amuse you.”

He wasn’t sure if Bingpup was the cause of the snakes wounds, but he doubted it. It was more likely that the puppy had thought the snake would offer him some kind of entertainment. The Harmonic puppy was a demon after all.

Bingpup eyed Shen Yuan for a moment before reluctantly complying. As soon as the puppy let go of the snake, it proved itself to be very much alive as it scrambled into the shade and curled up at the base of Shen Yuan’s tree. Bingpup seemed to pay it no mind and happily trotted over to him in search of pats and scratches.

Absentmindedly, he complied to the sticky bun’s demands. His eyes sought out the quivering form of the snake. It was only a few feet away, but well hidden by roots.

Shen Yuan notes that A-Yu was still nowhere to be seen. This area was especially safe so it was no cause for concern. With nothing better to do, he decided to help out the poor snake. He got up and approached the wounded creature’s hiding space. He made sure to leave Bingpup situated in the basket they’d brought in case the snake had mental scars.

Shen Yuan crouched before the snake and quietly spoke to it. “Hello there. I’m not sure how you were injured, but I apologize for any harm caused by Bingpup. As his family, I am responsible for his actions.”

He paused to see if the snake would respond. Sure enough, a pair of shrewd eyes stared at him in quiet judgement. It didn’t look happy by any means. The snake made no move to attack at least so that was a plus.

“I am a cultivator who has studied the basics of healing arts. If you would like, I can use my Qi to heal your wounds.” Shen Yuan offered this seriously. It was the least he could do to atone for Bingpup’s bullying.

The snake considered him for quite some time. It eventually seemed to see something in Shen Yuan that it found trustworthy enough. With smooth movements, the snake inclined its head to allow him to begin healing.

It took an hour to take care of the snake’s wounds. Shen Yuan wasn’t sure if this was due to his lack of first aid experience or the severity of the wounds themselves. As he was just about to finish, A-Yu reappeared. When the child got close enough to see the snake, he almost fell over in his haste to attempt to yank Shen Yuan away from the perceived threat.

Before A-Yu could do so, Shen Yuan raised a hand to wave the panic away. “Don’t worry! This snake has just been injured. I’m healing it and then we’ll be on our way. It’s getting dark out.”

Warily the child stared at the snake before slowly drawing closer. “This disciple trusts Shifu's judgement.” A-Yu then went over to pick up the basket holding Bingpup, but Shen Yuan stopped him. “Don’t bring Bingpup over here. The silly thing was bullying this poor snake, and I don’t want to cause any more incidents.”

A-Yu complied and sat down next to Bingpup. The child stared down at the tiny fluff ball. “Another victim to Bingpup’s life of tyranny.” Unamused, the puppy stared at A-Yu with contempt.

Shen Yuan ignored their antics. He had just finished the last of the healing his skills could account for. The snake would be sore but should be able to recover quickly now. Happy with the results, he clapped his hands together and spoke to his patient. “That should do it. You’ll heal up completely in no time.” He stood and brushed off his robes. “It was nice to meet you despite the circumstances.”

He gave the snake one final smile before leaving it to join his bickering charges. (You really could read a lot into Bingpup’s woofs depending on the tone. Both he and A-Yu were experts at understanding them). The bickering would soon break into a brawl by the sounds of it. Amused, he knew it was time to break them up and go home.

Shen Yuan didn’t see the way the snake’s eyes analyzed his form. Those eyes carried a heavy weight as the snake gazed at the family of three. Quietly, it slithered away in the direction of the wards. The snake had merely been passing through before it’d been injured to the point of seeking refuge in this strange mountain.

The snake would remember that strange cultivators kindness. It would even forgive that damn dog for its terrible treatment. For now though, it was time to continue its journey.

****

Life is ever changing. Events happen in the blink of an eye. This principle is common knowledge. Despite this, one is always surprised by these changes.

All good things must come to an end.

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: King of Rubble

Luo Binghe detested fate.

His life was a collage of dissatisfaction and disappointments. Happiness was fleeting. Sex was fleeting. Everything was fleeting. He hated it all with a passion that burned kingdoms to the ground. Ruling the world was supposed to be the solution to his problems. Instead, it brought nothing but more.

Luo Binghe’s life began in poverty. It was only due to a kind old washerwoman that he grew up with any form of concept of love. Of family. To this day, he still wore the low quality, jade pendant gifted to him before she’d died. He would rather see all his treasures destroyed before seeing even a scratch on his pendent.

That old woman’s kindness had instilled a soft spot in him for the gender. Women were kinder. They were gentler. They wouldn’t destroy him in the same way that men would. Men always hated Luo Binghe for some reason or another.

Shen Qingqiu had been the first and last paternal figure in his life. If the man could even be labeled so. The label came from his own twisted childhood views that had long been shattered by being pushed into the Abyss. (Actually, it had been destroyed far sooner when a cup of hot tea had been poured on his head.)

Luo Binghe got his revenge though. He always did. No one would ever be able to hurt him like that old teacher of his. If they tried, he’d rip off their limbs in much the same way he had for Shen Qingqiu.

He ruled the entire world now. None could question him. None could challenge him. He had gone from being a beaten-down child to the most powerful demon in a world he himself had forged anew. Luo Binghe was above them all. Every human and demon bowed before his power. They trembled at the mere thought of him. It made him viciously satisfied.

Or it had.

Luo Binghe had been content in his rule. Strange feelings of emptiness were easily cured by pursuing treasures and women from all over. Women were challenges. They were always so intriguing and there was always something that made them tick. All he had to do was figure out what that something was, and they would willingly fall into his grasp.

The excitement from such challenges passed quickly. He chased or rescued them, captivated them, and married them. The cycle was repetitive. He sometimes wondered why women gave into him so easily. Some sixth sense told Luo Binghe that most of them shouldn’t be giving him a second glance. Some of the harem hadn’t even liked men! They fell for him anyway. The adoring looks sent his way was a fix he never planned to be rid of.

It was only a shame that each fix didn’t last. When the chase was over, he was left feeling more hollow. Those looks ceased to truly affect him. So he moved on to the next pursuit.

Luo Binghe was used to this way of life. He approved of it. If it hadn’t been for that other world than everything would have been fine. He would’ve been fine.

Soft hands and gentle eyes clouded his mind. The image of that kind Shen Qingqiu haunted his every waking moment. That one man had made him feel emotions he hadn’t realised he was living without. That man’s every action had screamed of lov-

It didn’t matter. He repeated this to himself constantly. None of it mattered. Absolutely none of it. He would obtain that Shen Qingqiu. Capture him and extract all information that would disperse the raging sea inside of him. The clawing monster that demanded more, more, more.

(Maybe add that Shizun as the first husband to his harem.)

Luo Binghe would tear that man limb from limb if it meant understanding why it hadn’t been him. Why it hadn’t been him who had been so dearly cared for. Why it hadn’t been him who hadn’t suffered tragedy after tragedy. Why it hadn’t been him who had been happy, and cherished, and lov-

He hated it all. Hated everything. This world he had created seemed to pale in comparison to that other world. The still-intact Qing Jing Peak there was a symbol of the warmth Luo Binghe had never received. His cold kingdom failed to compete in every way possible.

(He paled in comparison.)

That other version of himself had seemed so happy with one single man. No harem. No world domination. That worthless excuse of a copy had even called himself a mere disciple when speaking to his precious ‘Shizun’.

His blood boiled in hatred. Luo Binghe despised that couple. Despised what they had shown him. He hated them more than he had ever hated anyone. Even that damned version of his own Shen Qingqiu.

(He envied them.)

His search for a way back to that other world is proving difficult. Xin Mo didn’t work. It was the first time that the sword had proven to not be an all powerful tool. He knew it was because of something that weak copy must have done. It made him simmer in rage.

Months he has spent searching. It has been a very long time since Luo Binghe hasn’t instantly solved an issue with a weapon or his looks. In fact, it hadn’t been since his childhood. It was absolutely maddening. He’d torn apart library after library for even a hint of how to return to that other world. There was nothing. Every method proved worthless.

The rarely tasted despair was beginning to fill him. Luo Binghe would not fall to its grip. He was above this. He was above everything. Nothing should be able to bring him low.

Ning Yingying was looking at him again.

She was one of the few members of his harem that he allowed to freely enter his chambers. He wasn’t sure why he allowed her this leeway. Maybe it was because she was something of an advisor to him when came issues his actual advisors could give him no help. Matters of the heart and an emotional insight on events. That was what she offered him. It really was all due to his useless sentimentality.

Lately, she had a strange glint in her eyes. An unreadable expression that he was not used to seeing on the air headed woman. She seemed sharper. More dangerous. Luo Binghe strangely couldn’t bring himself to be bothered. It was oddly refreshing.

She no longer sought him out for sex. Neither did he for that matter. Since the alternate world, their encounters were dwindling rapidly. He was almost positive that soon they would be nonexistent. This was nothing to worry about. He had plenty of others who were more than willing to sleep with him. He was not a good man, but he would never force himself on the unwilling.

Ning Yingying was becoming something. He wasn’t sure what. More distant perhaps? In many ways yes, but in other ways she grew closer. It was as if sex had been a barrier for any real conversations between them. He talked to her now. Truly talked to her. He sensed in her the same clawing monster that raged inside himself.

“You know you won’t be able to return, A-Luo.”

Luo Binghe stiffened and looked at her with a dark gleam, but the woman seemed unaffected. She was treading on very dangerous terrain. Lazily she lounged on the bed. Ning Yingying gazed at him with only a whimsical sort of scrutiny. Luo Binghe currently sat at a table covered in scrolls. Scrolls filled with theories and ideas from the most intelligent minds in his Empire.

“Careful Yingying. If I don’t know any better I’d say you were trying to anger me.” He cautioned his strange wife. His words were met by indifference. She only looked more unimpressed with him. It should have enraged him, but Luo Binghe felt nothing.

“You can’t return. Even if you do, that other version of A-Luo won’t let you touch his husband.” Ning Yingying looked at him with a slowly forming pity. She looked at him as if she was looking at an overly stubborn dog. Too stuck in its ways to listen to reason. Irritation finally began to arise in him.

“I will return. That Shen Qingqiu had answers I need. Something went wrong there or perhaps went right. I need to know what it was.”

Why was that Shen Qingqiu so kind? What had created such a divergence between realities? Why had that copies life been so much easier compared to his own? The questions would gnaw his psych to pieces until they were answered.

“You’re doing that thing you do, A-Luo. Where you become so obsessed with something that you don’t pay attention to what’s around you. Maybe you can find answers in our world.” Ning Yingying said this pragmatically. As if it was an easy solution. She understood nothing. Luo Binghe knows that there must be a specific reason for the reality split. There had to be.

(If not... It meant there was something wrong with Luo Binghe himself. Something in him that could not be loved by the ones that mattered to him. He rejects the concept in the same way a dying man refuses to believe in death.)

Luo Binghe turned to address his wife. “It is not that simple. You would understand if you had met that man. It was almost as if he was an entirely different person from that scum we dealt with.”

Ning Yingying glided off the bed and sat directly across from him at the table. “Have you considered that may indeed be the answer to your question?”

Startled, it took a moment to ascertain her meaning. When he did, his heart clenched. Was it really so simple? A similar face with an inherently different soul? The theory was almost more maddening than his original confusion. It would answer nearly everything, but still be worth nothing. This conclusion would mean there was truly nothing he could have done. It was all the work of some fucked up game of luck.

A wild thought occurred to him. If this world would treat him so unfairly then he should just get rid of it and save them all the trouble. Destroy everything.

As if sensing his dark thoughts, Ning Yingying looked at him seriously. “A-Luo, I think it’s time we had a talk.”

Broken from his unhinged musings, he returned the serious look. He carefully dismissed the entire theory she had just proposed and went along with the change of topic. Luo Binghe had a feeling he knew where this was going. She didn’t prove him wrong.

“I want to dissolve our marriage.”

For all the women that were his, not one had ever expressed the desire to be parted from him. It was a point of pride. He obviously was doing something right if all his wives and concubines were content to be his. Now that status quo crumbled in the face of the least likeliest source. Ning Yingying truly was a surprise in many ways.

His respect for her grew. In the beginning of their marriage, he had respected her as much as he respected all women. However, years of marriage had proven that she was far more clever and insightful than maybe she herself had known. It was why he listened to her advice. The woman had a knack for seeing the truth of a situation. It seemed that she had finally bothered to look at the situation that was their marriage.

He should feel anger. His greed was not something he was blind to. He knew he refused to let go of what he claimed as his own. Perhaps, if it was anyone else, he would indeed be blinded by rage. This didn’t feel like a loss though.

“If that is what you wish.” Luo Binghe would not fight her. He valued her too much. If he didn’t let her go than would that make him any better than that scum teacher of his? He knew he walked a precarious line. He would not step over it to suppress his first wife.

Ning Yingying looked at him with surprise. It was the lightest emotion he’d seen on her face in a long time. She then smiled at him. It wasn’t a beaming grin. It was softer. Gentle. It hit him with memories of a young girl who had smiled at him when he was only a penniless boy digging holes in the ground. It was a smile that almost brought him physical pain.

For the first time, Luo Binghe and Ning Yingying looked at each other in pure understanding. They were both broken people. Crueler than they were as children and much sadder. In marriage they hadn’t truly loved each other. Merely been codependent to the point of ignoring each other’s flaws.

Luo Binghe realised that this woman was his only real friend.

That exchange promised him something. She wasn’t turning her back on him. She was merely fixing their broken relationship. Rebuilding it to what it should’ve been all along.

In that moment, he felt his mouth twitch at the corner of his lips. “Ning Yingying, how would you like to make your title as my advisor official?”

*****

Weeks later, Luo Binghe was in his own private kitchens.

Cooking was one of the few hobbies he allowed himself to partake in. It was a task that brought great pride. He was a master at creating delicious foods. More than one of his wives had fallen for him after a shared meal of his cooking. It was soothing to cook. Methodical without being stifling.

While he only cooked meals for his wives and concubines when the mood struck him, there was one individual he cooked for every morning. He couldn’t say why he had made it into a routine. Preparing meals for a child whom he had no real interactions with. He accepted it as an odd sort of apologetic quirk he had developed out of pity.

The child, Luo Yu, was an odd exception to a lot Luo Binghe’s unspoken rules. Even if only slightly, he favored the boy who looked so similar to himself as a child. The boy was a tad softer. Some unidentifiable quality that was different and eyes rounder than Luo Binghe’s had ever been. He made the child meals to make up for a life with no mother (or father). That was it. No more or less.

Or it would’ve been if that child’s blood hadn’t been defective.

The boy’s mother had been a mysterious cultivator he had met while searching for a rare treasure. A gem that allowed it’s user to identify one’s soulmate. She had helped him acquire it in exchange for the death of her abusive fiancé. Luo Binghe had easily killed the swine, but the gem had been useless in the end. The treasure had pointed him in no direction. No mysterious soulmate was out there waiting in secret.

He kept the gem despite it all. Luo Yu’s mother had declared him to be the love of her life and it had inevitably ended in sex and another concubine. He’d buried his disappointment the same way he always had, and stored the gem in a vault to never see the light of day.

Luo Yu’s mother had been one of many. A few unique quirks but nothing worth mention. Now, he half suspected she’d had some deity blood in her bloodline. His suspicions were created from Luo Yu being born with no signs of demonic heritage showing. All of his other children manifested signs, but not the boy. No mark. No fangs. Just a normal human baby. There was no blockage that could be released like it had been for himself. No obvious process for awakening.

He had consulted an elderly demon on the matter. The quivering thing had recommended feeding the boy Luo Binghe’s blood. He had done so with no result. In fact, his blood seemed to have absolutely no power at all once entering the boy’s body. It was as if there was some sort of diffuser that made Luo Binghe’s blood lose any heavenly demon properties.

The elder demon had come up with a solution. The day of birth had a spiritual effect on a person's body. As the Father of the boy, it allowed for Luo Binghe’s blood to gain enough power to temporarily become immune to the boy’s resistant disposition. The blood would become useless again after the day ended but would regain its powers the following year. The blood would be added one day a year until there was enough of it accumulating power that would awaken the boy’s demonic heritage. It was like storing power little by little until a spark was finally lit. He almost dismissed the whole process, but the idea of a child of his without such basic protection irked something in him.

The least Luo Binghe could do was give the boy his heritage. After that, the Luo Yu would be free to do as he pleased. That was how he decided to spend one day a year forcing blood down a child’s throat. He kept the encounters brief and only spent dinners with the boy. It wouldn’t do either of them any good if the child got the idea to become attached.

He didn’t do favorites. He had other children who he’d never seen even once. He made sure they were provided for and left them to their fate. They were of course his, so they would be protected. Much like their mothers. Luo Yu was only special in that he was forced to spare him some attention until the child was independent.

(He ignored the pang of something that curled in his chest when he saw the boy. It was obviously some reminiscent feeling over their similarities. Nothing more.)

Today was the boy’s birthday. He would give the child his blood at dinner, briefly make sure the child was studying, providing for himself, and repeat the process next year if need be. Luo Yu would be forced to do this until either awakening or his 16th birthday. By that age, he would be able to look into alternative spells that might actually produce some results.

Luo Binghe ignored the thought that the boy may be defective to the point he would never activate his demon blood. If there had been one thing that had never failed him, it was the power granted to him from his Heavenly Demon blood. With its aid, he could regenerate from nearly any wound. He could crush his enemies with the power of his bare hands. The child should thank Luo Binghe for giving him the only gift worthy of anything in this pitiful excuse of a world.

The day passed swiftly. Soon dinner approached and Luo Binghe went to the dining hall. Servants bowed as he passed through the palace’s halls. None dared to look their ruler in the eye, if they had he would dispose of them. The servants were all lowly demons. They were wise to fear him.

He was the first to arrive at the dining hall. The boy was nowhere to be seen. Luo Binghe situated himself at the head of the table and waited as the staff brought forth the dishes he had made earlier.

Minutes passed. With every one, he felt his patience waning. The boy shouldn’t be taking this long. Luo Binghe was not a person one kept waiting. (He unconsciously fiddled with the small braid in his hair.) After twenty minutes, he adjusted his leisurely posture to display his displeasure. The servants in the hall cowered.

“Where is the boy?” He asked this with an easy tone. One servant passed out in fear. Another demon hesitantly stepped forward. “We do not know, Emperor.”

Luo Binghe almost lost his patience. “Fetch him. If he is not here soon I will be quite displeased.” Horror filled the servants face and the demon literally flew out of the room in search of the wayward prince. He thought that would be the end of it, but when the demon returned there was no child accompanying it.

He let a bit of his demonic energy slip out. “I thought,” a flinch, “ I told you to find the boy.” The demon wailed and flung itself on the floor. “Emperor, forgive me! This lowly one could not find the prince. The chambers are empty and untouched!”

“Untouched?” Luo Binghe was beginning to feel an emotion he hadn’t felt in years.

Dread.

Angered. He glared at the weeping figure on the floor. “Explain.” The rest of the servants began to tremble as well. The demon rushed to explain. “The chambers are untouched! It’s as if it’s been empty for months, Emperor! Dust covers everything, and the air is stale! The Prince is gon—“

The demon paused. One moment desperately explaining; the next silent. In the blink of an eye, the servant’s decapitated head rolled to the floor. A shocked silence filled the air.

Luo Binghe turned with Xin Mo in hand. The mark on his forehead glowing red as he glared at the rest of the servants. “I will ask this one last time.” A black aura engulfed him.

“Where is my son?”

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: Birthday Surprise

In rare form, Shen Yuan was awake well before A-Yu.

He felt a bit like he was dying. His brain turned to mush after suffering from the sheer exhaustion that came from only a few hours sleep. (Why did he stay up so late reading that novel?) Shen Yuan powered through the sleep deprivation because today was special. It was A-Yu’s birthday. He needed to be up before the child so he could get everything prepared for it.

The child was turning twelve! Shen Yuan could hardly believe that it had already been a year since he had rescued him from that snake creature. The events felt like they’d happened a lifetime ago. It was strange to think of a time where he was the only one living in Shen Manor. The memories of how quiet it had been then chilled him.

Past him would’ve never dreamed of having two sticky buns inhabiting his home. Never would have dreamed of a child and a puppy bringing such joy to his life. It really was fortunate that life never turned out the way Shen Yuan expected it to.

In the pre-dawn light, Shen Yuan stealthily made his way to the kitchen downstairs. Bingpup at his heels being just as quiet. Both were careful not to make any noise that would awaken the child still passed out in his room.

When they arrived, Bingpup hopped up on the counter and watched as Shen Yuan got to work. Cooking always took a bit of time without the wonders of modern day appliances. For a special day like this, there was only one breakfast that would be suitable.

The first time Shen Yuan had made pancakes, A-Yu and Bingpup nearly lost their minds. The fiends were utterly obsessed with them from that day forward. Constantly begging and pleading to have them at every opportunity. He’d had to put his foot down. Pancakes weren’t the healthiest of meals, and he’d told the two that they could only have them on special occasions.

(The real reason he didn’t cook them more was because he hated to wake up early enough to have time to make them.)

Today was indeed a special occasion so he happily, if a bit tiredly, worked on making the pancakes. He was truly excited to see the child's reaction. Beside him, Bingpup attempted to inconspicuously lick the batter from a spoon lying nearby. Without even looking, Shen Yuan reached his hand out to move the spoon away. The puppy pouted in displeasure.

Soon, the smell of pancakes filled the air. It filled the whole manor with its sweet scent. He was putting the food on three plates when the sound of a loud thump came from upstairs. Shen Yuan let out a chuckle. Barely a few seconds later, a bedraggled A-Yu came flying down the stairs. The boy had obviously fallen out of bed before rushing downstairs for his favorite food.

A-Yu’s hair was a mess of tangled curls. It looked even fluffier than normal. Shen Yuan couldn’t help himself. He grabbed the child into a hug. A-Yu was unamused and struggled. “Shifu, let me go! You finally made pancakes again. I’ve gotta get mine before Bingpup eats them all!”

At that last statement, both couldn’t help but glance at the kitchen. Sure enough, the demonic puppy had wasted no time chowing down on its own plate of food. Shen Yuan sighed and patted A-Yu’s head before releasing him to rescue his own food.

The child lept for his plate immediately after being released. Bingpup briefly stopped eating to eye the protective stance the A-Yu had taken to ward off possible pancake theft. The puppy gave an snort of derision at the sight and went back to wolfing down its own food.

A-Yu must’ve sensed the puppies mockery but thankfully seemed too pleased that he had successfully obtained his breakfast. Shen Yuan could only hide a laugh at how ridiculous the two were before joining to grab his own plate.

It was only after they’d all finished eating that A-Yu turned to him with a confused expression. “Not to be ungrateful Shifu, but didn’t you say that pancakes are only for special occasions?”

Both Shen Yuan and Bingpup looked at him with surprise. Was it possible that the child didn’t know what today was? Shen Yuan carefully looked at the A-Yu before answering. “I did say that, and today is a very special occasion. Has A-Yu forgotten?”

The child seemed startled before a look of deep concentration fell over his face. After some time, recognition flashed over the boy’s face. A-Yu’s neck nearly cracked as it whipped around to stare at him. Shen Yuan smiled widely. “Happy Birthday, A-Yu!” Bingpup barked in agreement.

Round eyes stared at them. A mouth opened and closed before slamming shut with an audible gulp. Before Shen Yuan could speak, his arms became occupied with a crying child. A-Yu heaved giant breaths as he sobbed into Shen Yuan’s robes.

Shen Yuan quickly recovered from the shock and gently rubbed the boy’s back. “It’s alright, A-Yu. Just let it out.” He should’ve expected this to happen. A-Yu had never gave specific details for his past, but the child had revealed quite a bit.

Now, he recalled a time when they’d been discussing funny stories in the library. A-Yu told him of how he used to play pranks on the meaner servants of his old home. (Further proving that the child came from a very rich household). Shen Yuan in return had regaled a slightly edited version of a birthday party he’d helped throw for his older brother. The party had ended in disaster due to a squirrel that had somehow ended up inside the cake.

Instead of laughing at the story, A-Yu had been transfixed by the birthday party itself. He’d begged for more details, and when Shen Yuan inquired as to why; the boy had shrugged and whispered, “I’ve never experienced anything like that.” Needless to say, Shen Yuan has been planning his birthday party ever since.

Shen Yuan hugged A-Yu. The child’s sobs calmed under his gentle soothing. Eventually, a red, embarrassed face peeks up at him. “I’m sorry Shifu. I don’t know why… I shouldn’t have gotten so emotional.”

Shen Yuan raised his hand and pinched a blotchy stained cheek. “None of that. Don’t ever apologize for your emotions to me. I will never judge you for being sad. Never. So don’t try to hide your feelings. If I don’t love you at your worst than how can I love you at your best?”

A-Yu’s face filled with awe before he fiercely replied. “Me as well! Don’t be afraid to be open with me either, Bàba! I’ll love you no matter what!” Shen Yuan gazed at this silly child with a heart that overflowed. Before he could reply Bingpup hopped in between them with a bark. The puppy wiggled into their arms before barking again. As if to say “Me too!”

Shen Yuan couldn’t help the peels of laughter that shook out of him. Bingpup and A-Yu looked up at him in bewilderment. Ignoring this, he reaffirmed his grasp on them both to fully encompass them in a hug. Still shaking with mirth he said, “Alright then. We all love each other the most, and we’ll always be honest.” He felt the puppy and child relax into his hold. The family of three were content in the knowledge that they could always rely on one another.

Unknowingly to the two in his arms, Shen Yuan felt a spark of mischief alight in himself. He recalled something his own parents had done to him and his siblings when in this position. Carefully he moved his hands to A-Yu’s ribs. Slender fingers spared only a moment before initiating their attack.

The sounds of shrieking laughter intermingled with excitable woofs filled the manor. Bingpup and A-Yu spent the rest of the morning gleefully running away from Shen Yuan’s evil clutches.

It was a wonderful beginning to A-Yu’s twelfth birthday.

******

The morning’s activities had wiped the three out.

Shen Yuan had taken the family outside to have a small lunch. They’d gone to the lotus pond to rest in the two hammocks swaying under the willow tree. Over the summer, he’d made another one so A-Yu wouldn’t be forced to share his.

After eating and resting, he got out of his hammock and placed Bingpup on the ground. He stretched his old limbs and turned towards the child in the other swing. “A-Yu I need to get something from the manor. I’ll be right back.” Not waiting for a reply he quickly left. It was time to reveal the present he’d spent months preparing.

During the past winter, A-Yu had come to him with one of his own personal books. It was a novel about a subject that Shen Yuan only knew vaguely: Alchemy.

Alchemy was a topic that would show up in some Xianxia novels but sometimes be completely excluded from others. Proud Immortal Demon Way had done a bit of both. Airplane had briefly mentioned alchemy as a skill that the Qian Cao Peak Lord, Mu Qingfang, had been proficient in. Unfortunately, much like every interesting plot point or piece of information in the novel, Airplane never mentioned it again beyond a single line.

Luckily, Shen Yuan had read other novels that had taken a more in depth approach on the matter. That didn’t make him an expert, but he could help with the basics. A-Yu had asked him to tutor him, but he’d had to decline. They didn’t have the necessary materials at the time. The child had understood with only a small amount of disappointment.

Now, after months of careful planning and gathering, he’d obtained a small cauldron and a variety of medicinal plants as a starter kit. He’d read A-Yu’s Alchemy tome and even prepared one of the spare rooms to be able to properly vent out any toxins that alchemy experimentations may produce. He was quite excited to show A-Yu the finished result.

Alchemy used medical herbs to produce pills and elixirs. Cauldrons were used to refine the materials into great medicines or deadly poisons. They, of course, would be working towards magical items that healed. No poison techniques for a twelve year old! Shen Yuan was pretty lax as a teacher (parent), but he wasn’t going to help A-Yu turn into some wannabe assassin.

Shen Yuan grabbed a cloth to use as a blindfold and headed back outside. Bingpup seemed to be amusing himself by prowling under A-Yu’s swing and lightly nipping at the bottom of it. The child in said hammock looked like he was about to flip the whole thing over in order to grab the devious creature.

Snorting, he called out before things ended in even more tears. “Bingpup, stop teasing A-Yu. It’s his birthday.” The puppy looked sheepish before trotting out from under the swinging bed. “A-Yu, it’s time to see your birthday present. It’s in the manor so you’ll have to get up and put on a blindfold. I want it to be a surprise.”

A-Yu looked at him with stars in his eyes before nearly falling out of the hammock in excitement. The child clumsily extracted himself and turned to Shen Yuan with a beaming smile. “You got me a present?” The disbelieving wonder seemed to not have left him all day.

He smiled in return. “Of course! What kind of Shifu—no, what kind of Bàba would I be if I didn’t get you a present on your birthday?” The child’s eyes were getting a bit too bright to look at. ‘Please A-Yu, have mercy or this old man will surely go blind,’ Shen Yuan mentally pleads.

After a moment, A-Yu bounded closer and put the blindfold on. The child’s hair was put up in a curly ponytail and it wagged as A-Yu nearly vibrated in excitement. Shen Yuan silently laughed at how similar Bingpup and the child looked at the moment. The puppy was hopping around their feet and seemed caught up in A-Yu’s palpable exuberance. Shen Yuan gently grabbed A-Yu’s hand and led him to the newly made Alchemy study.

They arrived with little fanfare. Shen Yuan was almost nervous as he had A-Yu take off his blindfold. What if the gift was too late? Children grew out of their interests all the time. Maybe the child no longer even wanted to learn alchemy. The moment A-Yu saw the room, Shen Yuan’s worries melted away. If the boy had been blindingly happy before, it was nothing compared to now.

Awe and glee combined to make a supernova of a smile. A-Yu blissfully began to ramble about every single thing in the room as he scrambled around. The room itself was decorated in light grey tones to help emphasize the colors of the medicinal herbs stored in many places around the room. There were hanging plants, shelves of herbs, and empty bottles for future creations. The room had all one could need to become a novice alchemist. In the corner of the room was a cauldron. It was by the windows so that air could circulate better while refining pills and the like.

Shen Yuan watched as A-Yu searched through everything. A question formed in his mind. “A-Yu this Shifu will be helping you from now on to learn alchemy to the best of my abilities. I know the practice has interested you, though, I’m not sure as to why.” He ended his words with an inquisitive lilt.

Still looking looking like a sunshine personified, A-Yu didn’t even glance at him, too busy with the cauldron. He did eventually answer Shen Yuan’s unspoken question. “I’ve always wanted to help people. I want to be a cultivator so I can be strong enough to protect myself and others. Alchemies different, but it also helps people. With it, I can make pills that promote cultivation, heal wounds, and cure diseases. Why wouldn’t I want to learn it?”

The child made it all sound so simple. Shen Yuan saw the words differently. A pure white lotus! That was the type of child A-Yu was. Too good for words. It made him want to hug the child and never let him go.

“I think that’s a wonderful goal, A-Yu.”

******

The last event of A-Yu’s birthday was to take place after dinner. The family spent many hours in the new Alchemy lab, and time went by swiftly. Shen Yuan had to nearly drag the birthday boy from the room. Whining pleas were ignored as Bingpup led the way to the kitchen.

After reheating the soup that he’d made earlier, they all settled down at the dining table. As they ate, he outlined the last surprise plans of the night.

Shen Yuan had once found a beautiful creek located near the north side of the mountain. It was situated very close to the wards. At night, rare creatures float from the creek and light up the air like fireflies. He decided that taking A-Yu and Bingpup to see them would be the perfect way to end one’s birthday on a more magical note

A-Yu vehemently agreed. Grabbing the basket used to carry Bingpup on field trips, they all went outside and got situated on Shen Yuan’s flying sword. Moonlight shone down on them as they headed off.

The fairies were already out by the time they arrived at the creek. The creatures flitted through the air by the dozens. The fairies possessed a rainbow of colors that made the whole area look other worldly. Shen Yuan carefully landed on the dry earth and let A-Yu and Bingpup meet the creatures.

Small balls of colored lights happily floated around them. Quiet voices could barely be detected. The fairies emitted a light noise that sounded like a mix between a purr and a giggle. Extremely odd, but somehow not annoying.

A-Yu was clearly having the time of his life as he gently held a blue and purple fairy in his palms. A green one was making a nest in his hair. Bingpup seemed to be having equal amounts of fun.

Wait…

From the inside of Bingpup’s cheeks came a bright yellow glow. The puppies entire face looked like it had been lit up by a glow stick. Shen Yuan nearly slapped a hand over his face in exasperation.

“Bingpup….”

The puppy froze at the warning tone. Slowly, his small mouth opened and liberated the fairy trapped there. Released from its slobbery prison, the fairy frantically attacked its foes furry face before fleeing to return to the creeks depths. Bingpup looked very put-upon.

Shen Yuan was about the lecture the bullying pup when he felt something.

Narrowing his eyes, he looked in the direction of the mountain barrier nearby. He felt a tug there that indicated something was happening. An attack? Or perhaps another A-Yu incident? Either way he needed to check it out.

Hating to break the mood, he looked at A-Yu. The child was thoroughly distracted. Shen Yuan decided he would leave Bingpup and the child here. He’d only quickly check out the barrier and be back in no time. Turning to Bingpup, he lowered his voice and explained the situation. “There’s a disturbance at the barrier I need to check on. Watch over A-Yu and make sure nothing happens to him. I’ll be back very soon.”

Bingpup whined in worry but nodded his furry head in agreement. Too relieved to have avoided a lecture to put up a real protest.

Shen Yuan left the area and walked towards the barrier that was only a few minutes walk away. The tugging was lighter now. It was as if there was still something there but no longer as active.

Stepping through the trees, Shen Yuan looked outside the wards into the hellscape of black stones and dirt. At first, he saw no obvious signs of trouble. It wasn’t until he examined the area more carefully that he saw the source of the disturbance.

Sprawled across a pile of rocks lay the body of a man. Face hidden by the terrain, the man was utterly still and unidentifiable in the night’s lighting. Shen Yuan called out, but no response met him. A tense silence filled the air. The man was lying uncomfortably far from the barrier.

The hairs on the back of Shen Yuan’s neck rose. The situation didn’t feel right. It screamed of some trap just waiting to be sprung. He’d read the entirety of PIDW, and he new a suspicious event when he saw one. Shen Yuan knew without doubt that he should not leave the barrier.

But…

There was something impossibly familiar about the fallen man. Some sixth sense noted a similarity that his mind couldn’t quite process. It was this familiarity that had Shen Yuan waving his own death flag like an idiot and leaving the barriers safety. He pulled out his fan just in case.

Nerves never left him, but he was fully committed to the task of helping the collapsed man. Was he injured? Who was he? What was he doing all the way out here in this volcano wasteland of a mountain range? Questions roared through his mind as he finally arrived near the downed figure. Shen Yuan paused. Still no movement could be seen. Deeming the situation safe enough, he tucked his fan into his sleeve before taking a deep breath.

Shen Yuan carefully reached out a hand to turn the man over. “Are you alrig—“

His words cut off. He couldn’t blink. He couldn’t breathe. His hand froze awkwardly in the air halfway to its destination.

In front of him, the man now sat half crouched from his previously fallen pose. The man was breathtakingly gorgeous. Truly beyond compare. He looked startlingly similar to A-Yu. But Shen Yuan couldn’t concentrate on any of that. The oddly familiar man gripped a sword in both hands.

That sword had been completely impaled through Shen Yuan’s chest.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: Enmity for Loss

Luo Binghe has a very short amount of time to track his wayward son.

His blood in the boy’s system would only be active for a few more hours before returning to a dormant state. The boy’s own blood always had to make things incredibly difficult. For the first time, Luo Binge cursed himself for having dinners with the child instead of breakfast or lunch. It would have given him more time.

He stormed through the Palace with Xin Mo in hand. The dining hall was left filled with the bodies of dead servants. Not one had told him where the boy was. As he marched, women and staff alike fled at the sight of his rage. When he arrived at the boy’s room, he sent a blast of energy to explode the doors inward. There was no time to waste. Inside was just as that first formerly alive servant had described. Stale air and dust covering everything.

Rage burned within him. How long had the boy been gone? Missing without a single person in the entire palace being aware? It was impossible. This reeked of planning. It had to be the machinations of some unknown enemy. They must have paid off the servants to keep quiet.

(What if the boy was hurt? Tortured?)

Whoever had kidnapped the boy would die. The servants who were involved would die. There would be no mercy for any that stole what belonged to him.

Luo Binghe closes his eyes and concentrates. There were many who had Luo Binghe’s blood inside of them. For a variety of different reasons. He just needed to find the one that had the boy’s signature. He forced down any impatience that would impede the task’s success.

There.

In the direction of the Huan Hua mountain range. He felt the slightest trace of the boy’s signature. It was as if the child’s presence was being blocked by something. It was likely some sort of suppressor the kidnappers must have used to keep unwanted attention from finding them.

They underestimated Luo Binghe’s power. His enemies always do.

Using Xin Mo, he opened a portal in the middle of Luo Yu’s chambers. He was just about to step through when an elderly man entered the room through the collapsed doorway.

The Immortal Master, Lao Gongzhu, looked at Luo Binghe in concern. “Is everything alright my boy? The Palace is in a state of panic! This elder rushed over immediately to see what I may do to be of help.”

Lao Gongzhu was the previous sect leader of Huan Hua Palace. The old man was one of the few men in the world that Luo Binghe has no ill feelings for. In fact, the man was one of his two, no, three advisors. The elderly cultivator had earned his trust by offering a hand to him whenever he needed it. When he’d first come out of the Demonic Abyss with an army of demons under his command, Lao Gongzhu had happily formed an alliance with him. The man had demanded nothing, given him the keys to his Kingdom, and even handed over his own daughter for marriage.

The elder claimed to have allied with him out of nostalgia for Luo Binghe’s deceased mother. Su Xiyan was the man’s head disciple before she’d been tricked by some unknown demon. Presumably Luo Binghe’s Father. Luo Binghe could care less about his parents, but he appreciated the perks of Lao Gongzhu’s sentimentality.

The elderly man acted as an almost Grandfatherly figure in his life. He would never be swayed into allowing the man to become anyone of true importance in his heart, but Luo Binghe had given the man the most esteemed position possible in this world he’d created. Allowed him the ear of the Emperor and riches untold.

Luo Binghe impatiently responded to Lao Gongzhu’s inquiries. “Question the servants. My son has been taken. There is more than one party involved. I want them found.” The unspoken interrogated and killed was clear.

The elderly immortal bowed his head. “It shall be done, my Emperor.”

Orders given, Luo Binghe walked into the portals opening. If he had only turned around in that moment, he might have seen the way his advisor’s eyes gleamed in calculation.

Luo Binghe entered a heated landscape. Volcanoes surrounded him and nothing grew. A likely consequence of the world merging. Volcano like structures had been common in the Demon Realm. No one would set up a base here unless they were of demonic nature. His eyes narrowed in thought as he observed his surroundings.

He could barely sense the boy nearby. Looking at the volcano to his right, he realised there was something amiss. The volcano was massive. The sheer size of it was far superior to any of the others. There was a fake quality to it. A hidden quality. The image before him was an illusion.

Now that he was aware of it, Luo Binghe could see the light presence of a barrier encompassing the entire ‘volcano’. He prepared Xin Mo.

A black blur flew at the barrier of Hua Mountain. With half of his power, Luo Binghe struck. To his utter shock, the barrier held firm and reflected the attack. Bounced back briefly, rage filled him as he attacked again and again. He unleashed his full power.

The barrier didn’t even flicker.

It was impossible. He stopped attacking and nearly gaped. Nothing, absolutely nothing was unable to be destroyed by Xin Mo. This fact was a universally understood truth. Or it had been. (The sword was falling short more and more of late.)

Luo Binghe clenched his teeth. Dark eyes flashed as he felt something akin to madness settle over him. The boy was just within his reach. Yet, he has failed.

Suddenly, Luo Binghe sensed a presence approaching. His attack on the barrier must have alerted the perpetrators. A plan began to form in his mind. Looking around, he found a bed of rocks that would hide most of his features and laid down flat upon them.

It was one of the most humiliating plans he had come up with since his childhood. Playing dead to lure out his enemies? Only acceptable if it was done during a battle in sheer desperation. Playing possum to set a trap was not something anyone would expect of their Demon Emperor.

Luo Binghe nearly fumed at the absurdity of it all. ‘Dire situations make fools of us all,’ he thought darkly.

The presence seemed to pause inside the barrier. To deliberate. It made him nearly writhe in displeasure. He was beginning to realise that only an idiot would fall for such an obvious trap.

Luck was on his side. As always, his enemy made the incredibly unwise mistake of coming towards him. Luo Binghe nearly took off the person's head then and there. Instead, he waited.

Two feet paused before him. He could just make out the sight of a man’s robes. The person moved towards him.

“Are you alrig—“

Luo Binghe sat up in a flash of movement. Xin Mo in both hands, he stabbed the perpetrator who had kidnapped his son through the chest. Not through the heart. No, whoever this was needed to suffer.

(In that moment both Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe saw each other for the very first time.)

Luo Binghe’s body froze. His heart stopped. His eyes met the shocked gaze of a man who looked nearly identical to the person he had once called his teacher.

‘She- Shen Qingqiu?’

No. This man was not Shen Qingqiu. A relative perhaps? The resemblance was uncanny, but there was a stark difference. The jawline wasn’t as sharp. The eyes were less slanted and lighter in color. This man had the same immortal beauty that all cultivators had. Red lips were drawn in small O of surprise.

He was breathtaking.

(Strangely, a mental image of that alternate Shen Qingqiu came to mind. His thoughts raced. Could it possibly be as Ning Yingying had theorized? Had all the answers he’d sought really been in his own world?)

Frozen in equal amounts of shock, they both simply stared in disbelief at one another. The staredown between them was broken by a heart wrenching scream.

The two men were brought back to reality. Horror filled both for different reasons. Luo Binghe barely had the time to fall back and pull his sword out of the Shen Qingqiu look-alike’s chest before he was attacked. A small body rammed into his side. Luo Binghe was in such a state that the attack actually proved to be successful. He was knocked flat on the ground.

He was immediately pounced upon. Small fists rained blows towards his face. Unstable Qi lashed at him with the intent to kill. Luo Binghe snapped out of his daze and blocked the fists with an arm. He was about to send his attacker flying when he caught sight of his assailant’s face. It was the face of the boy whom he’d come all this way to rescue.

Luo Yu stared down at him with pure unadulterated hatred.

********

There was a pink fairy tangled in his ponytail.

The creek’s clearing was filled with so many fairies. They were fascinating. The little noises they made sounded like a cat. He wanted to bring home as many as he could and have them float around the manor. Luo Yu reluctantly dismissed the idea as he untangled the pink fairy. He wouldn’t know how to properly care for the creatures.

A year ago, Luo Yu wouldn’t have been able to even dream of such a wonderful birthday. He had no real concept of what they should be like. He hadn’t known the of the soul consuming joy of being surrounded by family who you loved and loved you in return. He’d had no one then.

He’d woken up this morning falling out of bed. The heavenly aroma of pancakes filled his room, and his body was flailing towards the door before he was even properly awake. He had to reach the pancakes before that mongrel ate his. Bingpup was an absolute fiend when it came to stealing his food. Fortunately, Luo Yu arrived in time.

He hadn’t even realised the date until after he’d wolfed down his meal. A simple inquiry to his Shifu on what the special occasion was opened a whole new world.

Last year’s birthday had been filled with utter loneliness. Luo Yu had done what he always did: spend the day alone until the inevitable awkward dinners with his Father. The taste of blood running down his throat was always a symbol of how little he mattered to anyone. Not his Father. Not the servants. No one cared if he lived or died.

Now, his real family spent the entire day with him. They never left him alone to wallow in the past. Tears were swept away by laughter. The gift of blood replaced by a real present. An alchemist lab! He would be able to create so many things. His fingers were itching to get started, but it would have to wait till tomorrow.

His Shifu and Bingpup nearly overwhelmed him with affection. By the time dinner came around, he felt as if he could fly. Soar around the mountain and shout to the heavens in glee.

The day hadn’t even been over yet. At dinner, Shen Yuan declared they were going on a field trip. It was extremely rare that such a thing would occur so late in the day. It only heightened how special the birthday celebration was to the mountains inhabitants.

Together the three had traveled on Shen Yuan’s sword towards a creek at the base of the mountain. Nightfall had long since fallen, and they were able to see a multitude of small lights long before they landed.

When Luo Yu hopped off the sword, he simply stood gazing around in amazement. Fairies swarmed through the air. So many different colors blinked at him. It was magical. It reminded Luo Yu of how he used to imagine mountains would be like. Magical creatures and spiritual energy everywhere. All his past dreams paled in comparison to the sight before him now. Paled in the face of his new family and home.

Excitement filled him. Luo Yu carefully walked closer to the lights. They seemed to sense they meant no harm and surrounded the family of three. Luo Yu carefully cupped a blue and purple fairy in his hands. He felt another trying to burrow its way through the hair on his head.

It was pure bliss.

The creatures were so pretty. The noises they made amused him to no end, and he happily let the fairies float around him and do as they pleased. Content to bask in the magic of the night.

His concentration was broken by the feeling of something tugging at the bottom of his robes. Luo Yu looked down expecting another fairy, but was met by a fluffy black face gazing up at him. It seemed that Bingpup had something in its mouth. Imploring eyes clearly stated that he wanted Luo Yu to take whatever it was.

He crouched down to accept the slobbery item. He was relieved to see that the puppy hadn’t tried to give him something gross. Instead, a stone was placed in his palm. It was a pretty blue and smooth to the touch. Luo Yu realised this was a blue quarts. Known for its healing properties and often found in rivers. Bingpup must have picked it out of the creek.

Turning his gaze from the stone, he looked into Bingpup’s eyes. They looked at him happily and with open adoration. The two of them had come so far from when they had first met. Life truly worked in strange ways. A thought occurred to him.

“Is this for my birthday?”

Bingpup hopped around him with tiny little woofs of agreement. Luo Yu clutched the stone to his chest. It almost hurt how much his heart overflowed at the agreement. Another gift that he would treasure for the rest of his life. Covered in slobber as it was.

A pink fairy flew into his ponytail and got tangled in its strands. Thoroughly amused, Luo Yu carefully placed the stone in his storage ring so it wouldn’t be lost and got to work helping the silly glowing creature. Just as he released the fairy, Luo Yu realised that someone was missing. His Shifu was nowhere to be seen by the creek.

Maybe it was the fact he hadn’t been left alone all day, but a strange feeling of nervousness filled him. He was determined to find the man immediately.

Luo Yu turned to Bingpup. “Where did Shifu go? We need to find him.” Small, black ears seemed to pick up on the note of anxiety in his voice. The puppy gazed at him before turning to trot off in the direction of the mountain barrier.

He honestly didn’t know why he was so anxious. Shen Yuan wouldn’t leave him alone for too long. The man was probably on his way back to them at this very moment. Why the man had left at all was a question he didn’t know the answer to. Luo Yu had been too distracted by the fairies to know when exactly the man had even left. Nervous, he picked up the pace and resolutely followed Bingpup.

The moment they left the forest, he knew something was wrong. Some note in the air warned him a split second before his eyes fell upon two figures in the hellscape that lie beyond the mountain’s barriers.

White noise filled his head. Every hair on his body rose. Luo Yu couldn’t think. He didn’t understand what he was seeing. He couldn’t understand what he was seeing.

Someone screamed.

It was him. Luo Yu was screaming. The sound so wretched and broken that it hurt his throat to release it. His soul shattered at the sight of his Father (by blood only) impaling his Bàba through the chest with Xin Mo.

His Qi crackled through him like lightning. Hatred stabbed through his core. Only one thought remained in Luo Yu’s mind.

‘Kill him!’

Luo Yu’s dark intent propelled him forward at an impossible speed. Bingpup was left in the dust, but he hardly noticed. He would murder the man who had has hurt his Bàba. Rip him to shreds. Anything to get the man AWAY FROM HIS BÀBA!

Luo Yu slammed into his Father’s half crouched form. Qi infused with his fists as he attempted to murder the man who had clearly been made to ruin his life.

(He had never felt hatred for his Father before. Anger, resentment, bitterness: he had felt those. They all crumbled in the face of the pure devastation he felt now.)

He slammed his fists at the Demon Emperor’s face. This monster! This beast that was trying to take everything Luo Yu loves away from him. Bàba could be—- Bàba could be—-

Another scream ripped out of his throat. Rocks exploded around them. The demon beneath him simply blocked his blows with an arm. Dark eyes stared at him with some unidentifiable emotion. They mocked him.

Luo Yu’s attacks were doing nothing. He felt something unhinge at the sight. This man had stabbed the only person who has ever been there for him. The only person who has ever treated him kindly. The only person who has ever given him a real home. The only person who has ever loved him.

Why. Wouldn’t. He. Die?!

Corrupt energy swirled around Luo Yu. Not demonic. His spiritual energy was broken. His Qi swirled erratically trying to kill and destroy all that it touched. A small corner of his mind knew what was happening.

Qi Deviation.

Luo Yu ignored the signs. His vision ran red with the desire to eradicate his Father off the face of the world.

Hands pulled him off his foe.

Simultaneously, a black form flew from the barrier and attacked his Father. Bingpup’s eyes glowed red. A black aura surrounded a newly enlarged Harmonic Demon Dog who looked like a frightening specter from the depths of hell. Haunting growls pierced the ears of all present.

His Father, who had remained unmoving and unharmed in the face of Luo Yu’s every attack, froze for only a split second before rising to his feet just in time to not have his throat ripped out.

Luo Yu did not see what happened next. Warm hands turned him around.

Shen Yuan stood before him. Face pale and eyes frantic. There was a thin hole in the man’s chest that oozed blood. His Bàba was yelling something over Bingpup’s growls. Luo Yu couldn’t understand. He couldn’t feel anything. Couldn’t seem to focus. All was numb.

Wasn’t his Bàba dead?

Something was forced down his throat. Luo Yu nearly choked in surprise. He automatically swallowed whatever it was.

The chaotic Qi continued to swirl around him. Attacking the surroundings indiscriminately. He felt like he was going to be torn apart.

Luo Yu blinked and found himself encompassed in warmth. His face buried in green robes. The smell of his Shifu finally pierced through the chaos of his mind. Sensation returned. He heaved a gasping breath and trembled.

He hadn’t realised he was crying.

Luo Yu was cradled by the man he had thought dead. His Bàba ignored the slowly calming, destructive Qi that was flowing out of him. It reminded Luo Yu of the time he’d tried to cultivate in the cold lotus pond and nearly froze. Shen Yuan has come out of the manor and nearly teleported to his side. His Bàba hadn’t cared about about getting wet or cold. All that had mattered then was that he, Luo Yu, was safe.

Luo Yu felt his spiritual energy finally stabilize. He felt a new, soothing energy flow through his veins. How long had it been there? It didn’t matter. Here, held in his Bàba’s arms, he was safe. Everything would be fine.

Something warm and wet was soaking through his robes. Luo Yu couldn’t seem to open his eyes to see what it was. When had his eyes even closed?

The world faded away. The sounds of distant fighting drifted away. Luo Yu embraced the dark oblivion knowing his Bàba would make everything ok again when he woke.

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: The Problem with Protagonists

Shen Yuan has royally fucked everything up.

The moment he left the barrier, he should’ve just offed himself and spared everyone the trouble. He was apparently an idiot of epic proportions. It was only right that he should take himself out of the picture before he negatively influenced A-Yu.

Shen Yuan had been impaled by none other than Xin Mo. A sword he had spent countless chapters reading about in his past life. How could he not when Xin Mo was always at the side of his favorite blackened protagonist? Shen Yuan stared in horror as said protagonist stumbled back and withdrew the sword from his chest. A red, demonic forehead mark seemed to wink at Shen Yuan as the man withdrew .

Now wasn’t the time to panic about the ever so impossibly present protagonist crouched before him. Shen Yuan has a hole through his chest that he was just beginning to realise was hurting quite a lot. Even that didn’t matter though because just a moment before, a heartbreaking scream had pierced the air.

That scream hurt him more than any physical wound. A-Yu was never supposed to make that kind of sound. No one was allowed to make his child sound like that.

The sword had left his chest and Shen Yuan had stumbled back. Before he could recover, A-Yu had appeared from seemingly nowhere and was now attacking Shen Yuan’s would-be killer.

It was hard to breath. Being impaled did that to a person. Unlike in his old life, it was something he could recover from. This was a Xianxia setting, and he was an immortal cultivator. Shen Yuan could have his guts ripped out and still recover. He just had to take a few moments to properly cultivate his Qi into the area of the gaping sword wound.

(The millennial in him had long dissolved into a gibbering mess.)

Blood flowed down his chest.

Fuck everything. Fuck the pain. He needed to get a grip. His child was panicking. Shen Yuan wasn’t above killing a protagonist if a single hair on A-Yu’s head was harmed.

Focusing on the scene before him, Shen Yuan felt horror stab through his core. His assailant lies on the ground. The man made no attempt to harm the small form raining blow after wild blow upon his head. The man simply let A-Yu unleash his protective rage. Shen Yuan couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the man that looked so much like A-Yu.

(If he thought about how this man was A-Yu’s Father…Shen Yuan didn’t have the time for that kind of mental blow.)

A-Yu looked like he’d been shattered. As if everything in the world had been taken from him and all that was left was despair. The child that Shen Yuan loves so fiercely looked like he was about to be torn apart.

It was unacceptable.

Chaotic Qi exploded from A-Yu. Rocks Shattered. The wind seemed to roar around them. All the energy focused on the man beneath A-Yu was easily dispersed by the protagonist’s own energy. This only seemed to enrage the child more. A-Yu was experiencing his first Qi Deviation.

Shen Yuan spat out blood. He needed to get his child away from here.

Suddenly, he sensed the solution to his problems. Bingpup had finally caught up and was surrounded by a blazingly dark energy. Gone was the cute fluffy puppy who hopped around their home. All that remained was a massive red-eyed Harmonic Demon dog displaying the full power of its protective wrath. Red eyes briefly made contact with Shen Yuan

They moved together simultaneously.

Bingpup used his powers to nullify enough of the wild spiritual energy so that Shen Yuan could pull the A-Yu to safety. While Shen Yuan pulled the child towards him, Bingpup aimed to kill the source of their troubles. Said source narrowly dodged getting his throat ripped out. Shen Yuan couldn’t be bothered to pay them any more attention. Bingpup would be able to take care of his namesake.

He frantically turned A-Yu around. The child’s blank eyes met his. Tears streamed down a pale face, and Shen Yuan felt his heart break.

“A-Yu, I’m alright! Everything’s alright! You’re experiencing a Qi Deviation. We need to calm your spiritual energy!” Shen Yuan has to shout over Bingpup’s growls. It didn’t really make a difference as A-Yu stared at him with no understanding. In a state so terrible, the child didn’t seem to be able to process what was going on.

Shen Yuan was nearly losing his mind. His chest was throbbing in pain. He ignored it. Frantically, he pulled out the lantern fruit was his storage ring. Shen Yuan always made sure to have one on him. He had never imagined that the situation would be so dire.

“A-Yu, I’m sorry for this.”

He stuffed the fruit down the child’s throat. The boy shuddered and swallowed involuntarily. A-Yu’s Qi rose around him and seemed to thrash wildly.

Shen Yuan deflected it and pulled the child into his arms. Hugging A-Yu so fiercely that it hurt the wound in his chest severely. He didn’t give a single fuck. Nothing mattered except his child’s safety and well being.

He held A-Yu close and sent his own Qi circulating through A-Yu’s meridians. Soothed and repaired the damage the boy had done to himself. The wild spiritual energy calmed. The small body finally succumbing to the fruits effects. He felt A-Yu give shuddering, gasping breaths into his shoulder.

A-Yu abruptly went limp in his arms. Exhaustion finally taking its toll. The child wasn’t yet capable of handling the power he had released tonight.

Shen Yuan picked him up. Carefully doing his best to avoid putting pressure on the small gaping hole in his chest. A-Yu was already covered in his blood. The sight made his heart clench, and he yet again realised how quickly they need to get the fuck out of here.

He glanced over at the duo fighting close by. Surprisingly, it seemed that Bingpup was on the offense. The protagonist (Luo Binghe! Shen Yuan was really compartmentalising this fact to be dealt with later) was on the defensive. The man was using Xin Mo to deflect Bingpup’s ferocious attacks.

He made his way towards the barrier. He slipped his fan from his sleeve into his hand as he carried A-Yu. Bingpup’s prey seemed to notice their retreat and attempted to lunged towards them. Both Shen Yuan and the Harmonic Demon dog were having none of it. Shen Yuan used his fan to wave a devastatingly powerful blast of qi infused wind towards the protagonist.

The man was forced to dodge and than retreat even further as Bingpup did his best to bite the man’s head off. Shen Yuan realised that the dog’s energy was completely disrupting both the protagonists and sword’s energy. Such a skill put their enemy in a very precarious position.

Not waiting for the man to give chase again, Shen Yuan ran as fast as he could with his injury and A-Yu’s weight in his arms.

He successfully got through the barrier when Shen Yuan felt the wind flutter behind him. Gasping, he turned to find the man he had read so much about slam into the mountain barrier. A snarl twisting a beautiful face. All rational thought nearly fled him as he mentally screamed at how close they’d been to being pulverized.

Bingpup magically appeared next to him. He’d shrunken back down in size. The dog’s eyes were still red, but he was no longer terrifying to behold. Bingpup proceeded to glare and growl warningly at the scowling man outside the barrier. Shen Yuan broke out of his stupor and turned to leave. He wants nothing more than to forget everything that's happening right now.

“Return my son! You have no right to him! Do you think you can kidnap the boy and get away with it?”

The enraged yells called after him. The words (and the hint of desperation) made Shen Yuan pause and slowly tilt his head back to stare.

Shen Yuan finally allowed himself to realise that this was the Father that had caused A-Yu such grief and loneliness. The Father that had been an oppressive figure instead of a parent. This was the man who had caused A-Yu to run away and apparently only noticed after an entire year. .

This was the man who had just ruined his son’s birthday.

Now furious, Shen Yuan glared. “Kidnapped? I didn’t kidnap anyone. He traveled here on his own, and I took him in before he got himself killed. He’s definitely not yours. He’s mine, and I’m his. You gave up any right when you abandoned A-Yu. He’s been staying with me for a year. Where the fuck have you been all this time?”

The man froze. Complex emotions flashing across his face. Shen Yuan didn’t wait for him to respond. He pulled out his sword and carefully got on it. Bingpup quickly came over and hopped on the tip of the blade. An extremely precarious position, but he trusted the dog knew what it was doing.

Shen Yuan adjusted A-Yu and began to take off. Just before they lifted into the air, he heard a voice speak behind him.

“I will be back.”

Shen Yuan could not help but glance back again.

The man seemed to stare straight into Shen Yuan’s soul. Dark eyes looked at him as if they wanted to pick him apart. Rip him open and see what made him tick. It was unsettling.

“I’ll be back for both of you.”

Shen Yuan finally acknowledged the fact that he had been carefully avoiding all night. Luo Binghe, the ruler and strongest character of this world, had just came knocking on his door. He knew better than anyone what this meant. Shen Yuan would not be rid of him until Luo Binghe had obtained what he wanted.

It seemed that Luo Binghe wanted him dead and A-Yu returned to him. The thought should have terrified him, but only calm settled. Shen Yuan blinked dismissively at the demon king.

“You can try.”

With that challenging statement, Shen Yuan finally took off into the skies. Bingpup remained perfectly balanced and A-Yu unconsciously snuggled closer. It hurt his wound, but Shen Yuan could care less. He felt Luo Binghe’s gaze follow them long after the barrier should have hidden them from view. Shen Yuan was unbothered. He was finally taking his family home.

*******

Luo Binghe watched as that infuriating man left with his son. That Shen Qingqiu double had cradled Luo Yu so carefully. The cultivator had calmed the child’s Qi Deviation all while ignoring the gaping hole in his chest caused by Xin Mo.

(Since when had his son began to learn cultivation?)

It was maddening. All of it.

The devotion was obvious between those two. The boy’s screams still rang through his ears. The sight of the Shen Qingqiu double’s impaled body sent the child into a full blown despair ridden meltdown. Had the boy staring down at Luo Binghe with pure hatred. Luo Yu would have killed his own Father tonight had he been capable of it.

All might have been well if it hadn’t been for that dog.

That damned creature had been the real game changer this night. Luo Binghe would have likely been able to do as he pleased if that Harmonic Demon Dog hadn’t appeared. There was no creature alive that he hated more than that species. Able to interrupt or calm the flow of energy in any living being, the beasts were nearly impossible to deal with once they matured.

He’d first encounter one while attempting to help one of his wives. The specific details of why he needed the dog to help said wife were long faded. The dog was always deceptively small at first. It changed into a far larger form when angered. The memory of how that Harmonic Demon Dog had temporarily sealed his demonic energy and bitten his legs off did not. He’d laid in the dirt for hours waiting for his legs to regenerate. The creature may have escaped, but it had sealed its species fate that day.

He’d done his utmost best to wipe the beasts from the face of the planet. He thought he’d succeeded, but one of the curs seemed to have survived. The creature seemed to be allied with the Shen Qingqiu look-alike.

The mental image returned of how that copy had cradled his son as if there was nothing more precious in the world. It was like seeing into a twisted mirror of how his own Shen Qingqiu might have looked while carrying himself as a child. The reflection threatened to overwhelm the fragile hold he has on his sanity.

The two had escaped him. Now, he would have to return to claim them both. Luo Binghe had finally found a man who could very possibly reveal to him the mysteries of that alternate world he had traveled to. The boy would be retrieved and placed under far closer surveillance. The boy had apparently run away on his last birthday. The fact was almost inconceivable. How had he been missing for so long without a single person being aware of it?!

(Without Luo Binghe being aware of it.)

That cultivator’s words haunted his mind. Accusations of abandonment echoed in a never ending loop. ‘Where the fuck have you been all this time?’ The image of that beautiful face damning him with those words was like a plague. Crassly put as it was, where had Luo Binghe been indeed.

He scoffed and turned to leave.

Luo Binghe used Xin Mo to open a portal to his Palace. He would return in a few days with a plan of attack. After all, Luo Binghe always gets what he wants in the end.

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: Dealing and Healing

Morning settled across Hua Mountain. In the largest bedroom of Shen Manor, three figures slept.

Shen Yuan was the first to awaken. Pain radiated from his chest, and he carefully shifted to look down at his bandages.

The night before had been a complete and utter disaster. First the run in with the protagonist then A-Yu’s Qi Deviation. When they'd finally arrived home after all was said and done, Shen Yuan had immediately settled A-Yu in his bedroom. He’d double checked the child would be alright and then set about bandaging the hole in his chest. Stab wounds may not be fatal for him, but he wasn’t going to risk infection. It would already take at least a week or two for the wound to fully heal, and it would definitely leave a scar. Xin Mo was the most demonically powerful sword in existence so how could it not?

After bandaging himself, he’d carefully cleaned both himself and A-Yu of his blood with a wet cloth. Shen Yuan had then changed their robes into fresh ones. It all took far longer than it should have thanks to his injury. Bingpup had hopped on the bed and dutifully watched as if to make sure Shen Yuan wouldn’t keel over.

He gave the precious bun a brief pat on the head before collapsing onto the bed. Shen Yuan carefully settled the blankets over himself and A-Yu. Before he allowed himself to sleep, he lowered his head and addressed the tiniest member of their family, “You’re going to be getting so many pancakes, Bingpup.”

With that said, Shen Yuan finally let himself sleep. He didn’t see Bingpup wag his tail tiredly before hopping on his pillow to sleep as well. The night finally came to a close.

Now awake for a new day, Shen Yuan looked to see A-Yu was still passed out next to him. Bundled under the covers, the child was still pale in the face. The Qi deviation had truly taken its toll, but the boy should be back to peak health after a couple days rest. Shen Yuan had managed to help A-Yu before any lasting damage could ruin the boy’s meridians.

Bingpup was also dead to the world on his pillow/dog bed. Rolled flat on his furry back, the puppies feet stuck out in the air. Snores rattled a small body. The Harmonic Demon puppy had truly been their saving grace last night. Shen Yuan didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened without Bingpup’s ferocious protectiveness. His inner nerd was in awe over how such a tiny puppy had transformed into a massive beast.

Speaking of size, Shen Yuan squinted at the puppy. Had Bingpup gotten slightly bigger? The puppy was no longer minuscule. He had to have grown at least twice his previous size. (Not to say the creature wasn’t still small. Even bigger, Shen Yuan doubted that Bingpup would ever be larger than a fully grown Pomeranian.) Bingpup’s outburst of energy last night must have caused the puppies body to finally mature. An adult by its species standards and no longer a puppy.

Shen Yuan leaned back with a careful sigh. It seemed that much had and would change from now on. He was debating whether to sleep a bit longer when he caught sight of something out of place on his nightstand. It was an envelope with a winking emoji printed on it.

He didn’t know what to feel. Shen Yuan knew exactly who or more accurately what this letter was from. The System had never given him any reason to hate it, but it still gave him an odd feeling. Transmigration novels tended to have either a helpful or bullying system helping a transmigrator. He sometimes wondered just what role the System would have ended up playing if events hadn’t played out as they had. Overall though, his System has been very helpful.

Shen Yuan carefully moved his left arm to pick up the envelope. The last thing he needed was to cause himself further pain. He cautiously opened the envelope in much the same way one might handle a bomb. A simple folded page of printer paper lie inside. Black printed text confirmed that this was indeed a message from the System.

He scanned the letter and felt his eyes widen at its content.

******

FORMER UNAUTHORIZED USER: SHEN YUAN,

CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! We here in upper management never thought that USER would have a deep impact on the end novel events of PROUD IMMORTAL DEMON WAY. USER has truly exceeded our expectations and properly activated “Stupid Author, Stupid Ending!” Mode.

UNOFFICIAL USER: SHEN YUAN has officially became an AUTHORIZED USER. Work hard to change the controversial ending of this popular novel!

OFFICIAL ROLE has been unlocked: MOTHER FIGURE. A perfect role for one who has stolen the protagonist’s son! This role has many perks that may be seen if USER plays his cards right. SYSTEM would like to provide a WARNING. Due to USER actions, your world has increased to a LEVEL 6 DANGER CATEGORY. Fortunately, USER has the impenetrable ‘HUA MOUNTAIN’ key item that comes with barriers that even the PROTAGONIST cannot break. This is due to the CAUSALITY EFFECT!!

(USER should be grateful for SYSTEM’s kindness. Work hard to gain HEART POINTS in return!)

All future actions of the USER will impact the ending. No further aid will be given as this is a TRIAL MODE! Work hard! Collect points! Create a HAPPY ENDING!

(REMINDER: SYSTEM will be very disappointed if HEART POINTS are not gathered!! GOOD LUCK!!!)

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
WORLD DEGENERATION = 15%
PROTAGONIST DEGENERATION = 9%

****

Shen Yuan felt his eye twitch. Danger category 6? Mother figure?! He nearly coughed up blood. What kind of bullshit was this? He decided to entirely ignore the heart points comment and whatever that implied.

What truly concerned him was the matter of changing the novel’s ending. PIDW’s ending had indeed been very controversial. It was the main reason he’d died in his first life. The protagonist had ended up forever unhappy, and it was implied that the man’s harem would kill him. It was utter garbage. It had even ended— it had even ended…

How exactly had it ended again?

Shen Yuan couldn’t remember. It was… almost as if a fog had clouded the memories. There had been details. Very specific details. Details beyond the possible harem uprising and the protagonist’s general unhappiness. Shen Yuan knows there had been because he had written his most scathing review about those details as Peerless-Cucumber minutes before he’d died.

This screamed of some kind of interference. Either the System had wiped them or the memories were damaged during transmigration.

This was worrisome. The situation wasn’t ideal in the slightest. Shen Yuan has a protagonist out for his blood. A protagonist with a tragic ending drawing closer. If all of Shen Yuan’s actions from now on had unknown consequences… how would he know if he accidentally fucks everything up even more? A single misstep could lead to some irreparable loss. It might have been fine if Shen Yuan was the only one affected, but he had his family to think about.

Shen Yuan glanced at the two sleeping figures. A-Yu was the son of the protagonist and Bingpup had just made an enemy of the man last night. If the protagonist was left to an unhappy ending than what would that mean for these two? Would they be dragged into the protagonist’s sphere of suffering?

No.

Shen Yuan wouldn’t allow it. He didn’t know if his choices really could or would alter the novels ending, but he would do his best to steer its consequences away from his home. The world can burn with the protagonist, but nothing could be allowed to harm his family.

(A small voice pointed out that it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to give his favorite protagonist a happy ending. The healing stab wound in his chest throbbed in disagreement.)

So “happy ending” plan was a go? Or… they’d just never leave Hua Mountain and be perfectly fine. It’s not like anyone could enter the barrier. Shen Yuan really liked the latter plan better. He’d have to do his best to handle whatever bullshit plot points may come their way, but It’ll all be fine. Though…

What the fuck did protagonist and world degeneration mean?

******

Luo Yu awoke feeling like his head was full of cotton.

Head buried in a soft pillow and blankets tucked around him, everything seems strangely hazy. As if he’s just a bit disconnected from the world. The sun's light streamed through the bedroom window. How had he ended up in his Shifu’s bedroom?

Luo Yu has never felt such complete exhaustion. His brain sluggishly got to work discerning his situation. A form was lying next to him. A moment of blank staring confirmed that it was Shen Yuan. Which shouldn't have been a surprise since this was the man’s bedroom.

He was forgetting something.

Shen Yuan was glaring at some kind of paper. Whatever contents the paper held seemed to displease his Shifu. The man abruptly tore the paper to shreds. It startled Luo Yu’s brain into a more alert state. With that alertness came memories. Those memories tore through his mind like a landslide.

Frantically, he sat up. His Shifu jerked back in surprise, and a hiss of pain left the man. Luo Yu felt his face crumble. Why wouldn’t the man be in pain? (Alarm and panic was bubbling from his core.) After all, hadn't his Bàba been impaled last night? Impaled by his own Father’s sword?

Luo Yu didn’t realise he was hyperventilating until a hand reached out towards him. He flinched.

Shen Yuan’s hand paused in the air for a moment before proceeding to gently tug him into the man’s side. His Bàba was careful to avoid the wounded area of his chest.

“A-Yu it’s alright. Breath with me. In and out.”

A shuddering breath wracked through Luo Yu. His Shifu’s calm voice soothed his rising panic. He breathed. In and out. He desperately clung to the man’s side. The man he had thought dead last night. What would he have done if he had? Luo Yu would be alone again. The panic began to return.

“Your chest! It was- you were—.”

A finger tapped his nose.

Stunned, Luo Yu gazed up at his Shifu’s face. Light concerned eyes met his. The man gave a small smile before speaking, “Just breathe with me A-Yu. Everything’s fine now. I pinky promise.”

The hand that had just tapped his nose now held a single raised pinky towards him. Such a simple gesture.

Luo Yu held his breath. Nothing in the world was more meaningful to him than this gesture. He let out an exhale and hesitantly held up his own pinky to be intertwined with his Bàbas. A cultivators promise couldn’t be broken. Everything really would be alright now.

His heart finally calmed. They released each other fingers. No more words were needed. He turned his head and buried it back into his Shifu’s robes. Luo Yu let the gentle scent of his Bàba wash over him. Warm and alive. His family was alive and everything would be fine.

A hand carded through his hair.

“A-Yu, I’m sorry for last night. This Shifu put himself into a very dangerous situation. It could have easily been avoided, and you got hurt because of my foolishness.”

Under normal circumstances, Luo Yu would’ve shot straight up and vehemently denied such words, but he was far too tired to move. He felt completely sapped of energy. Instead, he shook his head. Face still buried in his Shifu’s side, Luo Yu refuted the man’s apology.

“It’s not your fault, Bàba. If anything it’s mine. That man… the man who hurt you—.” He took a deep breath and spoke his longest kept secret. “That man was my blood Father. The Demon Emperor Luo Binghe.”

The hand stroking Luo Yu’s hair never paused. Not even at such an incredible revelation. It was almost as if Shen Yuan was completely unsurprised.

“I know A-Yu. I figured it out last night. Your Father’s demon mark is very recognizable and his sw—.”

The man paused. They both knew what Shen Yuan was about to say. His Shifu had seen Xin Mo far closer than Luo Yu could stand. The image of his Bàba impaled on that sword would haunt him till the day he died.

Shen Yuan continued to card his hand through Luo Yu’s hair. “I’m sorry you had to see that A-Yu.”

He nodded his head. There was nothing more either could really say on the matter. Thankfully, his Shifu changed the subject.

“Should I call you Luo Yu now?”

It was odd to hear his full name come from his Shifu. The entire time they’d known each other, he’d only been known as A-Yu. Something in him shook in bitterness. No. He did not want his Bàba to call him Luo Yu. He didn’t want to be a Luo at all. He was interrupted from his angry musings.

“Don’t worry. A-Yu is A-Yu. It doesn’t matter what you name is or who your blood relatives are. A-Yu is my disciple. My son. Don’t let your past trouble you, alright?”

This man. Luo Yu finally felt the tears he’d been holding back fall. This man was always perceptive. Shen Yuan, his Shifu and his Bàba, always knew just what he needed to hear. Luo Yu let all his pain flow into his quiet crying. All those negative emotions he’d felt from last night’s events he released. He wept into his Bàba’s robes and let the man pet and soothe all his pain away.

A new day’s light washed away yesterday’s monsters.

Luo Yu fell asleep like this. Hours later, he was awoken by the oh so familiar feeling of a small tongue slobbering all over his face. At first irritation filled him at the sight of Bingpup’s smug face. That irritation faded immediately after he recalled how this fluffy demon had protected him from his Father. This impossible creature had transformed into some kind of giant all in the name of protecting him. Luo Yu untucked his arms from the blankets and grabbed Bingpup into a hug.

(Had the puppy grown bigger?)

The hug surprised the puppy(?) and it flailed. Before Bingpup could escape, Luo Yu lowered his head and whispered quietly into the dog’s hair, “Thank you.” The slightly larger ball of fluff froze in his arms.

“Thank you so much for saving me and Bàba.”

Bingpup wiggled in his hold so it could look directly at Luo Yu’s face. Small black eyes looked at him seriously. Bingpup gave a gentle woof and firmly licked Luo Yu’s chin.

Luo Yu knew his thanks was accepted. Bingpup truly was the greatest creature in the entire world. Unfortunate name and all. He loved this crazy dog so much. He gave the bundle of fur a quick kiss on its fluffy head.

Luo Yu recalled a memory from last night. He remembered the birthday gift that Bingpup had given him before things had dissolved into madness. The blue quartz was still tucked in the interspatial ring on his finger. Bringing it out, the small stone really was quite pretty in the daylight. It struck him with an idea.

He looked up at the man next to him. Shen Yuan must have fallen back asleep not long after he had. Bandages peaked out of the man’s sleeping robes. There must be more covering the stab wound on the man’s chest. Luo Yu lightly place the blue quartz above the unseen wound. He wasn’t sure how exactly the stones healing properties were supposed to work, but anything was better than nothing.

Luo Yu and Bingpup cuddled into their wounded family member’s side. The two were still extremely tired. It was time to follow Shen Yuan’s example and rest some more. Luo Yu knew it would take time for his family to fully recover. Eyes closing, he briefly thought of what was to come.

For all that everything was fine now, there were many things that still needed to be addressed. What exactly had happened after he had fainted last night? How had they escaped his Father? Would the man be returning? Luo Yu doubted that monster was dead.

Hatred lazily curled through him as he drifted into the land of dreams. His Father was an issue. That man was nothing but a monster. A cruel tyrannical leader who loved no one and destroyed everything. He would kill that man. One day, he vowed to put an end to the man who had hurt his family.

*******

Luo Binghe brooded.

In the dungeons of his Palace, a small demon child lie bruised in a cell. Lao Gongzhu had followed Luo Binghe’s orders thoroughly after Luo Binghe had left the Palace last night. The man had taken control of the situation with an iron fist. All servants were interrogated by the Palace guards in order to find information on the missing whereabouts of the prince.

Nothing had come of it until one of the kitchen servants children had broken down in tears after its parents had been taken away for interrogation. The child confessed to eating the prince’s food and covering for the missing boy when necessary. None expected a demon child to be behind the prince’s disappearance. Baffled, they threw the servant into the dungeons and left the matter for the Emperor to deal with.

Luo Binghe did not kill children. Initially, he had ordered the interrogation of the servants under the assumption that Luo Yu had been kidnapped. The events of last night proved otherwise. The demon in the cell before him was just an unwitting accomplice. There was no malicious intent. Just two children conspiring together to pull an all too effective disappearance act.

He nearly sighed. Luo Binghe would not torture this child either. There would be not righteous vengeance to be found today. Much like there hadn’t been any last night. Instead, an entirely new kind of headache had presented itself.

Luo Binghe glanced down at the quivering guard protecting the cell before demanding, “Return the child to its parents. They are to be dismissed from their positions in the Palace and exiled.” No execution or further punishment, but the demon’s family could not be allowed to serve in the Palace any longer. If he allowed them to stay it would send a positive message to possible upstarts.

The child in the cell realised it’s life had been spared and tearfully kowtowed. Babbled words of thanks followed him as he left the dungeons. The situation was resolved. Luo Binghe has far more important matters to concern himself with.

Mainly, how to destroy that thrice damned barrier.

As he made his way to the library, Lao Gongzhu appeared before him. The elderly advisor beamed a smile. “Emperor! I take it things were successful with the interrogation. Is the demon dead? Truly a shame how one so young turned out to be so treacherous.”

Luo Binghe could care less for these trivialities. “The child lives and is to be exiled with its family. The situation is not as I first believed, but I shall be personally handling it.”

Lao Gongzhu seemed startled. An odd smile had appeared on his wizened face, but Luo Binghe was walking well ahead and didn’t notice. Lao Gongzhu stopped for a moment before continuing to follow. The man called out after him, “Is the young prince well?”

Luo Binghe kept walking but carelessly answered. Too distracted with thoughts of which books to research in the library to truly pay Lao Gongzhu any real attention. “He has been taken under the care of one who looks a great deal like my old Shizun. I plan to bring them both here after overcoming a small obstacle.”

With those words, Luo Binghe arrived at the library. He did not wait for his advisor to continue pestering him and issues a command to the old advisor, “I am not to be disturbed. None shall enter the Palace library unless the situation is dire.” Dire meaning that the entire world better be ablaze before anyone even thought to disturb him. Luo Binghe entered the library and immediately closed the doors behind him.

*****

Behind those closed doors, Lao Gongzhu stood eerily still. A crazed sort of rage filled the man. The former Sect Lord wanted to strangle someone.

There was no human that he hated more than that scum Shen Qingqiu. The man had once been a constant thorn in his side when he’d been alive. Always interfering in Huan Hua Palace matters. The scum had been a snake that guarded Cang Qiong Sect all too well. Lao Gongzhu had been ever so happy to watch Luo Binghe raze the entire sect to the ground and tear off that snakes head. Or limbs in this case.

Now that vile scum had a possible relative? For who else could possibly look like the man? He’d already had to deal with that other world nonsense the Emperor was so focused on. Luo Binghe’s obsession with his old teacher was the worst kept secret in the Palace. The man was like a beaten dog with an abusive master. It may bite and snarl but it would always come running when the master returned. Lao Gongzhu was supposed to have been rid of this particular obsession along with Shen Qingqiu’s death.

He refused to allow Luo Binghe’s attention to wander much longer.

Women were fine. Luo Binghe’s harem was actually quite amusing. They didn’t really mean anything to the man. Luo Binghe was a spoiled child who always wanted the newest of toys. Much like a spoiled child, he would inevitably grow tired of his toys and leave them to gather dust in his collection. Lao Gongzhu felt this trait unbothersome. He allowed it because it would never become an issue of concern.

A relative or some unknown doppelgänger of Shen Qingqiu created a very big issue. Luo Binghe looked so very much like his mother. Only the eyes and smile were different, but easily ignored. His lovely head disciple lived on in her son, but in the throes of obsession, the man resembled his Father. Su Xiyan’s beautiful features seemed to vanish. Luo Binghe would soon be all too similar to that bastard Tianlang-Jun.

The elderly, immortal cultivator had a strange gleam in his eyes that, to a discerning eye, looked every bit like the obsession it was. A guard passing through the halls caught sight of the advisors expression and felt an ominous feeling of dread.

Lao Gongzhu turned and addressed the approaching guard, “Inform the Palace that the Emperor is not to be disturbed. It seems that the Emperor's old master, Shen Qingqiu, has returned from the grave and absconded with the Prince. The Emperor shall be personally dealing with this terrible matter for the time being. ”

Intelligent eyes watched as the guard took in this very shocking information. The guard hastily saluted before scrambling away to inform everyone of both the Emperor’s orders and a very incredible piece of gossip. Before nightfall, all would know of the Prince’s kidnapping by the vengeful ghost of Shen Qingqiu.

Lao Gongzhu hummed pleasantly as he watched the guard leave. It was time to find his daughter. It seemed that certain plans would need to be expedited.

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: Information Gathering

The barrier was an impossibility.

Every book, scroll, and ancient transcription all created one fact that Luo Binghe now knew to be untrue. Xin Mo could destroy anything as long as it’s wielder was powerful enough to withstand the swords power. He had been dealing with said sword for over a century. He was the only capable wielder in a long line of unworthy victims.

Luo Binghe was Xin Mo’s true master. It bent to his will. Indestructible power for the low price of ‘dual cultivation’ to keep it from destroying his soul. Truly a magnificent bargain if the sword had only continued to live up to its reputation.

‘The problem’, Luo Binghe thought, ‘with an all powerful weapon is that no one thinks to look for other tools to solve anything.’

Have a monster you can’t defeat? Mastering Xin Mo will fix that. An Empire to conquer? Your foes will crumble before the swords bloodthirsty attacks. An impenetrable mountain barrier? Xin Mo will easily shatter it!

Except Xin Mo hadn’t.

Luo Binghe tossed his latest dead end across the room. The contents of that book had been particularly useless.

He was beginning to unwillingly concede that there was likely no information to be found through any kind kind of written knowledge. The mountain barrier must be some unknown ancient form of spiritual trick. There was some element to it that Luo Binghe was unaware of. Some key that he didn’t have that would send the protective shield shattering to the ground.

Luo Binghe stood. It was time to seek some advice. He pulled out Xin Mo and opened a portal to his First General’s icy Kingdom.

Mobei-jun was one of the two War Generals in Luo Binghe’s Empire. Sha Hualing was his second. His wife was quite the deterrent for any kind of uprising that may occur in his new world order. Her battle lust was widely known and feared. Mobei-jun was tasked with keeping Sha Hualing from going overboard and handling matters with the powerful lords and ladies throughout his lands. The icy Demon King was truly a useful asset.

Luo Binghe stepped into Mobei-jun’s personal study. The demon had granted him access to it long ago, but he only ever visited when important issues arose.

His arrival startled a well-dressed man who had been sitting precariously on top of a pile of books. Said man let out a squeak before flailing to the ground. The books collapsed on top of him. Luo Binghe would never understand just what his General saw in this pathetic human.

Shang Qinghua was duplicitous little cultivator that had once been the peak lord of Cang Qiong Sect’s An Ding Peak. The peak lord had been a spy for Mobei-jun long before Luo Binghe had even been a disciple of Qing Jing Peak. The peak lord had been a sniveling coward of a man who had only been filled with thoughts of greed. A true low life that hadn’t cared for even the lives of his own disciples.

All of this had changed one day.

After Luo Binghe’s return from the Abyss and subsequent beginning of his world takeover, Shang Qinghua had been revealed as a spy and had his head cut off for treason. The dead man had been of little consequence to anyone, and that should have been how the story ended.

Events played out to prove otherwise.

Luo Binghe wasn’t knowledgeable about the specifics, but somehow Shang Qinghua had faked his demise. The man had reappeared not long after Luo Binghe had merged the demon and human realms. Years of supposedly being dead, and the first thing the former spy had done was go running back to his old master.

What Luo Binghe found most surprising was the aftermath of the whole tale. Shang Qinghua had returned changed. The man was still a quivering mess, but he somehow lost the duplicitousness. The greedy and disgusting looks had turned wide eyed and easily frightened. The man was now a confounding puzzle of strangely accurate information, intelligence, and meekness.

Mobei-jun must have liked this new personality very much. After all, the Demon Lord had married the man.

Luo Binghe found it to be the oddest courtship to this very day. His General certainly had a strange type if Shang Qinghua was the only one that could do it for the powerful demon.

Luo Binghe watched as a pair of watery eyes peeked up at him in terror from beneath a mountain of books. This man was the most pathetic cultivator to ever exist. Fortunately, he had his uses.

“Shang Qinghua, I have need of your services.”

Mobei-jun’s husband scrambled out from beneath the books. The man only ever seemed to be in a state of high functioning terror when he was around. It was almost amusing.

Shang Qinghua stood ram rod straight before him and gave an odd little bow before saying, “Lu—Emperor! Of course, of course! How can this lowly servant be of assistance?” A nervous laugh echoed throughout the study. It fell flat under Luo Binghe’s deadpan stare.

Shang Qinghua began to look like he was about to break into tears so Luo Binghe got to the point. “What do you know of barriers? Spiritually created barriers that act as an illusion and protective shield. Barriers that can cover an entire mountain.”

Shang Qinghua started in surprise before a contemplative look crossed the cultivators face. The previously quivering man seemed to be lost and replaced by a good looking scholar. Always a contradiction this man.

“Barriers, hm? One that can cover an entire mountain? I don’t think I wrote— I don’t think I’ve read about one that can cover such a large terrain.” The man mumbled to himself for a moment before turning to Luo Binghe. “What do you need to know about a barrier like this?”

An inquisitive light shone in the man’s eyes. That light was snuffed out when Luo Binghe spoke, “I need to know how to destroy it.”

That statement seemed to remind Shan Qinghua just who exactly he was talking to. The man nervously choked on a laugh before cautiously asking, “Have you tried using Xin Mo?”

He glared at the worthless man. Did Shang Qinghua think him an idiot? “Of course, I’ve already tried the sword.”

Shang Qinghua paled under the weight of his glare. “Of course you have! Stupid question! Very stupid question! But if you used Xin Mo it should have shattered. I— I’ve read that nothing can withstand its power.”

“You’ve read wrong.” Luo Binghe was beginning to realize that this trip may have been a complete waste of his time.

Shang Qinghua opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the icy presence of his husband entering the study.

Mobei-jun took one look at the situation and walked over to stand in front of Shan Qinghua. The ice demon grabbed his husband by the collar and placed the man firmly behind him. The General was always so territorial. Luo Binghe has no right to judge though.

Husband secured, Mobei-jun turned to nod his head at Luo Binghe, “Emperor, what brings you to my kingdom.”

It was almost disrespectful how the Demon Lord addressed him, but Luo Binghe likes Mobei-jun and did not wish to suppress his General. There was only a handful of people that Luo Binghe genuinely liked, and it would be a shame to get rid of one of them.

“I seek information. Your husband is always oddly knowledgeable. I had hoped he may help me with my present... issue.”

Shang Qinghua peaked around Mobei-jun’s side. “So this barrier really is that big of a deal? If Xin Mo can’t break it than there must be something unique about it. What more can you tell me about it? Who created it? Does it have to do with a woman?” The man could’ve easily rambled on all day, but Mobei-jun sighed and threw the man over his shoulder.

Shang Qinghua squeaked in surprise, but didn’t flail. The man was likely far to used to being in this position. Luo Binghe truly found them to be the strangest pair in his Empire.

He followed the couple to a low table and sat down across from them. Mobei-jun carefully settled Shang Qinghua into his lap. The small cultivator seemed almost smitten by the act. A pink flush apparent on the human’s face.

Luo Binghe coughed to draw the couple attention back to the matter at hand.

“Oh! The barrier! Yes, this unbreakable barrier. Tell me everything.”

Luo Binghe spent over an hour explaining the whole sordid tale. He left out no detail. By the end of it, Shang Qinghua flailed his arms in the air incredulously.

“So let me get this straight. You thought your son was kidnapped. You tracked said son to a mountain in the Huan Hua mountain range. The mountain has a barrier that can't be broken by Xin Mo so you lured out its owner. This owner turned out to be a man that looked exactly like Shen Qingqiu? And then you stabbed him?! Not to mention sending your son into a Qi Deviation and the Harmonic Demon dog! This isn’t supposed to happen! I never—.”

Mobei-jun grabbed his husband’s flailing arms. Shang Qinghua awkwardly gawked up at the ice demon before giving his husband a sheepish grin. “Sorry, my King.”

Calming himself, Shang Qinghua turned back to Luo Binghe. “You’ve really gotten yourself into quite the mess. I honestly can’t tell you how to break the barrier.”

Luo Binghe moved to get up and leave.

Shang Qinghua held up his released hands in a placating manner, “But I may have an idea! It’s based on a concept I wasn’t certain would exist, but it may be the reason Xin Mo can’t destroy the barrier.”

The man waited for Luo Binghe to sit back down before explaining. “Alright, this is mostly a hypothesis, but it may be some kind of family blood ward. Blood wards are extremely powerful, and can only be controlled by a member of the creators bloodline. No one can come in or out without the families say so. There shouldn’t be one out there big enough to cover an entire mountain, but it looks like your Shen Qingqiu look-alike figured it out! An impossible barrier for an impossible man!”

Shang Qinghua was nearly bouncing in sprightly energy. Seemingly fascinated by the whole discussion. Mobei-jun merely gazed down at his husband in bemusement.

Luo Binghe waves a hand at all the information and questioned, “How do you get rid of a blood barrier?”

Shang Qinghua sobered slightly but readily answered, “You can’t.” A shrug. “Only a member of the family can tear down or deactivate a blood ward. The only way to get around it is to either be blood adopted into the family or allowed in by the owner.”

Useful information that turned out to be absolutely useless for Luo Binghe. He gritted his teeth and felt the urge to bang his head against the table. The Shen Qingqiu look-alike had made it perfectly clear that Luo Binghe would never be welcome inside his mountain.

Shang Qinghua seemed to sense his ill temperament and offered an off handed idea, “Why don't you talk to that advisor of yours? You know… the dream demon? He should be the only ancient demon left alive who knows about blood wards. If I’m remembering correctly.”

Luo Binghe stared at the man.

Excitement filled him. The brief flickers of something triumphant lit. Why hadn’t he thought of this before?

Meng Mo, his second advisor and former Shifu, would be perfect for this situation. The dream demon would likely know how to get rid of the barrier. If not, Luo Binghe would simply enter that Shen Qingqiu doppelgängers dream and find all the answers he sought. He could than threaten the man into allowing him entrance into the mountain. The cultivator wouldn’t risk Luo Binghe destroying his mind so he would have to comply.

Luo Binghe would have both his son and the strange copy in the palm of his hand.

A terrifying smile lit his face. Shang Qinghua seemed to shrink into his husband’s arms at the sight of it. Even Mobei-jun seemed slightly disconcerted. Cold eyes narrowed dangerously.

Luo Binghe waved away their concern and got up to leave, “Thank you for your time. Your help is greatly appreciated. Do let me know if there is anything I can do for you two.” He pulled out Xin Mo and opened a portal to his Palace.

Before he could step through, Shang Qinghua seemed to get ahold of himself, “Wait! There’s something we need to talk about! It’s about the state of the world! It's super bad and you—.”

Luo Binghe interrupted him. Uninterested by whatever nonsense the man was sprouting.

“We’ll discuss it another time. I have a problem to resolve.”

He stepped through the portal and ignored Shang Qinghua’s halfhearted shouts. He would give Mobei-jun’s husband the attention he was due later. Right now, he needed to rest in his chambers and enter the realms of dreams.

*******

Meng Mo wishes he had never set eyes on his brat of a disciple.

He was always such a whiny thing, Luo Binghe. The boy became a man, but never grew out of his annoying tendencies. Meng Mo wishes there had been any other upstart half-demon bastard to teach. His was defective and constantly a nuisance.

If only he had a body. A real one that is. If he hadn’t lost his original one after a tribulation, he would be free to reign havoc. He’d only recently managed to gather enough energy to make himself visible in the dream realms, but it would take many more centuries for him to regain enough power to create a living form. Even with the free reign he now has to manipulate and terrorize the inhabitants of the world, it still wasn’t enough power to regain what he had lost.

It also didn’t help that the brat had the most inopportune timing.

Meng Mo was having a rather pleasant time forcing a man to relive how he murdered his brother. He knew all the best ways to make men break. The amount of energy he was getting from this man repeatedly killing his brother and subsequently shredding his own mind apart was quite nice.

His unruly disciple’s summons forced him to finish off his prey. Brat becomes an Emperor and makes a new world, and he thinks he can boss around anyone. The idiot would eventually crumble under his own arrogance.

Meng Mo appeared in the landscape of Luo Binghe’s dreams. He took a moment to take in his surroundings and nearly let out an exasperated sigh.

The beautifully boring scenery of Qing Jing Peak surrounds him. His useless disciple’s mind truly was the most pathetic. Always yearning for things long past or people that could never be his. The brat has taken over the world and has a harem of the most beautiful women around (Meng Mo did not drink vinegar over this), but in the man’s heart he was always this stupid, pathetic child.

He entered the bamboo house his disciple was always in and fully expected to see a child sized dream version of the man getting tea dumped on his head. To his surprise, no such scene was to be found. Instead, his disciple could be seen hovering beside a bed with two illusions occupying it. Meng Mo half expected to see some type of dual cultivation.

Looking closer, he felt the urge to laugh or cry. Meng Mo really should know better by now.

In the bed lie that alternate version of that bastard Shen Qingqiu cradling a wounded illusion of his disciple. Meng Mo knew the gist of this scene’s origin. After all, the brat had hounded him for months over possible ways to travel to other dimensions.

He turned his gaze away from the scene lest he be unable to resist the urge to tear out his illusionary eyes. His disciple truly was the most pathetic idiot he had ever had the misfortune of teaching.

The ungrateful brat himself finally seemed to take note of his presence. The half-demon blinked and the figures on the bed vanished. Luo Binghe turned to him and like the unfilial disciple he was, said, “Old man, I have need of your services.”

Meng Mo felt his eye twitch.

“Address me properly you brat! This elder didn’t spend years teaching you, just for you to get a big head.”

Luo Binghe collapsed at the bamboo house’s table and rolled his eyes. “Shifu, I demand your services.”

Meng Mo ignored the latter part of the sentence and sat down across from the brat. A cup of tea appeared before him, and he carefully took a sip. The sweet taste of nothing filled his mouth. After all, there was no such thing as taste or smell for a fake body in a land of dreams. Appearances had to be maintained however. Especially with this punk as his disciple.

The man across from him grew visibly impatient. Around two centuries old and still not a hint of patience. Meng Mo didn’t know where he went wrong with this kid. Actually, the brat had always been a bit thick in the head. He couldn’t be blamed for inherent pigheadedness.

Seeing the half-demon was beginning to lose his temper, he set his tea down. “Alright brat, what do you want this time?”

Luo Binghe glared at him in irritation before waving a hand at Meng Mo’s tea. Memories began to fill the cups liquid. He had to hold back another sigh. At least the brat had learned something useful from him. Wasting no time, he sunk into the memories.

What felt like a lifetime later, Meng Mo finished sorting through the last of this latest clusterfuck. Now, he really felt like crying. The heavens would have been kinder if they had killed him with that tribulation. Anything to save him from having to deal with this mess.

‘My disciple is like a dog,’ Meng Mo thought half crazed, ‘a little yappy one that shits everywhere and bites at your heels.’

His disciple looked at him expectantly. Likely expecting him to spew forth some miraculous news on how his situation was easy to resolve.

The brat had another thing coming.

“Not only did you lose that defective son of yours; you somehow managed to find someone that looks nearly identical to your old bastard teacher? You always get yourself into the most exasperating situations, brat.”

Meng Mo felt a migraine building. The sentiment seemed to be shared by his unruly disciple. Luo Binghe slammed his fist against the table. “Old man, I don’t care for your inane commentary. I merely wish to know if you know of some means to destroy the barrier. If not, I’ll resort to my plans to enter that copy’s dreams.”

Meng Mo chuckled darkly, “Oh, you may be able to enter that man’s dreams, but you won’t be able to do anything else.”

His disciple froze.

It seemed like it was time for a lecture. He unnecessarily cleared his throat and elaborated. “Blood wards are one of the most ancient creations ever to exist. Just entering that copy’s dreams will be difficult with that barrier. Once there, you will be incapable of doing anything but talking your pretty little head off. You should hope that your charms are as effective as you think they are.”

Luo Binghe glared at him incensed. “The ward will even protect him in the Dream Realm?!”

“Blood wards protect from all forms of attack. That bastard and your defective kid are the safest living beings in this entire world at the moment. Not to mention the dog. I thought you ordered for those things to be exterminated?”

His disciple ignored him. Too enraged to speak.

Meng Mo continued to lecture the brat, “The best you can do is form some kind of agreement with the bastard. You’ve got a back door. Use those diplomacy skills you’ve let rust away and get your defective son back. Though, you could always leave them be. Not like you don’t have enough spawn crawling arou—.”

A hand tightened around his throat.

Unfortunately for this brat, Meng Mo didn’t need to breathe. “Alright, alright. Forget I said anything. I still can’t do anything to help you with this mess. You’re on your own.”

He doubted this situation would be half as complicated if his disciple’s obsession with his old teacher hadn’t entered the fold. The defective kid was obviously being well taken care of, but the poor kid’s Father would never just let him be. Especially with a Shen Qingqiu double as a guardian.

Luo Binghe releases his throat and the demon mark on the half-demon’s forehead seemed to glow. The man obviously wasn’t focusing on keeping Xin Mo in line if his control was this thin. A better Shifu might be concerned, but Meng Mo had had enough of this brat for one day.

“Try not to act too much like an idiot, brat. Some situations need tact. Your usual approach of killing or fucking away all your problems won’t work here.”

Advice given, Meng Mo left his disciple to his wallowing. It was time to find someone’s dream to torment. He needed to release his stress. He decided to travel as far away from the Palace as possible. No need to risk getting caught up in things more than he already has.

If nothing else, life would be interesting from now on. He really was too old for all these unnecessary dramatics, but he was curious to see how that idiot would inevitably ruin everything. Thinking back to the memories he’d seen, Meng Mo laughed.

‘Yes,’’ he thought, ‘it will be interesting to see the outcome of this mess.’

Chapter Text

Chapter 18: The “Let Me In” Chronicles (Part 1)

Luo Binghe mentally prepared himself.

The old man had long since left, and he has no choice but to contemplate his situation. On the one hand, he could still visit the Shen Qingqiu copy’s dreams and obtain information. On the other hand, he would not be able to do anything in those dreams. No memory perusal, no dreamscape manipulation, and no active physical threats could be made.

All power resides in the unknowing hands of the one who had taken in his son. A mysterious man who he had not only stabbed, but was also someone he knew nothing about. Was Luo Binghe supposed to pander to some unknown man? No. An Emperor did not compromise. It was the same as admitting defeat, and Luo Binghe would never be lowered in such a way.

He would enter that man’s dreams and make his stance clear. If the doppelgänger did not peacefully surrender both himself and the boy than he would find a way to retrieve them by force. Blood wards may be impossible to destroy, but Luo Binghe didn’t believe in no-win scenarios. Too many times had life tried to beat him down. He always thrived in the face of fates spite.

(Memories of being trapped in the hellish landscape of the Demon Realm rattled in the darkest depths of his mind.)

He needed to wait. Wait for his target to sleep and open a path through the realm of dreams. He would merely need to walk it. The outcome of this little journey may have unexpected outcomes, but Luo Binghe was determined to at least obtain a name for that familiar face.

Luo Binghe settled into a meditative state. His prey would have to sleep eventually.

******

It had been a little over a week since A-Yu’s birthday.

In that time both Bingpup and A-Yu had recovered their spirits and were back to their normal antics. Mostly. The child and dog were both acting far stickier than usual, but Shen Yuan wasn’t surprised. The incident had been traumatic, and he also wanted to keep them close.

Shen Yuan’s wound seemed to be healing nicely. Earlier this week, he’d ended up having to administer stitches to the wound. Poor A-Yu had to help with the exit wound on his back. The child had been pale and fidgety for hours after. Bingpup had helped a great deal with this. The dog endearingly demanded their attention and much petting. This successfully distracted Shen Yuan from his pain and A-Yu from his darker thoughts.

While most of their usual activities were put on hold, Shen Yuan made sure to keep up their cultivation training. Qi Deviations were no joke. It was absolutely necessary that A-Yu cultivate every morning to recover and maintain his spiritual energy. Shen Yuan also cultivates to aid his own bodies healing. Qi regularly flowed through his chest and mended the stab wound.

This morning, he was able to take out the stitches. An ugly and tender looking thin scar now rests near the center of his chest (far too close to his heart). While the wound was mostly healed, Shen Yuan still felt the oddest sharp pains shooting through his chest sporadically. He hypothesized that it may be some lingering demonic energy left by Xin Mo. The sharp pains didn’t last long and would likely fade with time.

It was evening now. He was making pancakes pancakes for dinner. Bingpup is well on his way to becoming even bigger with how many times Shen Yuan had made them these last few days. A-Yu would only escape the same fate due to a fast metabolism. Apparently quarter(?) demon children had large appetites. It explained so much about the child's eating habits this last year.

A lot of things were much clearer with A-Yu’s revealed identity. The difficulties with cultivation training could now be explained by the boy’s complex heritage. Their little family had sat down and discussed the boy’s past in full. All previous secrets were revealed, and Shen Yuan honestly might try to straight up murder the protagonist next time he saw him. Neglecting to raise his motherless son and forcing blood down said sons throat on their birthday?! It was appalling.

(Shen Yuan would later darkly think of how such behavior wouldn’t have phased him in his past life. It would be another little footnote to be read. A glimpse in just how blacked the protagonist had become. At most, he would’ve criticized Airplane for not expanding on the issue.)

A-Yu had also asked questions about what happened the night of his birthday. Shen Yuan had told the boy the truth. Well, the truth ever so slightly edited in terms of just how dangerous the situation had been while trying to escape. Neither A-Yu or Bingpup were impressed by his downplaying.

The protagonist had yet to return as he’d promised. Shen Yuan had been almost positive that the man would be back the next day, but over a week has gone by with no Demon Emperor in sight. He almost wanted to relax. The System’s message and subsequent warning of unknown plots and dangers kept him on his toes.

A-Yu and Bingpup were similarly wary. This wariness caused Shen Yuan’s current predicament. He was now very much aware of why parents refused to buy their children chemistry sets as presents. Giving creative children access to items that can allow them to create untold dangers and chaos? A very foolhardy move on any parents part.

Here Shen Yuan was. The greatest fool of them all. He had not only given his child a pseudo chemistry set. Oh no. He had given his son an Alchemy lab. An alchemy lab that did not have the same tameness as a chemistry set. An alchemy lab that, even with only beginner ingredients, was enough to create explosions, chaos, and Shen Yuan’s tears.

A-Yu had originally stayed out of the lab. The child had been far too focused on Shen Yuan’s recovery to go looking for mischief. Bingpup had also been easily found cuddled in his arms. There was something about cuddling cute dogs that made him feel like his recovery went by quickly. The duo’s doting made him feel very cared for.

Karma had come for him now. After he had revealed to A-Yu his Father’s promise to return. The child had become suspiciously quiet. Bingpup left his designated spot in Shen Yuan’s arms and seemed to be colluding with A-Yu when he was busy.

The two were absolutely scheming something together.

Now, going outside to obtain some fruit for dinner allowed him to figure out what. On the side of the manor was a high open window. That window had smoke venting through it. Shen Yuan pulled out his fan and swatted his own face with it. He was such an idiot.

Shen Yuan wastes no time reentering the house. This is when he began to despair over chemistry sets and his own terrible parenting skills. He briefly placed his gathered fruit with the prepared pancakes and bolted towards the alchemy lab.

When he arrived, Shen Yuan carefully opened the door of the alchemy lab. Sure enough, A-Yu was hovering over a cauldron filled with a foreboding green liquid. Bingpup was resting on a table nearby and seemed to be happily woofing along to A-Yu’s rambling commentary on the steps of whatever they were making.

“What do you two think you’re doing?”

Shen Yuan’s stern voice surprised Bingpup and A-Yu. The small dog nearly fell off its perch on the table. A-Yu flailed before quickly making sure to steady his cohort. Dog saved, his child turned to him sheepishly.

“Shifu! What are you doing here?” The boy casually tried to block his view of the cauldron.

Shen Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose and gave the two before him an exasperated look. “A-Yu, stop trying to hide whatever it is your making. We’re well past that.”

The boy complied. Bingpup woofed in amusement. Shen Yuan eyed the dog disapprovingly. “Don’t think I’m not aware of your role in this. Honestly you two. What were you thinking? I’ve told you both that the alchemy lab is off limits unless I’m here to supervise.”

The duo wilted guiltily. Two identical pairs of puppy dog eyes stared at him beseechingly, but Shen Yuan wouldn’t give in. No matter how adorable they were.

“You’re both grounded.”

Cries of dismay filled the room. It was extremely rare that Shen Yuan would actually go out of his way to punish the dog or child, but both had learned to greatly dislike “grounding”.

The last time it happened was when the two had left for an impromptu adventure in the bamboo forest without telling their guardian. Shen Yuan had spent most of the day losing his mind over their disappearance. They’d eventually reappeared from their outing covered in mud. Shen Yuan had scolded the them fiercely when he saw the state they were in. Both A-Yu and Bingpup were sufficiently cowed by the lecture, and neither had been prepared for their punishment.

Shen Yuan grounded them from going on field trips for two weeks and gave them more chores to complete during that time. Menial tasks like dusting and scrubbing the floors of the house. Nothing terrible, but still stifling for two fluffy buns full of energy.

Remembering their last experience, A-Yu and Bingpup worked together to obtain his mercy. “Please don’t ground us, Shifu! I promise we’re not doing anything bad. We were just creating a potion that’ll help us protect you!”

Startled, Shen Yuan took a moment to digest this information. Slowly dread filled him. “And just what kind of protection were you two attempting to make?”

The troublemakers froze. Puppy dog eyes vanished as both avoided meeting his stern gaze. A-Yu mumbled a response.

Shen Yuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “What was that?”

A-Yu seemed to accept his tragic fate and spoke up, “We we’re trying to brew a Hemlodian Triax.”

Shen Yuan’s heart nearly stopped.

“You were trying to what?!”

Hemloadian Triax is one of the most deadly beginner potions an alchemist can brew. Just a drop of the liquid can be fatal. Once contact was made the potion wreaks havoc on its target's internal organs. Death is a high possibility if a cure is not quickly administered.

Shen Yuan stared at the very deadly liquid that bubbled ominously in the cauldron. Then at his two charges who lacked even the slightest form of protection. No gloves, no eyewear, no hazmat suits; absolutely nothing. (He ignored the fact that most of these couldn’t be found in his current era.)

“Out! Both of you out now!”

Shen Yuan ignored their squawked protests as he grabbed Bingpup with one hand and A-Yu with the other. He pulled them out of the alchemy lab at an almost inhuman speed.

As soon as they left the lab, A-Yu broke free of his hold and furiously pouted up at him. “Shifu, it’s fine! I had everything under contr—.”

An explosion behind the labs closed door cut the child off.

Complete silence filled the hall.

Shen Yuan’s head was filled with white noise. A-Yu was looking at him in a sort of dumbfounded shock. In his arms, Bingpup’s fluffy hair seemed to have expanded in surprise.

He realised he was beginning to hold the small creature too tightly so he handed the dog to A-Yu. The child quietly allowed Bingpup to be settled into his arms.

Shen Yuan stared at the two before him. Panic was beginning to swallow him whole. If he hadn’t come in the lab these two would have been— If he hadn’t dragged them out as quickly as he had, they would’ve—-

Shen Yuan erupted.

“What were you two thinking?! You could’ve been hurt! You both know how dangerous alchemy is and you attempted to make one of the most advanced poisons possible?!”

Shen Yuan’s eyes stung. His throat felt hoarse and his chest was twinging in pain. He determinedly ignored all of this.

“Do you both understand that you could have died?! What would I have done then?! I cannot lose either of you!” His shrill voice filled the entire manor.

He would’ve continued yelling. He would’ve continued panicking. But A-Yu let out a choked noise and threw both himself and Bingpup into Shen Yuan’s arms.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Bàba! We didn’t mean for anything bad to happen! It was supposed to be easy! The steps didn’t look hard at all! I don’t know why it exploded. It wasn’t supposed to. I followed the steps exactly, I swear!”

Having the two safely in his arms finally calmed Shen Yuan. Terror and panicked anger fled at the sight of the two small figures trembling in fright. He tightly gripped them into a hug.

Shen Yuan briefly closed his eyes and took a long calming breath. When he could speak without yelling; he interrupted A-Yu’s excuses. “You two can never do this again. Absolutely no more unsupervised alchemy. No more secret schemes. I’m tempted to tear down the lab entirely.”

A-Yu let out a gasp of protest, but he quickly shushed the child. “I’m not going to, but neither of you will be seeing the inside of that room for a month. No, two months. You both could have been fatally injured. You need to realize that both of you are my priority. Nothing comes above your safety.”

Both A-Yu and Bingpup jolted at that. A-Yu spoke, “That’s why we were brewing the poison, Shifu! My— my Father said he would return. I was going to brew the poison for when he does. Then Bingpup would be able to quickly run out of the barrier and douse that monster with it.” The tiny dog woofed in agreement.

Shen Yuan felt tired to his very core. He really should’ve known that these two would try to create some preemptive measures to protect him. He wasn’t the only one who was fiercely protective of their little family. Shen Yuan was an idiot to think that these two had moved on from the events of the night of A-Yu’s birthday.

“It wasn’t a bad idea in theory, but it was far too dangerous. There’s no point worrying about your Father if we are the ones creating the biggest threats to ourselves. Understand?”

Shen Yuan observed as the two in his arms nodded in agreement. He gave them both a pat on the head before releasing them.

“I’ll take care of the alchemy lab tomorrow. The potion needs to dry, and the fumes need to air out. Neither of you are to come near this room until you’re no longer grounded. After that we’ll properly begin learning alchemy together.”

A-Yu and Bingpup reluctantly agreed. Likely still wishing that they could finish their plan to kill A-Yu’s father. Shen Yuan never thought he’d have to deal with attempted patricide when he’d taken A-Yu in. Hopefully, it would never actually come to that.

He clapped his hands together. “Alright, dinners likely no longer warm by now so be prepared for cold pancakes.”

Shen Yuan briefly saw how the child and dog froze before turning around to walk towards the kitchens. A pair of feet only took a moment to scamper after him in excitement. A loud woof signaled Bingpup demanding to be put on the ground. He couldn’t help his snort of amusement. These two truly were gluttons at heart.

The rest of the night passed peacefully. Dinner was only slightly subdued, and it wasn’t long before Shen Yuan was tucking A-Yu into bed. Bingpup had already headed to Shen Yuan’s room to settle down for the night.

A-Yu gazed up at him from beneath his nest of blankets. “Bàba, what will we do when my Father returns?”

Shen Yuan’s heart sunk a bit at the honest concern. He instantly replied, “Your Father cannot enter the barrier. As long as we’re inside, he won’t be able to bother us.”

A-Yu hardly looked reassured. The child looked at him with clear eyes and said, “Even if he does get in, I promise I’ll protect you.”

Honestly, this child. Shen Yuan was the one who was meant to say that. He grabbed the boy’s cheeks and lightly pinched them. “Silly brat, I’m the one who will be doing the protecting. Besides, even if your Father does enter the barrier, he’ll be in for a surprise.”

He could tell that A-Yu was curious, but he quickly interrupted any questions, “I’ll tell you about it later. Tonight, I have a very important question for you.” He released the boy’s cheeks.

“Would you like to be officially adopted into my family?”

Blood adoption was something that Shen Yuan had only stumbled across after rereading the novel that described how the Hua Mountian barrier functioned. Only a member of the Shen bloodline could control the wards, but there was a loophole. If a person was blood adopted into the family than they too could control the barrier.

A-Yu was his in all but blood, and Shen Yuan didn’t really care about the aspect at all. However, the ability to control the mountain barrier may one day prove vital for the child’s survival. Especially if anything were to happen to Shen Yuan. The words ‘world degeneration’ haunted him. Blood adoption would provide an extra layer of protection.

A-Yu looked at him with wide eyes. The child looked a bit like a goldfish, but Shen Yuan was careful not to laugh. Not now when he had just asked such a life changing question.

A quiet voice whispered, “How?”

“Blood adoption. It’s a simple process with serious consequences. You will become a member of the Shen family and given power over the mountain wards. However, you are of a very mixed and unknown heritage, A-Yu. You told me that you still haven’t awoken your Heavenly Demon blood. This isn’t exactly normal. There must be some interference from your Mother’s side and adding my blood to the mix… It may further interfere or exaggerate the situation. You’ll be more human I think. Any creature heritage will possibly be further suppressed, and you’ll be forced to rely on your cultivation.”

Shen Yuan watched as A-Yu soaked in this information. Tucked into his bed, the boy looks so very young. Far too young for such a serious decision. Unfortunately, the untold dangers and the protagonist looming in the distance had forced his hand.

“I want to.”

Shen Yuan startled from his thoughts to see A-Yu looking at him seriously. No doubt could be found in those dark eyes, but he had to be sure. “Are you absolutely certain? This will affect you for your entire life. Your appearance may even change a bit.”

A-Yu nodded. “I do, Bàba. My demonic heritage has never benefited me. I don’t need or want to use demonic energy. I just want to help people. Cultivation is good enough for me. And…,” the child’s voice lowered to a whisper, “I really want to officially be your son.”

Shen Yuan choked up at the heartfelt emotion in those words. He held back tears, and bent down to press a kiss on his child’s forehead. “You already are my son, you silly child.”

When he sat back, A-Yu’s eyes met his and were equally watery. The two of them really were a weepy pair.

Shen Yuan wiped his eyes and smiled. “I’ll give you a week to be sure.” A-Yu tried to interject, but he shushed the protest. “I know you want to be blood adopted, and I don’t doubt your decision. Think of it as preparation time. Very big decisions should have time to be considered properly. If nothing else, it’s for this old man’s peace of mind.”

A-Yu gave him a narrow eyed look. “You’re not old, Bàba. I've studied the Shen Family lineage. Bàba is barely over a century.”

Shen Yuan nearly sweat dropped. That may be how old his current body was, but his soul, or whatever it was, had been alive for far less. Xianxia settings had very different views on what constitutes old age.

(Maybe one day he would tell A-Yu all about his past, but he wasn’t ready just yet.)

“Over a century is still very old, A-Yu. You’ll understand when you get to be my age. Immortality can only account for so much.”

A-Yu still looked disbelieving, but the child curled further into his bed to sleep. The boy mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, “If Bàba is old, than Father is decrepit.” Shen Yuan ignored that comment and gave the boy another quick kiss on the head. He voiced a quiet goodnight and headed to his own room.

Absentmindedly, he rubbed the scar on his chest. It really had been acting up all day, and Shen Yuan was tired. The day felt long with the poison scare. He was very much looking forward to a restful night of sleep. As he entered his bedroom, Bingpup sleepily looked up at him from his spot on his pillow.

Shen Yuan walked to the bed and carefully picked the dog up. He nuzzled their noses together and spoke, “I’m very glad you're alright, Bingpup. No more life threatening situations. You need to be the voice of reason for me when A-Yu gets you both into trouble.”

Bingpup looked at him very cutely before giving a boof in agreement. The dog’s tail vibrated it’s small body as Bingpup looked at him adoringly. Shen Yuan melted and cuddled the dog close.

Eventually, Shen Yuan released his happy captive. Bingpup settled back on his pillow, and Shen Yuan moves to change into his sleep robes.

It was amazing how relieving it felt when his head hit his pillow. Within seconds, he fell asleep. The land of dreams awaited, and Shen Yuan embraces it gratefully.

In later hindsight, Shen Yuan would wish he could have slapped himself for his complacency.

****

He was at the lotus pond.

Curled up in his hammock under the willow tree, Shen Yuan watched as A-Yu swam in the pond’s waters. Bingpup followed the child by hopping between lily pads.

In the distance, Shen Yuan saw his old family playing in a field. His parents and siblings seemed to be happily playing a game of tag. Shen Yuan smiled. He was glad to see both his families having fun.

An electric fan was pointed at him as he gently swung in the hammock. There was a bowl of grapes that he happily munched on. Something about his surroundings didn’t seem quite right, but he was too happy to care. He closed his eyes in contentment.

‘This is the life.’

Some time later, a shadow fell over his resting form. The air seemed to go a tad cold, and Shen Yuan blinked his eyes open.

A tall figure towered over him. Dressed in black robes, the man was beautiful to behold. Shen Yuan might have appreciated it more if the oh so familiar man wasn’t staring down at him with a smirk and dark eyes that glittered with intent.

Shen Yuan became abruptly aware that this was all a dream. The hazy contentment vanished, and he looked directly into the protagonist’s eyes with clarity.

Shen Yuan blinked. The next moment, he did what he’d been wanting to do since the night of of A-Yu’s ruined birthday.

He lunged forward and decked the protagonist in his pretty face.

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: The “Let Me In” Chronicles (Part 2)

Luo Binghe was not expecting his diplomacy plans to be subverted so quickly.

Meng Mo had not been lying when he stated that entering the copy’s dreams would be difficult. Usually, it was as simple as walking down a path. A leisurely stroll from one plane to another. The blood ward’s protection made it so that Luo Binghe had to expend far too much energy. The usual smooth path was transformed into raging ocean in which he had to struggle to reach the other shore.

When he finally entered the copies dreams, Luo Binghe took a moment to recuperate and examine the dreamscape. A beautiful scenery met him, but it was… mismatched. As if certain scenes didn’t truly belong together. Part of it obviously belonged on a mountain, but it spread into an out of place field. Pleasant but disorienting. Most dreams were.

He spotted his target beneath a willow tree next to a lotus pond. The man was lying in some sort of swinging rope bed. An odd spiritual device blew air at the relaxing man who was peacefully eating some sort of snack with his eyes closed. They were not alone. In the displaced field was a family playing some sort of childish game. One member always seemed to be chasing the others.

There was a distant quality to the family. Their clothing was strange, and they were too far away to see clearly. As if they were meant to be just out of reach. Luo Binghe wondered just how important these people were, and if they were even still among the living.

A splash interrupted his musings.

Inside the lotus pond, was a boy with features nearly identical to his own. The illusion was laughing joyfully as he swam after a small, black furry creature that hopped between floating lily pads. Luo Binghe felt his eye twitch when he realised it was the Harmonic Demon dog. He resisted the urge to grab the boy. To get him far away from the mutt. It would be a pointless venture.

None of this was real.

Despite this, something tugged in his chest at the sight of Luo Yu’s beaming joy. The boy’s laughter filled the entire clearing. He’s never seen the child like this. Never seen the boy act or look so…

He shook his head. All of this was a dream. He was here on a mission. Luo Binghe would not be distracted by pointless trivialities.

He turned to walk over to the resting man in the odd swinging bed. A sharp smirk tugged his lips. Finally, he would be able to obtain answers. There was nowhere for his prey to run.

As his shadow fell over the resting figure, he briefly acknowledged how beautiful the man looked. Sprawled back in relaxation, the cultivator’s features were serene. Red lips were slightly parted as the man gently breathed. A pretty face was surrounded by a curtain of silky black hair. Green robes were slightly parted, and Luo Binghe could see the hint of a defined collarbone. For all that the man resembled Shen Qingqiu, they were unmistakably different. There was something… warmer to this man. Something freer and kind.

(Something more similar to that alternate world’s Shen Qingqiu.)

Slowly, the cultivator before him seemed to sense his presence. The man opened his eyes, and Luo Binghe was captivated by their light hazel color. The night he’d stabbed they’d met, it had been too dark to properly see them. If Luo Binghe had been uncertain that this man was not Shen Qingqiu before, these eyes confirmed it.

His own Shen Qingqiu had green eyes. Beautiful as they had been, those eyes had been similar to cold jade. When they’d look at Luo Binghe they would turn venomous. They willed Luo Binghe to drop dead with every poisonous glance. Before the man had died, he’d taken great pleasure in ripping out one of those damning, green eyes from its socket.

The alternate Shen Qingqiu also had those pure green eyes. Despite being identical to his own version, they had been more similar to the bamboo forest in which the man had resided. They had reminded Luo Binghe of Spring. Slightly aloof, but gentle and beautiful where it mattered.

The hazel eyes staring up at him looked similarly gentle, but they lacked that aloofness. The gentleness changed as they narrowed. The eyes flashed in the dreams illusionary sunlight. Specks of green and gold swirled with brown in an odd kaleidoscope of colors. It reminded him of the old forests in Autumn.

Before Luo Binghe could even speak, the cultivator flung himself off the swing. Stunned, he did nothing as a fist struck his left cheek. His head whipped to the side by the force of the blow.

For a moment, all was silent. The sounds of laughter vanished and the illusionary figures were gone.

Luo Binghe slowly turned his head to stare back down at the smaller man before him. Said man was glaring at him in anger. Quiet huffs escaped parted lips, and a fist remained half raised.

Rage filled him. Darkness clawed at the edges of his mind. It whispered to him. No one has struck him like this and lived, but this man would wish for such mercy.

He lunged.

Hazel eyes momentarily widened before narrowing into dangerous slits. The man quickly moved to defend himself from Luo Binghe’s attack.

It turned out to be unnecessary.

As Luo Binghe lunged forward, his body completely passed through his targets. Unprepared, he stumbled and tripped over the strange swing that had been behind the man. He inelegantly flailed as his foot somehow caught in the woven ropes. The force of his momentum sent him face first into the dirt.

Both men were struck dumb by the turn of events.

Luo Binghe quickly recovered and stood up. He turned to glare at his assailant, but his anger faltered at the sound of laughter.

The copy was half bent over cackling. It wasn’t an attractive laugh by any means. It was loud and the pitch was too high. The man continued to involuntarily laugh even when Luo Binghe finally managed to fiercely glower. The copy waved a shaking hand at him while the other clutched his trembling sides.

“Your face! You should’ve seen it! You looked just like Bingpup when he misjudged the height of my bed and accidentally fell.”

Luo Binghe felt confused. What on earth was a Bingpup? Why did it have his name?! Tired of the man’s apparent insanity, he asked crossly, “Are you some sort of deranged idiot?”

The question seemed to sober the man. Hazel eyes lost their mirth and glared up at him.

“Excuse me?! I’m not the one that just tripped over a hammock while trying to commit murder!”

“You strike me and expect no retaliation? You dare attack your Emperor?!”

The man looked ready to strike him again. “You are not my Emperor. Just an unwanted intruder and terrible parent who can’t properly take care of his son! Do you know what A-Yu did today? He nearly got himself injured trying to make a poison to kill you!”

Enraged, Luo Binghe shouted back, “You let the boy near poison?! You dare to slander me when you allow the child to endanger himself?”

That nearly made the man hesitate, but ire returned swiftly. “First of all, fuck you. Second of all, I didn’t allow A-Yu to brew a poison. He did it secretly. He probably gets such terrible habits from his irresponsible Father!”

Luo Binghe takes back every thought of how kind this man appeared to be. This man was the single most infuriating human he has ever met. He icily responded to the man’s accusations, “How I raise the boy is none of your concern.”

Heated eyes flashed at the declaration. “The boy? Don’t you mean your son? Because that's where you’re wrong! I won’t let you treat A-Yu like some sort of item to be won. He’s a child! A child which you couldn't even bother to show even the slightest care for, let alone properly raise.”

Luo Binghe lunged for the man’s throat. Unfortunately, he yet again passed through the man’s body. Better prepared, he quickly recovered and turned back around. Luo Binghe growled in frustration. The blood ward has him at an infuriating disadvantage. His opponent merely looked at him in contempt.

“You can’t just attack me every time I say something you don’t like. That’s not the way to resolve any kind of situation. Besides, it seems like you are incapable of doing anything at all to me in this place.” The man paused and curiously looked around. “This is the dream realm isn’t it?”

Luo Binghe gritted his teeth as he watched the cultivator look away from him. Disregarding him as if Luo Binghe was beneath the man. Oh, how familiar this was. He hissed out a seething, “Shen Qingqiu…”

The man’s head snapped back towards him. Those strangely colored eyes widened in surprise and some implacable emotion. After a moment, the man turned away from him again.

“That is not my name. If you’re going to try and be menacing at least get it right. My name is Shen Yuan.”

Shen Yuan. Finally, he has a name.

Luo Binghe considered the man. So this human was indeed a relative of some sort. Shen Yuan had to be. The name and features were far too similar.

Slightly subdued, he asked, “Are you not related to Shen Qingqiu? Your appearance… one can easily take you for brothers.”

Shen Yuan looked puzzled by this information. “I do?” The man quickly shook his head dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. Not that it’s any of your business, but Shen Qingqiu is descended from a side branch of my family. I have had nothing to do with him, and you made sure he’ll never have anything to do with me.”

Shen Yuan looked a him pointedly.

Ah. It seemed that the cultivator was well aware of whom he was speaking to and quite a bit about his past deeds. This made the man’s casual disrespect all the more maddening.

“Then you should know not to treat me so lightly. Would you like to meet the same fate as your relative?” He smirked before proceeding with his proposal . “Lower your barrier, and I shall grant you mercy. You and the boy shall live in my Palace.”

Any disregard Shen Yuan had been showing vanished after his threat. The cultivator nearly bared his teeth at Luo Binghe. “Ha! Why would I want to live in your overpopulated Palace? No thanks. And do you really think I’m an idiot? I won’t let you anywhere near A-Yu or Bingpup.”

Luo Binghe was not oblivious to the slight against his harem. However, it was the latter comment that caught his attention. “What nonsense are you spouting? Who is…”

A disquieting thought occurred to him. No, it couldn't possibly be the—

“Bingpup is a member of my family.” Shen Yuan gave him a haughty smile. “Can you not recall your defeat at the hands, or rather paws, of the Harmonic Demon dog?”

Something in Luo Binghe’s mind splintered. Red stole across his vision, and it was only his two previous futile attempts to harm this man that kept him from lunging at Shen Yuan again. He felt almost rabid in his resentment.

“How dare you name that—that mongrel after—.”

Shen Yuan interrupted him, “Oh, shut up. If anyone should be offended it's Bingpup.”

Luo Binghe’s body felt hot. Never had he been so infuriated. This man, this Shen Yuan, was the most galling human to ever exist!

“Those mutts should be extinct. I do not know how yours survived, but it will be eradicated like the rest of its kind.”

Blinded by anger, he didn’t notice how Shen Yuan had gone dangerously still. Horror apparent, the man asked in a dangerously quiet voice, “You killed all of Bingpup’s species?”

Hearing the subdued tone, Luo Binghe smiled triumphantly and replied, “Not personally. They’re far too… crafty, but my Advisors dealt with them. My world merging dealt with the rest.” He belatedly twitched. “Do not call that beast by my na—.”

A fan hit his head.

“Wha—?” A fan swung at him again. “Stop, you wretch!”

He was ignored, Shen Yuan had materialized a fan out of nowhere. The man looked positively enraged and emanated killing intent. The madman never paused in his intent to bludgeon Luo Binghe to death with the fan.

He could do nothing but dodge the attacks. While Luo Binghe could not in any way touch Shen Yuan, it seemed that the man had no such restrictions. The cultivator could even use his ridiculous conjured weapons against Luo Binghe. The blood wards protection was absurd in its completeness.

Luo Binghe dodged swing after swing. Shen Yuan scowled thunderously at every missed strike.

“You—how could you kill off a species of dogs?! They’re harmless! What is wrong with you?!”

Luo Binghe scowled back offended, “Harmless?! Those demons are far from harmless. They’ll tear you to pieces at the slightest of whims. Their abominable species needed to be eradicated.”

“Needed to be— needed to be nothing! Who made you the judge and jury of an entire species?! They have feelings! Bingpup is fucking wonderful and you—you-!”

Shen Yuan let out a wordless noise of fury. Luo Binghe was forced to flee, and the cultivator gave chase. He ran through the displaced field with Shen Yuan right behind him. A distant voice in his mind, that sounded suspiciously like Ning Yingying, noted how comical this scene may look to an outsider. The world’s powerful Demon Emperor chased by an upset cultivator wielding a fan as a weapon. It was this thought that made Luo Binghe forcibly stop in his tracks. This was absurd. He would not be intimidated by a man who’s height barely reached his chin.

He turned to face down his assailant. Luo Binghe opened his mouth to demand the man cease this insanity. A fan was thrown through the air and hit him directly between his eyes.

It stung far more than it should have.

Another fan flew threw the air, and he was forced to retreat yet again. Somehow, Shen Yuan has managed to master a small degree of dream manipulation. An ability the man is wasting by summoning an endless supply of fans to use as projectiles.

Luo Binghe reluctantly realised that he needed to fully retreat. In such a state, Shen Yuan would not be reasoned with. He would receive no more answers this night.

Further enraged by the turn of events, he shouted back at his attacker, “I shall leave for now. Do not think of this as a surrender. I will return! I will destroy your barrier and—.”

Another fan hit the side of his head.

Luo Binghe could not contain his howl of frustration. Without another word, he left the dream realm.

He woke to the sight of his bedroom chambers in the Palace. Pure fury enveloped him. Xin Mo seemed to vibrate in time with his pulsing rage. Luo Binghe threw aside the covers.

He ignored the fact that the mountain’s barrier is impenetrable. He ignored the fact that Xin Mo had not been capable of shattering it before. Shadows crept along the edge of his vision, and Luo Binghe loosely understood that what he was about to do next would be completely pointless.

Luo Binghe ignored all rational thoughts and unsheathed Xin Mo. He would destroy that barrier if it was the last thing he did.

*******

Luo Yu was peacefully eating an orange when his Shifu stormed into the kitchen and scooped up Bingpup into a fierce hug.

He gaped in surprise. It was far too early for the immortal to be awake. Even Bingpup seemed startled by the lively attention. The dog quickly recovered and furiously returned the affection. Tail practically invisible as it wagged. A little tongue licked every inch of Shen Yuan’s upset face.

Luo Yu cautiously places his orange down on the counter. “Shifu, are you alright?”

Shen Yuan nuzzled his face against Bingpup’s before replying, “I’m alright, A-Yu.” Another nuzzle. “Just had to deal with an unwanted guest.”

Feeling confused, Luo Yu observes his Shifu. What guest could the man be talking about? He hasn’t seen anyone new on the mountain. No matter how long he pondered the question, no obvious answer was forthcoming.

“Guest?”

His Shifu seemed to finally be willing to release Bingpup. Setting the dog down, the man turned to give Luo Yu his full attention. He felt trepidation when he saw how serious his Shifu’s face was. Shen Yuan seemed to almost hesitate before saying, “Your Father visited me in the dream realm last night.”

Both Luo Yu and Bingpup started. He could only imagine how horrified his own face looked, but if it was anything like Bingpup’s then it must be a sight. Horror transformed into panic, and he quickly went over to Shen Yuan in concern.

“Bàba, are you really alright?! Did he try to hurt you? I’ll kill him! I swear if he touched you I’ll—.”

Soft hands pinched his cheeks and cut off his tirade. His Shifu looked down at him and gave a small smile. “Everything’s fine, A-Yu. He really didn’t hurt me. I believe the blood ward provides protection for even our dreams.” The small smile turned into a frown. “He was incredibly fuc—,’ the cultivator coughed, ‘he was very rude.”

Luo Yu eyes his Shifu suspiciously. He didn’t buy that his Father was only rude to the man, but he wouldn’t question him further. He broke free of the hands pinching his cheeks and asked, “Is he still going to try and destroy the barrier?”

Shen Yuan nodded. “I may have… mildly irritated your Father last night. I believe he’ll be showing up soon enough to pester us.” His Shifu’s serious mein transformed into a sharp smile. Luo Yu was taken aback by the expression.

His Shifu looked down at him in mischief. “How about we go on a little field trip?”

Luo Yu carefully did not point out that he and Bingpup were supposed to be grounded. He felt vicious excitement bubble within him, and he gave his Shifu a sharp grin in return. Whatever his Bàba has planned for his Father was bound to be interesting.

*******

Shen Yuan patiently held A-Yu in the air as the boy carefully harvested a Frucond.

Along the river where they did their laundry lie several unique trees. These trees are full of fruits that taste like sugar apples when dismantled properly. Unlike regular fruits, these oddities never fell from their trees branches. As the seasons changed, they would wither and regrow in an endless cycle. No matter what, they would never fall from their branches without some sort of external influence. The fruits were strangely shaped. To Shen Yuan’s discerning eyes they looked exactly like the non-lethal hand grenades they were.

Airplane had written a very interesting variety of plant species into PIDW. The Frucond was one of the few that didn’t have a sex pollin effect. Instead, these fruits acted as fun little bombs when their stems are removed. One has to be very careful when harvesting them from their tree. One accidental tug can have the stem come loose. Fifteen seconds later, a great misfortune would befall them.

Creatures knew to avoid these trees by a supposed terrible smell they were meant to radiate. Shen Yuan smelled nothing, but A-Yu and Bingpup were having a very different experience.

A-Yu grumbles were muffled by a makeshift cloth face mask. From his perch on Shen Yuan’s shoulders, his disciple whined, “Shifu, these things smell terrible. Do we really need so many?” On the ground by Shen Yuan’s feet lies a basket filled with ten of the carefully harvested Fruconds.

Shen Yuan hummed in amusement, “Yes, A-Yu. You’ll thank me for this later. Now, pay attention. We don’t want that stem to be accidentally tugged free.”

A-Yu gave him a derisive snort as if to express just how unlikely such a mistake would be. His brat was a little too confident, but Shen Yuan didn’t reprimand him.

Last night had been… frustrating. He really should’ve guessed that the protagonist would inevitably use the dream realm as an access point. How many plot points had been solved by this handy skill? Too many to count. Most had ended in ridiculous bits of papapa. Airplane was unceasingly shameless in that the author never wasted the dream realms nature to make unrealistic situations a reality.

Fortunately, no such kinky shit had happened last night. Unfortunately, he’d definitely pissed the protagonist off. This was fine though, as Shen Yuan was pretty mad himself.

Honestly! What is the protagonist thinking? Ordering a massive kill order on an entire species and throwing his intelligence away at the slightest provocation. It was infuriating! This former reader was rooting for you, protagonist! Shen Yuan felt almost bitterly disappointed.

The half-demon really needed to calm down and reflect on his life choices. He was going to help with that! Possibly. Ok, maybe Shen Yuan’s plan was just a bit petty, but who could blame him? The protagonist had it coming.

He was distracted when A-Yu made a noise of triumph overhead. The child carefully handed the Frucond down for him to put in the basket. Shen Yuan hated that the boy had to be doing this in the first place, but his chest was still too tender for him to be capable of properly harvesting the fruits himself.

“Perfect, A-Yu! Two more, and we should be good to go.”

A-Yu let out a heartfelt groan, “Shifuuuu.”

Shen Yuan pinched the boy’s ankle, “Don't Shifu me. It can’t possibly smell that bad.”

A-Yu let out a squawk of protest, “Can’t smell that— Shifu, look at Bingpup!”

On the opposite side of the river lies the tiny fluffy form of one Harmonic Demon dog. Black eyes grumpily stared at both of them, and two little paws covered the dog’s nose. Bingpup looked extremely done with the entire situation.

Shen Yuan coughed guiltily, “Ok, ok. This should be enough for now.”

A-Yu made a noise of triumph and scrambled off his shoulders and onto the ground. As soon as the child’s feet touched the river bank, A-Yu took off running towards the other side of the river. When his disciple reached Bingpup’s huddled form, he collapsed on the ground next to the dog. The child ripped off his cloth face mask and dramatically gasped for air.

Shen Yuan was about to comment on their antics when he felt the tug in his chest become too powerful to ignore. It seemed their unwanted guest was really going all out on the mountain’s barriers.

Shen Yuan smirked. He bent down and grabbed grab the basket full of Fruconds. Ignoring the twinge of pain in his chest at the action, he quickly made his way over to where A-Yu and Bingpup were collapsed.

Two pairs of watery eyes looked at him suspiciously. They both were covering their noses now and looked completely bullied. Shen Yuan nearly cooed at them. These two precious buns were utterly adorable, but the family had places to be. He shifted his basket to his side and held out a hand to help A-Yu stand.

“Come along. It’s time we punish that Father of yours.”

******

Luo Binghe has been attacking the barrier for an eternity.

Eternity may be an overstatement, but blow after devastating blow did absolutely nothing to the blood ward. The invulnerability of it fueled Luo Binghe’s frustration which fueled his attacks. An endless cycle that had no apparent end in sight.

A small voice in the back of his mind wondered why he so desperately pursued a path that was pointless. A path that was sure to yield no results. Luo Binghe squashed those insidious thoughts with a willpower that was lined with pure stubbornness. He refused to bend. Refused to give up.

His mindless fury enforced attacks would have continued, if not for a small object being thrown through the barrier.

The unidentifiable object sailed through the air and targeted his face. A pitiful attack that would yield no results.

Luo Binghe stopped and readied Xin Mo. As the object came in range, he swung the sword in a simple arc. The object stood no chance and was easily split in two. The two pieces fell limply to the ground.

Unwillingly intrigued, Luo Binghe cast a suspicious glance at the mountain barrier before taking a closer look at the split projectile.

Upon inspection, it seemed to be some sort of… fruit? The utter absurdity of the revelation briefly dispelled his anger. Luo Binghe snorted derisively before scanning the barriers base in the direction the fruit had come from. What he saw made his anger instantly return.

Sitting on a blanket spread out on the ground were three figures. An adult, a child, and one small dog were watching him with varying emotions. It was the adult that truly sparked his ire.

Sitting serenely on the blanket, Shen Yuan smirked at him and gave a lazy wave. As if beckoning Luo Binghe to come and join them. Even from a distance, Luo Binghe could see the mocking glint in those hazel eyes.

Enraged, he prepared to strike the barrier close to where they sat. Before Luo Binghe could move, the two halves of the fruit at his sides exploded. A green liquid erupted into the air and completely drenched the half-demon.

For a moment, all was silent.

Luo Binghe felt the green liquid instantly solidify into a foam crusted slime. Stunned, he merely blinked at the disgusting substance that covered him entirely.

Giggling broke through his surprise. On the blanket in the barrier, two small figures were shaking in mirth. Luo Yu laughed loudly and openly. The mongrel’s furry form was shaking beside the boy. Red eyes flashed at him in mocking mirth. The only one who wasn’t laughing was Shen Yuan. The man had opened a fan and was gently swishing it back and forth. The dainty item itself was a form of mockery that reminded Luo Binghe of last night’s events.

He angrily took a step forward. Luo Yu recovered from his amused state, and grabbed something from a basket. A split second later, another fruit sailed towards him.

This time he was ready, he prepared Xin Mo to knock the fruit far away. Just as he was about to swing the sword, he sneezed. So powerful was the sneeze, his entire being jolted with the action. The involuntary betrayal from his body successfully distracted him. The fruit landed at his feet and exploded.

More green liquid covered him, but Luo Binghe was too preoccupied to care. Sneeze after sneeze shot through his body. His eyes watered and his throat began to ache. His nose was perpetually scrunched as he sneezed uncontrollably. Green slime dripped from his hair, and he stumbled backwards as another fruit sailed through the air.

This one did not make contact. Even as his body shook, Luo Binghe leapt away from the fruit.

Luo Binghe could not speak. He could barely breathe in between sneezes that seemed to have no plans to come to a merciful end. He squinted through watery eyes at the three figures in the distance. This time, even Shen Yuan seemed to be shaking in poorly hidden mirth at his misfortune.

Luo Binghe wanted to yell. He wanted to threaten. He wanted to destroy something, but he was helpless under the almost painful force of the exploding fruit’s effects.

With no other choice, Luo Binghe shakily gripped Xin Mo and opened a portal directly to a secluded lake near the Palace. Whatever the fruit residue was; it needed to come off. Now.

Luo Binghe nearly hesitated to retreat, but the constant force of his sneezes instigated him to move quickly. Ignoring the sounds of laughter, Luo Binghe fell into the lake’s depths. Xin Mo floated gently away into the dark waters.

Completely submerged, he rapidly got to work on getting rid of the slime. He was forced to emerge from the water far too soon as his sneezes threatened to drown him. The process of cleaning himself took longer than he would have liked. It took even longer for the slime’s effects to subside to a manageable degree.

His vision cleared, and Luo Binghe caught a glimpse of himself in the lake’s reflection.

Green covered him. Not slime. No, he had thoroughly purged that away. It was his skin that was stained by the color. Where once was untainted skin, now displays a bright green. His dark eyes and miraculously unaffected hair stood out in stark contrast.

He looked like a goblin demon. Completely ridiculous.

Luo Binghe smashed his hand through the water and dispersed his reflection. He has been utterly humiliated, and he can do nothing about it.

He couldn’t even return to verbally rage at his assailants. Luo Binghe refused to perpetuate their mocking glee. He would not be able to return to the mountain until the tone of his skin has returned to normal. For now, he would need to find Xin Mo and temporary enter seclusion.

Disgruntled, he flung himself backwards into the water. He allowed the cold to surround him and cool his temper. He needed to think. The injustice that has befallen him today would need to be repaid in full. Slowly, a plan began to take shape.

Luo Binghe knew exactly how he would destroy that barrier.

Chapter Text

Chapter 20: The “Let Me In” Chronicles (Part 3)

It took far too long for the color of Luo Binghe’s skin to return to normal.

He had been forced into seclusion for nearly a week. No one could be allowed to view the Emperor in such a state. He refused to allow his humiliating appearance to be spread. He even decided not to encroach upon Shen Yuan’s dreams. Luo Binghe was wary of the blood ward’s power and would not risk it exposing his true appearance.

During his self-imposed isolation, he has constructed a plan. A plan to ensure the barriers assured destruction. Even regular barriers were difficult to deal with. There was no clever trick or underhanded tactic that would allow him to to destroy something as powerful as the blood ward. At least, not without knowledge of its limitations that he does not have.

Fortunately, Luo Binghe has spent over a century collecting priceless items. From frivolous to destructive, he has gathered it all. There must be something in his vaults that could destroy that cursed barrier. Hundreds upon hundreds of artifacts that were filled with spiritual or demonic energy. He planned to gather all that had even a hint of destructive power.

A knock on his chambers, interrupted his musings. With his appearance returned to normal, Luo Binghe reluctantly called out for his unwanted guest to come in. A slim feminine figure sauntered through the door, and he held back a sigh.

Lao Lihwa was the daughter of Lao Gongzhu. Formerly, she had been known as the Palace Mistress of Huan Hua Palace. She was a daintily pretty thing, but spoiled rotten by her Father. She dressed in lavish pink robes and had a whip always tucked at her side. Luo Binghe has had several… interesting encounters with that whip.

Today, he was not in the mood for her presence. He gave her a carefully neutral look as she walked towards him. Luo Binghe was lying on top his grandly lavish bed, and Lao Lihwa wasted no time climbing on the bed to straddle him.

Smoky eyes batted their lashes as she purred down at him, “Emperor, you’ve been so… busy as of late. Your wife has been feeling ever so neglected.” Her hands moved to undo his sleeping robes.

Usually, he would go along with this type of turn of events. He’d flip his willing wife into the bed and ravish her. Sate Xin Mo’s hunger and possibly his own, but now, he felt… nothing.

Oh, there was still the ever present clawing from Xin Mo that desired her. It was Luo Binghe himself that has grown weary. He has felt this way for long over a year now. Discontent and disappointed whenever he is before a member of harem. They were all lovely and beautiful, but they have lost some element that had made him feel compelled to devour them.

Absentmindedly, he tugged at the braid in his hair.

His wanton wife stared down at him with a sultry expression. Clearly expecting him to give her the attention she was due. Abruptly, he flipped her into the bed, and she cried out in delight.

Delight turned to dismay as he left her and got off the bed. He headed to his wardrobe to change.
As he walked, Luo Binghe spoke to her in a placating manner, “My lovely wife, I am not in the mood. Perhaps another time.”

She hit her fists against the bed in frustration. Pouting lips were turned in his unseeing direction. Lao Lihwa whined, “Emperor, you are never in the mood anymore! You never pay me any attention. Why are you so cruel to this poor wife?”

Luo Binghe felt the stirrings of a migraine as he disrobed. Her upset voice grated his sensitive ears. With struggling patience, he replied, “I have been busy of late. I’m sure you have plenty of means in which to keep yourself occupied. Perhaps a relaxing trip will suit you.” Anything to get the woman far away from him.

Her temper was not abated. She crossly got off the bed, and walked towards him, “Will my husband be joining me on this trip? I’m sure we can find a setting that will cure your… mood.” He felt her hand stroked his back.

Luo Binghe pulled away and tossed on a new robe. Only when fully covered, did he turn around and face her. A furious expression quickly vanished under his reproachful gaze. She simpered, “Emperor, please be reasonable. Won’t you show some care for your favorite wife?”

Luo Binghe has allowed this woman her delusional thinking in the past, but his patience was now too thin. He coldly states, “I have no favorites.”

Hurt crosses her pretty face before soft features distort into something darker, “Is that so? I suppose the Emperor can’t have favorites when he's preoccupied with dead ghosts.”

Luo Binghe started.

Ghosts? What nonsense—Ah. Lies and rumors did have a way of spreading so easily through the Palace. Perhaps, he has not been as discreet as he should have been with the boy’s disappearance. The rumors were far too close to being accurate for once. He would need to be more cautious.

Luo Binghe strode to the doors of his chambers. Paying his wife’s wordless noise of displeasure no mind, he said, “There is no ghost. My matters are so easily warped by gossip. How upsetting that my wife seems to be partaking in such drivel.” He ignored her panicked protests, and opened the door. Before leaving, he gave her one final look, “Escort yourself from my chambers. Do not return unless I summon you.”

Lao Lihwa seemed too stunned to speak. Knowing his orders have been heard, he left. Luo Binghe did not witness the way his wife’s face was transformed by outrage. He did not see the way she gripped her whip and destroyed one of his many meaningless decorations. Even if he had, it was likely that he wouldn’t have cared.

(Fate openly laughs at those who do not tread carefully.)

Completely irritated, he stormed through the Palace to his Treasury. Once inside, Luo Binghe grabbed a interspatial storage ring and set out to gather his arsenal. It was time he moved on to his most pressing matters.

******

Luo Binghe was ready to wage war.

The sheer amount of priceless artifacts he had on his person would make scholars tremble in awe. However, those same scholars would weep at the lack of care Luo Binghe would soon be showing them. For all of these centuries old artifacts, unearthed in his travels, were about to be put to the test.

Stepping out of the portal made by Xin Mo, Luo Binghe glared at the mountain’s barrier. The illusion of a volcano mocked him. He was too powerful to be deceived, but could still only barely see through into the mountain scenery within. Now, he would make sure that this damnable blood ward would be shattered.

He opened his interspatial storage ring, and pulled out a long spear. As soon as the weapon left the ring, Luo Binghed hurled it at the barrier with all his power. The spear flew through the air at a speed that was too fast for the mortal eye to see.

An explosion of light lit the clearing.

Luo Binghe didn’t wait for it to dissipate. Sabers, spears, orbs, and a variety of weapons and artifacts were hurled through the air one after the other. Not a single moment was wasted as Luo Binghe endlessly attacked. Hundreds of priceless artifacts all used in a single day for the grand purpose of destroying a single barrier.

The force of the attacks tore through the surroundings. The barrier was situated among many real volcanoes. As each artifact released its power, the landscape dissolved. The volcanoes crumbled and evaporated under the all consuming pressure created by the combination of powers beyond anything the realm had ever seen.

The clash of of energies was blinding.

(Unknown to its inhabitants, the world’s structure shook ever so slightly at the unnatural amount of spiritual and demonic energy released. In an unknown plane, a voice sounding strangely similar to google’s robotic voice command states, “WORLD DEGENERATION increased to 45%.”)

Eventually, the attacks ceased. Smoke cleared to reveal a crater filled wasteland that extended across miles. The Huan Hua mountain range was all but entirely gone. Destroyed with not a hint of what had once been.

In the center of it all stood a panting Luo Binghe. Sweat dripped from his brow as he waited for his vision to clear. The barrage’s resulting light show had blinded even him. When his sense of sight returned, his eyes widened in stark disbelief.

There, looking very out of place in the wake of utter devastation, was the illusion of a volcano. The barrier was completely unharmed. No cracks, no fissures, absolutely nothing. Scattered around the barrier were the shattered remains of Luo Binghe’s most priceless treasures.

Luo Binghe did what any rational man would do in this situation.

He grabbed fistfulls of his own hair and howled. Rage and defeat swirled within him like a tidal wave. The purest feelings of hopelessness threatened to drown him. Luo Binghe had no means to keep himself adrift.

His mind felt blank under the crumbling of his fragile psyche. Xin Mo attempts to tear at his soul, but he crushed its grasping energy with vehemence. He stood still. Dwelled in the mire of his emotions for a very long time. There was no reason to move when he has been so thoroughly bested.

(“PROTAGONIST DEGENERATION increased to 38%.)

A pointed cough broke through his dark despair. A light in the midst of the chaos he has wrought. Almost without his consent, Luo Binghe’s eyes rose to meet the hazel eyes of a man that was at the very source of all his misery.

********

Shen Yuan felt something like pity flutter through him at the sight of the upset protagonist.

The day had begun when Shen Yuan had been abruptly forced from his dreamless slumber. His chest had alighted in sharp agony. He had shot up and clutched at it with a cry. Fortunately, the pain left swiftly. The wound in his chest was supposed to be fully healed, but the sharp sporadic pains persisted. He was beginning to feel...concerned

Shen Yuan probably needs to go into secluded cultivation in one of the mountain’s spiritual caves. He needs time to focus his Qi on the area of his scar. The only issue is their pest problem. He was reluctant to leave A-Yu and Bingpup alone with the protagonist bound to show up at any time. For now, he would just have to hope the issue with his wound would resolve itself.

A crash from downstairs broke his tired musings. Shen Yuan nearly curled back under the covers and went back to sleep. He didn’t feel like being an adult today, but being a guardian to two energetic balls of energy was a full time job. He loudly sighed and got up to get dressed.

It was only once he was walking down the stairs, that he came to regret his decision not to stay in bed. In the main hall, A-Yu and Bingpup were in the middle of a standoff. His disciple has the small dog cornered.

The cause of the scene was apparent. In Bingpup’s mouth was a pillow that was far larger than the dog itself. Bingpup’s eyes narrowed at his opponent in gleeful challenge. Said opponent was in quite the bedraggled state. Obviously, A-Yu has been desperately trying to retrieve the pillow that looked suspiciously like the child’s favorite.

The scene would be rather amusing if not for the trashed manor surrounding the two. The hall’s tables and decorations were completely overturned. The shattered remains of a vase lay scattered on the floor. The likely source of the crash he had heard from his room.

Shen Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose. He was about to speak up when his oblivious company made their moves.

A-Yu threw himself at the cornered dog. The child’s hand outstretched to grab his pillow, and for a moment, it seemed like he would succeed. It only took a split second for the tables to turn.

Bingpup leapt into the air directly towards his assailant. Pillow still firmly held in the dog’s mouth, Bingpup avoided A-Yu’s grasp and used the top of the boy’s head as a bounce board to propel its tiny form to safety. Unfortunately for Bingpup, the fluffy bun wasn’t prepared for someone to be waiting on the other side.

Shen Yuan caught the tiny mischief-maker. A-Yu spun around, and instantly turned wide eyed at the sight of him. Large eyes widened even further when the child caught sight of the disaster they had made of the manor.

Looking aggrieved, A-Yu stared up at him pleadingly. “Shifu! It’s not my fault; it’s Bingpup’s!” The dog in his arms grumbled in protest before also turning to gaze at Shen Yuan pitifully.

Shen Yuan sternly looked at them. Exasperated to his very core. “I don’t care who’s fault it is. Both of you will be cleaning up this mess.” The troublemakers looked like they wanted to protest, but Shen Yuan was having none of it.

“Now.”

They sagged in defeat. A-Yu begrudgingly gave a, “Yes, Shifu”, before surveying the disaster zone. Shen Yuan tugged the pillow carefully out of Bingpup’s mouth and set the dog on the ground. The tiniest member of his family gave an apologetic boof.

Sighing, he straightened and handed A-Yu his pillow. “Here. Go take this back to your room and put on some shoes. There’s glass on the floor and it’s a miracle you haven’t already cut up your feet.”

A-Yu quickly grabbed his pillow and ran off towards his room. Shen Yuan looked down at Bingpup and sternly said, “No more stealing. I better not see you taking off with A-Yu’s things again. Honestly, you too should know better...”

(Unbeknownst to Shen Yuan, A-Yu stops midway up the stairs and turns around to make eye contact with his Shifu’s current victim. The child mockingly sticks out his tongue at his furry adversary before continuing up the stairs. Bingpup silently seethes, but makes sure to seem appropriately mournful in the face of Shen Yuan’s lecture.)

Eventually, the troublesome duo get down to work on cleaning up their mess. Shen Yuan leaves them to it and heads to the kitchen to grab a light breakfast.

He couldn’t help but think of how similar Bingpup and A-Yu were to Shen Yuan and his own siblings. Long ago when they had been children, scenes like this morning had been pretty common among the Shen siblings. It made him painfully nostalgic, but also far more sympathetic to his parents. You never truly understand your parents woes until you become one. He felt like they would have laughed and called this morning Shen Yuan’s karma.

His reminisce was abruptly broken by a nearly painful tug in his chest. The force of it nearly made him stumble forward. Shocked, Shen Yuan notes that the tugging was pulling him in every direction. As if, every part of the mountain’s barrier was being attacked.

Shen Yuan moves quickly. He headed for the doors of the manor, and shouted a quick, “Stay here!”, towards a confused Bingpup and A-Yu. He grabbed his sword and headed out. Once outside, he unsheathes his weapon and hops on it. Shen Yuan wastes no time in heading towards the direction where the pull is strongest.

Towards the west side of the mountain, Shen Yuan rapidly flew. Once the base of the mountain was in sight, he began to descend. The barrier’s foggy obscurity cleared as he settled on the ground. This would have been great if Shen Yuan could see anything.

Instead of the normal volcano ridden landscape, Shen Yuan was nearly blinded by a bright, all-consuming light. Absolutely nothing could be seen clearly, and he was forced to close his eyes until the light receded.

It took nearly an hour. Shen Yuan grew almost bored. It was a shame that he hadn’t brought a book to pass the time. Just as he was considering leaving, the light abated and the outside world became clear. Shen Yuan felt his heart stutter at the sight before him.

It was all gone.

It was like a nuclear bomb had gone off and wiped out the entire landscape. All he could see was dirt, craters, and the shattered remains of what looked to be...weapons? Those were definitely weapons. He could clearly see the remains of a sword’s golden hilt. The sheer amount of broken weapons formed into piles. Shen Yuan’s OP mountain barrier really had withstood what seemed to be a barrage of attacks without even gaining a scratch.

Shen Yuan was suddenly even more grateful to the System.

There was just enough evidence to figure out what had happened here, and who had caused it. Only one person could own so many weapons and create such complete annihilation. Shen Yuan eventually spotted said person in the deepest crater not too far from the barrier.

There the protagonist stood. In the wake of destruction, the man should have looked terrifying. For what kind of man, could unleash such power? What kind of man would want to? Not one that anyone in their right mind would want to be near.

But to Shen Yuan, the half-demon looked… pitiful. Looking completely defeated, the protagonist was shakily gripping his hair tightly in obvious distress. It reminded him of the scenes he’d read in PIDW. The ones that had taken place before the protagonist had been blackened. The scenes where the protagonist would try so hard, but inevitably be pushed down by the world. The protagonist looked so very alone.

Shen Yuan’s heart lurched in sympathy.

A plan began to take root in his mind. A truly idiotic and terrible idea that could easily end in further disaster. Maybe this is what the System meant when it wrote of choices he’d have to make. He really should just turn and leave. Unfortunately, Shen Yuan has never been known for his good sense.

He didn’t let himself think about it too hard before he drew his fan to cover the lower part of his face. Taking a deep breath, Shen Yuan pointedly coughed to draw the protagonist’s attention.

Dark eyes rose to stare at him. Incomprehensible emotions flashed across the half-demon’s beautiful face before turning stoic. The man released the grip he had on his hair, and vanished his pitiful visage. After an immeasurable amount of time, the protagonist slowly walked forward.

Shen Yuan watched with his heart in his throat as the man crossed the distance to stand before him. On the opposite side of the barrier, the protagonist gazed at him silently. Patiently waiting for Shen Yuan to make the first move.

Carefully ignoring the way his common sense was screaming over what a terrible idea this was, Shen Yuan spoke, “Let’s talk.”

The protagonist looked at him blankly before something like stubbornness crossed the man’s expression. “We have nothing to discuss.”

Shen Yuan was instantly irritated, “Nothing to— Are you purposely being difficult?”

Dark eyes seems to regain some of their fire, “Should I not? I am at a… disadvantage. You have not only taken the boy, but also refused to surrender.”

Shen Yuan was both irritated and amused by the grumbling temper tantrum the man was displaying. “You’re obviously far too used to having things go your way. Have some humility.” His hand itches to thump the half-demon on the head with his fan.

“Humility is for the weak. I will not bow before anyone.”

Shen Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “No one is asking you to bow, you brute. Just show some common decency. Obviously your usual way of doing things is still getting you nowhere.” He pointedly gestured at the destroyed weapons.

The protagonist scowled, but the point seemed to sink through the man’s thick skull. No rebuttal was spoken, and the half-demon glared at Shen Yuan sulkily.

The man looked exactly like his son with that expression. In a moment of insanity, Shen Yuan briefly wanted to pinch the man’s cheeks. The hand holding his fan even twitched. The protagonist saw the movement and eyed the fan warily. Likely, remembering his last encounter with the item. Shen Yuan got ahold of himself and snorted in amusement.

He was immediately glared at in affront. Shen Yuan quickly cut off the man before he could go into a tirade. “I might let you in the barrier.”

The protagonist froze. Dark eyes widened in complete surprise before narrowing in suspicion. “Might?”

Shen Yuan gently fanned himself, “Might. There’s conditions, and this will only be a brief… test run of sorts. If you don’t agree with my rules, I won’t let you in.”

The protagonist paused only for a moment before reluctantly saying, “Name your terms.”

Shen Yuan hid a smirk. “First, you must swear not to harm anyone. Not that I’ll allow you to, but I still want you to promise.” He tightly gripped his fan. “This includes Bingpup.” The protagonist snarled at the name before quieting in deliberation. Shen Yuan was already beginning to have second thoughts. Really, this was the easiest rule he’s devised.

Eventually, the man nodded and said, “I swear.”

Shen Yuan huffed but continued, “Secondly, you cannot attempt to take off with A-Yu or me. Nor can you be rude. If A-Yu doesn’t want to talk to you, you are not allowed to force him.” He glared at the man. “This is non-negotiable.”

The half-demon’s face contorted in anger. Shen Yuan was almost positive that the man would disagree, but the half-demon spat out, “I swear.”

Surprised, it took a moment for him to speak his last rule, “Lastly, Xin Mo stays outside the barrier.”

This finally made the protagonist rear back in objection. The man glared and demanded, “You would have me leave my sword lying in the dirt for some passerby to simply take?!”

Shen Yuan glared back. “Look around! You basically wiped out the whole area. Who’s going to be coming anywhere near your dumb sword? Also, who would want to?! That thing kills all it’s wielders. Your stupidly large harem is the only reason you can control it. It’s a miracle you’re even slightly rational!”

The protagonist stared at him in bewilderment. “How can you possibly know this?”

Shit.

He’d forgotten that knowledge about Xin Mo wasn’t exactly common. Nor was the method in which the protagonist used to control the demonic sword. Luckily, his fan hid most of his expression. He airily replied, “I am a scholar. I’ve read many ancient texts. It wasn’t hard to figure out that there may be a reason for the ever growing number of wives and concubines you take in.”

Bullshit! The protagonist was just horny. Over 600 women was overkill no matter how one looked at it.

The protagonist looked at him suspiciously. Shen Yuan nearly sighed in relief when the man nodded. The half-demon seemed to buy his lame excuses since he wasn’t being questioned further. Instead, the protagonist removes the sheathed Xin Mo and stabs it into the dirt.

With that anticlimactic action, the protagonist haughtily gazes down at Shen Yuan and says, “I have agreed to you terms.” The unspoken ‘Let me in’ was loud and clear.

Shen Yuan might be in a bit over his head. However, he was the one who had made this agreement. He considered the handsome half-demon before warning, “This is only a one time thing.”

The half-demon looked at him disdainfully. “I am well aware.” Rude, much.

Shen Yuan sighed. Stepping back, he dramatically and unnecessarily says, “I give you permission to enter.”

The last word had barely passed his lips when the protagonist moves forward in a blur. One moment, the man is on the other side of the barrier. The next, he’s towering over Shen Yuan. Prepared for an attack, he nearly swishes his fan to send the protagonist flying. It turns out to be unnecessary.

The protagonist did nothing else. Dark eyes stare down at Shen Yuan with the most intense look he has ever seen. After an uncomfortable amount of time, he took a step back from his towering guest. His every move felt studied.

Shen Yuan stubbornly refuses to be nervous. He steps a few more steps back, and turns to the path leading to the Manor. He carefully did not leave his back exposed. As he walked, he casually inquired, “Well? Come along. We have a long walk since you have no flying sword.” He wasn’t stupid enough to offer the man fly with him on his own. So walking it was.

Ugh.

The protagonist remained oddly quiet, but still moved to walk next to him. Side by side, Shen Yuan and the half-demon walked up the trail. It was nearly disorienting considering all their previous interactions.

Before they left the base of the mountain, Shen Yuan glances back towards the barrier. There, sticking perfectly upright from the ground, was Xin Mo. The demonic sword looked strangely ominous surrounded by the wasteland of dirt and shattered weapons. It gave him the strangest feeling of dread.

Shen Yuan quickly turned his gaze away. Out of sight, out of mind. He has more pressing concerns to worry about.

Chapter Text

Chapter 21: The ‘Let Me In’ Chronicles (Part 4)

Luo Yu felt sick with worry.

It has been over an hour since his Shifu stormed out of the manor in a hurry. He had tried to follow, but the cultivator had taken off on the flying sword. With nothing better to do, Luo Yu and his archenemy set about cleaning up the mess they’d created. The situation really was unfair. Bingpup had been the one to steal his pillow. Luo Yu hadn’t meant to wreck the manor. He’d been under extreme duress!

Once they had finished, Luo Yu firmly camped himself outside in the grass. He steadfastly waited for any signs of his Shifu’s return. His only companion in this wait was the creature that he currently wanted nothing to do with. Bingpup pointedly lay a distance away from him in the grass. Close, but far enough away to make a point.

Neither had forgiven one another for getting them in trouble with Shen Yuan.

Grudges aside, they showed a front of unity in their concern for the missing member of their family. If the cultivator didn’t return soon, Luo Yu and Bingpup would travel across the entire mountain to look for the man. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like it would have to come to this as he spotted a figure in light robes walking up the path that cut through the bamboo forest.

Luo Yu smiles in relief. All worry vanished at the sight of Shen Yuan looking completely unharmed. He stood and brushed grass off his clothes. He was about to call out to his Shifu when he realized the cultivator wasn’t alone.

Luo Yu’s heart stopped.

Like something straight out of his nightmares, his Father walked into view by his Bàba side. Dressed in black robes, the man was just as domineering and terrifying as he has always been. The Demon Emperor was like a dark specter that towered beside his oblivious Shifu.

Luo Yu was running across the yard before he could even think, and he wasn’t the only one. Bingpup erupted into a blazing dark aura. The dog’s tiny body turned massive, and a growling red eyed beast ran beside him. Bingpup nearly tripped him, and it took him only a moment to realize what the dog was trying to do.

Luo Yu flung himself on the Harmonic Demon dog’s back. He quickly adjusted his posture and properly sat on his furry mount. Together, Bingpup and Luo Yu charged to attack their home’s intruder.

Said intruder did nothing. The demon didn’t move or attack. Merely gazed at the soon to be murderers with an implacable emotion. Just as Luo Yu was beginning to think that Bingpup would have no trouble ripping the Emperor’s head off, a familiar figure stepped in front of their target.

Startled, Bingpup skid to a halt. Luo Yu desperately held on to the dog’s fur so he wouldn’t fall off. The duo barely managed to come to a complete halt before they plowed into the cultivator.

Bingpup growled at Luo Yu’s Father before whining at Shen Yuan in confusion. Recovering, Luo Yu also exclaimed in confusion, “Shifu?! What are you doing?! Get away from that monster!”

Shen Yuan looked reassuringly at both him and Bingpup before saying, “It’s alright A-Yu. Your Father is only here for a… brief talk.” His Shifu moved forward and rubbed Bingpup’s large, furry face. “There, there. I have things under control. Neither of you need to worry.” Bingpup grumpily let the man pet him. However, Luo Yu notes how the dog’s red eyes continued to glare beyond the cultivator at their unwanted guest.

Luo Yu hopped off of Bingpup’s back. If his Shifu was going to go insane that was fine, he’d take care of the issue himself. He shot forward to attack his Father.

A pair of deceptively strong arms intercepted him. The cultivator gripped him around the waist and hauled him into the air. He was pointedly turned away from their intruder. Luo Yu flailed in distressed protest and shouted, “Shifu, let me go! I’ll kill him! He’s done nothing but hurt us! Let me—.”

His Shifu shushed him. “I promise everything will be alright. He’s not allowed to harm any of us. I promise everything will be ok.”

Luo Yu went limp. His feet couldn’t touch the ground, and there was no way to escape Shen Yuan’s hold without hurting the man. He knew that the man’s scar had to be aching with all the movement. Defeated, he whispered, “He hurt you Bàba.”

The arms holding him tightened briefly, “Oh, A-Yu. I know, but things have gotten far too out of hand.” A quick kiss was pressed into his hair before the man set him down.

Luo Yu didn’t try to attack his Father again. He knew Shen Yuan would stop him. Instead he turned his gaze to his Bàba and seriously asked, “Pinky promise?”

The cultivator’s gaze shown at him warmly when the man said, “I do.” A hand was raised with it’s pinky extended towards Luo Yu. He interlocked his left hand’s pinky with it and firmly shook their hold three times before releasing. Immediately, he grabbed Shen Yuan’s arm to cling to. He may be unwillingly agreeing to this meeting but that didn’t mean he trusted his Father. The monster could try to attack at any time, and he would be prepared to pull his Bàba to safety at a moments notice.

As if reading his mind, Bingpup moved to stand by Shen Yuan’s other side. A giant, furry guardian that silently promised to attack at the slightest hint of trouble. Not once had the dog’s gaze left their unwanted guest.

The Demon Emperor, who had been silent throughout the entire interaction, finally spoke, “Why does the boy call you that?” There was some odd note to the monster’s voice that Luo Yu didn’t understand.

His Bàba rolled his eyes, “Address me like what? Shifu? I’m his teacher. Of course, he’ll address me like that. And if you have a question about A-Yu, you can ask him yourself.”

For a moment, Luo Yu thought that his Father might actually address him. Dark eyes briefly met his, and the Emperor actually seemed like he would speak. His Father abruptly looked away, and spoke again to Shen Yuan, “Why does he call you… why does he act like you’re his parent.”

The loss of eye contact was a stark reminder of every interaction Luo Yu has ever had with his Father. Memories of awkward birthday meetings and the Emperor’s casual disinterest rose to the front of his mind. He could almost remember the taste of blood going down his throat.

Luo Yu gripped his Bàba’s arm tighter.

He was distracted from the dark memories when a gentle hand gave his head a pat. Luo Yu looked up to see Shen Yuan giving him a quick reassuring smile.

Luo Yu watched in something like awe as his steadfast protector turned to glare at his Father. His Bàba caustically replied, “I told you before. A-Yu’s mine, and I’m his. It’s none of your concern what he calls me.” Sharp eyes turned discerning, “Wait, are you jealou—?”

His Father furiously interrupted, “You presume too much.” The Demon Emperor made to move forward, but Bingpup growled warningly.

Luo Yu is surprised when his Shifu merely sighs tiredly. It was such a familiar response that he was nearly lulled into a false sense of security.

Shen Yuan moves and Luo Yu follows. He clings to the man like a limpet. His Bàba turns to walk around the side of the house and nudges Bingpup to follow. The large dog complies. Luo Yu made eye contact with the furry demon and they shared a moment of shared commiseration. The argument from this morning is completely forgotten under the threat of a shared enemy. Their moment of camaraderie is interrupted by Shen Yuan calling out to said enemy.

“Well, are you coming? There’s a table in the gardens we can all sit at.”

Luo Yu glares as his Father trails behind them. If only the demon emperor would drop dead, then all of their worries would be gone. Unfortunately, he knows that expression on his Shifu’s face. The cultivator was firmly set on some kind of ‘resolve our differences’ agenda. The man got the same expression whenever he and Bingpup fought.

Luo Yu and Bingpup resolutely kept an eye on their enemy. Even when the group of four were seated at the garden’s table, Luo Yu refused to relax his guard. He didn’t really know enough about his Father to discern whether the demon would stay civil, but he highly doubted it.

Shen Yuan coughed to break the tension, “Alright, down to business.” His Shifu gazes pointedly at his Father. The demon merely seems bemused and says nothing. The cultivator sighs and prompts, “Why have you been trying to get inside the barrier?”

The Demon Emperor stares flatly, “Is it not obvious?” Not waiting for a response, his Father continues, “You two will be returning with me to my Palace.”

Shen Yuan dismisses the words with a, “No we won’t.” Ignoring their guests noise of disapproval, Shen Yuan tapped his fingers against the table. Luo Yu watches as his Shifu begins to take control of this odd standoff.

The cultivator huffs, “I get why you want A-Yu back. He’s your son, even though you don’t treat him at all like you should.” His Bàba glared as he finished.

The Emperor scowls, “I treat the boy well. He wants for nothing.”

Luo Yu angrily piped into the debate, “You’ve never given me anything that matters.”

His Father seemed taken aback by his interruption. A confusing mix of emotions crosses the man’s face. It’s almost as if the demon doesn’t know how to respond to his accusation.

Fortunately for them both, Shen Yuan cut in, “So we all agree your parenting sucks. What I don't get is why you’re trying to drag me along to your Palace. It makes no sense. I understand trying to kill me, but you don’t actually seem to want to. What are you after?”

Dark eyes turned away from Luo Yu. The Emperor seemed to be carefully considering how to respond. Bingpup growls loudly in impatience. The dog was too big to fit on one of the chairs so he lurks behind Shen Yuan and Luo Yu’s seated forms. After sparing a moment to glare at the Harmonic Demon dog, Luo Yu’s Father makes a decision.

“Well before the boy’s… disappearance, I came across a man who was identical to me in every way.” The Emperor paused. “In fact, he was an inferior version of me. Rather, an alternate reality’s version. We fought. Somehow, we swapped places. I was temporarily sent to an alternate world and the inferior copy came here.” Luo Yu’s mouth was gaping open. What was this story?! He doesn’t recall anything like this happening… wait. There had been one strange incident months before he’d left the Palace.

He never truly interacted with his Father outside his Birthday dinners, but every once in a while, he would see the Emperor from a distance. He’d seen the demon passing through the halls, making demands to servants, and sometimes in the library. All rare occurrences that always spooked Luo Yu into fleeing. It was like an unspoken taboo was broken every time he saw his Father outside his birthday.

On one particularly boring day, a ten year old Luo Yu had been walking through the Palace halls towards the library. In rare form, the halls had been completely deserted. This changed when the Emperor’s first wife appeared around one of the hall's many corridors. Following behind her was the Emperor.

Luo Yu had frozen in surprise, but strangely, so had his Father. Usually, the Demon Emperor would pretend like he didn’t exist, but that time… that time had been odd. His Father had looked at him in shock, horror, and something like wonder. It was such an unusual expression that Luo Yu had immediately turned and fled back to his room. He had carefully dismissed the entire incident as a fluke of his imagination and swore to never think of it again. His birthday would later prove his theory of the entire incident being a figment of his imagination.

Now, it seems that his mind hadn’t been playing tricks on him. Luo Yu realizes that the person he’d encountered that day must have been the alternate version of his Father. How very confusing. He wasn’t sure what to do with the information, but it seems the story wasn’t finished.

His Father continued, “In that world I met a version of my old sect leader. Your relative, Shen Qingqiu. He was… different. For some unclear reason, our world’s fate played out differently there. The incident ended when I returned to this world and the weakling to his. ” The Demon Emperor clenched his fist. “I wish to know why things changed, and I believe it is due to that other version of Shen Qingqiu.”

His Bàba’s fan had long since been out and covering his expression. Luo Yu can just make out a hint of downturned lips that speak carefully, “And what does this have to do with me? I know you think I look identical to the man, but I know nothing of this… alternate world of yours. Why don’t you go,” his Shifu waves a hand, “ask the other version of Shen Qingqiu?”

His Father’s ire returned swiftly. “Do you think I haven’t tried? I cannot return to that other world! No matter what method I use, nothing works.” The Demon shrewdly looks at his Shifu, “Much like with your blood ward.”

His Bàba stiffened and asked, “Don't try to imply that I have anything to do with your strange situation.”

“Imply? No, I believe you may have everything to do with the situation. Whether you know it or not.” His Father’s eyes filled with greed and suspicion as they looked at Shen Yuan. A look Luo Yu had seen only when the man was looking at things he thought of as his.

The monster wasn’t allowed to look at his Bàba like that

Luo Yu chair screeched as he stood. He glared at his Father and practically hissed, “Don't look at him like that or I’ll kill you!”

The threat seemed to finally make his Father briefly pay him attention. The man looked momentarily perplexed before becoming dismissive, “Boy, you may try.”

Luo Yu seethes and moves to accept his Father’s challenge. Before he could, a hand gently tugged him back into his seat. Shen Yuan gave him a quick sympathetic look before turning to glare at their guest. “Stop antagonizing your son. How old are you?”

The Emperor scoffed, but made no further comment. His Father was acting almost… accommodating to Shen Yuan’s demands. It was strange and confusing. Luo Yu wants the demon gone.

His Shifu shifts in his seat before saying, “Unfortunately, I cannot help you. You’ll have to find another way to solve your… issue.”

“My ‘issue’ is not something you can dismiss. Do not think that I will let this go so easily.” His Father paused before smirking, “If riches is not what you seek then I’m sure we can come to another form of...arrangement.”

The Emperor’s dark eyes stared at Shen Yuan with open appraisal. The hairs on the back of Luo Yu’s neck rose. He knew exactly what his Father was implying, and he was moments away from attempting to claw the man’s eyes out. Even Bingpup seemed to sense the lascivious intent and growled warningly.

Fortunately, his Bàba merely seemed confused, “I’m not looking for a job interview.”

Three identically bewildered pairs of eyes stare at the cultivator. His Father looked like he was about to speak, but Luo Yu cut in, “Yeah! Bàba doesn’t want your… job.” He glared at his Father to let him know that he knew exactly what kind of ‘arrangement’ the man had been implying.

The monster ignored him, and pressed on, “The arrangement isn’t a job. It’s a matter of… pleasure.” The man’s smirk returned.

“As wonderful as that is, why would I want to live at the Palace? I’m perfectly happy with my life as a scholar. The best kind of feeling comes from the pursuit of knowledge.” Shen Yuan smiles.

Luo Yu starts to feel gleeful. It’s almost like his Shifu and their unwanted guest were having completely different conversations.

His Father was beginning to look exasperated, “I’m offering you my physical services.”

Shen Yuan snorts, “A job is a job even if you’re offering to do all the heavy lifting. Your services seem pretty lacking. Besides, I’m quite happy away from the capital, and any position there would make me miserable. A-Yu loves it here too so we’re not leaving.”

Luo Yu’s Father looked like he wanted to bang his head against the table. The demon’s patience snapped, “You shall both be coming with me.”

“No, we—-.”

His Father stood. Bingpup growls and stands with hackles raised. The demon ignores the dog and pleasantly addresses Luo Yu and Shen Yuan, “You’ve let me inside the blood ward. I won’t be leaving until I’ve taken what I want.”

Lou Yu instantly was filled with dread. He knew this had been a mistake! The sound of a fan snapping closed cut through his rising panic.

His Shifu casually stood. The cultivator didn’t show the slightest hint of worry. In fact, Shen Yuan walked closer to their unwanted guest. His Father’s dark eyes drank in every movement. Luo Yu quickly gets out of his own chair to pull his Bàba away from the monster.

Before he could move close, a hand raised to stop him. “A-Yu, let your Shifu deal with his guest. I was foolish to let him enter at all.”

“But Shifu!”

Shen Yuan gave him a quick smile, “Everything’s fine.”

Luo Yu reluctantly stood still. Bingpup came to stand by his side, and they both watched as their guardian turned to deal with Luo Yu’s Father.

The Emperor gazes down at the cultivator and asks mockingly, “Deal with me? Do not think that without Xin Mo I am weak.” A sharp smile, “If you beg, perhaps I will allow you to return here from time to time.”

His Shifu coldly smiled, “I think you’re the one who will be begging to return. Except, you won’t be begging me. If there is a next time, it’ll be up to A-Yu and Bingpup.”

Dark eyes flashed, “Do not call the mongrel by my name.” The Emperor paused before calming, “How can a pathetic human like you possibly get rid of me?”

Shen Yuan’s cold smile turned glacial, “Easily. You are no longer invited inside my home.”

His Father vanished.

No, he didn’t vanish. One moment, the Emperor was standing in front of Shen Yuan. The next, the demon was flung into the air. Luo Yu watched in shock as his Father was sent flying through the sky and through the barrier. Once completely ejected, the barrier foggy appearance hid the demon from view.

Mouth hanging open, Luo Yu turned to gape at his Bàba. The man looked completely unphased. Luo Yu’s favorite person in the entire world turned to him and Bingpup to ask, “Who’s ready for lunch?”

Luo Yu burst into laughter. Beside him, Bingpup shrunk back to his normal size. Amused black eyes met his, and Luo Yu flopped on the ground next to the dog. Together they shook and wheezed in uncontrolled mirth.

Luo Yu never had anything to worry about. His Bàba never would have let a real threat into their home without some sort of backup plan. He really needs to trust his guardian more.

Said guardian walked closer to them. Luo Yu’s eyes were watering as he gasped for air. He tried to wrangle his laughter under control, but giggles continued to slip through his lips. Surprisingly, his Shifu merely collapsed on the ground next to them.

The cultivator smiled tiredly, “Honestly, that Father of yours is a piece of work.”

Luo Yu laughed harder.

****

If Luo Binghe had been mortal, he would have shattered upon contact with the ground.

Fortunately, he was not. As his body fell, he flipped mid air and pointed his feet downwards. The earth sank under his weight. The force of the impact sent a cloud of dust through the air. As Luo Binghe stood in the newly formed crater, he coughed. The crater didn’t look at all out of place in the devastated remains of the Huan Hua mountain range.

Luo Binghe spat out a curse. He was angry enough to cough blood.

Of course the ward had a defense mechanism. He should have been more careful. All his carefully made progress has just been lost in his haste to capture Shen Yuan and the boy.

Everything had been going so well. He’d resisted incapacitating the irritating cultivator when he had first entered the barrier. He had kept his word, followed those pathetic rules, and been forcefully ejected at the first misstep. Luo Binghe had given more information than he had gained. It was infuriating!

Shen Yuan knew more than he let on. The cultivator was a fool if he though Luo Binghe believed that the man had no connection to that alternate world. During their meeting, Luo Binghe had paid close attention to that pretty face. The fan covered most of the cultivators reactions, but those hazel eyes were an open book of emotions.

As soon as Luo Binghe had mentioned other worlds, there had been a flicker of recognition. Shen Yuan had hid it well, but Luo Binghe had been watching far too closely. That combined with the cultivator’s knowledge of Xin Mo that no one should have has sealed the man’s fate. He would not give up until he has wrung every last secret from Shen Yuan’s lovely mouth.

The boy was another matter. One he wasn’t sure how to deal with. Perhaps if the boy had been taken in by anyone but Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe might have let him be. Might have let the boy learn to cultivate and only appear to give the boy his Heavenly Demon blood once a year. It was not to be.

Speaking of the blood, he was concerned whether the recent missed ritual would have lasting effects. He could not allow the boy to grow powerless. Relying solely on cultivation would lead the child to a swift end. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about it for now.

The boy hated him with a passion that was startling. It directly contrasted with how much Luo Yu adores Shen Yuan. The two of them together were sickening. The cultivator dotes and coddles the boy. The sticky child was too old to be clinging to the man in such a way.

The word ‘Bàba’ echoes in his mind and burns.

Shen Yuan was obviously a mother hen. The cultivator protected Luo Yu and Bi—the mongrel with the same viciousness that a tiger does her cubs. It was as infuriating as it was attractive. It was truly unfortunate how much of a dense idiot the man was. He would have been more forward with his advances if not for the presence of the boy.

Shen Yuan’s oblivious face flashed through his mind. The man had said that the best kind of feeling comes from the pursuit of knowledge. Luo Binghe has only ever felt the worst of feelings in his own pursuit.

He will no longer seriously attack the barrier. Luo Binghe should have heeded the warnings he had been given. He has become… careless. Once so long ago, he had emerged from the Demon Realm. From that day on, there had never been an issue he couldn’t solve with ease. There had never been a single person who could actively defy or defeat him. It had made him unwittingly complacent.

Luo Binghe will still obtain what he seeks, but it’s going to take longer. He’s going to need to be patient, and wait for an opportunity. With no other options, he decides to return here every day until they let him enter the blood ward once more. Luo Binghe will cajole Shen Yuan into another meeting. He needs to establish an entryway that will allow him to explore the inside of the mountain.

Unfortunately, Luo Binghe has backed himself into a corner. He doubts Shen Yuan will actually allow him to enter without the permission of the boy and the mongrel. He’s also sure that both would rather see his decaying corpse than negotiate his return.

For now, he would reign in his anger and meet with Shen Yuan in the dream realm. If nothing else, it would be satisfying to make the man experience a degree of annoyance that the cultivator has caused him.

Plan settled, Luo Binghed hopped out of the hole and went to retrieve Xin Mo. The sword was exactly where he had left it. A lone, intact weapon among the shattered remains of many. He reached out a hand to grab it.

Oddly, his hand hesitates just before touching the sword’s hilt.

Luo Binghe is confused by his own hesitation. Abruptly, he recalls the image of that inferior version of himself. The Luo Binghe who had so happily given up the demonic sword. Irritated, he quickly grabs Xin Mo and dismisses those memories.

He refused to be as weak as that copy.

Chapter Text

Chapter 22: Believe Me When I Say

Ning Yingying’s new position had come with unforeseen consequences.

The Palace had exploded at the news that she, Luo Binghe’s first and most loyal wife, had not only dissolved their marriage, but had been rewarded for her audacity with the most esteemed position possible. Most of the women of A-Luo’s harem were split between outrage and confusion over such an event. Even the general population of the capital was sent into a flurry of exaggerated tales for how such a thing could happen.

Ning Yingying has heard the whispers. The stories of how she had somehow managed to blackmail the Emperor. The stories of how she was obviously too greedy, and the Emperor had been too sentimental to be rid of her. That her new position as an official Advisor was nothing but a scam that would eventually be resolved once she learned that her new job was too much for her to handle.

Ning Yingying laughed in the face of all those rumors. Unable to handle her new position? She’s basically been A-Luo’s first advisor since she met him as a boy. There wasn’t a person alive that was more qualified than her. Maybe she was greedy, but wasn’t everyone in some way? Most of the women who married A-Luo did it out of greed for his power. Marrying the Emperor was a matter of love or profit.

She really should have expected the uproar her new position has caused. As uninvolved with harem politics as she was; it should have been obvious how the fragile status quo would crack under the new imbalance of power.

Ning Yingying has already had to fend off two murder attempts made by jealous concubines. She fought off a hired assassin with her far too rusty fighting skills and deftly avoided a poisoned tray of dinner. Her sword is now permanently by her side, and she alone was in charge of making her own meals.

If these women thought she would crumble so easily than they had nothing but defeat coming their way. She would crush them with all the power of a former Qing Jing Peak disciple. Shen Qingqiu may have been scum, but the man had doted on her. Ning Yingying had been carefully taught how to deal with all sorts of dangers with cunning and intellect. She was a scholar and a warrior. Jealous women were beneath her.

The attempts on her life were not her primary concern. Neither were the petty rumors of how she had obtained her new position. There were far more important issues to be dealt with.

Primarily, the unknown plans being created without her or A-Luo’s knowledge.

Some scheme was in the making. Some unknown threats lurk in the shadows. She had a suspicion as to why but not to what end. The world was dying, and people were beginning to notice.

The women of the palace were becoming wary. They whisper to each other and spread tales. Most popular were tales of how unstable their positions were. It’s begun to create an insidious tear in an already unstable political climate.

The rumors stemming from A-Luo’s rampage over his missing son did not help matters.

A-Luo has many children with very concerned mothers. These women, who had once been content, now had to worry for their children’s safety. Some cried in fear while others reacted in anger. Never mind the fact that nearly all of A-Lou’s children were well into their adulthoods, and no longer needed their Mother’s protection. A-Luo has made sure they all have awakened their Heavenly Demon blood. They were far safer than anyone else in the world. None of this matters.

The women of the harem were fearful. Wasn't their husband supposed to be all powerful? How dare he be incapable of handling a threat. What was the point of being with the Emperor if they couldn’t even be protected?

A-Luo’s complete disregard towards these women did not help matters. The man was too wrapped up in his isolated planning to pay attention to the state of panic happening in his kingdom.

It was up to Ning Yingying to help handle the situation and find the source of the upset. There had to be a source. Without a doubt, she knew that there was someone stirring the pot of this carefully orchestrated chaos. She would just have to find said source and subsequently nip the situation in the bud.

Her current situation was quite undignified, but the benefits outweighed any indignity. Ning Yingying crouches behind a rose bush in the Palace’s elaborate gardens. Before her hiding spot gathered a group of women. A combination of wives and concubines that whispered together in hushed tone. Fortunately, Ning Yingying wasn’t a cultivator in only name. She could easily listen to their quiet words.

“Have you heard?” A woman in purple robes asked the others. “Have you heard of how our husband continues to refuse us? I do believe I haven’t seen the man in months! Have any of you experienced his attention?”

A general murmur of denials met the woman’s question. An aura of discontent swallowed the group.

The woman in purple crowed, “I thought not!”
The woman looked at all the women gathered. “Our husband is too focused on that kidnapped boy of his. I hear the child was kidnapped by his old teacher’s vengeful ghost!! What does this mean for us? What about his other children? Do they not deserve his concern? Don’t we? What if the ghost targets us next?!”

Ning Yingying had heard many rumors of how the ghost of Shen Qingqiu has kidnapped Luo Yu. When she had first heard the story, she’d immediately set about finding the truth of the matter. Once when A-Luo had returned from wherever he’d been going lately, she cornered him to find out the whole sordid tale.

The truth was nearly more shocking. A relative of their old teacher has taken Luo Yu as a disciple after the child had run away from home a year ago. A relative with some sort of mountain stronghold, and a barrier that even Xin Mo couldn’t break. A-Luo was losing his mind over the whole thing. The man had it in his head that the mountain cultivator has something to do with that alternate world.

Right or wrong, Ning Yingying had decided that she wanted nothing to do with any of it. She promised the man her aid should he need it. A-Luo had given her a nod of thanks, but she doubted his pride would allow him to ask for her help.

In the garden gathering, a woman in soft yellow robes steps forward, “He wouldn’t even look at me when I tried to approach him. Not a single touch or glance! He used to never deny me more… personal attention, but now no one seems good enough for him!”

“It’s probably because our husband wants to fuck that ghost.”

Ning Yingying wasn’t sure who among the gathered group had made such a shocking statement, but all the women erupted into shocked outcries.

The woman in purple’s face matches her robes as she yells, “How dare you suggest such a thing?!” A woman in red stepped forward, “Why shouldn’t I?! Everyone knows it’s true! Our husband hasn’t treated us with even a fraction of the interest he has for that dead bastard!”

A hushed quiet fell. None could truly deny the claim. Not after last year where all had seen the alternate version of their husband. It had long since been known that in that other world, the man had been married to Shen Qingqiu. Most of the harem avoided this topic tactfully while others outright denied it.

Even Ning Yingying had taken quite some time to come to terms with this information. She couldn’t begrudge these women the same. A-Luo’s actions lately had consequences that the man would have to confront. He should have dispelled his harem’s worries a long time ago.

A previously silent woman speaks. Dressed in green, this woman quietly brought forth a matter that has been plaguing Ning Yingying for quite some time.

“What about the state of the world?”

Confused questions followed so the quiet woman continued, “I have heard— I have heard talk that our world is coming to an end!” The woman’s trembling voice rose to a shout.

A dreadful silence fell over the gardens.

The previously outspoken woman in red seemed pale as she asked, “What do you mean?”

Quietly, the woman and green shakily spoke, “I have recently been informed that when our husband combined the human realm with the demon’s, he— he created some kind of imbalance. It’s killing everything! Humans and demons alike will perish because nature is dying. I haven’t seen a peach in the longest time. The cook recently informed me that they no longer grow. That they've gone extinct! I’m no cultivator, but I know what I see. The skies are rarely blue, the water is often toxic, and towns are shaken by disasters!”

The woman didn’t wait for the gathered group to respond to her declarations, “I tried to question our husband of the matter, but he dismissed me before I could ask about anything. And why wouldn’t he? Our husband is the cause of it all!” The woman’s speech was stuttering. Panic seemed to shake her entire being.

The woman in purple furiously whispered, “How dare you say such treasonous talk.” Despite the words, she did not refute the claims.

Ning Yingying crouched shocked behind the rose bush. She has been well aware of the issue, but not to its extent. So caught up was she in this new information, that she almost gives away her position when a hand grips her shoulder.

Nearly shocked out of her wits, Ning Yingying’s head snapped around to see a woman dressed in white mourning robes.

The woman was far more beautiful than any other in the garden. That much was apparent even with a veil covering the lover half of her face. The veil was the first thing that allowed Ning Yingying to identify this woman’s identity.

Liu Mingyan had once been a disciple of Xian Shu Peak. When Ning Yingying had been a disciple herself, she had only talked to the woman occasionally. Brief interactions that were friendly, but nothing of true impact. They had never gotten around to creating a lasting friendship. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway as the Liu Mingyan of that time was later lost with the death of her older brother.

Liu Qingge, the peak lord of Bai Zhan Peak and titled ‘god of war’, was murdered by Ning Yingying’s own peak lord. The tale goes that Shen Qingqiu murdered Liu Qingge when the man was in the midst of a Qi Deviation. No one knew exactly how the act was done. The two had been alone in Cang Qiong Sect’s spiritual caverns.

Ning Yingying’s last prominent memory of Liu Mingyan was when she had stormed Qing Jing Peak seeking Shen Qingqiu’s head. The woman did not obtain justice. The sect leader, Yue Qingyuan, had interfered and sent the woman back to her own peak. That day sparked a blood feud between Qing Jing Peak and Xian Shu Peak. Peak lord, Qi Qingqi, had been very displeased with the treatment towards her disciple and subsequent mishandling of her fellow peak lord's death.

Ning Yingying remembers Shen Qingqiu being strangely quiet during the entire affair.

She had never really seen Liu Mingyan after that. The woman did marry A-Luo, but as far as she knows, the cultivator rarely even sees the man. Liu Mingyan had only ever been around long enough to obtain revenge against Qing Jing Peak. After Shen Qingqiu’s death, Liu Mingyan had left to hunt. Much like her deceased brother, she sought out the strongest to defeat in combat.

Ning Yingying had heard rumors that Liu Mingyan and Sha Hauling often meet up to fight over their husband’s affection. The rumor always seemed rather unlikely to her. She suspects that the women just like to have a powerful opponent to fight.

Liu Mingyan was said to be living with her remaining family when she wasn’t traveling or carrying out tasks for her old master, Qi Qingqi. Rumors say that Liu Mingyan continues to be in a perpetual state of mourning. Ning Yingying suspects that A-Luo had respected that enough to leave the cultivator be.

The woman before her now was obviously still grieving. The white mourning robes were complemented by a thick white veil. Eyes that had once been filled with a subtle teasing humor were now cold and hardened. Still, the woman was undeniably beautiful.

Ning Yingying didn’t know why Liu Mingyan was here. A wandering warrior that was the stuff of legends? Why has this woman come to the Palace? Why would Liu Mingyan be wandering around the gardens? Was she looking for A-Luo?

Knowing that she’d been caught, Ning Yingying made to stand, but was pushed back down by a firm hand on her shoulder.

Liu Minyan’s veil covered face turned towards her. The woman’s other hand rose and a single finger rose in a ‘shh’ gesture before releasing her grip on Ning Yingying’s shoulder. It seems that she has a fellow eavesdropper.

Ning Yingying could do nothing but comply so she redirects her attention back to the group of ladies in front of the rose bush.

“—is causing the end of the world than what are we supposed to do about it? Nothing! There’s nothing we can do! Speak sense woman!”

The woman in purple and the woman in green seemed to be in the middle of a passionate argument.

“So what if we can’t go against our husband?! If we do nothing; we die. If we do something; we may live! I would rather have the slightest chance for survival than none at all!” The woman in green shouted.

The woman in purple seemed shaken. A thin mouth opened and closed as if to argue more, but no further words came. The woman had been defeated by the woman in green’s sound argument.

Seeing this, the other women turned towards the victor. An unspoken question filled the air.

‘What do we do?’

The woman in green answered it, “There have been… whispers of a plan. A plan to fix everything. Return the world to how it was before.”

All the women gasped, and Ning Yingying had to hold back her own. How could such a thing be possible? A-Luo had to use Xin Mo, a legendarily all-powerful sword, to create the fusion. How was there a way to undo what it had done?

A woman in the crowd voiced a similar question, and the woman in green responded, “I don’t know any specific details, but there are...gatherings. A masked figure has gathered any of the harem willing to listen and tells us that we can stop the world’s end if we simply put an end to our husband’s reign!”

Cries of outrage followed this impassioned statement. Many of the group talk over each other in their need to reprimand the woman in green for her words, but the woman would have none of it.

“He’s the reason the world’s going to end! He doesn’t care for us! He doesn’t care for anyone! Our husband would rather see us all perish with him. He’s all but pushed us towards the path of ruin!”

The woman in purple shouted back, “Do you think that I will not tell the Emperor of your treasonous words? Of the plans your little group is planning? We were the ones who married him, and you expect us to enact betrayal? He’s been nothing but courteous to us.”

The woman in green calmed and spoke with with words dripping in ice, “Courteous? What good is courtesy. What of that sister of yours? Would you have her perish because our husband couldn’t be bothered to save us all? A husband who only favors one child over the rest. A husband who cares more for a ghost than any woman he has been bound or married to.”

The woman in purple fell to her knees. Face pale and hands shaking, she no longer protests. After a long pause the woman even nodded her head in agreement. All the women reluctantly nodded their heads in agreement.

The woman in green spoke softly, “I do not wish for this to happen. Any of it. It isn’t fair, but something must be done. I don’t want to die! The masked figure has promised that our husband won’t be killed. They says that we can save the world without bloodshed! If we do as they say, we can fix everything!”

The woman in red spoke, “What role are we to play? How are we to be sure this masked figure’s words are true? I would hear them speak before making a decision.” The group of women all mutter agreements.

“If you all are amenable, I will have letters sent to each of you sometime in the future. The letters will have a time and location for the meeting. There, you can decide for yourselves whether to act.”

The gathering of women all agreed to receive a letter and attend. Spooked by the agreement to comply to what was very much talk of treason, the group dispersed and the ladies went their separate ways.

Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan waited silently behind the rose bush long after the group had left. The two quietly observed one another and pondered what they had just overheard.

Ning Yingying finally stood up. She glared at Liu Mingyan suspiciously, “What are you doing in the Palace eavesdropping on its residents?”

Liu Mingyan stood and raised a brow, “Can I not drop by for a visit? This humble one thought it would be good to check in. On the matter of eavesdropping, I could ask you the same, Advisor. Why is one of your new position eavesdropping on lowly harem women?” The emphasis on the words ‘new position’ was not lost on Ning Yingying.

The explanation for her visit was suspicious, but Ning Yingying decided to speak outright, “As you have heard, there are traitors in the Palace. I am attempting to seek out the source.”

Liu Mingyan’s eyebrow rose further, “Does your loyalty not shake in the face of such talk? Do you not care, little Advisor, for the end of our world?”

It was a very good question. Ning Yingying was no fool though.

Tilting her head she gazed up at Liu Mingyan, “I am looking into it. Unlike those women, I do not need the help of some unknown masked figure. Only a fool would trust a person who speaks unknown promises. I doubt their plans will be as bloodless as they would have those women believe.”

Liu Mingyan steadily replies, “And if this masked figure is right? What will you do if they do indeed know of a way to fix the world?”

Ning Yingying looks deeply into Liu Mingyan’s eyes, “Then I will extract the method from them before my sword pierced their heart. I will not allow anyone to harm A-Luo.”

Ning Yingying glares at Liu Mingyan, “That includes you.”

Liu Mingyan gazes down at her. The woman is so frustratingly tall, but she refuses to be intimidated. Just as Ning Yingying is beginning to think she really will have to put an end to this woman, Liu Mingyan lets out a laugh.

The beautiful woman’s smile was hidden behind her veil, but her cold eyes have thawed. No longer were they disinterested. Instead, a small budding warmth could be seen. Ning Yingying was so shocked by the change in the woman’s countenance that she did nothing when a hand tilts her chin upwards.

“My loyalty lies with the man who avenged my brother. I owe the Emperor a great debt that I shall see repaid. My Laoshi has sent me here to determine who exactly is spreading tales of ghosts and destruction.” Liu Mingyan pauses before saying, “I have also come to dissolve my marriage, but my husband seems to be unavailable.”

Surprised by the latter information, Ning Yingying asks, “Are you uncontentent with A-Luo?

“I think you should know better than anyone just how I may feel. There is no love lost between me and my husband.” Liu Mingyan eyes grow briefly sad, and Ning Yingying knows that she does indeed understand this woman all too well.

Liu Mingyan ruefully shakes her head, “Enough of that matter. We have far more pressing concerns. If you allow it, I shall join you in your quest to find the masked figure.”

Pushing her sympathy aside, Ning Yingying realizes her chin is still being tilted upwards by the woman’s calloused fingers. She smacks the touch away. She feels almost flustered by the contact. “I do not need your help.”

Liu Mingyan considers her. She looks every bit the warrior her brother had been. The cultivator nods her head in agreement.

“You do not.”

A hand reached for her own and lifts it towards veiled covered lips. A kiss, that wasn’t really a kiss, is pressed against Ning Yingying’s fingers.

She froze.

Liu Mingyan carefully moved her face away and spoke with a hidden smile, “Your new position suits you. While you may not need my help, I will still offer it to you. After all…”

A veiled face leant forward to whisper in Ning Yingying’s ear, “Every woman needs a partner in crime.”

With that, Liu Mingyan releases her hand and turns away towards the exit of the Palace gardens.

The woman calls back as she leaves, “I’ll return here tomorrow at noon should you have use of me.”

Ning Yingying merely watches as the beautiful woman left. She stands frozen in place and is somehow incapable of thought. Her heart beats too fast, and her face is oddly warm.

Shaking her head, Ning Yingying got ahold of herself. She wasn’t really sure what to make of that entire interaction, but for now, it seems she has made an ally for herself.

She wouldn’t go to A-Luo just yet. The man had his own nonsense to deal with, and she wanted to be in control of the situation when she informed him of his harem’s treachery. It wasn’t going to be pretty affair.

Ning Yingying also wants to be able to figure out how to right the world before telling A-Luo. Despite what others may think, she knew the man was oblivious to the consequences of his world merging.

For this case, Ning Yingying wasn’t sure if she completely trusted Liu Mingyan, but…

Ning Yingying smiles. It would be nice to have someone to work with.

*******

In an unknown part of the Palace, a shadowy figure slinks into a lavish chamber.

Pulling their hood down, a plain faced human cultivator revealed themselves. Cautiously, the cultivator glances around the chamber in search of their master. A hand claps their shoulder from behind, and they nearly jump in surprise.

Turning around, the face of Lao Gongzhu affably smiles at them. However, the look in the elder’s eyes was nothing but cold and calculating. “Ah, if it isn’t my loyal disciple. Come, come.” The Advisor guides them to a sitting room. Once they both were settled, a trembling demon servant brings them tea.

Lao Gongzhu sips his before placing it on a table between them. He gestures towards the cultivators cup. “Airminian tea. A good tea for a discussion.” The elder gives them a friendly smile, “What news do you bring?”

The cultivator gulps down a sip of the rich tea before also placing it on the table. “Terrible news, my lord. The entire Huan Hua mountain range has been destroyed.”

The elder’s eyes widen, “Destroyed? How can this be?”

They shift nervously, “Nobody knows, my lord. The reports say that nearby villages claim to have seen an explosion of lights in the range before it completely…vanished.”

Lao Gongzhu picks up his tea and seems to ponder its contents. “How very curious. Do you know when this event took place?”

They nod, “Merely four days have passed.”

A glint lit the Advisor’s eyes, “Curious. I do believe that is the day our Emperor raided the Treasury. I had wondered where he had been off to.”

The cultivator starts, “The Emperor is involved?”

Their question was waved away, “Oh, don’t mind me. Just the musings of an old man. Tell me.” Lao Gongzhu continues to look into his tea as he asks, “Does anything at all remain in the Huan Hua mountain range?”

The cultivator pauses before replying, “Some of the villagers claim that their remains a lone volcano in the distance. They claim it is a sign of calamity. Panic has been spreading, and many of the elders claim it is a sign of ruin that few will survive.” They pause, “There has been… talk. My lord, our world continues to grow more unnatural.”

Lao Gongzhu sighs, “Of that I am aware. It is a matter that I plan to take care of. Do not fret.” The elder places his tea down and seems to speak almost absentmindedly, “A lone volcano, you say. How very odd for it to survive in the wake of such destruction.”

The Advisor smiles, “How very odd indeed.”

The cultivator is partially confused, but is more focused on asking, “Do you believe it’s true? That it is a sign of the end? That the heavens are punishing us?”

“Oh, it is a sign. A wondrous sign that has given me the information I needed. I’ll have to send someone to investigate and confirm my suspicions.” Lao Gongzhu sighs happily, “My plans may be far less impeded than I originally feared.”

The cultivator is confused. “Plans, my lord? I would be happy to investigate, but… I fear for my safety. What if there is further destruction?”

Lao Gongzhu’s peaceful smile sharpens, “Is that hesitation I hear?” They frantically try to deny, but are interrupted as the Advisor continues speaking, “What a shame. My old disciple has turned spineless. Fortunately, your services are no longer needed.”

The cultivator freezes. They suddenly feel very much like prey caught in a trap. Quickly, they try to escape.

It was far too late.

Their body pulses, and they freeze in a half standing position. They try to speak, but their mouth suddenly feels numb. They desperately try to do anything, but their thoughts seemed to be leaking from their ears.

Lao Gongzhu watches as blood pours from his old disciple’s ears. The coward collapses to the ground in an instant, and blood leaks onto the marble floors. It was apparent to anyone that the cultivator was dead before he hit the ground.

The elderly Advisor snaps his fingers together, and a demon servant rushes forward to clean up the mess. Lao Gongzhu takes a sip of his lotus tea. Truly, it was a lovely blend.

The doors to his chambers abruptly opened, and his daughter stormed through. She paid no mind to the dead body, and made her way directly to her Father's side.

“Father, my husband is so cruel to me! It has been days, and he has yet to summon me! You said he would pay me more attention!”

Lao Gongzhu wearily sighs and places his empty cup on the table. “Soon, my dear. I said your husband would pay attention to you once everything has been taken care of.”

Lao Lihwa whines, “Father, that will take forever! You have so much to do still. I want Luo Binghe to pay attention to me now!”

“Patience, my dear. One day, he will pay attention to no one but you, and I shall make sure he stays faithful. You deserve only the best.”

Lao Lihwa finally smiles, “Of course I do. Thank you Father. I knew you would know how to cheer me up.” She frowned. “Just don’t take too long, and make sure to keep me informed! I’ll do anything you need me to if only my husband will stop obsessing over that ghost of his.” Lao Lihwa was oblivious to the subtle twitch of her Father's eye at the mention of the ghost.

“Of course, of course. No worries, my dear. Now, why don’t you go play with your pets? You do so wonderfully when instructing them.”

Lao Lihwa beamed and grabbed her whip from her side. “Of course Father! I always make sure they’re perfectly trained.”

Lao Gongzhu gave her a pat on the head before sending her off. He coldly watches her retreating form. She was fortunate in that he was genuinely fond of her. However, he would have to disappoint her.

Her future fantasy did not align with his plans for Luo Binghe.

Chapter Text

Chapter 23: Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Shen Yuan is being driven insane.

It’s been over a week since his terrible idea to allow the protagonist inside the wards. He’d learned why the man was so determined to break the barrier, but now he has a brand new issue.

How the fuck is he supposed to change the ending of a plot that has already deviated from the novel?!

A nicer PIDW? Different versions of the protagonist and Shen Qingqiu?! WTF?! None of this made any sense! Where was the System when he needed it? Shen Yuan needs to file a complaint!

He seriously wasn’t sure what to do with his new information. The protagonist had spoken so seriously that Shen Yuan has no choice but to believe that the half-demon was speaking the truth. He really does want to question the man more, but he’s wary of giving away his own world origins.

After all, nothing good would come of the protagonist learning this world was a novel.

He has a couple hypothesis’ for what was up with the alternate PIDW. It may have something to do with why he was originally an ‘unauthorized user’. When Shen Yuan had died he’d heard the voice of the System mention that his ‘role’ had already been filled. Maybe some poor schmuck had been transmigrated to that other world and changed things for the better? Or whatever counts as better in the protagonist’s eyes.

It really was unfortunate that he somehow looks like Shen Qingqiu. Shen Yuan desperately wishes he could just forget the entire strange affair. He wishes he could go back to the days before the disaster birthday incident and continue to live a (relatively) unconcerned life with A-Yu and Bingpup.

Unfortunately, the protagonist has other plans.

Take now for example. Shen Yuan knows he’s dreaming. He’s surrounded by a night sky, and is sitting amount a field of soft, fluffy white clouds. Among those clouds, strange balls of light bounce around gleefully. Shen Yuan supposes their supposed to be his mind’s version of stars. From his spot on top of a cloud, Shen Yuan carefully catches one of the stars. He snorts. It looks just like something out of a Ghibli film.

His peace is interrupted by a smooth voice, “How amusing. Your mind truly does create the most frivolous things.”

There, sitting cross legged on a lower level cloud a yard away, is the protagonist. A mocking smile rests on the protagonist’s face as dark eyes observe Shen Yuan.

The star in his hands gets thrown at that obnoxiously gorgeous face.

Shen Yuan pointedly looks away without seeing if the star hits its target. A grunt of annoyance was heard from his dream intruder.

The protagonist has been haunting his dreams ever since he forcefully ejected the man from the mountain. Night after night, the man came to pester him, and Shen Yuan is beyond annoyed.

“You can’t ignore me forever.”

Ha! The Shen Family was known for being stubborn. If he wants to ignore someone forever, he will! He’d decided on this method of dealing with the half-demon from night one. Shen Yuan refuses to cater to the protagonist’s whims.

Dreams of the manor, of fields, and of fantastical scenes have all been invaded this week. Fortunately, none had given away his otherworldly origins. Unfortunately, each and every one has become a one sided interrogation that usually only ends when Shen Yuan gets fed up enough to throw things at his intruder.

Tonight, he’s started early with a star being used as a projectile. Shen Yuan can’t be blamed for his lack of patience though. He’s being harassed in his dreams AND during the day.

The protagonist seems to have caught on to the fact that Shen Yuan can sense his presence outside the mountain's barrier. The man uses this information to drive Shen Yuan crazy. Every day, the half-demon shows up and activates the ward’s alert System. It creates a tugging in his chest that is similar to child constantly tugging on their parents clothes to get their attention.

It’s made him distracted. Poor A-Yu and Bingpup have been giving him concerned looks. He’d like to say their worries were unfounded, but that may not be the case. The constant tugging during the day and the intrusion in his dreams would be manageable if not for the ever increasing pain in his chest.

Even here in this cloudy dream, his old wound throbs. He raises a hand to press down on the scar.

“Hm. You should take care of that.”

Startled, Shen Yuan actually glances over at the protagonist. The handsome face is tilted to look up at him. For once, his intruder doesn’t look mocking. The half-demon looks… serious.

He’s too stubborn to say anything, but Shen Yuan’s expression must give him away. His intruder scoffs before saying, “If your wound is hurting in the dream realm, it’s a cause for concern. I refuse to let you die before you’ve answered my questions.”

Die?! Who said anything about dying? Slightly anxious, Shen Yuan grabs another star and tosses it at the man. He misses, but his intruder doesn’t mock him. The man only continues to look at him seriously.

“Xin Mo has never been kind to its victims.”

A sharp pain tore through Shen Yuan’s chest. He gasps, and the dream begins to dissolve around them. His cloud becomes transparent, and he falls. The last thing he sees is a figure trying to catch him.

Shen Yuan bolts upright in his bed. Bingpup is shaken off his pillow by the action, and the tiny pup flails onto the bed covers. He can’t pay the dog any attention. He’s trying too hard to breathe through the pain stabbing through his chest. His lungs feels constricted.

A black ball of fluff enters into his blurry vision. He can barely make out a flash of red before the pain finally starts to recede. Sweat drips from his face, but he’s finally able to breathe.

Bingpup climbs onto his lap and whines in concern. Shen Yuan shakily raises a hand and pets the dog. “Thanks, Bingpup.”

The wound in his chest can no longer be ignored. The protagonist’s mention of Xin Mo has reminded him of just how evil the sword is. He’s lucky that Bingpup is able to calm whatever remaining resentful energy must be hiding in his scar. Enough was enough though. Tomorrow, he needs to go into the spiritual caves and cleanse himself of the dark taint.

In the past few days, Shen Yuan and A-Yu have been preparing for the blood adoption. He was determined to give the child the ability to control the blood ward. He wants A-Yu to be able to protect himself in Shen Yuan’s absence. A-Yu has been enthusiastically agreeable about the whole thing which likely has something to do with the idea of being able to send his Father flying.

Today was the day they will commence the ritual. He just needs to hold it together that long.

Bingpup’s cold nose distracts him by pressing against his hand. He leans down to nuzzle his face into the dog’s soft fur. Eventually and much to his small protector’s disapproval, he gets up to get ready for the day ahead.

While he’s getting dressed, Bingpup stays glued to his side. Shen Yuan is grateful, but it really isn’t necessary. This old man doesn’t need to be coddled. As if hearing his thoughts, black eyes stare up at him in disagreement.

Ignoring a spasm in his chest, Shen Yuan goes to wake up A-Yu. The earlier they start the ritual; the better. The text he’d read on blood adoptions had mentioned several factors that were supposed to increase the ritual’s success rate.

First, early in the day was better because it signified new beginnings or some bullshit. Second, the ritual should take place somewhere both participants are fond of. Lastly, it was good to have a third party available for the ritual as it creates a triad of harmony.

It all reeks of Airplane’s garbage writing.

A-Yu turns out to be already up and looks to have been coming to wake Shen Yuan. He would find this sweet if the child wasn’t dressed so... oddly. A black cloak covers equally black robes. The hood of the cloak was pulled up and covered the boy’s head. Shen Yuan gapes. He’s about to ask why A-Yu is dressed like this, but is interrupted before he can.

“There you are! C’mere, I’ve got yours ready too.”

Bingpup happily bounces forward, and A-Yu kneels down to… put a tiny black cloak on the dog? Shen Yuan stares at the scene blankly. What’s with the cultist looks?!

He’s beginning to wonder if he’s still dreaming when A-Yu looks up at him and asks, “Shifu, why aren’t you dressed yet? Didn’t you say that the ritual requires a certain look?”

Shen Yuan suddenly wants to bang his head against the nearest wall. He knows exactly what A-Yu is referring to. Shen Yuan’s exact words had been, “All we need are some black robes with hoods, and we’ll really look the part for this ridiculous ritual.” It had been said offhandedly when they’d been reading over the ritual’s instructions a few days ago. Apparently, A-Yu has missed the blatant sarcasm and taken his words seriously.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Shen Yuan is shooed back to his room to change into darker clothes. He refuses to wear a hooded cloak, and waives off A-Yu’s concern over the detail. He has to draw the line somewhere.

The blood adoption ritual was to take place in their library. The family of threes’ fondest memories have taken place there so it was the most suitable place. Dressed all in black, they headed towards the table with a small bowl sitting in the middle of it.

Shen Yuan couldn’t help but sigh over how ridiculous they all looked. Taking their places, A-Yu and he stood across from one another while Bingpup hopped on the table. The tiny, black cloak was adorable on the dog. Unfortunately, the entire scene was like some comical version of a B-rated horror film.

Despite the ritual’s name, only a drop of actual blood was needed. A red plant known as the Kinbar was mixed with water to create most of the red liquid that now filled the bowl in the center of the table. Shen Yuan was blatantly relieved. He wasn’t squeamish, but he was glad that A-Yu likely wouldn’t taste anything but the plant. It might have brought up painful memories for the child.

Shen Yuan is about to commence the next step but pauses. He looks at A-Yu seriously and asks, “Are you absolutely certain that this is what you want? Don’t be afraid to back out if you have any concerns.”

A-Yu merely looks exasperated from beneath his black hood. “Bàba, I’ve told you a hundred times already. I’ll be fine. This is what I want.”

The child places his palms on the bowl. Shen Yuan gives a slight, chagrined smile before using a needle to prick his finger. A single drop of his blood is placed in the bowl. He wipes his finger, before placing his hands over A-Yu’s. Together they channel their spiritual energy into the bowl’s contents. The energies intertwine with the Kinbar’s liquid. Slowly, the red transforms into a pretty green. The changed color represents the type of relationship the ritual participants have. If he remembers correctly, green represents growth, harmony, and dependability.

Bingpup gives a boof when the liquids color fully changes. Now, A-Yu has to drink it and hope for the best. The ritual doesn’t have a 100% success rate. He and A-Yu have to be spiritually compatible for the adoption process to work.

A-Yu gives him a determined look before picking up the cup and gulping the liquid down. Shen Yuan watches nervously. This entire situation was giving him anxiety. The cup is placed back on the table, and A-Yu blinks up at him.

Slowly, dark eyes begin to lighten. A-Yu gives him a beaming smile. Something must have alerted the child to the ritual’s success.

Shen Yuan smiles back and opens his mouth to say something. He won’t be able to remember just what he was going to say. Likely, it was some kind of congratulations, but neither he nor A-Yu would ever be sure.

The pain in his chest returns like a blow. It radiates more intensely than ever before. Shen Yuan gasps and tries to steady himself on the table. Pain lights every nerve in his body. He can’t speak, and his vision blurs.

He briefly sees A-Yu and Bingpup staring at him in shock before the ground rushes towards him.

*******

Luo Yu feels different after drinking the green liquid.

He feels… stabler. It’s as if there had always been a battle going on inside of him that he hadn’t been aware of until it was gone. Some kind of pressure has been soothed, and Luo Yu feels lighter and more peaceful than he ever has before.

He can’t help but smile at his Bàba. Of course, even in this the man has somehow made things better. His spiritual energy flows easily through his veins. He feels so different but indescribably better. Luo Yu wonders what his mother would have thought of all this. If she cared for him at all, he’s sure she’d be happy for him.

His Shifu smiles and opens his mouth to say something. Luo Yu waits but nothing comes. Instead, the cultivator’s face suddenly goes pale. Shen Yuan sways and tried to grab the table. Panic fills Luo Yu. He stares in shock as his Shifu collapses on the ground.

For a moment, all is still.

“Bàba!”

Luo Yu throws himself around the table and onto the floor. His Bàba curls in on himself. The man is clutching at his chest, but Shen Yuan’s eyes are firmly closed. The cultivator is obviously in pain, but Luo Yu doesn’t know what to do. He hesitates only a moment before gently grasping the man’s shoulder, “B-Bàba, are you alright?!”

His Bàba doesn’t respond. He lightly shakes the man’s shoulder but gets no response. Luo Yu feels overwhelmingly panicked. Bingpup leaps off the table beside him and quickly gets closer to Shen Yuan’s curled form. Small black eyes turn red.

His Bàba’s stiff form relaxes. The tension eases, and Shen Yuan’s eyes peak open. The cultivator tries to raise his head but it falls back to the floor immediately. Luo Yu jumps into action. He shakily moves the adult on his back and put Shen Yuan’s head on his lap.

“Bàba, are you awake?”

Dazed hazel eyes look up at him without any form of comprehension. Luo Yu’s panic reaches new heights. What’s wrong with his Bàba? Did the blood adoption ritual do this? Did something go wrong?!

(Is it Luo Yu’s fault?)

Shen Yuan continues to look up at him blearily. A hint of awareness returns. The cultivator mumbles a slurred, “A-Yu?”

“Yes, Bàba. It’s me. Bingpup’s here too. You— you fell after the blood ritual. Can you tell me what’s wrong with you?”

His Bàba stares and gives no response. Hazel eyes begin to close again. Luo Yu tries to shake the man back awake, “Bàba?! Bàba, please. Please tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it! I swear I will! Just please tell me what’s wrong!”

It’s no use. Shen Yuan’s eyes are completely shut, and Luo Yu can only tell the man is still alive by the wheezing breaths. His eyes burn, and despair threatens to drown him.

“Please….”

He frantically looks for Bingpup and finds the dog still nudging at Shen Yuan’s chest. Small black eyes are still red. Luo Yu is hit by an epiphany.

The stab wound!

There has to be something wrong with it. Luo Yu has noticed that Shen Yuan has been clutching his chest more and more lately. Every time he tried to ask about it, his Shifu would waive him off with, “It's nothing A-Yu.” Apparently, it hadn’t been nothing.

Luo Yu reaches out a hand to move his Shifu’s robes aside so he can look at the scar on the man’s chest. It looks completely normal, but something about it feels insidious. Luo Yu can’t help but glance back at his Bàba’s pained face and whisper, “You said we weren’t supposed to keep secrets from each other.”

Luo Yu knows he probably isn’t being fair. He knows his Bàba probably didn’t realize how serious the wound was. It looks completely normal. He knows there had been other signs though. Signs that his stubborn guardian had probably ignored.

He wasn’t sure what to do. Tears flow from his eyes, but he viciously wipes them away. He doesn’t have time to fall apart. His Bàba needs help.

Looking around, he notes the couch near the fireplace. He may be able to…

Luo Yu turns to Bingpup, “I need to move Bàba to the couch. Keep doing… whatever you’re doing to help him.” The dog gives a boof of acknowledgement.

He gently props his Bàba’s torso up. He carefully moves his hands under the unconscious man’s arms and stands up. Shen Yuan’s weight is heavier than expected, and they are both are nearly sent tumbling back to the ground. Luo Yu manages to steady them. He refuses to put his Bàba through any more pain.

Dragging an unconscious adult is a hard task. Luo Yu perseveres, and is rewarded for his efforts when he carefully drapes the top of his Shifu’s body on the couch. Once he’s sure his Bàba won’t fall off, he moves to pick up Shen Yuan’s legs that are still hanging over the couch. He carefully readjusts his Bàba into a comfortable position.

Bingpup hops onto the couch and gets as close as possible to Shen Yuan’s chest. Red eyes glow as they focus on repressing whatever darkness lies in the healed stab wound. Luo Yu wants to collapse next to them, but he needs to figure out a way to fix all of this. Bingpup’s ability didn’t seem like it was actually going to be able to heal the issue.

He wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. There was no healer he could go running to. There wasn’t anyone at all he could go running to. Luo Yu realizes that their isolated existence does come with downsides after all.

The library looms around them. With little options, he temporarily leaves Bingpup to watch over their unconscious family member. Luo Yu quickly heads to the medical section of the library. There may be something there that can tell him how to heal his Bàba.

****

There was nothing.

Hours have been spent pouring over books and scrolls. He’s identified that the cause of his Bàba’s pain has to be some kind of resentful energy left over from his Father’s sword. However, nothing he read spoke of how to cleanse such a thing.

Luo Yu angrily tosses the book he’d just finished across the room. He leans back against the couch. He had moved all of the medical books to the floor by the couch so he can read them while remaining at his Bàba’s side.

The unconscious man hasn’t woken up again. His Bàba’s face sometime clenches in pain, but Bingpup eyes will always flash a deeper red, and the cultivator will relax again. Luo Yu knows that the Harmonic Demon dog won’t be able to keep this up forever. He purposely doesn’t think of what will happen when Bingpup tires.

Luo Yu grabs a scroll. When he opens it, he’s surprised and disheartened to see it’s an alchemy scroll. His brewing skills have already proven that this will be useless for this situation. He’s about to toss it across the room when a word catches his attention.

He tightens his grip on the scroll and reads it thoroughly. The scroll contains instructions on how to make a Ginkgo Purification pill. The main ingredient, the ginkgo herb, is one of the oldest in the world. It is said to be able to cleanse all forms of malicious energy. It should even be able to cleanse the resentful energy from a legendary demon sword. Luo Yu’s budding hopes were crushed when he looks at the directions.

They were incomprehensible.

The directions flew right over Luo Yu’s head. Distill the herb? Fumigate the area? What did any of that mean?! Plus, Luo Yu wasn’t even sure they had the stupid Gingko herb in the alchemy lab.

Luo Yu felt like tearing his hair out. He’s finally found a solution, but it’s useless! If only he was good at alchemy. If only he was smarter. If only he had realized his Bàba was suffering in the first place!

A tiny, pink tongue licked the side of his face.

His despair recedes a bit. Luo Yu looks over his shoulder and sees a red-eyed Bingpup staring at him in concern. Luo Yu’s breath hitches, and his voice come out wobbly as he tells the dog, “I don’t know what to do.”

Bingpup whines in sympathy, and gives Luo Yu’s cheek another lick. He was overwhelming grateful for the dog’s presence.

Luo Yu looks around Bingpup to his Shifu’s sleeping form. It may have been his imagination, but the cultivator’s breathing seemed to be growing progressively more labored. He’s hit with a pang of fear. What will happen if he can’t…

He shakes his head. He refuses to think of the worst. There has to be something that can help his Bàba. He puts the alchemy scroll in his sleeve. If all else fails, it might be his last resort.

The piles of books and scrolls are daunting. He moves to grab one to read, but he’s stopped short by the oddest tugging in his chest. Luo Yu raises a shaky hand to pat at his chest. Was his Bàba’s condition contagious?

No, he was being ridiculous. The tugging in his chest was like a gentle pull. Insistent, but there was no pain. Luo Yu suddenly recalls how his Shifu had mentioned this before. It was the blood ward’s defense measure! Shen Yuan had described it as an annoying tug that leads you in the direction of any would-be intruders.

Luo Yu knows exactly who’s trying to get in the wards. It has to be the only monster who always turns up to ruin his life. Rage engulfs him. He’s more angry than he’s ever been in his entire life. He realizes that this entire situation was that monsters fault!

His Bàba was stabbed by his Father’s sword. That sword had poisoned his Bàba. Now, the monster has to show up at the peak of Luo Yu’s helplessness. It was like his Father was mocking them. Shen Yuan lets out a groan of discomfort, and it’s the final straw.

Luo Yu rushed to stand. He looks at Bingpup, “I’ll be right back. Please take care of Bàba.”

The dog’s eyes widen in bewilderment, but Luo Yu doesn’t wait for a response. He runs out of the library, and takes off for the front door of the manor. Distantly, he can hear Bingpup barking in alarm. He knows the dog won’t follow him. Not when Shen Yuan needs the pup to stay.

Luo Yu grabs the sword that his Shifu keeps by the entrance, and flings the door open. He would get his Father to tell him how to fix his Bàba, or he would die trying.

*****

Luo Binghe leisurely swings Xin Mo at the blood ward.

His plan to coerce Shen Yuan into speaking with him was going… slowly. The cultivator was more stubborn than he’d expected. His visits to the man’s dream realm have been interesting if nothing else. Shen Yuan truly has a strange mind. The images conjured there have been frivolous and strange.

He would almost be amused if the situation wasn’t so frustrating. Shen Yuan continues to ignore all of his questions. Luo Binghe has lost his temper more than once, and been forced to retreat when the cultivator retaliates by throwing things at him.

Last night’s dream had been different. Shen Yuan had still steadfastly ignored him, but the man had been distant. In an intageable way. The dream realm dealt with aspects of the soul. Sitting on top of that ridiculous cloud, Shen Yuan’s soul had seemed… faint. Far fainter than it should have.

When the cultivator had rubbed the area where Xin Mo had been stabbed, he immediately discerned the problem. Shen Yuan was obviously an idiot who didn’t know how to properly take care of a wound dealt by a demon sword. Luo Binghe decided to be generous and provide a warning. After all, it wouldn’t do for Shen Yuan to die anytime soon.

Shen Yuan actually seemed to heed it too. Luo Binghe thinks he might have even gotten the beautiful man to talk to him if something hadn’t gone wrong. The dream realm had simply dissolved around them, and Shen Yuan had fallen towards him.

Instinctively, he moved forward to catch the man. Luo Binghe would have managed it too, but even now, the blood ward would allow him no physical contact. Shen Yuan fell through his arms. The last thing he sees is the cultivator descending into oblivion with the dream’s stars falling around him.

He awoke quietly to the real world, and rested there for a long, unknown amount of time. Something about the way Shen Yuan had fallen had him feeling discontent.

Eventually, Luo Binghe arises to get dressed. It wouldn’t do to put off his new daily routine any longer. It may even help him dismiss the odd weight in his chest.

He’s kept true to his plan. When he awakes he attacks the blood ward’s barriers, and when he’s asleep, he meets with Shen Yuan. During the day, he doesn't seriously attack the blood ward. No, it’s all a waiting game. He’s merely… alerting the mountain inhabitants of his presence. Sooner or later, they will have to acknowledge him, and he’ll have an opportunity to discuss the terms of his readmission into the mountain.

Luo Binghe has to be cautious. Painfully patient. Every step he takes will be for the future of his plans. If he can enter the blood ward, he can find a way to destroy it. He’s sure of this.

Now, he’s outside the mountain barrier again, and attacking it lazily with Xin Mo. It was almost peaceful. A mindless exercise that allows him to avoid all of his troubles.

The residents of the Palace have become more tiresome of late. It seems that the longer he lingers there; the more likely it is that someone will try to track him down. He’s been forced to seek out a few of his wives in order to keep Xin Mo under control, and they were almost too enthusiastic to see him. They had behaved strangely and seemed… disingenuous. They try to question him when all he wants is to be quiet. It makes him even more reluctant to spend time with them.

He needs to check on his newest Advisor soon. The last time he’d seen her, Ning Yingying had hunted him down and asked about the ghost rumors. He’d told her the facts, and she had listened to him patiently. She’d offered her help, but Luo Binghe would not involve her in his matters unless necessary.

She truly has fit into her new position seamlessly. Ning Yingying has even discarded the robes that marked her as his wife. Her new ones remind him of their old sect’s robes. It should have made him bitter, but they honestly suited her. In all that has happened lately, the changed relationship between them has been the only thing that has left him content.

Xin Mo pulses in his hand, and he briefly pauses his assault to glare at it. The sword has been aggressively temperamental. Perhaps, it was unhappy with being discarded after Shen Yuan had demanded it be left behind for that meeting over a week ago.

It’s as he’s contemplating his weapon, that an attack is unexpectedly sent his way. A small blurred figure runs towards him with a glinting blade aimed right for his throat.

Luo Binghe easily diverts the attack with a flick of his sword. Metal meets metal, and he’d surprised to see that his would-be attacker is none other than Luo Yu.

He’s hit with a sudden insight. The boy he has been trying to return to the Palace has just foolishly exited the blood ward. He smirks. It seems that his patient waiting has paid off in ways he hadn’t expected.

Luo Yu yells in fury before trying to attack again. He allows the boy to vent his obvious anger and takes time to observe.

His eyes narrow.

There’s something wrong here. He had first assumed that the boy had grown impatient and decided to try and kill him in secret. For why else would there be no protective guardian (or God forbid the mongrel) hovering behind the boy. The child’s appearance spoke otherwise.

Luo Yu is dressed in an ensemble of black. The boy’s face is flushed an angry red, and there are… dried trails where tears must have fallen. It’s the eyes themselves that make him stiffen. It creates an opening that allow the boy to actually slice through the sleeve of his robe.

Furious with what he sees, Luo Binghe disarms Luo Yu and grabs the boy by the hood of the ridiculous cloak. He lifts the child into the air before demanding, “You let that fool adopt you?!”

Ignoring him, Luo Yu flails and tries to strike him. The boy’s reach is too short. It seems to infuriate Luo Yu into shouting back, “I’ll kill you! You monster, this is all your fault! Everything always your fault! Why won’t you die?!”

Luo Binghe was focused on his own dilemma and lightly shakes the child, “Answer the question boy. Why have you let that fool adopt you? Do you realize what you’ve done?!”

Hazel eyes glare at him. The exact same shade as Shen Yuan’s. They glare at him far more fiercely than Shen Yuan’s ever have. Luo Yu practically hisses, “I know exactly what I’ve done! I’ve become the son of someone who actually gives a damn about me!”

Luo Binghe grits his teeth and barely restrains his rage, “A blood adoption ritual will wreck ruin upon your heritage. Your Heavenly Demon blood will never awaken no—.”

“I don’t care! I never want to be anything like you!”

The words were more effective than any blow.

Xin Mo thrums darkly at his side, and he speaks without thinking, “You’re useless now.”

Luo Binghe immediately regrets it when he sees the boy visibly flinch at the words.

Luo Yu recovers faster than he does and hazel eyes go cold, “I’ve always been useless to you.” The words seem to spark a wildness in the child, “Now tell me what you’ve done to my Bàba! Tell me how to fix what you’ve done!”

Almost dazed, Luo Binghe mutters, “I’ve done nothing to your…Bàba. What are you—-.”

Ah. It seems that his warning had come too late.

He should have realized far sooner than this. He should’ve known the moment Luo Yu appeared without Shen Yuan following behind the boy’s footsteps. He starkly remembers the dream from last night. The image of the cultivator falling into oblivion as the dream realm dissolved around them.

Luo Binghe feels strangely numb as he stares into the accusing eyes of his son.

“Your foolish guardian should’ve handled the issue long before now. The fault lies solely with him for not cleansing his wounds properly.”

“Liar!”

Luo Yu swings his fists at him again and yells, “Don’t try to blame him! This is all your fault! None of this would’ve happened if you hadn’t just left us alone!” The boy tries swinging his feet to kick him. “Tell me how to cleanse the resentful energy!”

Luo Binghe is horrified to realize that the boy’s eyes are beginning to look suspiciously shiny. The hairs on the back of his neck rise, and he feels his eyes widen. He quickly gets ahold of himself before Luo Yu takes note of his panic.

“Shen Yuan needs to enter into secluded cultivation. The fool should find a cave dense with spiritual energy and purge the resentful energy.”

Hearing that he’s actually getting answers, Luo Yu reluctantly stops attacking him. “Bàba can’t— Bàba can't move right now. Tell me of another way!”

Luo Binghe can’t look directly at those watery eyes as he remains silent.

The boy goes worryingly still. “You— there’s got to be another way! Why won’t you tell me? I— I’ll go back to the Palace with you! Just tell me how to fix him!”

This wasn’t how Luo Binghe wanted things to go. Capturing the boy and returning him to the Palace was supposed to leave him feeling victorious. Listening to Luo Yu’s pleas makes his chest feel hollow.

He sets the boy on the ground.

Luo Yu jolts in surprise at the release. The boy actually pauses for a moment before wasting no time flinging himself at Luo Binghe to attack.

“Tell me how to fix it!”

He dodges the boy’s attack and says something he has never before admitted to anyone, “I don’t know how.”

Luo Yu stops his attacks. “You don't know how? What do you mean you don’t know how?!”

The child looks at him in open despair. Luo Binghe remains damningly silent. It’s just as he said. Luo Binghe has never researched further ways to cure a wound of Xin Mo’s resentful energy. Why would he? Most of his victims he actually wants to die.

The child looks seconds away from complete hysterics. Luo Binghe prepares himself for the worst, but is bewildered when Luo Yu frantically starts pawing at his robes. He immediately thinks that boy has gone mad, but is proven wrong when the boy pulls out a scroll from his sleeve. Said scroll is unraveled and shoved towards his face.

“Can you brew this?”

Luo Yu’s demanding question echoes throughout the wasteland.

Luo Binghe gently grasps the scroll and looks at the contents. He scans the words and realizes what the boy is trying to do. Unfortunately, Luo Binghe has never pursued the art of alchemy. This formula is useless to him.

Seeing the hopeful face turn dark at Luo Binghe’s silence, he quickly interrupts the boy’s inevitable accusations, “I cannot, but I can bring someone who can.”

The hope transforms Luo Yu’s face into a small smile. He is blindsided by it for only a moment before the boy seems to remember who Luo Binghe is. The smile vanishes, and the boy looks at him darkly, “What do you want in exchange?”

The question surprises him. What does Luo Binghe want? He could tell the boy that he wants nothing. He could help the boy and Shen Yuan out of honest concern. It would be the kind thing to do. The right thing.

Lou Binghe has never been a good man.

“I will bring you your alchemist, and in return you will convince Shen Yuan to allow me to… visit once a day.”

Luo Yu hesitates before glaring, “Once a month!”

The audacity of the boy. Luo Binghe is almost proud. “Once a week. That is my final offer.”

The boy looks ready to angrily refute the offer, but worry for his guardian wins out. Luo Yu grits out a, “Deal.”

Luo Binghe grimly nods, “Good. I shall return shortly with my part of the bargain.”

He tucks the scroll in his sleeve and swipes Xin Mo through the air to create a portal. The boy sees this and is wise enough to start heading back to the safety of the blood ward. Luo Binghe is about to step through he portal when he hears a quiet voice say, “I’ll never let you rest in peace if Bàba dies.”

Luo Binghe glances back into angry hazel eyes. He nods in acknowledgement and steps through the portal.

He would have obtained the alchemist whether the boy had agreed or not. Luo Binghe could not allow Shen Yuan to die without answering his questions. It would also be a shame to let such an interesting man perish because of something Luo Binghe has unintentionally caused. No matter how much calamity the cultivator brings.

Luo Binghe steps into Mobei-jun’s private study. He hadn’t expected to return here so soon. The doors to the study open, and a nicely dressed figure walks in with a pile of books in their arms.

Mobei-jun’s husband quickly catches sight of him, and promptly drops everything he’s holding. Luo Binghe watches the wreck of a man stutter a greeting, but impatiently interrupts, “You’re coming with me.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 24: Airplane Shooting Toward His Doom

Shang Qinghua has many complaints.

His old life had been… lacking. Bills upon bills were a constant. Even his dreams had been full of them. It was because of those bills that his writing career had gone from complex to… simple. Shang Qinghua had written some frankly excessive face-slapping content. He hadn’t originally started Proud Immortal Demon Way with this intention, but he was poor and had to make a living somehow.

Luo Binghe had been his only point of pride. Well, Bing-ge and his pretty decent villain: Shen Qingqiu. Although, he’d had to leave out the villain’s tragic backstory. It still bothered him, but it was his protagonist that kept his most hateful readers coming back for more. Dropping all his cooler plot ideas in order to make ends meet was a necessity. The harem gathering had been pretty mindless work, and it had allowed his to pump out chapters day after day. He hadn’t actually wanted to dumb down the female leads and turn everybody else into canon fodder!

It just had to be that way.

It haunts him now. An ever-present guilt weighed down on his shoulders every time he got a good look at the world around him. The people were miserable, the harem were miserable, and even his protagonist was miserable!

How much better could everyone’s lives have been if he had actually written out the plot he’d originally wanted? How much happier would these miserable souls be? Was it really all his fault that things had turned out like this? Was he the orchestrator of misfortune or merely a tool of fate that had written about a world that had already somehow existed? It was all enough to give him an existential crisis.

Fortunately, things weren’t all bad. After all, he was now married to the handsomest ice demon to ever exist! It really was a funny story in itself.

Shang Qinghua had died in his old life after he had accidentally knocked over his ramen while mocking one of his favorite anti-fans. The noodles had splashed all over his electronics. He had only been trying to get them all back up and running when he'd been electrocuted by something and died.

He’d woken up to a void of nothing. A computerized voice that sounded like google translate shouted in his ears, “UNAUTHORIZED USER DETECTED!! Please standby for reconfigurations!

“Reconfiguration incomplete! ERROR! ERROR! ERROR! Welcome UNAUTHORIZED USER: AIRPLANE SHOOTING TOWARDS THE SKY! I am the SYSTEM and will be your temporary interface. Your role has already been fulfilled by another USER! An ERROR has also been found with the available substitute! UPPER MANAGEMENT has been notified so please wait patiently!”

Annoying elevator music had filled the nothingness. He hadn’t known what the fuck was going on then, and today, he still doesn’t really know. Eventually, the System’s monotone voice had returned, “Apologies for the wait! UNAUTHORIZED USER: AIRPLANE SHOOTING TOWARDS THE SKY due to an ERROR, you have been granted THE KEY ABILITY: (1) REVIVED ROLE. We shall be sending you to the previously deceased ROLE: SHANG QINGHUA! Please stand-by for TRANSFER!

He hadn’t had a moment to think before landing face first into a grave of some kind. What followed next was a lot of panic and frantic digging that Shang Qinghua didn’t like to think about. Eventually, he had escaped his earthly imprisonment and found himself in an unmarked burial mound.

The burial mound was covered in dead grass. Ice dotted the cold ground, and he wept when he realized that he was probably going to freeze to death.

Except, he didn’t.

He had stumbled his way into a nearby town. He’d been covered in dirt and the most pathetic looking robes a person could find. He looked like the walking dead. Looking back, Shang Qinghua supposes that actually had technically been the case.

He’d managed to find an abandoned run down shack. The shack had blessed him with blankets and enough wood to light a fire. He’d stumbled through the process, but he finally felt alive again. Warm and sleepy, he had taken a moment to simply breathe.

Something fell from the ceiling and smacked the top of his head. Startled, he flailed briefly before spotting a letter lying on the ground. With shaking hands, he opened the letter and read its contents.

*
SYSTEM:
UNAUTHORIZED USER: AIRPLANE SHOOTING TOWARDS THE SKY,

Due to an unknown ERROR, you have been gifted the THE KEY ABILITY: (1) REVIVED ROLE. ROLE: SHANG QINGHUA has long been DECEASED in the setting of your novel, PROUD IMMORTAL DEMON WAY. This ROLE was the only one suitable for your soul, and we apologize for any inconvenience! Please note that your new KEY ABILITY comes with many perks! UNAUTHORIZED USER has been gifted a body that is full of cultivation!!! Your KEY ABILITY gives you INVULNERABILITY! Nothing can harm or kill you for the duration of your writings!!

CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Important things should be said three times!! Please work hard to undo the damage created by the original goods! A happy life is waiting if you just work hard!!

Due to the amazing generosity of the UPPER MANAGEMENT, UNAUTHORIZED USER: AIRPLANE SHOOTING TOWARDS THE SKY will receive no further help from the SYSTEM!! You will not be able to change the PRIMARY PLOT of PROUD IMMORTAL DEMON WAY, but allowances have been made for your situation. It is highly recommended that UNAUTHORIZED USER work to procure the original good’s old position. The world you have transmigrated into is currently a DANGER CATEGORY 4!! Good luck!!

(SYSTEM would like to advise working hard to retrieve HEART POINTS! UNAUTHORIZED USER will surely find great rewards!!)
*

The newly dubbed, Shang Qinghua, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after reading the letter. Invulnerability? A newly revived cannon fodder role? He cursed his tragic fate. The System could have at least transferred him into the protagonist, but no! He’s stuck as his useless canon fodder villain. If his body has already been killed before than that means his novel is already well past Luo Binghe’s blackening and world takeover. He was truly in hot water now!

Looking around at his shack, Shang Qinghua decided that he would do his best to survive. Danger Category 4 seemed ominous, but he has a plan! The letter has given him advice on what to do next.

Thus began Shang Qinghua’s long journey to his world’s Northern borders.

It was a long arduous journey that he only survived due to his new cultivator body that didn’t need food and his invulnerability skill. There had been far too many close calls. Bandits, wild creatures, and even nature all seemed to be out to end his new life. He learned a lot about where exactly in his novel’s timeline he had ended up.

Luo Binghe has recently merged the human realm with the demons. The odd contrasting landscapes made that apparent. It was like some weird apocalyptic setting got mashed with a healthy normal one and bam! The new world has been created. He’s seen a lot of demons and humans on his travels, and both were wary of the other. It seems that only the protagonist’s iron fisted rule was keeping the races from going to war.

Well, that and the oppressing might of the emperor’s war generals. The two generals traveled to any location with even the slightest hint of an uprising and left behind a bloody battlefield of corpses. All had learned to fear the bloodthirsty demoness and ice demon. Their names were spoken in hushed whispers

None of this should be a surprise for the man who wrote these characters. At most, he should be a few beats behind on any new information before catching up once he recalled the events. This was and wasn’t the case.

Shang Qinghua’s memory was… spotty. It was filled with clouded memories of the future, but past events he can remember with stark clarity. It left him feeling discombobulated. One minute someone would be talking about something, and he’d experience a flash of the event that he’d written. Almost all memories came back in hindsight. After it was too late for him to do anything about anything.

At least his general knowledge of characters, creatures, and plants had remained. He would be struggling far more than he already was without it.

When he finally arrived in Mobei-jun’s territory, Shang Qinghua got himself tangled up in a battlefield. From the looks of it, fire demons from the south were attempting to invade the ice demon’s territory. Things weren’t going well for them.

A beautiful woman dressed in revealing red robes and silver jewelry tore through the demons with sharpened claws. The demon woman used no weapon, but was covered from head to toe in blood. She was horrifyingly gleeful in her pursuit of victims. She only came to a stop when there were no longer any fire demons left alive.

From his hiding position in a tree, Shang Qinghua suddenly recalled most of what he’d written about Sha Hualing.

She had once been known as a Saint in the Demon Realm. However, she hadn’t cared for the position after marrying Luo Binghe and claimed a spot as one of the half-demon’s war generals. She had slowly became more and more bloodthirsty as she’d grown older, and it had suited the Emperor thoroughly. Shang Qinghua had written many intense papapa scenes between them when they had met on and off the battlefield.

Now, she was standing in a battlefield of fire demon corpses. The woman happily stood still and licked the blood off her lips. She was very, very terrifying. Shang Qinghua thought he might faint in fear if she comes near him.

The terrifying woman was soon joined by the handsomest man Shang Qinghua has ever seen. The man had pointed ears and long black hair that gleamed in the winter light. A blue demon mark lay directly on the man’s pale forehead. The man was buff. Dark, fur lined robes were parted to reveal a defined chest. Shang Qinghua practically drooled.

This handsome man could be not be anyone but the ice demon king Mobei-jun. He wanted to give himself a pat on the back and crow to the world over how perfect the demon was.

Said perfect demon turned cold eyes in the direction of his hiding spot. Before Shang Qinghua could blink, a shard of ice flew straight towards his heart. The attack would have succeeded if not for his invulnerability. The ice bounced off his chest anticlimactically.

Shang Qinghua nearly had a heart attack. He squeaks in belated surprise before promptly falling out of his tree. Cold snow envelops him.

He doesn’t move from his fallen position and decides to play dead. Eventually, two pairs of footsteps crunch through the bloody snow towards his prone form. He hears a woman’s voice coo, “Aw, look Mobei-ge. It looks like a pathetic little human cultivator. It’s too bad you killed him so quickly.”

A heel is pressed into his back and he squeaks. The foot presses harder, “Oh! He’s still alive. How wonderful. Please let me play with him, Mobei-ge!”

A cold voice cut through Shang Qinghua’s suffering, “Get off. This worm looks familiar.”
Damn, even Mobei-jun’s voice is attractive. He really had outdone himself.

The heel was taken off his back and a boot nudged his side. Shang Qinghua trembled as his face was turned towards the two war generals.

He watched in fear as icy eyes turned subzero. Mobei-jun glares down at him and without hesitation, tried to stab Shang Qinghua in the eye with an ice spear.

He did what any rational person would do in this situation. Flailed and flung himself at his attacker’s legs. He manages to dodge the ice weapon and cling to a well muscled leg.

Mobei-jun attempts to shake him off, but his grip is too strong. Shang Qinghua’s life may not technically be in peril, but he was too panicked to think rationally.

The ice demon hisses out in fury, “Let me go, you worthless scum. You’re supposed to be long dead. Let me finish the job.” A smaller dagger of ice formed in the demon’s hand and was swung to stab into Shang Qinghua’s skull. He closes his eyes and clings tighter.

The ice pinged off of his head. It felt no more painful than a light tap, and a stunned silence follows. With eyes squeezed shut, Shang Qinghua misses the way the two war general’s gape at him.

The ice dagger came back down and pecked at his head. As if testing to see if it really couldn’t impale into his skull. He felt nearly delirious with fear.

He hears Sha Hualing hesitantly mumble, “Maybe it’s defective?”

Mobei-jun eventually gave up on trying to harm him and demanded, “Shang Qinghua, how are you alive?”

Shang Qinghua had not really prepared a cover story. Tears trailed down his face as he spoke the first thing that came to mind, “I faked my death? Of course, I faked my death! I couldn’t let the cultivators kill me so I used an ancient spiritual tool to create a… clone! Yes, a clone body that they beheaded. The price of the artifact is that I had to sleep for many years. As soon as I woke up, I just knew that I had to come to you my so—king!”

“Do you think he’s insane?”

Mobei-jun gives Sha Hualing a dry look at the question before attempting to shake Shang Qinghua off his leg again. Too bad for the ice demon! He’s activated his ultimate sticky mode. He doubts he can unlock his arms even if he wanted to!

The ice demon began to grow exasperated, “Filth, I will find a way to kill you if you don’t let go.”

The demon’s only response was the impossible tightening of the clinging cultivator’s grip. Sha Hualing threw back her head and laughed, “It looks like you can’t get rid of that parasite, Mobei-ge! Your leg is forfeit at this rate!”

A glare shut her up.

Shang Qinghua took this as an opportunity. “Please, my king! The artifact gave me an invulnerable body! I’ve turned over a new leaf, and I swear to serve you better than ever! I can clean your covers, sweep the floors, and I’m super great at doing paperwork!”

The female war general snorts, “What are you, a maid?” She turns to her irritated companion, “I think you should agree, Mobei-ge. It’s not like it’ll be a real threat. I’m sure the parasite will be entertaining. I know you’ve been terribly bored of late.”

Mobei-jun was busy trying to physically pry Shang Qinghua free, but the demon gave her a brief glower. Sensing another opportunity, he opened his eyes and looked up at the ice demon. Making sure to look as pitiful as possible, Shang Qinghua tried to channel every sad animal commercial he has ever seen.

The demon responded with a full body flinch. Which was just… ouch. He knows he must look gross with all the fluids flowing from his face, but the handsome demon didn’t need to look so weirded out.

An odd silence drew out.

Well… whatever. So what if the handsomest demon Shang Qinghua has ever seen wants nothing to do with him? He could figure out a new plan! Maybe. He wasn’t exactly sure where to go from here, and he still had no plans to let go of the very nice thigh he has his face pressed against.

Mobei-jun speaks and interrupts his downward spiral, “Fine.”

With that scarily grumpy word, the ice demon began to move. Step by step, the war general awkwardly stomped through the snowy terrain with a terrified cultivator attached to his leg. Sha Hualing trailed behind them in not so quiet amusement, and they all headed in the direction of Mobei-jun’s ice fortress.

And that is how Shang Qinghua came to live in the northern kingdom. He did eventually let go of Mobei-jun’s leg and was given a small chamber to reside in. The ice king was wary of him for a long time, but he was given the role of errand boy. With hard work and a lot of tears, Mobei-jun eventually seemed to grow used to his presence.

Sha Hualing also grew fond(?) of him. The female war general was apparently something like a younger sister to Mobei-jun so she visited often. She calls him a parasite, but has stopped throwing knives at him when she got bored. Shang Qinghua thinks of it as progress!

The real break in his new life didn’t come until later. A banquet was to be held, and all of the lords and ladies of the region had been invited. Shang Qinghua had been scrambling around like mad trying to help the other servants get things prepared.

It was only during the middle of the banquet, did he suddenly remember just what plot point this was. A smaller lord had grown angry with the ice king after he had destroyed one the lord’s villages. Luo Binghe had ordered their annihilation after they had treated one of his newly acquired harem members terribly. Luo Binghe had been too busy with papapa, and Sha Hualing had been away; so Mobei-jun had been given the task.

If anyone was to blame it was the Emperor, but the small lord was canon fodder through and through so he’d devised a plan to poison the war general’s cup during the banquet. Shang Qinghua had written that the poison turns out to have an aphrodisiac effect on demons. Mobei-jun drinks the poison and ends up having sex with Sha Hualing after killing the small lord. Luo Binghe finds out eventually and punishes Mobei-jun severely before having a wonderous bout of jealousy fueled sex with his wife.

Shang Qinghua felt like he was going to be sick. In the time he has spent in the fortress, he’s come to realize just how close Sha Hualing and Mobei-jun were. How real they were. His king truly was the exasperated older brother to her wild younger sister vibe. Granted, a more murdery younger sister vibe, but that didn’t matter. He had no doubt that they would both be repulsed by the idea of sleeping together.

Shang Qinghua has been doing a pretty good job at managing his guilt complex, but times like these brought it roaring back. Frantically, he tried to spot his king in the banquet crowd.

There.

Mobei-jun was seated on his throne looking cold and unapproachable. To Shang Qinghua, the handsome demon just looks bored, but that didn’t matter as he watched a servant hand the ice king a goblet of wine.

Shang Qinghua ran. He pushes his way through expensively dressed demons and humans. He leaves outcries and curses in his wake. None of it matters as he was hyper focused on that goblet. He trips on an outstretched foot and flails on the floor before the throne. Shang Qinghua quickly recovers and shouts.

“Don’t drink it!”

Mobei-jun’s eyes widen when they see him. Those cold eyes narrow before glancing down at the goblet. The ice king raise the goblet and gives it a delicate sniff. Nostrils flare as they smell something amiss, and Mobei-jun tosses it aside in fury.

The tall demon stands up and storms over to Shang Qinghua’s fallen form. A pale hand grips him by the collar and lifts him off the ground. As Shang Qinghua is dangled before his king like a naughty kitten, he can’t help but think of how gorgeous the ice demon’s face is.

Mobei-jun shook him slightly, and Shang Qinghua broke out of his entranced daze, “What?”

His king gave him an exasperated look and repeated his question, “Fool, who poisoned the goblet?”

“Oh! Yes, that’s super important! Sorry got distracted by your handsome fa— Ignore that!”
Shang Qinghua desperately glanced around the banquet hall before pointing, “There! That little human lord over there. He’s got a super lame grudge against you. A total scumbag with no redeeming qualities.”

Mobei-jun doesn’t look in the lord’s direction. Cold eyes stare at him discerningly. Like they want to pick Shang Qinghua apart and see what makes him tick. Almost hesitantly, his king asks, “Why did you save me?”

Shang Qinghua looks at the handsome demon in bemusement. Still being held by his collar, he asks, “Why wouldn’t I save my king?”

That gets him another long, intense stare. Shang Qinghua sweats and trembles nervously. What is up with this stare-down? Shouldn’t the ice demon be off killing the traitorous canon fodder?

As if his king hears the unvoiced questions, Shang Qinghua is gently placed back on his feet. The war general gives him one last look before taking off to hunt down his enemy. Sha Hualing appears out of nowhere to walk beside the demon. Likely sniffing out that some form of violence was about to go down.

The night ended with the bloody corpse of the little poisonous lord being thrown off one of the fortress walls.

Things changed after that. Or rather, Mobei-jun changed after the incident. The ice demon started hunting Shang Qinghua down and beating him up for no apparent reason. Invulnerability aside, his poor stress levels rose drastically. Maybe the demon king unknowingly senses that he was kinda responsible for the almost poisoning incident. Like, maybe some kind of sixth sense told the demon to beat Shang Qinghua up for his past crimes of writing terrible plot points. He knows that a certain cucumber critic would have approved.

For years this odd dynamic continues. At some point, he even starts receiving strange gifts from the ice demon and is given nicer chambers. Shang Qinghua’s work tasks have him solely working for his king, and no other servants are allowed to boss him around. Mobei-jun gets weirdly techy when anyone gets too close to him.

He goes to ask Sha Hualing about it one day. She had just come back from a random encounter with a wandering Liu Mingyan. It had resulted in them engaging in a vicious battle. The demoness was worse for wear but seemed pretty content. She was smiling happily even as she spat out blood. When he’d asked if she was alright, she replied with, “I love a good fight! That woman is more vicious than any demon.”

Shang Qinghua found that whole dynamic weird since he remembers writing it as a sort of ‘wives fight over their husband’ plot point, but the two women seemed like they couldn’t care less about the man. They were simply in it for the fight. He wasn’t sure if they were the bitterest of enemies or the strangest of friends.

When he had asked her about Mobei-jun’s strange behavior, Sha Hualing had laughed in his face. The war general mockingly cooed at him for “obviously not doing a good enough job at being a parasite” before flouncing back to her own home to recover from her wounds. The visit had only made him more confused.

The situation with Mobei-jun comes to a dramatic peak when he meets his darling son for the first time.

Luo Binghe is every bit the beautiful stallion protagonist that Shang Qinghua had written him to be. Unfortunately, he is not a woman to be pushed down so the protagonist gives him a dark, terrifying look when he pops into the ice fortress through a portal created by Xin Mo. The red mark on the half-demon’s forehead lets him know exactly who the man was, and Shang Qinghua trembled in fear.

His king appears like a messenger from God and promptly places him behind the ice demon. Shang Qinghua gets a much more pleasant view of Mobei-jun’s strong back. Glancing down without shame he nearly lets out a whistle. Damn, this man is fine. All of his suffering is worth it for this kind of view.

As if sensing his indecent thoughts, his king turns his head back to give him a discerning look. Shang Qinghua queaks and tries to act like he wasn’t just checking out the demon’s…. assets. Snorting, Mobei-jun turns back towards the protagonist, “My Emperor, how can I be of service?”

His king was always so straightforward.

Luo Binghe eyed his war general in reluctant amusement, “Mobei, I am not in need of your service today. In fact, I came to see my wife and offer my congratulations on your courtship.” The half-demon pointedly pauses, “Imagine my surprise when I see Shang Qinghua. I had believed that An Ding Peak’s spy had perished long ago, so what is he doing still alive?”

Mobei-jun stiffens. Shang Qinghua gets a fantastic view of how his muscles tense. Unfortunately, he can no longer appreciate this under such a tense atmosphere. He trembles and clutches the back of his king’s robes. Oddly, this makes the demon relax.

Mobei-jun monotonously replies to the question, “He faked his death. It took him many years to recover and return to my service.”

Luo Binghe hummed in consideration, “Interesting.” The Emperor smiles disarmingly, “I won’t pester you both further. Your returned spy seems far more… frail than before, but who am I to judge. Congratulations again on your courtship.” After that weird response, the Emperor left to go seek out his wife.

Mobei-jun stood still long after the Emperor left. From Shang Qinghua’s position, the ice demon’s pointy ear looked strangely purple. With the threat gone, he walked around his king and peaked up at the demon. “My king, you’ve been courting someone?”

Cold eyes stared down at him blankly.

“Idiot.”

Mobei-jun turned to leave, and Shang Qinghua trailed after him. He was so confused. When had his king started courting someone? Why hadn’t he noticed? Did he really write the demon with a love interest? His foggy memories provided no answers.

His king abruptly stops, causing Shang Qinghua to ram right into the demon’s back. The tall demon quickly turns around and grabs him firmly by the shoulders. Cold eyes glare into his own, Mobei-jun grits out an unexpected question, “Shang Qinghua, how do you see me?”

Confused, he hesitantly replies, “As my king?”

“And?”

Was this some kind of a trick question? “And as a war general?”

This answer does not seem to be what his king was looking for. The serious face twists into a scowl, “You called me handsome.”

Shang Qinghua stares at the demon in shock. When had—- when could he have possibly called the man handsome out loud?! He was usually super careful! WTF?!

Suddenly, the memory goes off like a light bulb in his brain. He breathes out, “At the banquet…”

Mobei-jun jerkily nods. He seems oddly out of sorts.

Everything clicks into place.

Shang Qinghua gapes at the ice demon, “Have you been courting ME?!”

His King lets go of him and rears back as if offended, “Of course. Do I need to rip off your hand to make it more apparent?!”

Stunned, he asks, “Why would you—- Why would you want to rip off my hand?! I need this hand. I create things with my hands! Is this why you’ve been beating me up?! Why would you—.”

Wait.

Karma has come for him, and he hadn’t even realized it. Hasn’t he written that demon’s often show affection through physical violence? It was one of the reasons, demon women ran off to be with Luo Binghe. Blackened as he was, he treated all women with respect. It was one of his son’s good points. However, that didn’t change the fact that most other demons still followed the custom.

By demon standards, Mobei-jun has been treating him pretty gently. His invulnerability even made it so he can’t bruise, but still! The last few years had been bewildering! Ok, maybe he has also been receiving some pretty lavish gifts, but how could he have known that Mobei-jun apparently looked into and insisted upon human courtship etiquette as well?!

Alright, maybe he was an idiot.

Looking up at his practically sulking king, Shang Qinghua felt overwhelmed by sudden affection. This handsome man has been trying to court him for— for years! Nobody’s ever treated treated him with such devotion!

His heart is pounding in his ears. His face had to be a bright tomato red, and Mobei-jun has gone from looking sulky to slightly concerned. In a moment of insanity Shang Qinghua gathered together all the scraps of his courage and flung himself at the demon.

His king easily catches him despite the obvious surprise. Pale lips opened to say something, but Shang Qinghua interrupted them with his own.

Needless to say, his king enthusiastically reciprocated, and things ended with a very terrible session of papapa.

Later, they do their research before attempting it again, and it’s far more pleasurable for both. Sha Hualing somehow still ends up mocking them both. He also receives a shocking post it sticky note from the System congratulating him on collecting all of Mobei-jun’s heart points. The less thought about that the better.

A decade later, the two dress in red and throw a small wedding. Even Luo Binghe is invited. The protagonist has an odd look in his eyes throughout the entire ceremony, but Shang Qinghua is too happy to care about it until much, much later. He bows three times and drinks wine with his new husband. They thoroughly celebrate their union for weeks.

It takes two more decades for Shang Qinghua to open up about his past. Mobei-jun cradles him through the entire story, and seems disconcerted but accepting of the new information. When he questions his king, the demon gives him a firm look and says, “You were never the old Shang Qinghua. I always had my suspicions, but it doesn't matter. You’re mine, and we’ll deal with your…novel... together.”

Shang Qinghua had been a weepy mess after that. His husband holds him and calls him an idiot, but his touch is gentle and fond.

Shang Qinghua becomes something of a stay at home scholar/househusband after that. His odd bits of knowledge build him a reputation, and even Luo Binghe drops by occasionally for advice. It is his son’s recurring appearances that brings back his overwhelming guilt.

He is kept away from the capital. His husband has some kind of beef with one of the Advisors that live there. The old Huan Hua Palace Master and Mobei-jun hated each other’s guts, but the Emperor favored them both so neither could do anything to one another. The advisor’s presence in the world was a notable gray spot in his memories, but he felt curiously relieved to have nothing to do with the elderly cultivator.

Luo Binghe was a different kind of issue. His son was absolutely miserable, and the man hadn’t the slightest clue. It made him feel particularly terrible because technically all the half-demon’s problems had been caused by him. Him and his lazy writing. It’s like his son could almost see that his life didn’t make sense in a lot of ways, but naturally couldn’t make the last jump in logic that would reveal how messed up it all was.

So he made sure to help Luo Binghe whenever the man needed it. Tried to fill his void of guilt with his as much information as he could give. His husband eventually caught on and gave him a firm talking to.

“It’s not your fault.”

Shang Qinghua looked at his husband pitifully, “He’s my son, and I treated him terribly.”

Mobei-jun stares at him with a pained expression, “He’s not your son, and he made his own choices.”

“But—.”

The handsome demon pushes him against the nearest wall, “It’s not your fault. Never.” The ice demon kisses him, and thoroughly distracts him from all his negative feelings.

Surprisingly, Sha Hualing shows up after a couple of days with a solution.

“Alchemy?”

The female war general gives him a deadpan stare and confirms, “Alchemy. You’re good at creating things, and your husband told me about how you used to write so I figured this would be a better solution.”

Shang Qinghua stares, “You guys talk together about me?”

The woman who was practically his sister-in-law snorts, “Yeah parasite, we do. Who do you think has to put up with your husband in our duties as generals. Honestly, Mobei-ge gets so grumpy when you’re not around. But… he worries about you.” She hesitates. “I’ve grown fond of you too parasite. So get your head out of your doom clouds and start learning. There’s a world of Alchemy that’ll let you help people or whatever. I personally prefer the poisons.”

Shang Qinghua cries so hard that Sha Hualing actually flees to find his husband. Said husband gently throws him over a strong shoulder and makes him drinks a cup of water before tucking him in their bed.

Over the next decades, he becomes something of a master in Alchemy. People visit the ice fortress just for his help in brewing. It’s refreshing and satisfying, and he absolutely loves it.

It’s all so perfect. Naturally, the alternate world incident happens and throws a bump in the road.

Actually things really start to take a turn for the concerning when Mobei-jun mentions how unstable the weather is becoming in the north. Without thinking, Shang Qinghua had replied with, “It must be beginning then.”

His husband had paused, “What is?”

Shang Qinghua started from his haze, “Huh? Oh! I… don’t know. I just had a really bad feeling all of a sudden.” Over the years they had both learned that when he had bad feelings, terrible things often followed.

As terrible things go, this one took way too long for Shang Qinghua to understand. It wasn’t his fault! He rarely left the north so he couldn’t be blamed for not noticing how imbalanced the world has become. It was only his husband’s discerning eye that helped him piece the connection together.

They were entering the end game.

Shang Qinghua’s story did have an end. He didn’t remember it, but he suspects it wasn’t a happy one. Unfortunately, with little information he can’t do much. So he gets down to research on how to figure out what exactly is wrong and how to fix it.

The alternate world incident comes completely out of left field. No one was prepared for that particular fiasco. Or more accurately, no one was prepared for Luo Binghe’s meltdown after the incident.

The Emperor nearly went mad looking for ways to attempt dimensional travel. He grew distant from his harem and overly reclusive in general. Some claimed it was all for a research venture. Others, planning to take down a new enemy. A few brave souls whisper of a husband in another world. Shang Qinghua saw it all as the flailing struggles of a man that had finally realized he was drowning.

It’s like the incidents shook something in the world. Brought forth an awareness that had been missing. For better and worse, things had changed.

His son had come to him for answers, but he’d had none to give. He couldn’t exactly tell the man that he’d come from an entirely unrelated ‘other’ world. So he’d given the half-demon what little books they had and kept guiltily silent. Mobei-jun had already demanded that he say nothing to the Emperor about his origins.

Sha Hauling seemed to be bizarrely okay with her husband’s distance. Shang Qinghua has asked her about it, and she’d given him a sharp smile before saying, “I gave up on that man falling in love with me a long time ago. The sex is nice, but combat is where the real rush is at.”

He carefully didn’t call her out on being terrifying, and counts his blessings. At least the demoness likes him, and he doesn’t have to feel guilty about her lot in life.

Not too long after the alternate world incident, he finds another post it note from the System.

*
SYSTEM: WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! Your world has risen to a DANGER CATEGORY 5!! Please use your KEY ABILITY wisely!

*

The note gave him anxiety for weeks.

He now remembers that Xin Mo is the cause for the world’s current imbalance. Unfortunately, that opens up a whole new chest of issues.

How can they possibly talk to Luo Binghe about this? It wasn’t like he or his husband could casually suggest that the Emperor’s ‘perfect’ world had flaws. Shang Qinghua knew better than anyone just how much the half-demon lives in an escapist fantasy. Not to mention how Luo Binghe’s dwindling interest in his harem will eventually have consequences.

Xin Mo needs to be kept under control. The demon sword’s ultimate goal will always be to devour its wielder. The protagonist wasn’t being as careful as he should be.

With no other options, Shang Qinghua looks into alternatives. He’s got to have written something that can restore the worlds balance.

Right?

It’s as he’s knee deep in such research, that the source of their incoming doom appears in Mobei-jun’s private study. Shang Qinghua is nearly buried alive by books in his fright.

What follows next is a tale that is something he absolutely did not write. His memory might be shot, but he is positive that he never wrote about any kind mountain with a barrier that even Xin Mo can’t destroy. It would’ve been like writing blasphemy! Nothing is supposed to be impossible for his protagonist!

Fortunately, his husband appears in the study halfway through Luo Binghe’s surprise visit. The ice demon is quietly protective and lets Shang Qinghua do most of the talking. It’ll never not be strangely adorable how his husband protects him despite his invulnerability. It never failed to make him feel warm inside.

All content feelings were lost after Luo Binghe reveals there’s some dude in the Huan Hua mountain range that looks just like Shen Qingqiu living on the (impossibly) indestructible mountain. This unknown cultivator has even taken off with the one of the Emperor’s kids! It’s a miracle the guy isn’t 6 feet under right now. Though, he apparently got stabbed by Luo Binghe and rescued by a pet Harmonic Demon dog. His son ended up sending his poor kid into a Qi-Deviation before the Shen Qingqiu look-alike got the kid inside the mountain barrier.

The story was simply insane!

He really felt for the poor guy that had the audacity to look like Shen Qingqiu. He seems to have meant well with taking in the kid but wow. That really was a stupid move on their part. Drawing Luo Binghe’s attention is never a good idea. Now, Shang Qinghua’s son will never leave the cultivator be.

Not really knowing how to deal with the situation, he’d mentioned what he knew of blood wards and sent his son to obtain advice from his old dream demon advisor. The protagonist’s golden halo should take care of the rest.

Probably.

It was only after the half-demon was done being scary and preparing to leave that he remembers that he really should mention how their world was slowly dying. Frantically, he tries to stop his son from leaving, “Wait! There’s something we need to talk about! It’s about the state of the world! It's super bad and you—.”

His son rudely dismissed him and leaves to go terrorize Meng Mo. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, Shang Qinghua leans back into his husband’s hold and sighs.

Mobei-jun gives up the quiet act and stares down at him in concern, “What do you know of these events?”

Shang Qinghua flaps waves a hand as if to shoo away the question, “Nothing! Really, I don’t know anything, and that’s the problem. I’m almost 100% positive that I have nothing to do with that blood ward or that Shen Qingqiu guy!”

His husband hums in contemplation. “Events are changing then. We’ll deal with it later.”

He sputters at the disregard for the severity of their situation, “Later?! We need to deal with this as soon as possible! We need to figure out how to fix the world and what’s up with that weird mountain cultivator. He’s definitely not one of my characters! We should go after Luo Binghe and make him listen.”

“Don’t be an idiot. You know better.”

Shang Qinghua does know better. They really can’t get too involved in this kind of mess. They’ll be dragged into some kind of plot that will take him away from his research on how to fix the whole mess. Besides, it’s not like he can affect the ‘primary plot’.

He calms down and reluctantly nods his head at his husband in agreement.

“Don’t pout.” With those words his husband abruptly stands and carries him bridal style out of the study.

“Wha— what are you doing? I need to finish that book I was reading. There’s this really interesting theory that describes—.”

The ice demon interrupts him by answering his question, “Distracting you.”

Somehow they end up in their bed chambers before Shang Qinghua can think. His king keeps his word and distracts him thoroughly.

He does eventually get back to his fruitless research. Book after book still yields no results, Shang Qinghua feels like there’s signs everywhere pointing at him and mockingly calling out, ‘DOOM.’

He’s walking into the study with a pile of borrowed books when Luo Binghe reappears after weeks of radio silence. He drops everything and stares in terror as the protagonist demands he gather his alchemy gear and his most advanced materials. Shang Qinghua immediately complies, and is too panicked to even question why.

Luo Binghe’s patience is even more nonexistent than usual. The half-demon seems strangely… worried. As soon as he has all his things together, he’s tossed through a portal and lands in the dirt.

He quickly scrambles to stand upright. Shang Qinghua looks around at his new environment. It looks like a barren, dirt wasteland. There are random bits of shattered metal pieces scattered around, and some even combine to create piles. Turning around, he’s startled by the absolutely massive volcano that stands before him.

It takes only a split second for dread to kick in. He’s pretty sure he knows exactly where he is. Shang Qinghua’s fears are confirmed when he uses his Qi to enhance his eyes. He can just barely make out the blood ward creating the volcano illusion.

Luo Binghe steps through the portal behind him, and he desperately fights the urge to cry. It looks like he’ll have to apologize to his husband later for getting unwillingly involved. His despair is broken by a young voice asking, “Is he supposed to be your master alchemist?”

He looks to the source of the disbelieving voice and make out a tiny figure standing within the barrier. Shang Qinghua can just discern a child that can only be Luo Binghe’s when he’s hit with a sudden rush of memories.

Eyes widening, he looks at Luo Yu in dismay.

Chapter Text

Chapter 25: Operation: Heal the Cucumber (Part 1)

Luo Yu wasn’t sure who he was expecting when his Father agreed to bring a master alchemist, but this man wasn’t it.

The supposed master alchemist that had just fallen out of a portal was trembling in blatant fear. The man was a lot younger than what he was expecting. Where was the wizened elder? This youthful man looked moments away from passing out. How was such a pitiful person supposed to help him fix his Bàba?!

Luo Yu tried to dismiss his judgemental thoughts. His Shifu would be ashamed of him for ‘judging a book by its cover’. He would withhold his criticism until he’s seen the man at work. If the man did fail or attempt anything untoward....

Luo Yu clenched his borrowed sword tighter.

His Father stepped out of the portal not long after the alchemist got his bearings. Luo Yu had made sure to be well within the blood ward before the Emperor returned. For all he knows the monster could go back on their deal and force him back to the Palace. He couldn’t let that happen.

Not ever.

Shaking his head, he called out to his Father, “Is he supposed to be your master alchemist?”

Better safe than sorry.

His Father seems to be able to easily discern the cause of his disbelief and snorts. “Boy, I would not bring anyone but the best. Shang Qinghua is a skilled cultivator and alchemist despite his… appearance.”

The newly identified, Shang Qinghua, was staring at him strangely. The trembling had mysteriously vanished, but the look on the man’s face was somehow worse than before. He stared at Luo Yu like he was something tragic. It was unnerving and made his hair stand on end. He didn’t know why this complete stranger would stare at him like this. His Father seems equally bewildered.

The Emperor’s confusion turns into a glower. Shang Qinghua catches sight of the look and that terrible expression finally vanishes. The alchemist exclaims, “Hahaha! So what’s all this about? You guys need my alchemy skills? What for?” The alchemist nervously glances at his Father, “You don’t want me to like kill anyone right?”

Luo Yu is instantly enraged by the question, “If you even think about trying to kill anyone, I’ll end you!”

Shang Qinghua immediately turns to him with his hands raised, “Woah kid! I don’t actually want to! I was just asking. This humble cultivator is very confused okay?! I was not expecting any of this!”

The alchemist speech dissolved into ramblings. The man’s panic at the idea of killing anyone slightly calmed Luo Yu. This cultivator was likely just someone who had been dragged here on his Father’s commands.

Said Father seemed to be fed up with the entire situation. The demon pulled out the scroll Luo Yu had given him, and thrust it into Shang Qinghua’s face. “You will brew this. The boy will let you through the barrier, and I expect you to help heal his ailing guardian. I shall return tomorrow after the situation has been resolved.” The implied threat about what would happen if the situation wasn’t resolved was not lost on either Luo Yu or Shang Qinghua.

The poor alchemist looked like he might cry. Luo Yu had never seen such a pitiful man. Unfortunately, they didn’t have time for such theatrics. His Bàba was suffering every moment they wasted.

Impatiently, Luo Yu called out to the alchemist, “C’mon! We need to brew the Ginkgo Purification pill as soon as possible! My Shifu is sick, and we need to hurry!”

Shang Qinghua seemed more than happy for the excuse to get away from the demon Emperor. The cultivator practically sprinted towards Luo Yu. Eyes widening, Luo Yu shouts, “Wai—!”

Shang Qinghua slams into the mountain barrier.

Covering his face with a hand, Luo Yu cringes as the master alchemist slides to the ground. He’d tried to warn the man! He’s never let anyone in the barrier before and was only loosely certain on the specifics. Shen Yuan was supposed to teach him more after the ritual, but…

“Shang Qinghua, you can pass through the blood ward.”

Shang Qinghua doesn’t immediately stand up. Instead, the cultivator crawls forward and through the barrier. Luo Yu almost offers his hand to help the pitiful man stand, but he’s still wary of the stranger.

Abruptly, Shang Qinghua practically springs to his feet to stare at Luo Yu in shock, “Wait, that’s a blood ward! Your dad said that it’s locked to your guardian! How can you let me in?” The man leans far too close to his face, and Luo Yu steps back, “Those eyes… that color. Definitely not anything like Bing-ge’s anymore. Did you get blood adopte—?!”

“Enough.”

His Father appeared just outside the barrier and coldly stared down Shang Qinghua. The alchemist stiffened before backpedalling, “Of course! Just ignore all of that! My Emperor, I’ll take care of everything don’t you worry!”

His Father hardly seemed reassured, but Luo Yu quickly grabbed the alchemist’s arm. Shang Qinghua looked at him in surprise, but willingly let himself be pulled in the direction of Luo Yu’s home.

As he dragged the alchemist, Luo Yu glances towards his Father and says, “We’re leaving.”

His Father pauses. The demon looks like he’s about to speak, but hesitates. Luo Yu sees some emotion flash in those dark eyes. That emotion vanishes as his Father abruptly turns around to walk away. The demon calls out as he leaves, “Do not forget our bargain.”

The Emperor cuts open another portal and vanishes.

Luo Yu grits his teeth in anger. How could he forget that stupid bargain? He looks away from the direction his Father vanished and yanks his newly acquired master alchemist harder than he means to as they walk up the mountain path.

Shang Qinghua whines, “Kid, please. There’s no need to pull my arm off. I’m coming!” The whining tone tone unexpectedly softens, “We’ll fix that guardian of yours up in no time. I actually am a pretty decent alchemist, but I need to know what’s going on.”

Luo Yu is slightly thrown by the change in attitude. The cultivator seems calmer now. Gone were the tears and trembling. The man actually seems like he might be capable of helping him. He glances back at his captive and is greeted with open sincerity. He lets the alchemist’s arm go and walks faster. Shang Qinghua matches his pace.

Seeing this, he reluctantly explains, “My Fath— the Emperor stabbed my Shifu with his sword. Through the chest. It healed, but there’s resentful energy or something left over. It’s hurting him, and I need you to brew a Ginkgo Purification pill to help. I would have done it myself if you weren’t here.”

Shang Qinghua seems unsurprised but nods understandingly, “It’s a bit complicated. How much alchemy experience do you have?”

Luo Yu says nothing.

The alchemy master takes his silence for the answer it is, “None?! This is definitely not a pill that you could’ve brewed alone, kid! You’ve gotta be careful with alchemy. It’s complicated and super dangerous!”

Not liking the sudden lecture, Luo Yu glares at the alchemist, “I’ve brewed some!”

“Some really isn’t enough, kid.”

“Stop calling me kid! My name is Luo Yu. I know I shouldn't try to do alchemy! My Shifu already told me all of that! I usually would never have even thought about it, but he’s hurt and I didn’t know what else to—.”

His throat constricts. He tightens his grip on his borrowed sword and walks faster.

Shang Qinghua follows after him. The man is quiet for a bit before hesitantly talking again, “I understand, Luo Yu. You’re in a tough situation, and I shouldn’t have started lecturing you. I promise I’ll do my very best to help you and your guardian. Cross my heart, pinky promise, the whole shebang!”

Luo Yu stiffens. He nearly stops in his tracks, but just manages to keep walking. He looks back at Shang Qinghua in shock, “Do you mean that?”

“What? No more lectures? Of cour—.”

Luo Yu interrupts, “No, the pinky swear! Do you swear a cultivator’s promise to help my family?”

Shang Qinghua looks horribly confused but replies, “Sure? I mean yes. Cultivator’s promise! I pinky swear to help you guys!” The alchemist holds out a pinky.

It reminds him so much of Shen Yuan he can hardly breathe. Luo Yu can only bare to briefly interlocks their pinkies before pulling his hand back. Luckily, he can see the manor in the distance. Luo Yu doesn’t speak further. He wants to believe in this Shang Qinghua. He glances at the alchemy master and gives a quick nod of acknowledgement before sprinting towards the manor.

He needs to get to his Bàba.

*******

Luo Yu is attacked the moment he steps in the library.

A giant fluffy creatures plows into him, and he collapses under its weight. Stunned, Luo Yu lies flat on his back as a much larger Bingpup suffocates him. The giant red-eyed dog growls down at him. Luo Yu gapes. What has gotten into Bingpup?! He tries to push at the giant furry body, “Get o-off of me! Bingpup have you lost your mind?!”

Bingpup presses him harder into the floor and growls again. Red eyes stare down at him in anger and...relief.

The sight hits him with a realization. Luo Yu is suddenly overwhelmed by guilt. He doesn’t know why Bingpup has grown big. It’s possible the transformation has to do with the energy required to help Shen Yuan. However, Luo Yu suspects that the real reason is because of him. He recalls the panicked barks that had followed him out of the manor earlier.

Had Bingpup transformed out of distress? Distress over Luo Yu running off? Could the dog really care about him this much?

A giant tongue licks his face. It’s the single most disgusting experience of Luo Yu’s entire life. He tilts away from Bingpup’s face, “Stop that!”

Bingpup licks his face again. The anger diminishes and returns to its usual contempt. Luo Yu almost wants to chuck the dog off the mountain. However, the concern is still very much present in those red eyes, and it calms his anger.

Luo Yu manages to wiggle his arms free and wraps them around Bingpup’s neck. The hug surprises the dog. Bingpup goes alarmingly still in Luo Yu’s embrace. Burying his face in the dog’s neck, he mumbles, “I’m sorry for leaving you behind Bingpup. Please don’t be mad.”

The giant dog collapses. Luo Yu squeaks as Bingpup’s heavy weight threatens to suffocate him again. It takes a few moments, but he eventually hears hears an exasperated sounding woof behind his head. Luo Yu smiles. He can tell the dog has accepted the apology.

He gives Bingpup’s back a scratch before trying to push the dog off. “C’mon Bingpup. I need to get up and check on Bàba. I’ve made a deal with—.” He’s about to explain the deal he made with his Father when a yell interrupts him.

“Get off the kid! Bad dog! Shoo! I won't let you eat him!”

Shang Qinghua stands in the library doorway looking frantic. The alchemist flaps his arms at Bingpup’s like he can conjure wind that will send Luo Yu’s captor flying.

Luo Yu doesn’t get a moment to think. Bingpup is up and out of his arms in a flash of movement. Red eyes gleam and terrifyingly fierce growls leave Bingpup’s’ bared teeth. The dog charges at Shang Qinghua in a fit of protective rage.

The alchemist freezes as his death approaches. Luo Yu shouts, “Don’t kill him!”

It’s too late.

Bingpup’s teeth sink into Shang Qinghua’s shoulder. Luo Yu watches in horror as the only man who can fix his Bàba collapses to the ground. Hearing his shout, Bingpup quickly lets Shang Qinghua go. The dog leaps back with a confused whine, but Luo Yu rushes past to check on the alchemist.

He expects blood. He expects a gaping wound and death. What he does not expect is the sight of slightly torn clothes and completely unmarred skin. Bingpup comes to stand beside him and huffs in similar confusion.

Shang Qinghua is completely unharmed.

Well, physically at least. The alchemist’s face has lost all its color. Wide eyes stare blankly at the ceiling. Luo Yu thinks the man might have gone catatonic. The shock of Bingpup’s attack has sent the pitiful man into an unresponsive state.

Hesitantly, Luo Yu pokes the man and asks, “Master Shang? Are you alright?”

The alchemist springs back to life. Shang Qinghua gasps for breath. The man frantically looks towards Luo Yu. Seeing the hulking form of Bingpup beside him, the alchemist pales impossibly further and scrambles backwards out the door and into the hall.

Shang Qinghua stutters our a shout, “B-B-Back demon!! Bad dog! Very, very bad dog! I could’ve died! Do you know how my husband would have reacted?! He’d be so mad! No biting! Bad, bad demon dog!”

Said bad demon dog looks very unimpressed. Red eyes turned to Luo Yu and promised chaos if an explanation wasn’t promptly given.

Luo Yu almost snorts in amusement. “That’s Shang Qinghua. He’s supposed to be a master alchemist. He’s going to brew a pill that will heal Bàba.”

Bingpup stares in surprise before a fluffy tail wags in excitement. Luo Yu beams a smile in return. “I know! Bàba will be all better soon!” His excitement dims as he remembers the consequences of all this, “Bingpup…I made a deal with my Father in exchange.”

The dog’s tail freezes. Sensing danger, Luo Yu hurriedly continues, “I had to! We couldn’t do anything! You can’t use your ability forever, and I was never going to be able to find a cure in time. We just have to let that monster visit once a week.” He pauses and hesitantly gives Bingpup’s head a gentle scratch, “Don’t worry, I can eject him out of the barrier now!”

Bingpup’s growls in discontent but grudgingly woofs in acknowledgement. Luo Yu sighs in relief but gets another slobbery lick for his troubles. Gross.

A cough interrupts their bonding moment.

Bingpup and Luo Yu turn to the now standing Shang Qinghua. Bingpup growls in warning, and the alchemist raises his hands in surrender, “Hey, I’m not gonna try anything, but we really should take a look at that guardian of yours before I start working on that pill.”

Luo Yu starts. He’d almost forgotten! He and Bingpup glance at each other before simultaneously sprinting towards the couch. Shen Yuan is now curled up on his side. His Bàba’s face is pale and strained. Guilt threatens to overwhelm Luo Yu. He’s wasted far too much time.

He waves Shang Qinghua to come over. The alchemist had just been standing in the doorway looking at Bingpup warily. The man hesitates and Luo Yu huffs impatiently, “Hurry up! He’s getting worse! Bingpup won’t hurt you.”

Shang Qinghua stares at Luo Yu in anxiety but nods. “Alright kid. I’m coming. Wait. Did you say the dog’s name is Bing—.”

“Hurry up!”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!”

Bingpup merely glares as Shang Qinghua approaches. Luo Yu watches as the alchemist finally draws close enough to see his Bàba. Seeing the cultivator’s terrible state seems to instigate Shang Qinghua into action.

The alchemist goes around the couch and kneels beside Luo Yu to observe Shen Yuan. Shang Qinghua starts mumbling to himself, “Hmmm. Interesting. For someone who’s caused a lot of trouble, you don’t seem like all that much? Maybe it’s because you’re sick, but I can totally fix that.”

Luo Yu watches as Shang Qinghua reaches a hand forwards to check his Shifu’s pulse. The man pauses before also checking the scar on Shen Yuan’s chest. Luo Yu doesn’t protest or interrupt like he wants to. He doesn’t want to make things worse.

Eventually, Shang Qinghua hums in consideration. The alchemist turns to Luo Yu and asks, “Do you have somewhere I can brew? You’re right about the resentful energy in the scar. Its eating away at this guy’s golden core. Couple more days…,” a cough. “Nevermind. Luckily, I managed to grab just what we’ll need to fix your guardian before your dad dragged me here.”

Luo Yu can hardly believe it. “You really can fix him? The pill will work?”

Shang Qinghua puffs out his chest, “Of course!”

Luo Yu almost hugs the man. Instead he smiles, “We have an alchemy lab! My Shifu created it for me. If you’re ready I’ll show you.”

The alchemist nods, “I’m ready. Not much either of us can do in here. Your guardian is lucky to have a Harmonic Demon dog. It’s doing a great job suppressing the resentful energy.”

Luo Yu didn’t really like how the man avoided talking to Bingpup directly, but that was an issue for later. He gives his Bàba’s hand a squeeze before whispering a promise to the sleeping man. He’d be back soon. Luo Yu stands and turns to Bingpup, “I’m gonna take Master Shang to the lab. Please continue to watch over Bàba.”

Bingpup huffs in distaste as if to say, “Of course.” The dog’s form shrinks. A much smaller Bingpup hops on the couch and lays down beside Shen Yuan. A silent guardian. Luo Yu grabs Shang Qinghua’s arm to drag the man to the alchemy lab. Bingpup’s transformation seems to have fascinated the man to the point of distraction.

“Let’s go! We have a pill to brew!”

Shang Qinghua shakes his head, “We? I think you mean me. There’s no way I’m letting you do anything.”

Luo Yu glares stubbornly, “I’m helping.” He will not accept arguments.

The alchemist looks at him strangely. As they walk, Shang Qinghua slowly speaks, “You know, you remind me a lot of your dad.”

“I’m nothing like him!”

At his immediate denial, Shang Qinghua flinched, “Alright! I’m just saying. You both are really similar in a lot of ways.”

Luo Yu glares, “Me and that monster are nothing alike.”

Shang Qinghua gave him a look that is oddly… sad, “Your dad isn’t a good person, but he’s not a total monster. He— he cares about you. Even if he doesn’t show it.”

“He doesn’t.”

“Kid, he does. If anything were to happen to you… the results wouldn’t be pretty. Trust me. I know this better than anyone.”

They’re almost at the alchemy lab. Luo Yu bitterly replies, “I don’t trust you. You don’t know anything about my Father if you think he cares about me. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”

Luo Yu’s Father does not care for him. Especially now. He’s useless to the man after all.

His chest feels heavy, but he ignores it. He ignored the terribly pitying look on Shang Qinghua’s face too. Opening the door the alchemy lab, he demands, “Enough. Here’s the lab. We need to get to work on healing my Bàba.”

He enters without waiting for a response.

He doesn’t hear the soft voice muse behind him, “Bàba, hm? That’s gotta hurt. It’s still less painful than the original outcome at least.” Luo Yu does hear Shang Qinghua ask, “What’s your Bàba’s name anyway?”

Luo Yu cleans off a table for them.

“Shen Yuan. His name is Shen Yuan.”

******

Shen Yuan’s dream realm is in a state of turmoil.

Illusions appear and vanish in the blink of an eye. Faceless figures run around in panic. Creatures of all shapes and sizes become more and more distorted. Currently, there is a bamboo forest on fire. The colors are distorted. The bamboo is red while the fire is bright white.

Luo Binghe gazes at the chaos in consternation. He has been wandering this realm for an immeasurable amount of time looking for it’s owner. Shen Yuan has yet to appear. The cultivator has to be somewhere, but the disorder of the fever dream makes the realm impossible to navigate. The landscape constantly changes, and there are holes that open and lead to a dark nothingness.

He had come to this realm in the hopes of learning about Shen Yuan’s current state. Luo Binghe also thought he might be able to obtain some information while the man is weakened. Unfortunately, Shen Yuan’s health is in a more dangerous state than he’d expected. He would gain nothing useful from this place.

Something keeps him here anyway. Luo Binghe cannot bring himself to leave until he has some form of real contact with Shen Yuan. The interaction with the boy earlier had left him disconcercerted. This is as good a distraction as any.

He sidesteps a walking vegetable. A cucumber? It wields a strange stick as it chases after a small, winged creature. The illusions vanish into a hole a moment later. Nothing makes sense here.

A small hand tugs at the back of his robes. Luo Binghe turns and is met with the face of a small child. Unlike the other illusions, the child’s features are distinct. Not blurry or misshapen. The child looks up at him with a pout and says, “I don’t feel very good.”

The child has to be around the age of five, but hazel eyes alert Luo Binghe to the true nature of this being. Despite this, he feels strangely helpless under that watery gaze. Luo Binghe has never been good with children. They’re fragile. Breakable. He’s always felt too big around them, and he long ago decided that they are best to be avoided. He tugs his robes free of the child’s grasp and stares.

The child looks up at him in visible affront. A hand tries to grab his robes again, but Luo Binghe steps away. The child glares and stomps its foot before demanding, “You really don’t know how to deal with children, do you?!”

Luo Binghe scoffs, “You are no child.”

The child blinks in surprise. “Oh. I think you’re right for once.”

The next moment an adult version of Shen Yuan stands before him. The man is beautifully flushed and hazel eyes are glazed over with fever. The cultivator looks at Luo Binghe in confusion, “Who are you again?”

His fists clench, and his mouth is dry. The cultivator looks seductive. Luo Binghe is hot with desire. It’s been so long since someone has made his blood boil like this. He reaches a hand to touch Shen Yuan’s lips but stops a hair's breadth away. He knows his touch will phase through the man.

Shen Yuan stares at his hand in disapproval. “Are you doing that thing. The palm one? I think you’re doing it wrong.”

“Palm thing?”

He’s ignored. Shen Yuan raises his hands to grab Luo Binghe’s, and he prepares himself for an attack of some sort. Surprisingly, Shen Yuan’s touch is gentle. He stares in bewilderment as Shen Yuan maneuvers his hand open with the palm facing up. A moment later Shen Yuan places his chin in it.

Shen Yuan smiles up at him in contentment. “See, this is how you do it.”

He doesn’t reply. Luo Binghe simply cups the man’s face in one hand as his mind goes blank. It’s the stupidest thing anyone has ever done. No one has ever taken such liberties with him unless they want to sleep with him, but Shen Yuan looks at him with no such intent. The cultivator should look idiotic. Instead, Shen Yuan looks….

Luo Binghe pulls his hand back as if it’s been burned. Shen Yuan makes a grumpy noise of protest that does not make him feel strangely. Instead, he tries to push the man away from him. His hands phase through Shen Yuan. The blood ward is still at play, and Shen Yuan is the only one who can initiate physical contact.

“What’s your problem? You’re super grumpy for someone who’s so pretty.”

Luo Binghe can hardly believe his ears. “Pretty?” No one has ever called him pretty. Handsome, beautiful, and captivating? Yes. But pretty? No one has dared.

“Are you sick too? You look flushed.”

Luo Binghe ignores the question and demands, “Get ahold of yourself.”

Shen Yuan wide hazel eyes narrow into an offended glare, “You’re rude. You seem familiar, but you’re mean. I don’t think I want you here anymore.”

The words are painfully familiar. A colder face flashed through his mind. Shen Qingqiu had always been so ready to be rid of him. The cold face overlaps with Shen Yuan’s, and he feels something dark claw within him. No one has ever wanted him around him around unless they can gain something from him.

A fan materializes in Shen Yuan’s hand and lightly taps Luo Binghe’s forehead, “At least try to be nice. I really don’t feel well.”

The cold face of his old teacher vanished and is replaced by the Shen Qingqiu of the alternate world. Aloof but kind. A tap of their fan a reproach but a gentle one.

“You never really look at me.”

The statement startled him out of his memories. Green eyes are gone and hazel eyes stare at him with alarming clarity. The haze of fever abates. Shen Yuan gives him an indiscernible look before repeating, “You don’t look at me.”

Luo Binghe wonders about this man’s sanity. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Shen Yuan ignores him, “You don’t look at me. You look through me. Like you’re seeing someone else or looking for someone else. You’re gonna be disappointed. I’m just me.”

Something about the words strike true in a way Luo Binghe refused to acknowledge. “Of course I see you. You’re ill. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

For once, Shen Yuan doesn’t challenge him. The cultivator shrugs, “Maybe. I really don’t feel very well.” The world around them shakes, “I’m about to wake up anyway.”

This time, Luo Binghe is the one who falls. The dream dissolves. The ground vanishes beneath him, and darkness swallows him whole.

There are no stars that light his way into oblivion.

Chapter Text

Chapter 26: Operation: Heal the Cucumber (Part 2)

Something is poking Shen Yuan’s cheek.

Shen Yuan doesn’t know what, but he needs it to go away. He’s tired and unhappy with being pulled from his slumber. His mind is hazy, and the part that’s working is alight with the single goal of going back to sleep.

Unfortunately, whatever is poking his cheek is persistent. Maybe Bingpup or A-Yu is trying to nudge him awake? Shen Yuan tries to wave a hand to bat away his attacker, but his limbs are not cooperating. This lack of action only serves to bring forth more awareness. Reluctantly, he resigns himself to opening his eyes.

His eyelids are heavier than he expected. It’s a struggle to open them. Fortunately, the lighting is low enough that he’s able to see when he does. Any bright lights would exacerbate the pounding headache that has kindly introduced itself.

Shen Yuan notes his current position on the couch in the manor’s library. An odd place to awaken but nothing too strange. He’s fallen asleep in here many times. What is different is the complete stranger leaning over the couch preparing to poke his cheek again.

Said stranger is handsome he supposed. Pleasant but not particularly noteworthy in his opinion. The man is dressed rather expensively in furs and dark blue robes. The robes look a bit torn around the shoulder. A fancy headpiece with a symbol that seems oddly familiar sits on a head of dark hair that is twisted into a neat bun. Shen Yuan dimly watches as the stranger notes he’s awake. Brown eyes widen in surprise, and a nervous smile appears. The man leans closer and says, “Oh good! You’re finally awa—-.”

Shen Yuan grabs the man’s hand and bends those offensive fingers backwards.

“Wha—hey, man! What are you doing?! Let go!” The man tries to pull his hand back, but Shen Yuan threatens, “Move, and I’ll break your fingers.”

The stranger goes still and pales. Adrenaline courses through Shen Yuan’s veins. He wastes no time pressing his adavantage and interrogating the man, “Who the fuck are you? How did you get through the barrier?” A more important thought occurs to Shen Yuan, and he presses the strangers fingers back more, “Where is my son and Bingpup?! If you’ve hurt them I’ll—.”

“They’re fine! The kid and the demon dog are fine!! They went to make you some food! Please stop trying to hurt me, man. Your name’s Shen Yuan, right? I totally saved your life! Show some gratitude!”

The confirmation that A-Yu and Bingpup are fine momentarily distracts him enough that his grip on the stranger’s fingers loosen. The man takes full advantage and yanks free of his grasp.

Shen Yuan watches through narrowed eyes as the stranger falls backwards and scrambles away. He’s too weak to chase after the man. His adrenaline has all but vanished, and he’s left feeling like he’s been run over by a car. Shen Yuan slumps back heavily into the couch.

Sighing, he closes his eyes for a moment before opening them to glare at the wary looking stranger, “Talk. You still haven’t told me who you are or where you came from.”

The stranger stands and stays a good distance away from the couch but sulkily replies, “So ungrateful! My name’s Shang Qinghua, and this mighty cultivator just saved your life! So keep those grabby hands of yours away!”

Shen Yuan ignores all that the man is saying. Too caught up on the name. His brief calm has all but vanished again. He quickly struggles to sit up. He needs to find A-Yu and Bingpup. Now.

The liar seems startled by his movement and moves closer, “Hey, you really shouldn’t be moving around right now. I literally just fixed you up.”

Shen Yuan’s limbs are just not cooperating with him. Irritated, he hisses out a strained, “Stay back! I don’t know who you are, but you’re an idiot if you think I’ll believe you’re Shang Qinghua. He died a long time ago.”

“I’m not lying! I really am Shang Qinghua. Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Shen Yuan is about to argue further but freezes. Wait a minute ... wasn't that an English quote? That and the way this man was speaking created a startling picture. A budding suspicion begins to form. There’s only one way to test it. He looks at the stranger with renewed interest and states, “Proud Immortal Demon Way.”

The possible transmigrator goes still. The man gapes at Shen Yuan in complete shock. A moment later, Shang Qinghua(?) flings himself towards Shen Yuan. He moves his arms to defend himself from the surprise attack, but there’s no need. The man falls to the ground beside the couch and leans in close to crow in Shen Yuan’s face, “I knew I hadn’t written you! I just knew it! This is so great. A fellow transmigrator! Who would’ve guessed? C’mon bro, you gotta tell me who you are. What’s your username? You had to have been a fan to be sent here!”

“Peerless Cucumber.”

Shang Qinghua beams, “Peerless Cucumber? That really does sound familiar. Let’s see… oh! It’s been so long, but how could I ever forget you? After all, you’re my favorite…..” Shen Yuan watches through a haze of red as the man has some kind of realization. Shang Qinghua slowly leans back and laughs nervously, “My favorite anti-fan.”

The man had said that he hadn’t written Shen Yuan. Shang Qinghua wasn’t merely a fellow transmigrator. He could only be one person. Shen Yuan seethes. “Airplane…”

The trash author must sense danger and looks ready to flee. Unfortunately, it’s too late. Shen Yuan is renewed by the power of spite and leaps off the couch. He tackles the source of all his troubles to the ground.

*******

Luo Yu has to admit. Shang Qinghua does indeed seem to be a master alchemist.

The cultivator was also a good teacher. Luo Yu was instructed carefully on how to chop the Ginkgo herb. Shang Qinghua had loudly but clearly illustrated the step by step process written on the scroll. When Luo Yu had a question, the alchemist would have no problem elaborating. It was nice. The tutors at the Palace had never been as patient with Luo Yu. It was almost like being taught by a louder, eccentric version of his Shifu.

When it came to the actual refining process, Luo Yu wasn’t able to help further. It was a one man job. Fortunately, Shang Qinghua continued to talk to him throughout the process.

“So how do you like living here?”

Perched on top of a table beside the cauldron Shang Qinghua was working with, Luo Yu tilted his head in suspicion but answered honestly, “I’ve never been happier.”

Shang Qinghua’s flashes him a small smile, “I’m glad. You deserve to be happy, kid. I know we’ve never met before, and it probably doesn’t make sense, but I’m really happy that you’re happy.

Shang Qinghua was right. It didn’t make sense that this man would be invested in his happiness. The master alchemist wasn’t related to him in any way. So why would the man care for Luo Yu?

Brewing and chatting with Shang Qinghua has given Luo Yu an insight into the man’s character. The master alchemist is silly, scatterbrained, and confusing. However, the man also seemed to be skilled, friendly, and kind. Luo Yu never felt belittled for his youth or lack of knowledge. He realizes that he might might actually like Shang Qinghua. He wants to trust him.

“Who are you really? I know you’re a master alchemist, but why did my Fa— the Emperor bring you of all people here?”

Shang Qinghua laughed nervously, “I’m not really sure why you’re Dad brought me of all people. Maybe out of convenience? I'm the husband of his war general, Mobei-jun.”

Luo Yu can’t contain a gasp. This man was married to one of the notoriously terrifying war generals? The ice king of the North?! How could someone who seems so scared of everything possibly be married to such a demon?

“But you seem…” Luo Yu trails off uncertainly. Unsure how to phrase it nicely.

Fortunately, Shang Qinghua doesn’t take offense. The man snorts and ruffles Luo Yu’s hair. Luo Yu yelps indignantly and bats the hand away. Shang Qinghua avoids his flails and turns his attention back to the refining process. “I seem pretty normal right? I’m not sure how I did it either, but it works. He loves me, and I love him. We chose each other. That’s all there is to it. It didn’t happen in a day. It took us a while to get to get where we are, but I can’t imagine my life without him.”

Luo Yu has never heard of relationships discussed like this. His Father relationships have always struck Luo Yu as shallow and distant. The women of the harem were all wrapped up in their own affairs and looked towards the Emperor in greedy devotion. In return, his Father looked at them as if they were pretty items in a collection. Shang Qinghua spoke of his husband with such warmth. Brown eyes soften in fondness and… love.

Luo Yu only knows what real love looks like because of his new family. The love Shang Qinghua speaks of is a different kind but similar in the ways that matter. It makes him want to trust the alchemist more. It’s time to be forthright.

“Can I trust you?”

“What?”

Shang Qinghua glances at him in blatant confusion. Luo Yu presses, “Can I trust you? You weren’t hurt when Bingpup attacked you. You work for my Father, and I can’t trust him. Will you hurt my family if he asks you to?”

Confusion turns into understanding. The alchemist considers him seriously. A heavy silence settles across the lab. Luo Yu is essentially asking Shang Qinghua if he’ll betray the Emperor for his family if it comes down to it. Betray the demon who Shang Qinghua’s husband works for. Luo Yu suddenly realized that his question is naive and unreasonable. Why would this man ally with strangers? He’s about to speak up and say nevermind, but he gets a response before he can.

“Yes.” Shang Qinghua pulls out a pill from the cauldron he’d been working with. The alchemist solemnly turns to look Luo Yu in the eyes. “Yes, you can trust me.”

Luo Yu believes the man. There’s a strange quality to the words. An unspoken promise that resonates between them and speaks of honesty. He’s not sure how he can tell the man is being truthful, but he does. Shang Qinghua isn’t lying.

“Why?”

Why help them? What’s in it for Shang Qinghua?

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Luo Yu. I’ve caused a lot of harm. I never meant to, but I did. You… I have a lot to make up for. Again, it probably doesn’t make sense, but it’s the least I can do for you, kid. You can trust me.”

It really didn’t make sense. Luo Yu wants to interrogate the man further, but he’ll leave it for now. He doesn’t think that Shang Qinghua will elaborate more on the matter. He huffs and grabs the finished Ginkgo Purification pill from Shang Qinghua’s hand.

“I’ll trust you for now, but I’ll be watching you. My Shifu will have the final say.”

He doesn’t wait for the alchemist to respond. He takes off for the library with the pill carefully cradled to his chest. Finally, he can fix his Bàba.

Luo Yu practically flies through the library doorway. Bingpup spots him immediately from his spot beside Shen Yuan’s sleeping form and barks a greeting. He beams at the dog and goes to crouch beside his family.

“Look Bingpup. It’s done!”

He shows the dog the pill. Bingpup’s tail wags so hard it looks invisible. Red eyes glow in excitement and Luo Yu’s can’t help but smile.

He looks at his Bàba’s pained expression and hesitates. Excitement fleeing as fast as it had come. How was he supposed to get his Bàba to take the pill?

As if in answer to his distress, Shang Qinghua walks through the doorway and calls out in exasperation, “Kid, you’ve gotta stop taking off like that! You’re way too energetic.”

The alchemist notes Luo Yu’s uncertainty, and makes a noise of understanding. Shang Qinghua walks to the couch and looks down at the sleeping Shen Yuan. “Ah. Yeah, that’s a problem.” The alchemist collapses on the ground next to him and gently nudged his side, “Scooch over, I’m gonna try to wake him up for a sec.”

Luo Yu obediently moves, but grumbles, “You better not hurt him.”

Bingpup remains curled up near Shen Yuan’s chest. Red eyes promise destruction if anyone tries to move the dog. Shang Qinghua audibly gulps at the look but gingerly takes Shen Yuan’s hand. “Kid, as soon as he wakes up. You’ve gotta get him to take that pill.” Luo Yu realizes what the man plans to do moments before he has time to protest.

Luo Yu senses the surge of Qi that travels from Shang Qinghua to Shen Yuan. His Bàba’s eyes jolt open. Hazel eyes are unfocused and confused. A gasp of pain leaves Shen Yuan, and Luo Yu would have tried to strangle Shang Qinghua for this if they didn’t have such little time.

He surges forward and speaks fast, “Bàba, it’s alright! You’ll be okay! I need you to take this pill for me please.”

Shen Yuan looks at him with little awareness. Luo Yu doesn’t even think the man understands him, but something must get through because his Bàba gives the slightest of nods. At the confirmation, Luo Yu gently presses the pill into Shen Yuan’s mouth and watches nervously as the man struggles to swallow it. His Shifu manages but immediately passes out again afterwards.

Shang Qinghua lets go of Shen Yuan’s hand with a sigh, “Phew! Glad that’s done. He should be right as rain by tomorrow morning.”

The alchemist turns and is met by a pair of equally fierce glares. Neither Bingpup and Luo Yu are happy. Shang Qinghua throws up his hands in surrender, “Hey! Don't look at me like that! This humble cultivator didn’t harm Shen Yuan.”

“It hurt him!”

“Give me some face, you two! I wouldn’t actually hurt the poor guy. He was already in pain. It just wasn’t apparent while he was unconscious. He had to be woken up one way or another, but I did it in the nicest way possible.”

Bingpup seemed just as displeased with the answer as Luo Yu was, but someone has to be pragmatic. His Bàba had indeed needed to be woken up. Now, the tension is Shen Yuan’s face seemed to be easing. Luo Yu sighs heavily before gritting out, “Fine, but don’t do that again.”

Bingpup growls a promising threat.

Shang Qinghua looks like he might cry again but doesn’t protest. The alchemist leans away from the couch and dramatically collapses face first on the floor. Luo Yu thinks he hears the man start mumbling about everything being “totally unfair”, but he’s too busy trying to squeeze next to his Bàba on the couch.

He’s not sure what time it is, but it has to be late. Luo Yu feels exhausted. His eyes no longer want to stay open, but he refuses to go sleep in his bedroom. Bingpup moves to help make space. It takes some careful maneuvering, but eventually they both managed to cuddle into Shen Yuan’s side.

Resting his head on his Bàba’s arm, Luo Yu makes eye contact with Bingpup. The dog’s eyes are no longer red, and it eases the worry that he’s been feeling all day. He gives the dog a tired smile, “Thanks again, Bingpup.” The dog gives a quiet boof of acknowledgement before small black eyes close. Bingpup has to be even more exhausted than Luo Yu after expending so much energy stabilizing Shen Yuan.

Luo Yu peeks over at Shang Qinghua who is eyeing them with an odd look. It’s somber but strangely… content? The alchemist is weird so who knows what the man is thinking. Still, Luo Yu knows he owes the man a great debt.

“Thank you Master Shang.”

The alchemist starts. “What for?”

Luo Yu gives the man a deadpan stare, “For helping my Bàba.”

Shang waves away the thanks, “Oh that. Don’t worry about it, kid. It’s the least I can do, and a lot of people could’ve done it.”

Luo Yu disagrees. It wasn’t like there were master alchemist’s everywhere. Alchemists are rare and hard to find. Good alchemists are even rarer. “Thank you anyway. I owe you a great debt that I’ll be sure to repay.”

“Don’t worry about i—.”

“I will.” Luo Yu stubbornly interrupts. Something in his tone seems to make Shang Qinghua realize he won’t be able to get out of this. “Alright. I doubt I’ll ever need anything from you, but whatever makes you feel happy, kid.”

Luo Yu nods decisively. He hesitates before saying, “There’s plenty of guest rooms in the manor for you to rest in.” It would be rude to have the alchemist sleep on the floor.

Shang Qinghua laughs. “Now you’re nice to me.” Luo Yu tried to protest, but Shang Qinghua ignores it, “I’m just teasing. You’ve been extremely nice given the situation. I think I’ll just stay here for the night. There’s a lot of interesting books here, and I don’t feel like sleeping.”

He really shouldn’t let a stranger read Shen Yuan’s books. Who knows what secrets could be hidden that his Shifu didn’t want anyone else to know. However, Luo Yu had already decided to trust the alchemist.

“Just don’t read anything you shouldn’t.”

It was a vague demand that could be easily ignored, but Shang Qinghua looks at him seriously, “I promise I’ll avoid anything important.” Shang Qinghua suddenly smiles, “I’m sure your guardian won’t mind giving me permission when he wakes up.”

Luo Yu wasn’t so sure about that. His Shifu was very particular about their library. The cultivator takes great care in keeping it clean. Luo Yu and Bingpup had been scolded fiercely the one time they gotten carried away and made a mess of it. Shen Yuan treasures the books as if they’re made of gold. Even the ones that are ‘completely trash’ as his Shifu puts it.

He snorts knowingly but doesn’t cure Shang Qinghua of his delusions. He turns away from the alchemist and buries his face in his Bàba’s side. Tomorrow, Shen Yuan will be awake, and everything will be fine again.

His sleep that night is dreamless. Luo Yu doesn’t wake up once, and it’s only the sounds of low growling that has him awaken once more. The library’s lighting indicates that it is morning. His Bàba peacefully sleeps beside him. He places a hand gently over his Bàba’s scar and carefully sends his Qi to prod at the wound.

There’s no trace of resentful energy.

Luo Yu smiles. It had worked! He wants to jump for joy but lies still so he doesn’t disturb his recovering guardian. Another growl diverts his attention.

He looks towards the table they had done the blood adoption ritual. Shang Qinghua seems to have amassed piles of books on it. The man himself is settled into a seat beside it. However, the alchemist does not look peaceful. Bingpup is underneath the table. Tiny teeth are sunken into the man’s left shoe. Shang Qinghua seems to be quietly begging the tyrannical dog for his freedom.

Luo Yu trembles with quiet laughter. It seems like Bingpup has found someone new to bully. Poor Shang Qinghua didn’t seem like the type to stand up for himself either. With Shen Yuan unconscious the dog didn’t need to pretend to behave. It was the perfect recipe for anarchy that Bingpup thrived in.

Shang Qinghua hears his laughter. The alchemist looks up and towards him like Luo Yu’s a lifeline. “Kid! Please save me! My foot can’t take much more abuse!”

Luo Yu snorts and says, “Stop calling me kid. I doubt you’re in any pain.” Despite the words, he obligingly gets up. He carefully crawls over his sleeping Bàba and goes to rescue Bingpup’s newest victim.

It takes some work. Bingpup seems to be in prime form today. Luo Yu would’ve thought the dog would still be tired, but Bingpup loves to defeat expectations. He’s pretty sure the dog would bend reality to its will if it meant chaos would reign supreme.

Eventually, Shang Qinghua is freed. The alchemist flees across the library to stand near Shen Yuan’s sleeping form. Shang Qinghua points an accusing finger at Bingpup, “You’re worse than you’re namesake!”

Luo Yu is offended on Bingpup’s behalf. “No he’s not! Bingpup is the only Bing that matters.”

Bingpup starts in surprise at the defense. The dog’s black eyes gleam before Luo Yu suddenly has his arms full. A tiny pink tongue licks at his face and he cranes his face back to avoid it. “B-Bingpup! Stop! Oh, gross.”

He resigns himself to his fate. Shang Qinghua watches them from across the room with an expression that says the man doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The alchemist does neither and merely sighs.

“You two… whatever. Who am I to interrupt the cute child and dog Kodak moment. On to business! I’ve gotta check on your guardian, Shen Yuan, over here. Why don’t you guys go grab us all some breakfast.”

It wasn’t a bad suggestion. Luo Yu cradles a calmer Bingpup and gives Shang Qinghua a discerning glance. The alchemist looks at him tiredly. Luo Yu suddenly feels a bit guilty. He knows Shang Qinghua is a cultivator who doesn’t need to sleep, but the man looks exhausted.

“We’ll get breakfast.”

Shang Qinghua sags in relief, “Thank God.”

Luo Yu gives his sleeping Bàba a quick glance. The man is still resting peacefully. It should be fine to leave briefly. He gives Shang Qinghua a quick nod before leaving with Bingpup to get some fruits from the garden.

On arrival, he sets Bingpup on the ground and gets to work quickly. The whole affair doesn’t take long. He places the fruit in a basket and grabs four cups and a pitcher of water from the kitchen for them to drink. Bingpup happily hops around him as he gets everything together. Once finished, they both headed back to the library.

Luo Yu is approaching the door to the library, when he hears it. A loud wailing noise. It sounds like… terror spikes through him. He drops his basket and rushes inside.

The sight that greets him is entirely unexpected.

Shang Qinghua is pinned to the ground. The man cowers and desperately tries to defend himself from the onslaught of attacks being reigned down on his raised arms. The culprit is none other than a very awake Shen Yuan. Luo Yu’s Bàba look positively enraged. One of the paper scrolls that Luo Yu had piled near the couch is being wielded as a weapon. His Bàba viciously smacks at Shang Qinghua with the paper scroll.

“—-A-Yu. Do you know what kind of problems I’ve had to deal with because of you?! The protagonist won’t leave me alone!”

Shang Qinghua wails, “Cucumber-bro, it’s not my fault! You’re the one who looks like Shen Qingqiu!”

Another wack hits the pitiful alchemist. “Excuse you, this is my normal face! I don’t know why everyone thinks I look like some kind of carbon copy of that scum villain, but I know it’s all your fault!”

“Cucumber-bro, it’s really not—-.”

Shen Yuan hits him harder with the paper scroll.

Luo Yu can hardly comprehend what he’s seeing. His Bàba seems almost familiar with Shang Qinghua. Like they might know each other? Regardless, Luo Yu is much more concerned with how his Shifu is finally awake.

He lunges forward. “Bàba!”

Shen Yuan barely has time to turn towards him in before Luo Yu tackles the cultivator to the ground. His Bàba makes a startled noise, but arms quickly move to catch him as they fall. Shen Yuan tumbles off of Shang Qinghua. The alchemist wastes no time fleeing for his life, but Luo Yu ignores the man.

Sobs wrack through his body. He clutches at Shen Yuan’s robes and buries his face in the cultivator’s shoulder. The only word he can say is Bàba. Over and over he chants the word like a grateful prayer.

His Bàba carefully cradles him. A familiar hand runs through his hair and is accompanied by soothes noises. “There, there. A-Yu, I’m alright. Everything’s alright.”

Luo Yu cries harder. The emotions he’d been repressing return full force. “You weren’t! You were dying, Bàba! I thought I— I thought the adoption ritual—- .”

He weeps.

His Bàba holds him tighter, “Oh, A-Yu. No. Look at me A-Yu.” Luo Yu shakes his head, but a hand tilts his face upward. His Bàba concerned face is blurred by his tears. “No, A-Yu. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I didn’t take proper care of myself obviously. I’m sorry.”

Luo Yu heaves shuddering gasps. It’s only when he nods to show he understands that his Bàba releases his chin. Luo Yu quickly buries his face back into the man’s robes. Shen Yuan lets him and cradles him carefully. The two lie there for an immeasurable amount of time.

A yelp brings Luo Yu back to reality.

He slowly pulls away. Slightly embarrassed, Luo Yu wipes his face and rolls off of his Bàba. He’d forgotten they have company. Another yelp draws his attention to the library entrance.

It seems that Shang Qinghua had decided to try and escape while Shen Yuan was distracted. Bingpup wasn’t having it. Bingpup had grown large again and flattened Shang Qinghua under the dog’s weight. The demon looks threatening and unimpressed. Ever the bully.

Shen Yuan sees this and laughs mockingly at Shang Qinghua. His Bàba gives Luo Yu’s head a quick pat before moving to stand. Unfortunately, his Bàba seems to have underestimated his own strength. The cultivator pales and slumps back to the ground.

Luo Yu is beside him in an instant. “Bàba, take it easy. You’ve just recovered. Here! Let me help you back to the couch.”

Shen Yuan looks frustrated, but gives Luo Yu a small smile of gratitude. Together they stumble to the couch. They both ignore Shang Qinghua’s cries for help.

Once Shen Yuan is resituated on the couch, Luo Yu sits beside him. He watches as his Bàba peers over the back of the couch to glare at Shang Qinghua. “It serves you right you shitty author.”

Shang Qinghua is outraged, “Serves me—- I saved your life Cucumber-bro! You should be groveling in gratitude!”

Bingpup casually rests his head on the alchemist’s chest. Shang Qinghua’s stiffens in fear.

Luo Yu looks between his Bàba’s apathetic face and the pitiful form crushed under Bingpup. Shang Qinghua really had done a lot for them….

He tugs at Shen Yuan’s robes, “Bàba, he really did save your life. Without him you would’ve…”

Shen Yuans visibly softens. “I understand, A-Yu.” The cultivator sighs in resignation before turning to the pair on the floor, “Bingpup, let him go.”

Bingpup huffs before transforming back into his normal form. The tiny dog gives Shang Qinghua one final glare before hopping over to join Luo Yu and Shen Yuan on the couch. Shang Qinghua remains lying on the floor for a moment more before moving to stand. The alchemist looks like he might make a break for the exit, but Luo Yu calls out quickly, “Please stay!”

Shang Qinghua sighs and lies unconvincingly, “I wasn’t going to leave.”

The alchemist seems to shake away his fright and points an accusing finger at an unamused Shen Yuan, “Cucumber-bro you’re still just as cruel and vicious as you were back then!”

“And you’re just as much of an idiot.”

Luo Yu looks at the two in confusion, “Do you two know each other?” Shang Qinghua hadn’t once indicated that Shen Yuan looked familiar.

Shen Yuan looks reluctant but answers, “We were acquaintances.”

Shang Qinghua interjects, “Bro, we may as well have been friends!”

“Shut up, it was purely business.”

The two start to bicker, but Luo Yu sits frozen and unhearing. This conversation… it sounds like something he’d only ever heard about from the Palace guards. A form of business where you might not see the others face. He never would have thought that his Bàba would have this sort of business relationship with someone!

Luo Yu blurts out, “Was Master Shang a prostitute?”

Both Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua seem to choke. They gape at him in horror. Slowly, his Bàba’s face turns red. Rage flashes across the cultivator’s expression, and Shen Yuan leans down in the blink of an eye to grab a book lying on the floor. The book is instantly sent sailing towards Shang Qinghua’s face. It ends up hitting the alchemist’s headpiece. Shen Yuan starts yelling, “What have you been teaching my son?! You shameless bastard!”

Shang Qinghua dodges the next book that goes flying his way and shouts back, “I didn’t teach him anything! If he learned about that kind of thing from anyone it would have to be yo—.”

Another flying book interrupts the alchemist’s protests.

“Finish that sentence. I dare you.”

Shang Qinghua flails. “Fine! Really, how could I have known the famous peerless cucumber would be such a Mama Bear? Actually, it totally makes sense.”

Shen Yuan reaches around for another book, but the rest are too far away. Frustrated, the man huffs and settles on glaring at Shang Qinghua. “One way or another, this is definitely your fault!”

The alchemist looks like he wants to protest, but wisely shuts up.

Up until this point, Luo Yu hadn’t been paying attention. He’d been momentarily distracted. He feels like he might start crying again. Bàba had just called him his son. It was really official now. He shakes his head. He has a lifetime to be happy about this. For now, he has a mystery to solve.

He finally interjects, “So Master Shang wasn’t a prostitute?”

Shen Yuan turns to him and sighs long-sufferingly. “With the way he writes there’s no way he was a prostitute.” His Shifu gives him a stern look, “I would never get involved with someone like him.”

Luo Yu nods. Overwhelmingly relieved. Shang Qinghua grumbles something that sounds suspiciously like “You’d be lucky to have me”, but Shen Yuan’s furious glare silences the man.

Shen Yuan continues, “A-Yu, do you recall our book reports?” Luo Yu nods. “I did something similar for him. I wrote small book reports for his novel under a pseudonym.”

“Give yourself some credit, Cucumber-mom! Your reviews were never small.”

Shen Yuan goes frighteningly still, “What did you just call me?”

Luo Yu quickly turns to Shang Qinghua and asks, “Was your novel any good? Can I read it too?”

Luo Yu notes that the temperature seems to drop in the library. He misses the murderous look Shen Yuan sends towards Shang Qinghua. Bingpup, on the other hand, does not. The dog joins in on looking at the alchemist threateningly.

Shang Qinghua trembles and stutters out, “It could’ve been better. Definitely not something worth reading, kid. Hahahahahaha….” The man looks progressively shiftier by the moment. “Let’s just forget about my novel! How have you been Cucumber-bro? It's been around a century since I've heard from you!”

Something about the words surprise Shen Yuan. “A century? What are you talking about; it’s been less than a decade.”

A silent debate takes place between the cultivators. Luo Yu is utterly bewildered. Maybe they really had gotten confused? They could have lost track of time or maybe they were both too old to properly remember such things. Was this what it meant to be an immortal cultivator?

His confusion only grows when Shang Qinghua abruptly laughs long and hard. The alchemist mockingly wags a finger at Shen Yuan, “Guess this makes you younger than me Cucumber-bro! You really need to learn to respect your elders. This Shixiong is very disappointed in your rude behavior.”

His Bàba looks moments away from exploding in rage. Luo Yu has never seen this side of his guardian. Shen Yuan has always been calm. His Bàba only ever lost his temper in extreme situations. This… was definitely not an extreme situation.

“If Master Shang is your Shixiong than are you his Shidi? Is that why you seem so close?”

Shang Qinghua’s eyes gleam as the alchemist replies before Shen Yuan can, “Yes! Shen-shidi was such an interesting lad. So young, so full of hatred.”

Luo Yu is desperately trying to make sense of it all, but the look of pure irritation on his Bàba’s face makes him feel like he’s missed something.

“Who’s your Shidi?! Your novel was garbage. You threw away the plot along with your standards. You never paid attention to any of my constructive criticism! I wasted my life reading your trash!”

Shang Qinghua clenches his chest dramatically and makes a wounded noise, “So cruel! Shen-shidi, you loved my novel don’t lie! Don’t think I didn’t notice your dog’s name. You’re such a fanboy! Even here, your raging hard on for Bin—.”

A blast of Qi knocks the man to the ground. Luo Yu jumps in surprise.

Shen Yuan shakily lowers his extended hand, “Another word, and I’ll let Bingpup eat you.”

Luo Yu blinks at the scene. He has the strangest feeling that his life has changed in ways that it was never intended to. Shaking the odd feeling away. He pokes and prods his Bàba into lying back down. That use of cultivation couldn’t have been good for his recovering guardian.

In the corner of his eye, he sees a small black form stealthily move across the library floor. Bingpup has abandoned the couch, and Shang Qinghua is oblivious to the approaching return of the alchemist’s tiniest attacker.

Luo Yu prays silently to the heavens. He seems to be the only one left with any sanity.

Chapter Text

Chapter 27: The Forgotten Child

Shen Yuan’s headache is never going to go away at this rate.

“So let me get this straight. We came to this world at different times due to some unknown time and space bullshit. You died like an idiot after finishing up the trash fire that we are currently living in, and then got rewarded for it by becoming invulnerable and gaining a powerful demon husband? Meanwhile, I get stuck dealing with the protagonist that you fucked over, and a bad case of family drama.”

Shang Qinghua looks at him forlornly, “I’ve had to deal with Bing-ge too! And for way longer. You’ve been living the hermit dream here on your cool mountain while I’ve had to suffer the real world. It’s not my fault you adopted the kid and got yourself entangled in the main plot!”

Shen Yuan grinds his teeth together. “What plot?! You abandoned any semblance of plot after the first chapter! You and your terrible papapa scenes. I wasted so much of my life reading that hypersexualised garbage in the hope that you would eventually fill in the plots holes you left festering, but no! Now, you’re trying to tell me that I should’ve known better? How?! You barely even mentioned the protag having kids!”

This sharing of information between Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua had been going on for around an hour. A-Yu and Bingpup were beside him asleep and unaware on the couch. It wasn’t a natural sleep.

Earlier, after the disaster that happened after Shen Yuan woke up, they’d all eventually settled down and come to a truce. A-Yu had gone into the hall and brought a basket of fruits and an empty pitcher of water that had been dropped during the commotion.

Shen Yuan feels terrible. A-Yu had given him a brief rundown of what had happened after the blood adoption ritual. Shen Yaun nearly had a heart attack when A-Yu had reluctantly told him of the deal he had made with his Father to get Shang Qinghua here in the first place. He now has to figure out what to do with the bargain A-Yu has made and their new pest of a hack author.

Shen Yuan had decisively taken a bite out of his peach before saying, “We are not letting your Father in the barrier.”

Sitting beside him on the couch, A-Yu looks approving but reluctantly argues, “Bàba, I made a deal with him. Who knows what he’ll do if we don’t comply.”

Shen Yuan takes another bite of the peach he’s eating. Unfortunately, A-Yu is right. The protagonist has never taken kindly to those who back out of an agreement. The half-demon would likely double down on his efforts to drive Shen Yuan insane.

Scowling, he tosses the peach pit at the man who had created this entire situation. Sitting cross legged on the floor, Shang Qinghua doesn’t even flinch as the fruit hits his cheek. The idiot is staring despondently at his ruined shoes. Before things had calmed down, Bingpup had taken great care in shredding Shang Qinghua’s shoes to pieces. At the time, Shen Yuan had been surprised to see that the man’s feet were completely unharmed.

Bingpup is happily settled in his lap, and Shen Yuan gives the dog plenty of attention. Bingpup has been amazing throughout this entire situation. The dog deserves nothing but pampering as far as he’s concerned. If the adorable bun continues to give Shang Qinghua a hard time, Shen Yuan might have to make pancakes for breakfast for the rest of his life. It would definitely be worth it.

As if sending his unkind thoughts, Shang Qinghua stares at him pitifully. “Cucumber-bro, please tell your pet to stop destroying my things.”

Shen Yuan snorts dismissively, “Bingpup isn’t a pet. He’s a member of my family. If you have a problem take it up with him.”

Shang Qinghua glances down at the furry creature in Shen Yuan’s lap. The Harmonic Demon dog glances up at Shen Yuan cutely before looking down to make eye contact with the author. The dog’s eyes flash red and dare Shang Qinghua to complain.

The author wisely changes the topic.

“Nevermind. Cucumber-bro, we need to talk. Without the kid and the dog since it’s a… sensitive matter.”

A-Yu had been peacefully eating but instantly looks mutinous. “No! I’m not leaving. Shifu needs someone to look after him!”

As thoughtful as the sentiment was, Shen Yuan knew Shang Qinghua is right. He needs to know just how his fellow transmigrator ended up in this world, and A-Yu can’t know about any of this until Shen Yuan is ready to open up about his own origins.

Shang Qinghua must note the sudden tension between the small family. “I’ll leave you two to talk in private. I’m just gonna go grab us all some water from your kitchen. Wouldn’t want anyone to get dehydrated after all.”

Before Shen Yuan could protest, Shang Qinghua was up and out of the library. Sighing, Shen Yuan turns to A-Yu, but is immediately incapacitated by two identical pairs of puppy dog eyes.

A-Yu and Bingpup look at him pitifully. His child whispers, “Please, Bàba. Don’t make us leave. You’ve only just recovered, and we…” A-Yu’s voice trembles and trails off. It breaks his heart.

Shen Yuan’s resolve crumbles. How could he make them leave when he’d already caused so much trouble? These two sticky buns have been through more than enough, and Shen Yuan refuses to make them upset again. “Alright. I won’t make you two leave.”

A-Yu and Bingpup both look far too satisfied.

Shang Qinghua doesn’t take long returning. He’s got a tray with four cups of water already prepared. The author carefully hands a cup to everyone. Shen Yuan is happy to see that even Bingpup was given a cup.

The author goes back to his place on the ground near the couch. Shen Yuan really should point out the chairs that the man could drag over, but he’s feeling too vindictive. He takes a sip of his water. It’s cool and soothes his dry throat. He carefully adjusts Bingpup’s cup so it doesn’t spill as the dog laps it up. Once they both had their fill. He places the cups on the ground.

Shang Qinghua has a strange expression on his face. Shen Yuan mistakingly dismisses it as unimportant.

“A-Yu and Bingpup are staying.”

Shang Qinghua eyes flicker towards him guiltily, “I figured you’d say that.”

Shen Yuan sits up straighter. Something isn’t right.

He’s proven right almost instantly. Beside him, A-Yu stiffens. In his lap, Bingpup goes similarly still. Shen Yuan watches in horror as their eyes suddenly roll back into their heads. They both go limp. Bingpup sinks into his lap, but A-Yu tilts over the edge of the couch. The cup of water in A-Yu’s hand slips and clatters to the ground. He desperately tries to move forward to catch the child before he shares the cup’s fate. He knows he’ll be too late. His limbs are still too sluggish and uncooperative.

Shang Qinghua appears and gently catches A-Yu. The author carefully maneuvers the child back on the couch. Once A-Yu’s unconscious form is secured, Shang Qinghua turns to Shen Yuan with a placating gesture. “Look Cucumb—-.”

A blast of Qi sends him flying.

The author sails into a nearby bookshelf. Miraculously, only a few of the books fall. Shang Qinghua falls with them to the floor with a loud thud.

Hand still raised, Shen Yuan waves it threatently at the downed author, “What the fuck did you do to them?! Why would you—?”

Shang Qinghua interrupts. The author quickly stands and placates, “Bro, I’d never hurt children or animals. They’re just sleeping! It’s like a surprise nap. Do I look like some kind of monster? You’ve turned out to be such a softy. I knew that you’d give in to their demands so I helped you out!”

Shen Yuan had, but that was beside the point. “Don’t ever do anything like this again. You don’t poison people’s water! What is wrong with you?!”

“It’s not poison! It’s medicine. I use it when I have migraines. I just gave them a higher dose. But we’re getting off topic. They won’t be asleep forever, and we’ve gotta talk before Bing-ge arrives.”

“If you think I’ll still talk to you after this then you’re stupider than your writing.”

“Bro, please. I’m not sure how much you know, but we’ve got a code red situation on our hands!”

Shen Yuan was reluctantly curious. The author seemed serious, and it would be better to get info from Airplane first. He could always kill him after. “Fine.”

Shang Qinghua sighed in relief. He got up and moved back towards his old position on the floor. “We’d better start from the beginning.”

That had led to the hour long discussion of how they’d ended up in this world. From their deaths and their ‘unofficial user’ version of transmigration to now, Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua discussed it all.

One piece of information especially caught the hack’s attention. “Wait, wait, wait. Let’s go back a bit. You said you became an official user after the whole stabby birthday from hell event. This is perfect! You really can fix things bro!”

Shen Yuan doesn’t like the sound of this. “What are you talking about? I’m not fixing anything for you. Do it yourself.”

Shang Qinghua looks like he wants to shake him. Shen Yuan wants him to try. Invulnerability or no, Shen Yuan is sure he can find some way to make the man hurt.

“Cucumber-bro, I wasn’t joking about the code red situation. The world is literally gonna end soon.”

“What?!”

“Well, soon is relative. We should have a few years at least, but I’m not so sure. It doesn’t matter though! You can fix it. You can change the plot and fix everything!”

Shen Yuan’s headache was pounding. This was exactly the sort of xianxia protagonist bullshit that starts a quest that leads to endless trouble that Shen Yuan wants no part of. Especially since he wasn’t the protagonist. He’s a random side character. A footnote in the real protagonist’s story. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to get involved as he now lives in a world that is apparently going to end soon.

“Explain.”

Shang Qinghua nods. “Okay. Based on your reaction, I’m sure you're just as foggy on the details of my story’s ending as I am, but I’ve been remembering things. First, the world merging that Bing-ge did has made everything unstable. We’ve got earthquakes, weather anomalies, crops dying, and all the other typical doomsday signs. From what me and my king have figured out, we need to find a fix fast or things aren’t gonna end well.”

AKA everyone dies. Shen Yuan hates where this is going, “Have you found anything?”

Shang Qinghua gives him a knowing look, “No, but I’m sure you of all people can guess the main way we can fix everything. I can’t do anything because Bing-ge would gut me for even suggesting it, and the System said I can’t affect the primary plot. You, on the other hand, have just been gifted the perfect opportunity! You said the System said you can change the ending! It’s fate!”

Shen Yuan doesn’t believe in fate. “No thanks.”

“Cucumber-bro! You can’t just ignore this. If you let Bing-ge in for his weekly visits, you can become his friend! Help him realize the error of his ways! After you hug his thigh enough, just casually mention how he should use Xin Mo to revert the world back to normal. None of us die, and the world is better off. It all works!”

Shen Yuan wants to hit something. “No. No, it doesn’t all just work. Have you forgotten why the protagonist wants to get in here? He thinks I’m an alternate version of Shen Qingqiu or something. Which WTF by the way. Was that you’re doing?!”

“No way! That whole incident came wayyyy out of left field. No one was expecting that disaster. I definitely didn’t write about it either!”

“Fine. We’ll come back to that. I’m still not going to be able to become… what exactly? BFF’s with the protagonist? I’m basically his enemy right now. How do you expect me to do anything?”

Shang Qinghua gives him a shifty look and gestures at A-Yu, “Use the kid.”

He’s going to kill Shang Qinghua. Every word that comes out of the author’s mouth seals his inevitable doom.

Sensing Shen Yuan’s killing intent, Shang Qinghua hurried to pacify him, “Not in a bad way! Bing-ge’s actually really fond of the kid. I wrote Luo Yu to be the only child that he feels a connection to, but he’s afraid of ruining the kid so he avoids him in every way possible. Plus, him being close to Luo Yu really wouldn’t have fit into the main…..”

“Shameless porn? Tragic waste of a good story?”

Shang Qinghua wilts, “Luo Yu is the key here. If you can get Bing-ge to form a positive relationship with the kid. He’ll want to save the world! I mean, you did a great job avoiding the kid’s original outcome so why not go a step further?”

Shen Yuan hates being confused. “What original outcome?”

Shang Qinghua goes ominously still. Brown eyes stare at him in something like dread, “You don’t remember? You wrote a pretty nasty review on the whole thing. I thought you took in the kid because of it.” The author is avoiding eye contact now. It’s not reassuring.

He glares. If it was something he’d been mad about then, he’s sure to be even more furious about it now.

“Okay. Looks like we’re doing this.” Shang Qinghua shakily exhales. “Do you remember anything at all about Luo Yu?”

Shen Yuan hadn’t even been aware that A-Yu was a character in PIDW. He had assumed that the child had been a minor character that had gone unmentioned. He tries to recall anything but draws a complete blank. Disconcerted, he looks towards A-Yu. The child seems too far away on the opposite side of the couch.

Shen Yuan leans over to readjusts A-Yu so that his head gently rests on his lap. Careful to avoid Bingpup’s sleeping body, he makes sure the child is comfortable. Shen Yuan knows he’s not going to like the outcome of this conversation.

“I don’t recall anything. I know he has some unknown factor that prevents him from awakening his Heavenly Demon blood. I also know about his life in the capital. That’s it though.”

“It’s probably the System’s doing. I didn’t really go into any of it in detail, but Luo Yu has a major effect on the ending. You’ve gotta understand something before we go into it though. I didn't write out any of the kid’s story in depth except in a rough draft. This world seems to have taken every tiny detail I even briefly thought of and made it a reality. So just… promise you won’t interrupt until I’m finished. Okay, bro?”

He hates to agree to this, but for the sake of A-Yu.... “Fine. You had better answer all of my questions after.”

Shang Qinghua nods. The author looks ready to monologue but hesitates. “This isn’t a nice story so just keep in mind that you’ve already changed the outcome. None of it will ever happen now.”

The fact that Shang Qinghua felt the need to give him a warning didn’t mean anything good. “Just get on with it.”

Shang Qinghua takes a deep fortifying breath and begins.

“First, Luo Yu has Heavenly Demon blood from his Dad and a diluted strain of Demonic Angel blood from his mom.”

Shen Yuan can’t help himself, “That is the laziest—-.”

Shang Qinghua leans forwards and interrupts, “Bro, you promised! Save it for the end.”

Shen Yuan’s eye twitches, but he fell silent. He notes that at some point he’d begun to unconsciously run his hand through A-Yu’s hair. A comforting gesture, but he's not sure who’s in need of it.

Sensing his compliance, Shang Qinghua sighs in relief. “So some quick character information. Luo Yu’s got two strands of very ancient bloodlines. His human blood surprisingly keeps the two in balance, but as he grows older the two bloodlines gain more power. Luo Yu can’t really use either bloodline’s abilities because they’re constantly fighting each other. It makes the kid spiritually unstable. Bing-ge naturally doesn’t know any of this so he goes about fixing the situation the wrong way.”

The author pauses to make sure Shen Yuan isn’t about to interrupt again, but he’s in listener mode now. Shang Qinghua waves a helpless hand, “This is where things get hard to explain. It’s based off a rough draft so bear with me. Bing-ge has this belief that all of his children need to awaken their Heavenly Demon blood. Without it, he thinks they’ll be vulnerable and killed in no time. They’ve got their moms to take care of them. They’ll be strong, and he’ll only need to step in if they really need his protection. So when he has a kid born with a dead mom and no signs of demon traits, the guy panics. He gets info from an ancient demon that tells him the kid can be fixed if Bing-ge gives him his blood once a year on the day of his birth. Any other day, and the Demonic Angel blood nullifies any attempts.”

“Luo Binghe knows his own upbringing made him kinda twisted. He doesn’t want the kid to end up the same way. He makes sure not to show any favoritism and remains uninvolved in Luo Yu’s life. There are some exceptions though. After all, none of his other kids are even allowed to live in the palace permanently.”

Shang Qinghua takes a deep breath, “He’s also rightfully scared he’ll draw negative attention to the kid. So, he shows up only for the necessary birthday meetings and has the servants keep an eye on the kid for the rest of the year. In my draft, he gets distracted by a demon uprising in the South around the kid’s eleventh birthday and doesn’t notice when Luo Yu runs away.”

At this point, Shang Qinghua glances at Luo Yu’s sleeping form with an apologetic look, “I’m sure you’ve realized by now, but Luo Yu is supposed to be similar to white lotus Luo Binghe. He believes everything will work out if he can just learn cultivation. He wanted to help people and make friends along the way. Bottom line, the kid was lonely. Unfortunately, leaving the Palace is a bit much for a rich kid who’s been sheltered and isolated all his life.”

“This is where things go wrong. I’m sure you know about how he got to the Huan Hua mountain range so I won’t go over that. His travels through the mountains is still weirdly foggy for me, but I know I wrote him making it across them worse for wear. He loses his supplies and runs out of food. Naturally, the kid tries to find a town to get help.”

Shang Qinghua suddenly looks older. Weary in a way that remind Shen Yuan starkly of just how long the author has been in this world. At the reminder, dread grips his heart.

“I’ll keep it brief, Luo Yu finds a town, and it’s not….it’s not a good experience. The world is unstable, bro. People have begun to realize and aren’t happy about it. When the kid shows up looking like a mini version of the Emperor they’re all secretly mad at, the villagers use it as an opportunity to take out their frustration. They beat the kid and send him on his way.”

Shen Yuan’s grip on A-Yu’s hair is beginning to tighten. He unsteadily lets go.

“It breaks some of the kid’s naivety, but Luo Yu tries to remain positive. His heritage keeps him alive enough to survive off the questionable plants he finds to eat, and he eventually ends up finding another village. This one is… worse. Luo Binghe’s got a lot of enemies, and this town is notorious for their slave trade. They spot the kid and catch him.”

Shang Qinghua pauses but reluctantly continues. “Look, I never would have written any of this had I known this world would be real. Luo Yu goes through an experience that is similar to… nevermind. I never went into that either, but the drafts were supposed to be a little poetically similar. Luo Yu gets sold to a family of cultivators. Their sect got destroyed during Luo Binghe’s takeover, and they were feeling spiteful. They treat the kid terribly. After months of this, they eventually decide to alert Luo Binghe and demand a ransom. Luo Binghe, in true protagonist fashion, storms the hideout and kills the cultivators, but…”

“On the night of his twelfth birthday. Luo Yu experiences a Qi deviation that is caused by his situation and the instability of his bloodlines. Luo Binghe arrives only after it’s too late.”

Shen Yuan feels like he’s been stabbed again. He stares down at A-Yu with an unfocused gaze. His vision is strangely blurry. Shang Qinghua is still talking, but Shen Yuan needs him to be quiet.

“—supposed to be the beginning. In the official story, I only mention the kid dying after getting kidnapped, but the death of his kid forces Luo Binghe to realize the mistakes he’s made. The person he’s become. Unfortunately, he can’t fix any of it, and it sends him into a meltdown. He distances himself from the harem. He realizes how pointless his life has become. I don’t recall what comes after, but Xin Mo—.”

“Shut up!”

The words that rip out of Shen Yuan’s throat barely sound human. He raises a trembling hand to cover his face. He whispers, “Just shut up.”

A dreadful silence fills the library.

Shen Yuan can’t stand it. He can’t stand any of this. A-Yu should never have been allowed to be in that kind of situation. Hurt and cruelly treated by the world for a shitty plot that doesn’t matter. In this world, he’d accidentally managed to change A-Yu’s fate, but Shen Yuan knows there are other worlds out there. What if….

The memory of A-Yu’s Qi deviation flashes through his mind. The utter emptiness that had been in the child’s eyes haunts him now more than ever. Shen Yuan will happily let the world end before anything like that ever happens again.

He takes a deep shuddering breath and moves a hand to run through A-Yu’s hair again.

“This won’t be happening here.”

Shang Qinghua quickly confirms, “Of course not. I swear I won’t let anything like that happen either. Luckily, almost everything’s different now. The kid is alive, and I think you fixed the issue of his bloodlines with the little blood adoption stunt you pulled. Also, the plot has already changed without any of our interference.”

Shen Yuan desperately needs this change of topic. He removed the hand covering his face and asks, “How is it different?”

“Well, this is going to sound stupid, but Bing-ge’s becoming aware.”

“Aware of what?”

Shang Qinghua flails, “Like aware.”

“I don’t—-.”

“It’s like this!” Shang Qinghua stands up and starts pacing back and forth. “In the original, Luo Binghe has a realization after… you know what. That event makes him realize his life sucks, and he’s made some bad decisions. Here, that might’ve happened, but one big event came in early and threw everything into discord.”

Shen Yuan is hit by a realization. “The alternate world incident.”

Shang Qinghua flashes him a thumbs up. “Exactly! That was never supposed to happen. I still don’t know the whole story, but Bing-ge came back, and he’s already begun the process of realizing his life is terrible way before he was supposed to. Not only that, but he’s begun to become—.”

“Aware.” Shen Yuan can see the puzzle pieces aligning, “He's become aware.”

“Yes! It’s beyond the whole “protagonist realizes his life is pointless” trope. He’s become aware that things don’t function in the way they should. That he’s gained things too easily. That people are dumber than they should be. He’s become unconsciously aware of the fact that there’s something bigger at play. But he can’t make the leap in logic. He’s smart, but he’s got no context to work with. So naturally, he focuses on the one thing that must be the source of it all. You should know what or rather who that is better than anyone, bro.”

“The alternate Shen Qingqiu.” It makes a headache inducing amount of sense. It’s a whole new degree of fixated existential crisis nonsense that would have a philosopher clapping their hands in glee.

“Yep. The alternate Shen Qingqiu. From what I’ve gathered. He’s the source of some kind of major differences between this world and the other. Whatever happened there opened Luo Binghe’s eyes to this one. He’s become aware, and it’s driving him crazy. He can’t go back to that other world to get answers, but he’s too stubborn to give up. Unfortunately for you, the plot eventually adapts itself. Luo Binghe goes looking for the kid. Which leads him to you and your oh so familiar face.”

Shen Yuan glares, “That’s what I don’t get! My face is the exact same as before. This body is supposedly related to Shen Qingqiu, but we shouldn’t really look alike. It doesn’t make sense!”

Shang Qinghua paces faster. “I don’t know what to tell you, bro. Call it a coincidence or destiny, but you apparently look like him. You’re just gonna have to accept that. My son’s got you in his sights, and there’s nothing either of us can do about it.” Shang Qinghua stops pacing and dramatically points at Shen Yuan. “But we can use this to our advantage.”

“And how,” Shen Yuan hates to ask, “Does this work in our favor?”

“I'm so glad you asked! You need to use that face of yours to bargain with Bing-ge. The kid made the deal to get me here, but we both know the protag is just gonna use this to figure out a way to destroy your blood ward.”

Shen Yuan has purposely not been thinking of the deal A-Yu had made with his Father. “That’s why I’m not letting him in. Screw the deal. If the world really is ending than I definitely don’t want to invite him anywhere near us.”

The author walks closer but stops at Shen Yuan’s warning look. Raising his hands placatingly, Shang Qinghua pleads, “Bro, you’re ignoring the bigger picture. If you can somehow get Bing-ge to agree to some real kind of deal than you can eventually convince him to fix everything. Become his friend! Help him and the kid create a cute father and son bond! It’ll give everyone a happy ending!”

Shen Yuan knows the stupid author is oversimplifying things, “This is emotional manipulation.”

Shang Qinghua eyes him in disbelief. “I haven’t known you long, but I highly down that really bothers you. I still remember when I wrote Bing-ge torturing Shen Qingqiu. You were in the comments shouting about castration.”

He wants to be offended, but unfortunately the author is right for once. He’s about to say a token protest, but Shang Qinghua says, “Besides, it’s emotional manipulation for a good cause. It’s not like anything bad will happen.”

Shen Yuan wants to shake the man. First rule in any Xianxia setting: Never say that nothing bad will happen. Something inevitably will, and higher beings will laugh at your misfortune. A thought occurs to him.

“You keep on saying this will fix everything. That everyone will get a happy ending. I think you’re forgetting the whole backstabbing harem nonsense you wrote. Honestly. You made me read hundreds of chapter of the protagonist painstakingly gathering women and then have them turn around and… end him? My memories are hazy, but I know that it was such a load of—.”

“The harem does what?! I didn’t—- or maybe I did? Depressed me was having a pretty hard time back then. It’s not impossible? Damn. I really can’t remember. We'll have to figure this out later. I’ve gotta ask my king if he might know anything about this. I really went a dark direction…”

Shang Qinghua cuts off his own ramblings with a clap of his hands. “Okay. Plans first. Cucumber-bro, you’ve gotta do something about Bing-ge. You’re the only one who can!”

Shen Yuan is feeling extremely pressured. He wants nothing to do with any of this. If it were just him, he’d have already booted this man off the mountain and would begin a new life that ignores all these problems. A-Yu and Bingpup belong to this world though, and Shen Yuan had long ago decided that they come first.

Shen Yuan unwilling says, “Fine. I’ll try to figure something out. Don’t get your hopes up though.”

Shang Qinghua ignores him, “Great! This is totally gonna work out, bro. Just wait. You’ll be thanking me before you know it! Good luck though. You’re going to need it.”

Oh no. That sounds far too much like the author thinks he’s can place the burden of everything entirely on Shen Yuan. “You’re going to help.”

“Of course! I’ll find out information for you to—.”

“No. You’re going to really help. If I have to deal with this clusterfuck that you created than I’m not doing it alone. I’m setting up a way for you to come here, and we’re going to figure everything out as we go along.”

“B-but! I can’t just—.”

Shen Yuan coldly cuts him off. “Yes you can. You’re nothing but a stay at home housewife. You said it yourself. You’re helping or I’ll let it slip to you know who that you know more about alternate worlds than you’ve let on.”

Shang Qinghua looks at him in horror, “Bro… you wouldn’t. He’d kill me.”

“Try me.”

Shang Qinghua looks moments away from bursting into tears. It makes a part of Shen Yuan darkly satisfied.

“I can’t do anything though! The System said that I can’t affect the main plot!”

As if waiting for a signal, a letter drops from the ceiling and hits Shang Qinghua on the head. Both transmigrators freeze at the sight. Slowly, Shen Yuan feels a smirk tug at his lips. He helpfully points out. “I think that’s for you.”

Shang Qinghua reluctantly opens the letter. Shen Yuan watches as the author’s face contorts as he reads. After a few minutes, loud cursing fills the library.

Unwilling amused, Shen Yuan casually asks, “What’s it say?”

A groan that sounds suspiciously like a sob is his only response. He patiently waits as his fellow transmigrator goes through the five stages of grief. Eventually, he gets a verbal response, “I’m an official user now. Ugh. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you planned this, but I doubt you’d be on board for this bit at the end.”

And there goes his amusement. Alarmed, Shen Yuan asks, “Why?”

Shang Qinghua looks away cagily, “Trust me, Cucumber-bro. You don’t want to know. Hell, I wish I didn’t know. Looks like I’ve got a side quest that’s supposed to… help us with our situation.”

“Don’t be secretive you hack. Tell me what it says.” He would have got up and just grabbed the letter to read, but Bingpup and A-Yu are still resting on his lap.

“Mn. Yeah no. I’ve already just had my world views ruined. I don’t want to deal with your freak out. With my luck you’ll…. nevermind. Just rest bro! Looks like I’ll be playing a more active role so be happy!”

Shen Yuan ignored the nonsense coming out of the idiot’s mouth and raises his hand, “Give it.”

Shang Qinghua must remember his previous experience with this gesture and hastily tossed the letter towards Shen Yuan. The letter flies easily threw the air. With surprising accuracy it sails directly at Shen Yuan’s head. He raises a hand to catch it.

The moment it touches his hand, it explodes into a puff of pink smoke. Shen Yuan accidentally inhales it and is sent into a coughing fit.

Once the smoke clears, he sees Shang Qinghua put on a fake sad expression, “What a shame bro. Seems like the System doesn’t want you to read it either.”

Shen Yuan sends another blast of Qi at the man.

*******

Luo Yu awakens slowly.

He feels strangely lethargic. His limbs are heavy and his mind sluggish. He distantly recalls drinking a cup of water that Master Shang had given him. His memories don’t go further than that.

When did he fall asleep?

The sound of writing enter his ears. With difficulty, he opens his eyes.

He’s lying on the library couch with head on his Bàba’s lap. He doesn’t see Shang Qinghua anywhere. Glancing up, he sees that his Shifu is focused on a piece of paper he’s writing on. He can’t see the content. Shen Yuan is using the couch arm as a surface to write on.

A tiny tongue suddenly licks his cheek. He involuntarily makes a surprised noise as Bingpup appears from nowhere to hop on his chest. This draws Shen Yuan’s attention.

Slightly reddened eyes look down at them. His Bàba somehow looks more tired, but he smiles warmly at Luo Yu. “Oh good. You’re finally awake.”

Lou Yu gently pushes Bingpup off of him and sits up. “What happened? When did I fall asleep? Did Master Shang leave? What are you writing? Can I see—.”

A hand pinches his cheek, and he goes quiet.

His Bàba looks at him in familiar exasperation. “One question at a time. Everything’s fine. You fell asleep because that idiot drugged you.”

Luo Yu is hit by a pang of betrayal. The water! Master Shang must have drugged it. And by the look of it Bingpup too. The dog looks extremely disgruntled.

His face must have shown how upset this news made him. Shen Yuan let out a sigh and released his cheek in favor of patting his head. “Don’t worry. I made sure he was suitably punished.”

Luo Yu glances up at his Shifu mournfully. “I thought we could trust him.”

The hand patting his head paused only a moment before continuing. “It pains me to say this but we can. Shang Qinghua’s an idiot, but he means well from what I can tell.”

Luo Yu moves so he can cuddle into his Bàba’s side. He lets Bingpup crawl on his lap before saying. “He drugged us.”

Shen Yuan stops petting him with a snort. “You don’t have to forgive him for that. You and Bingpup have a right to be upset. He did it so we could talk privately, but I definitely don’t approve and neither should you. He’ll have to make it up to you while he’s teaching you alchemy.”

Luo Yu’s head snaps up to look at Shen Yuan, “He’ll be teaching me alchemy?”

“Yes. I was never going to be able to teach you properly. That’s why I’m drawing this.”
Shen Yuan picks up the paper he’d been writing on and hold it up for Luo Yu to see.

On the paper is an array of some kind. Confused, he asks, “What is it?”

“It’s a transportation array. We’re going to make a bigger one once I finish drawing this draft. This will be that idiot’s copy so he can draw one in his home in the North. He’ll be visiting once a month to teach you and possibly when he has some free time.”

This information sends his mind spinning. He’s excited to have someone to teach him alchemy, but that someone had drugged him. There was one question that rose above the others. “Do you really trust him this much, Bàba?”

Shen Yuan doesn’t respond immediately. Eventually, he says in a reluctant tone, “We can trust him. For now at least.”

“His husband is my Father’s war general.”

“I know. He’s on our side. Our goals are similar, and he’s going to help us deal with your Father. We need his help since we’ll have to go through with that deal you made with him.”

Luo Yu gapes. “But I thought you said we weren’t letting him in!”

His Bàba sighs again. “I know. Unfortunately, new information has been brought to my attention that has changed the situation.”

“What new—-.”

Shang Qinghua bursts through the library entryway. “I found it! Damn bro. You really have to organize your storage room. It took me ages to find the chalk.”

The alchemist walks closer to the couch and finally notices Luo Yu and Bingpup are both awake. “Oh! You guys are up! Sorry about the whole ... surprise nap. I won’t do anything like that again.”

Luo Yu glares. “What did you tell my Bàba that you didn’t want us to hear?”

Shang Qinghua looks guilty. “Very secret information. I swear I’d tell you if I could, but some things are better never heard.”

Luo Yu tries to protest, but Shen Yuan surprisingly interrupts him. “He’s right this time, A-Yu. When you’re older, I’ll tell you more.”

He doesn’t want to wait until he’s older. “But Bàba—-.”

A familiar feeling makes him freeze.

There’s a sudden tugging in his chest that pulls towards the north side of the barrier. Luo Yu looks up and makes eye contact with his guardian. They share a knowing look. It seems that Luo Yu’s Father has finally returned.

His Bàba looks away and quickly moved to write a few notes on the paper with the transportation array. “Okay. This should work now. Bro, come here and take this. I’ll draw the one here later. It seems that you our company has arrived.”

Shang Qinghua hurries over to grasp the paper. “He’s already here? That was fast. Hope you’re ready for this Cucumber-bro. Time to put your negotiating skills to the test. And don’t forget later to let me know when the coast is clear with that crystal I gave you.”

The alchemist turns to Luo Yu. “I really am sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you when I teach you alchemy.” Bingpup growls and Shang Qinghua nervously laughs, “I’m sorry to you too! I’ll bring you… treats?”

Bingpup looks unimpressed.

Lou Yu would say something but the tugging in his chest is getting persistent. Shen Yuan moves to stand and Luo Yu tries to stop him, “Bàba wait! You’ve just recovered. You shouldn’t be moving yet!”

“I’ll be fine, A-Yu. That idiot gave me something that helped restore my energy. Besides, I won’t be doing anything but talking.”

“But—.”

“Trust me?”

The question is soft and undemanding, but it makes Luo Yu go quiet. Helplessly, Luo Yu gazes up at his the man he trusts more than anyone.

“Of course I do.”

Shen Yuan smiles. “Then don’t worry. Everything will be just fine.”

Luo Yu hopes he’s right.

Chapter Text

Chapter 28: A Deal is Upheld

Luo Binghe should have expected this.

Yesterday, he had made a deal with the boy to be allowed passage inside the mountain on a weekly basis. This deal was fortuitous in that it also kept a certain cultivator alive as well. Last night’s venture into the dream realm had only magnified how precarious Shen Yuan’s situation is. It had also explained the boy’s poor state.

Luo Yu’s new hazel eyes flashed through his mind, and he scowls. Shang Qinghua had better do his job properly. Shen Yuan has much he must be held accountable for. Luo Binghe would go as far as to resurrect the man if all else failed.

He had planned to return to the mountain as soon as he had awoken this day, but certain matter were postponing his trip. Sitting on his throne, Luo Binghe looks down at his surprise guest in consideration.

He really should have expected Mobei-jun to come looking for his husband.

To the right of his throne, Lao Gongzhu stands looking thoroughly displeased. It was no surprise considering the history between the old Huan Hua Sect Master and the ice king of the north. His advisor had been the one to inform him of their surprise visitor.

Mobei-jun rarely visits the capital. He had his orders for his war general sent by messages to the ice fortress. When matters are truly important Luo Binghe will travel there himself to give his orders in person. However, there was a transportation array created for occasions where Mobei-jun might need or wish to come to the capital. His wife, Sha Hauling, has the same privileges.

Mobei-jun now gazes up at him expressionlessly. It was only the slight tightening around his eyes that allowed Luo Binghe to see how tense the demon actually was. His war general gets straight to the point.

“Where is my husband?”

It’s less of a question and more of a demand.

Lao Gongzhu instantly interjects at such a tone. “How dare you speak to the Emperor in such a manner. He is above a lowly demon such as yourself.”

Mobei-jun glares at the man coldly, “Silence worm.”

Lao Gongzhu’s face turns red with rage. Lou Binghe knows this will not end well if he doesn’t interrupt. “Calm yourselves. I will not tolerate your little spat. After all, we’re all allies here.”

Lao Gongzhu’s face loses it’s angry expression. The elderly cultivator bows his head deferentially and steps back to let Luo Binghe speak without further interruption. Mobei-jun does not bother to hide his disdain for the advisor but glances away dismissively. The ice demon repeats his question.

“Where is my husband?”

Luo Binghe considers the demon. This impertinence would not be tolerated by any other. He really should reprimand Mobei-jun. Xin Mo thrums at his side. It is eager for the taste of blood. For a moment, he imagines killing Mobei-jun. Luo Binghe quickly dismissed the irrational thought.

“Your husband is helping me with an important matter. Rest assured, I shall return him to you before the day ends.”

This does not seem to soothe Mobei-jun. “I would see him now.”

Luo Binghe narrows his eyes dangerously, “Careful Mobei. Do not think that you can make demands of me.”

For a moment, Luo Binghe thinks that Mobei-jun might actually attempt to attack him. Before his marriage, he doubts the demon would have ever even contemplated such a thing. His war general respects power, and Luo Binghe had long since proven to be the most powerful man in all the realms. Mobei-jun had willingly become his loyal subordinate. However, it seems that some things change.

Luo Binghe recalls an absolutely smitten look that he had once seen appear on the usually expressionless demon’s face. Mobei-jun’s wedding so long ago had been something of a revelation. It opened his eyes to a certain element to relationships that his own lacked. A certain weakness. Though he still wasn’t sure quite what it was.

(No that wasn’t right. He knew exactly what it was now. He had seen it in the eyes of that unsightly pair. The pathetic copy and the alternate version of Shen Qingqiu. The element he was missing was lo—.)

In the time his mind had wandered, Mobei-jun seemed to have gained control of himself. The war general bows his head slightly. An acknowledgment of the boundaries the demon had overstepped.

Luo Binghe unhappily sighs. None of this situation was worth his time. He did not wish to suppress his general’s honesty. Usually, he quite enjoyed it. However, there is a time and a place for everything. Here in the capital, Luo Binghe has a role that he most play.

“I shall be merciful this one time. Your husband is the only one with alchemical skills that are trustworthy. The situation I spoke of to you both before has taken an unexpected turn.”

Mobei-jun has always been clever. Luo Binghe knows the demon recalls their last surprise meeting. The demon cautiously asks, “Is it your son?”

Despite the vague question, Luo Binghe understands the intent. “The boy is well. It is his… guardian that has met with ill fortune. Your husband should have the situation well in hand.”

If Mobei-jun were anyone else he would likely be questioning Luo Binghe further. The demon remains silent.

“My Emperor, does this matter have to do with the prince's disappearance? You had mentioned a man whom appeared to be a relative to that old teacher of yours. Is there anything this elder can do to help?”

Luo Binghe nearly starts at the question. Somehow, he had forgotten Lao Gongzhu was present.

“It does. This matter is well in hand, and I shall not need your assistance. Soon enough, the boy shall return to the capital along with his new guardian.”

Lao Gongzhu smiles with his eyes mostly closed. “I am pleased to hear it. I am always ready to be of service should you have need of me. Though might I ask one question?”

Luo Binghe lazily waves a hand in permission.

His advisor nods gratefully, “What obstacle has been giving one such as yourself such trouble?”

Luo Binghe almost doesn’t respond. For some reason, he feels that this is an answer he should not give. He slowly does so anyway, “A blood ward.”

Lao Gongzhu makes a noise of surprise, “I see! My, my. I never even knew such things existed. I thought them to be a myth. They’re supposedly quite similar to maze arrays, though far more indestructible. I must apologize. This lowly one truly would have been no help in this matter.”

Luo Binghe dismisses the apology, “It is well in hand. Save your concerns. I have created an alternative measure to deal with Shen Yuan’s blood ward.”

Some unknown emotion flashes in Lao Gongzhu’s eyes, “Shen Yuan? Is that the name of the prince’s capt—?”

“Enough.”

The throne room goes dangerously quiet. Luo Binghe had not shouted, but his demand was clear. No further questions will be permitted.

Lao Gongzhu bows in apology and remains silent.

He is inexplicably irritated now. Luo Binghe stands up and walks away from his throne. “Enough time has been wasted. Come, Mobei. I shall allow you to accompany me to retrieve your husband. Lao Gongzhu, I expect you to continue keeping all in order.”

“Of course, my Emperor. I shall do so with the utmost care.”

Luo Binghe unsheathes Xin Mo and cuts a portal through the air. He steps aside to allow Mobei-jun to go first. His general steps through silently and without hesitation. If he were in a better mood, he may have been amused. Truly, sentimentality does strange things to people.

Luo Binghe knows what has brought about the change in his mood. He is furious with himself for allowing Shen Yuan’s name to slip. Perhaps it was his possessive nature or the way the name had flowed from his lips unbidden. In the end, It didn’t matter. Shen Yuan would one day be his after all. In what manner he was not quite sure as of yet. For now, Shen Yuan and the boy were a matter that he wished to keep private. Away from anyone but himself.

With this in mind, Luo Binghe steps through the portal after his general. He has a bargain to collect on.

*****

“Okay everyone. Just remember. Our resident scary Emperor absolutely cannot know that I know Cucumber-bro or that I’ve managed to get permission to visit regularly.”

Shen Yuan carefully walks down the mountain path. He sighs. “We know. Stop rambling.”

He, Shang Qinghua, A-Yu, and Bingpup were steadily making their way down the path that led to the northern part of the mountain barrier. Shen Yuan wished they could have used flying swords, but Shang Qinghua had sheepishly admitted that he’d never learned how to fly one. The man had mentioned something about his husband carrying him anywhere they needed to go. In short, Shang Qinghua was a useless spouse who met their partner take care of everything.

Shen Yuan had said as much to the man. The author hadn’t even taken offense. Further proving Shen Yuan’s point.

A-Yu was practically glued to his side as they walked. Shen Yuan was concerned. The child was too quiet, and he knows that he is partially responsible. A-Yu has so many questions that Shen Yuan just isn’t prepared to answer yet. Especially after learning how A-Yu’s life had originally played out. He desperately wants to avoid thinking about any of it.

Shang Qinghua suddenly yelped and tumbled a few steps further down the path ahead of them. It seems that Bingpup was still taking pleasure in teasing the man. The author has had his bare feet nipped at their entire journey. Shen Yuan was unconcerned. The idiot was invulnerable. If the man let something as harmless as a tiny dog bully him than that was the author’s issue not his.

Shen Yuan pulls out the fan he had grabbed before they left. He uses it to gently fan himself. The weather was clear and cool. However, his face was warm from exertion. He still hasn’t fully recovered.

“Are you feeling alright, Shifu?”

Shen Yuan glances down and meets A-Yu’s concerned hazel eyes. It was strange to see eyes identical to his own on the child’s face. It would take some getting used to, but it made his heart clench in a pained sort of fondness. He was more than happy to have the honor to adopt A-Yu, but he still firmly believed that such a thing shouldn’t have taken place in such a rushed manner.

“I’m fine A-Yu. No need to worry.”

A-Yu frowned in clear disagreement but said said nothing. The child looked at the ground and lightly kicked a rock as they walked. Much too somber for his liking. Shen Yuan reached out and pats A-Yu’s head comfortingly.

Shang Qinghua dodged a tiny black blur that makes to bite his ankles again. With a pained expression, the author turns back to them, “Hey kid. I’ve been meaning to ask, but is Cucumber-mom your Shifu or your Bàba?”

A-Yu huffs in annoyance. “Bàba is Shifu, and Shifu is Bàba.”

The author dodges another attack. “Well I guess that answers my question? I mean. That’s really not that weird when I think about it, but since I’m gonna be your teacher from now on what do you plan on calling me?”

“Master Shang.”

Shang Qinghua shakes his head, “No way! That’s way too formal. How about Shang-ge? I’m pretty young. I can totally be your cool older brother!”

Shen Yuan interjects, “You’re older than I am. Have some face. Also, stop calling me that. I’m a man.”

“Bro, no need to be mean, and I can’t help that you give off a certain vibe. I call it how I see it. Men can be called mom too!”

A-Yu interrupts with a single word, “Lǎorén.”

Shen Yuan takes a moment to take in Shang Qinghua’s offended expression before hiding a laugh behind his fan. He nods approvingly at A-Yu. “Lǎorén is perfect.”

A-Yu shoots him a small smile.

“No. No way! I know you’re still mad at me kid, but I am definitely not an old man!”

Shang Qinghu moves to walk closer to them, but Bingpup uses the moment of distraction to sink his tiny teeth into the hem of the author fancy robes. Said author squawked in dismay and tried to shake the dog free.

He was unsuccessful.

This seemed to break the somber mood entirely. A-Yu was unable to muffle a laugh behind his hand. Shen Yuan gave up hiding his own, and the sound of their laughter intermingled with Shang Qinghua pleas for help.

The light mood ended far too soon as the tree line came into sight. The barrier lay just beyond it. The group came to a halt, and Bingpup let go of Shang Qinghua. The dog seemed to know how serious the situation was.

Freed from his tiny tormentor, Shang Qinghua sighed in relief while shaking his robes in a way one might ward off evil. The author eventually straightened and said, “Well this is it. I’ll be out of your hair for a while, but I’ll see you guys in a month probably. I know I’ve said this already, but please don’t accidentally let Bi—the Emperor know about me helping you guys. My life would literally be over, and I can’t make my husband be a widow. He’d be too attractive. He’d have suitors swooping in left and right.”

Surprisingly, it was A-Yu who responded. “We won’t. I’m still mad at you, but you promised you’d be on our side. If Bàba trusts you than so will I.” Bingpup boofs in a way that sounds neither agreeing or disagreeing.

Shang Qinghua looks a bit like he might cry. The author makes eye contact with him. Those brown eyes look miserably apologetic. Shen Yuan understands far too well why. He glances away, and says, “We’re putting our trust in you. Don’t make us regret it.”

It’s as close to forgiveness as Shen Yuan is willing to give. He knows the man means well despite his… everything. Shen Yuan can reluctantly admit that the man deserves the benefit of the doubt. A quick glance lets him know that Shang Qinghua hears him loud and clear. The man shoots him a watery grin. For a moment, they are Peerless Cucumber and Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky. An author and a loyal anti-fan.

Truly, it was a very strange connection.

Shen Yuan blinks, and the moment is over. Shaking his head, he turns to look down at A-Yu and Bingpup. “Are you two ready?”

They stare up at him in determination. A-Yu speaks for the two. “We’re ready.”

Shen Yuan smiles at them in a way that he hopes doesn’t look like a grimace. He’s hardly looking forward to this. As if sensing his hesitation, Bingpup gives a short boof and moves to lead the way to the barrier.

Together, the remaining group members follow.

******

Luo Binghe waited impatiently outside the barrier.

As time passed, doubts attempted to cloud his mind. What if Shang Qinghua wasn’t able to help Shen Yuan in time. What would the boy do? Would he fall to despair or seek revenge? Would Luo Binghe need to find a way to resurrect a corpse? The possible answers to these questions only served to worsen his mood.

At his side, Mobei-jun appeared to be waiting far more patiently. Luo Binghe wasn’t deceived. The demon’s cold eyes had thawed into an all-consuming worry that left him wondering how the ice demon could remain so still.

Luo Binghe knew that he was entirely responsible for this situation. He felt no guilt over it, but nevertheless he might as well offer some assurance. “Your husband will be fine. The mountain holds no danger for a man like him.”

There were several implications to his words that Mobei-jun ignored, “Of course he will.”

The ice demon sounded confident. Confident in a way that brooded no alternative. Luo Binghe wonders just what Mobei-jun would do if something did indeed happen to his husband.

A shout broke their silent wait. Luo Binghe broke away from his thoughts and saw none other than Shang Qinghua come running out of the barrier. For some odd reason, the man was completely barefoot and his robes were torn and disheveled.

Shang Qinghua ran towards them, but the man’s eyes were only focused on one demon. “My king!”

Luo Binghe was suddenly standing alone. Mobei-jun met his husband halfway, and scooped the man into a tight hold. Shang Qinghua adapted quickly and threw his arms around his husband's neck. It was similar to scenes his wives favored in the romance novels they read. Two lovers embrace after being reunited from a long period of separation.

Luo Binghe was almost exasperated. These two had hardly been separated a day.

Mobei-jun shifts Shang Qinghua into a bridal carry. The demon stares down at his husband and demandingly asked, “Where are your shoes?”

Shang Qinghua seems unbothered by the tone. The frail cultivator beams up at the ice demon and happily said, “They got eaten. Don’t worry though. I’m fine!”

Mobei-jun seems slightly nonplussed by the response. Luo Binghe watches the demon gripped his husband closer as if to protect the man from any unknown threat that may wish to eat more of the cultivator’s clothes.

Luo Binghe is fully aware of who the likely culprit is. It seems that a certain mongrel had seen fit to terrorize the man. Albeit in an unconventional way. The implications of this were slightly worrying.

“How did Master Shang manage to marry someone like that?”

“Life is full of many mysteries, A-Yu. In this world, most will never make any sense.”

Luo Binghe’s attention snaps towards the barrier.

Through the barrier, he sees three figures standing closely together. The boy is looking at Mobei-jun and Shang Qinghua with evident confusion. A small part of Luo Binghe can relate. He too is often times confused by his war general’s choice in husband.

Beside the boy, is none other than Shen Yuan. A fan is raised to cover part of his face, but Luo Binghe can see that the man is shades paler than he should be. There’s a tired slouch to Shen Yuan’s shoulders that display a certain type of weariness. The man is alive though, and that is all that matters.

(Luo Binghe ignores the feeling in his chest that feels strangely like relief.)

He uses Xin Mo to cut a portal through the air. Once done, he turns to Mobei-jun. “This will take you to your fortress.”

His war general nods in thanks. Mobei-jun moves to leave, but pauses as Shang Qinghua leans back precariously in his hold and waves in the barrier’s direction.

“Bye! You guys take care! Even you, demon dog! Make sure to stay healthy since I won’t be seeing you guys ever again!”

Luo Binghe can’t be sure with the barrier obscuring his view, but he thinks he sees Shen Yuan’s eye twitch. The cultivator completely ignores Shang Qinghua’s farewell, but the boy politely waves back.

Mobei-jun loses his patience and reshifts his husband back into a better holding position. Shang Qinghua happily complies. Seemingly unbothered by the less than warm farewell he had received. The demon walked toward the portal without pause this time. As Mobei-jun passes him, this general’s cold eyes meet his and the demon speaks unexpectedly.

“Do not trust that Advisor of yours. That human is a snake.”

Luo Binghe barely has time to register the words before Mobei-jun steps through the portal with his husband. In a flash, the portal closes behind them, and the two are gone.

He knows a warning when he hears one. Luo Binghe wonders why his general saw fit to say this now. It’s no secret the bad blood between the demon and his Advisor, but something about this warning seemed different from Mobei-jun’s usual hatred.

(Sometimes, events seem to happen in a way that seems too coincidental. Luo Binghe’s life has always been like this.)

For now, he dismissed the matter for another time. He was more concerned with the figures still standing within the mountain barrier.

Luo Binghe approached the barrier with the grace of a predator that has finally cornered their prey. He allows a smirk to tug at his lip as he draws closer and closer to the barrier. He eventually stops at the edge of the barrier. Shen Yuan is so very close like this. Nearly at arms length.

The boy stands right by Shen Yuan’s side. The child glares up at him silently. Likely recalling yesterday’s encounter. It’s not Luo Binghe’s fault the boy let his emotions get the best of him. It’s a lesson that must always be learned the hard way.

Luckily, it undoubtedly worked in his favor.

He purposely ignored the third small presence that is glaring up at him with red eyes and bared teeth. He turns his attention to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan’s face is still partially covered by his fan. Hazel eyes are completely unreadable. However, the color reminds him of another matter. Luo Binghe’s smirk vanished and transformed into a thunderous scowl.

“Do you realize what your blood adoption has done?”

Shen Yuan doesn’t even flinch, “Hello to you too. I see that you’re not planning to waste any time with pleasantries.”

Luo Binghe ignores the sarcasm. “The boy already cannot awaken his heritage. Now it will likely be impossible. You’ve weakened him beyond repair.”

Shen Yuan’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “The ‘boy’ has a name, and as his Shifu—no, as his parent, I know more about this than you do. You gave up any claim to him a long time ago, and A-Yu chose me willingly.”

“His heritage—.”

“Is not as important as his happiness. Besides, I’m teaching him cultivation. A-Yu will be perfectly fine.”

Luo Binghe grit his teeth together. Shen Yuan was a fool. The man does not realize the magnitude of what he has done. What he has ruined. The boy will never truly be safe now. He will never have the power necessary to truly protect himself. He won’t even be guaranteed immortality. Unfortunately, the ritual was done and over. Luo Binghe cannot change what has already been done.

“This matter is not over.”

Shen Yuan reopens his fan dismissively, “It is.”

Luo Binghe realizes that this man will never not argue with him. It’s infuriating.

“It’s none of your business anyway.”

Both Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe pause. The boy had been silent until now. The child does not wait for a response. He glares at Luo Binghe and states, “After all, I’m useless.”

Luo Binghe is unable to respond immediately. Shen Yuan does not have this issue.

“A-Yu! You’re not useless. Where did you even—.”

Shen Yuan stops and goes dangerously still. Hazel eyes hone in on him and Luo Binghe notes that they seems to flash in a strangely bewitching manner. They’re captivating, but Luo Binghe is still too strangely muddled by the turn of this conversation to appreciate them.

Shen Yuan practically hisses, “You.”

For the second time this day, Luo Binghe thinks that he is about to be attacked. Shen Yuan’s grip on his fan is so tight, he’s surprised it doesn’t splinter in two. Surprisingly, the cultivator holds back. With an audible exhale, Shen Yuan loosens his grip and seems to forcefully calm himself.

Strangely, this change puts Luo Binghe on guard.

Shen Yuan taps his fan to his chin in a facade of thoughtfulness, “You came here to complete the deal you made with A-Yu correct?”

Luo Binghes eyes narrow at the man’s tone. “Do you plan to not honor it?”

“I thought about it. As his guardian any deals A-Yu makes are my responsibility. Until he’s an adult at least.”

“Bàba, that’s not true! You don’t need to be responsible at all.”

Shen Yuan’s turns away from Luo Binghe and softens visibly. “Yes I do, A-Yu. This cultivator created this mess, and it’s my duty to fix it.”

The boy looks like he’s about to protest again, but Shen Yuan quickly asks, “Do you remember what I asked you before we left?”

The boy reluctantly closes his mouth and nods. A silent exchange goes on between them. The result has the boy sigh and nod unhappily. Shen Yuan smiles and pats the boy gently on the head with his fan.

Luo Binghe feels something in his chest burn at the sight. He ignores the taste of vinegar in his mouth.

He has been dismissed long enough.

“You shall let me in and uphold the boy’s deal.”

Shen Yuan’s straightens immediately and glares at him. Good. The man is finally paying attention.

Shen Yuan hides his lower face. “Fine. Once a week, yes? We’ll go ahead and start. I welcome you in.”

A shocked silence fills the air. The boy and even the mongrel that he’s been paying no mind gape at Shen Yuan in shock.

After a moment, Luo Binghe smirked triumphantly and takes one step inside the barrier. The moment his body is fully inside the barrier, he is unceremoniously flung back out.

It was as if a force has shoved him. He’s reminded of his previous visit where he was tossed through the top of the barrier. Luo Binghe is hit by a realization.

This time, he is the one to glare and practically hiss, “You.”

The target of his glare genially waves his fan. Hazel eyes stare at him smugly, “That’s your visit for the week. I believe we won’t be seeing you again till next week.”

Xin Mo pulses as he grips it tightly. His rage threatens to swallow him whole. “This was not part of the deal.”

Shen Yuan tilts his head in consideration. “Hm? No. I believe I’m right. A-Yu agreed to let you enter the barrier once a week.” The fan snaps shut and Shen Yuan smile is all teeth. “He never clarified how long.”

A part of him wanted to destroy the man in front of him. To take Xin Mo and somehow finish the man. The other part. The larger part, has Luo Binghe more aroused than he has ever been in his life. Fortunately, he is given something else to focus on.

“We can do this for the rest of our lives. It’ll be like a chore. We let you in and then we kick you right out. Or…” Shen Yuan trails off leadingly.

Luo Binghe doesn’t give him the satisfaction. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to bother the man.

“Or we make a new deal.”

Reluctantly intrigued, Luo Binghe can’t help but ask, “What would this entail?”

Shen Yuan’s fan shields his face. “Parenting101.”

Luo Binghe is more than confused. The sentiment seems to be shared.

The boys stares up at his guardian hesitantly, “Shifu?”

Shen Yuan pats the boy’s head reassuringly before elaborating.

“You’ll be allowed to come in once a week. Properly this time. However, this will only last for one year, and you won’t be allowed to wander as you please. You’ll be spending time with us, and you’ll work to properly apologize to A-Yu and Bingpup.”

Luo Binghe almost wants to laugh at the absurdity of it all. “And why would I agree to this?”

“Because if you succeed in gaining their forgiveness, I’ll answer all of your questions about that alternate Shen Qingqiu.”

Luo Binghe’s heart skips a beat. This…

“So you were lying.”

Shen Yuan remains impassive. “Maybe. You’ll have to wait to find out. Think of this new deal as a challenge. If you succeed, you get answers.”

Luo Binghe absentmindedly asks, “You want to… what exactly? Change me into a righteous man?”

Shen Yuan scoffs. “No. I’m not an idiot. I want you to stop bothering us. However, I know you won’t so I want you to at least learn to treat A-Yu and Bingpup better. You’ve treated both of them terribly, and you need to be held accountable.”

“You honestly believe that they will ever forgive me?”

As if to confirm his point the boy said, “I won’t.” The mongrel growls in agreement.

Shen Yuan sighs. “You’ll definitely need help. So… Parenting101. I’m going to help you become a semi-decent parent. If you succeed, you get all the answers I can give you. However, if you don’t succeed, you have to leave us alone.”

Ridiculous. All of it was ridiculous, but what did he expect from an equally ridiculous man. Luo Binghe should turn down this new deal. The boy would never forgive him. The child was his after all, and Luo Binghe never forgives those who have wronged him. He refused to even consider apologizing to the mongrel. This deal was impossible to complete.

However….

This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. In a years time, he was sure to find a way to destroy the blood barrier. The boy will not forgive him, but perhaps Luo Binghe can receive the answers he seeks by other means. Shen Yuan wants to teach him some undefinable measure of parenting? Why not indulge the man? If all else fails, he can convince Shen Yuan to tell him his secrets some other way. Also...

Luo Binghe has always liked a challenge.

With a slow, considering grin, Luo Binghe gives his answer.

“Well then. I’ll be in your care, Shizun.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 29: A New Beginning

The first week of their new visitation system is basically a disaster.

Shen Yuan was awoken at the crack of dawn by a tugging in his chest. With a groan, he buried his face in his pillow. On the opposite side of the bed, Shen Yuan hears Bingpup give a light snore. If Bingpup was still asleep than he had no right being awake right now.

The tugging in his chest persisted, and Shen Yuan let out another groan of displeasure. Irritably, he grabs another pillow and smashed it over his head.

At some point, the door to his room opens. Shen Yuan is distracted from his suffocation attempt as A-Yu crawls on his bed and asks, “Bàba, are you going to get up?”

Shen Yuan mumbles out a solid negative response to that.

Surprisingly, A-Yu seems pleased with the response. The child crawls under the covers and happily declares, “Good.”

That, unfortunately, makes Shen Yuan wake enough to become aware of their situation. Slowly, he removes the pillow covering his head and looks at the blanketed lump beside him. He sighs, “A-Yu…”

The lump suddenly has a pair of eyes that peer at him sulkily. “You said you weren’t getting up.”

Shen Yuan snorts and gives the lump a pat. “I wish. Unfortunately, we’ve made a deal. We need to go let him in for the day. I’ll be sure to have him come later next time. Much, much later.”

“I didn’t agree to the new deal.”

That makes Shen Yuan pause.

Last week, they’d made the new deal to let the protagonist inside the barrier. The half-demon had tried to make the new visitation system start then and there, but Shen Yuan had essentially told him to get lost. He’d needed more time to recover from his recent near death experience, and Shen Yuan hurt didn’t have the mental fortitude to deal with the half-demon.

Before the protagonist had left, Shen Yuan had also established that there would be no more nightly visits to his dreams. It was the best decision he’d ever made. After a week of dreamless sleep, he felt more rested than he had in months.

Unfortunately, not everything was going so smoothly. Throughout the week, A-Yu and Bingpup were borderline petulant. They were not happy with the new and improved deal. Shen Yuan had managed to win Bingpup over with lots of cuddles, but A-Yu had been understandably resistant to his placating.

Now, Shen Yuan sighs. The new deal was supposed to begin today, and A-Yu still hasn’t warmed up to the idea.

“This’ll be good for you, A-Yu. It’ll give you and your Father a chance to bon—.”

“I want nothing to do with that monster. He’s going to ruin everything.”

Ah. Shen Yuan should’ve known this was coming.

“He’s not going to ruin anything. I won’t let him.”

A-Yu actually glares at him. “He will! And for some reason you’re going to let him! You didn’t even ask me if I was alright with this. He’s going to be coming here every week, and he’s going to try to take you away from us! He doesn’t care about Bingpup, and he hates me!”

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit. He’s messed up. Airplane-bro’s talk of doomsday and family saving alternatives had him not thinking about how exactly this situation would make A-Yu feel. The child has every right to be upset. In fact, Shen Yuan is surprised this meltdown hadn’t happened sooner.

Shen Yuan had made a deal without A-Yu’s input. He’d asked the child to trust him and then turned around and made a bargain with the man that had hurt the child emotionally. Sure, A-Yu has already made the deal beforehand, but Shen Yuan thinks that A-Yu may have thought he’d been promising to get rid of the deal entirely. Not modify it and make it more of a reality. At least before, A-Yu didn’t have the twisted concept of “father-son bonding” hanging over his head.

Fuck. He’s a terrible parent, and he’s not entirely sure what to do about it. He’s never had A-Yu be truly angry with him. It’s a new situation that leaves him feeling absolutely terrible. He looks down into A-Yu’s glaring eyes and sees an emotion he should have noticed from the beginning.

Fear.

A-Yu was afraid, and Shen Yuan was responsible for it.

Without thinking, Shen Yuan moves his arms under the covers and gathers A-Yu close. The child struggles to free himself. Shen Yuan tightens his grip and says what he should have a week ago.

“I’m sorry.”

A-Yu stills.

Shen Yuan recalls a time when he’d been upset with his own parents. They’d forgotten that they’d promised to take him to see one of the newest movies in a certain animated ninja franchise. Shen Yuan had been excited about it for weeks so when the time came and his parents were busy taking his sister to a piano recital, he’d been upset.

He’d shouted at his parents. Claimed they loved his sister more than him. Claimed they would rather have only three kids instead of four. It had all been rather dramatic and unreasonable.

His mother, who had just come back from a long, tiring business trip, had snapped. She’d called him an ungrateful brat and said that it might have been easier having only three kids. She’d instantly regretted it and tried to apologize, but it hadn’t stopped Shen Yuan from running to his room. He’d thrown himself under his covers and cried for what felt like hours.

It had only been a few minutes. His mother had come to his room and sat on the edge of his bed. At some point, she’d gathered him in her arms and let Shen Yuan cry and cry.

When he’d exhausted his tears, she’d told him something that makes far more sense now than it did then.

“A-Yu, sometimes parents make mistakes. Both big and small ones. We say things we don’t mean because we’re tired or upset. We forget about things. That isn’t an excuse but a reality. They don’t tell you that when you're an adult you don’t miraculously have everything figured out. You’re just older. I can still remember when I was your age like it was just yesterday. I’m very sorry for what I said, A-Yuan. I love you and your siblings more than anything, and I couldn’t live without any one of you.”

Shen Yuan had accepted his mother’s apology and returned it with his own. He’d been old enough to know that she really hadn’t meant what she’d said. It had all worked out in the end.

Though now, he understands far more what she’d been saying.

Parents make mistakes. Children do not expect their parents to make mistakes. After all, adults are supposed to have it all together. They’re supposed to know everything. Be able to fix anything.

A-Yu is a twelve year old who’s had no parental figure guiding him until Shen Yuan came along. Shen Yuan is his Bàba and his Shifu. It’s made the child sticky and more attached than other children might be at his age. It’s also made any mistakes Shen Yuan makes that much more devastating.

If A-Yu’s Father is the image of everything bad and untrustworthy in the world than Shen Yuan had become the image of what is good.

It’s not a healthy perception for either party. It doesn’t account for how flawed Shen Yuan is and how complex the protagonist may be.

“I’m not a good person, A-Yu.”

The child makes a startled noise at the sudden declaration. A pair of confused eyes suddenly stare up at him.

“Wha—?”

“I’m not perfect. I’ve been hypocritical, and I don’t notice the way people may be feeling until I’ve accidentally hurt them. I’ve made decisions that have hurt you, and I’m so very sorry for that.”

“Bàba, you haven’t....”

Shen Yuan lightly squeezed the child closer. “I have. I didn’t properly take care of myself, and I ended up causing you grief. I made a new deal with your Father that forces you into a rough situation for at least a year without your consent. I’ve hurt you, A-Yu. It’s alright to be upset with me.”

A-Yu’s eyes have a watery gleam to them. “But I don’t want to be upset with you.”

Shen Yuan feels his face crumple. “I know. But sometimes you need to be. You need to be upset with me so I know when I’ve done something wrong or that there’s something that needs to be fixed. I promise I won’t ever stop loving you. So be upset with me A-Yu.”

The words seem to break something in A-Yu. The child grips his robes tightly and practically wails. “Why would you let that monster in?! You’d gotten rid of him! I don’t want him here! I hate him! Bàba, why—- why would you do this to me?!”

Shen Yuan grips the child tightly as A-Yu cries. He can’t think of any other words to say but, “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry!”

He soothingly pats A-Yu’s hair. “I know, but I am. I can’t undo the deal I made with your Father. He’s… I’m hoping this will help you two get along. Or at least have him not bother us eventually.”

“We’ll never get along. He’ll never change either. He—he thinks I’m useless, and I hate him.”

“People are… complicated. Your Father is probably the most complicated person I’ve ever met. Don’t think I’ve forgiven him for that useless comment. He had better not have meant it.”

Shen Yuan sighs. “I don’t know if he can change, but I’m hoping he will. It’s alright if you hate him, A-Yu. He needs to earn your forgiveness. I’m just being selfish and helping him try to earn it.”

A-Yu rubs at his eyes and looks up at him mournfully. “But why?”

How to phrase it? “There are… certain things happening. Events that I hope to avoid. By helping your Father, I’m hoping to avoid those events. It’s like I said before, A-Yu. I’m not perfect. I’m not helping him out of the goodness of my heart. I’m helping him because I’m hoping we can make him our ally. An ally that will respect all of us, and stop being so,” Shen Yuan waves a hand slightly, “evil emperor-y.”

That actually makes A-Yu laugh. It seems to surprise him as A-Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief. The tugging in his chest is getting more insistent. It has to be the same for A-Yu, but neither pay it any mind.

A-Yu looks up at him seriously. “So you made the new deal to protect us? We don’t really have to get along with that monster?”

“Yes and no. I did make the deal to protect us, but we do have to get along with him. If we want him to be our ally than we need to be honest and friendly. At least to some degree.”

A-Yu seems perturbed. “I don’t think he’ll change the way you hope he will. Do you even really know about that other world? He’ll be mad if you don’t.”

“I might know something, but let’s not worry about that. A-Yu, you’ll be the one to decide whether he can be trusted in the end. You and Bingpup. The new deal only works out for your Father if you two agree to forgive him.”

A-Yu looks up at him warily. “And if I don’t?”

Shen Yuan pats his head. “Then you don’t, and your Father will never be our ally.”

“But you said we need him to be.”

“It’s the best option, but we can always figure out something else. A certain idiot will help so don’t worry. If you feel that your Father hasn’t earned your forgiveness by the end of a year than he can’t be trusted. I promise I’ll support your decision.”

That earns him a hopeful look. “You really mean that?”

Shen Yuan smiles. “Pinky promise.”

Sure they need the protagonist to revert the world back to its previous state. But they also need to know they can trust the half-demon to listen and comply to such a request in the first place. If A-Yu doesn’t forgive his Father than that’s as good a sign as any for Shen Yuan that the half-demon can’t be reasoned with. That the protagonist has become too blackened for redemption.

Fortunately, A-Yu smiles back at him. They interlock their pinkies and that’s the end of it. Shen Yuan won’t abide any other outcome but the one A-Yu decides.

A small, black furry form suddenly pounced on top of them. A fully awake Bingpup stands on top of the blankets and stares down at them happily.

A-Yu looks at him smugly. “Bingpup will decide too.”

It went unspoken, but Shen Yuan knows that the Harmonic Demon dog may somehow be a more difficult challenge for the protagonist to face. At least with A-Yu, the protagonist should make a decent attempt for forgiveness.

Shen Yuan laughs. Despite it all, he’s happy. He’s happy that A-Yu and Bingpup are here with him. He's happy that they’ll have the final say. It takes a weight off his chest that he hadn’t realized was there.

Shen Yuan doesn’t trust the protagonist. How can he? He’d read so much about the man in his previous life. He knows just what the half-demon is capable of. However, that same insight has made him… sympathetic. Sympathetic in a way that he’s been refusing to acknowledge. The only other person he had that might help is that hack author, but Airplane-bro is probably going to be too busy playing devil’s advocate.

At least now he knows that there will be someone to keep him accountable and aware. A-Yu and Bingpup are sure to be merciless with their judgement. It’s comforting.

But…. you know what? Fuck it.

“If you two really want to, I’ll call off the deal.”

It’s a stupid offer. It will literally undo everything he and Shang Qinghua are trying to achieve. The protagonist will not be happy. This world may literally end.

He can’t bring himself to care.

A-Yu breaks out of his hold and crawls out of the covers. The child seems understandably discombobulated by the offer. A-Yu gently grabs grabs Bingpup, and together they stare at Shen Yuan in disbelief.

“Really?”

Shen Yuan pushes the covers aside and sits up. Ignoring the little screaming voice in his head that sounds suspiciously like a certain author, he tries to convey how serious he is. “Yes.”

“I—.” A-Yu cuts himself off. The child looks down at Bingpup and a silent conversation seems to happen between the two. Eventually, they seem to come to a decision. They look up at him with determination.

“It’ll only be for a year. We can handle that.”

Shen Yuan is… proud? Yes, that has to be it. After all, these two are growing up before his very eyes.

He really is such an old man.

Shen Yuan claps his hands together. “Well then. We’d better get up and deal with our guest.”

It was as if the two had forgotten that by agreeing to this deal they would actually have to commit to it. A-Yu grumbles as he gets up to go to his room and change. He sets Bingpup down who hops over to Shen Yuan with a set of wide adoring eyes.

Shen Yuan practically coos and scoops the dog up. He nuzzles his face into Bingpup’s soft fur. Bingpup practically vibrates as he tries to wiggle around to lick Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan smiles. Everything was going to be fine.

****

Everything was not fine.

A week of rest had done wonders for Shen Yuan’s health. His cultivation was stable and he was only slightly sore now. More importantly, Shen Yuan was able to use his sword to travel. He made quick work flying down the mountain with A-Yu and Bingpup. His fan was in his sleeve, and he was ready for anything the protagonist could throw at them.

They arrived at their destination, and Shen Yuan immediately spotted a rather grumpy looking man standing outside the barrier. Shen Yuan ignored him as he carefully lowers the sword so that they can all get off.

The protagonist doesn’t wait patiently. “I have been waiting here for over an hour.”

Shen Yuan is glad the man brought that up. “Who asked you to come at the crack of dawn? Next time come later. We were sleeping, and I’m not getting up early again.”

The protagonist glares. “How frivolous. You should be more accommodating towards your guests.”

“And you should be more polite. Consider your hosts feelings. Only one of us has kids they take care of.”

The protagonist grips his sword. “You—!”

Shen Yuan quickly cuts him off. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m… not sorry, but I shouldn’t be picking fights. Another reason you shouldn’t come so early. I'm not nice in the mornings.”

“Are you ever nice?”

Rude. Shen Yuan was very nice!

Mostly.

A-Yu steps by his side and asks, “Do we really have to let him in?”

Shen Yuan snorts. “Yes.” He turns to the protagonist. “I forgot to mention last time, but Xin Mo stays out there.”

That gets him a condescending look. “I assumed as much.”

Like that time that feels so long ago, Xin Mo is stabbed into the earth. Sheathe and all. He notes the way the half-demon’s hand lingers on the hilt before letting go.

Shen Yuan is nearly stunned by the half-demon’s initiative. Maybe the protagonist really is taking this deal seriously.

“Well… come in then.”

Shen Yuan’s sure he isn’t the only one who holds his breath as the protagonist comes in. The half-demon does so with little fanfare. He walks closer to Shen Yuan with an annoyingly familiar smirk on his face.

He stops a few feet away and asked, “What will you be teaching me today, Shizun?”

Who’s your Shizun?! The half-demon had called him that last week too. Shen Yuan doesn’t know what the deal is with the title, but he definitely doesn’t like it. He’s about to say as much but is distracted by a sudden movement.

Bingpup, who had been lying in a basket held by A-Yu, hops forward and onto the ground. The dog’s fur seems to expand slightly as Bingpup goes to survey their guest. Shen Yuan’s can’t see them, but he’s sure the dog’s eyes are glowing red.

The protagonist looks down at Bingpup and glares threateningly. “Touch me, and I’ll end you.”

Bingpup growls and Shen Yuan is about to angrily reprimand the half-demon. A-Yu’s reaction is quicker.

“Get out.”

Their guest is immediately dragged out by an invisible force. The blood ward is activated by A-Yu’s demand, and the protagonist is unceremoniously tossed out of the barrier once more.

Shen Yuan watches in surprise. Huh. This wasn’t something they had discussed but…

A-Yu suddenly looks at him with a mixture of guilt, stubbornness, and defiance. Obviously expecting a reprimand for what he’d just done.

Instead, Shen Yuan smiles and pulls out his fan to cover his face. “Very good, A-Yu.”

The child blinks before showing a beaming smile.

A dark, low voice says, “This is getting tiresome.”

Shen Yuan turns his attention back to their former guest. “Lesson one. You are not allowed to threaten anyone. Violating this rule will have you kicked out.”

The protagonist grits his teeth. “That is ridiculous.”

“No it’s not. This bargain was made so that you can work to earn A-Yu and Bingpup’s forgiveness. A-Yu or I will make you leave if you act poorly.”

If glares could kill than Shen Yuan would be six feet under.

Shen Yuan waves his fan in mock farewell. “Please take this next week to learn your first lesson. Be sure to think on it carefully so we don’t have to repeat it. This…Shizun… will pray for your success.”

“You—.”

Shen Yuan ignores whatever threat the protagonist is undoubtedly about to give. “Come along, A-Yu. It’s time for your cultivation lessons. Bingpup, you too.”

Bingpup growls at their ex-guest before hopping over to A-Yu. The child lowered the basket he’d still been holding and Bingpup easily jumps in. A-Yu then turns to him with a sharp grin. “Coming, Shifu!”

Shen Yuan readies his sword to return home. He steadfastly ignores the steady flow of threats and cajoling coming from outside the barrier.

Once they’re all situated, he turns back and calls out. “See you next week!”

They leave without another word.

“You cannot—.”

Shen Yuan doesn’t hear what the protagonist was going to say. He flies up and away swiftly. A-Yu holds on to the back of his robes to keep steady. The child carefully holds the basket that Bingpup is in.

“Shifu, that’s not the way to make him our ally.” Despite the words, A-Yu is practically shaking in poorly contained mirth.

Bingpup barks as if to share the sentiment.

Shen Yuan huffs. “He’s not allowed to be mean to you two. The blood adoption ritual lets you control the barrier A-Yu. I trust you to know when to use it.”

The hands holding his robe tighten their grip. Shen Yuan almost can’t hear A-Yu’s next words.

“Thanks, Bàba.”

Their return to the manor is a surprisingly pleasant affair. They spend the rest of the day as usual with lessons and meals throughout. The day is, overall, a good one despite its extremely bumpy start.

Shen Yuan still hopes next week will be better.

Chapter Text

Chapter 30: The Improper Guide to Handling Fish

Luo Yu detests this situation with every fiber of his being.

After last week, his family had had another brief period of peace. It was almost like before. Before everything had gone wrong, and it was just the three of them. He’d had uninterrupted lessons with his Shifu, Bingpup was a terror, and he’d been progressing more and more with his cultivation.

It was great.

Of course, his Father would always turn up to ruin everything.

Two weeks ago, Luo Yu truly had thought that maybe, just maybe, they had gotten rid of the monster. In hindsight, it was a foolish hope, but Luo Yu couldn’t help himself. His Bàba had talked about making his father’s visits a chore, and he’d been so happy. So very, stupidly happy. They outsmarted the Emperor. Maybe he’d leave them alone.

Naturally when his hopes were at their highest, his Bàba had turned around and made a new deal.

This new deal would not turn out the way his Bàba is obviously hoping it will. Everything will eventually go wrong, but Luo Yu will be ready.
He is unsure of what events his guardian is hoping to avoid, but he’s sure it has something to do with that secret meeting with Shang Qinghua.

Speaking of the man, he needed to go set the communication crystal to alert the alchemist of their guest. Shang Qinghua wasn’t supposed to appear for some time but his Shifu has already set up the transportation array that would allow the man to visit for Luo Yu’s lessons.

It was early enough that his guardian wasn’t awake yet. The lack of tugging in Luo Yu’s chest also indicated that the monster had yet to arrive either. It seems that the Emperor has taken the complaints about the early nature of his last visit into consideration. It wasn’t really surprising since the entire encounter had gone so poorly for the monster.

Luo Yu smiles. It was nice to be the one with power for once. Being able to activate the wards whenever he wanted was… amazing. He wouldn’t abuse the ability, but oh how Luo Yu wants to.

He would be good though. For his Bàba if nothing else.

His Shifu was too understanding. Too kind. Even when he’d been angry, Shen Yuan had comforted him. Apologized to him. His Bàba always met him where he was.

It was as overwhelming as it was comforting.

Shen Yuan had set up the transportation array in one of the spare rooms. Luo Yu quickly heads to it. The room is a bit small and cramped compared to the others in the manor. Luo Yu wonders if this is a coincidence. Recalling the way his Bàba had smacked Shang Qinghua with a scroll, Luo Yu snorts. He very much doubts it.

Luo Yu carefully avoids the transportation array and heads to a table in the corner. On the table is a large blue crystal. The crystal rests on a silver pedestal. He taps the crystal twice and half of it turns a pretty pink. Somewhere, Luo Yu knows an identical crystal is doing the same.

The communication crystal is split in half. The right half’s color is controlled by Luo Yu’s family while the left indicates Shang Qinghua’s. The crystal can turn three colors: pink, blue, and green. On their half, Pink was used to show that Luo Yu’s Father was visiting, blue to show the coast was clear, and green in case there were emergencies. On Shang Qinghua’s half, Green was used to indicate that the alchemist was planning to visit soon. The blue color didn’t mean much of anything. It was more of resting color that meant the alchemist wasn’t visiting.

If Shang Qinghua’s part of the crystal was ever to turn pink it meant there was an emergency. If this were to happen, Luo Yu’s family would be the ones to use the transportation array to travel to the northern fortress that the master alchemist called home. Fortunately, his Bàba said this was extremely unlikely to ever be an issue so he shouldn’t worry about it.

Task finished, he heads out to find some breakfast to eat. The last thing he wants to do is face his Father while hungry.

Bingpup shows up halfway through his meal. The dog gives him a demanding look, and Luo Yu narrows his eyes. He refuses to be the dog’s slave. Bingpup’s eyes narrow dangerously in return. A hungry Bingpup was not one to be trifled with.

To avoid calamity, he helpfully says, “There’s cucumbers in the garden.”

The dog’s eyes light up like stars. In a flash, the furry creature is gone and out the door.

It was fortunate that Bingpup was actually a breed of demon. Otherwise, the dog wouldn’t be able to eat many of the fruits and vegetables it does now. For some reason, one of Bingpup’s favorite things to eat is cucumbers. Luo Yu doesn’t understand the obsession, but the dog is already weird so it’s not that strange.

Bingpup returns quickly and hops on the kitchen counter with a giant cucumber that seems far too large for the dog’s tiny mouth. Luo Yu isn’t deceived. He’d once seen Bingpup swallow an entire pumpkin. When he’d told his Bàba about it, Shen Yuan had laughed, patted his head, and said he must have imagined it.

Luo Yu knows what he saw.

As if sensing his thoughts, Bingpup looks up. Black eyes stare at him challengingly as tiny teeth gnaw at the cucumber. Luo Yu wisely says nothing and finishes eating his own food.

Eventually, his Bàba comes down the stairs. Surprisingly, his guardian is fully dressed and awake in a way that he usually isn’t until around noon.

No sooner had Shen Yuan walked into the kitchen did an oh so familiar tugging begin to stir in Luo Yu’s chest. He groans audibly and places his head on the kitchen counter.

His Shifu lightly scolds him. “None of that. Today is going to be a good day. Your Father is bound to be on his best behavior, and I feel like we’ll all make some progress.”

Luo Yu disagrees. Any day with that monster is bound to be a bad day. He carefully kept that opinion to himself and offers his Bàba an apple to eat.

Shen Yuan smiles in thanks and takes the apple. “Are you two ready to go?”

“I am, but Bingpup is still…”

Luo Yu trails off as he realizes the giant cucumber Bingpup had been gnawing on has mysteriously vanished. The tiny dog blinks at them innocently.

“We’re both ready.”

***

They make quick work flying down the mountain.

Luo Yu has Bingpup tucked safely in a basket as he held on tightly to the back of his Shifu’s robes. Shen Yuan steadily talks throughout the flight. Soothing small talk that doesn’t require a response besides the occasional hum of agreement.

It calms Luo Yu’s nerves. Which is probably the point. His Bàba knows him too well.

Sooner than he would have liked, they are back at the base of the mountain. His Father’s dark eyes observe them as they dismount.

Once they’re off, his Shifu resheathed his sword and turns to the barrier with a fan covering his mouth. “Thank you for arriving later. I hope you had a nice week.”

“It was fine.”

The response is short and clipped in a way that indicates how unhappy his Father probably still was over what had happened last week. It makes Luo Yu feel darkly satisfied to be the cause of the man’s irritation.

Shen Yuan is either unintentionally or willfully unaware. “I’m glad. You can come in as soon as you deal with Xin Mo.”

The Emperor stabs his sword into the ground with a little too much force before wasting no time stepping through the barrier.

Something like a silent stare down occurs. It’s like no one is quite sure on how to handle this situation, and everyone is at a loss for words. Luo Yu almost desperately hopes one of the adults will say something.

As if hearing his silent plea, Shen Yuan fans himself gently before saying. “Well let's go. We have a long journey up the mountain since you don’t have a sword.”

His Shifu gestures up the mountain path and Luo Yu reshifts his hold on Bingpup’s basket before hurrying to walk up it. Anything to distract him from his Father’s overbearing presence.

He takes the lead, and his Bàba follows. The monster almost seems almost uncertain for a moment before stepping forward and matching his pace with Shen Yuan’s.

The walk back to the manor is awkward.

Painfully awkward.

Again, no one speaks. His Bàba’s morning cheer had vanished in the face of his Father’s serious attitude.

When the manor grew close, Shen Yuan finally speaks. “So…”

Luo Yu watches from the corner of his eye as his Father glances towards the cultivator. The demon only responds when he realizes Luo Yu’s Shifu won’t continue without a response.

“So?”

“So I was thinking.”

“That seems rare.”

“Don’t be rude. You’ve seen where that gets you.”

The monster’s eye twitched .

Shen Yuan continues unbothered. “I’ve been thinking about what we'll do today. I think the first real step in this Parenting 101 experience should be you seeing how your son has been living. It'll help you realize that A-Yu is perfectly fine here and see how we live.”

“And if I find his lifestyle unsuitable?”

They’ve arrived at the manor. His Shifu stops and smiles genially. “Then your complaints will be noted, and we can discuss them.”

His Father snorts derisively, but surprisingly, nods in agreement.

Luo Yu blinks. Maybe the monster really is trying to get along?

No. It’s obviously not sincere. The monster only wishes to get along with them well enough that by the end of the year Luo Yu and Bingpup will forgive him. Little does the Emperor know, that will never happen.

Ever.

“We’ve already eaten breakfast, but if you’re hungry I can grab you something to eat from the kitchen.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

“Oh, well good. Then we’ll move on to cultivation lessons. As it’s a nice day, we’ll be going to the lotus pond behind the manor.”

His Father hums noncommittally, and Shen Yuan takes the lead and guides their group to the area where Luo Yu’s cultivation lessons usually take place now.

It was nothing special. There are three smooth stones placed near the lotus pond. The stones were actually from the river nearby. They’d moved them here once Luo Yu’s cultivation had calmed to a degree where he no longer blew things up at the slightest misstep. The stones were surrounded by green grass that was browning as the season changed to winter.

Their cultivation area was a fair distance away from the hammocks near the willow tree that hangs over the pond. For some reason, Luo Yu’s Father seems to take a particular interest in it.

“This is the scene from your dream.”

“What?”

Luo Yu watches as his Shifu sits down in his usual stone seat. His guardian seems as confused by the comment as he is.

The monster gestures at the hammock in the distance. “You were resting in that in your first dream.”

“Oh! The one where I hit you.”

Luo Yu chokes on air. His Bàba had done what?!

He thinks he hears a noise of affront come from the monster, but he has more pressing concerns. He’d been so distracted he almost didn’t react when his Father moves to sit on the stone to the right of Shen Yuan. With quick reflexes, he cuts the demon off and plops down in his usual spot. He carefully places the basket Bingpup is in on the one remaining stone.

No way was he letting the monster sit in any of their spots. He looks up and glares into his Father’s dark eyes. Hopefully getting his point across.

The monster wasn’t welcome here.

His Father’s face is unreadable. Luo Yu has no idea what the demon is thinking. He nearly jumps when the monster merely sighs and moves to sit on the grass.

His Shifu distracts him by suddenly clapping his hands together. “Alright, we’ll start with our usual meditation.” Shen Yuan points at his Father, “You are going to observe. No talking.”

In response, the monster gracefully lies down on his side with one arm raised to prop up his head. The demon didn’t say one word but the action was entirely mocking. It was as if the demon wasn’t taking any of this seriously.

Luo Yu silently seethed.

Bingpup shifted in his basket, and let out a disgruntled boof. The dog didn’t seem to appreciate the mockery either. Tiny black eyes flashed red.

Shen Yuan sighs before saying, “Behave.”

His Shifu doesn’t clarify who he was speaking to.

The cultivation lessons begin without a hitch. His Shifu guides him through the usual routine, and Luo Yu can almost pretend everything is perfectly normal.

Almost.

Unfortunately, once they are deep in the breathing process that circulates spiritual energy, Luo Yu falters. He can feel the weight of his father’s eyes on him. It’s unsettling. It’s like the gaze sends ants flowing down his skin. He fidgets. Luo Yu can’t concentrate.

A nervous sweat slowly drips down his brow.

A loud smack makes him start and open his eyes. He blinks away the brightness, but it takes him a moment to truly comprehend the scene he sees.

His Shifu is partially leaning sideways with his fan firmly held in his hand. Said fan, is being glared at with affront by Luo Yu’s Father.

“Stop staring like that! You’re making him nervous.”

His Father growls. “The boy should be able to cultivate despite any distractions.”

“He’s a beginner! Don’t you remember when you first started? Stop being so judgemental.”

The two proceed to dissolve into full on bickering. Luo Yu gapes as he watches. He realizes that the smacking noise he’d heard must have been from his Shifu’s fan being used as a weapon to smack the monster.

As he watches the two argue, Luo Yu is hit with the strangest feeling. It’s like he’s on another planet. It’s bewildering to see his Bàba interact with his Father so casually.

Growing up, Luo Yu’s Father had always been… distant. Far away and unreachable. His Father was a distant figure on a throne seemingly far above everyone. No one was close to the Emperor. Not truly. So no one would dare to really speak casually to Luo Yu’s Father.

That wasn’t the case now.

His Father didn’t really look anything like an Emperor right now. The monster practically sulked as he gestured at his head furiously while waving at Shen Yuan’s fan in clear offense. His Bàba was clearly exasperated as the man kept waving said fan like he was ready to use it to hit the demon again.

His Father almost looked… normal.

It was a disconcerting thought. So much so that Luo Yu finally focuses back in to the argument the two adults were having.

“What of his weapon training?”

“He’s not old enough.”

“He’s twelve.”

“He’s way too young. We’ll start with lessons when he’s fifteen.”

“Fifteen?!”

“Fifteen is the perfect age!”

“That’s far too old! Twelve is the age all children learn.”

“Says who?”

His Father looks like he’s about to explode with frustration.

Luo Yu must make some kind of noise because his Bàba seems to finally notice how Luo Yu and Bingpup are watching their argument with wide eyes. His Bàba freezes and coughs before regaining his composure. Shen Yuan suddenly stands and bends down to grab Luo Yu’s Father’s arm.

“Get up!”

His Shifu briefly turns to him. “A-Yu, keep going with your meditation. I need to talk to you Father in private.”

Luo Yu gapes in shock, and he’s not the only one. His Father seems to have no idea what to do with the sudden manhandling and simply lets himself be pulled up and dragged towards the gardens.

Shen Yuan is halfway there when he calls back one last thing, “We’ll be right back!”

The next moment, the two adults vanish into the gardens. Luo Yu sits there in a silent stupor for too long. He eventually gets a grip and turns to his only remaining companion.

“What just happened?”

Bingpup’s boof sounds as bewildered as Luo Yu feels.

“Should we wait?”

The boof he gets is derisive.

“Yeah, I didn't think so either.”

Luo Yu stands up and quickly moves to head in the same direction the two adults had gone. Bingpup is by his side in a flash of movement. The dog’s footsteps have always been terrifyingly quiet, but now it works in their favor as the two stealthily creep around the edges of the garden.

It doesn’t take long to spot their targets. It seems that Shen Yuan had dragged the monster to the bench near the flowers. Luo Yu and Bingpup easily hid behind a bush of hydrangeas.

They were some distance away but they didn’t have to worry. Sitting together on the bench, the adults weren’t exactly being quiet.

“—each other. You two need to work on your communication! Don’t be so overbearing.”

“You coddle him. He needs to learn how to conduct himself. You’re far too overprotective.”

“I am not!”

(Luo Yu carefully ignores the painful spike of emotion that stabs him at the reminder that his Father will never be happy with him.)

He zones out of the conversation. It seems to be much of the same as before, but that’s not what really distracts him. No. Luo Yu is distracted by how close his Bàba and the monster are sitting.

The bench the two are sitting on isn’t exactly large, but neither is it small. There should be plenty of space for two adults to sit a respectable distance. Instead, the two are sitting very close. They’re gravitating towards each other unconsciously, and their faces lean closer and closer as they argue.

So close it looked like they almost might...

He wants to activate the blood wards. He wants to storm into the gardens and drag his Bàba back inside the protective walls of the manor.

Beside him, Bingpup lets out a low growl. Luo Yu looks down at his furry companion, and an idea occurs to him.

A plan begins to form in his mind. It was simple, but it might just work. His Shifu definitely wouldn’t approve of it, but Luo Yu can’t bring himself to care. Not now when his Bàba’s face grew ever closer to that monsters.

“Bingpup, do you want to help me get rid of our unwanted guest?”

Black eyes look up at him in consideration. The dog stares for a moment before black eyes flash red.

Luo Yu has his answer. He scoops the dog up and whispers his plan. Bingpup keeps still and listens attentively.

Eventually, Luo Yu places the tiny dog down, and Bingpup takes off. He waits until Bingpup is out of sight before creeping around to the entrance of the garden. Once there, he takes a moment to ruffle his own hair and put on an appropriately distraught expression.

Show time.

Luo Yu runs into the garden. “Shifu! Bingpup is terrorizing the fish again!”

On the bench, his Bàba and the monster seem to finally realize just how close they had gotten. They jolt apart, and it would be almost comical if it didn’t make Luo Yu internally simmer in rage. Fortunately, Shen Yuan quickly gets off the bench and stands. The cultivator briefly tilts his head down and furiously whispers something that sounds suspiciously like, “Be nice”, before turning to Luo Yu.

He pretends like he didn’t hear that. Soon enough, he’ll be rid of the monster.

At least for another week.

“Again?! I thought he’d given up after that one nearly swallowed him.”

Luo Yu quickly grabs his Bàba’s arm and drags him to the lotus pond. “I thought so too! I tried to catch him, but he’s out on the lotus pads trying to eat them.”

Luo Yu glances back to briefly make sure a certain demon was following and nearly smirked when he saw that he was. So far so good.

When they arrive at the lotus pond, Bingpup is indeed out on one of the lotus pads. The dog is close to the shore but far enough away to be out of reach. Bingpup has the tail end of a fish between his tiny teeth. Luo Yu knows his Bàba honestly fears that the dog will one day be eaten by one after an incident where one leapt out of the water trying to do just that. The fish are gentle creatures, but Bingpup’s bullying ways bring out their worst.

Luo Yu doesn’t want their smallest family member to be eaten by one of the monster fish, but he’s too confident in Bingpup’s ability to survive anything to be truly worried.

“Bingpup, let the fish go!”

The dog ignores Shen Yuan and tries to drag the fish further onto the lotus pad.

“Even the mongrel doesn’t listen to you.”

His Shifu snaps at the monster. “You shut up.”

Luo Yu takes the chance to chime in. “It’s not like you could ever get Bingpup to listen. You’re terrified of him.”

His Father’s scowl turns thunderous. “Boy, watch your tongue.”

“Don’t speak to him like that, and A-Yu has a name. Use it.”

His Father’s mouth opens, but the next moment something slams into his face.

It was the fish Bingpup had been trying to tug on the lotus pad.

The monster reals back, and Luo Yu only moves in time because he was prepared. He darted forward quickly to catch the fish and ‘accidentally’ bumps into his Father who is now standing ever so close to the lotus pond.

Just as planned, the monster loses his footing and falls into the pond.

His Father quickly emerges from the water. He doesn’t sputter, but he’s completely drenched. Dark eyes practically glowed with anger. Nervously, Luo Yu tosses the fish back into the water as casually as he can.

For a moment, Luo Yu thinks the monster might actually be able to rein in his temper. The plan would fail, and all of this would have been for nothing. Fortunately, Bingpup hammers the final nail in the metaphorical coffin by using the monster’s head as a stepping stone back to shore. The dog hops over to him, and Luo Yu quickly picks Bingpup up.

His Father’s temper snaps. The monster stands up, absolutely soaked, and stomps forward through the water. He storms towards Luo Yu and Bingpup like a dark specter.

It would be funny if it wasn’t so terrifying.

“That was planned. This kind of behavior is not acceptable for—.”

His Shifu pulls Luo Yu behind him and faces their incoming assailant.

“Calm down! It was an accident.”

The monster steps onto the shore, but doesn’t stop walking until he’s looming over Shen Yuan. “That was no accident. If you think it was than you’re more of a fool than I thought you were.”

“Excuse me? I know you’re ups—.”

“Silence. All you’ve shown me today is how much you coddle the boy. Am I really supposed to think you’re a suitable guardian? You need to be firmer with his discipline.”

“If you’re trying to tell me how to raise my son—.”

“He is not yours!”

The words are shouted. They cause Luo Yu to flinch. Bingpup growls and bristles in his arms. The dog squirms as if to break free and attack, but Luo Yu holds him tight. He doesn’t want to make things worse.

His Bàba goes dangerously still. The tension is so thick one could cut it with a knife. The monster’s heavy breathing is the only sound to be heard.

“He is.”

Luo Yu blinks in surprise at how cold his Bàba’s voice sounds. He can barely see how his guardian tilts his chin up challengingly and glares.

“He’s my son, and you’re going to have to learn to live with that. If you can’t; don’t come back here.”

The monster only has a moment to take in those words before an invisible force sends him flying. Up and out. The blood ward makes quick work of getting rid of their guest.

Luo Yu watches it all with a sinking feeling in his chest. He should be feeling triumphant. The plan was a success, and the monster was gone. He should be happy.

He feels miserable.

His Bàba slowly turns around. There is no comforting smile on the man’s face. Instead, a small frown is directed at both him and Bingpup.

“Don’t think I don't know what you two just did.”

Luo Yu starts, “You said—.”

“I said it was an accident because I hoped it was one. Your faces tell me otherwise.”

Luo Yu curses himself inwardly. Apparently, he looks as guilty as he feels. Bingpup is just as bad with his furry ears pressed flat against his head. Luo Yu hugs the dog comfortingly.

“What you two did wasn’t fair. Your Father was honestly trying. He shouldn’t have acted like that, but you two set him up for failure.”

“But—.”

“No buts. I’m not upset. Not really. I’m just disappointed.”

That was somehow worse.

Luo Yu doesn’t know what to do. He’s used to being a disappointment for that monster but not his Bàba. An oppressive emotion flutters in his chest. It’s… it’s not a good feeling. It’s really, really not a good feeling. His Bàba is saying something, but it’s hard to concentrate. The weight of his guilt makes it hard to breathe.

Two gentle hands suddenly cup his face.

His Bàba is knelt down in front of him. Luo Yu’s arms are somehow empty. At some point his guardian must have taken Bingpup away from him and placed the dog on the ground. Bingpup is gazing up at him in obvious concern.

A finger lightly taps his cheek and diverts Luo Yu’s attention back to his Bàba.

“Breathe with me, A-Yu. Everything’s alright. Just breathe. In and out. Just do what I do…”

Luo Yu shudders a breath. He coughs before following his Bàba’s instructions and taking deep breaths. In and out. He doesn’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s lightheaded, but at least he can breathe again.

When had he even stopped?

Luo Yu head starts to clear and he chokes out, “I’m sorry.”

“A-Yu, it’s fine. Really. I shouldn’t have… I should have handled that better. I’m not upset with you.”

Luo Yu wants to believe that. “But I—we disappointed you.”

“I’m just disappointed by your actions, but only a little bit.” His Bàba hesitates before asking, “A-Yu, what made you decide to try and get rid of your Father. Everything seemed to be alright for the most part. What changed?”

The scene of the two adults sitting together on the bench flashed through A-Yu’s mind. “He was getting too close to you.”

His Bàba stares at him with wide eyes, “Wha—?”

“In the garden. He was getting way too close to you!”

Luo Yu thinks he might be reprimanded for eavesdropping on the adults private conversation, but his Bàba merely sighed, “I should’ve known you two wouldn’t sit still. You didn’t have to worry. He wasn’t planning on attacking me.”

That… wasn’t what they’d been worried about. Luo Yu glances down at Bingpup, and a silent understanding occurs. They would let Shen Yuan remain oblivious.

Gentle hands start to pinch his cheeks, and Luo Yu squawks indignantly. His Shifu smiles at him. “I promise I would have been fine. You two should’ve behaved, but….” The man snorts, “His face when he got hit with the fish! I can’t.”

Luo Yu frees himself from his Shifu’s hands. “It was pretty funny.”

He hadn’t had the chance to appreciate the mental image until now, but the look on his Father's face when the fish had hit it…

The laughter bubbles out of his throat unintentionally.

His Bàba tries to keep a serious face, but his lips tremble and twitch. In no time at all, Luo Yu’s laughter is accompanied by Shen Yuan’s. Excited by the change in mood, Bingpup boofs and hops around them happily.

His Bàba pats his head and straightens his posture. The cultivator looks at him and Bingpup with a smiling expression but serious eyes. “You two will need to behave in the future, but it really wasn’t a big deal. Your Father is more at fault for being so ill tempered. It was basically a silly prank, and he overacted.”

Luo Yu almost wants to leave it at that, but he knows he should be held accountable. “I really am sorry, Bàba. It won’t happen again. I won’t drag Bingpup into any more schemes.”

Bingpup nips at his ankle, and Luo Yu yelps. He hops away from the dog and scowls, “What was that for?!”

Bingpup’s stares up at him condescendingly.

His Bàba pats his head reassuringly, “He’s upset that you’re trying to take all the credit. It seems you two are partners.”

His Shifu’s words should have been scolding, but they seem far too amused. Luo Yu blinks in surprise Before nodding in agreement. “We’re both sorry, and we won’t do it again.”

Bingpup boofs smugly before turning to stare up at Shen Yuan adorably. His Bàba rolls his eyes but still scoops the dog up and rubs their noses together. “No more tormenting the fish. Really, what were you two thinking? Bingpup could’ve been eaten.”

Luo Yu carefully doesn’t roll his own eyes. Bingpup was such a suck up.

Sometimes, Luo Yu really does feel completely useless. He can never quite manage to do things right when it matters. After all, he’s the reason that monster can enter the mountain in the first place. But that’s alright. He knows his Bàba doesn’t care. His Bàba obviously loves him no matter what, and Luo Yu will love his family just as fiercely and unconditionally.

His Father can visit all he likes. Luo Yu can handle the monster and keep him away from his Bàba. He’ll do it better than he did today. No more obvious plans to get rid of the demon. He doesn’t have to be polite. He doesn’t have to like the monster. He just has to be himself.

His Bàba stops lavishing Bingpup with attention, and reaches a hand to pat Luo Yu’s head. It makes something warm curl up in his chest.

“I’ll deal with your Father next week. Everything will be fine. For now, I think we’re done for today. Let's go in and have lunch. After, we can go to the library and read that one book you’ve been eyeing.”

“The one with the centipede demon?”

“Yep.”

“What are we waiting for? Let's go!”

He gently grabs his Bàba’s elbow and tugs him towards the manor. His Bàba laughs and allows it.

His cheer may be a bit forced, but he realizes that he’s genuinely happy. The monster may be right. Maybe he’s useless and undisciplined. Maybe he’s even overemotional, but... that’s never bothered his real family. They like Luo Yu just the way he is. So why should he be worried about that monster’s opinions?

In the end, all Luo Yu truly ever has to be is himself.

Chapter Text

Chapter 31: Mountain’s Grim

Luo Binghe knew the situation would be difficult, but he had been unprepared for the severity of it. He has yet to have a single visit where he hasn’t been forcibly removed from the mountain.

He knew that interacting with Shen Yuan and the boy would be difficult. Neither are fond of him, and it’s only due to a strange twist of fate that the new deal exists. That and the ever confounding and mercurial decisions Shen Yuan makes.

The first visit wasn’t even worth mentioning. It had been brief, and reminded Luo Binghe that the boy also had the ability to force him off the mountain. The second visit…

The second visit had been going well, but Luo Binghe’s own temper had gotten the best of him. Petty schemes from a child (and that mongrel) shouldn’t have affected him the way that it had. He should’ve been able to keep calm. For some reason, he’d been incapable.

Maybe it was due to the fact that Luo Binghe was growing progressively more weary of the Palace. Xin Mo seemed to also be demanding more from him. The weapon grows unstable as he denies his harems advances more and more.

It was tiring.

But perhaps that was all just an excuse. Luo Binghe has had a week to think of that last visit, and he’s come to a startling and unpleasant conclusion.

He can’t stand the sight of how close the boy is to Shen Yuan.

The two are undeniably fond of each other. When Luo Binghe had observed their cultivation training, he’d realized that they interacted with each other with an ease and familiarity that was far beyond what he’d expected. The two had only known each other for a little over a year. He’d never thought….

Shen Yuan truly was the boy’s parent. In every sense of the word. He was nurturing, caring, and overbearingly fond. Even with that mongrel, they were every bit the kind of family that Luo Binghe had nearly forgotten exists.

(It made something in Luo Binghe tremble and burn.)

If there was one thing he had learned from the original Shen Qingqiu, it was that emotions are a weakness. Humans and demons alike will use them against you. They watch and laugh as you fall to ruin because of them. Luo Binghe cannot continue with his plans until he overcomes this small issue. It wasn’t anything that should bother him. He was the Emperor of a world he himself had reforged.

His one sole comfort was that Shen Yuan seemed to directly oppose this long understood truth. The cultivator was genuinely good to those in his care. He was like a cat. A cat that fiercely protected it’s kits.

Luo Binghe was going to have to adapt. He’s going to accept Shen Yuan’s role in the boy’s life. Where one goes the other must follow. It’s grating but unavoidable. Perhaps even inevitable.

After all, the boy had been born to this world without a mother. Without anyone to care for him in the ways his other children were. Luo Binghe couldn’t be there for him. No matter how much he—

Shen Yuan has filled that role. Luo Yu now has a mother of sorts, and Luo Binghe will reluctantly accept this.

In this, Shen Yuan is nothing like Shen Qingqiu. Either of them. He cares for his charges without hesitation or false airs. His Shen Qingqiu had always hated children. Luo Binghe had been nothing but a little beast to the man, but even the other disciples were clearly an unwanted consequence of the man’s role as peak lord. The jealous man had always hated them all. From what memories he had gleaned, the alternate Shen Qingqiu seemed to be more fond of children, but had still remained a somewhat aloof and distant figure. A gentle, kind teacher but no parent.

Perhaps this was why Luo Binghe was strangely alright with calling Shen Yuan ‘Shizun’. He puts no faith in the title, but he shall allow the man to teach him whatever ridiculous things the man may wish to.

So far the lessons had been... reasonable. No threats and more communication between him and the boy. Luo Binghe just has to avoid whatever machinations said boy and that mongrel may plan in the future. That pond incident was neither accidental or acceptable. It was unsurprising how determined they were to be rid of him. What was surprising was how the boy had played him. Used his weaknesses against him.

With time to think about it all, Luo Binghe is almost… pleased. The boy is clever. Crafty even. It was comforting. The boy would need every advantage to be able to survive in a world where he has no access to his heritage beyond cultivation. After all, Shen Yuan had taken away the boy’s chance to awaken his Heavenly Demon blood. Now that…

That was something Luo Binghe would never forgive his new, lovely Shizun for.

But that matter would have to be put aside for now. Luo Binghe was still unsure on the connection between Shen Yuan and that alternate Shen Qingqiu. Fortunately, this new deal should take care of this confusion and give him the answers he seeks.

One way or another.

Outside the mountain barrier, Luo Binghe briefly wonders if he’d be allowed in any time soon. Shen Yuan’s tendency of sleeping far later than was appropriate was similar in nature to his most spoiled wives and concubines. It might be endearing if it wasn’t so frustrating. He only has one day a week to enter the blood wards. One day to learn as much as he can to either destroy the barrier and discover whatever secrets Shen Yuan is hiding. Yet here he was, wasting away as the mountain inhabitants took their time arriving to let him in. Xin Mo hums at his side. Echoing his frustration.

Luo Binghe steadfastly ignores it. Time and again lately, his anger and impatience has been his undoing.

No more.

So here he waits. Determined and calm. Xin Mo is restless, but soon enough he would leave it outside the barrier and begin a new day of whatever plans Shen Yuan has put together this time.

It was odd how much the thought relieved him.

After what felt like an eternity and no time at all, the mountain inhabitants finally arrived. Like the previous visits, Shen Yuan flitted down on his sword. The boy carefully held onto the back of the cultivator’s robes while carrying the mongrel in a small basket. Once they stood before him, Luo Binghe wasted no time greeting Shen Yuan.

“Shizun.”

Pink lips were covered by an ever present fan. “You really don’t have to call me that. Seeing as you’re here, I take it you’ve come to accept that A-Yu is my son.”

“Mn.”

Shen Yuan can’t quite hide the way his eyes widen in surprise. “Oh. Well good.”

“He’s probably lying, Bàba.”

Luo Binghe bites his tongue to prevent the reprimand that he almost speaks. Instead, he remains silent. Patience. Patience is the key here.

Shen Yuan is watching him with calculating eyes. “For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

The boy openly glares at him. As if hoping to incite his rage and have a reason to be rid of him. Luo Binghe almost chuckles. He wouldn’t be played so easily.

He stabs Xin Mo into the earth. It’s difficult. Seperating from it like this. A side effect of the sword’s power that only Luo Binghe has proven worthy to wield. Also, the cost of his recent negligence in its suppression. He would need to spend more time with his wives and concubines.

Just the thought made him weary.

He steps away from the sword. “Well?”

Shen Yuan nods. “Come in.”

He steps through and instinctively braces himself. Unsurprising, given how the barrier is not kind in the way it ejects him when activated. Nevertheless, Luo Binghe forces himself to appear relaxed and unfazed. He would never show such an obvious tell of weakness.

Shen Yuan doesn’t wait for him to say anything. “Last week could’ve gone better. You overreacted, and you should apologize to A-Yu and Bingpup.”

Patience. Luo Binghe can’t forget patience. He clenches and unclenches his fist before carefully saying in a steady tone. “I was the one who was treated unjustly.”

“Hm? Save some face. You’re an adult. You should’ve been able to handle things better, but to be fair….” Shen Yuan pointedly looks at the boy.

With the most mockingly insincere smile Luo Binghe has ever seen, the boy hoists the mongrel up before saying, “We’re very sorry that you fell into the pond.”

Not only was the apology completely insincere, it implied that they were not responsible in any way for Luo Binghe’s ‘fall’ into the lotus pond.

Shen Yuan seemed to think that the apology was good enough since the man practically radiated pride. It made Luo Binghe’s eye involuntarily twitch.

Patience.

“I will make sure nothing like last week happens again in the future.”

Luo Binghe would no longer fall for such tricks. He concedes that he’d lost his temper, but the boy needs more discipline. As a prince, the boy would be scrutinized and judged by all. Luo Binghe was right to be concerned about Shen Yuan’s coddling ways.

The boy is unimpressed, and the mongrel seems downright mutinous. Black eyes turned red and glare at him with the desire to kill.

Luo Binghe ignored the beast and turned to Shen Yuan expectantly. “Has this satisfied you, Shizun?”

The mongrel growls at his tone, but Shen Yuan only gently waves his fan. “It’s a start. For now, we’re starting fresh. You didn’t get to finish seeing our daily routine last week due to the… incident, but we’ll save that for another day. I believe the best way for us to learn to get along is to put us all in an unknown environment. That way we’ll be forced to rely on each other a bit more.”

Luo Binghe is curious. He highly doubts Shen Yuan is stupid enough to make plans to leave the safety of the mountain. So what possible unknown environment could he be speaking of. “And where do propose we go?”

“We’ll be going on a field trip into one of the caves I’ve been meaning to explore.”

That makes Luo Binghe pause. “ You haven’t explored the entire mountain?”

“Of course not. The mountain is massive, and it would take several lifetimes to explore it all.”

“Then you are unaware of the dangers this mountain holds?”

Shen Yuan must hear the edge to his question because the cultivator’s fan is promptly pointed at him threateningly. “The mountain is perfectly safe. No creatures can enter if they hold any ill will. So don’t even start. And besides, it’s fun to leave things to be explored. If I knew everything about the mountain than there would be nothing to surprise us.”

In Luo Binghe’s experience, nothing good ever comes from surprises. Unknown environments are liable to end with creatures attempting to kill you or assassins waiting in the shadows. A knife to the back, poison in his food, political schemes that threaten to destroy his empire, those were the kinds of surprises Luo Binghe was used to. Even the women who had joined his harem due to ‘surprises’ were no consolation. Absolutely nothing about surprises have ever been ‘fun’.

It’s led Luo Binghe to value the things he can control. So much in his life had happened without his say. It’s all been nearly sequential. A series of surprises that lead to his inevitable victories with only the small cost of his increased rigid vigilance.

Some might even call him paranoid.

“It is unwise. You would do well to be more cautious, Shizun.”

His reasonable advice is too easily dismissed. “Don't be so boring. Everything will be fine, and of course we’ll be careful.”

He has never in his life been called something as mundane as ‘boring’. Luo Binghe’s desperate grasp on his patience grows weaker as the word rattled in his mind.

He forcefully exhales. Fine. If his Shizun wants to throw caution to the wind than who is Luo Binghe to argue? He’s merely the person who conquered two realms and merged them together. An Emperor with years of experience that apparently means nothing in the face of Shen Yuan’s ridiculous schemes.

“The cave is close by. We were a bit late today because we were gathering things we might need. Oh! Speaking of which, A-Yu did you bring the purple bestiary?”

The boy moves to his caretakers side like a loyal puppy. “Don’t worry, Shifu. I grabbed it before we left. I also have food in my interspatial storage ring in case we get hungry.”

“Perfect. I brought food too so at least we won’t starve. Let’s hurry up and head out. I want to be out of the caves before nightfall.”

The boy’s smiles and carefully readjusts his hold on the basket. “Yes, Shifu!”

And just like that the two took off into the forest veering to the right of the path leading up the mountain. The family of three paid Luo Binghe no mind. They either expected him to follow or they had ... forgotten him.

It wasn’t a new experience. Just one he was no longer used to dealing with. At one point, Luo Binghe had always been forgotten and ignored. Left behind because Luo Binghe was never enou—

“Are you coming?”

Luo Binghe starts. Still within sight, Shen Yuan had stopped in the forest and was looking back at him expectantly. The boy had also stopped, but he seemed far more reluctant to do so as he gently tugged at Shen Yuan’s robes so they could keep moving. Despite this, Luo Binghe felt an unknown emotion unfurl in his chest.

“Of course, Shizun. This lowly disciple apologizes for keeping you waiting.”

The words come out more sincere than he means them to, but Shen Yuan interprets them as a form of mockery. The cultivator rolls his eyes in exasperation and calls, “Well, come on then.”

Luo Binghe wastes no time doing just that.

He remains a mostly silent presence in their strange little group as they travel to whatever cave Shen Yuan had deemed suitable. His companions chatter to each other about what unknown discoveries they may make on this trip. At first, Shen Yuan would occasionally try to include him by directing questions his way, but Luo Binghe answers were so short that the man gave up eventually. Luo Bingher almost speaks up at times when they mention creatures that Luo Binghe has knowledge of, but he holds his tongue. The boy has purposely placed himself between Luo Binghe and his guardian. A small barrier that occasionally tosses him pointed glares that send a clear message.

Luo Binghe isn’t welcome here.

The mongrel is carried so that it’s basket is dangerously near Luo Binghe. The demonic beast glares and dares him to move closer. He’s already had to neatly sidestep several attacks whenever he wanders within range of the beast’s sharp teeth.

Despite it all, the journey is… relaxing. It’s been a very long time since he’s been allowed to accompany people without the burden of his position mandating their behavior. The forest is full of a kaleidoscope of Autumn colors. As he walks, his head feels clearer.

It’s almost a shame when the mouth of a cave appears before them. The mountain turns steep and the forest thins. The cave strikes Luo Binghe as cold and uninviting. The feeling isn’t shared as his companions continue forward excitably.

“It seems pretty big, Shifu! I wonder what lives here.”

Luo Binghe tenses. The two had been talking about all manner of creatures while they’d travelled, but it was just now dawning on him that there may indeed be actual beasts in their journey ahead. Despite Shen Yuan’s claims that there were no creatures that would harm them, Luo Binghe was not reassured.

Nothing good ever dwells in caves.

“Cave openings are called entrances unless they’re formed by lava. Those openings are referred to as ‘skylights’ instead.”

“Why don’t normal caves have a cooler name for their entrances?”

Luo Binghe was unsure what the temperature had to do with anything, but he thinks he may understand the gist of what the boy is asking.

“Sometimes researchers do things like that. They’ll name one thing something interesting while calling another similar thing is called something plain and simple.”

“I’ll be sure to give all my discoveries cool names.”

Luo Binghe notes the hand holding Shen Yuan’s fan twitches as the cultivator looks at the boy with open fondness. Shen Yuan loses whatever restraint was holding him back and puts the fan away to gently pat Luo Yu’s head. The boy endures the gesture with the grace of one who knows it’s unavoidable.

It briefly reminds him of his own childhood. A time where he’d been a mere beggar. Luo Binghe had been so very naive, but his mother always patted his head fondly while calling him a ‘good’ and ‘obedient’ boy. He’d promised himself that he would one day become a cultivator who would be strong enough to heal her. He broke that promise. She died, and Luo Binghe had wept with nothing but his jade pendant left to remember her by.

The jade pendant resting beneath his robes feels heavier.

Luo Binghe shakes away his somber thoughts. He’s become more prone to them. Likely due to the presence of the boy. He can’t allow himself to become so complacent. Life will always trample the weak.

Luo Binghe is about to reprimand Shen Yuan for his coddling, but is unable to when the group decided to enter the cave. With little other choice, Luo Binghe follows. Someone needs to be ready for when things go wrong.

As they walk away from the entrance, the cave turns darker. The cold earth beneath Luo Binghe’s feet is riddled with stray rocks and roots that attempt to trip the unwary. Shen Yuan takes note of this and pulls out three shining stones from his storage ring. He hands one directly to Luo Binghe, “Here. I’ve explored many of the caves on the mountain, and they all were filled with crystals that will light the way. I’m not sure if this cave will be the same, but these should help in the meantime. Hopefully, the crystals will start to appear once we’ve traveled deeper.”

The shining stone that Shen Yuan hands him is very familiar. They’re common among cultivators and easy to make. Luo Binghe himself uses them often in his travels. “Much appreciated, Shizun.”

“You really don’t have to call me that.”

“This lowly disciple must insist.”

A long drawn out sigh is his only response. Luo Binghe only has a moment to feel satisfied before the boy grabs Shen Yuan’s arm and drags him away.

“Shifu, I think I see some light up ahead. Come look.”

“I’m coming, A-Yu. No need to pull at my arm.”

There was no light up ahead. Only a pitch black nothingness that threatened to encompass them.

“My mistake, Shifu. I must’ve imagined it.”

“That’s perfectly normal. Sometimes our brains create images out of darkness that makes us think we see things that aren’t actually there. It’s especially common in caves.”

“That’s so weird. It’s like our brains out trying to trick us.”

“It’s more of a matter of your senses blending together to help you see. Your brain is trying to help you, but it can’t quite manage.”

Luo Binghe highly doubts the boy saw anything in the first place, but at least Shen Yuan was taking his role as the boy’s Shifu seriously. He was a strange scholar without doubt, but a credible one full of both useless and interesting bits of knowledge that he was ready to explain patiently at any time.

Luo Binghe raises his stone to get a better look at the cave’s ceiling. What he sees eases his tension. The rock formation is firm and solid. If nothing else, they wouldn’t have to worry about a sudden cave in.

“Shifu, look! Aren’t those Gypsum flowers?”

“I think they are. I didn’t even see them. It’s so dark, and they blend in to their surroundings.”

Luo Binghe steps around the two and looks at what caught their attention. Sure enough, there are white root-like plants sticking out of the top of the small cavern that diverged from the cave they were traveling down. He’s seen this plant before. Craftsman occasionally traveled within caves and harvested these plants by the dozen. They weren’t good for much, but they were gathered for hardening the pastes used to build homes and other structures.

“Shifu, can I borrow your sword and cut a few down? I really want to study them.”

“Sure. Just be careful. I don’t want you to accidentally cut yourself.”

“Of course, Shifu.”

The boy shifts the basket carrying the mongrel towards the crook of his elbow, and carefully takes the sword that Shen Yuan removes from his belt.

“Be careful with Bingpup too.”

“I will!”

The boy quickly enters the small little cavern with the sword gleefully clenched in his hand. Luo Binghe takes a moment to make sure that he’ll be alright before turning to Shen Yuan.

“He wouldn’t need to ask you for your sword if he had his own.”

Hazel eyes are quick to glare at him. “He’s not getting a weapon until he’s fifteen.”

Luo Binghe glares back. “He’ll be surpassed by all his peers if he waits until he’s fifteen. You’re hindering his growth and keeping him from being able to protect himself.”

“I am not! He’s twelve. Twelve years old. He doesn’t need a weapon yet. He’s more than safe here.”

“You say that now, but the future is never certain. What will he do when you’re not around to protect him? When you were incapacitated, the boy came out and attacked me with that very sword. He had no training, and he was easily disarmed. What would have happened had he met a real enemy?”

“That was an extenuating circumstance that was entirely your fault. A-Yu, wouldn’t have needed to leave if you hadn’t—.”

A bitten off yell interrupts Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe notes that his own horrified surprise is matched by Shen Yuan’s before both their heads snap in the direction of the small cavern.

The boy was gone.

In a flash, Luo Binghe had his stone raised and was entering the cavern. Shen Yuan was just as quick. Luo Binghe desperately scanned the small cavern for any trace of the boy or the mongrel, and Shen Yuan called out in a completely panicked voice, “A-Yu?! Where are you?! Bingpup?!”

There is no response.

Luo Binghe knew something would go wrong in this damned cave. He should’ve been more careful. He should’ve kept a closer eye on the boy. He’d been too distracted by Shen Yuan. Furious, he glares around as he searches for any indication of where the boy may have vanished to. The lighting is too dim. The glowing stone wasn’t nearly sufficient enough.

Shen Yuan searches with him. All the while calling out with an ever growing edge of hysteria. It makes Luo Binghe snap at him.

“This is your fault.”

Shen Yuan’s briefly glares at him like he wants to set Luo Binghe on fire. The cultivator steps forwards and hisses. “Excuse me?! Now is not the time for your—.”

The man’s next step sends his foot sinking through the cavern floor. Shen Yuan stops and stares at it, and Luo Binghe does the same. They only have a moment to make startled eye contact before Shen Yuan is sinking entirely through the floor. Luo Binghe’s instincts are faster, and he leaps forward to grab Shen Yuan’s hand before the man disappears completely.

The momentum is too great. Luo Binghe is pulled forward, and he misjudges his step. Luo Binghe’s right foot sinks through the earth, and his tight grip on Shen Yuan’s hand drags him down the rest of the way.

In a blink, Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan are falling down a hole that is wider than the cavern they’d just been in. Luo Binghe’s enhanced eyesight allows him to see the sharp rocks that seems to act as a wall that will soon split the hole in two. Luo Binghe only has a split second to understand that Shen Yuan is about to slam into those sharp rocks and yanks the cultivator towards him.

There’s nothing Luo Binghe can do to stop their fall so he flips them around so that his back is pointed towards the upcoming rock while Shen Yuan is safely tucked in his arms.

He has no time to prepare for the sharp pain that stabs through his back.

A pained noise involuntarily leaves his throat as the force of the impact bounces them in the direction of the right opening.

They continue to fall.

Shen Yuan tries to shout something to him, but Luo Binghe can’t hear anything past the ringing in his ears. They fall and fall.

Shen Yuan suddenly shifts in his hold. Luo Binghe grips him tighter, but Shen Yuan settles quickly and wraps his arms around Luo Binghe’s torso. A hug at a time like this?

No.

Shen Yuan’s arm don’t encircle around his back. They stretch out and with an unseen movement there is suddenly a fierce gale of wind that pushes at Luo Binghes back and propels him towards the side of the rocky hole they were falling down.

They slam down on something hard.

Luo Binghe’s vision goes white. Whatever Shen Yuan had done had helped, but the impact was still beyond what any human would be able to withstand.

Eventually his vision begins to clear. He feels the bones in his back mend. As always, his Heavenly Demon blood works quickly to heal him. He slowly becomes aware again, and beyond the pain, he feels something soft and gentle cupping his face. A flow of spiritual energy was being sent throughout his body.

How familiar.

Sound soon returns as well.

“—-you alright? C’mon, please wake up. You’re supposed to be practically invulnerable! This shouldn’t—.”

Luo Binghe opens his eyes to the sight of Shen Yuan pressed against his torso. The cultivator’s body was pressed closely to his, and Shen Yuan is rambling as his gentle hands cradle Luo Binghe’s face.

Luo Binghe has awoken to far worse sights.

“You’re awake! Would you mind letting me go? You’re hurt, and I’m pretty sure I’m crushing you.”

Oh.

It seems that Luo Binghe still has his arms wrapped tightly around Shen Yuan. That explains why the cultivator is pressed against him. It’s a shame he’s not in the state to appreciate it.

He slowly (and reluctantly) loosens his grip on Shen Yuan. He lets his hands briefly wander lower, but Shen Yuan releases his face and wastes no time rolling off him. The transfer of Qi is ended, and Luo Binghe grunts at the sharp spike of pain that stabs through his back because of the shift.

“Sorry!”

Luo Binghe merely closes his eyes and ignores it all. It’s still hard to think clearly, but his healing should be done in a moment.

A light tap on his cheek makes him reopen his eyes.

A beautiful face greets him. “Are you going to be alright?”

Luo Binghe rolls his shoulders and feels how his bones have fully mended. He musters up the strength to respond. “Of course. A mere fall like that is nothing. Apologies, Shizun. You must be disappointed.”

That earns him a light flick to his ear. “Would you shut up. You’re so overdramatic. Of course I didn’t want you to get hurt. You shouldn’t have protected me like that. I would’ve been fine.”

That makes Luo Binghe snort. “I’m sure.”

That earns his ear another flick, but it's unbearably gentle.

A thought occurs to him, and he quickly lurches forward to sit up. His sudden movement causes Shen Yuan to nearly fall backward. “Hey! You shouldn’t move yet. You’re still hurt.”

“I’m fine. We have bigger concerns.”

“What? We should wait a little longer so you can recover more.”

“The boy must have fallen.”

It takes Shen Yuan only a moment to catch on to Luo Binghe’s line of thinking. He can tell the moment the cultivator does because Shen Yuan’s face goes completely pale.

“They—?” Shen Yuan cuts off his own question as if he can’t bare to say it aloud.

Luo Binghe does so for him. “They must have fallen.”

The boy had vanished well before he and Shen Yuan had fallen. Along with the mutt, the boy must have fell through the cave floor the same way they just had. The implications were beyond worrying. Fortunately, they had one saving grace.

“The Harmonic Demon dog should have the power to handle such a fall.”

Shen Yuan listens to his words like they’re a lifeline. “Of course. Bingpup wouldn’t let anything bad happen to A-Yu. They—they have to be alright.”

They share an uneasy silence that threatens to drive them both into a state of panic. Luo Binghe shakes his head to clear his rising tumultuous emotions. He finally looks around and takes in their new environment.

They’re resting on a ledge.

The puzzles pieces click together when he sees Shen Yuan’s fan lying beside the cultivator. When they’d been falling Luo Binghe couldn’t see what was below them, but Shen Yuan could. He must have seen the upcoming earth and tried to soften their impact by using his fan to blow a gale of wind. This tactic had worked somewhat but had the unexpected consequence of blowing them off course. Instead of continuing their descent, they’d been blown towards a rocky ledge protruding out of the rock face.

Luo Binghe stands up and ignores the way his muscles protest. He curiously peers over the ledge and glanced down the hole. Fortunately, they were in luck. The bottom of the hole was within jumping distance.

Shen Yuan picks up his fan and moves to stand beside him. “How do you think we should get—.”

Luo Binghe jumps off the edge. This time the fall is much shorter, and he reaches the ground no worse for wear. He glances back up at Shen Yuan expectantly.

The cultivator glares as he finished his question, “—down.”

Luo Binghe impatiently waits for Shen Yuan to jump. “Are you coming? We need to find the boy.”

“A-Yu has a name. How many times do I have to tell you that.”

Luo Binghe rolls his eyes and diverts his attention to his new surroundings. To his right is another cave opening that seems to be the only way out. Escape route found, he looks back up at Shen Yuan who is dithering near the edge with a strange expression.

Ah.

Sometimes Luo Binghe forgets. The distance from the ledge to where he stands is easy to cross.

If one is a demon or half in his own case.

For a human, cultivator or no, such a distance would undoubtedly end in some form of injury if Shen Yuan tries to jump down. Despite the urgent air to their situation, Luo Binghe feels a smirk tugged at his lips. Helpfully, he inquired, “Does Shizun need assistance?”

Shen Yuan sees his smirk and pointedly looks away with a huff. “Don’t call me that, and I’m perfectly fine. Just give me a moment, and I’ll find a way down.”

Shen Yuan is the very image of a cat stuck in a tree. He glares and hisses at Luo Binghe while making upset glances at his current position. It’s wonderful to see the man so irritated.

Luo Binghe is used to being in the role of the rescuer. He’s long lost count of how many women he’s rescued time and time again. It honestly gets repetitive, but now, he’s more than happy to be in this role once again.

“If you ask me nicely, I’ll come up there and carry you down.”

Shen Yuan snaps out a single word. “No.”

Shen Yuan really will never not argue with him. Though, it’s almost like the cultivator is personally offended by this situation. It goes beyond pride. Something specific has irritated his lovely Shizun.

Unfortunately, they don’t have the time to waste on such antics.

“You’ll never get down at this rate. I’m leaving to look for the boy.”

Luo Binghe slowly moves to do just that. He takes measured steps towards the exit, but waits expectantly as he walks further and further away.

“Wait!”

This time he carefully doesn’t let his smirk show. He turns back around and looks up innocently at Shen Yuan. The expression doesn’t fool anyone. Shen Yuan grips his fan tight and glowered.

“If you start calling A-Yu by his name, I’ll let you help me.”

“You’re not in a position to be making demands.”

“You know what? Fine. Stand back! I’m coming down.”

Shen Yuan gives him no time to move. One moment the cultivator is on the ledge; the next, he’s flinging himself over the edge. Luo Binghe’s eyes widen in something like horror as the man falls down towards him.

He’s about to move when Shen Yuan’s fan swipes through the air and a gale of wind blows down towards him. Luo Binghe steadies his stance as the force of it whips around him. Through squinted eyes, he watches as Shen Yuan’s ill thought plan falls apart.

The wind can’t be controlled enough to allow Shen Yuan to gracefully float to the ground. It only briefly manages to stabilize the cultivator before faltering and sending Shen Yuan crashing towards the earth. Fortunately for him, Luo Binghe is there to catch him.

He leaps forward and catches Shen Yuan as carefully as he can. He tucks an arm under the man’s knees and the other under Shen Yuan’s back. Shen Yuan is a light weight in his arms.

Once situated, Luo Binghe wastes no time looking down in order to reprimand the cultivator for his latest stunt, but the words get lost in his throat. Shen Yuan’s face is tilted up towards his. It shouldn’t have made him falter, but there’s a foreign emotion in those hazel eyes. One Luo Binghe has never seen Shen Yuan direct at him. It looks like… admiration.

It makes an emotion flutter in Luo Binghe’s chest. Said emotion is instantly killed the moment Shen Yuan realizes the position he’s in.

Luo Binghe gets a hand shoved in his face. It smashes against his cheek and forces his head to lean back.

“Put me down! I’m not a woman!”

Luo Binghe snaps out of his stupor. He glares as he avoids the hand trying to further shove his face away. “No, you’re an idiot! What were you thinking? Flinging yourself down like that?!”

With little other choice, he sets Shen Yuan down before the man can decide whether to try and choke him. The cultivator haughtily moves away and adjusts his robes while sticking that accursed fan into his sleeve. “I would’ve been fine.”

“You would’ve been dead.”

“Whatever. Let’s just go. We need to find A-Yu and Bingpup.” Shen Yuan stomped away towards the exit. Purposely ignoring Luo Binghe.

Luo Binghe was torn between exasperation and irritation, but nevertheless, he followed the shorter man into the cave. He’d lost his glowing stone sometime during their fall, but it turns out to be unneeded. The cave they entered was covered in glowing crystal and plants. The path forward was easily illuminated by them.

Shen Yuan made a pleased noise. “This is how the other caves I explored were. I never went too deep, but I bet they all lead to the same place.”

“So if the boy…”

“Luo Yu. But yes. Theoretically, as long as A-Yu and Bingpup can find another cave, they’ll either be led to the surface or wherever they all meet at.”

The hopeful lilt to Shen Yuan’s voice made Luo Binghe think that the cultivator might be getting ahead of himself. For all they knew, the caves might not connect at all. They could be a maze. This very cave they were in could lead to a dead end. But…

Luo Binghe allowed Shen Yuan to keep his hope. Hope was a useless emotion, but he can’t deny how relieving it will be if they find the boy without any complications.

They travel mostly in silence. Too anxious and weary to bicker at each other. Shen Yuan will occasionally point out something that indicates how deep underground they are, but the cultivator can’t quite muster his usual enthusiasm for such things.

“I think I see an opening up ahead.”

Sure enough. Shen Yuan is right. With a single shared glance of understanding, they both quickened their pace. When they exited the tunnel, they stepped into a giant cavern.

The cavern was massive. The ceiling was rocky and round with more glowing plants and crystals. What was within the cavern makes Luo Binghe stop in surprise. Before them lay a forest of wisteria trees. The trees gently swayed as if they weren’t underground without a hint of a breeze. Wisteria trees have always been known for the beauty of their flowers, but Luo Binghe has never seen any that match the ones before him. The blooms varied in shades of blues and purples and practically glowed with health.

“They’re beautiful.”

Luo Binghe is awoken from his trance-like state. He looks to his companion, and sees Shen Yuan is just as focused on the wisteria trees as he just was. With wide eyes full of awe and pink lips slightly parted, Luo Binghe thinks that the wisteria trees can’t quite compare.

He subtly shakes his head. The fall must have jarred something in his brain. Luo Binghe has met far more beautiful people in his life. Has even married most of them. He should be long past such thoughts.

“Would you like me to leave you here while I look for the boy, Shizun? That dazed expression makes me wonder if you have a thought in that pretty head of yours.”

Shen Yuan blinks at him before immediately closing his mouth with a glare. “You’re such a jerk.” He storms off down the slope leading to the forest. “C’mon, they’ve got to be somewhere around here.”

Luo Binghe huffs before going after the fool. In no time at all their path is canopied by the hanging flowers of the wisteria trees. Instead of grass, moss littered the ground. Luo Binghe didn’t think much of it until Shen Yuan suddenly stopped and knelt down to poke at it.

“This moss… I don’t think it’s normal.” Shen Yuan hold up a clump for Luo Binghe. “See the white edges? This moss can only be found deep underground. It’s the perfect food for—.”

“Silence.”

Shen Yuan is beyond offended. “Look I know this might not seem interesting to you—.”

“I said silence you fool. We’re being watched.”

Luo Binghe can’t see them, but he can sense it. The feeling of multiple sets of eyes watching them. The beauty of the wisteria trees seems far more ominous now.

Shen Yuan finally understands the gravity of their situation and keeps quiet as he stands. If Luo Binghe had Xin Mo, this situation wouldn’t be a cause for concern, but now he must be more cautious. Who knows what manner of creature is watching them.

Shen Yuan taps his arms and points down the path with an inquisitive tilt of his head. A silent question of whether they should move on or not. As they had yet to find the boy or even that furry little rat, Luo Binghe nodded his head. Together, they cautiously continued their trek.

The weight of unseen eyes keeps Luo Binghe on alert and prepared for any unexpected attacks.

As they walk, he scans their environment for any sudden movement. It’s only thanks to his heightened senses that he sees the occasional glimpse of something dark among the trees, but whatever they are appear and vanish in a flash. They wisely keep their distance.

It’s like a maddening game of cat and mouse. Luo Binghe will only admit to himself that he wasn’t sure who was who.

It’s as they’re nearing the center of the forest that something changes. Where the creatures following them had once been silent, now the unseen beings made a chattering noise that echoed around them like the sounds of cicadas. If Luo Binghe had been a cat, his ears would’ve been pressed down flat. The sound was terrible to his sensitive ears.

“Are you alright?”

Luo Binghe is glad that Shen Yuan was at least smart enough to whisper the question. The noise is so loud at this point that he doesn’t see the harm in replying. “I’m fine. Keep your guard up.”

Shen Yuan’s eyes narrow, but he nods seriously. The cultivator has a tight grip on his fan, and for the first time, Luo Binghe is glad to see it. At least if things go wrong, he won’t have to worry about Shen Yuan’s safety.

The trees are growing closer together. They actively have to brush aside the dangling wisteria now. Luo Binghe has enough experience to know that whatever creatures were stalking them were bound to make an appearance soon. Poor visibility and limited maneuverability will have them at a disadvantage.

He takes the lead and make sure Shen Yuan is behind him. Not enough to be obvious, but it’ll put Luo Binghe in the position to deal with any attacks first. His prideful companion would no doubt throw a fit if he noticed, but Shen Yuan is too distracted pushing aside the wisteria.

This position was the reason Luo Binghe was the first one to exit the tree line. It’s a jarring transition. One moment the wisteria is everywhere the eye can see; the next, he’s stepping into a moss covered clearing void of them. What he sees before him causes Luo Binghe to stop dead in his tracks. He’s too numb to feel Shen Yuan running into his back or to hear the little noise of protest the cultivator makes.

The clearing is designed to be a small circle of scenery with a row of wisteria trees lining it like a round wall. The ground is completely covered in thick moss, and there is a pool of water surrounded by stones of varying sizes.

None of this is what made Luo Binghe freeze. No, what made him stop is the sight of the boy surrounded and covered by very familiar black insectoid creatures.

The boy, the one they’d been searching for all this time, was sitting on a decent sized stone near the clear pool of water. The giant insectoid creatures crawl around with dozens of black legs skittering around haphazardly and their backs are covered in shells of grey and black plates. They curl in on themselves and roll around the floor bizarrely, and their antennas frantically move to sense their prey.

On the rock, the boy sits surrounded by the tiniest of the creatures. The youngest most likely. They crawl all over the boy, and reach towards his face. A face that is red. Luo Binghe can see how the boy’s eyes were wet with tears.

Luo Binghe knows these creatures. The scene before him sends him back to a time where he had been in a very similar situation.

It was months after he’d been thrown into the Endless Abyss by that scum Shen Qingqiu. Before he had found Xin Mo. Luo Binghe can hardly remember that time period now beyond the flashes of blood on his hands and misshapen demonic creatures that hounded his very step.

Sometimes he remembers. He remembers things that he would rather stay long buried and forgotten. A sight, a sound, or even a smell will send him back to that place.

Luo Binghe had been tired. So very, very tired. He didn’t need to sleep or eat, but oh how he had wanted just a moment of rest. To forget the hell that lay around him.

As luck had it, Luo Binghe had spotted a cave at his lowest point. He’d practically crawled inside it. Too relieved to think clearly and be wary of unknown dangers. He’d only been focused on the fact that finally; finally, he had found shelter.

Luo Binghe has been smart enough to at least look around the small cave he’d found, but before long he’d curled up in a corner and fell into a deep, unrestful sleep. Only his utter exhaustion kept him from waking as creatures crawled from their hiding place in the earth.

The sound of legs skittering echoed throughout the cave as they crawled toward Luo Binghe with sharp pincers, sharper teeth, and menacing black eyes.

Luo Binghe remembers the way their sharp teeth tore at his skin. Biting entire chunks of his flesh away. The pain had forced him awake instantly, and he’d struggled to escape. There had been too many of them. They’d crawled all over him. A nightmare of large insects crawling over him while biting and clawing. It was pure survival instinct combined with his demonic strength that gave him the ability to tear each and every one of them apart by hand. When he was done, he was panting, injured, and surrounded by their mutilated corpses.

He’d collapsed to the ground. Fallen face first into the mess he’d created and closed his eyes. In that moment, Luo Binghe had wondered… what was the point? Why should he get up again? There was no one waiting for him to escape. Nobody who cared if he lived or died.

He was completely alone.

Luo Binghe had let himself fall back asleep. Had let his injuries remain as they were and allowed fate to do as it wished. Fortunately, his Heavenly Demon blood had healed him. Kept him alive.

Luo Binghe had awoken and promptly scolded himself for his weakness. So what if there was no one who cared about him? So what if he was alone? Luo Binghe had more important things to worry about. He would never be satisfied until he had enacted his revenge against the ones who had scorned him. Ruined him. Thrown him into this abyss.

If neither world would accept him than Luo Binghe would remake it all.

And he had.

None of that mattered now. Absolutely none of it. Because sitting in a clearing was the boy. The boy who was surrounded by creatures that were trying to tear him apart.

And unlike Luo Binghe, the boy had no Heavenly Demon blood that would heal him.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood, and Luo Binghe was moving as soon as soon as he finally registered what he was seeing.

He needed to save his son.

A pair of hands suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm to hold him back. Luo Binghe nearly takes off with them, but he’s successfully halted. Half blind with protective fury, Luo Binghe spins around

Shen Qingqiu holds him back.

As always, Shen Qingqiu is trying to hinder him. This time, he’s trying to stop him from saving his son. The man is trying to say something to him, but he refuses to listen to such vile. Luo Binghe growls and prepares to rip the scum’s head off.

“Luo Binghe!”

At the sound of his name, Luo Binghe feels a moment of dissonance so strong reality seems to bend around him.

Just like that, Shen Qingqiu is gone, and it is Shen Yuan that is holding him back. The cultivator is looking at him with more concern than Luo Binghe can handle at the moment. So he focuses on the way those pink lips repeat his name.

“Luo Binghe, he’s fine! Everything’s fine! They’re not trying to hurt A-Yu!”

Luo Binghe’s head is far too muddled. It’s frustrating how slow he is to process Shen Yuan’s words.

His son is… fine?

He snaps his head back to see if the cultivator is lying to him. The boy is still surrounded by those awful insectoid creatures, but it takes him only a moment of careful observation to see that they really aren’t trying to hurt him. What he had seen as tears of despair were actually tears of laughter. The smallest of the creatures were still crawling around, but they almost seemed… playful. He watched as the boy picked one up and doubled over laughing as it’s dozens of tiny legs crawled across his torso.

It was truly disturbing, but Luo Binghe nearly sagged under the weight of his own relief.

The hands holding his arm gradually loosened their tight grip. Luo Binghe reluctantly turns back towards Shen Yuan. The cultivator shows him a small hesitant smile. “See? He’s perfectly fine. I really should’ve known better. Remember that moss I showed you? It’s the primary food for the Armadilavulgare Demons. They’re perfectly harmless.”

Luo Binghe shakes his head in agreement. “No. These demons are not harmless.”

Shen Yuan hasn’t quite released his arm as he stares up at him with a look that seems all to knowing. “Armadilavulgare Demons are actually a subspecies to a much more dangerous breed of demons. They’re gentler. Complete herbivores. Besides, the blood wards won’t allow any creatures to enter that intend to cause any true harm. Do you think I would’ve held you back if I honestly thought they were trying to hurt A-Yu?”

No. Luo Binghe was unsure of many things about Shen Yuan, but he was certain that the man’s love for the boy was true. Shen Yuan was one of the most overprotective mother hen types he has ever met.

Luo Binghe nods his head in acknowledgement, and Shen Yuan breathes out a pleased little huff before completely releasing his hold on Luo Binghe’s arm.

(He feels much colder without it.)

“Good. Lets go over there now. I wanna make sure A-Yu really is alright, and I don’t see Bingpup. We have to find him too.”

Luo Binghe nods again, but this time, Shen Yuan only gives him a quick smile before taking off towards the boy.

“A-Yu!”

The boy instantly looks towards them. Completely ignoring the way the creatures are crawling around him, the boy lifts both of his hands and frantically waves in greeting. “Bàba! You found us!”

His own presence is ignored. The boy only briefly glances at him before turning his attention solely towards his guardian.

(It stings more than he expects it to.)

If Luo Binghe didn’t know any better, he’d wonder if Shen Yuan really did have some form of demonic heritage. The cultivator practically glides through the small gathering of demons and is beside the boy in an instant. Gentle hands poke and prod at the child as Shen Yuan asks. “Are you hurt?! Why aren’t you moving? You must have fallen down that hole too so are you alright? Where’s Bingpup?”

The boy sneezed before gently batting away Shen Yuan’s prodding hands and answering the concerned questions. “I’m fine! Really, Bàba. I’m perfectly fine, and Bingpup is over there.”

The boy gestures towards a stone some distance away. Luo Binghe doesn’t know how they missed it. The stone is large, and it towers over all the rest. On top of it, a tiny, fluffy black creature looks down at a large gathering of the Armadilavulgare Demons at the base of the rock.

The mongrel boofs down at the insectoid creatures in the same way an Emperor casually gives out orders to their subjects. Luo Binghe would know as he has personal experience. The mongrel looked like an absolute tyrant as the Armadilavulgare Demons cowered before the dog in fear.

His mouth twitches in barely restrained amusement. For the first time, Luo Binghe thinks the mongrel may come by his name honestly.

Shen Yuan’s sigh of relief can be heard by all.

“Bingpup’s threatened the poor Ro-lay Po-lay demons into submission, Shifu. We fell through that hole in the cavern, but I managed to float us down with your sword. I twisted my ankle a bit when we landed, but—.”

Shen Yuan swiftly interrupted him. “Let me see it.”

The boy looks slightly miffed at having his story interrupted, but carefully stretched out his left leg so Shen Yuan can look at it. Luo Binghe stiffly wades through the sea of creatures so he can move close enough to see how the ankle is swollen. Luckily, it seems to only be a sprain.

Shen Yuan confirms after poking it gently. “Nothing seems to be broken. I’m going to heal it while you continue your story.”

The boy does so after another sneeze. “So we floated down to the bottom of the hole, and Bingpup grew large enough to cushion our fall, but I accidentally dropped us too fast and twisted my ankle. Bingpup let me ride on his back, but then the Ro-lay P—.”

“Roly Poly.” Shen Yuan glances at Luo Binghe and helpfully explains. “The Armadilavulgare Demon’s nickname.”

“Right. The Roly Poly demons appeared. I remembered them from that one bestiary of yours. So, I know they’re supposed to be friendly. I think they were just curious about us, but Bingpup pinned down their leader and forced them to guide us out. At least, that’s what I think happened. It was kinda hard to tell, but they eventually led us here. I think Bingpup is mad about not being taken to the exit because he’s basically taken over since we arrived here. I figured you’d be able to find us if we stayed put so I let him bul—play with them.”

Shen Yuan tries to look disapproving, but is mostly amused. “I’m glad you two have had fun.”

“We actually have. Look at the baby Roly Poly demons, Bàba! They’re kinda cute.” The boy lifts one of the tiny insectoid creatures and presents it to Shen Yuan for inspection.

Dozens of legs flail in the air. Luo Binghe can see tiny pincers click and clack as antennas waive around trying to discern why it’s been lifted into the air. It’s abhorrent and every instinct in Luo Binghe signals a flight or fight response that makes him stiffen in discomfort.

So distracted was he by the unnerving sight, Luo Binghe almost misses the worried glance Shen Yuan sends him. The cultivator hums and takes the creature from the boy and casually hides it from Luo Binghe’s sight. A pointless action as Luo Binghe is completely surrounded by the Armadilavulgare Demons.

Still, Luo Binghe can appreciate the small act of kindness. Unnecessary as it may be.

“Can we keep one? Please, Shifu. I promise I’ll take good care of it.”

Shen Yuan removes his hands from the boy’s ankle. The healing has been completed, and it looks like the swelling is gone. The cultivator laughs as he lifts a hand to give a quick pat to the boy’s head. “No, A-Yu. We can’t. The Roly Polys can only live underground, and we don’t want to take any of these little guys away from their family.”

“I guess you’re righ—.” Another sneeze cuts the boy off.

Luo Binghe finally speaks, “Are you ill?”

The boy glares at him with reddened eyes and refuses to respond.

“A-Yu, answer him please.”

The boy crosses his arms and sulks. “I think I may be allergic to all this wisteria. I haven’t—.” A sneeze, “I haven’t been able to stop sneezing since we’ve been here, and my eyes keep watering.”

Ah. So it hadn’t merely been tears of laughter that Luo Binghe had seen. No wonder the boy’s eyes still seemed watery.

“We need to get out of here. Continued exposure can’t be good for you, and I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had enough of these caves for one day.”

“Can we return some other day, Shifu? The Roly Polys are so cool, and I really want to explore this place more.”

“Once we find a way to work around your allergies we can maybe come back. We’d have to find a safer way down here.”

Luo Binghe was not pleased with the direction of this conversation, but for now, he kept his peace.

Shen Yuan puts the creature down, stands, and takes back his sword that had been lying beside the boy. The cultivator places the sword back through his belt before turning so his back was facing the boy. “Hop on. I’m going to carry you for now. Your ankle shouldn’t be walked on for at least a few hours.”

The boy whines, “Shifu...”

“Humor me?” There’s a strained tone to Shen Yuan’s question. The weight of the earlier situation when the boy’s fate had still been uncertain weighed heavy. The boy adeptly picked up on it.

Sighing in defeat, the boy got off the rock and gently wrapped his arms around Shen Yuan’s neck. “Alright, Bàba.”

Shen Yuan put his arm under the boy’s knees and hoisted the child up. He had a surprising strength for one that looked so slender. The cultivator didn’t falter as he moved forward to stand closer to Luo Binghe.

“We just need to go get Bingpup, and we can find a way out of here.”

Luo Binghe eyed the furry demon standing proudly on the rock. “It seems more than happy where it is. Perhaps you should leave the mongrel here.”

Two identical pairs of hazel eyes glare at him. Shen Yuan ignores his comment and takes off with the boy towards the towering stone. Luo Binghe scoffs before following.

As they draw nearer, the mongrel finally seems to notice their presence. Black eyes stare down and the mutt stiffens in shock for only a moment. The mongre immediately starts hopping up and down in excitement. Short but loud barks are called down to them.

Shen Yuan laughs. “I’m glad you’re alright too, Bingpup! I see you’ve been having fun.”

The mongrel can’t stand the distance any further. The tiny thing leaps off the rock and falls down towards the earth at an alarming speed.

Shen Yuan and the boy gasp. Shen Yuan lurches forward and ducks so the boy can outstretched his arms to catch the suicidal creature. Thankfully, it goes down without a hitch.

Luo Binghe watches as the mongrel flails around trying to lick both Shen Yuan and the boy. Shen Yuan staggers under the combined weight, but remained standing. It looks every bit like some of the rowdier entertainment acts that can sometimes be seen in the capital.

On a certain level, some might find the sight to be charming. For Luo Binghe, it makes him feel like an audience member to a play he has no role in.

One of the Armadilavulgare Demons roll next to him, and it takes every grain of his self restraint not to kick it away. The mongrel notes the movement and stops it’s flailing. Black eyes turn red and the mutt lets out a single bark that seems to be directed at all the surrounding Armadilavulgare Demons.

The creature beside Luo Binghe visibly trembles in fear. In fact all the Armadilavulgare Demons do. The plates on their backs rattle and their pincers clack nervously.

One of the largest ones hesitantly rolls towards Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe intercepts it before it can draw too close. He glares down at the creature with all the killing intent he can muster.

The Armadilavulgare Demon flees. It digs at the earth until it is completely out of his sight. As if on cue, the rest of the demons do the same until the clearing is entirely devoid of the creatures. Once Luo Binghe is sure they’re all gone, he turns around towards his companions.

It seems that one of the Armadilavulgare Demons remained.

Unwillingly, as the mongrel seems to have hopped on the ground to pin the insect creature to the ground. How something so small could subdue something three times its size would be beyond Luo Binghe if the mutt had been anything but a Harmonic Demon dog.

The mongrel growls down at its prey. Even to Luo Binghe, it sounds like the mutt is issuing some kind of demand. Without warning, the mutt released the Armadilavulgare Demon. Surprisingly, the insectoid creature doesn’t immediately try to flee underground to join its brethren. In jerky, reluctant movements it starts rolling away towards the wisteria trees.

The mutt takes after it.

Shen Yuan hurried to follow, “Bingpup, wait! Where are you going?”

Luo Binghe moves to stand beside him, “What did you expect? The mongrel can’t be reasoned with.”

The boy sneezes and glares from his place on Shen Yuan’s back. “His name is Bingpup.” The boy suddenly calls out to the mutt, “Bingpup are you making the Roly Poly take us to the exit?”

The mutt’s bark is the only confirmation they receive. While it’s not nearly a good enough response for Luo Binghe, it appeases both of his companions.

Shen Yuan sends a smile his way. “We should be out of here in no time.”

Luo Binghe doesn’t know what to do with a nice Shen Yuan so he merely hums noncommittally. He’s unsure if the Armadilavulgare Demon has enough intelligence to guide them out of here accurately.

Their journey takes time. They travel through the wisteria trees as quickly as they can, but the path seems longer than when he and Shen Yuan had first entered. It takes them around an hour before they’re led to one of the openings of a cave in the sides of the cavern. The cavern has many different caves leading to this place, and they all look the same. Luo Binghe supposed that even if the Armadilavulgare Demon is leading them astray, it won’t make much of a difference.

Shen Yuan and the boy chatter throughout their journey. Commenting on this and that in much the same way they had before they’d entered the cave. The boy’s constant sneezing seemed to tire him out though, and at some point, Luo Binghe realizes his companions have gone entirely silent. He glances over and sees that the boy had fallen asleep.

Shen Yuan sees him looking. “He’s tired himself out. Not surprising considering everything. It’s been a long day.”

It really had. This morning almost felt like a lifetime ago. So much had happened, and Luo Binghe himself was exhausted after it all.

As they walked through the cave that was conveniently lit by more glowing plants and gems, a thought occurred to him.

“You said my name.”

“What?”

“You said my name. Back before we went to the boy. You've never done that before.”

“I think you’re imagining things. I’ve definitely said your name before.”

Luo Binghe denies this fervently. “No. I would know if you had.”

He’s not sure why he’s so adamant about this, but Luo Binghe has never been one to question his own motivations.

“Well, so what if I haven’t? It’s not like I was going to call you ‘your majesty’ or whatever.”

“You should continue using it.”

Shen Yuan stares at him like he’s wondering if he’s brain damaged. The cultivator slowly says, “...alright.”

Luo Binghe only has a moment to feel pleased as Shen Yuan continues.

“As long as you call A-Yu by his name. No more of that ‘boy’ nonsense.”

There’s always something with Shen Yuan. However….

Luo Binghe isn’t quite sure why he always calls the boy— no, Luo Yu, so impersonally. It’s never been something he’s thought about. Shen Yuan has constantly talked about how Luo Yu does indeed have a name and demanded Luo Binghe use it, but this is the first time he’s actually...considered it. He knows Luo Yu has a name of course. He’s the one who gave it to him.

He’s just never used it.

It’s… perplexing. Luo Binghe has many children. Most he doesn’t even know the names of. His children have never been a matter that truly concerned him. Not beyond the promise of his protection should anything happen to them. Luo Binghe will never allow any harm to come to them, but the best way he can protect them is to remain uninvolved in their lives. Impartial and distant.

Luo Yu has always been different though. Maybe, it’s unfair in the grand scheme of things, but Luo Binghe might be prepared to treat him as such. Here in this little bubble away from the prying and judging eyes of the world.

“Let me carry Luo Yu.”

His words come out more quiet than he means them to. Less of a demand and more of an honest question.

Shen Yuan stares at him. An emotion Luo Binghe finds difficult to pinpoint swirls in those hazel eyes.

Luo Binghe looks away. He doesn’t expect Shen Yuan to agree. He doesn’t even know why he’d asked. Just, in that moment. The request had been asked without thought.

He really was pathetic.

“Alright.”

Luo Binghe starts and looks back at Shen Yuan.

“Just until we leave the caves and let me know if it’s too much for your back.”

The mutt seems to notice that they’re lagging behind and pounces on the Armadilavulgare Demon to hold it still. The mongrel turns back to them and boofs inquisitively.

Shen Yuan calls out reassuringly. “One moment, Bingpup. We'll be right there.”

The transfer of the boy from Shen Yuan’s back to Luo Binghe goes smoothly. Luo Yu doesn’t wake. Merely groans in displeasure before burying his face into the back of Luo Binghe’s robes.

His throat feels constricted as he hefts the boy carefully up. Luo Yu is small but bigger than he’d somehow expected. He remembers when he’d held the boy when he was just an infant. Luo Yu had been so small. So very fragile and innocent. Back then, Luo Binghe had looked at his own scarred hands and known that he would ruin the child. So, he’d done everything possible to avoid that fate. It had all been for the best.

The thought didn’t comfort him the same way it once had.

“You really do care about him don’t you?”

Shen Yuan’s questions dismissed the memories as if the cultivator had used his fan to blow them away. Luo Binghe ignores the wonder-like quality to the question and merely starts walking.

Luo Binghe doesn’t believe in answering questions that have obvious answers.

Shen Yuan thankfully says nothing else. The mongrel seems taken aback by Luo Yu’s new position but readily releases the Armadilavulgare Demon so they can continue their journey towards the exit.

All too soon, the cave grows lighter as they approach the exit of the cave. Luo Binghe can already tell by how much fresher the air that their journey is nearing its end.

The Armadilavulgare Demon nervously trembled and rolls to a stop. It glances back at the mutt as if begging for release. Fortunately for the creature, the mongrel lets out a low boof of dismissal. If insects could cry, Luo Binghe is sure the Armadilavulgare Demon would have wept with relief. It instantly began burrowing it’s way underground, and within seconds it is gone.

The mutt hops over to them with a smug air that seems to be pointed at Luo Binghe. He glares at the tiny thing halfheartedly while Shen Yuan praises and thanks the mutt for it’s ‘hard work’.

They eventually continue on, and as the entrance of the cave comes into sight, Luo Binghe speaks. “The bo—Luo Yu needs a weapon.”

Shen Yuan’s sigh is beyond tired. “Are you really going to start this again?”

Luo Binghe is completely serious when he responds. “You heard his tale of how he fell. What would he have done if he hadn’t had your sword with him? The mutt could have only done so much, and even with the sword, he ended up twisting his ankle. He may have escaped harm entirely if he’d had a sword he was familiar with using.”

“I—.” Shen Yuan stops his own protest. The cultivator goes quiet as he takes the time to actually take in what Luo Binghe has said. He quietly lets Shen Yuan think.

With the mongrel leading the way, they exit the cave. Both he and Shen Yuan blink rapidly at the change in lighting. Fortunately, the sun is setting and they are quick to adjust.

It turns out they had been in the caves all day. Luo Binghe thinks they’re lucky they weren’t in there past nightfall. Shen Yuan turns to him look at him expectantly.

Luo Binghe is unsure of what the cultivator wants from him before he realizes he’s still holding the boy. Almost reluctantly, he transfers Luo Yu back to Shen Yuan. The mutt watches them patiently, but he’s sure he doesn’t imagine the way those black eyes flash red at him warningly.

Once the boy is situated, Shen Yuan looks at him hesitantly. “The barrier is close by so I’ll just… escort you out.”

The words are strange, and it takes no thought for him to realize why. It hits him like a thunderbolt. He’s actually done it. He’s gone an entire day without being thrown out of the barrier forcibly. Even Shen Yuan seems bewildered by the situation. Luo Binghe has never been calmly escorted out.

It doesn’t take them long to reach the barrier, and just like that it’s time for Luo Binghe to go back to the Palace. He stares at his companions silently before moving to leave. Conflicting emotions war within him, but Luo Binghe knows he will be able to return in a week.

“I’ll think about what you said.”

He’s only taken a single step outside the barrier. He looks back expectantly. Shen Yuan looks back at him with a complicated expression.

Oh.

The conflicted emotions within him calm. They’re still there, but their edge is dulled. Shen Yuan is actually going to consider teaching the boy how to use a weapon.

Good.

Luo Binghe nods his head before stepping out of the barrier. He’s beginning to head in the direction that Xin Mo should lie when he hears Shen Yuan call out one last thing.

“Luo Binghe, we’ll see you next week!”

His heart skipped a beat as his head snaps back to stare at Shen Yuan. Only… the cultivator is gone. Along with the mutt and Luo Yu.

Luo Binghe wants to go after them. He wants to enter through the barrier, and…

It doesn’t matter.

One day, Shen Yuan and Luo Yu will be the ones to accompany him back to the Palace. For now, Luo Binghe will be patient. He still has answers he needs.

He is exhausted. The day’s events have finally caught up to him. He very much wishes to go back to his chambers and rest. He eventually finds Xin Mo where he had left it.

The sword is barely within distance, but he can feel it’s energy already working to claw at him. He feels even more tired as he picks up the sword and opens a portal to the Palace.

Luo Binghe can comfort himself with the thought that at least he’s made progress today. Today, may not have been a good day, but it has definitely been interesting.

Chapter Text

Chapter 32: Monster in Disguise

Luo Binghe waits outside the mountain barrier.

Shen Yuan was once again late. It is well past noon, and Luo Binghe has been standing in the barren wasteland outside the barrier for hours. He’s quickly losing his patience, but only time will tell what the reason is for today’s delay. For all he knows, Shen Yuan may have decided to take Luo Yu and that mutt on some hairbrained adventure and forgotten all about his arrival. But…

“Luo Binghe, we'll see you next week!”

Those had been the last words Shen Yuan had spoken to him. From what he’s seen, the cultivator is honest. Which begs the question of where the man was.

With a hand on Xin Mo’s hilt, he briefly considered attacking the barrier. Not in an attempt to destroy it, but merely to announce his presence. It would undoubtedly irritate Shen Yuan. A perfect solution in Luo Binghe’s opinion. Smirking, he unsheathed his sword. He raised it to strike, but was interrupted by an unexpected voice.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Luo Binghe could only barely see inside the barrier. At a certain point all he could see what a foggy film covering the scenery. Fortunately, the voice came from a small figure that had just emerged from the visible parts of the forest.

Luo Yu stared at him in contempt. He looks completely recovered from last week’s adventure in the caves. The mutt followed the boy and gave Luo Binghe the same amount of scorn it always did. The hellspawn’s eyes flashed red as it raised a hind paw to scratch behind its ears. A petty show of mockery.

He put his sword away. “Where is your guardian?”

Surprisingly, the question didn’t bring about the usual protective and hate-filled looks. The boy awkwardly looked away and seemed... anxious? He can’t quite pinpoint the way Luo Yu is acting. The mutt seemed especially twitchy.

Interesting.

“Bàba, isn’t in the best mood right now. He’s very… busy. You should come back another day or just don’t come back at all.”

Ah. There was the normal hate filled look. Luo Binghe had almost been concerned. Unfortunately, he couldn’t dismiss the previous unusual behavior. With such strangeness at play, Luo Binghe was now even more determined to visit today.

“Let me in.”

At the demand, Luo Yu looked like he was about to refuse on principle. A cunning glint flashed in the boy’s eyes, and Luo Yu nods carefully. The wards let him in after Luo Binghe placed Xin Mo in the ground. It was a level of compliance that was nearly bewildering. Luo Binghe was highly suspicious.

He entered the barrier with no issue. Luo Yu and the mutt warily watch him. They stare at him as if he is a wild animal just waiting to attack. Therefore, Luo Binghe is honestly bewildered when the two turned to leave.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Luo Yu doesn’t even glance back at him. The boy bent down, picked up the mongrel, and headed back into the forest. A show of utter disrespect. A part of Luo Binghe that sounded suspiciously like Ning Yingying whispered that it was something he himself might have done when he was feeling especially dismissive. He crushes the thought swiftly.

He was about to follow the impudent youth when the boy speaks, “Bàba wants me to give Bingpup a bath. It’s not a task for a highly esteemed Emperor. We wouldn’t want you to have to lower yourself to such a menial task.”

Contempt after contempt. Luo Binghe found it tiring. “And where is your doting guardian while you handle this task?” It was supposed to be a jab at the absent man, but the question actually made the boy pause.

Luo Yu looked at him with that strangely shifty look he’d had before. Nervously, the boy rocked back and forth for a moment as if debating whether to answer truthfully. Surprising as the child hated for Luo Binghe to be in the same vicinity as Shen Yuan. The mutt gnawed on its paw furiously.

What was going on with these two?

Luo Yu seemed to reach a decision and spoke, “Bàba’s at the manor. He’s too busy to deal with you today so don’t say I didn't warn you.” With that, the child and mutt were gone in an instant. Likely, off to find the closest river.

It was probably the nicest interaction he had ever had with the boy. It made the entire situation that much more surreal.

With no other means of travel, Luo Binghe walked up the mountain path towards the Manor. An ominous feeling had settled over him, but he was determined to find out just why Shen Yuan had been too busy to greet him.

It took some time before the manor came into view, and there was nothing out of place. No signs of a disturbance or any oddities. It angered Luo Binghe. There didn’t seem to be anything here that would’ve kept Shen Yuan busy. He walks carefully towards the front door of the manor.

This was the first time he had been allowed to wander unsupervised. It was almost a shame that anything interesting was sure to be found within the manor. On a more positive note, he would finally be able to see the place where the boy had been living all this time.

Perhaps, even find a way to destroy the blood barrier.

Luo Binghe opened and walked through the manor’s door. He does this as quietly as he can. Hoping he may be able to explore it thoroughly before finding Shen Yuan. The moment he enters the main hall, his plans are ruined.

Luo Binghe is stopped short by the sight of the man who continues to find new ways to confound him.

Shen Yuan was moving through the manor’s rooms with a frantic sort of energy. Wild eyes glared at anything and everything. He had a bucket of salt in his hand that he was sprinkling on the floors and furnishings. (Some kind of cleansing perhaps?) It was incredibly bizarre, but that wasn’t what made Luo Binghe freeze.

The man was dressed as a maid.

Gone was the simple but elegant straight hairstyle. The man’s hair has been put up in a messy looking bun. Loose strands emerged from it and would’ve dangled in the man’s face if not for a white bandana. It heightened the frantic energy Shen Yuan was exuding. He was wearing a simple white apron over long pants and a cross-collar shirt that was tied with a simple black belt. It reminded him of the hardworking women of his childhood. Always dressed as if ready to work and support their families.

Luo Binghe had never seen Shen Yuan look so attractive. He wanted to get down on his knees. He wants to bend Shen Yuan over the nearest surface and—

“Get the fuck out of my way.”

The beautiful man of his fantasies was abruptly destroyed. The bubble that was the lustful half-demon’s thoughts was popped. Luo Binghe was ever so briskly shoved into what appeared to be the kitchen as the man threw salt all around the doorway.

All thoughts of attraction fled as Luo Binghe’s righteous irritation returned.

“You left me wa—.”

He was shoved again.

Luo Binghe nearly stumbled as Shen Yuan maneuvered him back towards the entrance. “I’m too busy and tired to entertain you today. Come back next week.”

He firmly planted his feet before Shen Yuan could eject him from the manor. The pushy man huffed at him in irritation and nearly stabbed Luo Binghe’s eye out with his salt covered finger. “I said I’m too busy to entertain you right now.” The finger waved at him. “Do you know what kind of week I’ve had? I haven’t slept in days!”

Luo Binghe gently grasped the crazed man’s finger before he gave into the urge to bite it. “What does that have to do with this lowly disciple? You made an agreement. I come once a week for your ridiculous lessons, and work to appease the bo-Luo Yu. Shizun should be working harder.”

Shen Yuan glares.

“You don’t think I work hard enough?”

Luo Binghe pretends to ponder the question. He hums in mock consideration and clearly states his answer.

“No.”

“You think you can handle things better than I can?”

“Naturally.”

Some sixth sense tries to warn Luo Binghe. Tries to tell him not to continue down the path of enraging this man. Likely, the sense had been born after one too many times of being forcefully projectiled out of the mountain’s barriers.

Shen Yuan doesn't kick him out though. No, the man stares at him with a terrible gleam in his eyes. Ice cold and without mercy.

“Leave or die with the rest of them.”

With that, Shen Yuan jerked his hand out of Luo Binghe’s hold and stormed out of the manor. The man slammed the door behind him, and he was left alone in the manor’s empty entryway.

Sheer spite kept Luo Binghe routed where he was. ‘Die with the rest of them?’ What was that ridiculous man going on about. Was there some enemy here that Shen Yuan thought he could not defeat? Some unknown creature that has kept Shen Yuan busy all week? Perhaps, this had been what the salt was for.

Shen Yuan underestimates him. Even without Xin Mo, he was more than capable of handling any unknown threats that petty human could throw his way. In fact, he would take this opportunity to explore the manor as he pleased.

Luo Binghe moved to make his way towards the stairs. He planned to start from the second floor and work his way down. Before he could, a bubbling item caught his attention. Located in the center of the Manor, a black cauldron lies ominously on the floor. An unknown orange liquid bubbled and frothed inside of it.

Why did Shen Yuan just leave this here?

A sense of danger nearly overwhelmed him. Something wasn’t right. Luo Binghe had barely decided that he needed to escape when the cauldron exploded. He avoided the orange liquid that splashed everywhere, but was overwhelmed by a noxious yellow fog.

The gas filled every room of Shen Manor. Yellow colored the air, and a putrid smell enveloped the home.

Sometime later, the fog dissipated. As if by magic, the gas and smell vanished without a trace. No one would be able to tell that anything strange had just happened within the manor mere moments before.

Luo Binghe distantly heard the sounds of three pairs of footsteps walk towards him.

When the toxin had enveloped him, Luo Binghe had… collapsed. The smell completely overwhelmed his heightened sense of smell. He had collapsed to the ground and laid there in something like a half dead state. It wasn’t until the the fog vanished that he slowly became aware of his surroundings.

He felt a small foot prod his ribs. “Do you think he’s alive, Shifu?” Luo Yu’s hopeful voice entered his ears. The boy was beginning to be truly dependable in that he was always ready for Luo Binghe to keel over and die. Fortunately, he’d have to disappointment the child.

Blearily, he opened his watering eyes. He could barely make out the outlines of Shen Yuan, Luo Yu, and that wretched mutt.

Shen Yuan answered the boy’s question, “He’ll be fine. It seems that the potion slightly overwhelmed him.”

Slightly?

He heard Luo Yu laugh at his misfortune. Once he regained feeling in his body, he’d have to somehow reprimand the brat.

Shen Yuan apparently wasn’t done speaking, “It’s not like a flea bomb is going to take him down. The idiot should have left when I told him to.”

Luo Binghe has objections. It’s unfortunate that he can’t feel his mouth enough to voice them.

Luo Yu’s voice rang with glee, “Bàba, you’re the best.”

Small paws hopped on his back. Luo Binghe’s mind goes blank. A burning rage fills him as he realised what creature was using his paralyzed body as a resting spot. The other room’s inhabitants paid the scene no mind.

“Did you make sure to use that potion to kill the remaining fleas on Bingpup?”

There was something stern in that tone. Nothing but an affirmative would be accepted.

Luo Yu rapidly nodded. “Of course, Shifu! Bingpup is definitely clean now. You’ve surely gotten rid of them all. Don’t worry!”

Shen Yuan muttered, “If they’re not all dead after this, I’m burning down the manor.”

Luo Yu laughed nervously.

So this had been the source of the strange behavior from earlier. The mutt must have picked the fleas up from the caves and infested the manor. Infested it to the point that Shen Yuan had lost days of sleep due to the invasive parasites. It truly explained the man’s erratic behavior.

Luo Binghe might have felt more sympathetic if Shen Yuan hadn’t just attempted to murder him.

Feeling finally began to return to his week limbs. He's probably lost his sense of smell forever, but Luo Binghe could just wring Shen Yuan’s neck in revenge. He weakly reached a hand back to grab the mangy beast on his back, but the mutt was too swift.

The dog easily hopped away and out of reach. Shen Yuan was unamused by it all.

“Oh good. You can move again. Please leave so I can go to bed.” The heavy exhaustion in Shen Yuan’s voice almost made Luo Binghe comply.

Instead, he lunged at the man with all the energy he has finally regained. Shen Yuan didn’t even blink as he neatly sidestepped away. Luo Binghe collapsed back to the ground. His strength deserts him.

“A-Yu, please grab his left arm. It seems we’ll have to drag him out of here.”

Luo Binghe could do nothing as two pairs of hands dragged him by his arms outside the Manor. A small weight hopped back onto his back for the ride. The Emperor of the world: treated like a rag doll and carriage ride. His years of torture in the Abyss were nothing compared to this humiliation.

Luo Binghe was dragged gracelessly to the grass. The mutt hopped off him, and Luo Binghe used a feeble hand to grip the dirt beneath him. His hand is suddenly gripped by a gentler one. He shifted his head to look up at his terribly beautiful tormentor.

Shen Yuan looks down at him with something like sympathy (and guilt?) in those hazel eyes. The cultivator had a familiar sword in his hand. Said sword was pressed into Luo Binghe’s dirt covered hand.

Shen Yuan raises one hand and gives Luo Binghe a few short pats.

“Here. You’ll need my sword for now. You can return it to me tomorrow or next week for your usual visit.”

The gentle patting has stunned him. Shen Yuan’s words were also said in such a deceptively kind tone that Luo Binghe is wholly unprepared for what the man says next.

“Luo Binghe, you are uninvited from Hua Mountain.”

An all too familiar force sent him flying through the air. Luo Binghe soared through the sky before gravity took effect and sent him crashing outside the barrier towards the ground. Shen Yuan’s gifted sword was the only thing that kept him from injury in his weakened state.

He uses his spiritual energy to gently float himself down to the ground. For a cultivator’s sword, it is surprisingly compliant. Once he lands, Luo Binghe props himself up against the barrier tiredly. He’ll need some time to recover before he can muster the strength to search for the place he left Xin Mo.

He has so many things to be angry about. So many things to be enraged by.

All Luo Binghe can think of is the way Shen Yaun’s hand had gently patted his head.

It was similar to that alternate Shen Qingqiu. Not the gesture per se, but there was something strikingly familiar about that gentle touch. Something unidentifiable and hard to explain. Nevertheless, they were connected. If Luo Binghe had any lingering doubts they were gone now.

He knows that Shen Yuan is related to his world’s Shen Qingqiu. Maybe that alternate Shen Qingqiu was also related to a Shen Yuan. A Shen Yuan that had somehow stolen Shen Qingqiu’s name and position? Or perhaps in that alternate world, the body of Shen Qingqiu was born with Shen Yuan’s soul?

There were so many possibilities, and only this world’s Shen Yuan might know the real answers.

He was not a forgiving person. He has always sought revenge against those who have wronged him. However…

Any attempts at revenge would only destroy the progress he’s made. The answers he seeks will be further out of reach.

Luo Binghe ponders his situation.

It truly had been a long week if Shen Yuan’s words were anything to go by. The man had been nearly crazed in his exhaustion, and Luo Binghe had purposely pushed him over the edge. Even the boy and that mutt had looked tired.

Luo Binghe reaches a decision.

Once more, Luo Binghe would not seek out retribution. He would reluctantly let this go.

He grips Shen Yuan’s sword tightly in his hand. Tomorrow. He would be back tomorrow to return it.

Chapter Text

Chapter 33: Ways to Fall

To say that Ning Yingying didn’t expect to end her night tumbling out of a window would be a great understatement.

Autumn was swiftly turning towards the biting chill of winter. She’d woken this morning at dawn and been tempted to stay in bed as soon as her feet had touched the floor of her cold chambers. She hadn’t of course. There was far too much work to be done.

She’s become even more active in her role as an official advisor. The servants had needed to adapt (be threatened) before they started treating her appropriately. Ning Yingying had issued the order that she will now be given a portion of the reports that A-Luo left to be delegated. Unfortunately, the servants were still hesitant. They refused to act until given permission by the longest standing advisor. She’d been forced to speak to him herself and demand her fair share of work.

Fortunately, the elderly advisor conceded to her request peacefully. In fact, Lao Gongzhu had congratulated Ning Yingying on her new position. He’d been nothing but affable and kind about the entire process. The advisor had offered her his assistance should she ever need it and wished her the best.

Ning Yingying had smiled cordially and thanked him for his kind words. In the back of her mind, old memories had stirred. Shen Qingqiu has been quite firm in his distaste for the old palace master of Huan Hua. For better or worse, that opinion had left a lasting shadow on Ning Yingying.

In the end it didn’t matter. She had obtained the work she desired. While she distrusted Lao Gongzhu, it wasn’t as if she truly trusted anyone in the capital.

But that may be changing.

Ning Yingying quickly finished her morning reports. There was one she set aside to discuss with A-Luo, but there is no telling when she would run into her former husband. A-Luo was growing more and more elusive as time passed. It was creating quite a stir.

Fortunately for him, Ning Yingying was working on that.

Checking the time, she realized she would soon be late if she didn’t get a move on. She glanced at the mirrors in her chamber and fixed her braids. She’d missed wearing her hair like this. For years, she had left it to lay flat and long. She’s not sure why she did, but Ning Yingying felt more like herself when she’d first braided it again.

She used a simple green ribbon to fix them in place. It was nothing like the ornate hair decorations she could’ve used, but Ning Yingying preferred it far more. It was a recent acquisition. A gift she hadn’t expected but appreciated nonetheless.

All in order, she left her chambers to head towards the Palace gardens. She made a stop by the kitchens along the way and cooked a quick meal for two. The servants paid her no mind as this had become a routine of hers. Food in hand, she left. In little time, she entered the gardens and headed towards a sitting area in a secluded corner near the plum blossoms that were just beginning to bloom. There, she found a familiar figure dressed in white already patiently waiting.

Liu Mingyan instantly notices her presence. Ning Yingying can see her eyes crinkle with a hidden smile as the cultivator calls out a greeting. Ning Yingying feels her own face heat just slightly at the sight. She glanced at the hidden privacy charms to make sure they were working properly before moving to sit next to her companion. She placed the tray of food on the low table between them.

“I’m sorry if I kept you waiting. I got caught up in my reports and lost track of time.”

Liu Mingyan dismissed her apology with a casual wave of her hand. “No need. I expected you would be busy. It is no hardship to wait here in the gardens. I take the time to meditate.”

“I’m glad. Please eat though. You must be hungry. I made sure to bring extra congee since you enjoyed it so much yesterday.”

“Mn. Thank you.”

In the time since Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan had first met, they had gone from infrequent meetings to daily. At first, they had been distrustful of each other. Well, distrustful wasn’t quite the right word. More cautious. Ning Yingying had accepted Liu Mingyan’s help in searching for the masked figure behind the treasonous schemes brewing in the Palace, but she hadn’t been sure how to behave around the cultivator.

Liu Mingyan, at first glance, was quite intimidating. Beautiful but seemingly cold and uninterested in the world around her. Ning Yingying hadn’t been sure if she would be a friend or simply a temporary ally. Luckily, appearances were often deceiving.

Liu Mingyan and Ning Yingying had begun their meetings with hushed discussions of the information they knew regarding the harem’s recent treachery and the mysterious culprit behind it all. They didn’t know much, but Liu Mingyan was more knowledgeable than Ning Yingying had first assumed. Together, they had created a worrying picture.

A coup is underway. One that, as far as they knew, only seems to include members of the Emperor’s harem. Many of the women were being approached by one source or another with warning tales of the world ending. The women are told of the Emperor’s role and given an invitation to receive a letter for a mysterious meeting to hear more should they be willing. This invitation didn’t end with the harem members living in the Palace either.

Months ago, Liu Mingyan’s Laoshi had been approached. The former Xian Zhu Peak Lord had contacted Liu Mingyan some time after and asked her to investigate the matters brewing in the capital.

The old Xian Shu Peak Lord was something of a mystery to Ning Yingying. She was said to have been forever changed by the burning of Cang Qiong Mountain. The peak lord and her disciples were spared from its destruction, but many whispered that this was due to a certain timely marriage that happened mere days before the great Sect was razed to the ground.

Rumor had it that Qi Qingqi was partially responsible for her old Sect’s destruction. That she helped her new husband due to a well-known blood feud that had existed between her and her fellow peak lords. Other rumors claimed that she took no part in any of it beyond saving her disciples. None were certain of the truth, but it was the aftermath that truly caught people’s interest.

Whether out of grief or guilt, Qi Qingqi had left with her disciples and entered seclusion in an estate towards the south. She had no further contact with the outside world. Qi Qingqi was seen as a once noble cultivator who had been brought low by her own regrets. The Emperor either didn’t notice or didn’t care. Originally, the half-demon had been distracted by his captive: one Shen Qingqiu, but even as time passed, the Emperor didn’t seek out Qi Qingqi. Ning Yingying believes that A-Luo simply didn’t care enough to bother. He has more than enough women to occupy his time.

During the discussion of Qi Qingqi’s surprise visitor, Ning Yingying had carefully mentioned the rumors.

Liu Mingyan had looked at her with sharp eyes and pointedly said, “My Laoshi isn’t the pitiful creature fools paint her out to be. She’s strong. Stronger than I am. She doesn’t let her emotions cloud her judgement and has remained knowledgeable and impartial in this unstable world of ours.”

Liu Mingyan had paused and given her a long hard look before continuing. “Cang Qiong was once home, but the women of Xian Shu Peak are family. Sect or no sect, we look after our own. I have little to do with their matters now, but I will always lend a hand should they need it.”

“What has your Laoshi been up to all this time? Surely she still hasn’t been teaching cultivation.” People were of course allowed to learn it, but cultivation sects were a thing of the past in this day and age.

Liu Mingyan hummed noncommittally. “Most of my fellow disciples are now established cultivators. They needed little additional training and only the youngest still reside with my Laoshi. However, after the destruction of our sect my Laoshi began teaching them all a new form of training.”

“What kind?”

“Information gathering. Together or apart, we keep each other well informed.”

It had taken Ning Yingying several more meetings to completely understand the implications of this. Qi Qingqi had been teaching her disciples how to become spies. Spies that would leave and send back information. For what purpose she was unsure. Ning Yingying can only imagine the kind of network Qi Qingqi had created. How far did her reach spread?

“Does she know the date of the meeting?”

“No. The visitor was detained and questioned, but they had no useful information. They were merely a concubine that lived nearby. My Laoshi released her after declining the offer.”

That couldn’t be all there was to it, but Ning Yingying wouldn't pursue the matter further. Instead, she warily asked, “Why are you helping me? I doubt your Laoshi has good intentions towards A-Luo.”

“My Laoshi ... feels indifferent towards the Emperor.”

“That can’t be true.”

“If you were to ask my Laoshi why she married the Emperor, what do you think she would say?”

Taken aback, Ning Yingying pondered the question. Like many, she had always assumed that Qi Qingqi had married A-Luo to protect her disciples. She said as much.

Liu Mingyan shakes her head. “No. Her answer would be that she doesn’t know why.”

“What?”

“My Laoshi doesn’t know why she married the Emperor. She once explained that she feels as if she grows dim when she’s around that man. Becomes less herself. To remedy this, she remains secluded away. She has instructed all under her care to avoid the Emperor as much as possible.”

“That is….”

Liu Mingyan eyed her humorously. “Insane? Perhaps. Some would claim that she went mad after our Sect was destroyed, but I trust her. The Emperor is best to be avoided. However, news reached her ears that you had peacefully separated. It has made her curious, and she trusts me enough to believe in my judgement. She views my personal task of dissolving my own marriage as something of a test.”

It was insane. Ning Yingying refused to believe that simply being around A-Luo lowers someone’s intelligence. Qi Qingqi could believe what she wished, but Ning Yingying would not entertain such nonsense. She kindly said none of this to Liu Mingyan though. The women cared for her Laoshi, and Ning Yingying would respect that.

“As I said before, I owe the Emperor a great debt and hope to resolve things peacefully. I will provide my Laoshi with information, but her actions are her own. I too shall act as I see fit. If the world is truly in danger than I will do what I must to save it.”

Ning Yingying nods slowly. Liu Mingyan has always been a righteous and noble cultivator. She now wondered if Qi Qingqi had more plans than even Liu Mingyan knew. She doesn’t trust such an unknown character’s motivations. If her companion was truly an impartial informant than Qi Qingqi could be up to anything. “I’ll help you speak to A-Luo when he’s available. I’ll even trust you for now, but this advisor will always have the Emperor’s best interests at heart.”

That conversation had broken some of the barriers between them. Eased the tension. Their serious discussions sometimes turned to lighter topics. They spoke more freely, and Ning Yingying has slowly grown to enjoy Liu Mingyan’s company. Her new companion was quiet and clever. Liu Mingyan had a sharp and odd sense of humor that always managed to startle a smile out of Ning Yingying.

The green ribbon in her hair had been a gift from Liu Mingyan after she’d briefly mentioned needing to find something to tie her braids. Liu Mingyan has presented it to her the very next day. The cultivator had even offered to help her place it in her hair, but Ning Yingying had been far too embarrassed to accept. It was strange how out of sorts she was around Liu Mingyan.

Now, as she stared at the beautiful woman who was complimenting her cooking, Ning Yingying wondered if maybe it wasn’t strange at all.

“Are you prepared for tonight?”

The question diverted Ning Yingying’s attention from her internal musings. Her small, absentminded smile vanished as she focused on the serious turn their conversation had taken.

“Of course. If we’re correct, we should have no issues obtaining Qin Wanyue’s letter.”

Neither Liu Mingyan nor Ning Yingying have been idle since their first meeting. They’d both gotten to work investigating the women they had eavesdropped on. Ning Yingying had made subtle inquiries about their names and position within the palace while Liu Mingyan has gathered information using other undisclosed resources.

Out of the gathering of women only two stood out. The woman in green, Qiu Haitang, and the woman in purple, Qin Wanyue.

Qiu Haitang had been a seemingly quiet figure, but both Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan agreed that she was the one that had the most information. She may even know who the culprit is. Qiu Haitang had skillfully manipulated her peers into considering treason against the Emperor. No small accomplishment.

Unfortunately, Qiu Haitang turned out to be more elusive than they had hoped. Unlike the others, this harem member did not live in the palace. In fact, she seemed to have her own estate some distance away from the capital and had merely been visiting the day she’d spoken to those women in the garden.

Liu Mingyan had sent someone to keep her under surveillance. So far, that informant has reported nothing out of the ordinary so Liu Mingyan and Ning Yingying had turned their attention to Qin Wanyue.

Qin Wanyu was a former Huan Hua Palace disciple. After her sect had been dissolved and her home rebuilt to suit A-Luo’s tastes, she and her fellow female disciples had been easily enthralled by the Emperor and joined his harem. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Especially since so many of the old sect still lived in the Palace comfortably as their previous sect leader, Lao Gongzhu, still retained an esteemed position as an advisor. Qin Wanyue and her sister Qin Wanrong were sociable and heavily involved in the cut throat aspects of harem politics.

With A-Luo being largely absent of late, the women of the harem were even more vicious than usual. They wandered aimlessly and thrived on gossip to keep their lives entertaining. The Qin sisters were in higher standing at the moment as they had managed to gather a great deal of blackmail on their peers.

Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan had been subjected to all the details as they’ve tracked the sisters movements throughout the Palace. As they had observed Qin Wanyue, they had also heard many outlandish rumors. On one noteworthy occasion, they had been eavesdropping on Qin Wanyue in one of the grand halls.

News of Liu Mingyan’s presence had quickly become a matter of great importance to the harem. Ning Yingying’s companion was a source of true mystery in the capital. None knew why she had come, but the harem were practically spitting vinegar. All knew that beneath Liu Mingyan’s veil was a woman of incomparable beauty. They feared the cultivator had come to claim the Emperor for herself as the ruler seemed to be losing interest in the rest of them. Even rumors surrounding Ning Yingying’s position as an advisor couldn’t compare to the ones of Liu Mingyan.

“She’s been hunting creatures so long that I bet she’s become one underneath that veil of hers.”

“I bet she’s fallen in love with one of the beasts. She’s come to the Palace to confess her shame to the Emperor.”

“I don’t know. I hear that she and that demon war general are awfully close. Maybe they’ve even…”

The group of women burst into ugly giggles. Hiding behind a large pillar, Ning Yingying had turned to look up at Liu Mingyan in concern.

Liu Mingyan looked back at her with a completely deadpan look in her eyes and whispered one word. More of a sound really.

“Rawr.”

If Ning Yingying had been younger, she would have had to slap a hand over her mouth to prevent herself from giving away their position. As it was, her lips trembled dangerously as her throat itched with restrained mirth.

It was moments like these that made Ning Yingying truly grow to appreciate Liu Mingyan’s presence. No matter how mean or petty the rumors were, Liu Mingyan handled them with grace and a sense of humor that Ning Yingying found refreshing. She can’t recall the last time she’s felt as at ease in another person’s presence. There were no such thing as friendships among the harem. Family perhaps, but even those bonds could be easily dismissed in order to curry the A-Luo’s favor.

(How long has she been lonely?)

Their investigation on Qin Wanyue had eventually borne fruit. Yesterday, their surveillance allowed them to overhear a discussion between the two Qin sisters. In short, Qin Wanyue had finally found a mysterious letter delivered under the door of her chambers. The letter informed Qin Wanyue of the meeting time and date and asked her to sign the letter should she wish to attend. Qin Wanyue was smart enough to realize that signing her name would bind her to an oath of silence. Worried, she’d spoken to her sister to seek her advice.

Qin Wanrong had been less curious but more cautious. She’d spoken against her sister going. The woman was too afraid of going against the Emperor. It was an incredible stroke of luck for Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan. It all worked in their favor as Qin Wanyue decided to burn the letter by the end of the week. She wanted to have time to consider the request, but she’d promised her sister that she would let her know if she changed her mind. The only unfortunate aspect of the whole thing was that Qin Wanyue never mentioned any details of the letter.

Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan had immediately come up with a plan. While it may seem like they had a week to prepare, the reality is that they had very little time to act. Qin Wanyue could destroy the letter at any moment, and they need to act swiftly. Thus, a plan was born. A plan to sneak into Qin Wanyue’s chambers the following night to steal the letter.

Today was the day their plan would be put into action.

“I have a few tasks that need to be completed while we have time. Unless you have need of me, I shall take my leave and return before nightfall.”

Ning Yingying nods agreeably. “I have my own work to be done. We shall meet here at sundown.”

She takes one last sip of her tea. Enjoying the moment of peace before mentally preparing herself to leave this private corner of the garden. She expects Liu Mingyan to leave immediately, but her companion surprises her by staying seated. Liu Mingyan leans closer and casually says. “The ribbon suits you.”

Ning Yingying nearly chokes on her tea.

Carefully, Ning Yingying sets her cup on the low table. She looks up through her lashes at Liu Mingyan.

“Thank you. It was a wonderful present.”

“I’ll have to find you more in the future.”

“There’s no need, I can buy my own.”

“True, but your position keeps you busy. Besides, I enjoy giving you gifts.”

Ning Yingying feels warm despite the cold weather. “I’ll have to return the favor.”

For a moment they simply gaze at each other. Something sparks between them, and Ning Yingying finds herself unconsciously leaning forward.

A low whistle interrupts the moment. The privacy charms have activated to let them know that there were people drawing near.

Ning Yingying leans back and avoids Liu Mingyan’s gaze by focusing on gathering up the remains of their meal. “We should be going.”

She can feel Liu Mingyan’s intense stare boring into her.“I shall see you here at sundown?”

Ning Yingying stands, picks up her tray, and nods with a smile she hopes doesn’t appear to be as sheepish as she feels.

“At sundown.”

*****

Stealing Qin Wanyue’s letter might not seem to be a difficult task in theory, but there were two obstacles that made it difficult.

The timing was the first obstacle. Qin Wanyue often left her chambers during the day. However, the Palace was not without security. Guards regularly patrol the halls to protect both the Palace inhabitants and keep order. Ning Yingying can only imagine the chaos that would reign without their watchful eye keeping everyone in check. The guards were only part of the issue. During the day, anyone can wander the halls. Servants, special guests, and the women of the harem have mostly free reign of the Palace. ‘The walls have ears’ is a saying that holds true because there’s rarely a moment one is truly alone.

Night was only marginally easier since they would only have to worry about the guards. The Palace has a curfew that is enforced upon everyone but the Emperor and those of high rank. Ning Yingying has such a rank, but their goal is to remain undetected so she can’t use it to her advantage.

Their second obstacle is stealing the letter without alerting Qin Wanyue of their presence. There is little they can do on such short notice so they must wait until their target naturally falls asleep before they can sneak in.

On this, Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan had collaborated to come up with a solution that kept them from relying on hope and chance. Liu Mingyan had placed a small talisman on Qin Wanyue that would alert them the moment the woman fell asleep.

Qin Wanyue’s chambers was located by the second courtyard near the west gate of the Palace. Her chamber windows were high off the ground so Liu Mingyan and Ning Yingying took to the roof. They would hop down on her balcony. This too seemed simple in theory, but the roof was specifically designed to hinder them. Otherwise, it would be all too easy for assassins and the like to do what they’re doing.

Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan weren’t cultivators in name alone. They travel along the roof carefully as they avoid the eyes of passing guards. In takes some time, but they successfully make it to the spot above Qin Wanyue’s small balcony. Liu Mingyan pulls out her talisman. In the moon’s light, they can both see how it has turned a blood red color.

Qin Wanyue is asleep.

Without a word, they share a quick glance before hopping down one at a time. They both manage to land quietly but the balcony space is distressingly small. It’s purpose is more for aesthetic than anything else. A small place for some of the more nature inclined residents to place their potted plants. Ning Yingying and Liu Mingyan are forced to press against each other in the limited space.

As they crouch together side by side, Ning Yingying can’t help but feel how defined Liu Mingyan’s arm is. Muscular from decades of fighting the most powerful of creatures. Her own muscles aren’t anything to scoff at but there’s only so much exercise one gets in the Palace. She’ll have to work harder.

Liu Mingyan moves away, and Ning Yingying refocuses. Her companion is about to slide open the windows to Qin Wanyue’s room. Ning Yingying tugs Liu Mingyan back before she can.

Liu Mingyan allows it. Ning Yingying gives her a reassuring smile before reaching out her hand. With a quick gesture she disarms the secret arrays lining the inside of the window.

It was a long held secret that very few knew about. They were a product of A-Lou’s warranted paranoia. Every chamber in the Palace had been lined with them. The arrays were set to alert the captain of the guard and the Emperor himself when activated by an unwanted guest. It was one of the reasons the Palace’s security was so successful. Intruders can still enter, but it wouldn’t be long before they were caught.

Ning Yingying really shouldn’t know about them. The story behind her knowledge is not one she likes to think of.

Though mostly uninvolved in harem politics, Ning Yingying hadn’t always been as distant as she now tries to be. There had been a time when she had been less cautious and more friendly. She’d tried to make a new home of the Palace that would make up for how much Qing Jing Peak had failed her. Ning Yingying had happily greeted all of A-Lou’s new wives and concubines and did her best to make them feel welcome.

Naturally, there had been a changing point.

A human woman, Ning Yingying can’t remember her name anymore, had taken offense. She’d seen Ning Yingying as a threat but had disguised her hatred with sweet smiles and glittering blue eyes. The woman had made her think they were friends.

Ning Yingying really had been such a naive fool.

They’d been having tea in Ning Yingying’s chambers. Whether it was through said tea or something else Ning Yingying wasn’t sure, but the woman had poisoned her. Ning Yingying had collapsed on the table heaving and choking. She doesn’t remember much after that. Only the way those pretty blue eyes had gleamed as the woman had pulled her head up by her hair as she’d mocked Ning Yingying.

She’d been left there. The poison hadn’t been meant to be fatal. Merely a warning. A threat of what would come should she challenge the woman. She would later be told that her body hadn’t handled the mild poison as well as it should have.

Ning Yingying hadn’t died but something inside of her had.

A-Luo had found her. A coincidental visit that had spiraled. Ning Yingying hadn't needed to say a word. A healer had been called, and they’d been informed that her poison required an antidote in the form of… intimacy.

After she’d been cured, A-Luo had set out and found the culprit easily. He’d had the woman confined to her chambers and stayed with Ning Yingying as she’d taken taken a few more days to rest and recover her strength.

On the last day of her recovery, A-Luo sat on her bedside solemn and brooding. He’d looked at her with his dark eyes and something almost soft had flickered within them. A-Luo had pushed a strand of hair out of her face and told her of the arrays within the Palace. He’d also told her that her attacker would remain in her chambers for three more days before being dealt with.

A-Luo left Ning Yingying with that knowledge and her sword resting where he’d once sat.

Ning Yingying had been tempted, but even then she knew that wasn’t the kind of person she ever wanted to be. She had no qualms with killing, but she will only ever do it out of necessity. As much as she had appreciated A-Lou’s attempt at kindness, Ning Yingying would never lower herself to that woman’s level.

Three days later, said woman was sent to the northern borders to live as a “guest” among some of A-Luo’s more reclusive demonic wives.

After the sentence, A-Lou had looked at her with an unreadable gaze. She never knew if he approved or not, but she thinks that was the first time she became someone real to him. He’d opened up to her more. It had been one of the reasons she’d been able to fake a smile so soon after the incident. She had been able to believe her marriage made her happy while distancing herself from others. Ning Yingying had unknowingly created a facade of happiness. A prison of her own making.

As far as she knew, the woman was still laboring away in the north. She could honestly not care less.

Ning Yingying is free now. Her life is slowly improving, and she’s beginning to discover how to be herself again. This more than anything is why she cannot allow some mysterious masked figure to ruin everything.

A warm hand touches her shoulder. Liu Mingyan raises a single slim eyebrow questioningly. Despite the situation, Ning Yingying’s smile is real and honest as she winks before sliding open the windows to Qin Wanyue’s chambers.

The chambers are as rich and luxurious as expected. Every harem members lives a life of luxury within the Palace. Reds and golds decorate the walls and the furnishings are made of the finest materials. Near the door leading to the halls is a beautiful sitting area that looks identical to the one in Ning Yingying’s own chambers. There is a desk to her right that is sparsely covered in letters and brushes that are in too perfect a condition to be used often. By the desk, are two large shelves that are mostly bare beyond a few trinkets and a small collection of books.

To her left is a round open doorway. Through it is a bed with a red, silk canopy that allows enough visibility for Ning Yingying to see the outline of Qin Wanyue’s sleeping form. Target successfully spotted, she enters through the window as quietly as she can.

Liu Mingyan follows after her. Ning Yingying lets her take in their surroundings before getting her attention. She points at the chambers and then at herself. Liu Mingyan tilts her head in the direction of the desk and bookshelves. Tasks assigned they split up to search their chosen areas for the letter.

Qin Wanyue’s bedroom is small enough that there’s only so many places a letter can be hidden. There are two wardrobes and a chest full of expensive clothing that Ning Yingying carefully searches through while making sure not to displace anything. They hold nothing of interest. She moves on to the only other places the letter could be.

The nightstand and the bed.

She’d purposely saved them for last. They cannot afford to wake Qin Wanyue, but Liu Mingyan hasn’t signaled that she’s found anything so Ning Yingying lightly steps closer to the nightstand. The silk canopy covering the bed is both a blessing and a curse. It makes it harder to see Qin Wanyue, but it may also give Ning Yingying a chance to hide should the woman suddenly wake up.

Her fears turn out to be unfounded. As she crouches down to see the nightstand in the dim lighting, she spots several familiar jars. Ning Yingying picks one up and gives it a delicate sniff. The strong aroma of overripe fruit makes her nose crinkle slightly. Just as she’d thought, these were bottles of Baiju that were common and popular in the capital. She’d never been fond of the clear liquid herself, but many of the harem were quite taken with it. Qin Wanyue apparently being one of them.

This drink was strong enough to make A-Luo tired. Even as an immortal cultivator, Qin Wanyue will be lucky to wake up before noon. Ning Yingying thanks the heavens for such luck.

She thanks them even more when she opens the bottom drawer of the nightstand and spots the corner of a poorly hidden envelope beneath a crumpled handkerchief.

It takes her only a few moments to successfully take it out of the drawer. The envelope is unsealed and her heart races as she takes out the letter inside. She quickly reads the short message within.

Success.

It takes everything in her not to crumple the letter in her exhilaration. Ning Yingying feels the beginnings of something triumphant stir within her. She crushes it before she can get ahead of herself. There’s still far too many unknowns for her to be feeling victorious yet. She taps the date of the meeting. This isn’t even—

Ning Yingying shakes her head and places the letter on the floor. Too much time has been wasted already. She slips a hand into her sleeve and pulls out a small bottle and a piece of parchment. She places the parchment beside the letter and opens the cork sealing the bottle. She places the open bottle on the letter and waits.

A black worm-like creature slithers out of it. It wiggles on the letter grotesquely. Familiarizing itself with its new environment. Ning Yingying keeps a hand at the ready in case it tries to flee. Fortunately, the creature has been trained well. The creature releases its thin pink tongue and licks any area with dry ink. Once every word was traced, the creature trembles and the pink tongue recedes.

Ning Yingying picks the creature up using both of her hands. She pinches the tail between her right hand and wraps her left around its neck to hold it in place. She points the creature’s head at the parchment she’d brought and pulls her left arm back as if she’s pulling back the string of a bow. The creature stretches with her movement until it looks like she’s holding a black chord. She makes sure her aim is correct. Ning Yingying holds her breath and lets the tail go.

The stretched creature snaps back to its natural shape. As it does, a round lump travels through its body and moves towards the creatures head. The creature opens its mouth and a wet, black glob shoots down at the parchment. The glob lands on the parchment with a quiet squelch. Slowly, it begins to move.

Tentacle like tendrils expand from the glob and feel around. As the tendrils move, they sink into the parchment. Words begin to form in their wake until there is an exact replica of the letter’s contents lying innocently on the ground.

The original letters words were slightly faded but hardly noticeable. Pleased, Ning Yingying places the worm-like creature back in its bottle. She places the original letter back in its envelope and tucks it into its hiding place in the bottom drawer of the nightstand. She folds her own copy and stuffs it into her sleeve.

Word leeches were rare. Native to the darkest of pits in the marshes of the south, they were considered to be pests before a lone scholar had left an important document out while studying one. The leech had completely eaten the ink from that document. In a fit of enraged despair, the scholar had grabbed the leech and tried to tear it in half. The creature stretched and stretched no matter how much the scholar pulled. Eventually, their hold on its tail was said to have loosened. The leech snapped back into its natural shape and a black glob was ejected from its mouth onto a nearby wall. The scholars rage turned to awe as the blob spread until an exact replica of the document was inked into the wall. The scholar soon became very rich as they sold the ‘word leeches’ to the highest bidders.

Ning Yingying only has one because Liu Mingyan had been able to procure it from her own unnamed sources. She’s beginning to suspect that Qi Qingqi’s network of spies were more ingrained and of higher standing in the capital than she’d first believed. Especially since Liu Mingyan had managed to procure not one but two of the word leeches in less than a days time.

She straightens and gives the bedroom a careful once over to make sure everything is as it was before. All is right so she heads back through the open doorway to the main room of Qin Wanyue’s chambers.

Ning Yingying expects Liu Mingyan to be waiting for her. The desk and shelves had been rather baren from what she’d seen so she doubts it had taken her companion long to rifle through them. Her assumption turns out to be incorrect.

Liu Mingyan is casually leaning against one of the bookshelves. She doesn’t look up as Ning Yingying enters the room. Her attention seems to be completely caught on the book she’s quickly flipping through. She flips the pages so rapidly that Ning Yingying wonders if she’s even able to read any of it. Liu Mingyan’s brow is furrowed in displeasure as she only seems to grow more incensed with every page.

Ning Yingying is beyond concerned now. What could possibly make the normally composed woman so upset? Had Liu Mingyan discovered something terrible? She hurries forwards and urgently whispers, “What’s wrong?”

If she were anyone else, Ning Yingying is sure Liu Mingyan would have jumped. A slight twitch of her hand is the only indicator of her surprise. A quick concerned glance was sent towards Qin Wanyue’s bedroom, but Liu Mingyan doesn’t question Ning Yingying’s decision to talk. Instead, she whispers, “Nothing is wrong. The letter was not within this room. Was your search a success?”

Ning Yingying is almost too blindsided by the small show of trust to respond. Liu Mingyan hadn’t questioned her decision to speak and believe in her enough to follow Ning Yingying’s lead. She wasn’t used to having such faith placed in her. She blinks when the Liu Mingyan’s question finally sinks in. She wiggles her sleeve slightly. “I’ve got it right here.”

Liu Mingyan visibly relaxes. “Very good. I knew you would find it.”

Their mission has been a success. She knows they should get out of here now, but one question remains. “What’s wrong with that book? You seem displeased with it.”

Liu Mingyan turns her gaze back to the book in her hand. Ning Yingying is sure that the woman frowns beneath her veil as her brow furrows once again in agitation.

“It’s terrible.”

“What?”

Liu Mingyan waves the book and hands it to Ning Yingying. “Take a look. “

She takes the book and looks at its cover for any details. A simple pink chrysanthemum is the only design on it. The rest is completely black. She opens the book halfway and begins to read.

“Before the servant boy knows it, the martial disciple has both of his hands in his strong grip. His hands are pushed above his head, and he is pinned to the wall by those wet, moist lips. He trembles demurely. The disciple uses his other hand to tug at his voluptuous hair. Oh, how his scalp hurts. Their lips mold together like sentient creatures battling for domination. He tentatively licks his tongue against the stronger tongue nudging his and begins a strange, erotic dance. The heavenly pill—."

Ning Yingying slams the book shut. She thought she had lost her sense of shame long ago, but she was wrong. Her face is on fire as she thrusts the book back towards Liu Mingyan. “W-why would Qin Wanyue…?”

“Read this? The answer eludes me as well. The characters have no chemistry. The sex scenes are bland and poorly written. The martial disciple would be far better off with his Shixiong. They have an interesting and compelling bond that goes largely ignored. The servant boy also deserves a better life. He should leave these fools and begin anew with his merchant friend. The complete lack of thought that—.”

Liu Mingyan continues to quietly rant about how terrible the book is while Ning Yingying’s feels like her head is spinning. They seem to be upset for very different reasons. She hadn’t realized…

It doesn’t matter. After the initial shock wore off, Ning Yingying feels a budding sense of amusement. She’s never seen Liu Mingyan so passionate. A spark of mischief unearths itself within her.

“You should write something better.”

“—a waste. What?”

Ning Yingying points at the book in Liu Mingyan’s hands. “If you know all the ways the book went wrong than why not write your own?”

Liu Mingyan stares. Wide eyed in her surprise. She seems surprisingly vulnerable. Ning Yingying realizes that she may have accidentally touched upon a delicate topic. She was too presumptuous. Ning Yingying is about to apologize, but Liu Mingyan speaks first.

“I used to.”

“Mn?”

“I used to write novels. Back when my…. In better days. I lost my passion for it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—.”

The door to Qin Wanyue’s rattles as someone beats on it loudly.

Liu Mingyan and Ningying freeze. Somehow, they’d gotten so caught up in their discussion that they’d completely forgotten where they are. Nobody should be knocking on Qin Wanyue’s door at this time of night, but Ning Yingying suddenly remembers that Qin Wanrong has her chambers right next door.

Another series of loud knocks on the door has them moving quickly. Liu Mingyan places the book back on its shelf, and they both rush to the window. Ning Ying can hear movement from Qin Wanyue’s bedroom. They had left the window open, but it’s too narrow for them to jump out of simultaneously.

They don’t have enough time.

Ning Yingying sees the silk canopy part and panic fills her every sense. Liu Mingyan is halfway through the window. In a fit of desperation, she does the only thing she can think of.

She tackles Liu Mingyan through the window. Her companion makes a startled noise, but Ning Yingying hardly notices. Liu Mingyan’s knees graze against the low balcony before they both go tumbling over the edge.

The distance from the window to the ground isn’t small but their quick reflexes save them. They manage to adjust their fall so that their feet are facing down.

They hit the ground painfully. Their knees buckled and the momentum sends them sprawling into the bushes.

When the world stops spinning, Ning Yingying is on her back with Liu Mingyan collapsed on top of her. She hears a quiet wheeze of pain escape her companions veil covered lips. Liu Mingyan must have had the wind knocked out of her.

In the corner of her eye, she sees a flash of movement. Heart racing and fearing discovery, Ning Yingying’s hand moves faster than her mind and tightens around the head of a tiny snake.

Ah.

Their fall must have disturbed the poor snake living in these bushes. She’s seen many of this breed in the gardens as of late. Ning Yingying loosens her grip enough that she won’t hurt the poor thing but still firm enough that it won’t be able to bite her. With shaky precision, she tosses the snake as far away as she can. The moment the snake touches the ground, it flees into one of the surrounding bushes.

Noise draws her attention away.

Ning Yingying lies still and listens. From the still open window of Qin Wanyue’s chambers, she hears two female voices talking. She can’t make out the words, but one sounds surly and out of sorts while the other wails with a high pitched tone. The surly voice draws closer and Ning Yingying heart stops.

Qin Wanyue’s silhouette fills the window as the complains. “Stop whining at me! I know it’s cold, but I can’t help that I forgot to close it!”

The distant voice, Qin Wanrong, says something that sounds petulant.

“Don’t come here expecting sympathy over your silly nightmare if you’re going to be like this. You of all people don’t get to judge my taste in drink. You hypocritical—.”

The window is forcefully slammed shut. The Qin sisters bickering is completely muffled and soon everything grows quiet.

Liu Mingyan shifts on top of her. Her companion had recovered her breath. Liu Mingyan moves so she can place her hands on both sides of Ning Yingying’s head and pushes herself up so she’s hovering over Ning Yingying. Liu Mingyan stares down at her with a deadpan expression.

“We make terrible thieves.”

Ning Yingying laughs.

Like the breaking of a damn, Ning Yingying laughs and laughs. Her entire body shakes and convulses with it. She tries to restrain it but is unable to. Her throat begins to hurt, her eyes water, but she simply can’t stop laughing. Every time she nearly gets control of herself, she thinks of what nearly got them caught. Of all the things that could have gone wrong, a book of badly written erotica had nearly been their undoing.

Liu Mingyan is right to say they make terrible thieves.

A calloused finger traces the edge of her smile and startled Ning Yingying enough that her laughter begins to subside. Despite their rough fall, Liu Mingyan looks ethereal above her. Moonlight trickles through the bushes and makes Liu Mingyan’s white robes glow.

“There it is.”

Ning Yingying doesn’t understand. Her expression must say as much because Liu Mingyan’s finger lightly taps the edge of her smile before moving away entirely.

It’s like someone lit a torch and shone it on Ning Yingying’s memories of the past weeks. Liu Mingyan’s quick sense of humor and subtle jokes seemed far less casual. Ning Yingying response to them had never been anything beyond a smile or the occasional small noises of amusement. Had Liu Mingyan been trying to make her laugh? It seems absurd, but what else could that light tap mean?

“Have you been trying to…,” she trails of uncertainly. It seems like a foolish thing to ask out loud.

Liu Mingyan’s eyes are nothing but fond as they seem to stare down into Ning Yingying’s soul. “Your laughter has always been lovely. Forgive this one for her selfish desire to hear it again.”

Ning Yingying is lying in the dirt. She must look like a complete mess, but Liu Mingyan is looking at her like she’s something precious. Even if Ning Yingying could be anywhere in the world right now, she’d still choose to be right here. In this oddly perfect moment where she feels happy and content.

“There is nothing to forgive as long as you promise me one thing.”

Liu Mingyan tilts her head in consideration before nodding her head in agreement. Ning Yingying smile grows smaller but no less sincere.

“Promise that you’ll let me be the first to read your novels if you ever feel inspired to write again.”

Liu Mingyan’s eyes fill with complex emotions. Ning Yingying can’t read them. She waits patiently until Liu Mingyan hesitantly speaks.

“I never planned to write again.”

“That’s fine.”

“It’s been so long I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

“You can take all the time you need.”

“My tastes are… unique.”

“That only makes them more interesting.”

“Even if they’re terrible?”

“I’ll cherish every terrible word.”

It’s Liu Mingyan’s turn to laugh in a way that’s entirely involuntarily if the startled look on her face is anything to go by. Her veil does nothing to muffle it. Ning Yingying can only take a moment to appreciate the infectious sound before joining it with own laughter. Their foreheads somehow end up pressed together as they try to calm down and keep quiet.

Eventually, their laughter subsides and Liu Mingyan rolls off of her. They lay side by side while they calm down.

Ning Yingying once read that laughter is a gift that is meant to be shared. For years, she’d lost the desire to share hers with anyone, but for Liu Mingyan…

For Liu Mingyan, this is a gift that Ning Yingying is happy to give.

Unfortunately, they need to get up. Get out of here before the guards patrol their way. The copy of the letter weighs heavy in her sleeve, and plans are already beginning to form in her mind.

Just a minute more. Just one more minute and they can leave. Ning Yingying wants to commit this night to memory so she can treasure it in the days to come.

Chapter Text

Chapter 34: Bonds or Chains

“A-Luo!”

Luo Binghe nearly sighs. Before him, the doors to his chambers taunt him. The promise of solitude after a long morning vanishes.

At least he recognizes the voice calling out to him. Of all people, this is the one person he can muster up the energy to greet civilly as they hurry down the hall towards him.

Ning Yingying stops before him and smiles brightly. For some indiscernible reason, it takes Luo Binghe aback.

There’s something different about his former wife. Every time he’s sees her she’s changed. It was more than anything as superficial as her change in clothing or hairstyle. There is a spark in her eyes and a bounce to her step that Luo Binghe hasn’t seen in… He’s not sure of the last time he’d seen her like this.

“Yingying.”

“Finally, A-Luo. Do you know how difficult you’ve been to find lately?”

Luo Binghe does know. After all, it was his intention. When he’s in the Palace, he tends to stick to his chambers or areas where he knows people won’t disturb him. If he’s not in the Palace, he’s traveling. He goes unnoticed as he, for lack of a better word, wanders. Searching for something to hold his attention while he waits.

Waits for the days he can return to the place where his interests truly lie.

Of course this status quo can’t hold forever. The past few days had been an example of this. His duties can only be avoided for so long. Luo Binghe can admit that he has been particularly negligent of late. He’d paid the price for his negligence as he had been forced to handle them all within the last three days.

The additional sword at his waist mocks him as each day passed. Luo Binghe had meant to return it the day after the most recent… incident. Yet it still remains at his side. This morning he had reluctantly spent time dealing with visiting dignitaries. They’d tossed his new sword some curious looks which had further soured Luo Binghe’s mood. Ultimately, the entire affair had been intolerable.

The dignitaries had nothing of importance to discuss. They were merely there to complain. Complain about wealth, their positions, and the state of their lands. Anything and everything, they would complain about. As if Luo Binghe didn’t make sure they were wealthy enough to handle their own problems.

By the time noon approached, he’d given up all pretense at politeness. Luo Binghe glared down at the forgettable lord who was bemoaning the state of his finances and snapped at his ever present Advisor, Lao Gongzhu, to deal with them. He left the dignitaries quivering in the wake of his departure and had headed directly towards his chambers.

Well, almost directly. One of his concubines offered a brief detour. Her pretty coy smiles had been tempting, but he hadn’t been in the mood. No matter how much Xin Mo clawed at him. The demonic sword could be dealt with later. He’d carefully appeased his concubine with promises of a future rendezvous before continuing on his way. The encounter must have given someone the time to alert his newest advisor of his location.

Now, Ning Yingying stands before him and huffs when he doesn’t respond to her question. “What’s done is done I suppose. We have more important matters to discuss. Come with me.”

She doesn’t give him a chance to decline. She takes a strong hold on his arm and practically drags him to a destination that, based on the direction, is most likely towards her own chambers. Luo Binghe is beginning to wonder if this is going to become a common occurrence in his life. Pushy cultivators manhandling him whenever they are so inclined.

Luo Binghe mourns the days where such things would lead to more pleasurable outcomes. Especially if it would involve a certain hazel eyed—

He blinks away the thought and quickens his step so he’s keeping pace with Ning Yingying. She releases his arm now that he’s following her willingly. Luo Binghe gives her a sidelong glance as they walk. “What matter could we not have spoken of in my own chambers?”

“A private one. We need to talk, and I want you away from any distractions.”

Luo Binghe scoffs at the assumption, but doesn’t argue. If Ning Yingying feels more comfortable speaking in her own chambers, he might as well oblige.

When they reach her chambers, Ning Yingying ushers him in and towards the sitting area. They sit across from each other, and Luo Binghe can only watch curiously as Ning Yingying gets settled.

Once comfortable, Ning Yingying smiles and asks, “How has A-Luo been lately?”

Ah. So this would be a long conversation. Luo Binghe smiles back but answers shortly. “Well.”

She sighs. “Come now, A-Luo. There must be more than that. The last time we spoke, you were trying to retrieve your son from within that mountain barrier. How much progress have you made? What have you been up to?”

He had never planned to speak of this to anyone. Not until he had fully succeeded in his mission to retrieve Shen Yuan and the b- Luo Yu. Just the thought of trying to explain the events of the last few months threatens to give him a headache. Still...

Luo Binghe considers Ning Yingying. “Do you truly wish to know? You brought me here to discuss something. Surely this can’t be it.”

Ning Yingying waves a hand. “We can discuss it after. I'd first like to hear news of your pursuit first.”

He should say no. His matters are his own, and he needs no help unless the situation is truly dire. Which currently, it is not. Luo Binghe has things well in hand.

(He ignores the weight of the second sword on his belt. Ignores the memories of just how he’d obtained it days ago.)

Ning Yingying has always provided insight that has proved useful in situations fraught with emotions. His current deal’s success relies entirely on emotions, and he finds the idea of informing her worth the effort.

Luo Binghe tells her a shortened version of what has happened since they last spoke. He leaves out certain unimportant details, but he ends up talking more than he expected. He tells her about the deal, about the strange and dangerous mountain, and of the weekly visits that always end with mixed results. More importantly, he tells her about the mountain’s inhabitants.

Throughout the tale, Ning Yingying grows more invested. She makes little noises of disapproval and admonishment at his missteps and smiles in amusement as Luo Binghe regales how ridiculous each ‘lesson’ is. She listens patiently until his story is complete.

“So you think this Shen Yuan may be from that other world?”

“Undetermined. I do believe he has knowledge of it. Soon, I will know for sure.”

“Are you sure? You have to gain your son’s forgiveness, correct?”

“Mn.” Luo Binghe doesn’t bother to mention the mongrel’s role in the deal he’s made.

Ning Yingying hums in consideration. “This is quite the predicament you’re in.” She smiles. “I’m glad.”

Luo Binghe stares. Of all the responses he had expected this was not one of them. His face must reveal his offense as Ning Yingying raises a hand to cover her mouth. She hides her amusement poorly.

“Don’t look so offended, A-Luo. I’m just glad you seem to be having a good time.”

Had she been listening to a word he’s spoken? Luo Binghe doesn’t understand how she could possibly reach such an inane conclusion. “I see.”

Ning Yingying gives an unladylike snort. “Don’t lie. I don’t mean to say that the deal you’ve made isn’t difficult to complete successfully. I merely haven’t seen you so invested in decades. Not to mention, this Shen Yuan seems to be trying to help you reconcile with your son, and, well, it’s sweet.”

Sweet. Only a woman would describe his situation in such a way. Luo Binghe would prefer she use use something more accurate. For example: tiresome, infuriating, or unnecessary.

“The boy hates me and would sooner see my head mounted on a spike than forgive me for any perceived transgressions.”

“He’s a child, A-Luo. A child with a new guardian that you accidentally harmed. It’s no wonder he’s upset.”

“The deal is impossible.”

“Not necessarily. From what you’ve told me, I believe you’re making progress. My advice is to try to continue to be patient with your son. Be understating when he lashes out. Children don’t like when you talk down to them. Be honest. It may be difficult, but you have help.”

Help? Luo Binghe doubts that Shen Yuan wishes to help him with anything. “The boy’s guardian is eccentric. His assistance is likely meant to further his own unknown goals. My new Shizun won’t allow me to succeed in the end.”

“You don’t believe that. If you did you wouldn’t be looking forward to your weekly visits nearly as much.”

“The visits are a chore. A means to an end. Do not think that I enjoy them.”

Ning Yingying lowers her hand and sends him a look that is blatantly disbelieving. “A chore that you neglect everything for?”

Luo Binghe refuses to admit she may have a point. “Have you no more insight on the matter?”

“Mn. Please be careful with your son, A-Luo. He must have been so lonely to have run away from here. I’m truly happy to hear that he’s found someone who cares for him. I— I feel partially responsible. Do you remember when you came to me after he was born?”

Luo Binghe does. How can he not? That night had been more than memorable. A concubine dead, and a baby with no mother. A fragile creature that Luo Binghe could hardly stand to hold as it slept peacefully in his arms. Ning Yingying had been the only one he would have trusted to keep him, but she hadn’t wanted Luo Yu. Luo Binghe thinks she too had seen herself as unfit to hold the child.

“I cannot help but wonder if things would have been better had I cared for him.”

“He was never your responsibility.”

“I know. I would have made a terrible parent, but regret is a strange emotion. It doesn’t matter if the choices we make are logical or for the best. Our actions have consequences that affect more than just ourselves. I feel that I need to make an apology.” She unexpectedly looks at him directly in the eyes. “I’m sorry, A-Luo. I knew how much you wanted me to keep him.”

How impossibly naive Ning Yingying still is. Luo Binghe cannot acknowledge such an apology. Not from Ning Yingying who was never at fault. His first wife has always been loyal. Even when she had turned down custody of Luo Yu, she had never been the one to blame. No. The fault lies only with….

“Enough. I tire of such talk.”

Ning Yingying eyes gleam all too knowingly as she obligingly changes the topic. “I have noticed a detail in your tale about this strange Shen Yuan of yours.”

Luo Binghe can’t deny his interest. “Do tell.”

“He doesn’t know what he’s doing anymore than you do.”

Ignoring the insult to himself, he demands she clarify. In response, Ning Yingying tilts her head and smiles curiously.

“It’s hard to explain, A-Luo. The way you described your last visit especially… he sounds very stressed. It seems to me that he’s having just as difficult a time as you are.”

While Luo Binghe disagrees with that assessment, he will not fault her for it.. She doesn’t have all the facts. Luo Binghe can’t deny that he finds the idea that he isn’t the only one suffering pleasing. It makes a certain degree of sense, but he is left doubting that such knowledge will be useful to him. He’ll have to think on it.

“Your insight may have merit.”

“Good. I think you two have more in common than you realize.”

“We’re nothing alike.”

Ning Yingying raises an eyebrow skeptically at Luo Binghe’s quick denial. “Of course, A-Luo.”

This meeting has gone on long enough. Luo Binghe wishes for the comforting silence of his chambers. “Why did you bring me here?”

Ning Yingying has known him long enough to know when his patience is waning. She finally gets to the point. “There’s an important matter I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.”

Luo Binghe straightens. Ning Yingying has lost her amused countenance and is now staring at him intently. Whatever she wishes to discuss with him is serious. Just as she knows him, he also knows her. Whatever this important matter is he’s not going to like it.

“I speak on behalf of your wife. Liu Mingyan has come to the Palace to speak with you about dissolving her marriage. Similarly to how we did. I won’t say more, but I promised her that I’d make sure you will—.”

“No.”

There’s a ringing in Luo Binghe’s ears. An annoying buzz that grows louder and louder. An overwhelming pressure of something dark and malevolent stokes the fires of his fury.

It consumes him.

Luo Binghe is standing. Towering over the still seated form of Ning Yingying. He snarls as she stares up at him without flinching. She’s saying something. Reassurances that fall like poison from her lips. With every incomprehensible word, an insidious thought grows louder in his mind.

This is her fault.

She’s betrayed him. If she hadn’t been the first to dissolve their marriage than everything would be fine. Now, the harem have it in their minds that it would be easy to leave him. Ning Yingying has been planting the seeds of rebellion in his absence. Promoting traitorous ideas. Women are so easily swayed. They want to be rid of him. As if being bound to him was a mistake they all hadn’t realized until now. Ning Yingying was first. Liu Mingyan desires to be the second. One by one they would all inevitably leave. They would move on and continue their lives without him.

(He will be alone.)

It was unacceptable. They thought he could be thrown away like trash? They thought they could continue on without him? No. They don’t know the lengths he’s taken to protect them. Provide for them. He’s always saved them. All they have to do is remain his. Continue their lives as they please but belong to no other. No one is allowed to leave him.

(No one is allowed to abandon him.)

“This is your doing.”

Ning Yingying stands and cautiously asks, “A-Luo, what are you talking about?”

“You’ve turned Liu Mingyan against me. It’s only a matter of time before you do the same with the rest of them.”

“Your not making any sense. I haven’t—.”

Luo Binghe cuts through her lies. “You have. You must have been planning this all along. Have you enjoyed it? Turning my harem against me. I should have known. Our old Shizun’s teachings were more well received by you than I had believed. Do you think me to be a monster? A creature they need to be saved from?”

“That’s not—Why would I betray you? Why would I turn anyone against you? You should know me better than that. Mingyan came here on her own volition!”

Ning Yingying’s features are beginning to blur. Her words mean nothing.

She’s so very small. So easy to ruin. (Does he want to ruin her?) All it would take is the slice of his sword and no one will ever think to leave him again. (But that would mean she would be—.) No one will dare cross him. Isn’t that what he wants? To never be alone again? He should end this. End this entire farce.

He should end everything.

A gentle hand touches his cheek. He can barely feel it. His enemy sounds strained as she says, “A-Luo your eyes…”

Luo Binghe grabs her wrist tightly and jerks it away from his face. “No one is leaving. I should’ve never let you go.” He glares down at her. “Liu Mingyan is mine. I’ll confine her until she remembers that. You’re mine. All of you are mine. You’re nothing. Nothing without m—.”

He doesn’t see the fist coming.

The pain doesn’t register as much as the shock does. He releases the wrist of his attacker as his head moves with the blow.

The noise is gone. The pressure vanishes and the world comes into sharp focus. He’s looking at the walls of Ning Yingying’s chambers. His face is hot. Luo Binghe feels like he’s just woken from a dream.

(A nightmare.)

The sound of panting has him turning his face toward the source.

Ning Yingying stands before him. A fist raised and her other held to her chest protectively. Her face is contorted with fury, and he’s never seen her look at him the way she is now. Like he’s an enemy. Her face is slightly red and her lips tremble with each gasp.

Ning Yingying was never supposed to look at him like this. Those angry, hurt eyes are damning. They strike a blow far more powerful than anything physical.

He was never supposed to hurt her. Not Ning Yingying. Not once has Luo Binghe ever wanted to. Ning Yingying was the one who has always offered him a smile and kindness that he’s never—.

Luo Binghe had lost control.

“I…,” He trails off. Words refuse to form in the wake of what he has done. A crushing feeling weighs down on him. Luo Binghe almost can’t put a name to it. He doesn’t know that he’s ever felt it like this.

Shame.

Luo Binghe is ashamed.

He steps back. He steps away from Ning Yingying. He feels too large. Too dangerous and unstable. Luo Binghe doesn’t want to hurt her again.

(Was Shen Qingqiu right all along? Was he destined to be nothing but a mindless beast?)

They stand there in silence. Neither saying a word as the quiet grows oppressive.

Ning Yingying is the one to finally break it.

“Luo Binghe.” The sound of his full name nearly makes him flinch. So accustomed is he to her calling him ‘A-Luo’ that his full name sounds foreign coming from her. “You’re wrong.”

Luo Binghe says nothing.

“Women are not…possessions. We’re not items that you can—you can collect. Bound to you or not, we have feelings. We belong to ourselves first, and we— we allow certain people to tie us to them.” She pauses as if she’s trying to gather her thoughts. “Bonds. All sentient beings can create bonds. Bonds of family, friendships, and— and love. There are strong bonds and then there are weaker bonds. Luo Binghe has always created weak bonds. You don’t cultivate them properly. They’re one sided and fragile.”

Ning Yingying turns away from him and walks over to a desk covered in papers. Luo Binghe remains exactly where he is. Frozen as she rifles through them.

“Liu Mingyan does not wish to be yours any longer. That is her right. You do not get to— to lock her away.” Ning Yingying tosses a fierce glare over her shoulder. “I won’t let you.”

He sluggishly discerns the meaning of her words. Luo Binghe had said that hadn’t he? He’d threatened to lock up Liu Mingyan until she would… what exactly? Beg for forgiveness? It doesn’t make sense. Liu Mingyan is a righteous cultivator who would not crumble beneath such tactics. (Not unless he resorted to darker measures). Why had he said that? In the midst of his rage it had seemed perfectly logical.

Ning Yingying makes a small noise of triumph as she finds what she’s been looking for. A scroll with a broken red seal that indicated its contents were confidential. She grasps it firmly in her hand before marching over to him like a general facing down an opposing army.

She stops just outside his reach. A precautionary measure that makes him feel cold as she glares up at him. “You’re not locking up Liu Mingyan.”

Words are still beyond him.

“I don’t belong to you. You will never threaten me like this again, Luo Binghe.”

She doesn’t give him a chance to respond as she thrusts the scroll towards him. Luo Binghe doesn’t take it. Doesn’t dare to. He stares at it blankly as Ning Yingying takes the opportunity to explain.

“Lord Peng has requested your presence in his lands towards the Southwest. There has been a dispute between him and one of your wives who owns the neighboring territory. The situation continues to worsen as the conflict grows. He requests that you be the one to help with the negotiations. Further details are in this scroll.”

Ning Yingying glare continues to scorch through him. “You should go. Take the time to think. Stay as long as you need to because if you return like this….”

She takes a shaky breath.

“If this is who you truly are than I—.” She blinks back furious tears. “We have a bond. One that might be as weak and one sided as the rest of yours, but you’re my family Luo Binghe. I won't believe this is all there is to you. Not until you make me.”

Luo Binghes throat tightens. It’s hard to breathe as he continues to stare down at the scroll between them. The offer—no, the ultimatum dangles between them like a lifeline.

Ning Yingying is making him leave. She’s p ordering him to go and not return until he’s…changed? Luo Binghe doesn’t know what she wants from him. The taste of bial fills his mouth. He hates how uncertain it all is.

But…

She’ll leave if he doesn’t.

He knows she’ll leave and never return. Ning Yingying who has always stood by his side would turn away from him. She would turn her back on him.

It’s like a mockery of the time they met. Ning Yingying is offering him her hand. Possibly, for the very last time.

Take the mission or lose Ning Yingying forever.

He’s never made a decision more easily.

Luo Binghe grasps the scroll carefully as he takes it from Ning Yingying’s hand. As he does, he sees that there are red marks on her wrist that will surely blossom into bruises if she doesn’t care for them. An easy task for one of her level of cultivation. Luo Binghe would have still liked to heal them himself, but he cannot touch her. He has lost the right to.

Luo Binghe almost misses the way her eyes slightly soften as he looks up. The glare recedes but she still looks at him firmly. Under that gaze words finally escape his lips.

“I will make my own arrangements.”

He won’t trouble her further. He’ll order for travelling arrangements to be made for Lord Peng’s territory in the southwest. He could use Xin Mon and be there in an instant, but he needs time. Time to think before he deals with the situation there.

“Alright.”

Ning Yingying says nothing more and he bows his head to her. Bows it noticeably low. A wordless apology. A few moments later, Luo Binghe turns and leaves. He makes it halfway across her chambers when she calls out to him.

“A-Luo.”

He slows his step but doesn’t turn around.

“Good luck.”

Luo Binghe clenches the scroll in his hand so hard that he’s lucky it doesn’t crumple completely. Even now, Ning Yingying is far too kind.

He flees. There’s no other words to describe the way he rushes to the door. He flees and tries not to think. Tucks the now crumpled scroll in his sleeve before opening the doors to leave and—-

A woman in white stands outside the door. A familiar and undeniably beautiful woman even with the veil that covers the lower half of her face.

Liu Mingyan looks different from the last time he’d seen her. She seems lighter. The white mourning robes remain, but her eyes no longer carry the same sorrow they once had.

The powerful cultivator lowers her raised hand that she had obviously been about to use to knock on the door. Liu Mingyan says nothing, but her sharp eyes narrow suspiciously. He straightens at the challenge.

The startled gasp behind him makes him falter.

Liu Mingyan immediately looks beyond Luo Binghe in concern. The cultivator shifts as if to immediately go to Ning Yingying’s side. Whatever she sees behind him must displease her as her hand travels towards the sword at her waste. There’s a dangerous gleam to her eyes as she looks back at Luo Binghe. Her posture screams danger.

Ah.

So that was how things were. Luo Binghe wonders when the women became so close.

“Consider our marriage dissolved.”

It’s only the widening of Liu Mingyan’s eyes that allows Luo Binghe to realize that he was the one to say those words. They’re as much of a surprise to him as they are to Liu Mingyan.

He doesn’t take them back.

Instead, he moves past her. Luo Binghe leaves before he can damage things more than he already has. He can sense the way Liu Mingyan watches him until he’s around the corner. A loud click echoes throughout the halls after Liu Mingyan enters Ning Yingying’s chambers and closes the door behind her.

Only then does Luo Binghe stop. He listens intently in a way only one with a heightened sense of hearing can as Liu Mingyan and Ning Yingying speak to each other.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. This was all my fault. I-I’m sorry about all of that. I said too much and you never got to speak to A-Luo yourself.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He can almost picture the way Ning Yingying’s face contorts in confusion as she asks, “Are you sure?”

“The matter is resolved. There’s no need to think of it further.”

“If you’re certain…”

“I am.” There is a heavy pause. “Our plans will have to wait for another day. It is late enough for lunch, and you must be hungry.”

“Oh? I suppose I could eat. The kitchens—.”

Liu Mingyan’s voice gently interrupts. “Let's go out. Outside the Palace. It's been too long since you left this place. But first, let me tend to your wrist.”

“That really isn’t—,”

Luo Binghe doesn’t stick around to hear Ning Yingying’s protests and inevitable agreement. He’s learned what he needed to.

Ning Yingying is in good hands now.

There’s a familiar figure down the next hall. The concubine he had turned away earlier. Pretty eyes gleam as they spot him. She instantly saunters towards him with a flirtatious smile adorning her pale lips.

Luo Binghe feels ill at the sight of her.

He smiles. Smiles like he doesn’t want to wretch. He allows her to draw near and press herself against him. “My Emperor we meet again so soon! This one is ever so pleased. Surely you won’t deny me twice. Let us spend time together.” She stands on her toes so she can whisper in his ear. “This one has missed you greatly.”

Luo Binghe knows this game well. He bends down so his own face is hidden behind her ear. It would not do for her to see his expression. Not with the way Ning Yingying’s words ring in his ears. A twisted and bitter thing curls inside him. He hates it. Luo Binghe speaks with an edge of desperation that could easily be mistaken for intent. “Distract me.”

It’s less a demand and more of a plea. The concubine he can’t name doesn’t seem to notice as she tilts her head demurely. “Of course.”

She steps back and beckons him towards her chambers. Luo Binghe follows automatically. Desperately hoping this will fill the hollow space in his chest.

(It doesn’t.)

After, he will need to speak with Lao Ghongzhi about orchestrating the procession towards the Southwest. He will gather his things in preparation for a long stay away from the Palace. He’ll read the report Ning Yingying had given him and formulate a plan. But before any of that...

Luo Binghe has a sword he will return.

Chapter Text

Chapter 35: Amateur Psychology Hour (Part 1)

Shang Qinghua has stolen his son.

Shen Yuan is not sulking about it.

Sighing he picks up Bingpup. The tiny dog is sticking out halfway from underneath the couch he’s lying on in the library. Who knows what the dog is trying to do down there, but it must not be important because Bingpup lets himself be pulled out and onto his chest. Bingpup immediately plops down and tilts his head at Shen Yuan inquisitively.

Shen Yuan melts at the cute action. Momentarily distracted from his boredom, he boops Bingpup’s nose and delights in the way the dog's tongue automatically sticks out. It’s nice to be able to dote on Bingpup again.

It had been three days since Shen Yuan had managed to finally get rid of their flea infestation. Three beautiful days of relaxation after a week of losing his mind.

Who knew that having little insects hop all over you at all hours would lead to no sleep and days of cleaning that produced no results. His mood had progressively darkened throughout the entire experience. Poor A-Yu and Bingpup still eyed him warily at times. As if he was going to grab them both and toss them in a bath at any moment. Which, to be fair, he had on multiple occasions during the infestation. Unfortunately,the baths hadn’t helped at all. The fleas had to have some kind of demonic origin. He won’t accept any other explanation. Not after all of Shen Yuan’s extermination methods had produced no results until he’d taken drastic measures.

Said drastic measures had resulted in an unexpected casualty. An increasingly problematic protagonist had showed up at the worst opportunity. Shen Yuan had acted out of sheer exhaustion. He doesn’t like to think about it. If he does, Shen Yuan knows he’ll have to admit that he may have overreacted. Just a little bit.

He has no regrets. Shen Yuan remembers how a certain pair of dark eyes looked down at him mockingly in the midst of his suffering. Shen Yuan refuses to let any sense of guilt eat at him. Nope. No guilt here. It isn’t like he’s incredibly bothered by the fact that the protagonist didn’t show up the next day to return his sword.

Everything will be fine.

(Hopefully.)

They’ve made progress. Good and bad. Shen Yuan hates to admit, but the mountain field trip from hell had opened his eyes in a number of ways. The whole thing had been a fucking mess of course, but...

The protagonist had been so cool!

When A-Yu and Bingpup went missing, Shen Yuan had nearly lost his mind. Panic and worry clouding his rational thought. He hadn’t expected the protagonist to step up and be helpful throughout their predicament. He hadn't expected the protagonist would help him keep a level head. Shen Yuan witnessed firsthand the true nature of an OP stallion protagonist. Dramatic rescues (not that Shen Yuan had needed it) aside, the fanboy in him had been suitably impressed.

Nothing had stood out quite as much as the way the protagonist had carried A-Yu on his back. Anxious yet attentive. It was the first time Shen Yuan completely believed that the protagonist truly does care about his son.

The protagonist seemed real then. No longer a mere character from a shitty novel he’d wasted his time reading. He’s…

Shen Yuan’s favorite anti-hero. The anti-hero that he’d rooted for from the start. From his white lotus beginning through his blackening. Shen Yuan had read through it all. Through joy and sorrow, Shen Yuan had always rooted for him.

It was hard to reconcile the two mental images he had of the protagonist.

Not that it amounted to much. The protagonist was probably furious with Shen Yuan after his last visit. He’d have to deal with that in a couple days. The thought made him tired.

Another thing that made him tired is the person that’s behind all of his problems. Shang Qinghua had shown up today with a stupid grin and a bag that he claimed held all the supplies he needed to be ‘the greatest alchemy teacher of all time’.

A-Yu had been hesitant around the man at first. The memory of his drugged water had unsurprisingly left an impression. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on who you asked, a month of distance must have dulled the memory enough that A-Yu’s curiosity had prevailed.

“What kind of stuff will you teach me?” A-Yu asked.

Shang Qinghua had lifted his chin and dramatically declared, “Alchemy’s all about elixirs and pills. I will teach you how to appreciate the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death!”

Shen Yuan tried to punch the man’s arm. “That’s plagiarism!”

Shang Qinghua dodged his attack and klicked off his shoes by the teleportation array. Bingpup hopped over to sniff them curiously. Shang Qinghua kept his bare feet well away from the dog before saying, “It’s not plagiarism if it doesn’t exist here!”

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it’s-

“Will you teach me how to create a lot of healing potions and pills? I want to be able to help people when I travel one day.”

Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua stopped bickering. Endeared by the earnest declaration.

Shang Qinghua nodded seriously. “I’ll do my very best to teach you all I know.”

After that, Shang Qinghua had excitably regaled his plans for their lessons. They’d sounded impressive even to Shen Yuan, and A-Yu was practically vibrating with excitement by the end of the speech.

Past transgressions seemingly forgotten, A-Yu had tried to drag Shang Qinghua away towards his alchemy lab. Shang Qinghua had given Shen Yuan a smug smile and a promise that they’d speak more later. Shang Qinghua had then had the audacity to forbid Shen Yuan from joining the lesson. Claiming Shen Yuan was too much of a ‘helicopter parent’ and that he would ‘ruin the fun’.

Who did that shitty hack of an author think he is? Telling Shen Yuan what to do in his home? He’d been tempted to toss the idiot right back through the transportation array he’d arrived from.

He can’t. A-Yu would be disappointed. Shen Yuan’s personal mantra.

A-Yu hadn’t agreed with the plan to exclude Shen Yuan from the alchemy lessons outright, but he noticed how the child hadn’t protested either. So, very reluctantly, he’d left the two be.

Children grow up so fast.

Shen Yuan sighs with feeling. Bingpup takes the opportunity to lick his chin. He gently squishes the dog’s face between both his hands in retaliation.

Bingpup had also been excluded from the alchemy lessons. Shen Yuan would like to think that the dog would have remained by his side anyway, but he suspects Bingpup would have abandoned him for the more interesting pursuit of terrorizing their guest. Shang Qinghua was smart enough to plan for this in advance and had barred the dog from entering the alchemy lab. A-Yu had been gleefully pleased with the ruling.

At least Shang Qinghua’s fear of Bingpup was amusing. Shen Yuan will always be willing to turn a blind eye to any of the fluffy creatures' antics in this situation. Especially since Shang Qinghua had insulted him before taking off with his son.

Shen Yuan is not a helicopter parent. Helicopter parents are controlling and overbearing. Shen Yuan does his best to be neither of those things. He’s already realized that in the setting of Proud Immortal he’s put himself in the role of a minor villain. Shen Yuan won't ever follow that script. A-Yu can leave their mountain whenever he wants to, and Shen Yuan tries his best to raise the child the right way.

It’s hard. A-Yu is so small. His adopted son has had a hard life. Shen Yuan wants to bundle him up and protect him from this entire poorly written world. This world that would have—.

Another thing he refuses to think about.

Shen Yuan shakes his head and wraps his arms around Bingpup so he can sit up. Surely a quick check in wouldn’t be too bad? He only wants to make sure things are going alright.

He gets off the couch and leaves the library before he can think better of it. Shen Yuan heads to the alchemy lab with a content Bingpup in his arms.

It only takes a few minutes to get there. Shen Yuan hesitates for only a moment before cracking open the door as quietly as he can.

Familiar voices greet his ears.

“So if I chop this here…?”

“Yep. You’ll get a nice even cut that will increase the roots potency. Try not to get any of that green gunk on your hands. It’ll make your hands glow in the dark for a few days.”

“Cool!”

“It is, but it’ll also make your hands super itchy for a couple hours. Sorry kid. The pros don’t outweigh the cons.”

“Says you.”

This was not the kind of conversation Shen Yuan wanted to hear. He peeks inside and sees Shang Qinghua and A-Yu huddled together near a table covered in all kinds of plants. The two are the perfect picture of a teacher-student pair. It would be comforting if not for the long, wickedly sharp knife A-Yu was using to chop up some unidentifiable herb.

Shen Yuan’s heart nearly fails. What kind of child endangerment was this?! A-Yu wasn’t even wearing any gloves! Where is the protective gear?!

Strike one. He grits his teeth. Airplane was going to die at this rate. He glances down at Bingpup and whispers a quick question. The dog licks his chin in agreement. Truly the best dog in the universe.

Shen Yuan doesn’t notice the way Bingpup’s eyes gleam with the promise of retribution.

Pushing the door open more, he twists his frown into a smile. He knocks to alert them of his presence. Shang Qinghua and A-Yu’s heads turn in unison towards him. Two surprised faces greet him.

A-Yu’s surprise turns into a beaming smile. “Bàba! Look what we’ve done so far. Master Shang is showing me how to make a Fiori pill. I’ve been careful to follow Master Shang’s steps exactly. There won’t be any mistakes. I promise.”

Shen Yuan very carefully doesn’t narrow his eyes at the information. A Fiori pill. A pill with amazing properties if concocted correctly. A very dangerous pill. He mentally crosses off another tally in his head.

Strike two.

He smiles peacefully at A-Yu. “I don’t doubt it. You’ve always been a very good student.”

A-Yu visibly preens at the praise. While he’s distracted, Shen Yuan pointedly smiles at Shang Qinghua. “And what are you planning to do with the Fiori pill?”

Eyeing Bingpup warily, Shang Qinghua seems to sense something isn’t quite right and chuckles nervously. “Nothing! Well, nothing much. I was going to—.”

“We’re going to eat it. Master Shang said it’ll let us breathe fire for a couple hours! Now Bingpup will learn to respect—.” A-Yu coughs and quickly says. “Bingpup will think it’s neat.”

Strike three.

If Shen Yuan didn’t know any better, he’d say the little woof Bingpup directs toward A-Yu sounds mocking. Shen Yuan places the dog on the ground and moves forward to give A-Yu’s head a quick pat. “That’s very nice, but I see you don’t have any gloves on. Why don’t you take a quick break and go get two pairs out of the storage room.”

“But Shifu…”

“No buts. Safety is important. I’ve taught you this before.”

A-Yu pouts but nods in agreement. The child turns to Shang Qinghua. “I’ll be right back, Master Shang! Don’t do anything without me.”

“Uh. Actually, how about I just come with you? Two heads are better than one!”

Shen Yuan quickly cuts in. “Don’t trouble yourself. A-Yu can handle it.”

“But—.”

A-Yu is already heading out the door. Undoubtedly wanting to get back to his new alchemy lessons as soon as possible. Shen Yuan and Bingpup make eye contact. A silent understanding occurs. Bingpup takes off after A-Yu. Shen Yuan calls out a quick, “No running.”

“Yes, Shifu!”

Shen Yuan waits until he can no longer hear the sound of footsteps before he drops the smile.
Shang Qinghua twitches and slowly moves so that the table is now in between them. “Now Cucumber-bro, I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that, but I swear I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Of course, you haven’t. That’s why I just had to send A-Yu to get you both some gloves. Protective gear isn’t something a teacher should think of. Especially when teaching a child.”

Shang Qinghua holds his hand up in surrender. “Okay fair. I’ll admit. I was in a rush and and forgot a couple things, but that's only one mistake!”

Shen Yuan stalks forward and picks up the knife that A-Yu had been using to chop herbs. He waves it at Shang Qinghua. “One mistake? This knife is larger than my forearm. A-Yu could’ve chopped his hand off!”

“Wow, you really are such a mom…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing! Alright. Another good point. No large knives and gloves. I swear I’ll bring the right stuff next time.” Shang Qinghua sighs and places his hands on the table between them. “In my defense, I was lucky to bring anything at all! Let me tell you, my husband was not happy about any of this. I blame yo—.”

Shen Yuan slams the knife down on Shang Qinghua’s hand.

Much to his expected disappointment. The knife merely pings off Shang Qinghua’s skin like it’s made of rubber. This doesn’t stop Shang Qinghua from immediately flailing backwards with a screech.

“What the fuck, bro?! Are you trying to kill me?! Oh god, you are! My king said this would happen. He said that I would get myself killed if I went off without him! He was all, let me come with so I can protect you. But I was like. No, loving husband of mine. You’ll scare the cucumber family. Everything will be totally fine, I said. The mountain is safe and harmless, I said. How young and naive I was!”

Shen Yuan inspects the knife to see if it was damaged. Seeing nothing, he caustically remarks, “If you’d been wearing gloves it wouldn’t have even touched your skin.”

“You’re like a Disney villain!”

That strikes a little too close to his thoughts of villainy from earlier. Shen Yuan looks away from the knife and towards the bane of his existence. “What? No I’m not!”

“You are! Like, like…. Mother Gothel! You know? From Rapunzel!”

Shen Yuan had seen that movie. Not because he’d wanted to. His sister had made him and their older brothers watch it.

“I am not Mother Gothel.”

Shang Qinghua held up his undamaged hand and started counting off his fingers. “Let’s see. Kidnapped a royal child? Check. Kept said child in a secret location that no one knew about? Check. Locked the child in a tower or, in this case, a mansion? Check. Crazy and way overprotective. Check. The kid even has a cute if terrifying animal companion that is his sole friend here. Face it dude. You’re Mother Gothel!”

Shen Yuan feels his eye twitch. “I am not Mother Gothel! I did not kidnap A-Yu. I rescued and adopted him. I’m not trapping him here either!”

Shang Qinghua points at him triumphantly. “Aha! Note how you didn’t disagree with the whole being crazy thing!”

“I am not crazy!”

Shang Qinghua steps back and looks down at the knife that is now being waved threateningly towards him. “You sure about that?”

Shen Yuan… deflates. Fine, maybe he was acting a bit crazy. He sets the knife back down on the table with a sigh.

Shang Qinghua, like an idiot, must take this as a sign of victory. The shitty author leans against the wall with a poorly hidden triumphant look. “So Mother Gothel, what’s got you so wound up?”

“Don’t call me that.” Shen Yuan snaps. Then sighs again. “I’m a bit stressed. It'll be fine. I have things under control.”

“I believe you. One hundred percent. Totally couldn’t tell you’re a mess. You’re just the picture of zen and cal—.”

“Don’t make me stab you again.”

“Shutting up now.”

Shen Yuan rubs his eyes. He suddenly feels very tired. “I’m sorry. I know I’m probably overreacting. It’s just…”

It’s just what? Shen Yuan doesn’t even know where to begin. It’s strange. Talking to another adult again. For years, it was just him. Transmigrated to a paradise, but with no one to share it with. It had been a lonely life.

Things got better. He met A-Yu. An equally lonely child with a heart of gold. Then came Bingpup. A cute and quirky creature that brought a whole new element of fun and chaos to their lives. They’re both so young. He wants to always protect them and keep them happy. By doing so, he does his best not to burden them in any way. That means keeping most of his problems to himself.

Shang Qinghua is a different case. Shen Yuan can speak freely with him. They have a strange bond that allows him to trust the man.

Mostly.

“Dealing with the protagonist has been difficult.”

Shang Qinghua must sense a change in the atmosphere because the man moves close enough to place his elbows on the table between them. “Oh man. Yeah that’s gotta be rough. I was gonna ask later, but how’s that been going? The kid and Bing-ge bond yet?”

Shen Yuan snorts. “No. A-Yu can’t stand him.”

“That sucks. He hasn’t tried threatening you guys again has he?”

Shen Yuan wipes a hand over his face. “No. Not seriously anyway. It’s… there’s been so little progress. He keeps harassing me about weapon training and has absolutely no idea how to deal with A-Yu. Don’t even get me started with how he treats Bingpup.”

“I know this is a serious moment right now, but can I just say that I still find it hilarious how you named the dog after—.”

Shen Yuan glares.

“—after no one in particular. Anyway, has my son really been that bad?”

“Worse. At one point, A-Yu and Bingpup played a harmless prank and it spiraled out of control. I had to kick him out.”

“By kicking him out you mean...?”

“I had the barrier projectile him out through the sky. Team rocket style.”

Shang Qinghua made a pained wheezing noise. “You yeeted the OP stallion protagonist through the barrier?!”

Shen Yuan groans. “Don’t call it that. On a different day, A-Yu kicked him out too.”

“The power of yeet is strong in the cucumber family.”

“Bro, can you not? I’m trying to be serious here.”

Shang Qinghua sobered. “It’s really that bad? Our continued existence is riding on this, Cucumber-bro. If this isn’t working then we’ve got to come up with a new plan.”

Shen Yuan almost wants to do just that. Give up on this dumb deal and try to figure out a plan that won't make him want to pull out his hair in frustration. But…

Images flash through his mind. The memory of the protagonist saving him in the caves. (A self-sacrificing move that should’ve never happened with someone that wasn't a female lead.) The image of dark eyes filled with worry and panic. The image of a handsome man carrying A-Yu on his back like the child was both fragile and precious.

“No. Let’s stick to our plan for now.”

Shang Qinghua tilts his head but doesn’t complain. “You’re the expert here. Just let me know if things start to look dicey.”

“I will.”

“Good. Now let’s take a minute to talk about my issues. You should be thanking me! You’re stressed because of one demon, but you almost had to deal with two! My king really wasn’t happy about me leaving. I still made sure he didn’t come with me. For you! It had nothing to do with the fact my king literally can’t come here without your permission. Nope. I figured you wouldn’t want my incredibly amazing and hot husband here so I had to leave fast before he decided to not let me leave. I would’ve brought all the protective gear and stuff otherwise.”

Shen Yuan makes a face that he hopes conveys how completely unimpressed he is. The mention of Shang Qinghua’s husband reminds him of a question he’s been wanting to ask. “How exactly did you two get together again? The way you wrote him, I didn’t even think he had emotions.”

“Rude. I think we can both agree that my writing was pretty….”

“Half-assed?”

“I was going to say rushed but fine. It doesn’t really matter because if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this. None of it matters!”

Shen Yuan hates how every conversation with this man gives him a headache. “What?”

“The stuff I wrote? It doesn’t matter. You can’t base the people of this world on my novel.”

Shen Yuan considers this. “People are different from what you wrote?”

“No. I mean yes. It’s complicated. The stuff I wrote is accurate, but it only scratches the surface. They’re different. My book was a fantasy while this is reality.”

Shen Yuan thinks he understands. “Like a tv show. Before they were characters, but now we get to see the actors behind them.”

Shang Qinghua looks at him sharply. “No. That still isn’t quite right. The people of this word did the things I wrote. Actors play fictional roles. They’re not related. These people did those things, but their motivations don’t always match with what you’d expect.” Shang Qinghua softens. “For example, my king. I wrote him to be cold, strong, and ruthless. He’s still all of those things, but he’s more. He’s protective, caring, and warm. He's real. He’s alive and beautiful and so much more than anything I could’ve ever written.”

Shen Yuan has never been all that good with emotions. He stares blankly as Shang Qinghua praises his husband. Shen Yuan decides then and there that married people are the worst.

(Shen Yuan will never admit that it’s strangely endearing.)

“I think I get it.”

Shang Qinghua looks at him dubiously. “Do you?”

“Of course. After all, I have A-Yu.”

That clears the doubting expression. Shang Qinghua smiles. “Yeah, the kid is great. Really smart and eager to learn. You’ve done a good job raising him.”

Shen Yuan will deny to his dying day that he gets a little choked up under that praise. It's not like he needs validation. He doesn’t. Parenting is hard though. Shen Yuan is slightly overwhelmed and relieved to hear that he’s not messing it completely.

Shang Qinghua takes the opportunity to not so sneakily move the knife well out of Shen Yuan’s reach. Shen Yuan feels the warm feeling in his chest die a quick death as he rolls his eyes. Shang Qinghua is unapologetic.

“So since we're sticking to our family bonding sessions plans, what’s this about weapon training?”

Shen Yuan wishes Shang Qinghua hadn’t reminded him. “The protagonist wants A-Yu to have sword lessons.”

“And that's a problem because…?”

“You don’t give a twelve year old a sword. I may not be the best parent, but I know that much.”

“Actually, it’s pretty normal here.” Shang Qinghua eyes him curiously. “You know that twelve is literally the age most start to learn here right?”

“Twelve is way too young! What if he makes a mistake and cuts off his own arm?”

“Well, training usually starts off with wooden sticks or practice swords.”

“....”

Shen Yuan may have forgotten this fact.

Shang Qinghua has to keep talking. “Look. Maybe in our world giving a twelve year old a sword is a big no, but we’re not there anymore. This is a cultivation world. Swords and weapons are the norm. You’ve been cooped up on this mountain since you got here. You haven’t seen this place like I have. It’s not your fault, but you need to remember where you are now. We can’t live like it’s the modern era, Cucumber-bro. You won’t be doing the kid any favors.”

“He’s twelve.” The words come out sounding small.

Shang Qinghua looks at him pityingly. “The kids gotta grow up. You heard him earlier. He wants to leave and travel one day.”

Damn it. Damn it all because Shang Qinghua’s right. In his old life, A-Yu could take his time growing up. The modern era was an easy one. Most of the time, kids could grow up peacefully. How easy it was to forget that this world is that of Proud Immortal Demon Way. A world full of uncountable dangers where children grew up far too soon. Demons and humans alike often try to kill them without hesitation. Just look at the protagonist’s childhood.

It wasn’t fair.

Shen Yuan swallows to get rid of the lump in his throat. Dwelling on it will get him nowhere. He can’t keep A-Yu safe forever. Life isn’t that kind. It’s his job to make sure A-Yu can protect himself.

“Fine. He’ll need sword lessons.”

Thankfully, Shang Qinghua doesn’t gloat. “The sooner the better. You need me to get you some training swords? I can bring them the next time I visit.”

Shen Yuan shakes his head.“I should have some in the weapon’s storeroom. There’s another issue. I can’t teach him.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t have any experience with sword fighting.”

Shang Qinghua gapes. “But you—. I know you have a sword! I’ve seen it!”

Feeling awkward, Shen Yuan looks away. “I know the basics! The library has very good training manuals, but I only bothered reading enough to learn how to fly without hurting myself.”

“You’re a noob! You’re telling me you only learned how to wield a sword so you could use it as a flying surfboard?”

“It's a valid reason! Why would I even bother fighting with my sword? I have my fan, and I’ll have you know I could kill anyone I need to with it. I’ll teach A-Yu to do the same after he advances more with his cultivation training.”

The knife on the table gets pushed further away. “That worrying piece of information aside, there’s no way you can teach the kid.”

Shen Yuan groans. “I know.” He takes a deep breath before asking, “Why don’t you train him?”

Shang Qinghua laughs nervously. “I’ve never touched a sword in my life!”

“But you were just—!”

“I have a demon war general for a husband! The one time I mentioned it, he asked if I thought he couldn’t protect me. It’s the closest I’ve seen to him getting depressed. I felt so bad I never brought it up again!”

“You’re pathetic.”

“It takes one to know one.”

“I hate you so much.”

Shang Qinghua points at him. “Your words are cruel, but I know that you secretly enjoy my presence. If there’s one thing I learned from your comments as Peerless Cucumber, it’s that the meaner you are the more you care.”

Shen Yuan barely refrains from sticking out his tongue like a petulant child. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’ll let you believe that. Anyway, I’ve come up with a solution to our problem!”

“...”

“...”

Shang Qinghua looks at him expectantly. Refusing to speak until prompted.

Ugh. “What’s your solution?”

The idiot smiles. “Have Bing-ge teach him!”

Shen Yuan must have misheard. “I’m sorry. It sounded like you said you wanted the protagonist to teach A-Yu’s sword lessons. The protagonist who doesn’t know the first thing about dealing with children.”

Shang Qinghua continues to smile at him undeterred. “You can help with that! You can chaperone their lessons and make sure everything goes alright.”

It might be manageable. “They’ll kill each other.”

“Not with you there. This will give them a chance to bond. It’s perfect!”

Perfect his ass. Shen Yuan can think of a dozen ways this plan could easily go wrong. It would probably blow up in their faces.

“I’ll think about it.”

Shang Qinghua begins to lose his smile. “Remember how I said that people are different here? I’d keep all this in mind when you deal with my son. Have a little faith.”

“In the man who stabbed me?”

Shang Qinghua winces. “Touché. I can’t blame you for being wary. Given your history and all. But remember what I was talking about earlier? I think you should try and see that he’s more than what I’ve written. Open your heart to lov—friendship and keep an open mind!”

Shen Yuan catches the shifty pause in Shang Qinghua’s speech. There's no way the idiot was about to say what he thinks he was. There has to be another explanation. Shen Yuan looks down at the plants on the table and a terrible idea occurs to him. “Are you high?” He hisses, “Are you using plants that will get A-Yu high?!”

Shang Qinghua frantically shakes his head. “What? No! I’m not that irresponsible!”

“Says the person who plans to let a child eat a pill that will let him breathe fire.”

“You’re a paranoid bastard! You know what? I didn’t see it before, but I do now. You two deserve each other!”

“Who—?”

The door to the alchemy labs slams open and both Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua shriek in surprise.

A-Yu stands in the doorway looking far worse than when he left. There is dirt on his face. Brown leaves stick out of his hair. He’s panting like he’d just ran a mile.

Shen Yuan straightens immediately. His heart is still pounding in his chest. “A-Yu, what in the world happened to you?”

A-Yu stomps in the room and slams two pairs of gloves on the table between him and Shang Qinghua. “I got them, Shifu. I won.”

Shen Yuan doesn’t get to ask what he won because a black, fluffy form appears in the doorway and happily trots inside. Bingpup looks exactly the same as he had when he’d left. Not a single strand of fur out of place.

Tiny black eyes seek out Shen Yuan. Bingpup’s head tilts cutely as he silently seeks praise for a job well done.

Too well done. Shen Yuan only has himself to blame as the pieces fall into place. Shen Yuan carefully takes his fan out of his sleeve to hide his expression. Sure that his guilt would be written all over his face.

When Shen Yuan had asked Bingpup to distract A-Yu the dog must have taken it as an opportunity to have some fun. It doesn’t take a genius to deduce the outcome as A-Yu is covered in dirt and foliage. The gloves on the table have a small, suspiciously wet spot on them. As if a creature had had them firmly gripped in their tiny mouth. Shen Yuan should’ve known something like this would happen.

Oh well. Children will be children. A little exercise is all in good fun.

A-Yu glares at Bingpup as if the dog is the source of all evil in the world. Shen Yuan would feel more guilty if this wasn’t a regular occurrence. The two will make up after a day or two.

Expression back under control, he closes his fan. Shen Yuan scoops up his furry partner in crime. It’s about time they made a tactical retreat. He smiles at A-Yu and praises, “Well done. Now that you two are properly equipped, I’ll—.”

A familiar tugging in his chest cuts his words short.

A-Yu makes a startled noise. “He’s not supposed to come today!”

“No.” Shen Yuan states slowly. “He’s not. It’s possible he’s finally come to return my sword.”

Shang Qinghua pipes in. “Am I missing something here?”

Shen Yuan opens his mouth to answer, but A-Yu is quicker. “That monster is here. He shouldn’t be. We’re supposed to be free of him for a few more days.”

Shang Qinghua pales. “By monster, you don’t mean your dad right? Fu— I mean fudge.”

A-Yu nods morosely. “Fuck.”

“A-Yu!”

“Sorry, Shifu.”

Shen Yuan places Bingpup back on the ground and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You three stay here. I’ll go see what he wants.”

“But Bàba!”

“Cucumber-bro!”

Bingpup woofs his disapproval.

Shen Yuan looks at them sternly. “No buts. Shang Qinghua, it pains me to say this but you’re the only other adult here so you’re in charge.”

“Uh. That’s great and all, but if it’s cool with you guys I think I’m just going to go ahead and head home. I’m sure everything will be fine witho—.”

Shen Yuan brandishes his fan threateningly. “You’re in charge.”

“Great! I’m in charge. Something I’ve always wanted to be. Yay…”

Shen Yuan ignores him and turns towards his disgruntled wards. “You two stay here. I won’t be long.”

Two sets of puppy dog eyes stare up at him pleadingly. A-Yu pleads, “Bàba, let us go with you. What if you get hurt again?”

He needs to stay strong. Shen Yuan glances away. “I won’t be letting your Father visit today. Everything will be fine, and I’ll be back before you even miss me.”

Unexpectedly, Shang Qinghua walks around the table and gently places a hand on A-Yu’s shoulder. “C’mon kid. We’ve still got a lesson to finish. It’ll be fun.”

Huh. Shen Yuan may need to treat the author more nicely after this.

“No need to worry about your mom. He won’t be letting your dad in while I’m here. He totally wouldn’t do that to me. Meanwhile, we’ll have you breathing fire in no time.”

Shang Qinghua is dead to him.

“No fire. At least until I get back. I promise I won’t be gone for longer than an hour or two at most. It shouldn’t take me that long.”

Even the promise of fire breathing mischief hasn’t cleared the glum look on A-Yu’s face. The child tilts forward surprisingly and wraps his thin arms around Shen Yuan’s waist. A-Yu mumbles into his robes, “If you’re not back soon I’ll come down and set that monster on fire.”

Shen Yuan tells himself that he can’t laugh. He plucks a few stray leaves out of A-Yu's fluffy hair. “There will be none of that. I promise I’ll be back soon.”

A-Yu grumbles but reluctantly lets go.

Bingpup woofs. Displeased with being left out. Shen Yuan bends down low enough to pet his ears. “Watch these two for me?”

Bingpup immediately perks up. His tail wags at the attention to his ears. A decisive boof is good enough an answer for Shen Yuan. He gives Bingpup a scratch under his chin before straightening.

Shen Yuan doesn’t waste any more time after that. The tugging in his chest is an ever present reminder and he wants to get this over with as soon as possible.

Hopefully he’ll get his sword back before the manor accidentally gets set ablaze.

Chapter Text

Chapter 36: Amateur Psychology Hour (Part 2)

The protagonist is in a foul mood. With an uninviting demeanor and stormy looking eyes, one look is enough for Shen Yuan to wish he’d just stayed home.

He’d ended up walking down the long paths down the mountain to get here. He could’ve grabbed a spare sword from his weapons storeroom but he’d stupidly decided to take the opportunity to clear his head a bit. His discussion with Shang Qinghua had his thoughts muddled. Shen Yuan hadn’t wanted to talk with the protagonist until he could focus. The peaceful walk had luckily done the trick. He felt better.

Or he had. The protagonist's bad mood is already beginning to raise his anxiety levels.

Shen Yuan has his fan out and covering his face as he greets his surly visitor. “Hello. I’m surprised to see you so soon.”

“Is Shizun not pleased to see me?”

No need to sound like a jilted lover! Shen Yuan sighs. “Don’t call me that, and your visit is merely unexpected. I’m afraid I don’t have the time to entertain you today.”

A dangerous gleam enters those dark eyes. “Oh? Does Shizun wish to be rid of me?”

Something is going on here. An element of something more than their usual argumentative interactions. Shen Yuan doesn’t have to think very hard to figure out what has caused the change.

The protagonist is obviously still mad about the flea incident. He needs to tread carefully. “A-Yu is busy with lessons right now. We simply weren’t prepared for you to visit today.”

The protagonist doesn’t look appeased. “No matter. I’ve come to return your sword. Shizun was generous to loan it to this lowly disciple. I must apologize for not returning it at the proper time.” The words are so mocking they make Shen Yuan’s teeth ache.

Still… “I’m the one who should apologize.”

The protagonist stares. Unknown emotions swirl in those dark eyes, and Shen Yuan doesn’t know how to interpret them.

He lowers his fan so the protagonist can hopefully see how sincere he is. “I’m sorry for making you leave like I did. You were a jerk, but that doesn’t excuse my poor behavior.”

“Shizun was cruel.”

Shen Yuan opens his mouth to protest, but the protagonist continues.

“But Shizun was also unwell. This disciple is not without blame.”

Shen Yuan’s mouth is hanging open. Struck speechless. This… this sounded like an apology! Realizing he’s gaping at the protagonist like a fool, Shen Yuan moves his fan to cover his face again. “We will both have to endeavor to do better in the future.”

“Mn.”

They stand there in awkward silence. The barrier between them is hardly visible but very much a present reminder of their strange situation.

Oddly flustered, Shen Yuan asks, “You had something to return to me?”

The protagonist twitches at the reminder. Black robes contrast with the light colored sword on his belt. Beside it, Shen Yuan notes that Xin Mo is nearly twice the size of his sword. The half-demon deftly unfastens Shen Yuan’s sword until he has it held in his hands like a strange offering.

It was then that things took an unexpected turn.

The protagonist doesn’t extend the sword to Shen Yuan. Instead, the man strokes it thoughtfully. Dark eyes watch Shen Yuan with great contemplation.

That look can’t possibly mean anything good. Shen Yuan feels very much like he’s in the middle of a hostage negotiation. Please, good sir. If you would kindly toss the sword through the magic barrier that would be great. Our transaction can be completed and we can go on our merry way. Have mercy on this old soul!

Oblivious to Shen Yuan’s mental pleading, the protagonist continues to stroke his sword and asks,“What are your thoughts on women?”

What?!

Of all the things Shen Yuan was expecting this was not it!

“Women?”

The protagonist looks at him like he’s an idiot. “Yes, Shizun. Women.”

The clarification doesn’t help Shen Yuan at all! “Women are… nice?”

“Nice.” The protagonist spits the word out derisively. The half-demon’s bad mood is back in full force. Shen Yuan’s answer obviously hadn’t been what the man had been looking for.

Shen Yuan should leave it at that. He should ask for his sword and get out of whatever was happening right now. He didn’t sign up to deal with whatever this was.

But there’s something peculiar here. He’s seen the protagonist mad before. This isn’t the same. There’s a familiar furrow to the protagonist’s brow. A slight downturn of those lips. The protagonist…

Looks exactly like A-Yu does when his son is trying to hide that he’s sad.

Sympathy tugs at Shen Yuan’s heart.

Oh no. No, no no. He is not going to ask. He will not fall for the resemblance. He is not—.

“Are you alright?”

Fuck.

The protagonist’s focus is immediately on him with an unnerving fervor. “Do I not seem alright, Shizun?”

“You seem upset.” Shen Yuan wants to slap himself.

Here he is, trying to ask personal questions to a man who wants to interrogate and eventually kill him. If this were a video game, he would be wasting his time with a social link that is impossible to increase! Even if it was possible, all the negative hearts would be his.

“She hates me.”

Huh?

The protagonist looks just as surprised by the admission. Shen Yuan only witnesses the open expression for a moment before the protagonist’s expression shutters and closes off entirely.

Shen Yuan quickly asks, “She?”

He’s not expecting the protagonist to answer him. He asks more out of curiosity than anything else. Surprisingly though, the protagonist tsks before looking away and saying, “My…friend. We had a disagreement.”

Friend? Probably one of his soon to be wives. Any woman in this world is fated to be a harem member eventually. Shen Yuan can’t recall any specific one that hadn’t fallen for the protagonist near immediately.

Was this the true beginning of the harem betrayal arc? Is it already happening so soon? Damn it! Shen Yuan should’ve interrogated Shang Qinghua more about the situation. That idiot was supposed to get his husband to check in on this before it became a problem!

Shen Yuan should have known he would have to do everything himself. “What about?”

The protagonist raises a brow sardonically. “Women.”

There goes any chance that Shen Yuan can help with this situation. Shen Yuan’s experience with women is limited. In his old life, his sister and mother were the only ones he knew and interacted with. Feeling rather helpless, Shen Yuan asks, “Why women?”

The protagonist slowly says, “Surely Shizun knows of my reputation.”

Shen Yuan knows more about the protagonists' reputation than anyone. “That doesn't tell me much.”

Shen Yuan’s sword is gripped tightly. “Shizun is no help to me.”

Shit. This wasn’t going to end well. Shen Yuan panics. “Women are no different from anyone.”

The protagonist's eyes snap towards him. Silent and demanding. Shen Yuan tries to pinpoint the heart of the issue, “Women are no different from men. They’re just as strong and smart. They can be kind or cruel. Women are normal.”

“They’re weak.”

Shen Yuan at least knows that isn’t true. “No they’re not.”

“They’re weak. Trouble finds them easily. The powerless are always attracted to power. To strength.”

Shen Yuan can’t exactly argue. He’s read of the women in this world after all. They’re all hit with a huge IQ drop as soon as they come in range of the protagonist. It isn’t a wonder why the half-demon would consider them weak and pitiful. However….

“Is your friend like that?”

A surprisingly direct hit! The protagonist looks away. It’s as good of an answer as any. Shen Yuan is now even more curious about this mysterious female friend, but he has more important concerns for now.

Shen Yuan wants to help. He could make up a lecture about women and their virtues all day, but he isn’t really qualified. It would sound disingenuous even if he believes it. There’s only one option he can think of that might be helpful.

“My sister was never weak.”

The protagonist looks back up. Confusion warring with disdain. Shen Yuan ignores the look and keeps talking.

“My sister was smarter than me. More sociable. She could do anything she set her mind to. She was amazing.” It hurts to talk about her. “I was always the weak one in my family. It bothered me, but they didn’t mind. My sister used to tell me that strength doesn’t matter because we’d always have each other’s back.”

“Shizun’s family is…?”

“Gone. They’re all gone.”

He misses them. He misses them so much it aches. Time will dull the feeling, but it’ll never completely go away. He can only hope and pray that they didn’t take his death too hard. He will never know for sure.

Shen Yuan clears his throat. “I have a new family now.”

“Shizun is lucky. Some are not so fortunate.”

The words are bitter. Shen Yuan looks back at the protagonist. The demon shoulders are hunched. For someone so tall, he looks very small. Shen Yuan tentatively offers, “Family can be anyone. I—I’m not sure what happened between you and your friend, but apologizing might help?”

The protagonist shakes his head. “I have much to think about before I speak with her again.” The protagonist pauses for a moment. Looking away from Shen Yuan, he says, “The loss of your family must grieve you. This disciple is grateful for Shizun’s insight.”

Shen Yuan blinks at the tactful words. Touched despite himself. He would’ve never expected the protagonist to be so… kind of nice? Understanding? It seems completely OOC.

Or is it?

His mental image of the protagonist fractures. Maybe it’s like Shang Qinghua had said. The people of this world are more than what Shen Yuan had read.

“Thank you.”

The protagonist thrusts Shen Yuan’s sword forward. “Take it. I have matters to attend to that I should not postpone.”

With only a slight hesitation, Shen Yuan reaches through the barrier to grab the hilt. He’s not stupid enough to be slow about it. Shen Yuan knows the protagonist still can’t be trusted.

Luckily, the protagonist lets Shen Yuan take his sword back. The half-demon wastes no time shifting away as if to leave.

With his sword in one hand and his fan in the other, Shen Yuan speaks before he can think better of it. “Finding a family isn’t easy, but maybe you’re closer to having one than you think.”

The protagonist freezes.

“I’ve thought about what you said. A-Yu needs to learn how to use a sword, but I wouldn’t be a suitable teacher,” Shen Yuan says leadingly.

The protagonist is smart enough to catch on. “You want me to teach him?”

Shen Yuan is probably going to regret this. “Yes.” The protagonist is beginning to smirk. “With my supervision.” That should wipe away the man’s smug expression.

It doesn’t. The protagonist’s smirk doesn’t falter one bit. “Of course, Shizun. I’ll be sure to bring the proper supplies.”

At least the half-demon is planning to be better prepared than Shang Qinghua. Shen Yuan warns, “Don’t make me regret this.”

“This disciple wouldn’t dare disappoint.”

“The lessons end if you do.”

“Mn.” The protagonist puts on an air of casualness, “Would Shizun answer a question?”

Shen Yuan wants to say no but there’s a seriousness to the protagonist’s face that belies the question’s casual tone. It gives him pause. Shen Yuan supposes answering one question couldn’t hurt. “Alright.”

The half-demon gestures to his surroundings. “With my power I can destroy nearly anything. Protect anyone. I have grown strong enough to rule this world I have created. I can even create a new one if I wish.”

Was the protagonist showing off? “What’s your question?”

“If power means nothing then what should women desire from me? What should bind us together?”

Shen Yuan could weep tears of blood. Why must this man keep asking such loaded questions? Scrambling for an answer, Shen Yuan has the strangest realization.

Shang Qinghua would know.

Perhaps not literally, but the idiot had shown Shen Yuan something like the answer when he’d gone off on a tangent about his husband.

He waves his fan to lightly cool his face. “It’s not about power. Or what you can do for them and vice versa. It’s about what you both want. Caring about each other. Weak or strong. In your case I think it’s about… love.”

The protagonist scoffs. “Love is a luxury. A cheap trick meant for the weak.”

“Love doesn’t always lead to a happy ending, sure, but it helps us connect to others. I can’t speak for all forms of it, but I love my family. I would do anything for them.” Shen Yuan hesitates before asking, “Don’t you have anyone like that?”

The protagonist stares at him long and hard. “Perhaps.”

It’s not an answer, but Shen Yuan isn’t looking for an honest response. He’s honestly only half certain that what he’s saying makes any kind of sense. “I think you should listen to your friend. I can’t say much about women, but I’m sure she’s only mad because she cares about you.”

The protagonist closes his eyes. “We shall see.”

Shen Yuan fans himself faster. The conversation is getting to be too much for him. He also needs to head back soon. If he’s gone for too much longer A-Yu and Bingpup are going to storm down here. Then things will really get out of hand.

As if sensing his impatience, the protagonist opens his eyes. “This disciple has one final question for Shizun.”

Shen Yuan nods reluctantly. Anything to have this conversation over and done.

“What would Shizun want from a woman?”

Tears. Of. Blood. Shen Yuan can practically feel them pouring down his face. “What?”

“What would Shizun want from a woman?” The man is like a dog with a bone!

Shen Yuan has never really thought about it. It’s natural to assume he will meet a lovely young woman and settle down one day. That's how life works. Well, if one isn’t a single parent with no social life. He needs to think of something to say that doesn’t sound so pathetic.

Aha!

Shen Yuan waves his fan. “This one wouldn’t want anything from them. This one’s tastes lie elsewhere.”

Did Shen Yuan just subtly imply he might not be interested in women to get out of this conversation? Yes. Is this completely shameless of him? Also yes. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The protagonist is visibly startled by the information. Shen Yuan smiles behind his fan.

Perfect.

Take that you nosy protagonist! As a man with hundreds of wives, Shen Yuan is sure the protagonist will have no idea what to do with his response.

Contrary to Shen Yuan’s belief, the protagonist’s surprise rapidly fades into interest. “What would Shizun wish from a man?”

A man? Who said he was gay?!

And such a swift recovery! Luo Binghe doesn’t seem the least bit horrified by such a conclusion. In fact, Shen Yuan would say the protagonist seems to be fascinated. Shen Yuan has a sinking feeling that he’s made a terrible miscalculation. He flutters his fan nervously.

What is he supposed to say now? He can’t correct the protagonist because at this rate he’d probably only make things worse!

“I-I would want to be myself. And for them to be able to be themselves too,” Shen Yuan stutters. Shit. What’s something else? “I would want to enjoy spending time with them.”

Shen Yuan shuts up. At this point he’s only digging his own grave. A slow death would be less painful than this.

When Shen Yuan gets a response to his nonsense, it comes in an entirely unexpected form.

The protagonist smiles.

A small one granted but entirely honest. Nothing at all like the smirk or frown the man usually wears. It makes those dark eyes sparkle. Such a small smile shouldn’t make Shen Yuan stop and stare. He feels like something has shattered in his mind.

Hello, Luo Binghe. It’s nice to finally meet you.

It's a ridiculous thought. They’re well past their first meeting, but it feels like Shen Yuan is seeing Luo Binghe for the very first time. His dangerous opponent has transformed into a handsome young man!

Nobody would blame him for staring. Shen Yuan rationalizes quickly. This is just the power of a stallion protagonist. No matter how small, a smile can be their most effective weapon. No wonder Luo Binghe has so many women falling all over him.

Oblivious to Shen Yuan’s meltdown, Luo Binghe hums contemplatively and says, “She was right. Shizun doesn't know what he’s doing.”

Shen Yuan’s racing thoughts come to a screeching halt. He sputters, “W-what’s that supposed to mean?”

Luo Binghe ignores him entirely. He lazily turns around and begins to walk away. “This disciple will return at the expected time. Shizun should be better prepared.”

Shen Yuan wants to stab the man in his stupidly perfect face. “You—.”

In the blink of an eye Xin Mo is in Luo Binghe’s hand. It flashes with movement and a portal forms. Luo Binghe tilts his head back to Shen Yuan. “Apologies Shizun,” Luo Binghe says insincerely. “This disciple has much to do. Until we meet again.” Luo Binghe nods towards him and steps into the portal.

The end. Luo Binghe and the portal vanish.

Shen Yuan is left alone. A returned sword in one hand and his fan still in the other. Luo Binghe had finally left. Shen Yuan is overjoyed.

As if!

Shen Yuan grits his teeth and thrusts his fan forward. Without any hesitation, he sends a blast of Qi infused wind at the spot where Luo Binghe had just vanished.

The ground explodes under the force of the blow. A showy display of power that has a cloud of dust settle in the air. The sight successfully cools Shen Yuan’s irritation. The attack was petty and pointless, but it made him feel better.

Shen Yuan turns on his heel and throws his poor sword on the ground. The sooner he leaves; the sooner he can forget everything that just happened.

His sword functions perfectly. No worse for wear from its temporary leave. Luo Binghe must have taken good care of it. When he wasn’t gossiping with his mysterious friends about how incompetent Shen Yuan is. Shen Yuan smacks his own cheek with reprimand at the thought.

The flight doesn't take long. Shen Yuan enjoys the cold wind hitting his face. The bite that signifies the coming of winter. It helps distract him from what an utter idiot he’d made of himself.

All of his thoughts are put aside when the manor comes into view. A welcome and peaceful sight after his latest ordeal. Shen Yuan takes a deep breath and exhales softly with relief. He’s home.

Naturally, the moment his feet touch the ground everything goes wrong.

The doors to his manor slam open. Two indistinct, screaming blurs come flying out of them and head straight for Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan doesn’t even get the chance to put away his sword. It clatters to the ground as Shen Yuan is grabbed from both sides of his arms and sent flailing backwards with the momentum. Staggering into a demented backwards run, he’s barely able to not go tumbling to the ground.

Trying desperately to pull his arms free, he demands, “What’s going on?!”

A terribly familiar voice shouts in his ears, “Work with us, Cucumber-bro! We’re trying to save your life!”

Shen Yuan increases his struggles, “Let go of me you piece of—.”

“Bàba, please listen to Master Shang! It’s a code red situation!”

Shen Yuan immediately tilts his head back in a dangerous fashion to stare at his son. “A code red situation? A-Yu, what has this idiot been teaching you? Don’t let him fill your head with nonsense!”

His left arm is tugged a little more hardly by Shang Qinghua. “I take offense to that! Me and the kid are just trying to save your life and you’re being very ungrateful!”

“If you don’t let go of my arm, I’ll show you ungrateful.”

“Ha! I’d like to see you try!”

A-Yu interrupts their spat before Shen Yuan can do just that. In a tone that is a disturbing mix of exasperated and frantic, A-Yu pleads, “This isn’t the time for this. We need to get away before Bi—.”

Flames shoot out of the manor doorway.

Shen Yuan gets a front row seat for it. The flames miraculously manage to not touch the outer doorway, but still create a spectacular spectacle. The flames last only for a few seconds, but they spur A-Yu and Shang Qinghua to run even faster.

Shen Yuan might have joined them properly in their bid to flee if not for the small, black creature that comes running out of the doorway a moment later.

Shen Yuan finally does cry tears of blood.

Bingpup runs towards them with little huffs of flames shooting from his mouth. Black eyes gleam with excitement and the tiny red mark on the dog’s forehead matches the flames coloring exactly. Bingpup’s tail wags furiously as he chases after them with delighted enthusiasm. Bingpup is obviously having the time of his life.

Shen Yuan should’ve stepped out of the barrier and let Luo Binghe end him. Since it’s far too late for that, he digs in his heels and uses all his strength to pull his arms back to his sides.

He’s unexpectedly successful. They come to a complete halt. Neither A-Yu or Shang Qinghua are prepared for this turn of events and it’s their turn to be sent falling backwards. Shen Yuan is careful to catch A-Yu before he falls to the ground, but he lets Shang Qinghua drop like a rock.

Bingpup is still quite some distance away, but opens his mouth to let forth a huge burst of flames. To Shen Yuan, it seems Bingpup is putting on a show. Shang Qinghua doesn’t seem to share this assessment as the man is quick to hop off the ground and hide behind Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan only allows it because he’s distracted by A-Yu attempting to do the same. Only later, will Shen Yuan get the time to lament the fact that he’d been reduced to being used as a human shield.

For now, Shen Yuan listens to A-Yu babble into the back of his robes. “Bàba, Bingpup is trying to set us on fire! He’s out for revenge! I knew this day would come. I knew he’d be the one to send me to an early grave. He’ll roast my corpse and feast on my remains.”

Shen Yuan hastily interrupts the rant before it can get any more morbid. “A-Yu, everything’s fine. Bingpup would never hurt you.”

Shang Qinghua nearly yanks his sleeve off as he hisses, “And what about me, Cucumber-bro?! Your dog is trying to burn me alive!”

“Who’s fault is it that Bingpup can breathe fire in the first place?! I told you not to do anything until I got back!” Shen Yuan tries to pull his arm away but Shang Qinghua’s grip is like a steel trap. “Let go of my arm!”

“Never.”

Before Shen Yuan can commit murder, Bingpup finally catches up to them. The dog slows down to a trot and happily barks a greeting towards Shen Yuan. Small flames continue to pour from the dog’s mouth.

Shen Yuan can’t fight a smile, “That’s enough playing around for today.”

Oblivious to Shang Qinghua’s and A-Yu’s squawks of protest, Bingpup stops and sits down on the grass agreeably. Shen Yuan internally despairs. If only everyone in his life were so easy to manage.

Speaking of. Shen Yuan backhands Shang Qinghua in the side of the head and asks, “How long has Bingpup been like this?”

“Would you stop attacking me?” Shang Qinghua finally lets go of his arm and steps away. “Your demon dog ate one of the Fiori pills when we weren’t looking. I have no idea when he did, but it has to have at least been an hour by now. Your dog chased us around the manor for a while before me and the kid managed to escape out here.”

Shang Qinghua trails off as he stares down at his clothes. The author groans with despair at the state of them. Shen Yuan stares too. This is the first time he’s been able to get a good look at the man.

Shang Qinghua’s clothes are beyond repair. Singed holes litter the robes. Shen Yuan is positive that one of the robe’s sleeves had to have been burned off completely. Shang Qinghua’s feet are still bare and the bottom of his robes are in singed tatters.

Shen Yuan turns to look at A-Yu. To his immense relief, the twelve year old shows no signs of having had any flames touch him. At worst, A-Yu looks dirty and disheveled. Bingpup wouldn’t have harmed A-Yu, but it was nice to see that the dog had been extra cautious. Son accounted for, Shen Yuan directs his attention to the culprit behind this mess.

The furriest member of his family senses trouble. Bingpup's tail slowly stops moving until it goes completely still. Bingpup lays down fully in the grass and rests his head on his paws. Wide eyes stare up at Shen Yuan beseechingly.

As much as it pains him, Shen Yuan won’t be swayed. “You’re grounded.”

Bingpup admits defeat and lets out a mournful awoo. In a fit of dramatics, Bingpup rolls on his side and plays dead. The little show is ruined by the flames that still puff out of his mouth.

Shen Yuan snorts with amusement. It’s echoed by a brief laugh from behind him. A-Yu seems to take the display as a sign things have returned to normal. A-Yu steps out from behind Shen Yuan and picks up a stick off the ground. With a gleam of mischief in his eyes, the child heads over to Bingpup’s ‘corpse’. Shen Yuan ignores this as he turns to interrogate Shang Qinghua.

“How much longer will the pill be in effect?”

Shang Qinghua gives up trying to fix his clothes and sighs, “Probably another half hour? It’s hard to say. The Fiori pills Luo Yu made were perfect so I’m expecting the effects to last a while. Everything would have been fine if your dog wasn’t such a terror.”

Shen Yuan reprimands, “You had one job. Next time, keep a better eye on them. Bingpup only wanted to have fun.”

“Yeah, I’m sure ‘fun’ is exactly what he had in mind. Don’t mind the fact that he set me on fire.”

Shen Yuan waves away the excuse, “You’re invulnerable. Maybe you should keep this in mind for your future alchemy lessons. As far as I’m concerned you got what you deserved, Airplane-bro.” Shang Qinghua sputters indignantly and Shen Yuan takes a moment to appreciate it before having mercy. “Come on. You’re about my size so I should have a robe that you can borrow.”

Shang Qinghau blinks at him with surprise. Shen Yuan is fully unprepared for when the author glomps him with a cry of, “Cucumber-bro, you do care!”

Shen Yuan flails. Shang Qinghua's arms are wrapped around his neck so tightly they choke him. “L-let go of me!”

The hug is basically a disguised strangling attempt which dissolves into something of a brawl. Shen Yuan tries desperately to escape while Shang Qinghua clings to him like an octopus. Shen Yuan is only able to break free when he resorts to dirty tactics. He digs his fingers into Shang Qinghua ribs and wriggles them. The author shrieks and immediately lets go of Shen Yuan. “Gah! Not cool!”

Shen Yuan steps far away from the idiot. “It’s your fault for being ticklish.”

“Only monsters aren’t ticklish!”

Shen Yuan shakes his head. Unwilling to fall into another argument. He looks over to A-Yu and is about to call him and Bingpup to get ready to go inside when he stops. Closing his eyes, Shen Yuan counts to ten before opening them again. Nothing has changed.

There is a ring of torches around Bingpup. A-Yu stands carefully outside of it but is bent forward with a stick outstretched in his hand. The stick has a piece of ripped cloth on it that is being dangled by the side of Bingpup’s mouth. The dog is still fully committed to his act of playing dead, but Shen Yuan can see the way Bingpup’s tail twitches with barely contained amusement.

Shang Qinghua strides past him and towards the troublesome duo, “Is this some kind of ritual?”

A-Yu nods very solemnly. Bingpup lets out a puff of flames that successfully lights the cloth on the stick. A-Yu makes a pleased noise before he says, “The mighty beast has been slain Master Shang. He was a true tyrant, but he was one of us. He deserves an honorable burial.”

Shang Qinghua takes it in stride, “Nice. Very good of you, but before you finish can you… commune with our fallen tyrant to find out where he hid my shoes? I noticed they’re not where I left them and let me tell you kid. Walking barefoot is not the luxury hobbits make it out to be.”

A-Yu sticks the last torch in place. “Hobbits?”

Shen Yuan breaks out of his stupor and pulls out his fan. He joins the little gathering, “A species from a fantasy novel. They’re similar in appearance to humans but much smaller. They’re feet are more durable, and they dislike shoes.”

“How strange. Are their feet made of some kind of metal?”

Shang Qinghua laughs, “Nah. They’re just thick skinned. Like an ogre demon’s feet.”

A-Yu looks like he wants to continue asking more questions so Shen Yuan cuts in. With a wave of his fan, he blows out all the makeshift torches. “We can talk about them more over dinner. A-Yu, go ahead and go clean up while I get Shang Qinghua a new set of robes to wear.”

A-Yu frowns at his ruined creation, but nods obediently, “Alright, Shifu.” The child straightens from his crouched position. Some unknown emotion flashes across A-Yu’s face before he asks, “Did the meeting with that monster go alright?”

Shen Yuan bends down and scoops up Bingpup. He very carefully doesn’t think about the meeting with Luo Binghe as he answers, “He’s not a monster, A-Yu. But yes. It went fine.”

“Really?”

Shen Yuan scratches Bingpup’s belly. “Of course. Your Father only stopped by to return my sword.

“Then why were you gone so long?”

Shen Yuan feels like there’s a distinct role reversal in this conversation. Like he’s a teen who stayed out past curfew. “We talked for a bit.”

A-Yu eyes narrow suspiciously, “Did he try to convince you to do anything? You shouldn’t let him tell you what to do, Bàba.”

“Unless he’s into that kind of thing. Cucumber-bro seems like the type,” Shang Qinghua chimes.

Shen Yuan and A-Yu both glare. Even Bingpup stirs to life in order to growl meaningly at Shang Qinghua. The man raises his hands in defeat, “I was joking! Lighten up, Cucumber-family. You’re all so gloom and doom. I’m gonna be the bigger person here and make us all some dinner. So come on.”

They try to protest. A-Yu still obviously wanted to continue his interrogation while Shen Yuan dislikes the idea of Shang Qinghua anywhere near his kitchen. Bingpup goes back to playing dead after a few failed nips at Shang Qinghua’s arms. Shang Qinghua ignores them and corrals them all inside the manor.

Once inside Shen Yuan gives up. Gently, he hands Bingpup over to A-Yu. “You two should go clean up. Please try to get him to stop playing dead while I deal with this,’ he points at Shang Qinghua, “idiot.”

“Bingpup won’t stop until you unground him.” Despite the words A-Yu still takes Bingpup.

Shen Yuan pokes the dog teasingly, “Bingpup knows he deserves it. It'll only be for a couple days.” Bingpup twitches at the light sentence but remains limp in A-Yu’s arms. A drama queen if ever there was one.

A-Yu rolls his eyes, “I don’t see why I have to deal with him. He’s been chasing me around all day!”

“Then Bingpup needs to apologize. It’s more likely to happen when I’m not around for these theatrics.” Shen Yuan ruffles A-Yu’s hair. He takes a paternal sort of pleasure in the child’s squeak of indignation. “Off with you two. You’re both filthy. Do I need to toss you both in a bath again?”

It’s a tad mean of Shen Yuan to remind the two of last week’s trauma, but it works like a charm. Bingpup bursts to life and flings himself out of A-Yu’s arms. Fleeing in the direction of A-Yu’s room. A-Yu chases after him a split-second later with a heated shout of, “Traitor!”

Shen Yuan watches them go fondly. He’s 80% sure they’ll have made up before dinner. It’s times like these that he really does enjoy being a parent.

“Tsk, tsk. Cucumber-bro. Terrorizing your kids like that. And you call me irresponsible.”

“Don’t you start.” He proceeds to drag Shang Qinghua to his room to find the man a new robe to wear. Shen Yuan wants to spare them all from having to look at Shang Qinghua’s indecently burned clothing any longer than necessary.

He says as much to the author as he riffles through his robes for something he doesn’t mind being rid of. Shang Qinghua flops on his bed and whines, “My King is going to think I’ve been molested. Why else would I come home in another man’s robes? He’s gonna divorce me!”

Shen Yuan hums in absent-minded agreement, “I’d say tell the truth, but telling your husband that you're an irresponsible teacher who lets kids play with fire isn’t exactly redeeming. You’ll make a terrible divorcée.”

“Don’t agree with me! You’re supposed to be my bro. Whisper sweet nothings to me and soothe my aching heart.”

“Bro, forget the clothing. If you say trash like that to people it’s no wonder you think your husband will divorce you.”

Shang Qinghua grabs one of Shen Yuan’s pillows and yells into it. Shen Yuan grimaces with distaste. He’ll need to clean that later. Turning his attention away from the disaster in human form. He considers two robes. One is a nice blue that he never really wears but would be a shame to get rid of. The other is a worn grey robe. Much more suitable. Shen Yuan picks the grey robe up and is ready to offer it to Shang Qinghua when the idiot puts the pillow back and morosely says, “I guess I’ll have to move in with you guys.”

Shen Yuan sweat drops. He hastily puts the grey robes back and tosses the blue one at Shang Qinghua, “Put that on and fix your hair. Grovel at Mobei-jun’s feet if you have to. I refuse to have you living here.”

“Really feeling the love,” Shang Qinghua complains. “Oh. This is his favorite color. With this I can maybe… seduce him?”

“Is that a question?”

“Don’t give me that face, Cucumber-bro. Seducing someone is harder than it sounds.”

“He’s your husband.”

“Still!”

Shen Yuan sighs, “I’ve only seen you with your husband once, and I can tell you’re both disgustingly devoted to each other. I highly doubt he’ll believe that you were unfaithful. Even I know you’re not that kind of person.”

Shang Qinghua sits up. “That’s gotta be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Oh I won’t.” Shang Qinghua hops off his bed and shucks off his outer robe. Shen Yuan covers his eyes to avoid see too much. An action that gets him mocked, “Ha! I knew you were a prude. Peerless Cucumber viciously mocked my sex scenes but here you are acting like a blushing virgin.”

“Just because I don’t want to see you naked doesn't mean I’m a prude. Weren’t you just complaining about your husband divorcing you?”

“You’ve restored my confidence! Now let your Shang-ge impart some words of wisdom.”

“I will never call you tha—.” Shen Yuan is talked over.

“You should follow my lead and learn to seduce someone! Not me of course, but there’s a lovely, young—well, older half-demon who’s just dying to get to know you!”

Shen Yuan gapes, “You can possibly be talking about you know who.”

“You know I know who you know who. Wait. Did that make sense?”

“No. No it didn’t. You can’t possibly be trying to say what I think you are. We both know that he has close to a thousand wives. You implied that I.” Shen Yuan points at himself, “A man. Should seduce the straightest man to ever exist.”

“It could happen!” Shang Qinghua finished fixing his robes. He looks shiftily at Shen Yuan as he starts to untangle his hair. “You’re so high strung all the time. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Is this the twilight zone? Has Shen Yuan entered another reality? Was this day cursed? It had to be. No way can this conversation be happening. With a sick sort of irony clouding his mind he seethes, “I would die. Painfully.”

“You only live once?” Shang Qinghua says weekly.

Shen Yuan doesn’t need a pill to breathe fire right now. “First of all, I’m not gay.” His unconventional coming out from earlier was a mistake. Probably. He’s never seriously thought about it, but he’s pretty sure he’d know by now if he was. “Second of all. Keep your awful advice to yourself.”

“Okay. Okay! I give. It was a… joke. A total joke. Like I would seriously think you and my son would fall in—.” Shang Qinghua tightens his hair into a bun with a pained look. “Okay yeah. Nevermind all of that.” Shen Yuan can’t hear him mutter something that sounds suspiciously like, ‘I’ll just have to let things progress naturally.’

Suspicious but too drained to comment, Shen Yuan changes the subject, “Luo Binghe agreed to teach A-Yu’s sword lessons.”

Shang Qinghua brightens, “You asked him? That’s great! We’re now one step closer to preventing the end of the world.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Shen Yuan denies. But speaking of the end of the world…

“You were supposed to have Mobei-jun look into the harem issue. How’s that been going?”

“The harem? We’ve been trying to look into it but that lot is unsurprisingly tight lipped when it comes to the important things. My king is going to send someone to look into it more.”

Shen Yuan ponders the new information, “The sooner we have that information; the better. I’m not sure how much time we have left.”

Shang Qinghua stills, “Did Bing-ge say anything about it?”

He should spill all the details he knows, but some inexplicable desire to keep Luo Binghe’s privacy stops him. Instead, Shen Yuan vaguely says, “He had a fight with one of his wives.”

“And he told you about it? That’s definitely not a good sign. Bing-ge doesn’t open up to people. Ever. If he opened up to you then….” Shang Qinghua trails off with a frown, “Things are beginning to spiral.”

Ominous. Those words are incredibly foreboding. Shang Qinghua sounds like a prophet of doom.

A clap startles Shen Yuan from his reverie. Shang Qinghua smacks his hands together again and seems to shake away the dark cloud hanging over them. He smiles at Shen Yuan reassuringly, “I’ll make sure my king knows things are getting serious. Everything will be fine. We’ve got a plan.”

“A terrible plan,” Shen Yuan counters.

“Don’t be such a pessimist. You won’t accomplish anything with that kind of attitude.”

“I’m trying to be practical.”

Shang Qinghua walks over and pushes him towards the door, “There’s nothing like unrealistic optimism to cure us of that. We’re way past practicality. It’s time to be adaptable and positive. For example, I’m positive that I’ve never heard you call my son by his name until tonight. You guys must have had a pretty emotional conversation while me and your son were avoiding being burned alive by your hell dog.”

“Stop making a big deal out of nothing,” Shen Yuan says. Leaving his room, he takes the lead as they make their way towards the manor’s kitchen. “I’ve called him Luo Binghe before.”

“You really haven’t, Cucumber-bro. Your unhealthy levels of dissociation were really apparent.”

“I was not.”

Shang Qinghua nudges him, “You totally were.”

Shen Yuan knows that arguing further will get him nowhere. “You’re not cooking dinner.”

“Oka—. Wait, no! I already told you I am. I’m going to make the best dinner of your entire life!”

They bicker about who is going to cook dinner even when they arrive in the kitchen. Shen Yuan tries to get Shang Qinghua to sit down and act like a proper guest, but it’s all for naught. Shang Qinghua is surprisingly stubborn when he wants to be. They end up compromising by cooking together.

As they cook, Shen Yuan's mind wanders. To a topic he would rather not address.

What’s in a name?

The protagonist: Luo Binghe. Luo. Binghe.

It shouldn’t make a difference what Shen Yuan refers to him as. They’re not close. Not friends. Shen Yuan can’t be bothered to think about it too deeply, but he knows that acknowledging Luo Binghe has changed something. What?

He can’t say.

Thankfully, A-Yu and a fully revitalized and flameless Bingpup come down just as Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua set the table for dinner. Freshly clean and energetic, A-Yu and Bingpup act as a perfect distraction from his own messy thoughts.

Dinner is a lively affair with Shang Qinghua around. Shen Yuan bickers with the man constantly. A-Yu tries to convince the idiot to plan future lessons around even more dangerous alchemy pills and potions. Shang Qinghua question’s why Bingpup is allowed to sit at the table with them and is thoroughly rebuked by Shen Yuan and A-Yu.

It’s nice.

The only hiccups come in two acts. The first occurs when A-Yu compliments the fried rice by saying it’s even better than usual. Shang Qinghua laughs loudly, and Shen Yuan wilts. The author jabs his chopstick towards the rice, “I told you you’re cooking was too bland. You over cook your rice.”

A-Yu realizes that he’s unknowingly betrayed Shen Yuan and tries to backtrack, “The rice isn’t that different from usual.”

Shen Yuan knows a lie when he hears one. “It’s fine, A-Yu. I know I’ve never been the best cook.”

“That’s not true! Bàba, you make the best pancakes. Nothing can compare.”

They should put that on his tombstone. His cooking was bland but at least he made good pancakes.

A croaking noise erupts from Shang Qinghua’s throat, “You know how to make pancakes?”

Shen Yuan senses weakness. “I do. I figured out how to make them when I was bored some years ago.”

Shang Qinghua whispers in awe, “I haven’t had pancakes in over a lifetime. Cucumber-bro. My bestest bro. My platonic soulmate. Please make me some. I’ll sell you my soul.”

Shen Yuan wishes he hadn’t left his fan in his room. He uses his sleeve as a substitute. With mock demure, he says, “I'm sure you can create your own. Mine are likely to be too… bland.”

“Did I say bland I meant delicious. Fantastic.”

A-Yu muffles a laugh with a cough, “Bàba’s food isn’t bland.” Loyal until the end.

Bingpup looks up from where he’d been digging into his bowl of rice with enthusiasm. A small piece of rice rests on the dog’s nose. Shen Yuan holds back a coo when Bingpup’s nose wriggles. Abruptly, Bingpup sneezes.

The second hiccup of the night occurs.

Bingpup sneezes and a final puff of flames showers down on his bowl of rice. The flames end as quickly as they appeared. Leaving devastation in its wake. Bingpup’s bowl is melted. The rice inside has turned black. Burnt and ruined. Absolutely inedible. Everyone stares in shock.

Bingpup has three loves in life. Their family is the first. Second to them is his love of mischief. Bingpup’s third and final love is food. Whenever any of Bingpup’s three loves are threatened; disaster awaits. In what form? Shen Yuan never knows.

In this case, it comes in the form of wide trembling puppy dog eyes looking mournfully at the bowl of ruined food before them. They grow shinier with each second that passes. Bingpup lets out a low whine and raises a paw questioningly to his bowl. Trying to undo the damage to his meal.

Shen Yuan feels like he’s been stabbed.

His pain is echoed by Shang Qinghua sniffling, “I can hear it. The sad dog commercial song is echoing in my ears. I-I can’t.”

Damn him. Now Shen Yuan can hear it too. It echoes through his mind as Bingpup looks moments away from actual tears.

Before anyone can break down into hysterics, A-Yu picks up Bingpup’s bowl. A-Yu scoffs at Bingpup’s sad expression. “This is what you get for eating that Fiori pill. It’s your karma.”

Shen Yuan might have scolded A-Yu for his pettiness if he wasn’t too busy trying to hold back his emotions. As A-Yu scolds Bingpup, the child carefully slides over his own half eaten bowl of rice towards the dog. “You can have mine. I’m full already.”

Bingpup stares down at the offering. Still wide eyed and pitiful. Black eyes travel from the bowl of food up to A-Yu’s face.

Shen Yuan holds his breath.

Bingpup’s eyes flash red. Shen Yuan blinks and A-Yu has Bingpup in his lap showering him with unrestrained affection. A-Yu is less than enthused.

“Gross! Bingpup stop! Keep your slobber away from my face.” A-Yu tries to lift Bingpup back to his seat but the dog is determined to lick every inch of A-Yu’s face.

Shen Yuan is so blessed to have these two in his life.

Shen Yuan is broken from his warm thoughts when Shan Qinghua wacks his arm repeatedly. “They’re so cute. WTF, bro. I swear there are flowers floating around them. That’s it. It’s official. I will die for them. Even the psycho dog. Cucumber-bro, I’m going to steal your kids.”

“There are easier ways to say you want to die.”

“Fine. I dub myself the cool uncle at least. Need to talk to my king about this.” The idiot devolves into muttering. Shen Yuan ignores him. He gets up to get both A-Yu and Bingpup another bowl of food. There was still plenty leftover in the kitchen.

Honestly. His family is so dramatic. Shen Yuan has no idea where they get it from.

The rest of the night passes by smoothly. Shang Qinghua leaves shortly after dinner. Despite everything, the author looks mostly well put together as he steps through the teleportation array. Shang Qinghua’s shoes are still nowhere to be found, and Bingpup makes himself suspiciously scarce upon the man’s departure.

Shang Qinghua doesn’t bother trying to find them. He whispers a promise to look into the harem to Shen Yuan and briefly praises A-Yu for his skills during his alchemy lessons. Overall, it’s a pleasant affair that leaves Shen Yuan almost sad to see the man leave.

Almost.

He can tell A-Yu must feel the same, but the child handles any sadness well. He gives Shen Yuan a hug good night and heads off to bed. Shen Yuan watches him go with a sad sort of pride. A few months ago, A-Yu would’ve asked to be tucked in.

It’s the little things that really hammer in the fact that your child is growing up. The passing of time is swift and uncaring.

But for now, Shen Yuan does have time. Time with his family that he’ll appreciate and treasure.

When he enters his room, Bingpup is already passed out asleep. Exhausted from his own antics. Shen Yuan tiredly smiles. He changes into his night robes and ends up curled under his covers shortly after.

As he’s drifting to sleep, a belated thought floats through his awareness.

How will A-Yu react to the news of his future sword lessons?

Chapter Text

Chapter 37: Old Men Won’t Retire

In the land to the southwest there existed the Pingjing territory. Where many lands faltered and crumbled in the merging of the human and demon realms, the Pingjing territory prospered. This territory's good fortune blossomed shortly after its rulers swore fealty to the Emperor.

Rulers? As in two? Isn’t that unnecessary? If you were to ask the rulers themselves they would both vehemently agree. However, the strange division of the territory was created by a number of factors.

The first was simple. Pingjing territory was divided by a powerful river. More acidic than natural. The river cut through the land evenly and created a clean and defined border. This river now divides what is known by the people as East and West Pingjing. While still considered a whole, the people of Pingjing territory lived very different lives depending on which side of the river they lived.

West Pingjing is governed by the highly praised human by the name of Lord Peng. He rules his territory with precision and grace. Money flows under his careful guidance. Food and work are easy to find in west Pingjing. Lord Peng is revered as a saint.

There are many rumors that question if this is the man’s true nature, but those rumors are stomped to death by the people who reap the seeds of their Lord's deeds.

Where the heavens shine down on west Pingjing, a shadow seems to fall upon the east.

In the beginning, east Pingjing also stood prosperous. Bountiful and pleasant, east Pingjing was no different from their western brothers. This changed with time. If you were to ask the people of east Pingjing of their change in fortune, they may whisper darkly that the change only happened because they are no longer governed by Lord Peng.

This leads to the second cause. Two rulers is indeed unnecessary, and Lord Peng had once been the sole lord of both sides of Pingjing.

The Emperor saw fit to change this status quo.

Sometime after the realms merged, the Emperor sought to travel across the lands and visit his many loyal servants. Naturally, Lord Peng readily opened his home to the Emperor. Sparing no expense for the powerful demon's comfort.

The visit went smoothly. Nothing was amiss, and the Emperor was pleased with Lord Peng’s subservience. On the last night of his stay, Lord Peng threw the Emperor a grand celebration.

The celebration would be thought of as the beginning of East Pingjing’s misfortune.

Under Lord Peng’s command was a beautiful female demon servant. With clear skin and eyes as calm as the moon, she was a vision to all. The demon servant was beyond comparison, and all of Pingjing knew that Lord Peng doted on her greatly.

It was no surprise that she managed to catch the eye of the Emperor. The handsome demon was said to have taken one look at the servant and demanded her name so that they may be wed.

A dark star fell. The servant introduced herself as Yueliang.

The Emperor kept his word and married Yueliang that very night. Lord Peng could do nothing but allow the union.

When morning came, the Emperor shocked Pingjing by announcing they would have two rulers. The lands were to be officially divided and the newly titled Lord Yueliang would govern the Eastern lands. The Emperor left shortly after the announcement.

Despite the demon’s absence, none dared question the ruling. An extravagant estate was made for the former servant, and many of Lord Peng’s staff followed her. Within the next decade, the people acclimated to the change. All ran smoothly.

It was the calm before the storm.

All across the lands, nature grew fickle. Acidic rainfall became commonplace. The skies grew more and more discolored. Natural disasters could occur in the blink of an eye. Slowly, humans and demons alike began to take note.

Initially, Pingjing seemed to be exempt from the world’s suffering. A steadfast safe haven amongst it all.

Misfortune often befalls the unsuspecting. Decades passed with only minor disturbances in east Pingjing that were easy to ignore. Small fields of crops withered. Natural resources became scarcer. Sometimes dead animals could be found littered on the roads.

It all came to a head when the clean sources of water began to dry up.

Decades into her rule, Lord Yueliang had gained some favor in her people's eyes. Not to the degree of Lord Peng, but such adoration could not be easily won with her cold disposition. Her beauty was offset by how distant she was. Where Lord Peng was seen to rule with an easy grace; Lord Yueliang was known for her ruthless efficiency and straightforwardness.

While east Pingjing encountered misfortune, west Pingjing continued to prosper. Any troubles were easily managed, and the people lived their lives normally. None could explain the stark difference. All that separated the lands was the river. Their lands are all but identical. They should suffer misfortune equally!

The differences stirred unrest. This unrest only grew when Lord Yueliang's actions did nothing to stop east Pingjing’s dwindling resources. Her disposition became colder and colder as things worsened with every passing day.

The people endured it.

As East Pingjing’s situation continued to grow dire, a meeting was set up between the two rulers. The meeting was done privately, but all knew of the events that would take place on the auspicious occasion.

Lord Peng took pity on east Pingjing’s plight. The human lord offered his hand to his former servant. Promising his aid and any necessary resources from his own lands. He swore to do all in his power to make sure east Pingjing would survive.

It was everything the people of east Pingjing had hoped to hear. That is why the news of Lord Yueliang’s response came as a fatal blow.

Lord Yueliang declined the deal. She was said to have declared that her people would fend for themselves.

The people of east Pingjing’s hearts turned to stone upon hearing the news.

They had always been lenient towards Lord Yueliang. They had always followed her lead, and this was how she repaid them? Their Lord wished for them to suffer!

Lord Yueliang’s trusted servants tried to calm the people’s anger but the injustice of her decision was too apparent.

Lord Peng expressed his sorrow for their suffering, but could not overrule Lord Yueliang’s decision lest word be sent back to the Emperor. The ruler of west Pingjing was forced to stand back as east Pingjing’s situation grew worse and worse.

With pity in their hearts, Lord Peng’s people begged their ruler to do something for their Eastern brothers. Hearing their cries, Lord Peng announced that he would write to the Emperor and have him speak sense into his wife.

The people heard his words and rejoiced. The news traveled swiftly to east Pingjing, and they too rejoiced. With the potential promise of Lord Peng’s aid they could be saved. All they needed was the Emperor to come!

The people forgot that the main source behind their suffering was still unknown. They put all their hopes in the combined efforts of Lord Peng and the Emperor. In the meantime…

All the people of Pingjing had one thought in their hearts. The lives of east Pingjing are at stake because of her!

“It isn't a surprise”, some whispered. “Lord Yueliang is a demon. It’s no wonder she doesn’t care for us. Only another demon can get her under control. The Emperor will deal with her, and hopefully things will return to how they were before. Lord Peng is all we need!”

The cold demon lord verses the righteous human lord. Two rulers of a land of unrest. A story that has yet to find its conclusion.

A story riddled with lies.

Meng Mo couldn’t be more delighted.

The suffering of Pingjing was a feeding ground for demons of his nature. He hardly had to expend any energy to turn the people’s dreams into nightmares. If this kept up, he may be able to create a physical form far sooner than he had predicted.

Meng Mo believes it to be karmic retribution. His reward for a lifetime of dealing with his disciples antics.

Energy aside, Meng Mo is enjoying himself immensely. Pingjing is a puzzle that stimulates Meng Mo’s brain. Each new piece of information reveals an elaborate web of lies that makes him shiver with glee. At the heart of it all lays one simple fact.

Humans are hypocrites.

Righteous humans vanquishing the cruel demons? Meng Mo has heard this story countless times. To be fair, it’s usually true. But not this time. No, no. This time Meng Mo has a front row seat to the lengths of depravity humans will go to in pursuit of their goals.

Meng Mo cannot wait for things to play out. The rulers of east and west Pingjing are playing a dangerous game. At this rate, the human lord will win, but Meng Mo is never one to underestimate worthy opponent. He believes that Lord Yueliang may just surprise them all.

Besides, Meng Mo has always been fond of seeing the losing side win against all odds. This bias has caused him some amount of grief in his long life.

Meng Mo refocuses. It also helps that Lord Yueliang is easy on the eyes. Even in dreams, she’s a sight to behold. If he had a body, he would—.

A painfully familiar presence stirs in the edges of his domain.

No. Meng Mo knew that the wretched human lord had sent a letter to his unruly disciple, but there was no way the brat would actually come here. Not with the look-a-like of that bastard teacher of his running around with his spawn. His disciple was prone to obsessions. There was no way he would turn his attention to matters such as these.

Meng Mo spread out his power. Long ago, he would have only been able to do this in the realm of dreams. He’d grown stronger as the years passed. In the light of day, Meng Mo can now enter the consciousness’ of the unwary. It would take strong mental shields for anyone to keep Meng Mo out of their minds.

He grabs a hold of the closest mind near that horribly familiar presence. With a twist of his demonic energy, Meng Mo opens ‘his’ eyes.

The first thing he sees is a carriage. Ornate and lavish. Colored a bright red with a roof made of pure gold. Six horses are attached to it. All spectacular creatures. These horses are a jet black. Lightning sparks in their fur, and their hoofs beat thunder into the ground as they lead the carriage to its destination. Keeping a safe distance from the daunting beasts are a gathering of guards. Humans and demons alike march forward with the sole purpose of protecting the carriages inhabitant.

An unnecessary precaution in Meng Mo’s opinion. Only one being would travel in a carriage like this.

In the mind of a lowly demon guard, Meng Mo is like a parasite. He doesn’t exert the power needed to fully possess his host. He merely looks out through the demon's eyes as if they are slowly blinking windows to a scene that confirms his worst suspicions.

Meng Mo gathers his energy and prepares to depart as swiftly as possible. He came here to these lands to escape! Meng Mo will have to give up on the intriguing drama in this territory. He will not allow himself to be dragged into whatever nonsense—.

A deep voice calls out from inside the carriage, “I can sense your presence, Shifu. Do come and greet me. We have much to discuss.”

Meng Mo halts his departure and briefly debates the idea of spiritual combustion. He’s lived a long life. He’s caused a great amount of suffering as all demons should. He deserves to go out on his own terms.

It’s a shame he’s not the suicidal type. Reluctantly, he leaves the confused shell of a demon he’d been inhabiting and swirls his intangible form around the Emperor's carriage.

His disciple has the strongest mental shields of anyone amongst the living. Meng Mo had taken pride in seeing to this personally. Unfortunately, the brat had been too good at his lessons. Meng Mo is forced to wait impatiently as his disciple slowly lowers his guard and allows Meng Mo to enter his mind.

The moment they drop, Meng Mo enters with a speed that he hopes will give the brat a migraine, “Such disrespect. Who taught you all that you know? Who raised you into the demon you are today? This master. Show some filial piety.”

Luo Binghe’s voice rumbles around him as a familiar mountain scene forms, “Filial piety? Shifu, you do give yourself too much credit.”

The peaceful scenery of Qing Jing Peak is as disgustingly boring as always. Meng Mo glares around in disgust. He’d hoped to not see this place for at least another century.

But wait…

Something flickers in the distance. Beyond the bamboo hut that he knows his disciple will manifest a mental form in soon. The structure is hazy and faded. Struggling to appear in a place it doesn’t belong. If Meng Mo is correct, it appears to be a mansion of some kind.

Meng Mo looks around more closely.

There were more disturbances. The grass flickers in length. From tall to short. The clouds float gently, but spasm from time to time. There were more oddities but none quite as glaringly obvious as the faded mansion.

With a growing suspicion forming in his mind, Meng Mo lightly prods at his disciples mindscape. A darkness lurks at the edges of his grasp. A dangerous entity that seems only mildly sated. Meng Mo had thought it to be completely under control.

“You’re age is showing, Shifu. Are you enjoying the scenery?”

Meng Mo withdraws and grumbles distractedly. He angrily decides to enter the bamboo hut. “What did I say about showing respect?”

The inside of the bamboo hut is seemingly unchanged. Meng Mo doesn’t see any noticeable distortions. Only an annoyance.

At a low table in the center of the room, Luo Binghe lays sprawled out with his hand propping his head. Disrespect practically radiates off of him and Meng Mo grits his teeth as his disciple drawls, “Shifu has been doing well for himself in our time apart.”

Meng Mo knows his own manifested form must look lively. The energy he’s been consuming has made his essence rich with it. “This Master knows how to take care of himself. Unlike a certain disrespectful disciple.”

Luo Binghes eyes flash with a tired warning, “Shifu.”

Meng Mo sits across from his disciple as he grinds out, “What have I told you about keeping that weapon of yours under control. Your mind is becoming unstable.”

“I have things well in hand.”

“Lie to yourself all you want. This master won’t share your delusions.”

Luo Binghe is riled enough to actually sit up and pay attention. “Tread carefully, Shifu. You overstep.”

Meng Mo is overstepping. However, the longer their conversation goes on; the more sure he is that something is amiss.

Luo Binghe has had a temper over the last few decades. It flares up and causes a mess, but the brat is usually able to keep it under control. Meng Mo had long ago deduced it was a byproduct of the strain of Xin Mo and the brats growing discontent with his life. A matter that Meng Mo has refused to address or concern himself with.

The incident with the alternate world had only magnified the issue. The look-a-like bastard of that teacher and the missing spawn had made it a blazing inferno that threatens to reveal more than the brat is capable of handling.

Now, Luo Binghe seems off. His temper isn’t as sharp. It rings hollow and dull. Meng Mo cannot muster any fear for it. Nor is he concerned.

His disciple may have a familiar glint in his eyes. He may remind Meng Mo of the shadow of a much smaller creature. One with naive dreams and hopes that had been viciously crushed. Meng Mo’s old age won’t make him the sentimental sort. He will only impart advice as any half-decent Master should.

“You need to take care of your mind, you brat. I won’t have the hard work I’ve invested in you be for nothing.”

Luo Binghe’s fingers fiddle with the lone braid in his hair, ”Enough of your prattling. Rest assured. This disciple has things well in hand.”

Meng Mo doesn’t believe him, but he knows he’d have better luck bringing the dead back to life than to beat sense into his disciples stubborn skull. “Shouldn’t you be trying to rescue that spawn of yours? Did you finally heed my advice and succeed?”

Luo Binghes lips twitch down sardonically, “My son does not need rescuing.”

Something flickers in the corner of Meng Mo’s eye. Meng Mo is careful not to draw attention to it. Curious of the anomaly despite himself. He changes the topic. “You're here to help negotiate with the rulers of Pingjing then.” He doesn’t state it as a question. There was no other reason for his disciple to be here.

Luo Binghe follows the change easily, “Mn. Tell me Shifu. What do you know of the matter between the rulers of this territory?

“More than you I’m sure.” Meng Mo settles down to get comfortable then elaborates, “You know that Pingjing is divided by that river. East Pingjing is suffering from unexpected hardships while West Pingjing continues to thrive. Naturally, the people have chosen to throw in lots with the more successful ruler. It’s a common tale. The evil demon versus the righteous human. That wife of your grows more hated each day.”

“I’ve read Lord Peng’s report. He claims that Lord Yueliang refuses to negotiate without my presence. Leaving her people to suffer from some form of famine?”

Meng Mo hums in agreement, “That is what the rumors claim.”

“And what do you say, Shifu?” Luo Binghe asks pointedly.

Meng Mo bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile, “You should no better than to believe that the ‘righteous’ human is telling the entire truth.”

“Just as I thought then.”

Meng Mo leers, “That wife of yours has been interesting to watch. You would know something of her character. She once beguiled you with her pretty—.”

Luo Binghe’s mind flares warningly. This time the danger is real and Meng Mo quiets. On the bamboo bed in the corner of the room, a form flickers into existence for a moment.

That alternate Shen Qingqiu again?

It’s gone too fast to be certain.

“Alright, alright. All I’ll say is that your wife will likely be appreciative of your support. Lord Peng is doing his utmost best to usurp her rule.”

His disciple’s eyes narrow thoughtfully, “Sabotage. Is he behind the famine in her lands?”

“This Master can’t be certain that he is entirely the cause, but the dreams I’ve visited have shown me that things are not as they seem in this territory.”

It’s amazing what the mind will recount while asleep. Meng Mo shakes his head with begrudging respect. So many of them had been full of methods of ruin that take years to bear fruit. If Meng Mo is correct then that human lordling is a smart one.

His disciple knows nothing of these actions, but Meng Mo can take pride in the brats intelligence when it’s properly utilized. He can already tell that Luo Binghe will easily uncover the truth of the source behind East Pingjing’s dying lands.

Luo Binghe says, “I’m sure Lord Peng will be pleased upon my arrival.”

Meng Mo and Luo Binghe share a smirk.

For all his cunning, Lord Peng’s plans are transparent.

Meng Mo believes it goes something like this. Poison East Pingjing’s lands slowly so as to not raise suspicions. When things turn dire, offer aid that will be rejected. Meng Mo wonders if the human lord actually even offered anything during that negotiation meeting. It didn’t really matter as the rumors did their job of twisting the events in Lord Peng’s favor. Next, the human lord claims that his hands are tied and uses Lord Yueliang’s harem status against her. He even goes as far to send a missive to the Emperor detailing the briefest outline of the situation. Likely knowing full well that the emperor is unlikely to pay any attention to such a matter.

A gamble. One that proved unsuccessful.

Luck is a powerful force, and Lord Peng’s has run dry. Meng Mo doesn’t know why it came to be, but his disciple has arrived in all his glory. Meng Mo hasn’t known a single scheme to succeed when his disciple gets involved. He sheds a mock tear for Lord Peng’s approaching doom.

It’s honestly a bit disappointing. Meng Mo had been looking forward to seeing the drama play out. Now Meng Mo will only witness the quick death of the human lord. Lord Yueliang will only have to bat her lashes and Luo Binghe will sweep her away to her bed chambers. Everything will resolve itself and Meng Mo will have to move on and find somewhere else to gather energy.

Absentmindedly, Meng Mo broodingly mutters, “Take your time killing Lord Peng. I need to gather up as much energy as I can before you destroy all my hard work.”

“Whoever said I would kill him?”

Maybe Meng Mo is getting old. It's fortunate that his form isn’t actually real because he would have given himself whiplash with the way his head snaps to his disciple.

Luo Binghe smirks at him, “I have no evidence to accuse Lord Peng of anything. I am here to act as a mediator. Nothing more.”

“We both know he’s guilty. Your wife—.”

“Will have to fend for herself.”

What?

Meng Mo doesn’t gape at his disciple like a fool, but it’s a close thing. What is this? Meng Mo has never known his disciple not to rush in whenever a woman is involved. Right or wrong, Luo Binghe has always made it his priority to solve their problems without discretion.

Something is wrong.

Meng Mo cautions, “Lord Yueliang’s situation is precarious. Without the support of her people, danger may come from both sides.”

“Why Shifu, I didn’t know that you cared.” Meng Mo sputters a denial, but the brat ignores him, “There’s no need for it. I will not allow any harm to befall Lord Yueliang.”

“So you will be helping her?”

“No.”

Meng Mo nearly leaves. He should have left the moment he’d heard of Lord Peng’s missive. It’s too late for him now.

“I want to see what she’ll do,” Luo Binghe elaborates.

“Lord Yueliang?” Meng Mo clarifies.

Luo Binghe’s dark eyes glow with a dangerous light. To Meng Mo, the brat looks like he’s gone mad, “Mn. The people abandon her. Her rule is being tested. She’s struggled this far. What will she do now?”

“You’re going to let that human win?”

Luo Binghe waves his hand. “Of course not. He’ll be dealt with in time. For now…,” his disciple trails off. “I want Lord Yueliang to show me her strength.”

There. The flickering figure forms in the corner of the room. At first, it is that alternate Shen Qingqiu. A familiar ghost that Meng Mo disdains. But then…. the robes and features flicker. Transform. Instead, a similar looking man with soft features and simple robes appears.

Someone else entirely. The relative he supposed. The one in possession of that blood ward no doubt. Meng Mo supposes that, for a man, he’s rather pretty but nothing too noteworthy. Appearance aside, Meng Mo feels a weight settle upon him.

The mind is a strange thing, but there are rules. Luo Binghe has been trained by him not to reveal his weaknesses. This realm should be locked down tighter than that brat’s Palace. Yet here is a being that has been unconsciously summoned. A form that flickers back and forth between two images.

A troubled heart. Luo Binghe’s mind has always been susceptible to his emotions. It’s his greatest weakness.

Meng Mo doesn’t pay any more attention to the flickering figure. It will vanish soon enough. Instead, he mockingly asks, “What does strength have to do with anything? The sooner you fix this mess; the better.”

Luo Binghe muses aloud like he hadn’t heard him, “I want to see what she’ll do standing alone. Will she triumph? Fail? Beg for my help?”

“Hopefully she’ll decide to kill you so this Master can find a disciple that still retains his sanity.”

Contrary to his expectations, Luo Binghe almost seems pleased by Meng Mo’s words, “Should she be capable. I welcome the attempt.”

Meng Mo is too old for this. A woman’s strength? Pah! Who worries over such things? If Meng Mo had a body, strength would be the last thing on his mind when encountering a woman. Luo Binghe acts as if he’s forgotten the most pleasurable aspects of his harem. Meng Mo silently drinks vinegar.

This tactic does seem familiar though.

The realization strikes him like a Heavenly tribulation. Meng Mo’s world view tilts, and he beholds his unruly disciple in a new light.

Luo Binghe is playing mind games. For some unholy reason, women are his main target, but he's acting like Meng Mo had long ago in his youth. Back when he’d been young and foolish. A dream demon who had been fascinated with trying to figure out just how humans and demons think.

They do say that disciples follow in their master's footsteps. Meng Mo buries the realization in the depths of his darkened soul. Never to be thought of again.

Meng Mo wishes the brat could have been content with ruling the world. Anyone else would have been.

(Nobody else would have been able to become his disciple.)

For now, Meng Mo will have to stick around for a while. His disciple is clearly determined to walk a path towards destruction. As his master, Meng Mo can’t allow all his hard work to go to waste just because the brat wishes to drown in his emotions.

Meng Mo blames the human half of his disciple. Demons aren’t nearly as troublesome. Emotions are trivialities at best for the race. Whatever pair spawned this brat deserved all of his contempt.

“A woman’s strength, hm? Fine. Play your games. This master might as well observe the results of it.”

Luo Binghe hums in agreement, “How generous of you. Be sure to make yourself useful while I’m here. Keep an eye on both rulers of Pingjing.”

Like Meng Mo is a dog that will sniff out troubles for his master. Meng Mo heatedly begins a lecture about respect that goes entirely over Luo Binghe’s head.

Over the course of their travels, Meng Mo will be told of the development with the missing spawn and that impenetrable blood ward. The dream demon will question his choices in life as Luo Binghe describes the deal he has struck with the bastard look-alike.

In the end, there is only one thing that stands true.

His disciple’s main goal in life is to give Meng Mo a headache.

******

“My nose has fallen off. Nephew, would you be so kind as to pick it up for me? You can even lay it next to the other one. We want to make sure they look identical.”

Zhuzhi-lang immediately looks up from the clay foot he was molding, “Of course, Junshang.”

Zhuzhi-lang carefully places the foot on the stone coffin lid in front of him and leans down to pick up the degenerating nose on the ground. He picks it up gently and places it by the clay nose he’d already sculpted. To Zhuzhi-lang’s keen eyes they look identical.

Not everyone agrees.

“The arch of the nose is too high. It would make me look hideous. No one will respect a demon with too big of a nose.”

“I’ll be sure to fix it right away, Junshang.”

“Good. Good. And do be careful with my foot. Eleven toes are a sign of power for those bird demons, but I find that I prefer a more even amount.”

Zhuzhi-lang is horrified at the thought of making such a mistake. He looks back at his most recent work, but the foot only has five perfectly sculpted toes. He nearly cries, “Junshang, please don’t tease me.”

Zhuzhi-lang’s plea goes ignored. “My mistake. These eyes of mine must be deteriorating more rapidly than I thought. Tell me nephew. Do they look alright?”

His companion’s eyes did not look alright. In fact, none of his body did.

Tianlang-jun had once been a handsome demon. Vain but for good reason. He had been born the most honorable prince in the demon realm. Long ago he had never suffered hardships and had always been seen as calm and elegant. Tianlang-jun would even outright reject anything that would tarnish that image.

His Junshang did not like ugly things, but right now he was far uglier than anyone else.

Tianlang-jun lies in a stone coffin. The lid of which is being used as a table of sorts and covers the lower portion of his body. Even that cannot hide what has become of it. The Heavenly Demon’s skin is decaying. Pieces of it peel and wither before Zhuzhi-lang’s eyes. His scalp is more flesh than hair. The once handsome face looks grotesque. His dark eyes are bloodshot and yellowed where white should be.

“Your eyes look fine, Junshang,” Zhuzhi-lang says.

Tianlang-jun smiles like he believes the lie. They are both painfully aware that he doesn’t. In the ruins of the holy mausoleum, they make a pathetic duo. Zhuzhi-lang is determined to make this only a temporary state of things.

Zhuzhi-lang can only blame himself for this terrible situation. If only there had been some other way to resurrect his Junshang. The sun and moon seeds had been difficult to obtain. Taking far more time than he’d hoped. Only with the help of that cultivator had he managed it. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been wise enough to consider the incompatibility that would occur between the seeds and Tianlang-jun’s entirely demonic nature.

Zhuzhi-lang does not care for pride. As soon as the signs of Tianlang-jun’s deterioration had begun, he’d begun looking for a different way to form a new body. He’d all but crawled back to the cultivator who’d helped him obtain the sun and moon seeds in the first place. Seeking her help in return for two favors.

The solution she’d given him had been both simple and complex. She’d told him of a hidden location that was rumored to hold an ancient scroll. A scroll with the steps on how to make a body made from the earth.

A golem.

A golem is meant to house a resurrected spirit in a body completely made of clay. The clay body had to be sculpted carefully with runes carved into each limb. Under no circumstance can the body be subjected to heat lest it melt. Once the body is formed, the soul is transferred into it. A talisman is placed where a heart would be. Once activated, the clay shell will be given new life. Appearing as if made of flesh.

Golems are seen as unnatural by humans and too weak to be bothered with by demons. The method to create them had long since been thought to be lost.

On the advice of that cultivator, Zhuzhi-lang has found one of the last remaining scrolls in existence. It had been heavily guarded. A chimeric night demon had been placed to protect a deceased alchemist’s abandoned study. Zhuzhi-lang had defeated it, but at a high cost. He’d been injured to the point that he’d been forced to adapt to his natural form. A hideous combination of snake and human like appendages.

Zhuzhi-lang would have died had he not come across that peculiar mountain within the Huan Hua range. A mountain with a strange barrier that had nearly not allowed him to pass through it. Zhuzhi-lang was fortunate to be very familiar with complicated barriers. (Junshang had been trapped. She’d betrayed them. He had to rescue Junshang before it was too late. He had to. He had to. He had—.)

Barriers have loopholes. Some allow family members to enter. Some allow only the creator. Some even act as inescapable traps. Zhuzhi-lang has found that the most common loophole in any barrier is simple.

Creatures can pass through them. From insects to warm or cold blooded animals. For some unknown reason, barriers often neglect to identify creatures as threats. Even the strongest ones have this flaw, but there’s a better failsafe in place for them. Creatures may pass through but their intent plays a factor. A dangerous creature will not be allowed entrance. Nor any that hold even the slightest ill intent.

When Zhuxhi-lang encountered that mysterious barrier he’d quickly adapted to the situation. With no other choice, he’d scraped up the last of his energy to transform into a smaller version of his snake form. He’d suppressed his thoughts to their most instinctual. and, just as he’d planned, the barrier had allowed him in. Once inside, Zhuzhi-lang had only been able to travel far enough to find shelter under a tree as the sun rose in the oddly clear sky. Zhuzhi-lang had been certain he would die there.

Fortune smiled on him then. A male human had appeared and healed his wounds. A cultivator with gentle hands and a kind smile. A peculiar human who would introduce himself to a seemingly mindless beast.

Shen Yuan.

Zhuzhi-lang will repay Shen Yuan a thousand times. Just as he will with that woman who had similarly come to his rescue. Though Shen Yuan’s situation came with an unexpected complication.

The cultivator hadn’t been alone. There had been two others. A Harmonic Demon beast and a boy. The boy...

The boy had looked exactly like that woman. The woman that had ruined everything.

He’s broken from his musings as Tianlang-jun says, “Isn’t this ironic? Just as I once helped you form your body. You are now helping me form my own. Dearest nephew, you too must endeavor to make me not look ugly.”

Junshang has always teased him. When they first met, Tianlang-jun had been disgusted by the sight of Zhuzhi-lang’s natural form. The powerful demon had quickly created a human form for Zhuzhi-lang. This had been the beginning of a devotion that would set Zhuzhi-lang on a journey full of both happiness and regret.

Regret for the things he should’ve done better. Happiness for the days when his Junshang had been full of joy. When Tianlang-jun’s obsession with humans had been eccentric but endearing. Back before everything had spiraled out of control due to….

Love.

Love was a terrible thing. Beautiful yes. Terribly so. Zhuzhi-Lang hates it for what it has led to.

“You’ll look very respectable, Junshang.”

“Respectable? I would prefer to be devastatingly handsome. I do have competition after all.”

And that was another thing. Tianlang-jun’s love had born fruit. One not even Zhuzhi-lang had known of until it was far too late.

Luo Binghe was fearsome and formidable despite being a half-blood. Zhuzhi-lang did not know much of his past, but he had gathered as much information as he’d been able.

Luo Binghe was a tale of rags to riches. A cultivator that had been betrayed by his master. Who had discovered his demonic nature late in life and used it to gain both power and revenge. Luo Binghe was known to have found Xin Mo. A sword with a terrible history but great power. With it, Luo Binghe has formed a new world. An unnatural combination of the human and demon realm.

None of the stories Zhuzhi-lang had heard mentioned his mother. Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t know what to think of it nor can he fathom how his Junshang must be feeling.

Nevertheless, Luo Binghe is a mistake. From his conception to his own actions. The Emperor brings about ruin. Zhuzhi-lang must somehow fix it all. Maybe then he can hope to see his Junshang one day find peace.

Tianlang-jun is colder now. The only spark in his eyes is his desire for revenge. The Heavenly Demon hides it well and pretends to be alright for Zhuzhi-lang’s sake. It only serves to worry Zhuzhi-lang endlessly.

“Junshang…,” Zhuzhi-lang begins hesitantly.

“Mn? Come now nephew. I won’t bite. I’ve lost far too many teeth for it.”

Zhuzhi-lang doesn’t let Tianlang-jun’s morbid humor distract him, “What will you do once we finish your body?”

His question is met by silence. A long one that weighs heavy in the air. Zhuzhi-lang waits patiently for a response.

It takes time. Eventually, Zhuzhi-lang gets back to finishing the foot he’d been sculpting. By the time Tianlang-jun responds, he’s moved on to placing the finishing runes into the clay.

“I will kill that son of mine.”

Zhuzhi-lang falters. It was a response he’d expected and yet it was still hard to believe. He shakes away his doubts and looks up at Tianlang-jun determinedly, “This one will do his best to help you, Junshang.”

Tianlang-jun openly laughs at him, “So serious.” His laughter vanishes as soon as it’d come, “It is a necessary task. Xin Mo has fallen into the hands of one who has proven to be unworthy. As his father, it falls to me to fix my son’s mistakes.”

Zhuzhi-lang believes that Tianlang-jun can do it. There is no doubt in his heart that the Heavenly Demon is capable of such a feat. He only doubts…

Nothing that matters right now.

“What of the humans? Will you kill them?”

Tianlang-jun shrugs awkwardly, “If there is a need to. Once I kill my son, we both know that I will have my hands full fixing this crumbling world. Perhaps in the process, their species will finally die out.”

“Is that possible?”

“Certainly. Merging realms is a dangerous venture. It’s nothing short of miraculous that my son managed to do it at all. By all rights everyone should be dead.”

Zhuzhi-lang hadn’t known this was a possibility. The merging of the human and demon realms happened easily. It had even seemed like it would even remain stable for a quite some time.

“My son is very skilled but shortsighted. I do wonder who he gets that from,” Tianlang-jun muses darkly before shaking his head. “Not that it matters. He’ll be dead soon enough.”

“Junshang, would you like me to locate his whereabouts?” He already has his sources within the capital. It wouldn’t be hard for Zhuzhi-lang to find a precise location.

“Not yet. We hold too little information and are far too weak to challenge him now. No. First, I do believe we need allies.”

Zhuzhi-lang hisses in surprise, “Allies?”

Tianlang-jun smirks, “Indeed. What was her name again? That woman you spoke of? You may owe her many favors, but she would make a formidable ally. Once my body is complete, we will both pay her a visit.”

“A-ah? I-if that is what you wish, Junshang.”

A shadow of amusement lights in Tianlang-Jun’s eyes, “She should be happy to see you. Nephew, this may be your chance to— how do the humans describe it? Ah, yes. This is your chance to ride into the sunset with her. It would make for a compelling tale! They may even make a play of it.”

“J-Junshang please. I beg that you cease your teasing. Lady Q—.”

“Has a rival, yes? That Shen Yuan of yours. As beautiful as a lotus I recall. What story is complete without a love triangle? Or you can be with both! Three is a good number. Such a sight would spark the flames of desire in all—.”

“Junshang!”

Tianlang-jun's smile is as unapologetic as it is grotesque. “We can make both of them our allies.”

Zhuzhi-lang isn’t exactly opposed to the idea, but…, “Junshang, the situation with Master Shen is complex.”

The shadow of amusement in the air sours, “The boy. The one you believe may be my grandson. He will indeed make things complicated. Him and the other of his like. My son has been far too active. It won’t do to have so many with Heavenly Demon blood coursing through their veins.”

“Shall I have them dealt with?”

Tianlang-jun jolts like the thought hadn’t occurred to him. “No need. My son’s spawn are a concern for another decade. The only one that we need to bother with is the one under the care of your Shen Yuan. Tell me. Do you think that the child is a product of a sordid relationship between those two?”

“Sordid relationship?” Zhuzhi-lang asks. Entirely confused.

“Of course. One between your Shen Yuan and my son.”

Zhuzhi-lang eyes widen with realization, “But Junshang, they’re both males!”

“It’s not unheard of, and it would explain the blood barrier you spoke of. My son has a harem of hundreds of women. Perhaps he grew adventurous! A beautiful male cultivator caught his eyes, and they fell in love. But such things are forbidden—.”

“Why was it forbidden?” Zhuzhi-lang asks. Relationships between men, while uncommon, were seen as normal.

Tianlang-jun continues. Caught in the drama of his own story, “-between them. My son’s harem could not be allowed to find out. Did love turn into obsession? Of course. So my son spirited away his male bride and soon to be born son. He took them to a mountain, and placed a blood barrier around it to protect them from all harm. Only he could enter through it. Creating a cage. Your Shen Yuan and the boy are now trapped there to this day. Awaiting rescue. From who?”

Tianlang-jun points a rotting finger at Zhuzhi-lang, “From you. This will be your chance to save your mountain lotus. You will sway him to our side. The boy will most likely take after his mother. This old demon can help raise him! Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Zhuzhi-lang keeps silent.

Tianlang-jun doesn’t need a response, “We have time to make a plan. Nephew, send out your friends to inspect that mountain. See what information they can find out.”

At the reasonable demand, Zhuzhi-Lang finally speaks, “They will leave at once.” He hesitates, “If Master Shen should one day join our cause, what should we tell him?”

“Tell him?”

“Of the world. How it approaches ruin as we speak.”

Tianlang-jun tilts his head, “All of it. Should we hope to bring him to our cause, we won’t spare any details. In return for his cooperation, we shall do our best to ensure that he and that son of his survive.”

Zhuzhi-lang knows that Tianlang-jun isn’t just being generous. He’s doing this for him. Because Zhuzhi-lang owes Shen Yuan his life. He won’t be surprised if Tianlang-Jun offers the same offer of protection to that woman for his sake.

Tianlang-jun’s care for him is apparent. It nearly brings tears to Zhuzhi-lang’s eyes.

There is one thing that has him curious. “How exactly will you fix the world? Using Xin Mo, you should be able to unmerge them, correct? Will things be as they were before?”

“Nephew, I do not plan to unmerge the realms.”

Zhuzhi-Lang stares. Struck dumb.

Tianlang-jun coughs. A wretched hacking noise that makes Zhuzhi-lang startle. Tianlang-jun waves him away when he moves closer, “Unmerging the world to the corrupted way it was before? No. My son was not mistaken in his desire to change it. Only he didn’t do it correctly. Nephew, when I obtain Xin Mo I will finish what he started.”

Zhuzhi-lang has been by his Junshang’s side for nearly his entire life. Along the way, Tianlang-jun would sparingly teach him matters unknown to many. This knowledge allows him to deduce what the demon is getting at.

“The Heavenly realm.”

More commonly known as the ‘Forgotten realm’. Only the gods were said to reside there and there are those who don’t believe even they exist. The Heavenly realm was said to be a holy land removed from both humans and demons.

Zhuzhi-lang knows it to be real. Tianlang-jun had once told him of a romantic story between one of their realm and a demon. At the time, they’d been traveling with many companions who had dismissed the story as nothing but another one of Tianlang-jun’s whimsical tales. But Zhuzhi-lang hadn’t. For him, there is one unshakeable truth.

Junshang is always right.

Tianlang-jun nods shakily in agreement, “The Heavenly realm. The three realms began separated. Two are now merged. Fate all but demands that I should be the one to merge all three.”

“Junshang. You said that the Heavenly realm is full of godlike beings. Powerful individuals such as those… won’t their kind cause trouble for both humans and demons.”

Tianlang-jun’s eyes grow cold, “They won’t. There will surely be a war. One between the three races. Should we live to see the aftermath, the world will have changed. It is my hope that this change will be for the better.”

“If it’s not?”

Tianlang-jun closes his eyes, “I no longer care. The world now is as unsightly as it was before. Nothing can make it worse.”

Zhuzhi-lang’s heart breaks for him. For a demon who had once found everything so awe inspiring to be brought so low.

He curses Su Xiyan. May that woman never find peace. Her actions have destroyed Tianlang-jun, and with him, maybe even the entire world. A war could destroy everything.

It reminds him of a time he’d do anything to erase. Of Tianglian-jun covered in blood and imprisoned under seventy-two iron chains and forty-nine strong spells. When Zhuzhi-lang could only watch the Tianglian-jun’s body rot while his mind remained clear-headed. Unable to pass out even if he wanted. Slowly going mad.

“I hate humans.”

The words haunted Zhuzhi-lang. Tianlang-jun had often muttered them over and over again when he’d been trapped under the Bailu Mountain. A sporadic mantra. With the only exception being broken songs that were cut short once he’d realized their source. He’d muttered those three words off and on until the day he’d—.

‘Here is where you’ve led us, Su Xiyan,’ Zhuzhi-lang thinks with no small sadness.

It did nothing to shake his resolve. Zhuzhi-lang has complete faith in Tianlang-jun. If this is the path that Tianlang-jun wishes to pave then so be it it. This was his Junshang. A demon that he would go through fire and water for. Risk life, death, and limbs.

His most important person.

“This one hopes for the best, Junshang.”

“That is all any of us hope for.”

They both fall silent. Zhuzhi-lang took a breath and got back to work. Before anything else, he must make sure that Tianlang-jun has a body that will be able to support him.

Zhuzhi-lang will make sure his Junshang will be able to accomplish his goals. No matter what.

Chapter Text

Chapter 38: Weapon Training Woes

“Calligraphy is an art form, and today we will be using it to practice poetry. Rhythmic stories that may hold the key to enlightenment. Believe it or not, there have been many cultivators who have formed their golden cores this way.”

Luo Yu closes the book of poetry his Bàba had given him to study and looks down at his own blank scroll with consternation, “Calligraphy is useful, but I don’t see how poetry will help me with cultivation. I think you’ve been lied to, Shifu.”

It was a sunny day. A bit cold, but nothing unbearable. Days like these grew fewer and fewer as winter’s bitter chill began to creep upon the autumn season. The family of three had decided to enjoy the good weather by the lotus pond behind the manor. Settled peacefully in the grass with scrolls, ink pots and brushes scattered rather haphazardly around them.

Today’s lesson had all the potential to be a fun exercise, but Luo Yu now feels rather cheated. Poetry has always struck him as being a complete waste of time. At the palace, many of the women in the royal harem had been quite taken with the art form. From time to time, Luo Yu would hear them recite their poems in the gardens to their peers. The poems had been confusing though. Full of words that were too difficult to understand at the time and phrasings that didn’t seem to fit together. They could be incredibly short or painfully long.

Ultimately, poetry is boring and Luo Yu dislikes it with a quiet sort of passion.

It didn’t help that there was a feeling of dread twisting in his mind. A foreboding feeling that Luo Yu can’t quite shake. Even after having had days to become accustomed to the source of it.

Luo Yu was to be taught how to wield a sword properly. It was something he’d been wanting to learn for a while. Any proper cultivator should be able to wield some sort of weapon and swords were not only great for protection but for mobility as well. The thought of being able to fly around the mountain without his guardians supervision had been enough for Luo Yu to immediately agree to the lessons when his Bàba had brought them up.

What he hadn’t realized he was agreeing to was being taught by the monster.

Luo Yu should have known better. His Bàba is determined to have them reconcile in some manner or another. To make him their ally and avoid some sort of event. The whole deal relied on the monster succeeding in that respect, but Luo Yu knows that the demonic emperor will only use these lessons as a stepping stone to manipulate them. How exactly he’s wasn’t entirely sure, but Luo Yu cannot stop thinking of the possibilities. His Bàba had told him the lessons would only take place if he agreed. He could call them off at any time. But Luo Yu refuses to give the monster the satisfaction. Whatever plans the monster has planned, Luo Yu intends to face them head on. And maybe, just maybe, learn how to wield a sword properly in the process.

Luo Yu silently bemoans the fact that his Bàba never bothered to learn how to wield a sword beyond the basics. He’d asked the cultivator why that wasn’t enough and had been met with a chiding lecture on how Luo Yu shouldn’t settle for basics when he can be taught by the best. An argument that was both hypocritical, as his Bàba seemed perfectly content to settle with the basics himself, and irritatingly logical. As much as he hated the monster, no one can deny his prowess with a sword.

Now wasn’t the time for such worries. The monster would be visiting tomorrow, and Luo Yu wants to avoid the issue altogether until then. His sword lessons will be terrible, but there’s nothing he can do about it without causing an unnecessary fuss. Instead, Luo Yu focuses on the scene before him.

His Bàba already has half of his own scroll filled with beautiful characters. His brush practically glides across the parchment. A mesmerizing sight that seems to bewitch Bingpup. The tiny creature was peacefully situated on Shen Yuan’s lap. Watching each stroke with half lidded eyes that blinked slowly. Bingpup was obviously well on his way to the realm of dreams. Luo Yu wasn’t as fortunate. Unconsciously, he bites the end of his brush.

“A thousand-mile journey begins with the first step. Think of an emotion, A-Yu. It can literally be anything. Happiness. Sorrow. Annoyance. Whatever you choose will guide the nature of the story you want to tell.”

Luo Yu looks away from Bingpup and back down at his own parchment. It mocks him with its eternal blankness. Belatedly, Luo Yu grumbles around his brush, “But I don’t have a poetic story I want to tell.”

He isn't prepared for the wet touch of a brush at the end of his nose. Luo Yu squawks indignantly and leans back. An unnecessary move as Luo Yu realizes instantly that his Bàba was the culprit. The cultivator hadn’t moved an inch from his own position in the grass. Long arms having had more than enough reach to dab Luo Yu’s nose with the brush that is now once again moving across its parchment.

Luo Yu uses his sleeve to rub away the ink from his nose before he straightens his posture. “Shifu, I’m serious.” He widens his eyes and tries to look at his guardian as beseechingly as he can, “I really can’t think of any stories, but my calligraphy is rusty. I should practice my characters instead.”

His efforts are wasted as his Bàba doesn’t even look away from his work, “We both know your calligraphy is perfect, A-Yu. You’re thinking about this too hard. It doesn’t have to be good. I only want you to try. Poetry’s rather subjective anyway.”

“If it doesn’t have to be good then why should I practice?”

“As my sole apprentice, it is my solemn duty to impart all my scholarly ways unto you. Knowing how to write a poem may save your life one day.”

Luo Yu silently mouths ‘scholarly ways’ in bemusement before questioning aloud, “How can poetry save my life?” He pauses and glances at Bingpup, “Does it bore my enemies to sleep?”

His Bàba glances between them with poorly concealed amusement, “Hm. Stranger things have happened. Now get to work. If nothing else, I want to hear the most boring poem you can think of.”

With that kind of instruction, Luo Yu can’t help but grin back. A flicker of motivation kindles within him, and he feels a bit more confident as he looks down and finally places the tip of his brush to his scroll.

He almost commits to trying to create the most boring poem to ever exist, but some emotion stays his hand. Even now after living on the mountain for over a year, Luo Yu always wants his Bàba’s approval. He wants to impress him. A boring poem would be amusing but he knows he can do better than that.

Luo Yu feels his frustration threaten to rise again but gently breathes until it dissipates. Unconsciously slipping into the breathing exercise he uses during meditation lessons. Luo Yu closes his eyes and thinks hard.

Poetry is mostly about telling a story. Conveying emotion in a pointlessly flowery way will never suit Luo Yu, but he doesn't mind stories. He loves them in fact. It shouldn’t be too hard to come up with one of his own. Maybe some kind of fictional adventure?

A cold breeze blew and startled him from his thoughts. Luo Yu opens his eyes and finds himself looking at the manor. It looks exactly the same as it always has and yet…..

Maybe Luo Yu does have a small story of his own.

Time passes quickly after that. Luo Yu’s brush glides smoothly across his scroll in the same manner his Bàba’s does. Thoughts flow though his brush and onto the parchment easily. Before he knows it, his characters come to an end. His story was complete.

Luo Yu reads the characters and suddenly feels very embarrassed. He begins to hate each character more and more as he stares at them. It's a stark reminder of why he hates poetry to begin with. The half thought forms to tear the parchment to shreds, but it would garner too much attention. Luo Yu glances up at his Bàba to see if he’s noticed that he’s finished, but the man is fully engrossed with his own parchment.

Carefully, Luo Yu grabs a blank piece of parchment from the pile they’d brought. He places it over his finished piece and begins a new poem. This time, Luo Yu decides to create something far more relevant.

He’s nearly finished with his new poem when his Bàba makes a pleased noise. Shen Yuan places his brush down and lifts the parchment up to blow gently on the ink. Something Luo Yu realizes he himself should have done with his first poem because the ink has stuck to the back of his new parchment.

“A-Yu, are you finished?”

Well, it’s too late to try to separate them. Luo Yu gives up on the idea of trying to tear the parchments from each other and says, “Almost. Let me finish this final thing.” Luo Yu adds one last character before he pauses. A question occurring to him, “Bàba, what’s your poem about?”

The question gets Luo Yu an interesting response. His Bàba goes notably still. Expression going entirely neutral in a way that Luo Yu has become extremely familiar with. His Bàba was trying to hide something. “Ah, this is actually unrelated to today’s lesson. Nothing important. I've been trying to recall the lyrics of a song.”

A song? Was it a special kind of song? Luo Yu’s thoughts come to a grinding halt, “Shifu! This isn’t fair! How come I’m the only one that had to write poetry?”

“Well,’ his Bàba trails off guiltily. “This lesson was meant for you.”

“A good Shifu should lead by example,” Luo Yu counters sternly.

His Bàba pulls out his fan and coughs lightly, “It seems that this Shifu must admit to his own failings. I too have never been fond of poetry.”

“But you said it was important!”

“And it is. I wasn’t lying when I said it might save your life one day. A well practiced poem has many uses in this sort of setting. You can use them to spread rumors, build a reputation, and even entice the hearts of young maidens. Poetry truly is an underrated art.”

Luo Yu shakes his head in disbelief. His Bàba sounds like a completely untrustworthy person. Who would have thought that poetry can be used for such shady things!

Luo Yu’s disbelief must be apparent because his Bàba cheeks flush slightly as he covers his mouth with his fan, “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t mean for you to take advantage of people, but the weak are prey to the strong. This Shifu of yours only wishes for you to be able to protect yourself through any means necessary.”

Oh.

Luo Yu nods his head. He should’ve known it would be something like that. His Bàba was always reminding Luo Yu just how much he cared for him. Luo Yu allows himself a small smile, “That doesn’t sound like something a cultivator should do though.”

Shen Yuan sees his smile and lowers his fan to return it. Seemingly relieved as he says, “I’ll tell you a secret, A-Yu. Most cultivators are full of selfish desires. However it’s our actions that are important.”

“Because our goal is to help people?”

“Exactly. Or to live a peaceful life. Sometimes we use underhanded means to achieve these goals, but as long as we don’t hurt anyone then it should be fine.”

Luo Yu tilts his head and considers this, “Do good intentions really make it alright to trick people?”

Bingpup shifts in his sleep causing his Bàba to direct his gaze away from Luo Yu as he replies slowly, “We're drifting into a conversation of morals. To have a black belly is to have evil intentions. I would be acting kind, but inwardly malicious. Poetry is merely a tool, A-Yu. Like any form of tool, it depends upon its wielder’s intentions.”

“I think I understand, but poetry is still the worst.”

His Bàba laughs, genuine and relieved that the discussion seems to be over. His hazel eyes gleam fondly as Luo Yu quietly basks in the sound of his guardian’s amusement. “It is, but come now. You seem to have written something worth sharing.”

The parchment in his hands has dried while they’d been talking. Luo Yu grips the edges of the paper tightly before looking up at his Bàba with his chin slightly raised. In a voice similar to his tutors at the palace, he reads the characters aloud:

“A sword is sharp and cleaving,
My doom fast approaches.
The monster will end my days.
Bàba will forever regret his decision to not learn how to wield a sword properly.
Bingpup will destroy the world.”

Luo Yu let’s the words settle in the air between them with gleeful anticipation. After his first attempt, he had committed to making a poem that was intentionally terrible. So much so that Luo Yu knows what he’s in for even before his Bàba looks up towards the sky as if praying for patience. It takes three long minutes for the cultivator to seemingly gather his thoughts and meet Luo Yu’s gaze.

“That was very…. creative.”

His Bàba isn’t blinking and the words are said in such a deadpan, unconvincing manner that Luo Yu nearly breaks his own serious mein. With laughter caught in his throat, his voice only falters slightly as he asks , “Are you convinced that the sword lessons are going to be a disaster tomorrow?”

His Bàba finally blinks. There’s a small furrow between his eyes as he sighs in resignation, “You’ve convinced me of many things, A-Yu. What an unfilial disciple I have.”

“That’s rude, Shifu. I did exactly what you asked.”

His Bàba gives him a look that says exactly what he thinks about that statement, “You’re not going to face the ‘end of your days’ any time soon. I can swear to that.”

“I could.”

“You won’t.”

Luo Yu smiles broadly. Maybe, his guardian is right, and he is an unfilial disciple because he takes great pleasure in riling him up, “But Bingpup will definitely take over the world one day.”

His Bàba hums noncommittally. “I’m sure we’ll be very proud of him when he does. Now, the mood of your poem is consistent overall. Your theme is morbid, but you lost your primary theme with your final line. Bingpup’s bid for world domination felt unrelated.”

Luo Yu groans. He should've known his poem would be analyzed one way or another. “I don’t know, Bàba. I think any poem about the future should end with Bingpup taking over.”

His Bàba gestures a hand to the sleeping dog in his lap and comments facetiously, “The face of a future tyrant.”

As if knowing he’s the center of attention, Bingpup sniffles into the folds of Shen Yuan’s robes. It’s a nauseatingly cute display that makes his Bàba gently rub the fur on the sleeping dog’s head.

Luo Yu shakes his head in despair. His poem was mostly put together for dramatic effect, but he is completely convinced that Bingpup could indeed take over the world if the thought entered his evil mind. His Bàba will probably either let it happen or be completely oblivious to the fact. Leaving Luo Yu the task of cleaning up Bingpup’s messes along the way.

Luo Yu realizes he needs to change the subject before he begins to have to come to terms with this being his future. His Bàba’s completed parchment catches his eyes. A perfect distraction. “What about the song you wrote? It’s only fair I get to hear what you were working on too.”

“It’s not exactly a song that is appropriate for young ears,” his Bàba says carefully. He moves his fan back and forth to cool himself in the way he always does when he wants to avoid a topic of conversation.

“I’m twelve, Bàba. Surely it can’t be that bad.”

“It’s not, but it’s a song that really shouldn’t transcend time and space.”

“What?”

His Bàba snaps his fan closed, “Nothing. Alright, I’ll read it for you, but please don’t think too deeply about it. It’s a song that was originally sung in a foreign language so the translation might sound strange.” A thought seems to occur to him because he points his fan at Luo Yu warningly, “Don’t tell Shang Qinghua about this. He’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

Luo Yu, who has never in his life been more prepared to memorize the words of a song, nods innocently, “I promise!”

His Bàba frowns at the unconvincing vow but eventually gives in with a sigh. He picks up his parchment off the ground. Bingpup sniffles again and shifts due to all the movement, but remains asleep. Luo Yu can’t help but think that it’s a shame. Bingpup is about to miss out on something that is bound to be entertaining.

His Bàba clears his throat. Regaining Luo Yu sole focus. The pure resignation he exudes in no way affects the way he reads aloud in a clear voice:

“With a taste of your lips,
I'm on a ride.
You're toxic I'm slipping under.
With a taste of a poison paradise,
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?”

While it’s supposed to be a song, his Bàba says it in such a deadpan tone that he may as well be reading a storeroom list. With each word his voice becomes less clear and more rough. Low and embarrassed. At the last word he all but throws the parchment down beside him, “That’s all that you need to hear to understand the gist of the song, A-Yu. We should gather everything and head ins—.”

“Was the singer poisoned?”

His Bàba pauses, “What?”

Luo Yu leans forward. Question after question forming in his mind, “Was the singer poisoned? The person the song is meant for is called toxic. Were they a demon of some sort? An assassin? What did they mean when they said the person's lips sent them on a ride? Did the poison addle their senses? Oh! Were they poisoned in a carriage? Was the singer poisoned by a love—-?”

Surprisingly flustered, his Bàba interrupts, “What did I say, A-Yu. The song isn’t that meaningful.”

“That can't be true, Bàba. The singer was obviously trying to tell a story!” Luo Yu takes a breath and thinks carefully before asking, “Where did you hear this song originally? What was the singer like? Were you close?”

“So many questions,” his guardian says evasively. “I never met the original singer. The song was popular in the place where I grew up. It wasn’t…. it wasn’t a song that was played seriously. In fact, it was often played in an attempt to draw attention to the humorous nature of a situation.”

“Humor?” Luo Yu asks, baffled. “The song didn’t seem very funny to me.”

“It was a form of humor that appealed to a very select audience.”

“Were you a part of that audience, Bàba?”

“....it was a long time ago.”

That wasn’t a no. Luo Yu knows his Bàba often has a strange sense of humor, but this is the first time he’s been faced with it so blatantly. “Did the singer find it funny too?”

“I doubt she minded, A-Yu. Her song was not sung maliciously.”

“But what about the story behind the song? It’s like poetry. She had to have written it for a reason.”

His Bàba looked very much like he regretted all his life choices. “If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that she was referring to the toxic nature of a relationship she was in.”

“Toxic nature?”

“The relationship wasn’t healthy. The word toxic is used to relate the nature of her relationship to a form of poison.”

“Oh,” Luo Yu exhales. Feeling his enthusiasm deflate, he frowns, “That seems sad.”

The last of his Bàba’s tension fades with Luo Yu’s words. His guardian gives him a thoughtful look, “It is to an extent. The tone of the song itself is rather upbeat, but the words can be said to have a form depth that is easy to overlook. In some ways the story within the song is a sad one.”

“What’s it supposed to sound like? Can you sing it for me properly?” Luo Yu wants to understand how the song could possibly be seen as funny.

“...you’ve heard the melody before.”

“What? When?”

“It’s that one song you caught me playing on the guqin during our lessons last week. The fast paced one.”

“That one? But how!” Luo Yu mentally runs the lyrics of the toxic song with the tune he’d heard. They simply don’t match up. “But they don’t seem to go together at all.”

“That’s not surprising. It’s an English song. Most of their music is odd.”

“English?” Luo Yu has never heard of the language.

His Bàba shakes his hand dismissively, “An unimportant language. It’s not one you’ll ever come across. Nevermind that. This is an important lesson for you, A-Yu. Remember, sometimes what we hear will distract us from the words being said. This doesn’t just apply to music and poetry. Even everyday conversation can be affected.”

Luo Yu allows himself to soak in the wisdom of the words, “How can it work in regular conversations?”

“If a person sounds angry, you may assume that the words they say are also angry. However, if you listen closely to what they actually say, they may be words of worry. For example, when I scold Bingpup for playing on the lotus pads I may simply sound angry, but the my words would be spoken in an attempt to get him to safety.”

Luo Yu shakes his head at the reminder of his Bàba’s ever present fear that Bingpup will one day be eaten by one of the fish in their pond. “I understand, Bàba. People do that a lot. In the case of the singer, she must have been trying to entertain her audience while her words were actually a warning.”

“A sound idea. Toxic relationships are a perfect example of why one should be aware of people's motives. This won’t apply to you for many years, but should you find a person who interests you; be careful.”

Future relationships were a foreign concept for A-Yu. One he’s never thought about as a real possibility. The only form of romantic relationships he’s seen was the emperor’s harem. The countless number of women that had lived alongside him in the palace. They’d been distant and cold entities that had always looked upon him with either anger or dispassion. He’d done his best to avoid them. It was likely due to those interactions that the idea of romantic relationships seemed so disquieting to Luo Yu. Those relationships were awful. The monster has hundreds of women tied to him and seemed no happier for it. What was the point of them?

But Luo Yu has seen something different once. Back when Shang Qinghua’s demonic husband had come to escort him away from Luo Yu’s home. A reunion full of surprising affection and warmth. It had been uncomfortable to witness, but Luo Yu can’t help but think that he might want something like that should he ever be in some kind of relationship. He’d want a person that looked happy to see him should they separate.

But he didn’t need romance. He has everything he needs. He knows for a fact that his family loves him. Luo Yu doubts romance will ever be a necessity for him like it seems to be for others.

Like it seems to be for the monster.

This thought makes Luo Yu blink. The lyrics of the toxic song repeat in his head, and he comes to a conclusion. “I think the monster is toxic.”

“Don’t call your father a monster,” his Bàba says automatically. Before his brow furrows, “What makes you say that?”

“His relationships seem unhealthy.” His Bàba opens his mouth to say something but Luo Yu hurriedly says, “No one at the palace was ever all that happy. The monster has way too many women who live there, Bàba. Maybe he trapped them there.”

“The relationship between your father and his harem is amicable. He’s not keeping anyone hostage, A-Yu.” His Bàba taps his closed fan on the grass restlessly for a moment before letting it flop to the ground entirely. Uneasily, the adult continues, “Relationships of such a manner are complex. We should not cast judgement hastily.”

Luo Yu can’t exactly argue with the reasoning. Despite living in the palace for most of his life, he never truly knew the circumstances that brought the other palace residents there. But…. “Everyone was always so strained there, Bàba.”

“Where dragons and snakes intermingle; there tends to be many internal conflicts,” his Bàba says sagely. Luo Yu doesn’t understand but he nods along anyway. Willing to let the matter drop.

Unfortunately, this was a fatal mistake on Luo Yu’s part.

Pleased, his Bàba hums pleasantly and picks up the poem Luo Yu had set down after his recitation. “Back to the matter at hand. We should head inside soon, but let’s go over your poem one last—oh?” His Bàba runs his fingers along the edge of the parchment. Feeling the distinct separation between the two parchments. Luo Yu is too slow to catch on and stares with a slowly dawning alarm as his Bàba’s fingers carefully separate the two parchments.

“It’s sticking. A-Yu, did you write another poem? It seems to have stuck to the back of your—ack!”

Luo Yu flings himself forward as soon as his poorly honed instincts realize what’s about to happen. No matter what, his Bàba can not read his original poem! He would rather die a dog's death than live with the embarrassment!

His Bàba flails backward under Luo Yu’s sudden attack. Arms moving backwards to catch himself before he can fall flat on his back. Luo Yu takes advantage and attempts to snatch the two crumpled parchments from his Bàba clenched hand.

There is one major flaw that foils Luo Yu’s desperate attempt.

Flinging himself at his Bàba was all well and good, but Luo Yu had made the fatal mistake of forgetting the creature that had been resting peacefully in his Bàba’s lap. Said forgotten creature did not appreciate the full weight of Luo Yu’s body jarring him awake and backwards with the motion of Shen Yuan’s body. Luo Yu misses the black eyes that flashed red in unrestrained ire as his fingers brush the edge of the parchments.

What Luo Yu doesn’t miss is the way the parchment slips from his grasp as a giant furry weight bowls him backwards and off of his Bàba. Luo Yu only has a moment to gasp before his back hits the dirt and his mouth is full of the black fur. Luo Yu chokes and immediately tries to squirm out from the inescapable weight on top of him. He only succeeds in getting his head free.

Luo Yu gratefully inhales the fresh air. His mind has already caught up to his current situation, but he’s too busy trying to breathe and spit out the stray pieces of fur still in his mouth to wheeze out more than an aggrieved sounding, “Bingpup.”

The identified culprit woofs in acknowledgement. Bingpup places his head over the side of Luo Yu’s face mockingly. Completely unbothered by the fact that Luo Yu once again has to struggle to not be suffocated by his stupid fur.

“Are you alright, A-Yu? “

“No” Luo Yu groans. Though even he can admit it comes out sounding distinctly whiny. He still doesn’t appreciate his Bàbas poorly concealed laughter in response. It inspires Luo Yu to try and shake off his assailant, “Bingpup get off.”

Bingpup does not get off. In fact, Bingpup seems to relax on top of him. Getting comfortable in a way he does when he’s….

Luo Yu struggles harder, “Don't fall asleep on me!”

Bingpup grumbles at the disturbance like Luo Yu is the one being unreasonable.

His Bàba gives up all pretense of hiding his amusement and outright laughs. “Alright, alright. That’s enough Bingpup. Get off of him.” The cultivator walks into Luo Yu’s line of sight and smiles down at him. “I believe A-Yu knows now to think before he leaps.”

Bingpup takes his time obliging the command but slowly obliges by shrinking back down in size. Eventually allowing Luo Yu to sit up and breathe easily. Bingpup stays in his lap unmoving. Annoyed, Luo Yu leans forward and tries to roll Bingpup off of him entirely. Sharp tiny teeth nip at his hands in response. Luo Yu resigns himself to being Bingpup’s new bed. With a sigh, he looks up at his Bàba and is startled to find the man crouched down in front of him.

His Bàba holds his hands out. Luo Yu blinks and realizes he’s being offered the parchments he had tried so desperately to retrieve. His Bàba gives him an all too knowing look and says, “Next time simply tell me that you want to keep your poem private. I promise I wouldn’t have read it.” With mock seriousness, the cultivator gestures to his body, “These poor old bones of mine won’t be able to withstand another attack.”

Luo Yu looks at the offering and feels a great welling of shame. He glances between the parchment and his Bàba’s teasing gaze, and guiltily mumbles, “I panicked.”

“A sheep…”

“Huh?”

His Bàba ignores the question and waves the parchments, “These belong to you.”

Luo Yu would like to dismiss them entirely. To proclaim it didn’t matter if his Bàba read his original poem or not. It only takes him a moment to recall its content for him to dismiss the mature reasoning and take the parchments gratefully from his Bàba’s outstretched hands. “Thank you.”

He can feel Bingpup’s sleepy, judging stare on him. The dog had been asleep for most of the lesson, but Luo Yu doesn’t doubt the demon has grasped the entirety of the situation. He lays the parchments down in the grass and pokes Bingpup pettily. Narrowly avoiding getting his fingers nipped at.

He hears more than sees his Bàba settle back into the grass next to them. Luo Yu continues to poke and prod at Bingpup while avoiding eye contact.

“Can I ask why you don’t want me to see your poem?”

Luo Yu hesitates. A movement that allows Bingpup to chomp his index finger, and he silently curses. He finally moves his hands away from the tiny tyrant and picks up his parchments. His second poem stares at him innocently, and he hands it to his Bàba. “That ones fine. You can keep it if you like.” He looks at his remaining parchment. The very sight of it fills him with regret, “This ones too embarrassing, Bàba.”

His ear is gently flicked, and Luo Yu starts and turns to meet his Bàba’s hazel eyes, “No one here would make fun of you, A-Yu.”

“Bingpup would.”

“No he wouldn’t.” His Bàba glances at Bingpup and allows, “Not seriously.”

Luo Yu shakes his head, “It’s not really about that, Bàba. I’m being foolish.”

“You’re not foolish, A-Yu. No matter your reasoning, it isn’t unusual for scholars to keep their writings private. Some things are not meant to be shared.” His Bàba nudges his shoulder gently, “A lesson your Master Shang never learned.”

Luo Yu snickers at the unexpected jab at his alchemy teacher, but defends the man loyally. “Master Shang is an open and caring person.”

“A fact that would only matter if his good nature reflected in his writings,” his Bàba says caustically. The cultivator gestures at the parchment in Luo Yu hands. “Nevertheless. That poem is yours, A-Yu. Never feel pressured to share it. Though I’ll always be happy to listen should you one day wish to.”

“You’ll be the first one I show it to, Shifu.” Luo Yu vows before carefully folding the parchment in half. Hiding away the inked characters that show an insight into his heart that he knows he will indeed be willing in the future to share.

But not today.

“Do you want to know the real reason I wanted to go over poetry today?”

Luo Yu blinks, “It wasn’t just so I can learn how to manipulate people?”

His Bàba coughs and shakes his head, “Of course not. The other day, I was reminded of certain events that have taken place outside our home. Did you know that if you ever read or hear of a poem proclaiming a lord or reputable figure’s virtues then they’re nearly guaranteed to be some sort of villain.”

Luo Yu leans against his Bàba’s sides as he protests, “There's no way that’s true. It’s not possible that every single one of them could be bad.”

“You would think so, but it’s an unfortunate fact that I figured out years ago. Trust me, A-Yu. I wish it wasn’t true myself, and I even sent many letters of complaint to your Master Shang about it.”

“Why would you send them to him?”

“You’ll find that most issues in this world are his fault in one way or another.”

“You’re just looking for an excuse to beat him up.”

His Bàba nydges his shoulder, “What kind of savage do you take me for? I do not beat people up. The man can handle a little criticism.”

Luo Yu asks disbelievingly, “Because it’s his fault every single lord who has a poem written about how good they are is secretly evil?”

“I’m glad you’re beginning to understand, A-Yu.”

“There’s no way—-!”

Back and forth they happily argue. Sitting side by side in the grass as they passionately debate over Shang Qinghua’s alleged crimes and the idea that poetry is a red flag for evil. All the while, Bingpup sleeps peacefully in Luo Yu’s lap.

Luo Yu’s poem lies discarded in the grass. Never to be read that day. Later, Luo Yu will tuck it away in a drawer in his room. It will lay there to be eventually forgotten in a pile of other discarded parchments. Luo Yu will only recall its whereabouts later. At a time in the future when he is no longer able to retrieve it, but the characters themselves will never fade from his memory. An embarrassing, heartfelt poem that told his own story:

‘The beginning was cold. Crowded but empty.
The halls echoed and stretched on and on.
There was no place where I belonged.

The world was conflicted. Pretty but wrong.
The world promised an escape.
But the world did not give. It takes.

The end was warm. Never crowded but never empty.
The manor is welcoming. Bàba and Bingpup are here. My family. My home.
I’ve found the place where I belong.
I hope things never change.’

But all things must change. Luo Yu will come to learn this lesson all too well.

*********

Time is a concept Luo Yu is beginning to become more and more aware of as he grows older. A single day can pass by in a moment. An hour can stretch on for a year.

It is with these thoughts in his head that Luo Yu begins his first sword lessons with the monster.

“Higher.”

Luo Yu tries to block with his newly gifted practice sword. The wood is smooth and unweathered. Solid. It does far better than Luo Yu under the decisive blows that his opponent reigns down towards his head. He grits his teeth as he successfully deflects the blow but only has a moment to breathe before he’s being attacked again.

“Too slow,” are the last words Luo Yu hears before he winds up sprawled flat on his back. Breath knocked out of him by a blow to his stomach.

Luo Yu lies there wheezing a pitiful sounding cough. He curls up on his side and presses his face into brittle, dying grass. It’s not a comfortable position but it serves its purpose of allowing him to catch his breath. Luo Yu will just stay here forever.

“You won’t learn anything if you give up so quickly. On your feet.” The authoritative tone is grating. Luo Yu is positive that some higher being must have it out for him.

The lesson had started out auspiciously. The monster had arrived around noon at his regularly scheduled time. A bag of supplies thrown over his shoulder with the end of two weapon handles sticking out of it. Luo Yu had expected…. something. Words of contempt. A lecture on all of Luo Yu’s failings maybe, but the monster had only given him a brief greeting and a serious sounding promise that guarantees Luo Yu would indeed learn how to properly defend himself. They’d all traveled to a clearing with a proper space for their lessons and they’d begun shortly after.

Now here Luo Yu was. In the dirt. Feeling very much like he was spending an eternity not learning anything.

Somewhere above him, the monster grumbles, “This behavior is unbecoming. Stand up.”

Luo Yu ignores him.

“Luo Yu.” The monster says sharply. Impatient to a fault. Luo Yu can tell the monster is already getting fed up with his blatant disrespect. Just a little more pushing and—.

“Try asking nicely.”

Luo Yu scowls. Betrayal always comes from your closest allies. He turns his head so he can glare halfheartedly at his Bàba.

Said man sits peacefully a good distance away from them. Here in this peaceful clearing within their bamboo forest, his Bàba looks every inch the immortal cultivator he is. The bamboo leaves sway gently around them. Vibrant and strong as they weather the cold weather. They compliment Shen Yuan’s cool countenance. Seated upon a smooth looking rock, his Bàba sits calmly. Back straight, expression untroubled, and not a hair out of place. The very image of tranquility.

The image is ruined by the furry lump in Shen Yuan’s lap.

Unlike during yesterday’s lesson, Bingpup is wide awake. Happily sprawled out on his back in Shen Yuan’s lap. Little paws flail in the air as the cultivator wiggles his fingers at Bingpup’s belly. A teasing gesture that delights the dog. Luo Yu watches as his Bàba pulls a ribbon out of his sleeve and fruitlessly attempts to tie it in a bow around Bingpup’s neck. Bingpup squirms and wriggles. Playfully uncooperative.

His Bàba is all but outright babying Bingpup. Luo Yu internally sulks. Why is he the only one who has to suffer?

“He won’t learn this way.” Luo Yu feels the tip of the monster’s expensive boot nudge his side pointedly. “You lack focus. After each block you lower your guard. That is when you are most vulnerable, Luo Yu.”

And what is up with that? Suddenly the monster is calling him by name? He still talks to Luo Yu like he’s a dim witted pet, but now the monster seems to be trying to actually communicate with him? It’s a poor manipulation tactic that leaves Luo Yu unimpressed.

“There’s nothing wrong with asking him nicely,” his Bàba calls.

“Focus on that beast and let me teach the boy properly.”

“It’s called multitasking. You’re the one who should focus on trying not to be so rough with A-Yu. At this rate, he'll learn more about falling than anything else. There’s no need to be—.”

Luo Yu groans. Unable to handle having to listen to these two bicker any more.

Ever since the monster arrived, the two adults had been, for lack of a better phrase, circling each other. His Bàba seemed torn between engaging in conversation and avoiding the monster all together. A maneuver that would have been more effective if the monster wasn’t attempting to do the exact opposite. The two opposing desires led to short spats of bickering that often had Luo Yu and Bingpup somewhere in the middle.

The monster himself seemed to be well aware of the actual cause of his Bàba’s strange behavior. An assumption that was all but confirmed by the fact that the monster acted less offended and more… amused? The monster’s moods were difficult to discern.

It didn’t take Luo Yu much thought to figure out that something must have happened between them. Likely, whatever it was, had occurred when the monster had come to return his Bàba’s sword. Luo Yu had known something had happened then, but between a post-fire breathing Bingpup and Master Shang’s antics, he’d been understandably distracted.

Not that it matters. Luo Yu doesn’t need to know what happened because the monster was obviously the one in the wrong, and that’s all the information he needs.

Luo Yu makes a grab for his practice sword that had fallen a foot away. As soon as his hand grasps the hilt, he uses it to help him stand up again. The action succeeds both in helping Luo Yu stand and in causing an abrupt end to the conversation between the two adults.

His Bàba smiles awkwardly at him briefly before letting Bingpup distract him once again with his antics. The monster turns to him with a small frown and a look of disapproval. His own wooden practice sword is held casually as he waits for Luo Yu to prepare himself.

(His Father has always looked at him like that. As an inconvenience. An unwelcome distraction to more interesting matters. Never happy. Never—.)

“Straighten your posture. An enemy would have already disarmed you.”

Luo Yu scowls and raises his sword. “I know.”

Since their lesson had begun, he keeps hearing the same demands.

“Straighten your posture.”

“Keep your elbow relaxed.”

“Pay attention to your knees.”

Over and over again. With little other explanation. He’s never sure what exactly he’s doing wrong. The explanations lack clarity. Maybe a student with more experience would have excelled under them, but Luo Yu finds himself floundering. He’s nearly ready to toss his dumb, fake sword at the monster’s feet and be done with it all. It’s only his own stubborn nature that won’t let him admit defeat in any form around this particular opponent.

He steps forward and swings his sword. Keeping his elbow relaxed and his knees bent. The monster disarms him in seconds.

Dark eyes stare down at his empty hands pointedly, “Your grip needs to be firm. Aim to cut through your target, not into.”

What did that even mean?!

Luo Yu feels his frustration mount inside him like a geyser. Threatening to explode at any moment. He stomps over and picks up his sword again. With a huff, he says, “You’re going too fast.”

That gets him a look of admonishment, “Will your enemies slow down for you?”

“No, but—.”

“If your enemy is faster, think of a new approach. Put that weapon of yours to good use and adapt.”

But Luo Yu doesn’t know how! How can he come up with a plan when he barely knows how to wield his sword?! He grits his teeth and attacks again. In a flash of movement, he’s sprawled out on the ground again. Luo Yu lies there panting again. His sword is still miraculously in his hands, but he’s barely able to keep his temper in check.

“You’re too hasty. Think, Luo Yu. Or will you rely on your Mother to do all your thinking for you.” The latter half of his words are louder and clearly directed to get more of a rise out of Shen Yuan than at Luo Yu. An action that illustrates how little these lessons mean to him.

Luo Yu’s temper snaps. He doesn’t hear his Bàba’s sharp retort. He can’t hear anything beyond the blood rushing in his ears. He’s officially done.

Luo Yu allows his qi to rush through his meridians and into his practice sword. There’s something slightly darker to it than normal but he pays it no mind. He instinctively knows that his sword isn’t meant to withstand this power, but he doesn’t stop and think. With all his strength, he raises his wooden sword and throws it.

The sword flies through the air like an arrow. Too fast to be natural. Almost too fast to see at all, but the monster is just as quick to react. Unfortunately, no one is prepared for the sword to explode before it actually reaches its target.

The sword shatters. Pieces of wood go in every direction. Luo Yu is lucky enough to be out of the danger zone, and so is his Bàba and Bingpup. His intended target however….

The emperor nearly avoids it all. A quick movement and a raised sleeve acts as a barrier for all but one shard that slices across his face like a dagger. It cuts across the surface of the monster’s right cheek as he moves his head to avoid it.

Things settle quickly. The splintered wood lays everywhere, and Luo Yu observes the fallout with wide eyes.

At first, all Luo Yu feels is a sense of dark satisfaction. The monster had wanted him to come up with a new strategy? Luo Yu had delivered. The victorious feeling vanishes when Luo Yu gets a good look at the wound on the monster’s face. The cut is more of a long, deep gash. Blood spills from it rapidly and forms a trail that drips down his chin.

Oh.

Luo Yu’s mouth runs dry. His thoughts spin. That—that wasn’t supposed to happen. He hadn’t meant to seriously hurt the monster. Luo Yu had only wanted to beat him. To make him take Luo Yu seriously. This was wrong. The sight of the red liquid makes him feel sick to his stomach.

The horrid feeling only gets worse when the monster raises a hand and casually wipes the blood away. The wound thankfully heals itself under Luo Yu’s horrified gaze. The monster looks at the blood for a moment before staring down at Luo Yu appraisingly, “The blood ritual wasn’t as strong as I’d first believed. I sensed it. A touch of demonic energy. Weak but salvageable. The power that is your birthright.” The monster nods his head consideringly, “This is a sign of your true potential. Cultivation can only take you so far. It seems you won’t need to rely on your mother after all.”

He was making a joke. The monster was making a joke when Luo Yu had intentionally hurt him. He was happy that Luo Yu had hurt him. That Luo Yu has just acted like the monster he’s always thought his Father to be. It always came back to this. To Luo Yu’s bloodline and nothing else. The world realigns itself in sharp clarity. Into one single truth.

“I hate you,” Luo Yu spits out the words like a curse before sitting up straighter. “Bàba is Bàba. My real mother is dead. I never knew her, and for all I know, you were the one who killed her. If you didn’t then I doubt she would be happy with the way you want me to be the kind of scum that hurts people.” Luo Yu angrily shouts, “I’d rather die too than grow up to be anything like you!”

The silence that follows is worse. Luo Yu breathes heavily and very carefully doesn’t look away from the monster’s dark, unreadable gaze. There’s an emotion within them that Luo Yu can’t read. Instead, he silently wills the monster to try something. Anything.

Like always, all he gets is silence.

A silence that is broken by a much more welcome voice, “That’s enough for today.”

Luo Yu doesn’t know when his Bàba had gotten up, but soon enough his guardian is blocking his view of the monster and carefully helping him stand. It’s a welcome reprieve, and Luo Yu allows himself to lean into his Bàba’s hold. Gentle fingers move to soothe and comfort. Luo Yu finds himself having his hair fixed. It must have fallen into disarray during his lessons. Luo Yu lets his Bàba quickly finish before pulling away to get a good look at the monster.

The emperor stands where Luo Yu had last seen him. Expression still completely unreadable, but his eyes are no longer on Luo Yu. They’re on the small creature between them.

Bingpup is not transformed. The dog merely stands silent and still as a statue. Deceptively harmless. But it’s obvious to everyone that there is something dangerous in the Harmonic Demon dog’s aura that forewarns against any movement. Luo Yu can tell that if the monster takes one false step Bingpup will be more than willing to attack.

His Bàba pats his head and distracts him from the scene. Luo Yu looks up and is met by a strained but reassuring smile. His guardian repeats himself, “That’s enough for today. Go ahead and take Bingpup inside and clean up. You know where I keep the ointment. Put it on any bruises you have.”

Luo Yu doesn’t want to be sent away. He still needs to say something to the monster, doesn’t he? He’s not supposed to be so outspoken. Can he really leave their first lesson like this?

Apparently so. Luo Yu is gently pushed in the direction of their home. “I’ll take care of everything. Go on now.”

Luo Yu lingers as Shen Yuan moves away towards Bingpup. Bingpup doesn’t move an inch until his Bàba scoops him up and gives him a gentle pet. “Good, Bingpup. Now go with A-Yu to the house.”

Bingpup, unwillingly pulled away from his staring contest with the monster, stares up at Shen Yuan with an aggrieved sounding whine. His Bàba merely taps his nose as a quiet reprimand, and Bingpup grumbles with displeasure but settles. All tension eases as Shen Yuan briefly walks back to Luo Yu to hand Bingpup over.

Luo Yu doesn’t hesitate to accept, but can’t help but quietly say, “Bàba…”

His Bàba waves them both away with a stern look, “Go on you two.”

And that’s it. Luo Yu can’t muster up the will to protest, and he carefully begins the small journey back home with Bingpup securely in his arms. As they leave the small clearing, Luo Yu watches as his Bàba engages the monster in a conversation that looks tense and displeased on both parties' sides.

He doesn’t get to stay around and snoop. Bingpup nudges the underside of his face and Luo Yu looks down and meets Bingpup’s calm gaze. Luo Yu understands the message in them instantly and doesn’t wait around. Bingpup settles back into his arms as they walk, and Luo Yu holds him up closer so he can murmur a quiet, “Thanks, Bingpup. You always protect me.” Even quieter he whispers, “I'm sorry. I won’t always be this useless. I promise.”

He doesn’t know where the last words come from. Luo Yu’s eyes water as he says them, and it takes everything in him not to let them spill over. He’s so pathetic. No wonder the monster…

Bingpup's slobbery tongue interrupts his small pity party. Luo Yu sputters and leans his head back, “Ugh, stop! I know I’m being stupid.”

Bingpup graciously stops his attack. Tiny black eyes stare up at him with warning though. Promising further suffering should Luo Yu continue his line of self-deprecation. Luo Yu huffs a laugh and cuddles Bingpup closer, “I’ll stop. Let’s get home so we can clean up before Bàba comes back. I have a feeling it’ll just be the three of us for the rest of the day.”

Bingpup barks in agreement, but a side eyed look tells Luo Yu that Bingpup won’t be taking part in any kind of cleaning up. Bingpup’s hatred for anything even remotely resembling a bath has truly grown into a fearsome thing. Still, Bingpup willingly keeps him company even when they finally make it inside the safety of their home and to the washroom. Luo Yu silently thanks the dog. Bingpup may be a tyrant, but he’s, without question, Luo Yu's best friend in the entire world.

Not that he’d ever admit that aloud.

The process of bathing is a long one, but it settles something inside Luo Yu. Calming the ache that his own bitter words to the monster had caused. When he settles in the warm bath, he looks over the side of the basin towards Bingpup, who had settled on top of the pile of Luo Yu’s new change of clothing. “Here’s a better promise. I promise to grow stronger and protect our family. I won’t be like that monster. I’ll do it without violence as best I can.” He doesn’t want to see anyone’s blood ever again.

(Not even the monster’s.)

Bingpup gives him a distinctly unimpressed look, but his tail wags. A better sign than any that Luo Yu has finally said something right. Luo Yu finishes cleaning in companionable silence.

Later, Shen Yuan will return alone. With a tired frown and a tightness to his eyes that told Luo Yu the conversation between the two adults hadn’t gone entirely smoothly. When Luo Yu had tried to interrogate his Bàba, their conversation had been relatively short, “We talked a bit about your heritage and how unstable your Qi can be. It's been better since the blood adoption ritual, but you still need to be careful. I talked it over again with your father and cleared up a few misunderstandings.”

Misunderstandings? What was there to misunderstand? That could have talked about anything. “Are things still… okay?”

“Mhm. He won’t be antagonizing you again, but do you still want to continue with your lessons? It’s alright if you don’t.”

That had given Luo Yu pause. Did he still want to continue?

Yes.

Luo Yu wasn’t going to quit just because the first lesson had been disastrous. He’d known it would be from the very start. The monster would just use that against him. No, he can’t give up just yet. Luo Yu would improve. He would be more patient. Keep a cool head. In the future, there would be no more intentional bloodshed. Not if he could help it. If the monster was right about one thing, it was that he couldn’t always have his Bàba protect him.

“It’s fine,” Luo Yu says.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No, Bàba. The things I said to the monster…,” Luo Yu trails off before rallying. “I meant what I said to him, but everything’s going to be fine. I want to be a healer one day. This just reminded me that I need to be careful so I’m not the one who hurts anyone.”

His Bàba isn’t reassured, “A-Yu, what you said about your mother—.”

“I-I know the monster didn’t kill her, but he kept using her name to bother you,” Luo Yu quickly interrupts. “He didn’t care that he was using her name carelessly. He wasn’t even truly speaking of her. I never knew her but she deserves better than that. Even if I can’t say I feel anything for her, the monster should. He married her after all. I think I just wanted to make a point. That and I refuse to enjoy causing people pain.”

His Bàba has that look in his eyes. The one that says he thinks Luo Yu has said something especially praiseworthy. Luo Yu quickly escapes before his cheeks can be pinched, but he doesn’t completely manage to save face. His Bàba ushers him upstairs so he can make sure Luo Yu actually applied the ointment to his soon to be bruises.

They don’t talk about his mother again. Luo Yu wouldn’t have known what else to say if his Bàba had tried to question him further.

Everything returns back to normal with the monster gone. The familiar routine soothes any leftover stressors. Luo Yu even manages to sleep easily that night. Content in the knowledge that he would not have to face the monster again for another week.

But the days pass by quickly. Luo Yu felt like they were tangible things that the more he tried to hold on to them, the quicker they fell from his grasp. He finds himself feeling restless and anxious much to his family's poorly hidden concern. The days trudged on regardless. Time was against Luo Yu, and before he knew it, a week had passed. The day of his second lesson began.

The monster brings him a new practice sword. To Luo Yu’s surprise, the demon doesn’t make a single comment about what happened last week. It’s almost like it never happened. It makes the beginning of Luo Yu’s second sword lesson less miserable but more…. awkward.

His Bàba and Bingpup watch from the sidelines like hawks. None of the distractions present from last week. Things won’t end up going too far this time around. They’ll make sure of it. Luo Yu appreciates them more than he will ever be able to say.

The lesson is quieter in a way. The weight of unspoken words haunting Luo Yu, and he can’t make himself keep eye contact. As if to make up for Luo Yu’a reticent behavior, the monster does not divert his gaze and talks Luo Yu through each movement with notable detail.

“Straighten your posture. Like this, your back needs to be straight.”

“Keep your elbow relaxed. Release the tension in your arms. A little more. Good.”

“Pay attention to your knees. Locking them like that will only hinder your movement.”

The same lessons but expanded. Luo Yu is actually able to grasp the monster’s teachings. Tentatively following along in a way he hadn’t managed during their first lesson. He is even able to properly block a few of the monster’s blows unprompted. He’s still sent flying to the ground more often than not, but it’s more progress than he’d been expecting so soon.

Luo Yu doesn’t speak much. Communicating mostly in nods and glares. The monster doesn’t take offense. Just like his Bàba promised, there were no more antagonistic words. No harsh reprimands. He lets Luo Yu attack and defend at his own pace.

Despite how well things are going, Luo Yu can’t help but think that things will eventually revert back to how they were before. His Bàba’s conversation with the monster had worked, but for how long? There would be future lessons to dampen the effects of last week. Luo Yu doesn’t trust the monster one bit.

The lesson’s end when the monster’s disarms Luo Yu one last time, “That will do.”

Luo Yu isn’t sure how he feels about things, but his Bàba seems pleased. His guardian is quick to transition into their cultivation lessons while the monster puts away their weapons. When the monster is done, he joins them. The emperor sticks around like a specter or a ghoul. A dark but not necessarily harmful presence that doesn’t belong. Luo Yu does his best to only talk to him only when needed and tries his best to ensure his Bàba does the same.

The monster leaves in the evening. Disquietingly accommodating and with a final strange look sent towards Luo Yu that he tries desperately not to worry about.

That is how Luo Yu’s sword lessons began. Turbulent and disorienting. Luo Yu can only hope that one day he’ll find a different teacher. Maybe after the monster fails to meet the terms of their deal.

Because the monster would fail. Luo Yu is certain of this. There will be no reconciliation between them. No ending in which the monster comes out triumphant.

For now, Luo Yu will simply learn what he can.